Little League training and God (Part 2)

As I was saying in my last post, I spent this past weekend in Kutno at Little League training. On the road and while there Jack and I talked a lot about church...about the things I've written about here...as well as about our image as evangelicals to the Poles we work amongst. Sometimes a question as simple as "Why are you in Poland?" can be hard to answer because you don't want to scare people off immediately by saying "well, I'm a Baptist missionary who has come to introduce the real Gospel to all of you blind, deceived people who seem to have religion on Sundays but live like heathens the rest of the week." You know, that just wouldn't fly too well here!

At the same time, I am who I am...a follower of Christ. I can't and don't want to hide that fact. I, out of curiosity, asked Jack what he told people when they asked that question. He just tells them he's an evangelical pastor, thinking that Poles need to see good examples of evangelicals...not just the crusaders, the tele-evangelists, the freakish sects, etc. I thought that was a good idea -- simple enough.

Well my opportunity came to answer the question with a couple of guys during one of our breaks. I gave them Jack's answer (I preach here...so I'm sort of a pastor, right??). Let me just tell you that through being honest, open, and unashamed of my identity (more so in Christ than as a "pastor") some really incredible conversations took place. Not only during that break but later that night over dinner we got to speak to these same guys about our faith...about the opportunity to have their relationship with God restored...about the opportunity to experience Life as God had intended it for them since the creation of the world...etc. It was really awesome!

I'm telling you this because sometimes I'm afraid to just put it out there when people ask. But I think when I do that I'm missing opportunities to share the most important thing in my life with them...something that could really change their world forever. Don't hear me wrong...I'm not talking about blasting them with some fanatical rant. I'm talking about just being normal...just talking about what God means in my life...just talking about everything, acknowledging that they do in fact have a right to believe what they want (God gives them that right but sometimes man doesn't) all the while speaking about how God has worked in my life and how the option is there for them to experience that with Him too.

God astounds me. He really astounds me. I just shake my head in amazement when I think about how He uses things like Little League training to teach me things about Him as well as giving such incredible opportunities to share Him with others. When I open my life up to Him I am constantly amazed at what He does in and through me...not because of who I am, but in spite of who I am!

Little League training and God (Part 1)

This weekend me and another missionary from Poznan drove to Kutno, Poland to participate in part 1 of Little League coaches' training. Kutno is this pretty small city, sort of in the middle of nowhere between Poznan and Warsaw. Thanks to Stan "the man" Musial and another Polish American Little League has this seriously unreal baseball complex complete with incredibly manicured fields, grandstands, the main field has an announcer's box, dormitories, etc etc. The place is so much nicer than anything I've seen for kids...ever!

The oddity of it all, though, was realizing that Jack and I were (1) the only Americans there -- maybe the only Americans that have ever gone through their training and (2) that we were sitting talking about baseball, the American past-time, in Polish...with all Poles...with these unbelievably knowledgeable Polish baseball coaches, in the midst of the biggest/best kids' ballpark I'd ever seen...in Kutno, Poland. Just bizarre. I can't explain it to you. You just don't expect to go half way around the world only to end up in some room with strange people watching the 2001 World Series and then going out and playing ball with people who hadn't ever touched a baseball [in their lives] until one day prior. Bizarre!

God's amazing that way. Kyle Lake was going to preach about how we need to take notice of the blessings God brings us in all of the little things that make up our lives the day that he died in the baptistry of University Church in Waco, TX. One of the things he told people is that he would wake up everyday and say "Surprise me, Lord"...just wanting to be ready for whatever it was God would throw his way.

That's the way I felt in Kutno. Sunday morning I walked up to the top of the "stadium" and sat there reading a few psalms outloud. I looked out over this big piece of America that had somehow been placed in the middle of small-town Poland and just thought about how God has worked in my life. I thanked Him for the blessing of life...for the big things, the small things, the strange things. Sometimes I forget to look for those blessings and I just see work, cultural struggles, ministry road blocks...I just see baseball fields. I'm trying to learn to read between the lines and see how God is working in all of those things.

What the alien said...

I've come to really enjoy (I'm trying to not say "love" so much about things like this...that's hard) reading Donald Miller's books. While I've only got two now (another ordered today), they are possible two of my favorites in my library. He's real...approachable...like he's just sitting there talking to you. If I wrote a book I think I might write like him.

Anyway, in Searching for God Knows What Don talks about how an alien visited him (ok, he was pretending) and wrote down this description of humans:

"Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which , given the brief nature of their existence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste. Nevertheless, this is the driving influence behind every human's social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and, sadly, their greatest tragedies. It is as though something that helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand they have the disease. This seems strange as well because it is obvious. To be sure, it is killing them, and yet sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem."

The thought of the alien's description has come to mind often lately as I think about myself and the church, in general. Could it be right? What do I think when I look at other people? Do I evaluate them immediately...rich/poor, clean/dirty, smell good/bad, speak better/worse than me, more/less experience, smarter/dumber, etc etc etc? And after I've made my very scientific evaluations how do I treat them based on my findings?

As I think of the wisdom of the alien I also think of what Paul said to the church in Galatia:

In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.

I've got a long way to go to see people truly the way Jesus saw them. He made his own evaluations but they had nothing to do with what was on the outside. He, as we know, saw their hearts. I want to be like that...I want to be like Jesus. I want to love people equally no matter who they are. I want treat the guy who comes to my window asking for a quarter the same as I treat me best friend or my family. But isn't that a strange thing to even say or think?

I'm sick...as the alien observed. I want to change. I want to love...no matter...

The bride of Christ

My brain's on overdrive this morning. It's because I'm finding out more and more every day how much I don't know about Jesus. It's not that my ignorance has been making more appearances than usual...but that I have been learning some things about Jesus that are blowing my mind and making me wonder why I didn't know these things before?

It just seems so strange that I sit here...in Poznan, Poland...reading these edgy authors and am finding myself exploring God so much more than when going through those "interesting" (cross reference the Shattuck'ovian usage of this term) several years of seminary. How is it that I've never been so tuned into the fact that Jesus was Jewish and that so much of what he did and said was dripping with Jewish cultural references...making it all that much more meaningful and beautiful?? Why weren't these things taught in New Testament class or Biblical Backgrounds (where we spent every class, as I joke, talking about the favorite under-tunic color of the kings of Assyria).

I was afraid to start writing this blog today because if I really let loose and let the words flow, no one would stick around long enough to read it! There's just too much inside me trying to bust out of the tiny walls of my mind. I am just...well, joyful. Sounds goofy huh? But seriously....and here's why (the nutshell version of what I'll be speaking about on June 4th).

I am the bride of Christ. When he raised the cup at the final passover with the disciples he was saying that they need to remember him...that they need to continue thinking about him all the while doing everything necessary to be prepared for him returning.

When he said he was going to prepare a place for them, this was a normal phrase of a groom who had just arranged his marriage with his fiancee. He would return to his father's house to prepare the place they would live in after their official marriage ceremony.

The awesome thing is that upon "cutting" the marriage covenant (here for more on covenants), (1) the marriage was official although not completed and (2) the covenant would be left with the bride while she was waiting for her husband to return to claim her. The couple would drink a glass of wine together, knowing that the next glass of wine they shared would be after the marriage was completed and the groom had returned.

There's really too much to go into in a blog post (maybe). Reading about all of this, though, has blown my mind...giving me a completely new understanding of God's love for me.

• He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay my wedding price.
• Jesus promised me upon cutting our marriage covenant with his blood that he would go to prepare a place for me and that one day, unexpectedly, he will return to me.
• Jesus left me with two forms of evidence, the Holy Spirit and God's marriage covenant with His people, His Word.
• I have also been given the assurance that I am already his! I have been purified through my commitment to him. And I now wait in eager expectation of the day when he will return for me.

Isn't this an incredibly beautiful picture, no reality, of God's love for His people. Why don't we, the church -- the whole bride of Christ -- share this love with the world. Why don't we freak out with joy when we think about Him, causing us to unashamedly share that love with others? Why don't I do that??

Hilarious...you've got to read these!

Ok, as you've noticed my mind is taking a break today talking about chickens and such...and searching humor on the web instead of philosophy! :-)

That said, you've got to read through these 20 Ways To Be Left Alone At Work. They're from Mark Oestreicher's (he's with Youth Specialities) blog. I was seriously crying while reading these. Honestly I was picturing doing these things in the office where I used to work. I miss being crazy in the office...when I'm crazy in the office here Vicki just doesn't appreciate it!! Haha!!

Oh chicken!!

You know what's funny? In Poland instead of saying "oh shoot" (or whatever other mild "oh..." phrase you use) they have a saying, "o kurcze"...or "oh chicken". I love it...I use it often. Obviously they have more colorful versions which could have been theoretically used in the beginning by some theoretical missionary before they were completely understood (don't ask). But most often you hear "oh chicken" all over.

What's the big deal, eh? asks the canuck in the back. A big deal there isn't. But it is cool when you're watching American movies in which they occasional drop some vulgar "oh..." and you see the subtitles translate that horrible word "oh chicken". It makes me laugh.

Relationship or Ideology

Notice the quote I added yesterday to the header graphic? I read that a couple days ago in Philip Yancey's "The Jesus I Never Knew". I'm still unpacking it in my mind, in a sense plumbing the depths of my love for Christ.

You know, we're not in "this thing" because we agree with a set of propositions. The disciples didn't interview the Rabbi before leaving everything to follow him...didn't ask about his 5-year plan, his worldview, his thought about speaking in a prayer language or allowing women to speak on the platform (oops, getting personal here aren't I?). They just followed!!

It's all about us abandoning everything, no matter what, and following Christ. It's all about that relationship with him. Man, that does something inside of me to write these things.

...It makes me angry at how many have raped Christianity for their own pleasure, taking from it only what they want (good feelings, career choices, money, trendyness, etc) without regard to the reality of the Christian life.

...It makes me sad to think about all of the times that I have done that same thing in my life. How many times have I picked and chosen the things I want acting like I was visiting some kind of spiritual supermarket, taking what I want from the shelves and leaving the rest behind.

...It makes me hopeful that if we as Christ followers will truly follow and leave the junk behind, we will experience true life, transformation, growth, passion, community, love, healing, restoration...I can go on and on.

I wanted to share these thoughts with you all today. I want to have that same, strong conviction that Dostoevsky had. I want you to have it too. I want the bride of Christ to flourish because of our undying dedication to the groom...because of our relationship with him and not because we agree with a set of ideas. I want our love for him to be everything that drives us.

Young, zealous, idealistic, dreamer...that I might be. I pray the only part of that description which changes in time is "young"!!

Putting our hearts where our mouths are...

Together with our kids we entered into our sponsorship relationship with Emmanuel from Rwanda yesterday. We're all excited to have the opportunity to have an impact on him and his family...as well as thankful for the opportunity this give our kids to learn about loving others -- especially those you've never even met. I thought you might want to hear about him. He will be 11 years old June 12, is in first grade, his favorite subject is music, loves to play soccer, and his main responsibility at home is to collect firewood for his family. The following is the information provided from World Vision:

Emmanuel lives with his mother, 2 brothers, and 1 sister. His mother struggles to provide for the family.

Emmanuel and his family live in a community severely affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. In some communities, AIDS affects the entire social structure as a generation of hardworking adults is being wiped out. Frightened children and exhausted grandparents rarely have money for food, school, or medical care. Through sponsorship, you can ensure access to these and other basic needs for Emmanuel and his family.

Emmanuel is in primary school and he enjoys music. He helps at home by gathering firewood. He likes to play soccer. He is in good health.

Your sponsorship commitment will help provide Emmanuel and his community with the assistance they need to save a generation from the HIV/AIDS crisis. World Vision will faithfully use your sponsorship support of Emmanuel to meet his needs and minimize the impact of AIDS in his community through tangible prevention and care programs. You are an answer to prayer, helping children and families gain access to basic needs and learn about God's unconditional love.

Blessed to be a blessing! I challenge you all, too, to put your hearts where your mouths are as true followers of Christ!!

Cheating in Poland

Thought some of you might be interested in reading this article about the presence of widespread cheating in the Polish education system. It's something that has led to us needing to rethink our style of leadership in the church as critical thinking, abstract thought, etc are really not valued in schools...at least alongside or ahead of the memorization and recall of raw data (dates, statistics, etc).

For some of you this article (along with some others on this author's blog about Poland) might cause you to think about how we're doing church/ministry in Poland because you live and/or work here. For others it might give you an interesting look at this culture, giving you a clearer picture of the situation as you pray for us and the Poles we are trying to reach with the Good News.

Sally Struthers and the Shattucks

Sorry, but to be quite honest, any time I have ever thought about "sponsor-a-child" programs, Sally Struthers always come to mind. I remember her interrupting me when I was a kid...sitting there watching my favorite TV show cut off for some boring woman to go on and on about children starving somewhere on the other side of the globe. "Get on with it!", I'd think. "Back to what's important...the Transformers!"

Interesting how all the years later I find myself still thinking about Sally...well, at least about her cause. How many of us still have those pictures in our minds...the little kids with the swollen stomachs because of malnutrition? Of course the only thing that has changed over all of these years are the dates and the statistics (which get worse and worse because of global neglect).

I've always, seemingly, known about the economic and social problems of Africa and other 3rd world nations. Don't you like saying it that way? It sounds so nice and to the point. It allows us to talk about the situation without saying, "I'm aware that there are millions on the brink of death, millions who have died because of living in utter poverty, men...women...children who have to bathe in and then drink or cook with the same water, millions suffering from the ravages of HIV/AIDS including children who got it NOT because of sexual promiscuity, etc. We don't want to say it that way because it pulls too much at our hearts then and makes us feel like we should be doing something...at least for me.

Even though I've always known about it, I've always ignored it. Just thought it wasn't my "fight", other people would take care of it, surely the U.N. or U.S. or some other abbreviated organization would bring an end to the despair. But that hasn't happened over the years. The "abbreviations" aren't doing anything...strike that...we aren't doing anything. Just take a look at these figures of what we spend on given items a year (collectively) vs. what it would take to solve some of the world's most pressing issues.

You know, I'm someone who thinks huge...wants to change the world as a follower of Christ. Lately I've come to realize that often I need to be more of a doer than just a dreamer. So, I just wanted to share (not because of trying to flaunt it...but because it's simple and can be done by anyone) that the Shattucks are going to sponsor a child with World Vision. Likely it will be a child from Rwanda as we have been deeply moved over the last years for this place...and most recently had that rekindled watching "Hotel Rwanda" a few weeks ago.

One man...not one family can change the world. But hopefully we can make the difference in at least one family who is struggling desparately in a place where none of us would want to be in life. And I'm thankful that God has brought me here...that He's given me this burden, this passion...this better understanding of what it means to be His hands, His feet to the world.

Ever heard someone say "I'm blessed to be a blessing"? Well friend...that's me. And more, if you have been given the gift of life through becoming a follower of Christ, then it's you too. Let's be more aware of how we can change the world together by meeting real needs of the people around us...be that on your street or somewhere on the other side of the globe!

In-depth look at the Lord's Supper

If you're interested in reading one of the most informative online looks at the Lord's Supper, that I've seen, you might consider checking this out. I'm not going to say that everything he says I agree with (I haven't read it that closely). But it goes a long way to show that maybe we're missing something in the way that we so often take the "Supper" in church.

Real Clear Theology Blog: The Lord's Table is Not a Funeral

Postmodernism...in the wild

Wanna see what postmodernism sounds like (err...reads like) in the real world and not just on some missionary's website? Check out this post. It's on a website I check out almost daily. Gary's a gazillionaire, photography guru that keeps a daily blog that is very interesting. Today he posted this and I just thought "huh...that's what we're talking about over here."

Check out the comments...they're very interesting. And y'all...hear me. I'm not by any of this slamming Gary or the others people who posted. As followers of Christ we need to be aware of how the world perceives Christianity (and religion, in general) today.

"On Holy Ground" Article

This article was forwarded to me from my supervisor and I thought about sharing it with you. It discusses the present state of religion in Europe. There's specific reference to Czech Republic (Poland is mentioned though - somewhat favorably) but it gives great insight into how things are looking, spiritually-speaking, on this continent.

One thing that really captured my eye is someone in the article saying that they believed the church had wasted an opportunity to change in order to meet the needs of contemporary society. That's exactly what I've been talking about on this blog!! No, I'm not saying I told you so. I'm saying that this is an issue, so let's get to work and make sure that it doesn't continue!

Poland is mentioned as being pious or something along those lines. But more and more people are leaving the Catholic church and moving the way of the rest of the continent. We need to make sure that we don't lose our opportunity here by deciding to choose tradition over evolving to meet the needs of the people around us.

Why'd you have to make me cry?

I was listening to a message this morning by Rob Bell from Mars Hill Bible Church and several things really, really impressed me. This guy is serious about Mars Hill making an impact on history...you might say, on the future history of the world because of who they are in Christ. I recommend you listening to this message to catch a glimpse of what a fired up missional church can do. Go here and download "So, Anyway, Who Wants to Change the World?" It's free you just have to agree to their licensing agreement.

Let me just mention a couple of observations...

(1) The idea they have of membership being in the form of convenant is great. Honestly I'm sick of the idea of signing a card, ensuring you've been baptized "properly" and *BAM* you're a member. After this you don't have to do squat, nothing's expected of you (so it seems)...you can just come to church whenever, tithe whenever (if ever), get involved whenever you feel like it. Basically, it's all about you and your own personal desires. The church is about community...it's a body functioning together. The covenant brings along a sense of accountability with leadership (and better) other members. As a member of the body (big toe, shoulder, hang nail, etc) you are expected to do your part, knowing that you are there for that reason...to support what the body is doing -- fulfilling the Mission of Jesus Christ in the world!!

(2) The idea of Mars Hill being realistic about the world's situation and truly seeking to find ways to impact "the world" is incredible. I sat there listening to how they'd met with leaders from Rwanda and how their lead pastor met with the mayor (I think it was) of Grand Rapids just saying that whenever Jesus shows up on the scene things change...people are impacted...creation is restored. It made me cry, craving in the depths of my soul to see something like that happen here in Poland. It made me yearn to be a part of something like that myself...to lead God's people to that kind of dedication, to that kind of passion to be used by God to impact the world around them in a profound way.

(3) If you listen to the message you'll hear something amazing close to the end of the audio file. Don Golden (I think that's who it is) shares a few words at the end, one of which is referring to their "Joy Boxes" at the back of the room. These are boxes where people are asked to place their offerings. The amazing thing is that when he mentions these boxes people actually cheer! They yell out, seriously joyfully. It is something you could easily miss but which is...well I'll say it again...it's amazing! Check out their weekly newsletters if you're skeptical...their people are giving generously!

I don't want to expound further. These things are challenges to me, to us...to God's people. We're dropping the ball and enough is enough. Let's start realizing who we are because of Who we serve...and thus begin dreaming about what is possible in Him! We really can change the world!!

Community in Communion

I'm interested in exploring the ways that other churches do communion (the Lord's Supper). I say that because the last time our church took communion it sort of went like this:

• Passage read when Jesus shared Last Supper with disciples
• Elements prayed over by individuals who would be giving them out
• Organ (via keyboard) and 2 violins played "Amazing Grace"
• Elements passed out and taken individually as people received them
• Elements replaced on stage
• Whole church recited the "Lord's Prayer" together
  

To be honest it was much like most other such occassions I could remember in most churches I've been in. But I just wondered if that was the way Jesus had intended us to remember him...no community, no intimacy, topped off with a prayer soulessly recited by everyone in the room (including several who hadn't even taken the bread or wine -- what does that mean about our use of that prayer...ok, that's content for another topic).

I like to read passages as if I were there, on the scene and think about what it must have been like. I try to imagine the Last Supper that way. These were people who had gone the distance together (literally and figuratively). I can't imagine how, on earth, there could be any more intimate community than in that room, that evening.

Imagine, to be sitting next to the Master as he handed you a piece of bread and said that it was his body that would be broken for you. And as he, followed by all of the others, lifted their cups in a sense toasting to the blood he would spill for you. That's not something easy to imagine is it? It is something with such deep meaning that you would have to sit for hours just to begin to have a sense of any of it.

If that is the case...if it was something so full of deep meaning, intimate community then maybe we should take a look at how we are currently approaching communion. I'm not going to say that anybody's doing it wrong as only God knows an individual's heart. What I would like to say, though, is that I am interested in trying to add depth, intimacy, community to our observance of communion.

Maybe some of you would like to share your feelings about this. Maybe you have a different take on things, which isn't just ok, it's great! Maybe you have some ideas which we could explore. Maybe you want to share the way your church observes communion.

Seriously, not trying to be critical here. I just want us to take a hard look at the things we do, which we believe are leading us into a deeper relationship with God (individually and as the body of Christ) and determine if they're truly what God intended. If not, change is required.

Environmentalists...radicals or role models

I was riding in the car with my aunt one time. Don't remember where we were...even which continent we were on...what we were doing, where we were going. I just remember that I'd just taken some candy or something out of a wrapper, rolled the window down, and casually tossed the wrapper out. Didn't think anything of it...went on enjoying my treat.

I remember my aunt ruining the moment and lecturing me (everything's a lecture when you're young) about the environment, how everything in creation is so important to God, and how we have been given the responsibility to look after it.

You know, that really stuck with me and to be honest I don't believe I've littered since then. My to-be kids are always amazed when we're walking through the park or something and we see a beer bottle in the middle of the sidewalk...and their to-be dad stops to pick it up and throw it away. Why? To be an environmental hero? To impress them? To impress you? No!

Take a read through chapter 1 of Genesis. Aren't you in awe of what God did? The beauty...the goodness. As you read through the chapter you see how pleased He is with creation and then something happens...down around verse 26. Man was created...I like how the Message puts it, He created man "...reflecting God's nature." He challenged them to take charge...to care for all of creation. I'll say it again, all of creation.

Environmentalists really get a bad name because of some of the radical things that they do...and granted, some of it is not of God. But we, as followers of Christ, need to look at this with a different perspective. Creation, not just us...but all of it, is something that really pleases God. As we grow to be more like Him shouldn't we have that reality more and more reflected in ourselves? And if so, shouldn't we be doing all we can to live up to the challenge He gave us in the beginning?

Make a habit of seeing how you are caring for creation.

Stop waiting on death to live!

I've been working on my sermon for Sunday morning (asked to preach at 5N Church this week). It's entitled "Life outside the Matrix". I thought that was appropriate as I've been working on all of this postmodern "philosophy" stuff lately and the postscript for the Other Side book is: Doing Ministry in the postmodern matrix.

Anyway, I just wanted to bring this thought up. In the verses I mentioned in my previous post (Col. 1:19-20) Paul writes how

"all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe -- people and things, animals, and atoms -- get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his [Jesus'] death, his blood that poured down from the cross."

My point's this (maybe I should say, the Scripture's point seems to be this)...we are living in God's reality NOW. What? Yeah...look at it. "All the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe" have been fixed through the death of Jesus on the cross. Look at it in some different versions (here) and you see the same past tense used. The reality that God intended from the beginning...the one that was broken through sin was restored through Jesus' death and resurrection.

What's that mean for us? It's give me a completely different perspective to think that in Christ (as His follower...accompanying Him) I am living out my eternity now. I don't have to wait for death to come in order to experience restoration with God. I have it now! I can live in His presence, feel His joy, experience His forgiveness, know He's there with every fall, tear, shout...again, I can live!

Remember Dead Poet's Society? I love that movie. I even had its catchphrase written on a band sweatshirt in high school (loser that I am it was spelled wrong -- Carpe Dium). There's a point to that phrase (Carpe Diem - Seize the Day). Jesus calls us to do the same. And maybe it gives us a new hope...a new focus...a new yearning for God to think that of ourselves as "citizens of Heaven" (Phil 3). That's a phrase that describes our current citizenship...not something we'll receive after death.

How will your eternity look today? Let's stop waiting on death to live!!

What if...?

Finished reading Velvet Elvis today by Rob Bell. Ever read that one? Let me just say, you should. Ok, that is if you're ready for everything to be challenged. Some critics would say that he's crazy, trying to destroy the Evangelical church, a heretic...don't know what else. But maybe those people have only read a few pages, I don't know. His point is that it's high time that we come to grips with what we are doing in our lives as followers of Christ and how we "do church". He's appealing to us to come to a truly Biblical understanding of those things instead of just through the influences of our church cultures. Man, how that's needed!!

I spent some time dreaming today after finishing the epilogue...dreaming about "what would happen if....?" Ask either of my aunts and they'll tell you I've been asking that questions since...well, forever! I still love it today because it forces us to open up our minds and think BIG!! I MEAN BIG!!

I'll share one of my "what-ifs" with y'all today:

What if followers of Christ came to understand that we have not only been called to follow him but to become like him?

OK...what does that mean Mikey? My mind took me down this road of thinking about the life of Jesus...how he lived...how he spoke...how he healed...his death on the cross...his resurrection...everything. Rob said something in the book that made me think "huh...". He was referring to these verses:

So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe--people and things, animals and atoms--get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross. (Colossians 1:19-20 - MSG)

It's this...if we are to become more and more like Christ then our lives should become more and more a part of the same work that Christ did while on earth...fixing, restoring, reconciling creation to its original goodness. Imagine what that means! Seriously stop and think about it!!

It's not new age...it's not liberal...it's living in the reality that God desires for us! It's the reality that God is fixing creation, restoring it to the way He planned it in the beginning...and He wants us to be a part of it!!!

What if??

Outline available (updated)

Hey gang,
I know some of you have already downloaded the outline. I was looking it over this morning and realized I had turned off spell check (don't like it underlining me and stopping my "flow") and forgot to run it manually when I finished. So, I've uploaded the new - and improved - versions. The links below will take you to the outlines, featuring that special aire of spelling bliss!!

Outline (html version)
Outline (.pdf version)

Click here to purchase your own copy.

michael

Outline available

I finished reading and working through Brian McLaren's The Church on the Other Side yesterday. It was really a great book and helped me sort out a lot of thoughts I've been having over the past few years about "doing church" in today's culture. I know that might sound strange to some...but very clear to others. Anyway, if you're interested in taking a look at the outline I put together it will give you a great view into the book. It's somewhat exhaustive and thus about 30-some pages. It's also completely objective...my opinions are not reflected at all. Instead quotes and summaries are completely from the text.

This is not an encouragement not to buy the book! Instead I'd rather you do that. But I know that for those who won't maybe you'll at least take a look through the outline. Others, and I highly encourage this, will be tantalized with these nuggets and want to get the book to pour over for yourselves. Here's the important links:

Outline (html version)
Outline (.pdf version)

Click here to purchase your own copy.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this!!

On a lighter note...pictures

Don't know if all of you know but we have a bunch of pics online that you can check out. We took a field trip today with our to-be kiddos to a prehistoric Polish settlement about an hour or so from Poznan. There are some interesting pics you might enjoy seeing.

Click here

Enjoy!

the Emerging Church

Are you familiar with the "Emerging Church"? A lot of what I've been talking about here the past week is part of their ongoing "conversation" (as they call it). If any of this is hitting a nerve -- in a good or maybe even bad way -- you might want to check them out. Take a look around there site...they have a lot there to help you get to know what they're all about. Don't worry...not trying to change anyone (or am I?)...but especially just interested in getting us all, including myself, to think!
Emergent Village

Also ran across this blog post tonight that does a good job of explaining some things about the Emerging Church...uses great imagery that makes a lot of sense. Might be interested to give it a read as well:
ysmarko blog

My prayer for today

Hey all...went bike riding this morning for the first time this season. I couldn't stop thinking about my thoughts from yesterday. I kept thinking about how McLaren talked about us needing to be "ardent seekers".

So, I seemingly found myself praying this prayer. I don't often share my prayers with people but felt like letting you in some more.

"Father, help me to be an ardent seeker of You and a dedicated shepherd to the people you put around me."

If I could just get these two things down I'd be in great shape!!!

Reinventing church (still thinking)

Closer to finishing "the Other Side" book today. I'm working on an outline of the book that is relatively exhaustive. I'm thinking about putting it online. I don't think there are any copyright problems with that but I might look into that for sure. I'd rather y'all pickup a copy and read it all for yourselves so you could pour over the concepts, quotes, etc in their entirety. But the reality is that not everyone will (not like I buy every book my friends/colleagues talk about). So, I figure a good outline might be just the thing for some of you interested in more of what I'm talking about. For others, you'll want to just get the book. Of course I'd be interested if any of you have read some other really good books on postmodernism and its influence on ministry...add a comment or shootme an email.

Today I wanted to draw the word "seeker" to your (and my) attention. If you do a search on this blog you'll find I've already used it once before, talking about how we're reaching out to seekers who don't even know they're seeking. Well, my usage of that term seems to be evolving with so many other things I've been long familiar with. Maybe you'll see what I'm talking...and possibly find your use of the term change...or maybe not. Either way, here's what I mean....

What comes to mind when I say/type the word "seeker"? Honestly the first thing that generally pops into my mind is Willow Creek. Their "seeker-services" are well-known in the church world because of the tremendous success they have been blessed with. Maybe you thinking of something else...maybe heat-seeking missiles or something likethat! :-)

We talk here in our meetings about seekers as well. We talk about what seekers like and don't like, where seekers are found, what kind of music seekers listen to...and generally how to seek out the seekers. Brian McLaren points out how this can lead to a perspective that there are two groups: (1) the seekers and (2) those who are "in the know"...those who have already got the information...those who are in the club...believers - a.k.a. "us". But he asks a very important questionthat resonated in my mind...

Why is it that we aren't seekers as well?

Does our pursuit stop once we say the sinner's prayer? Does it stop when we've finally gotten our names added to the glorious book of church membership? Does it stop when we've finally been nominated as deacon, gotten a position as Sunday School Teacher, or when we've been named President of the denomination? NO!! We are seekers only up until one very distinct point in our lives, when our ability to seek God has ended and we are standing in His presence.

"What are the implications of this?", you ask. I think there are at least two that I can see now...One is that we believers will never come to the point where we feel like we have arrived. Everyday we need to realize that the search goes on. God is not done revealing His mysteries to us. But how can we find them if we're not searching them out...between the pages of a new Ken Gire book...between the words of Ed Young, Jr.'s next message...in between the pauses in your next conversation with that friend who seems so close to following Christ...in that "look" your four year old gives you when you tell her you love her....

The second possibility is that by acknowledging that we believers are also seekers, we are much more easily able to invite non-believers to join the search along with us. Know what I mean? Maybe it will be comforting for your non-believer friend to know that you don't have all of the answers. Postmoderns don't want to hear that anyway. But if we are able to show them bits and pieces of our daily search, maybe they will be more and more interested in what we are finding.

What do you think? A semantics game? Or might this have some merit to it? If you squint wrong you might not be able to see the differences in what I'm talking about. But if we look at this the right way maybe we can work toward breaking down a barrier that will not only help our non-believer friends, but might as well thrust us into a new world of exploring the mysteries found in the greatness of our unfathomable God!!