Christianity began in Palestine as a relationship,
moved to Greece and became an idea,
went to Rome and became an institution,
then came to America and became and enterprise."
Richard Halverson
What will History say WE did with Christianity???
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Greatest Threat to our Faith???
New Age??
Buddhism??
Islam??
Terrorism??
I believe the greatest threat to our faith is none of these things. I am begining to think it is the subversive influence of consumerism. This disease has infected every one of us and tends to be extremely heinous and insidious. It is a real challenge to the Gospel.
The question or quest is to determine how we combat such a pervasive and persuasive influence in our culture with out totally abandoning that culture and secluding ourselves in a monastery or convent some where or becoming a recluse?
How do we incarnate in culture and not become infected with culture to the point we can no longer influence it with Christ?
Buddhism??
Islam??
Terrorism??
I believe the greatest threat to our faith is none of these things. I am begining to think it is the subversive influence of consumerism. This disease has infected every one of us and tends to be extremely heinous and insidious. It is a real challenge to the Gospel.
The question or quest is to determine how we combat such a pervasive and persuasive influence in our culture with out totally abandoning that culture and secluding ourselves in a monastery or convent some where or becoming a recluse?
How do we incarnate in culture and not become infected with culture to the point we can no longer influence it with Christ?
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Gathering Rhythms - Part 4
Our Natural F. L. O. W. of Life –
The rhythms (habits/practices) that make us:
“A people to belong to” and embody who we are.
THIS IS THE "W" IN OUR FLOW
Whole-istic Community - growing as a supportive and loving family: (John 13:34-35)
Being Missional doesn’t happen without community.
Real friendships- It has to be real. Conversations should move in the direction of openness and transparency as we share our lives together. This community aspect of church is the building block for the previous two values.
Non-Churchy relationships- Merge new people in through authentic development friendships and shared experiences. So that they don’t just say “we go to this gathering or we go to this church” rather we want them to say “these are my friends and we hang together on Saturday nights at this thing called a gathering or I meet my friends there” We call ourselves “a people to belong to”.
Inclusive community – This is to say that we value an open community where God’s grace and Love are modeled. There is not a feeling of needing to conform to be accepted and we are free to share the good and bad of life. The problem is not the sin in our lives (we all have that) but the not dealing with the sin in our lives. It is also ok not to believe and to even disagree. We want people at every place in their spiritual journey to feel accepted and loved with out compromising the truth.
Simplicity – We want to de-busy our lives pursue simplicity. We want to simplify and have time to interact in depth of relationship rather that jumping in and out of so many spheres of relationships that we have no time to really know anyone. We will integrate our lives and relationships being whole-istic in our approach to life as a community. This is a commitment to proximity, living out, and honesty.
Food- Jesus did his best stuff while breaking bread with others. Communities don’t seem to work without this element being an important part. There’s something about slowing down to eat together that binds people together.
The rhythms (habits/practices) that make us:
“A people to belong to” and embody who we are.
THIS IS THE "W" IN OUR FLOW
Whole-istic Community - growing as a supportive and loving family: (John 13:34-35)
Being Missional doesn’t happen without community.
Real friendships- It has to be real. Conversations should move in the direction of openness and transparency as we share our lives together. This community aspect of church is the building block for the previous two values.
Non-Churchy relationships- Merge new people in through authentic development friendships and shared experiences. So that they don’t just say “we go to this gathering or we go to this church” rather we want them to say “these are my friends and we hang together on Saturday nights at this thing called a gathering or I meet my friends there” We call ourselves “a people to belong to”.
Inclusive community – This is to say that we value an open community where God’s grace and Love are modeled. There is not a feeling of needing to conform to be accepted and we are free to share the good and bad of life. The problem is not the sin in our lives (we all have that) but the not dealing with the sin in our lives. It is also ok not to believe and to even disagree. We want people at every place in their spiritual journey to feel accepted and loved with out compromising the truth.
Simplicity – We want to de-busy our lives pursue simplicity. We want to simplify and have time to interact in depth of relationship rather that jumping in and out of so many spheres of relationships that we have no time to really know anyone. We will integrate our lives and relationships being whole-istic in our approach to life as a community. This is a commitment to proximity, living out, and honesty.
Food- Jesus did his best stuff while breaking bread with others. Communities don’t seem to work without this element being an important part. There’s something about slowing down to eat together that binds people together.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Church vs Discipleship
"We want to lower the bar of how church is done and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple." Neil Cole of Church Multiplication Associates
This is my desire as well. I want to stop worring about what form the church takes and concentrate on what form my life, and the lives of those around me, takes as we devote them to our Lord!
This is my desire as well. I want to stop worring about what form the church takes and concentrate on what form my life, and the lives of those around me, takes as we devote them to our Lord!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The newest Mac Specialist
I just received word that I am a new Mac Specialist at theNew Apple Store set to open in about a month in our area. I am excited to not only get payed to play with cool Apple stuff and help people find what they need but to be in the community and reach out to those I meet!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Gathering Rhythms - Part 3
Our Natural F. L. O. W. of Life –
The rhythms (habits/practices) that make us:
“A people to belong to” and embody who we are.
THIS IS THE "O" IN OUR FLOW
Outward Blessing - A priority of serving and loving one another (Gen. 12:1-3, Matt 25:34-40)
Experiencing Jesus- Faith without action is dead (James 2: 17). In a postmodern world words mean less and less. Unless faith is tangible and experiential it will have very little impact or relevance. Also we learn Jesus holistically—you can’t just read your Bible if you want to be like Jesus—you have to go try to do what he did.
Enriching our own community- Our friendships grow deeper when we serve together. God seems to deepen our lives and relationships when we serve others together.
Loving as Jesus loved – We are, in some ways, deprogramming our evangelical experiences and re-learning the authentic ways of Jesus. We have been steeped in the practice of “stringy love”. This is not how Jesus loved. He did not show kindness to others, expecting some outcome or responsive action. An example of this may be offering to feed a group of homeless folks only after they sit through a gospel presentation. Thousands of people could easily recount the gospel tenants. They have heard it so many times; yet rarely understand the gospel message. Is not feeding the hungry, the Gospel! The Gospel is being God’s blessing in our world and only through a relationship will we be able to truly share Jesus. We tell them about Jesus and his love for them when they ask, not forcing it down their throats. We are striving to live out Jesus’ commandment of loving each other as a community of his followers, so that others may see we are his disciples. Our only agenda in that is to leave people wanting more, more of Jesus by blessing them.
The rhythms (habits/practices) that make us:
“A people to belong to” and embody who we are.
THIS IS THE "O" IN OUR FLOW
Outward Blessing - A priority of serving and loving one another (Gen. 12:1-3, Matt 25:34-40)
Experiencing Jesus- Faith without action is dead (James 2: 17). In a postmodern world words mean less and less. Unless faith is tangible and experiential it will have very little impact or relevance. Also we learn Jesus holistically—you can’t just read your Bible if you want to be like Jesus—you have to go try to do what he did.
Enriching our own community- Our friendships grow deeper when we serve together. God seems to deepen our lives and relationships when we serve others together.
Loving as Jesus loved – We are, in some ways, deprogramming our evangelical experiences and re-learning the authentic ways of Jesus. We have been steeped in the practice of “stringy love”. This is not how Jesus loved. He did not show kindness to others, expecting some outcome or responsive action. An example of this may be offering to feed a group of homeless folks only after they sit through a gospel presentation. Thousands of people could easily recount the gospel tenants. They have heard it so many times; yet rarely understand the gospel message. Is not feeding the hungry, the Gospel! The Gospel is being God’s blessing in our world and only through a relationship will we be able to truly share Jesus. We tell them about Jesus and his love for them when they ask, not forcing it down their throats. We are striving to live out Jesus’ commandment of loving each other as a community of his followers, so that others may see we are his disciples. Our only agenda in that is to leave people wanting more, more of Jesus by blessing them.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Gathering Rhythms - Part 2
Our Natural F. L. O. W. of Life – The rhythms (habits/practices) that make us:
“A people to belong to” and embody who we are.
THIS IS THE "L" IN OUR FLOW
Living Missional - Being sent into the world to be a blessing. (“Sentness”)Matt 28:18-20
Proximity- We will place ourselves in a position to develop new relationships… 3rd places, asking God to lead us to concentrate on a particular neighborhood/people/person. This is being obedient to Jesus’ last command to us…to “go”. We value Proximity as Time, Frequency, and the Capacity for spontaneity.
Posture- In Jesus’ life he teaches that the way Truth is communicated is as important as the Truth itself. We can say Jesus is the way all we want but unless it’s received well its useless.
Advocate- …one who supports and speaks in favor of…one who pleads for another. We show people we are genuinely on their side by stepping across from religiosity to authenticity. Being a good advocate means being available and willing to engage process (formation) not expecting conformity to belong.
Belonging- engaging culture in a natural and deliberate way.
We do this by developing 4 Rhythms (habits):
"Living Out"
1. Leaving – Replacing personal or Christian activities with time spent building relationships with sojourners.
2. Living amongst – Participating in the natural activities of culture. “In but not of”
3. Listening – Sensitively responding to conversation in a way that demonstrates sincere interest. (eyes and ears)
4. Loving – Blessing with NO strings attached.
“A people to belong to” and embody who we are.
THIS IS THE "L" IN OUR FLOW
Living Missional - Being sent into the world to be a blessing. (“Sentness”)Matt 28:18-20
Proximity- We will place ourselves in a position to develop new relationships… 3rd places, asking God to lead us to concentrate on a particular neighborhood/people/person. This is being obedient to Jesus’ last command to us…to “go”. We value Proximity as Time, Frequency, and the Capacity for spontaneity.
Posture- In Jesus’ life he teaches that the way Truth is communicated is as important as the Truth itself. We can say Jesus is the way all we want but unless it’s received well its useless.
Advocate- …one who supports and speaks in favor of…one who pleads for another. We show people we are genuinely on their side by stepping across from religiosity to authenticity. Being a good advocate means being available and willing to engage process (formation) not expecting conformity to belong.
Belonging- engaging culture in a natural and deliberate way.
We do this by developing 4 Rhythms (habits):
"Living Out"
1. Leaving – Replacing personal or Christian activities with time spent building relationships with sojourners.
2. Living amongst – Participating in the natural activities of culture. “In but not of”
3. Listening – Sensitively responding to conversation in a way that demonstrates sincere interest. (eyes and ears)
4. Loving – Blessing with NO strings attached.
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