Jesus in the City

Comments on the Middle East

2007-08-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post a few thoughts from a trip I took to the Middle East in the Spring. It is important as global Christians to have both a biblical and historical perspective.

First, reconciliation is key. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." Relational diplomacy – people to people – is the key. Top down dealing with powers and bottom up – dealing with people at the most basic level of needs. It was my exposure to the Afghans and others I met in the Middle-East that began to change how I thought. This means lots of people, especially those with influence, need to go and spend time with people. Second, understanding the divine promises related to Israel and all nations. Third, honest historical examination. A couple of great books are Elias Chacour's "Blood Brothers" and Thomas Friedman's "From Beirut to Jerusalem."

More to come...

Vacation Pics

2007-08-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

We spent last week in Mammoth and had a blast! God's creation is amazing!

Battling Discouragement

2007-08-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

One of the big themes this first year in LA has been battling discouragement. I would like to think I am bulletproof, but I am not. Discouragement leads to a lack of hope and a decrease in motivation; and those are key ingredients that have to be maintained. Taking my cues from Jesus I have found the following helpful:

1. Praying to the Father. "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven..."(Matt 6:9) Praying to God in the manner of a son coming to a loving father and asking for help is His desire! Jesus battled immense discouragement, and shows us that intimacy is the place to start.

2. Getting time alone. "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself."(John 6:15) In a time of great peril, Jesus had to strengthen himself by being alone. There is no replacing time alone. I know I am in trouble when people that I am close to become taxing to me. This is a good sign it is time to withdraw by yourself.

3. Spiritual Warfare. "Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God."(Luke 9:42-3) Where do you think evil thoughts come from? If we are to be amazed at the greatness of God sometimes the only way to get there is to rebuke the evil spirits that plague us.

4. Get angry at religion. "While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'"(Matt 9:10-12) Understanding that Jesus' battle was against a religious system of rules and restrictions and those(Pharisees) that enforced them is paramount. Jesus had choice words for them. Staying free in the Holy Spirit and spending time with "tax collectors and sinners" is a great job description!

5. Don't believe everything you hear. "He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'"(Mark 8:32-3) Did Peter love Jesus? Did Peter think he was doing Jesus a favor by rebuking him? There are lots of voices that are intending to help, but the opposite is happening. For me, I have to watch this carefully; I am a people pleaser at heart. There are very few voices that are right in life, and finding them involves weeding through the well-intentioned, but damaging ones.

Make it a great day!

Recent Pics

2007-08-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to Ty and Erica!

2007-07-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

Erica and I had a blast on our anniversary trip! Shout out to Sarah Miller, Erica's cousin, for watching the kids for 4 days.

Interesting NY Times article.

2007-07-31T09:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/us/29evangelical.html/?_r=1&oref=slogin

God loves Jews, Palestinians and the whole world equally!

10 year anniversary

2007-07-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

Erica and I are off for our 10 year anniversary trip. It is actually not until November, but we have babysitting now so we are off!

Baby Chris Farley!

2007-07-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

Check this out. Is this a look alike for Chris Farley or what?

HUMILITY

2007-07-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Definition (Wikipedia): Humility is a quality or characteristic ascribed to a person who is considered to be humble. "Humility is derived from the Latin word "humilis", which means low, humble, from earth. A humble person is generally thought to be unpretentious and modest: someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. Humility is not to be confused with humiliation, which is the act of making someone else feel ashamed, and is something completely different.

St. Thomas Aquinas(right), a 13th century philosopher and theologian in the Catholic tradition, defines humility similarly as "the virtue of humility" that "consists in keeping oneself within one's own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one's superior." His "Summa theologica" impacted me greatly a few years back. One of my favorite Aquinas quotes : "How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God. "

Paul say it this way in Phil 2:

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

60 million Californians by mid-century

2007-07-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

The LA Times came out with an article yesterday that was fascinating. Here is an excerpt:

"Over the next half-century, California's population will explode by nearly 75%, and Riverside will surpass its bigger neighbors to become the second most populous county after Los Angeles, according to state Department of Finance projections released Monday. California will near the 60-million mark in 2050, the study found, raising questions about how the state will look and function and where all the people and their cars will go. Dueling visions pit the iconic California building block of ranch house, big yard and two-car garage against more dense, high-rise development. But whether sprawl or skyscrapers win the day, the Golden State will probably be a far different and more complex place than it is today, as people live longer and Latinos become the dominant ethnic group, eclipsing all others combined. Some critics forecast disaster if gridlock and environmental impacts are not averted. Others see a possible economic boon, particularly for retailers and service industries with an eye on the state as a burgeoning market. "It's opportunity with baggage," said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., in "a country masquerading as a state." Other demographers argue that the huge population increase the state predicts will occur only if officials complete major improvements to roads and other public infrastructure. "

This has huge impact on us. What a great state to live in! What an opportunity to start thousands of new churches!

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-population10jul10,0,1878846.story?page=1&track=mostemailedlink

Adventure

2007-07-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

I keep having this recurring thought that I've got to share. Especially as we approach our church launch. In my experience most people that try to move forward in their life, in regards to faith and risk, are immediately met with resistance. Sometimes people that are closest to you will question the very thing you sense God asking you to venture into. This is par for the course, check every biblical hero. When one steps out in faith, it is a journey of misunderstanding to many. It has to be okay that just a few people really understand and get behind you.

And that gets us so discouraged. Here is what the enemy wants you to believe: you will fail. It's a lie. I think we let small failures turn into big failures because we get so discouraged. What we need to do is a little damage control via hearing God's voice. Those of us that want maximum impact in from our lives will from time to time not look so good. Frodo had to leave the shire, and when he did, he was filled with crazy thoughts, but as time went on he became enthralled with the vision laid before him. It is uncomfortable to leave the shire. People we are closest with are in the shire and want us to stay there. For many of us, the shire is not where we are supposed to stay. Don't buy into the enemy's lie! Don't throw in the towel.

Immigration City

2007-07-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

I live in a state that immigration is a paramount issue. Future political leaders will be elected or not based on their stance with our borders. It's time to address this issue. It's broke and needs to be fixed and it is in our own self-interest to do so. Why?

Security. There's never been a time in history where we needed tighter borders than today with all the terrorist threats, etc. Trying to rely only on hiring more border guards is simply not going to work. To stem the tide you are going to have to go beyond guards and allow some to come easier so that it will be less desirable for people to come illegally. If communities are given a "quota" of how many can come and it's legal--if then it's violated and their quota is suspended--it will serve as incentive for locals in Mexico to control their own.

Economics. I just don't know who we're kidding. I saw a news special on a dairy farmer in Wisconsin who has a relationship with a village in Mexico and who, when interviewed, said if it weren't for them, he would have to close down his diary that's been open for generations. Cultural influence. The Irish, Germans, Italians, Africans, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mexicans all have left good marks on our nation. For fitting into a world that is less white and very anti-American, Hispanics make good U.S. citizens in representing more than an Anglo culture.

Social responsibility. They need jobs. They're asking for work, not a handout--this is our next door neighbor. If we provide work permits and special provisions for people who are screened and then easier ways of becoming U.S. citizens for those that contribute, it will be to our advantage for our future in this global world. Not all Mexicans want to live here--they just want to work here. Most U.S. citizens have a wrong view of Mexico as well. There is a huge middle class there, what we see are the poor who can't break into the middle class. If these jobs can help them, and we can help Mexico by development, it's better for Mexico and better for the U.S.

Neighbor relations. They live next door. It's like a mansion next door to an old dilapidated RV that someone lives in and neither can move. You can flaunt your stuff if you want or you can share it and treat your neighbor with respect. Your decision is going to go a long way in how they respond to you and whether they rob you or respect you.

Just thoughts...

Joel Osteen

2007-06-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

I, probably like many of you, have been involved with conversations about Joel Osteen, pastor of America's largest church, Lakewood, in Houston. Unfortunately many of the conversations have been unfairly critical. I have heard people say "he doesn't preach the real Gospel," "he is too much into prosperity," "he is too young..." I assume that I don't agree with everything Mr. Osteen believes, but then again there have been some stupid things come out of my mouth of what I thought was true. Maybe my greatest reason for liking him is that he seems like the kind of guy you would want to have lunch with. I have met alot of preachers, and conversing over lunch is not something I would aspire to do with many of them. Maybe that should be a new qualification for preachers: NICE.

The World Lives In My Back Yard!

2007-06-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some stats of Los Angeles that I have found and compiled.
Los Angeles is a microcosm of the world.

Los Angeles is home to people from more than 140 countries, who speak at least 224 different languages. Jesus asked us to go into the world and share the gospel. God is helping us accomplish this mission by bringing the world to us. People are migrating to the cities. For the first time in history, more than 50% of the world's population live in cities. This figure will continue to increase as more people migrate from rural areas to seek the hope of the city. In my lifetime we should eclipse the 80% mark.

MISSION IS WHY THE CHURCH EXISTS - People Matter MostWhen Jesus looked at the multitude, he was moved with compassion because he realized their plight. We pray that looking at this city will connect you even closer to the heart of Christ.

Los Angeles is a microcosm of the world for several reasons:

1. Los Angeles is one of the world's megacities (10 million or more population)

2. Los Angeles is the world's most ethnically diversified city. Studies have shown that there isn't a segment of the world's ethnic or religious not represented somewhere in Los Angeles·

It is the second largest English-speaking city in the world· It is the world's second largest Spanish speaking city.

It has the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran.

It has the largest population of Thais outside of Thailand·

It has the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia.

It has the largest Filipino population outside of the Philippines.

It has the largest Korean population outside of Korea.

It has the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam.

It has the second largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia.

It has the largest population of Persian Jews in the world.

It has the largest Salvadoran population outside of El Salvador.

It has the largest Guatemalan population outside of Guatemala.

It has the second largest Chinese population outside of China.

It has the third largest Japanese population outside of Japan.

It has the largest population of Pacific Islanders.

It has the nation's largest Romanian population.

It has the nation's largest population of native-American Indians.

It has the nation's second largest population of Russians.
It has the nation's second largest population of foreign-born citizens.

It is the fourth-largest African-American metropolitan area in the nation.

"Little Ethiopa" is in the Fairfax section of Los Angeles. "Ethiopia is the first African country to be named as a part of a city, any city, in the U.S3.

Los Angeles has by-passed London and New York as the world's most religiously pluralist metropolitan region.

It has the largest Buddhist temple in western hemisphere.

It has the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the country.

It has the largest Mormon Temple outside of Utah.

It has the largest concentration of Scientologists in the nation.

It has the second-largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

It is home to the biggest variety of Buddhists in the world.

It has the third largest concentration of practicing Muslims in the nation

Bravo Los Angeles!

Vatican issues 10 commandments of driving?!

2007-06-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/vatican_road_rage;_ylt=Al1MpIvnT2ny8slaOUQ0Yuvq188F

Integrity Matters!

2007-06-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

One Stroke

Bobby Jones is considered one of the history's greatest golfers. He won thirteen majors before he retired at the age of twenty-eight. And he is the first player to win four majors in one year! But even more than his winning record on the golf course, Bobby Jones is famous for a one-shot penalty at the 1925 U.S. Open.Jones inadvertently touched his golf ball and assessed himself a one stroke penalty, but no one else saw him touch the ball.

Not the tournament official. Not his playing partner. Neither of them believed he actually touched the ball. Bobby Jones could have so easily justified not taking the penalty. No one saw it. It didn't affect anything. The tournament official said, "Well, Bobby, it is up to you. Do you believe you touched the ball?" To which Bobby responded, "I know that I did."Bobby Jones lost the 1925 U.S. Open by one stroke! When reporters tried to interview him about the self-imposed penalty, Bobby Jones forbid them from writing about it. He said it would be inappropriate because there was nothing extraordinary about playing by the rules!Is it just me or does that inspire anyone else? Bobby Jones could have compromised his integrity and won the match, but he chose to lose the match and keep his integrity intact!

Further thoughts on Cities...

2007-06-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

The population in urban areas is growing while the percentage of Christians in the city is decreasing. Does it matter? How important are the cities in our world? The Gospel was hatched in a city, and I believe it does best in the city.

Harvie Conn gives some helpful thoughts on a contextual theology of mission for the city:

“Our missiological vision for the city must also be a theological vision of the city.” (101)

Understanding urbanism as a ‘common grace’ instrument of God informs an anti-urban mentality and also brings a sense of realism to a romantic urban perception. (101)

We need to bring the good news in word and deed, for “there are two kinds of churches that fail in the city. The church that thinks their ministry is words only will leave the city because they won’t pay the price of incarnation. Also, the church that thinks their ministry is deeds only will die or be spiritually impotent because they have no word about Jesus, whom to know is life and hope and peace.” (102)

Malia and Nate's last week of school!

2007-06-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

School's out for summer! Malia finished her K-garten year and Nathan finished his first pre-school year. Way to go!

Pray for Kabul!

2007-06-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSKLR12267620070617?feedType=RSS

Some of you know that I have spent the previous 10 years traveling in and out of Afghanistan. Through that time my love for the people has grown to the point that I have been moved to tears by what happened yesterday. Please pray for Afghanistan. Pray that God will reveal His love in a strong way in this time of turmoil and tragedy. I have great friends serving Jesus there; pray for their strength and courage!

2007-06-12T08:24:00.001-07:00

13 reasons why this Summer is going to be great!

2007-06-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

1. 10 year anniversary trip to Orange County - no kids for 3 days!
2. Family vacation to Mammoth Mountain.
3. Starting Alpha course.
4. Building toward launch in October.
5. Completing 3 courses at Fuller.
6. LA triathlon in September.

7. Family visit in July.

8. Meeting all kinds of new people.

9. Good friend Angela Adams moves to LA in August.

10. New teammate Bob Randall joins in September.

11. Finding meeting space for our launch.

12. Family community group start.

13. Finishing my summer book reading list.

LA stinks!

2007-06-06T17:02:00.001-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070606/us_nm/drought_losangeles_dct Mayor Antonio Villagoroso advised all LA residents to not take so many showers!

Props to NPR's Terry Gross!

2007-06-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

Over the last 10 years I have become a big fan of NPR, especially Fresh Air. A great resource for what's happening in news, politics, entertainment, and international happenings. All news is slanted in one direction or the other, but they give the most concise, organized, and entertaining presentation in the shortest amount of time. Way to go NPR!

Team/church update - 1 year in

2007-06-05T14:41:00.001-07:00

This is from Sarah Bodie - she is the furthest one to the right in the photo. Thanks Sarah!

In October 2005, I read the words of Jesus in Mark 1, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Without a lot of direction, Jesus simply said, ‘Follow Me’. I heard a similar offer when I decided to move to LA. I’m not certain of the where He’s leading, how we’ll get there, or what exactly it will look like, but I’m more certain that He is trustworthy of following. Perhaps the main reason He lead me to LA was to teach me just how worthy of my trust He is.

How do you plant a church? I asked this question a year ago, and I ask it again today. I’m fairly confident that there is no outline, but as I look back over the previous year, I see that God has first planted my life. As I look back over the past year, I see roots of a tree growing deeper. The sprout above ground may still be short, but the roots are growing; shifting and changing the soil as they intertwine with other roots. The roots of my life and those of my team, are a little more planted in the soil of Los Angeles .

I’ve spent the last year learning who God is in this vast country. LA is a place of a thousand languages and worldviews. The metaphorical noise of the city screams loudly everywhere I go. Among all the noise of LA, I do believe that Jesus loves and seeks the hearts of all men and women. I often think of these words by Augustine, “God has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Him.” Some days I look out my window at work and think, ‘I am living in one of the most influential places on the planet’. No one can deny the powerful voice of Hollywood , speaking into and influencing people world-wide. I can’t help but believe that our very presence in this city is significant. I believe in God’s design to redeem and express Himself through the arts and media poured out of this city. I am reminded of our God, “the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts…in the face of Jesus Christ.” We want our lives to be so fully ablaze in the fire of the reality of Jesus that people are drawn to Him.

Our church is going public in the fall. We have a community of people who are with us. When I say ‘with us’, I mean there is a group of people who have figuratively joined their lives with ours and said, ‘I’m committed to seeking God with you.’ In July we’ll begin a time of training as a core-team of Westside Faith. Well cover doctrine and values, all the while attempting to create space for those who don’t know Jesus personally yet. There are also dozens of others in our lives who couldn’t be further from starting a church. Many of our friends have never stepped foot in a church, and many others did years ago and then swore to never enter one again. We believe God is drawing these people to Himself.

So a year later…

Westside Faith is a community of friends and family that previously wasn’t there. We pray for our city and will continue to do so until its all said and done. We are committed to seeking God’s fame through Jesus Christ here and around the world. We want people who are broken and estranged from God to encounter His pursuing love and respond with, “yes, that’s amazingly good news.” We are committed to being the church among people who don’t yet know this love.

Many of you play a very big part of what God is doing here; thank you for praying, giving, and believing. This is only the beginning.

sarah

Church in a city

2007-06-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

3 key questions that I have been mulling around in my head since moving to LA one year ago: What does it mean to be an urban Christian? Is the city really the most strategic place for a Christian to live? Or is it something to survive, something to tolerate? Years ago, a theologian named R. Richard Niebuhr wrote a book that many theologians are still talking about today, "Christ and Culture." His ideas are marvelous food for thought for any urban Christian. The first two models are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and are very distinct. The third is in the "mushy middle" between the first two extremes.
Model 1: Christ Against the City
Many Christians blame the city environment itself for the troubles of society. Rural regions and small towns are seen as sacred and humanizing, while cities are secular and dehumanizing per se. This theological perspective expects that ministry in the city can do little to change it, and even expects individual evangelism to be very difficult or impossible. City churches influenced by this model are like "fortresses" which huddle Christians together for warmth in the spiritually cold urban wasteland. I would liken this to the Amish way of living.
Response: These churches seem to be unaware of what Augustine called "The City of God" - the forces of the Kingdom of God, advancing in every human city. Their pessimism about change ignores not only the Biblical teaching about the presence and spread of the Kingdom of God, but also the historical fact that early Christianity thrived and succeeded largely because it was urban.
Model 2: Christ of the City
On the other end of the spectrum is the theological perspective that views all historical movements that work to emancipate the oppressed as the Kingdom of God (whether Christian, non-Christian, or even atheistic.) Here, the church is not seen as a community in which the coming Kingdom begins its fruition in history, but as simply one of many human institutions that must join together and lead humanity toward liberation and freedom. These churches end up simply as "mirrors" of the city, uncritically accepting and reflecting the dominant moral consensus of the city's culture. This would be most of our mainline denominations of our day.
Response: While the Christ Against the City model ignores "The City of God" and the depth of his grace, the Christ Of the City model ignores the presence of "The City of Man" - (the world system of idolatrous rebellion against God) - and the depth of our sin. These churches have lost touch with the need for conversion of heart and life. The result of this second perspective is a church that is nothing more than a community center, concert hall, or political action group. It has nothing unique or to offer.
Model 3: Christ Above the City
This model sees cities as good, but it neither recognizes nor engages itself very much with the brokenness of the city. Members use the city as an opportunity for self-improvement but give little back to it. These churches do evangelism, and their programs may include "charity" volunteer work - but they do not equip or mobilize members to heal social brokenness through mercy and justice. Neither do they equip their members to transform the culture through their vocations. The result is a very privatized, individualized faith. This model tends to produce a "Christian subculture." Many independant charismatic churches would reflect this view.
Response: Although the Christ Above the City model regards the city more positively than the Christ/Against model, it is still a failure. While it does recognize the uniqueness of Christ and the reality of sin and the need for conversion, it is still ignorant of the presence and power of the Kingdom of God to change both hearts and social structures. This model also tends to see sin as only personal moral lapses, rather than as a systematic, idolatrous reliance upon wealth, beauty, power, or comfort. Thus members may be behaviorally 'pure' but still very worldly in the way they use their time and resources.
Model 4: Christ Transforming the City
Harvie Conn states that this model is the best for the Kingdom of god to be expressed.
But the Bible tells us that the ultimate purpose of redemption is a completely restored creation. The book of Revelation shows us the final goal of all of Christ's redemptive work - the City of God (Revelation 21:2) which is the restored Garden of Eden (now in urban form) filled with the Tree of Life, healing the nations (Revelation 22:2). The curse of Eden that brought mental, social, and cultural alienation and brokenness is removed in that new city that God is preparing. This is what Christ's redemption was all about: restoration - not simply individual pardon and forgiveness. Thus the Transformational Church seeks to actively engage the culture in every aspect - spiritually, socially and economically - on both an individual and corporate level.

*Reinhold Neibuhr, Harvey Conn, Tim Keller

Acts 1:8

2007-05-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Isn't it amazing that this movement kicked off by an obscure Jewish rabbi 2,000 years ago still moves on? Even though the church lies in dormancy in many pockets of humanity today the command still stands to wait for His power(Acts 1:4-5) and then to be a living sign of His promise - the Kingdom of God - as expressed in the beauty of the church in our world. Be encouraged today to look to Jesus as the One revealed to show us the Father's nature, to look to the church as a signpost of things that are to come, the community of God's people baptized out of selfishness and into a destiny of adventure and promises fulfilled, and to look to the world for the answers that all of life's questions are clinging onto. Be blessed! Be filled! Be spilled!

Great weekend!

2007-05-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Had a great Memorial weekend! Spent time with some new friends on Friday night Will and Carol and there great little guy Justin(1.5yrs). Saturday we hung out with some not so new friends Roshan and Catherine and their two little kids. Sunday hung out with some old friends fom Afghanistan, Johnathon Hollon, his son Benjamin(3), and his father-in-law. Sunday night we had movie night as a family - Madagascar - was the movie of choice, and then Monday we spent the day at the beach as a family, and I spent last night preparing for prayer this morning and pulling my sermon together for Sunday. Can't imagine a better weekend!

Philip Yancey - Prayer

2007-05-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Been reading Philip Yancey's recent book Prayer.

It is his best since The Jesus I Never Knew. I would highly recommend it!

Prayers for our city

2007-05-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

God - redeem this city.

God - flood this city with your love.

God - take the colors of this city and make it beautiful reflection of your image.

God - comfort those who mourn today in this city.

God - provide for the orphan and the widow of this city.

God - empower the body of Christ to shine in all its brilliance.

God - help the city be a refuge.

Nicene Creed

2007-05-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

I spent some time today devotionally reading through the Nicene Creed. I love reading through ancient texts. It somehow ties me to the millions who have gone on before me. Enjoy as you read!
TRADITIONAL WORDING
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Live, who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
AMEN.

Malia' Kgarten open house

2007-05-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

God bless Mrs Kaufmann!

A Prayer for Justice

2007-05-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Picked up on an article from the Wall Street Journal about prostitution in India:

"New Delhi: Of 2.8 million prostitutes in the country, 35.47% entered the trade before the age of 18 years, Minister of state for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury informed the Rajya Sabha today.
'The study on girls/women in prostitution in India, conducted between 2002-04, reports that there is a growing trend in the number of prostitution in the country. The study estimates that there are 2.8 million prostitutes in the country of which 35.47% entered the trade before the age of 18 years,' she said in a written reply."

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Ps 34:18

Can we suffer for those who suffer?

Can the texture of our hearts be like a sponge for the absorption of the world's pain so that we can present to God prayer motivated by love?

Allow righteous anger to burn in us to motivate to seek justice for all humans.

Street Smarts

2007-05-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

Street Smarts

In Matthew 10, Jesus briefed his disciples before they embarked on their inaugural mission. He told them where to go. He told them what to pack. And then he gave them a word of warning: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Unfortunately, too many of us are dyslexic when it comes to this passage: we're shrewd as doves and innocent as snakes! I think innocent as doves speaks to our motivation for ministry. In God's economy, if you do the right thing for the wrong reason you don't get credit. And I'll be the first one to admit that it is virtually impossible to totally eliminate selfish ambition from the equation of our lives. We all have mixed motives. There will always be trace elements of pride and jealousy. But sanctification tips the motivational scales so that we do what we do to glorify God. And we've got to continually check our motives and make sure we're doing the right things for the right reasons. But that motivational purity must be coupled with street smarts. If we are going to fulfill our divine mission we have to be shrewd as snakes.

I certainly wouldn't trade my book smarts. My undergraduate and graduate education laid a foundation for what God has called me to do, but there is no education like actually planting a church. It is baptism by immersion. It is learning by doing. And that is how you develop street smarts.

I recently read a fascinating business school study. The study found that the book smart graduates of this particular business school were outperformed by their street smart competitors. And the primary conclusion of the study was this: The book smart business people were taught how to solve problems not recognize opportunities. According to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership, IQ factors only account for between four to ten percent of career success. In other words, book smarts must be supplemented with street smarts if we're going to be successful in our callings. Being shrewd as snakes means outsmarting our enemy. And that is no easy task.

According to Genesis 3:1, "The serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made." What a fascinating juxtaposition. We've got to be shrewder than the shrewdest of all creatures--Satan himself. The word shrewd comes from the Greek root phren, as in phrenology, the study of the mind. I n this context, the word literally means a sensitive mind.

Let's go and get some street smarts!

I'm Back!

2007-05-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am officially back in the blog-o-sphere. I took about a month off to see if I missed blogging or not(and I was really tired and busy). I missed the experience of journaling thoughts and even if it was just for me that I need to keep going. It has been a great month and I will write more later. Pray for our great city!

Reflections from the Middle East

2007-04-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to put into words what has transpired these last few days. I traveled to Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel/Palestinian territories with some friends for the purpose of building relationships and convincing people that peace is possible. I wish I could say that there is tangible evidence to show what happened, but there is little. Yet I feel hopeful. Hopeful that there is the possibility of peace where there is enough humility to yield some of your own rights. Hopeful that seeing through the eyes of another, especially the enemy, can cause a change of heart and further understanding. Hopeful that prayer is a key avenue that helps people find common ground. The following is a group of stories that is part of a bigger story of what I experienced in 8 days in the Middle East.

I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see devastation. In 1996 I saw a young man hanging from telephone wire in downtown Kabul, a metaphor of fear that the Taliban used for those who would dare to break the law. In January of 2005 I took a team of doctors and nurses to Banda Aceh, Indonesia to volunteer to anyone that needed help. I can still picture in my mind a certain spot that was hit hard; a pile of steel, concrete, pieces of boats, and bodies mangled together. In southern Lebanon, where the war took many lives last summer, I experienced a familiar feeling. In a tiny village 50 miles south of Beirut we were standing at the edge of a huge pit in the ground where there used to be multiple families living in a building that housed them. Now the buildings and the families that housed them were a memory. Looking at the pictures of the kids and adults that were killed, that old feeling returned. We prayed together with one man who had lost all his family. I know he was moved, but not near as much as I was.

In Beirut we met with a leader of a refugee camp. I had been in this camp before in the Summer of 2001 as some of my friends that lived in Beirut recommended us to work there. We were the first group of Americans to do a project in this large makeshift town. We did a simple project, fixing a large concrete wall and putting in a driveway at a school. It is amazing how little efforts can make big impact. Now they welcome many Americans, including us. As we were praying with the sheikh, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much more can be done with simple efforts offered in good will.

Our last meeting in Beirut was with an inter-faith group that meets monthly for the purpose of seeking peace. All of these men were advisors to many of the powerful people in the Middle East. I was astonished at the way the group talked with such sincerity and humility to each other, hoping to understand each other better. One of my American friends asked a Muslim leader, “How can we, as Christian leaders in the West, better serve the process of peace?” Without hesitation, the man responded, “If you would follow Jesus that is the best we could ask for.” I was stunned at his response. No mention of politics, just a charge to follow the example of a great peacemaker. We prayed together that this very thing would happen.

Not to say that politics weren’t addressed. I spent some time with some university students and they were polite, but I could sense a low grade tension as they were looking at me and asking neutral questions. Once they found out I live in Los Angeles, one girl got especially excited and asked me if I had seen any of her favorite American entertainment icons. She was disappointed I had not befriended any of them. When I asked them what they thought of America, without hesitation the conversation got heated. They continued to be polite, but peppered me with questions that I knew they had. After some time of helpful dialogue I asked them if I could pray for them. They cheerfully accepted, and everybody wanted prayer that they would finish college and move to the States.

In Jerusalem we met with a leading Orthodox Rabbi. He was fascinating. A large man with an equally large personality, he communicated with clarity and authority. He spoke how he had spent time in America for schooling, but always longed to be back in Israel with the people he loved most. He talked about the trouble he had gotten for stating publicly some views that were difficult for some to accept. At the end of the meeting we asked him how we could pray together. He asked that we pray for peace and the God would use leaders like him to make it happen.

In Bethlehem we met with a gentleman that struck me as a modern day Gandhi or MLK. I walked in late to the meeting and missed the introductions, but I immediately noticed the scars on his face. He is a Palestinian Christian who leads an organization that seeks peace by using nonviolent measures. He spoke of different protests that he has organized, and how he sees peace only coming through a war of love. As he was closing his time of speaking he shared how the marks on his face were from a beating he had received the Friday before our time together where a soldier had rained down on him blows because his protest was seen as an interference. When the soldier realized that he was not going to fight back he started weeping. As we prayed together I prayed for a million of him to arise out of this conflict.

Another man in Bethlehem leads a retreat every month with leaders from the three dominant faiths: Judaism, Islam, and Christian. He puts them all on camels; two people of different faiths on each camel, and they ride out for a week long experience in the Wadi Rom desert. He did this with a thousand people in 2006.

In Ramallah we drove up to the Al Jazeera headquarters. My friend who organized our trip disappeared for a few minutes and came back to inform us that we had a meeting with the staff in a short time. While we were waiting for our meeting we went to get a cup of coffee at Starbacks. Not Starbucks, but a close coffee cousin Starbacks. After our fill of coffees we walked into the beautiful offices of Al Jazeera. The staff seemed a little disheveled, very polite, but a little standoffish especially for Middle Eastern standards. After they spent about half an hour showing us the different functions of the Middle East headquarters, we spent some time praying together. They looked a little shocked.

Our last stop in Ramallah was to visit a Palestinian cabinet minister. He was a very gracious man with a beautiful family and a lot of hope for the future. After talking together we prayed. As we prayed for one of his grandchildren, I noticed his wife softly crying.

There are more stories, but little time. I know that big problems aren’t solved with modest efforts, but I hope we were able to serve our role. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Is peace possible in a world rife with anger and hostility? I believe so. If everyone can play a little part in helping others see the possibilities of the future, it is absolutely so.

In Bethelhem

2007-04-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Bethlehem yesterday afternoon. Left Beirut after a couple of days there - simply amazing! I will probaly blog on meetings we were involved with for months to come. Met with the highest level leaders in the Middle East and I thought to myself, "What in the heck am I doing here?" Great stuff. Talked to each one of them about Jesus and have some amazing stories. After being interrogated yesterday at the border of West Bank and Israel for 2 hours because I have some curious stamps in my passport - Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Indonesia to be specific - we arrived in Bethlehem. Should have gotten a new passport. Went for a run this morning along the wall that is being erected along Israel and the Palestinian territories and definitely had the feeling of tension.

In the Middle East

2007-04-10T23:34:00.000-07:00

Arrived last night in Amman, Jordan. There are other pastor-types on the trip with us and seem like a great bunch of people. Pray for our time: that God would order our steps, that God would break our hearts, that God would give us Divine connections! I went for a 5 mile run through the city this morning. Probably my favorite thing to do - land in a new city and go for a run - invigorating!

Good Friday!

2007-04-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

What is good about Good Friday? It is the first half of the central event in human history. Without His death there wouldn't be a Messiah. Without death there wouldn't be forgiveness of sins. Without death there wouldn't be resurrection.

“Nations, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well, provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.” - Victor Hugo

The Greatest Day Ever - Today

2007-04-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in my office this morning. Okay, it is actually not an office - it is a coffee shop. Yes I am one of those types - a mooch that can't afford an office yet, so I "borrow" someone else's wifi for the cheapest cup of coffee. As I am preparing for my Easter message this Sunday, I am caught up(basic distraction) in a couple of things. First off, this is a French cafe with really bad accordian-like music. I chose French b/c I wanted to feel a bit more sophisticated, even artistic. Well, it is not working, I am having an increasing headache due to the forementioned loud music. Second, a young pregnant woman came in holding hands with a gentlemen that was at least 20 years older than her. I couldn't help think that she's with him for his money. Then I watched them walk out the door and return to their box next door that they live in - a large cardboard box. I think how ironic - I am thinking about Jesus' life and I see a homeless pregnant woman. Third, I am listening to two British business men talking about the new Airbus 380 airplane landing at LAX last week. I counted 17 "f" words in about 1 minute of conversation. Wow, I am actually blushing, it's like they are intentionally saying that word to a full extent. The last comment from the younger Brit was, "Well, I guesss it is time to go be a slave to the "f-ing" man," and they walk off presumably to work. I am positive he will have a happy joy-filled day! Forth, two Tibetan monk-like guys are in the corner pouring over some books. Fifth, a huge guy walks in and asks if they could make him an omelette - 6 eggs, broccoli, mushrooms, and tofu. The help at the counter responds, "Sure, but would you like your tofu chilled or heated?" Lastly, they changed the music. From loud accordian-like French wannabe stuff to an 25 year old angry guy who's singing how bad life is and how good getting high is to an accelerated acoustic rythm.

I whisper my usual frustrated prayer - Can I Please Have An Office?

And back to Jesus - He is risen...Risen Indeed!

Photo

2007-03-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

Photo

2007-03-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

Photo

Light

2007-03-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

"In him was life, and that light was the light of men. The light that shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." Selah

Ideas - the birthplace of creativity

2007-03-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

Michael Iva writes on the death of an idea. I don't think it will change your life dramatically, but I do think it's worth a quick read. Effectively running an organization where ideas can prosper, people can thrive and the world can be changed is no easy task. Here, he gives a few strategies for doing this simply by not not doing it. Confused yet? Ten highlights from his little PDF ...
1. Everyone has an idea, and creating ideas is a form of creating art.
2. It's always easier to say no than yes to an idea. Don't succumb!
3. Be bold with your ideas, don't let people talk you out of them!
4. When people do talk you out of them, remember that "no" means "not right now."
5. Remember that your concept should be beneficial to you and all involved.
6. For crying out loud, do not do what everyone else is doing.
7. Be willing to make mistakes, they give birth to great ideas.
8. "A great concept passes through three stages when it is now: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently oppressed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."
9. Being too safe is too risky.
10. Don't try to write poems to creativity. Please.

Transparency

2007-03-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

Just read the cover article in this month's issue of Wired magazine.
It's titled Get Naked: Why Exposing Yourself is the Future of Business. In my opinion, authenticity is the postmodern apologetic. Its one key to reaching emerging generations. People care less about how much you know than how real you are. I just think it's interesting that the business world is talking about it.
Thought I'd share a few excerpts and a few thoughts on radical transparency. "Smart companies are sharing secrets with rivals, blogging about products in their pipeline, even admitting their failures. The name of this new game is radical transparency and it's sweeping boardrooms across the nation." I don't want to overuse the word--but sounds like open-source business. The church doesn't just need to follow-suit. We ought to lead the way!
One of the interesting observations in the article was a cultural shift between what's private and what's public. "A generation has grown up on blogging, posting a daily phonecam picture on Flickr and listing its geographic position in real time on Dodgeball and Google Maps. For them, authenticity comes from online exposure." Chief Reputation Strategist for PR firm Weber Shandwick, Leslie Gaine Ross, says, "Online is where reputations are made now." She says that a single Google search determines more about how you are perceived than a multi-million-dollar ad campaign. "Google is not a search engine. Google is a reputation-management system. Online, your rep is quantifiable, findable, and totally unavoidable." Honestly, I think part of the magnetism of Jesus was his authenticity. He was touchable and approachable. He was holy, but he wasn't holier-than-thou. He was down to earth. He even cried in public! And that radical transparency is what drew people to him.We could definitely use a dose of radical transparency in our churches.
Isn't that part of what confessing our sins to each other is about? The enemy loves it when we keep secrets! The greatest freedom is having nothing to prove!
Radical Transparency!

Fakes, Frauds, and Phonies

2007-03-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

The issue that hurts the church and its message the most is the church. I have run into countless people that, I believe, would love God, but have abandoned even trying because of bad past experiences with the church that leaves them feeling manipulated, or even worse, abused. Much of the evangelism that I face is the undoing of false perceptions of the church that people carry around with them for years. Most of the time I deflect questions about the church and try to stick to the person and work of Jesus. I have thought about the conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman(Jn 4) where He undoes a false perception of God and His people(church) before He gets to the "good news." Typical training in evangelism has to do with applying key concepts of the Gospel to peoples lives so that they see their own sin, His sacrifice, and forgiveness. But many times those are not the questions people are asking. I find myself going backwards and answering peoples questions that matter most so they can see the goodness of Jesus. I struggle loving the church. I am a leader in it, yet I struggle looking around at how "we" are doing. Before I get too critical I need to only look at my own life and sweet repentance begins. I like how Philip Yancey states that we are all Pharisees in recovery.

Malia healed

2007-03-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

After a tough day all day yesterday with Malia's sickness, this morning @ 4am she woke up screaming that her throat was hurting. For about 20 minutes she was in real pain, working herself into a bit of a frenzy, saying she couldn't swallow at all. She had thrown up - basically it was a bad scene. I had gone to bed, leaving Erica to comfort her - she is the nurturing one after all. I am such a whimp! After about 5 minutes, Malia stopped crying and was laughing and being playful. I asked Erica, "What happened, she all of the sudden changed?" Erica nonchalantly said, "I prayed for her and she feels better." I excitedly responded, "God healed her!" Erica said, "Yep." She was probably thinking, "no thanks to you buddy." After that Malia went back to bed and woke up and has pretty much been better. God indeed does miraculous deeds in our day!

Staff/Team Review Time

2007-03-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

For all of you responsible for overseeing other people, reviews/evaluations are key to the growth of teamwork. We are having our first one at Westside Faith Community. Here is a general outline of how we will frame our conversation.

Staff Reviews:

Here are the questions that we will use to guide our conversation. My desire is to be more relational and less formal in the way we approach things as WSF.
Please respond in at least a couple of sentences to the following descriptors: initiative, team player, organization, follow-through, communication, integrity, productivity, and attitude. This is a simple self evaluation on 8 key ingredients for working together.

Here are the seven questions to guide the review.

1) What do you enjoy most and least about you’re time so far serving with the WSF team?

2) What do you feel are your greatest strengths and weakness exhibited in the last 6 months?

3) Are there any issues you'd like to discuss?

4) Do you need clarification on any part of your responsibilities/job description?

5) Any part of your responsibilites/job description you want to add, subtract, or delegate?

6) What are your top priorities/goals for next year?

7) How can Erica & I help you reach those goals?

My goal as an overseer is to make sure we have room to grow. And that means we might not do what we do forever. In fact, I really feel like we need to shuffle the deck periodically to give people new challenges. I genuinely want people to enjoy working at WSF!

That is the bottom line for me.

Getting our butts Kicked!

2007-03-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the vernacular, but that is how it feels. Isaac was sick for 3 days last weekend, and then Erica got sick on Monday with a sore throat so bad that it was bleeding a little, now Malia woke up with a sore throat and fever today. Pray for the Denney family - pray harder! Thanks for praying.

Disappointed?

2007-03-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Disappointment hits everyone in life. Regardless of who you are, where you are from, and where you are headed in life, disappointment happens. For sure, it hits some more than others, but how you and I handle under-realized expectations(disappointment) has everything to do with how content life can be. One of my favorite Bible passages states "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Nothing affects the heart more than the pain that comes from disappointment. People ultimately let you down. I am an optimist, and I still understand if we want fulfillment from people, and place our dreams in others hands, we have to expect that periodically we leave ourselves vulnerable to the fragile nature of humanity. So, how do we handle disappointment?
1. Opening the heart rather than cynically shuting down. Don't isolate - we are not alone, as soon as we believe that we are, depression is lurking at our door. We must open our hearts to God and, yes, to people again and accept things as they are, if we are going to move forward.
2. Waiting with anticipation rather than killing hope. Patience is an attribute that I aspire to master. Waiting stirs the soul's deep struggle with hope. Most people are terrible at waiting, yet life is filled with waiting - at the grocery store, in traffic, for our paycheck to come, for our mate to come, to change, to meet our needs. Finding joy in the now moment is key in every season of life.
3. Walk together rather than stand alone. One of my favorite childhood heroes was the Lone Ranger. He left an indelible impression, that if I am going to be a "real man," I don't need anybody. The temptation to believe in a privatized faith, where all I need is God, only hightens the loneliness. I believe we are designed to boldly open our lives to others and allow transparency to bring healing. Trusting again is key to living with hope!

Prayer of Trust and Abandonment

2007-03-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

My Father, I abandon myself to you. Make me what you will. Whatever you make of me, I thank you. I'm ready for everything, I accept everything. Provided that your will be done in me, In all your creatures, I desire nothing else, Lord. I put my soul in your hands, I give it to you, Lord, With all the love in my heart, Because I love you, And because it is for me a need of love, To give myself, To put myself in your hands unreservedly, With infinite trust. For you are my Father!
By Charles de Foucauld

Some Leadership Thoughts

2007-03-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

If we are to be like Christ, not only in character but also in ministry methodology, we must prioritize the investing of our lives in the lives of those people who will bear the maximum responsibility for the future ministry of the kingdom. In Robert Coleman’s(Master Plan books) model of leadership development based on the example of Jesus Christ, we find a helpful and challenging guide to the training of the next generation of transformed disciples and multiplying leaders.
Selection (People were His Method): Just as Jesus took very seriously the selection of those he trained, so must leaders of today's church. He/She must look for those who are faithful, available and teachable. He must seek to find those who have a genuine heart to grow in Jesus Christ.

Association (He Stayed with Them): Since Jesus became intimately involved in the lives of His disciples, so should the leader be in the lives of those leaders he is seeking to develop.
Consecration (He Required Obedience): Jesus sought to create in His disciples a lifestyle of consecrated obedience.
Impartation (He Gave Himself Away): In developing His disciples, Jesus gave himself to them by imparting to them spiritual truth about life.
Demonstration (He Showed Them How to Live): One reason Jesus had such a lasting impact on His disciples is that like no other man, He practiced what He preached.
Delegation (He Assigned Them Work): Jesus developed His leadership team by delegating major ministry responsibilities to them. An ancient Chinese proverb says, “Tell me- I forget, show me- I remember, involve me- I understand.”
Supervision (He Kept Check on Them): Jesus made a point to get with His disciples following their ministry tours in order to hear their reports and instruct them in light of their experience.
Reproduction (He Expected Them to Reproduce): Jesus imparted vision to His disciples. He made them feel as if they were part of something much larger than themselves. He fully expected them to reproduce their lives in others and thereby play a major role in making disciples of all nations.

I feel as though I am batting about .500. I would be an all-star in professional baseball, but too bad that is not my gig.

Thoughts

2007-03-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have been asking myself a simple question in about a hundred different ways lately. Do people follow Jesus before they come to church or do they come to church to follow Jesus? I know it is a rhetorical question, but being neck deep in church life, it is important how we see others reaching their destiny. I have come to the conclusion that if there is anything in the life of a church that prohibits people from growing into their future(following Jesus with passion and intensity), it needs to be iradicated. To go one step further, if there are programs, habits, or even the mindset of the community that settles into mediocrity(christian subcultural ghetto) we have to have the courage to call it into serious question. How many times in my life have I been dissapointed in myself because I have settled for something less than the fulfilling life that God has offered me? Countless times...this month. The only way I change is to take an honest look at myself and take inventory of what kind of man do I want to become(?), repent, and then be stretched by God's vision for my life once again. Maybe it all comes back to me(and a community of Jesus followers) that are living the type of lives that people are blown away with the magnitude of God's vision that is obtained and the stamina to fulfill it.

Reading Report

2007-03-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Got distracted from my recent read Jesus by Marcus Borg and have gone headlong into Whose promised Land? by Colin Chapman. It reads like an encylopedia for the land mass we call Israel and Palestine. Great book and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Middle East.

Bono's Speech

2007-03-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

“God, my friends, is with the poor and God is with us if we are with them.”

Quote from Bono from his recent acceptance speech from the NAACP.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ENp7c6TtBHk

Great Quote

2007-03-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

"If your vision doesn't scare you, then both your vision and your God are too small." - Brother Andrew

Out of pocket

2007-03-06T16:21:00.000-08:00

In Texas for 3 days with my 4 yr old son Nathan, so won't be blogging much. Teaching at a missionary training school and my job is to teach on church history. I hope to keep them awake; I am one of the very few people that I have met that love church history - history in general actually. Attached are some pictures of Nathan in the hill country of Texas visiting his Grandma's(my mother).

Advice from Brian McLaren

2007-03-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

Brian McLaren, named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals by Time magazine, presented by Beliefnet and Sojourners writes a letter of advice to Obama. Here is a bit of it:
"No doubt you'll be getting a lot of advice and requests from a lot of people in the coming weeks, and the only reason I think mine deserves to be heard is that I know I'm expressing what a lot of people feel. So I would like to make this request at the beginning of your campaign.
Please don't lie to us. Please forego both the repulsive, deceptive, and twisted lies and also the flattering lies we like to hear. For example..."

The Mirror

2007-02-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

Focus, or lack thereof, has plagued me my whole life. To stay attentive to things is a monumental task. It is coming full circle. One of the things that has been striking with parenting children is that you really do see yourself in your kids. Watching Nathan(4yrs) develop has been, in some ways, like looking in a mirror. He can be a very challenging kid! His high level of intensity coupled with large amounts of energy are amazing. I remember visiting with a school counselor in the 9th grade because I was struggling in some classes. I distinctly remember her asking me if I had ever been tested for ADD/ADHD. I said no and never returned to see her, and found a way to make it through my classes. As a freshman in college, struggling in English Literature, I was sent to the Learning Center and was found to have symptoms of Dyslexia. I never went back, thinking that I have to find a way to maneuver through. I have totally dismissed my issues until recently watching my son, and saying, "I know where he gets that." Although he definitely has more energy than I remember having, I pray for God's grace daily for Nathan to thrive as a little guy and for us to parent him with patience and affirmation.

Recent read

2007-02-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

Finished a good read: Listening To The Beliefs Of Emerging Churches. Having a passing interest in the emerging church, I found it refreshing to see sound theological debate going on, although some perspectives seem "if-y" if not scary. Onto the next read: Jesus by Marcus J Borg. I have been looking forward for quite awhile to this 350 page, small print read.

Prayer for a neighbor

2007-02-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

Went upstairs to pray with our Persian Jewish neighbor. He has been very sick lately, in fact an ambulance has come several times this month to fetch him for the hospital. We had a great time talking about a range of issues including the revolution in Iran in the late 70's, living as an immigrant in LA, Israel, and my family moving to LA to start a church. It was a blast. When we turned to pray for him I asked him if he was prepared for eternity, at which he responded, "God is the same, there is no difference, you and me." I asked him what he meant. "God is the same for everyone, Jew, Muslim, Christian...," he mumbled. I thought to myself that was not the question I asked him at all. So I asked him if I could pray for him in Jesus' name, at which he responded again, "God is the same, there is no difference, you and me." I then spoke up and said, softly, "Actually I have found Jesus to be quite unique." "God is the same," he spoke louder. He wasn't being rude, just trying to relate to me, or trying to be defensive. Either way it is a cultural mood that is the battleground. I do not feel the urge to the public debate of issues related to pluralistic thinking, but rather the passionate pursuit of following Jesus and finding those that are open to His message be it Muslim, Jew, Christian. I am convinced that controversy surrounded Jesus, and we have gone lame as the church, the only controversy being fallen leaders that prove that the Pharisee is alive in all of us. We must find the most controversial issues of Jesus' life and live there, that is our only chance...

Infidel - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

2007-02-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

Infidel
Ayaan Hirsi Ali was interviewed on public radio a couple of weeks back about her book, Infidel. . It is the story of her life, from a childhood in Somalia to her present situation as a political refugee here in the U.S. traveling with bodyguards because of threats upon her life. She was once a member of the Dutch Parliament. She also made a movie with Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who was murdered on the streets of Amsterdam and left with a letter to Ali stabbed to his chest. The film was about Islam, a critique, to say the least.
Hirsi Ali has little time for Islam and this forms a current in the book. As a woman challenging the structures of Islam she is setting herself up for a world of hurt and trouble. The sheer disdain with which she was treated on the radio interview by male Muslim callers was pretty stunning, as was her reasoned, calm and thoughtful responses.

My book wish list - wanna buy me one?

2007-02-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

Bob Roberts: Glocalization

Ayaan Hirsi Ali : Infidel

Eugene Peterson: The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to The Art of Spiritual Direction

Colin Chapman: Whose Promised Land?

Alan Hirsch: The Forgotten Ways

David Aikman: Jesus in Bejing

Jonathan Kirsch: History of The End of The World

Ken Blanchard: Leading at a Higher Level

Ed Stetzer: Planting Missional Churches

Recently read books

2007-02-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

Here is my book list from the last 6 months:
1. A re-read of Celebration of Discipline
2. Missional Church by Daryl Guder
3. Organic Church by Neil Cole
4. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
5. 2 bad textbooks for a Church History class(books not mentioned)
6. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
7. Simple Church by...
8. Announcing the Kingdom by Arthur Glasser
9. The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama
10. Leading Without Power by Max DePree
11. The First Urban Christians by Wayne Meeks

Trip to Middle East

2007-02-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

Decided last week to go to the Middle East in April with good friend Carl Madeiras and some other church leaders. I am pumped! We are going to connect with different leaders(spiritual, economic, and political) in Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. Looking forward to being in this context with these great guys! More details to come...

Future in Seminary education

2007-02-22T21:14:00.000-08:00

Had a great time at Fuller today connecting with an old friend, Mark Buckner. Also, spent some time in his class. He is part of Fuller newly designed degree Master of Arts in Global Leadership. Sound exciting! Built around focusing on influencers and peer based education seems like a great combo - I wish it would had been around when I started!
http://www.fuller.edu/cll/dl/MAGL/magl.asp

If the World Were a Village of 100 People

2007-02-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

If the World Were a Village of 100 People

If we could reduce the world’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look something like this:
The village would have 60 Asians, 14 Africans, 12 Europeans, 8 Latin Americans, 5 from the USA and Canada, and 1 from the South Pacific
51 would be male, 49 would be female
82 would be non-white; 18 white
67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian
80 would live in substandard housing
67 would be unable to read
50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
33 would be without access to a safe water supply
39 would lack access to improved sanitation
24 would not have any electricity (And of the 76 that dohave electricity, most would only use it for light at night.)
7 people would have access to the Internet
1 would have a college education
1 would have HIV
2 would be near birth; 1 near death
5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth; all 5 would be US citizens
33 would be receiving --and attempting to live on-- only 3% of the income of “the village”

From Family Care Foundation
Research for many of the facts for this 2005 update was done by Donella H. Meadows’ think tank: the Sustainability Institute. (See www.odt.org/pop.htm for further details.) The rest come from a variety of sources including David Smith’s children’s book: If the World Were a Village, the CIA World Factbook 2001 (age, birth, death, internet), 2001 World Development Indicators, World Bank (HIV), Adherents 2001 (religion) Bread for the World (malnourishment), United Nations Population Fund (food security) The Global Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report (improved water, improved sanitation)

3 cheers for Erica!

2007-02-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

Nothing beats being with my wife. Erica truly is my favorite person to be around; her grace and belief in me has changed me. We had a fabulous date last night celebrating Valentine's Day a day late, because of meetings yesterday. It was an incredible dining experience, the atmosphere and food were almost worth the price of the meal. The following is a short list of things I appreciate about my wife:

1. She loves me - sounds selfish I know

2. She is amazingly beautiful - I married way over my head

3. She does a great job taking the lead with our kids

4. She loves Jesus and people

did I mention that she loves me?

Recent pics

2007-02-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Recent pictures from Nathan & Isaac's B-day party(4 and 2). Way to go Mimi & Papa - you are the bomb.

NAPS!!!

2007-02-14T10:24:00.000-08:00

I read a newly released study today that found that a 30 minute nap three times a week reduces the chance of a heart attack by 37%. I just want to go on public record as supporting nap time. It all comes back to circadian rhythm. I'm good for nothing in the afternoon. I think 98% of my creativity and productivity happens before noon! Some afternoons I feel like a computer that opens more and more programs so the processor slows down and eventually all the programs say "not responding." I not only sponsor a 30 minute nap, but an hour nap! Spain has it figured out, they work until lunch, take a 2 hour nap and then work again. Was I born in the wrong country. If I took a 2 hour nap every day, I would cut my monthly coffee costs in half. What I'm trying to say is this: I'm pro-naps. For what it's worth, Jesus took a nap during a storm. Also, Jesus said to become like little children, and they need naps. That is the basis of my nap theology.

Digital vs Print

2007-02-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

According to Haaretz, The New York Times wants to transition from print to the Internet. Online readership is growing strong, and profits from print are declining. They reach 1.5 million readers online and 1.1 million subscribers with print.
"I really don’t know whether we’ll be printing the Times in five years, and you know what? I don’t care either. The Internet is a wonderful place to be, and we’re leading there."
- Arthur Sulzberger, owner, The New York Times.
Reality is that print is expensive, and the Internet is cheap and much easier to reach people. Of course, print will still have its place in this world, but in many situations it is no longer the most efficient and effective means of reaching people.

Recent pics - Nathan's B-day (4)

2007-02-09T15:20:00.000-08:00

Nathan swings at a pinata. I am secretly hoping he can hit a baseball a mile so I can someday own a home here in SoCal.

This is Isaac crying when he

was told that he could

not have another cupcake.

He truly is a chip off the old block.

Great picture of Indianapolis Colts praying together

2007-02-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

February gathering

2007-02-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

We have our monthly gathering this Sunday @ my house @ 6:30. Pray for us - that God's prescence create momentum, and that early adopters would jump in. If you are from LA, join us: 1827 Veteran Ave #3, 90025(West LA).

The City of Angels

2007-02-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Here are some stats of Los Angeles that I have found and compiled.

Los Angeles, The Microcosm of the World
Los Angeles is a microcosm of the world. Los Angeles is home to people from more than 140 countries, who speak at least 224 different languages. Jesus asked us to go into the world and share the gospel. God is helping us accomplish this mission by bringing the world to us. People are migrating to the cities. For the first time in history, more than 50% of the world's population live in cities. This figure will continue to increase as more people migrate from rural areas to seek the hope of the city. In my lifetime we should eclipse the 80% mark.
MISSION IS WHY THE CHURCH EXISTS - People Matter Most
When Jesus looked at the multitude, he was moved with compassion because he realized their plight. We pray that looking at this city will connect you even closer to the heart of Christ. Los Angeles is a microcosm of the world for several reasons:
1. Los Angeles is one of the world's megacities (10 million or more population)
2. Los Angeles is the world's most ethnically diversified city. Studies have shown that there isn't a segment of the world's ethnic or religious not represented somewhere in Los Angeles
· It is the second largest English-speaking city in the world
· It is the world's second largest Spanish speaking city
· It has the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran
· It has the largest population of Thais outside of Thailand
· It has the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia
· It has the largest Filipino population outside of the Philippines
· It has the largest Korean population outside of Korea
· It has the largest Vietnamese population outside of Viet Nam
· It has the second largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia
· It has the largest population of Persian Jews in the world
· It has the largest Salvadoran population outside of El Salvador
· It has the largest Guatemalan population outside of Guatemala
· It has the second largest Chinese population outside of China
· It has the third largest Japanese population outside of Japan
· It has the largest population of Pacific Islanders
· It has the nation's largest Romanian population
· It has the nation's largest population of native-American Indians
· It has the nation's second largest population of Russians
· It has the nation's second largest population of foreign-born citizens
· It is the fourth-largest African-American metropolitan area in the nation
· "Little Ethiopa" is in the Fairfax section of Los Angeles. "Ethiopia is the first African country to be named as a part of a city, any city, in the U.S
3. Los Angeles has by-passed London and New York as the world's most religiously pluralist metropolitan region.
· It has the largest Buddhist temple in western hemisphere
· It has the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the country
· It has the largest Mormon Temple outside of Utah.
· It has the largest concentration of Scientologists in the nation
· It has the second-largest Jewish population outside of Israel
· It is home to the biggest variety of Buddhists in the world
· It has the third largest concentration of practicing Muslims in the nation

Bravo Los Angeles!

Dallas Willard quotes

2007-02-05T15:03:00.000-08:00

“Does the Gospel I preach and teach have a natural tendency to cause people who hear it to become full-time students of Jesus? Would those who believe it become his apprentices as a natural 'next step'? What can we reasonably expect would result from people actually believing the substance of my message?”

“The greatest challenge the church faces today is to be authentic disciples of Jesus.”

Instant Colts fan!

2007-02-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

I have never been a Colts fan, in fact my interest in professional sports has been waning for years. But I have been so impressed with Tony Dungy, that I am an instant Colts fan. I heard several interviews after the game where he was consistently deflecting praise and giving it to God. He was quoted, "If I proved anything today, it was that a coach with christian values can win." Way to go Tony!

Republicans and Christians

2007-02-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

Erica had a conversation with someone who has lived in LA for years and is well connected. As she was speaking to him, he was encouraging her on several fronts about starting the church. He did say one thing that caught our attention. "People in LA look down on two kinds of people - Republicans and Christians," he said. Interesting huh?

Rescue vs. Redemption

2007-01-31T10:01:00.000-08:00

I frustrate myself with my evangelistic(or lack thereof) efforts. As I was thinking about how I, at times, begin with the wrong paradigm. I have bought into a model of evangelism that is rescue driven. People are going to hell and it is my job to head them off at the pass and get them to heaven. Most fail to get it. When people get saved, the next sequential question is what is next? Beginning with a redemptive view of evangelism enables me to present and have an end goal with the message I am trying to convey. My interactions with non-western leaders show me they already get this and I am a bit late to the party. The New Testament paradigm of evangelism is saturated with redemption and reconciliation.

The Road Ahead - Breathe

2007-01-31T09:36:00.000-08:00

There seems to be so much happening that I find it difficult to catch my breath. This season is a different season than I have previously expererienced. Reflecting on these last months leaves me to feel ineffecient. As a distracted multi-tasker I have an endless need for a sense of time important, high impact living. Ineffeciency may seem like a strange word to use for my life, but that word strikes an important chord deep within. It has taken so much time and energy to get my family here and settled(?), kids in school, team here and on the same page, getting to know and understand the city I live in, and be happy and lead with alot of faith. I am tired. Tired because trying to reboot life is a difficult task to undertake, and when you have people and expectactions that come with you, it increases the trajectorary of the stress spike. I know there is hope - always. Ultimate, literal hope of living out the resurrection that I am already dead and Jesus is life. Hope that my petty mistakes are leading me down a path of upward humility. Hope that God's people are the living, breathing Good News to a fractured humanity. Hope that circumstances will change.

Pray for me that I will endure with great grace the road ahead. Travel, speaking engagements, family life, church start pressures, and peace of soul require breathing in the grace of Jesus. Breathe with me - deeply breathe - feels good!

CMA conference

2007-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

http://www.cmaresources.org/greenhouse/conference.asp

Headed down to Long Beach for Church Multiplication Associates conference. I am looking forward to receiving renewed vision for reaching neighbors through relational means!

Make it a great day!

Spiritual Warfare

2007-01-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6.

Thought alot about community lately. In a relationally fragmented world, at its peak in cities like Los Angeles, being God's people is vital for the future of the church. God has rigged our faith to be dependant on relating to one another. Broken relationships are evident of broken faith. The above passage is embedded in a chapter where Paul is addressing relational dynamics(husband/wife, slave/master). Standing against the devil's schemes may begin with reconciling relational breakdowns. What better plan of the enemy to cause separation and distance between God's children. In a dark world some of the brightest light is whole, healthy relationships that live up to the imagery of a chosen race, royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people(not person) belonging to God.

Quotes from MLK

2007-01-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

Better late than never and being a quote guy, I really enjoyed these from MLK. Thanks for being an example!

"Through your scientific genius you have been able to make of the world a neighborhood, but through your moral and spiritual genius, you have failed to make of it a brotherhood.”

“Though you live now in the colony of time, you must always take your orders from the empire of eternity.”

“Too many people are more concerned about making a living than about making a life.”

“O America, how you’ve taken necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes.”

” … Use only the weapon of love and let no man pull you so low as to hate him. Look at your oppressor hard enough to see in him something of God’s image; yes, it might be just a spark, but if you work on him long enough, it can develop into a leaping flame.”

“The festering sore of segregation debilitates the white man as well as the Negro.”

“The end of the universe is not to be happy. The end is not to avoid suffering. But the end of life is to do the will of God, come what may.”

Running...

2007-01-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

While running on the treadmill at my local YMCA this morning I was bemoaning the fact that I had to run inside on a beautiful day. They provide childcare at the Y while you workout, so now I find myself on a treadmill running inside in SoCal. Sound crazy? Feels crazy. A runners gotta do what a runners gotta do. I began to think what running has meant to me. I joke with my friends that I run because I like to eat. While that's true, I mostly enjoy running for the emotional, mental and spiritual experience. It is difficult to explain but you fellow joggers understand. As I was praying and thanking God for the ability to run, I began to think about all the cities I have run in. Bangkok, Kabul, Tunis, Frankfurt, Delhi, Beirut, Dubai, Tashkent, Moscow, London, Brussels, Madrid, Amman, Damascus, Khartoum, Singapore... I have spent hundreds of hours running in cities all over the world, praying for God's move in these places. As I put on my running shoes wherever I am in the world memories come flying back. As much as I imprint the ground of the world with my feet, the world has imprinted my life with its people.

Recent picture

2007-01-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

As a man there are just a few things that really get me. Jesus, my wife, and my kids are pretty much that list. Malia(not pictured), my five year old daughter, has a special place in my heart. A couple of months ago, while on a date with me, she grabbed my face and said, "Daddy I must kiss you on the lips! I love you so much." I cried. I told her that she couldn't kiss anyone on the lips until she was 30. My boys, Nathan(3) and Isaac(1), are my little men. I pray that God would use me greatly in their life to influence them toward Godly manhood and toward living a life that is filled with passion for the King! Would you pray right now for Malia, Nathan, and Isaac. Pray that they would discern God's voice and know His goodness.

Jesus? Church?

2007-01-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

In the first few months of church start mode I have, several times, lost sight of the bridegroom. In my fascination with the bride I forget the bridegroom. I pray to the bridegroom for the bride and I think strategically about how the bridegroom wants His bride to look here in Los Angeles, but the main point is Him. All this talk-talk-talk of church: organic church, postmodern church, house church, cell church, simple church, mega-church, traditional church, purpose driven church... No wonder the world is confused about our message! Aren't we simply a signpost of the present/future reality of the Kingdom of God.

How much of starting a church is our job rather than just simply loving Jesus?

Cleanse my heart, wash my hands!

The challenge to the relevance of the church we are dealing with is generally not our theology, history, or even Biblical understanding of Jesus as much as it is our cultural and personal way of relating to Him. How do we bring others into a dynamic relationship with Him?

Update

2007-01-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

Got sick as a dog last Thursday and didn't leave the couch or my bed until Sunday. I am definitely all caught on news and sports; but I am not sure if I am better off for it. Feeling better and am back up and running. Pray for us, we are in a time of gathering a core of people in order to launch the church. Pray that God will give us divine appointments with people and would break the hard ground of people's hearts! As a team we set a goal of having at least 100 people pray for us everyday in 2007. Let me know if you want to join the prayer team. God richest blessings and make it great day!
p.s. we have had record low temps in LA and it even hailed yesterday. Gobal warming?

Fasting...

2007-01-10T17:38:00.000-08:00

As a team we are on a week long fast. Please pray that God's voice would be prevalent and our ears would be opened.

Am I okay? Are you okay?

2007-01-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

Thought recently about how Christian maturity can actually work against me and create barriers between unchurched folk and myself. Jesus came and spent his time with common people and the disenfranchised. He avoided the religious elite because there is a poison that sets in with religious elitism. The beauty of Jesus is that He was/is the apex of spiritual living and knew that God's reality made most sense to people that were not in the crowd considered to be "holy." How much of our church life is spent comparing ourselves to ourselves? "Have you heard that guy preach?" Have you read her book?" "This worship band is so anointed!" Maybe Jesus was kicking off a leadership revolution. Rather than using other Christians to tell us we are okay, maybe the litmus test is what people that we pass everyday think about the reality of God's love alive in our life. "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."(I Cor 8:3) Pick up any of Mother Teresa's books and let it inspire us to live a life worth living!

Why Blog??

2007-01-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

1. Digital Discipleship. As a leader I have made the choice to engage, in this small way, the relevance of digital culture. Being the biggest shift in technology, I find many Christians are illiterate and are behind in keeping pace with where people are finding their primary influences for their values, beliefs, and assumptions.
2. "This is my Father's world." As Christians in MySpace culture, we need to be reminding people that everything we call “my space” is also, in a very profound sense, God’s space. We are inescapably in God’s presence.
Whether it’s on MySpace, in classrooms, or in the workplace, each person we encounter in our day-to-day lives has a God-sized space within their souls. This is a space that can be filled only by a relationship with the one true God.
3. Communication. People want to know what is going on with somone they value. Another way to keep people in the loop.

Back at Fuller

2007-01-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

I have just started my ninth year at Fuller Seminary. That's right - nine years to finish a 2.5 year degree(b/c I take a course or two per year). For me it's like running a marathon - it doesn't matter how long it takes you, it just matters that you finish. I have learned so much about God, world, and ministry while in seminary. I am taking Modern Church History from Dr. Roebeck. I have always been a fan of church history - it has given me a real appreciation for God at work through fallen people and institutions.

Living in a global city

2007-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Erica and I took our kids to our local mall where they have a indoor playground that our kids love. It's a playground with 5 ft. plastic pieces of food - hot dog, watermelon, banana... It's amazing what entertains kids!

I sat next to an older woman that was Jewish and born and raised in Egypt, lived in Jerusalem for 5 years, and has lived the last 40 years in Toronto. Her husband was the former ambassador to Canada from Israel. We had a great conversation about Jesus, and I learned alot.

I then struck up a conversation with a Nigerian professor that is studying at UCLA. When I asked him what he enjoyed about being in Los Angeles he paused and changed the topic.

I heard Chinese, Japenese, Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, and yes good ole' English spoken in the 30 minutes I was sitting there watching my kids play.

A few observations after living in a global city for a few months:

1. God is orchestrating the world in a way that is bringing the world to the cities. We have gone from 8% to 50% of global population living in global cities. Most of this growth is international. It will eclipse 80% in my life time.

2. The Church must spend the thrust of its energy strategizing how to reach global cities. It does not make sense to focus on rural areas. In a very real sense "we are not in Kansas anymore."

3. Stop focusing on the suburbs. I don't know how many times I have gotten advice from others admonishing me to go to the suburbs rather than the heart of the city. I know it makes for much quicker growth, but please!

4. The Western Church must lose its biases and become a servant to all.

Missional thoughts

2007-01-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Reading alot lately. Tim Keller, an urban church leader http://www.redeemer.com/ on the East coast has really impacted me lately. Specifically, as we are launching our church I am thinking a ton about seeing a people on mission with God, not just a church who does mission(s). Here is a synopsis of what I am learning from Tim's writings.

Tim Keller identifies these dimensions of a missional church:
-They use vernacular language.
-They engage the culture and re-tell the culture’s stories in the context of the gospel.
-They train their people theologically for public life and vocation.
-They create a Christian culture that is both counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. (It cannot be neatly categorized as “liberal” or “conservative.”)
-They practice Christian unity as much as possible in the community.

My concern is that most Christians will see this as a new strategy for evangelism. It is more accurately, a new (newly articulated) strategy for being the church. In an “evangelistic” church, evangelism is an activity and a program. In a missional church, evangelism is a natural part of being the church. In an “evangelistic” church, compassionate ministries are done in order to earn an audience for evangelism. In a missional church, these ministries are done for their own sake.

After a conversation with our team this weekend, I summarized the following. Thanks Sarah Bodie!
1. Evangelism is collaboration with what God is doing by listening to God, praying to God, and working with the Spirit.
2. God is raising up witnessing communities more than witnessing individuals. Belonging comes before believing.
3. Developing friendship through conversation is what it is all about instead of downloading information and content about the gospel. The current generation, we’ve been told over and over because it is true, does not trust the church; it will trust credible people. Become a friend. Do what you love with nonchurched folks.
4. Tell a story of God’s power and gospel realities. Stories are containers big enough to tell truth. Logic isn’t as effective as it once was. Connect your story to the stories of others.
5. Talk about a Jesus who is outside the box. Jettison the cliche Jesus. . . . He confronted religious elitism, consumerism.
6. The gospel is good news for the here and now and not just the there and then. The gospel is spiritual and physical, individual and communal, personal and social, human and cosmic, people and nations. It is good news for all of this.
7. It is an invitation to a wedding and marriage. He means it is a journey rather than an event. . . If salvation is union with Christ, then a wedding is a good image for what we are invited to because it leads to a marriage.

Make it a great Day!

Elbowed by Urkel

2007-01-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I was playing hoops at my local YMCA where I have met some great people. After the first game a friend, Adam, said, "you were just throwing around Urkel." "What are you talking about?", I said. "You just played against Urkel - Jaleel White." I thought to myself that he looked familiar, but different. He is not little kid Urkel no more - he must be spending time in the gym because he is bowed up. A couple of games later I told Urkel(Jaleel) I am a pastor. "You play dirty for a pastor!", he yelled. I then said, "you better watch those elbows." We both laughed, and then his team proceeded to beat us for the third time

First Quarter Thankfulness

2007-01-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

As a church we finished our first quarter(3 months). We are headed on a retreat this weekend to do some heavy lifting for the purpose of reaching our city. In retrospect, there are many things to be thankful for thus far. Here is a short list:

-we all got here safe
-God has provided for us(huge deal)
-we all have jobs
-we all have relationships
-we have prayed(alot!)
-we hosted 2 short term teams
-we have developed as a team
-we have fasted
-we started meetings
-we have made significant impact in a few peoples lives
-We have grown by 100% - more than most churches

Someone asked me the other day what I thought was better for reaching people, small churches or big churches. I responded, "Both, because I lead a small church that I want to see grow."