Saturday is for Singing

OK, another U2 song, which I didn't really want to do for a while, but this song got stuck in my head on the way back from training in Houston. I love the hope this song shares. I think sometimes perseverance can be really hard for those who live a life that seeks to invest in people. Paul had to remind followers to not weary in doing good, presumably because it's hard work.

Thanks to the team for making this weekend a priority, especially the super-dads who stayed back to let their wives go. I think there's cool things coming.

The Web is Us

So, most people know I'm a tech geek (in the sense that I appreciate it, but can't afford it or make it profitable). But I dig this video. The concept here is appealing to me as a church planter as well.

I like the idea of the decentralized system. I like knowing that there are others out there who can contribute to the big picture. The participation involved in the new frontier of the internet is just a cultural ethos that will soon go everywhere, even churches. There are institutions that are making the change, both in the secular and sacred worlds. I believe that my generation will be the pioneers, just like our forefathers. Let's not screw it up.

Review of 1408

Warning, slight spoilers follow.

While I was back home this weekend, my brothers and I went to see 1408, an adaptation of a Stephen King short story. Growing up, I read anything that King published, and while I've not kept up in recent years, this story felt very familiar. Not in a bad way, but like talking to an old friend and being reminded of why you liked being around them.

The film fits better into the thriller genre, rather than horror. There's no blood and guts, and no cheap scares (like cats jumping out from behind things just when the music picks up). It's a "Mt. Pleasant movie", which is to say that I would watch it in the theaters back home, where I only pay $5 for a ticket and $2 for snacks, and I don't need hi-def, surround sound, etc. A movie like this also means you'll be dealing with a lot of puberty-addled kids that laugh at the wrong parts and don't understand the nature of movies.

So, back to the movie. John Cusack plays a writer that dismisses paranormal activitiy, mostly haunted hotels and the like. He discovers room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, and is intrigued. The scenes with him and Samuel L. Jackson, who plays the hotel manager, are entertaining, with each one trying to prove to the other about the merits (or lack thereof) of staying in the room.

What follows is a claustrophobic hour or so, as the room gets increasingly creepy. For fans of the Dark Tower, I feel that the room is a thinny, a place where time and space are thinner, allowing some of the more macabre elements of this world to come through. Cusack's character's daughter, who died young, begins to appear, first in home movies on the room's TV, then face to face. The scariest part of the film isn't scary at all, at least for the viewer. The moment she arrives, he loses her again, and then is told he would have to relive this moment again and again.

Cusack's performance is great, from sarcastic to skeptic to curious to crazy, it's a very fluid and realistic portrayal. The audience is never sure what is real and what is imagined. This is the thinking man's scary movie. It lingers. The places where you don't jump out of your seat plant themselves in your mind, waiting to remind you that there is little we have control over.

So, look for it at a cheap theater or on DVD. But don't miss it, it's a cool flick.

Saturday is for Singing

I'm reaching back a little for this one. Erika introduced me to Caedmon's Call in college, when we first started dating. They were slightly famous (at least in the Contemporary Christian Music), but I had never really listened to them much.

Their first major release (self-titled) played in my CD player constantly. I had the chance to see them three times while in college, and they put on an interesting concert. I like a lot of musicians on stage doing their thing.

Anyway, hope you enjoy. Caedmon's Call always reminds me of the simpler times in my faith when I was just beginning to learn what it meant to follow God. Now it's just working on living it out.

Learning to Follow

Man, Scot at Jesus Creed is on fire this week. He's posted a great question, something that I've been working and reworking for about five years now: What does discipleship look like in a missional setting? I think that the classroom-based approach is losing some of its effectiveness, but how do you show people, especially those new to the faith, what it means to live it out?

I posted a comment over there, but I'd like to continue the conversation here. He also asks, "what are the top 5 'missional outcomes' in this type of class?", and then suggests that loving people should be #1. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this as well.

So, I guess here's the breakdown:

What are the top five outcomes that a follower of Christ should display in their lives? (And, please, no Purpose-Driven stuff.)

What is the best ways to develop those in a person new to the faith? What about those who have been followers for a while?

I know I have friends out there with opinions that just lurk on here, so now's your time to come out of the shadows!

Missional

Yeah, crazy word. But I think an understanding of what it means to be missional is an understanding of what it means to plant a church that truly makes a difference. I personally do not like the "if you build it, they will come" mindset that a lot of church planters take. Most aren't really making disciples, they just make a church service.

Anyway, Scot McKnight has started a series about understanding the "missional Jesus". You can read his thoughts so far (here, here, here, and here). He's got some great insights, and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Next week might be a little slow on the blog front, I'm heading to Houston with some of my team for an understanding of what it means to be missional.

Actually, I think a better word is incarnational. I like the idea of pouring into others, teaching them to do the same. But now it's just semantics.

Focused Hope

For some reason, it seems like "hope" has been a theme for me the last few weeks. This morning, I, along with other pastors, had the chance to meet with the mayor and police chief to talk about how we can best serve our community. We discussed chaplaincy programs and other things, but what I really heard was that there are people in our community without hope. Chief Thomas said that when he has to deliver a death notice, he can tell who are believers because he can see hope in them.

To me, hope is a powerful thing. Hope is what propels us into faith. Hope is this future abstract that, through faith, we make a reality. Someone without a future is called "hopeless". Not "futureless". I wonder how much of an overlap there is between hope and future? I think that many people think that life isn't worth living today if there's no reason to get out of bed tomorrow. If tomorrow is just the same demanding routine, and we have little influence on making it better, why bother?

How can we reclaim hope? I think it's all about focus. It's easy, and sometimes gratifying, to focus on our own little world with all of its problems and frustrations. The call for a follower of Christ is to move beyond, to see life as opportunity rather than obstacle. I think that doing this apart from a community is impossible. The perspective we gain in serving others forces us to look beyond today and into tomorrow's potential. We begin to see the good that God can do, and we can sense it becoming a reality.

Robot Chicken: Star Wars

UPDATE: It seems like they took the video down, so here's my favorite part of the show.

I had a chance to catch this last night, and while the best sketch is not new (Vader calling the Emperor), it still has some great laughs. What's your favorite part?

Happy Father's Day

One of the great things about being a dad is seeing the little bits of yourself in your kids. Kylie's got a great sense of humor, and has recently taken to try to tell jokes (mostly statements of absurdity, followed by her unique - albeit forced - laugh).

She's also quite clever, usually in sneaking stuff that she's not supposed to have, or doing something she's not supposed to do. Yesterday she told us how she got up out of bed and put her ear to our door and listened to us talking. I would have never known otherwise.

For Father's Day, she picked out a Black Spider-Man action figure for me, which I've been wanting. She's played with it more than I have.

Last night, we stayed up late and watched Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. We talked about how she doesn't have to be scared of things on TV, and she was brave enough to go "touch" the monsters to show how they weren't real. She still insists the good guys are real, and I'm not telling her otherwise.

People. Mission. Change.

I've read an interesting post about developing entrepreneurs in the context of mission. I just thought I would put some highlights out there, and some thoughts as well.

"In the Church, mission has been tacitly a tool of maintenance, a means to preserve the way we are, or at least the way we perceive we are. Perhaps change is afoot? Mission, not as a way of bracing the Church as it is, rather as engaging with the culture, seeing people not as products or numbers but as individual seedlings growing from the soil of their own history and context. Not a Church seeking to be relevant, but to be resonant."

This is why I love the name of our church, Resonate Community. It's exactly what we want to do. The authors of the article explain that we, as leaders, are to engage people in a coaching relationship, one that allows us to sharpen people individually. I like to challenge people to tap into their hidden potential, the God-given gifts they have. I think I make people uncomfortable sometimes, but that's OK. The authors quote Sir Francis Drake:

"Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore."

A true leader creates leaders. This is true in business, sports, and, yes, the church. Our modern way of doing this is to cram information down the throat of potentials, and let the cream rise to the top. Only the elite can be leaders. I think, however, that anyone has the capabilities to be a leader, but they must be developed, not instructed. This is often the most painful part, where people engage themselves in being molded and shaped, pushed and challenged in every part of their thinking and behavior.

In a couple of weeks, Erika and I will be participating in coaching development, so we can know we can best develop other people. In my limited experience with this, I have found this to be the best way to see people grow. Rather than telling them what I think, I want to show people how to process and think for themselves. Failure is inherent in this approach, but growth comes no matter what.

Saturday is for Singing

I discovered Mat Kearney about three months ago or so, and he's been in my iPod ever since. He has an interesting sound. He's got a kinda folksy Coldplay feel, but then in the middle of the song will start hip-hop rap. I know Eminem would sing and rap in songs, but there's something different here. I like the album because it never lies to you with Christian platitudes; there's admission to frustration with all the crap this world throws at you. But at the same time, there's never despair or anger in the music. Underneath the songs, even the most painful, there are threads of hope and promise.

After listening to the album several times, I have noticed that some of the rap elements seem to be similar throughout. I hope that his next release includes a little more variety in the cadence. However, the lyrics are insightful and pointed, and I'm still finding some new things as I listen deeper.

This song, "Undeniable", speaks to me about how God is really the most reliable person we have on our side. Our tendency is to create this false constructs of security, to attempt to give God a backup plan, just he case he fails to show up on time. But what happens when reality phases in, and we find ourselves alone, destruction surrounding us and our friends gone? Sometimes we forget about the unforgettable, and deny the undeniable.

I hope this song gets stuck in your head.

Contact in Chililabombwe

I had my first contact with the representative for the Sister City program in Chililabombwe, Zambia. It was very positive, and I think we'll be able to do some good over there.

Also, I met with the superintendent of Hutto ISD last week, and he was enthusiastic about getting involved as well. I'll be meeting with the campus principals sometime soon to talk to them about their opportunities.

On Monday night, I'll be presenting my vision to the city council. Very exciting!

It's cool how quickly this is all moving. Just trying to keep up the pace now!

Fearless You and the Power of Yes

I've been reading through Genesis, and I was struck by something interesting. Most of the time in Scripture, when an angel of the Lord appears, the first thing he says is, "Be not afraid." But not with Abraham. God just goes right into his plan about making him a great nation, calling him out from Ur, destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, sacrificing his son. Oh yeah, and circumcision. Scary stuff, but not for Abraham. What's even more interesting is that there is often very little resistance on Abraham's part. Sometimes a question or two, but it always seems more like clarification rather than fear.

There's even one part where Abraham stands between God and Sodom, basically saying, "You're making a mistake!" The Bible mentions Abraham's bosom several times, but I'm impressed by his cajones! God still destroys the cities, but he saves Abraham's nephew and his family from death.

Before I was committed to God, I used to have major headaches and stomach aches. In 5th grade, I went through all of these tests to see if I had ulcers or a brain tumor. Turned out, I just worried a lot. Even after I was following God for a while, I still struggled with it. But one day, I decided to stop.

I had been concerned about one of my friends who didn't know God. We were in high school, and I didn't see him much, but I asked God to give me an opportunity to talk to him. Then one day, we run into each other, and I just say hi and keep going. I knew instantly that I blew it. Internally, I prayed that God would give me another chance, and promised that I wouldn't back out. Two weeks later, I was out in the parking lot during class, and so was he. Just the two of us. I told him about how much God was changing my life, and he came to church with me later that week.

I realized that my life could mean something, if I allowed God to use it. It's no longer about me, we're talking about eternal consequences to those around me. What am I willing to give up for that? That day, I got comfortable with being uncomfortable.

/rant

I was reading this post about the power of yes this morning. I wonder what would happen if people who are followers of Christ began to start saying yes whenever they hear from him. Not, "let me pray about it" or other churchy ways of hiding their own insecurities. Just, "OK, let's go."

I think that we would have a lot less selfish Christians in this world. You know, the ones that say, "Hate the sin, love the sinner", but really, they hate anything that makes them uncomfortable. They blame God when things go "wrong" and can't seem to look beyond their own inconveniences. I wonder if God ever decides to just stop offering a chance to change the world because he already knows what our answer will be. Check out this retelling of Mark 10 for a little more perspective.

/end rant

Not too long after I decided to start being fearless with God, my life changed. I became a pastor, moved my family around, started planting churches. I found peace inside of situations beyond my control. I began to really care about people. I didn't need the logistics of every step God wanted from me. Abraham has a great life story. But the greatness isn't in what he did, but what God can do when we are willing to just say yes.

Cool Side of the Pillow

Last night as I was putting Kylie to bed, she explained to me the details of how pillows work.

Me: Lay down on your pillow, Kylie (she likes to turn around in bed, so this is routine).

Kylie: I have to flip it over, so I lay on the cold side. When it gets warm and I wake up, I'll come to your bed.

I have no idea where she came up with this. I guess it's great 3 year old reasoning.

I thought about trying to write something meaningful here, about how Jesus is our rest, but I think I'll go with funny for now.

Losing It

So I've decided that I need to lose some weight. Actually, a doctor has decided for me that I need to lose some weight. I'm fine, except my liver tends to act up when I gain weight, which I have over the past year (not working out will do that).

So, the past few weeks I've been working out (stepping up to three times this week). And, I'm going to start eating right. I hate diet food, and all of the seemingly gimmicky plans that promise stuff. I'm going to try my very own patented diet, which includes not eating too much, and not eating crap (goodbye Pop-Tarts).

Cooking Light actually has some good recipes, with good portions and (believe it or not) TASTE. I enjoy eating, and I enjoy cooking, so doing it better be worth it. Tonight we had Steak, Pear, and Gorgonzola Sandwiches. Simple to make, pretty tasty, very filling, and easy to make for a quick lunch tomorrow.

As far as sweets go (my Kryptonite), I can have two small Dove dark chocolates, which have some antioxidants and what not so I can pretend they have some redeeming value.

So, I'm basically trying to pay more attention to serving sizes, fat and calorie content, and balance. I think balance is really what I'm going for. No cold turkeys, no vowing to never have a sweet again, just balance. I have feared that I'll lose my mind before I lose some weight, but so far I'm off to a good start.

Saturday is for Singing

So I'm considering having a little weekly feature here on the site. I'm a music fan, not very talented, but I can sing great in the car or shower. Actually, a spend a lot of time humming and singing whenever I'm alone, and music generally takes me to a creative place.

To start, here is a song by the Foo Fighters and this blog's namesake, "No Way Back (From Here)". The lyrics, to me, speak of someone finding their place in this world, no longer content to just live with what others have told them they should be or do. So, they move forward with reckless abandon, knowing there is really no way back once they leave.

This is my anthem.

Freedom's Scent

This is a great song. I think it describes a relationship with God, what intimacy is really about. We've been talking about the connection between a relationship with God and our search for relationships with others. Oh, and a great line: Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head.

Unhidden City

Over the past few years, I've grown to admire Bono (lead singer/songwriter for U2) as a follower of Christ that gets it. Some of the more "traditional" Christians feel the need to criticize his language or lifestyle, but in my opinion, he's the new face of what it means to be a follower of Christ. I think, with Jerry Falwell's recent passing, a new era of belief in America is emerging.

For the past 20 years or so, there's been a steady inward turning of the church. We've isolated ourselves from the world in an attempt to protect our holiness from the evils of society. We select leaders solely upon their view on abortion or stem cells. If you identified yourself as a "Christian", people already knew a lot about you: judgemental, Republican, selfish, isolated, fearful of change or free thought.

In my reading in Acts this past week, this was more the exception than the rule. Jesus' disciples were passionate about people, moving into areas of ebb and flow that were strange, but they looked at it like an adventure - a place for faith, rather than a place for fear. So many Christians concern their time with simply not sinning. They forget that we are called to a life of impact, of serving others and bringing God's love to everyone we encounter.

Bono was on Nightline last night. He shared about his passion for Africa, for ending the extreme poverty in that region. He said, "It's not about charity, it's about justice." He even became a co-editor for Vanity Fair, focusing the issue on THE issue.



As followers of Christ, we are called to be a light for the world. Jesus says that a city on hill cannot be hidden. We are to let our light shine before others, that they may see what we do and glorify God. I hope that Hutto can be that city as we approach this new partnership with Chililabombwe. Today I'm having two more meetings that will help us get there. I want what we do there to be life-changing, if not world-changing.

On Doctor's Visits

I hate going to the doctor. It's not the visit really, but the waiting. Here's an unscientific breakdown of their magazines:

53% women's interest (home decorating and some mom's parenting stuff)
24% golf magazines (no thanks)
11.9999% hunting/fishing/hot rods magazines
7% Reader's Digests from the late 1990s
4% news magazines that are four months old
.0001% something I would like to read

So, most of my time is spent just staring ahead with a dull expression on my face. Then, my name is called, they weigh me, I feel even worse, and then I wait again for the doctor to see me as I read about whatever he has stuck on the wall. My brain has pushed out most of my good childhood memories to make room for information like "How the Pancreas Works" and "What's Riboflavin?"

This time, Kylie came, and my blood pressure was higher than when I went by myself.

But, as of now, there's nothing wrong with me. I'll know more on Friday when I get some test results back. Thanks for all the prayers and nice thoughts sent my way.

The Unknown

Today I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist. My liver enzymes have been higher than they should, and my doctor thought it would be best to see a specialist. I don't have any other symptoms, and I'm in relatively good health, so they don't really know what's going on. Hopefully it's nothing.

It has got me thinking though. Right now I'm at a time in my life where I really, genuinely cherish what I have. In fact, a few weeks ago I wrote a post wishing that I could just freeze everything where it was. But that's not really living. Real living is moving constantly into the unknown. Isn't that the basis of faith? Knowing that, while I don't know what's ahead, God does? Do I have the faith enough to see beyond the fears and uncomfortable places that I find myself in, to trust that God is moving history forward, with me in it, for the good of those that love him?

Is that why we fear change? Are we afraid to admit that, it's not really the unknown that we fear, but God? Could it be that, somewhere deep within, we don't really think God can (will?) deliver us? How would life be different if we ran headlong into the unknown, fearless?

I can't say that I know the answers to these questions. So I guess I'm back to where I started.

Earth Angel

Kylie's spring dance recital was tonight. Here's the video.



Not on video is her dancing in the aisle as the other performers did their thing. My brother and his wife came down, as well as my little brother and my mom. We played a lot of Guitar Hero 2 and some Crackdown today, and will just be relaxing tomorrow.

Kylie's my little angel, growing up too quickly for my liking. She's got more energy than I've ever had, and I love her for that. I hope that she never loses it. Even if she never gets all the steps right, she's got a song in her heart that is beautiful to me.

The 10th Dimension

If you're a fan of Quantum Leap, or quantum physics, this is an interesting film. Is it possible for man to travel back in time? What possibilities lie in these dimensions? Where is God found? Enjoy! (This isn't really weekend type watching, when you just want to veg out. But if you're bored at work one day...)

Part One



Part Two

Reading Through Acts

A couple guys and I have been reading through Acts. I've still got a couple of chapters to go, but there's already so much that's struck me.

I think Paul's experience in Athens (Acts 17), which is a cornerstone to the praxis of my church planting philosophy, wasn't as deliberate as I initially thought. He got there ahead of everyone else, didn't really like it, and I think was just doing something because he didn't really know what else to do. The results weren't even very spectacular. But I think he caught something there that he couldn't shake, something that preaching to the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles just didn't satisfy. He wants to go back, even as far as going to Rome, outside of where it is safe and comfortable.

When Peter declares that the gospel is for the pagans as well, not just those that fear God, the entire church gets electric. There's some that want to make sure everyone is circumcised, but the apostles quickly cut that off (pun intended). I get the sense that, what was once a great gift of grace from God, now became something deeper than they first understood.

I think this depth is what I'm finding in my life right now. Seeing others experience God's grace adds a richness to my life that's hard to describe.