Riding under the waves

I like blogging, but like my life right now I am riding under the waves. Most people unless really close can't see me, my life, and the realities of my journey with the Lord. I keep saying over the next horizon I will have time for this or that.

I think reality is: accept the reality I have. So I'll keep popping up for air from time to time.

I'm learning about calling these days. It will sound simple, but I'm learning when my friend is mad at me, I am still called to be a friend. When my wife is mad at me I am still called to husband her. When my kids are mad at me, I am still called to father them. When I am mad at me, I am still called to pastor others, father my kids, husband my wife, serve the body of Christ. I am not my own but I am bought with a price. Circumstances don't dictate our calling, being obedient to Christ does. I'm learning.

Angelic

I ran across this mural on a side of a building in the Greenville area of Dallas so I took a couple of shots.

Stewarding our authority

God gives his children impartations of grace that enable them to serve others. Authority happens when we under the Holy Spirits guidance use what God has given us to serve Him and others. It is not our authority, it is His. We are to steward well the grace given us. God is challenging me and our community to use what He has given us faithfully. We can never assume that our lives don't make a big difference.

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:13

Girding up has the picture of tying tightly the belt around a flowing garment so the person can run or exert themselves. And then being sober is the opposite of being drunk. Being drunk is the loss of control. Being sober is giving control to God and being at peace. So we are rolling up our sleeves, giving full control to God, and then resting all our hope and expectations on Him (Jesus) alone.

What a great reminder for me. Peter was talking to people who had left their home and were foreigners in other places. They were people of transition. They began to taste what it meant to be strangers and aliens in this world. And Peter was encouraging them not to lose focus, but to put their weight in Christ.

The reports of my death have been exaggerated

No, I haven't given up blogging, but working 65-70 hours a week takes away my creative energy to blog. I miss the normal routine of journaling through a blog.

I have hope that sometime in the days to come I will get to return to the social revolution found in blogging.

Check out these articles on blogging:

1. The Blogging Revolution (Weblogs Are To Words What Napster Was To Music)

2. Business Blogging for Beginners

Faithful in Little Things

The word tells us to be faithful in the little things and we will be given much. I've been thinking about how we turn that verse to the idea of promotion. If I work hard here I will be promoted and be in a better place. Then I began to see an application of this verse in Jesus life. He was faithful to be broken. His willingness to be broken in little things led to His being given much brokeness (the cross). The cross was the ultimate brokeness and the ultimate submittedness. It is a High King laying down His life for the peasants who He sees as friends.

I want to change my paradigm from seeing brokeness as a season I have to endure to get to the good stuff and rather see it as the avenue for love to be poured out to others. Brokeness is our friend not our enemy. True brokeness birthed out of love is to be admired and aspired to.

Real Stories

Callie (11 yr old): Dad, what does homie mean ?

Dad (44 yr old): Homie is like someone your close to, a friend, somebody you like to hang with.

Callie : hmmmm

Next day

Callie walks out the door and dad catches a glimpse of a new piece of art on the back of a white tee-shirt Callie is wearing: Jesus is my homie written in black magic marker.

Blitzed but not tackled

Work has blitzed my time to blog for a few weeks now. It reminds me of being a quarterback in football and seeing that blitz coming. You had to make quick decisions and be a bit elusive to survive. Some blitzes ended in bruising tackles and others in big plays.

Even though I am getting the life blitz right now. God is working some good things within me . I have been meditating on Psalm 1 for weeks now. It is coming more and more alive to me. I was very familiar with Psalms 1 having committed most of it to memory years ago. I am learning that a dangerous thing happens when you have studied and know a portion of scripture. You begin to think you have the understanding of it. It is not a pompous kind of pride that lifts up it's ugly head, but more like a sneaky little pride that slips in the back door. The whisper of this little pride goes something like this "hey, why read that scripture, you know it well, and it's really kinda boring."

I have taken some wisdom from something Kirk Bennett out of IHOP said. He said approach all scripture with a "God, will you teach me about this passage?" I have been asking the Lord to teach me more about Psalms 1 and it is beginning to take. One of the first things the Lord directed me in was a picture of this man in Psalms one who is blessed. The picture He gave me was one of Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of Psalms one. Jesus delight was in the law of the Lord and on it He meditated day and night. We know that Jesus had a pure continual fellowship with the Father. Here is a key insight into that fellowship. Jesus meditated on the word. I can picture Jesus working at the carpenter bench crafting a new table for someone with Psalm 1 on his lips. "Blessed is the man, Blessed is the man, Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, Blessed is the man who does not walk, who does not go in the direction of ungodly counsel, who does not listen to ungodly counsel . . .". I picture Jesus repeating this in thought and with voice, reading the word, speaking the word, thinking the word, even singing the word, and praying the word He is thinking on.

Psalms 1 is becoming a delight to think on. I am beginning to glean some fresh manna from it. I hope to continue meditating on Psalms 1 for weeks to come and continue feeding my soul.

House Churches have no sex appeal

Check out the article by Andrew Jones. It brings up important issues that all churches should wrestle with.

link

Down from the mountain

Having a sabbatical week in Kansas City a couple of weeks ago was a mountain top experience for me. I came back refreshed and energized. This week has been the "your off the mountain week".
I have had some 15 and 17 hour days at work, our finances are on the edge this month, and emotionally I have been drained. I am aware that God is still working in weeks like this, just not in the ways I would rather Him work. Let's see Tuesday night I played basketball at a new place and offended someone I don't really know (I did apologize) . The same night someone landed on my foot and it broke the toenail at the base so my big toe is blue. I missed the bible study at my house because I could not finish work in time. I communicated poorly to my wife about the Bible study and it didn't go that well. Those are some samples of how this week has gone.

I write this not to complain, but to realize every week isn't storybook in the Christian life. I can read a biography of some Christian leader and it seems their lives are just filled with hearing God clearly each week and having supernatural events consistently happening. I have to remind myself that these are the highlights of this Christians life, not the everyday stuff. Christ is found in the mundane as well as the exciting.

I am also reminded of Paul saying: we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

A good Passover

Resonance met on Sunday night this week rather than on Sunday morning. We are trying to have a more contemplative time once a month on Sunday nights. Our friends Shane and Amanda were with us from Lubbock. It was a time of the Lord's encouragement for our community. See the details on Resblogs (our communities blog).

An aha moment

We are beginning a time on Thursday nights to study the gospel of John over a meal. We are going to be using N.T. Wrights John for Everyone to create dialogue. I have had my kids join us in this endeavor. I have been seeing the need in my kids to get them more involved in a constant intake of the word of God. As I see times that their emotions have breakdowns I've been realizing that teaching them to receive from the Word isn't just a duty Christians parents should do, but something a Father would desire to equip his children with to help them battle the attacks of worldliness, the attacks of selfishness from our own flesh, and even offenses that will come their way. And at the same time teaching them to encounter the heart of Jesus and not just information about Him.

Anyway all that to say: The kids and I were driving along in my pickup and my son Ethan had an aha moment. He said "dad, I just thought of something. A lamb had to die because Adam and Even sinned right" I said yea, there has to be a sacrifice for sin. He then said "It is like God is telling us something that is going to happen in the future then, because just like Adam and Even had to have a lamb die for their sin, we need Jesus the lamb of God to die for our sin, so God shows us stuff that's going to happen even before it does." What a blessing to have an aha moment for myself to see that my son had a moment of revelation. God was speaking to his heart. It was a good day !

Worship while you blog

I used to use this site alot to listen to worship while I was on the net or even while I was hanging out in my bedroom. I ran across it afresh this week.

Worship at night watch ministries has some prime worship music. Take a listen.

Here I cry
You who dwell in heaven
Draw near to us
For Your sole desire

No one else
Could ever do in this life
Make us blameless
In the sight of Your Son

As we rend our hearts
May you rend the heavens
As we look to You
May You shine Your glory

by Isa Couvetier

Rend our Hearts was a song that became a prayer while I engaged with the Lord in worship this past week at IHOP. I think this scripture is out of Isaiah 62

Engaged hearts

This was during one of the IHOP conference sessions. People were engaged in loving Jesus.

Dinner in Tulsa

This was the dinner made by Nancy Bishop as I stopped by Tulsa on my way to Kansas City and had a great time of fellowship with friends Loren and Nancy. The color was too cool not to photo.

In Him we live

I just got back from a conference at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. I can not think of a place on the planet I would have rather been this weekend. What a privilege to get to spend three days of just hanging out with your best friend who also happens to be the Majestic King of the Universe.

How that happens I don't know. How Jesus can be so personal with us and allow us to encounter Him as friend and at the same time be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who has a fierce roar and will one day come and judge the nations. I just don't get that. But I am still excited that His grace and kindness extends toward me.

For three days the Lord has visited me and allowed me to encounter Him afresh. I have experienced His peace, I have heard His challenge me about the dullness of my heart toward Him and I have been encouraged as His son.

I will be writing more about specifics here.

Today's prayer

I hunger and thirst for You the living God
Show me more of Your heart
Expose the dullness of my own heart

I cry out for more

More of Jesus
Allow me to Encounter this man Christ Jesus
Allow me to be exposed to His glory

Come Lord, Come Lord
in me

Face of Postmodern Worship

Andrew Jones has a feature article in Worship leader this month called The Emerging Face of Postmodern Worship.

A large room is filled with garbage, but will soon become the scene for communion. A multi-media labyrinth leads participants through a one-hour encounter with their creator. A senses lab includes a wind tunnel for meditating on God’s spirit. Another room is filled with incense and the soft light of candles. It is called the Luscious Room and passages from Song of Solomon are written on the walls. The dance space is completely saturated with video images and electronic worship mixed by DJs from Switzerland. There is a birthday party where people on all four levels of the atrium are eating cake and celebrating life, yet there is also a memorial space for a friend that died a few weeks earlier. There are over a dozen worship environments occurring simultaneously but none of them have a stage. There is an abundance of music but no bands. People weep as they meet with God, but no one leads the meeting. Is this the emerging face of postmodern worship, or just a moment in time when those on the journey towards holistic, authentic worship find themselves caught up in creating something that will never be repeated?

This is from an Indie Allies get together last night. We talked about what biblical leadership looks like, about upcoming books that label the emerging movement as herectical, about the nature of life in Christ, about new Mac laptops, and some thoughts on NT Wright and his take on Romans, among other things.
 

The true testimony

My friend Loren Bishop has entered the blog world with a blog focused on how God is restoring a pure witness of the testimony of Jesus in these days. Check it out at Pulpit of the last days.

From an interview with Sally Morganthaler

One small barking dog interviews Sally Morganthaler. Here are some excerpts:

A few years ago, I realized (to my horror) that I had lived a huge percentage of my life rotating between three futile perspectives: regretting the past, surviving the present, or worrying about the future. A change was in order. Now, I try to focus on each moment that is given to me, as it is offered. I ask, "What does this moment require of me?" Or, "What is God trying to communicate to me?" This wholehearted investment in life - this grabbing hold of the wonder in my path, whether it be intense challenge, recreation, uncertainty, a neighbor's frantic call in the night, difficult relatives, a stranger in the airport, or extended isolation - this is medicine to my soul and a rooting in God's good plan. It is, for one known as skeptic and practiced rebel, a place of delightful submission to God's sovereignty. And, I must say, a surprising and welcome turn.

I'm not generally one for despair. But I do have concerns. My own generation of Americans (baby boomers) suffers from a particularly virile form of narcissism. In our quest for personal fulfillment, we have failed to both teach and know our children well. Truly, our deprioritization of our own offspring is one of the great tragedies of late twentieth century America. The effects are staggering, and I'm not just talking about broken homes. It goes much deeper than that. The cessation of intergenerational narrative is at the core. The exchange of story has been one of the most important roles of family life. But getting involved in that exchange means sacrificing time, listening, and value that our children are actually worth the effort. A few days ago, I was at a Christian conference and had just ended a talk about creating sacred space outside the four walls of our churches. I didn't focus the talk on young people, but one father came up to me afterward and plied me with questions about what kind of music he should let his kids listen to, what kind of media, films, TV programs, etc. I was comforted that he was evidently having an epiphany moment that he might need to be involved in these sort of things, but the attitude was still trying to protect them from their own culture, their own stories. It's amazing how rarely I hear parent's ask how they can dialog and actually share life with their children, how they can enter their offspring's worlds, find out the stories their children are actually living, and earn the right to tell their own stories. We are truly in relationally challenged as a nation.

link

Random thoughts on leadership . . .

What the heck is leadership ? Is leadership a biblical concept ? Maybe it is false concept of modernity that needs to be done away with ? Maybe it is a solid concept that has been misused.

Some random thoughts:

The basis of leadership in our lives is influence. We are leaders in the capacity we influence people toward Jesus our King and His kingdom.

Leadership within a Christian context is being who you are as you abide in Him. It is who we are in Christ.

Finding who we are in Christ is a lifelong pursuit of His heart. This is the true biblical hermeneutic (way of interpreting scripture). It is finding out what is Gods heart in what the
bible says. That heart is reflected in God's son Jesus Christ. It is finding God's heart in the decisions we make. It is finding Gods heart in how and when we influence people's lives.

It is God's choice on how we influence others.

I'm convinced as we learn to walk in humility and submission to
God's heart and His ways, influence is the natural outcome of that. This influence will look different for all of us. It has to do with the gift that we are to the body, and the call that is upon us to glorify His name.

Influence can not be found in copying someone else's style. It can't happen by following someone else's pattern of influence.

Influence can be found by learning how to be in relationship with the Father. It can be encouraged by seeing godly principles operate in others lives and seeing how to know Gods heart in those principles.

Postmodernisms answer to the consumerism of the modern age is being organic. But in my mind even though I see the faultiness of the modern mindset, I recognize the answer is not in having a postmodern mindset. The answer is in developing more fully a living relationship with the Lord Jesus and allowing the overflow from that relationship transform our minds and our hearts and our emotions and our past. The previous statement is not a formula for success. I am so tired of the church coming up with formulas for success. I don't want to be sold a formula. I've tried many and all leave me lacking. What I want is more, more of Him, more communication with Him (Jesus), more thinking like He thinks, more drinking in what He drinks in. And I believe that more of Him is attainable, not as a one time more experience, but as a journey of more of Him as I live. That is truly organic.

Jesus heart in leadership is:
1. That the Father may be glorified. This was the intent of Jesus heart in being who He was on the earth. It is significant to recognize that Jesus never did any miracles for himself. The miracles were that the Father would be glorified. "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1Cor 1:31) & "The first commandment, And you shall love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12:29)

leadership is not exerting our control upon a situation. It is not our wisdom on how to deal with a situation.

Leadership according to the kingdom is not a title. It is not an appointed position. It is a lifestyle that flows out of relationship with Christ.

Influence on others is not a stamp of approval on all the actions of the influencing person. Just because someone has an arena of influence does not mean they have mastery over all areas of their own life. We need the whole body. Lone followers of Christ is an oxymoronic phrase.
we can not follow Christ on our own. We need the others parts of the body to function, to be on a healthy journey following Christ.

There are so many others aspects of true leadership and and a biblical defintion, but sleep is upon me.

don't want medication

but i don't want medication

just give me liberation

even if it cuts my legs right out from underneath

don't give me medication

i want the real sensation

even when living feels just like death to me . . .

Derek Webb: I see things upside down

Because . . .

I wanted to do something fun with the kids today and let them get out of the routines of life. We went to the mall, went to see a movie, and then got a bite to eat. We saw Because of Winn Dixie. This is not a great movie, but it is a very good one and it relays some good theology about true community. And you Dave Matthew fans will enjoy Dave's role in the movie where he does a bit of playing and singing.

A site to see

Soul Searching: cool design and content. Check out the video clips of peoples stories. I like that uk accent.

How can my ministry promote the kingdom ? not the other way around.

Mike Pilavachi speaks to the issue of giving up our lives in Confessions of a middle aged youth worker.

Things people won't say when they see a Christian bumper sticker or fish on a car

From John Dekker's Journal

Things people won't say when they see a Christian bumper sticker or fish on a car

7. "Look! Let's stop that car and ask those folks how we can become Christians."

6. "Dad, how come people who drive like that don't get thrown in jail? Can we get a bumper sticker like that, too?"

5. "Stay clear of those folks, Martha. If they get raptured, that car's gonna be all over the road!"

4. "Oh, look! That Christian woman is getting a chance to share Jesus with a policeman."

3. "No, that's not garbage coming out of their windows, Bert. It's probably gospel tracts for the road workers."

2. "Don't worry, Billy, those people are Christians. They must have a good reason for driving 150 kilometres an hour."

1. "Quick, Alice, honk the horn or they won't know that we love Jesus!"

Is life fair ?

"to live is Christ, to die is gain"

I had an interesting conversation with my wife this week. We were diligence about when we get tired and the issue of "Is that fair?" comes up. I had to clean the house this week and you didn't have time to help, was that fair? I realized "Is that fair?" is not a question a Christian asks. The more appropriate questions is "God, What is your will in this?" When I ask is that fair, what I'm really saying is "Is this a fair deal for me ?"

Just because something isn't fair doesn't mean it isn't right. To serve another is not a fair thing, but it is a right thing. To bless your enemies doesn't seem fair, but it is right. To forgive doesn't seem fair, but in God's economy it is right. In this life I pray I will die to my expectations of fairness and embrace what is right: serving God which translates as Christ living through us.

And right isn't always fair. It wasn't fair that Jesus had to die and take the burden of the sins of the world upon himself. It wasn't fair that God has mercy on me even though I demean His holiness by my sin.

The mystery of His presence

The past two Sunday mornings at our house gathering, there has been a very real and encouraging sense of Gods presence among us. Our father loves to build up His children.

This Sunday we had a time where children and adults did a playdo sculpture to signify something they knew about God's nature. Teryn, one of our preschoolers shared her sculpture of a mouth with sores on it and told us how it reminds her that God "fixes us when we're broken". I think every adult in the house was moved by that.

We later partook together of the richness of Romans 12. We were reminded that the body of Christ is connected not only with adults but with our children. And that we need them as part of the body. Another comment was how digestive systems are needed as much as shiny hair. Those behind the scenes giftings are just as valuable and needed.

On both occasions we have ended in soaking prayer for one or another of our community.

This morning I was reminded of a Vineyard song of a few years back and find it being my prayer today.

Come walk among us
Come walk a-mong us Jesus
You know that we need You
You know that we need You Jesus

You see our hearts
You know that we're but dust
Its You who made us
Lord in You we choose to trust

Come Lord,Come Lord

Artistry rules

Daniel Pink says:

Logical and precise, left-brain thinking gave us the Information Age. Now comes the Conceptual Age - ruled by artistry, empathy, and emotion

Read Revenge of the Right Brain in this months Wired.

Quick links

Brain McClaren is one of the top 25 most influential evangelicals according to Time magainze.

GodBlogCon 2005 a convention for the Christian blogosphere is in October in Mesa Arizona.

Hugh Hewitt has recently written BLOG (understanding the information reformation that's changing your world)

A generous orthodoxy indeed.

I recently have read through a Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McClaren. A Generous Orthodoxy is one of those books that stirs up sentiment in dramatic ways. It is one of those books that is either loved or hated.

Without going into huge detail about it's contents I found a review that I thought was really fair and along the lines of my own thinking. Check out Craig Bloomberg's review from Denver seminary.

Did I love the book or hate it? The answer is yes to both. It's a book that challenges current paradigms of Christianity, I loved that part. It is a book that stretches the boundaries of traditional Christianity which is distressing. Overall it is a book that should make a person think and not be afraid to ask questions. No, Brian doesn't have all the "right" answers and I think that is one of the points of the book, noone does.

Whether love or hate, you should read A Generous Orthodoxy.

For even more info you can check out the blog.

God's kingdom is the destination

Two quotes I liked from a recent conference examining the emerging church held at Fuller seminary.

, Reggie McNeal called the church to celebrate the "last gasp of the renewal movement of the modern church," with its emphasis on "programs, methods, and systems," and recognize that the emerging church in the 21st century is about "nations, tribes, and movements. Church is not the destination--God's kingdom is the destination. This is what it means to be 'missional' in the world today. Church starts with the world, not our church refuges."

Ryan Bolger in his summary: "In the old modern world, we understood the gospel to mean 'you're sick, and God wants to fix you so you can come be like us," Bolger said. "Churches are no longer seen as places where people go, it's movements of people out, declaring a message that 'A new day is coming and you get to participate with God in the redemption of the world,' and invitation to join God's story."

Those guys know how to grieve

When Jacob died, the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days, then Joseph and his brothers took Jacob to be buried in the land of Canaan. There Joseph mourned for his father 7 days and the company with Joseph which was a mob cried in loud voices. They lamented bitterly. Grief is a lost art in our American consumer culture. We do suffer loss, and loss messes with our souls. May we learn again how to grieve, maybe then we wouldn't be tempted to medicate ourselves to kill the pain.

Reading through the word

I have found recently that I like using the One Year Bible online for devotional reading in the morning. You can change versions you are reading. I like NKJV and NASB but it is nice to look at a verse in others renderings also.

This morning I read:
^{Proverbs 4:23}

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life

I am reminded that I have to be intentional about watching over my heart, there are so many noises that want my hearts attention and will crowd out the voice of the Almighty.

Emerging Stories

There has been a renewed commitment with myself this year to be a connector for emerging church people. With that in mind I started emerging stories. Emerging stories is a blog with tons of links to emerging stories around the globe.

My intention with this blog is not be all encompassing. So hold any criticisms about who and what is included at this point. I just want to have a place in the blogosphere where you can get a ton of pathways into the emerging conversation. And hopefully if your new to the conversation, you can get a heavy dose of exposure here.

Let me know if you have any suggestions and feel free to send me links and recommendations about the blog.

Indie Allies

Indie Allies was pretty casual this month. More than overall conversations, we had many scattered dialogues.

The Alvis family is wifi

We have finally entered into the world of wifi. We wanted to have two computers in the house that had internet. The kids need to do research for school projects and even mom wants to get on the internet from time to time. I bought a linksys Wireless G router. The setup was simple. The PC's are connected, the next step is figuring out how to get the Macintosh connected.

Simplicity in Identity

Paul begins many of his letter telling the reader that he is an apostle called by God, not by men or of men. He is a bondservant. Paul knows his identity. This gives him purpose and focus. There is a simplicity found in knowing our identity. It gives focus and clarifies direction.

This past year and a half has been about deconstructing identity for our community Resonance. My sense is that the next season for us is one of building a God given identity. Three areas for focus within Resonance this coming season are:

1. Building healthy community:
For us that means being connected on our journeys together and encouraging one another in our pursuit of God as a community.

2. Being a support to Foursquare:
We want to lend ourselves to serving the Foursquare denomination and their vision. It isn't that we think Foursquare is implicitly more correct than other denominations, but it is the family God has called us to support.

3. Being a support and encouragement to the emerging church movement:
As Foursquare is a representative of the traditonal church, we also believe we are to be part of the emerging church movement. We want to encourage, support, and lend ourselves to encouraging emerging church leaders and communities.

As a church we are not an either or type of group but a both and. These three facets of our dna should help us find focus as we launch into 2005.

The Emerging Church: a definition

Check out the defintion of Emerging Church at Wikipedia. There are also some good links to peer at.

Wikipedia is like the open source encyclopedia. Anyone can edit and it is free.

Umm Christmas dinner

We were blessed this year as my mom and dad paid for the four of us to fly out to Lubbock, texas and be with the rest of the family for two days.

Friday I spent time with Shane, then Ethan and I grabbed some Home Plate diner quisine (chicken fried steak and cheese sticks). Home Plate Diner is one of those places that is native to Lubbock and missed by Ethan and I. I spent time installing and working on mom and dads computers Friday afternoon. I enjoy being able to give back in some way to them as they so often have given into our lives.

Saturday afternoon was spent playing card games and getting ready for Saturday night. Adam, my brother in law, as usual brought steaks that we cooked on the grill.

Our Christmas meal Saturday night was giant coconut shrimp, ribeye steak, baked potatoes, etc. It was goooood. It has been a blessing to be in Lubbock and with friends and family. There is something about the yearly family gatherings that adds richness to life.

Now that's stress

Try this for a stress test.

Have you ever found out you were moving immediately? Bad enough leaving family, friends, and things you've know for so long, but add to that no time to say goodbye.

Have you ever had your parents misunderstand something you did to the point of ostracizing you? That would be stressful.

Have you ever been in a situation that everyone thought you were lying about a major event in your life?

Ever had a girlfriend tell you they were pregnant and the baby was not yours? We’re talking serious hurt.

What about this? Have you ever had a supernatural being visit you and give you a message?

What advice do you have for this persons stress level?

a. Give them the Henry Cloud book Boundaries.

b. tell them not to try drugs ever again.

c. Recommend them to the Jerry Springer show

or d. Do you encourage them to continue to follow God and His plan for their life?

When thinking about Christmas we see Christmas cards with Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus with halo's around their heads, sometimes we forget that they walked through some deep dark times on the road to being true followers.

It's a good reminder that following Christ is not neat and clean and happy and stressless all the time. Much of time there are more loose ends than tied ones and more questions than answers.

It is also a reminder that the road no matter how rough is leading us to Christ

Indie Allies

We had our first North Dallas Indie Allies last night. There was much passionate discussion. We touched on being organic and how that involves having intentional struture, contextualizing the gospel to our own habitat, what exactly is emerging, being missional, the little people in our brains, and various and asundry other topics. Not many answers but a whole lot of good questions and discussion.

For me the consensus on many questions keeps coming back to the fact that it is healthy to pursue questions in us. This is part of our search after more of the creator of the universe. There is something in me that continually cries out for more of Christ. I think all my questions are from that outflow. That outflow I think is a healthy one.

Life before light

In Him was life and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) So many times I am looking for light (guidance, clarity, the next step) when I forget that life proceeds light. I'm so busy looking for answers that I forget to fellowship with the answer, the life source.

How long does it take to walk with God before we get the point. It is about daily communing with Him. He is where life flows from and light doesn't come without life.

Oh lord, have mercy on me, forgive me for idolizing light and not prioritizing fellowship with The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Tales of the tree

I gotta stop trying to learn how to be a tree and just be a tree. Read The Tree, a modern parable, to see just what the heck I'm talking about.

Newsworthy Note

I didn't know until I read this article that Jacques Derrida died last month. Derrida has influenced greatly the postmodern/emerging church thought with his ideas on "deconstruction". I ran across this article : Jacques Derrida and Biblical Studies on the Society for Biblical Literature website.

A Generous Orthodoxy

I began reading Brian McClarens new book A Generous Orthodoxy today. The cover states: Why I am missional + evangelical+post/protestant + liberal/conservative+mystical/poetic+biblical + charismatic/contemplative+ fundamentalistic/calvinistic + anabaptist/anglican + methodist + catholic + green + incarnational + depressed-yet-hopeful + emergent + unfinished Christian.

I love that title. I speaks something I've always felt. As a believer in Christ I don't fall in one particular category, ie: baptist or fundamental or contemplative. Thinking of people in singular categories is very narrow minded thinking. In our journeys with Christ the story unfolds in many contexts and with many streams of Christian life bringing influence on our lives.

I vote for a post categorical Christianity. I fit in the kingdom of God not in a category.

Jesus-brand spirituality

Check out the interview of Ken Wilson about being missional in his own community of Ann Arbor Michigan from Cutting Edge magazine.

A worshipping community of missional theologians

I heard Dan Kimball speak recently. I have latched on to the four key values in the dna of vintage faith church. Dan described their church as a "Worshipping community of Missional Theologians".
I like this description, not because it is cool and Dan Kimball the emerging church guru likes it. But I like it because it brings some values in my own heart clarity. more about his later.

Who let the dog out ?

My job is an adventure. You never know what will happen or what you'll run across each day. Saturday I was out in Midlothian with my trusty co-worker Mark. This was creature day for the property preservation guys. The grass in the back yard was waist high at points, even walking through it and surveying what we would need to do made me a bit nervous. I wondered what creatures lurked beneath the thick grass.

Our first encounter with the habitat came with Mark. We had noticed many nice crafted one foot high ant hills as we came into the back yard and strongly cautioned one another about mistepping. Mark picked up a wood pallet and was holding it against his leg. The stings brought to his attention the hundreds of ants crawling on his legs. They had been all over this wood pallet and had transplanted themselves to Marks leg as a likely meal. Mark created a couple of new dances as he got rid of these menacing little beasts.

The next encounter was mine. I was walking in front of the house measuring the width of the yard, appreciating the coolness of a mild fall day. I approached the house next door which even though there were obviously residents there also had grass about 2 foot high. About two feet away from the next house I hear a high pitched growl that I can tell from the sound is approaching me at a high rate of speed.

I then see the meanest looking dog I have seen in a long time. His eyes are just a little crossed, one ear looks like it has been bitten or caught in the lawnmower, and he is doing a real good impression of mean, real good. I am thinking the rope will catch this dog any minute. I know all good dog owners tie their dogs up especially if they don't have a fence. But not out in the sticks where we were. I realize their is no leash, no rope, no chain and I am thinking I am about to demolished. The dog stops two feet from me. I reach down and with my hands push my leg backwards because my leg has turned against me and even though my brain is tellin it to move, it aint budging. By some intution unknown to me, but that I am very thankful for this dog does not move beyond the property line. Who needs red bull to wake you up with moments like that.

There were some wasp, large spiders, and slugs to deal with but we survived the creature house and got our jobs done.

life

John is an interesting gospel. It is thought to be the last gospel written and one of the later books written in the new testament. John chooses 7 particular signs out of Jesus ministry to highlight. Seven signs out of in John's mind the amazing number of signs Jesus did. John says all the books in the world (at the time he wrote his gospel account) could not contain all the signs.

John gave us specific signs that we might believe and by believing that we might have life. Belief is not just to say "yea that sounds right" or " I think that statement is true". It is not just a mental assent. Belief is something you put your weight into. I read recently of one of Billy Grahams explanations of belief. He was on a large stage and commented that he so believed that the stage would hold him up that he was unafraid to put his whole weight into it.

The life John speaks of is not just the breath of human life or animal life but it is a God kind of life. It is a God consciousness that can not be unless we do have this life within us. In chapter 3 of John Nicodemus comes to Jesus to talk about the kingdom of God. Jesus response is "Nick we can't even talk about those things unless you have entered into the kingdom of God" (or you have had the God life in you).

I pray for more of a God consciousness to permeate who I am and the everydays of life.

George W.

I may not agree with everything President Bush does or says but I so appreciate the authenticity in him that comes out. In his acceptance speech his appreciation for his family and wife seemed very genuine. I also appreciated his reaching out to those who voted against him. I truly believe he was sincere in that jesture.

Harvest festival to remember ?

Sunday night we took the kids to a Harvest festival at Covenant church. October 31st should be a fun time for kids, at least in my mind that is what should happen. Most of it was fun, but as Callie and Ethan went into one of those giant air play grounds, I noticed the 30 foot muscle man full of air began to fall on his side. No official announcement, no organized retreat, just a ton of people yelling "Get out, it's going down". Well I found Ethan in the back of the thing but couldn't find Callie. Finally when I did locate her, she was pretty shaken, not knowing how to get out of this sagging giant play ground that had turned into a horror movie for her.

Although I love the people of traditional churches, I wonder if our Harvest night fiasco wasn't a great picture of traditional church in America. It is supposed to be fun, with everything a good Christian would want, but inside it is losingground with the culture and not fulfilling the purpose it origionally had.

Well anyway, a couple of times bowling for candy and then getting to eat a huge cotton candy salvaged the night. I also appreciated some of the people of the community as they dressed up as various Bible characters and went around dialoguing with the kids. I could tell they really had a heart for the kids.

Coming up for air

I have been under the blogging surface for some time now. I am hoping to come up for air and begin this again. I am enjoying all the election rhetoric happing across the country. The best thing about election time is all the people digging into the issues that face our nation.

:: The Lord is good and a stronghold

We have been looking at Nahum and 2 Corinthians 11 at Fuel on Sunday mornings. Paul says that the weapons we have for the war we are in are not natural weapons but weapons that are incredible strong in the Lord. These weapons are for the tearing down of strongholds.

Paul being a scholar of his time knew well the story of Nahum and how Ninevah was thought of as a great stronghold in it's time. The walls of Ninevah were 100 feet high and three chariots width wide. The towers went up another 100 feet. The water around the city was 50 yards wide and 60 feet deep. It was said that Ninevah could withstand a 20 year seige.

Yet when Nahum prophecies against Ninevah, He proclaims that the Lord can take down their stronghold like taking ripe fruit from a tree. Historically we know that the Babylonians were able to penetrate the stronghold because of a great flood that caused the walls to have a breach. The Babylonians wiped out the Assyrians in Ninevah and the capital city.

This is the power of God to tear down the strongest weaknesses in our lives. There is hope for us as we think of Gods power over Ninevah.

:: Little graces

This is a trying season for me and my family. There are many financial stresses that we are up against. Yet in all the discouraging things that have happened, I keep finding small graces all along the way.

There was the man who approached the kids and me one hot day while we were mowing a lawn with an ice cold glass of water for each of us. There was the man who stopped and helped me fix the trailer one day when the strut broke in busy traffic.

We found a lawn mower left at a house that vibrated just when we needed another lawn mower on a big job. We were able to change a bent blade and it worked fine for a bit. It lasted for most of that job and then died. It just happened to be the almost exact model of mower I have and I can use parts off of it on my main mower.

Down to one vehicle because my car died, I was able to use Chris and Kristi's truck while they were on vacation and I didn't lose any work.

My aunt had a Ford Ranger pickup she was trying to sell at a price lower than blue book. We were able to get a loan and buy it for a second vehicle.

Friends and family have helped us buy the kids school clothes and supplies. The little graces of God encouraging us to persevere through trying times have done just that.

How does anyone make it through the tough times without an Incredible Father that helps them and encourages them? Thank you father for your little graces.

:: Mercy is falling

This is a recent prophetic expression given at Trinity church in Lubbock, Texas. I think it speaks to many of God's sons and daughters today.

My children, I speak to you tonight as your Father. You sang, you said have mercy on me. You cannot even begin to understand how much mercy I do have. I want to speak specifically to some of you here tonight, you have in your past a great sin, something that troubles you and you are ashamed of it and you hide it and somehow you cannot let go of it. You cannot believe that it can be forgiven, but in my mercy I have forgiven you a long time ago and yet you allow the devil to remind you of it, you let the devil bring up to you what you have done and you hide it, and sometimes you question whether you are even saved or not. But in my mercy I have forgiven you, I have cleansed you. It is gone. I do not think about it, I just look at you and love you with compassion and I wonder why will you not move on. Why will you not believe and let go of that which I have already cleansed and taken out of your life?

You need to believe what I have said. I have forgiven you, I have cleansed you and now you need to let that go. My mercy is tremendous and I will speak to some of you that you have a sense of shame because you try and try in yourselves and you fail and you fail and you just feel so guilty and so frustrated that the enemy is just doing all those things to you, but to you I will say, I have not left you without power or ability. Did I not say in my Word and is it not true that I live within you. Is there anything that I cannot do? The reason that you fail is because you try and leave me out in what you are doing for me. I have never asked you to do anything for me. What I have asked you to do is to allow me to work through you, allow me to work with you. Work with me.

I would use this as an illustration to you. You are trying to mow an acre of grass with a push lawnmower and right beside you is a tractor that you can drive and do it. The tractor that is within you is the Holy Spirit and I have had mercy in every failure. I have forgiven you, I have cleansed you and I will say to you forget the past, forget the failures, you need to begin to believe for the Greater One in you will enable you. You need to begin to expect to do the things you have been failing to do. If you will trust me, if you will yield to me, and allow my power to flow through you, then you will have success. I am a merciful God, but once mercy is done, I then cover you with love and compassion. I have a plan and desire a goal for each of your lives, your age has nothing to do with it, if you will just trust me and receive my love. So many times you sing and you talk about loving me, but you do not receive my love because you do not believe that you are worthy, that I could love you for any others, that I love you. My love is waiting for you to receive it and walk in all that I have for you.

:: A week of weeks

This has been some kind of week. First of all last Saturday I get home and have a flat tire that is ruined so in a time of financial difficulty I'm having to buy a tire. This was just the beginning. I am learning to say blessed be the name of the Lord in all seasons of life. Monday the strut broke on my trailer, then as I am loading the lawn mower the handle breaks in half. Okay, I am taking another step in learning to praise the Lord in all seasons. Tuesday my wife has a wreck in our Mercury. It's her fault and we only have liability, so now our car is looking pretty sad, but it is drivable. I am glad she isn't hurt. Again I am learning to praise God in all situations.

Of course there are other thoughts running through my head also, like scrap this living by faith deal and get a real job or that voice that says see how God treats you why would you still live for Him? Those are a few of the various and unsundry thoughts pelting my brain. I realize that these thoughts are ones that I have to say no to. I'm hoping there is a rhyme or reason to this week and the past month which emotionally have been excruciating.

Well to give the week an exciting finale, Friday my car just quits. I'm driving down the road and it gives up the ghost. I can hear the suspenseful music in my head that sounds a lot like the theme from Jaws. I'm thinking okay I've got a fuel pump that went out or alternator. My local mechanic gives me the news. Mr. Alvis your engine is done in. The heads are bent. I hear the cymbals crash. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry or run away in the night to Alaska. I guess this is a great opportunity to see what God will

:: Definitions

I wonder what is the true defintion of a blogger. Is it someone who blogs daily? Is it someone who puts their whole heart into each blog? If you blog weekly are you a wannabe? Anybody seen any good blogs or articles along these lines?

Life is so stinkin busy these days. I am working a job that is taking me 60 hrs a week. Somewhere in the middle of all that I am trying to be involved in a church plant. Lately it has been survival mode. Survival mode is when life is spinning a little too fast to keep balanced emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially. There are days in here I feel like the old Randy Stonehill song "Stop the world I wanna get off".

I am sure God is up to something in all this. For the life of me I haven't got it figured out though.

I better stop this is getting too much like a rambling rant. Later.

:: The Wedding

We were in Lubbock this weekend for my sister Beths wedding. It was a family event with me doing the ceremony, my other sister Sherri as the maid of honor, My wife a bridesmaid, my brother in law a groomsman, and my kids candlelighters. It was a great time at the wedding and seeing family.

Going into the wedding I kept praying that it would not be just a wedding but a time of giving glory to God. For me I can tell when the Lord intervenes strongly in a place and this was just such a time for me. I'm not saying all was perfect, but there was such a peace about the whole ceremony. Thanks Lord for your hand upon all of us this weekend.

I decided to begin a photoblog this week also. You can find it at: http://bear.fotopages.com

:: The ultimate bloggers resource

Look at the Ooze annual blog tools roundup for a brief review of tons of blogging tools. It was written by Jordon Cooper.

:: Vintage wisdom

I found Glorify His Name while perusing Greg Burnetts blog. On it are quotes from many saints of old.

:: Prayer a necessity

As I have wrestled with our little community's process of growth, I have been reading on the subject of prayer recently. I am reading a book right now by Terry Teykl called Making Room to Pray.

Three quotes are significant to me.

"Our work is just that, but prayer releases God's work"

"When we pray He (God) breathes upon us. Prayer is to inhale the breath of God. Evangelism is exhaling what we inhale in prayer."

The last is a story about Paul Cho (pastor of the worlds largest church). He said God spoke to him in prayer and asked "How many quail would Israel have caught if they had gone quail hunting in the wilderness?" Not too many. I then realized that God sent the wind which brought the quail. There is a difference in chasing a strategy and in finding the Holy Spirits strategy.

:: Gotta have a dog

Did you know that Americans eat 2 billion hot dogs in July each year. 150 million of those are eaten on July 4th. Personally I like the all beef dog, cheddar cheese, a bit of chili, mustard and topped with sprinkles of onions.

:: Sunday night

We continued our theme of prayer on Sunday night. We all read Phillipians with an eye for the mentions of prayer in the book and an eye out for a verse that stood out to us. Phillipians seems very pertinent to the situations of our little community. We are learning to count all things loss for the sake of knowing Christ, we are learning to be content in all stages of life whether abundance or lack, we are learning that Christ will continue his work in us.

We broke up into groups. Each group did a skit that illustrated a verse on prayer in Phillipians. The shark hunting protection skit was funny.

We then spent time in worship and ended joined in a circle of prayer. It was a good God night connecting with our community.

:: Working, working, working

I have been putting in some hours on the new job. Actually more than some, actually quite a lot. This is an interesting situation for a church planter. The job that I have allows a bit of flexibility and I can take my kids with me so it fits in one way very well. The hard part is I don't know how much I'll be working until day of or the day before, so it runs into our Thursday night FUEL meetings some.

I trust the Lord is working in all this. I am learning to trust by faith in what God brings with the job. I am working for a company that contracts out to mortgage companies cleaning up and checking on houses that are in delinquency, bankruptcy, or foreclosure. I get paid to check on statuses and then at times clean up the properties so they meet HUD standards for resell.

I miss being more regular on the blog and will try to get back to that discipline.

:: Take a moment to pray

Could you not tarry for one hour? These are the words from the Bible that continue to stir my spirit these days. It is a call to prayer for me. I know in my mind that prayer is key to all things. We are to pray without ceasing and in all things pray. Yet in my daily routines prayer is a secondary item.

As I have been studying prayer I came across this flash site with the Lords prayer on it. Take a few minutes to view it and to pray.
link

:: Classic win

For at least a week the purity of basketball in the nba has been restored. Detroit Pistons are winners of this years nba finals. The team with two superstars, the Lakers, didn't win and the team that played great fundamental basketball did.

The Pistons defined again what it means to play like a team in pro basketball. This was team in the purist sense of the word. The great teams are what make up great basketball. The Pistons played swarming team defense. They covered their men, helped out on the superstars, and outhustled the lakers. You have to give props to Larry Brown the coach of the Pistons for their success. He had definitely done his homework and had his team play hard and together.

It was a joy again to actually watch real basketball being played. I may still watch a few nba games in coming years.

:: A financial story

I love God stories. I was reading Living by Faith and came across how God provided financially in the post Being Faithful really works.

:: Brokeness the lost art

I was reading Back to Christ and was really into his dialogue about brokeness. Brokeness is a given and I would even go so far and say something that is blessed in our lives. Take a look at the post.

:: Leaving a Legacy

I have been moved this week at the honoring of the passing of president Ronald Reagan. Remembering his life at his death has made me proud of being an American and what it stands for. I appreciated president George Bush's speech at the funeral. Reagan was a picture of many character traits that are instilled in me that make up an ideal American.

Reagan was a respecter of all people whether janitor or head of state. It was said that he never spoke down to anyone.

Reagan was a man of graciousness. He rose in a ladies presence. He obviously cared about people and treated them with respect. He reminded me of my own grandfather Herman Franklin who was a man's man yet had a profound kindness toward others.

Ronald Reagan was a man of principle. He spoke passionately upon what he believed in and tried to follow through in action. One example I heard this week was how in the hospital room when he had been shot by an assassin, Reagan prayed for the person who shot him before he prayed for himself.

Reagan was a deeply committed Christian. It was moving to hear his son Michael talk of his dad speaking of his faith to his son in 1988 and passing it along to his son. He said he hoped one day he could pass that faith on to his own son.

Reagan was an optimist, he saw the good in life and in people and especially in our country. His daughter told the story of being a little girl and Reagan taking her to a field that had been badly burned. He showed her the small green shoots of new life breaking through the charred ground and told her that their was always new life that would come forth after bad things.

There is honor in the life of Ronald Reagan. There is something right about all of us getting to be involved in that honor.

I understand that honor comes from Reagan's personal faith in Jesus Christ. It was our Lord that gave gifts to President Reagan and enabled him to be able to share those gifts with us.

No, I'm not idolizing a man. I'm sure Ronald Reagan had his short comings as all of us do. But I hope and pray that my life becomes a gift to others as Ronald Regean's was a gift to ours.

Tonight I salute the memory of Ronald Reagan and how he walked out his life with Christ to give others a hope in that faith.

:: Update on blogging

New bloggers begin all the time. Here is an article in the San Francisco Chronicle that talks about how Bloggers find ways to profit.

:: This week

We began a dialogue about the kingdom of God this week. At the very beginning of Jesus ministry the gospel writers tell us He began teaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. We talked about the kingdom of God being the rule and reign of God. Seeking first the kingdom of God is seeking first and foremeost the rule and reign of God.

Interesting to in Matthew where Jesus says "If I caste out demons by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is among you." This is also why Jesus taught the disciples to pray "Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

I am also in dialogue with others about the definition of the church (ekklasia) and how that is different from the kingdom of God. There is so much to know about the Lord and what He is all about.

:: Who am I ?

I know I'm a blogger, no really I am, I just don't blog very often lately. Is our identity in what we do or who we are?

This past week I had a day that wasn't going well and I kept thinking " How come I can't be perfect? What is wrong with me? I must be a wicked man because I can't be perfect." I began to really get down on myself and I heard in my heart that calming voice of God say "Let me tell you who you are, you are a lover of God and one that is loved by God."

You know that really is my heart. I love God and enjoy loving God and I am realizing more than ever the truth that I am someone that is loved by God. This latter truth has just began to sink in some over the last three years. I am about ankle deep in the truth that God so loved me, that He sent His son to die on the cross that I might be reconciled to Him. He really loves me and enjoys spending time with me. I look forward to the deepening of that truth.

Yea in my heart I'm a blogger but more importantly for me "I am a lover of God and am someone who is loved by God." Man, that truth sure brings me peace.

:: Sunday night

Sunday night we talked about Mary and Martha. In John 11 John tells us that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. I think sometimes Martha gets bad press for her role in Luke 10. We look down on Martha for not "getting it". People have portrayed Jesus as almost scolding Martha: Martha, Martha will you ever learn. Like an arrogant adult scolds a young child.

I think there was a totally different picture going on there. Martha wasn't being scolded, she was being encouraged by the Lord. Jesus was giving her some training in a loving manner. His statement was more like "Martha this is a really important lesson, No I'm serious it is one of the most important lessons, Mary has chosen the wisest thing to sit at my feet and hear my word."

We talked about how Jesus doesn't deal harshly with our immaturities. Can you imagine a mother that did not enjoy her three year old, even though that three year old has many immaturities and needs training and correction? No that mother enjoys that child even though the immaturities are there. This is Jesus stance towards us and this was His stance with Martha. "Martha I love you, that is why I am trying to get you to see the importance of beholding Me."

We also talked about how beholding is the key to becoming. As we behold Jesus in the truth of who He is we become like Him.

The Lord loves us even in our weaknesses. This is a truth I am only about ankle deep in. I desire to get waist deep in it. I pray that our community will embrace that He is the lover of us even in our weaknesses.

:: 40 year anniversary

I attended Trinity churches 40th anniversary in Lubbock, Texas this past weekend. It was a long short trip but worth it. We traveled for six hours on Friday, arrived in Lubbock just in time to get ready and went over to a banquet at Trinity. It was good to see many faces of people who we had known.

I still am honored to have been a part of Trinity's heritage and history. Even though I don't consider myself extremely talented in any area, the Lord allowed me to pastor at Trinity. I can remember being 28 years old and being awed at Trinity church, the size, the spirituality. Yet the Lord spoke to my heart and told me one day I would be on staff there, impossible I thought, but if God wills it let it be.

I am not lifting up a church or an institution. What strikes me most is that I have been at Trinity in times of extreme favor when it was blowing and growing and I have been at Trinity in some very rough waters, ie. Church split, layoffs of friends, etc. and in all those times both good and bad the Lord continued to grow me and teach me and encourage me with His presence. My heritage there is clear, it is about God working in me to will and to do what He delights in.

I was reminded that the kingdom of God is alive and well where peoples hearts are directed towards Him. There are so many people who have left Trinity and are in all manner of ministries across the world. Regardless of style, regardless of human immaturities, God works in those whose hearts are turned toward Him.

On a final note as I reflect on the emerging church my heart turns more and more to loving those things that are near and dear to the Lords heart. I think Gods children both old school and new school, both meeting in buildings and meeting at homes, both with solid structures, immature structures, or little to no structures are loved by Him and He looks to bless those whose hearts are turned towards Him. I pray I continue to love those things and people that are near and dear to His heart.

:: New look

Two Sunday ago we talked on Sunday nights about taking off the old man and putting on the new man. We want our style of dress to be kingdom. Keeping with the theme I thought I would change my blog dress and try one of the new blogger templates. I'll probably make some tweaks soon.

This Sunday night Chris changed all the worship song sets to include us and we where normally there would be me and I. I think this is an appropriate biblical shift. Community is key.

Justin and Kelly, from Mars Hill, came over and shared about their excursion to Russia recently and the passion of their hearts for kids in ophanages there. It was a good time of food, fellowship, and the presence of God. Can I say presence of God on an emerging blog? The emerging movement (already passe) need a book like Roberts Rules of Order. We could call it the Pomo Flow of Chaos.

:: Sunday night

Sunday night had a couple of themes. Chris and Mark taught a new song focusing on Jesus being our refuge. We talked a minute about what a refuge was to us. It was a touching song. We mixed teaching time with some reflection and prayer. We continued to talk about making no agreements with sin. We walked through Ephesians 4 asking God to show us any sin and spent time repenting of it in quiet. This is a great explanation by Paul of taking off the old man (worldy desires and yearnings) and putting on the new man (Christlike desires and yearnings).

One interesting verse tells the man who stole to steal no more. Not only that, but he was to go to the opposite end of the spectrum, work, and give away. We talked a bit about pursuing the other side of our weaknesses. If lust is weakness then pursue purity. If rage and wrath are a weakness pursue passionately quietness and peace. In our weakness He will be strong.

:: Last week in April: Fuel

At Fuel we talked a little bit about 1 Peter chapter 2. For most of our time though we took some time to encourage one another. That afternoon my kids were fighting in the car and I made them stop and think about specific items to they appreciated about one another. It turned into a real encouragement for them and it seemed appropriate to do the same in our small gathering time. It is like the plants in a garden spraying water on each other, amazing what a little encouragement can do.

:: Stop the world I want to get off

Yea, the worlds is spinning a little faster for me these past few weeks and I have neglected one of my loves, bloggin. This week is a prep week for what looks like a new job I'll be taking on. I am actually looking forward to getting out of the house some this summer.

:: We wrestle

Paul in his letter to the Ephesian followers of Christ gives us insight on the reality of the spiritual matrix that is happening all around us:

6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

A spiritual battle going on in the earth for the souls and spirits of men is the metanarrative. As in the matrix, where Neo has to make a choice to make, we have to choose what reality he will live in. We can ignore the reality of the matrix and pretend there are really no angels and demons. We can ignore that the loving God is on the throne of the universe and pursuing us or we can continue to live an untruth. if you believe Paul's words are inspired words of the Holy Spirit, then the reality of a spiritual fight going on around us is true.

This past weeks has been evidence of that in the lives of people from Resonance. There is a dual spiritual dynamic happening. On the one side we have had two people get raises at their jobs in two weeks. That is an important answer to prayer for people who have left comfortable places, transplanted to a new city and struggle to make all the ends meet. Chris has landed a job at Java House, the only coffee shop in the Colony. We believe this is a strategic answer to prayer to help us connect more with the community of the Colony. We have sensed God's encouraging presence in our times together. So on the one hand God is blessing our community of called out ones.

The other side of the coin is spiritual attack that has been happening. Last Sunday night it seemed there was no area left untouched by difficulty. The set-up took too much time, the video on the computer wouldn't run, and when it finally did it wasn't smooth, the air-conditioner wasn't working well and it was hot, one of the musicians who had joined us had his car breakdown, our sign was messed up by the wind, etc. And then there is Gracelyns fall one night against a cabinet that left a blood clot in her cheek. She has been to the doctor twice and going again Friday. Now you could say that was just coincidence, but I don't think so. And that makes me mad. When I get in a fight I'm cool in backing down, but when you start messing with the kids I love, yea that makes me mad.

Now I am not one to see a dark angel under every bush and as an excuse for any mishap and immaturity of people, but I do recognize that the enemy does not want added prayer, added worship, added missionaries, or added servant-hearted people in any of the territories he has a grip on and therefore will fight those things. Much like an invading army force, the occupying force doesn't want to lose ground.

So my conclusion of this post is that prayer is vital. Prayer changes the direction of angels in this spritual matrix. Prayer draws us to God's heart on these matters. And prayer releases power from the very throne of God. There is a battle going on. If we are serious about this walk of the spirit, then we have to be aware that there is battle to do and one of the weapons for us in this battle is prayer. So get your programmer (the Holy Spirit) to download a prayer program.

:: Fuel - Dreaming dreams

The Bible is full of people who God gave God sized dreams. Moses dreamed of seeing his people delivered from Israel, Joseph dreamed of being over all his brothers, Abraham had a dream of a land God was calling him to, the children of Israel dreamed of this promised land they would live in, there are so many dreams in the hearts of God's people throughout the Bible. Some dreams we see directly placed in heart by the Lord. Jesus told Peter he would not be a reed but be a rock.

God whispers dreams into the hearts of his people. Last night at Fuel we talked about dreams that had been fulfilled in our lives and some dreams God has whispered into our hearts for the future. Dreams such as marriage or having a stable family life were spoken off. One dream was just being stable enough to be able to choose clothes to buy some day.

One story told was of being in a dysfunctional family where the father one day in a altered state threw away everything in the bathroom: hair dryers, make-up, everything that was there. This stuff was later dug out of a grimey nasty dumpster. The humiliation of the event could still be felt. As this person went to church that day, a lady who was a visiting minister called this person aside and said something to the effect of "The Lord wants you to know that your children will not live as you have lived, you are the last generation that will be in this chaos. Your children will have no clue what you had to experience as a child, they will not understand because their environment is so different." A fulfillment of a dream.

For me, I always dreamed of going to Ireland because the man who was preaching when I committed my life to Christ was an evangelist visiting America from Ireland. In 2002 I was invited to join a team of people who went to work for a week with a local church in Eniscorthy Ireland. I also was able to preach in the church on a Sunday morning and thank the Irish people for their sending someone to reach me.

I was reminded this week to continue to listen to the dreams of God that are in my heart.

:: The Celtic Way

I've been reading the Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter III. It is a excellent book telling the story of Patrick and his impact on the country of Ireland for Christ. The communities Patrick formed were very intentional in reaching people with the gospel of Christ but very different than Americans in their approach.

Hunter says that churches in America have a Roman model of communicating the gospel. They basically present the message, ask for a decision, and then bring people into community. The Celtic model is creating community with people, then using the community time to find opportunities for ministry and conversation, with this drawing people toward a point of belief and commitment. It is a much more relational model of the Christians calling. Hunter says this reflects the adage that Christianity is more caught than taught where as our models of church today focus more on the taught.

How do we become the light on the hill where people can connect before they commit?

:: Reality of angels and demons

My daughter recently asked me about angels? It perked my interest. I gave Callie a book written by Billy Graham I had at the house to read. After she read it I glanced through also. Sometimes I forget we are in a spiritual battle here. Peter reminds us that we are strangers and aliens on this planet. There our existence and identity is now in the kingdom of God. We are a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people to set forth the praises of God. I forget it is the spiritual realm that is a greater reality than the physical realm I see and feel everyday. The matrix is a great metaphor for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God and the spiritual realm is the greater reality but our senses are more aware of what we can taste, touch, feel, hear, and see.

I was thinking of Jesus conversation with Nathaniel in John gospel. Nathaniel is amazed that Jesus knew things about him that were not physically possible. Jesus reply to Nathaniel was that he would see even greater things than this. He would see the angels ascending and descending upon Jesus. Jesus had that deeper sense of reality. He knew all around us their are real angles that are sent here to the earth to be about God's business, to help prayers get fulfilled, to help in the work of the church being the extenders of God's kingdom here. There is also the reality of evil beings the bible refers to as demons. Paul tells us we wrestle with these evil beings.

Another encounter I had this week makes this conversation more pertinent to me. I woke up from a dream Tuesday night and had a powerful sense of fear upon me. It wouldn't leave. I am not someone who encounters fear often in my own life in that way. I am convinced this was an attack from within this spiritual matrix we live in.

I am reminded this week. Prayer is not just a duty like taking out the trash that has to be done. It is a real spiritual communication with our Father that influences spiritual forces around us. I encourage all of us to press in to prayer like lives depend on it. They do.

:: Spiritual Travel

Remember your first car? You couldn't wait to partner with a piece of metal and become free. In your own vehicle you can go places on your own, you can put "your" music in the CD player. I attribute my hair loss to the music I had to listen to in my parents car.

It is a bit ironic to me that I couldn't wait to get a car and get my freedom to go and do and then I chose to drive round and round in circles on Friday and Saturday nights at the local drag. Okay, you got me, I am a small town guy. We played six man football in high school. We were so small that we had football players take off their shoulder pads at half time and march in the band (I'm serious).

Having a car released you into a new world of adventure. The journey of life took on new meaning. The adventure quotient multiplied as did learning boundaries. In a way the early church was like that. They were waiting for something new to happen in Jerusalem. Jesus had told them to stay there and pray until they had a supernatural splash from heaven. In Acts 2 we see the creation of a vehicle called the church. Jesus was no longer there to partner with them in bringing the kingdom of God forth on the earth. Now God sends another helper, the Holy Spirit, to partner with them.

Some of the characteristics of this new instrument of the Christian journey called the church were: It was a community fueled by the Holy Spirit, It was a community centered in learning the Word, It was a community encouraged by fellowship, It was a community that communicated with God, and it was a community that was living evidence of the kingdom to the rest of the world.

We travel this Christian journey in this life riding in the vehicle of the church. Just as with a new car we better understand the equipment this new car has so that the journey can be a good one.

:: History of the weblog

If your interested in the evolution of the weblog, take a look at "weblogs: a history and perspective" by Rebecca Blood. Blogger sprang up in August of 1999.

:: The chief cornerstone

1 Peter 2
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

Last night a FUEL we continued studying 1 Peter. We began the night with a meal together. We then broke up in gender groups. The ladies went in one room and we stayed in another. The chief cornerstone is the anchor point of a foundation. It is dependable. It is trustworrthy. It is stable. This is the Lord Jesus. He does not waver at all and can be depended on to keep the structure dependable. We as living stones are built around the cornerstone. It was a good reminder tonight that Christ is our solid foundation. We don't have to carry the universe on our backs or even our own church. Jesus will build His church. . .

The simile for us in this passage is that we are like living stones. As living stones we can not be a building alone, we need the other stones working in conjunction with us to make up the spiritual house.

We talked also of our value to God.
We are:
a chosen generation
a spiritual house
a royal priesthood
a holy nation
a holy priesthood
His own special people
the people of God


We closed in prayer for one another and for God to give us favor in the Colony. Some scriptures that came up during prayer were Psalms 20, Psalm 37, Ephesians 2.

:: What was I thinking?

Do you ever have an impulse you want to act on that probably you should put some more thought into? I had one today. Somewhere deep inside my being is this image of working out that thinks it is cool and even a little macho to run stadium bleachers as exercise. Macho guys in movies do it all the time. So I get an impulse to do this. I take the kids (they are out of school for a holiday) to a local 5A high school with a really tall football stadium. I challenge them to make it a whole lap around the track while I begin the road to fitness through running stadium bleachers.

My calves got a good workout. My legs had that great burnnig screaming at you sensation. I am at home now trying to find the energy to get out of this chair. You know the weird thing. I may do it again this week.

:: Adventures in real life: The Mountain Lion

Last Friday the kids and I went to a nature preserve in Plano to get out of the house and give mom some quiet time. The kids love getting out and seeing your everyday average nature preserve stuff such as butterflies, ducks, various trees and flowers etc. Friday was an unexpected discovery. We had decided to take one of the smaller rabbit trails into the woods.

We walked half a mile and hit a fence row. This was a natural point to go back. I was explaining something to the kids, I turned to head back the way we had come and there is a mountain lion about 10 yards behind us. And he was looking right at us. Now, I don't know about you, but having a mountain lion in your path looking right at you 10 yards away doesn't give you the most secure feeling in the world. I kept telling my brain to be cool and think and of course lifted up one of those great theological prayers I've learned in all my years as a Christian. It went something like "Help, God!".

I told the kids just to be still and I reached over to break a branch I could use as a big stick. When the branch broke the Mountain Lion jumped and took off about 20 yards off the beaten trial. With my trusty stick in hand I had the kids take off down the trail as I kept myself between them and the Moutain Lion. The cool part of this story is I had my 35 mm carmera with me and got two shots of this cat. I can't wait to develop them.

Needless to say the kids will remember this adventure as will I. I think living for Christ is like this. You encounter situations in life that are new and you are not sure how to navigate them. I think "Help me, God" may be a wise prayer to pray in many of those.

:: pomo translations

I like tall skinny kiwi's postmodern translation of "My hope is built on nothing less"

"My hope [acknowledging mystery/rejecting secular rationalism]
is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness. . .[historically narrational over propositional]
I dare not trust the sweetest frame [suspicion of construct/text/logic systems]
but wholly [holistically interconnected, rejection of gnostic dualism, systemic thinking] lean [experientially] on Jesus name. [authority source transcending visible human institutions]
On Christ the solid rock I stand [post-foundationalist]
All other ground is sinking sand [deconstructionalist]
All other ground is sinking sand." [value judgment based on communal experience of screwing up our lives when we place our trust in secondary sources and not primary]

:: Respect for consistant bloggers

Trying to be a consistent blogger amongst all the hecticness of real life has given me a true respect for people like Jordon Cooper who blog very consistantly. Jordon has relevant stuff pretty much daily. That takes a deep commitment to the blogging lifestyle. I seem to fade in and out. One week it goes well, another week and so many other events direct my energies.

Blogging is an amazing phenomena. It grows daily with new people entering the blogosphere. With each new entry comes a bit more inovation. I am going to try to get back to being a blog resident not a blog alien.

:: True blooded bloggers will appreciate this

Ex Nihilo says Starbucks and Bloggin are ruining his life. Here is a bit from his March 8th post, LOL. Have a look.

My new Typepad site, though more expensive, looked nice and I could post a picture of my ugly mug in the upper left-hand corner. I had tons of new features and posting was easier, but still, I have not achieved Volokh or Crescat fame, and it hurts!! Oh the pain!! Like a scorned lover I long for trackbacks, comments, and online debates, but I cannot beg. I now obsess over blogging etiquette and actually perk up when someone mentions a personal website in conversation over dinner. I use words like "Technorati" and "blog roll" (which is actually two words). The problem has only worsened, and now, like Walker Percy's Schuyler (before his marriage to Jane Smith--a note for all you Percy fans) I am outwardly confident but inwardly homeless, wandering sadly the confines of the blogosphere. My record of an active lifestyle has been crushed by the lure of e-fame.

And then, to add insult to injury, my school finally put in a Starbucks. This was the death blow! I now spend more on delectable vanilla cremes than I do on textbooks, and my car insurance premium is dwarfed by my caramel machiato tab. I have become addicted to the rich aroma of my breakfast blend and am no longer Stoicly satisified with the stale taste of Waffle House coffee that was my staple for three years. Though Starbucks satisfies me, it leaves me hungry for its heavenly satisfaction and like a junkie strapped for cash I now linger about the Starbucks stand fantasizing about my next post and the energy I might glean from another cup of rich espresso.

:: A postmodern seder

Last night at our gathering we did a seder dinner with a little different twist. We began with two worship songs and then for the kids asked about Moses life and how the Passover came about. We then let them look for a piece of unleavened bread hidden in the sanctuary of where we are meeting. The youngest, Gracelyn was the finder. We let kids go and have their own projects as we moved into a time of remembrance.

I spent some time talking about the various symbols of the seder dinner and some background of it from Exodus 12. We then moved into a time of remembrance at our worship spaces.

The creative space was where the unleavened bread was and the apples mixture. We wrote a letter to God there as we remembered the bondage of the Israelites and the bondage of our own sin before we came to Christ. We also remembered the hope we have in God coming as a deliverer in our lives. The offering station encouraged us to remember all the blessings God has given us. We remembered how God has freed us, delivered us, released us, and redeemed us as He did the children of Israel. The divine reading station was a reflection from Exodus 12 and from 1 Corinthians talking of Christ our sacrifice. The contemplative space had the bitter herbs and salt water, the parsley, and the juice to remember the tears of the children of Israel and then our own tears as we were in bondage to sin. At our prayer space we had time to pray for the deliverance of our own community, the Colony.

Then we came back to the community space and continued in worship. It was a night of God's visitation. I have not sensed the presence of the Spirit as strongly in a time. As I got back home God's presence was still lingering and when I woke this morning, again, the sense of His presence. It is good to remember, but not only to remember but to connect with Christ, our Passover.

:: Sacred and quiet space

Though a friends blog I ran across Sacred Space today and went through the daily prayer. Have you ever had a day when your soul is at a hectic pace. As I prayed through the meditation I found the peace of the Lord calming my soul. I recommend you try it.