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.