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Simple Church in Different Nations
2008-09-10 06:55:00
This short video is inspiring! It's just one example of many varieties of the simple church phenomenon. Way to go, God! And way to go, Church ! It's exciting to see multiplicative growth happening through these small, outwardly and seemingly insignificant bands of believers. The foolish things confounding the wise...
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Relationship Deal-Breaker
2008-09-09 19:30:00
Some things shouldn't affect relationship. Relationally speaking, I don't care if your political opinions are different than mine. I respect a whole bunch of people who see the world, and solutions to social and political problems, differently than I do. It discourages me when such parting of opinions causes walls to go up and suspicions to be raised. If people see things differently than me, I'm usually curious about how they've come to their conclusions and their logic. I always learn from that. I may not change my mind in the end, but I usually see a bigger picture afterwards. And I don't think it's a good practice to assume people have been "deceived" by the enemy just because they don't faithfully follow the party line (whatever party that might be). That's not a gracious engagement of people's journeys. I wasn't always so gracious myself. I used to identify pretty heavily with the party line. But then God began to speak to me of ideological idolatry. (That kind of bl...
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Making Trailer Parks Cool
2008-09-09 09:46:00
From this... To this! (This is the miniHome by Canadian architect Andy Thomson of Toronto. It's totally self-sufficient and off the grid - a complete eco-house, and it's only $119,000 USD. Some of the miniHome models collect their own rainwater for the inhabitants' use - how cool is that?!).Not surprisingly, being poor can also be an eco-conscious lifestyle. Yayy! When you're poor, you consume less products, thereby putting less strain on natural resources. You live in a much smaller home, thereby lessening your CO2 production and carbon footprint (as a byproduct of heating and cooling said humble abode). And if you're really eco-conscious, you live in a trailer park. Well, not exactly a cultural bastion of environmentalists - yet. Watch out trailer park inhabitants, tree-hugging, hyper-recycling gentrificationists are gearing up to invade your neighborhood, er, park. Good thing the homes are mobile and nobody will have to mix with these hippies if they don't want to. Especial...
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Nerdy-ESL-Teacher Humor
2008-09-07 10:49:00
We have a conjugation emergency!In the name of the Lord, I cast thee into the trash!
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Gratitude for the School of Hard Knocks
2008-09-06 10:14:00
Life is rough. Honestly. That's a relative statement, of course. But this is a fallen world, and people abuse each other here. I mentioned growing up in a spiritually abusive church (and ironically, meeting God there). My experience as a child has led me to realize that spiritual health comes in shades of gray, and not black and white. Many people prefer black and white. It's easier to say, "That's of the devil" and "That's the real move of God." But the reality, in my opinion, is that both God and the devil can be active in the same situation. And that's called mixture. So, on the one hand, I'm not willing to so glibly write a bunch of people off, even when there is mixture and problems in the foundations of movements or organizations. God took my parents out of a convoluted movement (the shepherding movement), he took me out of a convoluted movement (the charismatic movement)... He can take others out too, and He has been doing so. Hence, all the post-charismatics. :) But, t...
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Getting Here from There Synchroblog
2008-09-05 07:20:00
Robbymac asked post-charismatics to tell our stories of "how we first became acquainted with, and eager for, the felt presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives." Wow, I think this is a great idea, and I look forward to reading others' stories! And thanks, Barb, for getting things started! Anyway, here's my entry into the synchroblog.I was born into a non-denominational pentecostal/charismatic church. At four and five years old, I would get "lost in worship" as they say. I would forget where I was, I could only see Jesus, and I was worshipping my little child's heart out to Him. I experienced the presence of God in a very tangible way both at home and at church many times as a kid. God was always very real to me, and I've often had difficulty relating to Christians that have never felt His tangible presence. I have sometimes wondered, why the heck are people Christians if they don't experience God? What's the attraction for them? I don't mean that with any disdain at all - it'...

"Think About It" by Flight of the Conchords
2008-09-04 09:38:00
This video leaves me in stitches! It's kind of irreverent humor, so know that going in...
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The Only Reasonable Conclusion
2008-09-03 09:09:00
"Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?" Isaiah 2:22 As I've pondered the disconnect evident in our choices for president, and in our religious culture, the Lord reminds me to stop regarding man. Good point, Lord. :) While I will vote this election, I'm putting my hope for change and challenging the status quo squarely on Jesus and no one else (except upon myself: I am taking responsibility to cooperate with Him to engender change in me and around me. Here's to greater sanctification and personal revival: a much more exciting and joyful prospect than looking in vain for "righteous leaders"). I also will not be looking to any leaders of revivals, or 'apostolic' movements, or any other kind of man-centered, platform-oriented representation of leadership. That's not what Jesus meant for us. Brant Hansen's most recent "If Jesus Had a Blog" entry nailed it. We just shouldn't be doing this, looking to man, putting people on lead...

Revival Part 2
2008-09-02 20:06:00
Although I initially decided against saying so directly at first, this post is partly inspired by the Lakeland situation and by what's going on in the (assumed to be Christ-following) Republican party. I'm not trying to comment on the status of the candidate's salvation or anything - that is between them and God. And I comment as someone who has always voted Republican as long as I have voted. This is the first time I have even considered doing otherwise.But I feel that the issues with Lakeland and the issues with the candidates are indicative of the state of the church in general in North America (John McCain's adultery, and the issue of fornication with Palin's daughter, Bentley's impropriety). Please understand, this is not a condemnation of people and their failings or imperfections: it is a condemnation of "christianity" as a religion or merely a cultural tradition. Christ-following and submission and obedience to Him (which can only come from walking in His empowering g...
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Revival is Not an Event
2008-09-02 07:19:00
Some things I've been reading have got me thinking more about disconnect. When we pray for revival, what exactly are we asking God for? For many, to pray for revival is to pray for God to move sovereignly on throngs of people in a certain region (our city, our nation). Maybe we want to see something like "the great moves of God of history." We have heard the stories of the Welsh revival: people falling on their knees in public places, crying out to God for mercy, having been overwhelmed by an awareness of His holiness and His love. Something stirs in my spirit when I read these stories of God's interaction with people in history. And yet, I think somewhere along the line, I got the wrong idea about praying for revival.You see, if I ask God for revival as a regional event, then somehow, I let myself off the hook from personal revival. Maybe, revival starts with me (and you). I am feeling compelled to pray for revival in my own life. Revival is not a show that God puts on to display...
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Overcoming the Disconnect
2008-08-31 00:17:00
The disconnect I spoke of earlier affects how we view worship and what it means to be a Christ-follower in general. Alan Knox, that PhD in Baptist Seminary guy who's older, more experienced, wiser and probably just a little smarter than me - just a little though... he wrote some thoughts that fit well with the last post (The Big Disconnect ), so I thought I'd quote him here. I recommend you read his entire post, as I'm only cutting and pasting my favorite parts below:"The New Testament says nothing about believers gathering together for the purpose of "worship" as we see it today. In the NT, singing is rarely mentioned. In the NT, preaching is primarily for proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to unbelievers. There is no teaching in the NT leading to a "worship leader", and pastors are never seen as managing or even coordinating a meeting of believers. Sitting and listening quietly are never presented as a way to participate in "corporate worship". These ideas, and many other...

The Big Disconnect
2008-08-29 06:26:00
"Our central lie is in the discrepancy between the language of worship and the actions of worship. We confess ?Jesus is Lord? but only submit to the part of Christ?s authority that fits our grand personal designs, doesn?t cause pain, doesn?t disrupt the American dream, doesn?t draw us across ethnic and racial divisions, doesn?t add the pressure of too much guilt, doesn?t mean forgiving as we have been forgiven, doesn?t ask for more than a check to show compassion. We ?sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs? expressing our desire to know Jesus, but the Jesus we want to know is the sanitized Jesus that looks a lot like us when we think we are at our best. Despite God?s Word to the contrary, we think we can say that we love God and yet hate our neighbor, neglect the widow, forget the orphan, fail to visit the prisoner, ignore the oppressed. Its the sign of disordered love. When we do this, our worship becomes a lie to God."?Mark Labberton, The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God?s ...
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Social Capital Makes a Comeback
2008-08-27 20:08:00
The other day, I stumbled upon something called the small house movement (which sees the wisdom in sustainable stewardship of all that we have). And a little internet exploration of that topic led me to the co-housing movement, which in North America incorporates a nice balance between corporate community and individual privacy. Most of the housing co-ops and developments are either townhome complexes, old and refurbished apartment buildings in urban cores, or "pocket neighborhoods" of new, yet small individual homes arranged in a manner to maximize community and social capital. I'm finding that "missional" or "emerging" or "deconstructing and reconstructing" (insert whatever descriptive term you want here) Christians are not alone in the search for authentic community and the quest for social capital. Many people in North America are tired of the ever-increasing isolation that the modernist, suburban American Dream has engendered. Interesting. Lots of potential here! :)Here's som...
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Mi Sun: North Korean Refugee
2008-08-26 09:40:00
Sometimes, it helps to hear someone's story in order to identify with their need for assistance. This is Mi Sun's story, and there are many like her who, unlike Mi Sun, have made it to America and could use our help.
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5 Minutes online can make a difference for North Korean refugees
2008-08-25 08:01:00
"Liberty House" - an initiative to assist North Korean refugees seeking asylum in the United States - is up for consideration in the American Express Members Project competition. The winning project will be awarded $1.5 million, while second and third place projects will win $500,000 and $300,000 respectively. Two finalists will also win $100,000 each. Help them to win by nominating them up to September 1, 2008. Then vote for them once per round (there's two). You don't have to be a cardholder. There is not much time left, so please don't put this off (You can vote until Sept 1). Your vote can be a catalyst tohelp hundreds of North Korean refugees!Here's how you vote:1) Go to the following link: http://www.membersproject.com2) You have to log-in to nominate our project. So go to the top right corner of the page and click ?log-in?3) If you are a card-member of American Express, enter your online ID and password. You will then be prompt to enter your e-mail and password (you may h...
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A Refreshingly Honest Response
2008-08-24 07:35:00
I haven't posted any thoughts regarding the Lakeland situation, mostly because I've been more concerned about other issues that seem to have a greater scope than the small subculture of charismatic christendom. I come from a charismatic background, and we have had a tendency to think that our subculture is the whole world. But really, it's just one little microcosm. But I digress...On the other hand, there are people in that microcosm that God deeply cares about. Although I consider myself "post-charismatic," I still engage that stream through podcasts, and occassionally books and other media. And I have many charismatic friends. So, I identify with the charismatic stream both from within and without. (Or, in other words, I don't see it in terms of "us and them" but "all of us together" even though I have rejected many elements of charismatic culture). As there are different types of post-charismatics, I should qualify: I would describe myself as a "still-love-the-gifts-and-th...
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Retro 80s: Good for Laughs
2008-08-20 10:01:00
I'm a huge fan of Flight of the Conchords, the New Zealander comedy-folk-singers. I thought the blog needed a little lightening up. :)
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The Future of Food
2008-08-19 08:40:00
So I just finished watching "The Future of Food ," a documentary film covering the biotechnology industry. This is the industry that brought us genetically modified (GM) food, the patenting of seeds (and therefore, the patenting of life itself - last time I checked, that was God's creation, not some corporation's), and terminator seeds. Terminator seeds produce one crop and then self-destruct. This prohibits the farmer from saving seeds for a second generation, forcing him to buy an entire new batch from the seed manufacturer. Just that people would think up, much less create something so perverse as a "terminator seed" is morally appalling. Especially in the wider context of the problem of hunger. Sick! Anyway, the film explores the ramifications that farmers in the US, Canada, and Mexico have faced, the economic trade issues that have resulted (the US lost billions in crop trade with EU and other markets who reject GM food since it is deemed unsafe by their standards), and the ra...
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A Story of a Journey
2008-08-16 08:46:00
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is one of the best books I have ever read. This is a children's novel, so I was able to finish it in about an hour. This highly awarded book is literary genius. It is indeed a miraculous journey. I hesitate to say too much about the story, as I don't want to ruin it. But God spoke several times as I read it. Go pick up a copy at your library, or if you have kids, then just buy it! You will not be disappointed! It's a must read and very appropriate for the transitional (transformational) season that many of us find ourselves in. Especially those of us who've grown up in the comfort and wealth of the western world and all of its narcissistic tendencies... This book is about the journey out of self and into love. Ok, I've said too much! Have a read for yourself, and let me know what you think...
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The Ugly Side of Missional
2008-08-12 23:18:00
Since that last post was about the ugly side of traditional church/ministry, I thought I would balance it out with a post about the ugly side of missional church/ministry.Again, quoting TSK regarding problems with the term 'missional':1. It is often dumbed down by people who confuse it with "evangelistic" or "mission-minded"2. It has often been purged by some evangelicals of its connections to the global mission movement (read 'Ecumenical') and given a newer and more acceptable face.3. It has sometimes been co-opted by aggressive and competitive white males to drive resources to the programs that beef up their own churches.4. It suffers from a compulsive activism, as if God was a workaholic who constantly drives on his team and never rests from his labours.5. It lacks an immediate connection with worship which might be the flip side and a necessary balance.And elsewhere in his article, TSK adds, "Karl Hartenstein nailed it in 1954 with the Latin term Missio Dei (the mission of G...
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Great Quotes from the Comment Gallery
2008-08-12 22:50:00
These are some great comments I've found in the blogosphere regarding status and narcissism respectively:On no-name ministry: We have been doing exactly that for about 15 years - a very low visibility and no web page for our organization (i bet most people reading this post cant name us) and yet very high impact because we are able to bring resources to many networks and organizations without bringing in a strong brand or name that may cause competition. The Foundations know this and the groups that have chosen to fund emerging church ministries through us would rather get the job done that have a trophy ministry that is a household word. (From Tall Skinny Kiwi's blog).On worship services: I think much of the problem is that we are confused about what worship actually is to Father. Robert Webber in his book The Divine Embrace makes the point, worth considering, that when God is the object of worship then it makes us the subject of worship, which is narcissism. But when God is the ...
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Mission Impossible 2: Morph
2008-08-11 19:05:00
Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, authors of "The Tangible Kingdom" are just crazy enough to take on mission impossible. Here's the mission, if you choose to accept it. (Well, here's a description of their training that is geared toward traditional churches):Morph : Empowering existing church leaders to move churches into mission.Thousands of leaders desire to experience missional and incarnational life in church. Thousands of leaders are ready to retool and reform their congregation. Thousands of leaders want to recover God?s heart for their city. They?re tired of the office, tired of only ministering to Christians, drained from running programs, frustrated with losing their best young leaders, and ready to break free from institutional constraints.With the right tools, revival and redirection are possible. Morph is coaching and connecting leaders around the world through annual intensives and online networking. When you get involved with Morph, you will: * Find friends ? leaders who ...
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Mission Impossible
2008-08-11 05:23:00
I'm starting to realize that there are more than a few pastors in traditional institutional churches that would like to make a transition. Their desire is to teach people to live truly missional lives (as the expression of their Christianity - as the manifestation of their Christ-following) rather than assuming the consumption of religious services is the highest expression of their Christianity, or Christ-following. How do you make this transition? People who have grown accustomed to going to worship "services" where services are rendered to them for their consumption (music provided for a nice "worship experience" and study and research completed for them in the sermon preparation and delivery)... how do you convince these fine folks that this isn't Christianity? That actually, Christianity is active and not consumer-oriented. How do you train them to study the word for themselves, to befriend their neighbors, to gain the ability to worship without depending on someone to creat...
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Jesus Launches His Ministry
2008-08-09 08:43:00
I was reading in Luke 4 today, and I noticed something. I hadn't made this connection before. Any of us who've spent more than a few hours of their lives listening to oodles of sermons are familiar with the beginning of Jesus 's ministry. Tempted, victorious, comes out of wilderness, enters synogogue, reads from Isaiah "God's on me, anointed to preach gospel to poor, release captives, give sight to blind, free the oppressed" (that's the short-hand version). And then, what does he talk about next? How God historically moved (through the prophetic ministries of Elijah and Elisha) on those outside of the community of the "chosen people of God," how God intervened on behalf of the "heathen."Verse 25: "But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who w...
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Just Who is it...?
2008-08-07 18:55:00
Still reading Tangible Kingdom and learning from their example - I'll share more in the future. But for now, my friend Charis wrote this brilliant post:"This morning I heard about the much-publicized ongoing issue of ordination of homosexuals in the Anglican church again on the news. I thought to myself how simple it all is, a non-issue really, once a person knows that God Himself is the only one who actually ever ordains anyone in ministry & not a religious system. Why does it matter who other human beings might ordain if they actually aren?t by God Himself? It only becomes problematic when God?s own people don?t know Him well enough to recognize that He has or has not ordained someone, & for what. In this light the whole affair is actually a great blessing - an inane system is exposed for the human construct it?s become."The italics are mine, not Charis's. I wanted to hi-light that statement, since that is exactly the problem!

John: reflecting the mercy and grace of God
2008-06-06 09:58:00
A couple posts ago (Still Munching on Luke), I pondered Luke 1:61 and suggested that God wants us to be known for being a reflection of His mercy and grace. And then, I think about the popular image in Christian culture of John the Baptist and his ministry. This pop perception is of John as the last old covenant fire-and-brimstone, turn-or-burn type prophet. Angry. Shouting. Finger-pointing. I guess that's partly because of Hollywood, but mostly because he called people snakes. But we are snakes, you know? That shouldn't be so offensive to our sensibilities. I know that without the redeeming, sanctifying work of the cross - I'm a snake. In fact, I have to choose to remember that my inner snake is crucified with Christ. Like when I am tempted to defend or promote myself, to shape my 'image,' and other's opinions of me. Or when I am tempted to be critical or reject, or any other relational sin. Wait a second, pretty much all sin is relational when you get right down to it. And i...
More About: Grace , Mercy

The Roots of Breakdance
2008-06-04 07:39:00
I think breakdancers are some of the most creative people the world over - it is a truly global artform. So when I saw this Soviet propaganda film set to Run DMC, I had to post it. This video just gets better and better as it goes. The guy with the accordion is a 'hat tip' to Brant Hansen. Brant, can you spin through the air with your accordion like that guy? :D
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Still Munching on Luke 1
2008-06-04 01:04:00
A while back, I started 'meditating' my way through Luke 1. I'm still there, the chapter does have 80 verses, after all! :)Verse 61 has made an impression on me: "There is no one among your relatives who are called by that name."The back story: Elizabeth and Zacharias had prayed for children. Now, she was old, as was he. But then, an angel pops in and says, "God heard your prayer - the one you gave up on, as it seemed impossible to come to pass as you grew old - and now you're going to reproduce." That's a New Sarah Standard Paraphrased Version (NSSPV). Shocking news for Zach and Elizabeth. And you know, this was all part of a bigger thing that God was fixin' to do. As "moves of God" go, this was the big one! (Of course, I'm referring to the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus, and everything that means for the world).And so, the time to give birth came. And all Elizabeth's and Zach's friends were so happy for them, so in awe of the kindness of God toward them. And it's tim...

Move of God Part 2
2008-06-02 09:26:00
Update: On the other hand, I'm having trouble fitting Ananias and Saphira into this equation. So, just goes to show my understanding is very much in process...Barb's "What if?" post prompted my previous entry. But I think my post doesn't communicate my thoughts effectively. So I'll give it another go.My deconstructed, more basic and foundational definition of the phrase "move of God" would be His consistent movement toward reconciliation with each person He has created, and movement toward the restoration of His entire creation.I come from the Charismatic tradition. Part of the culture of that tradition is an emphasis on "moves of God." Perhaps inadvertently, many people were taught to fear "missing" the 'next move of God.' But fear is always a fruit of religion. Love, on the other hand, casts out fear. God is 'moving' in so many nations, so many families, so many places, that we could not possibly keep track of it all. He's not just moving in my tribe (the organic church m...
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Redefining the phrase "move of God"
2008-06-01 21:29:00
Barb at A Former Leader's Journey has written the most beautiful post called "What if?" My favorite part of the post is the first 'what if' - "What if God were much bigger than I had imagined?"I think that I have a propensity to draw lines of inclusion and exclusion, to create boxes in which I limit the grace of God. But I find that these lines only limit me; God keeps on doing what He does, paying scant attention to the limitations I've put on Him.God loves people both inside and outside my box, and is actively loving them (in a variety of ways). Sometimes God scatters, sometimes He gathers, sometimes He tears, sometimes He heals, sometimes He rebukes and corrects, sometimes He affirms and empowers - but always, always, always - His door is open for those who would come to be accepted in their great lack and imperfection. He is love, and yet we would try to deny Him the opportunity to love in so many ways. But, He's God, not us, so He will keep on loving and keep on moving tow...
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