A Piece of Encouragement for Millenials (FB)

Your heart cry for spiritual mothers and fathers has not fallen on deaf ears.  Please be patient.  You see, the generation that pointed you toward craft beer and quinoa if full of so much more.  Don’t worry, they aren’t asleep, they’re just busy…and bored.  But the boredom – it’s the boredom that they can’t stand and will cause them to rise up when it’s time to roll.   You see, something happened to them – something wonderful and miraculous and somewhat unprecedented.   They experienced a move of the Holy Spirit that touched and changed everything.  But sometimes it’s hard to see a movement when you’re in it- you just call it life.  But it was a move.  There was real life – there was power-  there was a sense of purpose.  And unlike generations before them that were offered the invitation and squandered it for treasure – the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers who are now in their 30’s and 40’s never bowed to Baal.  Their error was more subtle, more salvageable – though their cost of freedom will be civil war.  The error was in believing their fathers and mothers who told them to use the gifts, the presence, the move to build programs and pulpits and conferences and celebrities and camps and content and gatherings and networks.  But they actually tasted something real – and a few of them will soon begin to taste again – and they’ll have the courage to lead.  And yes, it will cause civil war but don’t engage  - it’s between them and their fathers.  Follow the leaders – and here’s how you’ll know them.  They won’t call you to their thing – they’ll release you into yours.  They will invite you into family and will introduce you to power and, in the end, you will say “the mothers and fathers wouldn’t allow us to settle for any less that the life of Jesus – and it has made all the difference.” 

Tenacious forgiveness... (fb)

Today is a good day.  My calendar says I get to eat Indian food with Neil.  He is my most intense friend, living life with a tenacity that is rarely modeled.  His level of discipline and focus is extraordinary when he commits to a goal.  He is in his 50's and competes in endurance sports, often successfully smoking the best of the 20 and 30-somethings.

Today is a good day.  My devotional reading was based on Matthew 5:44 "love your enemies..." and told a reconciliation story.  When a body is healed we call it a miracle- unfortunately we often ignore festering relational wounds that have infected the Body.  My friends have been through a battle and they are still married - it's a miracle worth shouting from the rooftops.

Today is a good day.  I am reminded that kindness, gentleness, and humility characterize Jesus and those that know him best.  And I am committed to pursue a heart that is quick to forgive, quick to reconcile, slow to judge, slow to criticize - with the tenacity that Neil trains for a bike race let me pursue forgiveness.

Healing by Community (fb)

A recent Wall Street Journal article told the story of Lance Corporal Seth Voie- how he watched his best friend killed by a mine- how he dealt with the incredible loss- how the Marines are rethinking emotional trauma and how to best help men like Lance Cpl. Voie.

The devastation experienced by Lance Cpl. Voie in Afghanistan takes place in hearts and lives every day- the unexpected death of a loved one, the betrayal of a spouse, financial ruin.  Things that involve loss – loss that feels like total loss of everything.  How does one begin to rebuild, replace, relive…re-live…live again?

I wouldn’t pretend to know how most people, most cultures handle heart trauma- but have watched one particular people-group enough to have noticed a pattern.  They tend to linger in denial, over-spiritualize, retreat, isolate, and seek specialized individual treatment- usually in the form of paid counselors.  Sometimes there is an initial reaction of generosity in the form of food and cards, but by and large, the community tends to give space- content to wait until the grieving one reengages at their own pace, in their own way, if ever at all.  There is a general sense that healing is best left to trained professionals.  It’s not surprising, since this particular culture has generally embraced paid specialists for many of the significant parts of community life.

So what did the Marines do with a heartbroken Lance Corporal Voie?   “Sgt. Tippett and his men rallied around Lance Cpl. Seth Voie…There was no formal therapy, no group intervention, just casual conversations.  They shared stories of lost friends and gruesome moments.  They let him mourn, but refused to let him wallow in “why-him?” and “what –if?”  They kept him fighting.”  The Marines have been studying mental-health issues intently, referring to research that the Israeli military did in the 1980s.  “The latest research suggests troops handle battlefield stress better, and avoid post-war problems more often, when they heal among their comrades.”  “The closer they are to their buddies, and the company they trained and deployed with, the better chance you have of returning them to combat.”  The Marines are finding out that soldiers’ hearts heal best when they are quickly connected to their community and reengaged in their mission. 

All of the biblical material that describes this global community called Church jibes with the following in regards to trauma and healing:

-       Expect regular trauma at a deep heart level as a result of living in the “now but not yet”- we are an army at war and there will be casualties

-       Much of that trauma is relational and some can be avoided with an intense commitment to healthy relationships and aggressive conflict resolution “in the family”

-       The most dangerous thing a wounded person can do is to become isolated from their community

-       Healing should primarily take place in the context of community and mission.  Community is a group of people who do life together.  Mission is the lifestyle of the community called Church – it isn’t a meeting or an activity, it certainly isn’t formal “ministry.”  Under no circumstances should something involving a stage or a title be confused with mission- generally those things are hindrances to healing.

The Marines are discovering principles that a Creator built into our communal DNA.  Perhaps the next generation of American Christians will have the courage to love our wounded differently.

*  All quotes are from the article “Rx for Combat Stress: Comradeship”  Wall Street Journal April 2, 2011.

Unity is and is not (fc)

As Jesus sent his disciples out to do his works he didn’t say, “now be nice to each other and you’ll see the sick healed and demons flee and hearts transformed.”  He said “Don’t go alone; be careful!  I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves, expect to be imprisoned, expect persecution, expect to stand before politicians and princes, expect to be rejected by brothers and fathers, expect strife, but stand firm to the end because my Father will give you everything you need- in fact- it makes Him happy to give you his entire Kingdom!”

Paul, Peter, James – all of them say expect it to be hard- you’ll be tempted to blame each other but remember, you’re fighting demons not each other (Eph 6).

If we want unity it won’t feel like unity most of the time-  it will feel like we’re barely hanging on to each other.  Real unity, REAL community comes at a great price- we surrender our rights for the sake of Christ and one another.  We together go on a journey of dying to ourselves and living to Christ and it’s hard.

If it’s going well it will drive you into 2 places: 

1.     To your knees in desperate prayer

2.     Into hard conversations 

"You're a prophet and a dreamer" (fb)

"You're a prophet and a dreamer" - translated, "There is a label that explains your behavior- that makes sense of why you'd want to leave our club- that frees us from examining the system we continue to prop up"


Here is an interview with someone who gets it and holds it with grace and humility.  The contrast is striking.



What's Next for Francis Chan? A Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris from Ben Peays on Vimeo.

A little Thursday am Wimber (fb)

I was recently asked to list my "heroes, from the past or today, who you most admire and desire to emulate."  The late John Wimber made the short list.  I never met him but I love him - love how he loved the Church - how he made people feel empowered and encouraged- all the people.  I love how his humble and obedient heart freed others to take risks.  He was a rock n roller turned Jesus freak.  A revivalist who was the catalytic figure in worldwide revival in the late 80's and early 90's - most Americans have never heard of him, most Brits have and consider him a spiritual father of their movement.  He made life with Jesus simple, fun and full of power.


A few zingers from the intro of Everyone Gets to Play - the second compilation of John Wimber writings.  Just started this morning- the type of book best read devotionally - sipped not gulped- so I look forward to some pearls over the next few weeks.


"I can either get a tent and have a huge revival where I can do this by myself, or I can release it to the people, and equip them to play." - Wimber


"I had good teaching, but John Wimber and company had good fruit" - Bill Johnson


"John came with his ministry and left it with us" - David Pytches


"I realized that sometimes there is no way to explain obedience and sacrifice to God to those who do not see the Pearl." - Wimber

What really changes things? (fb)

Do things need to change?  What things?  …poverty?  Racism?  Systemic injustice?  Ugly buildings?  Vulnerable communities?  The availability of Orange Julius?

What really changes things?  Government?  Getting better at getting more people to come to more meetings?  Political leaders?  Grassroots movements?  Ideas?  Technology?  Love?

Just returned from a few days in NYC spending time with guys in business, church, and non-profit who dream of transformed cities- guys who think lots about what really changes things.  And it’s so fun to be with people like that – people who don’t just think about it but are doing things about it.  They are doing amazing things in their worlds. 

A couple of editorial thoughts upon reflection…

First, the structures that are in place are massively inadequate to sustain real change.  What do you mean?   Well…like….what we call “church” for the most part wouldn’t know what to do if tens of thousands suddenly said Yes.  But the same is true for all of our structures – banking, health care, education, government – most of our institutions are totally incompatible with the change we long for and we should keep working like dogs to change those things.

Second, the only thing that will change cities is…one man, one woman who has an encounter with God.  An encounter where the immense power of God and his outrageous compassion become real in a way that that man or woman feels as if they might be alive for the first time- becomes so real that they can’t help but gather a few other hungry hearts – hearts who are overjoyed at the simplicity of listening and responding to a voice that, once so far away, is suddenly so near.

My hand is to the plow of structure, my heart aches for more hungry hearts- for my own heart to be more and more desperate for more and more of God’s presence.  

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

If you want it here it is come and get it  - Paul McCartney

Classic in the best way (fb)

The SBs just announced a new church planting initiative- 100 communities in 100 cities launched on 1 day- using the internet to connect people to God and each other, then providing opportunity for them to connect physically (thank you LifeChurch.TV for pioneering).  I'm hoping it's like Danny Wallace "Join Me" style church planting (which has never been more possible thanks to Facebook and Twitter).  They might find a way to mess it up, but....  It's a good example of why the SBs are the only evangelical denomination that has continued to survive, maybe even thrive while the rest whither on the vine.

Why?  Because, throughout their heritage, there are two things they value.

1.  The autonomy of the local church.  They have always been an entrepreneurial movement that values practice over posturing.  They are the NASCAR, git r done denomination.  Do they have bureaucracy and institutions?- of course, but... there is a pilot light still burning that values a decentralized movement united by one thing...

2.  The one thing... a commitment to mission.  This is the thing that unites them.  If it connects people to God- they're in.  They aren't defined (much to the average SB denominational leader's chagrin and they would never admit it) by their theology or doctrine.  Name me an SB theologian- Millard Erickson- ok that's one, but you won't find many.  On the other hand, you'll find lots of Presbyterian, Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist scholars - how are those guys doing?

No- at the end of the day- despite all of their perceived and real crumudgeon-like behavior - the SB's keep coming back to the right question.  "How do we proclaim Good News in this place and in this time?"

Something to grieve, something to own (fb)

Something significant happened in the family called Church last week- maybe you missed it.  Early last week John Piper announced that he is taking "an eight-month leave of absence to address unspecified "sins" that have "taken a toll" on his marriage."  (http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2010/03/author-piper-takes-leave-to-ta.php) John Piper happens to be my favorite modern preacher and teacher.  Back when he started Desiring God Ministries I was on a first name basis with The person that you called to order preaching "tapes."  Until a few years ago I read everything he wrote- including his exposition of Romans 9!  I just love this guy so it's understandable that this would be huge news for me.  But here is why I think it's huge news for "you" and especially for "us."


The Western church, especially the American church, has embraced a structure that is found nowhere in the New Testament, burns out leaders, and generally hinders the mission for which this family was gathered.  I don't know the "sins" to which Piper refers to but I know this.  John Piper walking away from everything for 8 months is a radical step to address radical problems.  This is not a guy who is just tired.  He doesn't just need a sabbatical - he's had lots of those through the years- mostly used for writing.  Fortunately his problems will likely not disqualify him for future leadership in the Church.  But over the last few years I've watched several high profile Christian leaders and several low-profile leaders fall under the weight of a system that is not sustainable.  Specifically, I talked to a couple of guys a year over the past ten years that needed to do what Piper is doing- step away- but wouldn't, couldn't.  


When I was in seminary, the statistic quoted was that the average length of time in vocational ministry for seminary grads was 7 years.  I'll bet that number is less now.  The typical senior pastor is relationally isolated - meaning they have no close friends to share heart-level intimacy with.  Most are also relationally isolated from their wives and families- who often resent continually playing second fiddle to the "church family."  I've never met a senior pastor who didn't say that wife and family are "first" - neither have I ever met one that was at peace with the way that value practically is worked out in the rhythm of life.   The senior pastor carries the weight of maintaining balance in a "provider-client" system that rewards an incremental increase in maintaining the status quo.  Every social invitation becomes a "should," every request for meeting is accompanied with fear.  Mostly fear of inadequacy- inadequate to give that perfect word of wisdom, encouragement, counsel, or affirmation that is expected.  Each time the senior leader rises to proclaim God's word it is with the knowledge that the performance will be judged  in every car and at every lunch table.  Our senior leaders are the brand, they are the franchise, a part of our identity.  In an adolescent culture obsessed with the next hit, they are Christendom's rock stars.  In short, the senior pastor is asked to be Prophet, Priest, and King...Apostle, Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist.  But why does that matter?


It matters first because my bible tells me that in Christ we are one- we are connected, we share the same spiritual dna, everything that a brother or sister does affects all of the brothers and sisters.  If John Piper is hurting I'm hurting.  If Ted Haggard flames out...we flame out!  It's not "him" it's "us."  We are a covenant people - one in Christ and one with each other.  We are a body, a house, an army, a temple, a bride.  We are watching our leaders walk up onto a stage as a lamb to the slaughter, then we turn our eyes as they fall away.  We wish them well, pray for them, say what a shame it is, point out their flaws, then prop up the next guy.


It matters also because my bible tells me that leadership in the church is not connected to titles but to discipling people.  It is to be done by a diverse group of amateurs that are radically dependent on the Holy Spirit for ... everything.    There is not one description of Church in the new testament that looks anything like what we call "church."  You won't find one senior pastor in the new testament.  What you find is groups of people in cities, in community with one another, radically committed to love their city towards Jesus and His Kingdom.  They meet in small groups a lot more often than they meet in large groups.  The one description of a gathering that we are given in the bible shows a group of people waiting on the Holy Spirit- one has a word, another a song, another a prayer- everyone gets to play- everyone has to play.  Church is the lifestyle of a community on mission together, not a place you go or a meeting to attend.  If you go to a place or attend a meeting it should be for the purpose of equipping and encouraging you to live the lifestyle, or... it should be a worship and prayer throwdown for the ages that serves as a tangible expression of who we are and who God is.  


So what do we do about it?  Radical problems require radical solutions.  Senior pastors will continue to fall under the weight of "ministry" unless the body "be's" the body by taking that weight onto itself.  That will require:
- a fresh dose of grace- where we begin to grasp in our hearts how loved we are and how free we are
- a fresh vision of Kingdom transformation- a heart cry to see our friends, families, cities, and nations loved toward a reflection of "on earth as it is in heaven" 
- a biblical view of Church and church leadership- an army of amateurs committed to encourage one another to go for it in every sphere of culture
- a dependence on the Holy Spirit that we have not experienced in this country since the frontier revivals- we probably will have to be taught by African, Indian, Asian and Latin American brothers and sisters
- a structure that empowers Church as a lifestyle and makes "church as a meeting" a thing of the past


Where can we start?  The local church community that my family is connected to is taking radical steps in the right direction- steps that don't feel radical to most people- which means people are much more willing to embrace change.  Here are a few of these steps that we are embracing:


1.  Multiple preachers and teachers- there is no one that is the visible senior leader
2.  Paid staff are all part time, bi-vocational leaders - this keeps people grounded in real-life and also makes it impossible to load them down with burdens that should be carried by us all
3.  The weekly gathering is appropriately de-emphasized and life-together outside of the weekly meeting is celebrated
4.  The theology of the Kingdom is preached again, and again, and again, and again...
5.  There is almost an "open source" sense of place and mission in regards to the Church in our city, it's mission, and our necessary connection to all of our brothers and sisters in the city, regardless of their label


So let's pray for John and Noel Piper- let's fight for and with them.  And let's listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church- taking ownership for our own contribution to the repeated crash and burn of our leaders.  Everyone gets to play, everyone has to play.  Finally, we know the end of the story and are full of faith - the Bride will be the beautiful, world-changing girl she was made to be and all the created of all time will marvel at her glory.

My kids are going to space (fb)

Today was the maiden voyage of the first commercial spacecraft by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.  It was only a test, and it never got into space but...it will- not 50 years from now but in the next two or three.  This makes me giddy with excitement, not because of space but because it is such a brilliant example of how quantum change really happens- it isn't linear it's reactionary.

If we polled 100 people and asked them "when will commercial spaceflight happen and what will it look like?" ninety plus percent of them would say something like..."It will be decades if it happens in my lifetime and it will be in some big spaceship that looks kind of like the space shuttle, with a blast off and everything."  Leave it to Richard Branson to find the guys that are thinking radically different.  The current model of spaceflight was built in and for the industrial age:

Massive organizations
Thousands of specialists
Rockets required to launch the craft from ground into outer space
Extremely infrequent launches
Large space craft requiring large structures and propulsion
Only the largest and wealthiest governments can afford to participate
Government sponsored space "programs"
Passengers are physical and intellectual elites that have gone through years of training

But here is how Virgin Galactic saw the future:

Smaller organizations
Less specialization and more borrowing from a variety of technologies and industries
Planes perform the final launch from 60,000 feet
Frequent launches
Small craft requiring small structures and propulsion
Thousands and eventually hundreds of thousands able to participate
Private "firms"
Passengers are normal Joes (that have a lot of money- at least at first!)
Training takes three days initially (I'll bet they get that down to one day within the first 5 years)

Wired magazine makes the point this month that the Apple ipad will forever change personal computing- no more mouse or keyboard or clumsy case.  Today the Church in America is Commodor 64, but it will be iPad, not iMac.  It won't be more and better of what we currently think of as "best practice."  It will be  different- quantum different.  I'm a Church lover- I don't know what you love.  But if you're a pioneer, avoid the trap of thinking linear change and train your mind to think quantum, which normally begins by changing all the questions.  And if you're a settler- don't stress out- just enjoy the ride and let the pioneers lose sleep about space travel, smart homes, communication technology, sustainability, urban planning, local food... And while we're glancing out the window wondering what the first moon village will be like you'll be full of joy, in the moment, awed by the vastness of space:)

To the sent ones (fc)

You are part of the most exciting generation in the history of the Church.  A generation set apart to be sent out into every network, neighborhood, and nation.  There is nothing special about you- in fact- it’s your ordinariness that is compelling.  Like the army in the book of Joel, the nations are shaking but they don’t see you they see Him.  Cities will be changed from the inside out, from the margin to the center.  No person, no church, no organization, no country, no leader gets the credit- a.k.a. the GLORY.  That will be reserved only for Him.  But where the sent ones are, EVERYONE will want to be.  If you want it you can have it- AIDS, Africa, human trafficking, extreme poverty, the marketplace and the arts- but it will cost you everything, beginning with your reputation.  History says you’ll quit.  If you make it it will be because you accepted the journey of character, courage, and community for a lifetime.  The good news?  You’ve got it- everything you need to go the distance.  You lack…nothing.

Why I am a runner (fb)

I watched the sun rise this morning over the Sorghum Hills on a ten-mile run.  It was beautiful and everything felt right.  I felt like a runner…I am a runner – so started thinking about why.

I am a runner because Stephanic Fischer spoke destiny over me.  She walked up to Stacy and I after church one day, looked at me and said “I see you as a runner.”  I hated running, looked like anything but a runner, had no plans to run.  But her words were powerful- words are powerful.

I am a runner because I started running.  Four years after Stephanie’s comment I took it with me and headed out the door for my first run.  I ran one minute then walked one.  Eventually I ran two minutes then walked one.  Then I ran ten minutes and walked two.  Eventually I ran a mile without walking.  I was happy with little victories and pathetic baby steps but I stayed…I ran.  You can’t be a runner if you don’t run.

I am a runner because of Eric Mixon.  He is my training partner and even though we don’t often run together I think about him every time I train.  He keeps me accountable to live the life I want to live.  I wouldn’t run without Eric.  You can’t run without accountable community.

I am a runner because I speak the language, I’ve had the experiences.  If I was injured tomorrow and never ran again I am forever part of the running family.  I have run for years not months.  I have experienced pain and suffering and victory.  It is a lifestyle not an event.

I am a follower of Jesus.  Destiny was spoken over me, I responded with a smidge of faith and started running towards Him, running with Him.  Accountable community keeps me running but, regardless, I am a part of a spiritual family forever.  I’ve had the experiences, I’m learning the language of Kingdom.  I want to help others run.  The family is supposed to be bigger.   Everyone is invited.

How the Community Communicates (fb)

Some thoughts about how comm tech is accelerating change in the Church:

A biblical theology of community says that we’re all connected- now a spiritual reality is becoming tangible to everyone.  I am connected to Nancy in Kenya via Facebook but, more broadly, we are aware of how the food we purchase in OKC impacts the rice farmer in Thailand.

New communications tech is fundamentally changing the way that community functions- you change the way community communicates... you change everything (credit Clay Shirkey’s great explanation of this principle in Here Comes Everybody).  For instance, hierarchy becomes unnecessary when everyone can talk to everyone.  This afternoon, via Twitter alone, we can muster an army from multiple churches to remodel a housing unit for a single mom at Tapestry- we don’t need anyone to plan it, publicize it, resource it, communicate it, connect us to it, educate us about it, train us for it.  In short- we don’t need a hierarchy to manage us.

The ability to pursue a vision together, with our community,  without relying on an organization means that we are fixin to see a humongous jailbreak of lay people (a.k.a. amateurs) taking over the leadership of this movement called Church.  Our theology says “everyone gets to play” but our paradigm says that’s not really true.  Now we see that one amateur with a heart to put tents in Haiti can git r done- that’s really exciting.  Effectiveness no longer requires professional management and organizational support.

The idea that our missional energy should be directed exclusively through organizations (local church, parachurch) that we belong to will seem increasingly silly.  The opportunity for missional community to form around “networks and neighborhoods” will increasingly unite people across denominational, theological, sociological and local church tribes.

As we become more aware of opportunities to “be the church” and “live as church,” in a manner that fits our vision, call, gifts, personality, networks, dreams, and the Kingdom worldview; we will become less willing to pay a subscription fee for participation in spiritual organizations (salaries, buildings, and programs).  Instead, we will choose to use our “giving” for fighting human-trafficking, projects we’re directly involved with, and people we’re directly connected to.  We will become better stewards of our giving resources, demanding more accountability and giving only to those projects that provide us the greatest Kingdom return on our financial investment.  This will further erode the current economic model of western “Church.”  What am I talking about?  I’m saying it will no longer be cool with us to pay to build buildings that go unused most of the week or pay for Mrs Johnson’s grandson, who plays the guitar, to sing Passion songs for the Sunday morning youth service; or to pay for Johnny Tightshirt to hang out at the church coffee “lounge” as a paid intern ‘cause it’s funner than funemployment.  Side note:  so is there anything in the current system that we’ll still be willing to pay for?  Yes, but it will have to be a clear value, characterized by excellence.  So we’ll pay for super excellent worship celebration, teaching, inspiration, and resources- …but not every week:)

Get ready for wiki-theology.  For the past 100 years we’ve been taught to fear incorrect doctrine.  Our ability to interact with “them” and “their” ideas will actually result in the Church starting to love the Church.  The main and plain will become mainer and plainer and we’ll no longer be afraid- when you’re not afraid you’re free.  Look for the language of Kingdom and discipleship to become the glue of a global, shared language of Church.

What an amazingly, exceedingly wonderful time to be a part of this 2000 year old, world-changing community called Church.  Ooooo I love tech-no-lo-gy, but noooooot as much as you you see…

The Dream (fc)

THE DREAM

Simply stated, our dream is to be the church. Wait, wait, 

wait...we’re not talking about a place you go or a group to 

join or even a new way to do the same thing. We want the 

stuff you see in the book of Acts—a group of people united 

at the heart by Jesus and His love. To be around them is to 

see Jesus—love, peace, joy, freedom, and miracles. They are 

constantly dependent on God for everything and constantly 

amazed at what He is doing through them. AND stuff chang- 

es. Neighborhoods and cities and whole nations change. 

We’re not okay with just going to meetings, hanging out, and 

hoping that one day God might do something with us. We’re 

not okay with racism and cancer and AIDS and poverty. We 

know things HAVE to change. We’re not sure how to do it, 

but we know it starts and ends with Jesus—He’s the one who 

changes stuff. But because this is our dream we are rest- 

lessly, anxiously, pitifully willing to risk and learn and grow 

and pursue a different way of living. THE DREAM IS THE 

KINGDOM.  

There’s a cool picture of what this looks like in the Bible’s 

book of Joel. It’s a prophecy that was fulfilled when Jesus 

rose from the dead and sent His Spirit to fill His people. It 

says that He will raise up an army of men, women, young 

and old. This army will hear from God and obey Him. They 

will have His supernatural power to change things. They will 

listen to Him. They will believe each one is equally valuable 

and they will honor each other. They will bring His presence 

to all peoples and HE will get the credit! The church IS that 

army, and the time is now—so let’s go change the world! 

Preacher- tell your story (fb)

I recently finished Brennan Manning's The Furious Longing of God.  It begins...

I'm Brennan. I'm an alcoholic
How I got there, why I left there, why I went back is the story of my life.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan. I'm a Catholic
How I got there, why I left there, why I went back is also the story of my life.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan.  I was a priest but am no longer a priest.  I was a married man but am no longer a married man.
How I got to those places, why I left those places is the story of my life too.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  That is the larger and more important story.  Only God, in his fury, knows the whole of it.


I've read everything Brennan Manning has ever written, most of his books multiple times.  He basically says the same thing in every book- God is "knocked out in love" with you not because of what you do but because of who he is.  His books are dripping with scripture but he doesn't teach, he tells.  Mostly he tells stories.  Mostly he tells his story.  One of these days I'll count the number of "Brennans" and "I's" and "me's" in one of his books- it would be a bunch.

The first time I was asked to speak publicly was when a business colleague asked me if I would speak at a baptist men's retreat at Falls Creek, Oklahoma.  I was asked to speak on the topic of "personal worship."  I was 25 years old.  I stood before that room of 30-40 "old guys" and absolutely poured out my heart- it was all about God and all about me.  How else can you talk about "personal worship" than to tell your story- the story of a God who is real and purses and speaks and loves and wants you to sense His presence and reflect back to him all of the glory he's pouring out on you?  Those guys sat there like, "huh?"  But a couple of them got it and, more importantly, the process changed me.

Before I ever became a "preacher" I sat down with Ron Johnson, church planter and founder of Pathways Church in Denver.  Pathways was one of the first urban church plants in the country really going after young "cultural creatives" in a large US city (I love pioneers!).  At the time there were many Christian leaders who were super concerned that churches like Ron's were in danger of watering down the gospel because of the emphasis on story and distance from traditional, didactic, exegetical teaching.  It bugs me when people vilify people and movements that they've had no relational connection with.  So I just called Ron, a pioneer, and asked if he'd meet with me.  "Ron, how do you approach preaching?"  He said "Lance, every week I stand up and tell my people what God is doing in my life- I tell the ongoing story of how God is changing me." That one sentence is probably the most freeing thing anyone ever said to me about preaching.

Last night I read the manuscript of a new book by a good friend.  He is only 25 and he wanted to shout from the mountaintops "God is real and good and he is mostly trying to make you new and he does that on the journey- so be excited about God and life and people!"  He did it by telling his story, his stories.  It reminded me of why I love Jesus so much.  I believe.

So preacher- tell us your story.  Don't be afraid- it will connect us with your heart and with His heart.  We need to feel how this truth is changing you- what it looks like in your life- how hard it is and how much hope it brings.  Sometimes you'll say it wrong- you'll say too much, or not enough- who cares- these people know you and love you.  "But I'll be exposed."  Hell yes you'll be exposed- we'll see your pride and your failures and we'll love you all the more for it.  Remember, God didn't call you to preach because he thinks you're talented.  He called you to preach so that he can make YOU more like Jesus.  "But I'm supposed to teach."  Then teach- do your prep work, pour over the text and the commentaries, pray over it with fear and trembling, and know what the hell you're talking BUT if we want the best teaching on your topic we'll read or listen to someone who knows it better than you.  Teach us through your life.   Preaching is worship- so model worship.  Pour your heart out before Him, before us.

I'm Lance.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  That is the larger and more important story.  Only God, in his fury, knows the whole of it.

Haiti, Love, and Judgment (fb)

I've been wrestling with this for a couple of weeks and wanted to write something thoughtful and helpful.  I'm afraid I'll lose the moment so I think I'll just throw out some observations and questions, perhaps we should call this "half-baked."

First, if someone offered me the opportunity to go to Haiti I would do everything to make it happen.  I just want to be there serving, loving, praying, present.  Years ago Scott Manley or John Bingaman or both told me to read "Mountains Beyond Mountains" and it connected my heart to Haiti.  It's where Jesus would be and He is the hope of a restored people and a restored nation.  I'm for compassion and justice and mercy to flow like the Mississippi toward Haiti and I don't particularly care what label it carries.  People need food and shelter and medicine and they need it to come from nations, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and NGO's.  That's my disclaimer.  Now I want to speak to Christians.

The day after the earthquake I saw a significant amount of talk from Christians and non-Christians about Pat Robertson's comments.  I saw "tweets" from Christians with words like "idiot" attached.   I am part of a generation of Christians who have often felt embarrassed to be Christian because of the behavior and comments of other Christians, particularly when it has felt mean-spirited or judgmental.  So if you were upset by Pat Robertson I understand and have so much grace for that- it probably was my first reaction upon hearing that "Pat Robertson said that the earthquake was the result of a pact with the devil."  The check I sensed in my own heart, however, was this.  First, that's not what he actually said.  He was giving his opinion about the spiritual realities that lead to a vibrant people and vibrant land being so vulnerable.  How many of the critics took the time to hear his comments in context?  His comments were in the context of him devoting his entire show to raising funds for Haiti.  His comment about the "pact" was bracketed by clear statements about the current priority being to help the suffering people.  I don't know whether he is right or wrong and, regardless, my opinion is that his timing was foolish.  The comment about a "pact" just wasn't necessary and detracted from his goal to show compassion to Haiti in the wake of this disaster.  However, Pat Robertson has always struck me as a committed Christian who has a kind heart and genuinely wants to use his platform in helpful ways.  I have tons of grace for how difficult it is for leaders to lead publicly. It is so hard to feel conviction from the Spirit and say it right.

Secondly, he is a brother.  My friend Dave Helm always calls Christian women "sister" and Christian men "brother."  I remember the day it finally sunk into my heart, hearing Dave say "sister" to a "sister."  Dave was taking Jesus seriously- he genuinely felt the power of being a part of a spiritual family made up entirely of screwed up people that have been given new life.  I want to be like that.  Here's the truth about me though, my pharisee heart LOVES to judge and criticize- and I find it easiest to judge and criticize brothers and sisters.  Jesus has put all of his eggs into the basket called "church."  And he didn't say that our mojo would come from our compassion for the vulnerable but from our love for one-another.  He said (John 17 et. al.)  that our ability to love and forgive each other, even when we make each other mad, would be the battering ram that would bring freedom to the world.  All that to say, maybe we should have more grace but also not hammer brothers and sisters via Twitter and Facebook.  I know it's hard.

Finally, the Pat Robertson deal makes me a little concerned for young believers who have elevated social justice as the ultimate expression of true Christianity.  Mike Bickle has been very public about his concern about justice without Jesus and has pointed out that the enemy certainly would welcome such a movement as a typical perversion of something wonderful that the Holy Spirit is doing.  And He is!  We live in the most exciting time in Church history.  The good news of Jesus and His Kingdom- the whole Gospel, is being restored and proclaimed among all generations and tribes.  Listening to the Haiti rhetoric  makes me fearful that we may have more grace for voices of compassion than we have for brothers and sisters.  I remember being at a Passion conference in Nashville in January of 2006.  The tsunami in Indonesia was on everyone's hearts and minds.  I remember so vividly John Piper declaring very openly that the tsunami was clearly God's judgement.  I expected to hear criticism from the college-age crowd but none came.  I remember finding the comments inappropriate in terms of timing, if not in substance.  I am generally a humongous John Piper fan but that's not my point.  My point is- the grace of the next generation for any comment that wouldn't make us proud if uttered on CNN is gone.  And I wonder if the Pat Robertson fury says something about just how much we have elevated social justice and compassion to the level of litmus test for those brothers and sisters that we are willing to call "brother," "sister."

Like I said, feels very half-baked, more questions than answers.  Lots of grace.  Thoughts?

An Often Annotated "Best Of" 2009 (fb)

BOOKS

Francis Fukuyama   The End of History and the Last Man

I have wanted to read this book for years.  If a person can get the gist of End of History and Sam Huntington's Clash of Civilizations you'd have a pretty good understanding of what's happening in the world, why it's happening, and where it might be going.

Jacqueline Novogratz  The Blue Sweater

A beautiful story by a pioneer in the empowerment of women through social entrepreneurship.  There are plenty of thinkers, I want to hear from the doers- this book filled me with hope.

Bible: The Gospels and Acts 

My focus this year was on the relationship of Jesus and the Father in the Gospels and the relationship of the Church and the Holy Spirit in Acts.  This book just keeps getting better.

Clay Shirkey  Here Comes Everybody

I have an ongoing fascination with movements- this book is as good as any if you want to understand how communications technology is changing EVERYTHING

Andres Duany  Suburban Nation

Written by the father of "new urbanism," and the man who designed Carlton Landing.  There are a bunch of holes in "new urbanism" but generally, "I'm in!"

Cory Doctorow  Little Brother

If Shirkey is too heady, here is a fun novel about the same subject- the bonus is that it is written from the perspective of a teenager so it's an insightful look into the culture of the next generation

Peter Block  Community:  The Structure of Belonging

Evidence that the secular community often understands and applies the biblical principles of community building better than the Church.  

Robert Lupton  Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life

Here's a Christian who gets it and has been doing it.  The new manual for Christian community transformation.  All of my urban transformation friends were talking about this book this year (and Amy Newberry got to have breakfast with him!)

Jonathon Kozol  Amazing Grace

 Another book that I wanted to read for years.  It is a graphic description of life in the worst neighborhood in the country in the mid-90's from the perspective of the people who live there.  Now my friends the Biddys and the Pattersons both live near the area about which this book was written (Washington Heights and Harlem).  This book made me love people more.

Henry Drummond  The City Without a Church

This may end up being on my "top 10" all-time list.  A beautiful, concise, biblical argument for city transformation as a major expression of "Kingdom come."  

MOVIES

Last Chance Harvey w/ Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson

The last of about six movies I saw on planes to and from China.  I had forgotten how moving it is to see amazing actors tell a great story.  I was moved by this piece of art. 

The Blind Side

Yes- I cried all through it- it's the racial deal for me.

Avatar

Another piece of art that moved me not by the story or acting but by the sheer technology of it.  IMAX 3D may be the only "in theatre" movies I see in the future.

War Dance

Again, it's the racial thing.  Reality and hope.

Saints and Soldiers

Surprised me- a great film about leadership, community, and mission.

Good Hair

Again... 

THEMES

Humility

In America you are defined not by your family name, your gender, class or caste- you are defined by your vocation.  I started 2009 carrying five business cards, fumbling through the question "what do you do? a.k.a. what are you worth?".  I am a man who loves Jesus and I am a family man.  Sometimes I get to build communities.  At the end of '09 I'm really content with that.

Community Building

What do Church, New Urbanism, Sustainable Agriculture, Social Entrepreneurship, empowering women, and Young Life have in common?  Community building.

City Transformation through Church

Relationships with young Church leaders is a treasure the Lord let me continue to invest in '09.  Tim Ulrich, Ben Nockles, Brad and Mirella Watson, Eric Mixon, Graham Ripple and many others were ongoing joy, then I was blessed with new ones like the Bandys, Eddie Coates, Matt Lowery, Ray Sanders and the Newberrys- I could cry right now I feel so outrageously privileged.

Social Entrepreneurship

It's really happening and it's called Bloom.  Neil Boyd, David Ridgeway, Su Crawford and Kami Humphreys are world-changers and I get to hang with them.  80,000 women will be empowered in the next 7 years- Lagos here we come!

Racism

I used to believe that Islam was the greatest barrier to "Kingdom come" in our generation but it's not, it's racism- that's the bugger bear.  Racial reconciliation isn't "a" thing, it's "the" thing and it is definitely the fire that continues to grow in my heart.

Transition

Dave Helm says the journey is the destination- right on.  Was my heart softer toward God and toward people in 2009 than it was in 2008?  Yep.

Family

Time with Stacy and the kids is my treasure of 2009.  We made up for some lost time in the most fun ways- family became "lightweight, low-maintenance" again- love it.

PANDORA STATIONS

Rich Mullins Radio

The Weepies Radio

Nickel Creek Radio

Flowy Alt-Pop (based on the We Are Scientists song After Hours from the Nick & Nora’s  Infinite Playlist soundtrack)

Death Cab for Cutie Radio

TECHNOLOGIES

Iphone

If you don't think this is the best tech tool you've ever had it means you don't have one yet.  It is the tech hub of my schedule, networks, and critical information.  It "saved" me many times this year.

Garmin 305

Became my go-to gadget for training.  Like most gadgets, you just have to take the time to know how to make it work for you.

Evernote

I love organizational tools- this one is awesome- once again- if you know how to use it.

 PLACES

Carlton Landing

I was against this place when I first heard of it- now I feel so honored to help build it.  It will be the most special place in Oklahoma- at least for the people who spend time there.  It will be a place of vision, healing, connection, and community.

The Grove Park Inn and Asheville

Has become our "Lost Valley Ranch" of the east- the place that feels like home.  I could spend lots of time in Asheville given the time and mulah.

Low Country South Carolina

Has our favorite food, architecture, culture, and now many of our favorite people (Breens and Cockrams).

Lake Arcadia- Edmond

Discovered mountain-biking this year with Jake.  Also discovered trail running so this has become a special place.

China

 Finally- and it didn't disappoint.  Now I get it.

Year of Africa and Pacific Northwest to come?

 Will it be 2010 for Africa?  Which country?  Countries?  And what about the Pac Northwest esp Portland?  I'm connected at the heart to the Watsons, so it's inevitable that wherever they are will be a special place for me.

SONGS

This year I wasn't drawn to that touch-feely indie-folky emo crap (which I love:)), it was the year of the anthem- what Stacy calls "ooo-shaka" songs

I Run to You  Lady Antebellum

Fans  Kings of Leon

I Gotta Feeling  The Black Eyed Peas

I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight  U2

I Want to Know You  Phillip Rice

How He Loves David Crowder

Viva La Vida  Coldplay

Revelation Song  Kari Jobe

Breathe on Me Todd Fields

Favorite of the year, right up there with some of Charlie Hall's songs as an all-time favorite that says a lot about what I want to be about.  Forever, you are the God of my story, write every line for your glory, breathe on me