SENTralized

An Organic Ethos

As I intrepidly trek on this new journey we are calling SENTralized one particular concern I have is to not be construed as a mad, angry cynic regarding the church. Nothing could be further from my heart or mind. I am committed to the premise that the best critique of the lesser is the better. I do not consider myself enlightened, rather I feel that I am locking onto the dim glimmer that glows from “yonder hill”. And, I have joined with some great men and women who are seeking the same. Some of these folk have found themselves in settings outside the norm and others (I happily say) are pastors and leaders of churches that meet on Sunday mornings, in buildings. We are learning together, and we are missioning together! One key ethos that lies at the core of the great Christian movements of the past and that is presently thriving in places like China has to do with unleashing the power of the latent networks within the individual members themselves. I believe this is an extremely important key if we hope to witness and participate in spontaneous missional expression. Think for a moment… who do you personally know that could help someone who has a particular need right now? For example, lets say that you become aware of a single mom who is struggling. The last thing she can afford is dental insurance or care for her two children. Her little boy is 9 and her daughter is 13. Do you have a dentist? You probably do or you may have a cousin who is one. What if you went on her behalf and asked the Doctor if he would help out? How many other services or situations could be helped if we just tapped into the pool of resources that are represented by the relational networks of the people in our churches? What could happen in our communities if the organic ethos of network resources was unleashed from the institutional bindings that seek to gather people and extract them from the people and places in our communities that are so full of darkness and hopelessness. In Unfreezing Moves, Bill Easum says,

Discipling Costs

Discipling. This is probably the most missing element in the church today. Much is said (from me included) about missional church and how missing it is from today's churchanity. Mission, though, flows from discipleship, or the lack thereof. Much has been written on the cost of discipleship from the standpoint of the disciple, but perhaps overlooked is the cost it takes to be a discipler. It is not institutional...it is incarnational. A lot of writing about discipleship speaks to the cost of being a disciple (e.g. Bonhoeffer), and this is very much the case. However, I believe one of the key parts that we miss on and is the biggest reason discipleship is a lost art lies at what it costs the Discipler. The time, sacrifice and effort it takes to open your life up to someone is a totally different thing than preparing a bible study or sermon. People don't get discipled in bible studies and from pulpits. It happens by doing life with another mature, devoted follower of Jesus.

I'm Back...Really

Whew! Two cats, two dogs, two horses, and the results of 20+ years of consumerism, transferred from Texas to Missouri--we're finally completely moved. So, for the two or three of you that are still watching this blog--thanks for hanging in during my void of posting.

We are ready to get started developing missional communities in the St. Louis region. The theme I have been considering the last few days comes from Hebrews 12:27 where the writer speaks of the Lord shaking everything that can be shaken so that the things that cannot be shaken remain, or stand clear.
This is how we really know what is solid and built on Him as the true foundation... when things get shaken.

Speak Up

Guys,
Do you like this? Or Not?  Give me feedback!!View this photo  

Jesus Camp

So last night our family watched "Jesus Camp", the documentary that is up f or an Academy Award this year. Several things were a bummer for me on this. First of all, it confirmed the absolute cluelessness within so many conservative Christians as to the heart of the Lord for the lost. The us vs. them theme came through strong. The documentary revolves around a lady who is a Children's evangelist/prophetess. Her entire training focuses on a militaristic attitude towards non-Christians. The right wing focus on changing government/politics is the key m.o. for "changing" the world. The other serious mistake they made was to allow the filming of children speaking in tongues, etc.; a clear scriptural violation where Paul points out that when unbelievers or unlearned are present then you must keep the prayer gift to yourself and to God.

Im Alive

I have not posted in a few days because I am scrambling like mad. Our family is packing the Texas house to make the move back to Missouri. We close the sale on this house on February 15 and hit the road for "home". At the same time, my partnership/website project with Alan Hirsch is rocking along. You guys are going to love what this site will do. There is nothing out there like it. After much debate, research, etc. the site will be called The Shapevine. The idea is that this will be a place for kingdom thinking and learning to happen that shapes all involved. The vine part represents the organic network aspect.
The logo you see here is just an early concept, our guy is working on several more.

Had a great visit with Bob Roberts yesterday. You guys need to get his newest book, Glocalization. No one (that I am aware of) understands and communicates it like Bob does. This is a must read.

Need More Help

Okay guys and gals...Alan and I need some more help. What would you think about a website called "hubbubclub.com"?   Fire away...like it or hate it? And why?
Thanks

i heard it through the shapevine

Alan (Hirsch) and I are needing your help...right now! Below is copy from what Al just posted on his site...
i heard it through the shapevine

OK, I need your advice and comment.  I and some friends are looking at starting a online cafe environment where people can converse (using video feeds and audio links) around the great ideas of our time. We are going to provide a place where people can engage with great thinkers and practitioners in a very personal dialogue.  It’s going to rock….really!  Now here’s where I need your help.  We have to nail down a name for the website. We have come up with the name shapevine.com. The idea being the place where Christianity in the 21st Century is being explored and shaped, particularly in a missional way. Think about James Brown’s “I heard it through the grapevine” ringing through your head as the byline.

Now be kind!  And if you don’t like it.  Suggest some alternatives.

ORGANIC CHURCH MOVEMENTS CONFERENCE

I am at the 1st annual Organic Church Movements Conference, sponsored by Neil Cole and his group. This has been a really good time. This afternoon I had a great visit with Ori Brafman, co-author of The Starfish and The Spider. This book is must reading for just about anyone interested in leading from a selfless stance. It is uncanny in its description of the leadership model we see in the Kingdom of God. Ori is an absolutely delightful and gentle soul. The conference has really been enjoyable. The whole organic, house church, movement is gaining such phenomenal momentum and there is a wide variety of people present. Some of the folks have been involved in this movement for years. Others have just jumped on the train in the last few months, even weeks.  

Jesus in "The Least of These"

The following is an unedited email I received from my little buddy,Aaron Snow. Aaron and his crew are doin' the stuff! (here is a shot of Aaron hitting on a girl in Vietnam when we were there in the spring)

Hey guys,
     If you were with us last night you know about this.  For those of you who were not, and would like to hear what happened check it out: Last night a group of us went to eat dinner at Uno's Pizzeria in downtown Ft. Worth.  We planned to eat and then go back out to where a few of the night shelters are located downtown.  We had some jackets, coats, gloves, socks, and water-proof parkas to give out.  It was about 38 degrees last night, and raining. I'm sure the thought had crossed some minds earlier that day, "hey, are we still going out there tonight? It's raining and cold outside."  What a thought!  These homeless people live in the rain and cold!  Isn't that just like us! We're such comfortable and neat little Christians.  We love to do ministry…but what if we get cold?  What if we get wet, stay out late, and lose some sleep?  For the majority of us the rain and cold was a
motivating factor to going out there.  We were determined to be obedient, and do what God has so blatantly called us to do in Scripture…even if it makes us uncomfortable:
    "My brethren, count it all joy when you face trial of many kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."(James 1:2-3) "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(2 Corinthians 12:10)
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."(Acts 14:22) "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."(Revelation 2:3)
The need was great last night, and we wanted to do what we could to see that need met.  You see, at ten o'clock the Night Shelters close their doors, and stop letting anyone in.  Hundreds of homeless men areleft out in the rain and cold. We're learning that homeless people love a hot $1 double cheeseburger from McDonald's, so we chipped in a few bucks each, got fifteen burgers, and fifteen waters.