Some quick bullets for ya.

• Today’s our 10th Anniversary!  Happy anniversary to my wife, who has staggered my imagination by her dedication to me and our life together for ten whole years.  Thank you for everything you have done and ever will do - I love you.
• Good news on the graduating essay front.  My faculty advisor (who also happens to be the program director, so I didn’t really have anyone to complain to) has finally started returning my emails.  I have been granted an extension on my project.  Now, to get it done!
• Check out Rodney Olsen’s thought-provoking piece on Christians who ignore their families.  I think some of the commenters thought he was talking about their spouse and children, but I think he was talking about extended family - aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, grandchildren.  It’s easy to keep connected with them when they share your faith, but harder when they don’t.  Where’s the balance? 

  The irony is this exact issue is staring me in the face on Labour Day weekend.  Which to choose: sticking around and helping three church families move, or travelling up to Vernon to visit my grandparents, who aren’t getting any younger, and whom I haven’t seen in a year?

• We’ve got the big Awana Basic Training coming up this weekend.  I need to rustle up my leaders and make sure as many as possible are going.  I think phone calls are in order tonight.  Pray for our leaders that they would make this a priority.
• I’ve got a couple of ideas about how to more effectively share my faith.  I’ll let you know how they work out.
• Hey God, could use some blessing at work.  Anytime now.  Thanks in advance!

It’s not a review yet… I’m not finished reading it yet.

But I will say this: This book is changing the way I think.  That is rare.

I find it’s influencing everything I think about church - why we do what we do, why there are problems, what the solution is, what a Christian should look like.  It is changing me not so much away from what I thought before, but changing me by bringing clarity to thoughts that were already flowing in the came direction.  It is digging a channel for my thoughts that were already flowing across the land in that direction.

Quote:

We have developed an entire generation of dependent consumers waiting for their leaders to spoonfeed them the Bible verse of the week, rather than an army of Kingdom agents ready to transform our culture by the power of the Gospel. (p. 154)

I was saying to a friend of mine yesterday, the reason we have programs at our church is because the people of our church are not really mature followers of Christ.  If we were, we would be out doing the things our programs accomplish as part of the very fabric of our lives, reflecting the aims and the mission of Jesus here on earth.  We would be feeding the poor, teaching the Word, making disciples, meeting for fellowship with one another - all without direction because Jesus is our King.

I know this is a perfect world scenario, and we are dealing with fallen humanity with hurts that go deep.  Serious help may be needed for some people to get them moving forward in the right direction.  Also, people generally have an expectation about what church looks like, so for their comfort, we do need to give the appearance of something familiar so as not to be a “stumbling block”.  But in my opinion we should be working towards weaning the people of our church off the “program mentality”.  That in the end, the only program we offer would be that entry point that “looks like church” to give new people something to grasp onto, then work on discipling them into a place where they are followers of Christ, not of Paul, or Apollos, or Warren or Driscoll.

From a quote on a blog I read occasionally,

“Emergents are multiplying, and for most of those participating in the movement this multiplicity is not perceived as a challenge but as an opportunity for forging transversal differentiated networks oriented by and toward reformative communion that empowers persons to share in the self-giving love of Jesus’ way of acting in the world.  Isn’t this what church should be?” (Source)

Heh.  I love blogging.  One of the reasons I love it is it allows you to participate in conversations that grow you and because it is public, it can grow others too.

But sometimes I read something that’s like sand in the gears of my mind.  Everything slows down while I try to understand what was written.  My intention isn’t to slam the author or the blogger who cited it, but sometimes things need to be in layman-speak, or you cut off a large segment of your potential crowd.

I try not to write over the heads of anyone here, mainly because I think if you’re going to talk to people - ordinary people and try to communicate about Jesus, you can’t speak over their heads.  You can’t use Christianese.  (By the way, if you need help translating Christianese, see this site.)  I mean, eyes glaze over soon enough as soon as the name of Jesus is mentioned (unless you’re swearing, strangely enough).  I don’t want them glazing over because of my word choice - and I slip in polysyllabic words too often as it is!

Funny thing is, I think what the author is saying is that these new “emergent” communities are trying to share the gospel.  Same as me.  Funny how it can be expressed so differently!

So I was out with two of my oldest friends last night. Though I chat with Greg on the net regularly, I hadn’t seen him “in the flesh” in a good 9 years. Trevor I haven’t actually spoken to in probably 6 or 7 years - since Cal’s wedding.

It was great seeing them and reminiscing, without making it too boring for their wife/girlfriend (respectively). I was about to explain the qualitative difference between BC NDP and Alberta NDP (political parties in case you’re not from Canada), when one of my friends blew this whistle - “Hey hey hey. No politics, no religion, no sex.”

Of course, they went on to break the sex rule of conversations themselves a few times over the rest of the night, but I let that slide. I found it strangely constraining - I haven’t lived with rules for my conversation in a long time. I just find it more honest to be able to talk about anything with anyone. Even at work, where my desk neighbours two staunch atheist liberals, we never draw boundaries in our conversation, which is actually freeing. I have been able to talk about various aspects of my faith with them over time and have it received civilly. I didn’t know what to do about this rule, that I had heard and been familiar with, but let fall into disuse years ago.

Perhaps it was an illustration about how far our paths have diverged since I moved away from Edmonton 10 years ago.

Or it could be an early flag that I need to know a way around this roadblock, if I hope to start a church in Alberta.

What do you think? How would you have gotten around such a conversation killer?

I found this neat site with some personality tests that are pretty thorough.  I don’t think I’d ever seen these particular tests before, so I took them.  Here’s the results:

I’ll see if I can get Cheryl to post her results too.

==—-==
Cheryl here taking over Shane’s blog entry. Shane literally begged me to answer the personality test questions. Alright, he didn’t exactly beg me. He sent me the link and I love these sort of things so here are my results. They are much better than Shane’s.

I cracked open Mark Cahill’s One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven (the link is to Amazon but you can buy it from his site for just a donation) yesterday during a moment’s respite from the mad cleaning we undertook to get our house in a sembalnce of order before our community group came over to plan the picnic in the park (August 17th if you want to pray for good weather and contacts in the community for us!)  The first chapter pointed out to me a big reason why I find witnessing so intimidating - lack of practice!  I don’t do it because I haven’t practiced, but I don’t practice because I don’t know know how to do it… stupid circle eh?

Reconciling the message of relational evangelism with straightforward sharing the gospel message is like a fishing line snarl to me.  It looks impossible and I’d rather just cut it off and throw it out.  My stubborn nature when it comes to fishing usually leads to me spending 30 minutes unravelling the snarl to save the hook, while my friends outfish me.  I think I am reaching this place now.  I am becoming more and more determined to unravel this snarl and figure out how to sharer my faith effectively and well.  I do remember last year the co-worker who I carpooled with at the time served me up a softball, so gently tossed my infant son could have hit it out of the park.  She actually asked the question that everyone thinks nobody asks.  She asked me “So, what is it you believe anyway?”  I completely fumbled it.  I said some nice things about Jesus, and about how good it is to follow Christ, but I did not give a clear gospel presentation at all.

But I am going to figure it out.  If I can talk about politics with strangers all the time, I can talk about the next most offensive topic of discussion: religion.

First, let me just say that I have NEVER seen a rainstorm like the one that greeted us on the drive from the Orlando Airport to Innisbrook on the day of our arrival.  I’ve never actually seen the heavens fall like that before.  It was coming down so hard and fast that at points the traffic stopped.  The rain was hitting the windshield so fast that you couldn’t see the car 10 feet in front of you.

Innisbrook Golf Resort and Conference Center was a lovely place to visit.  They were excellent hosts, and their facilities were quite nice.  The grounds, with the golf courses were pretty, but not a lot of room for walking.  If they’d had more sidewalks we might not have driven our car around as much.  They did have shuttles, but it was hit-and-miss getting one during busy times.  A little frustrating that their only clear “family” restaurant on resort was closed for renovations.

We weren’t really sure what to expect when we went down there.  In retrospect, it is clear that what this was meant to be about was fellowship.    It was about reconnecting with all those people from other areas of the country, celebrating what is going on in the many organizations that the Grace Brethren cooperate with, and being encouraged with messages to keep on doing what Jesus wants us to be about.  Jim Brown was the lead person and spoke briefly at the beginning of each major session.  He is a really neat individual.  We got to see all sides of him that week: from his self-concious, but nonetheless brave foray onto the streets of Tampa to find out what people believe about life and the afterlife, to his huge heart to reach lost people and encourage others to do the same, to the crescendo of his message, pointing out humanity’s needs in all corners of the world at the top of his lungs and at the edge of heartbreak.  You can definitely see why his ministry in Goshen, IN has been blessed.

He wasn’t the only character there either.  It was a pleasure meeting many of the faces of the Grace Brethren, and I was honoured to have some great conversations and learn more from many of them.  Sometimes they weren’t necessarily speaking to me, but their words showed me a passion for people and for Jesus.  I think of Tim Boal’s moving talk about Go2 Church Planting, the new arm to encourage and equip new leaders to plant new churches.  I think of Jim Laird and his wife, who blessed us with interest in what we are doing in Canada, and with prayer for us at our table.  I think of Terry White, who invited me to sit next to him at the BMH breakfast and helped me get the inside track on publishing and how they work.  I think of Mark Cahill and his two challenges to take seriously the Christian job of sharing the gospel as much as you possibly can, planting seeds, watering, weeding and so on to help create the harvest.  I think of my own pastor, Philip Bryant, who stirred the pot of the fellowship everywhere he went.  I think of Tom Avey, who despite having a billion things to think about and do as far as organizing, still had time for us and remembered who we were, despite having only ever exchanged one or two emails.  I think of Glen Sykes, a man who likes his sushi, but was gentleman enough to help my feisty boys while we were out at the Kobe Steak and Sushi.  His story was one that moved me in the few minutes we had for intelligent conversation around my sons’ silliness.

There is something rich in being a member of a fellowship (not a denomination) where the people are intent on Christ and intent on not telling you what to do but walking beside you, and encouraging you, and being encouraged by that fellowship.  I really felt that while we were at iGo.  We are both really excited and plan already to go to next year’s event, Equip ‘09 which will be in Columbus, OH.  I understand it is much more focused on training, seminars and teaching which is fine by us.  The speaker list already looks very exciting.  But more, the opportunity to be with these men and women again is anticipated most of all.

Between Jim Brown and Mark Cahill at iGo, and now me reading Organic Church by Neil Cole I am really being gutted emotionally.  I am finding myself so convicted that I am not bearing fruit in terms of a harvest of souls.  Well, God, I hope you’re happy, you’ve got me on my knees begging for fruit.  I just want to be the good soil so badly.

So last night a song popped into my head, and all I could remember was “Praise the Lord… o my soul… praise the Lord!”  Then “As far as the east is from the west… that’s how far he has removed our transgressions from us!”  But for the life of me I couldn’t remember the song’s title.

Then I get up this morning and read the book of Jonah.  What’s right there in front of me?  Jonah complaining about God’s personality.  “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 3:2b)

Don’t you just hate people who abound in love and compassion?  How much more annoying is it when it is your God?  O for a God of Justice!

Oh, wait.  I’m me.  Little old sinful me who doesn’t deserve the dust from the heel of God.  Yeah God whose love has purchased me from facing his justice!

By the way, the song is called “The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate”.

The Lord Is Gracious and Compassionate

(Graham Ord)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger and rich in love
The Lord is gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger and rich in love

Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Praise the Lord

And the Lord is good to all
He has compassion in all that He has made
As far as the east is from the west
That’s how far He has removed our transgressions from us
(repeat)

Copyright © 1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire). All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

Over at pastorhacks, Bob reposts something he wrote about prayer a while ago.  His point is that prayer requests are overwhelming to some people in ministry.  I can imagine that the larger a church gets, the volume of prayer requests also grows.  I found myself thinking, “well, why don’t they set up a prayer team and have them take all these prayer requests?”

Then I thought, “what if the prayer team gets overwhelmed?”

Then I thought, “maybe a rotational system that distributes the requests by round-robin.”

Then I thought, but what about Matthew 18:19?  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Doesn’t that mean that we are shortchanging people’s prayer requests by only having one person pray for them?”

Then I realized, again, just like I realized last night on the phone with a lady from church who was pouring some of her heart out to me about her struggles as a Christian woman unequally yoked, that I try to fix things too much.  Here I am trying to solve the problem of prayer requests, just like last night my mind went into overdrive even as she spoke, trying to figure out how to reach out to her husband, who I’ve never even met.

Sometimes we need to trust God.  Praying for each other is what we should do, with those we are in relationship with.  I don’t know that God wants us alerting everyone we’ve ever had contact information for about our prayer needs.  He will act when two agree, and he doesn’t “hurry up” if we get two thousand prayer partners.

But there are other reasons to pray too.  I think prayer builds up our own hearts.  I think that it keeps us sensitive to things that do need God.  I think about the prayer book that was distributed to me at the GBIM (Grace Brethren International Missions) lunch we had in Tampa at the conference.  I determined yesterday to begin to pray through it, like the book is designed (it even has little checkboxes on each page so you can mark down who you’ve prayed for).  I don’t really know anyone in this book, but I believe that God will listen to my petition.  But more, he will work in my own heart to give me confidence when others pray for me.  Even more, he will grow my heart for reaching the world for Jesus.  It conforms me to Jesus’ heart to see every nation come to him in gratitude and love for his supreme sacrifice on Calvary.

And that’s a good thing.

We’re back in Vancouver, and strangely enough the hot humid weather of central Florida seems to have followed us home.  It wouldn’t let us go in fact, as our arrival in Toronto was swathed in the same kinds of massive downpours we saw several times in Florida (which caused our flight to be delayed by an hour, leading to our homecoming at 2am!) Daytime highs today around 33 (about 90 for any American visitors!), but with two blessed differences: first, I got up this morning and it wasn’t that hot… more like 19C or 70F.  Having an evening heat respite is a big deal for me.  Second, it ends now!  Tomorrow’s high is more like 78-80F or 27C.  That will be absolutely beautiful after 5 days in the parking lot that is Orlando’s theme parks.

I’ve been twittering the odd thought that crosses my mind today.  So watch that if you like, but we will be writing more thoughts as we digest our experience down there.

Of course, that will be all mixed in between the burning needs to:

• Get in contact with my academic advisor re: grad essay (haven’t heard from him since May, and he finally emailed me while I was gone of course!)
• Call all our small group people for this fall to arrange to invite them out,
• Call all our Awana leaders to make sure they come to the tour this Saturday and block off the time for the Awana orientation next Saturday
• Call all our small group people from last year to arrange to meet and finish off our outreach event planning

Good thing some of those people overlap…

PS.  shout out to Zach, pastor and blogger out in PA that I met at iGo!  Great meeting ya!