Bibles Banned at 2008 Olympics

Crazy. Bibles will be banned from the 2008 Olympics. What's next? Will prayer be banned, too?

Last month, Ye Xiaowen acknowledged that he expected large numbers of religious faithful among the athletes, coaches and tourists to be swarming into the officially atheist nation during the Olympics.

They're also banning "any kind of religious symbol" -- not just in the games themselves, but also in the athletic facilities, where the athletes will stay.

I wonder how many Christians will boycott the 2008 Olypics? Or better yet, wouldn't it be great if so many Christian athletes and attendees came to the event wearing their most cliché t-shirts and giant gold cross necklaces and, China-forbid, Bibles, that the whole world took notice and laughed at China?

OK, all kidding aside, I'm not sure what the Christian response to this should be.

Art is in the eye of the beholder...

Worship Through Art
Originally uploaded by Tim Morgan

Well, someone liked it at least. This blog linked to our little worship-through-art project back in September.

Looking for God -- Not Religion

The Pew Research Center has an interesting article about the increasing secularity of Americans. The study takes into account surveys from the past half-century or so, and notes a generational decline in religious affiliation:

Among respondents born before the baby boom (that is, prior to 1946), only about 5% are secular or unaffiliated compared with more than double that number among Baby Boomers (11%). The most secular Americans are those 30 and younger -- sometimes called "Generation Y" -- 19% of whom do not identify with a religious tradition.

Jennie and I are a part of this Generation Y, and can feel this somewhat in our church small group and in talking with people we know. It's not so much that we know a lot of atheists or agnostics, but there seems to be a general attitude among people our age that institutionalized religion may not have all the facts straight, or at least the priorities are out of whack.

While faith in God is indeed very important to many people our age, it seems faith in religion itself is declining. From what I can tell, my generation is longing for something deeply spiritual -- a connection with God on a personal basis. What they don't care for is the traditional (or even "modern"), pre-packaged church experience.

Is this a chance for churches and Christians to wake up and get back to basics? Are we preaching church and religion, or are we preaching Christ?

What do you think?

Talk is Cheap

I came across this scripture, and then I realized that the phrase "talk is cheap" came from the bible:

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23

Ex-Korn Guitarist Finds Jesus

This is an interesting article about Ex Korn Guitarist Brian Welch and his conversion to Christianity, or perhaps more accurately, his coming to know to Jesus. Welch was baptized in the Jordan River in 2005 and isn't too in-love with the "church" in general:

All of the man-made religion crap in this world has to die . . . All that prideful, controlling religious crap is what drives young people away from churches.

Of course, this is no secret... that organized religion often does an awful job of showing the love of Christ to a hurting world. Welch, a founding member of one of the most successful and of the heaviest of metal bands, now sports tattoos that read:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28)

and...

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matt 5:8)

It seems Brian Welch gets what the gospel is really about.

It Came From Within, Chapter 18

How can I teach Mackenzie how to process what life sends her way? How to guard her heart against the inevitable firestorms of life?

So what do we do? Other than do all we can to get our own hearts in shape, what can we do to infuse health into the hearts of our children? For starters we can teach them the importance of confession, forgiveness, and generosity. We can teach them to celebrate the successes of others. We can pray. We can model good habits. We can make sure they are in church. We can look for teachable moments. (pg 203-204)

Also, The questions you ask your children communicate to them what is important to you. The questions you repeatedly ask communicate what is most important to you in life. (pg 205)

Our questions have the power to do two things. First, they can communicate the value we place on the condition of their hearts. But more importantly, our questions can actually help our children know what they sould be watching for. In time, our questions will become the gauge by which our children measure their hearts. (pg 206)

Recommended questions for the weekly bedtime routine with each child. (From pg 207)

• Is everything okay in your heart?
• Are you mad at anybody?
• Did anybody hurt your feelings today?
• Did anybody break a promise to you today?
• Is there anything you need to tell me?
• Are you worried about anything?
• Whose failure would you secretly celebrate?

We should wake up every day of our lives with an eye on the gauges of our hearts. But better yet, imagine a generation of children who grow up attuned not only to what's happening around them but inside of them as well. Imagine your children growing up with an extraordinary sensitivity to the rhythms of their hearts. I don't have to tell you the difference that would make in their lives. You know the difference it would have made for you... As adults, we have been instructed to guard our hearts with all diligence. As parents, we have been given the responsibility to teach our kids to guard theirs. If the heart of your child is important to you, ask your child about what's going on in there. Teach your child to confess, forgive, give generously, and celebrate the successes of others. These are the habits that keep a heart free from painful clutter. There are the habits that will enable your child to develop a healthy adult relationship with you in the future. These are the habits that will change everything. (pg 210)

New Reality Number 5

"The shift from planning to preparation." (pg. 92) We think that we can predict and plan for the future. But our predictions and plans are based on an incremental, steady growth approach. What if our growth isn't incremental?

"God wants his people to pray and to prepare for his intervention." (pg. 93) So how do I prepare? "Spiritual preparation has the goal of getting God's people in partnership with him in his redemptive mission in the world." (pg. 95) The 5 elements of spiritual preparation architecture:

Vision

• informs your decision making
• engenders commitment: "it generates energy, fires up the imagination,a nd inspires excellence." (pg. 97)
• creates meaning
• it is discovered, not invented: "listen to the heart hopes of the people you lead. Ask them what they would like to see God do in their lives and in the lives of the church and in the community. Listen to the leaders. Listen tot he inner core. But also listen to the "fringe", the people who come infrequently (there could be a good reason for their non participation)." (pg. 99)
• look at where you are
• talk with your leaders

Values

• it's more than what people say, it's what they do: "values are demonstrated by behavior." (pg. 102)
• "practice kingdom values may mean adjusting the church calendar to give people more time to participate in community or work place ministries." (pg. 104)

Results

• create a ministry score card, and keep score
• play to win
• celebrate results: reward the right behaviors so you can get the results you are looking for

Strengths

• awareness of individual strengths
• building of the individual strengths
• "get better at what you're already good at." (pg. 111)
• "celebrate their unique strengths and contributions." (pg. 113)

Learnings

• "church leaders must go to "school" all the time." (pg. 117)
• go where life is happening
• get outside the box
• create a learning community of 3 or 4 leaders
• develop a chief learning officer
• secure a learning coach for me. Meet with them at least twice a year. They need to understand my life mission, learning style, and leadership challenges.

"Our mission is to introduce the kingdom into this world, with its preferred future for humanity. The future is the best place to start." (pg. 119)

Church Is Like a Clinic

Yesterday, I went to a walk-in clinic because I was having a bizarre pain on my left side. (Our normal doctor was out for a week.)

"Have you ever been here before," the lady in the window asked. "Nope," I replied. She said I would have to fill out these forms and she would need to make a photocopy of my driver's license and my insurance card. OK.

Then I waited. And waited.

Finally, my name was called, and I was taken back, weighed, and the young lady asked me a bunch of health questions. "Any history of chronic illness?" "Any bloating?" That sort of thing.

Then she handed me a cup and asked that I visit the bathroom and fill it up. Hmmm. Never done that before. But I obliged.

When I came out, she was gone. Hmmm. Where do I put this warm cup of pee? I thought. So I went back to the exam room I came from and sat it on the counter in there. Seconds later, another lady popped through the door, chuckled politely as if she was irritated I had put it in the wrong place or that she had to chase me down or something, I don't know. She grabbed the pee cup, and left. Weird. I didn't know I was supposed to give the pee to someone in particular, because no one told me. There wasn't a sign that said All pee cups go to Ann (or whatever her name was). And for that matter, there wasn't any signs in the bathroom regarding how to pee in a cup. I mean, I thought I would get some guidance. But then again, I'm sure you're supposed to be taught these things as a child, and my parents just forgot to tell me how to pee in a cup or something.

Then I waited. And waited. In fact, I waited so long, I had to pee again (my wife is chuckling now because she has always said I have a tiny bladder). As I opened the door to go find the restroom again, the first lady spotted me and had an Oh crap, I forgot about him look on her face. Yup. They forgot about me.

About a minute later, the doctor was in the room ready to talk. Coincidence? No, I think they really forgot I was even in the building.

He asked me more questions, well actually, he asked me mostly the same questions the other lady asked me. All the time I'm answering these questions, I'm thinking why don't you just look at that piece of paper the assistant lady filled out with my answers? But no problem. I'm sure he's really just confirming what he sees so he'll have something to say. Silence is awkward for some people.

He felt my side. He felt my belly. Then he said he would have to do a hernia check. You know, the one you had to do to play high school sports (one of the reasons I didn't play sports in high school was I heard some guy had to touch my private). If you don't know what I'm talking about, don't worry; I didn't either. I won't go into the details, but it was awkward for sure. That's all.

He told me he wasn't sure what was wrong with me, except that he knew it wasn't a hernia, and he gave me a few things to try. "If the pain isn't gone in 7-10 days, then come back," he instructed.

Finally, the first lady reappeared, rattled off all the things he had said I should do, and said to follow her. So I did. She walked down the hall and straight into the reception area, except she went to the other side. She started making copies on a photocopier. I almost followed her in, wondering whether she meant I was supposed to follow her until she stopped, or just until I felt I had gone far enough, or what. Right then, another lady behind a counter, in her irritated voice, said "Overrrr herrrre."

Man I felt stupid. Again, no signs, no instruction. Well, actually the instruction was to follow her, but she forgot to say stop. She probably didn't play green light, red light when she was in school. Or she forgot how to play maybe.

OK, so my point in this excruciatingly detailed account, is to talk about the church.

What? The church? Yup.

It's been awhile since I was new to a church. It's been a long while since I was new to the church. And I can't remember last week, let alone several years ago. But I have to imagine that church is like a clinic for some people.

They walk in, get no instruction on what they're expected to do. Sure, they might get a bulletin if they walk toward the worship service (but only if the worship service is about to start). They do get a smile and a handshake, though. Great. Problem is, those greeter people don't want to make someone feel stupid, so they don't say "Is this your first time to church?"

If they head for the welcome center (clearly marked of course), they might see 20 or so upcoming ministry events and sign-up sheets. Places to put checks and buy books. A computer to sign into the members-only website and look up fellow churchgoers. But is there anything that really tells them what to do? Where to go?

I don't mean a list of Sunday School classes. I mean something that really says, hey this is what church is all about, you're welcome here, and for your first time, you may wish to just attend the worship service; it starts at 10:30. If you're early, feel free to check out our cafe and grab a bagel and coffee.

I don't know. I'm not an expert on these things. I just imagine it must be scary to someone who's never been to church before. I know our church building is quite large, and we have several other buildings, and it would be overwhelming to see everything all at once and not know where to go. Signs are good. But not enough.

Back to the clinic thing, remember I said when I first got there, I was bombarded with forms and they wanted copies of my stuff? Is church any different? As soon as we spot someone new, we have them fill out all sorts of forms so we can get their information. It's scary to some. I wouldn't do it if I were brand new to a church. First, I'd want to know what they're going to use my information for. Are they going to send me stuff in the mail? Is someone going to stop by my house in the middle of the week and ask probing questions? Are they going to call me at dinnertime? Are they going to spam my email all the time? What if I want to get the heck off their mailing list(s); would I be able to?

Jennie I visited Saddleback Church in California awhile back. It was quite neat and very large. The campus was huge and there weren't a lot of signs as I recall. Anyway, I filled out a form with my name and my email address. To this day, years later, I still get email from their pastor regarding upcoming sermon series. We didn't even attend normal services; we visited the college service on Wednesday night. I never saw the pastor when I was there. The emails have no indication of how to be removed from their mailing list. So, I replied directly to the pastor and asked to be removed from their list. No reply. Next month, another email about an upcoming sermon series. Thank you, but I'm not interested in your sermon series, because I don't live in California and I'll not likely be visiting your church any time soon. Would you remove me from your list, please? No reply. It went on like this for a year. I would reply each time, directly to the pastor who sent the email, get no reply, then get another mass mailing a month later. Finally, I just set up a filter in my email to move it directly to the trash. Not cool, Saddleback. Shame on you.

If I give an organization my personal information, my prized and sacred personal contact details, I want to know what they're going to use them for. I want to know I can easily get my stuff out of their database if I request it.

Clinic: I was asked the same questions more than once.
Church: People have to give their name and address when they drop off their children at Preschool, then they have to provide the same information and answer the same questions on the attendance tear strip.

Clinic: People assumed I knew where to go, what to do.
Church: Check.

Clinic: You get weird looks when you do something wrong.
Church: Check. Don't believe me? Just try taking a baby into the worship service. You'll get looks.

Clinic: The doctor was unsure what was wrong with me, but gave me some things to try.
Church: People are told to use their "gifts" in service to the church and it's programming. Find a place to serve, and jump in. I'm not sure what your gifts are, but keep coming, and I'm sure you'll figure it out.

This rant could go forever, so I'll stop here. Ponder this much. I'll save the rest for another post.

Church is like a clinic because everybody assumes you know what you're doing. You've been there ten times already, no doubt, and I don't want to make myself feel stupid by asking if it's your first time (because that would show whether or not I actually see people).

Psalm 92:4 (NASB)

For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Psalm 59:9 (NLT)

You, O God, are my place of safety...

New Reality Number Four

Ok. I'm still reading The Present Future by Reggie McNeal. It is very challenging! Today I read chapter four. Here's what I learned:

"The kingdom is people... Helping people develop emotionally, physically, and relationally is all spiritual... Spiritual formation includes personal spiritual disciplines, but it also includes the stewardship of our relationships, our work, and our life mission." (pg. 73)

What if we handled Christians like fitness club members. Let me explain:

"Instead of dumping a packet of church club member stuff on them, why not interview them about what they would like to see happen in their lives in terms of their spiriutal development and personal growth?... Once a life coach or spiritual development coach completed this interview, they could then fashion a customized personal growth stragegy for the person or family... This could be done for each family member." (pg. 76)

How cool would that be. The book also encouraged the life/spiritual development coach to get together with the family every month and check on their progress. "Instead of signaling to them that they are there to find their way into church stuff and make the church successful, the focus is completely turned around. The church treats them as a market of one, convincing them that the church is there to help them develop an abundant life promised to them by Jesus." (pg. 77)

"Evangelism that will introduce Jesus to this culture will flow from people who are deeply in love with Jesus." (pg. 82)

May our topic be: life. And may we create an environment that helps people develop.

Jesus is the answer
for the world today.
Above Him there's no other.
Jesus is the way.

Mark 10:45 (NIV)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

How do we turn members into missionaries?

Do I really see myself as a missionary? This is what I learned in chapter three of The Present Future:

"North America is the largest English-speaking mission field in the world. It is the fifth or sixth largest mission field on any stripe. If we are not focusing on missiology, we are being disobedient to the the Great Commission." (pg. 51)

Missiology, or mission science, is to distinguish between practices that are essential to Christianity and therefore must be practiced by Christians in all cultures, and other strictly cultural expressions of Christianity that can be changed and adapted to a different culture. (wikipedia)

"Don't plan on taking a vote on whether your church will release members to become missionaries. What you must do is two things: create a culture informed by missiology and create venues where people can practice being missionaries. Creating an informed missiological culture can be done in a number of ways. Here are a few suggestions."(pg. 61)

+ Discuss generational cultures: values, heart language, work preferences.
+ Discuss the emerging culture: have a non-church person come in and explain what people outside the church bubble need and what people think.
+ Explore community needs: demographics, improving your community
+ Expose yourself to a missionary church: pick up ideas, share them, and create venues for missionary service.
+ Build for the community: buy land, or build, for the community.
+ Adopt a school: tutor at the school.
+ Pay it back: help people with job placement, car repairs, furniture distribution, food, financial help, and financial planning.
+ Get out there: local mission projects and community projects, not church activities.
+ Go first: others will follow.

"A missionary church culture will need to begin keeping score on things different from what we measure now. These may include how many ministry initiatives we are establishing in the streets, how many conversations we are having with pre-Christians, how many volunteers we are releasing into local and global mission projects aimed at community transformation, how many congregations are starting to reach different populations, how many congregations use our facilities, how many languages (ethnic and generational) we worship in, how many activities target people who aren't here yet, how many church activities target people who aren't here yet, how many hours per week members spend in ministry where they work, go to school, and get mail.

Until we start making heroes of people who decide to be and act like missionaries, we will fail to turn club members into missionaries. Until we bless people who "go out" from us to reach people who may not come to us, we will continue to have a kingdom vision that is shrink-wrapped to church programs and church real estate. Until we start adopting schools and hosting community food banks and teaching parenting seminars and holding financial planning seminars for the people who come to us for food, we will keep fostering club member mentality...

Who is this for? may be a good way for you to begin your own journey from member to missionary. Think about your life, your money, your time, your talent, and your commitments. Who is this for? Is the answer club members or people who do not yet know Jesus?

God help you to be a missionary. God help you to release missionaries into the world with the gospel." (pg. 67-68)

The Present Future

I am currently reading The Present Future by Reggie McNeal. The book came recommended by Craig Casey and borrowed from Anthony & Amber Sherrell. Wow! What a book! It is very challenging and encouraging. May God give me the Grace I need to really live like a Christian instead of just a Church member.

The first chapter was about Churchianity vs. Christianity... "That's the church's mission: to join God in his redemptive efforts to save the world. People all around us are in darkness. They are going to die unless someone finds a way to save them. Trouble is, the church is sleeping on the job. Too many of us have forgotten why we showed up for work. Even worse, many of us never have known." [pg. 19]

I just finished the second chapter about shifting from Church growth to Kingdom growth. "Bottom line: we've got to take the gospel to the streets. This is the only appropriate missional response to the collapse of the church culture... I am speaking of an intentional 24/7 church presence in the community, not tied to church real estate: office buildings, malls, school campuses, sports complexes, storefronts, homes, apartment buildings, and community centers... We need to go where people are already hanging out and be prepared to have conversations with them about the great love of our lives. They are not coming to us. We've got to go to them." [pg. 42]

I need to truly be and act live a servant. And when people ask why my answer shouldn't be: "oh, I just want to help." My answer should be: "I am a disciple of Jesus. I am serving him by serving you, because that's what he came to do." [pg. 38]

Peter

Since Mac is sick, I've had a lot of time to play around on my laptop. I've spent time cleaning up my email, updating the church website, updating my facebook account, cleaning up my computer desktop, and a little bit of study also. Today I read about Peter. He was a really cool guy in the Bible.

Bridge Leadership Weekend

I finally got around to making a mix video of our Bridge retreat weekend we did back in mid-August. There are also some pics here.