caffeine, please.

Revolutionary blog

Our New Life/Nueva Vida Little Village pastors have set up a blog to interact over the Sermon on the Mount as we study it in our Revolutionary series this summer.  I think this is a great tool.  Wanted to plug the blog and encourage you to check it out and get involved in the conversation by posting comments there.

http://lvrevolutionary.blogspot.com/

Friday fun

The ONN has outdone itself with this report.  I am very excited to hear about this study.  I feel I've been way ahead of the research on this one.  I knew this a long time ago.

Tired Of Traffic? A New DOT Report Urges Drivers: 'Honk'

Is it a sign?

This bus bench is located directly across the street from New Life Lakeview (noted by alert reader, Eric).  Is it a sign (Hangover Special)?  Hmmmm.  (Notice the name of the brunch for those of you who went to public school.)

Thinking about Christmas

"Just hear those sleigh bells ring-ting-tingling, jing-jing-jinglin..."  Are you feelin it?  The Christmas spirit?  Neither am I.  But I'm a bah humbug so June or December, I'm never too red and green.  I'm also never a big fan of the materialism and gift-buying focus that leads the way during the Christmas season here in the U.S. 

But yesterday I stumbled across the Advent Conspiracy from Imago Dei church in Portland, OR and I'm intrigued.  The conspiracy is an effort to recapture the Advent season in the church as an opportunity to reflect the Christmas story through new kinds of behavior that goes beyond giving gifts and trees with ornaments.

The basic practices are these:

1. Worship
2. Resisting the empire--cutting against the grain of the materialism and greed empire of the West (btw, the Star Wars fan in me loves the imagery of Resisting the Empire.)
3. Relational giving--gifts that are given reflect a giving of self rather than of goods purchased.
4. Re-distribution--using the extra resources left over by not overspending, we give as a community to something beyond ourselves.
5. Water--as a community we devote a portion of our $$ to clean water projects.

If you want to read the whole document from Advent Conspiracy (a little over 2 pages), you can download it below.  What do you think?  Personally, I'm ready for a different kind of Christmas and it seems like the sooner we start, the more likely we can all be ready to bring Christmas more pointedly back to Jesus.

Download advent_conspiracy_info_final.pdf

Bless Your Block

Just heard about this group today--www.blessyourblock.org.  They are organizing and mobilizing churches all over Chicago to pray, care and share with their community.  I love the idea and think it is a simple one to implement.  It might also be a good Revolutionary challenge during our Revolutionary series from the Sermon on the Mount.

Revolutionary 1

Part 1 of a 9 part series from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. 
Download revolutionary_part_1.mp3

Just minding my own business...

So I'm in the post office yesterday standing in line (but I repeat myself) and I'm just minding my own business.  Actually, that's not true.  I was actually minding Loud Talker's business because it was more interesting than mine.

Loud Talker was talking to Random Nice Guy Behind Him about his most personal life business.  We join their "conversation" already in progress...

"So I guess that just goes to show you that buying a house and having babies doesn't save marriages.  But we still do some things together, you know."

Huh?  Is that the CW on fixing a struggling marriage relationship?  Loud Talker and LT's wife are having marital warfare so they first try the "let's buy a house together" remedy? 

LT:  "Oops, the mortgage payment, endless list of undone repair projects and rising property taxes didn't bring us closer together, honey.  But don't worry.  I've got a new idea to save our marriage:  let's have some kids.  I'm pretty sure the increase in sleepless nights, the extra budget strain, the increased opportunity for conflict, the feelings of being neglected for the sake of the children, the tightrope of balancing work and family, the worries over our kids future and the extra pressure to "move back home" from both or our families will be like a cozy snuggle by a crackling fire for our love and marital intimacy."

Okay, so I'm being pretty rough on LT who was clearly wounded from the experience to the point that he's talking about it to a complete stranger.   But I get a bit stirred up when people are living so far from reality.  When we hurt, we do some pretty illogical things to address the problems. 

Overhearing this snippet of conversation was a huge reminder of just how desperate the state of many marriages is in our community.   I believe it is a #1 issue in the homes surrounding our church building.   People who "have it all" yet feel trapped in marriage to a person they stopped loving a long time ago. 

But I believe there is big reason to hope.  I know--I know--that marriages can be made vibrant and whole through Jesus.  Husbands who've lost interest in their wives can be rekindled to a passionate love for them.  Wives who've long since stopped respecting and even resent their husbands can experience a sense of security, warmth and respect in his arms, again. 

Roommate Syndrome does not have to be the norm for marriage.

Father, help us find avenues of connection with Roommate Syndrome couples to show them the power of Jesus to bring hope and healing into their living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.

Great visit

Over the weekend we had the chance to host good friends who used to live in Chicago and were a vital part of the New Life Lakeview.  He now pastors in Washington state and they've been away for 3 years (hard to believe.)  In that time they added a second child and everyone grew way too much. 

We really enjoyed sharing space for a few days and getting the extra relational time that you normally don't get with people until you live with them.  (Stayed up too late on Monday night playing cards, laughing and talking since they had to fly out today--been a long time since we've done that.)

It got me thinking--why do we wait for someone to move away before we allow them to come stay at our house for a couple days and just do life together.  I mean why only get that kind of relationship-deepening time with people you don't see that often?  I'm wondering what it would be like to have a sort of "sleepover with a purpose" with people that haven't moved away in order to deepen the relationship and sense of community when it is still able to be maintained on a more daily basis.

I know that sounds kind of weird but I am absolutely serious. 

I had this thought over the weekend and then last night another friend shared a similar desire--a sleepover party with people you're already doing life with.  We were high-fiving each other as we agreed what a great idea this was (our wives just shook their heads.) 

To me it would be almost replicating a retreat experience without having to go away (in other words:  cheap and less hassle.)  Anywho, regardless of the future of my sleepover idea, its always good to host friends and reconnect.

Daddy Manifesto

Father's Day message from June 17, 2007.
Download daddy_manifestofathers_day.mp3

Friday fun...

Breaking News: Something Happening In Haiti

Spiritual inner circle

Today was week 7 of 8 for our 21 Laws small group.  The key leadership law we discussed today was the Law of the Inner Circle.  The law says:  A leader's potential is determined by those closest to them.

That is a huge principle in leadership and it also has big effects in the spiritual realm.  One of the questions I asked the group is "who is in your spiritual inner circle?  Who around you is helping set the spiritual temperature in your life--the hunger for God, love for Scripture, pursuit of ministry, relationship with Jesus?" 

The fact is you and I are being impacted by a spiritual inner circle whether it chose us or we chose it.  If you didn't choose, more than likely your spiritual inner circle is not pushing you to grow in God.  If you have chosen to surround yourself with people who are God-hungry and passionate, it is helping you become more of the person Jesus designed you to be.

I see this at work with our leadership team at the church.  I serve with some men who are highly spiritual and God-hungry.  Being around them presses me to want to grow in love for Jesus and obedience to Him.  We have prayer meeting early on Friday mornings this summer and when I go, I expect to be challenged by this spiritual inner circle--I know it will happen.  That's the kind of men they are.

Now I could have pursued people who I viewed as less spiritual and more needy for my care.  But it wouldn't have challenged me as much as this team challenges me.  I would rather be stirred to aim higher when I'm with these men than to be happy and smug in some other inner circle where I act the part of  "I'm-more-spiritual-than-you". 

Here's what I'm saying:  I'd rather be less spiritual than my inner circle and growing, than more spiritual than my inner circle and stuck.

Being surrounded by highly God-focused men on our pastoral team and our leadership team is good for my life in Jesus.  In a very real way, they raise my potential to be a godly man to heights I couldn't have imagined or reached by myself and they spur me to never be satisfied with where I'm at.

"Mega-size me!"

Alert-reader, Stacey, passed along this article link on megachurches from Christianpost.com.  The article previews a new book based on research conducted by the Hartford Institute and Leadership Network. 

Megachurches are a growing reality of American life.  Some of the statistics the story mentions are revealing (can you find the Pareto Principle at work in the numbers?  It's there.)

Here's a quote that rings true to what I've seen as an observer, engaged in church leadership:

"After a week of working in a major corporation, shopping in a food warehouse and megamall, viewing movies at a multiplex theater, and having children who attend a regional high school, it seems incongruous that this family would feel comfortable in a forty-person church," wrote the authors. "So the force of cultural conditioning is on the side of megachurches."

Now there are two choices with the reality of our current cultural conditioning:  you can fight it ("we need to confront and retrain people because what they want in a church is wrong") or you can work with it ("we need to help people move from where they are in the mega-mindset to where they can be in a process of community and relationship with Jesus and His followers"). 

The question is not which is right but which one you can harness to incite fruitful, authentic Christianity in the lives of people.

Our approach at New Life is to engage people at the point of their mega-mindset by creating excellent worship venues in local urban neighborhoods and in that environment, press people toward spiritual growth, small group community, kingdom ministry and authentic discipling relationships in the church body.  Its not the only model but it is the one that we've found suits us and we've seen it impact people's lives for Jesus.

The end product of every fruitful ministry is an increasing number of Jesus-disciples.  As Eugene Peterson says it, we want more people engaging in "long obedience in the same direction".  Our approach isn't for everyone and it isn't the only approach.  Sometimes (like yesterday, for instance) I hear criticism of our model from people with a different approach--usually those who prefer the retrain model.  And I'm okay with that.  I'm glad the kingdom moves forward through so many different venues.

The question I'm constantly asking myself is, "Kevin, are you being faithful to Jesus within the way you do are doing ministry in this season?"  My answer, when I'm on track is, "not quite yet Lord, but I'm growing--how can I change to get closer to that goal?" 

Such is the nature of the journey.

Yo, Adrian!

Gil and I had some couch time last night and we popped in Rocky Balboa.  Honestly, I went in not knowing what to expect.  Its been a long time since I've seen any Rocky films and the idea of an old Sly Stallone fighting anything more than the strong desire to nap seemed a little  unbelievable.

Boy was I wrong. 

First--Stallone is a physical specimen.  (Can a man say that about another man?)  I mean he is 61 years old and he's still massive and cut.  And throughout the fight scenes he actually fights--he takes punches and gives punches (I know--we watched the extras.)

But the second thing that impressed me more was the quality of the story.  It was understated, simple and engaging--it just worked.  And there were several memorable scenes and lines.  One of my favorite lines:

It's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

Now besides being true, that is what Chip and Dan Heath would call a "Sticky idea"--possessing the power to stay in your mind long after you see the movie. 

The other scene that really stood out to me was when Rocky answers his son after his son blames him for being the source of all his troubles.  Its a classic piece of dialogue--well written and performed with passion by Stallone.

And when the movie ends, it is both believable and inspirational at the same time. 

Very rarely do I feel comfortable recommending movies but this movie is clean, gritty and well told--two thumbs up from this reviewer.

Integrity

Part 4 of a 4 part series called Rise: Live Your Best Life.   We'll look at factors that cause people to rise to greater kingdom influence through the lens of the lives of David and Saul (1 Samuel).
Download Integrity.mp3

Skepticious

I continue to sense a God-stirring about marketplace ministry venues.  This idea of having an expression of church taking place in a venue of everyday worldly activity--a bar, a theater, a concert venue, etc.  But the stirring seems to be clarifying more into the direction of "who" rather than "where" (though I still think the "where" is really crucial).  In other words, I senses God directing me toward "who" this marketplace venue would talk with and engage.

In a previous post I called the idea, "the hangover special."  That name partly engages the stirring but it is pretty limiting.  Its important for the "hangovered" to feel welcomed, of course, but not exclusively.  Building on this as a starting point, I'm envisioning a venue that is really meant to connect with:

• the skepticious:  the unconvinced person who has warm thoughts about Jesus and wants to believe (but doesn't quite)

That means the skepticious husband, the skepticious club-hopper, the skepticious church attender, the skepticious yuppie, the skepticious _______--are you tracking with me? 

I'm realizing that the people that fill my community, the people that I most enjoy hanging out with and talking to, the people who most stretch my heart and mind, the people who I feel are least sought out by the church (because of the questions they raise?) are the skepticious.   

Continuing to pray through this stirring.

Alma mater, part II

Got a chance to share with the ICI staff and new summer missionaries this morning during the summer missionary orientation week.  Brought back memories of those weeks when we welcomed ICI summer missionaries in the late 90's during my time on staff. 

Inner City Impact is going through a big transition phase right now.  It is selling one of its centers in order to relocate to the places where the urban poor have relocated.  I admire Bill Dillon's willingness after 35 years of leading the organization, to adjust and in a very real sense start over in a new place.  Some of the missionary staff will be relocating to a new community in the next 6 months to begin pursuing this new endeavor. 

ICI serves an important two-fold kingdom roll--on one hand it ministers to at-risk children in poorer communities and brings them the gospel.  On the other hand it provides a "teeth-cutting" environment to young people with an urban calling on their life which enables them to move on to lifelong urban ministry.  Many ICI staff alumni are serving in Chicago and other cities around the country.  That's a good legacy.

Communion

From New Life Lakeview's celebration of the Lord's Supper on June 3, 2007.
Download Communion.mp3

Confidence

Part 3 of a 4 part series called Rise: Live Your Best Life.   We'll look at factors that cause people to rise to greater kingdom influence through the lens of the lives of David and Saul (1 Samuel).
Download Confidence.mp3

Wish I had a picture

Today's a crazy day for our family--translation:  Gil has a lot to do so I better look busy.  We're getting things done (again, Gil working, me appearing to be useful) and Gil is doing the girls hair when she calls out to me.  "Hon come here..."

What a picture--her sitting on the couch pulling Lena's hair into a pony tail and Tyce sitting next to her reading the Bible.  A Norman Rockwell moment.

"I found him sitting and reading his Bible and I was really proud of him," Gil says.  We've been working with our kids to read their Bible every day and Tyce has been pretty consistent.  Tyce had been sitting quietly, reading and absorbing the admiring looks of his mother.  Rascal.

Somewhere along the way Gil peaks over the top of the book to find the book BEHIND the book.  What was Tyce actually reading when he appeared to be reading the Bible?

Captain Underpants.  (Certainly one of the lost books of the Bible--Dan Brown, where are you when I need you?)

To me, the best moment wasn't the spark of genius he had when he thought to put Captain Underpants behind the Bible so that he could read it undisturbed (though that was a great moment for sure.) 

The moment for me was when he knew he had his mom convinced that he was reading the prophet Daniel and yet he still managed to maintain the placid, shall I say "spiritual" look on his face while perusing the juvenile exploits of George and Harold.

I sense a bright future for this talented and spiritual son of mine