caffeine, please.

Culturally confused, what a blessing

Yesterday our family spent the day at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, WI.  We discovered it by accident when visiting our friends Matt & Heather last year. 

The Walworth County Fair is characterized by country music, pig races, fair food, farm animals, tractor pulls and mullets.  A cultural experience of one kind.

Today we had our annual block party in front of the house.  A cultural experience of another kind. 

My neighbor's deejay played a host of Mexican songs at high volume while the kids jumped in the moon walk, played musical chairs, road bikes in the street and played in the sprinkler in the street.  We had a volleyball match where everyone on the court was Mexican except for me.  Two doors north my Nicaraguan neighbors were grilling out too.  Up the street neighborhood boys are playing basketball on my rim in the middle of the street.  Aricela next door has been making and handing out incredible homemade gorditas all day long.

I love that my kids are growing up culturally confused.  They have no idea what they are and truth is, their going to be a little bit of everything.  Praying that God can use that powerfully for His glory when they grow into their mission later in life.

An "Adam fast"?

Fasting has become a hot topic around the house.  Gil and I have both been doing partial fasts this month and it has received the attention of the kids.  Today Lena shared that she wanted to "do a fast".  I quizzed her, being unsure that she knew what fasting was all about.

"Fasting is when you stop doing something and spend more time talking to Jesus."  Okay, Lena, you pass the test on fasting.

Not wanting to be outdone, Olivia said she too would be fasting.  "I'm going to fast for one day." 

"What will you be fasting from, Olivia?"

"Ummm... ummmm...  from my clothes." 

We all cracked up and in a few seconds she caught up with what she had said and laughed with us.  What a riot!

Counting down to conference...

Multi-site Exposed (Chicago) is happening in just a few weeks.  In cooperation with CCC of Naperville and First UMC of Sedalia, MO, we'll be hosting several hundred pastors, staff and leaders who want to learn more about multi-site ministry.

I'm excited about this conference for several reasons:

• It will be the first time we've hosted a conference for people outside of New Life.  It feels like a big step to be doing training for other churches and leaders.
• I believe that the interdependence that multi-site ministry fosters is a New Testament value that gets easily lost in our culture.  So training churches in the interdependence of multi-site ministry is a way to help churches recapture a key value of the early church.
• Anytime you gather people in a conference environment like this, there is a special sense of expectation and faith.  People come with hearts open and a desire to grow.  That is my favorite environment.
• Hearing people's stories and doing impromptu, conversational consulting about the "how's" of ministry will be fun.  Meeting people from different areas and backgrounds stirs me up and helps me see the bigger picture of what God is doing in the world. 
• Preparing for the training sessions will force us as a team to take a good look at what we're doing and to ask tough questions about our practices and theology.  Do we need to tweak this?  Overhaul that?  Get rid of this?  Add that?  Preparing to train can be a great tool for honing your own ways of doing things.

Olympics

We're huge Olympic fans.  Always have been.  For the first 6 or 7 years of our marriage, we didn't own a TV.  But when the Olympics came around, we'd always borrow one from somebody and we'd be glued for the whole two weeks. 

This year has been no exception.  We've watched Phelps, Bolt, Liukin, Clay, Johnson, McCutcheon's men and much more.

I've been thinking, "what is it about the Olympics that is so appealing to me?" 

I think that at its core its the depth of the drama created by competition that comes after an athlete's 4 years of intense preparation with only one chance in each event to translate that into victory.  There's a finality to the competition in every event that disproportionately heightens the drama over typical sporting events. 

Assigned by mercy

I've been ruminating over 2 Corinthians lately.  There has been much that has ministered to my soul as I've slowly passed back and forth through this letter of Paul.  Today, a simple sentence in 2 Corinthians 4 was just the words I needed to hear:

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

Ministry assignments are given in the mercy of God, not based on merit and because of that, even when the work feels "over my head" I do not lose heart.  The assigner of the work is also the supplier of the resources to carry it out. 

Returned from a refreshing retreat

Gil and I just returned from the annual New Life pastors family retreat in Gull Lake, Michigan.  All about recharging, reconnecting, resting and making fun memories together, this retreat serves like a "stone of remembrance" every year for our team.  There were a bunch of highlights:

• Bumping into two Gull Lake summer staff members (Jeff and Gabe) who are part of New Life back in Chicago--thanks Rammin' Noodles and Rock Chalk for all your servant-hearted work with us and with all our kids.
• Watching my kids fearlessly take on the zip line, screamer swing, pamper pole and climbing wall repeatedly.  My favorite moment was when I was sitting on top of the zip line tower, quietly quaking in my boots while waiting to zip to certain death with Olivia and Tyce on the other two zip lines next to me.  As we sat there, Olivia was being dangled over the edge of the platform by the tower guide, giggling all the while.   Then, on the other side of the platform, Lena pokes her head over the top of the 40' climbing wall smiles at us as only she can and says, "hey guys, how ya doin'".  I guess there's not a lot of fear of heights in our clan.
• Playing beach volleyball.  Every year we play and the games are usually about 9 on 9 with a gallery of non-players who laugh hysterically at our antics on the court.  And as usual, the "under 40" crowd lost to the "over 40" crowd in our annual friendly grudge match game. 
• Hearing from Pastor Mark and dialogging together as a team about the central importance of being healthy people, body, soul and spirit.  The emphasis was refreshing and Gil and I had some valuable practical takeaways that we talked through on our drive back to Chicago.
• Hearing the stories of our newest team members, Bobby and Jeannette Moss and Danny and Serena Lopez.  People's stories are fascinating and so often they move my heart with emotion toward the goodness of God.  I'm grateful for the way God sovereignly and uniquely blends new people dimensions into our leadership core at New Life. 
• Staying up late, having lots of laughs and engaging in unhurried and meaningful conversations with men and women who are in this for the long haul and who understand and know our life and work without having to explain anything.  That's just irreplaceable.
• Watching the joy and expectancy of my kids as they head into each new kid session or free time or trip to "Noah's Ark" or meal eating next to their friends or new camp activity.  Every year they look forward to these three days almost as much as Christmas--maybe more.

Jerry Springer's ministry?

Today, in one of many busride discussions with fellow BGU students, a thought crystallized about the appeal of the Jerry Springer show.  (I know this is completely random--which could also easily be the name of this blog.)  But admit it--we've all often wondered, even aloud, "if people's lives are such a ridiculous mess, why do they choose to let it all hang out, often literally, on the Jerry Springer Show?" 

But what if the reason is redemptive?

Maybe, just maybe the unconscious thinking goes like this:  "My life is a wreck.  If I go on Jerry Springer and tell everyone about my mess, afterward my life will still be a mess.  But after the show I'll be (in)famous, for a minute.  And maybe being (in)famous for a minute will make my mess a little bit more worth it."

No, I don't think anyone would actually have this internal dialogue consciously.  And no, I don't think this redemption has value that lasts.  But I do think this is at least part of what drives people to publicly expose themselves when things are all wrong.  Pastor Jerry Springer, bringing a version of redemption to the messiness of life?  I admit, its a stretch but worth thinking about.

Chicago plunge class brief update

I'm having a great time in the Chicago Plunge class with Ray Bakke and Coach Wayne Gordon this week.  We've encountered about 20 churches of all traditions, sizes and languages, had insightful presentations and Q&A's with people like Stephanie Neely (City Treasurer), Robert Steele (Cook County commissioner), Vance Henry (director of the CAPS program), Glen Kehrein (Circle Urban Ministries), Dr. Marshall Hatch (pastor of Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church), and the singing of the men's choir of Hope House (ministry of Lawndale Community Church).

The days are long and filled with lots of note-taking, but the learning is exactly how I would design a class.  Lots of field experience, dialogue and hearing the best practices and experiences of experts from their very own place in the world.  Tactile learning is what Glen Kehrein called it today.

Coach's tears

My theology of tears is developing.  Tonight at the introduction to the Chicago Plunge class I'm taking with Ray Bakke and Wayne "Coach" Gordon of Bakke Graduate University, Wayne Gordon shared an opening devotional.  His words were moving.  He said this in the course of his talk:

I cry every day.  When I stop crying, its time for me to leave Lawndale.

Spoken by an articulate, hard-working, passionate and visionary leader, these words touched my soul and serve as another confirmation from my earlier post and an area where I continue to pray.

Great Saturday

I've talked often about Saturday in our house being a day that we make different from all the rest.  We don't use an alarm clock, we don't answer phones or do email, we eat donuts (essential), and we spend time creating family memories together.  This morning was a pretty special Saturday.

After meandering out of bed and getting dressed, we picked up Jaley from a sleepover and headed over to Lakeview Pantry for grocery delivery.  On our way we prepped the kids that we'd be offering to pray for the people we delivered to as well as delivering their groceries.

At the first home I had Tyce, Lena and Olivia with me (while Gil and Jaley were double-parked downstairs).  The woman we visited was grateful that we would offer to pray.  We held hands in a circle together as we prayed.  She was touched and hugged all the kids before we left.  Happened again at another of the houses when we were all able to go up for the delivery.  She was also very receptive and grateful.

Afterward we headed off to Swedish Bakery to grab our Saturday-essential-donuts and then spied the Puppet Bike across the street!  (We had seen a spot on PBS the night before and the kids thought it was cool.)  We hustled over to catch the unique show and munch our donuts.  Good times.

Leadership Summit

Bob Burns, my friend over at Armitage Church, invited us to attend Willow's Leadership Summit at their church via simulcast.  Since Armitage is about a half mile from my house, it was a no-brainer.  Took in half of Thursday's sessions and most of Friday's--powerful.

• Bill Hybels first session talked about simplifying decision-making through the power of axioms (proverbs).  This was a valuable session for me.  I started to make a list of axioms I operate from.
• Gary Haugen's challenge to "leave the visitor's center" was right on.  I love International Justice Mission's vision and ministry.
• Catherine Rohr of PEP was phenomenal.  This spitfire is fearless and driven and all of it for Jesus.  Loved her passion and her ministry.
• Bill George's session was not super-great from a presentation quality standpoint but one of his stories gave me a seed thought that has really been rolling over in my mind.  Very grateful for that nugget.
• Craig Groeschel's session--"It"--was worth the whole conference.  I bought the book and am ruminating on what he shared.  Craig is just one of the most humble, strong, thoughtful and self-deprecating leaders I've encountered.  That's a tall order when you have that kind of success.

Receiving input from leaders like these is essential in my life.  I feel like my leadership tank got filled.   Grateful to Bill Hybels and the whole Willow team for the vision and labor to make this conference happen.

On the fringe

A couple stats from UnChristian:

• less than 3% of young Americans age 18-41 believe all 8 points of a biblical world view (that absolute moral truth exists; that the source of moral truth is the Bible; that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches; that eternal spiritual salvation cannot be earned; that Jesus lived a sinless life on earth; that every person has a responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others; that Satan is a living force, not just a symbol of evil; and that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful maker of the universe who still rules that creation today.  (p. 75)
  
• there are about 20 million total born-again Christians in this country [out of a population of over 300 million] who describe faith as their top priority and who say their entire purpose in life is summed up by the statement "love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength." (p. 210)
  

This means that people who have sold out to loving and serving Jesus are a small and increasingly shrinking minority of the overall population.  Oh, I know that many people occasionally have attended churches in their lifetime--maybe even recently.  But when it shakes out to real and living followers of Jesus, the numbers get pretty small.  Many Americans are in fact, de-churched.

Does this bother you?  Or excite you?  It excites me.  We're a Church that is moving quickly to the fringes of power and influence in our culture and I believe it is the best thing that could happen to American Christianity.  The church on the fringe is a church that exchanges pursuit of power for pursuit of people.  Church on the fringe is the Church of the New Testament. 

The thing about the fringe is you can choose to feel marginalized, wander off and think about the "glory days" of power and influence or you can choose to hunger for God and pray for the heart of the church to be renewed with a passion to lovingly serve people.  Jesus was born and died poor and marginalized yet full of power and authority that transformed peoples' lives forever.

Jesus, give us joy in being on the fringes of power and courage to love and serve this city for Your glory.

Sunday funny not quite smackdown

About 5 minutes into the message at Lincoln Park on Sunday, 3 young men in dark pants and white button down oxfords walked down the aisle and slid into a pew about 1/3 of the way back.  My immediate thought--"hmmm.  got a couple Mormon missionaries here this morning." 

Not thinking much more of it I went on teaching from Matthew 25.  After our worship gathering I noticed that these three young men were at a table talking to a regular attender and Moody student.  Confident that these 3 missionaries weren't actively confusing people or trying to recruit the confused, I headed over to Lakeview for our 10:45am gathering. 

On Monday morning I bumped into the young man from Lincoln Park who talked to the three "undercover missionaries". 

"I'll bet you had some interesting conversation yesterday morning, huh?"

"What do you mean?"