A New Kind of Minister

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the year 2009 is swiftly marching to an end. That means it's time to decorate trees, hang up lights, send cards, wrap presents, nog an egg or two.

My wife and I don't really have any Christmas traditions that we brought in from our families or that we have created for ourselves. I think I want to change that this year. As I am learning more and more about myself- thanks to my sister and her early gift of Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath- I find that I like to hear the thoughts of others and make connections and adaptations between ideas. So, I thought that I would ask you all:

What kind of Christmas traditions do you have with your families or on your own? Is it specific decorations that you use, events you attend or put on, a recipe? Something you hand make? I'd love to have you share your Christmas traditions!

I've been thinking about this since probably Sunday morning. But when it comes to feeling blessed or giving thanks for things, have you ever noticed how it's often after we've compared ourselves with others that we say something about being blessed or feeling thankful? I know I do it all the time.

What I mean is this- have you ever said or heard somebody say, after seeing pictures of people in terrible poverty or hearing the stories of people in other countries who deal with extreme levels of lack, something to the effect of "wow, it makes me realize how blessed I am," or "now I know how much I take for granted."

I said something close to that on Sunday, and as soon as I said it, I regretted it. As I said, I've been thinking about it ever since.

Why? Well, the truth is, shouldn't I be thankful already for any blessing that I have? And if it takes the story or the picture of someone in need or in dire circumstances for me to realize that, how arrogant is that? Aren't I essentially saying, not that I am thankful for all of the ways that I am blessed or for the gifts that I have, but really, "I'm thankful I'm not THAT person?" That was the feeling that I got as soon as I said it.

Not trying to be a downer on Thanksgiving, but just wanted to put that out there- are you making comparisons to someone else, someone that you view as "less fortunate" before you give thanks? Or do you even think that's an issue?

Happy Thanksgiving, and I would love to hear your thoughts!

Today, I have decided to be a writer. I've always loved writing, ever since I really can remember. I wrote an essay when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade that won some awards and that I got to share with people from all over Idaho (I read it at a convention, then it was displayed at the Capitol building). It wasn't the attention that I liked, so much, though most of you who know me know I certainly don't shy away from attention. The essay itself wasn't that great- it was cute, and that's probably why it won. But what impressed me was that I was able to communicate something I really believed.

After that, I was bitten. I wanted to write because I loved to read and I loved good stories. Every year for three years our little elementary school took part in a Book Fair in the school district. It wasn't a book fair full of books from publishers- it was a book fair with the books we created. I looked forward to it every single year, and I enjoyed the entire process: creating a story, illustrating the story, designing the cover, sharing it with others and seeing how it impacted them. I hope you don't take this as bragging, but I won the award for best book of the year all three years. I share that with you not because I think I had some kind of special talent, but because the reason I won had more to do with the fact that it was something I absolutely loved to do, and it showed in the end result. Most of the kids in my school (that I could tell) didn't really like the whole thing because it was a lot of work. But in all honesty, it was all I thought about all year long, as soon as school started for the year.

The first year I participated (fourth grade), I wrote a story from the perspective of an older, migrating goose. The goose recounted tales of past migrations, noting the changes in the landscape below that he had flown over for years. It was really a story about the environment and our impact on it. What I learned from writing that story and from people's reactions to it is the power of perspective- actually putting yourself in the place of someone else and getting their take on the way things are (even if that someone happens to be a goose).

In fifth grade, the story I wrote was about a platoon of soldiers in Vietnam, the obstacles they faced and how they grew together into something more than family. Obviously I knew nothing of Vietnam, and so I had to research for this particular story in order to get some details right. The big payoff was getting a personal note from one of the judges- he had been in Vietnam, and he told me it brought back some serious memories reading my story, and that it was exactly how I had written it. I learned the value and power of both research and memory, and how story can connect people who otherwise have nothing in common.

The third year, I wrote a story about friendship. The back drop was the rodeo. I told the story of Lane Frost (a bull rider who was killed- you know, "8 Seconds") but from the perspective of a (fictional) friend of his. It was sad but also hopeful, and I learned that a good story can be both things at the same time.

For some reason I was thinking about these things today. It might be because Gabe and I had a conversation about writing. Gabe is also an excellent writer, and he is trying to decide what he would like to pursue. It made me reflect, and I realized that some of my greatest memories are tied to me writing.

Today, then, I have made a decision: I will write. I will attempt to do so every day, for at least a little bit. I don't know if I will ever have anything published or make any money off of it, but in truth, that's not what makes a person a writer. I was reading someone once, and they said something to the effect that a person can't really say they are a writer unless they have been published and paid for it, something along those lines. But that's silly, really, if you think about it. That's the same as saying college football players aren't really football players, because they're not getting paid to do it. As Donald Miller says in his (great) new book, a character is what a character does. It's really that simple.

Obviously I will attempt to share with people what I am writing if it's something I want to share, and if that is through an attempt at getting published in a magazine or even in a book, then I will attempt to do so. But I will write because I love to do it, I love to communicate, and I love stories. I'll share some here and in other places.

But I think I'll start with the National Novel Writing Month. The goal? A 50,000 word novel by Midnight, November 30, starting November 1. That's right- go big, or go home!

I am kicking around the idea of creating a local art show here in Payette. It would probably be in the spring, and it would be open to the public. I could obviously have it in the basement of the church which has ample room. But I could also make use of our sidewalks around the church and do a sidewalk show. I've never done an art show but have really been interested in doing one here in Payette ever since we've lived here. While I am kicking around the idea, I thought I would put it out here for anyone who might stumble across this blog. So how about it? Got any good ideas or have you ever been a part of an art show? What works, what doesn't? Who should I contact? Thanks for checking it out and leaving some input!

Jesus' teachings become so fresh and so much more challenging when one places him firmly in his tradition, learning who he really was. Nehemiah Gordon, an Orthodox Jewish Bible scholar, and Keith Johnson, an African American Pastor and NFL chaplain, came together on common ground to uncover the history and origins of a shared treasure- Christians call it "The Lord's Prayer."
A Prayer to Our Father recounts the time they spent together, from visiting all of the possible locations for Jesus' teaching on prayer, to investigating the ancient manuscripts of Hebrew Matthew. Along the way they make some exciting discoveries, but the most exciting aspect of the entire journey is the interaction between Nehemiah and Keith, the way they find common ground and learn from the unique perspectives they each bring to the table. A basic understanding of history from the last 1,600 years puts this work in proper perspective- it’s a thing of beauty that it was even created.
The last section of the book is extremely useful for group study, as they break down line for line the Hebrew "Our Father," providing fresh teaching on this sacred passage. The nine lines contain deep moral and ethical teaching, and about how one can relate to Our Father and to our fellow human brothers and sisters.

Isn't it funny how we like to measure things? Have you ever noticed that things like sports get so entangled with numbers, as if the joy of the game isn't good enough. How many wins? How many yards? How many assists?

It's not just relegated to sports, mind you. Have you ever seen when two pastors get together? Within the first few breaths you will no doubt hear, "How many...?" and you can fill in the blanks. Usually it's people in attendance or members. But sometimes, to be a little spontaneous, it will be something like baptisms or youth.

I suppose that those kinds of things are good for some people to be worried about. Myself, I've never been interested in it. We have someone at our church who does, in fact, keep track of those kinds of things. But I never read the information. I think I've seen it a time or two in passing, when I was looking for a pen or something.

But I'm not here to pass judgment on those kinds of things, because I don't think that I am more righteous than someone because of this- in fact, I think it has far more to do with the way I am wired more than any other issue. Sure, I could make some arguments for things being more important, but it would probably be coming more from the fact that this approach is just my everyday mindset more than anything else.

But I do want to bring up another measuring stick that we all like to whip out and use on people- and I mean everyone, me included- that I just don't find all that helpful, even when I do it (ESPECIALLY when I do it).

It's the idea that one can determine how Godly someone is or how spiritual someone is or how "in" someone is based on a list of beliefs. It happens all over, especially in the Western church- and oddly enough, the right measuring stick is exactly the one the person doing the measuring fits exactly (imagine that!).

You know the drill, of course, because you've probably done it AND had it done to you on a number of occasions.

Which translation do you read? (The person nods or slightly grimaces, attempting to be polite as he or she either places and 'X' or a 'check' on their mental list).

So what do you think about baptism? How do you do it? Infants? (More mental checking off as you answer).

And on it goes- who can be an elder? Can a woman preach? Who can take communion? What do you think about drinking alcohol? What's your take on the end-times? Biblical inerrancy?

Of course, this rarely happens just like this- it might be peppered in throughout multiple conversations. God forbid they catch you on a day you're not sure about something.

Or worse, they might have heard or read you actually being humble enough to admit that you don't have everything figured out. Rather than taking the time to talk to you about who you are and where you are coming from or making any attempt to seeing where your heart is, they fold up their mental list of "orthodoxy", cluck their tongues and say, "I knew there was something wrong with that person. I thought they might be (insert appropriate group label here that the person doing the measuring has the most problem with at the moment). I was right, as always. Well, now I know I can't commune with them. Thank God I have my trusty list."

What's interesting to me is that the Bible has some things to say about the ways we like to measure things. You know, according to scripture, the demons themselves could teach us a thing or two about being "orthodox." We're told that they more than believe- they KNOW who Jesus is and what he did, and they even TREMBLE.

But notice what Paul says in Galatians: The fruit of the spirit is a correct view of transubstantiation, properly keeping a closed communion table, reading from the correct translation, and accepting the right dispensational view.

Oh, wait- sorry... got the wrong stick there.

Ah, here's what it says: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Or how about what Jesus says on the sermon on the mount? "Blessed are those who have been educated at Fuller, for they have the ability to determine what is right; blessed are those who can quote chapter and verse, even though those will not be in existence, along with the New Testament canon, for several centuries (sorry, you sad lot listening to me today. You were born at the wrong time, and I am afraid I am going to have to hold that against you)."

Whoops! Got the wrong list again. Ah, here we go:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

Or if you want to get REALLY serious about measuring sticks (which I think, if we all really thought about it, we don't), what about the only time Jesus talks about when he will judge people?

"The the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'

You know how the rest goes.

Kind of makes me want to put away my silly little measuring stick.

How about you?

It's not very radical for me to say this, because I've actually found that the majority of people are pretty much in agreement with it. But what I want to say is this: membership, when it comes to the local church, is severely over-hyped and, for the most part, completely unnecessary. That's not the same as saying that you shouldn't be involved with a people who are walking a similar path of faith, people who can encourage you and pray with you, love with you, admonish you when you need it, and have fun with. But the Bible has absolutely nothing to say about placing membership in a local church. The closest we get is Paul discussing we are ALL- the Universal Church and all of the citizens of the Kingdom of God (which are not the same thing, by the way)- members of the Body of Christ. In other words, you're a member, period. It has nothing to do with the local church and who should vote and at what age and all of that.

But this isn't really all about that. Because I want to reframe the discussion entirely. I want to suggest that we forget the whole idea of "membership" entirely. When you talk about membership, in our day and age, your talking about being a part of something that exists, usually, to benefit those who are a part of the club. Membership conveys an idea of gaining privilege because you are part of something; it has the connotation of some people being "in" and some people being "out."

At our church, we are going to shift the discussion, because we don't believe Jesus came to create some kind of cloistered community. We believe that God has called us to join God in what God is doing in the world- restoring it, rebuilding it. To be about the mission of God, or as it has been called, the "Missio Dei." So, instead of members, we are shifting to the idea that the local church is designed to send out missionaries. Rather than placing membership, we are going to make a shift to commissioning missionaries. Not only is this more in line with what God has been calling us to be, it also shifts all of the focus from "come to us" and "passive participation" to a more healthy "go and be" and "empowering and equipping." This is different, because normally we like to think that those of us with the degrees and titles and education are the ones who are important in the life of a church. This approach instead trusts that all members of God's Kingdom are capable of doing what God has called us all to do. This will also mean that we try to DOWNplay the amount of times people will be here at the physical building, because if you are here at the physical building, you're not spending your time in the mission field you have been commissioned to be in.

Can you imagine? Instead of "Kerry, member of Payette Christian Church," it would be,"Kerry, missionary to the classic car restorers." Instead of "Joe, member of PCC," it would be, "Joe, missionary to the Payette School District."

We are actively seeking inroads here in the community for just such a thing. We have spoken to both mayoral candidates running this fall, letting them both know that PCC is here for them and what needs to be done in this community. We are now a part of the chamber of commerce; we are connecting with the skate board crowd. And let me tell you this: it IS NOT some kind of attempt to get in so we can SAY anything. It is so that we can actually LIVE the truth we were called to live.

You're thoughts?

In my missional practicum class, we are reading through Milfred Minetrea's Shaped By God's Heart. It's been pretty good reading so far, but tonight I came across a few gems that, if allowed to shift a churches perspective, could create some wonderful results for the here and now Kingdom of God.

One idea Minetrea expressed is shifting our perspective on what growth means. He says it like this: "The goal of church growth is not to get bigger. The goal is to equip more people to live as authentic disciples of Christ," and "[Missional churches] empower and release members to community ministries, begin new cells, or start new churches. In each instance, these congregations understand that releasing results in growth."

How about that? Releasing members, NOT retaining them, is true growth (to paraphrase an even earlier statement in the reading he makes). This means taking our eyes off of our own little kingdoms long enough to embrace God's Kingdom- and letting people actually go and be missionaries and ministers, rather than counting their butt in the pew as a mark of our success.

Your thoughts?

I wonder if I am really cut out for all this. I have grown weary of "working in the system" and saying or doing things in measured steps because I am worried about my paycheck. I believe with all of my heart that being subversive when it comes to practicing ministry in the particular context I am in is the right thing, but the progress can be so slow.

I am one of many who have come to see that there is another of doing things. We know that the gospel that has been embraced by so many for so long has been incomplete AND has been used to permit all manner of horrible things, from slavery to torture. We know that to embrace the message of the Kingdom of God and the ways of Jesus has so much more to do with the here and now then it has to do with what happens when we die.

On my best days I know that small steps add up over time.

On my worst days, I see people get bent out of shape out over petty things like style of music or people drinking coffee "where they shouldn't be." They might spill it, after all.

On those days I wonder if its worth it, or if I should be doing something else. Something outside of the system that notoriously quenches the fires of passion necessary to bring about real life transformation.

The problem is that I have a heart that beats for the "other" and the "out there." The problem is that I work in a system that believes it needs to take care of itself first.

Can things change?

On my best best days, I know it can.

But then comes the worst days.

I'm not asking you to read into this- if you have to, then you don't understand. I'm not depressed or in need of encouragement. Frankly, life for me personally couldn't be any better.

But I know that I am swiftly approaching a cross roads, and I am frankly unsure which way to take. Stick with what I am doing? Or step away from the system for a time or for forever?

What are your thoughts?

Another week, another weigh in. Once again, I felt great all week, a lot of energy and all that.

And once again, it paid off at weigh in time- this time to the tune of 7 pounds! That's a two week total of 12.4 pounds. I will let you all know about next week, and about my book review, I am almost done with the book, so I will just do a general overview instead of the chapter by chapter break down. Sorry! If you are interested, I think I might do an interview with the author and put it up in the podcast part and finally get rid of that interview with John (though it was a good interview).

I'll post something of relevance soon, though, and look for next weeks WW update!