Missional Community Shift

We are starting to make a shift in my community of faith. We have been really good, too good, at having really effective programs. The assumption is that we would attract people of all kinds to our place. This is a model that we have inherited and were doing without much thinking, kind of a default mode. So the conversation bagan as we assessed what was going on. We were attracting people, but they were all people transfering over from other churches, either because they were disgruntled consumers or relocating from another part of the country.
So our shift is from worrying about being "attractional" and having good programs, which has resulted in many people beoming disgruntled and becoming a transfer to a different church. We are starting to explore what it will take to become a "missional community". To me this means that we will challeneged to take the life of Jesus out to people around us. Rather than expecting them to come to us. I think it is a very profound shift. We'll see where this takes us.

Community

This morning I went out to see the Balloon Festival that was in the State park next to my home. I walked over there got some photos and marveled at how simple the concept of hot air rising and slight morning wind currents could fill me with so much intringue. It was cool. It was also interesting to me how this was our community's own little festival. We live in a place that is pure suburbia, we don't have any summer festival with a carnival, watermelon eating contests and a parade. Where I grew up we had the annual Huckleberry Festival, no kidding! We don't have much of a sense for this is our town. We don't have a main street, just random streets everywhere with no center. I really think something is missing. I think we were created with a desire, longing and need to have a connected larger community. Suburbs were made without this design inside humans in mind. Possibly it was intentionally left out. Until next year, I think I will do what I can to meet more neighbors, and to plan to do something at the Balloon Festival that is intentional about community.

Snake

My son and I saw this snake on an outing this past weekend. It was fired up that we were near and eventually it slid off into the grass.

Adios Friends

Saying goodbye is never easy. And it always feels clumsy to me. But I get through it. As they move to a different part of the country a part of me goes with them and it feels like grief. Its such a mixed blessing, it is so good that you can have relationships that are deep enough to really hurt when you finally part, but it does hurt. I think the richness that good relationships bring to your life is very worth the eventual pain that comes with separation. I would imagine that the pain is even part of the richness, that part of life that is full and makes you breathe a sigh that says, "Life is good".
Matt and Adrienne have been a blessing from God and my life has been enriched by them. And I will miss them, for now.

Prayer

I really like being near to God, so I pray at times. Prayer sometimes seems strange to me. To me it is a very personal exercise of faith, yet often I'm required or called to lead prayer in a group. In that regard its like two worlds of prayer, personal and intimate and then also out in the open and exposed. I've always struggled with praying with people; most difficult is with my wife and family. I feel this pressure to pray with them as a "spiritual" leader, yet its really tough to make a habit of it. Anyway, I like the fruit of praying, being nearer to God, seeing answers to my prayers, really great things, but I still struggle with just doing it. I like being challenged to pray more. We have this thing (pictured) at our worship gathering called a "prayer vase". People write out their prayers and drop them in. We pray for them during the week. I like this. It helps me pray more often.

The Boys

Here's the boys in the creek. They hopped into it and started to build a dam as soon as we arrived. They changed the course of the flow.

Some of us dad's took them out for an overnight adventure. We wanted to impart some of our vast expanse of knowledge into their lives and so we took a little time out to do so. It was fun and I think a little wisdom was downloaded. I think we wanted to do this because we're sort of afraid.

Is it OK for a dad to be afraid for his son? To be worried that he'll make some of the same mistakes you made? I think that is what motivated our trip. We want them to know our passion for them to live well... and also to change the course of the flow.

Options

A question has come to mind. First, let me give you some context. I am part of a team that has a strong desire to build a community of faith of people of our emerging culture. We have developed a simple vision and mission which reflects the simplicity of what Jesus has called us to be and do; Christ is our center, community is our context, engaging culture our calling.

Here's my question. How do we call people to a simple life, when there are so many options?

It seems that our consumer culture has influenced people to believe they are consumers at the core of their being. So just as they pick all their options at Starbucks or with their phone company, they pick and chose all their faith options. I'll be with this group on Sunday, another on Tuesday and even something else Saturday. There really is no commitment to any one community of faith. It seems to be a life of test-driving or dating. I'm trying to determine if this is healthy or kind of sick.

Out of the Fog

I've been in a fog for a while. I feel like I'm pulling out. Things are becoming more clear. These times are disruptive for me. I don't like being hard or unable to laugh. That's the worst about being in this kind of fog.

I know that I give the best gifts I have to offer to people when I am clear and relaxed. And when I forget about who I've been made to be, that's when the fog creates some sort of barrier to real life.

I am starting to remember today, this morning remembered who I am. And the one who made me. I remembered.

The fog lifts a little.

Muddled

I'm muddled today. My options; be frustrated or embrace the fact that I can't figure it all out. I don't know if I want to embrace anything right now, but I don't like living in frustration. I'd rather be more free with my life and relaxed. So I guess I'll do what I can to embrace unknowing. We'll see what happens today.

A Great Blue Heron