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May 29, 2009
Book Review: The Furious Longing of God
I find the cover of this book telling...
Whenever the name of an author appears larger than the title of the book, we're being told something. And that's this: This book is more about the author than the content- the voice rather than the words on the page.
That's not always a bad thing- pick up any CS Lewis book and you'll see the name in something like 150pt type and the title in something considerably less. And honestly- it won't matter- it's all the same: good. (Of course, you don't really need the name on the cover- the voice is so distinctive you could tell within a few paragraphs who was writing)
To a certain extent, that's where Brennan Manning is finding himself. The Furious Longing of God is the latest Brennan Manning book first. It's a book about the love of God second. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but again...
Here's what it comes down to: If you love Manning, you'll love this book. Better written and a bit more cohesive than some of his others, it's still vintage Manning. Personal stories interwoven with theological insights- all centered around the love of God. At times overly simplistic, at other times stop-and-ponder deep, it's Manning doing what Manning does- pushing towards a simple just-let-God-love-you kind of faith.
Desperately needed for some.
But in some ways, as I read, I felt as though I read this before. I'm not saying that if you have read one Manning book you have read them all- but close. His voice and style is so distinctive, and his subject matter so narrow in scope that he runs the risk of leaving readers feeling as though they are reading the same books in different packages.
I also found myself thinking: "You know, IMHO, Brennan would benefit from reading someone like John Piper" - a great mental picture, btw. Also, I think Piper would benefit from reading Manning, but that's another post!
It's just that in the drive to reduce everything down to "God loves you!" I can't help but feel some important nuances are lost. There's a great, solid, Trinitarian perspective represented in this book, there's much about loving each other because of God's love for us... but I'm left wondering: what does a loving, worshipful response to God look like? Beyond loving others, how do I respond to God's love for me with love for Him? Is God jealous for His own glory at all? Or is He simply all about ME?
The big question for me these days: Will the book find its way onto my shelf or be given away/sold?
Verdict: On the shelf- but just barely. :)
Some links for those who would like to explore further:
Buy the book here: Amazon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLz72f75nyU An awesome Furious Longing book trailer
http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105875.pdf
Bootcamp: Ecclesia Network
I got the opportunity to both teach and learn last week at a church planters bootcamp with the Ecclesia network.
Some random thoughts...
I loved the rhythm of prayer- joining others at 7am, 12 pm and 5pm to pray, read Scripture, be quiet- even if only for fifteen minutes was very grounding for me. Though I felt a bit disconnected from the prayers (both in that the people and regions, elected officials and such they were praying for were largely unfamiliar to me, and in that I think after many years of doing this, the prayer lacks a certain... zest? fervency?... the practice and rhythm was still wonderful to be a part of. I felt "brought back" each time we engaged in it and connected to those around me.
It made me think of ways I can be praying for our city and ways I can hopefully pull others someday into the same rhythms. Good stuff.
I got to teach on "Why You Should Plant a Church" something I feel confident in, and "Creating a Culture of Discipleship" something I'm very much a learner in. Both went reasonably well- I basically took my Why You Should Plant a Church article and expanded it into a talk- which I know was probably odd for those there who had already read it (in fact, a couple told me reading it had been a significant step/piece in their journey towards church planting- always encouraging to hear how God has used your words...).
The discipleship talk was mostly me sharing what I've been learning over the last couple of years- that discipleship is mainly about one thing- helping people hear God's voice and respond appropriately. All the rest (doctrine, disciplines, service) will find a spot to enter the conversation as God brings those things up- but the main question is: Where are you hearing God's voice? Where are you sensing God's kingdom pushing in on you... or pulling you towards something? And how can I help you with that?
I missed my family terribly, but time away, time thinking/evaluating/dreaming, time praying, and time resting is always valuable. 
I hope they invite me back :)
For those interested: The Ecclesia Network is a gospel-centered, theologically centrist network committed to planting missional communities. I feel very much this is Evergreen's "tribe" in that they talk a lot about Jesus and the Gospel, tend to look and feel more emerging church-ish, and they welcome communities with women in leadership.
In other words, if you want to align yourself with a network that sits squarely in the center of the "missional" stream of the emerging church conversation, check out the Ecclesia Network.
May 15, 2009
Plant dagnabbit...
(From the archives)
The Productive Uncomfortability of Worship...
When I was in junior high or high school, I memorized Gal 2:20 (at camp, to a song which I still remember no less):
"I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself up for me."
And even though I memorized that verse 25 years ago I think I can honestly say that it's only in the last couple of months that I've really begun to understand it.
I had always read that verse as one of those "theological reality" pieces that describe the "essence" of who we are as followers of Jesus. We are the ones who have been identified with the death (and resurrection) of Jesus.
Cool- got it. Not by my works, as he tells the Galatians. But by Jesus' work. Got it.
When I think of this as someone farther along in maturity than me describing not just the reality of justification, but the process of conversion, of maturity and growth, I begin to understand the every day struggle and war within myself.
And I begin to see what I need to do about it.
We've been having a long and good discussion on our forum about our worship. Some have expressed frustration at our lack of engagement and any outward indication that many of us are worshipping as opposed to mentally cataloguing our DVD collection. Others have said "Back off- I worship in my own way." Others have expressed a desire to be more engaged and acknowledged the reality that in a community, what we do or don't do actually impacts others, particularly when it comes to community disciplines like worship. All in all I'm glad to be a part of a community that can have such open conversations- where some can say "I wish we worshipped more emotively" and others can say "Please, no!"
Actually, I get that discomfort with worship in all its forms. I really do- and I'm not just saying that- I feel it too. But, I think the discomfort is a sign that in many ways, the worship we are doing as a community is having one of its intended effects on us as individuals.
Over the last few years my weight has gone up and down- between 175 or so on the high end and 139 on the low. So yeah- at one point, I lost close to 40 pounds. How?
A little diet I like to call "eat less and exercise."
I had tried many, many times to shed some pounds with varying degrees of success, but never really hit the sweet spot until I made one small mental adjustment.
I started to "enjoy" feeling hungry.
It wasn't that I liked the feeling. It was more- when I felt it, I knew I was making progress. When my body said "eat!" or "eat more" and I said "No" or "Not yet" I was rewarded with some discomfort. And it wasn't until I embraced that discomfort and learned to listen to it in a different way (not listening to it as a signal that I needed to eat, but as a signal I was pressing in the right direction) that I got where I wanted to be.
Like I say- I get that parts of worship are uncomfortable. Do I want to sit with you, pray with you, sing with you? No, I really don't.
And in a way, that's exactly why I do it.
I recognize that pain and discomfort is an odd thing to talk about this way. Most pain/discomfort is a signal to do a 180. But some is a signal to keep going. And part of growing up is learning the difference.
We sing less than probably 80% of the congregations out there- no 30-40 minute sets to start us off (though some EGers would love that), no extended periods of song after song after song. Mostly, we break up 3-5 songs throughout the morning. Generally our longest set is 15 minutes and 3 songs long. We do it this way because we want to signal: It's ALL worship. Not just this part at the beginning. And worship isn't the prelude to the main event (the sermon). It's all worship, and that's the main event.
But because we see singing talked about both descriptively and prescriptively in scripture, because it's difficult to find communal worship talked about in Scripture (whether descriptive or prescriptively) that doesn't involve music and singing... we sing.
It's one of the ways we try to remain in the historical stream of all those who came before us and one of the ways we try to worship God as HE wants to be worshipped.
I try constantly to remind myself- worship isn't about us. In fact, in so far as it's specifically about pulling our hearts off of ourselves and the things we have attached them to and attaching them to God, it makes sense to me that I would lean into some things I wouldn't choose otherwise.
It's one of the ways we try to remain in the historical stream of all those who came before us and one of the ways we try to worship God as HE wants to be worshipped.
I try constantly to remind myself- worship isn't about us. In fact, in so far as it's specifically about pulling our hearts off of ourselves and the things we have attached them to and attaching them to God, it makes sense to me that I would lean into some things I wouldn't choose otherwise.
In other words- often I find myself not worshiping by praying, listening to Scripture, singing because I want to... but precisely because I don't.
Not to get too preachy here (but I'm going to get too preachy here): Some day our knee will bow before Jesus in worship. At least for myself, I'd like it not to be the first time. And inasmuch as I'd like my stubborn knees to get used to bowing (and my stubborn heart, my stubborn mouth, etc to that worship) I think a little practice is in order.
To me, it's all a part of the process of me being crucified- doing the daily dying to myself Jesus told me I would need to do if I were to truly follow Him. Did I think that would involve only my money? Only my time? Did I think any part of me would escape?
When I choose to do that which I would not otherwise do for the sake of others, for the sake of Jesus, whether in sacrifice or in worship, I am being formed. Formed into someone that looks just that much more like Jesus.
Someday, my sincere hope is to be able to look back and truthfully say "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me" and have it describe not just a theological reality... but the day-to-day existence I have lived.
I just know it starts right now.
May 14, 2009
Want to know if you are preaching right?
I wouldn't call this exactly scientific, but...
I love dropping sermons into Wordle.net. Tells me if I'm keeping the main thing the main thing.
This week, I think I managed to as we walked through John 3 and the story of Nicodemus...
May 08, 2009
Reverse Mentoring
I've had in my head for probably a couple of years now some thoughts on reverse mentoring, and had always meant to write something on it until, like most good ideas, I began to see others were there ahead of me.
But lately, I'm realizing my take on it is different...
It's a fine idea in many contexts and probably absolutely needed in some... but it's not what I was thinking. In that scenario, the older leader really is being "mentored" by the younger, though no doubt some wisdom is flowing the other way. But the intent behind the whole thing is what I'm wanting to get at- this relationship is initiated and engaged in mainly for the benefit of the older leader.
In my mind, true reverse mentoring looks similar- but still exists primarily for the benefit of the one being mentored, the younger leader.
I have a relationship with a guy I worked for a number of years back- we get together and talk, kick stuff around... and almost always, he's picking my brain for my thoughts on culture, on ministry, preaching, etc. I'm setting up blogs for him, clueing him in on viral thoughts... a constant question I get is "So what are you reading?" and "What movies have you seen?"
As I thought about all this awhile ago, I began to become a little frustrated- it seemed very lopsided to me. Over a decade of relationship, I could point to very few moments when I felt truly mentored, built into, discipled...
It seemed like in many ways, I was a resource for, not necessarily a beneficiary of the life and wisdom of this older man.
So why did I keep coming back, I wondered? What was it that sustained this relationship?
The realization I came to was that I kept coming back because I was being given something I really needed: The admiration of an older person, specifically, a older man.
At the risk of sounding egotistical, I'll say it this way: This guy is a big fan of mine. He's always cheering for my successes, praising what I've done, letting me know how bright he thinks my future is.
This guy thinks I'm great, and once I was able to get past the idea that I wanted him to mentor me in a certain way, delivering wisdom and insights for life and ministry, and learned to just appreciate being appreciated, I began to realize just how he was mentoring me. The mentoring consisted not of telling me things I needed to know, but telling me things I needed to hear.
By praising me in the right direction, encouraging me when I did what was right, he was keeping me constantly pointed in the right direction.
Does the relationship benefit him? I think he'd say so- but more and more I'm realizing that some times, mentoring younger leaders can look simply like being impressed by them- their gifts, talents, passion and idealism- even if secretly we see their rough edges, blindspots and shortcomings. Maybe it's enough, at least for one or two of the people we're bringing along, to leave those for others to point out and work on and simply be what everyone desires to have: an older person who truly admires them.
May 06, 2009
Evergreen
Ahh... the joys of "figuring it out." Five years on, we've both changed and stayed the same, and grown, even as now with multiple gatherings, in many ways it feels smaller...
And with all that comes the challenge of becoming what's next- of loving each other, teaching and discipling, working out all the money issues, and leading (great definition of leadership: failing people at a rate they can handle).
Almost 10% of our community on the question of "I'm a Christ follower" either marked not sure or skipped the question (I think few people, even those who are as of yet undecided want to mark a "no" on that one- just the fact that they are a part of things says they at least have their toes in the water). That to me is one of the more encouraging things I've seen in awhile! In another question, roughly that same percentage said they were attending Evergreen to try and find God.
Almost 35% of our community weren't a part of a church community prior to coming to evergreen, though most of them grew up in church (of course, that covers everything from "we belonged to that one church down the street and went every once in awhile" to pastor's kids).
To me, this says we continue to be a place where people are not only finding healing from bad experiences and reconnection to community and God, but are able to explore in a safe community what following Jesus means. That encourages me more than I can tell you...
Other stats:
Our average age is 30. 68% are between 23 and 37.
We're 31% single
20% HS Diploma
57% Bachelors
18.5% Masters
2.5% Doctorate
23% of our community is unemployed! I think some of that has to do with having a decent student population, though...
Politically:
not registered: 7.7%
Democrat 41.9%
Ind: 26.5%
Rep: 12%
Green: 4.3%
Libertarian: 4.3%
Other party: 3.4%
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