I don’t Like ____ Church or Pastor____

I have at least one huge soap box, and if you catch me in the right moment you’ll find out what it is. As a follower of Christ, and one who was uniquely designed with a critical/detailed eye, I often found myself analyzing churches, sermons, pastoral leadership, etc. Typically I would walk out of a church service with a litany of things I would do differently; or would engage other believers in “discussions” about how a church is not doing _______. One day I got the God-smack when reading 1 Corinthians. After discussing divisions within the church; Paul argues it is the foolishness of preaching that saves souls.

Since then I’ve been on a crusade: I can’t stand to hear people, especially those claiming to follow Christ bad mouth a Church or a Pastor. Saying “I love Jesus” but hating the church is as irrational as saying to your best friend, “I like you–I just can’t stand being around you.” Ones attitude toward the church tells you–simply–their attitude toward Jesus.

Challenged by words…

I collect quotes, and keep a ready supply on a file on my desktop. That was untill my PC crashed and now I have a blank document…

Words mean a lot and can radically change my approach, my emotions, and my courage. Here is what I was challenged by in the last few days via my Twitter Feeds.

• @RickWarren “Surrendering to God isnt fatalism or laziness. It may mean sacrificing & suffering criticism to change what needs changing”
• @davidhfoster “It’s the hard thing you do that makes you stronger not the easy. Stop pushing paper and tackle the thing you dread.”
• @andywood “a river takes the path of least resistance, that is why it is so crooked!”
• @chasenc “I’m stuck in a bathroom” (ok…this one just gave me a good laugh)
• @davidhfoster “No one can take from you or keep from you what God wants for you, but you!”
• @RickWarren “It is when we try to be God that we end up most like Satan, who desired the same thing.

Post Attractional Church Planting

With a brief understanding of the attractional church already covered here; let’s dive into post attractional church planting.

Matthew 22 and Luke 14 illustrate an attractional event with an interesting storyline. Not everyone wanted to come to the dinner. The inadequacy of the attractional church plant is that the banquet hall is far from full; mainly because we are extracting people from things they are already doing. Eventually the church plant will reach a limit on who they are able to attract.

• What happens when the good-will concept of church vanishes and becomes less functional?
• What happens when the baby boomer’s predilection to be attracted (church shop) is replace by future generations post-modern philosophies?
• What happens when individualism is more important than collectivism?
• What happens when we have over-saturated areas with attractional churches to the point that people are numb to our welcoming facades?
• What happens when we need more than just savoy marketing, quality bands, and methodological volunteer training?

Some find the answers in the second component of the Matthew 22 and Luke 14 story….a switch…a “go-to”, or a missional church.

Still begs to ask though…what’s next?

Attractional Church Planting

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the future of church planting in a post attractional age of church life.

First let me explain Attractional Church Planting. Allan Hirsch is credited with coining the word “attractional” to describe the way evangelical cutting edge church has been done from the 1980’s until now. A new (or old but transitioning) church seeks through its presence, programming and marketing–everything from four-color brochures to word-of-mouth, to attract people to its services. The pure attractional model seeks to draw people into the church building so that they will have a specialized need met, and in the process of having a need met enter into meaningful human relationships, and then hopefully they will be pointed to Christ, enter into a saving relationship with him, and finally be integrated into the life of the congregation. The basis of this model came out of capitalizing on what in business is called good-will: a good reputation in the community as a place of peace and help. The kingdom has greatly expanded because of this approach. The church has refocused itself outwardly. The effects and benefits have been well documented.

But we are now 30 years into this approach and I still meet church planters that gravitate to this approach, instead of asking what’s next?

What do you engage?

This past Sunday at Waypoint we talked about the Bible….amazing right…..a church using the Bible as it’s basis. Actually we talked a lot about how most of us in America don’t have a lack of access to the Bible, we have a lack of engagement. I find this more and more as many of us dive more into

• blogs
• facebook
• twitter
• music
• books
• games
• phone calls
• meaningless searches on the web 

rather than the Word.  Now don’t get me wrong I know a lot of us use the tools to help engage the Scripture more; but here’s the question….If you add up all the time you engage in Scripture verses just one of the above list which one gets most of your time?

My Biography

With all the recent deaths hitting Hollywood last week I began wondering how long it would take for some books to come out about their lives. I know a lot has already been written, and Billy Mays had his own reality show capturing his life, but just wait…the books are a coming!

In pursuing a spiritual journey I realize that God is crafting my biography. He created me in His image! His mission in my life is to reveal His image to others through me. His epic tale of my life is just beginning, chapters have already changed, new characters introduced, new plot lines developed. However, often I end up living a life creating my own autobiography. I try to write my own story, make my own journey. I’m learning now that my life is not just a biography written by God, but is also a biography about God and His work and mission in making me me!

The Bible is….

With TXT starting this week, I’m just curious, finish this sentence (you can use multiple choices and/or fill in your own answer)

What’s in a Word

How do we determine meaning?

Can we find meaning in a single word?

Is the one who spoke the word or the hearer of that word responsible for it’s meaning?

Do more words create more meaning?

Is there a single meaning or do we allow plurality of meanings?

How do we respond to words?

Are our responses in line with the meaning or meanings?

How does meaning of a word change over time?

I have more questions than answers as I delve into my written words. From letters, emails, blogs, articles, to 140 character tweets. Where are finding meaning, whose deciding if its right?

Not Toasting my Soul

Yesterday I spoke of Keeping my Soul. Today I was able to read a great post today from Geoff Surratt, pastor of Seacost Church.  While the back-story differs from my aim,  Geoff provides some practical help in guarding your soul.

1. If you think you aren’t vulnerable, you are already toast
2. If you think you can burn the candle at both ends, you are already toast
3. If you think you can do ministry without accountability, you are already toast
4. If you think you don’t need safeguards, you are already toast
5. If you think it’s about you, you are already toast

As well as some thoughts on what to do to keep from burning:

1. Slow Down
2. Open Up
3. Count the Cost

Best line: You don’t wake up one day and decide to shipwreck your life. You do it one stupid decision at a time

I DARE you to Pray this!

A little lesson from Francis Chan