I've been helping 5th graders learn photography at our local elementary school. The project has been to find and photograph geometric shapes. Here are a few of the ones I've captured as I've been guiding the kids along. Find all my photos for this project and all my photography at Flickr.
A Beautiful Idea: Artists Changing the World is a beautiful idea
Bill Streger: What is Ash Wednesday?
Dave Kraft: What Makes a Leader? --> See the vision
A leader is, first and foremost, somebody with followers. If nobody is following, you are not leading, no matter what outstanding leadership qualities you might possess. Many years ago, my daughter, Anna, had a sign on her bike that read: "Lead, follow, or get out of my way," and the way she rode that bike, I believe she meant it. People are more than willing to follow someone who knows where they are going.
John Piper: How I almost quit
The church is looking for a vision for the future—and I do not have it. The one vision that the staff zeroed in on during our retreat Monday and Tuesday of this week (namely, building a sanctuary) is so unattractive to me today that I do not see how I could provide the leadership and inspiration for it.
Joel Virgo: Prevailing Prayer
Arthur Wallis once said, “A move of God will last as long as the Spirit of prayer that inspired it.” You can tell when this happens. It’s when prayer is used as a last resort, as a spare wheel, but it’s meant to be the steering wheel.
Bob Thune: Outline of John Owen's Mortification of Sin
Rob Bell at Out of Ur on the dangers of video preaching
Video is not church. You put images and music on a screen, and people will listen. But it's also dangerous. You're playing with fire. I think video technology deserves to be scrutinized heavily.
*I'm running a series of short posts on attending & experiencing Verge.*
Being a part of the Verge Social Media Team made the conference a unique experience. You pay attention in a different way when you have to write about it, tweet it, etc.
One thing I seem to always talk about when it comes to blogs, Twitter, Facebook and so on is the value of the relationships formed through them. I've yet to find it very valuable for the people around me. Honestly, where I pastor there are number of folks on Facebook but the other stuff is another language. Most of my church doesn't read nor do that care about my blog. No one else tweets. But Reformissionary, Twitter and other social connections have been some of the most valuable resources of my life as they have connected me to a huge network around the globe of pastors, missionaries, planters, and missional Christians.
If not for my many followers I wouldn't have gone to Verge. It was on my radar, just not my budget. But my social network helped to make my attendance valuable for Verge as I could spread their message to my network. I hope the Verge posts and tweets were/are a blessing to you. I'm so thankful Stew and the other Verge folks invited me there.
Having my network helped me to connect to many people at Verge. Some I knew by name or photo. Others I've never met. It's kinda funny how often folks recognize me at conferences from Reformissionary or Twitter, or how often I recognize them. It opens doors and leads to conversations far down the road. If not for my network I wouldn't have had Brent Thomas driving me everywhere with his rental Escalade (or whatever it was). It's only the second time I've seen him face-to-face and he's already a great friend and encouragement. Then there were the other Twitters and bloggers and Facebook friends. They were all over. What a cool thing.
For all that's said about social networking as a detriment, it's been one of the great blessings of my life in ministry.
Being specifically on the social media team wasn't all that big of a deal (other than them picking up the tab!). I didn't get access to apple slices and caramel dip or anything. I'm sure I could have had more access to speakers if I asked. But I wanted to soak, and experience, and that was just my role. I'm glad it was because too much would have put noise around the voice of God, and I needed it a little quieter.
By the way, almost no one is as cool as they seem on the web. You've realized that, right? DJ Chuang and I were sharing our Tim Keller stories. I was geeking out because I met Kent Shaffer and Charlie Wear and Milfred Minatrea and others. But you quickly realize they are just other dudes who love Jesus and work for His Church. They are just guys. I'm glad to be one of them.
I felt like the Verge social media team experiment was a good one. One I was blessed by far more than they (or you) were blessed by my involvement. I learned by my Verge experience that the Spirit is infinitely greater than "the buzz." If "the buzz" doesn't come by the Spirit, it isn't good enough. There was a lot of social network buzz coming out of Verge. That was/is a good thing. But it doesn't compare with what God did to my heart at Verge. I hope through this and other blogs that "the buzz" will ultimately be about God and His goodness and glory through Jesus Christ. It should be because He was there.
That's what the next two posts will be about. Post 3 will be about the impact Jeff Vanderstelt and Caesar Kalinowski's workshop on Soma Communities had on me. Post 4, the haunting of the Ghost.
Upcoming reviews...
Other upcoming posts...
(Mixtape via Joe Thorn)
Hear Local Natives: Gorilla Manor, in full at NPR. I like it so far. Gorilla Manor will be released tomorrow. You can also hear a live session of Jonsi's solo stuff (dude from Sigur Ros).
Frontier Ruckus has a new, free Daytrotter session up.
Rachael Maddux (@rachaelmaddux), associate editor at Paste, thinks Mumford & Sons are creepy (you know, in a good way). Me too. The U.S. release of their first LP, Sign No More, is tomorrow. Woohoo, and Bout Time, and Go get it, etc!
The Antlers: Hospice is my favorite album of 2009. The video for "Bear" helps to bring the wonderfully depressing message into the visual sphere. Warning: there is an explicit word used. Not for kids.
Eluvium creates ambient music. Other people create urban developments and architecture. Eluvium creates ambient music videos set to urban developments and architecture. (via) Eluvium: Similes is available on the 23rd. Their excellent 2007 album, Copia, is only $5 right now.
*I'm running a series of short posts on attending & experiencing Verge.*
Pre-Verge
I'm not a big conference-goer. I tend to get more excited about the idea of conferences more than enjoy the experience of them. I don't like leaving my family. Yeah, I know. Neither do you. But I've realized that I'm quite the homebody. I hate to leave home for a couple of days without the family with me. Home and family and privacy energizes and encourages me. Travel and itineraries and going through security and all that does not make me happy. So when invited to join the Verge Social Media Team and fly to Texas I wanted to say "no." Wisely my wife urged me to go. And, you know, Verge sounded cool and fun and interesting. Plus I love going to the "weird" cities (Boulder, Madison & Louisville are 3 of my fav places in the world). And Austin is not only a "weird" city but also a key part of the music world, the kind of music I love. So I decided to go.
Honestly, I'm a bit of a cynic at big events. Going to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting will do that to a guy. I'm especially skeptical of big events with lots of flash. I easily cluck my tongue and roll my eyes at the slightest twinge of showiness, celebrity, and self-importance at big conferences. Yeah, I'm a jerk like that. And that worried me even more because as a Verge Social Media Team guy I wanted to be generous and kind and to expect the best from the conference speakers and experience. I'm sure I left for Verge a bit guarded, but I would try my best to be open.
What I know now is that God was working on me for months prior to Verge, to hear from Him. I didn't know Verge would have anything to do with the struggles and sufferings and sins God has been pointing out in my life. I didn't know the things I've been reading and thinking would come together at the conference. I didn't see my family devotions, current sermon series, and Verge merging. I thought Verge would be a conference full of practical how-to's with a bunch of look-how-amazing-we're-doing-it's. And while I love the idea of missional communities and want them at Doxa and I knew I needed the practical stuff, I didn't think these three days of my life would amount to much. I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Brief Molly Update: Molly has been having some rough symptoms from her Chiari I Malformation the last 2 weeks. Day to day she doesn't know how she is going to feel. For the most part she keeps living and enjoying life and serving others as much as she usually does. In lots of ways she is looking to do more. What a lady! We are hoping the symptoms will just go away, and we believe they will in time. Thanks for praying for her.
I'm reviewing Gospel-Centred Life this week, Lord-willing. Already reviewed Gospel-Centred Family and Gospel-Centred Church.
Jonathan Dodson: 10 Tips for Missional Community Leaders
Jonathan McIntosh introduces us to the vision of Christ City Church in Memphis, his new plant. Maybe you or your church could help support this plant by my friend.
Christ City Church Vision Video from Rethink Mission on Vimeo.
Verge-alicious Stuff...
Francis Chan's animated video played at Verge: The Big Red Tractor...
The Big Red Tractor from Jacob Lewis on Vimeo.
"The Gospel becomes this sort of civil religion
that really just affirms my lifestyle."
Buy some good music today...
let your kingdom come
let your will be done
and all the earth will say
and echo angels' praise
that you are God
Other good stuff...
If you haven't heard/downloaded Peter Gabriel's cover of Bon Iver's "Flume," you are missing out. Just trust me (even if "Sledgehammer" is stuck in your head). If you missed my posts on the videos of Scott Avett or Vampire Weekend, go check'm out. Free Beach House live tracks at the ever-awesome Daytrotter. Beach House: Teen Dream is really good and just $7.99. Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch play some Tiny Desk Concert. And stream the new Massive Attack album in full.
Jonsi, of Sigur Ros, has a new solo album on the way in April and a concert I hope to catch in Milwaukee. Listen to this audio of Jonsi interview and acoustic set from WNYC. And check out his first video, "Go Do"...
Spoon with "Written in Reverse" from their excellent new album, Transference.
WiFi is too sketchy here at Verge, so please see my Twitter feed for my take on stuff.
*Updated as WiFi holds out.
Main Session II
Neil Cole
Gospel is...the kingdom has come.
*Sorry, having a rough run with WiFi here at Verge. Hard to find the connection to keep this up.
Breakout Session 1
Jeff Vanderstelt & Caesar Kalinowski of Soma Communities
(*break out stuff below will be more quotes and content than my thoughts on them)
Notes at Soma School - here's the PDF.
Missional Community (MC) is a gospel community - being formed by the gospel, living life by the gospel.
The shift needed is to start thinking of people as family.
MC sent by missionaries to a people group by demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms. and then declaring the gospel to others both to those who believe and those who don't believe.
MC - Not primarily a small group, not primarily a Bible study.
We do one Bible study then another, but what was the last one? Are we living what we are learning or just moving on to another study. We need to be faithful to what we've learned.
"I'm not going to prep up another deep study of the word to disobey." -Caesar
Study the Bible in proximity of relationship, and live it out together.
MC - not primarily a support group.
We aren't just mummys all wrapped up.
MC - not primarily a social activist group.
If we become about one particular cause, we miss the mission.
MC - must have a people group they are sent to, called to.
Be the peculiar people.
MC - not primarily a weekly meeting
You may well get together weekly, but you don't define your family that way. People are prone to dualistic thinking in the church. When I'm at the church, I'm the church. When I'm at home, I'm at home.
Sunday morning: If you came to church this morning, we're glad you're here. You're never going to get to do that again. -- (because this isn't the church, we are the church)
We don't go to missional community, we meet with the community. Reorganize our lives around the gospel in community.
Always training on the gospel, who we are in Christ, and how to live with gospel intentionality.
*I know my notes are sketchy and hard to follow. Sorry. Doing my best to get as much of it down as possible without misstating what's being said.
-- Caesar jumps in with some Prophet, Priest, King perspectives on shared leadership (bit of a semi-reluctant rabbit trail)
Every missional community is under the leadership of an elder. Start with 6-8 people. Typically kingly types are your leaders. Starts to cap out at about 20.
*Lots of questions now. I think the specifics and dynamics of what MC's do/should look like are hard to imagine. Folks are trying to see more concretely.
We invite people into our lives.
Story-formed - Only answer from where you are in the story
Breakout Session II (part 2 with Jeff Vanderstelt and Caesar Kalinowski)
What We Do - these are all rhythms, not events
Don't add more to your life. Just do what you do with gospel intentionality.
We have no programming at Soma. What Missional Communities do we are doing.
Identity: Family, Missionaries, Servants, Learners
Recommended: You Can Change by Tim Chester
I don't invite people to things because they are already a part of my life. An open door policy in our houses. We teach people constantly to understand relationships by how they are invited in and when they are told we are busy.
Stop trying to get everybody. Get one.
*Lots of questions coming now. Honestly, the ideas from these breakouts have stirred me up. It's hard to concentrate on the questions while I'm stewing on my own, and my context, and our need to BE the church.
Realign your life around the mission. Radically reorient your life around the mission. As leaders, every pushback with Christians is an opportunity for discipleship. We will not stop calling you to what you were created to be.
Reactive Mission - Proactive Mission
Be on mission in such a way that if God doesn't show up we are ruined. We need to be overwhelmed.
Great QnA time during this session. I feel like it's all possible. Biblical, gospel community. Check out more at the Soma links above. Dinner time.
My post for the day. For quotes and such go to Twitter #verge10. Updated regularly here are my personal thoughts, reflections, etc.
Main Session I:
Matt Carter - Pastor, The Austin Stone
Carter challenged us to not be about the mission, but about Jesus. Comes from Revelation 2. If we are about Jesus we will properly be about mission. If we are about mission (primarily, or ultimately) we will lose track of Jesus.
Francis Chan - Pastor, Cornerstone Church
Chan does theology. His style is engaging and winsome. He's funny. But he drops bombs. Simple lit fuses leading to truth and theology and mission. Good stuff.
We meet on the Lord's Day. He is risen indeed. Why aren't we living like people who know the radical resurrection of our Savior?
You will try and fail to start movements. Movements come from Jesus, from the Holy Spirit. If you try to go surfing and there are no waves, you send your buddy out to start splashing and try to make waves. We can't do it.
Think about the book of Acts, and how unstoppable they were. This is Holy Spirit powered.
I flew out of O'Hare in Chicago at 10:15am after an hour delay. Arrived in Austin at about 1:30pm. Hitched a ride with Brent Thomas and three other guys. Got lost because of my navigational issues. And have now arrived at the Aloft Hotel in Austin. Looking forward to tonight's first main session.
I'm not really sure how I'm going to approach blogging/Twittering Verge. I don't want to just overload Twitter with a zillion quotes of everything said. Especially since all of you can get the live stream for free!
Follow @VergeConference on Twitter. Keep up with the verge hashtag for everyone's tweets: #Verge10. Follow the social media team here for a variety of different takes and angles and responses. Should be a great time for all interested.
A few colorful words in one of the songs, but a great performance...
From Four Thieves Gone, only $5 to download 17 tracks.
I've been studying the Catholic Church recently: books, audio, attending Mass, etc. I ran across this video and wanted to share it. It's the Catholics Come Home Initiative that you and your church needs to know about. Best quote: "The Saints were sinners. They had problems. But when they found God everything was cool, and they were God's BFF's. That's what I want to be."
Amazon is now listing a new 100 albums for $5. As usual, some come Reformissionary Recommended...
Check out the rest of Amazon's $5 albums.
Charlotte Gainsbourg's new album, IRM, is getting some serious playing time on my iPod.
Seth Godin on spreading music and selling intimacy.
Frontier Ruckus put on a great show last year in Dekalb. I like their album, The Orion Songbook. Another should be coming soon. Here is a live version of "Mona and Emma" from Paste...
Midlake's 2006 album, Trials of Van Occupanther, was excellent. You can listen to their new album in full for free, and I love it so far. Check out The Courage of Others, which goes on sale tomorrow.
Amazon's 800+ $5 albums ends tonight. Some great albums on this list. Here are a few I recommend...
A few weeks back I reviewed Gospel-Centred Church, a workbook by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester. I found it very helpful and I'm using it with some guys at Doxa Fellowship. I have two more reviews of similar resources on the way. In the next week or so I hope to review Gospel-Centred Life by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester. Today it's Gospel-Centred Family by Ed Moll and Tim Chester. All of these books came to me for review from the good folks at The Good Book Company. FYI, I review and promote resources that I like and don't just give everyone a shout-out. If I don't like stuff I won't review it.
Onto my review of Gospel-Centred Family (GCF). The book, running just over 90 pages, is broken up into twelve lessons/chapters in four main sections.
Like Gospel-Centred Church, each lesson is roughly 5-6 pages long and moves through six segments. The first is a principle--the core of the lesson. A scenario is introduced to raise a dilemma in gospel ministry. Then we consider Scripture (only a reference given so you can use your own Bible) with questions, a section discussing the theology and application of the principle, discussion questions, and actionable items are finally suggested (see the lesson titles).
I enjoyed the workbook a lot and think it will be helpful for the church. Let me start with a few weaknesses in GCF.
I would have liked if the book dealt early on with God's created purpose for the family. Why do we have families in the first place? Why are we to "be fruitful and multiply"? In some ways this workbook drops in on parents in the middle of where they are and works out of it rather than laying a foundation in the biblical story and then building on it. That's still good, but one chapter on creation foundations would have been nice.
I occasionally disagreed with something, though nothing of great significance. One practical recommendation in GCF is to teach kids obedience by counting to five. The goal is to make it "clear that our children had to obey now" by teaching them to obey by the time we get to "five." But counting to five teaches your kids that they don't have to obey until you are almost done counting. Why not teach them to obey now by teaching them to obey now? Most of the advice is excellent and this one isn't a deal-breaker. But I still think it's odd advice.
Now for the strengths, and there are many more than I will list. I really like this workbook. GCF deals with several crucial issues of parenting with a bunch of helpful, practical advice. I particularly liked the "Grace for a Child's Heart" chapter. We can easily train our children to be legalists if we aren't careful by comparing them to other children, holding grudges against them, humiliating them in public, bribing them to obey, etc. The authors stay cross-focused...
Above all, bring your children to the cross. Teach them about the cross Extol the cross. Thank God with them for the cross. Sing about the cross.
The next chapter is about seeing children as a gift. This is so important right now in our culture. I know few people who truly act like children are a gift from the Lord we enjoy more than a burden to bear. College can't come soon enough for these folks! Sad. And GCF is helpful. Simple changes will change everything: time, conversation, meals, creating things together, games, etc. My favorite is the advice to tell stories. I have so many stories and songs in my head from grandparents and parents. My generation of parents isn't as good at telling stories. Good advice.
One piece of advice I've just done poorly for too long is to "include the people from the church family in your family time." We used to do that, especially when working with college students. Too infrequently now. Family isn't just about what we do together for ourselves, but on mission to others. How can we be hospitable together? Support single-parents together? Model good family life together? And then GCF encourages us to lead our children to be servants, givers. Simple & concise, yet continually helpful advice throughout this workbook.
I like what the authors said early on in the book, which expresses what we should want for our families...
We're not calling our children to a life of obligation and hardship that they must tough out. We're calling them to treasure! We're calling them to treasure Christ.
Let's do it.
I can see Doxa parents working through GCF together or on their own. I can see how hitting one chapter here and there in small groups might be helpful.
GCF sells for $9.99 with discounts in bulk. I highly encourage you to use it with families in your church.
Anyone who is strongly influenced by the imaginative world of The Shack will be totally unprepared for the far more multi-dimensional and complex God that you actually meet when you read the Bible.
Tim Keller's blog: The Shack - Impressions
