David Gray: Ain't No Love

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David_grayI've barely even heard of David Gray before a couple of weeks ago, but I'm glad that I found him through his newest CD, Life in Slow Motion.  I'm impressed.  Several good songs, but one of my favorites is Ain't No Love, which is basically an atheistic ballad. 

I was playing it in the car on Monday for my wife to hear, and she asked why I would like and want to listen to a song that is atheistic.  My response was that it is a beautiful song with powerful and thoughtful lyrics.  As art, it's good.  But I also consider it essential to ministry to understand the worldview of those who don't know Christ.  And guys like Gray are writing and singing songs that express something deeper than the glazed over reality most of us admit to.  Though honest struggling, this song is a great place to discuss essential and eternal things.  Notice below especially the last verse, the hopelessness found there.

Here's a very good article on Gray that includes some thoughts on this song.  Colorful language in this excerpt...

Gray has crafted a song called Ain't No Love that really soars, where the denial of God implicit in the chorus line - "ain't no love that's guiding me" - becomes paradoxically uplifting. This is the essential tension at the heart of Gray's work, which has never been as simplistic as some critics imply. Gray deals with dark material, but his singalong melodicism and Celtic spirit imbue it with a rich and ultimately uplifting sense of humanity.

"This sort of mess of illusions that people are clinging to and all the bullshit that it spawns which we're supposed to imbibe without complaint, I find depressing," he says. "I think we'd have a far more constructive society if people were more honest about things. But that's my point of view and music is really an escape from that. You're creating a sort of refuge for yourself first and then for others second, so it's a place to celebrate."

"We've got our lives to live, so nothing's changed there. We've still got to get on with it. But hopefully you can take all the stuff that's whirling around your particular universe and turn it into something that is uplifting."

"I think there's a sense of relief when someone writes a song that you can really connect with."

"That someone else has said something you felt or you've tried to say - that is uplifting in itself, it doesn't matter how sad or bitter it is."

Ain't No Love
by David Gray

Maybe that it would do me good

If I believed there were a God
Out in the starry firmament
But as it is that’s just a lie
And I'm here eating up the boredom
On an island of cement
Give me your ecstasy I'll feel it
Open window and I'll steal it
Baby like it’s heaven sent

This ain’t no love that’s guiding me

Some days I'm bursting at the seams
With all my half remembered dreams
And then it shoots me down again
I feel the dampness as it creeps
I hear you coughing in your sleep
Beneath a broken window pane
Tomorrow girl I'll buy you chips
A lollipop to stain your lips
And it’ll all be right as rain

This ain’t no love that’s guiding me
This ain’t no love that’s guiding me

No it ain’t no love guiding me
No it ain’t no love guiding me
No it ain’t no love guiding me

This ain’t no love that’s guiding me
This ain’t no love that’s guiding me

On winter trees the fruit of rain
Is hanging trembling in the branches
Like a thousand diamond buds
And waiting there in every pause
That old familiar fear that claws you
Tells you nothing ain’t no good
Then pulling back you see it all
Down here so laughable and small
Hardly a quiver in the dirt

This ain’t no love that’s guiding me

Google Print

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I've heard of Google Print, and it sounded like a neat idea, but I haven't really looked into it.  Kevin Cawley has offered a post that helped me jump in and see the real value of this resource. 

From the Google blog...

Imagine sitting at your computer and, in less than a second, searching the full text of every book ever written. Imagine an historian being able to instantly find every book that mentions the Battle of Algiers. Imagine a high school student in Bangladesh discovering an out-of-print author held only in a library in Ann Arbor. Imagine one giant electronic card catalog that makes all the world's books discoverable with just a few keystrokes by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Knowing Wine

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St. Anne's Public House is an interesting audio journal I subscribe to that is available for free online.  One issue that I have listened to more than once is called Hearts Made Glad: A Tribute to Wine.  It's fantastic.  I want to encourage Christians who enjoy wine to hear this excellent resource.  Even if you abstain, I think you will benefit from this interesting mix of culture, Scripture, quotes, anecdotes and more.

A few of my favorite tracks are...
    Cultural Exegesis: Douglas Wilson on Whine
    Steve Walker and Vern Spencer about growing grapes and crafting wine
    Wine and Judgment
    Wine Educator John Allen about the basics of enjoying wine

I would enjoy hearing your take on some of this audio.  Which is your favorite?

Book Review: Common Grounds

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Lucke_commonGlennLucke recently emailed me to see if I would read and review the book he wrote with Ben Young, Common Grounds.  I was happy to do so since I have interacted with Glenn a bit through email and he seems to be a great guy, and have kept up with his blog.  Thanks to Broadman & Holman for the book.

Common Grounds is a "Platonic dialogue" with four characters all living in Houston. The first is Dr. MacGregor, a retired seminary professor who is kind and wise.  The second is Brad, an investment banker who is busier than a hive of bees and is always late or always needing to leave early.  He is a Southern Baptist modernist-type who has everything right on paper but is missing the heart of the beliefs he holds.  Lauren is the attractive young corporate lawyer who is a skeptic with many of the typical objections to Christianity, but a hot bod (hey, read the book for yourself). Jarrod is a sandal-wearing, former wake-boarder, grad student in philosophy who is always underdressed.  He attends a charismatic-type church and seems to care more about the Spirit than the Word.  All the characters fit a general stereotype from different extremes.

The latter three are buddies from college days who still meet for coffee every other Sunday night at the Common Grounds coffee shop.  They discuss and debate all sorts of things when they meet, much of it about Christianity, and so Brad decides one evening to bring Dr. MacGregor (who preached at his church recently) to join the conversation for a few meetings.

The rest of the book is filled with dialogue between the four of them, which progressively and somewhat naturally (not so much planned) moves through the attributes of God, God's providence (including a discussion on 9/11), and then general and special revelation.  MacGregor is the one with wisdom and insight who knows theology and can read people.

By the end of the book the three friends have wrestled with their personal issues in light of Scripture and theology.  They question their presuppositions and start to realize that they need a better understanding of God.  That said, no one is converted, no one enters full-time ministry, and no one changes the way they dress.  But their lives do seem a little better as they have become more active seekers of God and truth.

Lucke explains the two goals of the book in an email to me.

The primary goal of Common Grounds is to entice college students, twenty and thirty-somethings into learning the Christian story more deeply.

It's definitely written for this age range, though I’m not sure it will be as enticing for college students.  I hope I’m wrong. I think it will be most helpful for those who can identify with the characters.  And the characters are (for the most part) well-to-do, young, highly educated, attractive, single urbanites.

Does it help us know the Christian story more deeply?  I would be more comfortable to say it helps us know Christian theology more deeply.  Christ is the center of the Story, and there isn't much Christ in this book.  So it's not about the story, but about understanding systematic theology in dialogical form.

The secondary goal is to model gracious evangelism with a militant skeptic, and do so in a presuppositional way.

If I'm an SBC guy who thinks we drop the gospel on people's heads rather than through relationships, this book has a lot to offer.  I can think of people who need to read it and stop beating people up with truth.  MacGregor is a good example.

But I don't think the gospel is really in the book.  If anything, this is apologetical instead of directly evangelistic.  I only remember seeing the name "Jesus" once or twice (though it may have been more). Point is, this is not a gospel book.  It's not a Cross book.  It's not a Jesus book.  It's a systematic theology book, and that only in the areas mentioned above. Word from Lucke is that four more books are planned in this series, covering other topics.

The book does give some interesting bridges from everyday life to truth. Coffee spilled on clothes and being late for meetings becomes an opportunity to point to God’s providence as the meeting is cancelled and time pressures are gone. These aren’t tremendously complex bridges, but helpful for those learning to dialogue one issues of truth and theology.

To be honest, I felt the dialogue was a bit weak. It wasn't very realistic.  In my copy of the book I've written in at least a dozen places in the margin the word "honest," meaning, the dialogue doesn't ring honest/true to me. There are too many places where it's not the right question, the right answer, the right tone, the right attitude.  Views held are too easily shot down, brokenness comes too quickly, openness to talk about things is too open.

So here’s my recommendation...

I like the conservative and reformed theology of the book, and the effort made by the authors to not hold it arrogantly.  So I'm comfortable encouraging readers to embrace the theology taught in the book.

I think audience is pretty important.  If you get this book to the right people (young, ambitious, etc..), it will have its greatest effect.  If they have studied much theology or Scripture at all, it won’t be as helpful.  It's too basic.  But that's the strength of the book too, is as a basic intro to theology for a novel reader.

It may have some helpful apologetical (pre-evangelism) application with young adults, but I don't think that's a real strength in the book because the dialogue isn't honest enough.  There isn't enough real wrestling that will mirror what “seekers” will be wrestling with. And I’m afraid it will tell seekers that foundational issues are theological, not Christological.

If I use this book, it will be with young adults (not youth, but those out of school and in the workplace) who need a brief intro to theology. It might work well to go through as a group and see where the readers see their own struggles with the theological issues raised in the book.

Other takes...

Charles Colson: Breakpoint
iMonk
World Magazine Blog
CCM Magazine

Running Blind

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Running Blind
by Godsmack
Can't find the answers
I've been crawling on my knees
Looking for anything
To keep me from drowning
Promises have been turned to lies
Can't even be honest inside
Now I'm running backward
Watching my life wave me goodbye

Running blind
I'm running blind
Somebody help me see I'm running blind

Searching for nothing
Wondering if I'll change
I'm trying everything
But everything still stays the same
I thought if I showed you I could fly
Wouldn't need anyone by my side
Now I'm running backward
With broken wings I know I'll die

Running blind
I'm running blind
Somebody help me see I'm running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind

I can't find the answers
I've been crawling on my knees
Looking for anything
To keep me from drowning
I'm running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind
Running blind

Desiring God Audio

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Here's the audio from the recent Suffering and the Sovereignty of God Conference from Desiring God (John Piper's ministry).  Thanks to Justin Taylor for making these available.

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God - John Piper
Listen   |  Read Manuscript

Interview with John Piper
John Piper and Justin Taylor
Listen

The Sovereignty of God and Ethnic-based Suffering - Carl Ellis
Listen  |  Outline 

"All the Good that is Ours in Christ": Seeing God's Gracious Hand in the Hurts Others Do Us - Mark Talbot
Listen  |  Outline

Christ’s Grace and Your Sufferings - David Powlison
Listen

Sovereignty, Suffering, and the Work of Missions - Steve Saint
Listen 

Suffering for the Sake of . . . - Joni Eareckson Tada
Listen

The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God - John Piper
Listen  |  Read Manuscript

Desiring God Conference Bloggers

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Challies and CoffeeSwirls are live-blogging the Desiring God Conference on Suffering and the Sovereignty of God in Minneapolis.  I attended last year's conference which was excellent, and was offered the chance to blog the conference this year but had conflicting plans.  Very cool to be able to keep up with the conference through these blogs. 

I won't update links to all their posts, but here are the ones online so far.

Challies: Session 1, Session 2
CoffeeSwirls: Day 1 Thoughts; Piper/Taylor Showdown

Alcoholics & Abstinence

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Alcohol_crop_labelAs I continue an unplanned series of posts on alcohol, I have some thoughts that are really unrefined, but ones I want to share and get some interaction on.  Nothing in stone in this post but our faith in God's mercy.

I wonder why we don't teach that God can work in "alcoholics" so that they can change and get to the point where they drink a glass of wine with dinner and not re-enter a lifestyle of abuse.  I know some of you will immediately think I'm trying to build a "law" that everyone must drink alcohol.  That's not what I'm saying at all.  Some of you are thinking "Why???"  "Why would you want to tempt an alcoholic to return to that lifestyle?"  Bottom line: I just think it's good for us to reconsider our cultural assumptions on addiction and filter them through what God says He is doing.  He is transforming us, and abstinence seems to be an anti-transformation mentality.

For example, we know that God has given a Spirit of self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).  So why do we assume an "alcoholic" (may help to question our terminology too) cannot gain self-control that is strong enough to overpower a tendency toward addiction?  We are new creations in Christ.  We have been given new desires.  We have new hearts. 

I know it might take time, and I know there are dangers.  But we don't live according to dangers, and we don't walk by sight.  We live by faith, and if I'm trusting God then I'm believing he changes people deeply and in sometimes shocking ways.

My point isn't to push people toward drinking after years of abuse.  I'm simply asking if we shouldn't teach that God can and does change people and that alcoholics can find themselves enjoying a brew with friends someday without getting drunk.  Sounds good to me.  Once again, it seems to be the most Scriptural view and one that trusts in the character and work of Christ.

Practically speaking, alcoholism is often born out of something else.  It can be to escape from responsibility, the pain of loss, and so on.  I know alcoholics who say that they only tend to get on a binge when they are around certain friends, or situations, or with their band members. 

Many times alcoholism is said to be something that "runs in our family."  It may be that you are more predisposed to be addicted to alcohol, but that doesn't mean you can't learn to enjoy it in a God-glorifying way.

I'm not recommending anything here.  I'm not telling addicts to find the nearest Liquor Barn and start nursing on cheap beer.  What I'm hoping for is a good dialogue on the spiritual understandings of addiction and on the Spirit's work of redemption and sanctification.

Sinclair Ferguson: NPP

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Bill Streger (KaleoBill) has offered a very good quote from Sinclair Ferguson from his lectures on the New Perspective on Paul. 

I think it's written all over the way in which we do church today thatwe are far more interested in ourselves as individuals than in the life of the community. And if I were to spell out why I think that's true, I would lose friends. Everywhere. My own position is, I don't think a New Testament believer would begin to understand why we do church the way we do church instead of the way they did church. So, there are serious questions here. About the extent to which we are self-fascinated evangelicals - rather than God-centered and community-, fellowship-oriented. Has it never struck you that the New Testament almost nowhere tells you how to do evangelism? Almost nowhere tells you how to do evangelism. Why? Because it understood that being the church was to do evangelism. And our problem in our community - if I can explode for a moment - is that we don't do evangelism because we're not convinced at all - and often rightly we're not convinced - that our Christian community is really radically supernaturally different from the rest of the world. But they were so obviously radically supernaturally different from the rest of the world.

Humility: A Review

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Humility_book_4I have been given the opportunity to review C.J. Mahaney's new book Humility: True Greatness before it is released.  C.J. is the founding and former (27 year) pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaitherburg, MD.  He now leads Sovereign Grace Ministries full-time as they seek to plant and strengthen churches through their network.  He has written or contributed to several books.  He will be speaking at the Together for the Gospel conference in April of 2006 in Louisville, KY.

It was easy to decide to review a book by C.J.  First, I figured I'd buy and read the book anyway.  It's a good and neglected topic, and I have enjoyed his previous books.  Second, because I have had the opportunity to hear him speak live at least twice (maybe three times) and have always benefited from his humble boldness with the Word.  I have also listened to several of his sermons over the past few years on CD.  Third, some church leaders I know and respect think highly of C.J. as a person, a pastor and a leader.

The book is short, 137 pages (at least in my pdf version) including all the necessary pages for recommendations, title, etc.  It's divided into three themes: the need for humility, true greatness according to Jesus, and how to practically cultivate humility.  It's well organized and the direction of the book is clear.

In the first section Mahaney admits that pride infects all of us.  It's in our hearts squeezing out the space where our dependence on God should be.  I think he does an adequate job in very little space showing the problem of pride for all of us, and how it is so deeply rooted in our hearts and lives.

In the second section he turns to Jesus in Mark 9 and 10 as the disciples argue about who is the greatest.  Mahaney makes the point that Jesus doesn't kill their ambition, but redirected it so that those who want to be truly great will be slave of all. A helpful observation, and the foundation for all Mahaney says after it.

Mahaney defines "true greatness" as serving others for the glory of God.  He points out that Jesus gives us teaching on humble service, is himself the perfect example of this servanthood, but best of all He gives us His death.  Mahaney makes clear that we cannot escape the grip of pride, but must get divine rescue through the Cross.

In the third section Mahaney shines as he takes the biblical and makes it practical.  He spends the next few chapters explaining through some practical ways to cultivate humility and kill pride.  He has some general suggestions (like reflecting on the cross), advice for the beginning of each day (like starting with gratitude and seizing your commute for God) and for the end of each day (like accepting the gift of sleep by acknowledging that God intends sleep to prove how much we have to depend on Him).  He also gives suggestions for special focus (like studying sin and the attributes of God) and a few fun ones (like playing golf). 

This list is given in a simplified form at the end of the book for easy reference.  It's no surprise that Mahaney strongly suggests we all have our own lists on defeating pride so that we will be purposeful about it.

Mahaney believes humility is also cultivated as we seek to encourage others every day, as we invite and pursue correction, and learn to respond humbly to trials.  He has a chapter on each of these things.  He also encourages the read to leave a legacy of true greatness by preparing our kids to recognize true greatness and not just ordinary things that we call great.  He finishes the book with one last look at the Savior, which is Mahaney's Cross-centered style, and one worth imitating.

Here's my closing take on the book.

The one real weakness of the book is a lack of outward focus.  He defines humility (true greatness) as serving others for the glory of God, but really doesn't talk much about what that looks like.  The only chapter he really gives on this is on encouragement, and that is focused on words, not deeds.  The book is mostly about dealing with inner issues and disciplines that cultivate an attitude of humility.  I would have enjoyed seeing more interaction with the life of serving the defines true greatness.

I think Mahaney's chapter on inviting and pursuing correction is helpful on a very neglected idea.  If I refer to nothing else in this book again, that is a chapter I will be sure to reference for my own battle against pride.  It is a unique contribution from this book along with C.J.'s good list on cultivating humility. 

This is a small book. I'm looking forward to the day a publisher tells C.J. to dive in and go deep, but this isn't that day. So though this for some this may be the definitive book on humility simply because there isn't much on the subject in print, this is really only an introduction to the topic from a good Bible teacher.  That said, I think C.J. would agree heartily that the best books to cultivate humility are not books on humility, but books on the Cross, sin, Jesus, the doctrine of God, etc.  Thankfully, C.J. quotes from and recommends a number of good books to read throughout this book.  I can attest, having read many of them, that he points us to very good books for this life-long pursuit of true greatness. 

As a pastor I am always on the lookout for small, accessible and readable books on important topics for people who are not yet ready for longer and deeper books.  This is a very good one for that purpose.  I highly recommend it for most Christians as a good place to start their battle with pride.  I will be recommending it in my local church.

Temperance

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Temperance is, unfortunately, one of those words thathas changed its meaning. It now usually means teetotalism. But in the days when the second Cardinal virtue was christened “Temperance,” it meant nothing of the sort. Temperance referred not specially to drink, but to all pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going the right length and no further. It is a mistake to think that Christian ought all to be teetotallers; Mohammedanism, not Christianity, is the teetotal religion. Of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or of any Christian, at a particular time, to abstain from strong drink, either because he is the sort of man who cannot drink at all without drinking too much, or because he wants to give the money to the poor, or because he is with people who are inclined to drunkenness and must not encourage them by drinking himself. But the whole point is that he is abstaining, for a good reason, from something which he does not condemn and which he likes to see other people enjoying. One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting every one else to give it up. That is not the Christian way. An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons - marriage , or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.

CS Lewis, Mere Christianity pp. 61, 62

(HT: Joe Thorn)

Joe Thorn on the Seven

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Se7en_2Joe Thorn has started a series of posts on the seven deadly sins.  His first post on lust is really good, both practical and convicting.  Here's a snippit...

...lust boils down to a personal dissatisfaction with God. How?Lust is blind to the God who is supposed to be our greatest boast, our ultimate comfort and source of contentment. Lust craves everything else besides God and the things He has provided for us. It misses the gifts we possess in the light of the things we lack.

More good writing on bad stuff to come.

Update: Gluttony

Alcohol, Abstention and Redemption

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Let's keep thinking through alcohol and abstention.

Generally speaking, both sides of the issue of alcohol agree that there is no way to prove biblically that Christians should abstain from alcohol.  I know there are exceptions (some of them in my inbox this week), but let's start with the premise that we can't build an air tight case for abstinence from the Bible.

The case is then often pushed to two areas (surely there are more). First, sometimes the case is made for a less fermented wine in the Bible or Welch's flowing at weddings.  Some people (I've become a magnet for some of them) will go to great lengths to explain how wine in the Bible had much lower alcohol content.  I've read long, rambling posts, discussion board threads, etc on this. 

I'm not convinced, but I don't think it really matters that much.  People in biblical times were getting drunk and so are people today, so who cares how much alcohol content there is in a drink?  There are abusers looking to abuse.  The biblical point doesn't change.  It's abuse that is the problem, not the alcohol content.  You can sip whiskey, mix the Captain with Coke, or whatever.  As long as you don't get drunk and drink for the glory of God, you are cool, biblically speaking.

So the argument for alcohol content, in my opinion, is a bit of a red herring.  It is off topic.  The biblical command remains, and is sufficient.  Isn't that great?!  It's sufficient whether we buy and drink a Smithwick's or a Seagrams 7.

The second thing the lack of biblical evidence for total abstinence does to the alcohol conversation is drive some to say that we live in a culture of abuse and therefore abstinence is a must in THIS culture.  But that's almost never really the point of those who argue this.  If it were, they would allow for alcohol consumption for our missionaries in other cultures where things are different.  But they don't allow that, which shows they really want to make an extra-biblical rule (legalism) for all of us. 

But let's give the benefit of the doubt, at least for the sake of the argument.  Let's say people with this position really believe it's about an abusing culture, and their inconsistency in application is out of their hands (denominational monetary pressures at work).  I get that.  And I understand this position and argued for it until a couple of years ago. In fact, I remember being at a Founder's Conference while in seminary and spending a couple of hours one night arguing my guts out with a Presbyterian guy about how everyone should abstain.  This guy *gasp* made his own beer!

I completely disagree with this argument for abstention now.  I could take the easy route and say I'd rather follow biblical rules than extra-biblical ones.  But even more, my reasoning is found in the Cross that created the Church.  The church is a redemptive community.  We live not only the experience of redemption (I'm redeemed/being redeemed) but also the works of redemption (I'm redeeming).  That's why our mission is both words and works, speaking and doing redemption.

And if we are working out our salvation through being redeemed and redeeming, then our response to cultural abuses is not to abstain but to redeem. That not only pushes us to maturity by teaching us how to eat, drink, and have sex to the glory of God (though it won't come easy), but it is also a witness to the world that God redeems.  The pervert throws away the pornography (abuse) and learns to love sex with his wife (redemption).  The glutton refuses to order a 5 piece fried chicken and fries meal (abuse) and learns to order a salad with light dressing instead (redemption).  The alcohol abuser stops drinking until drunk (abuse) and learns to stop after a beer or two (redemption). 

As long as we make the issue "abstaining," we will miss expressing and embodying redemption.  And I'm afraid the message we will send is that good things can be perverted beyond redemption.

Are You A Leader?

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Kevin Cawley (Sufjan Stevens' Aficionado) has found a nice list (from Tony Morgan) on leadership that rings true to me. 

"Ten Easy Ways To Know You Are Not A Leader."

1. You're waiting on a bigger staff and more money to accomplish your vision.
2. You think you need to be in charge to have influence.
3. You're content.
4. You tend to foster division instead of generating a helpful dialogue.
5. You think you need to say something to be heard.
6. You find it easier to blame others for your circumstances than to take responsibility for solutions.
7. It's been some time since you said, "I messed up."
8. You're driven by the task instead of the relationships and the vision.
9. Your dreams are so small, people think they can be achieved.
10. No one is following you.

I find it interesting that people write out lists like these.  If all this list is good for is to remind leaders that they do all these things already, then it's wasted time.  So that can't be the reason.  If this list is simply to point out to non-leaders that they really aren't leaders, then I don't really think we'd spend so much time making lists because leaders by nature want to develop more leaders, not usually stop non-leaders.  I know these may be sub-strata goals, but not main ones.

I think these lists are to get true leaders out of the snares we get caught in where we lose track of vision, responsibility, risk, relationships, etc.  I think they are the products of leaders who want to encourage other leaders to keep their eye on the prize through continual refocus.  That's why #7, saying "I messed up," is in the list, because the list should produce redirected leaders, not just describe perfect ones.

What do you think?

Networking: Tom Nebel

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Tom_nebel_1 I had the opportunity to have lunch with a strategic baptist leader up in my neck of the woods.  Tom Nebel is Great Lakes Baptist Conference (Baptist General Conference) We_plant_churchesAssociate Executive Minister for Church Multiplication, Associate Director of TeAMerica, and is the big cheese at WePlantChurches.com (Great Lakes Church Planting).  I got connected to Tom through some pastors at the Acts29 boot camp a couple of weeks ago.  Tom also brought a church planter named Gene in North Madison to meet with me.

We ate Mediterranean food on State Street in downtown Madison, WI and talked about churches, church health, church planting movements.  He wrote out a diagram explaining how churches and church leaders clash and/or mesh on the issues of pastor and vision and how momentum changes Big_dreams_small_places_1things dramatically.  Very helpful, and if my explanation doesn't make sense, I'm told it can be found in Tom's book Church Planting Landmines.  Tom gave me a copy of another book he wrote, Big Dreams in Small Places: Church Planting in Smaller Communities, obviously understanding my context in a smaller but rapidly growing suburb of Chicago.

The more networking I do with other visionary leaders, the more pumped I get about what God is doing all around us and through us.  Being a part of a church is so different than being a part of a movement of churches planting churches (I've written about this before).  I want to learn from them and encourage more movements and fewer monuments.