one night

Last night I flew from Tucson to Las Vegas to Nashville after having spent 20 hrs in Tucson visiting my mother and step-father (a free airline pass that had to be used by March 31st). I got into Nashville at 11:45 p.m. Nashville time. Had a 1 3/4 hr drive back to my in-laws in Crossville, TN where my family and I drove down to on Monday (we head back to Akron on Friday, what a week of travels!).

Flying in was beautiful with an amazing lightening rain storm. Best I have ever seen. The storm was horrendous driving home! Scarey. About 30 miles from Nasville, I saw lights off the interstate in a ditch. I stopped. It was around 12:30 a.m. Pouring down rain. A few semis driving by and splashing water. I was soaked. There was a guy in a Jeep Cherokee and he had spun out. No one else had stopped. He was ok, but clearly could not get out of the ditch and woods he had flown into. He didn't have a cell phone. I called 911. Someone had already called it in, but had not stopped. I told him that the police and an ambulance were on the way. He laughed about the ambulance because he was fine. He thanked me for stopping and said "God bless you."

As I started out, I slowed down. I still had a ways to go (got here around 2 a.m.) I thought of that "God bless you." all the way home.

My sister-in-law just told me that Tuesday morning one of her co-workers and her husband were killed by their neighbor in front of their 8 year old daughter. The neighbor committed sucide then. He was mad at them about a fence they had put up. He took a sledge hammer to it and they took him to court. The court found him guilty and was going to sentence him Tuesday. He told a friend he would kill his neighbors before he would spend time in prison. And he did!

There are a host of things happening in the world. I just read the headlines online. We all have things right in front of us though that aren't in the big world's headlines that are at the center of God's vision for the world...and we have some part in it. Don't just read the headlines. Live in the world by the grace of God as an apostle of Christ.

beyond the law

There have been times in my life, particularly during the Vietnam War, that I have supported actions beyond the law to try to change the course of our nation or of the world. I was criticized at times by those who shared different political viewpoints for flouting the law.

Now in the case of Terri Schaivo, the Congress passed a bill to have the federal courts be able to receive the case. They had some conviction that the federal courts would do what the FL state courts hadn't. But the federal courts have ruled in the same way as FL courts.

So now, strong statements are being made via the news media and on blogs that Gov Bush or others should take extraordinary measures beyond the law to keep Shaivo's body alive.

So we all now face questions about the role of the legislative and the judicial branches of our nation. Are there times we are justified in going beyond the law? And who decides when that is acceptable? Clearly not a majority because all the national polls are showing that a majority of Americans don't agree with the actions of Congress or the sentiments of Pres Bush or Gov Bush. Is this a moral issue or a medical science issue? Can morality be legistlated if it is a moral issue (we hear often around race relations that it can't be...we should just expect to pass the laws and let the chips fall where they may...it won't make people change their moral viewpoints). What about those folks, myself included, who disagree with the way our government is conducting the war in Iraq. We see that as a moral issue that is unnecessarily taking lives and is allowing in the name of U.S. foriegn policy for abuses to occur in various places via the Patriotic Act and the conduct of some U.S. operatives. So...we all agree that there are times moral issues call for actions beyond the law even though we may not agree on what those moral issues might be. Or do we?

I see across the boards deep sympathy for what Michael Shaivo and the Schindler family (Terri's parents) are feeling emotionally...even though they have diifferent opinions on what should be happening. Maybe that is the ONE thing we agree about.

confronting the powers

Back in the '60's and '70's I was trained in community organizing not so much in formal trianing, but with various mentors within various social justice issues. This was especially true around economic justice issues. I can remember in Philadelphia in 1974 as the gas crisis emerged being trained by an urban UCC minister on how to confront the oil companies and their executives even at their homes to get them to act more "justly."

It is interesting that these days I find some of the mentors who trained me, now to be in positions of power within the UCC. They are trying to protect the denomination the way they have understood it. And to some degree, I and others have confronted them with the same tactics and confrontational dialogue that they trained me in 30 years ago.

They don't like it! They have assumed that there are good guys and bad guys. The bad guys are the heads of U.S. corporations that are hurting people worldwide. They think they are the good guys because they see themselves as the lone folks who are advocating for the powerless in our world. What they fail to see is that within the church experience they are using their power to keep church in a certain style and venue which excludes vast numbers of people who are all around us in our communities.

The remarkable gift of the Apostle Paul was his ability to learn, grow and adapt, yet to stay focused on and passionate about the mission he received personally from Jesus Christ. The churches he established are indications of his "community organizing" skills. He confronted the powers within the established religion which at that time was Judaism and eventually he confronted other folks within the newly established churches who used their power to maintain their privelege in the churches. In Ephesians 6 Paul writes "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (KJV)

trinity?

My fear is that this Holy Week and Easter, the "holy" trinity for our nation are Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, and Terri Schiavo. I in no way compare the three situations to be similar, but for 99.9% of this country, we know as much about each of these situations. And shaped by the media we react in similar fashions, as voyeurs through the media lens, which keeps us attracted to them. (and it sells ad time!). I belive the most profound thing any of us can do this Good Fri and Easter to pray to the one true God, the three in one who created us, has guided us, and has saved us ALL in his son Jesus Christ. That is the most profound "answer" any of us who are outside these situations can do! And it is no small role!

what is the emerging church?

Andrew Jones has begun reflection on his understanding of the emerging church

at Coco's

I hang out a lot at Coco's Coffee Bar on West Market Street near Hardesty Park in Akron. I find it is easier not just to have conversations with folks beyond the "official" boundaries of the church, but more folks from our church indicate they would like to converse at the Coffee Shop.

Steve is behind the "bar."

trip to Seattle page

This is the link for the web page of my clergy peer group trip to Seattle to learn about the "emerging church" as well as other adventures.

http://www.fairlawnwest.org/seattle.htm

hikes and views

While in the Seattle area and on Orcas Island, our Peer Group went up Mt. Constitution on Orcas which is in the Moran State Park and saw a beautiful view that included Mt. Baker in the back.

And also here is David on a hike at 4100 ft looking at Mt. Rainier.

1st day at Orcas Is

This is out of order, but these are the first day's notes from the Advance with Bill Easum at Len & Elizabeth Sweet's home on Orcas Island in the Puget Sound.

Here are John Megyesi, Darryl Moulder, Harry Eberts and Russ Goldner of our peer group talking with Bill Easum (propped up against the pole) at the Sweets'.

Bill Easum -
Our pupose is not to build churches, but to change the lives of the city.
We need to focus on going deep rather than wide...immerse ourselves in scripture before we focus on getting more folks.

Small groups are not the big issue in churches. Multiplying small groups so more people can learn, grow and experience in the reality of Jesus Christ is the issue. And in developing leadership for small groups and thus the church. We need monthly leadership gatherings to have the leaders support one another, to focus on the purpose of groups, and to make sure we are within the DNA of the church.

Some good church models:
Imago Dei in Portland, OR
Dream Center in LA

Good books to read: Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller
Birth of the Chaordic Age by Dee Hock
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky

Small group leaders should provide weekly updates to the pastor of how lives have changed within their group and who needs more personal follow up. Bill had a stack of these reports on his desk every Sunday from small group leaders.

[At this point the idea came to me of Adam Kukuk and myself starting a worship/music leader training opportunity for churches that want to learn about this, but haven't had the opportunity. I also see as a future vision for my life as I get closer to 60 and can audit for free classes at U of A to learn more about computer and visual technology in communication and to help churches that don't have the resources or opportunities to learn about this.]

Fractals - get right what it is from the horse's mouth, Wayne Cordeiro
Potential teams for the functioning of the church and to fractal to help it function
worship
lay mobilization/equipping
outreach
administration
look at Acts 6 and Ephesians 4:11-12

Try to shift your church from a "what" (to do's) to a "who" (relating)

the last night at the Advance

Here we are the last night at the Advance. Smoked a cigar. That's one of Len's pleasures. And he invites any of us to join him. A beautiful night on the Puget Sound right at the end of the sunset with a sliver of a moon the shilouttes of the mountains all around.

Now back inside this amazing house in our last conversation with Bill Easum.

Easum - If God want's it done, why does it matter if it is in the budget? Budgets have become excuses for too much of the church to avoid doing what God wants it to do.

Don't have an "accountablity partner" who is out to get you. Get someone ahead of you to be an accountability partner. Leaders always want to be in contact with someone who is a better leader than they are. Good leaders always want to learn. Be with those who of have been where you want to go.

You can learn easily these days with so many good folks and books out there to mentor you.

Always use teams. 5000 member church has a leadership team of 7. You don't need more than that if the church is mobilized sharing the same DNA and moving toward its shared vision. Unpaid servants are vital. Budgets and job descriptions will disappear. The flexibility and multiplication. It is the DNA of the early church.

Wayne Cordiero and New Hope Christian Fellowship in Oahu is a good model.

Community Christian Church in Napierville, Ill. Best team based church in America. Not seminary trained.

Video Venue of North Coast Church. Church Video Venue. Christ the King Community Church, Skagit Valley, WA.

A church - Does every 10 people have a pastor? Does everybody in town know you are there? Is your worship indigenous to the culture around you? Does it have the best sound, experience and techonology? Does it use the language of the culture?

pastor as pansy

Bill Easum just said "Too many pastors are pansies. What do you need God for to do just doing what you are already doing? Did God call you to do this?"

Let the congregation know where God sent you to them to lead them where to go!
Never let the church set your agenda. That's not the way the Gospel was written.
God has something for us to do. If we don't do it, we will pay a price (death) even greater than the price we pay for risking and trusting God to step out in real ministry.

If God has "shown" us something in our journey, will we continue to trust what God has done for us? [DL comment: For instance, at Fairlawn-West, look at what God has done for and with us? How can we step back and question God's extravagant promise? We just continue to step out and continue to do what God is telling us to do. And the Bible is real clear how that is!]

If it's "possible", you don't need God.

Len Sweet now - What are our spiritual weaknesses? What is your strongest weakness? That's where God is calling you to grow and bless others. Your growing edge. Look at Moses. God told him to go face the biggest political super power of the day and tell them to let go the basic ingredient of their economy, the Israelite slaves. What did Moses say? "Sure God, that's my spiritual gift and I will do it." ? No! He said "No way, Yahweh!!!" But with Yahweh/God leading him, it happened! Where are you going to make the biggest difference as a spiritual leader?

Easum - If you hit a brickwall, probably God is behind it. Don't give up.

Sweet - It is out of God's broken heart, Jesus Christ, a new heart/a new life arises. Our hearts need to break for the things that break God's heart. If you do love, your heart will break. If you don't want a broken heart, then don't ever love.

out on Orcas Island

Weather is beautiful out here on Orcas Island with Bill Easum and Len Sweet.

Bill has shook most of us up...even as I have been with him in a variety of ways over the past five years. This is a great growing time.

What is the news of the world? For all we are talking about seems far more important right now than anything else happening in the world. Not that I want to avoid the news of the world, but in talking about kingdom news of Jesus Christ on the mission to the world it seems far more important than all the rest of the "news."

oops, we're off to Mt. Constitution. see ya later.

a day in the life

Later this week my clergy peer group travels to Orcas Island in the Puget Sound for an "advance" with Bill Easum and Len Sweet. We will also be in Seattle for conversation with Karen Ward of the Church of the Apostles and share in scripture study with context.us of the Seattle Metro Church. Plus one of our days will be spent hiking at Mt. Rainer.

Today was a day of transition. I am exhausted emotionally and physically, but the experience of worship in the newly configured worship setting at
Fairlawn-West was an indicator of the change. Many people were weeping for joy at what has happened among us by the grace of God over the past five years. This congregation is now clearly on a mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We covenanted around our new core values and bedrock beliefs. And we knew "yes" this is who we are.

I will be gone next Sunday. I look forward to hear over the next few weeks how the place has changed in residence and in mission while I am gone.