I have a new blog entry @ http://www.lowercasechurch.com/blog/blog.html
sorry that i do not have comments up and running, either... hope to have that fixed as well... thanks for your patience. I am so new to this web stuff. :\
:D
DCC
8.25.2006
8.23.2006
blogging change
Hello to my vast readership! lol -- just so you know, I think might be abandoning blogger for something different... if you would like to see what's new, find it here: http://www.lowercasechurch.com/home.html
I have built a site that I hope will catch on... as I thought about coming over here to Arizona, I was thinking it would rock to have a site devoted to showing a church plant as it develops from start to launch. So, this site (which is up and 90% running) will provide a blog, a podcast, and various media items that I can share with anyone interested throughout the world. I did the entire site myself, including the photography... this is my first ever website. Did it all with Apple's iWeb software. Rockin... please stop by and enjoy.
Couple of items to get working: comments and the podcast. I will have to use a third party program for adding comments... so, until I do, my new blog will be comment free. Sorry about that... also, as many times as I have tried, I have not been able to get the podcast on the site. Weird... will be working on that one. :)
See you there!
I have built a site that I hope will catch on... as I thought about coming over here to Arizona, I was thinking it would rock to have a site devoted to showing a church plant as it develops from start to launch. So, this site (which is up and 90% running) will provide a blog, a podcast, and various media items that I can share with anyone interested throughout the world. I did the entire site myself, including the photography... this is my first ever website. Did it all with Apple's iWeb software. Rockin... please stop by and enjoy.
Couple of items to get working: comments and the podcast. I will have to use a third party program for adding comments... so, until I do, my new blog will be comment free. Sorry about that... also, as many times as I have tried, I have not been able to get the podcast on the site. Weird... will be working on that one. :)
See you there!
8.15.2006
The Big Move
Well, it's been a while since I last made a post... and for good reason! We moved over 2,500 miles away! Two weeks ago, we loaded up the family and moved from Baltimore, MD all the way to Phoenix, AZ. After a killer Ashes Remain show the night before, we set out to move from good ol' 9846 Sherwood Farm Road. I think we made it back home around 12:30 AM and then had to get everything together to leave @ 9 AM. Well, needless to say, we didn't get out at that time, but we did manage to get going around 10:30... so, that's not too bad. :) We were greeted in the morning by some of the most incredible people in Maryland. What awesome friends Kimme and I have! Thanks a million to all of you that took the time to come and pray over us on that Thursday night, and those of you that sent us off on Saturday morning. You rock... and we know your love continues. Thanks for the continued prayers, phone calls, texts, e-mails, and the like... you have all helped to make the transition more bearable. Thanks!
Once we left, we knew we couldn't last long. We were sooo tired. We ended up spending the night in Knoxville, TN which wasn't that far away. The next day was the longest, taking us from there all the way to Garland, TX. It was there that we spent the night @ my dad's house. We managed to get some decent rest there, and after a nice breakfast, we hit it again. The third day contained the most boring of drives ever... wow... is west Texas desolate. :( Once we crossed the state line into New Mexico, things started to look up. But really, nothing prepared us for the landscapes of Arizona.
Once we crossed the state line, it was like God was saving His best for last. Kimme commented after we were almost to Phoenix that she had seen more beauty in the previous two hours than she had in her entire life. Now, granted... neither of us have seen the Alps, the beauty of Switzerland, Austria, or Northern Italy. Neither have we seen the Carribean, Hawaii, or the jungles of South America... but to us midwesterners used to the plains of Kansas or Oklahoma, this landscape was breathtaking.
One of the coolest things about the trip on the last day was seeing the huge meteor crater just five minutes south of I-40. Wow. It's 3/4 of a mile wide and is 4 miles around in size. All of this from an object that was 150 wide and moving @ 11,000 mph.
Simply Awesome!
I think the kids totally loved it.They also totally love Arizona. So far, so good... they love the sun, the cactus, and the fact they get to wear shorts year-round. The heat hasn't bothered them, nor has it bothered Kimme or I. We love this place... and we have already been receiving confirmation ater confirmation that this is where we are supposed to be... more on that later when I have the time. Thanks again to all of you that have written, called, texted, and prayed... The Body of Christ is beautiful.
7.23.2006
Leader of Leaders or Lead Disciple Maker?
Something I have been trying to wrap my brain around lately in regard to leadership within the church is the difference between these two distinctions: seeing church staff as "leaders of leaders," vs. "lead discipler," or "lead disciple maker." What are your thoughts on this issue? (I am hoping this blog entry will become more of a dialogue than a single post of my thoughts alone. Post away! Is it one or the other? A combo of both? If so, to what degree? Which do you feel is most important (i.e. expectations of staff members)?
I have many friends all over the country involved in ministry as well as local Horizonite leaders. I'd love to hear from all of you.
DCC
I have many friends all over the country involved in ministry as well as local Horizonite leaders. I'd love to hear from all of you.
DCC
7.18.2006
I love Horizon, so should you...
Well, I gave my last message this last Sunday @ Horizon. That was sort of surreal. What a blessing the last 6 years have been! I have been blessed in working with some of the greatest followers of Christ I have ever known. I have seen many lives changed, and I have had the privilege of baptizing many of them... How cool is that? I have also seen the birth of two new churches here in Maryland... nothing could be better.
It looks as if we not have a commissioning service; time seems to be ticking away. Much of what I will say here I had hoped to share there, but this will suffice:
I love you... each and every one of you. You have all taught me so much. You have been my greatest of teachers. I am thankful for every experience I have had with you because each experience has strengthened my relationship with Christ in some way. Thanks! I will miss you; every one of you. Thanks for being my family, my community, my friends.
My prayer is that you will continue to carry the torch for Church Planting, that the mission set before us to reach the NE will be met, that relationships will embody a healthy community, that you never lose sight of God's Word nor quench the Holy Spirit, and that you will continue to love one another in the manner that Christ loves you. Always remember the ones that have yet to hear and have yet to experience Christ's love and grace. Develop them, as God gives you the grace to, into fully devoted followers of Him. Persevere, press on... never give up! Be a people known for grace and encouragement, not criticism or challenge. May you love people with the five love languages: lift them up with praise, give them a hug, spend time with them, serve them, and lavish them with gifts. Forgive one another. Stand for Truth, know the Truth, and live the Truth. Be ever broken before God, never prideful or arrogant. Always remember that Christ loved you while you were yet sinners, and love all the sinners of the world as Christ did for you.
My prayer is that God will bless you and keep you... all of you. And that He that began a good work in you will see it to it's completion. I leave you now, but only in a physical way. You will always be in my heart, as cheesy as that may sound. I will take you wherever I go.
God's peace...
DCC
It looks as if we not have a commissioning service; time seems to be ticking away. Much of what I will say here I had hoped to share there, but this will suffice:
I love you... each and every one of you. You have all taught me so much. You have been my greatest of teachers. I am thankful for every experience I have had with you because each experience has strengthened my relationship with Christ in some way. Thanks! I will miss you; every one of you. Thanks for being my family, my community, my friends.
My prayer is that you will continue to carry the torch for Church Planting, that the mission set before us to reach the NE will be met, that relationships will embody a healthy community, that you never lose sight of God's Word nor quench the Holy Spirit, and that you will continue to love one another in the manner that Christ loves you. Always remember the ones that have yet to hear and have yet to experience Christ's love and grace. Develop them, as God gives you the grace to, into fully devoted followers of Him. Persevere, press on... never give up! Be a people known for grace and encouragement, not criticism or challenge. May you love people with the five love languages: lift them up with praise, give them a hug, spend time with them, serve them, and lavish them with gifts. Forgive one another. Stand for Truth, know the Truth, and live the Truth. Be ever broken before God, never prideful or arrogant. Always remember that Christ loved you while you were yet sinners, and love all the sinners of the world as Christ did for you.
My prayer is that God will bless you and keep you... all of you. And that He that began a good work in you will see it to it's completion. I leave you now, but only in a physical way. You will always be in my heart, as cheesy as that may sound. I will take you wherever I go.
God's peace...
DCC
7.11.2006
The Beginning of it All... (see the two posts below as well)
6.08.2004
The Birth of a Vision
Hey, this is something I have been thinking about posting for a while, so here we go. The following (with more to come) are THE VERY FIRST dialogue/discussion stuff between me and Clay when we first met about hooking up for a church plant. Keep in mind as you read these several things:
1. Clay and I knew each other, though not fully. So as you read these, you see two guys trying to get to each other's heart: what makes the other tick.
2. Kimme and I had been speaking with folks in Maryland since mid-May 1999. These conversations began around late November; hence the reason for Clay's questions about the place.
3. When you see something called "the Mix," that was my previous ministry Kimme and I started in New Orleans. When you see Chicago mentioned, it was the possible church plant we turned down to come here.
3. I have left these unedited. I am sure you will get a laugh or two out of this, as I did, knowing how things turned out.
Enjoy! We'll start with Clay's questions to me in an e-mail dated Sunday, November 21, 1999... subject heading: How Cowan got his groove back.
---
Hey Dave,
Sorry for keeping you on the line earlier. Just tell
me when you've got company and I won't ask any
Maryland type questions.
Speaking of questions...
In what town are you planing to plant?
In the literature this community seems to be more
suburban in nature wanting to be a small town. They
are working to cap off any more quick growth,
preserving farm lands. Is this area a prime spot for
a church plant?
Do you already have a plan or are you still working on
how you would start? have you defined the purpose,
estabished rough goals, etc? or is it too early for
that?
What are you looking for in help (are you really even
looking for help or just intrigued) from someone else
joining you in a church plant? What do you need?
What do you see as your role and giftedness? What
would be your role in the first year, second, and
third.
This county is about an hour and a half north of where
I lived in Maryland. My community (Upper Marlboro in
Prince George county) was a part of the whole
Chesapeke bay mentality and this community looks like
it has more of a foothills personality. A lot of
people are probably moving to Carrol from Baltimore so
those people may be more like the people I remember.
I taught high school art for two years (drawing,
painting, pottery) and there seems to be a focus on
the arts in Carrol county. Could help. Allison has a
beautiful voice and is learing to play guitar. She is
the praise leader for the Bible in Blue Jeans (we did
not get a vote on the name for our mini-mix by the
way) but she is working to get beyond the few cords
she is using now. She has a bachelor's in Journalism,
but one more year and she can get the teaching degree
she wants. If that could happen the first year it
would be good for us.
I am amazed by the possibility of doing this. I am
confident that I could pastor a more traditional
church in the bible belt and be pretty good at it, so
it has nothing to do with running from anything. We
do not have enough churches and we do not have near
enough churches with God-focus...this has to change
and I get giddy thinking I could be a part of that.
I would like to talk to Dr. Weathersby soon. I am
late getting in on the neimiah project, but if I act
right away it can be done. Let me know if you are
still thinking about this and when we can talk more.
Take care
Clay
-------
My response: Dated Monday, November 22, 1999... subject heading: lookin' for housing? groovy!
-------
Speaking of answers...
Speaking of questions...
"In what town are you planing to plant?"
Well, the target area for Bill Crowe (associational director) is Westminister.
"In the literature this community seems to be more suburban in nature wanting to be a small town. They are working to cap off any more quick growth, preserving farm lands. Is this area a prime spot for a church plant?"
Yes, this was my big concern. I really felt like, "Hey, this AIN'T me, OK?" In fact, things look worse when you look at the psychographics. That stuff makes it look like grandma, apple pie, and USA. I was REAL concerned about this, and was honest with Bill telling him beforehand that when I interviewed and saw the town in better detail and didn't "feel" it, I wanted another suggestion. His suggestion was Elkridge, a SW suburb of Baltimore. I was excited about that until our trip to Westminister.
Remember, the intent is to start a church for the 18-30 age group (Exactly what I do here!). I SAW THAT AGE GROUP EVERYWHERE I WENT and NO ONE WAS REACHING THEM. Yes, the leaders of the town are trying to keep the small town a small town, and they are putting a cap on growth (VERY unlike the situation I told you about in Chicago). But I ask you, where are these people coming from? Well, Baltimore and DC. There are MANY new homes, especially on the West side of Westminister, that are very chic. There is NO WAY that these people work in Westminister. No way! So, they have the city mindset, but like to get away to the suburbs. Interestingly, this town has two universities:
Western Maryland College (link)
Carroll County Community College
"TEAMING WITH THE 18-30 RANGE: Do you already have a plan or are you still working on how you would start? Have you defined the purpose, established rough goals, etc.? Or is it too early for that?"
That's a tough set of questions. Here's where I am coming from right now. I have a very rough idea of things at this point. The ball will begin to roll soon about finding out more concerning our target audience. Bill and I have discussed the awesome call survey I had mentioned to you. That will most likely take place in January 2000 sometime. That will help us IMMENSELY in finding out what to do next.
I would be a little nervous about purpose and core values without meeting with the possible "core" people. I'd like to meet with the possible "core" and do a study from God's word about His church as well as an education on the target audience (18-30). Out of that may come something very similar, if not identical to the MIX, but only God knows. I have toyed with the concept of spreading the MIX like a GOD virus across the land, targeting unchurched areas. The MIX might still work, name and all, as a Seeker type service. Who knows? Just ideas, just ideas...
I get the feeling that the format of things will be similar to the MIX, yet maybe a bit more mature, (like, I am not sure about having games, unless we had someone really good to do them or something. My guess is that the professionals may not dig that, but I still think they would dig quality music. I asked EVERY Xer I ran into down there about Westminister, what they thought, and I got an interesting picture. Apparently, music and arts (as you noted) are big. That means, the music MUST be top notch. That will be tough. There will still be need for the ol' acoustic in small group settings.
"What are you looking for in help (are you really even looking for help or just intrigued) from someone else joining you in a church plant? What do you need?"
I am VERY interested in help. I really believe in a team approach. I work really well in that environment, as a typical Xer. As you may recall, that's what the setup was to be in Chicago. My hopes still linger with the possibility that some of the MIXers here will join the work up there. Again, if the MIX spreads, I could see the MIX here in NOLA as a training ground for sending out trained and ready MIX leaders to begin new works throughout our country. Again, just ideas. On a more personal note, I look forward to speaking with you about how YOU feel about working with me and Kimme with this. I think that Westminister may be one in a series of starts I may be involved with. We shall see. That would leave you in the drivers seat in time.
"What do you see as your role and giftedness? What would be your role in the first year, second, and third?"
I see myself as the equipping leader. God has gifted me in putting highly effective and creative people together to make things work. I have the gift of vision, seeing down the road, if you will. I dream BIG and see results. However, I must tell you, I am not an administrator. I really need a good administrator that would work with me. I make a good combo with that kind of working relationship. The first year, hard to say. Second year, hard to say. Third year, hard to say. Ultimately, I would probably be lead pastor (that's what they are hiring me for, anyway), but with the understanding that at some point I may transfer leadership to start another one. There is a possibility, however, that you would be the lead, and I assist you. I HAVE NO IDEA. Only God knows. The question is, do you feel called to work with a particular generation... Are those 18-30 year olds a passion for you... Think about it.
"We do not have enough churches and we do not have near enough churches with God-focus...this has to change and I get giddy thinking I could be a part of that."
ME TOO!
"Let me know if you are still thinking about this and when we can talk more."
Yeah, this week is real tough because Kimme works 6 days straight. She will not be free until Thanksgiving, and then on Sunday, we leave for Westminister to look for housing. I'd really like her to be there for the talks. As it is, I'll give her a copy of this e-mail and the one you sent. I have tried to keep her informed. If, however, you need to chat THIS WEEK, we could arrange it. Kimme may fall asleep on us! Wed. night might be best but that's up to you. We are off at church this Wed. (no activities in lieu of Thanksgiving). Call me, and at least you and I could do lunch. I have plans on Tuesday for lunch, but give me some suggestions.
Thanks!
-------
Clay's Respose:
You are further along than I realized. It is good to
wait until Kimmie (sp?) can talk with us without
falling asleep... unless she talks in her sleep,
maybe. Ya'll let us know when you are ready. Allison
and I are leaving Tue. morning and will be back Fri.
evening. I'm sure you will be focused on your trip
then so we can wait to talk if you want. Enjoy,
relax, buy a pretty house, and dream big dreams.
I'm calling Bill Crowe to find out what I can from his
end. Even though it is crazy early, Allison and I are
feeling peaceful about this. You have a solid mix of
confidence/ability and humility that makes this good.
We are praying.
Take care,
Clay
The Birth of a Vision
Hey, this is something I have been thinking about posting for a while, so here we go. The following (with more to come) are THE VERY FIRST dialogue/discussion stuff between me and Clay when we first met about hooking up for a church plant. Keep in mind as you read these several things:
1. Clay and I knew each other, though not fully. So as you read these, you see two guys trying to get to each other's heart: what makes the other tick.
2. Kimme and I had been speaking with folks in Maryland since mid-May 1999. These conversations began around late November; hence the reason for Clay's questions about the place.
3. When you see something called "the Mix," that was my previous ministry Kimme and I started in New Orleans. When you see Chicago mentioned, it was the possible church plant we turned down to come here.
3. I have left these unedited. I am sure you will get a laugh or two out of this, as I did, knowing how things turned out.
Enjoy! We'll start with Clay's questions to me in an e-mail dated Sunday, November 21, 1999... subject heading: How Cowan got his groove back.
---
Hey Dave,
Sorry for keeping you on the line earlier. Just tell
me when you've got company and I won't ask any
Maryland type questions.
Speaking of questions...
In what town are you planing to plant?
In the literature this community seems to be more
suburban in nature wanting to be a small town. They
are working to cap off any more quick growth,
preserving farm lands. Is this area a prime spot for
a church plant?
Do you already have a plan or are you still working on
how you would start? have you defined the purpose,
estabished rough goals, etc? or is it too early for
that?
What are you looking for in help (are you really even
looking for help or just intrigued) from someone else
joining you in a church plant? What do you need?
What do you see as your role and giftedness? What
would be your role in the first year, second, and
third.
This county is about an hour and a half north of where
I lived in Maryland. My community (Upper Marlboro in
Prince George county) was a part of the whole
Chesapeke bay mentality and this community looks like
it has more of a foothills personality. A lot of
people are probably moving to Carrol from Baltimore so
those people may be more like the people I remember.
I taught high school art for two years (drawing,
painting, pottery) and there seems to be a focus on
the arts in Carrol county. Could help. Allison has a
beautiful voice and is learing to play guitar. She is
the praise leader for the Bible in Blue Jeans (we did
not get a vote on the name for our mini-mix by the
way) but she is working to get beyond the few cords
she is using now. She has a bachelor's in Journalism,
but one more year and she can get the teaching degree
she wants. If that could happen the first year it
would be good for us.
I am amazed by the possibility of doing this. I am
confident that I could pastor a more traditional
church in the bible belt and be pretty good at it, so
it has nothing to do with running from anything. We
do not have enough churches and we do not have near
enough churches with God-focus...this has to change
and I get giddy thinking I could be a part of that.
I would like to talk to Dr. Weathersby soon. I am
late getting in on the neimiah project, but if I act
right away it can be done. Let me know if you are
still thinking about this and when we can talk more.
Take care
Clay
-------
My response: Dated Monday, November 22, 1999... subject heading: lookin' for housing? groovy!
-------
Speaking of answers...
Speaking of questions...
"In what town are you planing to plant?"
Well, the target area for Bill Crowe (associational director) is Westminister.
"In the literature this community seems to be more suburban in nature wanting to be a small town. They are working to cap off any more quick growth, preserving farm lands. Is this area a prime spot for a church plant?"
Yes, this was my big concern. I really felt like, "Hey, this AIN'T me, OK?" In fact, things look worse when you look at the psychographics. That stuff makes it look like grandma, apple pie, and USA. I was REAL concerned about this, and was honest with Bill telling him beforehand that when I interviewed and saw the town in better detail and didn't "feel" it, I wanted another suggestion. His suggestion was Elkridge, a SW suburb of Baltimore. I was excited about that until our trip to Westminister.
Remember, the intent is to start a church for the 18-30 age group (Exactly what I do here!). I SAW THAT AGE GROUP EVERYWHERE I WENT and NO ONE WAS REACHING THEM. Yes, the leaders of the town are trying to keep the small town a small town, and they are putting a cap on growth (VERY unlike the situation I told you about in Chicago). But I ask you, where are these people coming from? Well, Baltimore and DC. There are MANY new homes, especially on the West side of Westminister, that are very chic. There is NO WAY that these people work in Westminister. No way! So, they have the city mindset, but like to get away to the suburbs. Interestingly, this town has two universities:
Western Maryland College (link)
Carroll County Community College
"TEAMING WITH THE 18-30 RANGE: Do you already have a plan or are you still working on how you would start? Have you defined the purpose, established rough goals, etc.? Or is it too early for that?"
That's a tough set of questions. Here's where I am coming from right now. I have a very rough idea of things at this point. The ball will begin to roll soon about finding out more concerning our target audience. Bill and I have discussed the awesome call survey I had mentioned to you. That will most likely take place in January 2000 sometime. That will help us IMMENSELY in finding out what to do next.
I would be a little nervous about purpose and core values without meeting with the possible "core" people. I'd like to meet with the possible "core" and do a study from God's word about His church as well as an education on the target audience (18-30). Out of that may come something very similar, if not identical to the MIX, but only God knows. I have toyed with the concept of spreading the MIX like a GOD virus across the land, targeting unchurched areas. The MIX might still work, name and all, as a Seeker type service. Who knows? Just ideas, just ideas...
I get the feeling that the format of things will be similar to the MIX, yet maybe a bit more mature, (like, I am not sure about having games, unless we had someone really good to do them or something. My guess is that the professionals may not dig that, but I still think they would dig quality music. I asked EVERY Xer I ran into down there about Westminister, what they thought, and I got an interesting picture. Apparently, music and arts (as you noted) are big. That means, the music MUST be top notch. That will be tough. There will still be need for the ol' acoustic in small group settings.
"What are you looking for in help (are you really even looking for help or just intrigued) from someone else joining you in a church plant? What do you need?"
I am VERY interested in help. I really believe in a team approach. I work really well in that environment, as a typical Xer. As you may recall, that's what the setup was to be in Chicago. My hopes still linger with the possibility that some of the MIXers here will join the work up there. Again, if the MIX spreads, I could see the MIX here in NOLA as a training ground for sending out trained and ready MIX leaders to begin new works throughout our country. Again, just ideas. On a more personal note, I look forward to speaking with you about how YOU feel about working with me and Kimme with this. I think that Westminister may be one in a series of starts I may be involved with. We shall see. That would leave you in the drivers seat in time.
"What do you see as your role and giftedness? What would be your role in the first year, second, and third?"
I see myself as the equipping leader. God has gifted me in putting highly effective and creative people together to make things work. I have the gift of vision, seeing down the road, if you will. I dream BIG and see results. However, I must tell you, I am not an administrator. I really need a good administrator that would work with me. I make a good combo with that kind of working relationship. The first year, hard to say. Second year, hard to say. Third year, hard to say. Ultimately, I would probably be lead pastor (that's what they are hiring me for, anyway), but with the understanding that at some point I may transfer leadership to start another one. There is a possibility, however, that you would be the lead, and I assist you. I HAVE NO IDEA. Only God knows. The question is, do you feel called to work with a particular generation... Are those 18-30 year olds a passion for you... Think about it.
"We do not have enough churches and we do not have near enough churches with God-focus...this has to change and I get giddy thinking I could be a part of that."
ME TOO!
"Let me know if you are still thinking about this and when we can talk more."
Yeah, this week is real tough because Kimme works 6 days straight. She will not be free until Thanksgiving, and then on Sunday, we leave for Westminister to look for housing. I'd really like her to be there for the talks. As it is, I'll give her a copy of this e-mail and the one you sent. I have tried to keep her informed. If, however, you need to chat THIS WEEK, we could arrange it. Kimme may fall asleep on us! Wed. night might be best but that's up to you. We are off at church this Wed. (no activities in lieu of Thanksgiving). Call me, and at least you and I could do lunch. I have plans on Tuesday for lunch, but give me some suggestions.
Thanks!
-------
Clay's Respose:
You are further along than I realized. It is good to
wait until Kimmie (sp?) can talk with us without
falling asleep... unless she talks in her sleep,
maybe. Ya'll let us know when you are ready. Allison
and I are leaving Tue. morning and will be back Fri.
evening. I'm sure you will be focused on your trip
then so we can wait to talk if you want. Enjoy,
relax, buy a pretty house, and dream big dreams.
I'm calling Bill Crowe to find out what I can from his
end. Even though it is crazy early, Allison and I are
feeling peaceful about this. You have a solid mix of
confidence/ability and humility that makes this good.
We are praying.
Take care,
Clay
More Historic Musings, see below too!
Post dated: 6.10.2004
Called: "Navigation"
Last night was awesome! In our Link Group I took some time to share a little bit about the heart of Horizon, the direction God has set for us, and the overall vision of the church. I have never, and I mean never, seen a time where sharing/casting the vision has not stirred hearts or encouraged people in some significant way. This was no different. Some of these guys I have known for over a year, but even still, it was like this was all new or fresh to them. Or perhaps, a better way to describe it is that lights were coming on, hearts were being opened. Vision is that which opens eyes to the possibilities, and opens hearts to embrace something "God-sized." What an exciting thing to see with my friends!
Perhaps the neatest part of last night was the discussion concerning Horizon's view of leadership. We are under the deep conviction that when we examine God's Word, we see the following: Leadership is drawing others to Jesus, and into Christ-likeness. The Biblical term for this is discipleship. We see this as leadership, and we see this as something that EVERYONE is called to regardless of knowledge, experience, or personality traits.
Wow, were hearts opening up! It was like an "a-ha!" moment as people were catching the vision that they, too, could be a leader simply by connecting with others, spending time with them, and sharing their faith/walk/experience in Jesus with them. They, too, could make a difference in people's lives and shared what had been shared with them. And THAT'S leadership... The CEO model of leadership found today needs to go (at least in the context of churches), but I digress. :)
What a great night it was, setting our sights on Jesus... redirecting our focus on what lies ahead, and the plans God has for this (His) church.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for gathering such a wonderful group of people to pursue your purpose @ this time in Horizon's history! Thank you, Jesus, for the stories of the early disciples that inspire us, thousands of years later, to keep moving, keep pressing forward. God, may Your will and Your Spirit have free reign over all that happens... especially now as we look toward public launch of Horizon Towson. For all the hearts and eyes that were opened last night, I pray that You will navigate them in Your direction. Build an excitement and a passion that comes only from Your Spirit's fire. Amen.
Called: "Navigation"
Last night was awesome! In our Link Group I took some time to share a little bit about the heart of Horizon, the direction God has set for us, and the overall vision of the church. I have never, and I mean never, seen a time where sharing/casting the vision has not stirred hearts or encouraged people in some significant way. This was no different. Some of these guys I have known for over a year, but even still, it was like this was all new or fresh to them. Or perhaps, a better way to describe it is that lights were coming on, hearts were being opened. Vision is that which opens eyes to the possibilities, and opens hearts to embrace something "God-sized." What an exciting thing to see with my friends!
Perhaps the neatest part of last night was the discussion concerning Horizon's view of leadership. We are under the deep conviction that when we examine God's Word, we see the following: Leadership is drawing others to Jesus, and into Christ-likeness. The Biblical term for this is discipleship. We see this as leadership, and we see this as something that EVERYONE is called to regardless of knowledge, experience, or personality traits.
Wow, were hearts opening up! It was like an "a-ha!" moment as people were catching the vision that they, too, could be a leader simply by connecting with others, spending time with them, and sharing their faith/walk/experience in Jesus with them. They, too, could make a difference in people's lives and shared what had been shared with them. And THAT'S leadership... The CEO model of leadership found today needs to go (at least in the context of churches), but I digress. :)
What a great night it was, setting our sights on Jesus... redirecting our focus on what lies ahead, and the plans God has for this (His) church.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for gathering such a wonderful group of people to pursue your purpose @ this time in Horizon's history! Thank you, Jesus, for the stories of the early disciples that inspire us, thousands of years later, to keep moving, keep pressing forward. God, may Your will and Your Spirit have free reign over all that happens... especially now as we look toward public launch of Horizon Towson. For all the hearts and eyes that were opened last night, I pray that You will navigate them in Your direction. Build an excitement and a passion that comes only from Your Spirit's fire. Amen.
What I wrote when we first started Horizon in Towson
Dated: 7.15.2003
---
Paul wrote:
Rom. 15.20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.
Rom. 15.21 Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."
Rom. 15.22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Rom. 15.23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you,
Rom. 15.24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
Rom. 15.25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there.
I share his thoughts. I learned early in ministry that I have a desire to start new works. It's in me deep; it's in my blood. The thought thrills me to no end. I remember with my first start (more like a para-church deal than a church itself) -- the MIX, in New Orleans -- how addictive it was. Man... to see people schedule their time during the week to come and worship God when before they had no interest was a complete thrill for me.
Now @ Horizon, it's not different. First Owings Mills -- a place with 30,000 people in a one mile radius -- and one struggling church of like 30 in our area when we started. Towson... the numbers are even greater in density, being more urban and with a college campus right next door. Well... there are churches around, but most of them are rather old school... nothing wrong with that, but in the scheme of things -- they are probably finding it harder and harder to reach the college students around them. In comes Horizon...
Yet, the last part of Paul's words are sobering. He desired to get to Spain someday. The passion that drove him in Christ to start new works was the passion that set his sights on Spain. But... most likely, he never made it. Spain was reached, in time... but not by Paul.
Someday, my passion and zeal will drive me elsewhere... and hopefully when I am 60+ years old, I too will set my sights on a new frontier. But, even in that moment -- what matters most is that my zeal and passion infects others so that when I am gone... the dream continues.
Paul's dream continues in me.
DCC
---
Paul wrote:
Rom. 15.20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.
Rom. 15.21 Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."
Rom. 15.22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Rom. 15.23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you,
Rom. 15.24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
Rom. 15.25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there.
I share his thoughts. I learned early in ministry that I have a desire to start new works. It's in me deep; it's in my blood. The thought thrills me to no end. I remember with my first start (more like a para-church deal than a church itself) -- the MIX, in New Orleans -- how addictive it was. Man... to see people schedule their time during the week to come and worship God when before they had no interest was a complete thrill for me.
Now @ Horizon, it's not different. First Owings Mills -- a place with 30,000 people in a one mile radius -- and one struggling church of like 30 in our area when we started. Towson... the numbers are even greater in density, being more urban and with a college campus right next door. Well... there are churches around, but most of them are rather old school... nothing wrong with that, but in the scheme of things -- they are probably finding it harder and harder to reach the college students around them. In comes Horizon...
Yet, the last part of Paul's words are sobering. He desired to get to Spain someday. The passion that drove him in Christ to start new works was the passion that set his sights on Spain. But... most likely, he never made it. Spain was reached, in time... but not by Paul.
Someday, my passion and zeal will drive me elsewhere... and hopefully when I am 60+ years old, I too will set my sights on a new frontier. But, even in that moment -- what matters most is that my zeal and passion infects others so that when I am gone... the dream continues.
Paul's dream continues in me.
DCC
7.05.2006
Relationship or Mission?
What is the tie that binds us in the church? What should be our deciding factor when it comes to vision, strategy, or our long term purpose? Among many I know or have served with in ministry, this question boils down to two options or vantage points.
One viewpoint would suggest that our relationships should be our driving force. And to give credit where credit is due, this group is not opposed to mission by any means. In fact, this view point can in many ways champion mission... especially in that there is a focus on doing mission together with those you are close to... those one has a relationship with. This viewpoint is very present tense focused: what does it mean to be the church NOW. All of this makes perfect sense and there is good reasoning, even Biblical support for this perspective.
The other viewpoint (and the one that I am partial to) is that mission should be our driving force. This vantage point suggests that the spreading of the Good News of Jesus surpasses even our relationships. That is not to say that they are in conflict with one another, not by any means. But this ideas suggests that mission, the Great Commission, is why we the church exists. This view of things is very future focused: who will a part of the church THEN? This, too, has Biblical precedent... and for good reason.
Why is one above the other? Well, for one major reason (and a few lesser ones): Our relationships change... Our mission never changes...
Imagine if the early church defined the nature of their existence on who they knew or had relationship with? Would there be a church today if that was their perspective? I doubt it very much. No, instead, mission was the driving force above and beyond relationship. That is why the early church was able to send people, resources, and prayers to and for people they did not know. The people of Macedonia did not know, hang out, grab coffee, disciple, or lead anyone from the church in Jerusalem. Yet still they gave... why? Because there was a prevalent understanding among the early church on mission.
This is the primary difference between the church in Jerusalem and all the churches that followed. One focused on each other and it's own community, that being the church in Jerusalem. The others, from Antioch on, focused on mission... that is to say, those outside of their community. One model is never replicated again in Christendom (Jerusalem) and the other was multiplied over and over again (Antioch). One did not send resources or people regularly, the other did so as it their life depended on it.
Is mission done apart from relationship? Absolutely not! In fact, it was from the mission that relationships developed -- without people, missions cannot be done. Kimme and I came to Baltimore from New Orleans because God had called us there... it was being on mission that drove us here to a people we did not know. Christians from all over (that we had relationship with) gave of their time, resources, and prayer to see that this work was completed... many of these people are not known by Horizonites. Let me speak of a few:
Mrs. Barbara Beck.
She owned one of the first 20 stores that sold Apple Computers back in the early 80s. In fact, of the first 20, hers is the last one standing. What did she do? Well, she initially gave $10,000 to begin a video ministry at the church I was serving in back in 1997. From that came much of the video stuff we now do @ Horizon. It was because of Barbara Beck. Not only that, but she purchased at least one lap top for us, put money down toward another, and in 2000 gave Horizon the old Blue G3 desktop that to this day still produces a lot of our graphic art from Designer [Ted]. At least once a year I give Mrs. Beck a call to say thank you for her gift towards missions, because I know her gift keeps giving. She keeps paying it forward even to this day.
Paul Morrell, Jr.
Paul is the reason at least %25 of the people that come to Horizon (both Owings Mills and Towson) have ever come to visit on Sunday morning. Probably a handful of people know Paul, but for sure very little @ Horizon know his name. He is the artisan behind both versions of our SoulHorizon.com site, and one time Horizon even owned the domain kidhorizon.com to which he created that site as well. Paul gave of his time and also financial resources due to his desire to help a new church plant in Baltimore.
Tad Thompson:
Tad was once the youth minister for a church in Bentonville, Arkansas. I doubt that a handful actually know or remember his name, but he - like the people above and below - is another reason why the people that now attend Horizon, attend. Tad and First Baptist Bentonville's youth brought tremendous resources to help get Horizon off the ground. They first brought about 80 kids and sponsors, loaded up two buses full, and handed out 10,000 Horizon brochures to all of the people in Owings Mills. They gave us the money to produce this piece which Clay so skillfully made and with it, we had over 635 people register for our very first block party. From this event came a couple, Nik and Krem, that were of Indian descent. They had been having dreams about becoming Christians for two weeks. Then, they received a flyer about a block party from a Christian Church. They considered it a sign. They came not knowing what to expect. On the Sunday following, they came to Horizon. In two months, they both received Christ and became Christians and were our first to be baptized. Tad's group came out the following year as well... this time, we managed to produce a 16 page color magazine with incredible launching results. What compelled Tad and this church to do this? Mission.
Two anonymous givers in 2003:
Once during an announcement at Horizon in Owings Mills I asked if anyone knew someone that would like to give Horizon $10,000. There was an outburst of laughter. :) And to this I explained that I wasn't kidding. Horizon was about to risk it and start a new work in Towson, and though we had enough get some things, we were not really able to purchase everything we needed. And on top of all of that, there was an issue of cash flow. Though we had the money for some things, we could not spend it because we needed the cash flow to remain strong in order to avoid bounced checks.
The very following Sunday, there was a gift for the amount of $10,000! After services, I was told by someone in the church (that will remain nameless) that he wanted to meet with me the next day. We met in the food court of the Owings Mills Mall and he proceeded to tell me how when I shared that request two Sundays prior that he really sensed that God was telling him to give the $10,000. I said, "Surely you heard the announcement; we received the check yesterday." He explained that he did, but that didn't release him from that calling. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a check for $10,000! That was $20,000 raised in 8 days, and double what was asked. Later that week, Tad (mentioned above) managed to give the amount needed for us to get a quality projector. SO... every dollar we needed for beginning Towson was raised in 8 days from people of mission. Amazing.
A man named Phil:
I won't mention his full name because he would never want me to share it. Again, only a handful know of him. But even if they don't, they will remember the incredible color magazine that Andrea Battaglia made for Towson's launch. Guess who enabled us to do this? Phil. Not only that, but last year the BCM/D that sends funds towards our salary phased out all of the catalyst church planters, of which I am one. I needed to raise $22,500 -- namely because Horizon was not yet ready to take on that much of a load as they do now. Phil and I met for coffee. He explained that he and his wife had heard of our need, and he said that they wanted to pay the difference. Can you believe it? And frankly this is only a fraction of the ways he and his wife have blessed Horizon... but I am seeing that I am writing a book here. Phil and his wife are people devoted to seeing the mission fulfilled... to seeing people that have yet to hear of the Good News of Jesus have that chance. They give generously.
Over 40,000 churches:
As a Southern Baptist church plant, one thing that many of us do not realize at Horizon is that we are indebted to about 16 million people that attend 40,000 churches. Why? Because these 40,000 churches believe in mission over relationship. They give to the Cooperative Program, which in turn gives resources to missions, training for missionaries, and to equip missionaries all over the world. Together, churches of all sizes -- from 11 people to 15,000 -- are able to be a part of something bigger than themselves: mission. In this endeavor every prayer and every cent is equal, the weak and the strong are equal when it comes to mission. Have we yet to learn what Jesus meant with the widow's mite? I think so...
It was humbling to know and realize when Kimme and I bought our first home in 2000 that we didn't really own it. It was owned by people all over the world that we didn't know that gave so that we might serve here in Maryland.
All of this is why I was so deeply saddened by Horizon's decision to divide resources, divide mission, and go our separate ways. The prevailing understanding at the time was the because we didn't have adequate relationships with one another, we could not share the load together. Instead, we decided to go from "all in" to 6% in. And even now it would seem that this has even changed. Guys... in 5 years Horizon will not be the same. Try even 1 year! The relationships will change. People move. People die. People come and go. And when we are not centered on what our mission is as a church, the relationships that come 5 years from now will not know about the mission that began 6 years ago: to begin a movement of church planting reaching from DC to Boston. Instead, they will have some good hang out time with some friends (which is awesome) but they may never know they are a part of a church meant to reach the NE for Jesus Christ. The people in Boston are waiting on us, they just don't know it yet. Will Horizon get there? I truly hope so! That's what I have labored for and that is what the people above (and many others) have given and prayed for.
I find that my greatest regret in all of our discussion last year about Horizon's future is that I didn't have the wisdom at the time to fully articulate the issue at hand. To be honest, I was a bit distracted at the time with other issues.. but unfortunately the issue was divided into what seemed two categories: relationships or money. And when something is painted like that, who would vote for money over relationship? That would sound extravagant, if that was really what the issues were about. Indeed, the REAL issue was (and is) between relationship and mission. Notice that in every case above about people Horizon didn't know that's impacted them greatly I mention money. Well, that's because each person followed the example of the early church: they sent resources toward people they didn't know to help accomplish the Great Commission. Money is not the focus, Mission is... but it's easy for us to see budgets and get confused about what the real issue is.
Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28.18-20
Does it take resources to make disciples? Baptize? To teach? No, it does not... Neither does it take websites, guitars, sound equipment, video projectors, Retros/Luaus, mass mailers, storage space, coffee, doughnuts, bagels, laptops, cameras, rental space, printers, ink, paper, or children's equipment... yet these are things that churches need. Is it any wonder why Paul made such a focus on giving towards missions? He did so because being on mission can provide the means to help a local church spend the time it needs to on building healthy relationships... that is, to make disciples. Missions also means sending the people that will make disciples... And hopefully, following the example given by people they do not know, these new disciples will be part of what God is doing outside their sphere of relationships and help others hear the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Well, I could write about this all day and night. It's what I have been thinking about and praying about both day and night for the past two years.
One viewpoint would suggest that our relationships should be our driving force. And to give credit where credit is due, this group is not opposed to mission by any means. In fact, this view point can in many ways champion mission... especially in that there is a focus on doing mission together with those you are close to... those one has a relationship with. This viewpoint is very present tense focused: what does it mean to be the church NOW. All of this makes perfect sense and there is good reasoning, even Biblical support for this perspective.
The other viewpoint (and the one that I am partial to) is that mission should be our driving force. This vantage point suggests that the spreading of the Good News of Jesus surpasses even our relationships. That is not to say that they are in conflict with one another, not by any means. But this ideas suggests that mission, the Great Commission, is why we the church exists. This view of things is very future focused: who will a part of the church THEN? This, too, has Biblical precedent... and for good reason.
Why is one above the other? Well, for one major reason (and a few lesser ones): Our relationships change... Our mission never changes...
Imagine if the early church defined the nature of their existence on who they knew or had relationship with? Would there be a church today if that was their perspective? I doubt it very much. No, instead, mission was the driving force above and beyond relationship. That is why the early church was able to send people, resources, and prayers to and for people they did not know. The people of Macedonia did not know, hang out, grab coffee, disciple, or lead anyone from the church in Jerusalem. Yet still they gave... why? Because there was a prevalent understanding among the early church on mission.
This is the primary difference between the church in Jerusalem and all the churches that followed. One focused on each other and it's own community, that being the church in Jerusalem. The others, from Antioch on, focused on mission... that is to say, those outside of their community. One model is never replicated again in Christendom (Jerusalem) and the other was multiplied over and over again (Antioch). One did not send resources or people regularly, the other did so as it their life depended on it.
Is mission done apart from relationship? Absolutely not! In fact, it was from the mission that relationships developed -- without people, missions cannot be done. Kimme and I came to Baltimore from New Orleans because God had called us there... it was being on mission that drove us here to a people we did not know. Christians from all over (that we had relationship with) gave of their time, resources, and prayer to see that this work was completed... many of these people are not known by Horizonites. Let me speak of a few:
Mrs. Barbara Beck.
She owned one of the first 20 stores that sold Apple Computers back in the early 80s. In fact, of the first 20, hers is the last one standing. What did she do? Well, she initially gave $10,000 to begin a video ministry at the church I was serving in back in 1997. From that came much of the video stuff we now do @ Horizon. It was because of Barbara Beck. Not only that, but she purchased at least one lap top for us, put money down toward another, and in 2000 gave Horizon the old Blue G3 desktop that to this day still produces a lot of our graphic art from Designer [Ted]. At least once a year I give Mrs. Beck a call to say thank you for her gift towards missions, because I know her gift keeps giving. She keeps paying it forward even to this day.
Paul Morrell, Jr.
Paul is the reason at least %25 of the people that come to Horizon (both Owings Mills and Towson) have ever come to visit on Sunday morning. Probably a handful of people know Paul, but for sure very little @ Horizon know his name. He is the artisan behind both versions of our SoulHorizon.com site, and one time Horizon even owned the domain kidhorizon.com to which he created that site as well. Paul gave of his time and also financial resources due to his desire to help a new church plant in Baltimore.
Tad Thompson:
Tad was once the youth minister for a church in Bentonville, Arkansas. I doubt that a handful actually know or remember his name, but he - like the people above and below - is another reason why the people that now attend Horizon, attend. Tad and First Baptist Bentonville's youth brought tremendous resources to help get Horizon off the ground. They first brought about 80 kids and sponsors, loaded up two buses full, and handed out 10,000 Horizon brochures to all of the people in Owings Mills. They gave us the money to produce this piece which Clay so skillfully made and with it, we had over 635 people register for our very first block party. From this event came a couple, Nik and Krem, that were of Indian descent. They had been having dreams about becoming Christians for two weeks. Then, they received a flyer about a block party from a Christian Church. They considered it a sign. They came not knowing what to expect. On the Sunday following, they came to Horizon. In two months, they both received Christ and became Christians and were our first to be baptized. Tad's group came out the following year as well... this time, we managed to produce a 16 page color magazine with incredible launching results. What compelled Tad and this church to do this? Mission.
Two anonymous givers in 2003:
Once during an announcement at Horizon in Owings Mills I asked if anyone knew someone that would like to give Horizon $10,000. There was an outburst of laughter. :) And to this I explained that I wasn't kidding. Horizon was about to risk it and start a new work in Towson, and though we had enough get some things, we were not really able to purchase everything we needed. And on top of all of that, there was an issue of cash flow. Though we had the money for some things, we could not spend it because we needed the cash flow to remain strong in order to avoid bounced checks.
The very following Sunday, there was a gift for the amount of $10,000! After services, I was told by someone in the church (that will remain nameless) that he wanted to meet with me the next day. We met in the food court of the Owings Mills Mall and he proceeded to tell me how when I shared that request two Sundays prior that he really sensed that God was telling him to give the $10,000. I said, "Surely you heard the announcement; we received the check yesterday." He explained that he did, but that didn't release him from that calling. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a check for $10,000! That was $20,000 raised in 8 days, and double what was asked. Later that week, Tad (mentioned above) managed to give the amount needed for us to get a quality projector. SO... every dollar we needed for beginning Towson was raised in 8 days from people of mission. Amazing.
A man named Phil:
I won't mention his full name because he would never want me to share it. Again, only a handful know of him. But even if they don't, they will remember the incredible color magazine that Andrea Battaglia made for Towson's launch. Guess who enabled us to do this? Phil. Not only that, but last year the BCM/D that sends funds towards our salary phased out all of the catalyst church planters, of which I am one. I needed to raise $22,500 -- namely because Horizon was not yet ready to take on that much of a load as they do now. Phil and I met for coffee. He explained that he and his wife had heard of our need, and he said that they wanted to pay the difference. Can you believe it? And frankly this is only a fraction of the ways he and his wife have blessed Horizon... but I am seeing that I am writing a book here. Phil and his wife are people devoted to seeing the mission fulfilled... to seeing people that have yet to hear of the Good News of Jesus have that chance. They give generously.
Over 40,000 churches:
As a Southern Baptist church plant, one thing that many of us do not realize at Horizon is that we are indebted to about 16 million people that attend 40,000 churches. Why? Because these 40,000 churches believe in mission over relationship. They give to the Cooperative Program, which in turn gives resources to missions, training for missionaries, and to equip missionaries all over the world. Together, churches of all sizes -- from 11 people to 15,000 -- are able to be a part of something bigger than themselves: mission. In this endeavor every prayer and every cent is equal, the weak and the strong are equal when it comes to mission. Have we yet to learn what Jesus meant with the widow's mite? I think so...
It was humbling to know and realize when Kimme and I bought our first home in 2000 that we didn't really own it. It was owned by people all over the world that we didn't know that gave so that we might serve here in Maryland.
All of this is why I was so deeply saddened by Horizon's decision to divide resources, divide mission, and go our separate ways. The prevailing understanding at the time was the because we didn't have adequate relationships with one another, we could not share the load together. Instead, we decided to go from "all in" to 6% in. And even now it would seem that this has even changed. Guys... in 5 years Horizon will not be the same. Try even 1 year! The relationships will change. People move. People die. People come and go. And when we are not centered on what our mission is as a church, the relationships that come 5 years from now will not know about the mission that began 6 years ago: to begin a movement of church planting reaching from DC to Boston. Instead, they will have some good hang out time with some friends (which is awesome) but they may never know they are a part of a church meant to reach the NE for Jesus Christ. The people in Boston are waiting on us, they just don't know it yet. Will Horizon get there? I truly hope so! That's what I have labored for and that is what the people above (and many others) have given and prayed for.
I find that my greatest regret in all of our discussion last year about Horizon's future is that I didn't have the wisdom at the time to fully articulate the issue at hand. To be honest, I was a bit distracted at the time with other issues.. but unfortunately the issue was divided into what seemed two categories: relationships or money. And when something is painted like that, who would vote for money over relationship? That would sound extravagant, if that was really what the issues were about. Indeed, the REAL issue was (and is) between relationship and mission. Notice that in every case above about people Horizon didn't know that's impacted them greatly I mention money. Well, that's because each person followed the example of the early church: they sent resources toward people they didn't know to help accomplish the Great Commission. Money is not the focus, Mission is... but it's easy for us to see budgets and get confused about what the real issue is.
Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28.18-20
Does it take resources to make disciples? Baptize? To teach? No, it does not... Neither does it take websites, guitars, sound equipment, video projectors, Retros/Luaus, mass mailers, storage space, coffee, doughnuts, bagels, laptops, cameras, rental space, printers, ink, paper, or children's equipment... yet these are things that churches need. Is it any wonder why Paul made such a focus on giving towards missions? He did so because being on mission can provide the means to help a local church spend the time it needs to on building healthy relationships... that is, to make disciples. Missions also means sending the people that will make disciples... And hopefully, following the example given by people they do not know, these new disciples will be part of what God is doing outside their sphere of relationships and help others hear the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Well, I could write about this all day and night. It's what I have been thinking about and praying about both day and night for the past two years.
7.04.2006
Most Beautiful
Sorry guys... just had to say it! I married the best woman in all the world for me... she is astoundingly beautiful. I love her soooo much. Is it normal to be this in love after 16 years together? 11 years of marriage? Man...
Thank you, God for your constant blessing to me in Kimme. She rocks my world, is my #1 supporter, she is my best friend, and the mother of my children. What a blessing! Thank you, Lord...
DCC
Thank you, God for your constant blessing to me in Kimme. She rocks my world, is my #1 supporter, she is my best friend, and the mother of my children. What a blessing! Thank you, Lord...
DCC
7.03.2006
Do you want a Revolution?
Whoop! Whoop!
:P
So... do ya? As our country celebrates another year of independence, I have been reflecting on the issues that led to our nation's birth from the tyrannies of the United Kingdom. It gets little notoriety when compared with the Civil War, but the topic of revolution was as much divisive at the time of our nation's birth as succession was in 1860. Brother fought against brother, Patriot against Loyalists to the king of England. And this division even meant the division of father and son. I had no idea until this year that one of the most prominent cases of this was with Benjamin Franklin and his son, William. William can be seen in many paintings along with Franklin while his father was conducting electrical experiments. Their bond was very close for many years... that is, until the King felt that he could tax the colonists without representation. Tensions began to mount between father and son, and their struggle was a public one. Both refused to bend and neither would listen to each other's reasoning. And the rest is history...
Every revolution has a cost, and generally the highest price comes in the form we least suspect.
Sorry this is so short... it's late. I'm tired. And though I had many profound things to say, I'll simply let the statement above speak for itself.
:P
So... do ya? As our country celebrates another year of independence, I have been reflecting on the issues that led to our nation's birth from the tyrannies of the United Kingdom. It gets little notoriety when compared with the Civil War, but the topic of revolution was as much divisive at the time of our nation's birth as succession was in 1860. Brother fought against brother, Patriot against Loyalists to the king of England. And this division even meant the division of father and son. I had no idea until this year that one of the most prominent cases of this was with Benjamin Franklin and his son, William. William can be seen in many paintings along with Franklin while his father was conducting electrical experiments. Their bond was very close for many years... that is, until the King felt that he could tax the colonists without representation. Tensions began to mount between father and son, and their struggle was a public one. Both refused to bend and neither would listen to each other's reasoning. And the rest is history...
Every revolution has a cost, and generally the highest price comes in the form we least suspect.
Sorry this is so short... it's late. I'm tired. And though I had many profound things to say, I'll simply let the statement above speak for itself.
6.25.2006
Tombstone, Arizona
So, as I write this, I am at the Phoenix airport awaiting take off. Let me just say that this trip was an awesome one... I actually had time (without the kids) to sleep until 9 am. Amazing, ain't it? I managed to hang out with a lot of the ministers that will most likely become good friends. Went to see Nacho Libre (eh... ok movie, I guess. Maybe it will grow on my like Napoleon Dynamite did?) with some of them. It was awesome to just chill with some AZers. Likewise, it rocked to hang out with Louis and Phil -- both of whom are the church planting strategists in the west and east valleys. They rock, and it was great to hang out with them while sampling the incredible Mexican food Phoenix has to offer.
But, I must say... the highlight of the week was this last Thursday in Tombstone, AZ. I had planned on spending at least one day relaxing, doing nothing but something fun. I haven't done that since I don't know when... and here was my big chance! I really wanted to be in Sedona on Thursday, but recently AZ is riddled with fires (some schmuck flicked their burning cigarette butt out of their car window and into history... HUGE fires). So, since Sedona was out -- I had to choose somewhere to go. I had considered some downtown attractions like the Phoenix Art Museum, but I figured I could do that later once we moved here. At long last, I decided on Tombstone and started driving.
The rugged landscape of Arizona is breathtaking for someone that's spent so much time on the plains. Granted, this is not the Sierras, Alps, or the Rockies. But, it IS a beautiful rugged landscape of cactus covered mountain after cactus covered mountain. Sometimes one might wonder if one is on the surface of Mars... beautiful, arid, and sand everywhere. Usually, I am quite bored with long trips (Tombstone was approximately 3 hours away from my hotel in Chandler), but the scenery kept me moving (along with the help of some Ashes Remain tunes. ;) )
As I made it into Tombstone, I had a pleasant surprise! I managed to pull into the very first stop into town to use the restroom which happened to be a Holiday Inn. Low and behold, as I passed by the dinning room, I saw a familiar face -- Jason from the hit show GHOST HUNTERS on the SciFi Channel. And sitting next to him was Grant, the other founding members of the TAPS team. In time, I managed to hang out and get pictures with all of the show's crew: Jason and Grant, Steve and Brian (Wheezy), Donna and Lisa, and even Tango. They were in Tombstone to shoot a new show for season three and I was in the thick of it with them. I got to watch them shoot the show, at least the scenes on the outside of the Bird Cage Theater. For those that know me well, you know that I pray for all of the members of the TAPS team. It's something I do... and it was awesome to meet all of them in person and let them know "Hey, I'm that evangelical pastor that prays for you from MySpace" -- that opened up some cool conversation and some great hang out time with the cast. It was pretty awesome to hand Steve a copy of some Ashes Remain and hand Donna a copy of a Horizon Church DVD. Very cool... So, if you don't mind, pray for them, too.
Now, as cool as it was to stumble upon a TV show doing their thing, Tombstone was cool in it's own right. If anyone wants to study the heart of darkness, look no further than this town... or more specifically, Boot Hill Cemetery. Six or so rows of people buried in the late 1800s reveal some of the violent nature of this town during the wild west. For a lot of the cemetery's permanent residents, there is a description of how they died: Murdered. Shot. Suicide. Lynched. Hung. Stabbed. Drowned. Scarlet Fever. Suffice it to say, in Tombstone... death never took a vacation, especially during the early 1880s. It would seem that when Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil Earp settled here things just got worse and more tense. I doubt it was because of their arrival, but they obviously stepped into history in October of 1881 with their confrontation with Clanton and the Cowboys @ the OK Corral. It was surreal actually standing in the stop where the infamous shootout took place. I had no idea that when it started, each of them were in an area that measured a mere 18 square feet! That's close quarters for Doc Holliday's shotgun, and all the various 45s. Afterward, three men were dead and three men were wounded. Wyatt didn't get a scratch.
Also very revealing was the social life of this town. The Bird Cage was the local entertainment spot for the town. It served several purposes in it's short reign: saloon, casino, and brothel. The New York Times called it, "the wildest, roughest, wickedest honky tonk between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast." No doubt, that was true. The place is riddled with bullet holes: 140 in all. Between the main floor and the downstairs rooms, it saw just under 20 gunfights and 26 deaths and all it's eight years of being open. Along with the violence came a big dose of sex: The name, "Bird Cage", was derived from the 14 cages suspended from the ceiling in the main hall. The "ladies of the night" were put on display in these cages so the men could make their selections. The popular song refrain from that era, "she's only a bird in a gilded cage", was actually about the ladies at the Bird Cage Theater. One of those ladies became the wife of Wyatt Earp, who left his drug addicted wife for his new one, famous Josephine.
The town itself is just as you would imagine it with most of the building still intact as they were over 100 years ago. I found myself sort of taking it all in: "man... look at this. I'm walking the streets of Tombstone!" All of it was very cool and a great way to relax for a day. The only thing missing was Val Kilmer to be in character as Doc Holliday (why did he not get an Oscar for that???) and show me around town.
When any of you come to visit the Cowans in Arizona, come with me to Tombstone. It's worth the trip.
DCC: 6.25.06
But, I must say... the highlight of the week was this last Thursday in Tombstone, AZ. I had planned on spending at least one day relaxing, doing nothing but something fun. I haven't done that since I don't know when... and here was my big chance! I really wanted to be in Sedona on Thursday, but recently AZ is riddled with fires (some schmuck flicked their burning cigarette butt out of their car window and into history... HUGE fires). So, since Sedona was out -- I had to choose somewhere to go. I had considered some downtown attractions like the Phoenix Art Museum, but I figured I could do that later once we moved here. At long last, I decided on Tombstone and started driving.
The rugged landscape of Arizona is breathtaking for someone that's spent so much time on the plains. Granted, this is not the Sierras, Alps, or the Rockies. But, it IS a beautiful rugged landscape of cactus covered mountain after cactus covered mountain. Sometimes one might wonder if one is on the surface of Mars... beautiful, arid, and sand everywhere. Usually, I am quite bored with long trips (Tombstone was approximately 3 hours away from my hotel in Chandler), but the scenery kept me moving (along with the help of some Ashes Remain tunes. ;) )
As I made it into Tombstone, I had a pleasant surprise! I managed to pull into the very first stop into town to use the restroom which happened to be a Holiday Inn. Low and behold, as I passed by the dinning room, I saw a familiar face -- Jason from the hit show GHOST HUNTERS on the SciFi Channel. And sitting next to him was Grant, the other founding members of the TAPS team. In time, I managed to hang out and get pictures with all of the show's crew: Jason and Grant, Steve and Brian (Wheezy), Donna and Lisa, and even Tango. They were in Tombstone to shoot a new show for season three and I was in the thick of it with them. I got to watch them shoot the show, at least the scenes on the outside of the Bird Cage Theater. For those that know me well, you know that I pray for all of the members of the TAPS team. It's something I do... and it was awesome to meet all of them in person and let them know "Hey, I'm that evangelical pastor that prays for you from MySpace" -- that opened up some cool conversation and some great hang out time with the cast. It was pretty awesome to hand Steve a copy of some Ashes Remain and hand Donna a copy of a Horizon Church DVD. Very cool... So, if you don't mind, pray for them, too.
Now, as cool as it was to stumble upon a TV show doing their thing, Tombstone was cool in it's own right. If anyone wants to study the heart of darkness, look no further than this town... or more specifically, Boot Hill Cemetery. Six or so rows of people buried in the late 1800s reveal some of the violent nature of this town during the wild west. For a lot of the cemetery's permanent residents, there is a description of how they died: Murdered. Shot. Suicide. Lynched. Hung. Stabbed. Drowned. Scarlet Fever. Suffice it to say, in Tombstone... death never took a vacation, especially during the early 1880s. It would seem that when Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil Earp settled here things just got worse and more tense. I doubt it was because of their arrival, but they obviously stepped into history in October of 1881 with their confrontation with Clanton and the Cowboys @ the OK Corral. It was surreal actually standing in the stop where the infamous shootout took place. I had no idea that when it started, each of them were in an area that measured a mere 18 square feet! That's close quarters for Doc Holliday's shotgun, and all the various 45s. Afterward, three men were dead and three men were wounded. Wyatt didn't get a scratch.
Also very revealing was the social life of this town. The Bird Cage was the local entertainment spot for the town. It served several purposes in it's short reign: saloon, casino, and brothel. The New York Times called it, "the wildest, roughest, wickedest honky tonk between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast." No doubt, that was true. The place is riddled with bullet holes: 140 in all. Between the main floor and the downstairs rooms, it saw just under 20 gunfights and 26 deaths and all it's eight years of being open. Along with the violence came a big dose of sex: The name, "Bird Cage", was derived from the 14 cages suspended from the ceiling in the main hall. The "ladies of the night" were put on display in these cages so the men could make their selections. The popular song refrain from that era, "she's only a bird in a gilded cage", was actually about the ladies at the Bird Cage Theater. One of those ladies became the wife of Wyatt Earp, who left his drug addicted wife for his new one, famous Josephine.
The town itself is just as you would imagine it with most of the building still intact as they were over 100 years ago. I found myself sort of taking it all in: "man... look at this. I'm walking the streets of Tombstone!" All of it was very cool and a great way to relax for a day. The only thing missing was Val Kilmer to be in character as Doc Holliday (why did he not get an Oscar for that???) and show me around town.
When any of you come to visit the Cowans in Arizona, come with me to Tombstone. It's worth the trip.
DCC: 6.25.06
6.07.2006
5.29.2006
Horizon on Leadership
I was asked by Paul McGrew to write some of my thoughts on Horizon before I leave for Arizona... some general thoughts on what we do, what we could do better, etc. I have been working on some of this for a while now, and thought I would share at least this segment on leadership @ Horizon. Enjoy!
Definition of Leadership:
We have typically equated discipleship with leadership, making the two terms synonymous with each other in our community. We are basically saying that those that are leading people are leaders. Yet there are a few things to clarify:
What does it mean to lead someone?
Well, if we have defined leadership as being synonymous with discipleship, the answer is that we lead someone through discipleship. So, what does that mean?
We have often described this process as "connecting." Many times we ask another, "who are you connecting with these days?" Of course, "connection" takes place in various ways:
Sunday morning chat, possibly a first time conversation.
Grab some coffee together, or grab lunch or dinner.
Chat at Link Group, etc.
Spontaneous gatherings of community (Ashes Remain shows, Java Mama's, football, movie nights, etc.)
Connection/Discipleship is lived out in different phases, and messily - not cleanly divided between the three:
Social: In this phase of the relationship, neither person knows each other that well, but there is a desire to get to know each other more. Perhaps there are common interests, goals, relationships?
Friendship: In this phase, each person gets to know each other a little more. There is regular, or at least semi-regular, times in which each get together.
Vulnerability: In this phase, the relationship has deepened to a level of vulnerability in which both people are able to trust one another and spur each other on towards Christ-likeness.
Somewhere between the friendship phase and the vulnerability phase, connection becomes discipleship. This is an important distinction because with it comes our definition of what a leader is. In other words, if all one does is connect (i.e. social setting gathering, casual conversation, etc.) this person is not leading. Though one may be good with the initial element of what it means to lead, they are not leading unless there is a pattern of developing relationships past this phase and into discipleship. Yet, if one does develop relationships past any initial connection, one will see a leader leading.
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION:
Notice how Jesus' time with his disciples took this same course from initial contact to vulnerability.
Can leadership be measured?
Leadership in our context is investment in people. This makes measuring results difficult for obvious reasons. Living the Christian life and investing in others is more of an art than a science. Yet still we are able to say, "that person is a leader." Why? Because there multiple examples of one's leadership as this is lived out within the community. In other words, leadership is demonstrated.
In what ways is leadership demonstrated?
Jesus said in Matthew 7.15-20:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
In this passage, Jesus beautifully articulates that evidence of one's character is born out in the fruit their life develops. Likewise, evidence that a leader is in one's midst comes from the fruit of that leader's life: the people they have invested in.
Pause for reflection:
Think for a moment about your investment in people. Who is now living out their faith because you have invested in them? Who is pursuing Christlikeness like never before because of your encouragement to do so? Who is being vulnerable with you, confessing their sins and seeking to move forward towards what God has called them to do or be? I realize this exercise can make you uncomfortable. This may look like I am asking you to brag on yourself, but I am not. I am asking to really own up to whether or not you are leading others to pursue their relationship with God and helping them by walking beside them in that journey. If you cannot think of anyone, this is not a moment to be discouraged, but rather a moment to consider what needs to change in your life.
Cross the Threshold of Connection to Discipleship:
A connector generally waits to speak or meet up with people in his/her Link Group until the Link Group actually gathers. A discipler, on the other hand, has been doing so between the meetings. He/she knows that Link Group happens between the meetings, not only during. In doing this, a leader at Horizon is investing in others and in time, new leaders will emerge. Multiplication is impossible without this.
Definition of Leadership:
We have typically equated discipleship with leadership, making the two terms synonymous with each other in our community. We are basically saying that those that are leading people are leaders. Yet there are a few things to clarify:
What does it mean to lead someone?
Well, if we have defined leadership as being synonymous with discipleship, the answer is that we lead someone through discipleship. So, what does that mean?
We have often described this process as "connecting." Many times we ask another, "who are you connecting with these days?" Of course, "connection" takes place in various ways:
Sunday morning chat, possibly a first time conversation.
Grab some coffee together, or grab lunch or dinner.
Chat at Link Group, etc.
Spontaneous gatherings of community (Ashes Remain shows, Java Mama's, football, movie nights, etc.)
Connection/Discipleship is lived out in different phases, and messily - not cleanly divided between the three:
Social: In this phase of the relationship, neither person knows each other that well, but there is a desire to get to know each other more. Perhaps there are common interests, goals, relationships?
Friendship: In this phase, each person gets to know each other a little more. There is regular, or at least semi-regular, times in which each get together.
Vulnerability: In this phase, the relationship has deepened to a level of vulnerability in which both people are able to trust one another and spur each other on towards Christ-likeness.
Somewhere between the friendship phase and the vulnerability phase, connection becomes discipleship. This is an important distinction because with it comes our definition of what a leader is. In other words, if all one does is connect (i.e. social setting gathering, casual conversation, etc.) this person is not leading. Though one may be good with the initial element of what it means to lead, they are not leading unless there is a pattern of developing relationships past this phase and into discipleship. Yet, if one does develop relationships past any initial connection, one will see a leader leading.
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION:
Notice how Jesus' time with his disciples took this same course from initial contact to vulnerability.
Can leadership be measured?
Leadership in our context is investment in people. This makes measuring results difficult for obvious reasons. Living the Christian life and investing in others is more of an art than a science. Yet still we are able to say, "that person is a leader." Why? Because there multiple examples of one's leadership as this is lived out within the community. In other words, leadership is demonstrated.
In what ways is leadership demonstrated?
Jesus said in Matthew 7.15-20:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
In this passage, Jesus beautifully articulates that evidence of one's character is born out in the fruit their life develops. Likewise, evidence that a leader is in one's midst comes from the fruit of that leader's life: the people they have invested in.
Pause for reflection:
Think for a moment about your investment in people. Who is now living out their faith because you have invested in them? Who is pursuing Christlikeness like never before because of your encouragement to do so? Who is being vulnerable with you, confessing their sins and seeking to move forward towards what God has called them to do or be? I realize this exercise can make you uncomfortable. This may look like I am asking you to brag on yourself, but I am not. I am asking to really own up to whether or not you are leading others to pursue their relationship with God and helping them by walking beside them in that journey. If you cannot think of anyone, this is not a moment to be discouraged, but rather a moment to consider what needs to change in your life.
Cross the Threshold of Connection to Discipleship:
A connector generally waits to speak or meet up with people in his/her Link Group until the Link Group actually gathers. A discipler, on the other hand, has been doing so between the meetings. He/she knows that Link Group happens between the meetings, not only during. In doing this, a leader at Horizon is investing in others and in time, new leaders will emerge. Multiplication is impossible without this.
Lost on Leadership
If you have been one of the few (such as myself, until recently) that have not seen ABC's show "Lost" then you may not want to read this (that means you, Aaron!). If you have, though, you know full well how engaging this show can be. One of the best things about the show is the character development, especially that of the island's leaders:
First, there is Jack. Jack is a surgeon, a leader first-rate. He is a man of science and reason. He relies on sheer will and determination. He is the first leader to emerge. Why? His skills were needed. As soon as the plane hit and bodies were strewn about the beach, he was instantly put to work saving lives. Due to his knowledge and skill, he rose to the top first with all eyes to him on basic decisions. For every decision, there is an obvious set of reasons. For every plan, there is a well thought out strategy. Sometimes this leads him to be at odds with people, namely those that feel he uses more of his left brain than his right. Why only do things based upon reason alone?
Another leader proves to be John Locke. Locke is a man that was once paralyzed from the waist down until hitting the island. In keeping with his miraculous healing, Locke is a man of faith and therefore the complete opposite to Jack. Locke makes decisions more on gut instinct, not reason. He may not be able to tell you why he thinks it's best to do something -- he just knows it is. Such irrational explanations drive Jack insane, as does Jack's left brain only decision making, macho man-strategy style to Locke.
Like oil and water, these two go head to head on numerous issues over time. And of course, there are times where one is right and the other is wrong... seemingly somewhat equally. Each one makes decisions were someone dies or is saved.
Not surprisingly, when the two become at odds with each other rather than choosing to work together, the enemy (known as "the Others" on the island) is able to do his bidding without notice. Jack and Locke are too busy worrying about each other and focused on their own distrust to see that the enemy has begun to use this division as a strategy against them both.
A house divided against itself shall not stand.
Interesting, isn't it, that we all have two hemispheres in the brain? Each one covers it's own purpose for being: one generally for reason and the other generally for creative thinking. If one were to operate without the other, a human would be inoperable. The right brain cannot say to the left, "I have no use for you. You're not creative enough. Take your spreadsheets, metric conversion tables, and science and get the heck out of here!" Neither can the left brain say to the left: "I have no use for you. Your dreaming amounts to nothing! You are all talk, and no action. Away with your fantasy world and hit the real world, buddy!" No... that would be silly. Instead, together, these two work together in our bodies to offer us balance. Surely, we each lean one way over the other with all sorts of nuisances in between... yet it remains true that without both we would be rather one-deminsional people.
However, in the world of leadership in the church today (yes... I know... a REALLY broad statement), we carry the same divisions armed with lighted torches and pitchforks -- rallying to our beloved side of things, rarely considering the other worth the time. Though Jack and Locke make somewhat poor illustrations for leadership in the church, the point of connection is still there... there are many more concerned about getting the theology right that they forget to LIVE it right. Likewise, there are many so concerned about living it that they forget the very roots from where their faith comes from: the Bible and the torch of right theology through the ages. Both camps have a lot to offer... and both camps, left out of check with one another, leads to destruction.
Beware of anyone that considers another brother or sister in Christ's voice not worth listening to any longer. BEWARE, and do not be party to his or her crusade. For such a person prepares the way for the enemy to come unannounced into the camp. Given time, the fruit of such action will become evident. It always leads to division, distrust, and destruction.
At the end of Season 2 (yes, I am addicted!), that exactly what we find... leaving me to wonder what Season 3 will bring. Will these two mend their ways and learn to lean on one another? Or will their separation be complete. Thank God the ending of our story here as the church is assured (and we are able to do more than stick in a DVD and watch it; we are a part of it now!).
First, there is Jack. Jack is a surgeon, a leader first-rate. He is a man of science and reason. He relies on sheer will and determination. He is the first leader to emerge. Why? His skills were needed. As soon as the plane hit and bodies were strewn about the beach, he was instantly put to work saving lives. Due to his knowledge and skill, he rose to the top first with all eyes to him on basic decisions. For every decision, there is an obvious set of reasons. For every plan, there is a well thought out strategy. Sometimes this leads him to be at odds with people, namely those that feel he uses more of his left brain than his right. Why only do things based upon reason alone?
Another leader proves to be John Locke. Locke is a man that was once paralyzed from the waist down until hitting the island. In keeping with his miraculous healing, Locke is a man of faith and therefore the complete opposite to Jack. Locke makes decisions more on gut instinct, not reason. He may not be able to tell you why he thinks it's best to do something -- he just knows it is. Such irrational explanations drive Jack insane, as does Jack's left brain only decision making, macho man-strategy style to Locke.
Like oil and water, these two go head to head on numerous issues over time. And of course, there are times where one is right and the other is wrong... seemingly somewhat equally. Each one makes decisions were someone dies or is saved.
Not surprisingly, when the two become at odds with each other rather than choosing to work together, the enemy (known as "the Others" on the island) is able to do his bidding without notice. Jack and Locke are too busy worrying about each other and focused on their own distrust to see that the enemy has begun to use this division as a strategy against them both.
A house divided against itself shall not stand.
Interesting, isn't it, that we all have two hemispheres in the brain? Each one covers it's own purpose for being: one generally for reason and the other generally for creative thinking. If one were to operate without the other, a human would be inoperable. The right brain cannot say to the left, "I have no use for you. You're not creative enough. Take your spreadsheets, metric conversion tables, and science and get the heck out of here!" Neither can the left brain say to the left: "I have no use for you. Your dreaming amounts to nothing! You are all talk, and no action. Away with your fantasy world and hit the real world, buddy!" No... that would be silly. Instead, together, these two work together in our bodies to offer us balance. Surely, we each lean one way over the other with all sorts of nuisances in between... yet it remains true that without both we would be rather one-deminsional people.
However, in the world of leadership in the church today (yes... I know... a REALLY broad statement), we carry the same divisions armed with lighted torches and pitchforks -- rallying to our beloved side of things, rarely considering the other worth the time. Though Jack and Locke make somewhat poor illustrations for leadership in the church, the point of connection is still there... there are many more concerned about getting the theology right that they forget to LIVE it right. Likewise, there are many so concerned about living it that they forget the very roots from where their faith comes from: the Bible and the torch of right theology through the ages. Both camps have a lot to offer... and both camps, left out of check with one another, leads to destruction.
Beware of anyone that considers another brother or sister in Christ's voice not worth listening to any longer. BEWARE, and do not be party to his or her crusade. For such a person prepares the way for the enemy to come unannounced into the camp. Given time, the fruit of such action will become evident. It always leads to division, distrust, and destruction.
At the end of Season 2 (yes, I am addicted!), that exactly what we find... leaving me to wonder what Season 3 will bring. Will these two mend their ways and learn to lean on one another? Or will their separation be complete. Thank God the ending of our story here as the church is assured (and we are able to do more than stick in a DVD and watch it; we are a part of it now!).
5.17.2006
Heading 2 - A R I Z O N A
Hello, friends. I am writing here to formally announce that Kimme and I will be leaving the Maryland area for Arizona sometime late this summer. Over the past year, we have sensed that God may be leading us elsewhere... and with that, we began to really pray about this. Just where was God sending us?
Ironically, about this same time our six year old son, Joshua, announced to the family that he was praying that we would move to Arizona. All of this was coming from a kid that had never been there, so we found it odd that he persisted in saying this for months. Coupled with this prayer for God's direction came something that I have put on the table for some
time: that being my education. I have always sensed that God wanted me to continue my education, perhaps with a Ph.D. so that I could teach on a college campus someday and interact directly with students in that capacity. Well, we started praying about that, too... I finally decided that I did not want to go back to seminary for this degree. Instead, I wanted to earn a degree from a secular perspective so that I might be able to have legitimacy within the evangelical
community (with a degree from OBU and NOBTS) as well as the world at large. So, I began to research various programs around the country that offered something that might fit the bill. Guess which one fit best? Arizona State University!
So... early this year Kimme and I traveled to Arizona to find out if this was where we were supposed to go. I met with the chair of Religious Studies there and spoke about what I wanted to research there: the emergent church culture, and or church planting as a missionary movement in North America. I was completely surprised when he said that he felt that would be a great thing to work on there at ASU! I walked out stunned, and joyous at the same time!
And of course, the question remained... would I still be planting churches? You bet! It's what I do. So, would Arizona be interested in a church planter that sought to go back to school? You bet! ASU has the largest enrollment of any school in North America with over 60,000 students. The effectiveness of the Baptist Student Union? Around 30 students... that's like .0001% of the enrollment. So, with the idea of reaching students while being a student, Arizona Southern Baptists were interested in speaking with me further. In time, excitement has really grown for this new church plant (which looks surprisingly similar to Horizon's original vision. ;) ) For the first time in Arizona Southern Baptist history, there are two
associations that have asked for the same funding for the same church plant. Both Estrella and Valley Rim associations have agreed to work together in making this happen. If that weren't enough of a confirmation, one of Arizona's most trusted and respected Christian men, Byron Banta, encouraged his church (Corona Baptist Church, Chandler, AZ) to sponsor this new work. Pastor Banta is truly an amazing man of God and Kimme and I are very honored to have him work so closely with us in this endeavor.
So, suffice it to say guys, we need to move. God is clearly moving us there... it's been an amazing few months watching all of this come together.
David Cowan
Ironically, about this same time our six year old son, Joshua, announced to the family that he was praying that we would move to Arizona. All of this was coming from a kid that had never been there, so we found it odd that he persisted in saying this for months. Coupled with this prayer for God's direction came something that I have put on the table for some
time: that being my education. I have always sensed that God wanted me to continue my education, perhaps with a Ph.D. so that I could teach on a college campus someday and interact directly with students in that capacity. Well, we started praying about that, too... I finally decided that I did not want to go back to seminary for this degree. Instead, I wanted to earn a degree from a secular perspective so that I might be able to have legitimacy within the evangelical
community (with a degree from OBU and NOBTS) as well as the world at large. So, I began to research various programs around the country that offered something that might fit the bill. Guess which one fit best? Arizona State University!
So... early this year Kimme and I traveled to Arizona to find out if this was where we were supposed to go. I met with the chair of Religious Studies there and spoke about what I wanted to research there: the emergent church culture, and or church planting as a missionary movement in North America. I was completely surprised when he said that he felt that would be a great thing to work on there at ASU! I walked out stunned, and joyous at the same time!
And of course, the question remained... would I still be planting churches? You bet! It's what I do. So, would Arizona be interested in a church planter that sought to go back to school? You bet! ASU has the largest enrollment of any school in North America with over 60,000 students. The effectiveness of the Baptist Student Union? Around 30 students... that's like .0001% of the enrollment. So, with the idea of reaching students while being a student, Arizona Southern Baptists were interested in speaking with me further. In time, excitement has really grown for this new church plant (which looks surprisingly similar to Horizon's original vision. ;) ) For the first time in Arizona Southern Baptist history, there are two
associations that have asked for the same funding for the same church plant. Both Estrella and Valley Rim associations have agreed to work together in making this happen. If that weren't enough of a confirmation, one of Arizona's most trusted and respected Christian men, Byron Banta, encouraged his church (Corona Baptist Church, Chandler, AZ) to sponsor this new work. Pastor Banta is truly an amazing man of God and Kimme and I are very honored to have him work so closely with us in this endeavor.
So, suffice it to say guys, we need to move. God is clearly moving us there... it's been an amazing few months watching all of this come together.
David Cowan
5.15.2006
The Power of Prayer
I had the most amazing experience last night. It was mother's day and I had not yet reached my grandmother and given her a call. We connected, and the most amazing conversation ensued. I don't know how many of you know this, but my grandmother has cancer. She is refusing treatments, which is saddening to all of us that love her so. But she feels this is the best thing for her, and we are done arguing with her. But with a disease like this, one knows that the end is near. This is unlike a sudden death like a car crash, or whatever. So, in a weird way, this has been a blessing... I know that now is the time to say all the stuff I need to say. I didn't have that with any of the other three grandparents that died, so I am cherishing this with Grand Ann.
At the end of our conversation, we ended in prayer... as we generally do. Man, this was an amazing prayer... saturated and dripping with the Spirit of God. What an honor and privilege it is to have a grandmother that I can pray with... one that led me to the Lord, one that has passed the torch of evangelism to me... and hopefully generations ahead!
I love you, grandmother. You have run the race. You have fought the good fight of faith. I am proud to be your grandson.
At the end of our conversation, we ended in prayer... as we generally do. Man, this was an amazing prayer... saturated and dripping with the Spirit of God. What an honor and privilege it is to have a grandmother that I can pray with... one that led me to the Lord, one that has passed the torch of evangelism to me... and hopefully generations ahead!
I love you, grandmother. You have run the race. You have fought the good fight of faith. I am proud to be your grandson.
5.09.2006
MEMPHIS DECLARATION: MAY 3, 2006
If you (that being all two of you, maybe? lol) keep up with my blog you will remember a post about a pastor named Wade Burleson and his recent struggles as a trustee with the International Mission Board over missionary approval policies that were recently approved that are simply out of step with much of what it means to be a Southern Baptist, let alone a Christian. Well, to keep all two of you further informed, there was a recent gathering of SBC leaders in Memphis that conjured up the following declaration. Of course, this gathering has no "official" status, by any means, but I believe it's impact to be greater than any sort of formal declaration... namely because it is from the grass roots level and because it comes from such a diverse group of SBists. It's worth a read. It's worth some consideration.
MEMPHIS DECLARATION: MAY 3, 2006
We, as men and women who share a heritage of Southern Baptist identity, declare that we stand together and confess Jesus Christ as the one Lord to whom we must reckon an account for our words and motivations in this gathering.
We further acknowledge that the Word of God is the sole basis of our confession and cooperation, and we are confident that God has sufficiently revealed in it all that is needed to direct Southern Baptists in fruitful cooperation toward Kingdom ends that bring glory to Jesus Christ, who is himself the focus of divine revelation.
We publicly declare before all Southern Baptists that we believe the unity, mission, and witness of our denomination is seriously threatened by the introduction of the narrowing of cooperation through exclusionary theological and political agendas that corrupt the healthy and mutual fellowship we enjoy as Kingdom servants. We believe that the parameters of Baptist cooperation in missions and evangelism must be consistent with our rich theological heritage, and that all attempts to impose excessively restrictive criteria on participation in Southern Baptist missionary work are counterproductive to the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Because we desire to be and to remain faithful to our confession of Jesus Christ and his Word, we do not keep silent, nor shall we, since we believe that we have a common message to speak in this time of great need for unity and Kingdom focus in our convention. In view of this shared conviction, we declare the following:
1. We publicly repent of triumphalism about Southern Baptist causes and narcissism about Southern Baptist ministries which have corrupted our integrity in assessing our denomination bureaucracy, our churches, and our personal witness in light of the sobering exhortations of Scripture.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to a renewed pledge to integrity demonstrated by accountability in our denomination, both before God and each other, lest in preaching the meekness of our Lord to others we ourselves will be found guilty of wicked, sinful pride.
2. We publicly repent of an arrogant spirit that has infected our partnership with fellow Christians in the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, without the hearing of which men are incapable of conversion.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to a renewed pledge to partner with Great Commission Christians for the glory of Jesus Christ, who is proclaimed with power when his disciples are at peace with one another.
3. We publicly repent of having condemned those without Christ before we have loved them, and that we have acted as judge of those for whom Christ died by failing to live with a redemptive spirit toward them.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to engage culture actively at every level by living redemptively as the Body of Christ in the world.
4. We publicly repent of having forsaken opportunities to reason together with those who share our commitment to gospel proclamation yet differ with us on articles of the faith that are not essential to Christian orthodoxy.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to building bridges where there have been none, in listening more and talking less, and in extending the hand of fellowship to all who share our confession of Christ and our commitment to extend His Kingdom.
5. We publicly repent of having turned a blind eye to wickedness in our convention, especially when that evil has taken the form of slanderous, unsubstantiated accusations and malicious character assassination against our Christian brothers.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to confront lovingly any person in our denomination, regardless of the office or title that person holds, who disparages the name of our Lord by appropriating venomous epithets against our brothers and sisters in Christ, and thus divides our fellowship by careless and unchaste speech.
6. We publicly repent of having misplaced our priorities on the building and sustaining of institutions of secondary and far inferior importance than the local church.
Therefore, we renew our pledge to the local church as the primary focus of our ministry and service to advance the Kingdom of God and bring glory to his Son.
7. We publicly repent of having disrespected the sovereign grace of our Lord Jesus Christ by falsely presuming that our strength as a people of God is found in uniformity rather than unity within the parameters of Scriptural authority.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to honor our identity as people of one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, whose affirmation of biblical authority does not necessitate absolute uniformity on all matters of doctrine or practice.
8. We publicly repent of our inattentiveness to convention governance by not seeking to hold trustees accountable to the body which elects them to preserve our sacred trust and direct our entities with the guidance, counsel, and correction necessary to maintain the integrity of those entities.
Therefore, we covenant with one another to assist in the preservation of our convention's sacred trust and fulfill our biblical responsibility to hold those trustees elected to serve our entities accountable, and to pray for them as they seek to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities.
Finally, we believe the conversations that have begun in these days express our desire to preserve the Southern Baptist Convention should God, in his providence, so choose to sustain our witness and strengthen our commitment to these ends. We pledge, therefore, to one another that we will continue this dialogue by inviting others in our respective spheres of influence to participate with us by seeking to renew our commitment to denominational accountability, institutional openness, moral and ethical integrity, and properly prioritized Kingdom efforts.
MEMPHIS DECLARATION: MAY 3, 2006
We, as men and women who share a heritage of Southern Baptist identity, declare that we stand together and confess Jesus Christ as the one Lord to whom we must reckon an account for our words and motivations in this gathering.
We further acknowledge that the Word of God is the sole basis of our confession and cooperation, and we are confident that God has sufficiently revealed in it all that is needed to direct Southern Baptists in fruitful cooperation toward Kingdom ends that bring glory to Jesus Christ, who is himself the focus of divine revelation.
We publicly declare before all Southern Baptists that we believe the unity, mission, and witness of our denomination is seriously threatened by the introduction of the narrowing of cooperation through exclusionary theological and political agendas that corrupt the healthy and mutual fellowship we enjoy as Kingdom servants. We believe that the parameters of Baptist cooperation in missions and evangelism must be consistent with our rich theological heritage, and that all attempts to impose excessively restrictive criteria on participation in Southern Baptist missionary work are counterproductive to the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Because we desire to be and to remain faithful to our confession of Jesus Christ and his Word, we do not keep silent, nor shall we, since we believe that we have a common message to speak in this time of great need for unity and Kingdom focus in our convention. In view of this shared conviction, we declare the following:
1. We publicly repent of triumphalism about Southern Baptist causes and narcissism about Southern Baptist ministries which have corrupted our integrity in assessing our denomination bureaucracy, our churches, and our personal witness in light of the sobering exhortations of Scripture.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to a renewed pledge to integrity demonstrated by accountability in our denomination, both before God and each other, lest in preaching the meekness of our Lord to others we ourselves will be found guilty of wicked, sinful pride.
2. We publicly repent of an arrogant spirit that has infected our partnership with fellow Christians in the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, without the hearing of which men are incapable of conversion.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to a renewed pledge to partner with Great Commission Christians for the glory of Jesus Christ, who is proclaimed with power when his disciples are at peace with one another.
3. We publicly repent of having condemned those without Christ before we have loved them, and that we have acted as judge of those for whom Christ died by failing to live with a redemptive spirit toward them.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to engage culture actively at every level by living redemptively as the Body of Christ in the world.
4. We publicly repent of having forsaken opportunities to reason together with those who share our commitment to gospel proclamation yet differ with us on articles of the faith that are not essential to Christian orthodoxy.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to building bridges where there have been none, in listening more and talking less, and in extending the hand of fellowship to all who share our confession of Christ and our commitment to extend His Kingdom.
5. We publicly repent of having turned a blind eye to wickedness in our convention, especially when that evil has taken the form of slanderous, unsubstantiated accusations and malicious character assassination against our Christian brothers.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to confront lovingly any person in our denomination, regardless of the office or title that person holds, who disparages the name of our Lord by appropriating venomous epithets against our brothers and sisters in Christ, and thus divides our fellowship by careless and unchaste speech.
6. We publicly repent of having misplaced our priorities on the building and sustaining of institutions of secondary and far inferior importance than the local church.
Therefore, we renew our pledge to the local church as the primary focus of our ministry and service to advance the Kingdom of God and bring glory to his Son.
7. We publicly repent of having disrespected the sovereign grace of our Lord Jesus Christ by falsely presuming that our strength as a people of God is found in uniformity rather than unity within the parameters of Scriptural authority.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to honor our identity as people of one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, whose affirmation of biblical authority does not necessitate absolute uniformity on all matters of doctrine or practice.
8. We publicly repent of our inattentiveness to convention governance by not seeking to hold trustees accountable to the body which elects them to preserve our sacred trust and direct our entities with the guidance, counsel, and correction necessary to maintain the integrity of those entities.
Therefore, we covenant with one another to assist in the preservation of our convention's sacred trust and fulfill our biblical responsibility to hold those trustees elected to serve our entities accountable, and to pray for them as they seek to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities.
Finally, we believe the conversations that have begun in these days express our desire to preserve the Southern Baptist Convention should God, in his providence, so choose to sustain our witness and strengthen our commitment to these ends. We pledge, therefore, to one another that we will continue this dialogue by inviting others in our respective spheres of influence to participate with us by seeking to renew our commitment to denominational accountability, institutional openness, moral and ethical integrity, and properly prioritized Kingdom efforts.
4.09.2006
Weddings
Well, earlier tonight many of us witnessed the wedding of Mark and Missy here in Houston, Texas. What a wonderful wedding! Everything was, quite literally, perfect. It was a bit surreal finding Horizonites here in Texas, but I think we all fit in pretty well... perhaps minus the two-stepping country music (or was that just me? lol). The weather was unnaturally arid, and beauty surrounded the Parador in the full bloom of spring. Wonderful.
On top of this, I found myself on the top of Mt. Hood, Oregon - literally two weeks ago today performing another wedding (though in Mark and Missy's, I simply read Scripture). That, too, was a fantastic wedding of another kind - this time in a winter wonderland. All of us stayed in the Timberline Lodge on the side of Mt. Hood and then traveled a couple of thousand feet higher by snowcats to reach the Silcox Hut where the wedding took place. This, of course, was quite a sharp contrast from the spring wedding here in Texas.
Still, as both weddings differed in look and feel, there is one common thread through each: JOYOUS CELEBRATION. Each couple just brimmed with excitement and joy; each couple allowing friends and families to experience their own unique version of their dreamed wedding celebration. While one met in the warmth of the south, the other met in the cold of the north. While one played music from irish pipes and fiddles, the other pumped out traditional wedding tunes, and later... a splash of Usher and 50cent. :)
One thing that I take away from all of this is the fact that I have forgotten to celebrate. I need to do that more often. Kimme and I need to do that more often. My friend, I can only guess that YOU need to do that more often as well.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" -- The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4.4.
On top of this, I found myself on the top of Mt. Hood, Oregon - literally two weeks ago today performing another wedding (though in Mark and Missy's, I simply read Scripture). That, too, was a fantastic wedding of another kind - this time in a winter wonderland. All of us stayed in the Timberline Lodge on the side of Mt. Hood and then traveled a couple of thousand feet higher by snowcats to reach the Silcox Hut where the wedding took place. This, of course, was quite a sharp contrast from the spring wedding here in Texas.
Still, as both weddings differed in look and feel, there is one common thread through each: JOYOUS CELEBRATION. Each couple just brimmed with excitement and joy; each couple allowing friends and families to experience their own unique version of their dreamed wedding celebration. While one met in the warmth of the south, the other met in the cold of the north. While one played music from irish pipes and fiddles, the other pumped out traditional wedding tunes, and later... a splash of Usher and 50cent. :)
One thing that I take away from all of this is the fact that I have forgotten to celebrate. I need to do that more often. Kimme and I need to do that more often. My friend, I can only guess that YOU need to do that more often as well.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" -- The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4.4.
4.05.2006
No home to speak of
I have done a good deal of traveling as of late... from being a guest speaker at a conference in the SW to performing a wedding on top of Mt Hood in Oregon. All such trips lead me to casual conversation in which the normal string of questions ensue:
Where are you from? Where did you grow up? Etc.
Oddly enough, it is so hard for me to truly answer that. In fact, it feels like I have never truly had a home. When I was a kid I moved almost twice a year. I remember switching schools all the time, having to rebuild relationships, friendships, all from scratch. Is it any wonder that I am a church planter? lol -- But still... only one place was ever truly home for me growing up, and that was the Cowan house. I never lived there, so I guess it was never really a home, but it's the closes thing to stability that I have ever had. When Captain died in 2004 (and grandmother 2 years earlier), that "home" was gone from me as well...
All of this helps me hold loosely to this world and life here. Wherever I am, that is home. Whoever I am with, that is family. And, of course, my real home is heaven. It's a place I have never been but know I will see someday. Jesus is already preparing a place for me, as he has for every believer before me and as he will for every believer after. Thank God that THIS home will never fade away or die. Heaven is an eternal home, and my life here on earth as I follow him is preparation for the next chapter or phase. Thank God life does not end here. Thank God for eternal life...
"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
--
PS: I will be in Houston this weekend for Mark's wedding (more travel, and KC after that. lol) Being in Houston will mean catching up with old friends and family. I will return to my aunt's home in which Captain died. I suppose this will be sort of a final goodbye for me... if anyone reads this, please pray for me on that. Thanks...
DCC
Where are you from? Where did you grow up? Etc.
Oddly enough, it is so hard for me to truly answer that. In fact, it feels like I have never truly had a home. When I was a kid I moved almost twice a year. I remember switching schools all the time, having to rebuild relationships, friendships, all from scratch. Is it any wonder that I am a church planter? lol -- But still... only one place was ever truly home for me growing up, and that was the Cowan house. I never lived there, so I guess it was never really a home, but it's the closes thing to stability that I have ever had. When Captain died in 2004 (and grandmother 2 years earlier), that "home" was gone from me as well...
All of this helps me hold loosely to this world and life here. Wherever I am, that is home. Whoever I am with, that is family. And, of course, my real home is heaven. It's a place I have never been but know I will see someday. Jesus is already preparing a place for me, as he has for every believer before me and as he will for every believer after. Thank God that THIS home will never fade away or die. Heaven is an eternal home, and my life here on earth as I follow him is preparation for the next chapter or phase. Thank God life does not end here. Thank God for eternal life...
"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
--
PS: I will be in Houston this weekend for Mark's wedding (more travel, and KC after that. lol) Being in Houston will mean catching up with old friends and family. I will return to my aunt's home in which Captain died. I suppose this will be sort of a final goodbye for me... if anyone reads this, please pray for me on that. Thanks...
DCC
3.09.2006
What is our Canon?
The word "canon" comes from the Greek meaning, "a straight rod," or "a carpenter's rule." During Christianity's beginning it was used with the idea of a standard of opinion and/or practice. In time, "canon" came to be used as a testing rule in logic, art, ethics, and grammar. Finally, among Christians in 367 AD, "canon" came to reference the Scriptures... those that were accepted as God's inspired Word of God. Likewise, in time all other texts became known as "uncanonical" -- such as the books that compile the Apocrypha, and books like the Shepherd of Hermas and the Epistle of Barnabas.
Today, we take this stuff for granted. The Bible is the Bible, right? But there was a great struggle for the early church as they wrestled with what was canonical and what was not. In fact, this process took hundreds of years. The true "emergent church" of Christianity worked out this stuff for a long time as they wrestled with what is truly the boundaries of God's inspired Word.
Fast forward just shy of a couple thousand years, and you find another movement that has called itself the emergent church. This new brand of church has moved away from accepting propositional truth at face value and moved instead toward a "living truth" - that of community and experience. No more is there coloring within the lines; there is no longer neat categories and everything in it's place. Like a child finger-painting, the emergent church is embracing the messiness of spiritual life. As the emergent church sees the modern church taking it's last dying gasps of breath, it dreams of what could be in that great big world out there.
Just an observation, though: I wonder if the pendulum has swung the other way now? I wonder if this move toward community and experience for finding the boundaries of God's truth has left the emergent church looking for another canon? Does each community define it's own canon? Does this "canon" change for each community? Truly for the first couple hundred years after Jesus' life and ministry here, all sorts of Christian communities considered such books as The Shepherd of Hermas as inspired. But this is a bit different. I am curious about the future... If anything, to see this unfold will be like watching a child grow up.
*grabs the popcorn... grabs a comfy chair... dims the lights... presses play*
Today, we take this stuff for granted. The Bible is the Bible, right? But there was a great struggle for the early church as they wrestled with what was canonical and what was not. In fact, this process took hundreds of years. The true "emergent church" of Christianity worked out this stuff for a long time as they wrestled with what is truly the boundaries of God's inspired Word.
Fast forward just shy of a couple thousand years, and you find another movement that has called itself the emergent church. This new brand of church has moved away from accepting propositional truth at face value and moved instead toward a "living truth" - that of community and experience. No more is there coloring within the lines; there is no longer neat categories and everything in it's place. Like a child finger-painting, the emergent church is embracing the messiness of spiritual life. As the emergent church sees the modern church taking it's last dying gasps of breath, it dreams of what could be in that great big world out there.
Just an observation, though: I wonder if the pendulum has swung the other way now? I wonder if this move toward community and experience for finding the boundaries of God's truth has left the emergent church looking for another canon? Does each community define it's own canon? Does this "canon" change for each community? Truly for the first couple hundred years after Jesus' life and ministry here, all sorts of Christian communities considered such books as The Shepherd of Hermas as inspired. But this is a bit different. I am curious about the future... If anything, to see this unfold will be like watching a child grow up.
*grabs the popcorn... grabs a comfy chair... dims the lights... presses play*
2.08.2006
What Are We 2 Do w/AFRICA?
You know... 150,000 people died in the tsunami last year... and the whole world stepped up to contribute to help bring relief with that terrible disaster. But did you know (I didn't) that 150,000 people die in Africa EVERY MONTH due to AIDS/HPV/POVERTY? That's a tsunami every year. :shock:
I didn't know this until I watched Bono's speech/sermon at the National Prayer Breakfast that he gave a couple of days ago:
Copy and paste the link below...
mms://wmscnn.stream.aol.com/cnn/us/2006/02/02/bono.speaks.cnn.ws.wmv
Interestingly, in the spirit of a prophet from Israel or Judah, Bono suggests that the issue of Africa is one of justice and not of charity. I think he's right, and it was challenging to me in a big way. Something to think about...
Horizon Towson has connections with missionaries in Africa or that work with Africans. Let's remember to PRAY for them... Let us also find ways to give more than our thoughts, but our $ as well.
--
As a side note, the best quote/section of his message was this:
"A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it… I have a family, please look after them… I have this crazy idea…
And this wise man said: stop.
He said, stop asking God to bless what you’re doing.
Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed." -- Bono
As a side note, Bono will be speaking at the Leadership Conference @ Willow Creek this year in August. Wish I was going. Anyone want to buy me a ticket??? Please? lol
I didn't know this until I watched Bono's speech/sermon at the National Prayer Breakfast that he gave a couple of days ago:
Copy and paste the link below...
mms://wmscnn.stream.aol.com/cnn/us/2006/02/02/bono.speaks.cnn.ws.wmv
Interestingly, in the spirit of a prophet from Israel or Judah, Bono suggests that the issue of Africa is one of justice and not of charity. I think he's right, and it was challenging to me in a big way. Something to think about...
Horizon Towson has connections with missionaries in Africa or that work with Africans. Let's remember to PRAY for them... Let us also find ways to give more than our thoughts, but our $ as well.
--
As a side note, the best quote/section of his message was this:
"A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it… I have a family, please look after them… I have this crazy idea…
And this wise man said: stop.
He said, stop asking God to bless what you’re doing.
Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed." -- Bono
As a side note, Bono will be speaking at the Leadership Conference @ Willow Creek this year in August. Wish I was going. Anyone want to buy me a ticket??? Please? lol
1.28.2006
What do a Rockstar, a former Strip Club Bouncer, a Tattoo Artist and a Preacer have in common?
Yeah, we are all friends... great time hanging out with Josh Smith, Rob Cranford and Norm Wright yesterday. Ain't the Body of Christ beautiful? I think so...
1.24.2006
Wade Burleson is cool...
As mentioned in my previous post, the saga over the IMB (International Mission Board) of the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) and their attempt to add to Scripture is astounding. :( But all I can say... the more I read, the more I love Wade Burleson. This guy rocks!
---
Burleson: ‘We are at a crossroads’
Monday, 23 January 2006
by Bob Nigh
Managing Editor, Baptist Messenger
TULSA—“We are at a crossroads as a convention,” Wade Burleson told about 80 persons gathered for a Tulsa Metro Association luncheon Jan. 16 at the Radisson Inn.
BGCO president Bob Green, pastor of Broken Arrow, Arrow Heights (in red sweater) leads prayer for Enid, Emmanuel pastor Wade Burleson as Tulsa-area pastors lay hands on Burleson after he spoke at a Tulsa Metro Association luncheon Jan. 16. PHOTO: Bob Nigh
Burleson, pastor of Enid, Emmanuel and president of the Baptist General Convention from 2002-2004, is the central figure amid a growing controversy among Southern Baptists. While he was elected by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention last June in Nashville to serve a four-year term as a trustee of the International Mission Board, Burleson now finds himself virtually a pariah on the board after he spoke up concerning new guidelines for the appointment of IMB missionaries. On Jan. 10, the IMB board voted to recommend that Burleson be removed as a trustee at this year’s SBC convention in Greensboro, N.C., June 13-14.
Passage of that recommendation will require approval by a two-thirds majority of SBC messengers. The missionary personnel policies Burleson objects to involve baptism and a “private prayer language.” Under the new policies, missionary candidates who admitted to using a private prayer language or missionaries not baptized in a Southern Baptist church or one which teaches “eternal security” would not be approved for appointment.
“The issue I am attempting to address is an issue that is not personal, but I believe is an issue that will determine the direction we will go; it will chart our course for decades to come as the Southern Baptist Convention,” Burleson said. “The issue is not tongues. The issue is not a new policy on baptism. It is not Wade Burleson.
“The issue is, when will we as a convention cease narrowing the parameters of cooperation for evangelism and missions?”
He explained further.
“What I mean by that is this. We as Southern Baptists are all conservative, we’re evangelical; we’re Bible believing Christians, but many of us disagree on interpretation of minor, non-essential doctrines,” he said.
“When can we come to the place of realizing that we are all conservative, evangelical people who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are concerned about winning the world for Christ, and when will we stop saying, ’You must interpret Scripture the way I do in order for you to cooperate with me on the mission field?’
“The Baptist Faith & Message is a great fleshing out of those essential doctrines that we hold to, and I support it. I am afraid that we are now moving beyond the Baptist Faith & Message, and these new policies on tongues and baptism are just an illustration.
“I am fighting for us as a convention to cooperate even though we disagree on the minor, non-essential doctrines of Scripture.”
Wade Burleson
Burleson said he feels there is a small group of IMB trustees trying to control the entire board.
“I believe there is a subset of trustees attempting to set direction,” he said. “I believe with all my heart that is happening at the IMB. And that direction is contrary to the leadership of (IMB) president Jerry Rankin and staff, who are doing, I believe, a fine job in leading our convention in the area of missions.
“I asked them if they were aware that Miss Bertha Smith, the greatest missionary we have ever had, a missionary to China who lived to be 100 years old, died in 1988 and led thousands of people to Christ, had a private prayer language? Are you aware that Rankin, before he was hired, told the board and search committee that he had a private prayer language?
“The old policy stated if you spoke publically in tongues on the mission field, you would be fired because the missions agency is determined to make sure the Gospel is shared with clarity. That’s a policy I can live with.”
Burleson told the Tulsa-area audience that attempts were made by IMB trustees to keep him silent on the issue.
“I believe because I was new they felt like I should be silent,” he said. “As a result, I was squelched in ways I’m not yet free to tell you about at this time. I went to those who squelched me, which is always my policy, to see if it could be worked out. It could not be worked out.”
As for the issue of tongues, or a private prayer language, Burleson said, “I don’t have a private prayer language. My mission as a pastor is to preach the Word of God. But, what you do in your prayer closet is your business.”
He said he especially disagreed with the new policy on baptism.
“The one policy that really bothered me was the new policy on baptism, which essentially said this, ‘you can not serve unless you were baptized in a Southern Baptist church or a church that teaches eternal security,’ Burleson said.
“There are three things that bothered me about the new policy on baptism. First, it goes way beyond what Scripture and the Baptist Faith & Message teach concerning baptism. Second, it places emphasis on baptism identifying you with a certain church or doctrinal teaching rather than baptism identifying the convert with Jesus as a follower of the Christ. Third, the IMB is now telling local Southern Baptist churches that a baptism good enough for them is not good enough for the IMB. This violates the autonomy of the local church.
“I am shocked that the IMB is now telling me that a baptism—good enough for our church—is not good enough for them.
“I think they see me as a troublemaker. But, this is a matter of conviction; it is a matter of policy.
“For weeks, I spoke out, and I was not alone. Others did, too. What we were trying to do was to convince the trustees that this was going way beyond the parameters of Scripture and the BF&M.
“I was not even trying to convince them that I was right. I don’t care if they believe that way. I just don’t want them telling me that I can’t cooperate with them on the mission field because I don’t believe like them. That’s the bigger issue.”
IMB trustees reportedly were upset when Burleson eventually took his concerns beyond the board room and began a Web log (blog) or online diary.
“So, persistently, passionately, graciously to people, I spoke up,” he said. “And I think they saw me as a person who was rocking the boat.
“They ended up voting for the new policy in November and here’s where the rub comes . . . since my accountability is not to my fellow trustees, but to the Southern Baptist Convention; since my responsibility is invested in me not by my fellow trustees but by the SBC, I have the privilege to take this issue to the SBC.
“I did, through a blog—every day for several months, never using names, never attacking people. It’s all been (a matter of) principle; we have to see where we are headed, draw a line in the sand and say ‘no more.’
Burleson said he knew going public would not be well received by fellow IMB trustees.
“I knew there would be some discomfort over me going public, but I believe I have a responsibility to the convention, so I continued,” he stressed.”
Burleson expressed dismay that the board’s new policy put Rankin in an awkward position.
“This put Rankin in a very difficult position,” he pointed out. “You now have the president of an organization not qualified to be a missionary within the very organization over which he presides!
“I believe if I just let this thing slide, I’m afraid 10 years from now, it will be the death knell of our convention.”
On his Jan. 11 blog, Burleson said, “I have consistently maintained that a growing problem within our convention is the removal from leadership and service those who do not conform to specific interpretations of the Bible . . . . my desire has been to capture the interest and commitment of what I believe is a critical mass of conservative SBC members in general, and a younger generation of SBC pastors in particular, who are increasingly feeling disenfranchised because of attempts to demand conformity to interpretations of the Bible with which even reasonable, conservative innerantists may disagree.”
---
Burleson: ‘We are at a crossroads’
Monday, 23 January 2006
by Bob Nigh
Managing Editor, Baptist Messenger
TULSA—“We are at a crossroads as a convention,” Wade Burleson told about 80 persons gathered for a Tulsa Metro Association luncheon Jan. 16 at the Radisson Inn.
BGCO president Bob Green, pastor of Broken Arrow, Arrow Heights (in red sweater) leads prayer for Enid, Emmanuel pastor Wade Burleson as Tulsa-area pastors lay hands on Burleson after he spoke at a Tulsa Metro Association luncheon Jan. 16. PHOTO: Bob Nigh
Burleson, pastor of Enid, Emmanuel and president of the Baptist General Convention from 2002-2004, is the central figure amid a growing controversy among Southern Baptists. While he was elected by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention last June in Nashville to serve a four-year term as a trustee of the International Mission Board, Burleson now finds himself virtually a pariah on the board after he spoke up concerning new guidelines for the appointment of IMB missionaries. On Jan. 10, the IMB board voted to recommend that Burleson be removed as a trustee at this year’s SBC convention in Greensboro, N.C., June 13-14.
Passage of that recommendation will require approval by a two-thirds majority of SBC messengers. The missionary personnel policies Burleson objects to involve baptism and a “private prayer language.” Under the new policies, missionary candidates who admitted to using a private prayer language or missionaries not baptized in a Southern Baptist church or one which teaches “eternal security” would not be approved for appointment.
“The issue I am attempting to address is an issue that is not personal, but I believe is an issue that will determine the direction we will go; it will chart our course for decades to come as the Southern Baptist Convention,” Burleson said. “The issue is not tongues. The issue is not a new policy on baptism. It is not Wade Burleson.
“The issue is, when will we as a convention cease narrowing the parameters of cooperation for evangelism and missions?”
He explained further.
“What I mean by that is this. We as Southern Baptists are all conservative, we’re evangelical; we’re Bible believing Christians, but many of us disagree on interpretation of minor, non-essential doctrines,” he said.
“When can we come to the place of realizing that we are all conservative, evangelical people who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are concerned about winning the world for Christ, and when will we stop saying, ’You must interpret Scripture the way I do in order for you to cooperate with me on the mission field?’
“The Baptist Faith & Message is a great fleshing out of those essential doctrines that we hold to, and I support it. I am afraid that we are now moving beyond the Baptist Faith & Message, and these new policies on tongues and baptism are just an illustration.
“I am fighting for us as a convention to cooperate even though we disagree on the minor, non-essential doctrines of Scripture.”
Wade Burleson
Burleson said he feels there is a small group of IMB trustees trying to control the entire board.
“I believe there is a subset of trustees attempting to set direction,” he said. “I believe with all my heart that is happening at the IMB. And that direction is contrary to the leadership of (IMB) president Jerry Rankin and staff, who are doing, I believe, a fine job in leading our convention in the area of missions.
“I asked them if they were aware that Miss Bertha Smith, the greatest missionary we have ever had, a missionary to China who lived to be 100 years old, died in 1988 and led thousands of people to Christ, had a private prayer language? Are you aware that Rankin, before he was hired, told the board and search committee that he had a private prayer language?
“The old policy stated if you spoke publically in tongues on the mission field, you would be fired because the missions agency is determined to make sure the Gospel is shared with clarity. That’s a policy I can live with.”
Burleson told the Tulsa-area audience that attempts were made by IMB trustees to keep him silent on the issue.
“I believe because I was new they felt like I should be silent,” he said. “As a result, I was squelched in ways I’m not yet free to tell you about at this time. I went to those who squelched me, which is always my policy, to see if it could be worked out. It could not be worked out.”
As for the issue of tongues, or a private prayer language, Burleson said, “I don’t have a private prayer language. My mission as a pastor is to preach the Word of God. But, what you do in your prayer closet is your business.”
He said he especially disagreed with the new policy on baptism.
“The one policy that really bothered me was the new policy on baptism, which essentially said this, ‘you can not serve unless you were baptized in a Southern Baptist church or a church that teaches eternal security,’ Burleson said.
“There are three things that bothered me about the new policy on baptism. First, it goes way beyond what Scripture and the Baptist Faith & Message teach concerning baptism. Second, it places emphasis on baptism identifying you with a certain church or doctrinal teaching rather than baptism identifying the convert with Jesus as a follower of the Christ. Third, the IMB is now telling local Southern Baptist churches that a baptism good enough for them is not good enough for the IMB. This violates the autonomy of the local church.
“I am shocked that the IMB is now telling me that a baptism—good enough for our church—is not good enough for them.
“I think they see me as a troublemaker. But, this is a matter of conviction; it is a matter of policy.
“For weeks, I spoke out, and I was not alone. Others did, too. What we were trying to do was to convince the trustees that this was going way beyond the parameters of Scripture and the BF&M.
“I was not even trying to convince them that I was right. I don’t care if they believe that way. I just don’t want them telling me that I can’t cooperate with them on the mission field because I don’t believe like them. That’s the bigger issue.”
IMB trustees reportedly were upset when Burleson eventually took his concerns beyond the board room and began a Web log (blog) or online diary.
“So, persistently, passionately, graciously to people, I spoke up,” he said. “And I think they saw me as a person who was rocking the boat.
“They ended up voting for the new policy in November and here’s where the rub comes . . . since my accountability is not to my fellow trustees, but to the Southern Baptist Convention; since my responsibility is invested in me not by my fellow trustees but by the SBC, I have the privilege to take this issue to the SBC.
“I did, through a blog—every day for several months, never using names, never attacking people. It’s all been (a matter of) principle; we have to see where we are headed, draw a line in the sand and say ‘no more.’
Burleson said he knew going public would not be well received by fellow IMB trustees.
“I knew there would be some discomfort over me going public, but I believe I have a responsibility to the convention, so I continued,” he stressed.”
Burleson expressed dismay that the board’s new policy put Rankin in an awkward position.
“This put Rankin in a very difficult position,” he pointed out. “You now have the president of an organization not qualified to be a missionary within the very organization over which he presides!
“I believe if I just let this thing slide, I’m afraid 10 years from now, it will be the death knell of our convention.”
On his Jan. 11 blog, Burleson said, “I have consistently maintained that a growing problem within our convention is the removal from leadership and service those who do not conform to specific interpretations of the Bible . . . . my desire has been to capture the interest and commitment of what I believe is a critical mass of conservative SBC members in general, and a younger generation of SBC pastors in particular, who are increasingly feeling disenfranchised because of attempts to demand conformity to interpretations of the Bible with which even reasonable, conservative innerantists may disagree.”
1.18.2006
Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K
Ted once said, "Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K." :lol: Well, it would seem that the same is true for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. What strange things are afoot at the IMB? Well, there is a move to prohibit anyone that has a private prayer language from serving overseas, and there is a move to now require that all IMB personnel be baptized in a Southern Baptist Church.
WHAT???
One primary target in this (and in every shakedown, there is always a scape goat... just ask Jesus) is Wade Burleson, a pastor of a church in Enid, Oklahoma and a trustee on the IMB. There is a move to remove him from the Board because he has been vocal about these new changes. Now, I could wax eloquent about all of this, but I thought it best to simply quote from the scapegoat himself. It's good stuff...
Wade Burleson:
Never Forget It's About Missions
The International Mission Board is the one agency that causes all of us as Southern Baptists to get excited about cooperation. Though I have discovered that there is a wide variety of beliefs regarding ecclesiology, eschatology, missiology, soteriology and other interpretations of Scripture among the IMB trustees, I can guarantee you every trustee I have met is interested in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.
Some of us just disagree on how to get it done.
I have tried to remind everyone in this blog that the major issue for me is NOT so much the new policy forbidding the appoint of missionaries who have a private prayer language, or even the policy that rejects prospective missionary candidates who are not baptized in a Southern Baptist church or in a church that teaches eternal security. Sure, I believe both new policies go beyond Scripture and the Baptist Faith and Message, but they are only symptoms of a deeper problem.
The real problem?
We are continuing to narrow the parameters of fellowship and cooperation in the area of missions and evangelism by demanding conformity and agreement on non-essential doctrines. Now you must be a cessationist and very close to a Landmark in order to be a Southern Baptist missionary.
We have lost sight of the gospel.
The gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the work of His Son. We are called to preach Christ. We are commissioned by Christ Himself to be ambassadors of this good news. We are to go far and wide, or at least support those who do go far away, in the sharing of this good news that God saves sinners through Jesus Christ His Son.
I am still trying to understand why we are now EXCLUDING Southern Baptist missionary candidates who have a clear grasp of the gospel, who are members in good standing of Southern Baptist churches, and who in every way would have been qualified to serve as an SBC missionary for the past 161 years, but are now persona non grata (an unwelcome person).
I have received several emails with heart wrenching stories of missionaries who are now not able to serve with the IMB because of these new policies. Allow me to tell you one without going into the specific details of names and locations.
There is a very dark region in Central Asia, a place where missionaries and trustees have been praying for a gospel presence for the past three years. This very, very dark place is dangerous for anyone who names the name of Christ.
Recently, a young Southern Baptist couple felt God's call to this very region. They would never be recognized for their service because of security reasons. Their lives would be in constant danger, and frankly, there would be no guarantee they would ever make it back to the States alive. They passed all of the candidate interviews with flying colors, impressed all the IMB staff and trustees, and brought a surge of excitement and anticipation to the CA region as an answer to many prayers.
When the new policies were past by the trustees November 15, 2005 the Candidate Consultant went back to the young couple and asked, "Do either one of you have a private prayer language?"
The wife, unbeknownst to her husband, had prayed privately in ecstatic utterances for years. With full integrity she answered, "Yes."
This young couple was then rejected as SBC missionaries while in training at the Missionary Learning Center. Many tears were shed. The Candidate Consultant was heartbroken. The Central Asia region was shocked.
Why were they declined? The trustees, not the staff, declined them.
I propose a dark region in Central Asia is still dark because we trustees lost sight of the gospel, and our mission, and went way beyond Scripture, the Baptist Faith and Message, and our duties to keep our eye on world missions and evangelism.
That's the issue.
I have been criticized because I have stated the reason why private prayer languages became an issue among the trustees two years ago. It is not conjecture for me. What I have been told makes me very sad.
The baptism policy makes me just as sad. There are trustees who have said to me, "I am a Landmark and proud of it." Listen, I can cooperate with a Landmark any day of the year in the area of missions, but the essence of Landmarkism is to separate from everyone who does not view the administrator of baptism as important as Landmarks do. Our convention split over Landmarkism back in 1850 and if we are not careful we will soon face a simlar problem in 2006.
We must stop narrowing the parameters of cooperation in missions and evangelism.
So, I don't want to get bogged down in a debate about "private prayer languages" or the proper administrator of baptism. I don't even want to get into a debate on whether or not I should stay as a trustee of the IMB.
I want us as Southern Baptists to realize we have no higher motivation for cooperation than the mission field. We must WORK to keep the doors of cooperation open.
We must not forget that it is all about missions.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
--
To read his blog in total, see http://www.kerussocharis.blogspot.com/
WHAT???
One primary target in this (and in every shakedown, there is always a scape goat... just ask Jesus) is Wade Burleson, a pastor of a church in Enid, Oklahoma and a trustee on the IMB. There is a move to remove him from the Board because he has been vocal about these new changes. Now, I could wax eloquent about all of this, but I thought it best to simply quote from the scapegoat himself. It's good stuff...
Wade Burleson:
Never Forget It's About Missions
The International Mission Board is the one agency that causes all of us as Southern Baptists to get excited about cooperation. Though I have discovered that there is a wide variety of beliefs regarding ecclesiology, eschatology, missiology, soteriology and other interpretations of Scripture among the IMB trustees, I can guarantee you every trustee I have met is interested in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.
Some of us just disagree on how to get it done.
I have tried to remind everyone in this blog that the major issue for me is NOT so much the new policy forbidding the appoint of missionaries who have a private prayer language, or even the policy that rejects prospective missionary candidates who are not baptized in a Southern Baptist church or in a church that teaches eternal security. Sure, I believe both new policies go beyond Scripture and the Baptist Faith and Message, but they are only symptoms of a deeper problem.
The real problem?
We are continuing to narrow the parameters of fellowship and cooperation in the area of missions and evangelism by demanding conformity and agreement on non-essential doctrines. Now you must be a cessationist and very close to a Landmark in order to be a Southern Baptist missionary.
We have lost sight of the gospel.
The gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the work of His Son. We are called to preach Christ. We are commissioned by Christ Himself to be ambassadors of this good news. We are to go far and wide, or at least support those who do go far away, in the sharing of this good news that God saves sinners through Jesus Christ His Son.
I am still trying to understand why we are now EXCLUDING Southern Baptist missionary candidates who have a clear grasp of the gospel, who are members in good standing of Southern Baptist churches, and who in every way would have been qualified to serve as an SBC missionary for the past 161 years, but are now persona non grata (an unwelcome person).
I have received several emails with heart wrenching stories of missionaries who are now not able to serve with the IMB because of these new policies. Allow me to tell you one without going into the specific details of names and locations.
There is a very dark region in Central Asia, a place where missionaries and trustees have been praying for a gospel presence for the past three years. This very, very dark place is dangerous for anyone who names the name of Christ.
Recently, a young Southern Baptist couple felt God's call to this very region. They would never be recognized for their service because of security reasons. Their lives would be in constant danger, and frankly, there would be no guarantee they would ever make it back to the States alive. They passed all of the candidate interviews with flying colors, impressed all the IMB staff and trustees, and brought a surge of excitement and anticipation to the CA region as an answer to many prayers.
When the new policies were past by the trustees November 15, 2005 the Candidate Consultant went back to the young couple and asked, "Do either one of you have a private prayer language?"
The wife, unbeknownst to her husband, had prayed privately in ecstatic utterances for years. With full integrity she answered, "Yes."
This young couple was then rejected as SBC missionaries while in training at the Missionary Learning Center. Many tears were shed. The Candidate Consultant was heartbroken. The Central Asia region was shocked.
Why were they declined? The trustees, not the staff, declined them.
I propose a dark region in Central Asia is still dark because we trustees lost sight of the gospel, and our mission, and went way beyond Scripture, the Baptist Faith and Message, and our duties to keep our eye on world missions and evangelism.
That's the issue.
I have been criticized because I have stated the reason why private prayer languages became an issue among the trustees two years ago. It is not conjecture for me. What I have been told makes me very sad.
The baptism policy makes me just as sad. There are trustees who have said to me, "I am a Landmark and proud of it." Listen, I can cooperate with a Landmark any day of the year in the area of missions, but the essence of Landmarkism is to separate from everyone who does not view the administrator of baptism as important as Landmarks do. Our convention split over Landmarkism back in 1850 and if we are not careful we will soon face a simlar problem in 2006.
We must stop narrowing the parameters of cooperation in missions and evangelism.
So, I don't want to get bogged down in a debate about "private prayer languages" or the proper administrator of baptism. I don't even want to get into a debate on whether or not I should stay as a trustee of the IMB.
I want us as Southern Baptists to realize we have no higher motivation for cooperation than the mission field. We must WORK to keep the doors of cooperation open.
We must not forget that it is all about missions.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
--
To read his blog in total, see http://www.kerussocharis.blogspot.com/
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