Sanctuary Tonight

As always, we had a great sanctuary together. I wanted to point out two things that really stuck out to me.

1. Emily shared this amazing analogy that I know that I am going to butcher as I try to put it down in written form. She said that she had always felt that her spiritual journey in other faith communities had been like a small, pre-potted seed that only had a small space to grow into, and that would only ever become one type of plant. When she found Missiongathering, she said that she had found her "meadow" in which she could grow into herself and where the soil was rich. Where she could "hide out" if need be, or shine in the light of the sun. I just think this is a beautiful and brilliant analogy.



2. We were talking about why people are so attracted to churches that constantly make people feel guilty. I think the core reason is that people (especially in Western culture) get accustomed to a God that is only found in guilt. That we feel closest to God in our sin because it reminds us that we are in need of grace. It can almost become a ritual like practice to be told how terrible we are and how disappointed God is in us. Although I agree that we all need grace, and that it is good to be reminded of that... I think that God meets us in much more than just our guilt and that God sent Jesus Christ to no longer make us live in the shadow of our guilt and judgement... but instead to embrace grace and walk daily in that grace.

Recommended Reading

This is a book I picked up in Orlando that I am about halfway through. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who is looking at how a movement of faith (missionally based) can look like.

I especially have appreciated the chapter on discipleship.

For more info, go to theforgottenways.org

Exponential Conference #3

Alan Hirsch brought the noise. I just got out of a main session where Alan Hirsch was sharing about what it truly means to be exponential. Man, it was good stuff. I am so thankful that someone is having the strength and the passion to stand up and say that we need to truly put CHRIST back into the center of CHRISTIANITY. The way he put it was this:

Christology > Missiology > Ecclesiology

Another way of putting it:

Church (minus) Christ (equals) religion

Church (plus) Christ (equals) Christianity

Thank you Alan for having the courage to challenge the way in which we start our churches here in the west. I think that stood out to me most was the way in which he broke down the old accepted thought of "Jesus standing outside the doors of our hearts (and our churches) and we only need to let him in" by asking why Jesus was outside in the first place!

Good stuff... couldn't have said it better

Exponential Conference #2

My first session has been really cool. It's interesting to hear the ideas about creative communication and to see where MG is really ahead, and areas that we can possibly do much better in.

A few things that stuck out to me today were:

1. "Internal Marketing." The way that we communicate to our MG Villagers... there are some really interesting ideas that I think could work well at MG.

2. Finding creative ways to challenge our communities to invite other people. I think this is an interesting concept... instead of just saying it, how do we make it accessible and creative?

Exponential Conference #1

We are off to the first preliminary session at the conference we are attending. If you'd like to check out what it is, go to www.exponentialconference.com. I am signed up for the "Creative Communication in New Churches" pre-track. I didn't know until now that Mark Batterson is leading my pre-conference track. Mark is the Pastor at National Church (DC) and we have chatted a few times about Rescue coming out to play at his church. I'm stoked about seeing him again.

I am actually really looking forward to getting a chance to hear what church planters from across America are observing about faith and the shift that seems to be happening throughout the US.

I should be blogging throughout my time here, so keep up to date with me.

MG Baptisms

This Sunday was absolutely amazing.

I am sitting here in the San Diego International Airport, waiting to board our flight to Orlando and can't stop thinking about just how amazing this morning truly was.

I saw people who hadn't planned on being baptised stand up out of their seats and move toward the baptismal wanting to free themselves from the shackles of religion and breathe in the fresh air of a new Jesus (actually an old Jesus) that accepted them and loved them fully. Despite all of the planning and programming we can do as a team, there is nothing more powerful than watching people breathe freedom in.

Thank you Missiongathering for letting me be a part of such and amazing Sunday. God is moving in the lives of people here in San Diego... setting them free and allowing them to live into the grace that has been there for them since their first breath.

Baptism Sunday

Join us Sunday @ 10:30AM. www.missiongathering.com

Azariah Southworth

Laura turned me onto this interesting story. Thank you Azariah for being real with yourself despite the potential loss of your career. I truly believe that "lines" are being drawn in the sand, and the momentum is growing to finally (and truthfully) start asking honest questions about spirituality and sexuality.

Check out the story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/azariah-southworth-popula_n_97078.html

Voice of Restoration

We had a great sanctuary tonight. As a highlight, we got to talk about what Jesus' voice would have sounded like, and what the "spirit" of his voice truly was. Through that conversation, we started talking about how we hear / read Jesus' voice as a voice of restoration time and time again. Not of judgement or condemnation or even righteousness, but a voice of true restoration.

I thought I'd get this out tonight, and elaborate tomorrow on it... but what an amazingly different tone a voice of restoration (which includes love, grace and peace) than a voice of regulation and righteous judgement.

Good night.

betterworldshopper.com

My friend Tracy introduced me to this site, and it has definately been illuminating to me. This site is dedicated to giving information on companies and goods that we often consume on a daily basis. Check it out for yourself at www.betterworldshopper.com. Here is a good screen shot:

EMC 2008

The "Everything Must Change Tour" happened last weekend at Missiongathering and went off. I had an amazing time getting to know Linnea (from Deep Shift) and Tracy Howe (the worship leader for the tour). Great event, great music, and some great conversations were had throughout the weekend. Thank you to all who were involved, and here is a cool photo of yet another FILIPINO worship leader (we are taking over the world!).

Sanctuary Rocks

We had a great sanctuary tonight. Our discussion really shed some light on some things that i've been feeling and kind of working out in my head lately. I will get into those tomorrow, but the basic underlying tone of the discussion was on sexism. Within our culture, how it influences our cultural view of homosexuality, how it impacts our faith, and even how it impacts Missiongathering. I really loved the conversation and I am excited to see where it leads us....

for now though... sleep.

Happy Saturday

"Ask a deeply religious Christian if he’d rather live next to a bearded Muslim that may or may not be plotting a terror attack, or an atheist that may or may not show him how to set up a wireless network in his house. On the scale of prejudice, atheists don’t seem so bad lately."
- Scott Adams

Magi in a Modern Nativity

Sanctuary was pretty chill tonight. We hung out at Emily's place and she provided AMAZING snacks. She had these little bite size desserts (that I could eat) that she called "Yum Yums." Haha. It is a family recipe of marshmellows, rice crispys, white chocolate and (I think) caramel. Really good. On top of that, she had eggnog for us all to enjoy. Good Christmas times...

After a really long week... and a challenging one at that, I was stoked to hang out with my sanctuary folks. We has a cool conversation about Joseph's role in Jesus' birth and growth. A man that truly embodied compassion and righteousness. I think it would be awesome to learn more about Hebrew cultural norms in that time.

We talked about the role of the Magi as well and I figured Id share it with all of you:

My thought was that the grassroots movement that became the announcement of the Messiah was done through a group of influential tribal leaders that were committed to telling the story of Jesus' birth. I think we often think about the Nativity as a huge "city-wide" event that everyone attended... but the reality of the story is that probably even the inn-keeper didn't know about Jesus' birth at the time. Probably years later, he had a realization that the young pregnant woman who came to his establishment in need of shelter actually carried the Messiah. Or maybe not. Who knows... but the point being that Jesus' birth was something that kind of happened under the radar.

But through the Magi... (the influential men and women of the time) the nation of Israel began to understand that the world was changing. Their words, to those around them, began to tell the story of Emmanuel. Their journey to find the Christ-child eventually led others to journey toward this same story.

Which leads me to this thought: maybe we are the Magi of our time. We have journeyed to the "stable" and experienced the reality of Emmanuel in our lives. And all of us have a level of influence within our circles of friends and family.

Maybe the message of Christmas... the true message of HOPE... is not something that is meant to broadcast across a large cross-section of people we dont know and probably never will... but instead, the message of HOPE is to be spread from our mouths... to those who we have relationship with... to those that we carry influence with.

I think we are the Magi in this modern Nativity.

Inspire Thought

I've started a new design series called "inspire thought." I needed new things to inspire thought while I stared aimlessly into my computer. So you can use these as simple desktops, or print them and take them to meetings or whatever... but enjoy. Give me your feedback, I'd love to hear it.

For Those Alone

You Are God's Beloved. God loves you just as you are. Just as He shaped you and made you. The same God who placed the stars in the sky and hung the moon in place has promised you his unyielding love forever. God's love is in pursuit of you constantly... and is in the midst of all you do. Every conversation... Every thought... Every movement... Every smile... Every tear... Every doubt... Every kiss... Every lonely moment... Every struggle... Every achievement... Every success... Every triumph. God's love is there... in your midst... surrounding you.

A Beautiful Prayer / Lectio

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

SD Fires... A Lectio

This is a lectio for Missiongathering on Sunday. Love Remains. If you would like to use this video for your worship gathering... please email me at jay@missiongathering.com.

San DIego Fires... How To Help

http://helpsandiego.blogspot.com/

click on the link.

You can also sign up with volunteersandiego.com.

Anger... So Much Anger

I am struggling with this right now. I cannot see how anyone can look at the gospel of Jesus Christ and justify excluding certain groups of people based on their humanity. I am really struggling right now. I didnt know just how angry I really was until last night, as I processed on my drive home and my drive to sanctuary, this sick.. stomach anger swelled up in me and overtook my very physical being. I am so angry right now with the church... with christian leaders that choose to exclude... with people who say they are about the "ministry" of Jesus Christ, but rationalize their judgement and ignorance with selected readings of scripture. I cannot imagine a world where the message of christianity would be a message of exclusion, judgement and behavior modification.

I am not an angry person. I do not get angry often, quickly or over silly things. In fact, for the most part people typically call me "non-confrontational." But this has really pissed me off. This has made me confrontational. I am not so much mad at specific people... but upset with the fact that there are so many people that will be marginalized and judged based on rationalizations of the gospel. My heart is burning with honest sadness for those that I see will be left out, and told that their pursuit of healthy spirituality is not valid by men that have no idea what it is like to walk in the shoes of the very people they exclude.

As I sat with a friend last night and talked about what I was feeling, she told me that there is a reason. That this issue will be the issue that defines our time right now. And that God is stirring me and putting an immense passion in me right now that can only be preparing me for His use. I am trying to have compassion. To view the "other side" of the argument with understanding and grace, but as I sit right now, that is extremely hard.

Christ came so that none would be left in the dark. Christ died so that all could have ownership in the Kingdom of God. Christ rose to commission us into being disciples of his love and grace and hope. Christ has asked us to extend His hands of caring... His eyes of understanding... His legs of mercy and His heart of LOVE. Love never excludes... never.

I am not sure yet what to do with this anger. I am not sure how to express it or how to use it for productive means. I am praying. I am praying hard that there is clarity in the path in front of me. This passion is for a reason and I am here, in this unique time and space... for a reason.

If you are reading these words... please pray with me. Please take up the cross of love... unconditional love... and carry it to those that are marginalized and outcast. Love extravagantly with me and help to paint a new vision of faith. A faith that includes... a faith that hopes... and a faith that loves. Without that.. we only have ignorance... and ignorance breeds fear... and fear breeds hate... and hate leads to things that are much worse than the darkest places of a persons heart.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (msg)
" 12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."