I hate spam....
Spam is very irritating, don't you agree? I mean aside from annoying advertisements, there are always announcements for porn sites. Some of those sites have hijacked the next-wave domain name and are sending out spam with phony email senders. I suppose that would be okay, except the emails that fail are all ending up back in my inbox. Over the last two days I have received about 3000 such emails. Boy, is that annoying. Hopefully, some laws will be passed to protect consumers from all of this unwanted stuff. And for those of you who get an email from someone at next-wave inviting you to xxx sites, well, Next-Wave is not to blame, really....

Posted by CRW---5/18/03, 8:14 PM

On leading and some other stuff....
One of the blogs I like to visit often is Todd Hunter's. Todd is writing a lot about leadership struggles and ideas. One of the struggles is the tension CEO types have with learning to be more participative and less manipulative in leadership. I know I like it better when people take my advice and change their lives immediately into the mold that I think they should be in! [see me nearly falling out of my chair laughing] My pastoral/leadership experience was more like this: Whatever I advised, the advisee did the opposite....The more I preached on evangelism, the more hyperspiritual and weird people became. The more I preached on morality, the more immorality abounded!. Hey, maybe I was just a lousy preacher! I hadn't thought of that one...Anyway, here's a missional church conundrum. Let's say a group is doing everything they think God has called them to do, and are apparently being fruitful. But things start to go wrong and look bad...people begin to question where God is in the midst of the struggle...This is the dilemma faced by my friends in the skate ministry at the Ranch in Southern Califoria. I submitted my response to the City's proposed order which would shut down the ministry....Soon a judge will decide. If he decides to shut the ministry down, is that God's will? I am interested in your thoughts....drop me an email.

Posted by CRW---5/13/03, 7:59 PM

The Introduction to Dan Kimball's book is intriguing....
I just started reading Dan Kimball's book, The Emerging Church, and I like it. He writes about the "post-seeker-sensitive" church and I think I agree with his observations...I'll post more as I read more....

Posted by CRW---5/7//03, 8:05 PM

I only received one email today about Dr. Bailey's article....
however, it went something like this: "The Eutychus report is offensive. I support President Bush. Please remove me from your email list." I understand. However, I guess I would like to respond by saying, I support the President, too. I even pray for him once in a while. I prayed for Bill Clinton once in a while also. I believe that Christians should support their leaders. Another surprise, for some readers, perhaps, I don't always agree with everything that I publish on Next-Wave. Even though I don't agree with everything I publish, I believe that controversial opinions lead to lively discussions! I am hoping that the Eutychus report will do the same. Rather than signing off, I wish that the reader had clicked onto the discussion board and taken on Eutychus' opinions, point by point. This would have been interesting. Some other reader may do so.

In regard to war, in general, let me say this. I am glad I never had to fight in one. When the Viet Nam conflict was in full bloom I was a 19 yr. old college student, a conscientous objector because of my religious affiliation and a 19 in the draft lottery. Sure enough, I was drafted. Through a series of circumstances I did not have to serve a tour of duty in Viet Nam in 1969 as a noncombatant medic. On my conservative Christian campus I sang folk songs at antiwar protests. But as a young man, I don't think I had a clue about what I was allegedly against.

Years later, down on my financial luck, I considered enlisting in the Army under a special program. Once again, having passed the Army physical and one step away from being sworn in, I didn't enlist. I have a great deal of respect for the men and women who have served and continue to serve in our military. And I honor those who have fought, who have been wounded, and who have died, defending our nation.

In regard to Operation Iraqi Freedom, I am very thankful that the conflict is nearly over. I never did form an opinion as to whether the American cause was just, or not. I am glad, however, that a brutal dictator has been removed from power and thankful that I did not have to make the decisions that sent men and women into harm's way. Many folks that I respect were against moving forward with armed conflict. They offered pacifistic views supported by their Christian viewpoint.

I am not so sure that God is a pacifist. I remain unsure about what the "Christian" opinion should be. There are some things that will only make sense when we have the perspective of eternity, and I look forward to the rightness that I expect to find in the cosmic scheme of God's plan to save mankind.

Posted by CRW---4/21/03, 7:40 PM

Notes on the 4.03 issue....
As the war in Iraq winds down contemplation of the ongoing effects of the conflict seem in order. Writing from the future, Dr. Eutychus Bailey comments on those effects in his timeline. Steve Bazemore, sends his meditations in the pre-war days. On another level, Stephen Shields interview Kevin Miller in the aftermath of his attendance at the Emergent 2003 convention. Len Hjalmarson goes deep in his discussion of authority, community and truth and Micah Knapp chases a rant. Bill Carroll follows up, nearly two years later with his thoughts on "experiential worship." On this Easter Sunday, 20 April 2003, I reflect on how God is continuing to revive and resurrect our lives and our churches, Blessings....

Posted by CRW---4/20/03, 6:17 PM

Hunter rants...
For a while I had hoped that Todd Hunter would begin to write on a regular basis and to make those writings available. I suspected that there would be some good stuff that would help emerging young leaders in doing God's kingdom work. So now, sure enough, he's doing it. And now, miracle of miracles Hunter rants!

Posted by CRW---3/29/03, 9:07 AM

On being a "Jesus" kind of leader...
Todd Hunter is musing over the issues of servant leadership...and the fact that those words fail to help us understand what a "Jesus" kind of leader says and does...All my life I have enjoyed being "the boss". I have owned a number of businesses, I have failed at some and I have been successful occasionally. There is something about the power of being the final decision-maker that really makes me feel good. There, I have confessed. I wonder how I will ever get over those desires and feelings. When I was a pastor, I soon realized that I was not the "boss." Neither was I the slave or the servant. It was just all out of my hands. Because of that, I often think that I failed as a pastor. I know that I have abused some folks with my style and methods of leadership. I suppose that is why I am not leading much these days, fewer people to get abused! :) It was clear that Jesus was the leader of his little pack. He called them, they followed. He trained them, they followed. He served them, they followed. And each of those guys, except for one, were clearly leaders of teams. And yet they were also servants, and slaves...Wow, I wonder if I will ever figure out what all of that means...When some of you younger guys reach enlightenment, let me know, ok? In the meantime, I'll just keep plugging along...

Posted by CRW---3/19/03, 8:26 PM
 

The Tall Skinny Kiwi prays the "blogger's prayer"...
Andrew Jones writes: "Our Father who lives above and beyond the dimension of the internet,

Give us this day a life worth blogging,
The access to words and images that express our journey with passion and integrity,
And a secure connection to publish your daily mercies.
Your Kingdom come into new spaces today,
As we make known your mysteries,
Posting by posting,
Blog by blog.

Give this day,
The same ability to those less privileged,
Whose lives speak louder than ours,
Whose sacrifice is greater,
Whose stories will last longer.

Forgive us our sins,
For blog-rolling strangers and pretending they are friends,
For counting unique visitors but not noticing unique people,
For delighting in the thousands of hits but ignoring the ONE who returns,
For luring viewers but sending them away empty handed,
For updating daily but repenting weekly.

As we forgive those who trespass on our sites to appropriate our thoughts without reference,
Our images without approval,
Our ideas without linking back to us.

Lead us not into the temptation to sell out our congregation,
To see people as links and not as lives,
To make our blogs look better than our actual story.

But deliver us from the evil of pimping ourselves instead of pointing to you,
From turning our guests into consumers of someone else's products,
From infatuation over the toys of technology,
From idolatry over techology
From fame before our time has come.

For Yours is the power to guide the destinies behind the web logs,
To bring hurting people into the sanctuaries of our sites,
To give us the stickiness to follow you, no matter who is watching or reading.
Yours is the glory that makes people second look our sites and our lives,
Yours is the heavy ambience,

For ever and ever,
Amen"
Amen, Andrew, brilliant as usual.

Posted by CRW---3/18/03, 7:35 PM

Riddle seeks mention on other's blogs...
Mark Riddle writes: "It's been a while sense I've tried to get on someone elses blog. This week will be a bit of a stretch. A bigger stretch for me than Andrew Jones. I'm going for two very different people. Todd Hunter. and Daniel Miller. Todd is new to the blogging world. But a pioneer in "the conversation" going on in most blogs I read...."

Best wishes to you in your endeavor, Mark. It's good to have goals in life.

Posted by CRW---3/16/03, 4:12 PM

Where do you go to church?
Andrew Jones writes: "WHERE DO YOU GO TO CHURCH? and other tricky questions that organic church people dont know how to answer. I have a few of you on the email waiting to hear me on this, so let me start with my first thought, and then keep adding thoughts as
I get them.
THOUGHT 1.0 - BANKING
Lets talk about banking. A similar question “Which bank do you belong to?” used to be appropriate but is now redundant....." click here for more...

Posted by CRW---3/7/03, 7:10 PM

Leighton Ford addresses three questions on the War with Iraq...
Brian McLaren forwarded the following email:

THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT WAR WITH IRAQ
A LETTER FROM LEIGHTON FORD
TO YOUNG CHRISTIAN LEADERS

Shortly before Christmas I was invited with a few other religious leaders to meet with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other officials to discuss terrorism and Iraq. One official explained "If we are going into conflict with Iraq we need the moral support of the public."

Although I appreciated being invited to the session, I left troubled. Certainly Saddam Hussein has wrought great evil against his own people and others, greater perhaps than most of us realize. Yet I was not convinced that the connection between Iraq and terrorism was clear enough to justify war.

In the weeks since I have wrestled with the question of this war, and its moral defensibility. I had thought of writing an open letter to the president. But he has more than enough advice! So instead I write this to you, as young pastors, evangelists, and mission leaders to ask you to confront honestly and prayerfully three questions that we who follow Jesus should be asking of ourselves and those we lead.

Question #1: What is the moral justification for a "pre-emptive" war? I am not a pacifist, although I deeply respect my friends who are. There are times, I believe, when force must be used to oppose evil. As the apostle Paul taught, rulers are given the "power of the sword" from God to "execute wrath on the wrongdoer." Yet Paul's words must be held in tension with those of Jesus who told his disciples, as they were pulling out weapons to fight off those sent to arrest him, "Put up your sword. All who take the sword will perish by the sword." Former President Jimmy Carter surely had it right: "War may sometimes be a necessary evil, but it is still evil." The problem is still that of the human heart. Sin distorts our decisions and motives and our ability to see and execute judgment purely. All of us can too easily find ways to "justify" our actions. Thus some moral criteria for a "just war" and not only the claims of "realpolitik" must be our guide. This is why across the centuries thoughtful Christians have sought to weigh the pros and cons of any specific conflict in the scales of so-called "just war" theory"; e.g., that war must only be waged as a last resort, to protect the innocent, to restore justice, avoiding as far as possible injury to non-combatants, and with grounds for believing that limited military action will prevent greater evil. What, then, justifies a pre-emptive or "preventive" war? This takes the ethics of war to a new level, and demands a higher and clearer standard. Unless military power is used with a clear moral clarity we set a precedent that may come back to haunt us and the world. Suppose that a year from now India wishes to justify a pre-emptive strikeagainst Pakistan, fearing that Pakistan may provide weapons of mass destruction to Kashmir rebels (or, vice versa). On what moral grounds will the U.S. and other nations be able to challenge them? It seems to me that a preemptive war is justified only when three conditions are met: First, that injury is threatened to a third (innocent) party Second, that there is clear intent and demonstrated preparation to attack Third, when it can be shown that waiting would greatly magnify the risk In a democracy we must trust our elected leaders to weigh these issues. Yet we may also require, if they want our "moral support", that they provide a moral and legal basis for a pre-emptive war. It may be that in a world of violence force will sometimes be needed to stop tyrants, and protect the innocent. But such actions must always be for the sake of justice, never for vengeance, and justice be tempered by mercy. If, then, we are called to be merciful, do we not have a moral imperative to prepare to practice mercy? How will we wage war mercifully, when Saddam Hussein may deliberately move his military forces right next to civilians? How will we plan to make peace? Must we not be clear about our intentions now?

Question #2: What effect will war have on fellow believers in other parts of the world? We often forget that in the Middle East and the Arab countries there are not only Muslims and Jews, but fellow followers of Christ. How will a war affect them? A friend who heads a major Christian ministry in that part of the world recently e-mailed to say: We pray with all our hearts that by the time you receive this ... war with Iraq will have been averted. From our perspective, war against Iraq would have devastating repercussions in the region - not least of which is a serious undermining of the message of the Gospel. The reason for this is that Arabs are interpreting war against Iraq as Christian aggression against an Islamic nation. This false perception is so deeply ingrained among most Arabs that it undermines any perception of Christianity as a message of love and peace. As my friend says, the perception is false. Yet it is real to those who hold it! And we have a responsibility to manage perceptions, and not just deny them. How would you respond to my friend? How do I respond? I can only let him know that I am praying that war may yet be averted, and other means found to deter Hussein. And, if not, then we must pray that the war will be as limited as possible, that civilian loss may be minimal, and that in any post-war rebuilding Christians will be able to join with many others to minister to the hungry and hurting people of Iraq, and especially to the children!

Question #3: what war is most worth fighting? At the end of the day I have tried to look at our world not as a "religious leader", but as a grandfather. My wife and I have four precious grandchildren, ranging from a college freshman to a little girl just learning to turn over in her crib. How will our decisions as a nation affect them? and the other billions of children in our world? The greatest risk may not be from Hussein, but from what would happen in the ten to twenty years after a war, in attack and counter-attack, in anger and revenge. I do not want our grandchildren to grow up in a kind of global northern Ireland! I also ask myself: what about the money? War with Iraq will cost anything from fifty to a hundred billion dollars or more. Is that the best way to spend these billions? to build a future for our own grandchildren and others? Yet there is another war, one well worth fighting - the war against HIV-AIDS in southern Africa and much of Asia. In the long run the HIV-AIDS pandemic is a greater threat than Saddam Hussein. If the war against AIDS is lost this disease has the potential to destabilize entire continents, and much of the world. President Bush has committed fifteen billion dollars over the next several years for the fight against AIDS in Africa. Yet this is only just a beginning. The Secretary General of the United Nations has said "With ten billion dollars a year AIDS can be globally controlled in ten years." This is a war that can be won! I thank God for President Bush's leadership in this commitment. But I am hoping that he and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair (who a year ago called for a global "Marshall Plan" to wipe out AIDS) will with all the authority of their offices build a "coalition of the willing" in this war. War with Iraq will end many lives. War against AIDS will save tens of thousands of lives. So let's ask ourselves, and our leaders: which war is most worth fighting? There's still time to seek an alternative to war. Consider this: a church in Boulder, Colorado is encouraging people to put a cup of rice in a sandwich bag and send it to the White House with a note that says "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. Romans 12:20. Please send this to the people of Iraq." In the mid 50s famine ravaged China while the US and China were at odds over threats to the islands of Qemoy and Matsu. Such a "rice campaign" took place then but not until much later was the effect known. President Eisenhower met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to consider US options and twice the use of nuclear weapons was recommended. Each time Eisenhower turned to an aide to ask how many little bags of rice had come in. When told they numbered in the tens of thousands, Eisenhower told his generals that as long as so many Americans were asking for the US to feed theChinese he certainly wasn't going to consider using nuclear weapons against them. (The story is related by David Albert in People Power: Applying Nonviolence Theory) If I had the ear of the President I would want to say: Mr. President, please: keep the pressure on Saddam to disarm. Please: feed the children of Iraq. And please: lead the war against AIDS!

Posted by CRW---3/2/03, 2:59 PM

David, I apologize for all baby boomers...
David Hopkins writes: "I realize most futurists predict that the average life expectancy will increase due to improvements in health technology. However, I look at my generation. I just don't know if Generation X (yes, I still use the term) will out live the Baby Boomers. So much in our lives has fallen short of the Boomers. The Boomers got everything and wasted it. And I'm convinced they are hell bent on destroying us. I don't see why they won't also win the contest of life expectancy.

For all you Boomers reading this, don't e-mail me to say you understand and that you are the exception to the rule, that you haven't wasted your opportunities. I wish it weren't so, but someone has to say it: you have failed so far. Don't get me wrong-- my generation is even worse. We've had to opportunity to fix the disaster and instead we got fat and lazy.

I may be rather pessimistic right now. I'm just really doubtful on our ability as a community to fix anything. Wait a week-- my opinion might change..." David, mea culpa, from me to you on behalf of all of us wasteful baby boomers with the excessive longevity....

Posted by CRW---3/1/03, 9:25 AM

Chris Stewart rants about "postmodern"...
On Feb. 19 Chris Stewart rants: "...my issue with all the “postmodern” talk has to do with our need to find a system, or a model that works. To discuss “postmodern” issues, and how to “minister in a postmodern world” is still missing the point I’m afraid. If any one certain system would or could do it (postmodern or modern), we would have found it by now. Perhaps that’s why God gave us His Spirit instead of a system, so that we can depend on Him and not our models… whether they be modernist mega-church models, or postmodern Birkenstock-wearing, candle burning models, or house church models, or whatever. These are all just shadows of an even greater reality. They are distractions from the simple life in God that transforms our lives." Hey, where are my Birkenstocks when I need them :).

Posted by CRW---2/22/03, 7:53 PM

David Hopkins comments on Jesus as...
David Hopkins comments on Jesus as karate teacher, football and basketball coach with a little help from some friends...."Jesus will take you to karate, play football and basketball with you." This message has spread throughout the church: Jesus is ________ to replace the ________ you never had. However, a metaphysical concept is never an adequate substitute for a physical comfort-- unless maybe you're delusional. I don't care how real Jesus is to you. A daddy is a daddy, and we all need one."

Posted by CRW---2/22/03, 12:13 PM

Oops, got caught with my rants down, uh...
Andrew Jones, aka Tall Skinny Kiwi, uses one of my offhand comments in my Nomo Leado rant to air his thoughts on the place of good food in a good worship service....really, I love a good potluck, :)

Posted by CRW---2/18/03, 9:33 PM

Kevin Rains begins his memoirs...
Kevin Rains writes in his 2/16/03 entry: "The book I write in 20 years will begin thusly: 'I remember when postmodern ministry was a Len Sweet book, a goatee, and lots of complaining about how corporate culture had infected the church as we sipped a double Latte at Starbucks (tm, reserved, copyright etc). Then we moved into the phase of complaining about all the negative reactions our complaining started. Why, we even had an editor from Leadership Journal writing articles complaining about our complaining. (at this juncture I would strike the Santa Clause pose as I leaned back in my rocker, inhaled a deep hit off my apple tobacco pipe and grinned as the next round of emerging leaders sat at my feet and hung on my every word). Then came the time when we actually started trying stuff and began failing and got all the 'I told you so's' thrown at us and the post modern resumes started flooding the mega churches once again. Now all that's left is irrelevant house churches and residential communities that still believe they can change the world.... and they might just do it.' "

Ok Kevin, so I complained about Kevin Miller's complaining, :)

Posted by CRW---2/17/03, 2:54 PM

NoMo Leado....
Churchified religious leaders just can't resist it...eventually they have to criticize folks who are on the leading edge of something. Just read Kevin Miller's NoMo Pomo---A Postmodern Rant. As I sit at my keyboard with the rain dripping outside my sliding glass window, I glance at the shadows my flashing fingers cast on the bedroom wall and wonder if they portend some sort of "divine" handwriting.

I am a baby boomer. Sorry, I am an old guy. However, I am not one of those old guys who thinks that the evangelical church has done a great job over the last 35 years. In fact, I am pretty sure that the evangelicals missed the point, along with missing a meaningful dialogue with the majority of my generational peers. While the majority of baby boomers may have had a chance to make a "decision" about heaven or hell, most of them have not had a chance to be discipled by the living God, and I think it is fair to blame religious leaders and editors for this little-discussed fact. Maybe what we need is a little less discussion of leadership processes and how to transition your congregation, and more about how to tear the entire institution down to its foundations and start over.

I got interested in evangelizing a "next" generation when my teenagers were struggling with finding faith into their young adulthood. I became convinced that something was wrong. Christian education, Christian parents and regular attendance at a denominational church was not enough. I have struggled with finding the answer to this question: "Why does it seem that the tried and true programs and processes of the past don't seem to work in evangelizing and discipling contemporary America?"

The postmodern discussion at least made me aware of what might be wrong. Now I hear that we just need more discussion of Preaching, Youth Ministry, and perhaps, How to hold a great Potluck!

If evangelicals had reached my generation every church in America would be filled to overflowing. Charitable contributions might make President Bush I's points of light a reality, and Bush II's faith-based initiative unnecessary. For the kingdom of God would have flowed forth and made America the 'City on the Hill' that Ronald Reagan described.

So Mr. Miller, while I am not a proponent of postmodern ministry, I am a proponent of effective ministry. Maybe we should bulldoze the churches and institutions to the ground and find some eager 20-30 somethings who can bring the Gospel to [dare I say it?] "postmodern" non-Christian culture. NoMo Leado, new T-shirt to be available soon!

Posted by CRW---2/12/03, 6:28 PM

Todd Hunter Blogs....
Former national director of the Association of Vineyard Churches,  church planting coach, and confessed Luddite, Todd Hunter begins the blogging journey. Rock on, Todd!

Posted by CRW---2/7/03, 7:11 AM

Texan David Hopkins reflects on the Columbia tragedy....
"207,135 feet in the air
Traveling Mach 18.3
A loud bang heard for hundred of miles
So powerful, shakes the houses below
Fire and smoke in the sky
Raining upon suburbia
Within the tragedy, I quietly ponder:

Posted by CRW---2/4/03, 9:23 PM

Karen Ward rants on about postmodern ministry....
Karen Ward rants:  "START OF RANT in the last months, me and my friend eugene cho from quest, seattle, have sat on several panels and done several workshops and talks on "postmodern" ministry. if this keeps up, we may become part of the "established pomo" (oxymoron) "guru class." yet most "postmodern" gurus ( =:-O snarkety snark snark) seem to be pre-postmodern born boomers or silents with multiple book contracts and we are not, and don't, so a tiny part of us is jealous and angry #*#$**!*!!**^*%$""X-*#*%$*#$!!

yet we be the goatee sportin,' beret wearin', double non fat decaf mocha sippin', david eggers readin', hookah puffin', bad poetry writing, rummage sale divin', tru type native pomos (with negative bank accounts to prove it) word up! friggin' eh! ... how's come they keep writin' books and hostin' seminars about us, yet we don't reap any of the benjamins and our little non-mega, organic church plants are strugglin' to pay the rent?

but if we can sneak into the guru class, maybe we can nab that elusive book deal! after all, we do have the novelty factor goin' of being "ethnics" (i'm black with a touch of eastern cherokee and eugene is korean), this is a novelty to be sure, as much pomo leader stuff is almost totally anglo, male and middle class (when half of the real world is non-white, non-western, non-male and poor) details, details... whatever...

so why bust our behinds as still book-less local church planters in the most postmodern and secular city in the united states (seattle) with 5% church goers? why keep getting a daily butt whoopin,' from a wacked crucified god who bids us to "come and die," when we can sign autographs and pomo tour ourselves around the nation?

this weekend, i will do another panel and workshop at a great event here in seattle called "does the future have a church," yet, i'm starting to get worried... that some folk (moderns, especially) but also some over eager postmoderns, are secretly falling for the attack. "tell me what you are doing at apostles?" "what are the "components" of your this or that..." "where do you get your ideas for being artsy?" where can i find blankety blank... "just like yours..." "do you have a "manual" i can purchase?"

yikes batman!, this could be a holy problem for the future church... if folk get the idea that organic churching can be shrink-wrapped, packaged and sold at a workshop, cause it can't... you gotta get deep in your own dirt to see what god has put there. you gotta respond to your own zip code, your own people, your own gifts, your own calling from god, your own heart broken for god, learn from your own failed ideas and get your butt kicked while trying to serve in the world around you... and as you do this, there won't be any other parish or ministry exactly like yours! (welcome to the clone free world of the real emerging church).

for more, read this article and try resist the borg inspired, modern drenched cloneaid pomo church. and p.s. "if you see a pomo guru on the road..." (well, if you are christian, you can't kill him/her) so just run! RANT COMPLETE"

Wow!

Posted by CRW---1/26/03, 12:22 PM

Are we part of the solution?
Jordon Cooper goes off concerning the Pro-Life v. Pro-Choice debate engendered in recent days on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling: "How many Republican majorities are going to be needed to appoint judges to overturn the decision? How many years wasted? You can go on television and Crossfire and Counterspin until we are sick of it but what does that do because the target is the wrong one? The battle is won in creating crisis nurseries, places where people can go, more effective child welfare departments so a mother doesn't feel like she isn't totally alone and there is help. I find it so hypocritical that the same people who go on and on about the sanctity of life, say nothing when stories like this appear. Fighing for a better quality of life for those kids that have been abandoned and forgotten may be a good place to start. Again, there is so much more that could be done to make a difference in this world If we can give up our addiction to words and believe that we can show a different way through actions. I think we will be further along. Ever since the reformation, Christianity has relied heavily on labelling our opponents instead of entering into dialogue with them. The abortion debate is one of the last to keep doing it. By being reduced to name calling, we take our focus off what really matters. That is what really ticked me off about this post. Yes, the Planned Parenthood poster contest was moronic, no matter which side you are on but by responding to it, we take our focus off some things that can make a difference.
If we really believe in the sanctity of life, some good links to explore are God's Golden Acre, a place in South Africa that is caring for thousands of prphans and children infected with HIV/AIDS or your local crisis nursery and home for mothers who don't have anywhere else to go."

What do you think?

Posted by CRW---1/23/03, 6:30 PM

Have you met an apostle lately?
I have had the privilege to meet some apostles, have you? The most exciting part of meeting these folks is that they come in different stages, some of them are just forming, and some of them have been at the end of their career. Most of them aren't aware of this calling in their lives, or at least, they don't like to talk about it much....One of these guys, Jason Evans, has just returned from a ministry trip to Africa....he writes:
"Finally home! The last two weeks have had a very strong impression upon my life, my soul. I'm certain I will never be the same after having this "African" experience. I'm sorry I wasn't able to communicate to everyone the details of my last week on the continent. I was not exactly "close" to a PC often at all. It was amazing though. There is so much still swimming around my head and moulding my changed heart that I'm not quite sure how to summarize things yet. In time, I'm sure I will but for the time being I am spending my hours trying to make up for lost time with Paige and Brooke. I'm sure you'll understand. For now, this list will take a siesta for awhile until there is anything else I need to update all of you, who supported this venture, on.

I will say this, those of us that call ourselves "Christian" must turn our eyes toward heaven and beg His forgiveness. I have looked into the eyes of the have-nots and have seen the souls of our very own brothers and sisters in Christ neglected while you benefit from the wealth of a human nation. And while we have been "blessed" by this nation the Kingdom blesses them, not you, with great treasures. Their smiles, their laughter carry more joy than most of you have ever known... maybe it is we, after all, who are the have-nots. I'm not asking you to protest our governments policies on working with South Africa, I'm not even asking you to put together your own trip to AIDS orphanages in South Africa... I am however, asking you to begin by caring. Recognize that when you watch your children playing, when you get your paycheck, when you drink a glass of water, when you get dressed in new clothes in the morning that you have something millions do not. You have done nothing to deserve it. Just thank God and remember and care about what has been taken from the "least of these" in this world... they outnumber you in this globe... and in them Jesus said we would find Himself... I did.

I hope this does not seem too condemning or critical...I'm not actually sad or angry, I simply understand that I now have a very new and sober view of what is happening in certain parts of our globe. On the contrary, I'm probably filled with more joy and peace, faith and hope than I've ever been in my life... I'm not a numbers guy, so I won't go into that type of thing in this e-mail. I am willing to talk to anyone who wants to about my experience and how I feel about what is happening in Africa with AIDS and the Church there (just send me an e-mail)... I think that is more important and effective than another pointless blip in cyberspace whining about the woes of the American church, etc., etc. With that said, the format of my site will probably begin to change in the coming months and most likely move to a new location. But for the time being if you are interested in seeing my continued thoughts and reflections on the trip feel free to go to my website, http://myvalentine.blogspot.com, and sign up for an update from the blog. I'll continue to catalog my thoughts and reflections on the trip there until I decide to make any of the changes I've mentioned. I've also been asked to consider speaking on some of these issues in a few different places. I'd be happy to share my thoughts and experiences with whoever's willing to listen, so if your church or any other group wants to put something together just let me know... I'm open.

Thanks to all of you who supported this journey through prayer or whatever else. The churches that I had the honor of meeting with were amazing people and they send their love and gratitude for helping making this trip happen. I think in the coming years we will begin to see amazing things coming from this continent as the churches there are alive and ready to see God move. The kind of churches that are being planted there have the potential of seeing whole cities transformed... and that is exactly what South Africa needs right now... and every other continent on the face of the earth for that matter. When you think about it pray for Heather Reynolds and God's Golden Acre, for Shane and Charise and Southpoint Churches in Cape Town, for Mike and Nikky and Southside churches on the Bluff, for Peter and Candi and the new ministry they are beginning in their home in Durban and Baba Elliott, a man who works with God's Golden Acre and will be planting churches in the valleys of Cato Ridge soon. I thank all of those people I mentioned for being mission outposts in an amazing culture and for showing such incredible hospitality to me.

Father, forgive us for we know not what we do. Amen."

It will be fun to watch what God does in and through Jason in the coming months and years.

Posted by CRW---1/20/03, 7:42 AM

N is for Next-Wave
I picked up a copy of Leonard Sweet, Brian McLaren and Jerry Haselmayer's A is for Abductive:Language of the Emerging Church at a Christian Bookstore. As I was thumbing through the pages I happened on the dedication...Listed by name were a couple of my favorite people, Rogier Bos and David Hopkins. For those of you who don't know, Rogier is the founding editor of Next-Wave. He's the guy that started Next-Wave's exploration of ministry in the postmodern era in January 1999. He currently serves as communication director for Christian Associates International in their European operations. David is Next-Wave's most prolific author, a contributing editor and editor from September 2001-2002. David is a comic book author, high school English teacher, pastor, and the husband of Melissa, an outstanding photographer. I haven't purchased a copy yet, but I hear it is a good introductory book to the whole postmodern, emerging church conversation. You can buy your copy here.

Posted by CRW---1/4/03, 10:19 AM

A passion for evangelism?
Kevin Rains writes, Monday, December 30: "With the holidays behind me it's time to focus on my next big thing. I don't really have a next big thing yet. My next big thing may just be learning the ropes of smallness again, of being faithful in the little things. I have no grand scheme, no over-riding dream. My vision for "reaching the whole city" is starting to wane. I can feel this loss but I can not stop it. Like sand it slips through my fingers and all that's left is the simple reality of smallness. These dreams are given not grasped. Perhaps the dream's not leaving but hibernating awaiting a spring stirring. I don't really know. I do know that I want to be a good husband, father, and child of God. I do know that I want to make a difference in a few lives in the body shop and my home. I do want my house to buzz daily with the surprises and energy of a steady flow of guests around the dinner table and in the many spare bedrooms that will soon line the entire second floor of my home. Where has the passion gone? I just remembered. My passion is in evangelism. When I am sharing the good news routinely I feel energized. I was made for that. Pastoral ministry (for me) seems like a temporary, necessary distraction from my true calling to share the gospel.

I'll be hanging out with my best friend from college tonight, Greg Hopwood. He'll remind me of this. He has seen me at my height of passion for God and life and he always reminds me that it's tied to my core calling to evangelism. Now the fun part; doing it... finding ways to become and actively share the good news in a real world context. If I can't do it at the body shop, then it's just a nice idea. Sharing the gospel as a pastor was strangely easier and harder at the same time. It became boring really. It was like fishing in a barrel or hunting at a zoo. All the adventure was gone. It was routinized into weddings and visitors to the front door who came looking for food or answers. Gone are the days of hitting the streets with a bunch of tracts and engaing strangers in conversations about eternal realities. Part of me is glad those days are gone. Another part yearns for that level of adventure. It put adrenaline into evangelism. I can feel myself start come alive even thinking about it now. At the time it was authentic, flowing from some recent powerful experiences with God. What would be authentic in the times and context I find myself in now?"

Posted by CRW---1/1/03, 7:39 AM