Head full of Jiblets

I've finally given up on my plan. It's time to understand God's plan.

When you grow up in a country where opportunity is everywhere, and you're better than average (at least that's what my teachers told me), and you have confidence, skills, etc., then why wouldn't your plan work? I've had lots of plans. I've moved across the country numerous times, and I've always had a plan. I've changed jobs many times, and I've always had a plan.

I've worked in churches, led worship, run sound, etc, and have always had a plan.

This past year, my plan didn't work. I wanted to be doing God's work, my way. And that was the problem. Opportunities for ministry were all around me, but the opportunities I wanted were hard to find, or just impossible to find. So, I've given up on my plan.

God has a wonderful way of putting you in your place. Places that I felt were destined for me to minister have just been impossible to become a part of, and places that I thought were just wasting my time turned out to be the best opportunities to really minister.

So, I've given up on my plan, and am trying to follow God's plan or even just understand His plan for me.

How do I know if I'm on the right track? Well, fruit tends to be a good symbol of a healthy plant. And since God used that in His writings, it makes sense to me. So, if I see people coming to know God, and communing with Him as a result of my worship, then I'm doing God's plan for my life.

That happened today. Today I followed God's plan. Today is a good day.

God help me with tomorrow.....

I continue to be amazed at what people write in their blogs. It's as if sharing their thoughts with the computer somehow is a satisfying substitute for a friendship. Yeah, I'm hurt. I find the whole blogging exercise a somewhat thin, vain attempt at bettering the world. It's actually just a use of technology so that everyone can say something, with no one paying attention. We would all be better served by just enjoying nature, or sitting still or something.

If you find blogging therapeutic for yourself, then blog. If you are doing it because you want people to 'see the light' or understand your viewpoint, then stop blogging.

Why do I do it? I thought I'd get some responses, some conversations with people, either anonymous or not, who would think intelligently about life. I've only received one comment, but haven't been able to strike up a conversation.

The two blogs I read are bizarre. One is an attempt to craft a message with a clever ending. The other is just nonsense most fo the time, written because of some bet or resolution to write it.

So, that's my take on blogs. I used to be interested in writing really interesting things, but I've decided that having interesting friends is, well, more interesting.

write back if you dare....

Someday, I want to walk into a church that is inviting.

I know it sounds peculiar, but I think we've transitioned from a Modern church concept, where the neighborhood attended, to a Seeker concept, where the service was a show and we hid Christ, to an Emergent concept, where Christianity is just something you do, and everyone can do it differently, and approaching someone might be construed as 'invading their space.'

Maybe I'm just burned out.

I attended a church in a former town for two months. After two months, the pastor took my wife and I aside and said "let's grab some lunch and see where you fit into this church body." Guess what, within weeks I was leading worship and my wife was participating in leadership of the church. In a nutshell, we were invited to share our gifts with the church body, and the opportunities were many and often.

Last year I attended a church for months. I went to events. My wife and I hosted a Bible study in our home. After nearly a year of attending, we were still greeted on Sunday mornings with "it's so nice to have you visit with us." We left, and after nearly a year, they called me up to host another Bible study. Did they still think I was attending?

Now I've attended a variety of churches, some local, some not. In most cases, the invitation is to "come to church and let's see what happens." There's no design, leadership, or growth. Maybe I'm just beating my head against the wall.

Come to think of it, I've attended two churches recently where they were more than happy to have me plug in wherever. I guess I just have too much baggage for some things to happen.

So maybe it just comes down to this: In the end, it's God's plan that works to the benefit of His people. The more I plan and push, the worse it becomes.

Time to reevaluate where I spend my time and energy. The problem is, God prefers broken vessels, and that fall and impact sure does sting.

Pray for me, that God will use me to further His Kingdom, and that I can move on to the place He desires for me.

I have friends who are ministers that derive all of their monetary support from the ministry.

I have friends who are ministers that derive non of their monetary support from the ministry.

I have friends that do a little of both.

Which of my friends consider themselves "full-time ministers?"

I ran across this thought as I have been involved in multiple church plants over the past year or so. One guy just couldn't call himself a full-time pastor unless all of his monetary support was from his congregation, along with his sponsor church and family and friends. In other words, working a regular job like me somehow made him something other than a full-time pastor. Bi-vocational was a dirty word - somehow having a regular job made him less of a pastor.

I have another good friend who is full-time in the ministry, and he's started a church, and he'll probably eventually become a working stiff like me because his church won't be able to support him and his family. Somehow, I don't see him calling himself anything other than 'full-time', regardless of where he gets his money.

I fancy myself as a full-time worship minister, even though I don't lead worship on a regular basis, and I don't get paid even when I do.

Don't get me wrong, here. Churches should have, and quite frankly need to have a paid staff to help the body grow. Fields have full-time farmers once the field is big enough. It's those small gardens in the back of the community that need caring and support, even though they can't 'feed' the 'farmer.'

But the farmers who are called to farm, have it 'in' them, regardless of vocation.

Maybe it's just too simple to say it, but I will anyway: Full-time ministry is what we're all called to do. Some of us can be and should be leaders of a church body - and it's okay for them to receive payment. Others should just know that God has called them to a different sort of full-time ministry. One where they can give their time and energy to the church body, and contribute to the church coffers all at the same time. Maybe guys like me can't devote 40-60 hours a week to the church, but we can devote 40-60 a week to God's work, and some of that time might actually be in a church.

I was talking with a friend of mine, and she had a thought. The Emerging Church culture is one of everyone coming together and sharing how they worship, praise and study Jesus Christ. A wide variety of senses are used, and often there is not a central pastor or sermon, but rather an experience with God. I like that approach.

Many people (check out theooze.com or read Spencer Burke's book, or Dan Kimble's book) characterize the Emergent Church as a response to a Modern theology. The 'old' way of having church, with a clear authority (pastor) and a sermon, complete with the hierarchy of business (stewardship, membership classes, boards of directors, deacons, elders) doesn't seem to appeal to a newer generation, thus spawning an Emergent Church.

Here's the observation: Emergent Churches attract people who like one thing, and Modern Churches attract people who like something different. So, how do you plant an Emergent Church in a non-emergent culture? Let's say you want to start a new church in an affluent part of town, where the average age is over 40, the culture is 95% anglo, and everyone drives an SUV. Don't these people live in a culture of leadership, authority, and hierarchy? What about an Emergent Church is attractive to these people?

I think an Emergent Church is a good idea, but as seeds are scattered, some fall on rocks, others among the thorns, others receive no nutrients, but some do grow and produce fruit. I didn't say that, Jesus did.

Go plant your church in a culture that will embrace it.

I've noticed over the past year that the American Coffee Shop has become the substitute for neighborhoods.

Well, maybe not a substitute, but certainly another form of neighborhood. As a matter of fact, I'm writing this at a coffee shop. A glorious place where the coffee beans smell great, the sofas are big, and the internet connection is free, fast and wireless.

When my kids were little, I found myself spending time with a different type of person than before - when I was just a single guy or a just-married guy. With no kids, you spent time with friends either at a restaurant, partying, playing sports, or doing things at your local church. Once I had kids, the restaurants, parties, and sports (as a sense of community) started to fade away. The church was still a place for community, but it mostly involved helping in Sunday School with the toddlers (because they didn't really want the fathers changing diapers, although I don't know why).

As my kids aged, the soccer field became the community. I'd hang out with other parents watching our sons and daughters playing soccer. It was the thing we had in common.

Now it's 2005, and I think the coffee shop is the "soccer field" for those with no mate, no family, or maybe small kids. There are still groups at churches for singles, or just-marrieds, but the coffee shop has become such a fixture for community that many churches have coffee shops.

This, by the way, is nothing new. In the 70's, the town where I grew up had a "Christian Coffee House". It was really a soda shop with the occasional singer. I wonder some times if the "Christian Coffee House" is really a safe place - you know - where you can go and not have to deal with "those" people.

I've often wondered what would happen if a church rented a coffee house instead of a school gym. I think I would like that church. I'd much rather smell the fresh ground coffee instead of the two-day old cafeteria garbage.

We all have opinions. Mine are no better than yours, and often, mine will seem silly - as if my head were full of jiblets.

What do I want to discuss?

1) There is no such thing as a Post-Modern Christian Church

2) Churches should be more about caring

3) There's no excuse for lack of education

4) Think you're a leader? turn around and look who's following

enjoy