ARE:A Renewal Enterprise

Who Are You Listening To?

After being in seminary for way too long (on and off for a decade!), my favorite reading these days usually comes from somewhere in the “real” world – local and national newspapers, magazines (the good, the bad, and the shameless…Do you know what Brittney did this weekend?!), books from my monthly book group, titles on the best seller list, and recommendations from my wonderfully creaky neighborhood bookstore. I do occasionally pick up the latest missional church book or a recommended read by a trusted colleague, but mostly I stir clear of anything that smells like it’s “inside the church box.” So, yesterday found me reading the cover story from this month’s Fast Company magazine, a piece by Clive Thompson entitled “Motorhead Messiah.” I will save you all of the crazy engine details from the article. Let’s just say, this guy is putting in juiced-up, environmentally-friendly, biodiesel and electric engines in some of the biggest gas hogs on the road. Can you say mean and green…Hummer!?! This guy is doing things the folks in Detroit say are impossible. So much so that, when Goodwin had his Hummer parked overnight at a hotel in Denver, he woke up the next morning to about 20 awe-struck guys standing around his car. Anderson says:

Who Are You Listening To?

After being in seminary for way too long (on and off for a decade!), my favorite reading these days usually comes from somewhere in the “real” world – local and national newspapers, magazines (the good, the bad, and the shameless…Do you know what Brittney did this weekend?!), books from my monthly book group, titles on the best seller list, and recommendations from my wonderfully creaky neighborhood bookstore. I do occasionally pick up the latest missional church book or a recommended read by a trusted colleague, but mostly I stir clear of anything that smells like it’s “inside the church box.” So, yesterday found me reading the cover story from this month’s Fast Company magazine, a piece by Clive Thompson entitled “Motorhead Messiah.”

I will save you all of the crazy engine details from the article. Let’s just say, this guy is putting in juiced-up, environmentally-friendly, biodiesel and electric engines in some of the biggest gas hogs on the road. Can you say mean and green…Hummer!?! This guy is doing things the folks in Detroit say are impossible. So much so that, when Goodwin had his Hummer parked overnight at a hotel in Denver, he woke up the next morning to about 20 awe-struck guys standing around his car. Anderson says:

A Nice Little Story

Here's a great little story coming out of the Reformed Church in America about a growing congregation in South Dakota. Faced with a space shortage on Sunday mornings - too many people to fit into one worship service - they decided to do something dramatic: They added services. As time went on, each service began to take on its own character.The story doesn't explain why this congregation was growing in the first place. But it does report that members of the congregation have learned two things as a result of their experience with new - and varied - worship services: 1) There is spiritual power in diversity and 2) Focusing on meeting the needs of your neighbors leads to both personal - and congregational - spiritual health:

A Nice Little Story

Here's a great little story coming out of the Reformed Church in America about a growing congregation in South Dakota. Faced with a space shortage on Sunday mornings - too many people to fit into one worship service - they decided to do something dramatic: They added services. As time went on, each service began to take on its own character.

The story doesn't explain why this congregation was growing in the first place. But it does report that members of the congregation have learned two things as a result of their experience with new - and varied - worship services: 1) There is spiritual power in diversity and 2) Focusing on meeting the needs of your neighbors leads to both personal - and congregational - spiritual health:

Time To Play!

Mainline denominations are notorious for spending years of study on something before they make a decision or take an action. We don’t make a move without forming a committee, task force, or team, which has as its sole purpose looking at every angle, from every perspective, until we can come up with a recommendation that will not upset anyone. This usually ends up not pleasing anyone, of course, and often produces the least compelling option.Likewise, when congregations are faced with figuring out “What’s next?” in their ministry, they think they have to spend an extended period of time studying in an effort to make sure they come up with exactly the "right" plan, without any flaws, that won’t ruffle any feathers.I say let’s stop studying so much…and let’s start playing! And, specifically, let’s play JAZZ.

Time To Play!

Mainline denominations are notorious for spending years of study on something before they make a decision or take an action. We don’t make a move without forming a committee, task force, or team, which has as its sole purpose looking at every angle, from every perspective, until we can come up with a recommendation that will not upset anyone. This usually ends up not pleasing anyone, of course, and often produces the least compelling option.

Likewise, when congregations are faced with figuring out “What’s next?” in their ministry, they think they have to spend an extended period of time studying in an effort to make sure they come up with exactly the "right" plan, without any flaws, that won’t ruffle any feathers.

I say let’s stop studying so much…and let’s start playing! And, specifically, let’s play JAZZ.

Dare To Be Real

How "real" are people in your congregation? Can they really be themselves when they get together? Or do they feel like they have to put on a "church face?" Are they honest about the struggles they face in their daily lives and even in their faith life? Or do they feel like they have to be perfect "saints?"The Biblical story, of course, is full of very ordinary people. But, often, church people feel like they can't be. This is bad for people. It's bad for congregations. And ultimately, it's bad for the world.

Dare To Be Real

How "real" are people in your congregation? Can they really be themselves when they get together? Or do they feel like they have to put on a "church face?" Are they honest about the struggles they face in their daily lives and even in their faith life? Or do they feel like they have to be perfect "saints?"

The Biblical story, of course, is full of very ordinary people. But, often, church people feel like they can't be. This is bad for people. It's bad for congregations. And ultimately, it's bad for the world.

An Adverbial Exercise

Maybe you have heard it said that "church" isn't a noun; it's a verb. If that's true, then here are some adverbs we believe describes how a healthy, vital church acts:

An Adverbial Exercise

Maybe you have heard it said that "church" isn't a noun; it's a verb. If that's true, then here are some adverbs we believe describes how a healthy, vital church acts: