Monday Musings - how to be less stupid

I read this article last week, mostly because of the awesomeness of the title (warning, if you do read it, there is some mild language) and I loved one of the first lines that Altucher wrote:

Subtraction, and not Addition, is what makes the window to the brain more clear.

Fantastic.

Most of us would argue that if we could only learn more, add more knowledge to our memory banks, develop broader expertise, that would make us smarter.

However, I totally agree that it's likely a bit of spring cleaning is in order and we need to de-clutter.  If only we could all let go of the list of things Altucher suggests we subtract (love that he only came up with 9... I'm sure we could all add many more to it), who knows how much smarter we would become.  As we let go of other people's expectations, guilt, regret, the need to control - imagine the creativity, excitement, sense of freedom we would experience.  There is definitely a lot of clutter in my mind that could do with some clearing out to create extra room for healthy thinking...

I also know that for me, I'm far more productive and effective when I have less that I need to focus on.  When I try to be all things to all people, when I try to stay on top of everything, I'm actually far less capable.  As the genius folks at Steam Whistle say... we all need to try to do one thing, really, really well.  (Clearly they do marketing well, because I didn't even need to look that up...) 

Our church family is focused has the concept of simplicity at the centre of who we are - that "we value uncluttered lives (yep, that's the official wording!), which free us to love boldly, give generously and serve joyfully".  Whenever I unpack that with people, I'm quick to remind them that the value of simplicity is about far more than just living on less money so we can give more away (although that's part of it).  It's also about subtraction - having fewer relationships, fewer responsibilities, fewer things that are demanding our attention and resources, so that we can be more generous with what is left - the key people in our lives, the priorities we want to set.

Obviously there are many things that pull for our attention, but I wonder how much more healthy, effective and excited we would be if we were able to take some time to remove some of the clutter and junk, get rid of some of the areas of our lives that are actually not that important and put our priorities in their right places.  I know I could benefit from being a little less stupid...

What do I need to de-clutter in my mind - others' expectations? guilt? regret? resentment?
What do I need to let go of, so that I can have a greater sense of focus on what's important?
What areas of my life can I simplify and cut back, so that I can be more generous?

Monday Musings (on Tuesday) - reflections from a great weekend

This past weekend, we held our Downtown Toronto retreat - what an awesome time away.

The focus of the weekend was "Greater Things" as we processed John 14:12:

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Together we unpacked various elements of what it means to be part of God's great restoration project and the ways in which we can enter in and receive the culture and values of God's original design and vision for us.  Oh, and we had a groovy 70s dance party...

As I come back from the retreat, I'm so inspired and amazed at this incredible community that we're part of.  One of the activities we did during the retreat was to get people into groups who all focus on the same area - hospitality, education, business, science, arts - to talk about what those principles look like in a practical way.

It was incredible to hear the ideas that the groups came up with and to be reminded again about the ways in which God is at work in every sphere of life that we are involved in and seeking to bring restoration, wholeness and purpose to our every day lives.

My prayer for each of us is simply this... "God, help us be more aware of your presence in our lives, so that we can be more involved in your amazing restoration project."

How aware am I of God's presence in and around me right now?
Where is God at work in my life today?
How is God inviting me to partner with him in that?

Monday Musings - innovation vs preservation

Last week, I read this article that's been floating around for the last little while - I'm sure many of you have read it, too.  It's a fascinating account of a Google ex-employee - I'd assumed it was going to be someone firing up about something controversial, but in actual fact, it's a pretty balanced account of one person's perception of the shifting culture at Google.

While it's always important to be careful to remember that we all have our own perspectives which sway how we look at the world, from a philosophical angle, the article triggered a couple interesting thoughts for me...

Google has always been one of the companies people would say was in their top 5 desired workplaces.  The facilities (cool place to work), the 20% rule (being given 1 day per week to work on a side project of your choosing), huge innovative environment (new ideas and new products all the time)... who wouldn't want to work there?

All of us have a desire to be in a place where we're appreciated, where we have the opportunity to dream, to come up with new ways of doing and where we don't just have to accept the Status Quo.  Certainly in the world I spend most of my time, I'm very aware of that - the young (and even some of our older people) who are part of our churches are looking for a place that has a clear core (core values, core principles), but plenty of room to organically explore what that looks like.  When it does... look out.

What does seem to have shifted at Google is the sense of "we now have to not only protect what we have, but we have to be like them so we can keep being at the centre".  To me, that's the most dangerous attitude for anyone to have.  As soon as we start focusing more on preservation than innovation, we're done.  I remember Charlie Walsh, who worked with cyclists at the Australian Institute of Sport, saying that if we stand still and try to hold on to where we are (even if that's number 1), if we just keep doing what we've been doing, others around us are innovating and thinking of new ways to catch us and will overtake us.

Equally dangerous is to look at what someone else is doing and say "they're starting to take some of the number 1 from us - let's do what they're doing, only better (because we're number 1) and we can keep our number 1 place."  Obviously, in this context I'm not talking about organizations that are already focused on similar areas.

In the church, sadly, I've seen this play out time and again - we focus too much either on trying to hold on to what we have (preservation) or we focus on what others are doing and say "if we were just like that, then we'd be back in the centre" (could play out in terms of looking at copying things that are successful in culture or in copying what other churches are doing).

For me, I desperately want to be part of a community that knows who they are and what they're on about - knowing what's at the heart and core of who we are.  With that locked in, I then want to create opportunities for us to innovate, experiment and try new things, knowing all the time that we're holding on to what makes us "us".  Sure, I want to learn from other people, other churches, other organizations and the culture around me, but in the end, I want to be able to allow the DNA that we have to produce organic fruit that is reflective of exactly where we are.  What about you?

What areas of my life do I feel like I have to protect?  Why?
When am I guilty of looking at what others are doing and thinking "I need to do that so that I can be as successful as them?"
How am I helping create organic, innovative community?  

Monday Musings - Why I love the NFL

[I thought about titling this "Why I love Football", but I knew there would be an uproar from my friends south of the Equator, so NFL it is... and let's not even get started on those who say only the roundball game is truly Football...]

Before we moved to Canada, I had some interest in the NFL.  Mostly, that had consisted of watching the Super Bowl, because we didn't really get much access other than that.  However, when OneHD launched, suddenly we had the opportunity to watch multiple games each week (fortunately my DVR allowed me to not have to get up at 4 am to watch them...)

Over the last couple of years, watching an NFL game on a Sunday has became a big part of our weekly rhythm - I have certainly enjoyed having Sunday Night Football (or a recording of an earlier game) to help me unwind at the end of a weekend.  I have finally become an unabashed Patriots fan (I take quite a bit of criticism for that, but what can you do...?), and so obviously I'm excited about next Sunday's big game... hoping for a reversal of the last time these two teams met on the big stage.

A couple weeks ago I had an opportunity to teach at our site and as part of my message, I mentioned where my love of the NFL has come from.  I believe it is one of the greatest examples of a true team sport - where each person who's part of the team needs to play their role for the team to be successful.  Sure, there are other sports which have that element (basketball still remains No 1 in our house...), but in many other sports, it's easier for one person to dominate and make a huge difference.  In the NFL, each person needs to play their role or there is no chance of team success.  Yes, a great QB makes a difference, yes, having incredible TEs can change things, but every player needs to be ready to contribute, no matter their role.  The results of last weekend prove the value of a kicker...

Far too often though, we find ourselves thinking about how important we are.  Whether that is in our career, our friendships, our churches... if we're honest, a lot of the time, our focus is on ourselves.  While it is certainly true that we need to continue to play whatever role we have been given to the best of our ability (particularly if we're in a leadership position), I wonder how much difference it would make if we focused on our role in the context of the team we're playing on - and how we encourage our teammates to be the best they can be as well.

I need to prepare as best I can... for the sake of the team.  I need to take care of myself so I'm in good condition... for the sake of the team.  I need to be focused on the right things... for the sake of the team.  I need to encourage the other people on our team to do their best... for the sake of the team.

I wonder how much difference it would make if we all approached life from that perspective - certainly I'm sure it would mean our motivation would go up at different times (instead of the consequences just being about me, I realize if I make a wrong choice, that affects us all...).  At the very least, we would shift the focus from ourselves to those around us and our communities and that in itself is always a good thing.

What teams are you part of?
How much are you performing at your peak for your team?
What can you do this week to increase the contribution you make to your team(s)?

lusting after church

In recent times, I've had some conversations with different people who are thinking about where they're at in their involvement with their church.  Sometimes, I find these conversations difficult, because, as a shaper in a church, I have a vested interest in what we're doing at CitySoul, and obviously believe strongly in what we're doing, and the way we're doing it.

My tendency is to hold back talking about what we're doing, particularly with people who are struggling in the communities they are currently part of, because I want them to work through the issues, and help their church become even more healthy, rather than just up and leaving.  In one of these recent conversations, I found myself saying something which I think is a helpful analogy, and which I've since used a couple more times.  

In some ways, being part of a faith community is like being in a relationship (hopefully it's a lot like being in a lot of relationships, but bear with me...)  When you are in a relationship with someone, it doesn't matter how attractive anyone else is, while you are in the relationship you're in, you should not be looking, and especially not lusting...  

Yes, there are times when it's tempting, but if you're in a relationship, you should be focussed on working through any issues, resolving problems, looking to strengthen that relationship, not find an easy out by chasing after someone else who might seem more attractive.  The reality is that all relationships require hard work, dedication, and, as far as I know, all people have issues of some sort, so while the change might be nice for a while, the gloss will wear off (and is it even possible you are the cause of some of those problems... so won't you take them into any other relationship you head into?)

Now, if the relationship is not working, is not going anywhere, is harmful, etc, then you need to leave that relationship, and it's at that point that you can begin to look at who else is around (but it's still important to work through the issues that caused the breakup).

I think it would be helpful if more people had those concepts in mind as they thought about their involvement with any given church.  While you are a part of that church, you are in a relationship, and it doesn't matter how attractive other churches are, you're "taken", so stop lusting!  All churches have people in them, and if they have people, that means there are going to be issues.  Some communities might hide them better than others, or for longer, but there will be issues somewhere (even with CitySoul!).

Now, again, if that relationship is not working (and there are times when it is absolutely appropriate to end a relationship and move on, for the benefit of both parties), then aim for a healthy close to the relationship, work through the issues that caused the "breakup", and once that chapter has closed, only then should you start looking at what else is around.

imagine if... #2

I did say I was going to do some regular blogs on the theme of "imagine if..."  So, here's number 2...

Jesus says that the Dream of God (Kingdom) is like a farmer who throws seed into a field, then is amazed as it pretty much grows on its own - he doesn't really know how it happens, but the soil grows a sprout, then a stalk, then a head, then a full head of grain, so he harvests it (Mark 4:26-29)

Imagine if we functioned that way - not that we don't put any effort in at all - the farmer had to plant the seed (which, I think it's fair to assume means he'd prepared the ground first), but that we set up environments for growth to occur organically, then sit back in amazement at what God does around us.  And creating an environment for ourselves to grow (what's my soil like right now?  what seed have I scattered around the place lately?), as well as talking about creating environments for others to grow.

Organic is one of our key values at CitySoul, and is becoming a bigger and bigger part of my thinking and understanding.  Organic means natural, not forced, slow growth... the farmer, in some ways couldn't have sped up the process (and we all know how fake and less alive food tastes when the growth process has been sped up...)  

Imagine if we were more focused on creating environments (preparing the soil, scattering seed) where growth can organically occur.  Imagine if we were more content to realise that (whether we sleep or get up, as Jesus' story says) God is growing the seed.  Imagine if we would allow ourselves to be surprised (and blessed) by God more often as we scratch our heads and say "how did that grow?!" 

Imagine if...

reality bites...

There's a lot of talk (and, disappointingly, some champagne corks) around the place at the moment about the impending death of the emerging church (see here, here, here and here for just a few examples).  I've spent a bit of time over the last few years reading, listening to and watching some of the emerging church discussions, and find it interesting that the conversation has come to this point.

Think what you may of the emerging church conversation, but to me there is a bigger issue at stake, and that is one of authenticity.  In the end, the more I reflect, the more I think we as Christians need to place an exceptionally high premium on authenticity.  

At one of our CitySoul feasts a few weeks ago, we spent some time considering this idea of authenticity, and for me, some of the really helpful thoughts came out of discussions about what is not authentic, ie what is fake.  As you think about what is fake, you start to think about mass-production, copies, trickery, pretending to be something you're not, plastic... 

Authenticity on the other hand is about being genuine, about originality, the real deal.  

With that in mind, the question of emerging church (or any other "form" of church, for that matter) can become a distraction from pursuing what it means to authentically follow Jesus - individually and corporately.  Trying to "become" (or not become) an emerging/[insert other label] church flies in the face of what it means to say as a community "what does it mean for us, together, to follow Jesus?" (which obviously flows on from understanding that for yourself.)  If that looks (or smells...) emerging, then it's not going to die, because it's genuine for the people who are part of your community.  If it looks traditional, then it's not going to die, because it's genuine.  If it's something new (or old), but it's real, and people are encountering and seeking to become more like Jesus, that would seem to decrease the likelihood that it will becoming a fad, a trend, or a fake.

I wonder what would happen if we spent more time focussing on, talking with and giving opportunities to the people who are part of our communities, helping them discover what it means for them to follow Jesus authentically, and less time either looking at what others are doing and trying to copy that, or looking at what others are doing in the hope it will fail.

imagine if...

Sunday morning, we went to my Dad's church because it was his last Sunday there before he moves to a new church.  As part of his sermon, he talked about some of the metaphors Jesus used to describe "The Kingdom of God".  As I've mentioned previously, I've been struggling for a while with how useful the phrase "Kingdom of God" is for us today.  I fully understand the need for us to talk about the way things function if we lived God's way, but thinking about a Kingdom is not easy for someone who doesn't really live in a Kingdom, and for those who do, it's not necessarily helpful, for other reasons.  As that post notes, Brian McLaren suggests the "dream of God" as one alternative (which I've found very helpful) to talk about the Kingdom, so I've decided I'm going to do some regular blogs along this line with this title of "imagine if..."

Dad talked about how yeast and seeds are both small, hidden, and yet absolutely vital for transformation.  Imagine if the church saw itself with that mindset - small, hidden, and yet absolutely vital for transformation - how much differently would it function?  

This obviously flies in the face of a lot of popular church growth theory, which says that to be vital for transformation, a church needs to be big and obvious - numbers, building, signage, on TV, in people's face.  I'm not having a go at any of those things - some churches have the ability to do those things well, and have a great impact because of it.  However, is that what all churches should be aspiring for, or should we be aspiring to be smaller, hidden communities, who are transformative because we are yeast in the dough, or seeds in the soil?

One of the things I love about our faith community that we're in the very early stages of planting is that we want that to be at the core of who we are - small (as in not a big building, nor a big name - numbers are up to God), hidden, working away behind the scenes, but absolutely vital for the transformation of our city.

Imagine if... 

a perfect evening

Last night, we went to "Symphony Under The Stars" - the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra playing at Elder Park. It was a magnificent night for it...

The sunset was amazing, the ASO were spot on, there was a light breeze, so it wasn't too hot, not too cold.

As the orchestra played, I wondered why more has not been written about the concept of the Church as orchestra - there are so many parallels:

• Everyone needing to play their part
• No part more or less important than any other
• When they work together, the music is beautiful and awe-inspiring
• Sometimes it's your turn to shine, sometimes you need to allow others to step to the fore
• As you follow the conductor, things stay in synch

I was also struck by the parallels between the impact of the orchestra and the church on the people around:

• There are numbers of people who are pretty much unmoved by the music (eg "I'm just here to pick up...")
• There are others who think it's all about them, not about being moved by the music of the orchestra
• There are some who simply talk and miss the whole thing
• The orchestra continues playing, in the hope that in the end, people will be moved by the music

I'm sure there are lots of other thoughts, but there's some to get someone started - I'm sure there's a book idea there somewhere...

everything old is new again

I'm currently finishing up at the National Youth Ministry Conference on the Gold Coast (I know... suffering for Jesus), so I'll make this pretty brief (more thoughts when I get back to business next week).

As I've blogged previously, I've been doing lots of contemplating about contemplative practices. I've found these have been referred to a number of times up here (which both pleases and encourages me), but what I've heard (assuming it's true - it came from Tony Campolo, so you'd think it would be) today shows me that this is not the first time contemplation has been back in vogue. Apparently a lot of John Wesley's (yeah, that old guy to the left) theology and practice was shaped by these same practices, from reading St John of the Cross, St Ignatius and the like). I know my Dad (who has done a thesis on Wesley) will be pleased I'm looking into this, and I'm sure he'll have lots of resources waiting for me when I return...

I'll be very interested to look into that and see exactly how this man who shaped a movement was shaped by these amazing early Christian thinkers. Stay tuned.

everybody needs good neighbours?

Driving around yesterday, I was surprised to see 2 churches (a Baptist and a Uniting church) right next to each other - and I mean literally next door to each other. We were on our way to a family lunch, driving past as their services were finishing, and I found myself wondering why on earth 2 faith communities would want to set themselves up that close to each other.

The more I thought about it, the more amazed I became - think about it... at the same time yesterday, these 2 God-families were probably singing similar songs, listening to a preacher each, having tea and coffee, talking about the events coming up this week. It seems very odd to me. I guess it's no different to what happens all the time on a Sunday morning, it's just that this time, they were right next to each other.

We have issues at our church at times, with our neighbours complaining about the noise we make - I wonder if either of these churches ever find themselves frustrated at the "noise" of the other - one church singing songs while the other is trying to pray, for example...

Like I said, seems a bit odd to me...

expectations >> results

Last night we visited another church as part of my holidays. As I was on the way there, I realised that the expectations we have of "church" (whatever that looks like) will drastically impact on our critique of the service(s) we attend. If you believe that church should be a rock concert, and the music or the sound or the style of songs is below par, you'll be let down. If you believe that church should be a place where someone will preach an incredible message and give you a word from God, and that doesn't happen, you'll be let down. If you believe that church should be a place where you can meet with your family in Christ, belonging, caring and being cared for, and that doesn't happen, you'll be let down.

I'm having an extended conversations with my friends Simon and Luke about what church is, or what they think church should be, because I think we have a "default" belief of what church should be (based on our history, experiences (positive and negative), perpetuated myths, culture, etc) and this understanding is not always Bible-based, and not necessarily what we would believe if we spent some time really reflecting. I have no issue with people critiquing church, as long as they've really thought through what church should be, and are willing to be part of the solution to making church even more like it should.

updated picture of acts 2

I had coffee this arvo with an old friend - Matt Hawke - and as we revisted old times, one of the things I reminded him of was the best definition I've ever heard of young adult's ministry... that he wrote. As we talked some more, I realised it's actually a perfect contemporary picture of the acts 2 community I'd love to be a part of...

"I dream of finding a group of young people who share my passion, to which I can belong and in which I can feel safe. I dream of laughing, playing, crying, coffee-ing, movie-ing and worshipping with the group. I dream of finding a smaller set of people, maybe just a few or a couple, with whom I can be totally and plainly honest, open and real. I dream of finding people who love me for me - yes I mean it."