just around the bend.

A good missionary always starts by listening to the context to which they are sent. To listen to America or anywhere in the west, means we must now “hear” that people aren’t looking for a church to go to. Therefore to start a church by “doing church” is the wrong place to begin. We start where Jesus started, in culture. We must think like missionaries. Creating church is not the goal but a natural outgrowth of communities who embed themselves deeply into the culture and who live in such a way that the culture is drawn into kingdom life. (zerO)

You gotta love the church. A completely alive, powerful, ever-growing, reproducing, life giving force in the world – just as God designed. It is because of this that over 10 years, we chose to call ourselves church planters. Now in Madison, WI in 2008 – we are not sure what to call ourselves. Our dream, our passion for the Kingdom of God is still very much alive. How this “looks” has changed. Church planting has become more of a way of life than a strategy. The church today must emerge from relationship with Jesus, truly following his example in how we interact in our world today. Who do we associate with, where do we go, what do we care about, what do we value…? really.

It is becoming common knowledge that things where the church is concerned are not thriving in North America. The church is not advancing and the gospel is not gaining ground. For us to cling to the current model (what some call the Constantinian model) of pastor + program + building = church, when it is not working, is silly at best and negligent at worst. For us to eschew models that are “relational” and “Small,” when that is exactly what the New Testament described, is absurd.

(Planting Missional Churches, Ed Stetzer)

As missionaries, we are seriously considering our culture. How could we not? This may cost us. It may cost us time, money, and partnerships with people we hoped to take this journey with.

If George Barna’s most recent research and conclusions are to be believed, earth-shaking transitions are emerging here in North America as well. In his newest book, Revolution, Barna chronicles research that is uncovering a “growing sub-nation of people, already well over twenty million storng.” HE is calling this group of people “Revolutionaries.” And as such, Barna says these modern-day disciples of Christ are doing what revolutionaries do – seeking to “overthrow or repudiate” and “thoroughly replace” established systems. He describes this emerging group:

Revolutionaries eschew ministries that compromise or soft sell our sinful nature to expand organizational turf. They refuse to follow people in ministry in leadership positions who cast a personal vision rather than God’s, or who seek popularity rather than the proclamation of truth in their public statements, or who are more concerned about their own legacy than that of Jesus Christ. They refuse to donate one more dollar to man-made monuments that mark their own achievements and guarantee their place in history. They are unimpressed by accredited degrees and endowed chairs in Christian colleges and seminaries that produce young people incapable of defending the Bible or unwilling to devote their life to serving others.

(Planting Missional Churches, Ed Stetzer p.153)

Please pray for us as we follow Jesus on the fantastic expedition. We seem to be coming up on a bend in the road. We honestly have no idea what is around that bend… We’ll keep you posted as we go. We have committed to give our February to praying and fasting for discernment as we round the bend.

What we do know: God has given us an apostolic gift meant for journeys such as these. God is faithful. God is good.

(original article posted Feb.13 2007)

On the great expedition…

We have been studying explorers…pioneers…those who have made an impact on where and how we live. We visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where we learned a little of how to navigate a plane. We viewed models of the ship that Colombus sailed for on many famous expeditions. Did you know his favorite ship is said to be the Nina – the one that appeared to be the simplest of all of them?

As we learn of others who have gone before us, we are also discovering in our own way what it means to take an unknown path – when it makes a turn that you weren’t anticipating. Well that’s not completely true…any good explorer is prepared for anything, right? Our journey following Jesus may often take paths that we didn’t even know exist, but we are not really unprepared.

This summer my friend Jenn and I took sailing lessons. I never really made it past that first solo in the sail boat. I went through “ground school” and another lesson on wind theory and the vessel I would later be sailing. I waited through many windless days, going down to the pier all excited about setting sail and then – nothing. The day finally came. The wind was cooperating, all was “go”.

My first day on the water was not what I expected (I have written about this experience before). I was completely out of control most of the time. When I capsized it took me most of the lesson to get back in the boat. Once I did, honestly I just wanted to go home. If I had been able to get the boat to go in the direction of the pier, I would have that instant. I think (well, I know) that I even swore – more than once.  I have not been out since. Jenn, however, was quite good. She fell in love with sailing. She goes out whenever she can, she sails with a crew and solo. She is unafraid of the wind and finding the joy of navigating the strong winds, enduring and mastering the course.

Jenn assures me that she felt the same out of control that I did. (I wonder some times if that is one of those things that everyone says to beginners such as myself.)  The difference between her sailing  expedition and mine…she got back out there for another run.  She learned to run with the wind. When the winds shift, so do the sails. Onward.

I have faced some strong waves of discouragement this year, many just recently.  I have had those same thoughts of turning back, getting back to safety as quickly as possible and being content to gaze at the sail boats from a comfortable picnic table while sipping a nice cold beer. “At least I can say I tried…”

The word navigate is derived from the Latin roots navis meaning “ship” and agere meaning “to move” or “to direct.” Different navigational techniques have evolved over the ages in different cultures, but all involve locating one’s position compared to known locations or patterns. This morning as we started our school day, we read a passage meant to help me remember there are some known patterns and locations that never change.  In fact, I am not unprepared for this. I am equipped with all I need to get past this next wave. I cannot get too far off course. I have the navigational tools and a faith in the God that controls the wind. I may get hit in the head with the boom, I may get hurt. I may capsize, even sink. I may get so far off course that I don’t know the way back. In these times, I must move in the direction of what is known.

… I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38.39)

Columbus sank as many ships as he sailed. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed before he ever really got to see his dream fulfilled. Nelson Mandela who was a political detainee for more than 25 years, and went on to became the president of South Africa at the age of 76. Michael missed more than he made. Moses – 40 years in the desert. Joseph was thrown in prison and rose to a place of influence from there – probably not the path he was anticipating. So, who do I think we are?

…It is often the failure who is the pioneer of new lands, new undertakings, and new forms of expression. –Eric Hoffer

Olympic training…

One year from today the Olympics in Beijing will be underway. Olympic athletes amaze me! If I could be there next year, I would be. Today, I am considering what the athletes are going through…the many people who are ordering their lives around an event that they consider a history making event.

what are we training for?

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 tim. 4:8

these things have in common…

• Jack Bauer a household name. (a hero of sorts)
• the “Brady Bunch” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” move to the documentary category.
•  a TV and computer in every room.
• setting up tents in the back yard when hosting guests overnight.
• dinner at 6:30, every night.
• the merging of 9 people and 6 small animals into one household!

…community.

At the beginning of June we began a journey with our friends – an experiment in community. We introduced the Nobrega family and Jenn M. to you as part of our team. We didn’t discuss too much of the idea of all living in the same house together. This came, at first, out of necessity as all parties moving from La Crosse also were still trying to sell houses. (Which is still the case.) But as we journey together – sharing chores, our lives, our meals, our time and resources- we wonder if this is something that God is calling us to do on a longer term basis.

This move has been fun, tough, rewarding, challenging…all at the same time. Jesus seems to live his life in an interdependent stance. He encourages his disciples to the same.

Today, I reread some of what Henri Nouwen wrote in his book, Creative Ministry.

For a Christian is only a Christian when he unceasingly asks critical questions of the society in which he lives and continuously stresses the necessity for conversion, not only of the individual but also of the world. A Christian is only a Christian when he refuses to allow himself or anyone else to settle into a comfortable rest. He remains dissatisfied with the status quo. And he believes that he has an essential role to play in the realization of the new world to come – even if he cannot say how that world will come about. A Christian is only a Christian when he keeps saying to everyone he meets that the good news of the Kingdom has to be proclaimed to the whole world and witnessed to all nations (Mtt 24:13). As long as a Christian lives he keeps searching for a new order without divisions between people, for a new structure that allows every man to shake hands with every other man, and a new life in which there will be lasting unity and peace. He will not allow his neighbor to stop moving, to lose courage, or to escape into small everyday pleasures to which he can cling. He is irritated by satisfaction and self-content in himself as well as in others since he knows, with an unshakable certainty, that something great is coming of which he has already seen the first rays of light. He believes that this world not only passes but has to pass in order to let the new world be born. He believes that there will never be a moment in this life in which on can rest in the supposition that there is nothing left to do. But he will not despair when he does not see the result he wanted to see. For in the midst of all his work he keeps hearing the words of the One sitting on the throne, “I am making the whole of creation new” (Rev. 21:5).

I think those ideas are some of what have made us willing to engage in this experiment, to consider that God has something planned for this community that is glorious – if we are open to His agenda and willing to “lose our lives for the sake of the Kingdom, in order to find life (Mtt 10:39). This week, the “honeymoon” of this happy family came to an end and we had to do some of the tough work of togetherness. It won’t be the last of our difficult conversations. I’m sure that there were thoughts of “I can’t do this anymore.” And then the next day one of the boys ran in the house “Mom, where are my swim trunks?!” and from upstairs, I heard Becky answer, “They’re hanging up in the laundry room.”, “Thanks!” and without a word from me, Sam was out the door to go swimming. In that moment, I felt the Spirit of God encouraging me… “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

So, maybe that’s what it’s all about.

summer in full swing

I realize it has been a while since there has been anything very meaningful here. I miss posting what is going on and honestly the very brief times we have had between illnesses this Spring have been very full. Right now the girls and Spencer are all over at Kate’s swimming, Gene is in our pool, Sam is watching TV, Jenn is spending the weekend with friends, and Eric is working, so I have some time to write. Later today we will begin a time of “leadership seminar” with some friends of ours who have agreed to come and meet with us for a time. So, for those of you who check in here so that you know how to pray for us, and for those of you who are just checking to see how the adventure of Kingdom living in Madison is going, here it is – in not a very creative format:

• We are very grateful for the financial provision that has come our way. We live on what God provides every month – we don’t always know what that is going to be. God is faithful. God is good, in times of need and in times of plenty. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn how God works in this way and for the opportunity our kids have for this as well. We look forward to the day that they are looking back and can see that as well.

• This summer Gene is speaking every week – somewhere. He won’t let us name the “tour” but if we could, I would call it “Mind the Gap”. We had this word spoken into our lives recently by some friends, God has us learning this. Authenticity – the gap between the public persona, the image we put forth and the reality of ourselves has got to get smaller every day. so that we don’t live lives that are confusing to those around us – our kids, our families, our friends…ourselves. He kicked off the summer with a couple weeks at Fatih Community Church in New Richmond, WI. This is a church that was started 10 years ago – at the same time we were in La Crosse – by some very good friends of ours. The abover pic was taken at one of Sam’s favoritie places, Pete’s Pizza in New Richmond. It is linked to a memory of his first trip with Dad…and the pizza is good too!

• During the week, Gene continues to write music and experience some of the ups and downs of the music industry. We are hopeful and continue to pray that the gift God has given him for music will one day be a significant part of funding this mission. We think that would be fun.

• Our soccer season ended and the boys got out of school on June 15th. They spent the first part of their vacation with Mema and Pepa riding horses, swimming, playing with their cousins and staying up late.They love visiting family!

• After the last post, the sailing adventure. Jenn M. and I attended our first class – “ground school” for sailing. Madison has a sailing club / social club on the UW campus. We are making plans to join the club, take sailing lessons and expand our social network onto the campus of UW. Besides sailing being a personal dream of mine (at least before I’ve ever tried it) I believe that this may be something that God is leading us to for a bigger purpose.

• We have had illness in our home since Feb. Juli is still undergoing treatement, along with trying to solve the mystery of what it is we are actually dealing with. It was thought to be a pneumonia, but now not as certain.

• The Nobrega family (4) now have been living with us for two weeks. Jenn M. for 6 weeks. We are doing well, the transition has probaby been easier for us than for them. Nobrega’s wlll live here until their home in La Crosse sells. It actually is really fun all being in the same house together.

• We tried a new gum: ORBIT. What’s up with the last 4 pieces of the pack sticking to the corners of the pack?! I’m going back to Trident. Besides, Trident is made with Xylitol too – good for the teeth.

• Juli is still pursuing a Bachelors in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute and working at the Surgery Center.

• The pool is up and ready for a summer of neighborhood parties!

• The Salsa Garden is planted (thanks Analisa!), and we hope to be able to make fresh Salsa and Pesto (thanks for the recipe, Gayle) soon!

• We are beginning a new summer schedule including Sunday night prayer/worship gatherings, Monday night team meetings, Wed. night teaching times and Friday night parties. (Along with a community book club starting, sailing lessons, food pantry participation…) So, our team is busy…we appreciate your prayers – for our connectedness with God and one another. We are trusting the Holy Spirit and seeking His guidance diligently.

Transitions…

A Send off in La Crosse….

Many friends gathered around the Nobrega family and Jenn to pray blessings over them as they begin their new adventures. It was truly beautiful to hear story after story of times that God has used this community to change their lives!

Welcome to Madison!

:: dot-to-dot church ::

some of the faces that represent this new community…God is doing a new thing!

I have mentioned before that one of our most FAQ is understanably, “How’s the church going?” We have many friends and family members investing their resources of time and funds in supporting us as we plant this new church in Madison. We appreciate it more than you know. It has been slow going, frustrating at times. We know from experience that if we are patient we will begin to understand what God is doing. We also know that God is almost never on the same time line as we are – or perhaps I should say that the other way around. Anyway…we are in a process of “drawing the dots” that we are hopeful to one day see connecting to form a more complete picture.

Below is an article containing some of the thoughts that are shaping the way we are doing things here in Madison. As we seek to discern what this community, this church, is to “look like”, we are drawn to a more simple way. We know and love many who order their lives around churches that are highly organized, defined, programmed and strive for growth in numbers in an effort to impact their community for Jesus. We don’t doubt that God uses these churches, these leaders, to change lives. We have lived in that world for the first 15 years of our “vocational ministry”. We, for some time now, have experienced God giving us a different view of our world and how the church lives in the midst of it all – dot. We see a very real shift in our culture and the relationship between those who go to church and those who don’t. As we interact with mostly those who do not -dot- we sense that it is not God that they cannot accept or trust, it is the institution of church that they don’t trust. (That’s what they tell us.) We have lived in Madison long enough to meet many wonderful, amazing people who love their community, love their children, care for their environment…but have given up on the church being worth their time. We think that God, who loves this city more than we do, wants to introduce them to life in the Kingdom – outside of “organized religion”. We don’t have all the answers. We do know that this weekend -dot- we had a great time with our friends and neighbors, and it felt that we were “on track” with our focus on moving toward a growing network of “neighborhood” or “house” churches. Dot to dot.

LEADING THE MISSIONAL CHURCH: The Shape Of The Church
by INAGRACE T. DIETTERICH

We live in times of great social and ecclesial change. Our world is marked…with a radical plurality and ambiguity. These are turbulent times that affect us all as we witness the old breaking down and the new breaking through. This is not a time to foreclose experimentation, risk, alternative possibilities. Rather, we need to allow community to evoke a wide range of ecclesial expressions. I have a hope that the commitment, skill, and art required for people to create new beginnings and new communal bonds will release significant social energy and imagination.[1]

Being faithful to a living and dynamic God who is actively present in the midst of changing historical situations—“Behold, I am doing a new thing” (Isa. 43:19)—requires that the church itself must be adventurous and open to change. Just as new wine bursts old wineskins (Lk. 5:37-38), so the ever new gospel of Jesus Christ will continually disrupt the established shape—traditions, structures, patterns—of church life and ministry. Thus within different historical and cultural contexts, the unchanging truth of God’s grace and mercy will be expressed through different and provisional organizational arrangements.

While there is no one right or final way to shape the church, this does not mean that shape is incidental or irrelevant. Form and content are intimately bound together—the medium is the message. The structure of the church is a visible and tangible expression of its faith and witness. As God’s redeeming love is “enfleshed” or incarnated in Jesus Christ, so the proclamation of the gospel is incarnated (faithfully or unfaithfully) within the organizational life and practice of the church—the body of Christ within the world.

The church is an intentionally formed social entity engaged in particular practices to accomplish certain goals. As such, the shape of the church will always be influenced by the assumptions, commitments, and demands of the culture within which it engages in ministry. Yet as a people empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the church must always seek the organizational form that is “worthy of its calling” (Eph. 4:1). As the missional church organizes its common life and shared ministry within a context of radical plurality and ambiguity, it must say “goodbye” to old and outdated structures and say “hello” to the social energy and imagination that will enable it to take the risk to experiment with alternative ways to shape the church.

To read full article:
LEADING THE MISSIONAL CHURCH: The Shape Of The Church
by INAGRACE T. DIETTERICH

our church plant

In the early days of planting the church in La Crosse, I purchased a houseplant and named him Phil. He grew slow and steady – with care. One day I remember looking at him and wondering how he got so big, arms stretching out every where. I remember transplanting, pruning, relocating, sometimes problem solving to bring about the optimal health and growth that was desired.

Recently I was at the store and the small starter houseplants caught my eye. Perhaps, we need a church plant for our Madison adventure as well. So, here is Ivy:

Ivy (Hedera species) is a versatile houseplant that can be grown in many different situations. Ivies can be grown in hanging baskets, at the base of other houseplants and in pots of their own. Ivy is often trained on trellis frames or wire topiary forms into various formal or whimsical shapes,
-my personal favorite.

HEIGHT/SPREAD

While most ivies are virtually unlimited in their spread, you can easily keep them pruned to almost any size that you want when grown as houseplants. Small-leafed, slow-growing types are easier to maintain in a small pot. Large leafed, rapid growers such as Algerian ivy are ideal for hanging baskets, where its vigorous growth is an advantage. (Sounds like the Church.)

ORNAMENTAL FEATURES

Ornamental ivies have an amazing range of different foliage types. The leaves of some ivies are as large as a saucer while others have leaves smaller than a dime. Many ivies have leaves edged, splashed or centered with silver, gray-green, white, cream, yellow, chartreuse or gold.

PROBLEMS

In the home, plant diseases are very rarely a problem. Too much or too little water plus insects and mites are the main problems. Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or overly frequent watering. Mealybugs, mites, aphids, whiteflies and scales are the most common insect pests of ivies grown as houseplants. If the area infested is limited you can prune out those parts of the plant. Periodic washing can help prevent many pest problems. Wash plants by dunking the foliage upside down in a gallon of water to which insecticidal soap has been added. Hold the soil in the pot with a cover of foil or plastic. Maintaining cooler temperatures and high humidity will help prevent some of the most common insect pests, but the plant will grow more slowly. Some people develop a skin rash as a result of contact with the plant sap. (I know people who develop rashes when in contact with the church – well, at least they seem to think that’s what will happen.) Wear gloves (respect the response, be a bit more careful and nurturing) when pruning ivies if you know that you have this reaction.

CULTURE

Most cultivars of ivy grow best in THE bright light…don’t we all!

A friend from work and I are in dialogue about thi…

A friend from work and I are in dialogue about this, among other evidences -or lack of- for the claims of Christianity. Archaeological findings, while fascinating, are not always conclusive. They provide evidence of existence, pieces of cultural clues. They do not tell us of the life. Dinosaurs for example, while my kids would not believe it if I told them -their books tell them differently- we are still using our imaginations to fill in the blanks. So, does all this matter to you? to your faith? or is it just fun to think if we keep going we may put the whole puzzle together? What do you think?

Has the tomb of Jesus Christ been found?

Since the 1970s, hundreds of tombs and thousands of ossuaries (limestone bone boxes) have been discovered in the Jerusalem area. These ossuaries served as coffins in first-century Jerusalem.

One of these tombs was found to contain ten ossuaries. Six of the ossuaries in this tomb have inscriptions on them. As it turns out, every inscription in this particular tomb relates to the Gospels.

Premieres Sun, March 4, at 9 p.m. ET/PT- Discovery Channel

This is one of the statements taken from an interview with James Cameron:

Now in respect with the resurrection, and Simcha can speak to this as well, neither one of us are theologians, but certainly we’ve been dealing with biblical scholars, biblical archaeologists, and so on, so we have a passing knowledge in that area. The resurrection itself is not challenged. Jesus may well have risen. And having risen, according to the scriptures, walked the earth, for an additional 40 days, appeared in corporeal form and spiritual manifestations, including a child, and including someone that his disciples didn’t recognize at first and things like that. And then ultimately ascended to heaven.Where you get stuck is the physical ascension to heaven, taking his bones and body with him to heaven, instead of leaving them behind on earth. Many Christians don’t take that literally, some do. -James Cameron

So, what about you? What do you do with this?

for full interview click here: Cameron: Jesus tomb film is a ‘detective story’

and if you really want to dig in before seeing the documentary:

Claims about Jesus’ ‘lost tomb’ stir up tempest

Ancient tomb may contain Jesus’ family

Filmmaker resurrects Jesus tomb debate

what a weekend!

This Saturday our team was joined by the youth group from Bethel Baptist in Janesville and our friends from Bible Baptist in Mauston in prayer walking the Northside neighborhoods of Madison. It was fantastic! Thanks to these friends who joined us – working together we cover much more territory than we would have been able to do alone!Gene preps the group before going out.

Sam and Chelsea

Becky, Paige, Spencer and KateThis was the picture taken when Jenn, Kate and Juli returned at 3p.m. after being out in the subzero temps, trudging through the snow, up and down hills -well, actually those driveways seem more like mountains after awhile. Door to door, house to house – legs cramping, blisters forming – all for Jesus! Anyone want to sign up for next time?!

Seriously, it was a great day. We had great weather (for February in WI). It is fun imagining what God is doing in the lives of our neighbors. It was really fun to get to pray blessings on them, many of whom we may never get to meet, and know that God was there with us -forming us, softening hearts, loving His children, advancing His kingdom.

and the next day…

“Now, that’s my kind of church!”

That’s one of the comment that we received when we shared with someone that we are meeting monthly right now as we continue to build our team. It was a great morning, making coffee, setting up the room, the tech. stuff… just like old times!

Everyone, young and old pitched in. The kids did a great job of setting up the “centerpieces” and making signs . Our kids – Sam and Spencer, Chelsea and Paige- have really been fabulous. They have participated all along the way and they continue to contribute in our worship times and in prayers. It’s fun to watch them grow in love for God and His church. It is amazing to see them actively serving and discovering the spiritual gifts and grow in understanding of how they can make a difference in the Kingdom!

behind the computer…just like old times
( A big thanks to Andrew, a student at YWAM, for his assistance with the tech. stuff – he made the process simple, quick and fun – a true blessing to this technical arts department!
Thanks Andrew!)

…anticipation….hospitality…teamwork…

Thanks to all of you who prayed for us. The event went very well. We were again joined by a group from Janesville as well as the team from a new church plant in Stoughton, Watershed. What makes setting up chairs in the morning fun is imagining who may sit in them, whose life may be altered by Jesus today…and this morning, just about every chair was full.We have had a great time this weekend. As we close this day we as a team are encouraged and excited about what’s in store for the new community that God is birthing on the Northside of Madison. It’s only the beginning!