Tim Keller on the Missional Church

Characteristics of a Missional Church

Preaching and the Missional Church

Bono's Prophetic Voice

From the Bill Hybels (of Willowcreek) Leadership Summit 2006 Bono interview, an edited clip from the Elevation tour with scripture references on the screen for "40" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" and a clip from Bono speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Dr. Tony Evans at the Christian Community Development Association

This video goes back to 2002 at their annual meeting.



It is followed by an excerpt from the legendary John Perkins.



Be lifted.

Nightline on the Emergent Church

Transformation Is God's Business

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

God is in the business of transformation. That means that those who commit themselves to transformation of people and communities are in business with God.

It is by reflecting God's glory with unveiled, vulnerable, authentic faces and fixed gazes upon Jesus Christ that the impossible is accomplished. We are trasnformed into agents of transformation. It's overhwelming wonder grows as it builds into a tsunami of ever-increasing glory!

And it all happens as the Spirit of God works in our lives with ruthless love and relentless grace.

Transformational Values from The Fellowship of Joy

• We value the holiness of the ordinary.
• We value the uniqueness of every person in the image of God.
• We value spontaneity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• We value the poor and wounded and seek to provide a place for them at the table.
• We value the interaction of many cultures and peoples in a fellowship of grace and acceptance where our differences are honored and our oneness is celebrated.
• We value joy, laughter, and human warmth.
• We value the insights God gives to each member of the Body individually and in groups as we gather around the scriptures and seek God together.

A Mission Statement on Transformation

Mission/Purpose:
Our mission is the transformation of individuals, families, and communities through the whole gospel of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ.

Real Transformation

It hit me this morning as I was preaching to the people of the Fellowship of Joy. We really are a transformational community. The pews were being warmed by people whose hearts have been warmed. They are changing. Their families and relationships are changing in the crucible of our collective fellowship and our individual relationships with God. we are hammering things out and growing and as we develop, our networks do as well.

I have no idea how much impact this is having, but I am sure that it is great.

From and To

As we think and speak of transformation of communities and communities that transform people, the key question at the center of the issue may be prepositional rather than propositional. What are we transforming from and what are we transforming to? the weight is with the destination rather than the origination of course so we focus more on the "to" than the "from."

From whence we come and from what condition is everything other than the narrow focus of Kingdom purpose to which we aspire.

Once we are found embraced and enveloped by the passion of the destination, we discover that only the entry point was narrow. The possibilities from that point on are broader and more overwhelming than anything we could have imagined prior to the moment of transformation - a moment that becomes a continuing process as those possibilities unfold.

Know the "from" and the "to," but focus on the "to."

The Old Shopping Center

Right now, I am looking longingly at some empty grocery stores and the shopping centers that are going downhill as a result. What starts as a hardship for one business and its employees becomes a cancer effecting the morale of an entire community. How can the church intervene in its neighborhoods to bring change?

Borrowed Quotes on Transformation

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.”

Napoleon Hill quotes (American author, 1883-1970)

"Circumstance does not make the man. Circumstance reveals man to himself."
—Emerson

"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost."
—Dalai Lama

"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities."
—Sir Josiah Stamp

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get."
—Dale Carnegie

"If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."
—Albert Einstein

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
—George Bernard Shaw

"Imagination is everything; it is the preview of life's forthcoming attractions."
—Albert Einstein

"Of the Good in you I can speak, but not of the Evil. For what is Good-tortured by it's own hunger and thirst? When Good is hungry, it seeks food, even in dark caves, and when it thirsts, it drinks even of dead waters."
—Kahlil Gibran

"The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well."
—Elisabeth Kubler Ross

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus."
—Oprah Winfrey

"You often meet your destiny on the road you've taken to avoid it."

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will."
—George Bernard Shaw

"All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience."
—Johann von Goethe

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched... but are felt in the heart."
—Helen Keller

"We can have peace if we let go of wanting to change the past and wanting to control the future."
—Lester Levinson

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
—Winston Churchill

Mosaic Alliance

Mosaic Alliance is a great model for transformational ministry. For that reason i will also post this at one of our sister sites. This is copied from their homepage:

Mosaic Alliance Mission

Serving leaders to change the world....

Create the Future

The Mosaic Alliance is a global network committed to create the future by unleashing a culture of entrepreneurship, activism, innovation, authenticity, and creativity within the local church. The Alliance seeks to empower and equip churches and leaders to maximize the creative potential in the communities in which they serve. We partner with leaders from around the globe in effort to catalyze the movement of Jesus Christ. The Mosaic Alliance provides resources, training, and ongoing dialogue in effort to serve leaders and churches worldwide. One of our focus areas involves serving church planters, but the Alliance is not limited to church planters. Join us in creating the future together!

Mosaic Alliance Values

• Wind
  ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  Mission is why the Church exists.
• Water
  ACTIVISM
  Love is the context for all mission.
• Wood
  INNOVATION
  Structure must always submit to Spirit.
• Fire
  AUTHENTICITY
  Relevance to culture is not optional.
• Earth
  CREATIVITY
  Creativity is the natural result of spirituality.

Connect!

For more information on connecting to the Alliance, go here.

Chasing Daylight in Fresno

Chasing Daylight in Fresno

Begining February 20-21

Tuesdays at Dennys (Shaw and Willow) -9:00 P.M.
Wednesdays at BT (4141 n Fresno St) - 7:15 P.M.
Thursdays at Starbucks (Ashlan and Cedar) - 7:00 A.M.

I Liked His Profile

I was attracted to the blog by an interview title, but I really like this profile description. For no other reason than that, I am willing to promote some of his blogs:

Name: Phil Miglioratti

Location: Palatine, Illinois, US

Phil Miglioratti has a passion to “connect people to God" by networking, convening, facilitating and resourcing Christ followers to serve the poor and the privileged with the good works and the good news of Jesus.

	One Great City ~ CH!CAGO	CFFGroup
	Loving Our Communities to Christ, p.2
	LC2C Calendar	CFFGroup
	Your Prayer Blog -Test
	Blews.Network = 50-state Christian network of city blogs+news	CFFGroup IndyChristian
	LC2C - Presentation - by Jim Overholt
	Praying Pastor Blog
	Loving Our Communities to Christ
	Loving Our Community To Christ - Sacramento
	LC2C RESOURCES
	IBSA Prayer Ministries
	Pray For Surf blog
	The Prayer Leader Blog
	National Pastors' Prayer Network

We are talking about some serious passion for community transformation in these.

Paradox

Posted at the Dream Factory:

In his article in The Ooze, The Paradox of a Divided Church Called to Be Reconcilers to the World, Andy Morgan states, " The church has become an impersonal club – a place where you go to once a week and then leave to go back to normal life. Those with needs or problems are seen as a burden because they disrupt the ‘normal’ functional life of the church which is about the Sunday service going smoothly and uninterrupted. "

On two screens, he makes the case for why it is difficult for the church today to be what it is called to be, but offers a hopeful challenge as he begins to draw the article toward an end:

" If the church is to become a reconciler, a peacemaker, then we need to re-think how we exist as believers. Alan Krieder gives four attitudes and four skills of a peacemaker. The attitudes are; humility, commitment to the safety of others, acceptance of conflict and hope. The four skills are; truthful speech, expectant listening, alertness to community and good process (making decisions which are truthful, just and corporate.) While these skills and attitudes can be taught they need to be lived. They must become apart of the DNA of the Church Leader. Powerlessness, brokenness and servanthood are resident within these skills and attitudes."

He then says that the primary changes must begin where pastors and other church leaders are trained.

Read the article and return to Christian Fellowship Forum to discuss the issue.

07:44 PM in Reflections | Permalink |

A Burning Bush

Eric Blauer is a pastor with a transformational ministry. He posts some challenging - out of the box - material. His article of money is biblical and no doubt, controversial. It needs to be heard.

Coming across his blog is my first introduction to Eric and I hope, not the last. He has several blogs - all worth a look-see.

A Burning Bush: "
We want to be a blessing to our community but not a bank or loan officer and that means we have to teach the truth that sets people free and empowers them to own their lives, and become people that have dominion over their finances and are not slaves to money, debt, materialism or greed."

How we see money, think about it, master it, or are moved by it is a function of our how much transformation has taken place in our own lives.

The fact that urban ministries, such as the one I pastor, desparately need money, is not justification for manipulating theology or people into a temple-based teaching mode or guilt-oriented appeals.

Giving is a biblical standard and it is bigger than church offering envelopes. I agree with Eric that the idea of the tithe is a carry-over from the Old Testament. That makes it a shadow designed to teach a principle. Biblical giving is "to God" and that can mean to a widow or an an orphan.

It is also biblical to make money, empower other people to make money, and spend and pay bills responsibly.

It goes to the issue of how highly resourced, often suburban churches distribute their wealth in kingdom causes.

Copublished in The Dream Factory.

URBANarmy: Lost Themes of Mission - Shalom...

Gordon Cotterill says that his blog consists of the theological reflections of an insignificant Salvation Army officer. Not so insignifican I think. Gordon's observations, espcially as he tackles lost themes, go straight to the heart of what transformational communities are called to be. For example:

URBANarmy: Lost Themes of Mission - Shalom...: "It is sad that we as a Church have allowed the concept of shalom to remain in the flower power '60's lexicon. It is sad that we as a Church have allowed the concept of shalom to remain a cosy, oozey nice feelings about each other concept. It is sad that we as a Church have allowed the concept of shalom to remain a carved olive wood curio bought back by Holy Land travelers to sit on our desks, hang on our walls! What is really sad is when we work so hard at ignoring the concept, worried that the concept might in some insidious way be obscuring our true 'church' work, working up our apologetics to turn a blind eye to its centrality. Sad above all we ignore our responsibility and that in all our efforts we dishonour God."

I think I will add this feed to my regular reading.

FWIW - He is so right about SHALOM. We say it flippantly, but not so, our spiritual ancestors. Whenever they so blessed one another, it was an investment. Gordon's review of David Bosch compells me to read his work more carefully as well.

I'll co-publish this at the Dream Factory.

DURABLE DATA: "Transformation" Rebranding Reminds: All Denominations are Parachurch Organizations

DURABLE DATA: "Transformation" Rebranding Reminds: All Denominations are Parachurch Organizations: "Transformation' Rebranding Reminds: All Denominations are Parachurch Organizations"

I know you are quoting here, but truer words have seldom been spoken about denominations. The problem with mine (SBC) right now is that there are some folks who still equate the denomination with the kingdom of God. You draw us back to the influence of communities within communities on mission to transform the world. Good insights. - Tom Sims

Culture Watch: Thoughts of a Constructive Curmudgeon: Os on Target--Again.

Culture Watch: Thoughts of a Constructive Curmudgeon: Os on Target--Again.

I just discovered Douglas Groothuis’ blog and web site replete with numerous articles that are thought provoking and challenging. In this reference to Os Guinness’ God in the Dark, he offers us a quote worth remembering.

Truth is what counts and truth is what works. As the church struggles toward authenticity and seeks to be transformational, it is being transformed by a truth that is neither transient nor transitional, but timeless.

I doubt I will end up agreeing with everything this Christian philosopher writes – and in that I find great comfort. For that reason and others, I know I will be back to read more. Clearly his reading list is above average.

ROOTS Church

Becoming a ROOTS Church

My generation was captivated by the drama of Alex Haley’s Root’s saga and thousands of young adults like myself discovered a new hobby in genealogical research. Now, we are serenaded with the lilting sounds of roots music that carry us back to an earlier time in American life before the assault of electronic music and the pulsating excretions of rap, rock, and rave. The Latin word for root is “radix” from which we derive the adjective, “radical.” If something is radicitus it is characterized as “by the roots, utterly.”

When I hear the deeply rooted laments of rhythm and blues, the joyful jesting of bluegrass, and the gutsy gospel of the backcountry, I think of our rootedness in Jesus Christ. I am led to consider what radical and transforming truths are at the heart of what it means to be the church. As we confront the challenges of postmodernism against the backdrop of 9-11 despair, the church must adapt in methodology and delivery without compromising the heart of its message or the core of its identity. In times of radical change, we must become more rooted in the essence of who we are and what we are called to be. Coming out of Ephesians 3:14-21, the idea of being a ROOTS Church that is established in the ancient truth of God’s Word and relevant to the moment emerged:

R—Relational—Roots churches are about relationships. “...rooted and grounded in love ...” I John 4:11 reminds us that we are called to “love one another.” Our core relationship is vertical, with the Father, through Jesus and our horizontal relationships radiate outward from the core.

O—Obedient—All roots churches are driven by their purpose “...for this cause...” Acts 6:7 illustrates the priests becoming “obedient to the faith.” We are a subversive people with a radical message, called to a radical lifestyle that does not imitate the world, but Christ.

O—Open—Roots churches are not just seeker-sensitive, they are made up of seekers who continue to seek God with open hearts for as long as they live. “...that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ...” Thus, the open-faced “beholders” of the God’s glory in II Corinthians 3:18 being changed by degrees. This is worship and seeking—awe in the presence of His glory!

T—Transformational—Roots churches are agents for God’s immeasurable power to transform lives, and communities. “...to Him who is able ...” Acts 17:6 describes “... These who have turned the world upside down...”

S—Sensitive—Roots churches have keen receptors to God’s love at work in the midst of their times. “...may be able to comprehend ...” Jesus indicted the people of His day for not being able to discern the times. (Matthew 16:3) and speaks to us from Heaven saying, “He that hath ear, let Him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3:7 ... And repeated)

Tom Sine has observed that the contemporary church is suffering from a crisis of vision. This, he describes as our tendency to embrace “two different images of the better future, neither of which is biblical. (Mustard Seed Vs. McWorld, Baker Books, 1999 *)” One, he describes as “heaven in the clouds divorced from this material world.” The other has to do with economic prosperity, what we might call, “the American dream.” He calls us to a new vision of the Kingdom of God that we can only experience as we adopt a “whole-life faith.” Whole life discipleship is a fully integrated system of belief and action that brings every dimension of the believer’s life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is a radicalized lifestyle that places itself at the disposal of God in all of life’s choices and calls for a life of Kingdom service where joy is unbounded and all suffering is redemptive. It is at the heart of what being a ROOTS church is all about.

Note: Sine's book is out of print, but you may be able to secure a used copy here:

Tom Sine - Mustard Seed

Building a Christ Centered Community for Transformation

Seven “E”s of Building a Christ-Centered Community

1. Christ-centered Entrepreneurship that celebrates the dignity of the person and affirms the priesthood of every believer and a creative creation of God.

2. Christ-centered Education that fosters a community of earnest seekers for truth and equips that seeking.

3. Christ-centered Engagement that encourages full participation of every person in the life of the community while lifting up the value and responsibility of all to all.

4. Christ-centered Economics that returns to the biblical principle of the steward of the oikos (household) to find the literal meaning of the term and approaches the subject with the understanding that everything belongs to God.

5. Christ-centered Environmentalism which takes stewardship to the next level of commitment, building sustainable and responsible systems and loving our neighbors who are yet to occupy this planet.

6. Christ-centered Evangelism which knows that the proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom of God is always at the heart of a vital community.

7. Christ-centered Exchange which opens doors of communication and sharing among diverse peoples and invites everyone in the community to the table.