Your contagious transformation is the revolution of Christ.

Be transformed. Christians are called out to become more like Christ. The forgiveness of sin is the first step in Christian living and not a final destination. Many people are content with the avoidance of damnation and neglect to life the life of love that Jesus intended. Your transformation will have a direct impact on other people. Your attitude should reflect the love of Christ and people will take notice. You will be marked as something different and have opportunities to tell your story; it is the story of Christ’s forgiveness. At this point the work of Jesus becomes a movement and the revolution of Christ marches on. Be transformed, love others, and carry out Christ’s commission.

Is this the right attitude to have? Does our Christian world consist of struggle and failure? Know that your calling is not to become famous. You were not destined to stand in the spotlight or to be known for the good works. Our calling is to love selflessly. There is no greater measure of our success than our ability to love others. We have not been called to build mega churches or schools. We have been called to love.

Measure your success and failure but dont measure it with the standards of others; compare it to love and be encouraged. We were not built for fame; this is the design of Christ. Ours is to love. Trade in your failure to affection and help continue the movement that Jesus started many years ago.

Religion is a system; it is an attempt to frame a spiritual experience for the benefit of others. It creates boundaries and recommends practices. Some religions insist on certain behaviors and patterns of life. It can be a very invasive way to connect with God. People hate religion because the methods of connecting can become an obstacle; an unnecessary hurdle that stands in between us and God.

Today we take advice from Christian mentors regarding worship, reading and prayer. Our churches are non-denominational. We promote a movement of justice and love. Some of us soak up doctrine while others focus on service. The main point is that we skip the bull. Jesus didn’t need a bureaucracy to lead his group of twelve and neither do we.

I have some bad news for the religion haters: we are not doing away with religion; we are just creating a new one. The new rules are still rules and we have to be careful. Religion can obfuscate our relationship with Christ but it can also serve as important guide for our spiritual formation. Spiritual giants of the past have attempted to lead others into a growing relationship with Christ. They frame a process of spiritual formation that can be passed on. Any manmade system is going to suffer from human vanity. No system will be perfect; none old and none new. Examine your system of belief and consider the role of religion in your own life.

This book is very well written and I intend to read more of Smith. He writes accurately and academically but has a very personable tone throughout the book. Never have I seen equal parts Latin, Greek and pop-culture reference. His argument was heavy at first but began to flow after the opening few chapters. The logical organization of Desiring the Kingdom makes it easy to follow Smith’s arguments throughout the text. There were parts of this book that began to feel repetitive. I feel that the stated purpose of the book, a critique on modern Christian education, was too narrow. Smith’s arguments are relevant far beyond the walls of the classroom and this self imposition limited the potential reach of this book.

 I would recommend reading this book. Dont let the first few chapters disuade you. This book is more than a critique of modern education. It is also easier to understand than the clumsy illustrations presented. Smith encourages us to engage our world compassionately. The worship of God is cenetral to the formation of our feelings and ideas.

If you are interested in hearing more about Smith’sDesiring the Kingdom, feel free to read: Desiring the Kingdom – Full Review by Brent Colby

You do not get your own vision. I am speaking to members of larger teams and let me be clear: organizations are successful when they are follow a single vision. Multiple visions cripple the effectiveness of any group. One is the perfect number and the only number; two visions can destroy an organization as quickly as having no vision at all. If you are not the boss then your role is to follow the leader.

I work at a church and have come to realize that my lead pastor’s vision must become my vision. We will not make any progress pulling in two different directions. Does this mean that I have no room to imagine a high impact ministries for my church? Absolutely not. My job is to come up with strategies that help accomplish the vision of my church. Any program I put in place must be sub-categorical of the greater vision of my organization. 

The success of your organization depends on your ability to embrace a single vision. Make sure that your work furthers the stated purpose of your group. Leaders must eliminate any programs that divert attention from the stated vision of the team. Leaders move in one clear direction. Flowers have to get on board or get out of the way.

To men of reason you will give offence, by talking of inspiration and receiving the Holy Ghost; to drunkards, Sabbath-breakers, common swearers, and other open sinners, by refraining from their company, as well as by that disapprobation of their behaviour which you will often be obliged to express. And indeed your life must give them continual offence: Your sobriety is grievously offensive to a drunkard; your serious conversation is equally intolerable to a gay impertinent: and, in general, that “you are grown so precise and singular, so monstrously strict, beyond all sense and reason, that you scruple so many harmless things, and fancy you are obliged to do so many others which you need not,” cannot but be an offence to abundance of people, your friends and relations in particular. Either, therefore, you must consent to give up your principles, or your fond hope of pleasing men.

John Wesley,

October 10th, 1745

What do you think? Is a life lived in pursuit of Christ going to offend other people? Does our unwillingness to participate with drunkards, Sabbath-breakers, common swearers and other open sinners  hurt their feelings? The holiness movement strived for a single minded devotion to Christ. These men and women avoided the appearance of evil to the point that they would not even associate with wrongdoers. How do you measure up to this standard? Is this something to strive for or avoid?

Bria has been exceptional throughout the day and we have been blessed with a healthy baby boy. Mother and baby are doing well and we are recuperating at Providence St. Peters Hospital in Olympia Washington (you are welcome to send flowers and coffee to room 27).

It is amazing to see a baby being born; it is a fearsome and toilsome task. The burden of childbirth is lifted when you hear baby cry and are able to hold him in your arms. Months of pregnancy seem a small price to pay when a little hand grasps your finger, when his eyes move about the room and settle on your face. Child birth is a wonder to behold.

Oliver has been created in the image of God. He is a fearfully and wonderfully made child. This boy is known by God and is the product of his intimate craftsmanship. The world has been laid out before him and a lifetime of choices must be made. The first choices will be made by Bria and me; the second choices are his.

Let Oliver be a blessing to you

and live and honest life.

Let him choose to follow your instructions

and inspire others to do the same.

Give him a fierce heart

that is full of compassion and grace.

Help me walk a path that is worth following

and fill Him with your truth

so that he might love the world that you created

for the sake of Jesus Christ.

-Amen.

Baby Stats: He was born April 20th at 2:30 A.M and weighed in at 8 lb, 9 oz. Oliver is 20 3/4 in long.

We sent this fifth grade girl home with her first Bible that day. She was thrilled to hear the news that this Bible would be hers. She wrapped both arms around it in a giant hug as she went back to play with the rest of the kids. Except she didn’t go to the video games or crafts. She returned to her seat and started flipping through the pages. It has always been my prayer that the word of God would be alive in our gatherings. This young girl reminded me of the power of the Bible and its ability to fill our kids with hope and with joy. We are committed to getting our kids into the Bible and the Bible into our kids. We will read it as God’s story. A story that each of us are a part of. It is alive and read and understanding it changes everything. Some Sundays I learn far more than I could ever teach.

We will not be successful in creating a better world by destroying things. We must put our energy in to building up that which we believe in instead of tearing down the things that we do not believe in. This means that the church must continue to create better vehicles for the gospel. We will not win the race by trying to destroy the vehicles of our opponents.

The story of God does not change. The story of sin does not change either. We do not have to wage a war against sin. Jesus Christ has already done that on the cross and the battle has been won! We must take that good news and share it with others. We must tell them with words and show them with service. The church will experience a surge of influence when we decide to focus on creation instead of destruction.

The Eucharist is observed by many Churches and provides a time to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ. O’Donnell and Maas argue in their book, Spiritual Traditions for the Contemporary Church, that this annual, monthly or weekly remembrance is not enough. We should be living in Christ sacrifice at all times. They say that, “we are always richer, stronger, more faithful to our true identity when we are living in the conscious awareness of God.”[2] There is no doubt that the Christian identity is based on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This anamnesis is defined by the Christian community’s ability to recall the whole work of Jesus.[3]

The Passover meal is just the beginning of the communion experience: O’Donnell and Mass remind us that, “the Lord’s Supper is the central focus of the Eucharistic rite, but that is never its conclusion.”[4] Remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus is to remember our inclusion into His body. The symbol of consuming the flesh and blood of Christ could be no less vivid! We are a part of him and so must continue His work. While the work of salvation is finished,[5] the preaching, teaching and making of disciples continue onward.[6] The Church is united in this cause on a daily basis.

We should live in continual remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. Partaking of the body of Christ is a powerful reminder of the brokenness he endured on our behalf. We should recall our role within the His body and to continue His work on earth until he returns. We would do well to remember that communion is more than remembering a past experience. The Eucharist should remind us that Christ has died, Christ is risen and that Christ will rise again.[7] All time belongs to him and we are caught up in God’s rescue plan in motion.

Eating bread and drinking wine can be viewed as a symbolic or literal bonding with the body of Christ. O’Donnell and Maas describe a cult of adoration that surrounded the Eucharist that would be later renounced by the Protestant Reformers.[8] When the bread and wine become literal flesh and blood you run the risk of misplaced worship. The intended worship of Jesus becomes the unintended worship of manmade rituals. We must be careful, in our daily observation of the Eucharist, not to elevate the symbols of Christ’s body over the significance of His sacrifice.

Live out of Christ’s death and resurrection every day. Remember that the bread and the wine are symbols of our bond with Christ. We are an extension of his body in this world and have an entire generation of people to love.

Apple's first tablet made 100 years ago in the year 1998 A.D.

What role does technology play in the Church? Should your leadership team be concerned with owning the latest and greatest? Apple will be announcing its most recent version of tablet gadgetry this week. What is so special about the third iPad? It is rumored to be slimmer, faster, lighter, cheaper and look way different than last years model. Prepare yourself to be inundated with news surrounding the most valuable company in the world. We know that the media is preparing to host a circus, but is it that important? 

The Church has traditionally been at the center of creativity and innovation. From art to exploration, men and women have ventured out to make God famous. Not everyone’s motives have been pure. There are many examples of the Mission of God being hijacked. Don’t let these abuses cause you to overlook the traditional relationship between technology and the church.

Foxconn employees creating Johannes' printing press in the 1500's.

Johannes Gutenberg came up with a neat little machine that helped spread the Protestant Reformation. Around 1439 Gutenberg created the movable type printing press. This allowed for books to be printed in mass. For the first time German Bibles could be made and distributed in large quantities. Missionaries in the early twentieth century built radio towers to broadcast the story of Jesus Christ to hundreds of thousands of listeners in Central and South America. More recently, we have seen an explosion of education opportunities online. Men and women have access to top level training anywhere in the world and are being equipped to serve in the local church.

So what about the rumored iPad 3? Where do we find a balance between want/need technology? We should adopt technology that helps us share about Jesus. Keep in mind that we cant go broke keeping up with Apple’s annual production cycle. At the same time we cannot afford to fall behind in communication technology. Get your hands on the tools that will make a connection between your audience and the gospel. I don’t care if it is an Xbox, iPad or overhead projector.

Remember that Peter did fine without an iPad. So did Luther. But the development of Roman roads and the printing press did a lot to get the word out.

During nap time I reflected on this intimate father-child moment. I thought of the relationship that I have with my spiritual father. What would I say if he asked me what I wanted to do today? I might ask for a European vacation or for my school loans to be paid off. What were the odds that I would ask for the most meaningful and simple thing from God: to be with Him… I believe that he wants us to want to be with Him.

Being in God’s presence is the greatest thing we could ever strive for. It should be that which drives us. The goodness of our lives is proportionate to our closeness to God. Ancient and modern heroes of the faith have one thing in common: they spend lots of time with God. These men and women are not simply God’s key strategists or business managers. They are not just religious yes-men or spiritual entrepreneurs. They have a president desire to be with God and God uses them in mighty ways. 

I was reminded today that my first priority should be to spend time with God. My entire ministry is fueled by this relationship. My dreams for the Church must not obstruct my desire for Christ.

After reading this book I feel a grater urgency to get people moving. However we describe the process of spiritual growth it is important that we are always providing opportunities to take a next step.[1] Everyone has a different next step so it is also important that we are aware of the different levels of spiritual maturity. I am also left with a sense that more is not better. This is especially true for new church goers.[2] We often feel that we need to create a potpourri of experiences for new church attendees. Hawkins argues that we must have a single clear destination crystal clear and that the first step is non-negotiable. [3]

I would recommend this book for those interested in models of ministry and spiritual growth. This book was not a page turner for me. I understand that the team at Willow Creek did a lot of work and wanted to share all of their findings. However it drug on and I also felt like they were trying to sell me on their Reveal program throughout the book. So there you have it. An up to date take on spiritual growth done well.

The question should not be based on our abstinence. The question should be based on the love of Christ. What can I do to express Jesus’ love in a greater way? The answer to this question will help you determine which things should put aside. Fasting, donating or serving for our own sake will not proclaim the name of Jesus as loud as it might proclaim our own names. It is not good to walk around barefoot. It is good, however, to walk around barefoot in order to share God’s love with other people around the world.

This is a picture of Harold Camping and he predicted that the world would end on May 16th, 2011. He was wrong and he was mocked. In fact, Christianity was mocked for its belief in the second coming of Christ and the destruction of the world. If you are like me then you may have been critical of Harold and his bold prediction. I soon found myself laughing with the rest of the world on May 17th. On that day something else happened to my preception of the end times: I realized that the world was not just laughing at Herold, it was laughing at me as well.

The Church has always affirmed the return of Christ and final judgement of the living and the dead. You can read it yourself in the Apostles Creed, the writing of Irenaeus, Hippolytus’ Account of Baptism, The Symbolum Nicaenum, Nicene Crede, The Confession of St. Patrick, Athanasian Creed and so on. This belief comes from a literal reading of the book of Revelation. Christians believe in the Bible. That is Jesus-following 101. How should we interpret the things we read about in Revelation?

Albrecht Durer, 1498

• We believe that John received a vision of future things (Revelation 1:1).

• We believe that Jesus is coming back (Revelation 19:11).
• We believe that the devil will be destroyed (Revelation 20:10).
•  We believe that everyone will be judged (Revelation 20:11).
• We believe that there will be a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1).
• We believe that we will reign over this new kingdom with the Lord forever (Revelation 22:5).

You may have noticed that there is a big chunk of highlights missing from Chapters 2-18 of Revelation. I’ll bo honest: that part of the Bible is crazy. I dont know what to make of a lot of it. Some people believe that John was having trouble finding the right words to describe what he saw. Other people characterize prophetic literature as being intentionally masked in ambiguity. There are others who make a literal interpretation of John’s prophesy word for word.

Ask yourself what you believe about the end times. Crack open your Bible and flip to the end. Do not concern yourselves with the predictions of others. Christ is clear that no one knows the day or hour of the Lord return. However, we are instructed to live our lives in the light of His eminent return. Jesus tells us, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done (Rev. 22:12).”

What do you think about the end times? How is your eschatology?

The best part about Lupton’s book is that he offers suggestions to fix the problem. He is not against charity, just toxic charity. He advocates for hard work, responsibility and dignity when extending aid to those in need. The better half of ten chapters outline a style of giving that treats more than the symptoms of poverty and need.

This book has made me think hard about the ministries of my church. I have been seeing some of our work, both past and present, in a new light. Lupton’s work compliments the efforts of Brian Fikkert and his more theological based book titled When Helping Hurts. I would recommend that you read Toxic Charity and take a close look at the compassion ministries of your church. You might be able to turn a crutch into a cure and contribute to the betterment of lives both near and far.

We must agree on the essential dogma of the Christian faith while specific doctrines should be debated. Dogma refers to the non-negotiables of any given faith. Christians believe that, “Jesus Christ is the son of God.” This belief is fundamental for the the rest of Christianity. Without it your faith is not Christian at all.  At this level of theology you will find that most denominations of Christianity agree. You may be surprised to find the level of concurrence with the Catholic church as well (I speak of Christianity and Catholicism as one might refer to Protestants and Catholics because of where I grew up). We find division on the level of Christian doctrine. The larger body of Christ holds a variety of views concerning theological doctrine. How do we respond to the statement that, “Jesus Christ is the son of God?” Take one step up the latter and you will find matters of conscience, strategy and style. It dosent take too long for us to go from a united cord to frayed strands.

Each and every one of us is capable of having a personal relationship with Christ. This relationship takes place within the context of the greater body of believers which takes place within an even greater context of local, regional and global culture. Factor in sub-cultures, nationalism, families of origin, and economics; you will soon uncover a diverse image of those saved by grace.

This diversity can be an invaluable asset. God creates us as unique individuals. Each tell a different story but come to Christ the same: broken by sin. We are also saved in the same way: through the grace of Jesus Christ. Though we are baptized into one body we are each different. The ways in which we disagree help to broaden our view of Christ and understand the colorful picture that is the Church. However, we must protect the fundamental truths of Christianity and understand the foundations of our faith.

Advocate for children. They cannot promote themselves. Even the talented Mizzone brothers would go no where without the support of adults. Look for the best in kids and imagine ways that their gifts can be put to use today and not just prepared for use tomorrow.

I have just completed my second reading of Franky Schaeffer’s Addicted to Mediocrity. In it you will find one of my favorite quotes. He implores his readers to, “create, create, create; work, work, work.” Franky argues that the church must take on artistic works to express the character of God. Any project including painting, architecture, music or written word can share the person of God through their excellence and creativity. These projects may show who God is with or without scriptural references, Christological allegory or overt Biblical themes. The whole of creation is fair game because it shouts to the glory of our creator!

Creativity is in the nature of my two year old daughter. Most children embrace God’s creative qualities naturally because it is a part of who he made us to be. When was the last time you made something? Remember that you dont need to justify it with some utilitarian purpose. Your pastors next sermon series should not be the only reason the church picks up a hammer or a paint brush.

Hey Children Ministry Leaders!

We hosted a training event at Evergreen Christian Community on February 11th, 2012. We posted a collection of  notes from our large group talk on The Story of God and the three discussion groups which focused on the use of scripture in children’s ministry. Thanks for joining us and please feel free to use this content however you wish. *Updated February 13th 2012.

Email me with any questions at brent@ecconline.cc

Teacher Toolbox Overview 2-11-2012

Teacher Toolbox Presentation Notes

Teacher Toolbox Group Handout 2-11-2012

Group Discussion – Brent Colby

*Group Discussion – Chrissy Najarro

-Brent

Many of us grew up in a time where more church was better church. It is difficult for us to see how simplicity is better. No one would argue for less church, would they? As a leader in a local church I feel the tension between less and more programming. Some families count on church activities to help structure their lives and provide a framework for community, discipleship and evangelism. Other people are protective of their family schedule and feel that too much church can rob them of the relationships they seek outside of the perish. One group may say what good are we if we don’t go to church? While the other groups says what good are we if we are always in church? Both sides have a valid argument.

I agree that the church must become more simple. It must focus on doing one thing well. I also think that the church should be willing to exhaust every means necessary to accomplish its goal. The purpose of the church is clear. We don’t have to make it up because Jesus gave it to us. We are to go and reproduce followers of Jesus who know his teaching, are baptized in his name and remember his death and resurrection. In these things the church must become more simple. The life that flows out of these things becomes an extension of the church into the world. And it may do so in a very complicated way.

Do not fall into lazy thinking where less church is good enough. Everything you do must fall into a more narrow focus. When you enter into that focus, the mission of the church, a new world opens up! Fresh opportunities and areas of influence become within reach of the church… the people of the church! Programs begin to fade away as church members begin to own their faith and reach out on their own. We begin to do one thing well in every way possible through every member of the church.

There is a good chance that your church is trying to become a more simple church. Are you becoming simple in purpose or just simple in programming?

Take a look around. I bet you have all that you need to get started. I bet that you have all you need to hit a home run! Our vision for ministry cannot begin with the proper tools. This is a backwards way to lead the church. Good ideas come long before the resources needed to pull them off.  A little creativity goes a long ways. What projects have you been waiting to start?

The Spiritual world of Mario

Is spirituality visible or invisible? What does it look like? Many of us draw a clear black line between the spiritual and physical self. We believe that what happens in the heart cannot be seen in the real world. Our Christianity becomes otherworldly and we start to believe that our role in God’s story is to escape creation. This view has become known as Platonic dualism (ya, I just name dropped Plato).

Robert E. Webber has written a book about ancient spirituality titled The Divine Embrace. In it he argues that, ”the Christian spiritual life is not an experience out of this world, it is an experience of transcendent meaning here and now in this world through a passionate participation in God’s vision for humanity in theis world.” This passionate participation has a real world effect.

Do you agree with Webber? Can your spiritual life have an affect in the created world?

Robert E. Webber, The Divine Embrace p. 171

You and I are a limited resource. I hate to admit it but I can only accomplish so many things in a given day. When we enlist the help of others we can increase the potential output exponentially. The scary part is that it no longer becomes our output and is the output of others. I think this is why so many of us have a hard time empowering others to succeed: we lose control. The success is no longer accomplished how we would have done it. The end result may be different than we imagined it and the worst part: we may not get any credit!

How is this process more powerful? It sounds like a losing proposition.  Those of us who serve the church cannot make decisions based on our own egos. It is not about you. You and I must realize that we are serving a purpose that is far greater than ourselves.

If your church is going to make a difference then you need to help other people win. You propagate the life changing story of Jesus in this way: by teaching and training up others. Remind yourself that serving in the church should never bring glory to your own name. Serving the church means serving others. This service is where we can find value being the first loser.