a l i v e & a w a k e

You may disagree with me at first, but I don’t believe they will be the popular leaders of our day - the wealthy, the politically astute, or the influential.  They will be … the poors.  

Pay close attention to How people think rather than What people think

Respond by offering your compassionate presence and look for ways to cultivate others.

One of the greatest gifts I received (looking back) in my life was Christ. Before you say ‘oh, of course you would say that’, realize there is a certain aspect of eternal life that was given to me in this relationship. I have heard many before say this. Many emphasize the salvation of Christ (meaning ‘I’m going to heaven’) and that is good –a great bonus. The greatest aspect of the gospel for me is that I have been called into the living work of Christ manifesting Himself on this earth on a daily basis. That has much more comfort to me rather than a beautiful place of ‘gold’ that I will spend eternity.

In essence the gift Christ has empowered me with is Mission!

Salvation for the human race has to include Mission. For me it has been crucial to my growth and awareness of who Christ is to seek, see and act (celebrate). This is not a one time occurrence but an ongoing salvation (sort of like “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”-Phil 2).

My first injection of this mission was at Graphite Camp. I seem to go there for the girl population and it was just a fun thing to do over the summer, but I caught a taste of something else—mission. It was the mission (looking back) of community building, helping the poor and sharing Christ that I really enjoyed on a deeper level. I had this experience off and on for about 5-6 yrs. It wasn’t until I was asked to be apart of starting a new ministry in Bancroft (switch Yard –see stories from Joe’s view) that I grabbed hold of the way Christ had equipped me. 

I am now at a church (The Meeting House) and finding this dynamic of missional is needed in my setting. I see people who have not been empowered to be on mission but want to contribute to a bigger cause. The history of the church has proven to be one of a fortress mentality as opposed to an organic community placed on this earth to bless others with the mission and life of Christ.  I’m in no way perfect and I forget many times to be intentional in this way. Mission is where we can all find a purpose and place to belong.

A great analogy of a Missional and non-missional mindset

If you were prejudice, racists, complainer type, you would not have time to be any of those things if you were in the heat of battle on the frontlines. On the frontlines, the bombs are going off so you can hardly hear, the bullets fly over head and your have a gun in you hand hoping the person beside you is with you. You wouldn’t care if they were racially different. You wouldn’t care if the food wasn’t great that morning, or if your clothes were the most comfortable or fashionable.

Back ten miles from the frontlines –rear echelons—they find the soldiers are complaining about everything –even when they can hear the battle in the distance!

This is true with the church sometimes if we are not consistently putting ourselves in the reality of the battle around us. If we are positioned in the church like a ‘rear echelon’ than we will find people complaining, acting on prejudice, apathetic and harmful for team moral.

Here are some of my thoughts on how the church can transform into a missional community. We need to create missional environments. It is moving from where we have typically practiced church to something else.

Missional is moving from

to...

Cultivating an atmosphere of Moving from a goal to gather,  to a goal of gathering to move. Bottom word INTENTIONALITY!

Lots more can be said, but this a taste of my journey.

Here is a picture of someone who appeared in the Ottawa Citizen just today. As the teaching pastor of The Meeting House, Bruxy Cavey is well known as being one who integrates cultural literature and media into his messages. The article was showcasing his unique style of "preaching pop culture". Quite interesting. I am happy that my brother (Joe) is working with someone who has such a good sense of what the poets and preachers of society are saying. I too am aware that the media is revealing a society that has a facsination and interest in the supernatural. It causes lots of questions and creates lots of seekers.

Here is picture of another man who also believed that as Christians we need to hold the newspaper in one hand and your Bible in the other (the newspaper was the most common form of media at the time). Billy Graham has always tried to listen to the heart's cry of society to bring a pointed and relevent message. As far as I know he continues this practice.

 It's in listening to what is being said and asked that we can begin to stand up and speak. So often I find myself talking, not "understanding the times". Today's paper was an encouragement and a gentle reminder to not shelter myself beneath the cover of indifference or ignorance, but instead pray for the wisdom to find a place for my voice.

Jon 

"God is not a sedative that keeps you calm and under control by dulling your senses. He does quite the opposite. He awakens your spirit to be truly alive." Erwin McManus 

I am a follower of Jesus, the Messiah. I am becoming more and more hesitant to use the word Christian, not because I don't understand the original meaning of the word, but because most other people don't.

It has become synonymous with boring, fundamentalism, irrelevance, hypocracy and uselessness. Many people view following Christ a selling of one's life to a creed that gives them a list of do's and don't's.

I like this quote, because it captures my thoughts exactly. I found that when I met Jesus (the real Jesus - not some institutionalized version found in a church building) my life changed. Aside from my hyper tendencies, I found an internal well of life that became the new driving force in my life. Suddenly, every fibre of my being was invigorated by energy, meaning and an optimism that far surpassed any of the modern-day positive thinking programs. I just found myself to be such a happy person.

It's sad to think that people are turned off finding a life-giving spiritual connection to their Creator because of  the institutionization of the Church. If you have found yourself dulled by traditions and religiosity, it's time you personally met the Jesus I know. You find him, you will find life.

Jon 

This is a simple story to illustrate that some of the clearest messages that God wants to say happen in the most unlikely places. The moral? Don't assume religion is doing all the talking.

Jon

*************************************

It was 9:30 Sunday morning.

Reverend William Stokes had risen early and was trying to concentrate on his last illustration for the sermon that morning.

Mr. Smith sat at the breakfast table deciding whether or not to eat the crusts off his toast and whether or not the sermon would teach him anything about God. Mrs. Smith was washing young Benjamin’s tangled hair, wishing he would sit still, and wishing her husband would sometimes help.

After placing a large stuffed turkey in the oven, Penelope was perched quietly in her favourite high-backed chair, carefully sipping a hot cup of peppermint tea. She was waiting for her ride to church.

Eva Longley shifted uncomfortably in her thick woolen blankets; contemplating how cold the nights were getting and marveling at how long she could go without a hot meal.

Further down the street, Fred the cop whistled a happy tune while swinging his billy stick. He was glad he wasn’t going to church because he believed he learned nothing there anyways.

The Robertson twins dressed in their Sunday best sat grumpily on the hall tree knowing they would miss their favourite shows on TV that morning.

After a late night of self-inflicted partying, Deacon Roger Dierston lay in his bed, trying to see through the blinding headache.

The church meeting would start at 10 O’clock.

******************************************

Mrs. Smith’s fingers danced joyfully across the old keys of the organ as the handful of choir members sang at the top of their lungs.

Benjamin Smith had found a spider under the pew and had managed to squeeze his entire body under his dad’s seat to watch it.

At 10:23 am, a random street person tried to get into the back doors of the church, but luckily Deacon Roger, who himself had entered late, was able to spare the congregation from any interruption, and turned him away.

Penelope sat as straight as a poker, piously holding a hymn book on the fingertips of her right hand.

Outside Fred the cop stopped whistling long enough to see if he knew what they were singing. He didn’t know, so he continued merrily on his way.

The hymns were sung. Deacon Roger collected all $67.58 of the offering. The children were seated in their proper places with paper and crayons in their hands.

Then Reverend Stokes preached vigorously for 53 minutes from the book of Isaiah while some people watched Deacon Dierston’s head bobbing lazily.

Mrs. Smith held Benjamin’s busy hand while giving the evil eye to her indifferent husband. Mr. Smith was feeling puzzled as to why he wasn’t learning anything new about God. Penelope was checking her gold watch, wondering how her turkey was doing.

And the Robertson twins were still grumpy.

****************************************************

At 11:16 am, the meeting was over. People wandered socially to their cars. As they left the old church building, Reverend Stokes shook every hand, particularly pleased to have used his new illustration in his sermon.

There was an argument in the Smith car.

Deacon Roger Dierston pulled from the parking lot and on to Main Street and checked his watch to see how much time he had to sleep before the football game.

Penelope was dropped off at home just in time to pull the perfect turkey from the oven.

The street person who was denied entrance into the church building by Deacon Roger found Eva still lying in her thick woolen blankets. Bending down, he placed his last crumpled bill in her hand…smiled… and walked away.

Fred, who was resting from his walk that morning, saw what the street person did. Surprisingly Fred learned something about God.

There is so much out there about leadership and being a person of influence, but to balance the plethora of books, seminar and websites, I believe there needs to be a counter-balance of something called "followership"; the ability to be lead. One of the issues I can see emerging in business, in church life, and even in the home is the overpopulation of self-made leaders, without the ability to work together. Teachability, teamwork, and mutual submission to each other's giftings will allow a greater fluidity of role amongst a team, without elements of competition or division.

Followership means being able to step down when someone else has a better idea, and then you are able to help promote them. Followership means you allow other respected people to have their say in your life. Followership means you support someone else's vision, rather than having people serve yours. Followership means you are willing to let your resources be donated to the cause of another.

Followership also means you lead strongly knowing someone else will hold you accountable for your actions. It means you walk a tight balance of giving and receiving strength and correction and input and guidance.

As a team, all members must submit to each other's roles and responsibilities, as well as to the overriding mandate that the team carries. Once people are joined together in a meaningful way, and together under the authority of their purpose, they can begin to become unified in their endeavours. A team that exercises this kind of followership has a chance of being able to deal with differences of perspective, difficulties from external pressure and diversity of people. 

Jon

There is a pervasive attitude amongst us in North America that to need someone else is weak. This coupled with the fact that people are generally only concerned with their own lives leads to a society that lacks a proper view of community. Am I my brother's keeper? Do I have a responsibility to look out for the well being of others?

There is an old Japanese fable that compares heaven and hell. In hell, it says, people walk around using chopsticks that are longer than their arms. Although food is abundant, people are in a constant state of starving. In heaven, people use the same chopsticks, but people are well fed and content. What's the difference between heaven and hell? In hell everyone tries to feed themselves. In heaven they feed each other. In the same way, society works best when we take care of each other.

Mentoring is a term that has become popular as a concept, but rare as a practice. True mentoring is the act of coming alongside someone else to give them the very best you have to offer. It is a relationship that allows someone to speak into the other's life. I have had many. many people who have thankfully spoken into my life; people who have deposited building blocks of truth, and as a result, have helped to guide me through life's challenges.

To be mentored by someone takes quite a bit of humility. We are trained from an early age (just watch Disney videos) that to get through life on your own is admirable. Society preaches independence and a life of success through sheer willpower and determination. While those are excellent qualities, we were built for a life vitally connected to others.

Who do you know that is able to speak openly and honestly into your life? Is there a person you can talk to about the real, pertinent issues of life? Are you allowing someone (or some people) to give you perspective, and possibly correct you? Being surrounded by these kind of people will ensure there are safeguards in your life. They will be the people who will help you to avoid lots of life's difficulties.

Being a mentor isn't hard, it just requires a desire to help others. Practically mentoring can be summed up in the acronym, B.U.S.

it starts with building a trusting relationship with someone else. Part of that is making yourself open and vulnerable to them (allowing them into your life).

Once you've established the friendship, you are able to listen to understand what they are going through, what they are saying.

After you hear them out and are able to see the issues clearly, then you are able to speak into their life the things they need to hear.

There are many people who desparately need someone to come alongside them in life. So many of us travel through life unassisted and alone. We must begin to take care of ourselves by finding true friends who will walk the same path as us, and in turn look to be that same friend to others.

Jon

THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM THE PEACE AWARD ADDRESS GIVEN BY CRAIG KIELBURGER AT THE INTERNATION PEACE AWARDS CEREMONY HELD IN JULY 21, 2005

"It was during one of our overseas volunteer trips that I was reminded that people don’t need money or power to better the world, merely the willingness to come together and work in a spirit of solidarity. A few years ago, our organization brought twenty student volunteers from the USA. and Canada high into the Andes Mountains of Ecuador to build a primary school in an indigenous community. Running behind schedule (an animal traffic jam stalled the mules that were carrying our construction supplies up the mountain!), we asked the advice of the village elder. Explaining that we had return plane tickets and would not be able to complete the project, she replied, “No problem. I’ll call a minga”.

In the local dialect of Puruhae India, she forcefully shouted, “A minga will happen tomorrow”. The next day, hundreds of people arrived. Men left their fields at peak harvest time. Women carried babies on their back. Children walked miles to help construct a distant school that they would never be able to attend because of the long journey it would take to reach it. The crowd asked for nothing in return and even brought food to share with the village.

Amazed, we asked the chief, “What happened? What is a minga?” She explained that this traditional word is a call to action—it means ‘a community coming together to work for the benefit of all’. When people hear this word, they stop all personal activities and come together for the collective good. Our translator struggled to explain the idea, and he finally asked us: “What is the word for ‘minga’ in English?” Huh? My brother and I looked at each other. We were dumbfounded. It wasn’t volunteer work—you could do that alone. Mission work? Not really. A minga is like a riot of people coming together, but not for evil—for good"

There is great power (ability to do work) within community and team. As a coach of various sports teams I am very interested in the principles that allow a group of strangers to function well together. Probably as you read the excerpt a number of things popped out at you, which if you have the time, please highlight them to me.

The concept of the Minga has shown me 3 principles which I believe are essential qualities of the team that wishes to bring change. They will be addressed in 3 separate articles: Servanthood, Solidarity of Vision and Submission to Gifting.

Jon 

Here is a read you'll enjoy. I appreciated the insight and timeless truths he identifies into what constitutes living a good life. There are many things one can appreciate about it: its relevency, its scriptural founding and the many "inside" stories, particularly surrounding his ordeal with Watergate. It's one of those book I will reread, just because Chuck covers so much in so little time. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Jon

Rhys and I were hiking through one of Ottawa's city parks on the weekend. It was one of those fall days that was warm enough for this kind of activity, yet cool enough to not work up too much of a sweat (absolutely perfect!).

As we were walking through a spot surrounded by small cedar tress, the forest suddenly became alive with the sounds of chickadees calling to each other in their typical singsong "chick-a-dee-dee-dee". My son, who is only 18 months began to imitate their sounds, enjoying every moment.

But what's more, as we continued to walk, they began to hop from branch to branch drawing closer to the path. Realizing we were surrounded, we stopped and looked around - there were probably about 50 of them peering curiously at us. Instinctively I stuck out my hand, as if I had food; we were suddenly in the midst of swooping and fluttering birds, frantically calling to each other. One after one they landed on my hand peered into the empty palm, looked at me as if to say, "where's the grub?" and then flew away. Fortunately I had my carmera on me and snapped one of them in action.

Obviously others had been feeding them for they had no fear of Rhys or myself. They simply knew that when they heard someone's voices or heard them walking, they would come running... I mean flying.

This simple encounter reminded me that it is exactly the same for people as it is for these birds. Deep inside people is a hunger for real, meaningful life. They desire the things that bring true happiness. When they get "wind" that something good is around, people will swarm to find it. That's how the "latest" and "newer" products get sold. People think that they will somehow enrich their lives even more than what they are now. The promise of life is very alluring. The sad thing is, that when those chickadees heard me coming, but when they got there, found that I had nothing to give.

What I was challenged with in the forest remains my life mandate. Am I someone who is life-giving? Do I point people to the true source of life? When people hear me coming, do they know that they will find life? Next time I go to the forest, I will bring the food for those birds as a way of representing how I really wish to be known: one who brings the Sounds of Life.

Jon