Mark Waltz | ...Because People Matter

Keep the Environment Safe

This is Kathy Guy. She's a phenomenal leader on my team. She oversees community among our people. She understands people, that they matter to God. Her understanding shapes how she counsels; it influences how she empowers leaders; it centers her own relationships. She's an invaluable leader in our church.

Here's a recent post that illustrates her wisdom and our commitment.

Behind the question

Hello, I'm new here can you give more information on the Starting Point group ? is this a christian singles group ? how often do they meet ? are there any costs ? thank you

This is a written inquiry that was submitted through the "contact us" buttons on our website. I called and started answering his questions. There was something wrong. He was anxious. I asked, "Do you attend GCC?"

I was thinking of joining. I went to church as a kid. I've had some stuff going on in my life and was thinking maybe I should.

Ok. So, I kept talking. Something was still off. "Have you ever attended one of our services?"

No, I've driven by a few times, and I was thinking about it.

It now made sense! I shifted to help him understand who we are, his options and encourage him. 

How will I know what to do when I get there? Will it be kind of obvious for me to know where to go?

I'm a little blown away when people find the courage to ask questions at this level. People are scared. Will I fit in? Will I look stupid? Although we don't often get the opportunity to hear questions at this level, the fear is there.

If we want people to take a next step toward Jesus, let's keep making the first steps very safe.

You can follow Kathy here.

Christians and Politics Make Me Crazy

I know that statement is a generalization. I know two or three Christians who have an informed, intelligent, graceful approach to politics. But, for the most part Christians and elections irritate me.

People are well-intended. I really think they are.

But it seems at election time Christians take up special license to...

• slander others
• invoke fear
• bottom-line issues without entering meaningful dialog

Much of this seems to be done based on hyperbole, worst case scenarios, and hot button issues. Most of it is thrown around in conversation, emails and blogs based on "research" consisting of someone else's poorly researched email forward, hate-filled blog posts and uninformed web articles. Christians enter the political spotlight with fictional time-warp letters of what is to come; they go on TV believing they're the only ones with family values; they attempt to trump with their Democrat or Republic card as though Christians can only be one or the other.

I'm tired of Christians behaving as though politics has a savior. I'm saddened when they pretend their view on a few "key" issues defines their spirituality. I'm angered that we alienate each other and a society of people who desperately need to know they matter to God.

• Every candidate matters to God.
• Every nameless person pegged and targeted by the "key" issues matters to God.
• Every person labeled conservative or liberal matters to God.
• Every voter. Every American. Every inhabitant of the planet matters to God.

That message gets shadowed, even lost, when we make a party the "right" party; when we label people based on voters' guides; when we boil the Kingdom agenda down to only a few things we call "critical."

Here are some other thoughts while I'm making my single political post:

• Have an opinion. But be well-informed. Many people who debate abortion, gay issues, war, even the economy draw quick conclusions with little listening. We tend to not finish the conversation. We confuse methods with outcomes and often miss the life/God-honoring outcome we could achieve if we really entered the complex dialog. Then, have an opinion.
• Be respectful. There's no room for slander. Just because you don't know McCain or Obama personally doesn't give you license to talk or write about them with hate or false witness (that's a top 10 commandment).
• Go vote. Regardless who you vote for - vote. Do so by reading blogs, books, articles that you would not normally read because you suspect you disagree. Read widely. Pray constantly.
• After Tuesday, November 4 - shut-up. Shut down any complaints, slander, fear-stirring. Pray. Pray for our new president and our new vice president. Pray for the men and women of congress. Pray for local, state and federal leaders.
• Then put all your convictions about "key" issues that have anything to do with the Kingdom into personal practice. Love God and love others well. Deeply. Value life and people the way God does -  in your speech, your service, your time, your resources, your heart.

I'm praying God will give me courage and clarity to practice what I'm preaching.

16-Year Core

Years ago - 16 to be exact - I landed on this passage at a prayer retreat on the Oregon coast. God seemed to drive this passage to my core as the essential purpose of my life - both in personal transformation and as a life mission in helping others experience their worth and significance in Christ.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1.17-23)

It's fueled my ministry focus, centered my family life, and kept first things first with Jesus.

Well, it's done all that when I've lived from that central goal. Today I've been asking, "Am I still leading from that core? Am I connecting with my family from that prayer? Am I connecting with people from that core? Am I teaching for life transformation from that core?"

I don't want to live from an assumed past. An examined life is life experienced.

What's at your core?

Starting Book 3

No publisher yet. No contract to date.

But, I started it today: book number 3.

I'm very excited: my wife, Laura, is writing with me this time.

Whole Hog @ Men's Retreat

These guys are awesome! When I learned that our stellar volunteer retreat gurus were going to kick the weekend off with a hog roast, I said "We've got to have an apple in his mouth."
I don't know if it was for me... But thanks guys.

(via my motorola "Q" phone)

Book 2: Lasting Impressions Available December 8

I'm really not into self-promotion. That's not the point of this post. I do want to help resource local churches though.

This is the cover of my second book due out in early December. Group Publishing has been an empowering partner in this process. My editor, Candace McMahan, has worked tirelessly with me and her team to capture the book's message visually and stylistically. Many thanks to them!

Here are some early thoughts about the book:

• This book picks up where First Impressions left off. When your guests return, how do you help them connect with God and other committed relationships on their life journey?
• With this writing I experienced the author fear I've heard about: "What if my thinking or our practices shift after the book is written?" But the truth is amid some tremendous shifts in our approach to the weekend and midweek gatherings we offer at Granger, our commitment to creating organic process and thoughtfully created environments is firm. The best practices, philosophies, and convictions about ministry and people are as fresh as the ink on the book's pages. I'm excited about how we'll continue to utilize this book in our own local ministry.
• This won't be the final chapter from me or Granger Community Church. The culture continues to shift. We continue to learn, error, find successes and grow some more.
• I'm grateful for the scores of churches who, while trying to learn from us, have shared insightful practices and passion that have served us well.

I'm grateful for a senior pastor and a shared vision that is intent on reaching people who matter to God, creating disciples of Christ, and shouldering the burden with the Church to resource impactful kingdom work throughout the country and around the globe. What an honor!

Overheard in Starbucks

So I'm sitting in Starbucks with Liv and her friends and Maddie looked at me and said, "Sometimes I get so tired at night. Does that ever happen to you?" I laughed for 32 minutes.

(via my motorola "Q" phone)

On the Road Again…

I'm hitting the road again in just a couple weeks. I often make these trips alone, but this time I'm traveling again with my good friends, Tim Stevens and Kem Meyer. We'll be offering this line-up of workshops in these three locations: Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA. 

There's still time to register. Hope to see you there!

Rumors

Every now and then I hear rumors about Granger Community Church that puzzle me, but don't really surprise me.

It's a funny thing - a rumor. Conclusions get drawn with too little information. Biases get confirmed because we want to validate our hurt, suspicion, or our sense of self-esteem.

Unfortunately, rumors always mean that someone else will also be misinformed. Someone else will have bad information to pass on. Someone else will probably get hurt. Probably lots of someones.

Here are some rumors I've heard about Granger - some as recently as today.

• They're too big.
• Thousands of individuals have discovered the "smallness" of a larger church by seeking out, making themselves available, and taking the risk to have a friend and be a friend. Volunteer teams, group relationships, and less structured friendships create authentic community for those who accept personal responsibility to build relationships.
• They don't do weddings.
• Still do. Our Saturday evening services limit the weekend availability for our members, but we're still helping people get married.
• They care more for people not in the church than those in the church.
• Relationships are still the primary way that our people care for and support each other. When people see membership as entitlement, there's a gross misunderstanding of membership. Membership isn't about privilege, it's about responsibility. It's about others.
• They don't do funerals.
• The mortality rate is still 100%. Again, while personal relationships are the most profound context for personal care, I still help many families every year by leading funerals and helping families during their loss.
• They're a cult.
• Often family and friends are shocked and appalled by the level of commitment they see Granger members make as they give their lives fully to follow Christ as his disciple. They conclude, "if you're involved in your church that much... if your religion requires that kind of life change - it must be a cult." They just don't see yet that it's not church, and it's not religion - it's Jesus.
• Their Connections Pastor is a small man who's just a little odd.
• This may be a rumor. But this one is true.

I love Jesus. I love what he's doing in and through this church. And without shame or apology, I love this church - her people, her mission, her vision. We aren't perfect. We're a bunch of humans. And I love 'em! Spread that around town.

INNOVATE '08 Online

Did you miss INNOVATE '08?
Missed part of a session because you took an unscheduled restroom break?
Want your team to hear what only you heard?

Check out all seven main sessions here.