Mark Waltz | ...Because People Matter

Attractional or Missional? Yes.

There's quite a debate going on in church-world these days: are you a missional church or attractional church? It's a heated debate. Most seem to think it's one or the other. Either you're intent on drawing a crowd to your campus, to your weekend, to your message OR you're taking the message out there, off the campus, meeting people in their context. Which is it?

At Granger, we think it's both.

Last week our own DC Curry - student ministries director extraordinaire - was in Japan playing with Notre Dame in the Japan Bowl (ND whooped 'em - 19-3). He was there with ND, but he was there as a Christ-follower. He was there as GCC's student director. His "hat" never came off. He was missional.

This week he and the rest of our student staff are leading a high school team of 38 (including our daughter) in missions work in Monterray, Mexico. 

All week long our South Bend community center has continued to serve the people of Monroe Circle - with relational care, food, and community.

On Thursday another team of adults leaves for India, bringing hope to a small community of otherwise outcasts.

And at home? On our campus? We're inviting friends and family to explore relationships as God intended them. We're teaching through a communication series called Sand Traps, attracting people who would otherwise write off church as irrelevant and stoggy.

Check this out: the following two videos played in the same weekend service. One making a comical point about how arrogance can mess up relationships. The other celebrating the missional work being done by the people called Granger Community Church.

Attractional or missional? Yes.

Kalavai from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Golfisode - Episode 3: The Arrogance Trap from Granger Community on Vimeo.

The Prodigal God: Our Story of Control

I had a college professor who taught that the parables of Jesus had one and one point only. It was wrong to try to read too much into the details of Jesus' stories. Take the ever-popular story of "the prodigal son". Point: God the Father is a forgiving, unconditional loving God. According to my prof, the story's elder son character was merely added in to round out a great story. I think he may have missed a point or two in the parable.

Tim Keller's, The Prodigal God helped me gain fresh appreciation for the genius story-telling of Jesus. In fact, he helped me see Jesus in fresh light. I'll not try to give a book report on Keller's fine work - you should read the book for yourself. Here are a few of my takeaways...

• The story is about two sons, not one. And both brothers have issues of control. They long to control their own destiny, make life work they way they believe it should work. The younger son leaves his father to own his own way. The elder brother seeks control through his moral uprightness, doing what he believes his father expects. By doing so he believes he'll gain the outcome he desires from his father. The father's role is then to "bless", coroporate, make life happy for the son. 
• • I've had my share of elder brother syndrome. Blaming God for not making it work. More proud of my rule-keeping, than humbled by God's grace.
• Churches are unfortunately filled with elder brothers. Elder brothers who seek God's favor more than they seek relationship with God. Elder brothers who self-righteously criticize, ignore, and reject younger brothers. Jesus' primary audience when telling this story were "elder brother" Pharisees. Keller writes: "...the main barrier between Pharisees and God is 'not their sins, but their damnable good works.'
• • Even now, I'm more prone to think with some level of disgust about the "other people" I know who behave like elder brothers. In doing so I wonder what amount of "elder brother" still lives in me.
• The younger son made a laundry list of his sins to own and confess to his father upon his return home. The elder son - in his arrogance - had no such list. Keller observes, "To become Christians we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right. What makes you faithful or generous is not just a redoubled effort to follow moral rules. Rather, all change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in your heart. Faith in the gospel restructures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, and our view of the world. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting.
• • I first became aware of this sin of idolotry - sins of ill-motivation - several years ago. The fact that it was years ago doesn't make me a saint today; it only means I have more experience being aware. My motivation matters. And I'm too easily motivated by selfishness. I've done lots of "right" stuff over the years - not always for the right reasons.
    
• Jesus knew the Torah. He understood the Jewish concept of being "my brother's keeper." Keller points out that a compassionately motivated elder brother would have gone to look for his younger brother. Jesus leaves out of this story the character he actually was in flesh and blood - the true elder brother. The elder brother who gave up what was his; who didn't bemoan the Father who reinstated the younger brother (thereby giving away what was now rightfully the elder brother's share of the estate); the elder brother who lived, died and rose again to point the way Home to the Father.
• • My elder brother, Jesus - he paid the price. He came after me. He was - and is - the way home to the Father. I want to know more of this intimate relationship with God. I want to continue to capture the fresh, simple complexities of scripture, including the parables with all their points.

I needed this read. I still have control issues. I'll bet you'll uncover a couple of your own.

Read Keller's book - then tune into Willow's Leadership Summit: he's a featured speaker.

Twitter: Building Community or Building Self?

(Author's warning: This is not a "tweet." It will exceed 140 characters.)

Last spring I caved to the pressure from well-intending friends who wanted to know about my goings-on when we weren't together (freaky), and I hopped on the Twitter bandwagon. Mostly it was the pressure. Mostly it was my willingness to be persuaded by people I really like and trust. There was another motivation - albeit secondary. I had this gnawing notion that as a connections guy, I should check out this online "community shortcut." Yeah, I was skeptical.

I was only a few weeks into honing my Twitter discernment... as in, what in the heck would anyone "out there" actually care about reading in 140 characters or less about my life, restroom breaks, and TV viewing, when I hit the Twit-wall. I went on family vacation with my wife and daughter. On day one of that vacation I picked up my phone (an archaic version with little, tiny buttons to push) to "tweet" our activity. I stopped cold and thought, "I don't care who wants to know what or why. This is our personal vacation (*see footnote) - you don't get to know about every flippin' detail!" A week later I canceled my Twitter account.

Two months later I picked it up again. This time I was more motivated by the desire to explore what I didn't understand. Namely, there's something seemingly real about online community and communication. My daughter texts constantly (over 10,000 texts last month) with multiple friends at a time. She's recently started Twittering. From information sharing to networking to learning details about "friends" you'd never know - Twitter and the short-form Facebook status aren't just attracting the twenty-somethings. Forty-somethings like me are swarming to these cyber-group exchanges.

But is it all about community? Or is it about boasting badges of popularity? Maybe. I admit it. I look at that small, little number of followers on my homepage. And, I've noticed the Twitter Kings and Queens who've attracted thousands of tweet disciples. Yes, I've compared my own numbers to theirs. Sometimes I've even read articles aimed at tuning my pied piper pipe to attract more scampering rats, er, interested and interesting people.

The folks at Relevant are wondering what Twitter is doing to us (read the article here). Is it a real expression of community? Or is it a extortion of our ego? What's the honest revelation of our deepest motives? It's worth a read.

Kem Meyer re-posted Michael Hyatt's (CEO, Thomas Nelson) 12 responses to the questions: Why Twitter? and What is it? You can read them here.

I think I'm over the popularity contest. Tim Stevens will always have more followers. CNN and Larry King just might surpass Ashton Kutcher. It's okay. I'm okay.

I do know this -

• I've read more articles linked from Twitter the past few months than I have followed links from blog posts (like this one).
• I've stayed connected - even a little bit - with people from other churches that I've met at conferences and other venues.
• I've laughed with more of my real friends via Twitter than I could have face to face in any given day. I've just not had proximity to enjoy the lives of so many in one single day.
• I've prayed for people who would never have gotten to me, if not for me seeing their 76 word tweet request.
• I've been more aware of perspectives from the marketplace, entertainment, liberals, conservatives, church, education, and cultural trends than I have been merely watching the news or reading Google links.

I'm going to continue to Twitter. There's a lot you'll never hear about because I don't want you to. But, there's probably some stuff that will surprise you, too. I'm in it for the connection.

You can "follow" me here. If you want to. Stalk. Connect. Whatever you want.

See you online.

* (Mark Beeson posted a brilliant article about discerning personal, private and public - you should read it here.)

Church: When You Don't Think You Fit

Here's a great clip from Central Christian Church in Vegas. We didn't make this, but we just might use it.

Easter '09 | Boomin'

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(Photo by Mark Beeson)

God's original design for his creation was order, creative order. Harmonious. Rhythmic. In sync.

A selfish inclination to define identity and worth left humankind painfully disconnected, out of sync with God and his created purpose.

Jesus came on the scene, on our level, in our disjointed world of oppression, injustice, and poverty to create a pathway, a sense of wholeness again. He showed us what the Father's love looks like. He lived and died by values that are "other world", and yet, intended to be our world. In sync.

That's the EASTER message. And at Granger Community Church this weekend, it's boomin'!

30 Days of Sex | Love & Lust

If you experienced this past weekend, and you're married, you might have thought the service wasn't for you. After all the topic was lust. That's for all the single people or, I suppose, married people who are flirting with an affair. It might have been easy to check out (except for that stunning interview with Satan...watch it here).

Hold up. Let's consider this: Is it okay to lust for your spouse?

I admit it, I've told my wife that I'm filled with lust for her. What I'm saying is, "I think you're hot. You're making me hot. Let's get hot together  I 'lust' you. (blush... this is getting way personal.)" I don't intend to be one-dimensional. I intend it in the context of celebrating our multi-dimensional relationship. But, in the heated moment, it's pretty focused. It's about sex. Pure and simple.

Is that okay?

Absolutely (especially when she says, "yes"). I want her to know that I treasure her...and her "Wonderland" body (thanks, John Mayer... I think he borrowed the eroticism from Solomon). I want her to know that after 27 years of marriage I still find her attractive and sexy. God designed sex between a married man and woman to be filled with pleasure. Highly erotic. Charged with sensual energy. Intimately romantic.

BUT. (one T)

But, if all I do is really lust for my wife, if all she hears from me is "I lust for you", then I'm only singing Cheap Trick: "I want you to want me, I need you to need me, I'm beggin' you to beg me." It's one-dimensional. "I want one thing from you - keep me happy sexually." That's lust - and even within marriage it's way short of God's ideal of Love.

This weekend Rob Wegner clearly defined Love that is God-honoring, other-treasuring (watch an excerpt here).

• Love is relational - interested in the family, friendships and human interactions of the other.
• Love is intellectual - interested in how the other thinks, reasons, and processes.
• Love is emotional - concerned with how the other feels.
• Love is spiritual - interested in who God made the other to be and their relationship with him.
• Love is physical - enjoyed by sexual chemistry and desire.

Men, you love your wife with that kind of love and "lust" will be a playful, mutual expression of appropriate physical desire. Women, you love your husband with that kind of love and desire, and his tendency to "lust" after other women will be minimized. But note the distinction between a playful "lust" in marriage and a selfish expression of lust.

Play the video above again. By definition lust is reductionary. It always wants more, never satisfied with the present pleasure and connection. It is self-absorbed. Lust will hurt - even destroy - your marriage. Love will ignite the spark and cause your marriage to burn hot.

• Read the 30-Day Sex Challenge ... and Sex God. Then talk about it. Not just the sex. But where your ideas of sex come from. What hurts, fears and misgivings you have about sex - from past or present.
• Read the Song of Solomon together (read it in the Message)... in bed.
• If you've given up on 30 days of sex, then plan an overnight. Send the kids to Grandmas and stay home if you can't get a hotel. But, think honeymoon. Plan. Be creative. Give yourselves  to each other again: fully - relationally, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

Which will it be in your marriage? Love or Lust.

I choose Love.

30 Days of Sex | Rob Wegner on Lust

Here's a clarifying clip about the contrast of lust from Rob Wegner's message: Just Lust from this past weekend. This is great teaching. Jump here to read more about: "Lust in Marriage"

If you want more from Rob, watch the entire message here (click the "watch" icon for "Just Lust").

30 Days of Sex | An Interview with Satan

I had the unusual and unexpected opportunity recently to interview Satan about... yes, sex. Any surprises?

From weekend service, Granger Community Church, March 21/22, 2009. Watch the entire service here.

Ashton Kutcher, Jesus Christ, & Love

I'm sure I don't have the full story. It's tough to capture someone's full journey from Twitter, although it can be quite revealing. Jeff Bell turned me onto Ashton Kutcher's Twitter today. He'd begun following his Tweets, intrigued by Ashton's frequent comments of his reading of The Shack.

To me, there's something about Kutcher that's free-spirited, fun and... well, just entertaining, so I hopped online to check out Ashton's thoughts. I stopped when I read this:

"I've had over 200 reply's about God Jesus etc. and the one word not mentioned is the only essential word LOVE."

It made me sad, then mad. Apparently, Jeff and I weren't the only God-believing Twitter stalkers to check out Kutcher's reading notes. And apparently, there are still a bunch of Christians who still miss the point.

Jesus summarized the whole Law, the whole story, the whole kingdom with these words:

"Love the Lord your God... and your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22.37-38)

Ashton, I'm sorry we missed the point while trying to make a point. Again.

30 Day Sex Challenge | Is Sex the Point?

I know, I know. It seems like a crazy question to ask a week into this month-long sex challenge: Is sex even the point? It is, obviously. But maybe not.

• What's the point of a football player spending hours in the weight room? To bench record weights? To sweat a lot? No, the point is to play ball better on the field.
• What's the point of studying for an exam or doing daily homework in school? Merely the grade? No, the point is to be equipped for life experiences, including the workforce.
• What's the point of spiritual practices? To know more about the Bible? To be an expert "pray-er"? Hardly. The point is to live a transformed life after the Way of God and his agenda.

Maybe sex isn't the point. If you thought it was and it's created tension in your marriage and bedroom. Call a timeout.

The point is not to merely get to the end of a month and be able to say, "We did it for 30 days!" The point is not to set new records in skill, frequency or creativity (although there's nothing wrong with that, I'm sure). The point is to journey toward intimacy. And intimacy isn't just about the physical act of sex.

Intimacy is about connection.It's about listening. It calls for selfless denial. It involves changing your agenda, your priority, your behavior. Intimacy may culminate in the bedroom, but it doesn't start there. Intimacy starts in the heart. It's a mindful, willful decision. It shows up in phone calls, non-sexual touch (that might mean you don't expect anything after giving the back rub, guys), doing the dishes, and parenting the kids. Intimacy, romance... foreplay. It starts way before the bedroom.

Is sex the point?

Kinda. It will be a helpful practice.

Here's what my wife and I have discovered over the past week:

• We've had more intentional conversations about our shared life, goals, and sex.
• We've been more careful to speak positively into each other.
• We've flirted more.
• We've listened better.
• We've ... (you don't need to know everything).

So, ask yourself: Do I want to love my spouse better at the end of this 30-day journey? Or do I just want to look back on a month of great sex?

Answering that question could be a challenge.

Some of you would do well to start over with a 30-day Romance Challenge. Yeah, romance.

By the way, there's a good chance you'll still have sex this month.

(Missed getting the book from our bookstore? You can order it here from the authors, Paul and Susie Wirth.)

(Curious about where you can get your own bedroom door hanger and other tools for the journey? Check 'em all out here.)

Get Your Head Out of the Sand!

At Granger Community Church we're committed to meeting people where they are. We've discovered that most people who are unchurched aren't too concerned with Levitical law, Jewish ceremonial cleansing rites, or how to parse a Greek verb. Most people are trying to navigate challenges related to parenting, a flailing sense of self worth, how to make a living, and even personal sexuality. So, that's where we want to meet them. Right where they are.

We just finished up week two in our weekend series, Sex for Sale. The Bible has a lot to say about sex. God created it. So, we're not afraid to talk about it.

But it seems some people are very afraid for us - the church - to talk about it. Ironic, I think.

I'm speaking specifically about churched people who consider themselves to be Christians. I don't understand them. I want to. But I don't. I don't want to be unkind. But this might sound a bit frank.

Get your head out of the doggone sand!

I've heard parents in our office, at our guest services desk, and on the phone - angry, rude, unkind, scathing - sharing a piece of their mind because their sixth or seventh grader will be expected to sit through the service (Our age appropriate ministry that runs concurrently to the adult service only goes through fifth grade.) Are you kidding me?

I'm shocked that any parent would choose to not talk with their child about sexuality before middle school. In fact, with no suggestion of the "right" age, conservative Christian parenting expert, James Dobson's Focus on the Family website calls parents to "get started now" with the sex talks. Parents who have decided not to talk with their children, especially delaying past third or forth grade, have merely decided to bury their head in the sand while their child's peers and the media "educate" them on sex. Such education is certain to be distorted at best, perverted at worst.

I wonder:

• Does this topic open too many wounds, scratch too close to personal distortions connected to parents' own sense of worth? Is it just too difficult to face the truth inside their own life?
• Does the discussion of sex in church present a risk of guilt and shame, because parents feel unable to speak with any sense of moral authority to their own kids? (God offers forgiveness. You can start again.)
• Do some Christians think "spiritual life" is about believing the right stuff, having a great "worship" experience, with little to no integration to real life - like relationships, sexuality, finances, or attitude?
• Do some parents not want the church to "force" the conversation they're not willing to have with their kids?

I just wonder...

By the way - when your head is in the sand, it's dry and suffocating. And when you spew on others who refuse to bury their head, all they can see is... well, your back side.

30 Days: A Journey To Intimacy | Make Her Shine

This past Sunday I was standing at the back of the auditorium in our weekend service when my friend, Thane walked over to me. Thane's wife, Sarah, wrote, appears, and did her own voice-over for "My Story" (below). As Thane stood beside me, I listened, got choked up, then smiled, then choked up again. Thane's eyes never drifted from the screen. He knew, as I did, that Sarah wasn't merely writing poetic prose. She wasn't portraying someone else in a dramatic presentation. This was her story. Thane was moved all over again.

When we stepped out of the service, I looked Thane in the eyes and said, Thane, I know that God is at work in Sarah, but don't miss this. You are loving her well. You are helping her experience her worth and value. Keep loving her.

To every married man - get this:

• Your wife's identity is ultimately to be understood, realized, and lived out in Jesus. She's created by God and being redeemed by the work of Jesus' Spirit within her.
• But, people are still his number one plan for developing people.
• Your wife will blossom, grow, develop, and shine because you value her.
  • Call out the best in her.
  • Treat her like the treasure God made her to be.
  • Remember what attracted you to her and refresh her memory.
  • Ask God to help you see her as He sees her.
  • Love her.

She'll shine.

Enjoy this video of Sarah's story and Angie Henry's performance of the moving song, Breath Me that follows.

My Story from Granger Community on Vimeo.

30 Days of Sex | Announcement or Next Step?

I'm posting this video clip from this past weekend for two audiences, two purposes.

First, Granger Community Church attendees and members:

• If you missed the weekend, you missed this unapologetic recommendation from our senior pastor, Mark Beeson. Interested in an approach to your sexuality and relationships that honors God and the people closest to you? Then, get these resources. Today. There's a limited amount of each title. The bookstore will be open prior to and following Journey Bible Classes this Wednesday - beat the weekend rush, get the book(s) while you can!
• If you're married and you've picked up the book, 30 Days, A Journey To Intimacy, then, just remember: "the Beesons are with you!"

Second, friends of Granger Community - church leaders and pastors:

• Mark Beeson's recommendation of these resources is a great example of what an intentional promotion looks like. This is no mere announcement.
• Church services are cluttered every weekend across the country (the globe) with announcements that few people pay attention to because it's just more noise, another menu item among dozens.
• Stop making announcements. Offer "next steps." Next steps are practical, doable steps that many if not all in your weekend service can take on their journey toward and with God. More than just one more thing to do, next steps help people actually apply the teaching that was so helpful to them when they heard it.
• Next steps help people take the message of the weekend into their world of relationships and activities. Next steps help people engage the process of discipleship in every area of life, integrating Jesus' way as the norm for living.

Pay attention: this is good stuff - 

Beeson's Recommended Reading from Granger Community on Vimeo.

What Motivates You?

I jumped back into some online journaling of my Bible reading through YouVersion this morning. Thought I'd throw the same content up here.

I suppose I've always read these passages of the first disciples following, believing they knew exactly what the call was about - of course, they were crossing the line of faith in Jesus, the Messiah and committing to follow him with the rest of their lives. I thought.

But maybe not.

What if they were a band of self-serving young bucks who were all too happy to leave the smell and scales of fishing for a little adventure? What if these guys - likely rejects from other rabbis - had a sense of mere value at being chosen by a rabbi, any rabbi? What if they had no idea who Jesus was?

What if these scenes of followership are snapshots of selfishness, rather than selfless denial of a life they loved to follow Jesus?

What's my motivation for following? If I'm honest my past is sprinkled with a lot of selfish reasons for following. Often, I've just wanted to matter. I've wanted to have some value. Too often I've "followed" because I needed others to approve of me. Sometimes I'm sure I've "followed" with my eyes closed, on auto pilot, going through the motions of what I thought was followership.

I see the disciples change their motivation much later in the narratives... when they see Jesus' power; when they reckon with their own commitment to the kingdom of God; when they stare the threat of death and loneliness in the face.

Jesus makes the difference. He becomes the motivation.

I want that motivation. Again. Today.

We're starting a new series at Granger in just a week or so - Sex for Sale. There will be lots of different motivation for people to attend. Many want better sex. Any sex. Some will be married, many will be single. Some will have some sense that honoring God with their lives actually includes their sexuality - tied directly to their sense of worth and the value they see in others.

I'm thinking I don't really care what their motivation is in coming to church. I just don't care. I just want them to come. I want them to show up. I want them to keep "following" - whether or not they know who Jesus is. I'm praying, like happened with those early disciples (and me), that they'll keep taking steps until they experience and marvel at the invitation Jesus offers when he says, "Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men."

And they'll get it. They'll get him.

Leading the Serve | Rob Wegner and MLK

(Photo: Mark Beeson)

This past Monday my friend and fellow pastor, Rob Wegner, was one of six recipients of the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Foundation, City of South Bend, City of Mishawaka, and the Chamber of Commerce. The award was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King's speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church on February 4, 1968 (Read the speech here) and is given to honor people for their community service in our area.

Rob had this to say on Monday as he received his award:

On behalf of Granger Community Church, I am privileged beyond words to receive this great honor that carries the name of Dr King.  He is one of the  brightest lights in our country’s history. On this day, we all find our lives elevated by his great faith, his great work and his great vision. Especially in light of tomorrow’s inauguration, it is right for us to pause and recognize what a an emotionally powerful and historic moment this is.  One that goes beyond the ordinary politics that we are all accustomed to. In large part due to legacy of Dr King, the whole world will now see an idea of American Leadership that reaches beyond white males.  Tomorrow, the whole world will see the American ideal of racial equality realized in a whole new way.

Regarding the Drum Major award,  I stand here merely as a representative of the people of Granger Community Church. As is true of any great endeavor, the work that Mayor Rea described as our gift to this community extends so far beyond the gifts and talents and devotion of any one person. If it weren’t for the willing hearts and hands of the people called Granger Community Church, if it weren’t for the support and brilliant leadership of our Senior Pastor Mark Beeson, a much smaller story would have been told this morning.

On behalf of Granger Community Church, I want to say, it is our commitment to continue the great work of service that Dr King has called all of us to. These are his words..

“.. Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness… by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”

Rob, I'm grateful for your commitment to the kingdom of God and your faithfulness to teach, mobilize and model for others what "up there", "down here" looks like.

• Read Rob's post about it here.
• Read Mark Beeson's comments here.
• Read the South Bend Tribune article here (limited time access).

Starbucks. Church. What if?

Several people have passed this video on to me. Maybe you've already seen it, too. Then again, maybe you haven't. At any rate it's Christmas, and I feel like sharing. Enjoy!

Stories of Impact

For the past week and the greater part of today (that'd be Monday) I've been talking with and viewing recorded video of stories. Personal stories. Stories of personal impact. These stories are from people who consider themselves simple people. Honored people to be used in God's story.

They are doctors and nurses and drivers and dock workers and pastors turned utility workers.

Their stories are impactful.

And I get to help share them this weekend.

It's going to be some weekend. If you're in the area at all, you'll want to prioritize the services.

Don't Read This Book: The Fine Line

Kary Oberbrunner's third book will hit the shelf in the next couple months. With the economic squeeze on, you may be a little more cautious about where your media/library dollars go. Or maybe you're making your reading decisions based on your schedule and the limited time you have with the holidays around the corner.

However it is you're making choices about your reading material these days, I offer this list of reasons to not read Kary's latest book. Don't invest your time or money. Here's why...

• Kary simplifies "relevance" ... right down to the personal daily rub. He doesn't allow us to keep the topic of "relevance" limited to our church talk.

He says, "relevance isn't about the brand of clothing we wear or the music we listen to. It's not about our vocabulary or even the exact shape of our theology. These are externals. Relevance is fundamentally internal. It's having the courage and the grace to look at a wounded man and stop to help. From that internal decision flows our relevant actions. As depicted in the story of the Good Samaritan, what makes us relevant is our love for God and people."

• Kary messes with the fine line between culture and Christianity.

He notes, "The perceived opposition between Christianity and culture stems from a dualistic, Western worldview that divides life into categories - categories like sacred and secular...God shows up in spiritual places, like church and nature; he is absent from secular venues, like sports arenas.

" This type of worldview is toxic on multiple levels." I'll stop there. Nuff said.

• Kary holds up a mirror with an often painful reflection. I saw my own life image as he talked about being a recovering Pharisee (that's his card-carrying title). I winced at the notion that I've spent too many years of my life as a separatist. I recoiled at the revelation that I've been guilty of swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction, happy to live as a conformist. I hate the fact that there's such a fine line between the two.

He observes, "Walking the fine line looks different for every person. God intends for you to wrestle with him through what it means to live in the world, not of the world. This is true especially of those "Christian liberty" issues where there is no standard answer that applies to all people, an idea that Separatists are none too happy about."

• Kary writes with an honest vulnerability that compels an equally honest and vulnerable look into your life. You'll find yourself wrestling with questions of relevance related to your ministry, and you won't escape the illumination of your internal motives as you interact with God and people on a day-to-day basis.

Finally, I'll make it really simple:

• If you don't want to wrestle with buzz topics of church world like relevance, pop culture, and relationships - don't read this book.
• If you don't want to re-read scriptures that you've sewn up and put behind you - don't read this book.
• If you want to stay comfortable in a separatist mindset that keeps you safely in a sterilized, Christian bubble - don't read this book.
• If you want to stay comfortable in a conformists mindest that keeps you immersed in culture with no balance - don't read this book.
• If you don't want a layman's guide to Dallas Willard's, The Divine Conspiracy - don't read this book.

It hits shelves on December 5th. You can pre-order it for only $10.19. You can learn more here. Watch the video here.

I warned you. It's a fine line.

Volunteering... as Staff

Twenty years ago I worked in human relations in a non-profit agency for six years. During those tenures I volunteered in local church ministry. I led students, taught classes, and chaperoned youth events. Then I spent half a dozen years on a church staff as a youth pastor. From 1997 to 2000 I worked in the marketplace in retail management. Those years were fulfilling years, but they also reminded me of the tremendous contribution our volunteers make.

For the past nine years I've served on the senior management team at Granger as pastor of connections. My entire week is given to serving the church's mission to reach and disciple. I've empowered volunteers. I've trained volunteers. I've celebrated volunteers. Volunteers who give time, energy, and talent for the cause of Christ.

So, a couple weekends ago I strapped a radio to my belt, slipped a headset on and served in the volunteer role of "point person" for our weekend services. I volunteered.

Our point persons run command central for the weekend. They are the communication hub for coordinating needs and requests from children's ministry, ushers, greeters, traffic team and more. They fulfill an enormously responsible role every weekend... as volunteers.

Here are some observations about my volunteer weekend:

• I walked miles around the church campus. I went home Saturday night with a blister on my left heel. Band-aid on Sunday.
• I handled more radio calls than a Bell operator on a party line in 1957 (I have no idea what that means. I just know the radio on my belt kept the headset chirping with activity.).
• People will let you know what you're supposed to do if you don't.
• Timing matters.
• Prompt timing matters.
• People will let you know what you're supposed to do if your timing isn't prompt.
• I touched more volunteers and staff than I ever do when I'm merely roaming hallways and being "present."
• Our volunteers are phenomenal. They give and give and give. And smile all the while.
• People really do create the "wow."
• When volunteers are empowered, they will lead, sacrifice, serve, and make a profound difference with their lives.
• It was a ton of fun!

I will "volunteer" again in the role of "point person." I'll wear different shoes, but I will volunteer again.

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.