Actual Text Message

My friend Petey and I are in an Old Testament class. We’re in the midst of Leviticus right now.

Here’s what he just sent me…

“I love reading about the sacrificial system. It’s like intellectual apple pie.”

mmmmmmm….. pie.

UPDATE:: Minutes after I posted this I went to my small group and there was actual pie.  Sure it was pumpkin pie and sure it didn’t remind me of the sacrificial system at all…  but still, what are the chances?

Willow Creek & Reality

While skimming through the blogs I read on a daily basis I came across something very interesting. If you’re a church leader, someone deeply involved in your church, or someone disgusted by church leaders you’ll probably find this just as interesting.

Before I get too much deeper into this post I want to first say that I have always really respected Willow Creek and it’s pastors.  I’ve had a chance to hang out with a few of them at different conferences and really have enjoyed them and their hearts.  That’s why this is so interesting…  a large church who’s willing to admit their wrong in order to get things right.  As part of a huge research initiative Willow Creek has uncovered some pretty interesting data that is changing things at Willow. Here’s what Hybels had to say…

We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

After talking to over 20,000 from over 30 churches Willow is learning some very interesting things that we as church leaders MUST learn or we will CONTINUE TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES in the way that we do church.

Let me encourage you to take about 20 minutes to learn more about this research and think through how it affects you and your church. You can do it 3 ways.

Read the short article from Leadership Journal’s Out of Ur Blog

Watch BOTH videos

Read the Book REVEAL: Where Are You?

Gone Again.

I’m currently sitting inthe Black Cultural Center on the campus of Oregon State University (thanks to the Beavers Ohio State is #1) where my buddy Petey holds his campus ministry event every Sunday night. I’m out here for my first set of Face to Face classes at George Fox Evangelical Seminary and it’s been great so far. Over the first 4 days we spent 3 days in Old Testament and 1 in Knowing Self/Knowing God and tomorrow we start 3 days of Missional Ecclesiology. It’s been really great to be back in an academic environment talking through scripture and how we relate to God.

I’ve been staying with my friend Petey and Josh at one of Petey’s friends apartment in Portland. We’ve had a ton of great conversations about church, ministry, emerging church controversies, confusion, frustration, fun, family, and Jesus. It’s been a very encouraging time… one full of fruitful movement towards clarity.

I’m looking forward to getting home (although it won’t be until late Thursday) to see my wife and get back in the normal groove of work and classes. There’s much to figure out at 707 for 2008 and much to figure out about the future but mostly I’m excited to see my wife and give her a big hug.

On Genesis 3

A conversation between my friend Petey and I

ME:: you remember the old cartoon Robin Hood? Every time I read about the serpent in Genesis I envision him as the snake in in Robin Hood that hisses all the time.

Petey:: I don’t.

ME:: You should. It make the story funnier.

(editor’s note:: in no way do I think the fall of man is funny, but read Genesis 4 and imagine the serpent hissing a lot.)