Dr. Kozey-- Academe and Faith...

Gurnee, Ill......

2011-08-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, I've been working with churches in local contexts throughout the United States. But this is SOOOO different. I'm serving as an analyst on a project in Illinois that is stinking awesome. The churches in that context (all evangelical) are trying to figure out a way to engage every man, woman, and child with repeated opportunities to hear, see, and respond the clarity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That's not just rhetoric. They literally are going for it, and they've allowed me into their attempt. Here's why I have hope for it:

1) every evangelical church in the town is behind this idea, and they are willing to allow the greater vision to be more important than their little kingdom in all of this.
2) every asset is on the table. People and money tend to be some of the largest assets that people lend to problems. They are on the table for every church. Let me give you a more clear idea of this. They are piloting a program this fall, in which these training groups will be established among the Church at Gurnee, on the basis of neighborhood location and NOT church affiliation or night available. Here's why this is huge---1) I've NEVER seen it be attempted and 2) I believe that the power of people working across church lines might revolutionize the concept of missional behavior among believers.
3) the leadership of the men and women at the table is palatable. I see such humility among the group. I'm sure that there are some insecurities in and among all of us at the table. BUT, the group constantly comes back to the fact that the overarching goal is more important than the win for one's individual church
4) Lost people are not forgotten in the conversation. In fact, they typically are the focal point that sets the group back on task. They are not sure how many (if any) will come to Christ during this time, but they are convinced of this- the local church is the vehicle for accomplishing the mission of giving every man, woman, and child the repeated opportunity to hear, see, and respond the clarity of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

It has been said in politics, as Erie County (OH) goes, so goes the nation. It is my hope and prayer that someday in the realm of evangelical Christianity, people will remember Gurnee in some capacity like that prior statement toward a movement of God. Time will tell. Regardless, I get to be part of the journey and feel so pumped to have a front seat in the hope of what could happen if the local church got past its denominational boundaries, and put all assets on the table for the target: saturation of the Gospel in the context that they find themselves situated in.

I continue to dream and hope for that.......

New York CIty....

2011-08-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

For the past few months, I've been going to NYC one day/month, working in partnership with my friend, Jim Hines. Over the past seven months, I've been so impressed by what God seems to be doing in the city. Today was no exception to that trend. I spent some time with Brian McMillan and his team at Center Point Church, going through the spiritual and missional behavior survey that I developed, which examines a number of factors in relation to the missional behavior of the church.

As I sit in LaGuardia, looking to catch my flight, I'm incredibly thankful for Jim, Center Point, and a number of other churches that I've been in contact with. New York truly is a city like no other in the Western Hemisphere. I absolutely LOVE spending time here, and I can see how the city grows on someone, especially as you frequent it more often.

As I have had the opportunity to connect in NYC, it seems clear to me that so much can be gained as we gather data in this context. Center Point's data was incredible. In regard to missional behavior, I'm pretty certain that the team at Center Point would acknowledge that there is much room for growth. Given that, there is much to celebrate. Recent conversions from 2007-2011 have been the largest increase of conversion growth in their church since its inception in 2002. The Data isn't even close in this comparison. The last four year trend is an unbelievable source of encouragement to me and to others who have been privied to examine the numbers.

Upon departure today, I am reminded of the importance of the following for this church and for others:
1) Intimacy with God is incredibly important.
2) Discovering one's spiritual gifts and utilizing them in the local body matters.
3) Being equipped to share you grace story matters to those who seek to engage lost people in their context.
4) Christ-like, authentic relationships clearly are a source of encouragement and a potential catalyst for missional behavior.
5) The active demonstration of the above things are more than just rhetoric. The more that people live with open hands, the more that the Gospel is a source of intrigue amount the lost.

I'm pumped with what I was able to be part of today. Thank you Jim. Thank you Center Point Church. Thank you God.

Funny thing today.....

2011-07-22T14:10:00.001-07:00

If you're a Browns fan and you're around my age (33), you know that the picture above is Brian Brennan consoling Ernest Byner, post "The Fumble" in Denver. Just writing that still hurts.

Anyway, funny story today. I ended up looking for some information today about this particular photo, and found some information that actually led my to Brian Brennan's email address (trust me... I know it sounds creepy, but I'm really not like that). Continuing on, I just sent an email to him letting him know how much of a fan I was and how those years of watching the Brownies were incredible. Here's the amazing thing...He wrote me right back!

This is the guy who I used to like to pretend to be in the back yard, catching routes from my brother or from my father. The guy wasn't huge. He was 5 foot nothing, and 100 and nothing pounds, but he sure could catch the ball at the first down marker on 3rd and long. I loved that. He spread out the D (along with Ozzie Newsome), so guys like Langhorne and Slaughter could get open.

Brian told me today to send him anything and he'd sign it and return it properly.

I feel like I'm back in touch to when the Browns were a respectable franchise....at least for the moment.

Good stuff........

Obedience...

2011-07-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

I've been reading through the book of Numbers lately within the Old Testament Text, and what I continue to come back to, in the text, is a theme of obedient submission to what God would ask for me to do. I'm not necessarily saying that there is something that I am not acting in obedience to; rather, I'm just blown away by how difficult it seemed to be for the Israelites to submit to God's plan for their life in the text.

The journey of reading through the text as I'm doing now has been a lot of fun for me. Personally, I had spent years combing through the text, reading it through the perspective of a commentary bible. While that was very much informative, I felt as if the journey of understanding through the text was taken away.

I've needed to be on journey in the text. Simply stepping away from man's commentary and just immersing myself into the text has been so much fun. I'm thankful for where God has me in this process right now....

New Academic Publication....

2011-07-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Recently, was informed of a new publication that I was awarded (academic) for an article that I wrote back in 2008 with a couple of colleagues:

http://www.galileoco.com/comSciJliterature/lackaffKozeyTutzauer11.pdf

Agent Based Modeling (ABM) is a fascinating concept, where researchers try to generalize phenomena through patterns of organizational behavior (it is a crass definition, but a common one). They are notoriously tough to replicate, because, in many cases, you're working with one of the more complex, unpredictable variables out there-- human beings.

Anyway, the reason that I liked this article so much was that it had to do with helping a non-profit that I dearly loved- Great Commission Ministries (GCM). A big takeaway for us in this simulation as an organization was that the frequency of communication mattered more than the quality of communication. It was a blast of an article to write with my co-authors, Derek Lackaff (Elon University) and Frank Tutzauer, my advisor (State University of New York at Buffalo).

Thanks gang... Had a blast writing the piece with you all. If you would like to read further, follow the URL above. Ahhhhh yes...... the always enigmatic Communication & Science Journal.......:-)

My Grace Story....

2011-07-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

I'm just coming off of vacation and had the opportunity to hear about a sermon from our pastor here in Buffalo about sharing our grace story. In essence, he challenged us to put our story out there for people to hear, and see what the responses were... I love this idea, so, I took some time yesterday to put something together......Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE5UQ9c-xpw

rk

Teaching at Canisius

2011-07-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Excited to start teaching at Canisius College this evening. It's a summer class, but one that I truly enjoy. Teaching Organizational Communication (Org Com 602) at the college and excited to see what kind of students I have this year.

Also excited to see what we'll learn together in the process this summer. I tend to learn a great deal from students; the pulse of the campus, the pull of students and their ideologies, the spiritual barometer (or lack thereof).

One thing that I've continued to wonder about is why the lack of spiritual interest overall in peoples' lives. As I listened to NPR this afternoon on the way back from a meeting for work, I couldn't help but listen to a very controversial topic (Planned Parenthood), yet throughout the dialogue not much (if anything) was said in relation to how one's spiritual beliefs shape the argument.

Just rambling, but overall, it's why I love staying connected to college campus. Minds are teachable at that stage in life and I'm hopeful for what we'll all learn in the process this summer.

ramble on....

The Passion of People

2011-07-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

This morning, my family and I participated in the Frankfort, MI 4th of July parade. It was interesting, and it's always been something that we've loved to be associated with.

Today was a bit different, as there is a huge debate in Benzie County, MI about wind power and whether or not the county should invest in wind energy. I was blown away by how polarizing this issue has been for a typically down and out town, with not much hope for a viable economic future. More so, being someone from a beat up town, I'm amazed at how people complain about lack of progress, a new idea ensues, and those same people look at the new idea and shoot it down. It's a downward spiral of hopelessness-- and mind you, we're talking about wind here. This has nothing to do with the eternal. It got me thinking.

I continue to have it in the forefront of my mind how so many of us are passionate about ideas like wind energy, yet, when it comes to how we live the daily life in and out, it's like we're zombies, methodically plotting forward, with no true sense of anticipation for anything spectacular or eternal.

I've got no dog in the wind energy argument-- perhaps a leaning for alternative fuel ideas, but moreso, anything other than long term fossil fuel-- but it's a tangent. I've got more of a dog in the daily living in life. Why are we here? What is our legacy? What is the goal of man?

Anyway, it's a ramble, but I couldn't help think about this today, after the polarizing views of those held within the sleepy town of Frankfort, MI.

back in the saddle....

2011-06-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've not blogged since 2009. But, I'm feeling convicted/motivated to get back in the saddle and just start writing about what's going on in my life.

Right now, my wife and I are on vacation with the kids and loving it. I've needed the break. So much travel going on with work. I absolutely love it, but I also welcome vacation whenever I can get some.

To start our time off, we spent a night with a couple of friends in the Boston/Edison neighborhood of Detroit. It's the hood. But it's something that we absolutely LOVED. God's been doing something in my wife's and my own life. It's a scary process, but we're moving forward, not fully knowing what's going on.

In regard to the journey, it's been directed toward the center of the city (Buffalo, Cleveland, and Detroit we have a connection to). I'm not at all saying that we fully know what's going on in this process, but that's what's so exciting to us. To be somewhat brief:

1) We are continuing to be drawn to the brokenness of the city center.
2) We realize that not many people seem to be drawn to such a thing.
3) God is bringing us into relation with people who seem to have a similar heart.
4) This ministry is not at all pretty- in fact, it puts us in direct contact with brokenness.
5) Regardless of how counterintuitive it is, we move forward, not knowing fully what it means for our lives.

Thankful for God's word in this process. The book of Numbers is where I'm living right now, and I feel like the continued theme is obedience and separation from culture.... Good stuff.....

Aaron Marsh's Story: http://www.youtube.com/cancerfreeaaron

2009-12-16T13:52:00.001-08:00

My heart is completely challenged by this kid's journey. Aaron Marsh is a friend of a friend in Bowling Green, OH. You owe it to yourself to watch this. I pray for this guy and his wife! This guy has the faith to beat this thing, and I pray that God would show himself to be miraculous in all of this.

How thankful I am for my belief in the empty tomb!

http://www.youtube.com/cancerfreeaaron
www.cancerfreeaaron.com

Pittsburgh Sucks!

2009-12-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

My daughter is 5 years old. She saw the Browns beat the Steelers for the first time since she came into this world. Sure, the Browns have been putrid since they came back into the NFL. Some days, I've thought that they shouldn't have come back to disgrace the proud franchise they were prior to Satan (I mean, Art Modell) moving them from the shores of Lake Erie and Municipal Stadium.

All that said, a 1-11 season up til last night is totally redeemed, b/c the Squeelers went down, and they went down hard.

No love lost! Go Browns.... I'm loving Rob Ryan's game called last night....sheer genious!

These Guys Get it: Mike Hopkins, Dave Brunelle, & The Rock Church, Cleveland

2009-12-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Spent the last two days in Cleveland (Garfield), doing an envisioning for a church plant known as the Rock. I'm selfishly pumped about this particular renovation center launch, b/c this is my hometown. And, in my hometown, times are tough and people are fleeing for other opportunity. Except for a few knuckleheads, namely, Mike and Dave and their church.

You see, the urban sprawl of the city of Cleveland brings with it much of the issues that all major cities bring. Crime, drugs, poverty, terrible schools, leading to a statistically significant drop in one's ability to get ahead. When this happens, most folks with the capacity to get out do.

That's what I love about these two guys and their church members. A number of them have that capacity to get out. What they have done, is set culture on its ear, and they've run into the burning building. They're not going anywhere, when many people are. Poverty, drugs, crime, school issues, racial reconciliation.... these issues are fertile soil for the Gospel for these men and for this church. No one said it would be easy, but what has blessed my life so profoundly is this- The Gospel message of Jesus Christ changed Dave's life and it changed Mike's life. That is the reason that they hunker down to take on the challenges presented in Garfield Hts.

It's sexy to plant churches in LA, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, NYC, Boston, Miami, and Chicago. Things are hip, culture is cool, and such cities are growing. I mean this with all sincerity when I say this- It takes a dude to plant a church in a city where no one wants to plant a church. Who thinks Rochester, Buffalo, Scranton, Detroit, Flint, and Cleveland are sexy? Not many. I love the heart of these men. I love the heart of their church. I love the reality that there is a strong likelihood of us partnering together to bring the Gospel and Renovation Principles to Cleveland through the partnership of such men.

Besides, they absolutely hate the Steelers- how could I not love them?

Thanks to Mike and Dave for the past two days. I drove by my family's first home on E90th in Cleveland the other day, and even in the midst of the urban problems in the city, I had a new found hope for the lost of my hometown. Thank you God for raising up men like these and followers in their congregation to run into the plague of Rome when everyone else is running out.

I love my job.....

2009-12-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

Tonight I had dinner at Tweedy's Restaurant on Turney Road in Garfield Hts, Ohio.

A couple of things of worthy note here:

1) Garfield Hts is where I was born, and I have a passion to see that city transformed to the likeness of Christ.

2) I had a great meal (Chicken Paprikash, for anyone here that may appreciate fine Slovak Quisine) with two great men of God (Dave Brunelle and Mike Hopkins).

3) I love my job and let me now tell you why (further).

I had dinner with two guys who love the city that they've been called to. That has meant that life has been lived sacrificially for them and for their children. Cleveland has fallen on HARD times, and Garfield butts right up to the city. As I had dinner with these guys, I spent time learning about their church and learning about the inroads that they've made with other churches, city/government officials, and lost people in their community. As I sat there and listened, I couldn't help but feel as if I was one of the most blessed people ever, b/c this is my job.

We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow. I can't wait to see my home town in daylight. It has hit hard times, but it's still home, and I still want to see God do awesome things in and through the rust belt of the United States.

Movement of God...

2009-10-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

A very interesting meeting for me to observe today in Fort Myers. I'm humbled at the very idea of being able to be in the position I am within Infinity Alliance.

It's safe to say that the outcome of the meetings for today did not reflect where I would thought we would land. Quite the contrary. However, the contrary makes me begin to stand in awe of what, perhaps, God might be doing at an even greater level.

As I headed back to my hotel room after an 8am-10pm sort of day, I pause here tonight in my hotel bed, wondering what is around the corner. It's incredibly exciting; incredibly humbling.

Our heart continues to stay motivated about reaching every man, woman, and child with the repeated opportunity to hear, see, experience, and respond to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. If that is the glue that continues to hold us together, I have high hopes for the future. It's difficult when men get involved. Ego ultimately rears its head, and we pray for help to keep it in check. Some days are better than others.

In the end, it's an exciting day. The outcomes of the meetings leads to more and more work for us at the Chapel in Buffalo, but we're ok with that potential, if it leads to a reduction in "lostness" among the 308 million Americans living here in the United States of America.

Lord, give us America we pray.

The Main Event

2009-10-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

Had a chance to speak this weekend at our men's ministry breakfast known as the Main Event. I was really thankful to have had the opportunity to talk about my grace story and what God had done in my life in drawing me into a relationship with Christ.

I guess what was so exciting for me primarily was the variety of guys who were there. Our church truly is growing, and a variety of people groups represent such growth. As I looked out to the audience and shared my story, it was with great hope for the men that were there-- of all colors, of all backgrounds, of all situations/circumstances of life.

As our church continues to grow, I pray that it would represent a spectrum of diversity. Further, I pray that God would really grow and develop in the hearts of our men, positioning them to be more committed as husbands, fathers, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and lover of lost people. That's what gave me such excitement and such hope on Saturday. The room is full of grace stories; stories in which God has radically captured the heart of men and changed their life for the better.

Bye, Bye, Braylon

2009-10-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

Braylon is gone. I'm honestly not surprised. Sure, I'm bummed that I got an autographed helmet from him in my room, and now he's gone. Sure, I'm bummed that, as a Michigan fan, he's gone.

HOWEVER- I know people hate Mangini in Cleveland, but I've got to say this- Braylon is talented, but Braylon didn't want to be in Cleveland. The NFL is a business, and business decisions need to be made. Two players and two draft picks. It's a good move for the Brownies.

I will not side with Braylon, when he rips on people in Cleveland for not liking him in as a Michigan Alum... Aaron Shea and Steve Everrit!!!! Two Brownies, who loved the Brownies, and fans loved them. Get over your ego, Braylon. You're in a better situation now, enjoy it, and don't back bite on your time with the Browns. Just move on. Cleveland will.

In closing, the dude decked a guy who was 5'7" and 135 pounds (allegedly). Frankly, it's just not cool, and I'm fine if Mangini sees that as a character issue. I'll miss 2007, but the reality is that it's just time for a change...

Letterman.....

2009-10-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

I watched the Letterman confession from last night. I had to. I had to see how he would address an issue that time and time again, he has thrown people under the bus over. I'm not here to ridicule the man; rather, it's just a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in morally. This is what is so troubling to me about moral relativism. What's good for you may not necessarily be good for me. What's right/wrong for you may not be the same for me. The problem, however, is the carnage left on the side of the road.

Let's take Letterman's example. He's been in a relationship with a woman since 1986; he has a six year old son; these relationships have been supposedly going on during that time. I know that many people immediately will say, hey, it's not for me to judge. My point, is that I feel so sorry for the people who have been hurt in this. What about Regina Lasko? What about his son? What about the women in this scenario that he had been with? One can't help but ask the question if he leveraged his power to have his way with them.

The main issue that I come away with from Letterman's scenario is one of irony and one of sadness. The irony is that this man has made millions (and will likely continue to do so) at the expense of others, and now he finds himself in the center of this controversy, and he'll have nothing further to say of it (although others will make him the punchline of their jokes now). The sadness is that of broken lives. I just can't help but believe that these decisions have left a wake of hurt in the lives of others impacted by this series of events. The further sadness is that of the continued affinity for moral relativism. But no one wants to address the carnage left on the side of the road with events like this.

My heart breaks for this situation, honestly. I know that I'm not above making mistakes. I'm mindful that I need to be grounded in that reality (and I pray that God will continue to help my heart be soft for scenarios like this- hoping to bring the hope of Christ and forgiveness into stuff just like this. I know it's a lot, but I believe Christ can do a lot to help us in this). Finally, I pray that good could come out of this hurt- for Letterman, for Lasko, for their son, and for the women involved. I'm not expecting much, but hey, I thought it was worth the time to at least write about the sadness of this scenario. It's sad for me, but it may not be sad for you-- that's cool though, b/c it's all relative, right?

Ishmael's life

2009-09-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

I find the story of Ishmael's life very interesting. Sarai cannot have children, and has ignored the promise of God that she will have a child. Therefore, she gives Abram Hagar, her servant and the two conceive a child. That child is Hagar. It's interesting to me, b/c the unfolding drama between Sarai and Hagar becomes pretty nasty. Hagar assumes some feeling of superiority toward Sarai. My commentary talks about that briefly, but I assume that it would likely stem from Hagar's ability to conceive and Sarai's inability to do so. Above and beyond that, you have good old Abram, compliant with Sarai, which, in my opinion, speaks to his inability to trust God to deliver both he and Sarai a son of their own.

So what unfolds from this sort of Springer-esque episode? Well, Ishmael is born, into the strife and into the drama, and naturally, it impacts his life.

My big take away from this morning's time has everything to do with the inability to obey God and his timing. Obedience is a concept to me that is constantly in the forefront of my mind, particularly because we have a 5 year old daughter, and the idea of obedience to her is more like a process of negotiation. I can get frustrated with her so easily, because of her inability to obey.

The humbling thing for me in all of this, is that I see Abram, Hagar, and Sarai and what they did, bringing Ishmael into a situation that he had no control over, and I judge that behavior. In reality though, I think that what I'm learning is that I've brought my daughter into a broken environment as well. One that she observes and can learn from. She sees when dad is frustrated; she sees when mom and dad aren't seeing eye-to-eye with one another; she sees when dad is selfish and wants his time on the weekend, as opposed to spending time with her. In essence, these things don't happen all the time, but they happen, and my daughter was brought into that environment, and she had no control over that.

So after tearing my clothes and covering myself in ashes for my behavior, the one thing that I'm so thankful for is this: my wife and I both are on the same page of Christ's intervention in our life, and even though the pursuit of sanctification is a daily, uphill climb, we are both committed to showing Hailey (and Samantha for that matter) the love of Christ, and his ability to cover for our family shortfalls as well as our character shortfalls.

I'm so thankful for Christ's love and intervention in my life. I now hope not to sit in condemnation of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar; rather, I hope that I can continue to learn the lessons that I've learned from that story this very morning...

Grace....

2009-09-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

There are so many needs in our church this morning for prayer. People are ravaged with cancer; others are out of work and in desperate need of help; some are wrestling with the reality of a broken home; others aren't sure that God could truly forgive them for what they've done.

As I look at all of the requests put out before us in prayer this morning, I was blown away by a simple truth prayed during the closing of our time by Dr. Deon Drake---God, in his character, is unchanging. As cancer takes people home, as sin pervades our daily life, as families are broken by human decisions, God is good, and that does not change.

I've never truly thought about how amazing it is for the character of any entity or being to not change. Yet, that's what we have in our God. Why is that important to me? For a variety of reasons, I guess. Probably first is the reality that I am not constant in any area but one- I am human, and therefore I am prone to falling short of perfection on a daily basis. How did I treat my wife before I walked out the door? How did I discipline my child today? What did I do to reach out to someone in need? The answers to these questions are anything but constant.

Second, the importance of God's faithfulness is in His promises. I'm not guaranteed to make it through this life unscathed. In fact, if Paul's life is any sign of what may come for believers, I would imagine that my life would be full of continual trials and difficulties (not saying that I want that, but that it could happen). But the guarantee of the hope that I have beyond the grave is so important to me.

The guarantee of Jesus' sacrifice and atonement for the sin of humanity at the cross-that is constant, and that is something that I rest in.

The guarantee of God's character being unwavering. How tragic to be in the hands of a flippant, non-consistent God.

The guarantee of God's grace. Ah yes, the Grace of God. How beautiful and yet how amazingly misunderstood by me. This is probably the most precious to me (and to all for that matter). Whether I'm ravaged with cancer or my family is on the verge of collapse, or even if life is good and things are stable, the constant of God's grace is so comforting to me. It's the source of hope beyond the grave that I have. It's what I cling to in trial and suffering, and it's what I take for granted when things are well. Regardless, it's something that is constant, and oh so precious to me.

As prayers were lifted up this morning in our meeting time, I'm so thankful that we can find rest and peace in God's grace and in our hope in things unseen...

Missional Church Structure....

2009-09-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

Reviewing a few papers lately, I came across an article from Jerry Gillis, pastor of The Chapel in Buffalo, NY. It's a great article, and instead of explaining, I thought it would be beneficial to simply post. Happy reading:

Developing Missional Church Structure
By Jerry Gillis
September 2008

It’s no secret. The North American Church is declining in numbers and impact as every
major research agency has endlessly testified. What are we missing? Do people not
understand the mission of the church? That doesn’t seem to be the problem. Ask virtually any congregation what their mission is and they will tell you something that at least moderately resembles the Great Commission. So if it is not that they don’t understand their mission, then what is the hindrance? Well, maybe they are actually structured to hinder the mission that they say they want to accomplish.
Far too often the church in North America lets its existing structure dictate the extent of its mission endeavor. It seems that for many, ecclesiology (the way in which the church is structured) is the starting point in mission. But for the missionally minded church, ecclesiology doesn’t lead, it follows. Alan Hirsch summed it up well in The Forgotten Ways when he wrote “Christology determines Missiology, and Missiology determines Ecclesiology.” Stated simply, what we know and understand about Christ and His Mission tells us, as the church, what our mission is to be. It is Christ Himself that gives us our marching orders. Based on that mission, we structure ourselves to point in that direction. The conviction of the Infinity Alliance, based on the revelation of Scripture from its beginning to end, is
that the Mission of God is for every man, woman, and child to have repeated
opportunities to both hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ – a gospel that proclaims reconciliation to the Father provided through Jesus Christ.
While no structure is perfect, and while there is no one model for structure, what are some principles for structure that will keep a congregation pointed in the direction of this mission?

I. Be Intentional about your Geography
Though there is much that could, and should, be said about the mandate given to
the church in Acts 1:8, at its core is a geographical intention. The Spirit of God forms congregations of believers in various geographies for the purpose of accomplishing the mission of every man, woman, and child in that geography hearing and seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church in a geography exists for that geography. The language and strategy for Infinity Alliance churches is to draw Circles of Accountability – geographic areas around the church for which that church will take the responsibility of engaging the mission with all of its energy and assets.

Understanding this geographical circle, with all of the appropriate research that it
requires, will change the way a congregation goes about its ministry in a number of ways.

First, the programmatic aspects of the congregation will be based on what is needed to reach that geography – not just based on trends, fads, or traditions. Second, the church will see the need in those geographies to plant additional churches if the mission is going to be accomplished. As well, the vastness of the mission will require more resources than any one congregation possesses, so there will be a need for cooperation (as expressed in the next principle).

II. Partner with Other Congregations
Ephesians 4 is a stark reminder that not only is there one LORD, one faith, and
one baptism, but that there is also one body and one Spirit. If there is genuinely only one body, and that truth rises out of the Scripture, then it is the responsibility of the missional church to do more than just agree with it – we must act like it is so.

Within a geography, many congregations of the one Church exist. Though there
is a great diversity among these expressions of the one Church in that geography, the one mission still applies to all. So, if a congregation wants to be active in the pursuit of the mission of every man, woman, and child hearing and seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ, that congregation will have to live in the reality that the solo congregation cannot, and should not, endeavor to accomplish the mission alone.
The unity so beautifully expressed in Ephesians 4 was not just for the sake of
unity. Viewed within the larger story of God throughout history and revealed in
Scripture, the unity God prescribes for His body, the Church, is for the sake of mission.

III. Lead Interdependently
The overarching metaphor for the Church in the New Testament is that of a
“body.” There are other metaphors for the Church, but the body seems to loom largest.
The New Testament is also very clear that this “body” already has a head – the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ. If the position of the “head” is already taken, then it appears that all followers of Jesus, including leaders, must find a way to fit interdependently in the body.

The idea of a church, or region, being led by only one person to fulfill the mission
is foreign to the New Testament. The idea of the singular, stand-alone leader is one that has either been mistakenly projected from the Old Testament to the New (such as Moses on the mountain) or is one that has been created by cultural influences. Ephesians 4 denotes leadership functions (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher) that are designed to work together for the purpose of people empowerment so that the mission can be engaged by all Christ followers.

This principle for leadership is not only one that will more holistically round out
the gifts of a congregation’s leadership, but the reality of this leadership should be employed in a region, or geography, as well. Shared gifts and gifted leaders should be utilized in the greater body in a particular region so that the mission can be engaged more effectively.

IV. Make Spiritual Formation a Priority
The Church is a spiritual enterprise. As a result, it must be led and populated by
spiritually maturing people. If the goal of a congregation is to mobilize people for the mission of every man, woman, and child hearing and seeing the gospel, then it is
imperative to remember that these same people need to be maturing in their faith.
Mobilizing spiritually stagnant people will not produce much missional progress. A
congregation should at least be committed to measuring and nurturing some “outcomes”
of spiritual maturity so that the heart of people is formed more into the likeness of Christ, and, by default, formed more into the mission of Christ for the world. Those basic outcomes of spiritual maturing would be:

1. A deepening intimacy with the Father (expressed in Scripture reading and
meditation, prayer, and other disciplines that serve as a vehicle to support this).

2. Understanding and telling our personal stories of grace

3. Identifying and using our spiritual gifts

4. Living in all of our relationships in a way that bears the fingerprints of God

When these principles are engaged, it will not make for a perfect church. It may not
result in the rapid growth of a particular congregation. It won’t be easy to brand. It may even be hard for people to understand. But it will, at the very least, have you pointed in the direction of the mission of God to see every man, woman, and child have repeated opportunities to both hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ.

0-2; the closest I've been to throwing in the towel...

2009-09-20T19:08:00.001-07:00

Saturday was such a great day! Got to me Joe D (my neighbor as a kid), Hall of Fame guard for the Bills and my beloved Brownies. Had a great talk as the guy actually remembers me from my childhood. Got three mini-helmets autographed and picked up an autograph picture from him for my brother. Then came Sunday. Yes, bloody Sunday. The Browns look more anemic than ever, with a wind-sucked defense and an offense that is frankly embarrassing.

It got me to thinking- I honestly don't know how much left I have in the tank to invest in this team emotionally. I've already been convicted by my hope that I put in this team every fall. It had been borderline idolatry... But now, I honestly just see too much of an emotional investment in this team on my part.

They win, and I'm stoked. They lose and I just feel like it has too much of an impact on me. In the end, it really just shouldn't matter to me; however, the NFL has become so enormous in this country, and I feel as if I've fallen prey the monster....

I'm seriously thinking about throwing in the towel on the NFL as it's just too much. There are so many other things that I could do with my Sunday; yet at the same time, the struggle is that I want to make an influence in peoples' lives- and tapping out on the NFL means tapping out on a lot of relevance in day-to-day living. The last thing I want is to become an isolationist.

Now, even though I'm at my wits end with the Brownies, make no mistake, there is truly no other team for me. I really just can't see myself wearing the colors of any other team at any other time.

I'm venting and I know it... how can you blame me with a road game in Baltimore next week. 0-3, here we come.

Mobilizing Men for Ministry

2009-09-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

I continue to be impressed with Google Earth and its geomapping capabilities. I've been using it a lot lately in the context of locating/identifying key personnel in leadership, and examining how their geographic location may be better able to suit our agenda for every man, woman, and child.

It's so encouraging for me to see an organization, in particular a church, take the approach of geomapping. Perhaps it's because I'm more of a visual learner, but I cannot think of a better way to mobilize people than around a visual example of a geographic layout.

The goal of saturation in a community is incredibly challenging, when it comes to Gospel saturation in particular. The reason I believe that this is so is due to the fact that it isn't going to be employees who reach the geography; rather, it's going to be lay leaders and congregants that do so. We cannot ultimately reach every block and every building of a particular location, unless the key components of infrastructure- lay leadership being that, are mobilized.

Above and beyond a visual demonstration of their location, the key congregants and leaders need to have a vision cast. Not simply about every man, woman, and child, but about how you as an individual are a part of the responsibility of reaching every man, woman, and child. What are you doing for your street? What are you doing for the neighboring community around you? If the answer to that is virtually nothing, then there is a problem.

Above and beyond visual demonstration and vision casting, there needs to be training. We're currently working on a pilot study to help in accomplishing that, but it's going to take time, and it's going to take the feedback of lay leadership. We can't simply presume to understand what it's going to take for leaders to reach their neighborhood; rather, we need to listen to them in relation to what we currently have, and we need to openly examine if things need to be modified and adapted to the "dummying down" of complex writing into common language (which is my challenge currently).

In the end, when you show the picture of a location with troops in place and you envision them and train them, I ultimately believe that we absolutely can be a part of giving every man, woman, and child a repeated opportunity to hear, to see, and to experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Gospel Presence in Youngstown/Lewiston, NY area

2009-09-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to have dinner with my mom and dad in Youngstown. It's a little community of folks in the Northwestern most corner of Niagara County. On a clear day, you can see Toronto across Lake Ontario at the tip of Fort Niagara. Needless to say, it's a quaint little community.

Growing up, I really missed the city of Cleveland. I never really wanted to embrace any sort of connection with Niagara County; rather, I liked being the guy who wasn't from there and who wasn't going to stick around after high school.

However, with my new position and responsibilities here at the Chapel, I'm continually drawn back to Northern Niagara county. we really have a desire to see the Gospel spread in and throughout all parts of Niagara and Erie County. Recently, I met with my advisers here and discussed the current impact geographically that we have had on both Niagara and Erie County. Our influence has been predominately in Southern Niagara and Northern Erie. If you're a Civil War buff, it basically looks like Sherman marching through Atlanta. There is one distinct swath of territory that we've been able to have influence in out of the gate.

But what about Northern Niagara and Southern Erie? Well, that's exactly where we're targeting in the next couple of months. The city of Buffalo, the south towns of Erie, and the Northern remote parts of Niagara are on our radar. I'm so excited, b/c I'm getting some time with both Niagara Frontier Bible Church and Lewiston Assemblies of God. It's my prayer that in sharing the vision for both counties, that both churches would see the need, they would see their potential to influence, and they would see that partnering together (synergy) puts us in a better position to reach every man, woman, and child with repeated opportunities to hear, see, and experience the Gospel of Christ, than if we were to endeavor to do this as separate entities.

With this type of thinking, when I drive to Youngstown, my heart gets pumping for the opportunity to work in Lewiston and Youngstown, cultivating relationships with key church leaders. I'm so excited for this opportunity. And even though I'm still a Clevelander at heart, my heart is also set ablaze for Niagara and Erie County.

Renovation in Rural USA: Here we Come Springville, NY

2009-09-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

In regard to the advancement of the goal to reach/saturate communities with the Gospel (every man, woman, and child having repeated opportunities to hear, see, and experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ), one thing that I find interesting from most researchers is that, the primary component of research done on suburban and urban communities rules the literature. Yet, there are over 100 million Americans that live in rural areas.

As I've been working in Niagara and Erie County in this endeavor, what I've found interesting is that we now have 3 Renovation Communities which will be launching soon in three distinct, rural areas.

This November, we're launching an initiative in Springville, NY with the help of a good friend of mine, Matt Eisenhower. Matt and I met yesterday, and examined the "terrain" of the territory one last time before getting things together to promote an official launch of a renovation community in Springville this November.

As a researcher, it's so exciting to see what this data will reveal to us in the time to come. In sum, we now have over 150 churches involved in the effort to reach every man, woman, and child with the Gospel on repeated occasions (presence for proclamation approach: http://www.theinfinityalliance.com)

Exciting stuff...

Complexity made simple....

2009-09-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

I've talked a number of times in this blog about the idea of "Saturating" a neighborhood with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This idea in our church is something that we refer to as our mission statement: "To see every man, woman, and child in our five mile radius have repeated opportunities to hear, to see, and to experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

With regard to my job, there is a ton that goes on with mapping, descriptive and inferential statistics, geoplotting... My office some days looks like a war room from the WWII movies where colonels and generals are gathered, examining topographical maps and moving troops and resources in various directions. All of this is good, in my humble opinion.

However, yesterday, as I sat in a meeting with a group of pastors in the area (and a handful from Syracuse), it dawned on me that what is so complex is actually quite simple. The problem, is fear. Allow me to explain.

When we examine grids of communities and plot where areas need to hear the Gospel (and I'm not talking about bullhorn guy-- I'm talking about presence for proclamation, but that's a completely different post for another time), it ultimately boils down to equipping lay leadership in the church to connect with individuals and find ways to love them incarnationally and to tell them about the hope that they have in Christ. For us, it's practical and it's surprisingly simple.

But that's what leads me to my point of the variable of fear. I believe that lay leaders (myself included at times) feel like the challenge of every man, woman, and child in their neighborhood is too close to their comfort zone. Further, I believe that people are afraid of the confrontation that may await many of them, if they begin to invest time in reaching out to every man, woman, and child in their community. How can fear be overcome? It's really simple. Prayer. Simply praying and walking through your neighborhood is a great step. But allow me to be more directional. If we believe, as Christians, that the Holy Spirit is really part of the triune God, then we believe that the Holy Spirit can actively be at work in communities, behind every door.

This has radically changed my approach to Manning, Lamont, and Bailey in Eggertsville. I walk my streets, praying that God would allow me to have opportunities to connect with people relationally so that I can have a presence in their life in order to eventually proclaim the hope that I have in Christ. Remember, conversion is not my responsibility; rather saturation is (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:18-20). What's been crazy about this? In the last two days, I've had great opportunities (simply by praying over my neighborhood) to talk with four awesome people that I hope I will eventually have a presence with for proclamation. Ed, Donna, Becky, and Omar-- they have been burned into my heart with the burden of loving them with the transformational love of Christ in the hopes that they would be open to the Gospel.

In sum, the variable of fear has met its match, when we concede that the Holy Spirit is alive and active, allowing us the opportunity to be used for Christ on our own street. It does not protect from confrontation, but if you're into the faith of Christ for comfort, you picked the wrong one (please see Paul's commentary on trials throughout the New Testament). I'm really trusting the Holy Spirit for something great.

Final thought as I'm a numbers guy. The numbers for acceptance of the Gospel essentially are close to 1 in 5 (a 20% rate of conversion). If that's the case, in Niagara and Erie County there are 1.3 million people and about 100,000 of them attend a Gospel centric church. That leaves us with 1.2 million who are not attending or involved in any sort of opportunity to have repeated opportunities to hear, see, and experience the Gospel. If the 20% figure holds, then where are the next 240,000 Christians in our counties? The answer-- we need to go and find out. So, with my neighborhood, it's my hope that I can find the 20% (obviously I would love for that number to be higher). It's a great entry point to further growth and development.

Saying Goodbye to Jim Mondock

2009-09-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

This morning, I learned of the passing of a family friend from my childhood, Jim Mondock. I grew up in Cleveland, when the mills were still running and the chemical factories still employed hundreds of blue collar Clevelanders. My father and Jim were two such men.

Our family only had one car growing up, so in order for my mom to be able to have the car during the day, we used to have to all wake up (3 kids at about 5:30am) and take my father to work. He car pooled with Jim.

Jim was a funny guy. Always good for a laugh, and he had an amazing, almost uncanny way, of getting under my father's skin, which would make all four of us (mom, Todd, Ryan, and Christen) giggle hysterically, as we were still in our pj's and half asleep.

Probably some of the things that I most remember growing up and taking dad to work were the songs on the radio (I'll forever be in love with all things Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, and Bruce Springsteen), the smell of a hot cup of coffee in our car, and Jim Mondock making us laugh to the point of it hurting us.

Jim died of cancer yesterday. It's really the first of my father's close friends to die and it reminds me that our years on life are finite, and that we will all embrace a physical death at some point. I'm going to miss Jim, but I'll forever cherish his memories.

1980s memories for me involve Jim Mondock, the mills of Cleveland, and car rides to downtown. Thanks, Mr Mondock. My life had more laughter because of you. I'll cherish the childhood memories that you were part of on the way to the mill, nearly every morning.

Time vs. Location-- & Every Man, Woman, & Child

2009-09-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

Whenever meetings happen within the confines of our church context, the most predominant variable of influence is time. When committing to something, the most obvious question is "when?" I'm not necessarily against that, but I think that the variable of location warrants greater intention.

Our mission, as a local church, is to be part of facilitating the opportunity for every man, woman, and child to have repeated opportunities to hear, see, and experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This involves partnering with other established, local churches as well as initiating church plants in areas where the church might need a "boost" of influence.

One of the most important things to consider in the midst of saturation is intentionality. Not as it relates to the variable of time; rather, how it relates to a particular geographic location. You see, location doesn't seem to be as important as time, but when you look at saturating a geography, it is much more important than time available. Even more shocking, it's more important than relationships.

My personal feeling on reaching a specific geography is that it (the geography) must be more important than time and relationships. This is not to undercut the value of such variables; rather, it's to put them in their respective place (behind geography).

Many people, when I share that with them get very nervous about putting the geography first. When I've inquired as to why, a lot of it (this is my perception) has to do with uncertainty/anxiety associated with the unknown (at which point, I sarcastically, in my head, want to refer them to Uncertainty Reduction Theory). Seriously though, when I get to the nervousness, in many respects, I think that we're forgetting about the influence of the Holy Spirit on people's time allocation and their ability to build relationships with those that they don't know well. When this happens around a particular geography, it just seems to make so much sense to me that this is how it should work. Pick a location, start to reach out to it, gather people from that location, build up trust with them (around their particular availability- insert sarcastic grin). As you train and develop them, they have proximity to their location (it's their back yard), they have cultivated relationships with one another, and they likely will have the desire to continue to impact their neighborhood (or, their Jerusalem- Acts 1:8).

I think that I'm learning something about the value of variables over one another when considering a model of Gospel saturation for a community. For me, there is a regressed hierarchy of sorts-- The impact on saturating a community above and beyond the geography; above and beyond their time; above and beyond their apprehension of relationship building.

Oh Baby....Yes, I Know It's Still the Preseason, But....

2009-08-31T05:47:00.000-07:00

Quinn looked really good. The offense looked really good. Edwards caught all intended passes. The defense, well, they didn't really stop the pass the best, but they played with toughness I haven't seen since the 80's with Golic, Eddie and Michael Johnson, Big Daddy Hairston, Bubba Baker, Dixon, Minnifield, Matthews, and Wright.

Ok, I'm still coming off of the high of Braylon signing the ball for a "Michigan Alum" (hey, he didn't ask which Michigan Alum). All that aside, I truly am seeing a different attitude in Cleveland. This blog is about faith, science, and the occasional Browns happening. Well, Saturday night, was a major happening for this franchise, in my humble opinion.

A couple of things that I truly liked seeing: Special teams forcing turnovers; defense forcing turnovers (fumble and a pick-6); Quinn throwing a touch and marching the team down the field with relative ease against a more than respectable defense; Coleman (90) is a freak against the run; Rubin is a freak against the run-- and all of this has happened, by the way with Big Baby on the sidelines (he's healthy). Finally, I love the kid, Davis (28) out of Clemson- a potential steal in the draft.

All this being said, I'm grounded in the reality that I'm from Cleveland and we get this sort of virus every August... You know, the one where everything seems to have upside to it.... until they kick the ball. But, for some reason, THIS YEAR, I'm thinking that we're not going to be a tire fire where all simply stand back and watch!

Go Beloved Brownies!

Collision Movie- Can't Wait to See this....

2009-08-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.collisionmovie.com/

In all of my respect for Christopher Hitchens, his intellectual prowess, and his brilliant prose, I believe that Doug Wilson is such a fascinating counterpart to his disposition as an atheist, or as he would have you better classify him- an anti-theist. I camp out where Doug Wilson is in this debate, as many of you know, but I believe that this film is going to rock and challenge the paradigm of any critical thinker, period.

I can not wait for this movie to come out. You owe it to yourself to watch the first 13 minutes of this film!

Placement, Placement, Placement

2009-08-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

This morning, at the IHOP on Maple Road, four very different men came together to discuss placement and strategic work in Men's Ministry. We had a retired President from Dunlop Tire, a Missionary of 20 years in athletic ministry (chaplain in the NFL) and overseas ministry (Siberia), a retired Marine and Pittsburgh Steelers Fan (I just threw up in my mouth), and a research scientist who happens to be very good looking and a die hard Browns fan (insert grin).

Anyway, I couldn't help but notice at the meeting time this morning that God had brought all of us together for such a time as this. We have a church full of men who desire to be led and to ultimately lead. It is no small task, but one that all four of us have such a heart for. I'm thankful that I'm linked up with such men.

The story for me that was so touching is that the Lord had gotten ahold of each one of our hearts at a separate time in life, at a different age, in a different part of the world, and under different circumstances. For me, there is something inherently beautiful about that story. I don't know what all of our stories were at the table this morning, but I knew that God had softened our heart to want to lead in such a moment and at such a time. There are clear take aways that we had from this morning in how to engage the men of our church, but there were also some huge question marks that I'm truly not sure what the answers are.

The question marks really intrigued me, because I'm so logically oriented. You see, the question marks are the open variable that I believe makes room in my mind for the movement of the Holy Spirit. It's the ultimate trump variable, because it can take complete logic and turn it on its head and have us all wondering what just happened. I know that some of my research friends scoff at this notion, but I really believe it to be true. My belief in God truly drives my willingness to accept the trump variable of the Holy Spirit. In fact, not only do I accept it, but I welcome it and I ask that it screw up everything logically driven. It's beautiful to examine the movement of God from this perspective.

I've mentioned this before, but I love to watch the Lord reveal himself through data. It may sound silly, but even Einstein made room for the impact of God. A couple of great quotes that I'll refer you to in respect to the great 20th century physicist:

"God does not play dice with the Universe."

"As a child, I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled with the luminous figure of the Nazarene."

"No one can read the Gospels without feel the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life."

I love that some of the greatest thinkers to ever walk the face of the earth acquiesce to the reality of a God consciousness....

Make room for the movement of the trump variable known as the Holy Spirit? Absolutely. Holy Spirit, come and move in the lives of the men that you have given us the responsibility to lead at the Chapel.

Paralysis by Analysis.......

2009-08-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

Kevin Carter the 1994 Pulitzer Prize--- His photo of a child being stalked by a vulture tears at the heart strings of anyone with a conscience. Every time I see this photo, it breaks my heart, because it is the harsh reality of the disparity and brokenness of the world. It's the truth about how desperate people truly are throughout the world, simply when it comes to the physiological component of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

In ministry, one of the things that's been hard for me in working at a church is the reality of the amount of need that surfaces in the lives of people. In the 6 months that I've been here, I've seen prayer requests that truly break my heart. Every Monday and Tuesday in particular, prayer requests flood in from all throughout our church. My daughter has cancer; My son is in extreme pain; My father is dying and I'm not sure how much longer we'll have him with us; Our baby daughter just passed away from a terrible disease; Our grandson lost his life suddenly at the age of 3. These are just a handful of the prayer requests that we see coming in at the church. And what breaks my heart so much is that these are good people. It's not like these people have been ruthless and bad, and that the wild oats that they've sewn have come back to bite them. Rather, it's the popular, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" To be honest, it's something that I hate about my job, but allow me to explain.

You see, the needs of so many of these people, in many respects, I don't feel like I can handle the depth of the need. Much like the picture above, there are times when the circumstance simply paralyzes me, because I can't believe how difficult it must be for the people involved. Instead of simply praying, I become overwhelmed and I'm brought to tears on the gravity of the situation.

One thing that I'm so thankful for is that I'm not numb to the need. I do push on and pray for these people. It's all that I can do to help. I've seen the opposite of culture though. The needs are simply too much for people to grasp, so instead of wanting to make a difference in a place where a child is starving, people simply change the channel to the sporting event or home improvement show of their choosing.

The advent of technology, and the constant awareness of needs I think has done something to us that I'm not sure that we're fully aware of. The constant bombardment of requests for prayer and help overwhelm me and cause me to do one thing that I recommend to all.... Fix your eyes on the hope of heaven through the life of Christ. Without hope, I haven't the slightest idea on how people get through life. For those who have sent their prayer requests in, I gladly pray for them, and the way in which I can do that most effectively is to fix my eyes on the prize- I fix it on Christ and the hope that exists beyond the grave.

It's been a incredibly difficult transition for me in this process, but the pedagogical experience from all of this has been something that I'm so incredibly thankful to the Lord for. My eyes are fixed in the hope that I have beyond the grave, and I pray that others will be as well.

Hope Springing Eternal......AGAIN..... Hey, It's that time of year....

2009-08-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

It's August....Yup, it's that time where I, a PhD in Organizational Assessment/Quant Stats, gets really stupid. You see, it's that time of the year when I believe that the Browns will make their inevitable run to the Super Bowl, they will shock the world, and they will bring a grown man or two from the City of Cleveland to tears.... Many men, in watching this, will then say that they can now die (similar to Red Sox fans a few years back in breaking the curse of the Great Bambino- Babe Ruth). Go ahead, laugh.... Laugh all you want. I can't help but walk away from Berea, OH, with that glimmer of hope in my eye (along with a Braylon Edwards autographed helmet, which I'm totally stoked about!!!!).

Anywho, with the turn of the foliage around the corner, my beloved Browns will take the field of battle, and they will hopefully fulfill my greatest wish- for them to be Superbowl Champs. The irony in all of this is that I'm so logically oriented. It's what I do for a living. I study logic and make decisions based on patterns, performance, and future speculation. Yet, with the Browns, it's like my IQ simply shuts down and I become less like a man and more like a hopeful child at Christmas.

Again, laugh all you want, but it's my life, and it's my glimmer of hope.

There is something here worth mentioning above and beyond my hope for the Brownies. It's about friendship. Last week, Scott Matheny, a good friend of mine, pulled some strings with his NFL buddies and got us player VIP passes for training camp with the Browns. I think it's worth mentioning, b/c in my experience within ministry, it's kind of hard not to be cynical about friendships, b/c people are constantly on the go. As such, I've noticed a pattern in my life where I consciously stay away from developing friendships, b/c I've simply lost out on friendships that were really meaningful to me, as ministry drew some of us away from one another (insert the names of Jason Slack, Chad Frank, Bryan Wiles, Rob Warren, Andy Grubb, David Dorich, Matt Hilderbran, Mike Kerin, and Jim Poorman, to name a few). As I was walking away from training camp with Scott, I couldn't help but appreciate the day and my friendship with him. We were both like little kids, myself clammoring for autographs of Edwards and Quinn, and Scott calling out players for their poor performance. At the end of the day, I realized that my friendship with Scott is one that I truly appreciate.

I know that it may seem silly to go on about this, but when you're in ministry, you simply grow accustomed to people leaving, as God will call us- and when he does, we need to answer the bell. It's sad, b/c you lose out on good friendships with good people. Well, for now, I'm happy to say that Scott and I are in the same town, and I look forward to building our friendship with one another. It's been about 5 years since I've had a friend like this... It's almost foreign to me.

The prayer of a brother....

2009-08-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I spent time with our men's group as we prepare for our fall kickoff this weekend, known as Mobilize '09. It's something that we're all excited about. During this morning's meeting, I saw something that really hit me hard, in a positive way. A friend of mine, David, has a brother, Peter, who has a very aggressive form of brain cancer. Peter is in his early 60s, was planning retirement, and is now faced with a grim prognosis. Further, Peter is a devout atheist. David however is a believer in Christ, and he has continued to stay engaged in his brother's life during this time, frequently making trips to Florida to be with him, to love him, and to share the love of Christ with Peter.

This morning, David asked us to specifically pray for Peter and his relationship with him. As he asked for us to pray, I could see the emotion well up in his eyes at the thought of losing his brother. It pained me to watch a man well up with such emotion. What has been tough for David is to know when the time is right and when the time isn't right to proclaim Jesus to his brother. The last time that he was down there, Peter was really resistant to the thought of discussing the love of Christ and the gift of salvation through him. David asked us to please pray that God would somehow get into Peter's heart, as he does not want to alienate his brother during this time of crisis. He loves his brother dearly, and he's desperate to see him come to know Christ.

For me, the takeaways from this morning's time were powerful. First, I was reminded about God's love for the lost as I saw David's love for his own brother. David is the complete evangelist, taking every opportunity to lead people to Christ. It's humbling to see at times, as this man's heart is all about the Gospel and its transformational power in peoples' lives. I pray that God would help me to be more like that. Second, I was also reminded of the absolute need for prayer as the foundation for my life and for the advancement of the Gospel. For some, that may seem so obvious, but for others like me, it's something that I need God to help remind me of it. I get so entrenched in data and practical/logical thought, that I forget the absolute power of the variable of prayer in our lives. As I saw David's heart for Peter, I thought about my heart for my own brother as well as my heart for those who do not yet know that love and salvation of Christ.

Strategy in Partnership

2009-08-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

So much of the work that I've been privied to in the realm of ministry is what I would term reactive (meaning, things are going on and ministry is driven by those happenings). But there is so much of a desire for me to see things in a proactive light (meaning, consciously thinking about what strategically might make the most sense in reaching a community). Today, I had the opportunity to sit down and spend some time with Jim Swearingen from Buffalo Christian Center (BCC). Going into the meeting, I can say that I wasn't sure what was to come of our time together.

I was surprised at what took place. Jim's desire for our church to come into partnership with the greater happenings in the city of Buffalo is alive and well. However, his plan for the city was truly something proactive. Jim comes from Columbus, where he had a great deal of success in the urban center there, specifically with regard to breaking the cycle of poverty. When I asked how such changes were made so successfully, he retorted that they needed to give time, time. In essence, it wasn't overnight and there were some major things that needed to take shape to make things happen.

What a key variable, this component of time. We are so impatient for it, yet we all concede that it's important. My time with Jim today was such a positive reminder for me of what I am thankful for in our circle of influence with other churches in our area. We simply will not rush the process of cultivating relationships with one another for the greater good of the kingdom vision. The reality that we've faced as neighboring churches in our area is that we've never known how to work with one another, period. So, when the idea of doing so was proposed, it clearly became evident to us that if we hadn't done it before, it was clearly going to take time. While the process is therefore elongated, at the end of the day, it puts us in a better position to make positive things happen for the greater good of the kingdom of Christ.

While our society is so incredibly impatient with things, it doesn't make sense that this variable could be so challenging for us. For many, I've sensed that they've felt we're in a process of hurrying up and waiting, but in reality, as I've watched the last year of partnership with other churches emerge, I've had such a strong sense that we've not been waiting in vein; rather, we've been letting God work on our hearts, our minds, and our paradigms of what partnership in the local body of churches looks like. Our inability to work with one another was not an overnight happening; nor will our ability to work with one another be so either. As such, I've been so thankful for the time that God has given us to cultivate relationships with one another in this time. I truly feel as if the strategy in our partnership will be stronger because of that. And with that, I pray that our impact in reaching people for the kingdom will be better.

GCM Paper: Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of You

2009-08-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

Recently, a couple of PhD buddies of mine (Derek and Frank) created what's known as an agent-based model. Essentially, what you try to do with such a model is to replicate or find a particular behavioral pattern for people, when certain variables are examined.

In this particular paper, we examined the organization that I used to work for, Great Commission Ministries (GCM). Over the past few years, the organization had undergone a relative amount of flux that created a fairly distinct pattern of attrition. At one point, I had examined ten years worth of exit interviews, finding that most people who left the organization had a distinct problem with the level of social support that they received in the organization (e.g., one might say, "I didn't feel as if my boss cared about me." or; "I felt as if I had a lot of ideas, but no one validated what I was trying to accomplish.")

So, what we set out to accomplish in this paper that will be coming out for publication in The Journal of Artificial and Social Simulated Societies (JASSS), is a way to curb attrition, by focusing on the level of social support that one receives within the organization. As such, much of the focus was on the variable within GCM known as "coaching."

Typically, what we had discovered in prior research, was that coaching was something that GCM had a policy for, but that no one followed. More specifically, it was the key variable to keeping people in a position of feeling "supported" by co-workers during difficult times. Yet, while they had a manual for this, no one followed it. In addition, a sort of attitude came about in employees; one that said, instead of coaching multiple times in a month, we'll simply get together once, but we'll make sure that we really have a good connect. So, they began to focus more on the quality of a coaching interaction instead of quantity of interaction.

That's what we decided to test in this agent-based model. What was really cool was that, the findings of the model showed that the quantity of contact proved to be more valuable than the quality of contact. Meaning, make sure you see someone a handful of times a month to encourage them, as opposed to waiting for one key point of time in a month and then just making them feel as if they are worthwhile to the organization.

As such, GCM began to really crack down on the frequency of contact among employees within the organization. With that, the organization has started to see a stabilizing trend in the organization. While I can't directly attribute all of it to one specific thing in a paper like ours, what I can say is that I'm proud to be associated with an organization that is willing to embrace the fact that they have problems and that they might need to work on those problems.

For anyone who cares, I would definitely like to take a moment to laud the effort of Tom Mauriello as Executive Director of GCM. This guy has worked tirelessly over the past few years to really right the ship of the organization. He's done an amazing job and he has an amazing team of people around him in the organization that are prioritizing the well-being of employees. It's a great example of an organization that's willing to examine its flaws in order to move forward in the direction of positive progress. I applaud GCM and it's my distinct prayer that this paper gives the organization good press.

Thankful for the Common Man

2009-08-11T07:22:00.001-07:00

I continue to slowly plow through Genesis in my Bible reading. I just started into Genesis 9, which is where God covenants with Noah that the likes of the flood that he has just endured will not happen again. At the point in which God makes his covenant to Noah known, the next thing that happens in the text is astonishing to me: Noah sins.

Now, I'm not happy about the fact that Noah fell in sin (basically, by today's accounts, looks like the guy got hammered on the drink and passed out in his tent). However, I'm thankful for what this communicates to me for my own personal life. That is the fact that God used common people for great things in the Bible. There is a part of me that can resonate with the fact that Noah dropped the ball. In essence, he had a bad day. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that the very people who are pillars of the faith are in many respects average Joe's.

So why do I have an appreciation for Noah's fall in Genesis 9? Because a "great" man is a "common" man. Noah possessed faith when no-one else in the world had it. The guy built a massive boat to the likely mockery of his peers. Why? God told him to do it. This common man with uncommon faith did great things for God. At the same time, he was a human being who made mistakes. That's what I can rally around personally.

I'm a perfectionist in personality. I like to do things with excellence and I like to please people. It can be an exhaustive personality trait to have. So, when I see people like Noah, I pause- and I remember that God can use me despite my continued pursuit of sanctification in life, knowing that I have bad days en the route to pursuing holiness.

Living with Hands Open- Even in Mobile, AL....

2009-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Our church has a strong desire to "saturate" Niagara and Erie County with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Obviously, it's an audacious goal, but it's one in which we believe, through strategic church partnership and church planting, that we can see God do something amazing.

With that, there is this principle that we've learned of by which God blesses the church that lives with open hands. Meaning, if we can serve to meet the need of another church and it's strategic, then by all means, let's live with that type of DNA in our mindset.

It's funny, b/c it seems natural that the vision catches on, and people get hungry for that vision. What's really cool is that you typically have that opportunity to work alongside each other geographically to make that happen. However, there are also times in which people get the itch-- the itch to take what they are learning to another part of the country. Such is the case with someone in our church that I have a high level of respect for- Dr. Brett Burleson has gotten this type of itch for his home, Mobile, Alabama.

It's funny, b/c as I read the email that came out to us as staff last week, I couldn't help but feel torn about Brett's calling back to Mobile. On one hand, the demographer in me just gets so excited to see what God will do with our connection now in Mobile. On the other hand, it's only natural to mourn the loss of a strategic leader in the church and to also just want him selfishly to remain on board. As I wrestled with this, I felt as if the Lord spoke gently through the Holy Spirit to me last week- live with your hands open. So, in the event of mourning the loss of a true biblical scholar and great communicater of the word of God, we as a church are living with our hands open. It truly was a blessing to be able to pray for Brett and April yesterday-- they are a great visual for us as a church that the Misseo Dei (God's mission) lives and it is not simply for those souls of Niagara and Erie County (it's funny, b/c it almost seems conceited to me to even write that).

My heart today drifted toward the lost of Mobile, AL. I've never been there, but I have a distinct feeling that I will be there soon, to help and aid Dayspring Church and the key leadership with Brett.

Yesterday was a great opportunity to see God's call on the lives of people above and beyond where are church is situated currently. While it is clearly sad to see Brett leave, we live with open hands, and we are excited for what will happen in Mobile, but will also happen here in Buffalo.

In closing, this morning, Jerry Gillis (our pastor) shared with us a couple of key insights that really shaped my perspective on Brett's departure. Specifically, he shared that adaptability and acceptibility for a kingdom vision (in our case, every man, woman, and child, having repeated opportunities to hear, see, and engage the Gospel of Jesus Christ) requires a significant amount of personal change. In some respects, there's a component of that which spoke to me, saying, "die to yourself". Further, in order to see a vision and kingdom mission facilitated, faith and trust must be at the helm of the ship. A great example of this is seen in the Bible at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Take a look at it, specifically when considering adaptability and flexibility along with the reality of the need for interdependent leadership. I'm continuing to chew through this portion of God's word, but it truly blessed me this morning as Jerry shared with us his thoughts about the pedagogical moments of Brett's hunger for Mobile and his departure from Buffalo. Good stuff.....

My love of campus

2009-08-07T06:57:00.001-07:00

I took a walk during my lunch break around campus yesterday (UB North Campus). There's always been something about a college campus that makes me have such an excitement; it's almost as if it's a feeling of, "this is exactly where I want to be."

I felt it so much more when I lived in Bowling Green and would walk the campus of BGSU. This morning, after reflecting on my time with the Lord, I started to ask "why"? Where does the love of campus come from?

Well, for me, Bowling Green was a place of life transformation. I was 19 years old, when, in the dorm of 147 Batchelder Hall (Kreischer Quad) I gave my life to Christ. As I would walk that campus day in and day out, the memories that flooded my mind of where my life was and where it was going came at me from all directions. It was also a place of growing up. Getting to college, I realized how truly naive I was to the daily ongoings of life. I was by no means social, I was not entrenched in a party scene of any kind. Rather, the exposure to that first hand was truly shocking and in many cases overwhelming to me. But something happened in Bowling Green. I fell in love with the place in which I learned to be independent in my thinking. I learned to think critically. I learned to examine the Bible, not simply taking what others said as Gospel, but in fact examining the Gospels for myself. That lesson, and the vibrant by-product of that lesson are what draw me to the college campus.

Here in Buffalo, it's definitely different. Instead of the beautiful old trees by University Hall in Bowling Green, I'm instead met with the concrete foundation that paves the way from the Union to Baldy Hall on UB's North Campus. However, I still believe that a young adult's search for independence is what attracts me to the college campus. It breaks my heart (like it did at Bowling Green) to see where people arrive in their pursuit of independence. So many leave a wake of broken relationships and personal scarring, just to pursue their independence. For so many (both in Buffalo and in BG) independence is about experience and first times if you will. Unfortunately, it's those experiences and first times that create the wake for so many. It's not always that way. I don't want to simply create a dichotomy where one should not exist. But the reality is that, when the pursuit of independence begins, one can rarely escape the reality of scarring.

While the personal pursuit of independence draws me, so does the vibrancy and excitement around learning. The University, although flawed, is a haven for challenging and sharpening your thoughts. Simply questioning, "why" or in honor of my good friend Tom Feeley, "so what", is so important for our lives. It's what has the potential to separate us from a roaming herd of cattle. I'm still drawn to the campus for that very reason.

Obedience

2009-08-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

It's funny b/c you would think a blog title like this would have to do with how I pine to have my children be more obedient. Well, no, this actually involves the lesson I feel like I've been learning from Genesis 6 today for my own life.

Noah- obedient. God says make a boat, coat it with tar and pitch inside and out, make it to certain specifications. Noah's response: "Ok, God."

The commentary running behind the onset of Genesis 6 was that Noah and his family were the only one's left on this earth worshipping God at the time. This is where I'm blown away by the factor of obedience. All else decide to jump their moral compass if you will and do what they want (interesting thought about relativism just got in my head by the way). I'd love to think that I'm better than that; that I'd be just like Noah. But, then I think about 6+billion people going their own way, and holding fast.... To be honest, it would be such a challenge. I pray that I would be grounded and faithful as such.

Noah's life really is amazing to me. I can't imagine how many jokes and insults he was subject to in the building of the arc. Something held him fast to his trust in God when no one else bothered to even consider the Lord. He was full of faith and obedience. I pray that I can have more of that in my life. Even as I write this I know that there are so many streaks of rebelliousness in my life... What seemed like a subject for my children (this idea of obedience) is actually directed right toward me today. Thanks, Holy Spirit, for the conviction and helping me to see that I need more obedience in my life. The story of Noah resonates with me deeply today.

Where have all the readers gone?

2009-08-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, one of my dear friends, Michael Rinehart, sent me an interesting post regarding what the 15 most memorable books were that I've read over the years. Excitedly, I began typing away, looking at my book collection in my office, and examining all of the amazing reads that I'd been privied to over the years.

It got me thinking though. Most of my friends, the non-academics at least, view reading as almost a lost art- one in which they have never really "taken" to. Within that, I must say that it scares me quite a bit. I think I'm sensitive to it, as Buffalo is famously known as the largest brain drain in the country, meaning, more people are educated here and leave than in any other place in America (ratio-wise). As such, the general vibe that I get from folks around here is that reading isn't for them.

Well, I have to ask this question... If it's not for them, who is it for? It scares me to enter into dialogue with folks fairly regularly, discussing what books they've read only to find that many folks haven't picked up a book since high school or college. Even then, their recollection of the text is bad if anything at all.

The concern here is that when books aren't read, what happens to our ability to think critically? For me personally, I think that my experience has been that the overall IQ of someone (or even EQ, for those of you involved in believing in emotional intelligence) is on the decline in America. I've only been out of HS now for about 15 years, and I feel as if I can see the law of diminishing returns actively in progress all around me. Now, I know that many will say that books are only part of the critical learning and developmental process. To that I agree, but my rebuttal is also that it's an instrumental and vital part of the critical learning and developmental process.

Perhaps it's that I have kids now and I just see the brain drain first hand in this part of the country. I'm not particularly certain. What I do know is that there is a distinct downward trend in one's ability to think critically and pick up a book for the sake of developing the mind... Sad day.

One final, yet potent comment. The first book that came to mind for me, in terms of overall influence, is the Bible. Now, I'm not trying to be the choir boy in demonstrating that it's the most influential book that I've ever read. When I think of all of the lists though, of books that people have fully read, it's said to say that the Bible doesn't seem to be one of them. People complain that the book has lost relevance in today's culture. I honestly can't think of a statement that inflames me more when I hear that, because the reality of such a response is that I know they haven't read it, let alone picked up a commentary on the thing to better understand it. How can I say that with such confidence? The answer is quite simple: because I see people in the local church not reading it either. That blows my mind. A book, rich in knowledge, rich in history, rich in culture, and not to mention, one considered to be inspired by the Almighty himself likely won't make it on the top 15 for most people. It truly is a shame, that such a piece of work could be thrown aside by a society considering itself so advanced. People simply cast it aside and say that it's not relevant. How can you say that without having actually read it?!?!?! Disheartened, but oh well, this is the day of relativism....

Not that anyone would care, but here are my top 20 reads (at least off the top of my head):
1) The Bible
2) Confessions (St. Augustine)
3) How Should We Then Live (Francis Schaeffer)
4) John Adams (David McCullough)
5) Benjamin Franklin (David Freeman Hawke)
6) Thomas Jefferson (Fawn Brodie)
7) April 1865 (Jay Wink)
8) 1776 (David McCullough)
9) Jesus Among Other Gods (Ravi Zacharias)
10) Surprised By Joy (CS Lewis)
11) The Reason for God (Tim Keller)
12) The Prodigal God (Tim Keller)
13) Thomas Jefferson on Leadership (Coy Barefoot)
14) Body of Secrets: History of the NSA (James Banford)
15) The Sociological Imagination (Mills)
16) Propaganda (Jacques Ellul)
17) South: Sir Earnest Shackleton (Sir Earnest Shackleton)
18) The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership (Stephen Sample)
19) The New Handbook of Organizational Communication (Linda Putnam; Fred Jablin)
20) Deliver Us From Evil (Ravi Zacharias)

1 Peter 4:1-11- Stranger by Behavior

2009-08-03T07:29:00.001-07:00

I sat in church yesterday and felt so challenged by the message in a way that I hadn't quite felt in some time. I'll reference 1 Peter 4:1-11 for context.... Take a look at it, as that's where the church camped out yesterday.

Based on the commentary of yesterday's sermon, I was challenged in the following ways:

1) We are called to embrace the consequences of holiness- specifically with regard to suffering and being viewed as a stranger (due to behavioral/practical differences)
2) We have to live with the end in mind- as an aside, when doing so, important things stay important and trivial things stay trivial.

The first portion of embracing suffering is something that I've wrestled with for some time, and I've really struggled with that idea. However, in the context of living with the end in mind, it changes so much of my perspective dramatically. There's a portion of the text that states, "For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin." In learning more about this passage yesterday, it makes so much sense to me. Essentially, if you've suffered much, the mindset that you have is so fixated on the end; the idea that heaven and eternity await. Further, it reminds us of the brevity of physical life.

I feel, if I'm honest, that my prayer life has been fixated on not embracing the reality of physical suffering; rather, I've prayed to avoid it. So many times, I've asked the Lord for a long, healthy, physical life. In some respects, that prayer has ceased in my heart, and the anxiety I've felt with that has really changed me inside. Do I still feel anxious about what might happen if suffering in my own life comes and I lose my life to something? Yes, but the concerns are directed toward the provision for my family and not for where I will go. Even then, there is a peace that God will allow provision for my wife and children if something did happen.

The significance of me penning this is amazing, and I'm so thankful for God allowing me to have this sort of peace in my heart. My personal life has been challenged with medical testing and issues over the past year (tests for ALS, tests for stomach cancer, tests for a growth in my mouth). Naturally, there is some angst in all of that.

However, yesterday, God's Word just slammed me with a peace (note the oxymoron) that I've not felt in all of this.

Jerry (our pastor) shared a story of two martyrs yesterday from Scottland during British enforcement of religion on their land. In it, the first martyr spent the last hour of his life preaching the word of God before going to the gallows. The second martyr watched the first man hang from the gallows, and as he did, he commented on how sweet it was that this first man had such faith. Finally, before going to the gallows, he gave his wedding ring to someone and told the person to mention to his wife that he loved her and that he wanted her to know he died for his faith. And as he went to the gallows, people told him to look skyward and he chose not to, saying instead that God was already looking down on him.

What is so inspiring to me about that story? Quite simply, the faith that these men had in the belief that Christ and eternity awaited them at the loss of their physical life. It truly is a beautiful story of faith and belief that Christ did not die in vain.

In sum, I have a newfound peace today. I don't know the suffering that God will call me to. I don't know when, where, or how that will take place. However, I now have a compass point in God's word to cling to.

I pray that I will embrace the trials and suffering. I pray that my behavior will be strange to those who don't know of Christ, for the simple fact that they would inquire about what is different about me. Within that question, I will love to explain to them that Christ is what is different in me.

Calling and Life Course

2009-07-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

I was given a great definition from a friend today about calling:

"Calling: a comprehensive picture of the unique path laid out for me, consisting of the particular things God has asked me, and potentially no one else to do." - Ashworth

This quote really has rocked my world. When people ask what I do and how it is possible, the reality of the situation is, I don't know. I mean, I know what I do, but I don't know how God made it possible.

At one point, I really was quite content with the idea that I would be a professor somewhere, primarily at a research 1 university. I'd have a decent life, a state pension and benefits... In sum, I'd have a pretty cushy life if you will.

However, I wouldn't have the sense of joy that I have right now in what I'm doing with regard to church planting and partnership in the goal of reaching every man, woman, and child with repeated opportunities to hear, see and be exposed to the gospel of Christ.

That is something that I truly haven't been able to put a value on. I could have had other jobs that pay more, but the reward personally for the strategic component of my job on the kingdom didn't resonate like this particular position did.

But, back to the point of calling. I've despised this word now for about 5 years, as I feel like people abuse the term (and even worse, they hide behind it and the God card that's associated with it-- a veritable trump for any line of questioning). As such, I've stayed away from this word. However, today, with this definition above, I truly feel as if God has put me here, in this moment, in this time, and at this particular location, for a reason that involves my calling in life.

For me, that idea isn't about ego (I don't feel puffed up in this- simply, I have a place); rather, it's about feeling anchored with the rhyme and reason of the almighty. Quite frankly, I've not felt anchored to that nearly as much as I used to, because I'd felt ministry burn a couple of times. In some respects, perhaps that lack of trust or disillusionment with the organized ministry body or church has been misplaced. Based on the particular definition of calling I've read today, I think it has been.

So, in sum, I'm pumped about this definition... and in many respects, I feel anchored by what I've read today, and don't see it as mere coincidence.

Genesis 2

2009-07-28T06:50:00.001-07:00

This morning, I spent time plugging through Genesis 2. I dug into the Tyndale commentary this morning and felt like so much of the story of Adam and Eve came to life for me, if you will.

The demonstration of marriage as a union is something that really blew me away. Further though, I was amazed at the lack of shame among Adam and Eve. Many know the verse which demonstrates at the end of the chapter that both were naked and they were not ashamed.

The commentary gave me the example this morning of a child and how, at a young age, they are shameless in running around and expressing how they feel. We've seen that in our own daughter Hailey... what she says, and how she lives... it's only been recently that she's started to feel the insecurities of what others might think of her.

The Tyndale commentary pointed me to the idea that when Adam and Eve gained knowledge, they hid and wanted to withhold the reality of the circumstance. They went on to demonstrate even further, how that plays itself out in marriage: you hide something from your spouse, and that starts the cycle lack of spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical intimacy. More for me, they also talked about this demonstrated in our personal relationship with God. When we fail to expose our secret thoughts to God, we break lines of communication with him.

What I find incredibly humbling about that in particular, is that God already knows my thoughts. However, in many respects, I'm learning it's the communication between us that seems more important to Him. So humbling to realize this, yet incredibly freeing as well. This really falls into the vein of something that John Piper shared at a conference that I was at in Seattle a couple of years back. Essentially, he talked about the value of repentance. I'm seeing the value in that communicatively again with the Lord this morning. I'm praying for the intimacy between God and I to come flooding back..... In many respects, the pedagogical moment for me this morning was that I was not communicating what I already felt God knew... Didn't think that it was of value for our relationship. How wrong I was.

Angela's Ashes

2009-07-27T12:18:00.001-07:00

Frank McCourt died about two weeks ago now.... I couldn't help but be enchanted by his NPR airing of an interview he conducted in San Francisco years back.

Why is it worth writing about Frank McCourt? Simply this.... the man underwent miserable suffering and was still able to maintain a positive approach to life. As I'm reading Angela's Ashes now, I'm completely blown away by the interviews that I've heard on NPR. There's not venom in his voice; rather, he's constantly seeing the positive and always finds a humorous point to something.

The reason why this means something to me is b/c I've seen so much anger and bitterness with suffering, especially here in the West. It's not to say that people don't have a right to be upset about things. However, it is to say that I think the generation that I find myself in goes through some trial/tribulation of sorts, and they are incredibly angry and frustrated by why they have to deal with the issue that they face.

When I read McCourt, it's not that the man is numb. Quite the contrary. Rather, it's that the man accepts that hardship is a reality to life, but it's not a point by which our compass is fixed in order to hate everything else about life that may happen to us.

Frank McCourt is dead, but his writing is flipping fantastic. If you haven't read Angela's Ashes, do it. Your life will be better because of it. Frank McCourt is dead, but his writing still touches lives and gives perspective on how to embrace trials and find the beauty in life, even though one cannot escape the pain of trials. Frank McCourt is dead, but if we pause to read some of his work, his words live on.... Do yourself a favor and go pick up one of his books. I promise you that you won't be disappointed.

losing momentum......??????......

2009-07-24T09:23:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I felt as if i had a front row seat to the struggles of ministry. As I've mentioned before in this blog, my job as director of strategic initiatives focuses on the need to develop and cultivate strategic relationships with churches for the goal of partnership and church planting for reaching people for Christ in the Niagara/Erie County region of Buffalo, NY.

We meet regularly, and I must say that my hope and heart was in keeping the "Big MO" (momentum) train rolling yesterday. We've been developing good steam and traction over the past few months; however, yesterday seemed a moment for me to pause, and realize that this process is not simply about data analysis and strategic mapping, but it's also about the spiritual battle that we face in this journey as well.

After the meeting time yesterday, I couldn't help but feel as if something was going on spiritually. Sure enough, I was right. One man commented on the difficulty of the decision to keep his church open or to close it; another man confided about a potentially disastrous situation that was emerging in his church. In sum, I felt as if the Lord punched me in the gut yesterday, showing me that the spiritual battle of this process is something that I can't take my eye off the ball on.

It's a harsh reality for sure... one that keeps me grounded. And if you're in ministry long enough, you definitely will see it all. Sure, I've handled issues of employees being involved in affairs and a variety of legal matters as well. And every time it happens, it's a harsh reality that the church is people. And people, although new creations in Christ, are also on the journey and in the pursuit of sanctification (ala John Piper's commentary). In the end, the reality of the spiritual battle is huge. Sure, I can look at Niagara and Erie County and have a grand strategy on how to reach it statistically. BUT, that all fails dramatically, if the most important two variables in the analysis are left out--- that of the work of God; and that of the brokenness and sin in man. It's humbling, but it's a reality that, if I remain aware of, will help us in the battle to saturate a community.

In closing, I'm so incredibly thankful for the churches that are involved in our renovation community. I love the men and women who are daring enough to believe that God could use us all together to accomplish more than any one church could in these two counties (hmmm.... the definition of synergy). Further, even though bumps will surely exist on the road of building momentum, I'm so thankful for the group of men and women that sat at our table yesterday. I truly love them. And, I truly love their expression of the local church. Every expression is needed to reach lost people.

Saturation of the Gospel in a Geography

2009-07-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

I had a great meeting yesterday with both of my bosses here at my job. Basically, my job description as the Director of Strategic Initiatives is to find a way in which we can strategically partner with other churches and church plants to make sure that the Gospel makes its way into the presence of every man, woman, and child in niagara and erie county.

In my last post, I mentioned that this really is (when you boil it down), the ability to track the movement of a particular virus (in this case, what I believe is a good virus- the Gospel) as it makes its way throughout a particular geography.

It's funny, b/c even though many mock the Jehovah Witnesses and their door-to-door strategy of reaching people, there is a lot to learn from their level of mobilization. The pedagogical moment for me is understanding that our geographies need to be understood house-by-house, street-by-street, building-by-building, and community-by-community. They (the JW's) understand that.

The issue for me is ultimately understanding how we can model something similar to that, yet something foundationally different as well. Our thought, as a team, is through small group infrastructure. You see, the data is painfully clear in that people in our geography want nothing to do with door-to-door proclamation of anything. However, what if people, in their small groups, started thinking about building relationships with as many folks as they possibly could in their given geography. It's less of a shoot and spray method, and it is incredibly more intentionally on the basis of geography.

The question then becomes, can we make this happen? Further, if it is possible, what is our entry point? I think that we're getting there... but there is a ton of work to be done. Perhaps it's an entire mental reconstruction of the purpose of small groups and why geographic intentionality should be the primary variable by which we operate. It's not going to be popular at all; however, I ultimately think that the cry of lost people should be the ultimate tipping point by which we make our decisions. It's my hope that our church could ultimately get there in their thinking and strategic DNA. We're a ways off, but thinking about our communities in such a way gives me goose bumps. Further, it gives me hope that there is actually a legitimate shot in which our church could strategically influence our circle of accountability.

My Geography

2009-05-21T12:27:00.001-07:00

Above is a number of circles, representing a 5 mile radius around what we would define as missional, evangelical churches in the community of Buffalo. Right now, there are about 33 of those churches, and each of them are partaking in what we call a Renovation Community. The communities are designed to help churches collaborate around a couple of key initiatives, with the end goal being to have every man, woman, and child have repeated opportunities to hear, see, engage, and be exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I absolutely love what I get to do as a job. I feel like the training that I've been blessed with academically is being used directly for Gospel purposes, and I honestly can't think of anything else that would excite me to such a degree as I am with this.

A very interesting thing about this whole process of engaging the community with the Gospel is in the way that I end up viewing it. I was in Philadelphia the other day, and it dawned on me that the Gospel message, in some respects is to be treated as if it were viral. Essentially, it's a "disease." With that, what I am now trying to do as a researcher, is see how this disease can essentially spread into the communities where we have influence. It's very CDC oriented. My friend Daryl and I were laughing about it, but in many respects, it's true, with the grand exception though that we would want for this "disease" of the Gospel to be able to spread throughout these communities, because we believe that it's the best message known to man- that Christ died for our sins and that we can have eternal life through Him.

Anywho, just some interesting thoughts about my community here in Buffalo, and my heart for reaching out to people in said community.

It's Been a While!

2009-05-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay. I huge number of things have happened in the past few weeks:

1) Birth of our second child
2) Travel to Argentina
3) Purchase of a new home....

A slew of other things have happened as well. However, I'm hopeful to be back in the saddle and excited about writing again.

I'm on my way to Philly this evening to do an envisioning event for The Infinity Alliance. We have about 15-20 churches that are gathering in the area tomorrow, and are set to envision what it would look like if every man, woman, and child in their area had repeated opportunities to hear, see, and engage in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I was sitting at lunch today with Ruben and Graciella Matos, missionaries in Peru, and I couldn't help but think about how amazing God has been to me when it comes to the career venture that I'm on right now. I've just finished my PhD; I'm finishing up a Post-Doc; I'm working for a ministry that is lasered in its focus for every man, woman, and child having repeated opportunities to hear, see, and engage the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For the first time in years, God has really given my wife, family, and I an opportunity to have some stability in ways that we haven't had in prior years of ministry. All told, it has been absolutely amazing to be in the position that I am in right now.

I absolutely love it and look forward to writing more about it on a daily basis!!!!

Missionaries: Love and the local church to save the world

2009-02-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

I'm here in Orlando this week doing my last New Staff Training for GCM. I've had the privilege of training over 200 staff now in this process.

This is a story of a friend of mine, Ted Quiocho. This story is what I believe will change this world. Ted is a missionary in Costa Rica, here this week to get prepared to head back home and change lives through love and the local church. Here is what Ted is doing in Costa Rica through Community Health Evangelism (CHE):

Community Health Evangelism addresses the root cause of poverty, disease, and spiritual darkness by training local leaders to share the gospel and mobilize community action. Communities learn to prevent disease, enhance agriculture, and generate enterprise. Local leaders gain capacity to implement sustainable solutions utilizing local resources and appropriate technologies. Vital biblical faith is nurtured at every step. CHE integrates the physical and spiritual, revealing the practical power of Christ. CHE is not done for people, it is what a community does together, with God's help, to overcome poverty and embrace fullness of life!

CHE expands a community's capacity to thrive because it touches every dimension of life: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. CHE works because it equips local leaders to enact effective low cost solutions to community problems by utilizing local talent and assets. It enhances community life by training dedicated local volunteers who lead by example, create a spirit of cooperation, caring and mutual support. It evangelizes whole communities in a spirit of humility, helping people discover their true worth and dignity and to realize their full potential in God's purposes.

It is this type of love that I believe will change the world. I understand that people have hope in politics, but I've witnessed the bottleneck that exists in Washington. At the end of the day, I believe the hope we have in government is futile. I'm hopeful for it, but I believe the local church is truly the catalyst for change, provided that love is in the forefront. Ted's story is just one of about 20 here in Orlando this week. I'm so proud of all of these missionaries here, and I'm hopeful that our world will change because of the radical love that these people will exhibit to a world that needs it.

New Staff Training-- Moving on From GCM

2009-02-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

I'm currently in Orlando, FL for the GCM New Staff Training time. It's bittersweet. I'm moving on from GCM to pursue a position of employment with a church planting strategy organization known as the Infinity Alliance, based in Buffalo, NY. I've been with GCM since 1997. My letter is going out to those who have supported me during this time here in the next week or so. It will notify them of the transition out of one ministry and into another.

What's so tough is that I love my current job with GCM; however, a relocation back to Orlando, which is necessary for the role I've been offered with them, doesn't seem to be the best move for my family. Our local church in Buffalo is really transforming the community in Western New York. Further, the job opportunity that I've been given with the Infinity Alliance is opening up avenues of travel internationally that I've not ever had the opportunity for. The amazing thing is that all of this is for the advancement of the Gospel.

My seven years with GCM have been great! Sure, there have been times of difficulty in the midst of transition. But, what seven years has allowed for me to see during this time is that all roads of ministry seem paved in difficulty and uncertainty-- the view of this journey as a marathon over that of a sprint is so huge for me in this process.

Ted Haggard: Take Two

2009-01-27T20:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/us/27haggard.html?hp

So, Ted Haggard is now alleged to have had something else going on; a second affair, which was covered up by the church. This breaks my heart. Why not pursue total glasnost (openness) when scandal breaks.

Granted, this scandal would have rocked New Life Church to its core, but this type of scenario speaks so loudly to Kinnaman and Lyons (2007) noted in UnChristian as being hypocritical. I'm not terribly disappointed through one's falling in sin; rather, the true bummer, the body blow to faith in the church is hiding sin and not pursuing total openness when sin happens. It's also terribly painful when it is well documented what Haggard said of homosexuals in the past.

It seems as if the explanation offered by New Life Church in the Times article really focused on the church seeking business or marketing/PR counsel to cover up a bad decision by a leader. I feel like this is a time where the church doesn't need to act like a business; rather, it needed to act like a community of brothers and sisters, be open with one another, acknowledge misbehavior, and pursue healing.

In the end, bad decisions and sin happen. It will happen as we are human and we are broken as people. However, the way in which we deal with such decisions tells a lot about whether or not we will draw people into the faith. When people are broken, what will we do? Will we cover it up, or will we seek healing and openness....In my opinion, this is why UnChristian really needs to be read in the local church... Hypocritical behavior is not attractive to the unbeliever.

Double Feature: Gran Torino and Defiance

2009-01-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

Last night was really a different kind of night for me. After getting settled with work in Ann Arbor, I couldn't sleep, so I decided to check out the local cinema for some late night movie time. I haven't been to the theatre in months, so the ability to get out and see a couple of films my wife wouldn't like as much was exciting to me. So, I had to get my fill of Eastwood in Gran Torino and had to see the WWII film (I'm a sucker for war movies) Defiance. What happened to me last night was really conflicting: what is the balance for me with regard to faith and vengeance.

Gran Torino, is a really good film, showing Eastwood as a hardened old Ford factory worker from Detroit. He is out of touch with family and his life is a direct by-product of the underbelly of the Korean War. I was amazed by how hard it was for me to know the balance between forgiveness and seeking to make things right as a believer in Christ. Perhaps that's the sign of a good film. There are countless moments throughout the film, and one in particular, where what is itching in my belly is really about setting the record straight and not allowing for wrongs to be made right, in time, by our creator. I won't spoil the movie for you, but, if you're a person of faith, it really may prove difficult for you to reconcile that balance.

Defiance is very moving. Set in WWII, it's about the ostracized Jews, who have fled to a forest for refuge against a ridiculously oppressive German contingent. I found myself continually pissed when pondering how evil Hitler was. I'm not delused into believing that the US doesn't have its own evil-- just feel it's worth mentioning that. But, when I consider the calculated approach to wiping out a race of people, there is a part of me that would have loved a front row seat to Hitler's death; further, there's a part of me that wouldn't have minded watching him suffer. Again, this film had me perplexed with how to respond as a person of faith. The decisions made by the Jews during this time are unbelievable. How they survived the war is a testament to their will/resolve.

In sum, as I came back to my hotel room late last night, I was torn in my faith. I don't feel as if it's simply ok to be passive and nonconfrontational when wrong is taking place. Yet, that's what I see in much of the body of Christ (the church) in this day and age. All kinds of calculated and cunning evil (e.g., Darfur, North Korea, Rwanda) have and continue to take place in our day and age. Much of what I see in the western church is passivity, or greater yet, a disconnect between the reality of how evil this world truly is. What is humbling for me is that I don't see how I'm much different. My conscious awareness to these events is rattled and I can only hope that there is a greater stimulus to my mind on the disparity of events taking place in the world today. I'm thankful for last night. It was a time to ponder some very important things.

Obama-- Fresh Face, Fresh Perspective? I hope so...

2009-01-20T14:01:00.000-08:00

"For such a time as this..."

I forgot how thankful I was to live in this country. Granted, the past 8 years haven't been the highlight reel of democracy in American History. Don't get me wrong, I don't envy what Bush had encountered in office. I'm fairly positive I wouldn't have done a number of things that he did, but I'm not blind to the fact that I didn't have to walk the proverbial mile in his shoes.

Today, I'm thankful to be a witness to history. I loved Rick Warren's prayer, not compromising on the impact of a changed life through belief in Christ. I'm not sure what the future will yield, and even though I'm passionately interested in politics, I'm still convinced that the local church (all throughout the world, not simply the US), and not Washington, DC truly is the hope of this world.

I'm thankful to see what happens, and I truly pray that God would give Obama wisdom and foresight; further, that he would surround himself with people of petition and prayer to Christ for guidance. Regardless of the agreements/disagreements, I believe what Billy Graham lived out-- a continuous prayer for political figures, regardless of personal difference.

It feels good to be an American today-- It's been a while since I felt like I could truly say that.

Blessings, Barack.... I pray for you and your leadership for this country.

Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers

2009-01-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

Malcolm Gladwell's new book Outliers is fantastic. I know that Gladwell is not an academic by trade, but he does something within all three of his texts that I very much appreciate.... He takes high society concepts and writes in a conversational manner for all to understand.

As a trained academic myself, one of the things that has always been difficult for me to swallow is the manner in which we write. There is this almost superior tone and vocabulary used in a manner that much of mainstream society doesn't connect with. As such, I personally believe that there are a lot of great ideas and theoretical concepts flowing in academe, which will likely never hit mainstream culture.... Why? Personally, I believe it's pride within the academic and the culture that they have immersed themselves into.

Gladwell's approach is refreshing. I love reading about why families in the south operate on a code of honor not seen in other parts of this country. I love learning about Bill Joyce and Bill Gates; how the older you are on a developmental team, the more likely your level of success; the month that you are born matters; the year that you are born matters.... All of the concepts are quite fun. Greater though, I love how Gladwell writes. It's simple. It's conversational. It's the kind of writer that I would aspire to be if communicating about important concepts.

The Character of a Man

2008-12-28T21:34:00.000-08:00

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/multimedia/mediaplayer.php?id=5713

The above post is in regard to another debacle of a Browns season (4-12). Watch the post of Romeo Crennel. I posted it, because I am thankful for the integrity and character of the man. Romeo has been butchered by the press in Cleveland. I'm not necessarily supporting his performance, but I'm refreshed by his integrity. Consistently, Romeo has not thrown anyone under the bus; rather, he's said that the buck stops with him when it comes to winning. Unfortunately, I believe his days are numbered; not because I prefer him as the head coach of the Browns (I'll insert a shameless plug here for Cowher-- Randy, give him $10 million per year if he wants it!!!), but because I'm thankful for the character and integrity of the man. He owns the responsibility of being a coach. Unfortunately, the Browns continue to tear my heart out since the expansion era of '99 began. I long for the days of the mid to late 80's. In closing though, I want to say thank you to Romeo for doing what few men in this day and age do now--- not look for excuses, but to own the responsibility afforded to him in the position he is in.

Thank you, Romeo, for your character and integrity. I wish you well.

Scandalous Miracle-- How do we not pause?

2008-12-24T22:43:00.000-08:00

The Gospel of Luke tells one of the most provocative, scandalous stories known to man.... yet, many of us simply could care less. How might I suggest that? Look at how we act during Christmas-time. The story of the birth of Christ has truly been marginalized in western culture. Even as I write this post right now, my daughter sleeps with such excitement for what will be under the tree tomorrow. Granted, we took the time to read the Christmas story to her tonight and spend time setting up the nativity in relation to how the Gospel portrays the birth of Christ. I'm truly thankful for that.

But the reality is that this birth ultimately leads to a well-documented death (historically, by believers and unbelievers e.g., Josephus). And what happens after the death of Christ, I believe, is the most important dichotomous question that we face in this life. Yes or no-- did Christ rise from the dead? It's not so simple to reduce this question to those who are smart vs. those who are dumb. If that's your approach, here are those who do believe in the resurrection (an impressive list: There are a multitude of philosophers, writers, and scientists, who happen to be Christian and at the same time believe in an old earth. The following names are those I’m aware of; John Ankerberg, Gleason Archer, John Battle, Michael Behe, William Jennings Bryan, Walter Bradley, Jack Collins, Chuck Colson, Paul Copan, William Lane Craig, Norman Geisler, Robert Godfree, Guillermo Gonzales, Hank Hannegraff, Jack Hayford, Fred Heeren, Charles Hodge, Walter Kaiser, Greg Koukl, C. S. Lewis, Paul Little, Patricia Mondore, J. P. Moreland, Robert Newman, Greg Neyman, Mark Noll, Nancy Pearcey, Perry Phillips, William Phillips, Mike Poole, Bernard Ramm, Jay Richards, Hugh Ross, Fritz Schaefer, Francis Schaeffer, C. I. Scofield, Chuck Smith Jr., David Snoke, Lee Strobel, Ken Taylor, and B. B. Warfield). Granted there are others who are quite smart who don't believe (and thus, I digress).

In the end though, I truly believe our lives should pursue, with vigor, the answer to that question. Further, I believe our lives should be transformed by either response to the question. While it's my intense desire to see folks come to a belief in the resurrection, I have deep respect for those who study this question intensely and come to a different conclusion.

Tonight, I gave my brother-in-law Keller's book, The Reason for God. It's a great book, dealing primarily with this question (and other surrounding questions). In a letter to him in the book, I wrote about how my heart aches for those who don't pursue this question of who is God, who is his son Jesus, and did he rise from the dead? As I sat in church service this evening, I couldn't help but wonder about the ultimate fate of man, when we breathe our last breath. As I ponder that very question, my heart clings to the cross and to my belief in the empty tomb. It's that empty tomb that is the ultimate by-product of the savior birth. For that, tonight, as others sleep and as I write this very post, I am so thankful that this is my perspective of Christmas. I'm so thankful to Christ for becoming "God with skin on." It is this that I will celebrate tomorrow.

Blessings to all of you, and I pray that each of you truly has a wonderful Christmas day tomorrow.

Great Perspective: Statistics on "What Constitutes an Evangelical?"

2008-12-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

I'm a data freak. I'm not ashamed of it; rather I've completely embraced my inner-nerd. So, in reading a book recently, I came across a fascinating study by Barna that sets the record straight on one of the major issues within what an "evangelical" is operationalized as in the media.

See, when the media polls (or when the government polls for that matter) the issue of defining an individual as an evangelical in a survey is left up to them. There is one MAJOR problem with that, and this study pointed that out. An evangelical in self-reported data is left up to the individual. So, their perception of what an evangelical is lies in the hands of the self-reporter.

The problem is this: an evangelical, means something by definition. There are a few non-negotiables. In a study of "evangelicals" (N=5,067, perfect sample size for "normal distribution" data freaks), Barna decided to layout what they believed the ground rules were for the term evangelical, and from there, they categorized what an evangelical was. Here's where it gets fascinating.

In a survey of 5,067 "evangelicals" Barna put some guidelines in place, and instead of asking the simple dichotomous question of "are you an evangelical" (Y or N), they instead asked questions similar to this:

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
Do you believe that there is one way to heaven?
Are you a "born-again" Christian?
Is the Bible accurate in the principles that it teaches? (and there were a number of questions within this).

When comparing Barna's "evangelicals" vs. the self-reported registered voter "evangelicals", here are some amazing findings:

1) only 9% of 5,067 voters that self-identified as being evangelical are really "evangelical" by the definition layed out by Barna--- THAT'S ONLY 456 OF THE 5,067 EVANGELICALS!

2) 38% of voters self-identified as being evangelical are what Barna would constitute as nonevangelical born-again Christians-- THAT'S 1,925 OF THE 5,067 EVANGELICALS!

3) 29% of voters self-identified as evangelicals would be considered other-self identified Christians according to the Barna Study-- THAT'S 1,469 OF THE 5,067 EVANGELICALS!

4) Finally, 24% of "evangelicals" (self-identified) would actually be considered as those outside of the Christian faith, according to Barna-- THAT'S ROUGHLY 1,216 OF THE 5,067 EVANGELICALS!

My point in this is the importance of operationalization. Depending on who is conducting the study Barna's research points to a huge need to clearly operationalize what the heck one is really talking about. Don't just lump "evangelicals" into one pool. Clearly define evangelical as a term and you then become more surgical/precise in gauging what it is that you are really talking about; further, the realm of confusion with such terms is diminished.

I love this research, because it points to the need for CLEARLY DEFINING WHAT IN THE WORLD YOU ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT!

And in closing, by Barna's definition, yes, I am an evangelical ;-)

2008-12-18T08:02:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM

Just saw this video this morning from Penn and Teller on Ed.Stetzer.com

After I listened to it, I felt so convicted, and motivated at the same time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've seen/witnessed moments in which I've been more defeated than challenged in sharing the Gospel. Even though his faith is not changed (he's still a devout atheist), the man that he is referring to in this video is characterized as a very good man, not to mention sane.

In posting this, a lot of it is for the benefit of the unbeliever, in terms of recognizing the heart this man had toward reaching out to him; however, a ton of the benefit is for me personally, as a believer. How am I characterized, when it comes to reaching out to unbelievers in my sphere of influence. I really enjoyed this clip... I believe my life will be changd because of it.... Wow, did I ever feel I could say that in relation to anything comprised of Penn and Teller.

Shocking Research Report on Evangelicals from SBC

2008-12-18T06:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-12-18-saved-heaven_N.htm

Sociological findings and roles in family...

2008-12-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

I'm currently helping to edit a book that will hopefully get published (fingers crossed). The book basically addresses the need for men to be spiritual leaders in the home. The topic really has opened my eyes to the influence of the father in the family (an influence which could be positive or negative).

Probably the most engaging statistic that I've found thus far deals with church attendance and spiritual growth in the family. If a father (in the US) is the initiator in children going to church, the family has a 93% likelihood of following suit. However, without the influence of the father as initiator, the number dips shockingly.

It's amazing how the impact of sociological role in the family can influence the family dynamic. Obviously, as a person and strong advocate of the Christian faith, it challenges me personally to lead my family in the way of growth and development spiritually.

Sociologically, the divide of the home through divorce should be sounding alarms to people of faith. With such a reality statistically, I see the need for believers to be more engaged than ever to reach out to members of their local community in broken homes, showing them love, compassion, and an opportunity to become engaged in the local church.

Sign of the Times-- Face Lift Anyone?

2008-12-16T08:19:00.001-08:00

The nation's (not world's) first successful face transplant, brought to you by my hometown Cleveland Clinic....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081216/ap_on_he_me/face_transplant

Social Networking....ugh, facebook and friends of yester-year

2008-12-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

I've been on Facebook for a bit now and I'm amazed at the amount of relationships that one can "re-ignite" or catch up on. I've noticed myself really trying to construct who I am now, given that many of the connections on Facebook have much to do with who I used to be. I would say that much of this comes from those who I was around during high school.

Each time I find someone or am "friended" by someone from days gone by at good old Lewiston Porter High School, I pause-- do I really want to have this person know about who I am now? Much of it has to do with who I was vs. who I am striving to be now.

High school didn't do me a whole lot of good. A number of issues.... Socially awkward, and wasn't the most attractive individual you would have come across. Further, so much immaturity during those times. If it wasn't for marginal athletic ability, I don't know what type of suffering I might have had to endure. I have a friend of mine who has a memory like you wouldn't believe, and each time we get together for a beer, he reminds me of how immature I was, recalling every bit of who I was that I would like to forget.

Given such issues, I'm still drawn to want to see what people are up to. I'm sure others have to be feeling some sort of similar issue when seeing a "friend" request from those of yester-year. Even when I see an email come in, there is a certain sort of hesitancy as to whether or not it's worth reading or responding. In some respects there's some fear that someone will send me a "do you remember when you did this to me" gram.....

I push through the awkwardness of that friend request, because I want to know what life is like for those I once had close proximity to. It's not a time for me to simply connect and shove the context of faith down someone's throat; rather, I'm incredibly fascinated with the roads that people will walk in this life (the whole idea of connecting with Gospel in queue). Obviously, I love how faith has impacted my life for the positive. I ultimately want to show people compassion and love, because of the grace I felt as if I had been given in my life which, I believe, does lead to the presentation of the Gospel.

I'm blown away by the reality that such a change is not of my doing. Blown away.

Academic Christians....Sign of Hope?

2008-12-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

Comments from D. Michael Lindsay, professor of Sociology at Rice University:

Christians at the top of the Class:

Most Americans assume that smart people are rarely devout and that devout Christians rarely scale the academic heights. While there are certainly reasons for this perception, we have have to remember that throughout church history, learning and piety have been closely wedded. Practically every university in the Ivy League was founded to serve the church, and for most of their history, these institutions have been places where faith and knowledge support one another. In truth, Christian anti-intellectualism was an anomaly of the twentieth century. for the majority of the time, it has not been a part of the church's past, and developments today suggest it will not be a part of the church's culture.

The Reverend Peter Gomes-- who has taught at Harvard for the last forty years-- says,'There are probably more evangelicals [on Harvard's campus today] than at any time since the 17th century.' Indeed, Christian groups re thriving on college campuses around the country, including those at some of the country's top schools. At Princeton alone, close to 10 percent of the student body is regularly involved in one or more of the Christian groups on campus. And the number of students involved with the Harvard chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ ha increased fivefold over the last two decades. Similar developments can be seen at Stanford, Duke, and Yale.

Student enrollment at Christian colleges and universities has grown 60 percent since 1990, while the general college student population has barely changed. The percentage of evangelicals earning at least a college degree has increased by 133 percent, which is much more than any other religious tradition. Indeed, the rise of evangelicals on America's elite campuses is one of the most notable developments in higher education over the last thirty years. As highly selective universities have sought to diversity their student bodies by race, gender, and ethnicity, they have also unintentionally diversified their campuses' religious makeup. As Gomes said, 'A lot of Midwestern white-bread Protestant Christian evangelicals at whom Harvard would never have looked in the past, and who would have never looked at Harvard, suddenly became members of the university.'

It is not merely students who are bringing their faith to bear on the life of the mind. A growing number of devout professors have be3en recognized for their academic excellence. Outspoken Christians are tenured faculty members at places like Berkeley, Virginia, Emory, and Dartmouth. Harvard Divinity School now has an endowed professorship in evangelical theological studies. It is funded by the family of Alonzo McDonald, a senior White House staffer under President Carter and the former worldwide managing partner for McKinsey & Company. In many ways, McDonald embodies this upsurge of smart Christianity. A Harvard alumnus himself, McDonald has sponsored several initiatives surrounding the life of the mind, including programs at Emory.

A growing number of graduate students are also engaging their faith in various ways. The Harvey Fellows Program, sponsored by Dennis and Eileen Bakke, provides significant financial support for graduate students enrolled in top academic programs like Yale Law School, Harvard Business School, and PhD programs around the country. Modeled in part on the White House Fellows Program, the program has supported approximately 250 fellows worldwide in everything from the arts, humanities, and social sciences to law, medicine, business, science, and engineering. Each summer, new fellows participate in a weeklong seminar. From being hosted at the Supreme Court by an associate justice to interacting with the Librarian of Congress, Harvey Fellows are offered educational experiences that rival those held for Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates scholars. Applicants have to sign a statement of faith and discuss the relevance of their spiritual lives for their chosen vocations. They also must demonstrate the top ranking of their academic department, which ensures that only very talented students are selected. Initiatives like these have contributed to what others have called 'an expanding beachhead' for people of faith at America's most selective universities.

Throughout history, the church, in both Roman catholic and Protestant traditions, has supported a range of intellectual activity, from the scientific research of Newton to the literary contributions of Chesterton. Developments in recent years have enabled a growing number of faithful Christ followers to shed the cultural insularity of Christianity's recent past. If events of the last few years continue, outspoken Christians will come to occupy even more important roles within the intellectual mainstream. Indeed, they are already well on their way.

relationship first... opportunity for conversion

2008-12-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

The more I continue to read about "missional" movements within the church, the more I see the need for relationship first. I've been a Christian now for 12 years, and I'm only now seeing the true value of this perspective. I've done street evangelism, spiritual interest surveys... and I'm definitely convinced that they've served a purpose (please don't misunderstand the truth of that statement-- not just for others lives to get them thinking, but for my life as well); however, what I've been able to see most recently is that the true pursuit of loving and caring from someone speaks volumes for the ability to enter into a spiritual conversation.

I hate the idea that I would look at unbelievers with with a bullseye on their back, but I did... What's more unfortunate-- I feel as if that was the goal of the local leadership that I served under. It worked to some capacity. Certainly, people came to faith in the context of straight up evangelism.

However, given where I'm at in life right now, the thing I see as most pertinent is how people view my life, in the context of relationships. Sure, it's known that I'm a believer, but what does that translate to, in terms of how my life might look different. How do I treat my wife? How to I treat my child? Specifically, when people are watching.

This is where my wife and I really find ourselves right now. Who are those around us that we would love to see come to know the Lord, and how can we spend quality time with them, investing love, time, and active listening to them? Life is messy. Are we willing to sit down with others and listen to them sound off about the messiness?

A conversation tonight with my wife reminded me of that. We were out to dinner and just thought about the ways that we might be able to take time, invest in people, for the sake of making the Gospel pallatable. Not sure what will become of this, but our hope and direction is in investing quality time and love for the sake of spiritual conversation.... taking the bullseye off a prospective unbeliever, and asking the Holy Spirit to help us have the opportunity to love and connect with folks.

Great Commentary from UnChristian

2008-12-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

I posted a paper yesterday about my battle as a person of faith and as an academic. I was reading through UnChristian (Kinnaman & Lyons, 2007), and found some amazing information to echo what I had been feeling personally. The identity of intellectual and person of faith (hybrid) is not easy.

Quotes from UnChristian Kinnaman and Lyons (2007):

This may not surprise you, but the perception that Christians are sheltered is most significant among the subculture of intellectuals and influentials. Our research shows that upscale outsiders--those with advanced educational and financial profiles-- are much more likely than average to express resistance and skepticism toward Christianity. The sheltered perception-- that Christians are ignorant and uninformed-- is most common among young intellectuals. They were more likely than average to describe Christianity as judgmental, old-fashioned, out of touch with reality, and insensitive to others. In addition, they are also less likely to believe that Christianity is friendly, consistently shows love for others, offers hope for the future, is relevant to their life, and is trustworthy. In other multigenerational research our firm has conducted, we have arrived at the same conclusion: upscale outsiders, regardless of their age, maintain the most negative views of the Christian faith.

In our society, upscale adults are most likely to serve as leaders within the fields of business, politics, education, the arts, entertainment, science, and media. Christians who work in these arenas, or hope to, often have to labor against a stereotype that Christians are ignorant and sheltered. When they are introduced as a Christian, they face a credibility gap within their field of work.

As I have pointed out in other parts of this book, it's not just outsiders who feel this way about Christians. Many young insiders are also trying to deal with the out-of-touch perspectives in the Christian community. One of our interviews was with Ann, a 30 year old living in California. She began a career working for a prominent campus ministry, but after getting divorces, having her Christian friends "terminate contact", and entering a new career, she is particularly frustrated with the sheltered mindset.

'In my career choice-- I work in geology and environmental research-- I have been criticized repeatedly by Christians for choosing to go into a secular career rather than Christian ministry. I feel that I am, in fact, serving God by working to preserve his creation and take care of it. Instead, I've had conservative Christians criticize me for being involved in geology because it has incendiary connections to 'old earth' and 'evolutionist' views. I cant' even count the times I've been harshly judged by Christians because I chose this job.'

Ann is an example of a new (and yet not so new) impulse within America's Christian community. Instead of being separated from the channels of influence, many Christians are taking steps to be involved in these arenas. They realize that a sheltered faith has left intellectuals and culture shapers with no frame of reference about what a godly, respectful, and highly proficient Christian looks like. These Christians want to engage skeptical leaders within the channels of influence. Like the prophet Daniel, they want to be prepared. At Barna we expect to study these leaders more in the future, but here are some of the initial insights into their lives and perspectives that we have gained:

1) These young Christian leaders realize that they must display excellence at their craft. Their credibility as Christians depends on their ability to do a great job.

2) One common element of this mindset is the pursuit of a first-class education. Also, many young Christian leaders find significant mentoring relationships and other forms of personal development. Our research leads us to conclude that their success is less about following a formula of education and career advancement and more about their hard work, appropriate mindset, and desire to continually grow.

3) These young leaders define faith as their driving passion in life. And often this means they are confident enough in their faith that they do not have to keep restating this allegiance in robotic cliches. Sometimes they realize that because the people in their office or workplace have deep-seated defenses against Christians, these young leaders let their actions, not their association to the UnChristian label, speak to their colleagues. And yet these young believers who are cracking the ranks of some of the highest positions of authority are careful to maintain a clear sense of their convictions. They are not hypersensitive and they are not compromising.

4) The young leaders we have studied have a healthy respect for their peers and the differences of opinion and lifestyle these people represent. These young leaders relish the chance to break with creativity and sensitivity, the UnChristian stereotypes their peers hold.

5) The motivation of these young leaders is to redeem rather than condemn the arenas in which they work. They realize it's easy to be a critic but far more productive to offer meaningful ways to improve the business or institution. In today's businesses and culture-shaping institutions, successful initiatives generate attention and further opportunities.

Great quotes... I wrote a commonplace book a couple of years ago called Metric Drive... Much of it had to do with my passion for my faith and also my passion for advanced education. It's really neat to see Barna producing this type of research.

BGSU has a new coach!

2008-12-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well, my alma mater has a new head coach! Dave Clawson, from University of Tennessee.....we'll see if he can keep BGSU at the elite of the MAC. Time will tell.

http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/athletics/

Navigating the Hybrid of Faith and Scholarship

2008-12-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

Below is a top paper that I presented at Central States Communication Association (CSCA) in Madison back at the beginning of 2008. It's about my identity issues with regard to my faith and the academic world. Feel free to read if you'd like. I'm contemplating a scholarly submission to journal, but right now, I'll post here:

Thoughtless? An Academic Missionary Navigating the Intercultural Exploration of Hybrid Identity.

I initially wanted to say that this piece is not meant to be antagonistic; rather a story of identity for me in the academic world and in Christian nonprofit work. How can it not at some point be antagonistic? If not for the reader, then for me. I also came to an important realization (with a little help from an old professor and good friend of mine); I am speaking from a point of privilege. I’ve lived a relatively middle-class life. Further, I’m a white male. There are certainly more important social and political happenings taking place in the world today, with far greater implications to those in oppressed circumstances. With that, I feel grounded; but I also feel that mine is still a story to tell.
Faith is an issue that everyone has something to say about in some capacity. I can remember as a child that faith was something not to question, but to do. My mother and father were hard working, driven people, both of whom had one hell of a right hand when it came to discipline (all three kids would attest). Mom cut hair and drove school bus. Dad worked at DuPont and moved his way up the ladder, much like his father did. To make ends meet as we were kids, he also cleaned chimneys, worked odd jobs, and played drums in a band—the Semanons. My dad always got a chuckle from that (“It’s NoNames backwards”). In the midst of all of the hard work, there was one constant—Sunday meant church.
Church was something that my parents agreed was important; but where they worshipped were two completely different places. My father is Russian, Slovak, and Catholic. That identity shouts traditional Catholic mass to me. Church is duty. It’s obligation. It is not a Christmas and Easter drop in type of obligation—don’t get him started on that. Its row five on the aisle at St. Bernard’s every Sunday for 7:30 AM mass. Don’t take his aisle seat. He can cast a look that makes you know you did something wrong, especially when you’ve stolen his aisle seat.
My mother is Irish, Appalachian, and charismatic Christian. To me, this shouts something different in terms of church. My mother was raised in squalor. I saw a picture of her as a child on the porch of her home in a coal mining community in West Virginia. I saw a child, who, by no means seemed to have the same shot as a child growing up in privilege, let alone shoes on her feet. Her father bartered for their home. It was nothing special. No running water and no bathroom for a time. It was still home.
Church is more about feeling to her than obligation (even though that was important). It’s sensationalistic. It’s gritty (role up your sleeves and preach the Gospel to any and all). It is going to charismatic services where people would do a back flip, speak in tongues, and sing, “I saw the light, I saw the light.” It’s allowing the Holy Spirit to move. It’s hope. She took me to a service once on the east side of Cleveland as we were visiting my aunt Pat. Pastor Joe Frano was preaching in a stuffy room, sweating like no one that I had ever seen before. As sweat poured down his brow and three piece suit, the congregation (mostly African-American) shouted back in adoration for the words spoken from pastor’s mouth. “He preach a good word today! Amen! Hallelujah! Cay at ta ba ba sit a coy oto ba ba sitanita! Yes! Yes! Go on and praise Him!” It was 85 degrees outside in the inner city of Cleveland; and felt like 100 inside. No air conditioning, a sweet, but stuffy smell in the room. About 100 people crammed into an old abandoned store front. And at the end, pastor closed with the difference between heaven and hell. He looked right at me, a 13 year old, and asked, “Do you want to burn in a devil’s hell?” “No,” I replied. I was so nervous to be called out. In addition, I was embarrassed about the amount of sweat pouring down my body, from brow to toe. I went up for the altar call and said that I didn’t want to go to hell. Five people surrounded me. My mother let out some sort of shriek and began to cry. The five people, as they surrounded me, looked to pastor Joe. He put his hand on my head and began to pray in some way that I had never heard before and he wanted me to do the same. I couldn’t. I can’t remember exactly what I mumbled, but it was something like, “Ba ba ba ba ba ba coy ba ba ba ba ba ba coy.” It was at this point that many say that I was saved from the pits of hell and was slain in the spirit. I always thought that a moment like this should be remembered by a feeling of transformation. Instead, the feeling I had was one of embarrassment. I simply wanted to sit down or find a rock to crawl under. In a word, this experience felt weird.
“God doesn’t want you to be sick, Ryan. He doesn’t want you to live in poverty. He wants for you to be healthy, wealthy, and wise.” My mother wrote that to me in a letter for Christmas one year after I had gotten married and left a lucrative career in consulting for missionary work. This letter set me off. It motivated me as well. I’ve got it in a shoebox of memories and pull it out from time to time to remind myself of how, if that’s true, what in the world was Paul’s life about in the New Testament when he mentioned that trials in life were inevitable if one were to follow in the Christian faith? While this is not at all a comfortable statement to me, I vividly remember hearing it as I grew up. In sum, church was a priority to our family. But it was also something that confused the hell out of me.
When you’re raised in a home like this, you can’t simply turn your back on faith. It’s too embedded into your identity and environment no matter how confusing it is. I remember when I left home for undergrad in 1995; I wanted to give church a break. I left Youngstown, New York and ventured down to Bowling Green, Ohio, with hopes of lettering in baseball, doing well in school, and meeting a woman who was just crazy enough to take a shot on a quiet, insecure, acne laden kid. My motivations were purely selfish in nature. Have fun in college, get a good job, make a lot of money, and live a life that allowed me to have whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it. Oh yeah, and forget church for a time. But I couldn’t escape. My freshman year was full of people offering free pizza certificates with a catch. The catch being that they were allowed to come to your dorm room and share with you a “great secret”; Jesus loved me and had a plan for my life. After dodging these people for a time, I finally opened the door and allowed two guys to corner me and share this great secret. I’d heard it before in some capacity, but it never really sank in. After learning about the Four Spiritual Laws and the Romans Road I believed what was being said, but felt such pressure to conform on the spot. Some would say it was the Holy Spirit pressing in on me to make a life change. I would still like to think it was two guys making me feel such pressure. Church never left me. It followed me, even through the corridors leading up to room 335 Conklin Hall. God did reveal himself to me quite vividly after further study of the Bible. I did make a conscious (not pressure-filled) decision to “follow” Christ my sophomore year of college. Much of it had to do with checking things out for myself, reading quite a bit, and ultimately making my decision about what I believe. I definitely feel envious at times when friends of mine share stories about their college experience in comparison to mine. The sex, the drugs, the parties, the freedom to try those things taboo, the seven years of undergrad. I say that not knowing the repercussion of such decisions. It always seems as there is a string attached in some way. For me, it was four years of school, two degrees, dodging trouble, and driving friends home after a night on the town. I can’t lie—I’m curious about what stories I may have had.
Church and Academy Meet
Given my upbringing and family background, I now want to turn to a discussion on the divide between the academic world and the work of missions in faith-based organizations. The two feel juxtaposed one another, and yet I live in both worlds at the same time. It’s not the case of either/or; rather it’s both/and. These two identifies reflect what I come back to most when people ask about who I am and what I do. Luis Palau (1999), a debater and Christian writer wrote the following:
Biblical Christianity calls us to love God with all our heart, and soul, and strength, and
mind. In that, it is the sanest belief system of all—it addresses you and me, as persons, in our
totality. Together, not in isolation. Ultimately, belief in God is something I do in community.
Why? Because in the community of a solid Christian church I experience God in the context
of relationship. Because there I also learn ‘the whole counsel of God,’ saving me from undue
errors. (91)
I am completely aware that such a statement is not altogether palatable to many within the academic community. What I desire to take from this statement is the aspect of community. The idea that Palau calls us not to be in isolation from one another as believers in the Christian faith. There is a rub however in my particular situation; thus the basis for this paper. The difficulty emerges when only part of one’s life is lived in such community. Granted, I do have a church that serves as a community for me and my family on a weekly basis. This cultural community is more so one of career and workplace. This area of my life is divided yet merged, separate yet together. Language, interaction and how I go about moving forward in both areas is quite different. The academy and the world of faith-based nonprofit work: My life is lived in both cultures, yet my identity seems on the fringe of both. A recent conference of training missionaries for a week during which school was in session served as a perfect example of the difficulty faced in living in both worlds.
As I probe the issues of identity in the academic and faith-based world, certain thoughts emerge. My central issue is not with the idea that the academy is god-less. This is disappointing to me, but not my main point of frustration. I’m more troubled with the idea that, as a believer in Christ, I fear that the church would be labeled as thoughtless. When using the word church, I simply mean an organized body of people who have a belief in Christ as being the son of God. This particular wording fits the current church organization through which I am involved in leading, while a full-time student and teacher in graduate school.
Enter the Academic as Missionary Trainer
It is Sunday morning, January 21st. I get up at 5AM to pack, shower, and catch a flight from New York to Florida. I’m ready to leave my academic world in order to pursue being a Christian missionary trainer for a faith-based nonprofit organization. Upon getting on the plane, I feel a subtle sense of hope. It is as if my identity as Christian has felt somewhat locked up in a closet, and I’m now free to express it, without weird looks. The flight goes well and I arrive in central Florida ready to teach a handful of recent college graduates who all have one thing in common: They are entering into the world of full-time missionary work, feeling called by God to different parts of the United States, specifically on college campuses.
As I step off the plane in Orlando, the air is warm and has a particularly sweet smell to it. I can detect the smell of citrus, and the site of palm trees not only warms me physically, but mentally. I feel rejuvenated in the new geographic locale. As the heat makes itself known to me, I begin to sweat as I wait for my ride from the airport to the hotel. Once my ride arrives, I’m taken to the retreat center for the week long training. The center itself is interesting. It’s tucked away from the main strip of traffic, nestled into an area of some solitude amongst the busyness of the outside world. Everywhere I turn, there’s a cross or a picture of someone spiritual who has left their mark in the world of evangelistic missions. It’s motivating, yet humbling. Exciting, yet makes me feel somewhat apprehensive. I’m painfully aware that there have been times in history when the gospel of Christianity has been advanced through means of might as opposed to reasoning. I don’t know what method was used for these faces to adorn the halls of this facility. Were they violent in their quest, lacking the appreciation for other cultures? Or were they ambassadors of reason, the likes of Hudson Taylor, adapting to the cultures they immersed themselves into, respecting the fact that they were on foreign soil with a message that many had yet to hear? This is what makes me uncomfortable. Who are these people and why are their faces watching me as I prepare to teach?
The halls are stuffy. You can detect a hint of mold coming from the bathroom and all wet areas surrounding the facility. This is home for the week. I definitely feel like money is tight within the organization. We’re nonprofit. It’s not a chance for us to have champagne dinners and beautiful evenings by the pool. It’s more along the lines of what’s in the budget and what’s reasonable. As long as the lizards outside don’t make their way into our room, I’m fine. I can tolerate the musky smell. All things considered, I’m excited to be here because I’m around my people. Allow me to explain. They are Christians willing to give up the comfort of a financially stable life and risk it all to spread the Gospel to all corners of the earth. It’s where I was six years ago when I gave up the lucrative career of a consultant in order to share my faith with others. Not all believers are willing to make such a commitment, but they did. I’ve been in the academic world for five months prior to this. I don’t see people like this there. God is not really a topic of discussion in school for me. All things spiritual may come up from time to time, but here I can enter into discussions with people, not having to justify my rationale for believing that a God does exist. This is what I mean when I say that I’m around my people.
Should I be excited?
The look in their eyes is one of excitement, hope, innocence, and fear. I begin by introducing myself and my co-trainer Paul, welcoming everyone to the facility. I outline for them what we’ll be training them on throughout the course of the conference. We start with an ice-breaker in which people talk about where they are from, why they are here, and why they believe that God has called them into the world of full-time missions. Needless to say, it is night and day from the current world that I flew away from this morning. The change in weather and location serves as a nice word picture of change from academy and missionary training.
I come out of the ice-breaker session with an excitement and hope that my life and identity as Christian will be accepted. Re-emerging into this culture is one that I have a lot of expectations and hope for. In the academy, I feel as if I’m constantly justifying my faith. When it’s found out that I’m a Christian, people almost don’t know how to react. They like me as a person and appreciate being around me. But there is something more that I can’t get out of them. Some of my peers are astounded that I could actually be so foolish as to believe in a God, let alone a Judeo-Christian God. I recall an instance in which I made my faith known in conversation during an introductory theory course; the reason being that the discussion took us there. The issue was one of relativism versus absolute truth when considering morality and our social judgments of others. I was the only one to say that I believe in a system of absolutes. In that moment, it felt as if my professor was going to have a field day carving me up. Saying that put such weight on my shoulders, as I was the only one to speak up in dissent with the professor. “Well, we actually have someone who believes in a system of absolutes in the class. This should be a fun discussion.” As he took me to task, I can remember the fear of not knowing how to answer his questions kick in. What if he asked me something that I simply didn’t have an answer for? Does it mean that I’m wrong because I don’t have the answer? The walls of the classroom seemed to close in on me. My heart began to race and my sweat glands began to work overtime. My face was red with uncertainty and anxiousness. As my nervousness continued to grow and in my attempt to answer his questions, I realized something. My professor was not escalating like I was. He was not sweating like I was. He was not nervous like I was either. He was simply trying to challenge my thought process and engage me in a discussion. He snickered a bit as the conversation ended. That grin, that asymmetrical smirk in the right corner of his mouth said enough to me. And as I felt that was enough, he proceeded to let me know verbally that he completely disagreed with me as well. “I’m not saying that you can’t believe what you do. I’m just not buying what’s being sold.” That final comment stuck with me, primarily because I hate the idea that my ideas are in need of selling. I just want to be part of a conversation—not a sale.
“Ryan, I respect that you believe what you do, but it’s just too far fetched for me. When it’s over, I rot in a casket. It scares the hell out of me to think about that, but it’s what I believe.” What I can say of my professors and my colleagues is that they are incredibly forthright and honest in where they stand regarding faith, in particular Christianity. Sure, at first they are surprised that I believe in the whole god thing, but they are able to get over that and simply say that they appreciate where I’m coming from, but don’t really see god as an alternative to their line of thinking. I don’t like that, but I’m not completely overwhelmed by how they feel either. The university system welcomes multiple veins of thought; I get that. And I get that the university system is not altogether okay with the idea of a god (Judeo-Christian or otherwise). I understand that my line of thinking in many graduate circles is on the periphery of what others both think and feel. So, as I have learned to be okay with this reality, the more troubling aspect for me lies in my inability to be fully accepted by my fellow Christian brothers and sisters.
The results of my week in Florida did not at all live up the hope that I had. The reality is that I feel that the level of rejection to my identity comparatively is similar. I’m not as much at home with my fellow Christians as I thought myself to be. I’m left to examine if the two main identities that I have in life can be accepted in some subgroup of some culture. Allow me to explain this feeling of rejection among fellow believers.
Danny
Danny is an excitable guy. He feels called to be in ministry at a university he attended for a couple of years after moving there from Miami. His enthusiasm can be frightening to some, but inside the Christian culture he is seen as being zealous to share the Gospel and see lives changed for Christ (a positive thing). His self-description is mutt; part Spaniard, part Lebanese, part Cuban, part Irish. He is the first solid example of why I feel as if my identity crisis is heightened at the conference. I have recently read some books by Christian scientists in the academy who believe in the idea that the earth is billions not thousands of years old. My identity as Christian does not hinge on this sort of evidence. It lies in the life of Christ and how he lived and died. Regardless, there is a scientist named John Polkinghorne (1985, 1986, 1988, 2000), a physicist and latecomer to Christ. I qualify this by saying that I am by no means a physicist. As an academic, Polkinghorne paints an interesting picture of being a Christian and a physicist whose science points to the proposal of an old earth (billions, not thousands of years old), something I’ve grown quite comfortable with1. But this has not always been the case. This is not the type of material that I have been exposed to in the Christian culture that I was raised in. To be honest, I struggle with the idea of if this line of thinking makes me less of a Christian or not. To question the age of the earth in many conservative circles is frowned upon. One almost has to be covert in their conversation with one another (at least, this has been my experience). After reading his (Polkinghorne’s) work, I find it interesting and am looking into it further. I had been explaining this stuff a bit to a new missionary, talking about how science and religion are two fields that need to converse with one another and not simply antagonize each other, along the lines of what E.O. Wilson is saying particularly in relation to the way in which we treat the earth. This was the only point that I was trying to make.
Danny happened to overhear my conversation and took pretty strong exception to what I had been talking about. “How could you say something like that?” His eyes were wide open and there was a sense of anger and fear that came through in his dialogue. “Hang on, hang on, let me explain,” I said. Danny jumped down my throat. “If you look at the scriptures literally, this earth can be no more than thousands of years old! To say something other than that is simply not true!” Quite defensive, he let me know that the earth was 6,000 years old and that other world views of an old earth were flat wrong. This isn’t surprising in conservative Christian culture. I tried to reason with him, but to no avail. I mentioned how the church had been wrong on scientific matters before. “Danny, you know, the church used to be staunch in their support of the earth being flat. The last time I checked, we were looking at globes, not flat surfaces.” The whole point I was trying to make in this discussion was that we need to keep an open mind to discuss issues as opposed to getting defensive about them. As Danny and I bantered back and forth with one another, our conversation lasted for quite some time. There was no resolution. It only seemed to strengthen his perspective on the young earth philosophy. I felt disheartened. The tension that rose on his part during the conversation made it hard to slow him down and simply talk about some of the things I had been reading in Polkinghorne’s work. What was further disappointing was that the person I had been talking to prior to Danny’s entry into the conversation had gotten up and left, somewhat frustrated that our conversation had been cut off. After Danny and I wrapped up, the room was empty and it was 11pm. I sat there for a time, reflecting on our conversation and what happened. Did I push too hard? Did I antagonize him? Why do such conversations develop tension? The last question was deflating. Do I belong here? My heart for academic inquiry felt crushed, even though our common bond as Christians existed. Disheartened in New York; disheartened in Florida.
What bothered me so much about this conversation? Resistance to open dialogue. Danny did not want to talk about this subject. It’s like he wanted to stifle my alternative line of thought here. I felt as if my desire to talk about this was met with a sort of false prophet mentality. “Should I be stoned for such a statement?” I thought. Danny seemed to think what I was discussing was contrary to what the Bible teaches; therefore I must be a prophet who is trying to detract from the word of God and lead people astray. There was no point-counterpoint type of discussion; rather, there was no discussion. It was more of an open rebuke.
Many outside of this particular conservative Christian culture would laugh at the idea that we would undertake such a discussion on the age of the earth. But these are the types of sticking points that I’ve witnessed in my time in the culture (over 10 years now). What’s more frustrating is that, to think outside of a young earth paradigm is sacrilege to some. How dare you! How dare I what? Think that science may help us to understand some things about the earth that we have not known. Think that scientific and religious circles should come together and discuss with one another. Think that some theological scholars could benefit from the help of scientific scholars and vice versa. How dare I exercise critical thought on critical matters! Such rebuking from my fellow believers in Christ only serves to alienate me from many of them. The night ends with me being alone in the conference room, post-discussion with Danny. My ability to connect with other Christians is stifled because of the reactions I’ve faced from evenings like this. I retire to bed, without any sense of affirmation. If anything, I’m more insecure for bringing the topic up. I’ve rocked the boat. Thou shalt not do that. Given this discussion, the week is not over. It’s only Monday.
What do you do?
During the missionary training conference, it’s my job to equip missionaries with the ability to raise funds so they can be supported for the work that they do. Canvassing, as it’s known in many nonprofit circles, is a tough, but proven way to help people earn a wage for the work they do. Many people are scared to death to do this though. This is how I get paid to help the organization. I have a team of supporters that give money to the organization to an account that I am responsible for. I earn a paycheck from that, after all overhead and other expenses are taken out to help run the organization. As someone who has done this for five years, it’s not fun, nor is it an easy way to raise a family.
Some of the more popular questions I get from the people I train is why am I not doing this full time? Why am I living in New York? And why do I feel called to get my PhD? This particular barrage of questions happened at lunch during the second day of the conference. As the questions were asked, I felt my typically insecure self start to get a bit warm and sweaty. I slowly finished chewing the bite I was taking as these questions were asked, with my finger in the air, noting that I’d be done in a moment and would try to answer it for them.
As I gathered my thoughts, I launch into a statement of what my passions are in life. First, I love being involved in missions work and spreading the Gospel. I love helping to train people just like them so that they can do what they feel called to do in life. At this point, all participants are nodding in active agreement (what I like to call the nonverbal amen). They are excited and enthusiastic, even in agreement that this is certainly an honorable thing to do—help missionaries get released to assignment and back on the missions field after raising financial support. We talk constantly throughout the week about the Great Commission and being called by God through Matthew 28:18-20:
Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (New
International Version)
This is a no-brainer for them. I am cautiously excited because I expect that my identity as Christian resonates with them, but I’m nervous that my second passion may not be met with such enthusiasm.
From that point, I launch into the second passion that I have and an identity that I assert. “I am an academic.” This initial statement is somewhat perplexing to them, but interesting at the same time. I talk about how I feel as if God has given me this passion to seek higher education at the university level. “It is not a passion for seminary (their brows furrow); rather it’s a passion to examine social phenomena and social change.” I lose them here. I talk about how an advanced education in the social sciences can help us (society) to understand things about social movement and social change. “The university trains and equips me in the different methods of social analysis.” I briefly segue for a moment, talking about the differences of qualitative versus quantitative research. I tell them that my preference is toward mixed methods. “I value the qualitative richness of information, and I value the quantitative as well, examining phenomena and change through more statistical analysis.” Blank faces.
I sense the excitement and passion as it grows in my voice, but I witness the nonverbal confusion on their faces. “But how does that have anything to do with your heart for missions work?” Ah yes. Someone had to ask that question. My internal response to that question is, “Does it have to be connected at all?” Some of the folks at the table in the cafeteria mention to me that I’m very talented and that my brain could be used for such good, if only I would come back to working full-time in missions. I hate statements like this. As I try to explain the need for people of faith to be intellectually involved in the academies, I’ve lost them. Some decide to get up and walk out early from lunch for the next session of teaching. Ultimately, everyone leaves, and it’s just me again. My general impression is that, since academic work is not directly related to preaching the gospel, it’s not a position of influence. Therefore, I could be using my talents elsewhere to be more effective for the kingdom. Complete bogwash to me. It makes sense to me that some of these folks think that. I inquired about how some of them (mostly recent college graduates) did in college academically. Five of them (maybe nine total were at our table) talked about how they just tried to get by and how serving in their campus church was of greater importance to them. “I just knew, after getting involved in church, that this is what I was supposed to be doing. Grades didn’t really matter, because they have no eternal value.” One specific fellow, Nate, quit his last semester at Iowa State because he felt clearly that God had called him to quit school. My response: “Really? You’re serious?” As I asked him to walk me through that process, much of it was difficult for him to articulate. Ultimately, it was a sense that the Holy Spirit was working in him to make such a decision.
As I’m alone at the table, pondering Nate’s story and his decision, the pictures of the former missionaries on the walls cast their shadow over me. I’m angry because there’s just a general sense of indifference among these folks toward the intellectual stimulation that education can provide. It’s more than disregarding college because their professor was gay or because they believed in evolution and an old earth. That’s nonsensical, but that’s the reality of many of the decisions that I’ve heard. “How in the world can you influence people when you choose not to engage them in conversation because of things like their sexual preference, their view of the age of the earth, evolution, or if life exists on other planets?” I vent my frustrations to an audience of one—myself. It’s almost as if questions like this pose a danger to these people, and therefore they stay as far away from them as they can. I couldn’t disagree more. With that though, I’m not with anyone else at this point in the conference. I’m the one alone not necessarily feeling ostracized, but not feeling welcomed or understood either. I take my last sip of terribly old decaf coffee and make my way back to the general session of the conference to finish teaching folks for the night before turning in.
Movie Night
It’s the middle of the week. Things are ok. I’m plugging along. Before I left for Florida, my best friend in graduate school, Derek, gave me a copy of Jesus Camp (Ewing & Grady, 2006). Our friendship is somewhat ironic. He and his wife are both atheists, but we love spending time together and our differences in no way generate cause for me to not want to associate with them. They’re wonderful people and I appreciate them dearly. “Let me know what you think about this.” A grin from ear to ear was on his face as he said it.
It’s Wednesday evening at the conference. We’ve got four more days of training to go. The day of training is over and I decide to invite some people down to the conference room to watch the movie with me. The movie itself was embarrassing as a person of faith, primarily because I’ve absolutely been in churches where the charisma of the leaders is something that seems to go unchecked. To hear the woman (Becky) in the film talk about raising up a generation of soldiers for the kingdom of God made me sick, seeking to match the efforts of radical Islam.
I had asked a close friend of mine at the conference to watch the movie with me. He declined because he said that he had heard some negative things about the movie. I asked him to elaborate, but he chose not to. I was curious as to why, so I probed further. He shut me down pretty quickly and did not want to talk about it. I backed off. He’s done this to me before. I asked him to watch Al Gore’s starring role in the documentary, An Inconvenient Truth (Guggenheim, 2006), and he wanted nothing to do with that. “I don’t mind making a film on that, but you’ve got to be real careful with theory. The world has had warming and cooling trends. We’re just in one of those warming trends.” Global warming to him was a hoax and he wanted nothing to do with Gore or anyone else in that camp earning a dollar from him for propagating such lies. This sounds laughable, but this is a person that I love and respect a great deal. The defensiveness to alternative thought is so troubling. Why is he so threatened by what’s in these films? Others want nothing to do with these movies either. They have a general distrust of anything that may go against the grain of popular thought in circles they are most comfortable in.
A woman attending the training watched the film with me. As we finished up, I asked her what she thought. Her response was interesting. She commented on how she grew up going to churches similar to this, and how she had mixed feelings. “It’s sad. I’ve seen this growing up in church. People are intense. My parents got a nasty divorce when I was little and my grandparents raised me in the church. This reminded of some people I remember.” Her comments were grounded in experience. She stepped out from the film and headed off to bed.
The woman in the film, Becky Fischer, leads children in a rather militant passion, and the experiences of what were seen on film easily make many feel uncomfortable. What’s hard for me in this film is that the actions aren’t necessarily condemned. “The cameras only catch so much. Editing can make stuff look bad.” One of the missionaries expressed their hesitancy and why they wouldn’t want to watch the film. Fischer herself had the following to say in an interview after the film:
Am I saying I like everything in the film and 100% of the way we've been portrayed? Of
course not. This movie is merely a snapshot of what we do with children and does not in
any way represent our entire ministry. There's no way you can do that in an 84 minute
documentary and still have a movie people want to go and see. But we feel it's fair. They
show both sides of the issue without making judgments on either side. They let us speak for
ourselves, even if you don't get to hear complete thoughts and sentences and concepts.
(http://kidsinministry.com/TreatedFairly.html)
When I read this, my initial thoughts were of disbelief. “Well, if it’s fair, it completely makes sense to me that people would be freaked out by what it is that you do, even if we only get to see 84 minutes of it!”
The room is empty again, as a couple of the staff have made their way to bed. I’m alone again to ponder what I think about the time. I take a sip of Diet Coke. It’s gone flat and is watered down from the ice. The popcorn I popped for the movie is a bit stale as well. My takeaway from the film: I’m alone. After it’s over, there’s not a group of people to sit and discuss about what we liked and didn’t like about it. Everyone is in bed. I’m not necessarily angry. I’m sad. The fact that people wouldn’t want to sit and dialogue about what we’ve learned makes me feel like their ability to be relevant in reaching out to unbelievers is hampered.
That’s a rap
As the week concludes, the last few days go by relatively smooth. The training ended up well, but was uneventful in terms of any meaningful critical discussion. I’ve come to peace with the idea that people aren’t necessarily going to believe what I believe. Universities are fertile ground for a multiple range of thoughts. What is discouraging for me is that there are those who don’t want to engage what thoughts I might have about my life outlook. My greater fear is that the church (as I have experienced it), an organized group of believers may be on the cusp of becoming thoughtless. Some of the dividing issues between members of faith and academic circles seem so separate, lacking a common ground for discourse. The discussion is welcomed although not seeing much change on the academic end, while the discussion seems non-existent from those in Christian circles. My observations have shown a lack of interest from fellow believers on key topics that seem imperative to discuss, if not with a greater context of people, then at least with those within their system of belief. Instead of displaying no tolerance for issues that they might be in opposition of, it seems wise to discuss such issues and to either have them challenge or reinforce what they believe. I’ve been pondering all of this on the ride from the retreat center to the Orlando Airport.
“Sir, how many bags will you be checking?” I snap out of it. “Two,” I utter quickly, slipping him a couple of dollars to check my bags. He greets me with a smile, after he’s been tipped. “All righty sir, two bags checked to Buffalo. I hear it’s snowing up there. Stay warm and have a safe flight.” As sweat beads down my brow, I step into the airport and the air conditioning chills me quickly. The hot sweat turns cool. I get my boarding passes from the US Air attendant and I’m on my way to security. As I take the tram from security over to my gate, I have a number of issues rolling through my head. I begin to think about An Inconvenient Truth (Gore, 2006) and I’m excited about examining global warming and how the church may be a potential source of social responsibility toward helping to make changes. Gore recently came to our campus and gave a lecture that really challenged me as a person of faith to take a more direct initiative in tackling this problem. I’m so excited and challenged to think about what we might be able to do to help make a change. All of this has made me hungry.
“Hi, I’d like two slices of pizza and a Diet Coke to drink please.” I have two hours before my flight leaves. I figure I’ll surf the web for a bit and board my plane. The service person charges me around $7.00 for my meal and I’m on my way. I sit down at my gate and wait for my flight to arrive so that I can get up to Charlotte and get home.
As I sit down, I’m drawn into watching a television screen, talking about our latest dealings in Iraq and what the president has to say about it. I’ve recently heard that 3,500 US troops have been killed in the Iraq conflict. I’m not here to take sides on the war; I’m just saddened by that figure. The Lancet Study (2006) reported an even more shocking figure: approximately 660,000 Iraqi deaths attributed to the war. As I think about such numbers I can’t help but want to dialogue with people about what the responsibilities I/we (Christian people) have toward such a discussion. As I’m drawn into these two topic areas (global warming and the war in Iraq), one thing is similar to what I have mentioned before: I am alone to ponder such issues and not in the fellowship of my fellow believers.
“Now boarding Zone 6. All members in Zone 6 please feel free to board at this time.” I get on the plane to Charlotte, get to my seat, and settle in for the hour plus flight to make my connect.
Fighting Binary Though
As an academic and a Christian, I do not believe that I have yet found a point in which my identity in both worlds has been fully realized. What is important though, is a conscious awareness of the need to be in dialogue about what one realizes as identities develop and grow. The reality is that much of what has been discovered for me would not have been realized without the pursuit of graduate school.
When I’ve communicated to people that I am both an academic and Christian, it’s almost as if they don’t know how to respond. It seems as if the categorization for many would be to say either you are this or you are that. The thought that one would identify as being both is foreign. I fight against that. I am both/and, not either/or. The genesis of such categorizations remind me of Berger and Calabrese’s (1975) formulation of Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT). Could it be that through anxiousness and uncertainty, people seek to dichotomously label people when it comes to their identity? This is the key. As a scholar, my desire in the community of the church is to understand why the desire to be an academic is met with furrowed brows and a concern for not using my gifts in such a manner that would be uplifting to God’s kingdom. In stating that my assessment is a fear toward being without thought, the church needs to embrace dialogue and not see the concept of the academy and faith as always being at odds with one another.
At the same time, I see an opportunity for the academy as well. In my experience thus far, to state my faith to fellow academics generates a pause of astonishment for them. While I understand that somewhat, I’m conflicted in that I have a brain and I have faith. I’m intermingled with those who have incredible minds and I sit at the table with them in dialogue about theory, statistical analysis, and moving literature in the social sciences forward. And at the same time, yes, I have faith (unashamedly). Not only do I have it, I exercise it. I believe it. I see it as being important. I see it as an integral part to my identity. The identities are not contradictory. They represent a hybrid, turning away from either/or categorization and accepting the both/and.
As members of the academic community, desiring to move literature and research forward, we seek entry points to changing thought processes, and some go further to promote social change. The conscious awareness to eliminate binary or dichotomous thinking is a place where we, as academics, and I/we as people of faith can begin to take steps toward changing the way in which we think (fully recognizing that there will be points of agreeing to disagree—this is not something we can avoid). As we examine the long term effects of a step in such a direction, it is my belief that this entry point can help us in the way in which we engage how people identify in ways that may at first seem to many to be counterintuitive.

Notes
1) There are a multitude of philosophers, writers, and scientists, who happen to be Christian and at the same time believe in an old earth. The following names are those I’m aware of; John Ankerberg, Gleason Archer, John Battle, Michael Behe, William Jennings Bryan, Walter Bradley, Jack Collins, Chuck Colson, Paul Copan, William Lane Craig, Norman Geisler, Robert Godfree, Guillermo Gonzales, Hank Hannegraff, Jack Hayford, Fred Heeren, Charles Hodge, Walter Kaiser, Greg Koukl, C. S. Lewis, Paul Little, Patricia Mondore, J. P. Moreland, Robert Newman, Greg Neyman, Mark Noll, Nancy Pearcey, Perry Phillips, William Phillips, Mike Poole, Bernard Ramm, Jay Richards, Hugh Ross, Fritz Schaefer, Francis Schaeffer, C. I. Scofield, Chuck Smith Jr., David Snoke, Lee Strobel, Ken Taylor, and B. B. Warfield.

References
Berger, C. R., Calabrese, R. J. (1975). Some Exploration in Initial Interaction and Beyond:
Toward a Developmental Theory of Communication. Human Communication Research, 1, 99-112.
Ewing, H., & Grady, R. (2006). Jesus camp [Film]. New York, NY: Magnolia Pictures.
Guggenheim, D. (2006). An inconvenient truth [Film].Los Angeles, CA: Paramount Vantage.
Palau, L. (1998). God is relevant: Finding strength and peace in today’s world. New York, NY:
Doubleday.
Polkinghorne, J. (1985). The quantum world. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Science Library.
Polkinghorne, J. (1986). One world: The interaction of science and theology. Cambridge, UK:
Stillwater Books.
Polkinghorne, J. (1988). Science and creation: The search for understanding. Philadelphia, PA:
Templeton Foundation Press.
Polkinghorne, J. (2000). Faith, science, and understanding. New Haven, CT: Yale University
Press.

UnChristian Research

2008-12-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

As a person of faith, I've really been coming through Kinnaman and Lyons' (2007) book, UnChristian. I love the honesty that comes from the data they've collected. As a researcher, I appreciate what research (qualitative and quantitative) uncovers. Much of what frustrates me in faith-oriented writing is grand speculation and theory, but not much in the way of numbers to either prove or disprove an hypothesis. Here are some of the statistics shared in UnChristian:

1) Family structures have undergone dramatic change since the times when Boomers were growing up. Currently more than one-third of children born in the United States are born to unmarried mothers; in 1960 the ratio was just one out of twenty births. In some American metropolitan areas, as many as two-thirds of all infants are born to unmarried women.

2) Young adults experience substance abuse more frequently than do older adults. IN a typical month, about one-fifth of those ages eighteen to twenty-five have used illegal or nonprescriptive drugs; the same is true among roughly one-tenth of thos ages twent-six to thrity-four. In the same thirty-day period, two-fifths of Mosaics and one-quarter of Busters have consumed enough alcohol to be considered drunk. Among teenagers, two out of five have consumed alcohol and one out of five have used marijuana in the past thirty-days.

3) Many Mosaics and Busters live with an inner desperation that often leads to personal annihilation. Suicide is the third leading cause of death amont people aged fifteen to twenty-four. in a 2005 study, one out of every six high school students had contemplated suicide during the last year, while one out of every twelve high school students said they had attempted suicide in the last year.

How do people of faith engage this culture? My concern as one of faith is that Christians tend to lean more toward isolation than emersion. I know that much hangs in the balance...in particular, Christians fear the implication that they may be impacted by the things of this world. I get that, but I do not believe that such fear allows for a disengagement of culture. Remember the call for us to be salt and light to the world. I cannot fathom how we can effectively be that, without engaging culture. Instead of judging, sit at the table with those with whom you can have influence, by building relationships with them, not simply putting a target on their back and saying get saved, get saved. Read UnChristian.....Read what unbelievers think about how fringe and lacking in relevance we are to the greater body of those not of the faith.... In sum, without engaging those "different" from you of the faith, all hope is lost in our ability to influence.