Jesus could have but he didn’t

1. He could have done creative miracles as a convenience to himself but He didn’t.
2. He could have made discipleship easy to understand 100% of the time but He didn’t.
3. He could have been born into a house of privilege but He wasn’t.
4. He could have made life easy for His followers but He didn’t.
5. He could have relieved His own suffering on the cross but He wouldn’t.

As, I prepare for the Christus series at Life Pointe, I am blown away by the man, Jesus.  He was fully God and fully man.  He chose to divest Himself of the privileges of being God while still assuming full responsibility of deity.  He experienced grief, suffering, pain, joy, blessings, and a full range of emotions.  Growing up, He scraped his knees like any child does.  He experienced the heartache that accompanies personal loss as somewhere along the line, Joseph died.

From heaven, he saw His creation reject His ways.  On earth, He was rejected by even His closest friends.  There are a lot of things Jesus could have done but He didn’t because His love for us outweighed His desire to have His flesh satisfied.  Jesus was an amazing man.  He is an incredible God…the only God.  He didn’t have to die for my sins.  Bu, thankfully He did.

A Missional Denomination is an Impossibility

In a previous post on COG Catalyst, I shared that I was in Pursuit of a Missional Denomination.  I actually meant that I wanted to see the Church of God become missional in its appropriation of trust and resources.  However, thanks to Art Rogers at the 12 Witnesses blog, I have found a new expression that may more accurately reflect my heart for missionality- "A Missional Denomination is an Impossibility." Art via his blog also introduced me to a denominational change model (pdf download) to learn from.

I’ve had a personal conversation with our Presiding Bishop, Dennis McGuire concerning the next General Assembly.  I heard a passion from him to make the Church of God a denomination that offered real services to its pastors.  While it sounds totally attractive to me to hear of the potential to have health insurance provided for the pastors, property insurance provided for the churches, more services from our corporate offices on both the state and international levels, and missions money better distributed by the denomination, I think it also may cause us to be even more bureaucratic, more centralized, slower, and less field focused.  I don’t question the aims of our current direction.  But, the times are rapidly changing and now more than ever, we need to be nimble, responsive, and missional.

I’d like to offer the approach that the Tulsa Metro Association of Baptist Churches has taken. They have divested themselves of all non-core functions such as their "campground, a clothing center, crises pregnancy center, etc.", turning them over to churches within the association that have a passion for those ministries.  This resulted in a significant downsizing of association staff.  They subsequently reorganized the association into 4 divisions: Church Planting Team, the Church Strengthening Team, the Church Leadership Development Team, and the Church Staff Support Team.

According to Charles Cruce, Director of Missions for the Association, he has come to understand that the association is not:

1. a church
2. in the ministry business

The TMABC will not:
1. TMABC will not usurp and take up the role of the church!
2. TMABC will not promote and protect its own existence!
3. TMABC will not discriminate in resourcing the ministry vision of the churches!

The temptation in any organization, especially as it matures is to protect the existence of bureaucracy.  It is a temptation that must be beaten in order to ensure the vitality of the mission.  I feel we can make some basic changes to our structure that would radically alter our direction. 

At a time when we are closing more churches in the USA than we are opening, I think the time has come to do as Charles Cruces has done and shed the bureaucracy in favor of mission. If not, we can resign ourselves to the wisdom of General Eric Shinseki when he said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.”

15 Things That Inspire Me about the Man, Jesus

1. He was born in a barn.
2. He was true to His friends, even the one that was not true to Him.
3. He loved to work with his hands and create things.
4. He committed major social faux pas because it was the right thing to do.
5. He knew how to draw a crowd and drive His point home.
6. He knew how to get away from the crowd.
7. He rejected religious thinking in favor of thinking that honored God.
8. He enjoyed eating and hanging out with people who thought differently than he did.
9. He got severely ticked off at people who claimed to be religious leaders but did everything they could to discredit the name of God so they could instead advance their own agendas.
10. He left a legacy of compassion, strength, commitment, and trust for those He led.
11. He genuinely loved people.
12. He was totally human with emotions, a rational mind, and spirituality.
13. He affirmed the Scriptures while ridiculing the "cultural baggage" that had been added to the message of Jehovah over the years.
14. He was thinking about His mom as He took His last breaths.
15. He left life as an earthly man by giving words of empowerment to ordinary humanity. He empowered the masses with the words "Go" and "Love."

And, please add to the list!

Church 2.0 III – Open Source Citations

Unless you listen to the Church 2.0 part 3 – Open Source, these links won’t mean much.  Summarized, they are a few links to stuff referenced in service today concerning open sourced life, community, and being the Church of Jesus Christ.

• Open Source Cola Recipe (interesting disclaimer from recipe: "Gum Arabic: It is very important that you get only food-grade Gum Arabic. There is also an art-grade, which is
  readily available at art supply stores – never use art-grade Gum Arabic! Art grade Gum Arabic is toxic. It will make you ill. You’ll be sad. We’ll be sad.")
• Wikipedia Open Source entry
• Download Mozilla Firefox
• My favorite web 2.0 Bible website – eBible.com
• a few good Scriptures on open source Christianity
• Evite.com – a really cool party invitation website.
• Current TV - Created by, with, and for our audience
• Buckhead Diner - I used to serve at Buckhead Roadhouse in Chattanooga while I was in college.  The saying went, "If you catch, shoot it, or hook it, we’ll bake it, grill it, or cook it. Open source dining?!

Blog Notes

Two quick notes:

1. NEW on the left sidebar - articles of interest, flickr, and neoWORX.  Very cool.  Check them out.

2. New blogs I’m enjoying (can also be found on my blogroll): Derek Brown, ChurchHop Blog, Church Rater, Friend of Missional, The Movement, and very much enjoying a series of John Smulo’s posts on the missional church:

Waking Up From a Dream, I Dream, 12 Reasons Why I Prefer "Jesus-Follower", 11 Reasons Why I Don’t Like the Term "Christian"

A Farewell to Larry Coker

It finally happened.  At 11 AM, Coach Larry Coker, one of the classiest gentlemen to have coached the football team at the University of Miami has been fired.  We all knew it was coming.  Afterall, it was inevitible.  I only wish UM President Donna Shalala would leave with him.

Our facilities are horribly outdated and in need of major renovation.  You cannot take the premier college football program and expect the to stay on top when you clothe them with third rate practice facilities and micro-manage the coaching staff from the administrative offices.

If coach Schiano comes back, I hope he digs his heels in and gets this stuff together.  Year in and year out, we watch the best play on our field.  Almost 100% of our starting teams are from south Florida.  These incredible guys and the coaches in the program deserves the best at the least.

Coach Coker, you are a fine gentleman.

Lamenting the Loss of Masculinity

Please read the below entry in the context of a debate among students and alumni of a solidly Christian university which does not reconcile the practice of homosexuality with a Biblically Christian witness.  As originally posted on the MySpace Lee University Message Board:

————————————————–

Running around in barefeet, I stubbed my toe. As I looked around for
some sympathy from my pops, my 6 year old voice began to quiver and
tears began to well up in my eyes. Once I made eye contact with Dad, I
would let out a real cry so that he would pick me up and make it all
right. But, that isn’t how it would play out.

My dad reached down and rubbed my blond head and said, "shake it off
Big T." Trying to live up to that name, I would stick my toe in the
warm dirt to make the pain go away. At six years old, I was learning
the how-to’s of manhood from a man who grew up in the era of John
Wayne, Charlton Heston, Warren Spahn, and Ted Williams.

Somewhere in the span between that time and this, the John Waynes have
become interior decorators and the MySpace message board for my alma
mater has been over run by guys impersonating gals and dudes who are
afraid to eat an egg for fear of damaging the creation of a God they
believe does not exist.

Of course, my lament will do nothing but throw the effeminate guys into
a tissy. My MySpace account will probably get spammed with electronic
color-coordinated cat scratches. But, hopefully, it will cause the
dudes who are in doubt about the gender given to them at birth by their
Creator or cosmic coincidence (whichever their fully-formed 19 year old
minds are fully assured of) to reaffirm that its cool to be a man.

So, gentlemen- change your MySpace layouts from your presently
lavender/purple combo and start a campfire, go fishing, shoot
something, play basketball, watch some football with your hand tucked
conveniently into your waistband, or do something that reaffirms that
you are in fact a guy. And, by all means, if these few words on the
world wide web are deemed a little bit offensive by you, shake it off
and put some dirt on it. Its going to be ok.

Thanksgiving- a Heritage to Pass On

Thanksgiving is a day full of tradition and memories for my family.  When I was a kid, we would gather at my Grandpa Johnson’s house with all of his kids and grandkids.  The table was full and the house was full of activity.  My grandmother would hurry around with apron on, finishing up the last minute details.  I can still hear her moving about singing hymns and melodies.

Finally, the table was prepared – a golden turkey covered to the breast in dressing, cranberry sauce, casseroles, mashed potatoes, rice, sliced tomatoes, fried okra, watermelon rind pickles, breads, pies, and home-made banana ice cream.  My grandfather would take his place at the head of the table and gather us together.  He would lead us all in sharing something we were thankful for.  We would hold hands and sing the Doxology as our prayer.  It was the most beautiful harmony.  To this day, their are few songs that move me like that does. 

After prayer, we sat, ate, told stories, and breathed in the experience.  Our Thanksgiving was spent exactly like that until I was a fresman in college.  Hurricane Andrew hit Homestead and we had Thanksgiving under a tarped roof.  The meal was on paper plates.  I was surrounded by people that I barely

knew but somehow felt connected to as my family and our friends were the recipients of great generosity during a time of total chaos.

The Easter morning after that Thanksgiving, my grandmother died and the structure of our family began to change.  Our family gatherings were never quite the same as each of the families assumed their new roles with new fathers and grandfathers sitting at the heads of the tables all arranged in different homes in different cities. 

This year, our Thanksgiving festivities began Wednesday night around a fire in our backyard.  We told stories, roasted marshmallows, bananas, apples, hotdogs, and enjoyed one another.  Thanksgiving morning started with Macy’s Parade and NFL Football (Miami v. Detroit), and then rolled into the big show (a.k.a. the food experience).

We had four generations here this year with Kelly’s Granpa Hall being the senior guy.  He is 82 and has had a rough couple of years.  His short term memory is poor.  His sentence structure gets jumbled a bit as well.  I put his seat at the head of the table and we asked him to lead us in returning thanks to God for his blessings in our lives.  He prayed a beautiful prayer.  As he did, I could see a strength come over him as he seemed more in control than he has been the whole time he has been here.  We ate and shared the things we were truly thankful for.

After retiring from the table, we played games and took a leisurely dusk walk with everyone.  My mom gave the girls glow sticks which they thoroughly enjoyed.  We stopped, laid on the ground and looked at the stars.  After about an hour, we got home to see the UM v. Boston College game.  The night ended with another backyard fire and plenty of embarrassing stories.

We relived some of our traditions and retold stories for a great Thanksgiving.  After seven years of marriage and three years of being a dad, it seems like we are just now able to pass along the richness of our family traditions and even make some new ones of our own. 

This blog entry is one of the new traditions.  One day, when my girls need to look back, they can read about their family and see the experiences that started us out, the heritage that was passed on, and the common experiences we all shared.  I know these times will be the most important times for them as they develop and try to figure out who they are. 

In times of personal turbulence following a bad decision or experience, I could always reach back into my heart and soul and remember the godly heritage passed down.  I could reaffirm my identity and call on God for the same help and strength He had offered my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, and other members of my family who had built on a spiritual and familial foundation laid by significant people in their lives. 

A Chat at the Fire

It was in the 40’s here last night.  We bundled up the girls, loaded them in the wagon and went for a long walk.  We came back as close to frost-bitten as you can get in the sub-tropics.  We put the girls in bed and made our way out to sit around a fire, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.  Soon, we were sugar-hyped and toasty, ready to solve the world’s woes.

Kelly, my brother Phil, and I talked about our changing views on the world and ministry.  As we talked about ministry, I was really overwhelmed with thankfulness for an incredible church family.  In our weekly e-newsletter, I shared how thankful I was for a church community that was quick to be generous with one another, open, and hospitible to all.  I am also thankful that many in our church community are maturing in faith.  It is also wonderful to see you guys processing who Jesus is and the implications following Christ will have and is having for you.  I am happy wih our progress…but, still very much anticipating more community transformation in the years to come. 

It is a great pleasure to serve in leadership with you all at Life Pointe.  This Thanksgiving holiday, I want you to know how thankful I am for the relationships we have.  I hope its cold again tonight.  I’ll be enjoying the fire and talks with my family through the rest of this week.

p.s. The office is closed until Monday.  Sunday, we will finish our Church 2.0 message series and give out the last of the Nativity movie tickets before making them available to the general public. 

Saturday Round-up

• Going to the Races – My inner redneck will be in full force tonight. (also, see last year’s nascar post)
• Interesting flap with Mark Driscoll.  Some group of Christian knuckleheads are organizing a protest at his church on Dec. 3rd because of his comments following up the Ted Haggard controversy.  Driscoll is a straight-talking urban missionary.  There’s nothing like a little controversy to fuel the growth of a church. 
• I cannot wait for our Christus series.  It kicks off with free tickets to the Nativity movie.  Already, I’ve heard of one family that is bringing a couple dozen people…great day to look forward to.  My friend, John Smulo from Elk Grove, CA will be speaking about the "Present Tense Jesus" on December 17th.
• We are getting ready for an upgrade of our theater setup.  By the beginning of December, you will see a nice transformation of our lobby.  By mid January to February, we are…well, you’ll just have to wait and see.
• Church Rater and ChurchHop- two really intersting websites for pastors and church attenders who no longer see church through the lenses of an unbeliever.  Thanks to Michael Foster for the link to ChurchHop.
• Kourtney has been hilarious.  Yesterday she informed Kelly that "Hola" was Spanish for "hello" and "Abracadabra" was Spanish for "go fly away."  Check out Kelly’s latest pics of Kourtney at dance. 

Free Movie Tix to the Nativity

We will be giving out free movie tickets this Sunday for a Dec. 3rd – 10 AM showing of the Nativity.  The Nativy Movie will kick off our CHRISTUS Message Series where we will bring into focus the original Jesus.

CHRISTUS SERIES SCHEDULE: Dec. 3 – FREE SHOWING – “The Nativity” – Dec. 10 – Mere man – absolute God – Dec. 17 – Present Tense Jesus – Dec. 24 – God’s Gift to Mankind – Dec. 31 – Apokalypsis – Coming Soon

Web Designer for Mount of Olives Church-Jerusalem

One of my best buds and college roommates, Jamison Creel has been in Israel since 1997.  He has been studying and teaching in a Palestinian high school during that time.  Two months ago, he took over the pastorate of the Mount of Olives Church of God (see pics).  He is in the process of developing the ministry there.

I thought I would try to leverage the power of the blogosphere to find an incredible web designer that could put something together for this really super faith community in East Jerusalem.  The church is made up of foreign workers, Arab, and Jewish Christians.  Already, they seem like a great family. If you are a web-design guru or know someone that fits the bill and would like to donate some time and creativity, it would be greatly appreciated.  Respond here in the comments or email me if interested.

Church 2.0 – Connected

Here is the first message in our Church 2.0 message series on Connection.  You can check out all of our messages here as well as the recently uploaded slides, outlines, and bulletin templates for the Clash series on Malachi.

Pete Zefo on Progressive Healing

My friend, Pete Zefo had an article about Progressive Healing published today on theooze.com.  Check it out.

A Transformation Story

"They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness…" Revelation 12:11

When someone chooses to follow Christ, I ask them to find a handful of people right away to share their decision to become a follower of Jesus.  Some people share generally what Christ did in them.  Others, instinctively shout their story from the rooftops.  Those transformation stories need to be told, especially as the church seeks to identify with the cause of Christ on the most real levels.  The stories are messy, problematic, unvarnished, and inspirational.  I want to share one of those stories (with permission) from a new Christ follower at Life Pointe as encouragement to you to be open source with your life as a path to freedom and maturity.

Nov.12, 2006

Pastor Travis,

My life has changed drastically since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and
savior. I would have never imagined in a million years that I could find such
contentment, facing the uncertainty before me. I have found a new freedom that
cannot and will not be taken by any judge or jury. The only one that counts has
forgiven me.

Today was special to
me because my mother’s husband came to church and experienced a similar
experience as mine; when I first realized it was only by Gods grace I had not
been shot and killed. That, in fact he had a plan for me. When Jesus
embraced me, I had no choice but to fall to my knees and cry. I was in jail
at the time; I did not care who saw me or what they thought. The reaction came
from not feeling worthy of his love or forgiveness.

I came to Life Pointe
once, before my incarceration. I had called my younger brother, who at the time
attended here. I was up for a couple of days on a drinking binge. He invited me
to church not expecting me to show up. After service I went home fell asleep
and once I woke up went right back to getting drunk.

Once I was released
from jail and placed on house arrest. My case manager approved my request for
church, yet I had no idea where to attend. Amazingly the very same day, my
phone rang and a recording invited me to Life Pointe. (I have goose bumps) What
are the chances that after months and months, I would get that call, on that
day? I have been at Life Pointe 9 weeks now. I thank God for that phone call
every week I leave feeling revived.

I am married and my
husband and I are separated because of my drinking. We both still love each
other very much. He is a non-believer. I do not push my new beliefs on him in
any way. I put trust in the Lord that he will witness these changes in me and
want a taste of it as well.

Today I purchased
tickets for photos next Sunday. I have asked my husband and his son to come
with my children and I in order to get family pictures for Christmas. My
husband will be attending service next Sunday. I pray that my husband will be
touched (if only just a little bit). He has suffered great loss in his life; he
lost his mother at a young age, now the uncle that raised him has had to have
both legs amputated. He has diabetes, and the families have been told to
“prepare” themselves.

Pastor, my husbands
name is Greg. I love him with all of my heart. I know that he is hurting. He
refuses to admit it. (He does not wear his emotions on his sleeve like us
women=) !!! ) I am committed to my marriage. Please pray for him, for us.

Thank you for all of
your support. Life Pointe is wonderful, the people are great, my mother was
saved, and now the blinders are off my stepfather.

I had the opportunity
to meet Kelly today. My daughters really like her. I am extremely excited for
Baptism by the bay. Please let me know what my children and I must do in order
to participate.

m.t.

Check Me out on the Harmony Blog on 11/15

Derek Brown is sharing three pieces of advice from various Church Planters on Harmony Blog.  Tomorrow is my day.  So, check it out.

Church Planters on Church Planting

I’ve been enjoying some church planting wisdom via Derek Brown’s Harmony Blog.  If you are a planter or planter-to-be, check it out.  So far, there have been tips from Tadd, Gary, Bob, Jonathon, and Tally.  Good stuff.

Incredible News about the Theater

For seven months, we have been trailering in all of our equipment early to the theater on Sunday mornings.  Its rough on equipment and people.  I am very thankful for the crew we have that brings it together every Sunday…more than I could share.  We could never do what we are doing without the early morning dedication of some truly giving people.  They now get a much welcomed relief.  We are now able to store almost everything in the theater!

And, once we get our plans together, it looks like we are going to be able to do a permanent install of our lighting, sound, and projection systems.  That won’t only save time and wear/tear, it will also improve the quality of everything we do.  There will be no more wires, cords, and exposed temporary equipment in our worship spaces!  Awesome!

Mr. Mom…again

Kelly is at the Women of Faith Conference in Orlando with a group from our church.  I’m Mr. Mom until tomorrow night.  Of course, I have help during the day.  But, my hat is off to her and all moms for being quasi-superheroes day in and day out.

The girls are tucked in and asleep.  I’m working through some planning for the church (big news to announce on Sunday).  As I work on this spreadsheet, I’m watching/listening to the John Mayer concert at Webster Hall.  I recently picked up Continuum at Starbucks.  Its exactly the kind of melody this type A, hard driving reverend needs to chill after an adrenaline-filled night with my 1 and 3 year old.

Listen with me if you like - "Waiting on the World to Change"

Clash Series Resources

The Clash Series on Malachi is over at Life Pointe.  All audio, slides, outlines, and videos used are here.  Use them freely.

Change

elections – change – victory – defeat – politics – gridlock

Check out all of the US Newspaper headlines here.

Blog Round-up

I’m grabbing the girls and we’re heading to the beach.  I thought I’d share a little blog round-up from some of the blogs I read before we left.

• Chris and Bob have a famous people blog entry going that is kind of funny to read.  Check out my wall of fame.  I had to remove my picture with Larry Coker after the Hurricanes were beaten by Mississippi School for the Blind.  But, here’s one of my favorite pictures.
• Chris y Holly adoptaron a un nuevo bebé. Congrats!
• Results of the Johnson Family Pumpkin Carving Contest.  Can you guess which one is mine?
• Jeff Richard reviews "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day."
• John Smulo, a really super guy and one of my favorite blogger/pastors is in a season of change.  We had a good talk this week.  I can’t wait to see what God does through he and his family.  I know it is going to be awesome.
• Scott Hodge does a TBN Spoof and I love it.  He also links to an article that gives 21 tips to start blogging.  Nice find.
• I really dig all of Tadd’s church plant visit photos, especially his latest photos at Summit Church in NC.  Tadd thanks for all of the ideas.

That should keep you busy for a bit and give you a peek into what I find interesting.  Peace.

Ted Haggard and Mark Driscoll

Thinking over the Ted Haggard story and integrity issues for pastors and leaders, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to guard yourself and your relationship with Christ from sin.  In response to the story, Mark Driscoll gave incredibly straight-forward advice to pastors and churches.  It is excellent advice for maintaining integrity and avoiding inappropriate situations…definitely worth the read. 

Ted Haggard

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly
restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be
needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to
those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s
law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Galatians 6:1-2

With a bit of a heavy heart, I’ve followed the news about Ted Haggard.  I first was introduced to Ted Haggard when he spoke at a Lee University Chapel service in the early 90’s.  He was refreshing, well spoken, and challenging (as you can hear in his latest message).  It was stories like his that helped motivate me to be a church planter. 

In the 80’s he started New Life Church – Colorado Springs in his basement.  From there, New Life grew to a church of 14,000 members.  Until yesterday, he was the head of the National Association of Evangelicals, the most prominent protestant organization.  Today, there is no doubt that he is hurting, his family broken, and his church confused.

Ted is a national figure.  He speaks to the President weekly.  He is a leader.  But, more importantly, he is a man who failed, sinned, and is in need of grace.  This is a very public ordeal.  There is no doubt in my mind that this will have negative ramifications for the Church in general.  All that aside, God’s grace is sufficient for Ted Haggard.  I will be praying for him, his family, New Life Church, and the cause of Christ here in America.

Today may be a rough day for Ted.  But, it may also be a day of great grace and freedom from hidden bondage that God may now be able to renew in Ted’s life.  I am sad.  But, I am also hopeful that the true message of Jesus Christ may have a renewed opportunity in someone’s life.