Then I wanted to know who it was, because depending on who it was that God used I was contemplating how I could “repay” or reduce the effects of my uneasiness. In that state of frustration I tried to process everything. Disturbed that it was offered, frustrated that it was received, and then even more torn up about the fact that there was truly nothing I could do about it. I tried to pray about it a little… then I realized that God can bring about moments and gifts of grace through anyone and anything. Who am I to try and be the grace police? It’s not my decision to determine the who or how God decides to provide blessings for me … or anyone else.

Grace is sticky, its not clean, its sometimes unformatted, and often confusing and humbling. I am reminded that those are words that some would use to describe Jesus life as well.

Perhaps you too have also tried to “police grace”. Good Luck.

While the national United Methodist Church has busied itself lately with concerns over organizational structure and what to do (Rev. Tom Berlin provides a great analysis of the last General Conference) at the local church level here in Virginia Beach we are in the midst of our own discerning, sorting, and organizational confusion. I am pleased with where we are headed with regards to our ministries. The vision team has done a fantastic job of fleshing out vision and mission using Will Mancini’s book Church Unique. Ministries are adjusting and wonderful things are happening as we gain clarity and focus for what it is that God is calling us to be and do in the world.

The administrative organizational support of the ministry is now the largest stress point. What sorts of systems, what type of organization best supports these ministries and enables them to function without being bogged down by the organization that exists simply to support them. When churches hit this crunch it is interesting to see where people look for help. If using the size of the operating budget as a motivating factor, one would suggest that the church should be organized similarly to that of a small business. If we base the organization of the system off of the budget then we have fallen prey to one of the most discussed idols of the Bible – money. The reality is that there is much more to a church then simply its budget and if decisions are made based on the structure of a small business – your financial picture may look good … for a while; however, the ministry and mission of the church will suffer. The reason it will suffer is because the complexity of the church. When I say complexity, I do not mean that it is confusing per say, but that rather there is so much going on in being the church. Various Ministries, staff, and then the multitude of volunteers, etc. From this aspect, the church resembles more of a complex corporation with several divisions and departments-all moving towards the same goal. But the goal of the church is not to accumulate the largest amount of profit that it can. The goal of the church is to make Disciples of Jesus Christ. Organizationally speaking then, the church’s organizational structure may perhaps be more similar to that of local government;

* multiple divisions/departments (complex)
* not in existence for the purpose of financial gain
* constituents that are concerned (or at the least bit interested)
* and finally (perhaps most important, it does not exist for itself.

The annual revenue of a church may more resemble a small business ethos; however, its complexity will more likely resemble a large corporation. Even so, the church should think about its structure more along the lines of a local government. But do not make the mistake of modeling simply off of local government. For in reality the church is the Bride of Christ, we are the called out assembly that represents the hands of feet of Christ in the world.

… No answers, just more questions!!

The more I listen, the more in favor I am of a presiding Elder (perhaps even Deacon) with a team of Elder/Deacon/Provisional/Licensed Local Pastors/Associate Members/Lay pastors/Diaconate/Diaconal… Appointed to a ministry setting which includes several local churches and extension locations. The common tie would be the liturgical/lectionary/missional setting. Pool them all together to make a stronger presence. A lot of challenges here (a lot of sacred cows gotta fall) but at the same time the possibilities for being relevant in a missional setting could be astounding. Not a district, but a group of local churches in a similar local following the same liturgical/missional/worship heartbeat. More of a circuit with an educationally appointive leadership team to guide, inspire, and equip ministry in the making of Disciples of Jesus Christ. In this setting, persons who are appointed to extension ministries could also have a place at the ministry team table and provide input and help folks to see the church vocationally reaching outside of the local church. As well as engage the congregations in possible mission outreach through the extension ministry appointments. Tis was not a part of any presentation, just a model that is I think at least worth thinking about.

AND, wouldn’t it be cool if this came from the bottom up as opposed to being directed from the top down!

The window sticker on the car indicated that the car was equipped with a keyless remote. The dealership did not have it and I had to go back and forth with them to make sure that I got a keyless entry with the car. Several days later they had a non-Toyota aftermarket keyless remote installed. My expectations where a little higher. I was not expecting to have to bargain for something that was supposedly included.

As I shook the salespersons hand and received the keys he informed me that the car had a half tank of gas… Evidently that dealership only gave a half tank of gas when you bought a used car. Expectations again shattered. I also only received 1 key. Expectations where again shot. I expected so much more!!

But then I realized that I had much higher expectations for dealing with a corporation then maybe I have for God in my prayer life. This goes against all that I understand of God and God’s way in the world. Perhaps you can relate? Do you have higher expectations for your interactions with persons and corporations than you do for God in your prayer life?

Circles of Influence

Last week, our church had an announcement about the Single Mom’s book club up on the sign out front in the resort area.  Two women, evidently tourists, were deeply offended that a church would not only have something for single moms, but would go so far as to advertise it for all the world to see.  As they walked down the street asking why on earth a church would put something like that on a sign, a friend of mine waiting at the bus stop happened to overhear.

My friend does not attend my church’s Sunday morning services.  He does come out to help with urban ministries whenever he can get time off from work at a job members of our church helped him to get last year.  Homeless himself, he joins with others who are currently homeless in performing random acts of community service on Saturdays.  Usually soft-spoken, those ladies must have touched a nerve for him to speak up.

He told them that they don’t know the folks at that Methodist church the way he does.  The folks at the Methodist church have really big hearts, he said, and they’d put something like that up on a sign because they know that there are a lot of women trying to make it, raise a family without a man.  They’d put it right there on the sign so those women would know there was someplace they could go, someplace where they wouldn’t be judged.

Rather than storm off in a huff, the ladies talked to my friend about the church and Christianity.  Maybe they learned a little more about grace.  Hearing this story from my friend after we had spent an hour picking up trash with other people who are currently or formerly homeless, I thought about the expanding circles formed when you drop a stone into a pond.  Our church assisted my friend, who in turn has assisted countless others.  On that day, he was able to provide a compelling witness about the heart of our church and the real meaning of Christianity.

I think the response has to do with call and discernment. The type of person that you are referring to is someone who is obviously up for a challenge and willing to take the risk in order to make an impact! Someone like that may be called to start a nondenominational church … or they may be called to effect visionary reform within one of the historical movements of Christendom. I would share with the individual that in my opinion the way we “do” church is going to be very different within the next 10 – 15 or even 20 years. I am not referring to music styles or worship styles (although these will be impacted); I am referring to the “how” of doing church. None of us know what that will look like… However, in the UM there are all sorts of possibilities and opportunities for passionate persons of God who possess a heart for those who have not yet responded to God’s grace. These passionate persons will help guide and fashion what we will look like as we continue to be a community that lives out our faith through our hands, mind, & heart. Is this person you are talking with up for the challenge?

http://profile.typepad.com/edsedge

Ah ha… another form of hypocrisy; getting stuck on the show instead of the message. The same is true in our lives as well. Sometimes we get so caught up in our image, our wow effect, or whatever that we actually miss-communicate the actual message that we intended to convey. We in essence aren’t eating our own dog food.

So here it is. Eating our own dog food or practicing what we teach doesn’t always taste good… in fact it is sometimes down-right disgusting. However, there is nothing like being true to our Savior and ourselves as we journey down the path of faith. It is probably high time for me to take a bite out of my own dog food … to clean the inside of the cup instead of worrying so much about the outside (Matthew 23:25-28).

It’s that word that we use frequently, sometimes so frequently that its meaning or consequence in our life becomes diluted—particularly in a world where everything is earned or purchased. Many of our behaviors are based on our attempt to get something from someone else. Think about it. At work we may seek approval of our co-workers or boss; at school we seek approval of our professors/teachers; even in our families some of our behaviors are based on an attempt to elicit some sort of response. When we refer to God’s grace—God’s love expressed towards us—we are referring to God’s action towards us that we cannot manipulate. There is nothing that we can do to earn it or to even justify it after we realize that it is there for us.

So here is the question: What are the behaviors that you and I practice out of an attempt to earn God’s love? Our answer has something to do with how we see ourselves AND how we interact with others…

My mind did not stop there, what if the church (I am sure that there are some already doing these) offered Bible study or small group experiences in somewhat the same manner? Folks could do it from the comfort of their homes. For those with children, they could put the kids to bed, and then log on at a specified time. That means no worry about paying for childcare in your home while you are away, or worries about having the kids out late in the nursery (which can provide for a stressful evening with the family at home after a great time of study and fellowship). For others that work late or have struggles with getting home and then to the designated place for a study, they could simply logon from their home. If churches offered some of these things, then we could do Bible studies or small groups at 9 or even 10pm (sorry Leno).

Obviously, there would be some things to consider; the “touch” aspect and physical presence of one another. In addition, would persons be more apt to be vulnerable or less if they were doing it up close and personal online – yet from the comfort and distance of their “own” space? I don’t know. I am sure that there are other things to consider here, but it would be well worth our time to consider and even possibly experiment with this “way” of doing community and fellowship.