thinking out loud

The Spirituality of the Cell Phone

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:21:00 +0000

When was the last time you turned off your cell phone? Confession time - my cell phone is on 24/7 (during daylight hours my phone is set to vibrate and the ringer is on during the night). Now I do have a a very good reason why I do not turn off my phone. I am a pastor and keeping my cell phone on provides my congregation 24/7 access to me; and isn't that what being a pastor is all about?

The last time I turned my cell phone off and disconnected from the technology was during our Tuesday night session at Q. Shane Hipps was presenting that evening on "The Spirituality of the Cell Phone" and the organizers asked us to leave our technology behind for a few hours. Being the dutiful ISTJ that I am, I left my cellphone and computer behind in my hotel room. When I arrived at the venue that evening it was interesting to discover that the organizers had placed some "accountability partners" at the doors and they asked each of us upon entering if we had left our technology behind. Just in case we slipped up, they even had a check-in system in place where you could leave your phone or computer for the evening - nice touch! And I have to admit that other than experiencing a few phantom vibrations (am I the only one who has these?) in my pocket, my sensitivities that evening were heightened and I felt more present to the moment.

Here are a few questions that Shane raised for me that evening:

What does it mean to be God-like (created in the imago dei)?
What is desire and motivation behind the impulse to text, tweet and continually update our Facebook status?
How can I become more fully present to the people in my world?
What does it mean to incarnate Christ in a discarnate world?

Shane suggested that part of bearing the imago dei is the capacity to create. He told a great story about the invention of the mechanical clock (hopefully a true one). According to Hipps, a group of monks invented the mechanical clock as a means to more faithful and regularly "pray the hours." The advancement of technology was designed to serve their life of prayer and faith. And yet have you ever stopped to consider what happens when the technology reverses itself on us? Instead of "praying the hours" do we now "punch the clock?" Or view "time as money?"

What is up with all the texting, tweeting and moment by moment updates on Facebook? What is the motivation behind this impulse (or perhaps compulsion)? Personally, I have come to realize part of my own motivation has to do with the shadow side of one of my StrengthFinders themes of significance. People strong in the significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent, want to be recognized and have a strong desire to make a difference in their world. Does my significance somehow increase with every text, tweet or Facebook update? Is my own capacity to make the world a different place somehow measured by how many friends I have on Facebook (and who those friends are)?

In his book, Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith, Hipps writes: "Christianity is fundamentally a communication event. The religion is predicated on God revealing Himself to humanity. God has a habit of letting His people know something about His thoughts, feelings, and intentions. God wants to communicate with us and His media are many: angels, burning bushes, stone tablets, scrolls, donkeys, prophets, mighty voices, still whispers, and shapes traced in the dirt (13)." I would add that the strongest communication event is the incarnation. Eugene Peterson translates John 1:18 as follows: "No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day."

Shane provoked some thinking on my part on the difference between mediated interaction and face to face interaction. Is one to be preferred? Is face to face always the best way to communicate? How can I leverage technology to enhance and strengthen my relationships? Can a text, tweet or status update on Facebook draw us deeper into the risk and reality of our common life in Jesus Christ? Later today I am going to do a little Facebook experiment. Of my current 358 friends, how many of these friendships are actually grounded in a face to face relationship and encounter? should I have two categories of friends - mediated and face to face?

I would love to hear your thoughts on any of this. There is a ton more I could write about this session, but I have to run - my cellphone is buzzing.

Stay connected...

Q: Power and Privilege (Andy Crouch)

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Last week I had the privilege of traveling to Austin, TX and participating in my second Q. Q describes itself as a gathering where innovators, church leaders, social entrepreneurs, and cultural pioneers come together to explore the church's role in positively contributing to culture. The format of Q is unlike any other conference I have attended. Each speaker is literally "on the clock" and given 18 minutes to present their big culture shaping idea. Over the course of the three day experience I had the opportunity to hear over 25 presentations - it's like drinking from a firehose. But it provides plenty of fodder for thought and reflection and I am looking forward to sharing some of my processing and reflection here.

Due to a nightmarish travel experience with Northwest and Delta, I missed the morning session of Q and arrived just in time for Andy Crouch's afternoon session. Andy is the author of Culture-Making and was one of my favorites at last year's Q and I awaited this year's talk with great anticipation; he did not disappoint. "Power, Privilege and Rank" was the title of Andy's talk and my guess it was the essence of a book that he is working on right now. Here's a sneak peak.

Andy stated with a great question: "what happens when culture-making actually works?" Have you ever stopped to reflect upon success and the implications (both positive and negative) of successfully accomplishing something?

Andy threw out his own working definitions of some important terms. The first was "creative power" which he defined as "the ability to propose a new cultural good." I believe all of us possess creative power; it's one of the characteristics of being created in the image of God. Today I spent some time reflecting on my own creative power. I love to create worship and learning environments and it energizes me to use my creative power to catalyze missional initiatives and new kingdom ventures. What about you? What creative power has God entrusted to you and what is the context for the release of your creative power and energy?

The second term that Andy unpacked was the concept of "rent," but not the kind of rent that you pay your landlord or Avis. Andy defined rent as "the excess income you can demand for what you would do anyway." For example, David Beckham as a high degree of rent when to comes soccer. While he commands millions to play the game, he most likely would play the game for the love of it! While reflecting upon this I thought of two other high rent people: Chris Martin from Coldplay and Giada De Laurentiis, the everyday Italian wonderchef. Again my suspicion is that Chris Martin would be making music even if he wasn't playing sold out venues and Giada would be creating magnificent meals even without the bright lights of TV.

Are there any areas of rent in your life? And if so, how might you leverage that rent for the purposes of building for the kingdom of God? This is something I am thinking quite a bit about lately, especially as I have entered my second half of life.

The final term Andy leveraged was privilege which he defined as "the continuing benefits of past successful exercises of creative power." Here are some questions I have been considering:

In what ways am I banking on or coasting on past successes?
How often am I aware of the incredible privilege I have as a white, male living in the United States in the 21st century?
How am I measuring furitfulness in the present?

Two last words from Andy, the first a statement and the other a question:

"Jesus is not satisfied by the past but is interested in creating new pathways of creative shalom."

"We all have privileges as sons and daughters of the Most High God - are we willing to prodigally spend it on behalf of others?"

Stay connected...

The Journey to the Cross

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:56:00 +0000

This Sunday we enter into the week we call holy. It is a fresh opportunity to enter more deeply into the passion of Jesus - His life, death, and resurrection. This Lent we have invited artists in our community to use their artistic gifts to help each of us and all of us experience anew the reality of Christ's amazing love and sacrifice.

"The Journey to the Cross" will be open to the public next week at the Uptown Center (668 Washington Road in Mt Lebanon on Monday - Saturday from 10 AM-2 PM and Thursday and Friday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM for viewing, reflection and prayer. Tonight (Friday) at 6 PM we will have a First Friday Open House preview. I hope you will join us during this holy season as I believe this exhibit will enable you to more fully apprehend the amazing, divine love of God in Christ.

The following is my introduction to the Journey and I invite you to reflect upon these words today.

Many years ago, during my final year of theological education at Pittsburgh Seminary, I had the opportunity to visit the nation of Israel for a month long immersion into the land we call “holy.” It was a rich, life changing journey and my experiences with fellow seminarians along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea, in the mountains of Caesarea Philippi, the lush valleys of Jericho, and the deserted places – these experiences continue to inform and enlighten my reading of the Scriptures almost 25 years after the fact.

However, my favorite memories were the early morning and late night walks I took through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem. The ancient paths possessed a maze-like quality and every twist and turn along the cobbled way brought with it intrigue, mystery and great delights of sight, sound, smell and taste. Over time we become familiar with many of the shopkeepers and street vendors along the way. Complex and competing Arab and Hebrew melodies, braying donkeys, freshly baked breads, tantalizing falaphal sandwiches, amazing fruits and vegetables, strong Arab coffee – these walks are locked deeply into my sensual memory banks. And yet there were moments on these walks when a profound sense of sacredness, might I say even holiness, overtook me as I came to the realization that the path my feet were traveling were perhaps tracing the very steps that Jesus took two centuries earlier.

For countless generations, followers of Jesus have referred to these sacred steps as the Via Dolorosa – Latin for "the Way of Grief” or “the Way of Sufferings". Traditionally, the Via Dolorosa is held to be the pathway that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion and death. Nine stations mark the Via Dolorosa, each one commemorating a specific event that contributed to the suffering and passion of our Lord in his final hours of His earthly ministry. For most pilgrims who find their way into the Old City, the exact location of each event along the Via Dolorosa is of little importance; what is most significant however is the spirit of the journey.

It is my honor to welcome you to the Journey to the Cross. This exhibit features the creative work of artists from our community of faith. As you take time to consider their artistic renderings of the final steps of Jesus, I invite you into the spirit of the journey.

May the same Spirit who empowered Jesus, each and every step of His journey to the cross, open your eyes, ears and hearts and may the Spirit guide you deeper into the mystery of the passion of our Lord – His life, death, and resurrection. And as we follow our Lord along the Via Dolorosa and ultimately to the empty tomb, may we be reminded of His passionate love for each of us and all of us.

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An Invitation to Join Me on a W-Trek

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Most of you know worship is one of my personal passions. As I look back at my ministry over the last 25 years, I can see how God has used me to invite people and communities to enter more deeply into the mysterious thing we call worship. And so I invite you to join me for a W-Trek.

What is a W-trek? W-treks are a small band of fellow travelers who come together as a learning community seeking a deeper experience of worship and most importantly a deeper relationship with the One we worship. W-treks differ from traditional sit-and-soak events because they are multi-sensory, integrative, interactive and involve participants on a variety of levels.

Who should attend a W-trek?
Worshipers of all types would benefit from participation in a W-trek. joining a trek can be extremely valuable for those serving as worship leaders, pastors, worship designers, or members of worship teams.

Trek Guide
Terry Timm, serves as lead pastor of Christ Community Church of the South Hills. Terry is a seasoned worship leader and brings his background in music, education, theology, and teams to this trek leadership.

Trek Signposts
Signpost One: what is worship?
Signpost Two: worship in the post-modern world
Signpost Three: worship in the experience economy
Signpost Four: epic worship
Signpost Five: designing worship in community
Signpost Six: worship and mission

Trek Expenses
$25 which includes trek guide, resources and refreshments

Trek Dates (choose one)
Saturday April 18, 25, May 2 (8:45 AM - 11:15 AM)
Tuesday April 21, (no trek on April 28) May 5, 12 (7 – 9 PM)

Trek Departure Point
The Uptown Center, 668 Washington Road in Mt Lebanon, PA

To register for a w-trek:
Simply email terry @ terrytimm@mac.com indicating a Saturday or Tuesday departure and forward a check (payable to CCCSH):
126 Woodhaven drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15228.

All proceeds from the trek will go to the establishment of the Pastors Resource Center in Guraghe, Ethiopia.

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Help Me Celebrate My 50th Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:30:00 +0000

This is my last week to enjoy my 40's. The past decade has been quite a ride! But next Friday (Friday the 13th actually), I will be celebrating the big 50. Would you help me celebrate it in a BIG way?

In October - November 2007, I visited a region of Ethiopia called Guraghe. My friend Barbara and I had the opportunity to travel with World Vision and see first hand how the good news of Christ enacted in word and deed can bring real help and hope to people in desperate need. Clean water, health care, food security, the empowerment of women through education, care provided to orphans and vulnerable children, churches being birthed - these are true signs of the life that Jesus desires for all people. I have been thrilled that our faith community has jumped headfirst into a partnership with the people of Guraghe. We have sponsored almost 75 children there and contributed to special projects like the Mother and Infant Nutrition Initiative. As a leader, our commitment really pumps me up and I am extremely proud of our community

There has been one group of servants in Guraghe that have been heavy on my heart lately. One Sunday afternoon in Guraghe, I had lunch with about dozen men who are serving the emerging churches in that community. Evangelical Christianity does not have a long history or broad reach in Guraghe, but in conjunction with the tangible expressions of the Gospel through World Vision, the Church of Jesus Christ is being established and people's lives are being changed, physically and spiritually.

As we talked with these pastors and they shared their God-stories, I was overwhelmed by their commitment and sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel and the life of the Church. Each of them worked a full time job and yet poured themselves out for the people of the community. Not long ago I read the words from James 1:9, "Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position," and I immediately thought of these pastors. They wouldn't trade their call and humble place in life for anything the world could offer. And as I reflected upon these words from Scripture, the Holy Spirit prompted me to do something.

My venti dream for my 50th year is to bring blessing and encouragement to the pastors of Guraghe. Would you help me celebrate my birthday by making that dream a reality?

I have been working with World Vision, both here and in Ethiopia, to find a tangible expression of encouragement and support for these faithful servants. After consultation with the World Vision Guraghe staff and the local pastor’s fellowship in Guraghe we have landed upon a great concept. Our goal is to create a Pastors Resource Center that will help the local pastors serve their people more faithfully and fruitfully. The Resource Center would contain Bible study and other reference materials, musical and sound equipment, and basic office furnishings. All of these items will resource these pastors and greatly encourage them in their common ministry.

Someone asked me what I wanted for my birthday. They wanted to give me something significant and meaningful. While I have never asked for a birthday gift like this, I figured you are only 50 once – why not go for it!

Our church is establishing a special fund to do this very thing. If this resonates with you and you would like to help make this dream a reality, please send a check (payable to CCCSH – memo Guraghe PRC) to:

Christ Community Church of the South Hills
PO Box 13393
Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Thanks so much for considering this. Your generosity will help catalyze spiritual transformation among the people of Guraghe. And synergized with the physical and material expressions of love, men and women, boys and girls will experience the full life of Jesus Christ. And I could think of no better birthday gift!

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Good News from OptINnow

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:43:00 +0000

For the past year, I have been trying to bring real help and hope to women in Africa through micro-economics loans. By partnering with others through the work of organizations like KIVA and OptINnow, small amounts of money can make a huge difference to some of the poorest yet hardest working people on the planet.

Today I received this update on a loan I made about six months ago to a Kenyan women named Florence Achieng. It is a reminder that God is in the business of transforming lives and bringing all the broken and disclosed pieces of the universe back together again in and through Jesus Christ. As you read her story, if the Spirit so prompts you, why not invest $25, in the life of a hard working woman in Africa. Help her break the cycle of poverty and get with the God who is on the side of the widow and the ophran.

OptINnow Update

Florence Achieng is a young industrious lady aged 30 married with 1 child and lives with her brother and sister. She is able to earn money to pay for her loan,provide for the basic needs and to invest Kshs.1000 in her bank account monthly. She wishes to expand her grocery business to carry tomatoes and cereals.

Florence Achieng runs a grocery business in her neighborhood. She meets her customers' needs so they do not have to travel far to purchase groceries. Certain clients have asked her to provide them with regular stock of certain grocery items, and so she has used her loan to satisfy their demands by purchasing certain goods in wholesale. When she satisfies her customer's demands, she increases her profits. With these profits from the wise investment of her loan, she was able to expand her grocery store to include the sale of chips (American French Fries), the most common cheap lunch item in Kenya. The sale of this popular lunch item has really assisted Florence in providing for her household. Thank you for the hand-up you gave Florence through this loan! This loan was repaid in full.

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Album as Art-Form: A Sonic Feast

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:26:00 +0000

I have been listening to U2's "No Line on the Horizon" for the past couple of days. I have intentionally been listening to it as a whole - from the opening title track to the plaintive final offering, "Cedars of Lebanon." It is a masterful work of art from beginning to end. In this day and age of iTunes and single downloads, it is refreshing to know that there are still a few artists who have the artistic desire, will, and ability to pursue the album as art-form. (remember "Dark Side of the Moon" or "Abby Road"). As much as I appreciated Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" and their venture into the album as art-form (and believe me I truly do enjoy listening to it from beginning to end), it pales in comparison to NLOTH - musically, and lyrically and it is capacity to take this listener to a transcendent place. Experiencing this album has been a sonic feast for both my ears and my soul.

What about you? Is there an album that you experience in this way? Another art form where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts? I would love to hear your thoughts?

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Put on Your Boots

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Our Gulf Coast team is completing a week of serving in the Houston area. Monday thru Thursday they have been primarily serving as a painting crew - working in both a residential context (Miss Pat's) and helping a local church (Gloria Dei) recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

They will finish their work today and tomorrow with what looks to be a major challenge - mucking out a home on Galveston Island. This house has basically been ignored since Ike struck the island. The equipment of the day: high boots and respirators. Don't they look great?!

I am so grateful to be a part of a community that is willing to roll up its sleeves, take up the towel, put on their boots and muck it up in the name and Spirit of Jesus. If you would join me in prayer, lifting them up before the Father asking God to strengthen them for the task at hand!

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U2 and Letterman

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:42:00 +0000

The Associated Press, February 12, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) -- Make room, Paul Shaffer. U2 will be on David Letterman's "Late Show" for a full week to promote their upcoming album. The band will be Letterman's musical guest each night from March 2 to 6. It's the first time a musical guest has been given a solid week on the CBS show. The band last appeared on the "Late Show" in October 2001.

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Compassion Art

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:35:00 +0000

Martin Smith is one of my favorite musicians, songwriters, and worship leaders. Along with his mates in Delirious, over the last 15 years they have created some amazing music. The band is winding down their work together in 2009, but Martin Smith has released catalyzed a project that has tremendous potential to bring real help and hope to people in real need.

The project is called Compassion Art and they describe themselves as follows: "CompassionArt is a charity that joins the dots between art and poverty. It raises money to help breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice."

Smith describes the journey of Compassion Art:

"As a song writer and a person with a microphone I made a promise to try and do something about it. What better than to call on my friends and do something together. To be people that can make a change rather than just singing about it. So the dream was born to gather some of the best-known writers in the gospel/Christian music scene and spend the week writing songs that could impact these issues on a long-term basis.

So after many phone calls, the team was assembled, Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zschech, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Paul Baloche, Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Steven Curtis-Chapman, Andy Park, Stu Garrard, Martin Smith.

So, with so many songwriters gathering it felt like we needed a new structure to compliment and carry this dream. The usual way of doing things is for a publisher to own the songs and then distribute them to the writers. Although there's nothing wrong with this it felt like we needed a more radical approach to maximising all the income from these songs as the intention of the writers is to give every cent away. Also a lot of the publishers and managers were excited about being involved too and making a contribution.

So CompassionArt was born, a charity dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor. So these songs that will be written in Scotland in January will be owned by the charity meaning that every penny will come to it and the trust will own these copyrights forever. The publishers, the managers, the agents and the writers have waived all their rights to see something historic happen, the music business coming together for something great, something that is about something greater than any individual could achieve. So January 7th-11th 2008 we will be in Scotland, 13 people giving something of themselves for a big cause. We hope we will write some of the great songs together, watch this space, watch the future."

There is some great music on this collection and the movement of the Spirit at times is palpable. One of the very cool things about the project is that all the songwriters received songwriter credits for each song in the collection. Two of my favorites right now are "King of Wonders" and "Friend of the Poor."

Listening to these songs the past couple of days has stirred my heart and rekindled a passion for our sisters and brothers in Africa. I shared an idea to encourage locals pastors in Guraghe with a VP at World Vision and on Friday I will be in Chicago and have the opportunity to recconnect with Tim, a pastor with whom I traveled to Ethiopia in November 2007. I love how God knows what we need at just the right time.

Get a taste of Compassion Art here and may our hearts break with the things that break the heart of God.

Stay connected...

A Testament of Hope

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:22:00 +0000

This is a historic week in our history as a nation and my hope is to post a couple of things that reflect these momentous days.

This morning I reread Martin Luther King Jr's essay "A Testament of Hope." Hope is not a subjective feeling or wishful thinking about the future. Hope is based upon an objective reality and any hope that is based on anything other than this is nothing more than "pie in the sky dreaming." I was struck by these words from Dr King:

"People are often surprises to learn that I am an optimist. They know how often I have been jailed, how frequently the days and nights have been filled with frustration and sorrow, how bitter and dangerous are my adversaries. They expect these experiences to harden me into a grim and desperate man. They fail, however, to perceive the sense of affirmation generated by the challenge of embracing struggle and surmounting obstacles. They have no comprehension of the strength that comes from faith in God and man. It is possible for me to falter, but I am profoundly secure in my knowledge that God loves us; he has not worked out a design for our failure. Man has the capacity to do right as well as wrong, and his history is a path upward, not downward."

If anyone in history had the right to become a jaded, cynical, angry and vindictive person, it was Dr King. The hatred, bigotry, and evil that was thrown at him from all sides was brutal. Recently, I have become aware of some anger issues brewing within myself and I have been grappling with how to process them in a healthy way. Dr King never minimized the wrong in his world - yet, he refused to allow the wrong to control him. Hope, in God and in humanity, sustained him.

Some may say Dr. King was naive and that he thought too much of humankind's capacity to do right. His closing words of this essay remind me, that King's hope was not a subjective hope, but rather a hope that was certain and secure because it was grounded in the belief in a personal God who is on the side justice and the right.

"A voice out of Bethlehem two thousand years ago said that all men are crated equal. It said right would triumph. Jesus of Nazareth wrote no books; he owned no property to endow him with influence. He had no friends in the courts of the powerful. But he changed the course of history with only the poor and despise. Naive and unsophisticated though we may be, the poor and despised of the 20th century will revolutionize this ear. In our 'arrogance, lawlessness, and ingratitude,' we will fight for human justice, brotherhood, secure peace and abundance for all. When we have won these - in a spirit of unshakable nonviolence - then, in luminous splendor, the Christian era will truly begin."

Dr. King saw it! May our eyes be open to see it as well.

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Top Songs of 2008

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Yesterday I was listening to WYEP's top songs of 2008. While 'YEP plays some stuff I truly enjoy, they also include a ton of music I haven't quite developed a taste for (yet).

They got me thinking though and I spent some time scrolling through my iTunes and here are my top songs from 2008 (in no particular order).

You Found Me (The Fray)
Violet Hill (Coldplay)
In Your Atmosphere (John Mayer)
Lost (Coldplay)
Hallelujah in the City (Joan Osborne)
I Will Posses Your Heart (Death Cab for Cutie)
Broken (Lifehouse)
Washington Square (Counting Crows)
Chasing Pavements (Adele)
At the Cross (Daniel Renstrom)
As It Is In Heaven (Matt Maher)
Breakable (Ingrid Michealson)
Count Me In (Leeland)
Hosanna (Brooke Fraser)

What about you? What songs filled your iPod this past year?

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Enter the Story - Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:22:00 +0000

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

O come o come Emmanuel
And ransom captive hearts that fell
Bring peace on earth and love’s goodwill for everyone

For You so loved the world You gave
Your life for us to heal and save
We hear the whispers of Your grace for everyone (Matt Maher)

We rejoice with the angels,
shepherds and Magi,
The wait is over!
God, our Savior,
Immanuel is come.

We rejoice in your amazing love
that reaches to all and covers all.
Overwhelm us with this love
So high and so wide,
So deep and so long,
Let us live fully in your embrace,
so secure and so strong.

May your love overflow our hearts,
so that we may be people of
mercy and grace and peace.
And let our lives be
an outpouring of your love,
an invitation to all those we meet
to come, find their place in your great story.

We rejoice with the angels,
shepherds and Magi,
God, our Savior,
Immanuel is come. (Dianne Poleme)

Merry Christmas

Enter the Story

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:20:00 +0000

This Advent season our faith community is seeking to understand and then enter the Christmas story in a deeper way. One of the greatest invitations to do so comes to us through the artform and gift of music. Have you ever noticed how a beautiful song can open us up to deeper truth and reality?

On December 1, Product RED launched a new music site called (RED)Wire. (RED)Wire is a digital subscription music magazine that makes a difference by sharing exclusive music from some of the world's greatest artists every week and using the proceeds to provide people living with HIV in Africa the medicine they need to stay alive. $50 if you can guess which band was featured in first issue.

Some of you may remember Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's Christmas classic, "I Believe in Father Christmas." To be honest, some of the original lyrical content of this song is pretty cynical, skeptical and even agnostic in nature. Take a listen to U2's cover of this song and I would love to hear your thoughts on some of Bono's subtle lyric changes.

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The Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:50:00 +0000

Our faith community is once again pushing into the Advent Conspiracy. We are asking ourselves this question: what if Christmas became a world-changing event again? The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love. So, what happened along the way? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose.

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

The Advent Conspiracy invites us to:

Worship Fully
Spend Less
Give More
Love All

Yesterday I shared with our community some reflections on the "Worship Fully" theme, drawing upon the story of the Magi and King Herod found in Matthew 2. I called it "The Tale of Two Kings" and reminding us all that "they were the best of kings and the worst of kings." A focal part of my message centered around Matthew 2:11 - "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." In the spirit of "worship fully" I asked the question, "what is in your treasure bag and will you bring it to the feet of the new born King?"

If you know me at all, you know that one of my personal passions is worship and I have devoted a significant portion of my life to helping people expand their understanding and practice of worship. Last year I coined this definition: Worship is offering our lives back to God for the life of the world. Paul's words in Romans 12 helped shape this understanding: "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. (Romans 12:1-2, The Message).

I have been reading an excellent book the past week, the latest from Margaret Feinberg, The Sacred Echo and it certainly informed my message yesterday. She has a great chapter entitled, "If You Don't Wear Your Crown (I will Give It to Someone Else)" and I included these words:

"If you don’t wear this crown I will give it to someone else. The words churned in my soul. Though I first interpreted the statement s an ultimatum, I eventually came to understand it as an invitation. In a poignant way, God was saying, “I want to be glorified in you and through you. I made you for this. But if you will not allow me to be glorified in you, I will find someone else.” I have to admit I withheld my decision, choosing instead to continue wrestling with God and myself. Is God really still looking for men and women (and boys and girls) who will fully yield themselves to him? And when he finds them, what can God do in and through them to glorify Himself?"

How does God want to be glorified in you, with you, and through you? Your bag of treasure is your very life - not just your life for an hour or so on Sunday morning, but your everyday, ordinary life.

Yesterday morning, our plan was to conclude our gathering by praying together the following words crafted by Dianne, a member of our community. In a moment of lostness, I completely blew it. So today, as you consider what it means to worship fully, I invite you to pray them and live them.

Child of promise,
We joyfully anticipate your coming.
Immanuel, God with us,
We celebrate your arrival.
Our Savior and our God,
We rejoice in your enduring presence.

As we enter into
This season of waiting,
With humble hearts
We worship you.
For all you are,
For all you’ve done,
For all you continue to do,
Your work in our lives,
Your work in this world

We worship you with all we are,
In all we say and do.
With all our hearts, with all our minds,
With all our souls, with all our strength.
We wait,
And while we wait,
We worship You.

(shared by Dianne Polome)

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6,000 Reasons: World AIDS Day

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Today is World AIDS Day. This year the United Nations theme is Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise. Allow me to share 6,000 reasons why you should care.

6,000 reasons . . . and each has a name
6,000 reasons . . . and each has a face
6,000 reasons . . . and each has a story

Today, like every day, 6,000 children will lose a parent to AIDS.
Today, like every day, we have 6,000 reasons to care.
Today, like every day, we have 6,000 reasons to offer HOPE .

Thousands of children will lose a parent today because of AIDS. UNICEF estimates that 6,000 children lose a parent to AIDS every day. Each child has a name — and a heart-breaking story.

On this World AIDS let me suggest six things you can do to bring real help and hope to people in our world living with the reality of HIV and AIDS.

1) Take an AIDS Test: How much do you really know about AIDS? One of the reasons AIDS continues to be such a global concern is that the disease is surrounded by myth and misinformation. World Vision has a simple online test that will quickly reveal your knowledge base. And the good news: no blood is required.

2) Learn and Listen: Read a book on the reality of this global pandemic.

The Skeptics Guide to the World AIDS Crisis (Dale Hanson)
The Hope Factor (Tetsunao Yamamori)
There Is No Me without You (Melissa Greene)
28: Stories of AIDS in Africa (Stephanie Nolan)

Listen to this message of compassion and hope by Princess Zulu, an international spokesperson on AIDS and HIDS. Princess knows first-hand the reality of HIV and AIDS as she has lost both of her parents to AIDS and is living HIV+.

3) Get RED: During the season of gift giving, buy (Red) and give life. There are hundreds of products that you can purchase and also provide support for the elimination of AIDS in Africa. Today PRODUCT Red has launched RED WIRE, a weekly digital music magazine where you can receive exclusive music from the world's greatest artists, and people living with HIV in Africa will get the medicine they need to stay alive.

4) Advocate: Contact your members of Congress and urge them to continue exercising leadership on this critical issue. With great power comes great responsibility.

5) Fast: Poverty is one of the leading causes of AIDS. The Micah Challenge is inviting people to ACT FAST for seven weeks to end extreme poverty in our world.

6) Pray: Ask God to show you what you can do TODAY to bring real help and hope to people living with HIV and AIDS, both near and far and everywhere in-between. May God give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that will respond in faith, hope and love.

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Act FAST

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:38:00 +0000

This Thanksgiving and Christmas season we have the chance to share the gift of
justice with those living in poverty.

From November 29-January 18 Christians all across our nation are praying, fasting,
and advocating for fast action on extreme poverty. People are pledging to fast, to
donate the cost of a meal ($10) to Micah Challenge, and to sign a letter to President-
elect Obama urging him to Act FAST to support the Millennium Development Goals
and cut global poverty in half by 2015.

Micah Challenge has produced a Prayer Guide that is filled with stories, information on developing nations, and prayers that been created by our sisters and brothers living in some of the nations that are facing extreme poverty.

During this holiday season, I am seizing this opportunity to fast, pray, learn and advocate for the most vulnerable members of the human family. Would you join with me and act FAST?

"He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

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Deliver Us

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:34:00 +0000

Alex McManus from M shared this Kenyan prayer this morning:

From the cowardice that dare not face new truth
From the laziness that is contented with half truth
From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
Good Lord, deliver me.

Good Lord, deliver us.

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Viva Coldplay!

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:07:00 +0000

Last night Patty and I traveled to Cleveland to see one of my favorite bands, Coldplay. The journey actually brought some closure to one of my most embarrassing musical moments. A few years ago for my birthday, my kids gave me the choice of concert tickets to either see Train in Pittsburgh or Coldplay in Cleveland. In a moment or insanity, I choose Train. A colossal mistake that was confirmed in a big way by Coldplay's performance last evening.

Let me say straight up - Coldplay is not U2. They are in a sense, U2-light or perhaps U2 wannabes (to the extent they even used U2's producer Brian Eno for their latest collection of songs). And there is nothing really wrong with that. U2 is that good! Coldplay's staging, lighting, and special effects were stunning and in many ways similar to a U2 production. Four guys in the band – hmmm, have we seen this before? Guitar, bass, drums, and a front guy who actually plays pretty good keys and some decent guitar. I was a bit concerned about how they would pull off the material from their latest CD, "Viva la Vida," as it contains a complex layer of sound, texture and rhythm. It was pretty obvious that all the sound in the Quicken Arena last night was not coming from the four guys on stage. But U2 does the same thing with sequences and loops and no one rips on them for that.

It is hard to believe but Coldplay only has four albums in their catalog. While the show was heavy on Viva la Vida, they played the classic song Clocks, along with In My Place, and Speed of Sound in the first 15 minutes of the show. There is a certain lightness to Coldplay's music and even though they tackle life and death issues on Viva la Vida, they do not take themselves too seriously. As well, the members of the band actually seemed to be enjoying themselves and they enjoyed entertaining the crowd. And entertained we were.

That said, perhaps the highlight of the musical set was their first encore, “Politk” from “A Rush of Blood to the Head.” How do these lyrics strike an American audience less than two weeks away from our historic presidential election?

Look at earth from outer space
Everyone must find their place
Give me time and give me space
Give me real don’t give me fake
Give me strength, reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Give me time give us a kiss
Tell me your politik
Open up your eyes…

Give me one 'cause one is best
In confusion, confidence
Give me peace of mind and trust
Don't forget the rest of us
Give me strength, reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Wounds that heal and cracks that fix
Tell me your own politik
Open up your eyes....

Here is my only major critique of the concert - Chris Martin has no idea how to leverage a moment. In fact, he seemed uncomfortable when a powerful emotional moment emerged. For example, I believe the song “Fix You” is one of the most powerful songs from this generation of songwriters.

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
I promised you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I….

And then imagine 17,000 people singing acapella:

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Powerful – emotionally evocative – perhaps even a transcendent moment for some of us. And Martin, instead of letting us experience the moment deeply, moved quickly into the next song on the setlist, the light, airy, “Strawberry Swing.” This is the kind of thing that separates a pop star from a musical legend. Perhaps Martin will someday grow into this role.

Someday soon, we’ll have a real arena in Pittsburgh and bands like Coldplay will return to the ‘burgh. Until then, I would drive to Cleveland in a heartbeat to see these guys. Viva Coldplay

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Investigate

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:42:00 +0000

This week in our Godscaping series,I am speaking on the spiritual practice called examen. As I am reflecting upon this ancient practice, I am also listening to a modern worship song by Delirious called "Investigate." It is inviting me to go to a deeper place with God. Maybe the Spirit is inviting you to a similar place.

Investigate my life and make me clean
Shine upon the darkest place in me
To you my life's an open book
So turn the page and take a look
Upon the life you've made
Always, my days, I'll praise

Fly away, when heaven calls my name
Fly away, I'll never be the same

Investigate, I can't wait
Excavate, re-create

Investigate my life and take me through
Shine upon the road that leads to you
I know you'd heard the words I'd say
Before I'd even lived one day
You knew the life you'd made
Always, my days, I'll praise

Investigate my life and make me clean
Shine upon the darkest place in me
When I go, when I return you've seen your holy fire burn
Upon the life you made

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A Message of Hope and Compassion

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Last Sunday our community of faith was privileged to have Princess Zulu from Zambia as a guest speaker for our worship gathering. Princess is an international spokesperson on the global HIV and AIDS pandemic and has had opportunity to tell her story before presidents and prime ministers, kings and queens alike. It truly was a God thing that on World Communion Sunday she was in the gym at Eisenhower Elementary School opening up the Word of God to us.

Princess brought a message of hope and compassion. She retold the Parable of the Good Samaritan from her African perspective and reminded each of us and all of us that our sisters and brothers in Africa are indeed our neighbors who are in deep need. Compassion calls us to "go and do likewise."

You can listen to Princess' message at my audio site, Thinking Out Loud. May her words, in the power of the Spirit, move you into action today.

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A Troubling Week

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:42:00 +0000

This has been a deeply troubling week for me. Our nation is reeling economically and the anxiety level is palpable. The non-stop coverage by the media on this issue seems only to fuel the fear and tension. And with 40 some days to the election, the skeptic within me questions how politicized every solution offered actually is (and I write this at 9:25 AM, just minutes before President Bush is slated to make another statement on the bailout plan).

I am not an economist; my understanding of the issues on Wall Street from both a macro and micro level is incredibly limited. I have been accused by some to be both politically and economically naive. That may be true. But I do know that I am deeply troubled this week.$700 billion is a whole lot of money; more money that I can wrap my brain around. And I don't know what would happen (and or will) if the bailout plan isn't resolved quickly.

This recent statement from Bono only adds fuel to the stirring in my soul. He said, "it's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to saved 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases."

Every Friday I join with people from around the globe and pray the Micah Challenge. "And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). The Micah Challenge is committed to praying for and working toward a 50% reduction in global poverty by 2015.

Recently, a group of evangelical leaders from the Church in the Global South issued a pastoral letter to the Church in the United States. The letter highlights the great good that the United States has done in the developing world. Millions of lives have been saved through relief and development efforts undertaken by both the US government and through the generosity of both private citizens and the community of faith. This week, as I have been thinking about some of the heroes in our community of faith, I have a great sense of pride and joy in the individuals, families, and groups who are bringing real help and hope to the children of Guraghe, Ethiopia. Through our partnership with World Vision, the root causes of poverty, disease, and death are not only being confronted but being defeated as new life and hope is springing forth.

And yet, despite a commitment we made as a nation to join with other G8 nations to the goal spending 0.7 percent of their GNP on global aid, the United States, is at the bottom of the list of what the G8 nations have contributed toward the reduction of poverty, disease, and death, spending just 0.16 percent of its income on development assistance and poverty reduction.

And so, in the midst of a deeply troubling week, I invite you to prayerfully read this pastoral letter to the Church in the United States. Let us have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

TO THE CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES

As the Church of the Lord in what is known as the “Southern” part of the world, moved by the Holy Spirit to fight for the abundant life that Jesus Christ offers, we address our Christian family in the United States, a Church of the same covenant, faith and love. Grace and Peace to all of our brothers and sisters.

We know your works of love; these works have allowed millions of human beings for many generations in our countries in the South to receive the gospel, the Grace of Jesus Christ and the power of His Salvation. The U.S. church’s untiring missionary effort planted in our lands Hope in Him who came to reconcile EVERYTHING.

Nevertheless, the political, social and economic situation in the places where this hope has been announced is increasingly distressing. Millions of people in the global South are dying of hunger, violence and injustice. These situations of poverty and pain are not simply the product of the internal functions of our countries; rather they are the results of the international policies of the governments that wield global power.

Therefore, we have this against you, brothers and sisters, that along with this powerful announcing of the Gospel, the Church from the United States has not also raised its voice in protest against the injustices that powerful governments and institutions are inflicting on the global South - injustices that afflict the lives and ecosystems of millions of people who, centuries after the proclamation of the Gospel, still have not seen the sweat of their brow turned into bread.

The worsening inequality and poverty in the South is alarming. Seven years since the United States and 191 other nations publicly promised to cut extreme global poverty in half by the year 2015 through the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), your country has made only a little progress towards fulfilling its commitments. The MDGs should stir us to action because they echo the calls of the biblical prophets for justice and equity. Further, they are achievable and measurable markers on the roadmap to end extreme global poverty.

And so we ask you as sisters and brothers, citizens of the wealthiest most powerful nation on earth, to publicly challenge your candidates and political leaders – now and after the elections are over - to lead the world in the struggle to cut global poverty in half by 2015. If you who know the Truth will not speak for us who will?

The Church in the United States has the opportunity today to be faithful to the Hope that it preaches. We urge you to remember that the Hope to which you were called as a messenger demands that you seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s justice.

Out of love for us, the global Church, in holiness, use your citizenship responsibly for the benefit of the entire world; it is for this very reason that the Lord poured out His life on the Cross.

All who have ears, let them hear what the Lord says to His Church.

Just One Question

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:28:00 +0000

The first presidential debate is less than ONE week away. Take ONE minute to watch the video and ONE minute to act.

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Faith and Politics Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:59:00 +0000

It's that time again in the life cycle of our nation. Election time, that is. Later this month I will be facilitating a series of dialogues for our community of faith on some of the important and hot button issues facing our nation and world - issues on which people of faith sometimes disagree.

In my preparation for this dialogues I am doing some reading and research. Here is my current working bibliography. Do you have any recommendations - any must reads? I would love your input?

Jesus for President (Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw)
God and Government (Chuck Colson)
The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church (Gregory A Boyd)
God's Name in Vain: The Wrongs and Rights of Religion in Politics (Stephen Carter)
The Future of Faith in American Politics: The Public Witness of the Evangelical Center (David P. Gushee)
Beyond Left and Right (Amy Black)
Red Letter Christians (Tony Campolo)
The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith and Politics in a Post-Religious Right America (Jim Wallis)
Personal Faith, Public Policy (Tony Perkins and Harry Jackson)
The Scandal of Evangelical Politics: Why Are Christians Missing the Chance to Really Change the World? (Ronald J. Sider)

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Moving into Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:45:00 +0000

This past Saturday our community of faith began work on our Uptown Center, located at 668 Washington Road in Mt Lebanon, PA. This 800 square feet space was previously a retail store featuring finely crafted glass figurines. As you can see from the image, the space currently is a empty shell (you can view additional images at this on-line gallery). But we believe in time it will become an environment where people will connect with God, one another, and our world.

The Uptown Mt Lebanon neighborhood is a vibrant community that is intentionally living into the realities and principles of new urbanism. There is a unique and wonderful fusion of the economic, residential, cultural, and the political orders. An eclectic mix of coffee shops, restaurants, merchants, and helping professions and organizations is embedded into a residential, walking community filled with single family homes, townhouses and condos, and apartment complexes.

Now you might be asking why a church would lease an 800 square foot space in the midst of this type of neighborhood? It certainly isn't a large enough space to become a home for our Sunday worship gatherings. And as much as my wife would like me to have an office outside of our home, a workspace for Marlaena and me is not priority number one. Our hope and prayer for the Uptown Center is that it might become a tangible expression of the kingdom of God in the midst of this neighborhood. Our intention is to join in the work that God is already doing in this neighborhood and by faith, contribute what we can to the promotion of flourishing in this community. And by the grace of God and the empowerment of the Spirit, perhaps God will use us in some way in the work that God is doing to bring all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe together again in Christ.

For me this simple antidote speaks volumes and confirmed to me that we are heading in God's direction with this initiative. On Saturday morning as our first work crew was beginning its labors, one of the neighboring merchants stopped by to welcome us and inquire about our presence in the neighborhood. Steve's first words were to me were, "Moving in?" The full weight of his simple question did not hit me until Tadd, one of the guys on our work crew (and a leadership team member) said to me, "Did you hear what he said? 'Moving in?'"

And in a moment it all made complete sense. As a missisonal community of faith we seek to follow Jesus into the world. And a primary text for us has been Eugene Peterson's rendering of John 1:14:

"The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood."

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