Connecting the dots.... Connecting lives

Maybe it would surprise people to know that our staff spent some time wrestling with the notion of community this morning in our weekly staff meeting. The importance of community and providing an environment for people to connect to one another is a high priority for our church. In fact, the highlight of the week comes on Mondays when we reflect about the stories that we hear coming from our LIFE Groups and individuals about how God is using people in the context of groups to "encourage each other in the journey."

So what was so special about our discussion to day? I guess it struck me as significant that after three years of promoting community as a cornerstone of a church, we still are willing to wrestle with the concept. We are still asking each other questions... often the same questions that we've asked before. But occasionally, we get new answers. Sometimes, in fact, we get answers that we don't really even want. The b0ttom line is we have to continue to create opportunities to connect. And they (the people that God continues to bring our way) get to define what "connect" looks like.

Each of us need significant relationship in our lives. Figure out how that looks for you and connect with someone with whom you can passionately pursue the Savior.

One at a time...

This may seem to ramble a bit... but hang with me.  

Sometimes I wonder what the Church is doing.  Over the years I've seen churches get so caught up in maintaining and promoting programs.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of organization, but I'm a bigger proponent of intentionality and transformation.

Here's where I may seem to ramble.  Churches can so easily get caught up in their own little world and be consumed by things that the world couldn't care less about.  In the mean time, community transformation bogs down and usually completely stops.  How it must sadden the King when we forget about The Kingdom and focus so much on our kingdom.

Which brings me to this... While it is true that Jesus spent "quality time" with the masses, so much of his attention during his earthly ministry focused on one or a few.  How does that example change what we do as Christ followers?  Doesn't it mean that we should be looking for people who need to experience Christ when we are near?  Doesn't it mean that instead of saying come to us, that we as church leaders help and equip our people to "go to them?"

I'm so excited to see our faith family begin to "get it."  Reaching out... going to the community... being the hands and feet of Christ.  The Twelve followed Christ's example and changed the world... let's go change ours.

Second Chances, New Beginnings, and Snow

Yesterday was a little strange. I guess "new" territory always feels that way though. The staff (at RCC) is always encouraging our people to step outside of their comfort zone and live radically for Christ. Ridley mentioned that as recently as this past Sunday, in fact. Yesterday, Pam and I took the plunge.

Sometimes people need a fresh start. Sometimes, people need a new environment with new challenges. And sometimes, for the church to really be the Church, we have to cross some boundaries. So, yesterday, Pam and I welcomed a new member of the family into our home. We don't know how long he will be there... as long as he needs, I guess. It isn't exactly convenient for us, but wow, what an opportunity to be an encouragement. Today when I dropped him off for school (new experience for me!), I reminded him that it was a new day with a fresh start. Oddly enough, it seems like a new day for me as well.

How does the snow comment mentioned in the title relate? Easy... last night as I was driving home from REVOLUTION (our student worship event), I was reminded how clean and fresh everything looks when it's snowing. Everything seems to glow with newness. It seemed fitting. A young man "re-starts" a life that has been overtaken by some bad decisions, and a crazy couple takes a dive into faith that has already been stretched over the past year.


Let it snow!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Ever been to Montana in January?  One word... actually, two....cold & windy.

I'm here in Livingston visiting with Paul Sedon and Cody Wood, two church planters that we (Ridgeview) have partnered with to plant a church.  Livingston is between Billings and Bozeman, and in many ways, is a very typical western, frontier town.  This is my third visit to Livingston.   Paul and Cody are really beginning to see some fruit as seeds planted in the past months and years are beginning to grow.  

I'm so thankful to be a part of a church and staff that is committed to exponential kingdom growth.  Much of our DNA is being replicated here in MT as Cornerstone Church continues to invest in people and serve the Livingston community.  

We ran in to another pastor from a near-by town earlier today.  He's been here for 20 years.  Church planting, especially in frontier areas, is L O N G term.  I've just been reminded, yet again, how great the need is for us to be about the task of taking the Gospel to our local community, our state, nation, and certainly around the world.  

It's cold and snowy outside, but the fire in me has been stoked, once again, but the courage and determination of these church pioneers.  

The end of a chapter

Today is a huge day!  Pam is finished with radiation!  Now before you think I'm already straying from my purpose of talking group life and leadership, hang with me a few minutes.

Back in March, we got the diagnosis that Pam had stage 2 breast cancer.  After first being told it was small, contained and would be relatively minor, further investigation revealed that it was a "bigger deal."  Short story - 6 chemos, surgery, and 30 radiation treatments later, we are finished with treatment.

Now here's where the community stuff comes in.  In 2002, while serving as Minister of Spiritual Development at FBC Smyrna, our staff began to explore this whole "small group" thing.  Pat Hood, Smyrna's Lead Pastor, really challenged me to become a student of the small group paradigm.  I was clueless, but took the dive.  Fast-forward... I've spent the last 4+ years doing lots of listening, writing, teaching, and dreaming about what true New Testament community looks like.  This year, I've experienced it.... no, really experienced it.

As word began to spread about Pam, we began to hear from not only close friends, but also people we hadn't talked to in years.  Then, people in our neighborhood began to stop and say, "this is what we want to do for you," rather than the obligatory "let us know if there is ...."  

I wont bog down in all that we experienced, but I will mention one thing that Pam and I both learned.  We talk about how important it is to give in our groups.  We talk about giving (tithing) as part of worship, and we talk about giving to our community.  Interestingly enough, Pam and I found it very difficult to receive.  At some point, it clicked with me that if we didn't receive, we were in effect "stealing" a blessing from others.   We learned that it was important that we simply said "thank you for thinking of us" and receive what our friends were doing to serve us.

Maybe this doesn't connect with anyone else, but it was one of the many lessons that we learned in this process.  Community is giving, growing in grace, laughing, being vulnerable, and yes, sometimes, it's receiving.

It's a Messy, Messy World

Ready or not, here we go...

After much prodding, I'm officially launching my blog.  This should be interesting.  I have a long history of my mouth getting me in to trouble, and now my thoughts will be posted for the world to see.

With my church (Ridgeview Community) launching a new and improved website, I decided this would be a great time to take the plunge.  After all, my mind has been churning the last few weeks as I continue to learn about community, and just what that really means to people.

I've spent the last 5+ years teaching (and a little preaching) about how important it is for people to embrace community.  Especially for Christ followers, we simply can't grow in our faith alone on an island.  I stand by that.  In fact, I believe it more than ever.  

There are tons of positives that happen when we "do life" with one another.  But I'm learning there are some risks involved as well.  People can disappoint us.  Love given may not be returned.  Confidences could be broken.  

Now, before you think I'm being Danny Downer, listen up.  Life is full of risk.  All of those things are possible, but so is the opposite.  Because we've taken the risk, people amaze us, we are loved and supported beyond any expectation, and our weaknesses that we've shared are carried to the Father in quiet confidence.

Yeah, building community can be messy; some would even say, dangerous.  But I know that if I'm going to be all that He has created me to be, I have to engage... I have to trust... and I have to risk.

There you have it... my first post.  In the coming days and months, I'll be sharing some of the stuff that rattles around in my head about group life, community, and even some leadership thoughts.  I'd love for you to post a comment or two... we might even build a little community.