Filed under: Art, Institutional Church | Tags: drama, Jesus, redemption, temptations, video, youtube
I’m not a big fan of church drama teams. And I’m even less a fan of using them at youth conferences. But something in this performance moved me to tear-filled eyes. I almost turned it off after the first 30 seconds, but since it was Lifehouse and not “worship” music I stuck with it.
Hang on to the end. I think it’s worth it. Even though it moved my heart I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Let me know what you think.
Filed under: Laughs, Uncategorized | Tags: double entendre, funny, snakes, youtube
Kept trying to come up with a title for this video, but none of them worked. Way too many double entendres. Snakes and pants just don’t mix.
Enjoy the video.
BTW its perfectly clean. What were you thinking?
Filed under: Institutional Church, Missional Church | Tags: Church Politics, Church Structure, Governance, Institutional theory, Institutionalism, Missional Church, Organizational Death, Organizational theory
A few weeks ago we had to take our Bichon Frise puppy in to get groomed. She had been spayed the month before and had developed some nasty “mats” in her fur. The groomer said that it was hopeless. The only option was to shave all the hair off and let it re-grow. Sooo, Fergi was shaved, and she ended up looking like a rat. Not very attractive, but necessary for her to be the super cute dog she really is. This got me thinking…
In fact, I think I even came up with a new term, institutional matting (IM). IM is what happens when a successful organization becomes so comfortable in itself that it stops exposing itself to risk or challenge. When an organization does this it subtly begins to grow stagnant and institutionalize, forgetting the very values that made it vibrant and successful. If this process remains unchecked it will eventually begin the downward spiral to complete loss of effectiveness and even institutional death (a fate worse then death in that an institution can hang on for a long time sucking resources and creativity that could be applied in successful organizations). The problem with matting is that the very thing that keeps it from happening (challenge, risk, change, obstacles) are the very things that a successful organization seeks to avoid to remain “successful” (Much like Fergi and the brush).
Once an institution develops “mats” it takes a drastic effort for them to be removed. This is where re-visioning, outside consultants, and new executive hires come in to play in order for the institution to become revitalized. Unfortunately many times this process is only a band-aid. Unless the entire organization buys into and commits to the re-visioning or the new leaders vision (which in turn brings the side effect of becoming a differently focused organization), those “mats” will remain, and while they will temporarily seem to be gone they will soon reappear more matted then ever.
While I’m not an expert on institutional lifecycles or theory, I have experienced matting first hand and have seen the disasters that it can cause. I’m wondering if the same solution that was employed for Fergi needs to be employed with Institutional Matting. When the vibrancy of of a cause and a mission have faded, and a successful cause has made the turn to institutionalism and risk-management, perhaps a “shaving” is in order. Perhaps all the trappings of institution need to shaved off, and the organization brought back to the heart of what it was established for in the first place. All the trappings of risk-management, “stewardship”, and “success” must be stripped away if the organization wants to re-become what it was created to be in the first place. Scary proposition, but perhaps just like for Fergi, it is a necessity.
So anyway, thats about all I have developed on that right now. I’d love to hear your thoughts if this has proved true in your experience. AND I’d love to hear your ideas on how to build “brushes” into organizations to keep them from matting.
On a side note, have you noticed this tendency in your personal life? I’ll have to think about that one.
Filed under: Bio, Missional Church, Missional Living | Tags: convictions, disciple, Following God, God, Incarnational Living, Jesus, Jesus-followers, Spirituality
I spent a lot of time the last few weeks thinking about living as a part of a missional community. How is that began, how is it done, and maybe most importantly, how is it sustained? I was really challenged to get my personal convictions set down so that I can filter my life through them. I know for myself, I have been defined more by institutional (church) convictions then what God has placed in my own heart. In order for me to really live, I need to strive after being the person God calling me to be.
After sharing these with my wife, it was really good to hear that she really liked them and felt she could share them with me (good thing for our future happiness and our marriage 
). I though I would share them here and then develop them over the next few weeks with you. Hopefully this will do 2 things. One, help me flesh this out in my own life, and Two, challenge others (you) to think through your own personal convictions. I’m beginning to believe more and more, that until individuals really have a handle on their own personal calling, we are unable to live missionally either as individuals or as a community.
All of these come from the context of desiring to put the reality of the Kingdom of God on display for others around me to see and experience. Also, I want to be known more and more for what I am for and what I give to others, and less for what I am against or what I desire from others. So having said all that, here you go:
1. The world doesn’t understand grace, I need to live it out for them to see.
2. Church is who we are and what we do together, not where we go or how we gather.
3. I’m blessed to bless others. I need to constantly be looking to give something back especially to the community I live in.
4. Loving my wife and kids takes priority over everything else and shows off Jesus in the process.
5. Following Jesus is meant to be done together. We need others to walk with us on the journey.
6. Injustice and oppression breaks God’s heart and it needs to break mine as well. When I see it (locally or globally) I need to respond.
I really appreciate whatever feedback you can give me on these, wether you agree or disagree with them. And perhaps even more, I’d love to hear what convictions you come up with to guide your life. I’m looking forward to developing each these in the next week or so. Stay tuned…
