GlocalNet

MissionSHIFT July 12-15, 2010

Join today’s leading missional thinkers and practitioners at Ridgecrest Conference Center as we engage the missional conversation for the 21st century. If you believe it is time for the church to engage in the mission of God, missionSHIFT will inspire and prepare you to cultivate a missional movement in your church and community.

Register today!

Speakers include:
Bob Roberts
Ed Stetzer
Matt Chandler
Alan Hirsch
and many more!

Recently a new member sent me an email telling me how much they enjoyed being at NorthWood.  They then told the story of how they found the church and how they absolutely loved the vision, the ministry of discipleship and engagement - but there were a couple of things to them that were really important that had more to do with preferences - that we are not.  “The vision outweighed” the absence of something they preferred.  That’s good.

I got another email from a member telling me that God had called them to a new church plant - that being the culture of NorthWood, they were excited to serve in a setting like that - even though the new church didn’t have a lot of “services” they were used to or wanted. That’s good. 

How do you find the right church home for you? 

You don’t. You go where God leads you.  Instead of making a list of things you want in a church, ask God what church he wants you in, doing what?  Stop making a list of all you want a church to have - instead be a part of the body of Christ and help it be what he wants it to be.  How do you do that?

1.  Begin in prayer.  Ask God to open your heart - not be a religious consumer - but a servant of Jesus Christ to the body of Christ and the community.

2.  Get a passion for your community.  Ask God to give you a vision of what he wants to do on your street, your neighborhood, your city and what role you play in that as part of the body of Christ.

3.  Approach the potential church as a “giver” not just a “receiver”. What is it that you have to offer?  Be open to things that you may not have thought of that God can use in you, and through you, to bring something to the church that wasn’t there before you came. Knowing your gifts, calling, and passion for your area will help you on that.

4.  Make it a family decision.  Instead of - the kids ministry could have been a lot better - or youth - or the music - or whatever - the question with the family should be - “Forget all the externals, what was God saying to us today as …

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Many of you read my blog, but don’t attend NorthWood.  Some of you live in other countries and come from other beliefs.  I just wanted to show you a bit of our worship at NorthWood.  A few weeks ago we had several pastors from around the world come and we “team-preached”!  Here is a link to the video of the sermon.  Below is a video from one of the worship songs we did that same Sunday.

Revelation Song from Northwood Church on Vimeo.

All last week I was with a small group of global pastors whom I’ve been meeting with for the past 3 years. It was so much fun.  There are 12 of us with a combined total of 18,750 churches, representing 1,750,000 followers working in 82 countries!  We are collaborating together and learning to speed each other up! 

Last weekend Nikki and I chilled as much as we could. I did jury duty yesterday. 

Eddy Leo was with us and led a small group as if it were one of the 2,500 cells they have in Jakarta - it was incredible.  We went to a baseball game and Eddy got his picture taken with a highway patrolman.  Friday, Rusty and Jane Mayeax hosted a reception for all the tutors working at the Academy of West Birdville, an inner-city school.  Then, Nikki and I hung out downtown Fort Worth where they were shooting a TV show for the Food Channel.  Some guy named Tyler Florence, I think, was there and I had my picture taken with him. 

I will have a normal week - kind of - then Jill graduates from Baylor!!!!!  Only to start her masters in July!!! 

Last week Vicky Porterfield, who is the prayer intercessor for our group, showed me this and Wow! was it powerful!!  It’s from John Wesley’s journal:

Sunday a.m., May 5-Preached in St. Ann’s.  Was asked not to come back anymore.
Sunday p.m. - Preached at St. John’s.  Deacons said “Get out and stay out!”

Sunday a.m., May 12 - Preached at St. Jude’s.  Can’t go back there either.
Sunday p.m. - Preached at St. George’s.  Kicked out again.

Sunday a.m., May 19 - Preached at St. somebody else’s.  Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return.
Sunday p.m. - Preached on the street.  Kicked off the street.

Sunday a.m., May 26 - Preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during the service.

Sunday a.m., June 2 - Preached out at edge of town, kicked off the highway.
Sunday p.m. - Preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me in afternoon.

We can’t give up - no matter how hard it is, no matter …

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In my book Real-Time Connections – I deal with people using their jobs – but also their passions and whatever they have.  We were acting in “real-time” as a family when we brought home an exchange student that lived with us for a couple of years and then became a part of our family through the holidays, etc., for many years.  We went to his wedding last Christmas in Hanoi.  Nikki was cleaning out a desk when she found these two emails from dated August 1, 2001.  One is from Mr. Tu, Ti’s father, speaking of Ti, the other was from me – I had been on a trip in which I was in 3 countries and I was writing it from one of them and our emails came at the same time . . . There was apprehension on all our part.  A Christian pastor’s family opening itself up to an animist, Buddhist, atheist – whatever – teenager to live in our home.  The living arrangements were all in flux – it would be a wild but phenomenal ride that would help us grow in understanding God, our world, and our family even more.  Nikki had emailed me a little stressed – I’d been gone, and they would be picking up Ti a few days before I arrived home. I’m trying to give Nikki moral support and the kids paternal encouragement . . .

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8/1/2001 – 3:48:55 am

Nikki,
When I woke up this morning – you were on my mind. . . . I’ll be home soon so you can relax . . . . give this to the kids . . . .

Ben and Jill, how I wish you were here with me.  I’ll be home soon.  I got you both surprises.  I know our lives are going to change some and I know you’re probably somewhat nervous about opening up our home to someone new and from a different country and religion.  I am too – but I know we are doing the right thing.  Over and over again the Bible, Jesus and Paul tell us to practice hospitality – that means more than being polite and inviting people over – it means opening our homes and lives to those in need.  This may be the biggest thing we’ve …

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You’d better want a global church - the new local is global - we are all connected.  I was on a flight and watching the movie “Up in the Air” I think it was called - George Clooney, etc. - in the movie a lady gives a talk on Glocal!!!!  This week I’ve been with leading global pastors of major churches/ministries from all around the world - only 2 of us represent the West - us in America and another in Europe.  I enjoy it - because these men are way ahead of me, live their life like I do and so much more - and I can learn from them.  They face some of the same headaches and challenges I do and it’s so neat to be in a room of guys that can help me.  Here are some things common to us all that you pastors and church planters and even church members should be aware of as your church becomes global.

1.  You have to always tie the global to the local experience.  We’ve done good at times and not so good at times at that.  If people see it as purely global with no definite impact on them here and now - be it shallow, immature, uninformed, or self-centered - you won’t get a lot of traction.  Always tie how it impacts you where you are.  When we had the global pastors last Sunday - it was our various ethnic members that led in worship, the reading of the Scripture, etc.  From Arabic, to Hindi, to Romanian, to Vietnamese to Texan!!!  Our multi-faith service earlier in the year did so much to help the church get the whole Islam, Jewish, etc. conversation.

2.  You have to have a strong team that all buys into the vision.  It can’t be - we focus on the fort here and they focus around the world and we all go to the same church.  No, we all focus around the world and we all focus here.  Otherwise you bifurcate your vision and build an us against them mentality. 

3.  Your people have to be the story - what they are doing around the world and locally - they are the heros.  If it’s your preaching, and your relationships - its about you.  It’s OK to talk about some of those, but make your people the heros.  I love sending …

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Yesterday at NorthWood we had one the greatest worship we’ve ever had.  It was nothing short of phenomenal.  We continue to try to tweak things to get us more into the presence of God and keep us true to our DNA - but sometimes God just shows up and does things in spite of us!  We did the offering, announcements, etc. up front and then came back and had a long song set that was powerful. 
We had our members of different ethnic and national backgrounds to stand up and each read a verse of Psalms 150 in their own tongue.  On the big screens English was beneath the native tongue so everyone could read it - we then went straight into the singing.  Our members of different ethnic backgrounds then sang the “Revelation Song” in 5 different languages, all scattered across the front of the stage.  One of our members from India played the “Indian” drums - everybody was singing at the top of their lungs and worshiping.  I had several tell me that it was like heaven - all of us there.  Over the past three years, but particularly the past few months, we are seeing a lot more people of different ethnic backgrounds in our church - and it’s exciting - especially when you realize we are in suburbs where 85% are Anglo.  I don’t know what our percentage is - I’d guess we are around 70% Anglo, and the rest everything else mixed in. 

We then team preached - 5 of us - James 1:19-27 - you can see it at northwoodchurch.org - most had churches and movements of 25,000 or more - some 200,000.  These were humble men - some through interpreters - all with something to say that was powerful.  For our members to see Africans, Indians, Australians, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Indonesian - and hear their stories of hearing and obey was powerful.

Finally we had the communion service patterned after a group of Hindu priest who became Christians.  Now that they are believers they came up with their own method of it.  They break the coconut representing how Christ was broken on the cross - as the milk pours out they speak of him being our sacrifice that was poured out, and then the inside part is white - showing what he did on the cross makes us clean.  …

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This Sunday is going to be wild.  Our NorthWood members that have come from all over the world will be leading in music, worship, and other things.  NorthWood has people from Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Thailand, England, Egypt, Kenya, Laos, China, Canada, and lots of other places - they’ll be front and center this Sunday - BUT it doesn’t stop there.  There will be at least 6 global pastors from all over the world that are here for a gathering we will have next week at NorthWood.  They’ll help me preach - I’ll read the text and in each service we’ll talk about it.  THEN, the Lords’ supper - Indian (India) style!!!!  We will have Jossey Chacko show us how they do it in India and lead us, and it will be coconut milk and coconut shreds - you don’t want to miss this.  I’ve seen the songs we’re singing, the prayer, the preaching, the music, it’ll be wild.  One service is at 9:30 and the other at 11am.  See you then . . .

Last night Nikki and I went out with Rabbi Schneider and his wife Rachael.  We had a lot of fun.  There’s a lot I like about him. 

First, he’s Texan - born and bred in Houston now living in Big D.  That impacts his thinking, his personality, and God’s view of him is exalted because of that.  You don’t believe it - read Bob 3:16 “And Lo, God so loved the Texans more than all so that he blessed them not just with eternal life but control over all of eternity and the entire world and the whole human race.” 

Second, he respects my traditions.  We sit down to eat and he says, “don’t you pray over your food.”  Yes, I said.  Have at it Bob.  I prayed a brief simple prayer.  I’m all over the world with different religions, no religion, traditions, etc.  I always thank God for the food but don’t try to make a show about it.  I can’t stand people who pray in public to be seen - it grosses me out. 
I often am eating with non-Christians and praying over my food is always a challenge - it’s something I’ve done.  I’ve learned it’s best not to draw attention to yourself, the point is thanking God, not making a show. 

Third, he isn’t afraid to ask me questions - hard questions.  He asked me point blank - “so you believe the Bible is the Word of God?”  I answered him point blank - “I do.”  “Fair enough” he said.  I love being able to talk to people honestly about what I believe and neither me nor them getting upset.  I can ask him questions as well - nothing has been off limits to him.  I’m grateful for that.  Politeness is always appropriate but political correctness is a huge problem in discussing matters of truth. 

Fourth, he doesn’t just talk - he acts.  He was telling me all he is doing with the young people at the synogogue.  He has different religions come and speak and they do projects together.  He isn’t afraid to take risks.  He’s been to Syria and other places most Jews would go very skidishly - he has courage and wants to engage and see peace. 

Fifth - they’re real people.  Nikki loves Rachael - they talk fast and furious when Jeremy and I go …

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The past week has been a wild one - with the next week and half promising to be just as wild. May 1, we have 10+ global pastors converging at NorthWood.  Sunday 2 to 3 of them will preach in each service, then one of them will lead us in communion at the end of each service “Indian” syle - as in India.  Then the 3rd - from 1-4pm anyone is invited - after that it’s all closed door.  We have been coming together as the global church pastors to learn from one another - it’s a process we’ve been working on and are nearing completion after a 3 year journey together.  More on that later . . . .

One of my closest friends in life over the past 8 years has become Eddy Leo of Abba-Love Church in Jakarta, Indonesia.  We met after the tsunami in Banda Aceh.  Pastor Eddy’s church has 25,000 people that attend weekly.  He is one of the most humble on the face of the earth you’ll ever know.  His personality, his life-style, his leadership - it’s all very humble.  His church size would put him in the top ten churches of America - but he is nowhere near what an America Giga-Church pastor would be.  Humility, simplicy, and servanthood are all core to who he is as a person.  He is a picture of what I believe a biblical pastor is and what God longs for us to be here in the States.  He is no dummy.  Raised reformed, discovering the power of the Spirit, knowing Greek & Hebrew, theology, and city engagement he’s truly an “Apostle” in our day in the truest sense of the Greek word - one sent out to extend the kingdom.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a pastor as balanced as he is in terms of theology and practice.  Many are great preachers and theologians.  Many are great church growers.  Many are great “missional” practitioners.  Eddy’s ministry encompasses it all.  I believe that is due to the fact that he sees the Kingdom as the focal point of all of it.  This is where he and I converge - we have the same discipleship model and God gave it to each of us without ever having …

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