GlocalNet

Look down on the right . . . See it? . . . the red logo and box . . . . click it . . . . register . . . . get ready to change the world. . . .

If you’ve heard me speak or followed this blog, you know we’re serious about engaging the world and seeing a transformation take place.  For me, it’s not just service projects or just doing good works to feel good about myself or our church.  It’s about living out the kingdom of God on this earth using all my skills, talents, abilities, and influence to see, as Paul wrote, “the reconciliation of all things. . . ” 

It’s what we’ve practiced as a church in the world, what I practice as an individual, and what I challenge churches, and others as a whole, to practice.  We, including me, a practitioner, David Grubbs, a sharp technology guy who is learning the world, and Al Weiss, a businessman who’s helping us fund this, are about finished with the site. 

BUT, this isn’t your normal “Christian” social networking site for volunteerism.  As a matter of fact, it’s not just “Christian,” though we three are. It’s for anyone who wants to change the world.  Most of the Christian world bands together to go “invade” other spaces and do christian work in other places.  We don’t.  We band together with Muslims, Bhuddists, Communists, Socialistis, Hindus, Athiest, and anyone else who wants to change the world to make a difference.  As a Christian, I do what I do in the name of Christ and don’t keep it a secret, but neither do I segment myself from others because they are not Christian.  As a Christian, I respect other viewpoints, as well, that doesn’t mean I have to agree with them always!

I began to realize this as we worked in Vietnam and worked with the government leaders, business leaders, health leaders, education leaders, agriculture leaders, etc. not necessarily or exclusively “Christian leaders”.  Therefore, if there’s going to be a site/platform to connect people of different worldviews, it has to be one that not only a Christian would use, but a Muslim or Hindu or Athiest.  It would need to be one that not only a capitalist would use, but a communist or whatever the government is. 

Salt and light is to be …

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Sunday, Erwin and Kim McManus came and spoke at NorthWood.  We started a series called “Crave” based on his book last year “Soul Cravings”.  It was amazing to me how Erwin took some very profound and heavy truths and made them so incredibly simple to understand.  He puts words to things we think but don’t always know how to say.  You can link to the http://www.northwoodchurch.org web-site and get the podcast. It was really good.  We had lots of ladies turn out Sunday night to hear Kim speak. I was told she was awesome, as well - “No men allowed!” 

It was fun hanging out and talking about life the past 20 years.  We both knew each other back in the day . . . We ate some good “Texas” (well really Memphis bar-b-q - in Texas, but what does a Californian know about that anyhow!)  barbecue.  We watched a couple of football games—especially Dallas, who won.  So, what are the lessons from 20 years of ministry I would see in the both of us? 

1.  It ain’t easy.  BUT, out of the difficulties you find yourself and ultimately your voice.
2.  Stay focused on your gifting and calling.  If you do, sooner or later there will be fruit.
3.  Fruit takes on a life of its own. It begins to multiply quicker the longer you stay with it.
4.  Influence and success are not always the same thing.  It’s more than attendance and books.
5.  Without being able to love your family and enjoy each other, it’s all very hollow.

I’m sure there are a lot more, but those are just a few . . . . feel free to add some . . . .

The following was in the comment box - I wanted to respond to it in the form of a blog . . . .

Randy Ehle says:
Sep 30, 2008 at 10:29 PM
In less than 36 hours I will be leaving Portland with a team from our church heading to Liberia for 12 days. This is the first foray into what we anticipate will be a long-term partnership in the region, a significant piece of which will involve encouraging and training pastors. Earlier today I received a list of questions they have asked for help with; four of the five areas focused on money (Biblical teaching, prosperity gospel, church and pastoral accountability for money, and issues of money between Americans and Africans). The other question was on the role of a pastor.

One thing I’ve been wondering since getting that list was how much of the present financial situation in the US can be translated into the current situation in Liberia - a country that was devastated by a 14-year civil war and is just over the past couple of years getting its footing again. Your prayers (and input) would be greatly appreciated.

Randy - here’s my response:

Just like the U.S. is sending economic tidal waves across the world so we do the same with our expression of Christianity.  Emerging economies are devastated by our level of greed to the degree many would like to be freed from the “dollar” and come up with another form of currency. 

The real “emerging church” not the post-Western, postmodern, but as Fareed Zacharias would say, the “Post-American”  church has already shifted it’s spiritual currency and is booming.  The problem is, there are many pockets of western religious imperialism that continue to dictate what Christianity looks like - and from a primarily Western format.  In the West, we all admit we don’t even have a good handle on what the “church” looks like - but we have no hesitation in exporting our past expressions despite our current frustrations or even failures for that matter. 

Notice the majority of the questions are on money.  If it were a group of Chinese, Middle-Easter, South American Christians going to partner in the same way - do think they would be asked those questions?  Why are you being asked those questions?  One reason, that’s what we talk about.  He truly …

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The stock market is open - Congress is not. 

We spiral on the brink of something we haven’t seen in 75 years - a potential depression - I’ve been hearing about it on the news from all of these academics and economists.  Who’s right and who’s wrong?  How can we know from where we sit.  People we’ve entrusted governance and leadership to are very partisan and self-centered.  No wonder both our Presidential candidates are spouting change - we all know it needs to happen - but who is there and where is the moral fiber needed to speak and lead us out of this mess. . . . . .

We are running out of gas.

Just a matter of time now until it’s all gone.  Our grandchildren will run their cars on something else - but what?  In the meantime, because of the lack of invention and creativity the price for a gallon of gas will continue to rise destabilizing US and global economies . . . . .

War is everywhere.

Not just ours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Burma, Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, Georgia not to mention people groups like the Saharwi, Kurds, Palestinians and others.  Who can mediate these things?

The American dream is in foreclosure.

I drive up and down the roads of my community and see the for sale signs.  Sad reminders of families who’s economic pipeline ran out.  I pass by houses seeing little kids outside playing - knowing some of them have parents sweating bullets not knowing if they’ll be next either from their poor financial decisions or some banks or some stock broker somewhere.

Our self-centerdness and greed have now come full-circle and we are paying for it.  It may take a generation to fix this - probably will.  This will require a new approach - one that produces a new kind of person - which requires a new kind of parent.  Adults aren’t made overnight - they require a good solid 20 years of being poured into from their parents-  another 20 years of learning to succeed and fail at the same time to get to a point of significant leadership in their 40’s.  Financial success can come quicker - but not maturity and depth of character. 

I’m not so sure a “President” can lead us out of this - we need “Ghandi” or a “Mandella” …

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At NorthWood we have a lot of things that we do for special needs children - and adults.  Henri Nouwen you would be proud - if you’re looking down.  From Sunday morning special classes, to a program called REVIVE for parents of special needs children, then there’s our ministry to Vietnam where we write curriculum and teach others to teach teachers of special needs students. 

One of the most exciting things are the adults that come to NorthWood with special needs.  This picture is only half - I couldn’t make my iPhone get them all in - but there are close to 50 involved.  They come as a group to worship and have their own time at the church on Tuesday nights. 

I call these the “more than” people.  They are more loving, more forgiving, more kind, more everything.  That extra chromosome some of them have - has made them exceptional in so so many ways.  Why are they all that way?  Why isn’t there something where people are born mad and are more harsh more angry and more negative?  Oh yeah - I’m sorry I forgot -that’s the rest of us!  We’re missing what they got - I wonder if it’s in that extra chromosome that makes them so much more!  I love you guys -

For the past few days here in Dallas the Laussane U.S. task force has been meeting.  Leighton Ford, one of my chief mentors started Lausanne with Billy Graham back in ‘74 - when they had their first Congress - they had their second Congress the 80’s and they are preparing for the 3rd in Cape Town 2010.  It was fun being there with theologians, missiologists, and a few practitioners.  Though it was a “pastors” gathering, I think there were more missiologists and theologians than anything.  I wanted Jordan to see me standing with Darrel Bock - one of his hero’s - Darrel said he thought I was probably smart!  He kept smiling big in the pictures - I told him to smile academically - I finally gave up - the guy likes to laugh and love life.

I got to hang out with Brad Smith, Leighton, Erwin McManus, Walt Kallestadt, and a few others.  I really enjoyed meeting Francis Chan - I like that guy - he seems to have a genuine passion for Jesus - not the preacher stuff!  I think he’s the coolest guy I’ve met in 10 years.  The conversation was pretty much by missiologists and theologians - they spoke and for 20 minutes after 3 segments we responded.  Same old conversation - no one spoke on the practicalities of engagement that much.  Chuck Van Engen did and was really good.  He said much of what I’ve written about in the book “Glocalization”.  He told me he’d googled our church and ministry - several phrases while he was speaking I thought, “I’ve said that too!”  Well I did - and he was saying it from having been at our site!  I also enjoyed Peter Kusmic from the former Yugoslavia.  I once got myself in trouble with him in a practical joke I pulled on him with Leighton and a bunch of young guys in the Arrow Leadership program I was in with Leighton.  I didn’t remind him - and hopefully he didn’t remember!  Dave Gibbons - do you remember what I did?  . . . . .

The thing I heard was they were about framing the conversation so we can know how to respond.  I don’t …

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Part of my job is staying on top of what churches are planting churches, what organizations are resourcing church planters, who’s training and coaching church planters, who is writing books on church planting, and the list goes on.  Here’s what I’ve found - church planting is big business today!  Don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited to be living in such a time where new churches are being started on a daily basis!  Things, for the most part, are going well for church planting!  We are pre-assessing potential planters in record numbers, we have planters signing up for our Turbo Trainings (next one is March 5 & 6, by the way, registration is open now), and we have planters looking for coaches and mentors.  By the look of things, church planting is exploding!  But when we dig deeper, we see that the numbers just aren’t enough.
In his book, “The American Church in Crisis”, David Olson paints a reality picture of what we need here in N. America as far as church planting goes.  As great as it seems to be in church planting, things need to be better.  We need more churches planting churches (remember, organizations and denominations don’t plant churches; churches plant churches).  But, it’s like Bob once told me, “It’s not about planting churches, it’s all about making disciples.”  He’s absolutely right, it’s not about churches, it’s about the disciple.  But great disciple-making leads to great church planting.
In a survivability report I recently read by Ed Stetzer and Phillip Connor (2007), new church plants with a strong disciple-making program have a greater rate of survivability.  It’s not a great Sunday event, it’s about how well you and your people are making disciples.  One of the first questions I ask a potential planter is, “When was the last time you shared Christ with someone?”  Sadly, I hear, “Uhm… well… I think it was…”  Wrong answer.  If you’ve done it in the last week, you’d remember it.  If you’ve done it the past 24 hours, you remember it.  Making disciples starts with relationships.  Know your neighbors, know their hurts, their struggles, and pray for them and with them.  Make disciples.

One more thing regarding church planting.  It’s a team endeavor.  It takes both the husband and the wife to make it work.  We are very blessed to have Amy Colon …

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I love the spontaneity and unexpected nature of worship at NorthWood because of the people and circumstances.  I love it when Muslims come from around the world who are my friends - they are very transparent and don’t know the “protocol” of church so sometimes will break it - and when they do it’s poweful.  I’ve seen the same thing with diplomats, communists, people from other countries and others who come to our church.  They know we are evangelical and may not agree with their theological or political positions, but they know that we love them and care about them. 

Sunday was one of those days.  For the past many years we’ve had exchange students come from Vietnam - primarily Hanoi - come and live with our church members during their senior year of high school.  Most wind up going to the university in the US somewhere - they are always very very very smart. 

The lady who has been in charge of that program from Veitnam is Mrs. Ngha.  Her grandson is one of the exchange students this year.  Most of their parents are business, educators, government, etc.  major leaders in Vietnamese society.  During the first worship service this week - one of the young ladies from Hanoi came up to me (she’s staying with a Kenyan family who attends NorthWood - she’s getting quite a cultural education).  She told me that we should pray for Dzung that his grandfather, Mrs. Ngha’s husband had died this last week.  I want you to get the picture - these are not Christians - but they are in our worship service and they know you pray in a worship service. 

Soooo, in between songs, I went up to the microphone and said we needed to pray for Dzung and his family in the loss of their father and grandfather.  Dzung came and stood beside me in front of everyone.  We all prayed for him and his family - everyone stretched their hands and prayed “Korean” style for him.  When the last Amen was said - we were to walk down - but he stopped and shouted out - he didn’t have a mic - “Thankyou everybody - very much -from my family.”  It was very impromptu and when he did - everyone exploded in clapping for him affirming him. 

This morning as I was in my daily worship …

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Recently there have been several articles and things written about NorthWood in books and magazines that are both “sacred” and “secular”. I posted this one because I think it’s important not pronounce any single type of church “dead.”  God uses all kinds of churches, worship styles, generational focuses, to see his kingdom come about.  I love them all - house, building, simple, traditional, contemporary, mega, tini-tiny, multi-ethnic, single-ethnic, young, old.  Just about the time you count someone out - and they begin to even count themselves out - God does something and starts a movement from that very spot.  I think it’s about dependence and humility.

I’m the first to see the excesses, sins, and challenges of a mega-church.  But - it ain’t my church - it’s Jesus church - he’s the head.  We didn’t start out or plan to be one - it just happened.  We were faithful in following God and it just grew.  I didn’t pick my face, my skeletal system, my body shape - it was given to me.  I’m not so sure that’s not the case with “church.” 

The important thing is this - we shouldn’t stand in front of the mirror starring or admiring or being depressed at how God has made us - we should just use the “body” he gave us see transformation in lives and communities we are placed.  Sometimes I think all the discussion on “church styles” are like fashion shows with each model walking out prissin their goods before everyone showing why they’re the best.  We must never forget - it isn’t a fashion show - it’s a harvest field and we all should be sweaty and dirty!

Baylor University survey reveals Americans’ attitudes about God, churches
BY TERRY LEE GOODRICH
tgoodrich@star-telegram.com

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Baylor study disputes common notions about religion in U.S.
Baylor University survey reveals Americans’ attitudes about God, churches

When someone at the 3,000-member NorthWood Church in Keller is hospitalized, another member often makes it to the bedside before NorthWood’s pastoral staff.

That’s because close friendships spring up in the roughly 175 smaller groups or “transformation teams” that meet weekly or every other week, said Mike Reed, executive pastor.

Megachurches may be big, but they are not impersonal.

That is one of the findings of the Baylor Religion Survey, according to researchers with the Institute for Studies of …

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The past couple of weeks I’ve been to different universities and different denominational headquarters and various organizations speaking on engagement.  I focus on the themes of what the Gospel of the Kingdom looks like - how we engage it - how we use our jobs - the critical nature of the disciple and how we make disciples - the society, etc. etc. etc. - if you follow this blog or have read my stuff you know what I’m talking about.  It’s a field that is always growing, it’s never static - I think because frankly it’s so new.  Though we’ve known about it - and even talked about it at different times - the reality is very few people have actually done it from the West. 

I was speaking somewhere and someone came up and asked me - “Do you think these people really get what you’re talking about?  I told them - as much as they can - they listen and they fascinated because they know it’s all changing and there are so few stories of this kind of stuff.  BUT, if they go and experience it - there is no comparison.

I’ve lectured, taught, etc. but when I take a church member, an intern, or another pastor to see what we are doing and to be a part of what we are doing - it’s like all of a sudden a switch goes on in their head.  I once had an intern tell me - “I’ve traveled in the US with you, I’ve been at NorthWood, I’ve heard you speak - but seeing this stuff up close and the people you talk about and the projects - it does something to you - there is no comparison.” 

Soooooo . . . . here’s what I’d suggest if you really want to “get it” in terms of the global nature of God, the church ,and the world - get on a plane and go somewhere and sweat.  Go to Vietnam with us, or the West Bank with some of my friends, or Afghanistan with some of my friends, or Egypt with some of my friends, Belize with some of my friends, or Kenya with some of my friends, or Nigeria with some of my friends, etc. etc. etc. 

Read the books in the section I have listed - and then go and sweat, and listen . …

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