While visiting Philadelphia, I visited this church Circle of Hope. http://www.circleofhope.net/blog/
I'd heard of the church through New Monastic connections--it's a church many of the "simples" in the philadelphia area attend and a favorite in "Emergent" church circles as well.
Definitely an interesting, alternative service.
The music was generally hymn-based--though some songs were in other languages--something, when I sit back, I realize I've never seen done much in a church context. (FYI: It is an InterVarsity value that in order to express and understand God's love for people of "all cultures" that we embrace multicultural worship that honors that God is God of the whole earth and all its people).
Besides that though it gave the guise of a regular contemporary-type service that--sometimes painstakingly attempts to do.
However--there was no "talk" or sermon. I found this really refreshing.
Instead someone--who must've been a leader stood up and talked about how she was going to answer a question from the "question box," probably something they had at the back of the church.
The question was "Is it easier for "N" people to come to faith than "S" people?" This was referencing the Myer's Brigg's type indicator--N people, intuitive versus S, sensing refers to how we take in information. Usually we are dominate one or the other--or on some kind of continuum. N people are more drawn to theories, overarching ideas and connections where as S people are more drawn to concrete facts and details....or something like that.
She said the question had an assumption within it that faith was something intangible and whimsical--that only those who live in the world of theory would be able to grasp it.
She said that yes, we do often choose though how we relate to God, whether dominating in the S or N territory of our spiritual lives.
Following this we did two prayer exercises---one that allowed us to use our S side, another that allowed us to use our N side.
For the S side we prayed, considering everything that had taken place that day--thinking about when we'd felt most/least loved, grateful.
For the N side we prayed, the leader read a passage from Matthew 6 3 times through, we concentrated first on a word, then a feeling, then an invitation.
After this there was a time to "talk back"--and much to my surprise (I've seen the audience participation thing attempted many times in church with no response)--people really responded, questioned her logic and arguments. How exciting! It was great to see people so engaged with the subject!
This was a great church example to see and pushes me to continue to be very thoughtul about my own church placement--not just settling but really searching out the place God wants me to be.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thanksgiving Break
It's been awhile since I've done a general life update kind of blog entry.
Here's one.
Thanksgiving break was great. Tuesday evening I left campus earlier than any Tuesday this semester (our usual large group night has me at campus until almost 10:30/11 most weeks). I met up with a friend from elementary school who's now a bartender at the only mexican food happy hour joint near my end of DC. There I got to meet some great characters--a homeless man who sells the paper made by homeless of DC, the blind jazz singer Banana Cafe hires).
Next I got to spend the evening with a great Texas friend Nikki and her boyfriend. Along with her brother who I hadn't seen in at least a year! I'd heard about her boyfriend for a long time before and it was great to meet someone who exceeded expecations and thoughts I'd had before about him. Really great!
After spending the night at Nikki's UT housing spot, I took the train up to Philadelphia where WM roommate Janelle picked me up. We spent the afternoon hanging around Camden, NJ looking around her ministry with Urban Promise. I got to meet the old regional director of Mid Atlantic InterVarsity, dedicated administrative staff and talk to other interns--including one from Malawi!
Janelle and I took a longer-than usual (busyest travel day of the year!) trip up the NJ turnpike to her home in Little Falls, New Jersey.
While in Little Falls, we got to go into New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (a 2nd for me--but this time 60 degrees outside! great day!). We went to a close family friend's 25th wedding anniversy celebration which was a wonderful celebration of family and loving life together. We also spent an afternoon with Rebecca, a girl who'd been in the small group Janelle and I co-lead for all 3 years we lead it.
Just spending time with Janelle's family was great--good to see where she gets much of herself from--from her sarcasm to attention to detail and the needs of others. Hospitality is something she's learned from those closest to her.
I ended off getting dropped off by Janelle in Philadelphia for a short visit with a couple of friends there.
My friend Sean is investment banking in the city center, it's great to experience city life with him! I also got to see my friend Evan from college who's doing Americorp's "City Year" program in Philadelphia this year. They begin each day doing cheers and jumping jacks outside the city hall area of town. A lot of fun to see him enjoying this position so much and embracing the multifaceted sides of this city!
Great break!
Here's one.
Thanksgiving break was great. Tuesday evening I left campus earlier than any Tuesday this semester (our usual large group night has me at campus until almost 10:30/11 most weeks). I met up with a friend from elementary school who's now a bartender at the only mexican food happy hour joint near my end of DC. There I got to meet some great characters--a homeless man who sells the paper made by homeless of DC, the blind jazz singer Banana Cafe hires).
Next I got to spend the evening with a great Texas friend Nikki and her boyfriend. Along with her brother who I hadn't seen in at least a year! I'd heard about her boyfriend for a long time before and it was great to meet someone who exceeded expecations and thoughts I'd had before about him. Really great!
After spending the night at Nikki's UT housing spot, I took the train up to Philadelphia where WM roommate Janelle picked me up. We spent the afternoon hanging around Camden, NJ looking around her ministry with Urban Promise. I got to meet the old regional director of Mid Atlantic InterVarsity, dedicated administrative staff and talk to other interns--including one from Malawi!
Janelle and I took a longer-than usual (busyest travel day of the year!) trip up the NJ turnpike to her home in Little Falls, New Jersey.
While in Little Falls, we got to go into New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (a 2nd for me--but this time 60 degrees outside! great day!). We went to a close family friend's 25th wedding anniversy celebration which was a wonderful celebration of family and loving life together. We also spent an afternoon with Rebecca, a girl who'd been in the small group Janelle and I co-lead for all 3 years we lead it.
Just spending time with Janelle's family was great--good to see where she gets much of herself from--from her sarcasm to attention to detail and the needs of others. Hospitality is something she's learned from those closest to her.
I ended off getting dropped off by Janelle in Philadelphia for a short visit with a couple of friends there.
My friend Sean is investment banking in the city center, it's great to experience city life with him! I also got to see my friend Evan from college who's doing Americorp's "City Year" program in Philadelphia this year. They begin each day doing cheers and jumping jacks outside the city hall area of town. A lot of fun to see him enjoying this position so much and embracing the multifaceted sides of this city!
Great break!
Communicating Values
Lately I've been thinking alot about my time spent with students.
Much of my time as "campus staff" for InterVarsity is spent one-on-one with students, essentially talking. Talking, eating, listening, drinking coffee.
So either I have a very vibrant social life (which I wouldn't totally deny on some days)--or there's something else going on there--something a little deeper and possibly more spiritual than just hanging out.
But what is it? What exactly is my goal in this "relational" discipleship process?
Goal 1: build a relationship. Before any person--college student or not is going to share intimately of their personal life or spiritual being--the person inquiring needs to show genuine interest in them as a person. Interest in what their passions are, their past, their friends, their desires. There's a prerequisite of simply taking the time to listen to someone and befriend them.
But once it goes beyond this--often the waters become murky. With some wise guidance I've begun to think about the kinds of values I am imparting to others. Essentially thinking of these times with students as potential one-on-one teaching opportunities.
But what am I teaching?
I think we all teach lessons we don't always think too deeply about. I know in the past I've show people who've respected me in similar form to students now the importance of worrying about academics or obssessing about relationships, fearing the future, etc. Of course these weren't the lessons I really wanted to teach or communicate--but by talking about these things constantly--I showed what really mattered to me in life.
So this process is two-fold. One, searching, praying and seeking for what I really do value when it comes to the Christian life. Is grace something that I see as essential? I say it is. But do I live that way? Do I teach that? So discovering what values I find essential to a healthy Christian walk.
Then discovering ways to communicate these values to others. Probably this takes many formats--reading books related to the subjects (books about grace, social justice, whatever I know to be truly important), praying for growth in those areas, Asking students questions about these values--and learning to talk about what God's teaching me on each.
Maybe first I should choose a few values.....or even just one thing I'd hope students who spend time with me even after a semester would walk away having learned about being in relationship with God.
What's important to know/exercise as a Christian? open to thoughts and suggestions......
Much of my time as "campus staff" for InterVarsity is spent one-on-one with students, essentially talking. Talking, eating, listening, drinking coffee.
So either I have a very vibrant social life (which I wouldn't totally deny on some days)--or there's something else going on there--something a little deeper and possibly more spiritual than just hanging out.
But what is it? What exactly is my goal in this "relational" discipleship process?
Goal 1: build a relationship. Before any person--college student or not is going to share intimately of their personal life or spiritual being--the person inquiring needs to show genuine interest in them as a person. Interest in what their passions are, their past, their friends, their desires. There's a prerequisite of simply taking the time to listen to someone and befriend them.
But once it goes beyond this--often the waters become murky. With some wise guidance I've begun to think about the kinds of values I am imparting to others. Essentially thinking of these times with students as potential one-on-one teaching opportunities.
But what am I teaching?
I think we all teach lessons we don't always think too deeply about. I know in the past I've show people who've respected me in similar form to students now the importance of worrying about academics or obssessing about relationships, fearing the future, etc. Of course these weren't the lessons I really wanted to teach or communicate--but by talking about these things constantly--I showed what really mattered to me in life.
So this process is two-fold. One, searching, praying and seeking for what I really do value when it comes to the Christian life. Is grace something that I see as essential? I say it is. But do I live that way? Do I teach that? So discovering what values I find essential to a healthy Christian walk.
Then discovering ways to communicate these values to others. Probably this takes many formats--reading books related to the subjects (books about grace, social justice, whatever I know to be truly important), praying for growth in those areas, Asking students questions about these values--and learning to talk about what God's teaching me on each.
Maybe first I should choose a few values.....or even just one thing I'd hope students who spend time with me even after a semester would walk away having learned about being in relationship with God.
What's important to know/exercise as a Christian? open to thoughts and suggestions......
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Commitment
Our community House came together this weekend and put down some of our commitments to one another.
When we moved in almost 3-4 months ago now we all came in not knowing each other before. Each of us had different expectations and hopes about what living in Anacostia and together in an "intentional community" might look like.
Over time, it's been difficult to realize that we did have differing ideas.
To start to resolve this, in the tradition of monastic communities we began to formulate a rule of life. First this was going to be a rule of life that we created together. However, over time, it's appeared that before creating one together we should each sit back and pray to consider what we could commit to personally.
We each came to our community meeting Sunday bringing a list of the commitments we were making to ourselves, to God, to others in the community house and to the neighborhood.
Over our time sharing, some themes began to emerge. Our common rule of life and vision statements will likely come from the result of this.
Major values
A. Seeking to be students of the city & of poverty
1. Regularly discussing and educating ourselves about issues facing the city, our neighbors and those living in poverty.
2. prayer walking around the neighborhood
3. volunteering in organizations that help the city
4. church involvement
5. civic involvement
B. Being Good Neighbors especially our immediately surrounding neighbors
1. Regularly speaking to our neighbors, inviting them over when appropriate, asking about their lives and sharing about ours
2. Involvement at the local elementary school
3. Financial and business investment in the area: shopping at the local grocery, using the library
4. Caring for those who care for the area: building relationships with people who serve in full-time volunteer status in the neighborhood, Simple House volunteers who care for housing projects in the area or friends who work for after school programs or as teachers.
C. Bridge Building
1. Thursday night dinners where we invite friends from other parts of the DC area to our house
2. Area college student involvement in our house and neighborhood
3. Sharing what we're learning in the area with each other and friends
4. Valuing our outside of community relationships
5. bridging the economic and racial divisions in the city
D. Community Life and Intentional Spiritual Formation
1. Active involvement in each other's lifes
2. Being present at home together
3. Commual living-sharing our finances and property with each other
4. Daily morning prayer together
5. Sunday community nights: we eat, pray, share and study together
6. Daily personal devotional time, keeping that seprate and valued
7. Regular Sabbath-keeping by members
8. Submission of personal concerns to the community
When we moved in almost 3-4 months ago now we all came in not knowing each other before. Each of us had different expectations and hopes about what living in Anacostia and together in an "intentional community" might look like.
Over time, it's been difficult to realize that we did have differing ideas.
To start to resolve this, in the tradition of monastic communities we began to formulate a rule of life. First this was going to be a rule of life that we created together. However, over time, it's appeared that before creating one together we should each sit back and pray to consider what we could commit to personally.
We each came to our community meeting Sunday bringing a list of the commitments we were making to ourselves, to God, to others in the community house and to the neighborhood.
Over our time sharing, some themes began to emerge. Our common rule of life and vision statements will likely come from the result of this.
Major values
A. Seeking to be students of the city & of poverty
1. Regularly discussing and educating ourselves about issues facing the city, our neighbors and those living in poverty.
2. prayer walking around the neighborhood
3. volunteering in organizations that help the city
4. church involvement
5. civic involvement
B. Being Good Neighbors especially our immediately surrounding neighbors
1. Regularly speaking to our neighbors, inviting them over when appropriate, asking about their lives and sharing about ours
2. Involvement at the local elementary school
3. Financial and business investment in the area: shopping at the local grocery, using the library
4. Caring for those who care for the area: building relationships with people who serve in full-time volunteer status in the neighborhood, Simple House volunteers who care for housing projects in the area or friends who work for after school programs or as teachers.
C. Bridge Building
1. Thursday night dinners where we invite friends from other parts of the DC area to our house
2. Area college student involvement in our house and neighborhood
3. Sharing what we're learning in the area with each other and friends
4. Valuing our outside of community relationships
5. bridging the economic and racial divisions in the city
D. Community Life and Intentional Spiritual Formation
1. Active involvement in each other's lifes
2. Being present at home together
3. Commual living-sharing our finances and property with each other
4. Daily morning prayer together
5. Sunday community nights: we eat, pray, share and study together
6. Daily personal devotional time, keeping that seprate and valued
7. Regular Sabbath-keeping by members
8. Submission of personal concerns to the community
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Theology of Abundance versus Theology of Scarcity
I've had this idea floating around in my head for weeks now.
I'm thinking about this idea that God is a God who gives richly, his gifts are abundant....more than we could ever ask or imagine.
However, we as people often get stuck in a scaricity mentality. Either we think we must hoard what we have or we start to believe in a world of competition rather than abundance.
Let me throw out an example. My home church.
My home church White's Chapel UMC in Southlake Texas is a large, hometown congregation. A few years ago another large church planted in town. I'm sure at the time many people were worried that the new church would "steal" all of our members.
But with a couple of years under out belts now--this has not happened at all. Both churches....I believe...have grown. Each have several thousand members.
God is a God of abundance. When we think there's a limited pool to draw from--God shows he si God of the whole universe, not just our plot of people.
With a theology of scarcity there is a belief that there is a finite level of resources and that if someone else gets some of those resources, than it means I have less. Everything is always a zero-sum game. This creates attitudes which allow us to justify accumulation and acquisition as a means of ensuring that we have enough. It also has led to believe that God rewards us for faith by blessing us with wealth and things.
In the economy of God everyone has all that they need, there is enough always to go around.
It is a theology of Abundance, which believes that God has given us all that we need. We are called to share all that we have in order to ensure that all have a share in God's Blessings. In the theology of the abundance we are called to recognize our unique blessings from God and find ways to give back that call us in to relationship with our brothers and sisters. In Matthew 25 we are told that whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do to me. It is clear that Christ calls us to a radical way of relating to the world through our time talents and treasures. We are clearly called to go beyond the law to a deeper sense of giving.
When we know that God gives richly, we want to give richly to others as well.
It's about trusting that when we give God will provide for us in big, more than sufficient type of ways.
look up the concept: theology of abundance versus theology of scarcity.
I'm not sure I've done it great justice here.
But I know I'm constantly finding myself falling into a theology of scarcity that's allowing me to see other ministries, people, charities as competition--and I know that's problematic!
I'm thinking about this idea that God is a God who gives richly, his gifts are abundant....more than we could ever ask or imagine.
However, we as people often get stuck in a scaricity mentality. Either we think we must hoard what we have or we start to believe in a world of competition rather than abundance.
Let me throw out an example. My home church.
My home church White's Chapel UMC in Southlake Texas is a large, hometown congregation. A few years ago another large church planted in town. I'm sure at the time many people were worried that the new church would "steal" all of our members.
But with a couple of years under out belts now--this has not happened at all. Both churches....I believe...have grown. Each have several thousand members.
God is a God of abundance. When we think there's a limited pool to draw from--God shows he si God of the whole universe, not just our plot of people.
With a theology of scarcity there is a belief that there is a finite level of resources and that if someone else gets some of those resources, than it means I have less. Everything is always a zero-sum game. This creates attitudes which allow us to justify accumulation and acquisition as a means of ensuring that we have enough. It also has led to believe that God rewards us for faith by blessing us with wealth and things.
In the economy of God everyone has all that they need, there is enough always to go around.
It is a theology of Abundance, which believes that God has given us all that we need. We are called to share all that we have in order to ensure that all have a share in God's Blessings. In the theology of the abundance we are called to recognize our unique blessings from God and find ways to give back that call us in to relationship with our brothers and sisters. In Matthew 25 we are told that whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do to me. It is clear that Christ calls us to a radical way of relating to the world through our time talents and treasures. We are clearly called to go beyond the law to a deeper sense of giving.
When we know that God gives richly, we want to give richly to others as well.
It's about trusting that when we give God will provide for us in big, more than sufficient type of ways.
look up the concept: theology of abundance versus theology of scarcity.
I'm not sure I've done it great justice here.
But I know I'm constantly finding myself falling into a theology of scarcity that's allowing me to see other ministries, people, charities as competition--and I know that's problematic!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Free School Breakfast
About three weeks ago I started monitoring the breakfast period at the elementary school down the street--Orr Elementary (about a block away).
Most of the kids in the school get free breakfast every morning as part of the free lunch program by the federal government.
During that time period each day the teachers are going through professional development. So the only people monitoring the 200-300 kids from age 3-11 are a few aides. Most disciplinary action includes a lot of yelling, blowing of whistles, etc. Not a lot of positive reinforcement going around--but also the scene is wild--imagine even just a few kids chasing each other in a small room....chaos ensues.
One of my roommates--another IV staff at George Washington University takes a couple of students down to the school to volunteer one day a week. When they were getting to know the principal they asked if there were other volunteer needs. She spoke about how crazy the kids get during breakfast. And how much she would rather have the breakfast be a time for reading quietly rather than crazy running around/getting in trouble before the day even starts.....
So enter me--I can be free from 8am-8:45am most every morning. So at first I committed to two days a week. But starting this week I've been going more often because I really enjoy it.
So several incentives here......
A. We've had trouble getting to know kids in the neighborhood--our street has only older people on it. Elementary schools are local--so all these kids live near here. I've started to see them walking by on the street, they wave, etc.
B. Short time period--I'm not super into kids....but 45 minutes is a great amount of time. lots of activity, smiles, hugs.....and they're on their way.
So overall it's been a great experience, getting to know the kids, the school, the teachers (one's Teach for America program, a girl we're trying to get to know). At first I felt like the kids were stand offish. But by now a few weeks later.....they run up to me, I'm internalizing more names every day and I'm beginning to see them around the neighborhood too.
Most of the kids in the school get free breakfast every morning as part of the free lunch program by the federal government.
During that time period each day the teachers are going through professional development. So the only people monitoring the 200-300 kids from age 3-11 are a few aides. Most disciplinary action includes a lot of yelling, blowing of whistles, etc. Not a lot of positive reinforcement going around--but also the scene is wild--imagine even just a few kids chasing each other in a small room....chaos ensues.
One of my roommates--another IV staff at George Washington University takes a couple of students down to the school to volunteer one day a week. When they were getting to know the principal they asked if there were other volunteer needs. She spoke about how crazy the kids get during breakfast. And how much she would rather have the breakfast be a time for reading quietly rather than crazy running around/getting in trouble before the day even starts.....
So enter me--I can be free from 8am-8:45am most every morning. So at first I committed to two days a week. But starting this week I've been going more often because I really enjoy it.
So several incentives here......
A. We've had trouble getting to know kids in the neighborhood--our street has only older people on it. Elementary schools are local--so all these kids live near here. I've started to see them walking by on the street, they wave, etc.
B. Short time period--I'm not super into kids....but 45 minutes is a great amount of time. lots of activity, smiles, hugs.....and they're on their way.
So overall it's been a great experience, getting to know the kids, the school, the teachers (one's Teach for America program, a girl we're trying to get to know). At first I felt like the kids were stand offish. But by now a few weeks later.....they run up to me, I'm internalizing more names every day and I'm beginning to see them around the neighborhood too.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Weighty Matters
I will be vague here. But just bear with me.
There are times--well often many times in any given day when I realize I need to be so much more a person of prayer than I am. Sometimes it's when I have an awkward conversation with a student, when I reaize that I'm just breezing by people on campus, not thinking about how their expressions really look.
But it also happens when I start to go into deeper relationship with people--that's when I remember I am not here to hang out, shoot the breeze, make friends.......I'm here to help students see God working amongst their lives. Someone shares something personal--or starts asking me really hard questions about how God intersects with life here. And--wow! I'm caught off gaurd. Time to start taking it seriously and remember what kind of responsibility comes with the opportunity sometimes to literally steward people's spiritual lives.
There are times--well often many times in any given day when I realize I need to be so much more a person of prayer than I am. Sometimes it's when I have an awkward conversation with a student, when I reaize that I'm just breezing by people on campus, not thinking about how their expressions really look.
But it also happens when I start to go into deeper relationship with people--that's when I remember I am not here to hang out, shoot the breeze, make friends.......I'm here to help students see God working amongst their lives. Someone shares something personal--or starts asking me really hard questions about how God intersects with life here. And--wow! I'm caught off gaurd. Time to start taking it seriously and remember what kind of responsibility comes with the opportunity sometimes to literally steward people's spiritual lives.
Georgetown Halloween
I just spent a lovely night exploring Georgetown University and neighborhood on Halloween!
Exicting because there are a lot of things that go on here for Halloween--a special showing of the Exorcist (filmed in the area) and mobs of people walking "M" street in costume.
And I even got to spend the night on campus---awesome and fun!
Exicting because there are a lot of things that go on here for Halloween--a special showing of the Exorcist (filmed in the area) and mobs of people walking "M" street in costume.
And I even got to spend the night on campus---awesome and fun!
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