Re-Vision

In the crate of books that will travel with me on sabbatical are all my prayer journals from the past 13 years. I intend to take a good look back at what God has done in my soul throughout that stretch of time, so that I can "meditate on [his] wonderful works" and "celebrate [his] abundant goodness" (Psalm 145).

The other thing I'm doing is revisiting the beginning stages of Coram Deo to renew my vision for what God has called us to. This week, as I was listening to the podcast of our one-year birthday party back in the fall of 2006, it struck me that about two-thirds of you who now call CD home were not around at that time. So if you want to look back at what God did to launch the movement we call Coram Deo, go back in the archives and listen to that message (Resource page >> Vision and Values >> "Church Planting in Omaha"). You'll get a good sense of our history, and enough humor to keep you honest (like Wes Freemyer admitting that he came to CD in order to investigate whether or not we were a cult). I think God will use this message to renew your vision and calling as He did mine.

I'm outta here... no posting for me for 2 months. Y'all keep it civil on here.

Hannahisms

1. I'm sick and tired of sermons that give me five ways to be a better husband. Preach Christ and in the depths of His forgiveness I'll love my wife.

2. Every system has problems. You do what you gotta do and hope you die before someone figures out that your system doesn't work.

3. Why do we read books? Before you can find your prince, you have to kiss a lot of frogs.

Aww Yeah... It's Gonna Be a Good Sabbatical

A29 Comes on "Line" in Chicago

Earlier this year I had the privilege of helping to assess an excellent young church planter who is about to relocate from Seattle to city-center Chicago to plant the first A29 church there. His name is Aaron and his church is to be called The Line. I post this because some blog readers may have family/friends/acquaintances in Chicago who would be excellent launch team members for a new planting effort like this. If that describes you, please contact Aaron.

I know everything within 50 miles is considered "Chicago," but trust me, we're talking city center - as in the heart of some of the toughest 'hoods in the city. If you are more familiar with your Chicago geography, Lakeview is the specific district where The Line will launch. You can read more here.

Calling Out Rob Bell

"...both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me." - the Apostle Paul, Philippians 1:7

As followers of Jesus we have a challenging task: to make the world a better place, affirming the image of God in all of humanity, while at the same time faithfully defending and confirming the gospel of Jesus Christ. When those who claim to share our convictions fail in either of these areas, we must lovingly say so.

Last month a popular Emergent pastor, Rob Bell, appeared at the "Seeds of Compassion" conference with the Dalai Lama and other religious leaders. But: did Mr. Bell effectively represent the gospel? Was the "aroma of Christ" (2 Cor 2:14) present in his words? Judge for yourself by watching these videos. Then post your thoughts in the comment thread.

(Note: This is not intended as a "gang up on Rob Bell" thread. It is an attempt to honestly assess his words and weigh them in light of Scripture. Many have suggested that the "Emergent" stream within evangelical Christianity is headed for heresy (if it hasn't already landed there). As one leading voice within that stream, Rob Bell bears great responsibility before Jesus for what he says.)

Hannahisms

1. The difference between philosophy and theology is that one has reason, the other has verses.

2. If God has called you to be a janitor, you should not stoop so low as to be a clergyman.

3. If God is not doing something, I'm going to rest, because He will start doing something soon and I want to be awake. It isn't my job to manufacture something for God.

Acts 29 Lincoln?

This past week we spent some time in St. Louis with a brother who is sensing a call from God to plant an Acts 29 church in Lincoln.

We are probably still a year or two out from pulling the trigger on this plant... first this dude must pass assessment to ensure that he meets the biblical qualifications for a lead elder, and then there are the matters of timing and relocation and etc. But if you are a blog reader who lives in Lincoln and/or knows someone in Lincoln who is un-churched, de-churched, or simply wants to be part of starting a new church, please drop me an email. We'd like to start putting together a list of people who might want to form the core of a new gospel-centered missional church when the time is right.

Acts 29 Fall Conference/Bootcamp

LEAD: in the Church, for the City
October 21-23, 2008 in St. Louis

An urban leadership conference featuring Dr. Bryan Chappell (Covenant Seminary), Darrin Patrick (A29/St. Louis), Eric Mason (A29/Philadelphia), Daniel Montgomery (A29/Louisville), and Matt Carter (Austin Stone). Teaching themes will include gospel-centered preaching, mercy and justice in the city, art and culture, and church planting. Also the rumor is that there will be some hip-hop concerts in the evenings that may possibly rock your face off.

More info will be forthcoming at www.acts29network.org

Ideally we want all leaders and aspiring leaders in Coram Deo to get a sense of the "DNA" of our Acts 29 family at some point. This conference is a great chance to do that. It will also be a good opportunity to learn from those who are further down the road when it comes to redeeming culture in the areas of music, art, and mercy ministry.

Any blog readers who are pastors and/or aspiring church planters will also benefit greatly from this conference. Acts 29 will be assessing church planters, so those who wish to get assessed should progress through the application phase before October.

More on Divorce

This week we considered Jesus' teaching on marriage and divorce in Mark 10. To follow up:

1. The position paper written by the elders on the topic of divorce and remarriage will be posted on the resource page as soon as we can get around to it.

2. I referenced an excellent book by Judith Wallerstein called The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce. Below are some more extended quotes which I could not read during the sermon. Everyone interested in knowing how divorce is affecting our society - and especially its children - would do well to read this book.

Two faulty beliefs provide the foundation for our current attitudes toward divorce. The first holds that if parents are happier the children will be happier, too. Even if the children are distressed by the divorce, the crisis will be transient because children are resilient and resourceful and will soon recover... Indeed, many adults who are trapped in very unhappy marriages would be surprised to learn that their children are relatively content. They don't care if Mom and Dad sleep in different beds as long as the family is together... A second myth is based on the premise that divorce is a temporary crisis that exerts its most harmful effects on parents and children at the time of the breakup... Thankfully, this second myth is also beginning to unravel because of a new voice that is just now emerging on the national scene. That voice belongs to the children of divorce now grown to adulthood.

Whether the final outcome is good or bad, the whole trajectory of an individual's life is profoundly altered by the divorce experience. We have been blinded to this fact by the sheer numbers of people affected and by the speed at which our society has been transformed. Many people today think divorce is a perfectly normal experience. It's so common, children hardly notice it. No stigma. No big deal. After all, if half the child's schoolmates come from divorced families, how could divorce be so traumatic? And isn't it true, they say, that children raised in bad intact families are no better off?

...People who believe that numbers mute the individual child's suffering have simply not talked to the children. Each child in a classroom half full of children of divorce cries out, "Why me?" ...I can say without a doubt that [children of divorce] have worries apart from their peers raised in intact homes. These worries are reshaping our society in ways we never dreamt about.

-- Judith Wallerstein, Julia Lewis, and Sandra Blakeslee. The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce. New York: Hyperion Press, 2000.

Hannahisms

1. There has never been a time in our history when there were so many of us who have had so little influence.

2. A man is simply not equipped to meet the needs of a woman.

3. Don't think too highly of yourself. The best this world will do for you is to build a statue of you so the birds can come defecate on your face.