A Week to Go

Next Saturday we will be packing up the family truckster and heading down to Miami to catch the red-eye to Lima. It's hard to believe that the trip is right on top of us. There is quite a bit of frantic activity going on, which is also why I haven't been blogging much. We are slammed at work, and still have quite a few small preparation tasks to complete around the house before we leave. But this morning, while walking around the neighborhood (I start taking morning walks when things get a little stressful), God reminded me that there are people in Peru who are desperately seeking him and desiring to know more of his kingdom. I have said all along that on our end, this trip is very much an experiment. That, of course, helps to alleviate any pressure of trying to justify the trip with 'results'. We are doing this with open hands, as participants in something God has already been doing and alongside people who are committing their lives to this work. But the beauty of God's kingdom is that although we enter as nothing more than observers, we invariably find ourselves smack in the middle of the action.

I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but I believe this is one of those 'mysteries of the kingdom'. In some ways, or at least from the outside, it might appear that passivity is directly proportional to seeing and participating in God's kingdom. But there is nothing passive about joining in on the kingdom. It is a little like deciding to build your house on top of a glacier. It may appear that you are simply building on the side of a peaceful, scenic mountain. But in fact, this mountain is going somewhere...and it is totally out of your control.

So stay tuned as we begin our adventure. I will probably not post again until we are in Arequipa about eight days from now. Please pray that we would have safe (and as relaxing as possible) travel with our three little ones.

Apple Store NYC, a Haiku

I was in New York this week for work and our hotel was not too far from the Apple Store. So, I wondered over there in the sub-freezing temperatures (I grew up in Florida...so anyway). This is what I saw:












I couldn't help but draw some religious and cultural parallels. What better way, than with haiku:

A Theory of Spiritual Formation in Community

Lately I've been thinking about the progression that occurs in people as they are exposed to the message of God's kingdom. First, there is a period of detox - they ask a lot of questions, are often angry or become even a little proud for a while, and begin to learn how to relax in the Father's provision and care. This is true for people who have been in or out of the church, but the process takes a good while for either, particularly if a lot of healing is necessary. At some point, however, they begin to get interested in seeking Jesus rather than how to "do church right" or be a good Christian. This sets off a period of individual growth that is challenging and somewhat isolating, but it is a necessary and vital period. If that growth time is left undisturbed and the Spirit is allowed to do his work, eventually the person begins to awaken to the world around them. This is the time they begin to hear God's call into mission, and their community gets to help discern the call and the steps to following Jesus into his work.

The problem is, the church has created an environment that can be destructive to all these stages. The complete opposite is typically what happens. First, without the kingdom message, people's identity as Christians is wrapped up in either the church's organizational success or moral / biblical supremacy. Any questions or wonderings that challenge the organization's goals or the so-called biblical ideal are instantly squelched. Second, if someone begins to pursue Jesus in a deeply formational, yet individual way, they are identified as a loner or denying the biblical injunctions to "not forsake the assembling of ourselves together". Finally, and most disastrous of all, if someone manages to traverse through the minefield to a place where they hear the call of God into mission, they had better hope it fits within the church's goals and budget.

I want to propose the progression above as a theory of spiritual formation in community (I refuse to use the word "model" for obvious reasons - this is not a method to follow, but a reality that becomes possible if the environment allows it). In simple terms, churches have a choice to either work with the Spirit or against the Spirit as people are formed and sent as disciples. Eugene Peterson, in his book Working the Angles states the problem clearly: "It is easier to tell people what to do than to be with them in a discerning, prayerful companionship as they work it out." The sad truth is, as Americans, we are woefully unprepared and unwilling to wait for anything or anyone. However, if we have any interest in both ourselves and those around us truly become apprentices of Jesus, this must change.

We must be willing to be patient with people as they stumble through difficult questions and ideas that stretch their imaginations. We must allow people space to pursue Jesus untethered with full hearts and give them prayer, comfort, challenge and wisdom when all those are necessary. But we must also be willing to listen with them, to hear the voice of their Father as he woos them into the broken places around them or into a fuller revelation of his kingdom in their normal, everyday life. If we do all these things, and allow them to be done to us in return, an environment will be shaped where formation into Christlikeness is as natural (and as fragile...and beautiful...and as labor intensive) as a garden growing with countless varieties of flora and fauna.

The Experiment is Working (So Far)

Back in my original post about our trip to Peru, I mentioned that this whole idea was very much experimental. We were not completely convinced that we could pull off a trip like this and not go seriously into the red, something that was troubling given some recent financial difficulties. Without a church with a missions budget, denomination, or missions organization supporting us, we brainstormed alternative sources of income in order to live "normally" while we were in another country. One of our hopes was to be able to keep our living expenses at about the same level (if not cheaper) and offset the costs in various ways. Well, I'm happy to report that as of yesterday, the trip is already in the black!

A generous gift from friends back in August kicked the whole trip off by paying for our plane tickets to Lima. Then, we were able to raise a small amount from some other friends who in leadership at churches and business owners. But we knew that support raising would only bring us so far, and as people who have no formal connection to an organization that would support a trip like this, we were basically left with trying to raise money through our network of friends. Most of our friends, of course, are as poor as us, so we didn't feel like that was the answer. It came down to pursing something a little risky and creative in order to make up the difference.

On Thursday, I posted an our house on craigslist and vacationrentals.com as a vacation rental. As of yesterday, we had three weeks reserved, which basically covered the rest of our expenses. We are going to try and get the final two weeks reserved to cover any unforseen costs. I was telling Amber yesterday that I have been having fun the last few days negotiating with people and setting up the contracts etc. For me, that is highly unusual. I typically dread having to talk to strange people and work out nitty details. But, something about this experience has flipped on a switch in me, something that I think is an aspect of how God's kingdom works when you decide to step out in unfamilar territory.

There are, of course, no guarantees that things will come together like this every time. That is not the point. I think it has more to do with the convergence of timing, calling, gifts, risk, and the Holy Spirit's anointing - elements that are terribly unpredictable for our minds to grasp, yet often get lost during the typical grind. It is important to say that this is not to disdain the "typical", because if you really dive into what God's mission looks like and where it is found, the typical is woven through it from start to finish. For example, I am going to keep working in Peru, remotely part-time. Yesterday I set up the office laptop with autocad and my other engineering software and tested out our vpn connection. Everything seems to work pretty well. Amber will continue her same homeschool program, as if we were still here in Jupiter. All very typical, very ordinary. This is the whole idea of everyday mission, by pursuing God's kingdom whether it is travelling to minister to people from other cultures or bringing the good news to the poor in your own neighborhood, all while living out your "normal" life.

Speaking of which...I've been at work today trying to finish up a project. It's time to see the kiddos and then go on a date with my lovely wife:) Until next time...

34 Day Sprint

I'm still recovering from our killer New Year's party last night we hosted at the house last night. Fun was had by all, of course. I grilled something close to 40 pounds of assorted meats, which is no exaggeration. My buddy Chris bought a ton of fireworks which the teenage boys dispensed with for the neighborhood to enjoy, or not...but...the party is over and we leave for Peru in 34 days.

Between work and preparations for the trip, this will be a busy month. Please pray that we would receive a bit more support and that we are able to rent our house as a vacation rental while we are gone. Please also pray for our friends in Peru, Lee and Dori Williams and Mike and Chenoah Styron, as they prepare for the conference and as they continue to minister the kingdom of God.

In a side note, Brant posted an interesting take on our last year as a community. The comment thread is, well, interesting.