Henriet's Blog

A Missionary God and a Sent People

"We have learned to speak of God as a 'missionary God'. Thus we have learned to understand the church as a 'sent people'." (Darrell L. Guder, Missional Church, page 4)

Is God a missionary God? What does that mean? And, are we sent people? If so, how are we living that out?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Christian love: real or empty?

They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love; they will know that we are Christians by our love.

This line from a popular Christian song talks about Christians working together and guarding each others' dignity. That's God's original design.

Jesus intended for his followers to love each other. How do we know? It's what he told his disciples, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34,35).

Christians, people who believe in Jesus, should be known by their love for God, for each other, and also for those around them. Jesus, on one occasion when questioned by a teacher of the law about the greatest commandment, said simply to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Then he added that the second commandment was like it, "love your neighbor as yourself." He summed it up by saying, "There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29,30). Love God and love others. It's the Jesus Creed, according to Scot McKnight.

So, what happened? Is this kind of love what comes to mind when people think of Christians? Probably not. Last October,  USA Today reported that young people think of Christians as judgmental and critical - a sentiment shared by many adults. How can this be if we're supposed to be known by our love? What has gone wrong?

Maybe we've lost our focus. Maybe we've forgotten the greatest commandment. Maybe our love is not real.

What would happen if we, as Christians, actually loved each other? Would the world be more interested in connecting with us? Would they be more interested in Jesus?

What do you think?

Henriet and Semper Vita Update

Though my blog has stood still for several weeks, I certainly have not. I just returned from Tennessee where I attended the Wesleyan Holiness Women's Clergy Conference and visited my friend Susan. Though Nashville, Tennessee was unseasonably cold, the time was wonderful. Imagine a conference with 600 women pastors from various holiness denominations including Free Methodist, Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, Church of God Anderson, Evangelical Friends, Wesleyan and some others. Pretty amazing.

FULLER EDUCATION:

On Friday, March 21, I finished my Winter Quarter. This was the course on Theology and Pop Culture. To those who took the survey, "THANK YOU!" You helped me get an "A" in my class. You really outdid yourselves. 127 out of 150 took the survey. Most had not seen Eli Stone-though some have added it to their "must watch" list since.

I'm doing an independent study for my Spring Quarter. The goal is to develop a training module for Semper Vita that includes Myers-Briggs and StrengthsFinder.

SEMPER VITA:

God is doing some amazing things. The Board/launch team has been meeting monthly. We've prayed, planned, and acted. Currently, we are working on developing a logo, the software, a web site, and marketing materials. 

In order to write the Semper Vita training module, I have attended and finished the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and Gallup StrengthsFinder training. I passed the MBTI test in March and am now MBTI qualified. Additionally, I completed the Gallup StrengthsFinder training in April. I need to meet with 10 people for StrengthsFinder coaching and then I'll be certified. If you'd like to be one of the 10, send me an email!

We also opened a bank account and have a Semper Vita mailing address. We would love your support and partnership. If you'd like to help us, please send us your tax-deductible donation. Make checks payable to "Semper Vita." Our address is: 23515 NE Novelty Hill Road, Suite B221 PMB 201, Redmond, WA 98053.

Re-framing Christianity

Could it be that the only people going to church are those who already know about God? Could it be that everyone else has little or no interest in spending an hour on Sunday morning to participate in a gathering with strangers? Do you think we need to re-frame what we're doing? Hmmm.

I suspect that if I had invited someone at Starbucks last Sunday morning to come to church with me that I might have had various responses:

"What's my value add to attend church?" (A friend of mine actually asked this question once upon a time.)
"I don't know anyone there."
"Church isn't for me." (What's the implication there? Who is it for?)

Recent research indicates that people think Jesus is cool but church and Christianity is not. In general, people like Jesus and think that he is loving and approachable. Christians on the other hand are viewed as judgmental, critical and exclusive.

Maybe Christianity needs a re-branding campaign. I'm in a "Theology and Pop Culture" class at Fuller this quarter. We were given the task of re-branding Christianity. Here's one of our ads (what do you think?):

Sunday at Starbucks

Last Sunday, Fred and I walked to our local Starbucks. We enjoyed our coffee while there...then walked back. Nothing unusual per se except that normally on Sunday mornings we're at church.

Going to church on Sunday makes sense for Christians, right? However, those who do not yet know Jesus aren't there. The place to meet people looking for Jesus is, well, possibly at Starbucks.

Have you ever spent a Sunday morning out and about-at Starbucks, in a restaurant, on the golf course? I hope you have. What did you notice?

When I attended the Off The Map Conference last November, Earl Creps (featured on my blog) talked about starting a church in Berkeley, Calif. He found out, as he walked around on a Sunday morning, that the streets were deserted. People were sleeping--Berkeley happens later in the day or at night.

If we want to hang out with the people who are looking for God-we might want to meet them where they are when they're there. What do you think?

Christmas Everyday?!

It's the week after Christmas and all through the land people... have gone back to their regular lives. With all the hubbub leading up to this holy Holiday, it's amazing how fast it's over. The food is consumed, the drinks drunk, and the packages opened. Life returns to, well, normal.

Including for those who are homeless. Their "Christmas" is over too. No more extra attention and people making more effort to provide them with additional food, blankets, socks and toiletries. Yet, they're still cold, still homeless, still in need. As Bart Shatto sang so movingly at the TSO Christmas Show, "why can't it be Christmas everyday?" As I said before, why not indeed?

WHAT IF?

What if we banded together--as people who love God and are spiritual--and partnered to impact the system? What if we organized, looked like the true body of believers, and helped every day? What if we lived, as Jesus told us to, loving one another so that people would be drawn to Him through our love and actions? What if we could make it Christmas every day?

I imagine that if we all worked together--in unity of purpose and service--we could make a real difference for the homeless, for the poor, for the needy...every day!

EVERYONE DOING A SMALL PART

Back to Bart Shatto, do you know what he does with the money he collects? He takes the money that people donate to him, when they think he's homeless,  and buys toys with it. He personally delivers them to the kids in the cancer wing at Methodist Children's Hospital! Thanks Bart for doing your part in large and small ways--by giving of yourself at the show and for giving beyond to the kids who can't be home for Christmas.

Not Homeless at TSO Show

Some of you have asked about the story of the homeless man at the TSO Christmas show. Let me clarify--it turns out he wasn't homeless but part of the show. His name is Bart Shatto and he takes his role seriously. By starting before the show opens, he adds to his performance and makes it convincing.

HOMELESSNESS: HIS CHANGE AND MINE

As I watched him transition the role, I noticed that my reaction transitioned too. I've thought about this quite a bit.

When he seemed to be a real homeless man, I observed his actions and watched him carefully. First I thought, what is he doing here? Catching myself I consciously decided to be glad for him and came up with possible scenarios to make sense of the apparent disconnect (how could a homeless man be at the TSO show?).

Then as I chose to be happy for him I became concerned for him--but still from a distance. I wanted to help but did not really want to be inconvenienced. I really wanted someone else to take action on his behalf. My guilt would be assuaged. (By the way, assuage is one of my favorite words.)

I felt bad after he disappeared--partly because I hadn't acted. I did what I do when I can't "fix" things: I prayed for him.

When he appeared on stage I felt silly for having made such a fuss about it (in my head and in conversation with Tamara). I was also glad he was OK and not kicked out.

Then I noticed another reaction. I felt differently toward him. I relaxed and listened to him. His song was convicting and moving. His message: The homeless are hungry and in need every day. Why can't it be Christmas every day?

AM I A HYPOCRITE?

Still I was left with my reactions and the apparent hypocrisy. Why did I feel differently toward him as an actor? I thought about this as the show continued. After all people are born as cute and lovable babies. Things may go wrong along the way but underneath the appearance, they are still the same--valuable human beings.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

So, how would you have reacted? What are your thoughts about the situation? About my reaction? What would you have done? What's Jesus' view of the situation?

ReThink The Future

What do Erwin McManus, Larry King, and George H. Bush have in common?

ReThink Conference

They're three of the 30 speakers at the upcoming ReThink Conference to be held at Garden Grove, Calif., January 17-19, 2008. 

Other headliners include Kathy Ireland, Ben Vereen, Rupert Murdoch as well as John Ortberg, Gary Smalley and Les Parrott. Quite a collection of well known actors, models, TV personalities and pastors. Why are they all gathering at this one conference?

This group of 30 influential global and Christian leaders is rethinking the future at this unprecedented convergence.
When? January 17-19, 2008 at Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Ca. Cost $349 if you register by Nov. 30.

Why ReThink?

The world is changing faster and faster. These 30 leaders in the realms of music, media, art, technology, politics and faith are gathering to let us know how they are thinking and rethinking the future. 

"Why Rethink? Because you'll be better equipped to make a difference in your life and the lives of the people you lead and influence." That perfectly ties into the theme of my blog: "Get involved. God uses those who show up to further His Kingdom and to change the world."

Let me know if you'll be at ReThink.

P.S. Churches can host the simulcast "link to rethink" of this conference--if you can't make it, check to see if any churches host it in your area.

Richard Twiss Rocks

Have you heard of Richard Twiss? He captured my imagination at the Off The Map (Nov. 1-3, 2007 in Seattle) conference in various ways. He's a native American and the president of Wiconi International. Wiconi is pronounced "we-cho-nee." I said it wrong when I asked him about it--oops.

He's an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. He's fully native and fully a Christ-follower. He's also pursuing his Doctorate in Missiology at Asbury Theological Seminary.

He's funny and provocative. Funny: "The good things for us native people is that we know that when the chips are down the buffalo is empty." I love that.

Provocative: he talks about how Christianity has been put on native peoples and with it a cultural oppression. Do you have to leave the Indian ways to be a Christ-follower? Do you have to accept the cultural bias of Western Christianity and accept the colonial oppressive version of this faith to be a true Christian?

He asked: "Does God have cultural, linguistic, musical, and architectural preferences?" Obviously not. He reminded us that English is not the language of heaven.

We all have a culturally conditioned world view. Is my world view to small? Am I a Christian bigot? I hope not! However, I confessed (quietly to God) some of my pre-conceived notions and biases that surfaced as he spoke.

He wrote "One Church Many Tribes." I'll write a review on my blog of the book. I'm going to be following this guy!

Acts of Collaboration

This week I've jumped back into school and am getting ready to jump back into teaching a Sunday morning class. Exciting and a bit overwhelming at the same time.

COLLABORATING AT FULLER
My Fuller Online class, Collaborative Approaches to Ministry, seems right up my alley. The professor lives in India and teaches online. We live in a brave new world!

One of my classmates is in Holland (The Netherlands) and another in Sweden. Most of us are in the U.S.  Tamara Dull is in class with me too. This is the first time I've done an online class with a person that I see real time.

Collaborative Approaches in Ministry starts with the question: "Is there any link between stewardship and cooperation?" What do you think?

ACTS AT TIMBERLAKE
My Timberlake class that I'll co-teach with Darrell Waddell will explore the book of Acts in the Bible. We're calling it: "Acts--Living the Experience." The entire story of Acts entails cooperation: God with people and people with each other. We'll use the book "The Dust Off Their Feet: Lessons from the first church."

I'll keep you posted on my learnings and teachings...If you're in the Redmond, WA area and want to jump into the Acts class, come to Timberlake at 10:45. We'll start--this Sunday, September 30--living the adventure.