Less Is More

A few years ago, Relient K used this as a title for one of their songs. The idea is very much John the Baptist ('HE must increase and I must decrease') and is a central component of character development -- less of me and more of Him -> less is more.

I've heard the idea in relation to teaching and preaching. I've bought into it. In the same amount of time, one idea can really be driven home better than four ideas.

I've also heard it in regards to organizational/programming stuff. Less activities can mean more in terms of relationship building and so on. Less can equal more. This thought has intrigued me and I think it has real value. Theoretically, if we focus on the essentials, then we could make more progress with them. If we had fewer peripheral activities, then, in theory, we would have better essential activities. I know that not everyone is on board with this thought, and I'm still working it out, but maybe someday this will infect the Church.

On Tony Morgan's blog (http://www.tonymorganalive.com/), he recently shared some good thoughts in the Less-is-More department:

• Fewer meetings equal more meaningful relational connections.


• Fewer commitments equal more time with family.


• Fewer words equal a more focused message.


• Fewer ministry programs equal a clearer path for discipleship.


• Fewer rules equal more time to love God and love others.

Sweet! Well put and succint. Then he asked a fun question, 'Where do you see the “less is more” principle playing out in your life and ministry?' For the full post, http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/10/23/leave-the-awesome/

Postmodernism

I attended a beneficial seminar in Troy on Saturday morning. For nearly 3 hours at Woodside Bible Church, Dr. Grier of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary shared thoughts on the Church and culture. Here are some things that stood out to me:

• He's old but he has a great heart for Jesus, for people. He talked about time with the Church in Zambia this past summer and was quite touched by it. A soft heart in an old body is a beautiful thing!
• He's old but he has a great philosophical and practical understanding of today's culture.
• I was 're-impressed' with his very fair appraisal of Postmodernism; he verbalized how it's impact on the Church is both good and bad. In my circle, most people tend to demonize PM and applaud Modernism.
• The underlying spirit of PM is skepticism.
• PM young people are interested in whole ministry and mystery.
• Spurgeon never preached more than 30 minutes. He wed rationalism and romanticism.
• The language of Matthew 5 ['You are...'] is plural, as in, 'you all' or 'y'all'. The Modern Church has individualized too much Bible teaching.
• Because the Father sent the Son, and the Father and the Son sent the Spirit, and the Father, Son and Spirit sent the Church; the Church can be defined as 'a people sent on a mission.'
• Spiritual formation is the Spirit's work.
• Use the narrative; get away from deductive reasoning and systematic theology.
• Loyalty to Jesus Christ works out to (infects) everything (each piece of our fragmented world).
• PM evangelism requires a review of language. Abandon church cliches, theological terms, church-ese.
• No evaluation = no improvement

Again, it was really refreshing to hear Dr. Grier speak. He shared his heart, mind and observations. I don't know how much longer he's got to go, but praise the Lord for what he has done with him and through him!

Wow.

• It's been almost a month since my last confession, I mean, entry.
• Life is good. God is good. My wife is a super-hard worker; I wish I could do more of her stuff so she could rest a little. I have been on a little push-the-laundry-through-to-help-out spree the last few weeks but I wish I could do more; I think she's irreplaceable. Max finished his soccer season on a high note (scored two goals!) so that's cool. Viola Girl(Zoe) is plugging away and getting more used to private lessons and, in particular, her teacher; plus, tonight was her first GirlScouts meeting. Makenzie is finally settled at the middle school and rockin' the academics.
• I'm really enjoying John Stott's book, Through the Bible Through the Year. I tend to like big overviews and this book is a simple walk through the Bible in one year. I've tried to read 3 chapters a day and all that but I usually fall behind somewhere. This is more manageable and enjoyable for me. It's not for everyone; Norma tried it for awhile but decided it wasn't for her. I'm reading some other things too but this one is the one I choose to start my day with.
• With fall sports over, it'll be interesting to see if teen participation in church stuff will change. I'm convinced that more and more extra-curricular, school-sponsored stuff is filling up a student's week and church/youth group/community is getting squeezed out. I think the best way to combat it is prayer, personal conversations, and some alarm-sounding.
• I held a new baby boy (not mine) last night at church. What a hairy head! Can a kid who is less than a month old sport a sweet fohawk? Ridiculous.

Worst Day of the Week?

Norma and I were talking about how fast someone turned up the speed on this treadmill called life - it's going fast and not slowin' down!! For us, Wed and Thursday seem to be the worst/most busy time of the week. How about you, what's the most hectic day or part of your week?

God's Reputation

Last week, my son Max commented about the number of beer bottles (they were cans/cases) in a neighbors garage. Because he seemed so put off by it, I tried to calm him down a little. Sure, drinking can be or make people get stupid, but God gives them the free choice to do that. I think Max wants everyone to live like we do.

Friday I finally sorted through a growing stack of various papers, things that made me think, "I-like-that-but-I-don't-want-to-or-know-where-to-file-it-right-now." So the stack grew. One piece was an April e-devotion from Daniel Henderson of Strategic Renewal and the title was "God's Reputation -- Our Resolve".

He started by writing about how non-believers attack God, His name, His book, and so on. What I really liked were his first two key ideas regarding this. Idea #1 - God is able to protect His own reputation. "Idea #2 - He is more concerned with how his own people dishonor His name than with how unbelievers mock Him."

I've seen too many adult believers get worked up about things they have no control of and things that, frankly, don't really matter. I tell our youth team to look past the annoying/unwise/goofy behavior of teens and worry about their hearts. I hope we're not expecting unbelievers to act like believers. I think getting worked up about people blowing God off or disrespecting Him is appropriate, but shouldn't be allowed to be a distraction. It shouldn't lead to condemnation either, because I was (and am) in the same 'I'll-run-my-own-life-my-own-way' boat.

One day, I'll learn how to embed the links but, until then, if you'd like to read Henderson's article, click here: http://www.strategicrenewal.com/media/1716/god's%20reputation,%20our%20resolve,%20april%2015,%202008.pdf
or here: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Daily_Renewal/Article.asp?article_id=1815

Free of Charge

For quite awhile, I've been wanting to read a book by Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge. I don't know what drew me to it: the cover? the subtitle (Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stirpped of Grace)? the author? I really don't know. But I found a used copy while we were on vacation, and I snatched it right up. Although I'm not immersed in it, I am enjoying what I read. I think this paragraph on page 21 (which made it's way into a recent sermon) is eloquent, simple and very true.

'There is God. And there are images of God. And some people don't see any difference between the two.'

I look forward to reading and sharing more of the book as time allows.

Friday Funny #2

Thanks to my brother Daniel for passing along this interesting high-rise.

Vacation's gone:(

Our vacation was good. It was more staycation than vacation but that was fine.
Norma and I went to dinner by ourselves at J. Alexander's. It's not a place we'd normally go but someone had given us a giftcard. It was tasty! And the portions were to big to finish. Although the rest of the night didn't go real smoothly, it was nice to be alone with my bride.

Our first Sunday we spent in Detroit. I really like visiting other churches so my family allowed me the indulgence. We went to Northridge Church in Plymouth. I've become friends with a small groups pastor there and was able to connect with him. The kids loved it and were ready to go back! We went out to eat and did some shopping. Our second Sunday we stayed home and didn't go anywhere. I thought it would be good for us. Turns out, the family was way more 'good with it' than I was. They said I was edgy that morning. Sorry fam!

Later that week we went to Grand Rapids and enjoyed four things: the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, staying with the Emery's, the Van Andel Public Museum (70 foot whale skeleton!) and Baker Book Store.

Near the end of the vacation, we spent a few hours at a nearby waterpark.

Vacations are good. And we should have more of them. I wonder if fewer commitments to things would make more of life feel like a vacation? We're so busy trying to enjoy all that life has to offer that life becomes less enjoyable. Well, it's back to school and that's a post for another time.