Detoxing from "Church" by Jason Zahariades

I've just read the most awesome article ever and want to share it here.
I have been thinking about this exact same thing lately and when reading this, I felt like, 'Finally, I'm not crazy! Someone thinks the same thing I do!' Check out Jason's blog here. He does an amazing job of articulating what I feel is a very important subject among the church today. Enjoy!

Here is a most impressive writing from Jason Zahariades. He has contributed some of his writings to books such as, 'The Relevant Church' and 'Out of the Ooze'.

Detoxing From “Church”

Beginning the Process
Back in February, as Mark and I were praying and talking about beginning a missional community, I emailed a guy on the other side of the US who had already begun one of these communities. Here are a couple of things he said in our correspondences.

"Here's a strong statement: most evangelicals, including Vineyard people, are addicted to church culture. Take away their Sunday service, their bible studies, prayer meetings, and five-song worship teams and they start having withdrawals quickly. I think that it is a necessary part of this process to have a detox time... I would suggest a time of at least a year of not doing the 'normal' church stuff. For us, during that time of detachment we only did a few things together – ask hard questions and eat. Those were our corporate disciplines."

In another email he reinforced the point:

"Let me reiterate from my last email that one of the most beneficial things you might do is take a break from all things church for a while. This may seem really counterproductive, especially when you start having people wanting to be a part of your community immediately. But if your aim is to get people to begin thinking outside the bounds of cultural Christianity, some significantly radical action is required."

When I first read these comments, I knew he was stating something profound. What I didn't anticipate was the extent of my own addiction to the contemporary church and the painful detox process I would experience. What I'm coming face to face with through the process is the non-authenticity and impotence of my own faith. Let me explain.

My Addiction To “Church”
In the Americanized church, the organization is designed to turn life and faith into a simple prepackaged consumer product. This is what John Drane calls the “McDonaldization of the Church.”

• I need to worship. So I go to my local church, which, if it’s cutting-edge, has a worship pastor on staff that prepares an inspiring "worship experience" for me on a weekly basis. One local church I know advertises its worship services on its marquee, "We worship five times, three ways, one God." (Hello! Is it me or does that just sound wrong?)

• I also need to fellowship with my fellow Christians. So I go to my local church to attend a programmed version of community that provides a surface-level contact with people around some form of activity at my convenience. If I need more fellowship, I go to a small group, usually focused on the dynamic personality of the small group leader or on the subject matter I feel I need to better my life. But again, this is at my convenience and fairly optional if my schedule becomes too demanding.

• I need discipleship and Christian growth. So I go to my local church to attend Sunday services, Bible studies and small groups where someone opens the Bible and tells me what it says and how it should apply to my life. I also have the option of learning "practical" topics such as how to be a good spouse, parent, employee, leader, steward, etc.

• I need to serve. So I go to my local church and participate in a program where I use my time and skills in a fairly convenient manner to help others. For the most part, it’s fairly safe. And if I'm a volunteer, my participation is completely based on my schedule.

• I need to be engaged in mission. So I go to my local church to connect to their evangelistic ministry and their missions program. Every so often I might volunteer to hand out sodas or serve coffee in a convenient and semi-relational form of "reaching people" for Christ. I might also give money to local missionaries the church supports and maybe participate in a weekend mission trip.

• I need a children's program to educate my kids. So I go to my local church to place my children in the care of Sunday school teachers and youth pastors who will provide the spiritual and moral foundation for their Christian growth via an age-relevant program.

• I need purpose for my life. So I go to my local church, hoping to find a leader with a vision big enough to inspire me. Then I sacrifice my time, energy, and money to become involved in the leader’s vision so I can build something big for God with him. New programs. New buildings. New projects. New groups. New services. New converts. New church plants. New missions. More and more and more vision to give my life a reason to exist.

To make matters worse, as a pastor on staff, all of my relationships and ministries are mediated through my title and position in the organization. An unhealthy symbiotic relationship occurs between myself and the organization as my life and faith becomes synonymous with the success of the organization. If we, as leaders, can design an organization that satisfies the consumer needs of a couple hundred people... well, then we must be doing something right in God's kingdom. And the more people we reach, then the better we are. So I preach, lead worship, administrate, counsel, teach, organize, recruit, train, write, and do practically everything as a “pastor” of an organization. Eventually my identity becomes distorted by what I do for the church. What’s worse, my role and effectiveness as a staff pastor are intimately connected to my own formation and personal development. This continues to blur the line between my personal life and faith and my abilities as a leader of an organization.

Detoxing From “Church”
Now strip all of that away. Imagine what you would have left after you remove from your life everything connected with the organizational church. I mean everything. I’ve discovered the hard way that living most of my adult life in cultural Christianity has formed my entire identity as a Christian. And when everything in my life connected with the church is gone, including sixteen years of professional ministry, I’m confronted with the true raw status my personal faith.

Now I'm going to say something harsh: In order to BE the Church, we need to leave the church. In other words, in order to truly become God's people as he intended, we must abandon our cultural version of organizational church. The application of this statement might vary, but it must happen. And as we abandon the church to become the Church, we will go through a detox period.

Why such drastic measures? Involvement in an organizational consumer-driven church blinds us to the real state of our lives. By participating in this kind of church I can enjoy inspiring worship, biblical exposition of Scripture, fellowship, small groups, kids programs, service projects, missions, discipleship, books, radio broadcasts, multimedia presentations and virtually anything else I need in my spiritual life. In fact, I can enjoy an entirely alternative lifestyle where Christianity is prepackaged for me – books, music, entertainment, news reports, advice, etc. And as I consume it, it forms a façade over the real condition of my life. The rub is when my true condition actually bubbles to the surface and I find myself troubled, discontent or miserable. Then the church or the pastor or the worship team has lost the “anointing” and I must find a new organizational church that will provide me what I need to feel better about who I am.

In this distorted perspective, I fail to recognize that the true state of my life and faith is who I am and what I do in relation to God and his kingdom, not who I am and what I do in relation to the church.

Moving From Being Churched To Being The Church
Detoxing from any kind of substance abuse is only a means to a much greater end. It is the essential process toward a healthy life, free from oppressive addiction. The same is true for one who detoxes from the church. Remember, we must leave the church in order to BE the Church. We must stop being churched and start being the Church.

What is the Church? It is a community of people who are each following Christ into his divine life and love here on earth. They are learning how to become by grace what Christ is by nature – the full and complete emptying of self in order to participate fully in God’s kingdom so as to be a redemptive force that recreates all aspects of life and creation (Philippians 2:5-16; Colossians 1:19; Romans 8:19-21). The Church is a group of Christ-followers who are sent as Jesus was sent (John 20:21). In this way, the Church is the continuation of Christ’s incarnation on earth.

These and other biblical aspects of the Church run counter to cultural Christianity and its addictive prepackaged consumerist version of the church. Being the Church is about who I am and who I am becoming as I follow Christ individually and in a community. Being the Church is becoming like Christ so together, I and other Christ-followers may continue his incarnation on and to the world.

A primary difference between being churched and being the Church is how I approach the community. Being churched assumes the organizational church is designed from the perspective that I am a consumer of religious goods and service. Therefore, I am expected to participate in the church’s programs chiefly to receive and consume. It’s the organization’s responsibility to program, coordinate and provide what I need for my spiritual satisfaction.

But being the Church requires me to take full responsibility to follow Christ and Christ alone into his life. I can't say this enough: We are to become by grace what Jesus is by nature. And he did not have an organization mediating his life and faith. He had a relationship with the Father by walking in the Spirit, expressed through a life of spiritual disciplines. Then he invites us to learn from him how to develop the same kind of intimate relationship with the Father in the same way (Matthew 11:27-30).

The Christian community is then made up of Christ-followers who encourage, challenge, pray, minister, learn, honor, love and spur each other on. But it is not the community’s nor the community leaders’ responsibility to program or lead others into divine life. Only Christ can do that. So while my needs remain the same, I must look not to an organization, but to Christ alone to lead me into his divine life and love.

• I still need to worship, but I am to worship first as an individual follower of Christ daily. I am a priest, offering all of my life back to God in constant prayer, joy and thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Then from the overflow of my personal worship, I join in corporate worship with others who also worship God on a daily basis.

• I still need to fellowship, but now I must actually alter my schedule and hang out with people in real ways – over meals, over coffee, at my home or theirs. This also means that there isn't a program or an event to generate fellowship. I have to initiate. I have to be prepared to discuss life and faith in real ways that encourage and build each other up. I have to be prepared to be used by Christ to pray, listen, minister, laugh, cry, confront, encourage, etc., all on the leading of the Spirit and not at the cue of a leader or scheduled time in a service.

• I still need discipleship and growth, but now I must walk with Christ, by grace in the Spirit through a life of spiritual discipline. I must follow Christ into a curriculum of spiritual disciplines that transforms my inner world into Christ’s inner life. As such, I must study the Bible. I must pray. I must meditate. I must take my own personal retreats. I must read. I must educate myself. I must become theologically astute and spiritually vibrant. I must discover God's will for my life and not some canned version from a pastor who talks at me for 45 minutes each week. I must put the same or more energy and time into my personal faith than I do into my occupation, education, and entertainment.

• I still need to serve, but now I must look for the opportunities in my life. I can't enjoy the safety of a program with other Christians. I must view my entire life as service to the people I live with and live around. I must discover the poor and marginalized in my life and be Christ to them. I can't just give money to the organization to do it for me.

• I still need to engage in mission, but now I must actually BE a witness of Christ's eternal divine life to the people I live with, work with, play with and shop with. I must actually be a living, albeit flawed, example of divine life on earth. I must be able to say, "When you see me, you see the Father." Then I must view my family, my neighborhood, my job, and my entire life as my mission field. Not in the imperialistic way the church has done evangelism and missions, but in the winsome, educated and Spirit-led way that drew thousands to Jesus when he walked this earth.

• I still need to raise my children in life and faith, but now I carry the lion's share of the responsibility. As their parent, my faith and life form their faith and life. I must learn to dialogue at their level. I must lead them in prayer, in worship, in fellowship, in spiritual disciplines, in service, in mission, in play.

• I still need purpose for my life, but now I learn from Christ how to be like him so I can live like him – completely toward God for the sake of the world.

The Proper Role of Community
Now I know having read everything so far, it is easy to conclude, “Then I don’t need community.” That couldn’t be farther from the truth. What we don’t need is the organizational consumer church as a provider of religious goods and services. The consumer ethic of our surrounding culture has infected the organizational church turning pastors into entrepreneurs and CEOs and turning Christians into consumers.

Once we understand what it means to be the people of God and to shoulder the personal responsibility of transformation into Christlikeness, then we begin to realize we need authentic Christian community more than ever. Let me explain.

In Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard lays out a general pattern for personal transformation. He states:

If we are to be spiritually formed in Christ, we must have and must implement the appropriate vision, intention, and means… If this VIM pattern [vision, intention, and means] is not put in place properly and held there, Christ simply will not be formed in us.

This pattern for spiritual formation is a fine balance between the individual and the community. First, the vision essential for transformation is a vision of life now and forever in God’s will, partaking in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and participating by our actions in what God is doing now in our lifetime on earth. This vision is given to humanity by God, revealed to God’s covenant people, the Jews, and given fullest expression in Jesus. As such, a personal vision for life in the kingdom comes directly from the Living Christ, but is also mediated through God’s covenant community, the Church.

Second, the intention for spiritual formation is brought to completion only by a decision to fulfill or carry through with the intention. In this case, the intention to obey the model and teachings of Jesus must be “sealed” with an individual’s decision to actually obey Christ in all of life. The intention and decision, which lie in the realm and responsibility of the individual, can only be formed and sustained by a forceful vision, which comes directly from Christ and is supplemented by the community.

Willard makes a significant point in this area, stating:

Our belief and feelings cannot be changed by a choice. We cannot just choose to have different beliefs or feelings. But we do have some liberty to take in different ideas and information and to think about things in different ways. We can choose to take in the Word of God, and when we do that, beliefs and feelings will be steadily pulled in a godly direction.

In other words, the will is moved by insight into truth and reality, which in turn, evokes emotion appropriate to a new state of the will. This is how real inward change occurs. The consumer-based church does the exact opposite, trying to motivate and inspire people to choose to believe and do things they really don’t believe. This approach does not result in any lasting spiritual formation.

Finally, the vision and intention to follow and obey Christ will naturally lead to seeking out and applying the means to that end. Scripture and church history are replete with the appropriate means for spiritual formation. The key is to target the aspects of our humanity – the thoughts, feelings, will, social relations and bodily inclinations – with the abundant individual and corporate spiritual disciplines available to us so that we become people who naturally and easily embody Christlikeness. In this way, the statement, “Where there is a will, there is a way,” rings true for spiritual formation.

To illustrate this process, Dallas makes an interesting statement, “Any successful plan for spiritual formation, whether for the individual or group, will in fact be significantly similar to the Alcoholics Anonymous program.” In AA, the participant is envisioned with the potential new life of sobriety and freedom from addiction that is available to him or her. The vision is then pursued by an intention to realize it, actuated by a decision. The means are then applied to produce the desirable state.

The program illustrates the important balance between the individual and the community. The individual must possess the vision, supplemented by the relational structure of the AA group. The intention and its accompanying decision rest solely on the individual. The means are then carried out primarily by the individual throughout his or her daily life, supported by the relationships and structure of the local AA community. The point is that as important as the community is, success and failure of AA in an individual’s life rests primarily on the individual’s intention to follow through daily. The community exists to support the individual’s pursuit of sobriety.

The Christian community’s role is very similar. Willard states that God’s plan for spiritual formation through the local Christian community is threefold: First, create an ethos and culture that places apprenticeship to Christ in all the minute aspects of life as central. This creates the necessary vision to fuel the individual’s intention. Second, immerse apprentices at all levels of growth in the Trinitarian presence of God through the community’s structure and life. In this way, the community’s primary purpose is to encounter the Trinitarian presence and hold people up within it. Finally, arrange for the inner transformation of people in such a way that doing the words and deeds of Christ is not the focus but the natural outcome or side effect.

This creates a community of Christ’s apprentices in which each member is pursuing Christ, spending time with him in the course of their daily life in order to learn how to be like him. When the community gathers, all relationships are then mediated through Christ. Willard describes this Christocentric community in The Divine Conspiracy:

In the spiritual community there is never any immediate relationship between human beings. Another way of saying this is that among those who live as Jesus’ apprentices, there are no relationships that omit the presence and action of Jesus. We never go “one on one”; all relationships are mediated through him. I never think simply of what I am going to do with you, to you, or for you. I think of what we, Jesus and I, are going to do with you, to you, and for you. Likewise, I never think of what you are going to do with me, to me, and for me, but of what will be done by you and Jesus with me, to me, and for me.

In this way, Christ fills all of our needs for life and formation as we follow him (2 Peter 1:3), not by participating in and consuming the organizational church’s programs. As I follow the resurrected Christ with others who are following him, he meets us and ministers to us through all the members of the community.

Conclusion
As our understanding of being the Church changes, the role of proper Christian community changes. We discover a need for authentic community more than any of us realized. As a follower of Christ, I constantly need my fellow Christ-followers. I cannot enter into Christ’s divine life and love apart from Christ-mediated community with them. His life and love are expressed in fully giving myself to them (Ephesians 5:1-2). Therefore, I need to be with my fellow Christ-followers so I can serve them, love them and pour out on them everything I am becoming in Christ for their benefit. And they need to do that for me. Together, fully giving ourselves to each other, we continue on into Christlikeness.

This kind of Christian community is essential to grow into Christ’s life. Christ is formed in each of his apprentices as they engage his abundant grace in daily living through a life of spiritual disciplines. As each Christ-follower shoulders his or her responsibility of following Jesus into the life he has mastered and alone can share, all are then supported by Christ as each member brings Christ being formed in them to the community.

Only Christ is the source of divine life. Each member must follow Jesus daily to learn his divine life. Each member must shoulder the responsibility to work out his or her salvation and not expect the community or its leaders to do it for him or her. In Christ, we can learn together, serve together, grow together, love together, etc. But we must first and foremost follow Christ into his life. And to do this we must abandon the distorted and addictive version of the consumer church in order to be free to become Christ’s Church.

Culture in the Church

Church again? Well hey, at least I added culture to it! (well not me, I didn't do it! lol)

Okay, so I've been curious-- and still am-- about this 'culture in the church' for the purpose of 'being relevant' thing. While I do understand that in order to be effective, the church must do things to make the church have a certain 'appeal' for the unsaved, I get that! I mean ... I want the prostitute and drug dealer to come rolling in on Sunday morning and give their lives to God! I understand that they would NOT do that in the 'traditional' church setting.

What I'm confused about is what part of the culture needs to be pulled into the church in order to minister to the unsaved person? Let's say, you have the regular old church building, or even a portable church in a lower to mid class area... what's going to make the difference for that poor soul on Sunday morning?

I might be getting these two things confused, but hang with me ... I wanted to define 'culture'. This is what I found at Dictionary.com.

Culture;

a : the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations

b : the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time

c : the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization a corporate culture focused on the bottom line d : the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic

Okay, so now that we've defined culture, I'll tell you what I'm seeing in this.

First, I'll go with the 'American Dream'. I think Americans have used this term to define their values, goals, attitudes, social practices, ways of life, etc. Even though we've changed what the 'American Dream' is-- it used to mean that we were to take advantage of the opportunities at hand; to seize the day! Go to college! Own a business! Own your own home! You can!

Today, the American Dream means; to have the perfect life. The perfect wedding, spouse, children, dog, college fund, car, job, house, yard, social circles, preschool for your 4 year-old (WOW), Football, Baseball, etc. The list goes on and on! This is what contributes to the 'narcissistic culture' we live in today (whole different subject ... another day).

Okay, so ...I'm not saying that all Americans are like this, but you can't say that you've never had the pressure of adults around you ask you questions that made you think you weren't doing something right- oh wait-- not just 'right' but, perfectly!

So what I'm wondering is this, is this the part of culture we've knowingly or unknowingly added in the church? Because it would explain a lot if so. We all know that people can't maintain this 'perfect image' forever. I think this also creates the dual life of the Christian. You know, acting holier than thou, quoting scripture, being the jolly greeter at the door on Sunday, but away from church people would never know you were saved.

If I had to come to church and pretend to be perfect around all the other people that were pretending to be perfect, I'd get pretty sick of church. I'd even get more sick of it if I was being real while everyone around me was pretending. What kind of environment is that for the 'unsaved'? I'll tell you, it's confusing!

This American Dream- perfection stuff is FAKE and it's idolatry! But if it is the frame (the way you see things) you use when you go to church, when you build a relationship with God, and when you look at yourself, it's not going to last. What little change we do make will not stay because it was based on something completely false.

If we're calling our culture one of perfection, the idea we've planted in our heads is the same when we attend church. We come to church looking for the best praise team, the best preacher, the best programs for the kids, the best building, the best, the best, the best! This is what we bring into the church, this is what the leaders conform to and they try to give you the best. *Because if they give you the best, THEY become 'the best'.* (Reader, meet codependency) Tell them what you want and they'll try to make it happen to please you. Or they will at least make you think they've changed something for you. And at this point it gets really sad ...

None of it is what God wants. None of this is God's best for your life.

I don't know about you, but I want God's best for my life! He has promised me many things! I believe that I'll get them, but I understand that it all came ad still comes at a price. I don't 'deserve' any of it. I'll never be 'good enough' for any of it. And I can't be anything CLOSE to perfect without Him!

Die Daily.
Blessings!

Hungry for Truth

Yes, I'm still on the church subject. I have grown quite fond of this subject over the past couple of years. How could you not during such an awesome season!

As I started coming back to church about 5 years ago, I couldn't help but notice the change that had occurred during my 'leave of absence'. I grew up in the church and at around 16, I completely stopped going. Not for any specific reason, I guess I just wanted to see something other than church (that's code for I wanted to party and drink and get into trouble--mission accomplished).

Now as an adult coming back into the church, I've seen quite the change from when I was young going to church in 'Bible-belt-Oklahoma'. I used to hear sermons that got right to the point, I saw people get saved, and I knew exactly what God was all about. I attended services where sometimes you left feeling pretty bad about yourself. Some of the sermons were sometimes so personal that it made you want to look around to see if everyone was staring at you!

Today, things are much different. Leaders are following a 'model' of how to 'do' church. The messages are watered down and the pastors seem to apologize for anything that might offend or convict someone. But isn't the Word supposed to do that? I mean if we aren't feeling convicted how can we get better? How can we change? There is nothing wrong with being wrong! It's how we learn and grow.

I follow lots of pastors other than my own. I listen to sermons online and read blogs a lot. I just want to see and hear what other churches are all about. I want to get a feel for what the Holy Spirit is telling the Church as a whole.

I wrote yesterday about finding a new church and how so many are finding it to be quite difficult. This isn't just a local problem ... this is happening all over the place! So much so that I hear the term 'church-hopper' quite a bit in blogs and articles.

My question is why? Why are people having such a hard time? I've heard lots of sermons about this time being a time of 'transition'. Could that be it? I've heard others talk about people just being spoiled about what they want out of a service-- leaving because of the worship style or the service time even. Why after so many years at one church would people just up and leave? I did it too!

Well, this is my personal take on it. I believe God is moving His people around in order to prepare the church. I'm not talking about your little tiny church in Farmtown, Ohio. I'm talking about THE CHURCH. I've heard lots of sermons lately about this being a time of restoration, preparation, learning, growing, and maturing as Christians. It's really cool to listen to pastors all over the world preaching the same messages. We have guest speakers at our church that come in and preach the same messages that our pastors have been preaching. It's an awesome time of learning and growing.

In every sermon I find myself searching for what the church used to be. I want to hear a message that convicts me! I want to see the Word radically change someones life in 45 minutes! Maybe it's just me, but I think the church is hungry for the Truth. Hungry for a pastor to get up and not care that someone might get offended at the message he just spent a week in prayer over. A pastor that only cares about his position with God! A message that made the pastor burn inside until he spoke it to his church. A message that went over the allotted time for service and even made people want to sing and worship AFTER the message! How crazy is that?

So just because we see people moving around and testing new waters doesn't mean that they're flaky or indecisive or quitting. If you're one of those people moving around, don't feel bad! God has a plan! I believe that it's just a natural glimpse of what is happening in the spiritual realm. Exciting, right? I think so too!
Blessings!

Finding a New Church?

Lately I've been talking to lots of people around me about church. The church is a big subject and it's hard to talk about it without offending people. But notice, I'm blogging about it, so I'm not too worried about that. What I am worried about is my friends growing in Christ in a healthy, Godly way.

Many of my friends are searching for a new church- just as I was a few months ago. Many of them have been hurt by the church. This saddens me. And it saddens God too. I've heard people talk about why they did or didn't like a particular church. I see them going from one church to another trying to find their place-- which is great! I want them to find a place that feels like home to them. I want them to feel like they are making a difference in the Kingdom for God. And many of them have found church homes! (YES!)But the process can be painful. If you are one of these people, believe me, you are NOT alone!

So just some advice ... take it for what it's worth to you. I have advice to give because I've been through it and I'm perfectly content now. Throughout this process, I prayed, studied, fasted, read, talked to people, asked hard questions, and learned at a rate faster than I have in a long while! God revealed things to me during this time like no other! It was and still is an exciting time for me!

What I have to say about finding a church is already assuming that you've; 1)prayed through this and God has released you from your church, 2) God hasn't already called you somewhere and you're just being disobedient, and 3) Your focus is GOD-- Finding a Christ-centered church-- one that isn't all about PEOPLE. That's idolatry! If the worship feels like a concert centered around one person, RUN! If the pastor isn't preaching a pure Word, RUN! If the youth teachers are distracted and just filling in until they get into a better position, RUN! If the church claims to be spirit filled and you see no evidence of that, RUN! Okay, not that that's covered ...

I believe that God gives all of us a purpose. It is our job to fulfill it. To always be ready! When God gives you an assignment be ready to walk through doors He opens! In order to accomplish God's purpose for our lives, we've got to align ourselves with people that are like-minded- that share our vision and want to see it birthed -- come to pass. I believe we ALL have a purpose! Don't think yours is to fill a pew on Sunday morning from 10-11:30! Believe me, it's bigger than that!

I met a woman at a women's conference a few months ago that had stepped down from being an associate pastor at a church in Atlanta. She still has a ministry! It's called 'Hands and Feet' and she keeps socks and gloves in her car to give the homeless people in the winter! EVERYONE has a ministry!!! Don't get me preachin! Okay ...

1. Look for a church that fits the vision God has given you. What does that mean? It means what do you think God has given you (and your family) a heart for? Match that with your new church's vision. If you have the heart of a missionary, find a church that supports this work, equips you for missions, and will send you. If your heart is to reach your local community, find a church that is really involved in that work. Churches have different visions- *that God gave them*. Just because it's not the vision God gave YOU doesn't mean it isn't serving its purpose. (This advice was given to me by one of the elders at my old church and actually through several blogs by a pastor--Thanks for that!)

2. Look on the Internet and find local church websites and read their mission statement. This will narrow your search and prevent you and your kids from the craziness of going from church to church. Call and talk to someone at the church. Have a list of questions ready so you don't forget them.

3. After you find churches that align with the vision God has given you, evaluate your family's needs and visit that church to see what the church has in terms of discipleship classes, youth programs, etc. No church is perfect, don't get crazy! (LOL) And remember; church programs change, the vision DOES NOT.


It's an amazing feeling when you find a church that shares the desires God has given you. It really grows you quickly. You realize you don't really mind filling in for a teacher or coming in early to help ... because your VISION is the same. If you don't have a common goal to be working towards, you will burn out quickly!

If you have a calling in leadership, I just want to encourage you to find a place that will build that up in you! The purpose of the church is to equip the saints! We must be equipped! It is your responsibility to make sure your church provides training, mentoring, and discipleship for your craft. If they don't, don't feel guilty about moving on. God put something inside of you that he wants you to protect and nurture! He will also put people alongside you to encourage you, strengthen you, love you, and pray over your vision and ministry. Let others sow into that as much as they want to. Find a person in leadership that hopes you become more successful than they are! Those are the people that are going to help birth God's purpose in you!

Don't confuse any of this with the most important aspect of all, Jesus. Understand that you are growing in Christ every single day of your life. Find out where you are in your own personal relationship with God and seek out ways to get closer and closer to perfection. Make friends with people that will hold you accountable and who are not afraid to be corrected themselves. This is not like shopping for a new car to suit your every need. GOD will take care of that. But know where you are with God. Don't rush that process by putting your own growth aside. If you don't know where you're at, pray and ask God to point out areas of your life that you need to grow in.

*DISCLAIMER: If God hasn't called you out of your church, don't leave it. This was just a subject that keeps coming up in my life with friends in the military that move around, friends that left the same church I left, and anyone who might find it helpful. Blessings!

What if our image of the Christian were to change? What if we were to really seek the Lord's idea of how we should be a Christian? Would it line up with what we have seen, heard, or experienced from Christians around us?

If Jesus said that we should "shine as lights amidst the world's darkness" (Matthew 5:14-16) do you think we do a good job of that? And if we do, why are being told we're really just "on fire for the Lord"? Is this not what Christianity is supposed to be? Is this not what the Bible tells us over and over? And will these Christians that are so "on fire" soon fall from the excitement and love they have for God?

What if the image I have of how a Christian should be is all together different from your idea of how a Christian should be? What if the Christians I have been exposed to in my past look like they're "on fire for the Lord" all the time? This "on fire for the Lord" statement gives me the impression of a Christian who has been falsely pumped up at some pep rally for God. And I think this is true. If we let *people pump us up and get us all excited for God we will soon fall from the adrenaline ... sort of like the effect of an info-mercial. But if we let God do it, I don't think we'll fall. If we design our walk just as it's laid out, this is how the Christian will be. That's exciting!

What if living on fire for God is just my way of being a Christian? Well, it would certainly explain a lot. You see, I won't ever think that what I'm giving is "good enough". I will never come to a point in my life where I think, ya know God, here it is ... I think that's good enough for you.

No way!

"Church People"

Many times in the military world I have found myself in an uncomfortable stuffy setting where women are pretending to be the most perfect form of a human being possibly made. They are talking about all of their perfect things, their perfect children, and their perfect lives while clutching their designer handbags and using their husband's rank to make them feel important.

I thought these were the women that would support me while my husband serves his country? What is going on here? It makes me want to scream! Better yet, it makes me want to make up a story about my child being in jail and my husband being a drunk! I am sure that would give them something to talk about.

Can you imagine how I, the imperfect, fun-loving, moody, butterfly-spirited, Wizard of Oz loving, speaks her mind, kind-of-girl must feel like in this environment? Suffocated and feeling horrible about who I am! And why? They are the ones being fake! *It's the pressure to be like them. I am delighted to have moved on to a place where these people no longer have the power to pressure me.

Unfortunately, over the past several years, I've also noticed that this facade also exists in the church. But in this environment it takes on a strange life of it's own. This is church after all, a place where a Christian community comes together in keeping Christ the center and focus of all things. How can this facade exist among Christians? We all come together for one cause and one cause only. Yet some people have adopted this IDEA of how they are SUPPOSED to be "church people" and that's how they pretend to be. No matter what "this way" is ... they pretend to be it. For lack of a better term, I have called these people "church people". These people are not all people that attend church, just the ones that have lost their focus on Christ.


I was once at a church member's house for family night (church related event) and during a discussion I was asked who my favorite music artist was. Several people had already answered with their own "Chris Tomlin" kind of artists. Then I said my favorite was Sheryl Crow. Big eyes ... strange looks ... disappointment ... quiet. Then a few people said, "well, if we're being honest mine is ..." and they proceeded to talk about the secular artists they enjoyed. The leader of discussion was not in the least bit amused by my honesty.


You see, I knew how I was *supposed* to answer, but I decided to tell the truth and these "church people" tried to make me feel bad about it. Can a person really be offended by Sheryl Crow? *Or does it offend their "idea" of how "church people" should be?*

New Christians are pressured by people in the church to act a certain way from day one. From the moment they step into a church they are judged, and not by God. They are to listen to a certain kind of music, dress a certain way, and speak a certain way. This is also all expected at once. The new Christian is to know the entire Bible and be able to recite scriptures immediately. The new Christian is to know the books of the bible, where to find them, and how to interpret them properly. Which makes me wonder ... didn't you just invite Johnny to church? How can he possibly know these things. He was just saved a month ago! Where is the teaching, guidance, and LOVE for your fellow brother or sister? Just like with the military spouses, no support or focus.

I think "church people" pride themselves in how long they have been a Christian. This is held up like a badge of honor. They come to church, pay their tithes, get their highly expected entertainment, and go back home. Not to mention the harsh glance at a knee length skirt served up with a gossipy best friend's "can you believe she would wear that" statement. It doesn't matter to them how they have served their community, loved their neighbor, led others to Christ, read their bibles, or given to the poor. They use this position in the church just like the military spouses used their husband's rank. I'd rather have Jesus anyday!

Maybe new Christians are undervalued. Maybe new Christians have a lot more to offer than the 25-year Christian. Many "mature Christians" have trouble adapting to new ideas, changing old habits, and getting rid of this idea of how the younger Christian is supposed to be. Why can't we read the bible on an iPhone app? Why can't we text our friends to say hi when we have a break from our kids? Why can't our music in church be a little louder and have an edge that captures the heart of a new generation? Why do we have to conform to YOUR ideas? What is Christ's idea for us? That's the focus, Jesus Christ!

I have done church both ways. I have pretended and tried to act the part, which I became very good at. And then I decided to get real and make sure that I was doing it the right way. I only get so much time on earth to make it happen and I'll do it honestly and with one person in mind! When someone finds it hard to believe that I have never heard a Christian song from the 90's, I don't mind telling them I was listening to Rap, Not Amy Grant! It's a part of who I am. It's a part of my personal life and walk with the Lord.

I challenge people's ideas, I ask the dumb questions, I read my bible from an iPhone, I listen to Sheryl Crow, I wear jeans to church, I prefer The Message over the King James, I text scriptures to my friends, I watch noneducational garbage on TV, and I love pop-culture. I also teach children about Jesus and how to pray, I serve my church with all of my heart, I tell strangers about Jesus Christ, I teach my family how to serve Christ, I encourage old and new Christians to be all that God wants them to be, I love my enemies, and my WHOLE life is given to Christ every single day.

I am a new Christian. EVERYDAY!



Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:33 (The Message)

Choir Retreat

Our Choir Retreat started with a word from our pastor, Dr. Jim Chambers. He is a great teacher and I love to hear him speak. It was really nice for him to come and encourage us during our retreat! :)

We practiced some songs, talked, and LAUGHED a lot!

This is Kelly O. Always busy helping :)

This is another Kelly. This Kelly is super funny! Her husband is also in the Navy.

This is Bill and David. Bill just got a Facebook page and we're working on him getting a FB app on his phone :) David is a Amy's husband, a great guy. They both are!

This is Isa and Patricia! Funny Girls! :)

Beth and Susan.

Aimee Alexander, always a ray of sunshine!

Amy Nickens, David's wife. She cracks us up all the time!

Altos Rule!

Jessica :)

Having lunch in the Cafe.

Amy and Aimees. Our church is full of Kelly's and Amy's!

Travis and David! Travis is also in choir and keeps our sound in check :) For the most part anyway. I think he likes to hear Hope ECHO!

We had so much fun with Hope! I can't believe I don't have a picture of her. Hope is our worship leader that totally rocks! She has a great voice and has a real talent in leading people into worship! Love her! I guess when she's teaching or talking I'm too into it to remember to take a picture. She did an amazing job with us! I can't wait for the next retreat!

Today we will get Mason back from his little weekend trip to the beach! I have missed him and can't wait to hear all about it!