In case you haven’t heard, a film is being released in October 2010 about the story the founders of Facebook. Here’s the trailer.

I’m often asked about Project Church. What we’re about. How we roll. What’s up with the name.   Here’s a brief summary about the DNA of Project Church.

THE PROJECT

God’s project is the renewal of all things and he has called us to join him! That’s the trajectory of Project Church: To Join God in His Mission in the World. We exist to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) by living out the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).

In other words, our calling is clear: Love God. Love People. Live Free. And our passion is to make disciples of Jesus and help start gospel-driven churches who do the same.

As we go, this is the operating system that guides every discussion we have, every decision we make, and every direction we take:

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

JESUS – All arrows point to Jesus
GOSPEL – Grace changes everything
STORY – Guided by the unfolding narrative of the scriptures
MEANING – Every life is significant in the Story of God
MOXIE – Make bold moves
HEART – People matter to God and they matter to us
MISSION – For the city, for the world, because of God
COMMUNITY – No one walks alone
AUTHENTICITY – Real with God, ourselves, and one another
IMAGINATION – Unleashing creativity, reflecting the Creator
PRAYER – Aligning our hearts and wills to God’s
SIMPLICITY – Clarity over complexity

DESIGN

Project Church is structured in a way that helps us focus on keeping the main thing the main thing.

This means we intentionally limit formal programs and instead focus on these three aspects of our church being the church. Each also serve as an entry point into our community and are equally significant.

Personal Relationships

• God, being a relational God, created us for relationships
• The Gospel travels on relational highways
• Our relational networks are our mission field
• Project Church all boils down to relationships

Missional Communities

• Beyond a small group into a genuine biblical community
• Journey together
• Care for one another
• Live out Rhythms

Weekly Gatherings

• Worship Jesus through teaching, music, prayer, & connecting.
• Celebrate God and recalibrate around his mission in the world.
• Designed with both explorers and followers of Christ in mind.

Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ is the collaborative effort of authors Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola.

Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “A mind stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions.”  Thanks to these two authors, the collective mind of the church won’t go back to her original dimensions either.

They both have reputations as being rubber-bands in the Church.  Len Sweet often stretches us forward while Frank Viola often stretches us back. They’ve helped the Church rethink and return to what it means to be the Church and in this latest work, they take us to the one who is the point of it all: Jesus.

The book is radical in the purest sense of the word. Returning us to the author and founder of our faith. There are no new ideas, only fresh expressions of ancient truths.

Their aim is straight-forward:

“So what is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less. Christianity is not an ideology or a philosophy. Neither is it a new type of morality, social ethic, or worldview. Christianity is the “good news” that beauty, truth, and goodness are found in a person. And true humanity and community are founded on and experienced by connection to that person.”

What I appreciate about this book is that it’s about the Who rather than the what. So many works of theology are filled with propositions (what’s) that fit nicely into spreadsheets and Sweet and Viola paint with an artists’ touch that illuminates the revealed Christ (the Who) while still leaving room for mystery (see Chapter 5).

This book is saturated with scripture. From the get-go, Sweet and Viola invite us to journey with them and see how Christ is the point of both the Old Testament and the New.  They lead us to the cross and remind us that God incarnate loved us enough to “become sin incarnate.” They hold up the victory of the resurrection, the hope of a new humanity, and how to God the Father, our life is wrapped up in Christ.

They challenge readers to not just imitate Christ, but share in his life. To not just fend off idolatry by trying harder, but by grasping the grandeur of Christ. To not ask Jesus to get into our wagon, but for us to hop into his.  To not simply see Jesus as simply another “cause”, but to see Jesus (period).

If there was one minor hiccup in the book it would be the lack of flow. This is bound to happen with two established authors. Sweet and Viola have such distinct writing styles, and sometimes it can be difficult to follow the bouncing back and forth between the authors. They don’t always identify who is writing what section, but readers of their previous works (like me) will identify their voices quickly.  I’d recommend reading a chapter at a time if they want to maximize your experience.

Otherwise, this is a a fantastic book that makes much of Jesus.  It’s clear they want us to know him, not just know about him. They care more about Who you believe in, not just what you believe. They don’t merely present Jesus as a means to an end, but herald him as the means and the end.

All arrows point to Jesus and it’s for this reason that I highly recommend Jesus Manifesto!

Thank you, Len and Frank. You clearly love the Lord and have given the Body of Christ a real gift.

Get your copy

Several years ago, I was wrestling with what to do with my life. I had this nagging sense that God was calling me to something, I just didn’t know what. It seemed so many around me knew exactly what to do with their lives. And here I was-full of passion yet lacking direction. I was at a crossroads.

It was frustrating.

On a summer weekend during that time, I went to the grocery store to pick up some items for dinner. As I was checking out, I looked near the entrance and spotted a familiar face standing there waiting for someone.

It was Brock Lesnar.

I knew of Brock. He and I are the same age and I had heard about this beast from Webster, SD from some high school wrestling buddies. He later went on to become the NCAA heavyweight champion in college and found fame and fortune as a pro wrestler in WWE.  In 2004, he left the WWE to pursue a dream of being in the NFL and tried out for the Minnesota Vikings. Despite his rare mix of strength and quickness, it didn’t work out, and he was cut.

I met Brock following all of this.

People unknowingly walked by him as they entered and exited the grocery store, but I knew who he was. After I paid for my items, I walked up to him and introduced myself. He was much kinder than I expected from the pro wrestling persona he had on TV. I asked what he was doing in Rapid City and he said he was going to hang out at his family’s cabin in the Black Hills, do some 4-wheeling, and try to figure out what’s next for his life.

It turns out he was at a crossroads too. He mentioned he had options to return to the WWE, possible go to Japan to wrestle, or maybe start training for mixed-martial arts. He just wasn’t sure which way to go. It was clear he had the same inner turmoil as me (albeit in different ways).

Brock then asked me about my life. I told him I was in a similar spot and that I understood what he was going through. We bantered back and forth about each others situations. It was refreshing talking to someone who got it. No one was asking for autographs or pictures, it was just two dudes talking.

Then, his wife walked over to Brock and he introduced her to me. Not wanting to be “that guy” who kept them from enjoying a peaceful time together, I decided to wrap up our chat and mentioned that he had too much talent to not be utilized and wished him well. He wished me well too and we both went on our way.

As I was driving home, I was taken back by our simple chat. I’m sure Brock doesn’t remember our exchange at all. He probably gets that sort of interaction all the time. But for me, it was a gift from God. It was like God was saying that I wasn’t the only one in the in-between. Even those “who’ve made it” experienced what I was experiencing. I was normal (okay, that’s debatable).

Since then, I’ve followed Brock’s career. He eventually entered the world of MMA and today, he is the UFC heavyweight champion after only a handful of fights. This past year, he was crippled by a serious intestinal disorder and it wasn’t clear he’d fight again. And by some accounts, it wasn’t clear how long he would live. But now, he’s alive and well and he did fight again. This past weekend, as I watched his dramatic victory against Shane Carwin at UFC 116, it was goosebumps city. There was the guy who wasn’t sure what to do next with his life now doing something remarkable with it.

Donald Miller says, “A story involves a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it.” That’s certainly true of Brock Lesnar and it’s also true of you and I.

Perhaps you’re smack dab in the middle of the in-between. You’re frustrated. You feel like life is passing you by. You sense you’re meant for more.

If that’s you, you’re in good company, my friend. Anyone who’s ever done anything worthwhile has been where you are right now. Even Jesus had his wilderness experience, his in-between time, before he changed the story of everything.

My advice is to pray, go the direction that’s most loving, utilize your God-given talents, and look for opportunities along the way. And if you don’t see any, create them.

Don’t just see your life as it is, get a vision for what it could be, and go for it!

The world needs you – to do – what only you can do.

This happens when you – become the you – God created you to be.

Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Discovering your calling, that thing God has put on your heart to do, can seem elusive. But I think it’s closer than you realize. Here are some quick thoughts to help you on your journey to find your place in the Story of God.

The Must: (Do not be conformed to this world)
See the world as it is, and imagine the world as it should be. Take an honest look at the situation in your city or an issue in a faraway place, and get a burden for it.

Answer these questions: What’s wrong with this world? Where is the gospel desperately needed? What fires you up? What must change?

The Who: (Transformed by the renewal of your mind)
Knowing God was paramount to knowing my calling and it’s paramount to knowing yours too. Spend time with God so you can better see things through his eyes. Pray, read scripture, be in community, love God and others in your everyday life, and do your best where God has placed you right now. After all, if you’re faithful in the little things, you will be in greater things (Luke 16:10). When you do these things, you don’t just see what’s wrong with this world, but also what’s going on in your own heart.

Answer these questions: What sins are you tangled up in? What other gods are you bowing down to? What thought patterns need to go? Who do you need to forgive?

The Goods: (Testing & Discerning)
Take an honest assessment of your talents, strengths, and weaknesses—and let other people help you by participating in community and allowing them to share what they see in you.

Answer these questions: What do you enjoy? What are you good at? Do other people agree?

Where “The Must”, “The Who”, & “The Goods” collide, that’s often where your calling is!

GO FOR IT AND BRING OTHERS WITH YOU!

A calling is “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”
- Frederick Buechner

A project I’ve been working on for some time now is the Project Church website. Our previous one was pleasing to the eye, but quite inflexible in function.

There’s something about going through a process like this that helps you clarify what you’re about.

The fresh version of projectchurch.net has been enhanced to include the following:

- Media library (Link)
- A blog
- Simpler navigation
- Clean
- Intentionally image rich
- And a whole lot more information about our church

Some tweaks still need to be made but it’s time to get this baby out of the garage and onto the road.

Let’s play a little game about books.

In the comments section, give your answers to the following:

Outside the Bible….

What is the most influential book you’ve ever read?

What book do you want to read next?

All around us, families are struggling to keep up with the American Dream. Often existing with no sense of purpose other than their own fulfillment resulting in broken hearts, broken homes, broken lives…and that’s just the pastors! It’s no wonder our families, and churches, have been blinded by complacency to the needs of this world.

In fact, one study revealed that the clergy have the second highest divorce rate among all professions. Think about that!  I personally know a number of pastors and church planters who’ve pursued their ministry at the expense of their families.  This is tragic, but there is a better way.

What if families were awakened to join God in his mission in the world? And…
What if we took our families along for the ride and loved them along the way?

How would that impact marriages?
How would that shape children?
How would that heal relationships?
How would that ignite churches?

In 2005, my then eight-year-old son, Reece, said five words that God used to spark a revolution in my soul which eventually compelled our family into the wild adventure of planting a church.

He and I went for a walk at a local park and discussed his desire to be baptized. He loved Jesus and wanted to take his next step in following him. Not being a pastor at the time, I asked him, “Who would you like to baptize you?” Thinking he would name one of the several pastors we knew, he caught me off-guard when he bluntly replied, “But Dad, you’re my pastor.”

I paused for a moment, put my arm around him, and smiled. He was right. Without realizing it, my son had stumbled upon a glorious truth from the scriptures. In 1 Timothy 3, Paul lays down the musts to be a leader in the church. His big qualifier? To lead a church one must lead their family well. As he states in verse five, “If someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” One implication of this is that every family is a congregation and the parents are the pastors.

I don’t know about you, but as a parent, that’s quite the responsibility. Parents have the tremendous opportunity to shape the future. Like churches, families can either be internally-focused, seeking the well-being of themselves, or be externally-focused, seeking the well-being of others.

The question is, in what direction are we leading our families?

If we want to live out God’s eternal purpose for our churches, we must return to his original intention for the family. We must love Jesus and be so compelled and saturated by the gospel we can’t help but be good news to this world.

Unfortunately, the church today has bought into two illusions have thrown our trajectory off-course and blinded us to magnificent joy of joining God in his mission in the world.

Illusion #1 – The “safe for the whole family” approach

When Disney released the motion picture, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” it was heralded by Christians everywhere as being safe for the whole family. Based on the classic book by C.S. Lewis, the film portrays the adventures of four children in the magical kingdom of Narnia. Jesus is represented by the mighty lion, Aslan, and in the story, the children meet Mr and Mrs Beaver who describe the regal lion to them.

“Is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” said Mr Beaver sternly. Certainly not. I tell you he is King of the wood and the son of the great emperor-beyond- the-sea. Don’t you know who is the King of the Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake” said Mrs Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Ironically, if you type the words, “safe for the whole family” into Google, the top results are primarily Christian-related. Talk about misleading marketing! We’re encouraged to protect, shelter, and defend our families against this sin of this world forgetting the sin that resides in our own hearts, homes, and (gasp) churches.  We cover their eyes to messy stories, people, and news forgetting the messy stories, people, and news contained in the holy scriptures.

What’s particularly misguided is the notion that following Jesus is harmless. Nothing could be further from the truth! Loving God and our neighbor as ourselves is daring, messy, and wonderful— all at the same time. The one thing it is not, is safe.

As Dorothy Sayers so eloquently put it, “We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him ‘meek and mild,’ and recommended him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies. To those who knew him, however, he in no way suggests a milk-and-water person; they objected to him as a dangerous firebrand.”

I want my children to know the real Jesus and follow in his footsteps.  Following Jesus often leads us into places that are uncomfortable or even dangerous, but God promises to be with us and see us through.

Illusion #2 – The “focus on your family” mindset

If the church is like family and the family is like a church, then the focus of our families is not to focus on our family. We have a better reason for existing: God and his mission in the world.

What churches are discovering, or better said, rediscovering, is that we grow as we go. The same is true for families.

As a parent, I take seriously Proverbs 22:6 where we’re instructed to “Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.” Together, my wife and I agree that the way we will train our children is to point them to Jesus and his mission in the world.

According to the United Way, families who serve together experience the following benefits:

• Awareness of social issues and a new perspective on the world
• A way to pass on family values to children
• Discovery and development of knowledge, skills, and talents
• Quality time for the family to spend together
• Increase in interpersonal communication and ability to solve problems.
• A habit of service that’s passed on to the next generation

The byproduct of a family on mission is a united family with a sense of purpose. If you feel distant from your spouse, if you want to have a better relationship with your children, be on mission together! A common cause builds a unique bond that can’t be manufactured, only experienced.

I learned this from my parents. They were missional before missional was cool. One tradition they began was to wake up early every Christmas morning to cook and serve breakfast at our local rescue mission. When I had my own family and returned to my hometown, we joined them. Now, when most children wake up on Christmas morning and leap from their beds to open presents, my children think it’s normal to get up really early, sweat it out in a kitchen, and serve others with a cheerful heart before we go home and exchange gifts. I’m thankful for the example my parents gave and it’s being passed on to the next generation.

My family is far from perfect, but we’re learning that our family is more harmonious when we take our focus off of our family and onto something bigger than us—the glory of God and the good of this world. (Here’s a recent example of what this looks like for our family)

In his book, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years“, Donald Miller tells a powerful story titled “How Jason Saved His Family” which illustrates the power of this concept.

Donald meets up with his friend, Jason, who was having major problems with his thirteen-year-old daughter. Pot was discovered hidden in her closet and she was dating a real loser of a guy.

Jason and his wife try grounding her, but things spiral. Donald suggests something that gets Jason’s attention. He tells him that his daughter is living a terrible story. He explains that the elements of a story involve a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. He tells Jason, “She’s just not living a very good story.  She’s caught up in a bad one.”

Months later, Donald runs into Jason and asks about his daughter. “’She’s better,’ he says to me, smiling. And when I ask why, he tells me his family is living a better story.”

After Jason and Donald first talk, Jason goes home and thinks about the story his family is living and the role his daughter is playing in that story. He realizes he hasn’t mapped out a story for his family or provided a better role for his daughter. So his daughter chose her own story. A story of rebellion and independence.

Jason decides to stop yelling at his daughter and create a better story to invite her into. After doing some online research he decides his family is going to focus on orphans. He calls a family meeting and springs on his wife and daughter that their family is going to give the $25,000 to build an orphanage in Mexico. And he tells them that he has already committed to building it.

It didn’t go over so well initially.

They had no money and just took out a second mortgage on their home. That evening, Jason and his wife were lying in bed and he begins to explain the story concept. He talks about how they aren’t taking risks, aren’t helping anybody, and how their daughter is wrapped up in the wrong story. The next day Jason’s wife puts her arms around him and says she is proud of him.

Jason’s daughter was also initially upset, but later decides she wants to go to Mexico to meet the kids. She also breaks up with her loser boyfriend.  She gets wrapped up in a better story.

When Don asked what made the differences, Jason replies, “No girl who plays the role of a hero dates a guy who uses her. She knows who she is. She just forgot for a little while.”

If we’re going to shift from a safe for the whole family mindset to a families on mission movement, we need to invite our families into a better story. As a whole, this generation is more passionate about social injustices than any other in recent history. What a prime opportunity! Let’s follow Jesus, take our children along for the ride, and love them along the way.

Imagine the impact. On marriages, children, churches, cities, and the world.

God is renewing all things, and that includes the family. When the family is renewed, so is the Church. When the Church is renewed, so is the world.

And it all begins at home in your mini-church called family.

Lead well.

Last Wednesday evening, we discovered one of our own from our church had gone missing.  Police were notified, friends were called, prayers were prayed, and concern was setting in.

By Thursday, there was still no sign of her, and a number of us began a search party with a mission to find her.

Immediately, my family and I hopped into our mini-van to search or at the very least, get leads.  We went to known hangouts, but our search turned up empty and left us frustrated. We later discovered there was a shooting in one spot we were at just hours before. Searching for someone who’s missing can lead you into dangerous places.

To top it off, my eight-year-old daughter was heartbroken as she was coming to grips with the reality that someone she cares about was missing. We talked and tried to comfort her, but she struggled to understand.  As a dad, sometimes I wonder if I expose my children to too much. Maybe. There’s much they don’t know about, and I want them to enjoy being kids, but for better or worse, moments like this leave a mark. I just pray that they become powerful learning experiences and not indelible scars.

Later, I partnered with someone else and approached a large group of people which turned out to be a hornets nest. They were a gang and they weren’t too thrilled that we were stepping into their zone.  Threats were made, names were called, but in the middle of it all, a handful of tender-hearted members acknowledged that if someone they loved were missing, they would search relentlessly too.  They took the flyer and said they’d keep an eye out.

We drove around some more and found another crew of teens in a random parking lot. They were mostly a party crowd who hid their drinks when they saw my mini-van approach.  As I stepped out of the van and into their conglomerate, the stench of weed was obvious and the group of thirty kids or so were instantly defensive. I reassured them I was not their to bust them but rather, I needed their help finding a missing girl. A few dudes put their hands in their pocket leading me to believe they were ready to pounce if need be, but others seemed concerned when they recognized our missing girl from the photo.

They asked if I was her dad. I replied, “No. I’m her pastor and friend and just want to return her home safely.”  Bewildered, someone piped up, “A pastor? What kind of church goes out looking for someone who’s missing?”Apparently, the notion of a church stepping into the middle of a mess was unusual.  Perhaps they’re right. They were cordial as we departed, and promised to call if they ran into her throughout the evening. They never did. But I can’t help but wonder if some perceptions were changed in the process.

We stepped into other hairy situations that made me feel uncomfortable yet made me think of Jesus. About how he stepped into a mess to rescue me. About how he is a God who pursues- as evidenced in his incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Jesus said he came “to seek and save that which was lost.”  In Luke 15, we see a God who leaves the found to search for the lost. We see his passion to pursue his people.  This is the beauty of amazing grace.

Late Saturday afternoon, our missing girl was found by the police walking on the side of the road. It turns out she had runaway, but was making her way home.

When we got the news, relief set in, followed by joy.  She was okay.

On Sunday night, my friends threw a BBQ to celebrate her return. They wanted to model God’s grace that’s found in the parable of the Prodigal Son. We’ve always said we wanted to be a church with grace on tap and my friends understood this was a moment to display it.

There’s a long road of healing ahead, but my prayer is that God will use this situation for good.

In fact, he already is.

Gentlemen like John Wooden are rare these days.  As men, I think we’ve lost the art of being gentlemen. Of being courteous, gracious, thoughtful, and romantic.

These love letters from John Wooden not only reveal the love he had for his bride but are an example for us young guns on how to treat our ladies. Enjoy.