Checking in again…

• June
• 18

As usual with my life, hectic doesnt seem to describe what its like most of the time. Days are pretty much a blurr since a much needed vacation to Montello, WI (see pictures at www.millfamily.com/Montello ).

I signed up at what I thought was a volunteer position for my son’s first attempt at teeball. When I showed up for the orientation meeting, I was handed a folder and said here’s your team! So I am coaching the Zion Benton Purple TeeBall team to of course their first ever city championship! It’s been fun so far, but the attention span of a 4-5 year old doesnt last longer than 1-2 innings tops. Most are intrigued by the dirt they get to play in or as was the case Monday, the carnival that was setting up nearby. My dad is helping out which makes it kind of neat having my dad, my son, and me altogether.

Work has been its usual steady hand of chaos and projects, and such. I hired my friend Glenn as an employee to take over day to day work of one of our biggest and oldest customers. My first hire, who did an outstanding job of picking things up after coming in from the retail world, stunned us all here by resigning and telling us she will be heading back to Iowa and nursing school. Bummer. But I am sure Glenn will fit in well here. I know he is a bit overwhelmed at first, but that is common for a small high end tech company that we are.

Well, better get back to it….

God is Green

• May
• 27

A few months back, our house church, The Fringe, went through Rob Bell’s series titled God is Green. Between that and the long desires of my wife, I have found myself turning into the dreaded “recycler”. I guess coming from the far right side of politics, life, church, etc, into a more middle of the road guy, I never gave much attention to recyclers and “granola crunchers” as many of friends from the UP refer to “earth lovers”. However, I must say I find myself more than ever being conscious of the Earth and what God has given us.

While I am by no means there yet, I do see some strides. This past weekend at a Christian Camp, my wife even noted to me isnt weird to throw cans, glass, plastic, etc all into the same garbage can? It was indeed. I definitely will be sending them an email asking if they have any interest in a recycling program.

My wife is also very big on buying Oragnic and all natural products as much as we can. I still struggle mightily with the Organic milk thing the most. $6 a gallon for the most part and my kids go through a gallon every other day, so almost a $4 a gallon more, I just cant seem to justify it yet. But the best advice Rob gave, which I try to give to others is what is your next click or step in any walk of Christianity? You dont have to go from A to Z in a week. Its A to B to C and so on. We went from nothing to now recycling at home, buying some organic things and not using chemicals, etc on our lawns, plants, etc. So it’s a start, and one I think is related to our relationship with God. Its a very interesting series and I would recommend it to anyone willing to listen.

Vacation at last!!!

• May
• 21

I have been pretty much non stop for over 10 monts now with very little true vacation. I took some brief time off while my son was born last July but even then kept on top of things with email, etc. And then throw on top my ever growing pile of stuff to do, and its like I cant ever get away. Web sites, management, work, family, sports, churches to support, etc, etc all on top of many other side projects like 4 days of roofing this past weekend and I am shot. So tomorrow we load up the mini van and head out to Rock River Camp which my good friend Brian Beck now runs out in Polo, IL. We havent taken the kids anywhere this far ever together, its about a 3 hour drive. The best part for me is the fact I will have no cell phone, email, data, etc access and I dont want it.

The world must go on eh? Well my customers, friends, and people I support must I guess because the computer isnt coming with and the cell phone dont work there so YAHOO, I am taking this much needed 5 days and enjoying it!

Emerging Cohort - SeWI

• May
• 7

My friend Glenn has taken the initiative to help start a cohort for the southeastern part of Wisconsin, and far northeast area of Lake County. Check it out today!

www.emergingconversation.com/sewi

Synchroblog - Why I ended up a free charasmatic southern bapti-methodist non denominational Christian sitting in a house church oun Sundays….

• April
• 8

My buddy Glenn started a Synchroblog, and I am just getting the opportunity to post now.

One of my earliest memories I have is walking down a hall in a Southern Baptist church in Waukegan asking the pastor about Jesus. I still have this recollection vividly in my head. I was probably around 2 1/2 years old. I dont remember much else but remember that hallways, his face, and that question vividly for some reason.

Shortly thereafter, our family moved to a new up and coming church on the north end of Waukegan called Wesley. From age 3-28 I spent most of my days being served and serving in this community of church as I knew it. I also feel I spent the better part of my high school and college days trying to explain what exactly a Free Methodist was vs a united or other methodist. I guess to this day I still dont have a clear answer on that one!

Mixed into those 25 years were sprinkles of a southern baptist school, a non denom school that mainly fell in line with the Evangelical Free doctrine, which was about as close to a Free Methodist as you could get. Then high school came and the charasmatic world I never knew of was brought into my life with the assemblies of God.

I think from the early junior high days I often had questions about the Bible, God, relevance of the Old Testament, etc, but most of the time was too scared to ask, or was told dont bother asking because it was wrong to question anything.

From that came several life changing experiences brought on by greed and other self inflicted wounds which then brought me back to being involved in church boards, committees, youth leadership, and a struggle to turn a church stagnant for decades around. As my digust for denominational ties grew year after year, I think I was finally pushed over the edge after visiting Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, and then attending the Emergent Conference in 2003 in Nashville. Everything that stirred in my head was being discussed in great detail at this conference. I had no idea so many others had the same questions and concerns I did.

Now 5 years later it is even more clear the church in general has skewed heavily from the path of Jesus. It’s a tough pill for pastors especially to hear. Even this weekend at the Everything Must Change conference, I heard a pastor stating how hard it was going to be for him to continue messages with what he now was feeling as a complete and utter failure of his leadership and denomination. I know how awful that must feel. 25 years in a church and now to be basically considered an outcast. I may have not been collecting a pay check, but the ties still hurt, as I am sure Glenn can fully attest to.

Now the focus is smaller and more simple to me. Our second attempt at the house church model after the first folded due to a number of reasons including moves by other families and I am more happy now than ever. We have lots of unanswered questions, but as one of our “elders” (inside joke) noted this past weekend it has been TRULY astonishing what God has done in a small group of committed followers. And it also is not to say look at us, its definitely more look at what God has done in spite of us and our faults.

Now raising three young children I am often asked what about them, how do you teach them? Dont you wish they were in a more structured Sunday School class as I was growing up? No honestly I dont. And it puts all the more pressure on us as parents to live out a life pleasing to Jesus each and every day, teaching them daily, not once a week on Sunday mornings. My son attends a local “Christian” day care, and while I do believe they are doing an above average job of teaching basic things and are loving people, I do struggle with the little things I may not want him to necessarily learn. Take the story of David. It glorifies him killing to achieve peace. And we wonder why so many in the church condone war and death when it has to do with “honor of our country”. I often think about shortly after Sept 11th when Rob Bell noted at what point do we put the Flag above the Cross? I think instilling those morals in our kids is just as important. I dont know where the future lies. I honestly hope the number of house churches and small church plants continues is massive upwards motion and standard church as we know it dissolves. I know thats a real scary situation for all those in seminary and those basing their lives off of tithing income, but I think its a direction I would love to see continue…..

Deep Shift - McLaren Pt4 - Living The Dream, A Revolution of Hope

• April
• 5

• Dr King didn’t say I have a complaint, an analysis, a critique, a program!
• Awakening the Dream
o Suicidal system in part 1
o Which Jesus
o Local input
? Each time we make progress, we awaken again to the next new possibility. We keep stepping up. Slavery, women’s right, charity, politics, compassion, one campaign, etc….KEEP MOVING FORWARD
• Deepening the dream in our hearts and minds
o Through prayer, meditation, song, art, and conversation
• Embodying the dream in a step by step way
o Beware of quick fixes
o Sustained person, community, public, and global actions
o No to do lists, but options, ideas, possibilities.
o Planet, poverty, peace and purpose
? Planet – everyone should start with environment. Step by step, one thing at a time. What is your next step? Recycle, garden, light bulbs, energy efficient products, green candidates, streams, rivers, etc. Don’t just bring complaints; bring solutions, even in small steps.
? Poverty – Rearrange your life to have at least one friend who is poor. Practice fair trade and ethical buying of products. Join a group that advocates for the poor. Visit a place of extreme poverty as a learner.
? Peace – Move toward “the other.” Participate in multi-faith dialogue. Learn about global conflicts; both sides. Join peacemaking groups and/or participate in peacemaking activities.
? Purpose/Spirituality – Create conversation groups, blogs, networks, cohorts. Enrich liturgy and preaching with the gospel of Jesus.
• Inviting others in mass collaborations (movements)
o Get involved, get others to discuss and join the talk, conversations, etc.
o www.everythingmustchange.org

Deep Shift - McLaren Pt3 - Panel Discussion

• April
• 5

How are these issues playing out in your local community/congregation?
• Panel includes a Unitarian Universalist, Roman Catholic, Artist from Wicker Park Grace Church, Lynn Hybels from Willow, Bob from First United Church of Oak Park
• How do you make this revolution of hope happen?
o Through the revolution of the church
? Church work: What’s done to the keep the church thriving as a community – from donuts to mission trips
? The work of the church: What’s done by disciples in their daily lives.
? Churches must launch a revolution in discipleship.
? We need renewal and revolution on all levels
• Theological
• Liturgical
• Missiological
• Formational
• Evangelistic
? We should start hearing “If that’s what it means to be Christian, I can do that”
o Through a revolution in business
? Economic Sustainability
? Social Sustainability
? Ecological Sustainability
o Through government and politics
? Voting, activism, protests, debates
? FDR memorial “I have seen war…..I hate war” compared to the WW2 memorial which quotes Gen Marshall as stating the world will see our flag as freedom in one hand and force in the other.

Deep Shift - McLaren Pt2 - Which Jesus?

• April
• 5

McLaren – Which Jesus?
• Driscoll (a known critic of emergent, McLaren, Bell, Pagitt, etc) - http://reformedreader.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/driscoll-on-the-emergent-jesus/ also look at http://www.nateberends.com/blog/archives/168
• Left Behind Jesus – regarding a Jesus who destroys the “wicked”
• Baby Jesus – Talladega Nights
• The Jesus that only came to save you from hell

• Matthew 16:13 – “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi; he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
o Caesarea Philippi – 150 miles North of Jerusalem, 30+ miles from Galilee – Like Jesus doing ministry in a very upscale middle class area
o Only (2) times did Jesus go this far North
o “Son of Man” – comes from Daniel, who will lead us up against the ‘beast’ of the empire. (Philippi was in recognition of the Roman empire at the time)
o Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”
o Jesus replied, “Blessed are you…”
o Christ was known to people at the time as Son of God. At the time Romans thought at the time Caesar Augustus was the son of Apollo. Why was what Peter said about “living God” so important to the place they were at in Philippi?
o One of the most misunderstood passages – Revelation 19 – Jesus’ first coming is meek and mild, then he comes back with a vengeance??? Phrase “out of his mouth comes a sharp sword” need to think about that passage. Does God really want to win through violence? If so was Jesus’ first coming a fraud then? What about the whole Love = Jesus? What about the Forgiving Jesus? – The blood on His robe in ch 19 is His own, not others. Look earlier in Ch 4 about Jesus being the sacrificial lamb with his blood given for all. Others seem to forget the idea that who Jesus was by their misunderstanding these passages.
o Colossians 1:15-20 – Some scholars think this was a hymn of the early church
? 20b – “He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
o Caesar instituted the cross to show force; Jesus’ cross was to show forgiveness and peace.
o This is how you achieve peace via Caesar. But how does Jesus achieve peace? This is how we have to look on peace, not by force as so many in the church today want us to believe. See Left Behind, the hell Jesus, etc.
• Which Jesus? The one who healed the sick, released people from jail, brought peace and love, not fear and destruction. The living God is Jesus in flesh, that if we see this Jesus we have seen the true character of God.

Deep Shift Conference - McLaren Pt. 1

• April
• 4

McLaren – Waking up from a really bad dream
• Our hope for the weekend is to wake up to a better dream
o Deepening the dream in our hearts
o Embodying our dreams
o Inviting and working with others in collaboration
• A story about a youth group and a flip chart (McLaren years ago)
o What were biggest issues with your church? – Brian would write on a flip chart
? Jeans, Speaking in Tongues, Women be leaders? Guitars in worship, etc, etc
o What are the issues that really are important to you?
? Overpopulation, Nuclear War, Famine, Racism, etc
o 1st realization no overlap, no gauge of how much more important the second was
o Do this today and which side do you stand on?
o 2 questions – What goes on that list? What do Christians do about this list?
? Much of the same list Brian noted at the talk at Dominica University
? Various lists from UN, Organizations, Economists, Rick Warren, etc

• Four Global Crisis’
o The Ecosystem - Societal Machine – Prosperity, Equity, Security (see picture)
? Crisis 1 – A prosperity system that can’t stop growing beyond the environmental limits, resulting in multi-faceted environmental crises. (The crises of the planet)
? Crisis 2 – An equity system that can’t keep pace with the growing gap between the rich minority and the poor majority (The crisis of poverty)
? Crisis 3 – The security system that arms the rich and poor with more and more catastrophic weapons, resulting in vicious cycles of crime, mass migration, terrorism, and anti-terrorism. (The crisis of peace)
• How are you involved with each of the crisis as part of the problem?
• Do you want to get involved at solving them? Are you already?
• What drives the machine towards suicide rather than success?
? Crisis 4 - The failure of the world’s religions to provide a framing story capable of healing the societal machine. (The crisis of purpose, spirituality)
? We are heading towards domination, revenge, scapegoats, isolation
• Don’t dominate – serve
• Don’t revenge – forgive
• Don’t scapegoat – become a problem solver
• Don’t isolate – welcome community
? What is your framing story? – The parable of the boat, we are all in it together!
• Mark 1:15 (TNIV) “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Deep Shift Conference - Intro

• April
• 4

My wife and I were able to join a group from Potters Wheel in Janesville, WI and converge upon Oak Park, IL this weekend to a conference called Deep Shift - Everything Must Change. The first person I saw as we walked in the door was a lady I have had a
chance to talk with several times now at these conferences, Helen Mildenhal. Her web site http://conversationattheedge.com/ talks about her journey as almost atheist. The last time I saw McLaren in person, my friends Aaron & Glen were with in this same town with a talk at Dominca University.

As the night as started they are trying to get groups to talk and communicate with lots of breaks after each point to discuss. My wife and I were able to connect with a lady in a similar situation we find ourselves in. A small house church and lots of questions and lots of desire to keep asking and digging further.

We have just watched a video by the Sierra Club regarding coal energy and this new practice called Mountain Top Removal. Check more out here: http://www.sierraclub.org/mtr/

McLaren is talking now, and its much of what we heard back in the fall at Dominca, great refresher though.