Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category
Posted on September 3, 2010 - by Larry - 0 Comments
City Church
Last week I had the chance to sit down with Jason Dukes in Birmingham, Alabama. Jason lives in Florida but came there to this gathering. We were part
of a mission conversation with a group of church planters from Birmingham. I always enjoy time with Jason. I have enjoyed getting to know him over the last year and finding ways that The Upstream Collective and ReproducingChurches.com can work together.
I had a couple of good “take-aways” from our time together. As you know I see more and more the need for Christ followers to live and work in cross cultural situations with normal jobs. We are seeing this happen in quite a few cities in Europe with the Skybridge Community. I liked the term that he used: “missionally employed”.
The other thing that I observed in this meeting of planters is a model if you will of how a group of churches can come together with each others best interest in mind. The formula is quite simple: They pray together, encourage one another and find ways to give themselves away. Imagine a group of churches in a city that relate to each other in that way. Very cool stuff. Check out their city groups on their site.
If you can you should try to go to the conversation that they are putting on later this month. You can find more information about Reproducing Churches.com here.
Posted on August 31, 2010 - by Larry - 1 Comment
Traffic
I am almost scared to look at how many miles I have driven over the last few weeks. I have had a lot of time in the car. Been able to see a lot of people in many different cities. As I was driving up to Michigan the other day I began to think about driving safety. Someone told me once that Sweden has a goal of having “zero” traffic fatalities each year. You can tell by their cars that they value safety.
I am sure our counties and states have a similar goal. They have a tremendous job promoting and implementing safety precautions. I decided I would just list out some things that to me seem important.
I think my top three are “no-brainers” and should continue to be an emphasis.
1. I noticed in GA in the county above Atlanta that they DOT has posted the percentage of people who were wearing their seat belts the month before. The sign said 95%. I thought they were just bragging until I drove in South GA and I saw a similar sign but different county. Their score was 65%. I guess they have to post their scores. I checked to make sure my seat belt was on to help them out a bit.
2. Keep up the emphasis on banning driving under the influence
3. Speed.
My other ones may not be so popular but here they go.
4. May want to consider taking away our phones while we drive though I like being able to work and drive at the same time. We get tickets in Europe for driving while talking on our phones.
5. Trucks, what if you decided to take the weekends off? It would sure lighten weekend traffic
6. What if we only passed in the left lane not drove the speed limit or less in the left lane. After all it is a passing lane. (BTW, I live in Germany. If you drive in the left lane you need to be purposeful)
7. While on the subject of lanes, the right lane is not a passing lane. Just sayin.
8. The difficulty of getting a license. I am still bitter for failing my test so many times in Spain to get my license (smile) but my point is that the tests should be something that you cannot stand in line for 30 minutes and then take the test and pass it. Maybe it is different these days here in the states but back in the day it was very easy getting your license.
I am sure there are more. Feel free to add yours.
Posted on August 10, 2010 - by Larry - 1 Comment
Destinations
I spend quite a bit of time talking with people overseas who are looking for some unique partnerships. Here is a sample list. It is by no means complete. I am sure I am leaving off some key requests from friends so I want to say I am sorry in advance. If you have interest in any of these please send me an email at larry@theupstreamcollective.org. Would love to help if I can.
1. Playing American Football in Portugal
2. A church adopting a neighborhood in Amsterdam
3. A church adopting a burrough in London
4. A business internship in Paris
5. Serving in Montreal
6. A church adopting a city in Spain
7. Partnering with work in Tula, Russia
8. Partnering with work for Russian speakers of Latvia and Estonia
9. An internship with a ministry in Madrid
10. Adopting a Skybridge worker in Western Europe
Posted on July 31, 2010 - by Larry - 1 Comment
Intrigued
This weekend I have been in Norfolk, Virginia. I had some great conversations with three pastors in this city. I am very much a novice at what I am about to write but want to learn more about this subject. I am intrigued.
This area is sometimes called Hampton Roads and then at other times it is known by the distinct cities it represents. The area is highly affected by the amount of people in the military that live here. I am intrigued about what ministry looks like in these type of places. I greatly respect these men who are leading their churches to minister to here. Thanks for spending time with me.
My observation:
What a challenge to pastor in an area like this!
What an opportunity to pastor in an area like this!
Potential Challenges -
The transitional nature of the community and how that affects the church.
Building continuity amidst transition.
Caring for families as they are separated due to deployment.
Potential opportunities -
Your church members move all over the world.
Empowering your members to live missionally wherever they are sent.
Being able to minister to the families in the community during times of transition and tragedy.
Posted on July 23, 2010 - by Larry - 2 Comments
In God we trust ?
I have read over the years a lot about trust in regards to leadership.
The importance of trust on teams.
The importance of trust amongst the people we work with.
I like the book from Steven Covey called: The Speed of Trust.
Almost M talks about trust in this blog post.
Trust is important. I think we would all agree.
However, I must admit that there is another part of trust that I often mess up. It is my trust in the Lord. This week as I was reading some verses in the Old Testament I came across one I have read a lot:
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7 (ESV)
And then one I have not read as much:
1 “What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”
says the Lord.
“You make plans that are contrary to mine.
You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,
thus piling up your sins.
2 For without consulting me,
you have gone down to Egypt for help.
You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.
You have tried to hide in his shade.
3 But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,
and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.
Isaiah 30: 1 – 3 (NLT)
Too often I put my trust in the wrong things in order to see my goals fulfilled. I sell out. I put my trust in “Pharaoh” for provision for myself or our ministry instead of God’s provision.
Posted on July 10, 2010 - by Larry - 0 Comments
Staying!
Several years ago I was talking with a couple who had been on the mission field for over 30 years. I asked the couple about what was the one thing that kept them on the field over the years.
Her answer was quite profound- She looked at her husband and said “we have never both wanted to leave on the same day”. I was probably a couple of years into our time on the field. I did not quite understand her response then. I do now!
Why do missionaries leave the field?
I have asked myself this very question recently. Our family has been overseas for almost nine years now. Last week I was reading in the Evangelical Mission Quarterly a very good article on this topic. It was an executive summary about The Engage! by James Nelson.
The Engage! is a study comprised of surveys of on the field missionaries and interviews with former field workers. It is across 18 different sending agencies. This blog post does not give the results of the survey. I recommend picking up a copy online or hard copy of the journal. They consistently produce good stuff!
What really grabbed by attention were the questions that field workers need answered in their lives. These are in no particular order. As I read them I recognized some would be more important to me than others but I saw how all of them can be relevant to longevity on the field.
Is my family provided for?
Do I have real friends?
Does my agency listen and speak to me respectfully?
Do I have the support of those at home? (I am in the middle of a series on www.theupstreamcollective.org regarding the Sending Church which is an important key for on the field workers.
Does someone know and care about what I do?
Do we (colleagues and partners) live and work well in community?
Is the work progressing with purpose?
Does integrity flow from the top of my agency?
Am I free to do what needs to be done?
Does my agency prepare people to be effective?
I think most of us would agree that our calling is paramount in the missionary experience. However, the truth is that our circumstances quite often affects our calling.
What questions on this list are important to you? How would you answer these questions in your private journal?
What would you add?
more soon,
Larry
Posted on July 7, 2010 - by Larry - 0 Comments
Your FOCUS on the World
One thing I like to do on my blog from time to time is to introduce people or networks that I like to work or whom I think have good mission resources.
Recently I have been reading some materials from www.CatalystServices.org. They have very practical posts regarding partnerships.
If you get a chance you should check out Your FOCUS on the World. It may be the right resource for your church.
Your FOCUS on the World is a step-by-step manual that will guide your church to DISCOVER your global potential, SELECT and build relationships with the right partners, and then IMPLEMENT a high-impact, cross-cultural initiative involving the entire congregation. For those already engaged in a global partnership, the book will help you build leaders, avoid costly mistakes, and expand networks.
An intensely practical resource, Your FOCUS on the World highlights the real-life stories of congregations which are engaged in successful global initiatives and shares their best-practice suggestions. The manual and extensive online resources provide samples and worksheets you can customize to fit your needs.
Posted on June 30, 2010 - by Larry - 1 Comment
Home and Abroad
I had the bright idea this month to take a 5 week intensive German class in a nearby city. Each day I go to class. It is a class that meets from 1 – 5 pm each afternoon. The class is interesting in that there are 12 people or so in the class from 9 different countries: Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, USA, Turkey, Bosnia, Kenya, Serbia and 10 if counting Tennessee (that would be me).
For me it really puts in perspective the Great Commission and in particular the part about Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. I personally do not feel this is an either / or Commission but rather a “both/and”.
No matter where you live there will likely be people from the uttermost parts of the earth living in your city. How does your strategy include this? If you are willing to take a trip around the world to an unreached people group then I believe you should be willing to do the same at home.
Missions is now Home and Abroad at the same time.
Together.
Compartmentalization should be over. We need to have strategies in our churches and in our mission networks/ organizations that have a global vision. Take a quick look at this video.
Jet Set Paris // Daniel from The Upstream Collective on Vimeo.
Posted on June 25, 2010 - by Larry - 1 Comment
The Temple
Been reading through the book “A Godward Life” by John Piper as part of my devotion in the mornings. I use it as a supplement to my bible reading. I like to read the Bible through each year though I must admit I do not always make it. There are portions that seem to be harder to get through but that is just being honest and probably another post. I have found daily bible reading plans helpful. Here is one from the Journey Church in St. Louis called Engage Scripture.
Recently I read:
19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
My mind instantly rewound to when I was in college and made some steps in the right direction regarding my spiritual life. I was not always making the right choices in many areas of my life. One of the men who was discipling me at this time really challenged me with this verse. It meant a lot to me then and it means a lot to me now.
As a follower of Christ the Holy Spirit resides in me. My body is a temple. It is not only what I do but also what I think and say that needs to be considered. All of these activities should be honoring to God not appalling.
I talk a lot about how the Holy Spirit guides us in mission (Acts 1:8). But, I need to also remember that the Holy Spirit is involved in all areas of my life.
A couple of questions to consider:
What verses do you keep going back to?
and why are they important to you?
Posted on June 22, 2010 - by Larry - 3 Comments
The Bench
Normally I use park benches to stop and tie my shoes while on a run or something.
This morning I realized that you can actually stop and sit down on them. What a novel idea for someone to put a park bench in a strategic place. I love living here in Germany. We have a lot of benches where I live. Often they are on top of a hill so after you climb you can sit and rest or I guess enjoy the view.
I realized this morning that I do not stop and enjoy the view enough. As I was walking hurriedly through our town going from one place to the next I noticed a park bench. I decided not to stop though but thought that could be nice sometime.
Then I just a couple of turns later as I was going into another building I noticed another bench. I was beginning to get the hint but I resisted the temptation. All of sudden I started seeing benches everywhere. Maybe we just have more park benches per capita or even more benches than people in our village. I don’t know. I need to research that.
I finally got the hint and just sat down for a bit. It was hard to do. It felt weird. I almost felt lazy.
I did not even tie my shoe. I got out my journal and wrote a few notes but mostly just sat and took a break. It dawned on me that I need to do this more often. I do not have enough “margin” in my life. Margin is unplanned space on my calendar. My life is often too crowded to with stuff going on that I think is important. The thought I had this morning was this.
Without margin I think it is hard for me to live missionally. Without margin it is impossible to find the time to simply “be” and not always “be doing something”. If this is the case then I do not have time for those really cool conversations with my Father and with others around me about Him. I do not have time to just be still and know. I do not have time to enjoy what our Father has created.
