What the Bleep Do We Know?

I want to see this independent film. I want to listen to where their hearts are, as opposed to immediately beginning to defend my faith.

Lately when I've talked to people "on the journey," as they explore their faith and even the path that they have walked with me, one guy in particular has questioned some of my firm ground. I think sincerely he has been talking about his own journey, which often should probably lead to their own path and their own journey (not away from Christ, don't get me wrong, just a different path, life, location, calling, ...) Anyway, I have had to take care to not be offended that he might be insinuating that my path is not THE path.

Understanding the Neighbor Next Door

Lance and I are going to teach a breakout session at our regional denom conference meeting in June titled something like "Understanding the Neighbor Next Door." Here are some notes:

Start with why? John 1:14 -- The word became flesh and dwelled among us. Matthew 25 -- Go and make disciples of all nations. Paul -- I became all things to all people.

Understand your local culture by listening to people. Here are some ideas of what to look for.

1. Don't assume you know how they think or feel. Don't assume they feel empty. Don't assume they feel guilty. Don't assume they aren't interested in God. Don't assume that they are less moral than you. You have to know them to know them.

2. If they swear around you that might be a sign they trust you.

3. Find out what they watch on TV. You don't have to ask. It always comes up. They won't be watching what you watch. I was with a group the other night and everyone but us had been rivoted to Revelations.

4. Don't come in with an agenda. If anything, simply introduce them to Jesus Christ the Person, not Jesus the idea, or Jesus the belief.

5. People will test you. My neighbor had a habit of throwing out questions which he knew the answer to, just to see if I thought he was dumb. I didn't bite, but it is easy to want to answer stuff.

What else? Comments?

Glocalnet Conference

Just returned from the Glocalnet conference at Northwoods Church in Keller, TX. Once again, I was blown away. Their approach is simple but powerful. They have three focuses.

1. Nation building -- Pick a hard place in the world and work there -- They say over and over if you aren't working globally, you won't be successful locally. For me, going global would free up some of the fears I have locally. I'm assuming that when faced with global issues, local issues won't seem as challenging to change. Attitudes about resources will be change.

2. Community Development -- Partner with your community to meeting real and serious needs.

3. Church Multiplication -- daughter churches.

Their internal focus remains firmly on Jesus and the imminent need for a relationship with Him. I always come away from this conference brimming with desire to go and change the world.

Sweet List of Summer Conferences

We are going to the first one on the list.

Five Myths About Changing Behavior

From May 2005 Fastcompany magazine, page 55

1. Myth - Crisis is a powerful impetus for change
Reality - 90% of patients who've had coronary bypasses don't sustain changes in the unhealthy lifestyles that worsen their severe heart disease and greatly threaten their lives.

2. Myth - Change is motivated by fear
Reality - It's too easy for people to go into denial of the bad things that might happen to them. Compelling, positive visions of the future are a much stronger inspiration for change.

3. Myth - The Facts Will Set Us Free
Reality - Our thinking is guided by narratives, not facts. When a fact doesn't fit our conceptual "frames" -- the metaphor we use to make sense of the world -- we reject it. Also, change is inspired best by emotional appeals rather than factual statements.

4. Myth -- Small gradual changes are always easier to make and sustain
Reality - Radical, sweeping changes are often easier because they quickly yield benefits

5. Myth -- We can't change because our brains become hardwired early in life
Reality - Our brains have extraordinary "plasticity," meaning that we can continue learning complex new things throughout our lives -- assuming we remain truly active and engaged.

Here is the online article. Comments?