The Dayspring Project

Boyce on Missionary Theological Education

2008-08-18T12:45:00.004-05:00

From his inaugural at Furman University, 31 July 1856:

"The results of past missionary efforts, appear to indicate that we, like the apostles, must adopt the system of home laborers, if we would evangelize the world. We must get natives to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. The men whom we send forth to missionary stations must then be qualified to instruct the native preachers in all the elements of theological education. They will not only have to put the Bible into their hands as a textbook, but they will have to prepare, in the native language, or translate into it such books of theology, as shall give them adequate instruction."

-- James Petigru Boyce, first President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Crossover Louisville 2009

2008-08-15T15:01:00.005-05:00

I just heard my first news about Crossover Louisville 2009. Check out crossoverlouisville.com for more information on an opportunity to touch our city.

The Changing Face of the City

2008-08-13T20:36:00.007-05:00

In North America, when you talk about "urban ministry," everyone often thinks of work among the homeless, the urban poor, or in justice ministries. All it takes is one look at our bibliography here at the Center for Urban Ministry Training to see the weight given those ministries. Just this week, however, numerous articles and blog posts have come across my desk(top) describing a significant trend in urban demographics. In July, The Wall Street Journal published a story detailing the end of "white flight" from cities and the growing conflict between urban minority populations and returning whites. This week, Andy Crouch pointed blog readers to a New Republic story titled, "Trading Places." Alan Ehrenhalt describes a "demographic inversion" taking place where immigrants and minorites are moving to the suburbs while affluent suburbanites move to the inner city. Finally, an insert in the Louisville Courier-Journal recently declared that demographic shifts and growing diversity in the suburbs requires "new thinking" on the part of city leadership and citizens.

There is not doubt that the face of the city is changing. Downtown renewal, high gas prices, and a growing fascination with city life is drawing people back to urban centers. So, what does this mean for ministry? Will suburban church planting twenty years from now look like inner-city ministry today? How does the move toward "vertical" living in the rapidly sprouting high rise condos of mid-size cities affect our methods of church planting and evangelism?

That's the direction this blog is beginning to take. My own school is asking those questions as are many others. A presentation at the recent gathering of the National Association of Multi-Housing Ministries and Congregations included a session on affluent condominium dwellers. An initiative in Atlanta is seeking partners and trying to answer the questions raised by this demographic shift -- a shift that is small now but could grow rapidly.

Stay tuned...

Speaking of connecting...

2008-08-05T07:43:00.003-05:00

Speaking of making connections, Joe Thorn has a great post on "bridging." One of the big questions for those of us who work and live in cultures where evangelism requires relationship is how to turn a conversation to the gospel. Too often, we build the trust of a relationship but never really share why we are who we are.

Thorn's post begins to answer that question.

Searching for a village

2008-08-05T07:35:00.003-05:00

On the way to work this morning, I heard an NPR interview with Dick Meyer about his new book, Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millenium. I'm not sure what the entire book is about, but the interview focused on the American loss of community and relationships. While not necessarily longing for "the good ole days," Meyer recalls that before the social revolution of the 1960s and the technological revolution that followed, Americans tended to stay in one place and know people. That is no longer the case -- my own life is evidence. Meyer mourns the loss of relationships, of accountability, of community.

Give the interview a listen. I don't know what his answers are, but the only answer I know of to the problem of a loss of rootedness, family, and connection is a church that is the church.

Wow

2008-06-24T06:23:00.003-05:00

That's all I can say about this most recent commentary from Dr. Russell Moore. Read the whole thing. Twice.

If you don't want to read the whole thing, read these two passages. Then, you'll want to read the whole thing.

If Southern Baptists were to embrace the supernatural perspective we say we believe, however, we would have much more to say. We would seem much less sophisticated, much more backward, much less at home in modern America. It is far easier, and yet far more costly, to keep our talk of demons and spiritual warfare locked away in our closed but inerrant Bibles, lest anyone should mistake us for Pentecostals.

We have become the people that Jesus warned us about. Southern Baptists more and more want to distance ourselves from our blue-collar, economically impoverished roots, and more and more wish to be seen as affluent, suburban, and politically influential. But this comes with a cost.

Young Leaders in the SBC

2008-06-18T21:40:00.003-05:00

In his post today at Biblical Church Growth, Dr. Chuck Lawless wrote an "open letter" to young Southern Baptists. Although I am leaving that category more rapidly than I care to admit, I have sympathized with the cry for more openness among the leadership of the SBC and state conventions toward young pastors, ministers, and laypeople. It does seem that certain groups have dominated boards and committees. I, too, have noticed that young leaders who are appointed to these boards often have close ties to what some would call the "power structures."

But Lawless issues a clear call that we should consider. He wisely suggests that we should consider our history and show some respect to those who have paved the way. He went to his first convention meeting in 1985 (I was a brand new believer and still in high school). Back then, people weren't arguing about regenerate church membership or Calvinism. Men like Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, and Jimmy Draper, all of whom would readily admit their flaws and failures, were fighting to return to the authority of the Scripture in our denomination.

Even more importantly, Lawless touches on what I believe to be one of the greatest issues for young Southern Baptist leaders today: humility. In the last paragraph of his post, he encourages us to "be both patient and persistent with us, modeling humility for us in all that you do." I am reminded of Paul's admonition to Timothy to "set the example" in spite of his youth (1 Timothy 4:12).

I am also reminded of Romans 12, when Paul reminds his reader "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (v 3) and to "outdo one another in showing honor" (v 10). Peter says it even more clearly. Yes, he commands elders not to "domineer" over those in their charge, but also writes "you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves in humility toward one another" (1 Peter 5:3, 5).

I am afraid that we as younger leaders have not shown much humility. We have not done as Lawless now encourages us to do. I know we do not often feel that our voices are heard. Let's earn a voice. If the elders won't listen, that's their issue to deal with God about. I know that we do not feel that we have a place at the table. I'm thinking Jesus modeled that a place at the table is not often what we should be striving for.

City fishing

2008-06-18T08:37:00.002-05:00

Check out this news article from Toronto. In the city, we often mourned that our children didn't experience some of the "country" things we enjoyed as children. They've figured out at least one way to deal with that...

"The Voice"

2008-06-17T19:54:00.003-05:00

A post on Emergent Village's blog this evening announces the publication of a new Bible translation: the Voice. Here's what Thomas Nelson says about it:

The Voice represents a collaboration of historians, poets, storytellers and songwriters which provides a true interpretation of the traditional Bible text while including historical and cultural expansions of the story. With additional background on setting and characters, the project’s screenplay-like format is ideal for group studies and dramatizations, and the inserted devotional commentary will further help readers understand the context of the biblical story.

About 40 different authors are believed to have been inspired by God to write the Scriptures. The Voice retains the perspective of the human writers. Most English translations attempt to even out the styles of the different authors in sentence structure and vocabulary. Instead, The Voice distinguishes the uniqueness of each author. The heart of the project is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works while remaining true to the original manuscripts.

What's especially interesting is the group of authors chosen to "write" the books. Brian McClaren, Chris Seay, and Donald Miller, all of whom have publicly questioned the truth and authority of the Scriptures are involved.

How does that work?

Evangelism & Goal-setting

2008-06-16T20:09:00.003-05:00

If you voted for the resolution on regenerate church membership, if you have lamented the decline in baptisms in the SBC, or if you simply long to live a Great Commission life, you should read Dr. Chuck Lawless' article today on Baptist Press:

"Evangelism & Goal Setting"

One last thought on the SBC

2008-06-14T08:50:00.003-05:00

An observation or a prayer?

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
--Psalm 133:1-2(ESV)

EURO 2008

2008-06-14T08:42:00.002-05:00

Check out my new "widget" at right! Jeffrey, Daniel, and I are loving having cable in our temporary home. Why? Because they have ESPN2 and coverage of the European football championship. My France team stunk it up against favorites The Netherlands (1-4!!!), but I know they'll come back...

Next match: 17 June against the hated Italians.

You can get the widget here.

One more thing...

2008-06-13T07:51:00.002-05:00

Oh, and one more thing. I'm not always a big southern gospel fan, and I probably would have preferred to be worshiping with my daughter at the Centrifuge camp, but Charles Billingsley's "Midnight Cry" gave me chills...

My own SBC wrapup

2008-06-12T20:44:00.004-05:00

I've surveyed many of the posts about this week's meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis. This one was unusual for me for several reasons. First, it was my first after five years overseas where the only word we had about the SBC was through bloggers and Baptist Press. Second, it was my first where I did not serve as a messenger but rather as an agency employee. I should also add a disclaimer: I only attended the NAMB report and the session containing the IMB report. The rest of the time, I was working the Southern Seminary booth or hanging out with the prettiest woman I know.

Here are a few of my observations, none of which deal much with denominational politics (I do tend to be interested in those), regenerate church membership (I do believe in it), or Ed Stetzer's twittering:

1. Indianapolis was a great place for the convention. I must admit that I was a little surprised. Most of the downtown hotels are connected to the convention center, the area is open and welcoming with lots to do when not amending resolutions or gathering pens and toothbrushes, and there are over a hundred restaurants. We ate at Hard Rock the first night (great brisket sandwich). Tuesday, Melanie and I snuck over to the Weber Grill restaurant. Every time we went in or out of our hotel, we could smell this place. I had a 24 ounce (yes, twenty-four) pork chop that was out of this world good. Didn't get the Guidestone cholesterol check after that one.

2. I really enjoyed being in the exhibit area, seeing old friends, and meeting some new ones. I love telling ministers about what's going on at Southern Seminary, especially in the D.Min program and the brand new Center for Urban Ministry Training. I saw some guys from my doctoral classes, a middle school friend whom I haven't seen in 25 years, and Tim Spencer, who led me to Christ in 1985.

And, yes, I did see Jerry Rankin Tuesday night and told him thanks for his leadership of the organization that allowed me to share Christ in Paris. He hugged Melanie's neck and told us that we would always be a part of the IMB family. Possibly the highlight of the week (beating even the pork chop).

3. Did anyone else notice that Ed Stetzer and Richard Land had the exact same hair? If I can find a picture of their moment together at the ERLC booth, I'll put it up.

4. The only business session I attended was the last (just before the IMB report). Someone tried to amend a resolution on the California supreme court decision on homosexual marriage to make it another "let's pull our kids out of the public school" resolution. Debate ended with a veteran school teacher standing at the microphone saying something like, "don't underestimate our Christian students." I don't know who she was, but that was good stuff.

5. I was asked at one point who Southern Seminary supported for SBC president. I responded that Southern Seminary does not send messengers and that there were six good candidates for president. I believe that, and am thankful for those men, each of whom had the future of the SBC at heart. My only other glory moment was when Wiley Drake interviewed me for his radio show. He asked, "how can someone get more information about Southern Seminary?" I answered, "www.sbts.edu." End of interview.

6. As usual, I was moved by the NAMB and IMB reports. In spite of the IMB choice of colors (green on everything), the "go and tell the story of Jesus" theme will stay with me. And I like the fact that the new NAMB intitiative doesn't have goals or numbers, rather the simple and biblical vision that everyone share so that everyone hears.

7. I'd be curious to know how many mints, pens, highlighters, toothbrushes, buttons, stickers, and bags were given away this week. Not to mention pennants, hats, books, and nifty little things from the Executive Committee that hold your tie in place. I'm thinking my favorite was the South American nativity from the IMB.

8. Speaking of the IMB, it was good to see the emphasis on South America. Jerry Rankin asked the key question Wednesday night: "isn't South America reached?" And the clear answer was that there is much to do all over the world. "Go and Tell" means go everywhere.

9. My kids had a ball. Rachel went to an abbreviated Centrifuge camp, and the boys went to children's programs. Both boys came having memorized Hebrews 4:12, complete with a very animated demonstration of piercing and bones and marrow. Kudos to the kids programs.

10. Now, it's over. Let's go and tell.

In Indy

2008-06-08T16:25:00.004-05:00

Well, my friend Terry gave me a hard time in the comments to my last post about liking cicadas more than the SBC annual meeting. Let's must pray that four days from now I won't be calling this meeting "bumbly" or "cacophonous..."

My family and I just arrived in Indianapolis. Our youngest, Daniel, was worried about what he called "the great flood." No problems on our trip, though.

This will be my first time to the SBC that I'm not a messenger. Because of our move, we're not hooked up with a church yet. I'll be working the SBTS booth and trying to spread the word about Southern's DMin and the new Dehoney Center for Urban Ministry Training. If you're not familiar with one or both of those, they're worth checking out.

If I run into anything worth commenting on, I'll be sure to do so. At this point, I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends, the NAMB and IMB reports, and the SBTS luncheon.

I'm hoping to run into Jerry Rankin so I can tell him thanks.

My boys are upset because they're actually going to see the RCA Dome, but Peyton won't be there.

Bumbly, cacophonous, red-eyed bugs

2008-06-07T16:49:00.004-05:00

I said I'd write on identity again, but I had one of those moments today where I said, "what an amazing and creative God we serve." I went to look at a house we are going to rent, and, as I turned the corner, I heard the unmistakable sound of cicadas singing. And loud.

I remember reading a few weeks ago in The Towers (Southern's campus newspaper) about the emergence of a kind of cicada that only comes out every seventeen years. Without repeating what Guy Fredrick wrote, I've got to say that, just for a moment, I was amazed. There were thousands of these insects in the trees. A few days ago, they had crawled out of thousands of tiny holes beneath the tree after seventeen (17, dix-sept, ten-plus-seven, eleven years more than Daniel's been around) years of preparation. When these guys climbed down to bury themselves, another Clinton actually had the presidential nomination.

If all the animals and people and bugs happened by chance, how did these critters come to be? No, our Creator willfully and carefully made everything that exists, even bugs with no apparent purpose but who, for a few days, sing and make summer really seem like summer.

Identity

2008-06-06T19:07:00.003-05:00

I had breakfast with a former colleague yesterday morning. We talked at length about our experience together, as well as the way it made him feel when we didn't go back to France. He's a great guy -- no condemnation, just honesty. It was tough on us to leave and tough on his family, too.

My friend asked me a good question: what has changed? You spent all those years telling people you were called to the field, now you're called to Southern. How's that work?

Hm. His question caused me to think. Who am I? I struggled when we reached the field because I wasn't "the preacher" any more. Now, I'm no longer "the missionary." Who am I? Have I changed?

No. I haven't. OK, I am a different person than I was when we went to Paris. I'm a different person today than I was last July. Our experiences make us different. But my identity has not changed, because my true identity is not "the preacher" or "the missionary." My true identity is found in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1-3 reminds me that because I belong to Christ, I am chosen, accepted, blessed, forgiven, and redeemed. I am an heir and member of God's household, sealed and secure with access to the Creator of the universe, freedom to go into His presence.

That's who I am.

Of course, who I am makes me do what I do. More on that tomorrow...

Not in Kansas anymore...

2008-06-02T18:25:00.002-05:00

I had a strange culture shock moment today. I was walking down a sidewalk on campus and overheard the following conversations, all in about a thirty-second period:

"I really like the Navigators, but if I go with IMB..." (fade to next conversation)

"(emphatically) but the Great Commission commands us to make disciples..." (fade to next conversation)

"absolutely your eschatology is important. If you're not sound in your eschatology..." (fade ...)

After four years in a place where one never heard spiritual things spoken of publicly, this was quite a change.

Sunday Morning

2008-06-01T12:45:00.003-05:00

One of the many things we're praying about in this transition to Louisville is church. This morning, we loaded up and visited Highview Baptist Church's East Campus. Their facility is beautiful -- one of Highview's six locations. Pretty impressive. Bible study was good, music was good (even if a little polished for me), message was good (the youth pastor from the original Fegenbush campus preached today).

One thing you ought to check out is Highview's new website. I think they've done a great job providing an entry for visitors and one for members. The visitors site -- the one I checked out -- answers the questions we were asking.

More later about our praying -- do we attend a strong established church or a smaller struggling church? Do we try to start a new church, a simple church, or a network? Oh la la...

We can only ask him

2008-05-31T20:59:00.002-05:00

Eustace and Pole, trying to figure out just how they can get to Narnia:

"You mean we might draw a circle on the ground -- and write queer letters in it -- and stand inside it -- and recite charms and spells?"

"Well," said Eustace after he had thought hard for a bit. "I believe that was the sort of thing I was thinking of, though I never did it. But now that it comes to the point, I've an idea that all those circles and things are rather rot. I don't think he'd like them. it would look as if we thought we could make him do things. But really, we can only ask him."

(from C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair)

"Fruitless" Ministry?

2008-05-31T09:49:00.003-05:00

Jeff Iorg is President of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Francisco. He came to Paris a few years ago and did a "mini-retreat" for our team. When I was at GGBTS a few weeks ago for a meeting, I got a copy of his book, The Character of Leadership. Here's a quote that really spoke to me about the difficulty of working in fields and ministries that may seem fruitless, or about those moments of wondering, "what's next, Lord?" He's speaking here about the importance of recognizing where we are in Christ and, more specifically, being "used" by God.

Whatever pleases God and advances his mission is what is important -- not that we be used! Sometimes, God does not use a person for awhile as part of his purpose for them. Even Paul, the most effective Christian missionary and writer of all time, experienced this. Paul was busy in mission service when he was arrested and entangled in the Roman legal system. While at the peak of his ministry effectiveness and influence, Acts 24:27 records, "After two years had passed...Felix left Paul in prison."

Are you kidding me? How can that be? The most effective missionary/theologian in history was left in prison for two years while a low-ranking Roman ruler waited for a bribe to release him. How could that have happened? Why not another earthquake, like the one in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40) which set Paul free earlier in his ministry? The answer, the only answer that makes sense, is God wanted Paul to wait in prison. This was his purpose for Paul. His assignment was to wait until God was ready for him to go to Rome. Sometimes, God accomplishes his purpose by not using us the way we imagine he should, the way that seems logical, or the way that makes the most sense to us.

A good word from a leader...

Rebuilding...

2008-05-29T17:23:00.001-05:00

With all of our changes in ministry, geography, etc., I am going to rebuild the Dayspring Project blog around these new important themes in our lives.

Don't give up on me yet...

A change in direction

2008-04-07T18:16:00.003-05:00

Well, this is old news to both of you who read this blog, but there has been a change in direction for the Walters family. You may have noticed that our main prayer focus lately has been "what's next for the Walters." Here's what's next.

About a month ago, I took the position of Associate Director of Professional Doctoral Studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It's a long title to say that I'll be working with Southern's Doctor of Ministry program -- a doctoral degree for practitioners. I'm pretty fired up about it. This change will allow me to work with pastors and ministers from around the US, with some top notch faculty like Dr. Chuck Lawless, and the opportunity to work harder on my own degree. On that last issue, I'll be able to change my Ph.D. major to missiology, which is another positive.

Leaving IMB has been extremely difficult. We've asked ourselves hundreds of times about what this means for our calling to church planting and missions. I'm not sure I have that completely figured out yet, but I am convinced this is God's plan for this page of our lives.

This also means something of a change of direction for this blog (OK, OK, I know -- I never post much anyway). I'll be posting more on missions, ecclesiology, church planting, and other issues I'm dealing with.

I appreciate your praying and your comments. Until then...

Out of Context

2008-03-10T20:07:00.002-05:00

From Shaw & Van Engen, Communicating God's Word in a Complex World,

"Gospel presentation seeks to facilitate a process whereby people everywhere, belonging to every family, tribe, language and nation, may hear God speak in appropriate and relevant ways that impact the deep-level meaning of their worldview" (1).

The American Religious Landscape

2008-02-25T21:03:00.003-06:00

MSNBC has just posted an interesting article on the "volatility" of the American religious landscape. I'm particularly interested in their choice of language, using words like "affiliation," "affiliation swapping," and "volatility."

A little disappointed

2008-02-01T10:35:00.001-06:00

Well, I was just a little disappointed in the "big premiere event" for LOST last night. First of all, the first hour of the promised two-hour premiere was a recap of the last three seasons. Interesting enough, but not what was promised. Second, I really wanted Charlie to be alive. Just call me sentimental.

While I'm intrigued by the rift between John and Jack, and definitely by Hurley's cry about "the Oceanic 6," it will have to pick up next week.

Oh, one more thing. I've watched all three seasons so far on either French TV, DVD, or iTunes -- that means no commercials. Needless to say, watching it on regular network TV last night drove me nuts.

New Initiatives at SBTS

2008-02-01T10:12:00.000-06:00

There are some exciting things going at in the Graham School at Southern Seminary related to getting workers onto the mission field. Check out the article here from SBTS.

Goals Update, 1/2008

2008-01-31T13:09:00.000-06:00

So, one month into 2008. How are those goals going?

For me, I'm right on target with reading the Bible through but way behind on Scripture memorization. I'm behind on my reading goals (six completed so far), but I've got hope considering that I've got a pretty heavy load of required seminar reading coming up soon.

I have had to miss some of my working out the last two weeks, but have lost three pounds. Doesn't sound like much but it feels great.

At last, Lost returns...

2008-01-31T12:47:00.000-06:00

At long last, one of my two favorite television programs returns tonight as LOST begins its fourth season. The last episode of season three left many questions unanswered, and I doubt we'll have many solutions tonight. Nevertheless, here we go!

A few questions:

1. Who's in the coffin Jack visits?
2. Who is wondering where Kate is while she's at the airport with Jack?
3. Who's on the boat and what is their purpose?
4. What's up with Ben? I'm hoping for another tail whippin'...

And for those who join me in my love of underdogs...

5. Will there be another episode of one of the greatest moments in TV underdog history: Hurley's heroic rescue by VW van.
6. Is Charlie really dead? Why should Locke get to keep coming back and Charlie not?

A Little Exercise Listening...

2008-01-11T11:53:00.000-06:00

I have mentioned several times what a privilege it is to be working with the guys in my doctoral "cohort." There are now seven of us, and these guys really are the cream of the crop. I've subscribed to some of their preaching podcasts for my "exercise listening." Here are three:

Calvin Carr at North Central Baptist Church, Gainesville, FL (Podcast link at bottom of page)

Mike Tatem at Parkview Baptist Church, Lake City, FL (This one's not updated recently, but I'm catching up)

Lyle Larson at FBC, Goodlettsville, TN

I'll try and find podcasts/sermons for the other guys and post them later.

Books for 2008, installment 1

2008-01-06T14:22:00.000-06:00

I have resolved to read one hundred books in 2008. Yesterday, I listed ten of my favorites from last year. Here's a list of a few of the hundred (again, in no particular order):

The Collected Stories of Peter Taylor (I'm actually almost finished with this one. Taylor is probably my all time favorite Southern writer).
What Jesus Demands from the World, by John Piper
Planting Missional Churches, by Ed Stetzer
Something by Flannery O'Connor
Something by Wendell Berry
The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative, by Christopher J. H. Wright
A Theology for the Church, ed. Daniel Akin
The Diary and Journals of David Brainerd
Prayer, by Richard Foster
I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek
Announcing the Kingdom, by Arthur F. Glasser

I have a long list of readings for my seminars, a couple of which are included here (like Stetzer), but these are some "pleasure" reads. I'll add more as the year goes on.

Ten Recommended Reads

2008-01-06T13:42:00.000-06:00

In keeping with my goal to read 100 books in 2008, I'm working on a list of works I would like to read. I'll reveal some of those tomorrow, Lord willing. I've also been thinking about what I read in 2007 that really stood out. Because of my doctoral work, I've been told to read several things and some of those are included. Here is the list (which is neither exhaustive nor in any particular order):

Suite Francaise and Fire in the Blood, by Irene Nemirovsky. These two novels, originally written in French, are as poignant because of their author's story as for their subjects. Nemirovsky was an Eastern European Jew who took French citizenship but perished at Auschwitz during World War II. Fire in the Blood vividly describes French small town culture during the period between the two wars. Suite is Nemirovsky's final and incomplete novel and is a moving account of the coming of war from the viewpoints of several French families. I first read Suite in French, then in English. They are worth finding.

1776, by David McCullough. A masterfully-told narrative of a year that shaped history. I also started McCullough's biography of John Adams, which is excellent.

A Passion for Souls, by Lyle Dorsett. A well-done biography of evangelist D. L. Moody.

Two books by Clinton Arnold on the subject of spiritual warfare: Powers of Darkness, a study of the theme in the letters of Paul, but which also provides a balanced survey of the biblical material on spiritual warfare, and Three Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare.

David Hesselgrave's Paradigms in Conflict addresses ten important questions in world missions, while Scripture and Strategy is a critical reminder that the Word is the heart of our work.

Urban Ministry, by Harvie Conn and Manuel Ortiz.

Discipled Warriors, by Chuck Lawless is a must for pastors and those interested in making disciples. Lawless suggests that one reason our efforts at making disciples struggle is that we are not properly grounding new believers theologically. As a result they are woefully unprepared for the battles they face.

Organic Church, by Neil Cole. I may not agree with everything Cole says in this book, but he's on to something.

Ouvert le dimanche...

2008-01-05T20:47:00.000-06:00

I was scanning some of my favorite news websites and found the headline on French newspaper Le Monde quite surprising:

Les magasins de meubles peuvent désormais ouvrir tous les dimanches
("Furniture stores may now open every Sunday")

One of the things that surprised us during our first few months in what is usually considered one of the most secular nations on earth is the fact that almost everything is closed on Sunday. We left "Christian" America where you can do and buy anything you want on the Lord's Day and went to a country where only a small percentage go to church, but where most businesses remain closed (except for food merchants during the morning hours).

When is the last time one would have seen a headline like that in the US, with people acting surprised that businesses might open on Sunday?

Don't think that the French close their businesses because it's the Lord's Day. That may be the origin, but for the most part Sunday is guarded for families. Whatever their reason, it's a shame to see that change, just like it's a shame to see that Sunday has become a day hardly different from any other here in the US.

Exercise Reading

2008-01-02T12:21:00.000-06:00

I picked up my January 2008 issue of Christianity Today to take with me to work out (yes, I'm one day into my renewed commitment to physical fitness). This edition is a fascinating mix of articles, covering the gamut from an editorial on the Senate investigation into charismatic evangelists to persecution to social ministry. The highlights thus far are the article on "The Lima Bean Gospel" by Mark Labberton and a brief commentary entitled, "A Hole in our Holism," by Stan Guthrie.

Now, to begin, I must say that Labberton has never had lima beans out of my garden or fixed by my wife, or his analogy of bland American Christianity would fail miserably. Pity aside, the author presents a strong case for our the necessity of a renewed focus on justice and ministry in our churches. He writes,

Rather than seek the God who spoke from the burning bush, we have decided that the real drama is found in debating whether to podcast our services. Rather than encounter the God who sees idolatry as a pervasive, life-threatening temptation, we decorate Pottery Barn lives with out tasteful collections of favored godlings. Rather than follow the God who burns for justice for the needy, we are more likely to ask the Lord to give us our own fair share. A bland God for a bland church, with a mission that is at best innocuous and quaint -- in a tumultuous world.

and

It would be a new day for our testimony to the immensity and scope of the gospel if we lived out persevering, sacrificial love for people near and far, especially for those without power, without money, without education, without food, without sanitation, without safety, without faith. If this counterintuitive, servant love moved us out of our middle-class enclaves, drew the poor to be included in our family values, brought us to worry more about the need for consumption of those who have nothing than the consumptive fantasies of those who have too much, the gospel would be more nearly the life-enlarging gift it is.

Ouch. I think he's right. Guthrie adds a vital balance, though, by reminding us that the gospel is still the gospel -- it's about the reconciliation of man and God. He asks the vital question why we aren't evangelizing as we once did. "Does our heightened social consciousness," he queries, "-- from the Left and the Right -- actually drain our evangelistic zeal?"

Guthrie is absolutely right when he responds, "It shouldn't because we are called to do both."

One of the problems in our church world today is an "either/or" syndrome as opposed to a "both/and" attitude. I realize that this cannot apply everywhere. We cannot be both exclusivist and universalist with regard to the future of the lost. But, we can, as Guthrie points out so well, give both a cup of cold water in Jesus' name AND call sinful people to repent and follow Jesus.

A new year, a new post...

2008-01-01T19:06:00.000-06:00

Ah, the new year. A clean slate.

I resolve to read the Bible through this year, to read 100 books, to pray more, to witness more, to study more, to exercise more, to be a better husband and father.

Of course, there are questions. Where will I be this time next year? Will I stick with even one of these resolutions? Will I post more than three times on this blog? Will anyone read those posts?

I'm thankful for new beginnings.

Bonne Année!

In Louisville...

2007-12-05T10:04:00.000-06:00

I'm in Louisville this week for my seminars. It's cold. I'm always amazed and pleased, though, to hang out with some of the guys God is using from across the country: Seattle to Lake City, Florida, McKinney, TX to Grayson, KY.

Of course, papers are due soon.

So pray.

A Good Word from Chuck Lawless

2007-10-23T19:13:00.000-05:00

Dr. Chuck Lawless is Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth at Southern Seminary and one of my professors. A pastor and scholar, Dr. Lawless is, in my opinion, one of the best we have among Southern Baptists.

You need to read his editorial at Baptist Press today, entitled, "Why I Love Southern Baptists ... and Why I Am Concerned." It is a wonderfully balanced commentary on the state of our denomination. He addresses our lack of focus on the Great Commission, the sad passing of missions education for children (his comment on programmatic failure and leadership is worth remembering), and denominational identity. He nails the issue when he says that commitment to being Southern Baptist is "a commitment to the Word, to biblical doctrine, and to a unique way of supporting North American and international missions."

Then he brings it home with a call to prayer.

Thanks for the good word, Dr. Lawless.

Mohler on Church Planting

2007-09-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler has posted an article on church planting on his blog. You ought to check it out -- he's absolutely right. Referring to a new Christianity Today article by Tim Stafford, Mohler says,

...we also need this generation of young pastors to go into established churches and revitalize a Gospel ministry through expository preaching and energetic leadership. Giving up on the established church is not an option. Some young pastors see church planting as a way of avoiding the challenge of dealing with the people and pathologies of older congregations. This is an abdication of responsibility.

and

The energy and commitment evident in the church planting movement should encourage all who long to see a new wave of evangelism throughout North America. But this movement must be driven by a robust New Testament ecclesiology and must be undergirded by an eager embrace of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. This movement must complement -- not castigate -- existing churches. Each needs the other, and both can learn from each other.

He's "spot on." Not everyone is called to be a church planter, and not every church planter is planting for the right reasons. Let's be careful not to make our brothers called to pastor established churches feel "second class." At the same time, let's be careful to understand the missiological factors involved in penetrating unreached cultures.

Two summers ago, I preached a message at my home church, "What I've learned in four years as a former pastor." One of those things is that we need each other: old and young, new and established, academic and uneducated. We are the Body of Christ.

LifeWay Alcohol Study

2007-09-26T07:12:00.000-05:00

Check out the new study released by LifeWay Research on Perceptions of Alcohol among Protestant pastors and laity. Fewer surprises than I expected, but some interesting results. Apparently, "we" are less sure than we thought.

Friday Foto

2007-09-14T12:42:00.001-05:00

At Versailles...

More Missional Matter

2007-09-12T20:37:00.000-05:00

I just got back from a conference on Indigenous Church Planting led by Charles Brock. It was great and really reminded me of some of the important principles of my calling. Dr. J.D. Payne, of the Church Planting Center at Southern put the conference together. Dr. Payne is doing some interesting research on house churches in the North American context. I look forward to seeing what he finds.

As I try to work my way through some of the materials I mentioned the other day on "missional," I find more and more. Today, Said at Southern added a post with a great list of materials to consider. More thoughts soon...

Friday Foto

2007-09-07T10:50:00.001-05:00

The door to a Roman Catholic church in a village near Cergy, France. The sign on the door reads, "Je suis la Porte," (I am the Door) from John 10:9.

Friday Foto

2007-08-31T16:27:00.000-05:00

All the really cool bloggers put a picture on their blog every Friday. While I don't put myself in their league, I may as well give it a try. This is one of my favorites: the alley of trees leading to the Château de Chenonceau in France's Loire Valley. It was taken a couple of falls ago.

A missionary thinks about missional

2007-08-31T10:38:00.000-05:00

I thought that I was still “in the loop,” even after four years overseas. After all, with the internet, blogs, webcams, and amazon.com, there should be no shortage of information no matter where you are. Right? Wrong!

I’ve missed out on “missional.”

In the spring of 2001, I was working through an independent study on church planting with then Southern Seminary professor Ed Stetzer. I can remember sitting at my desk, looking out at the small town where I was pastor of a Southern Baptist church, and thinking, “how is Smyrna Baptist Church going to reach all of these people who are moving here?” At that same time, we were preparing to go overseas, so I was reading everything I could get my hands on about people groups, cross-cultural ministry, strategy coordinators, international church planting, and anything else the IMB would send me. The thought struck me, why don’t we look at our town like I would look at Paris or Rio or Jakarta? Why not consider the truth that autoworkers from Michigan, dairy farmers from Tennessee, and young families fleeing the city are as much people group segments as Chinese students and Parisians? As I thought about planting a church in our small town, I wondered, what will church look like for these families? What will evangelism look like? I was teaching on living out our lives in worship because I was also asking, how can we share the gospel across our own lives in our own neighborhoods?

These next couple of weeks, I really want to think about this thing, “missional.” I know I’m behind. I know that Stetzer is now, as Darrin Patrick said on this excellent presentation, “freaky smart” and the “yoda missiologist” of the movement. He’s writing on his blog about what “missional” means, and I want to interact with that, with Patrick’s presentation, and with anything else I come across.

I’ll look forward to both of you who read this blog joining me…

The Providence of God in the Little Things

2007-08-13T10:41:00.000-05:00

Worry number one: our kids' adjustment to yet another new school.

God's answer: "I know the plans I have for you..."

There's a little girl in Daniel's class who is -- guess what -- French! Her parents are from Paris but have lived in the US for several years. Maybe she won't be too scared of vicious lion-boy...

Missing folks

2007-08-13T10:22:00.000-05:00

My daughter, Rachel, reminded me yesterday was the fourth anniversary of our arrival in France. It seemed especially appropriate to both of us to think about that HUGE change in our lives even as we are in the process of adjusting to life back in the States. Today is the first day of school in the Metro Nashville system, so Rachel starts at her fifth new school. I am amazed at the way God has blessed all three of our kids with adaptability, grace, and patience. Jeffrey and Daniel have never been to an American school. It will be different.

When we first arrived in France four years ago, we immediately began to miss certain things. The most obvious were various conveniences, habits, and brands. We missed Kraft mac and cheese, Lysol, Chevrolet, etc. Those things stood out to us because we were frantically trying to figure out how to live in a place we didn't know. We got used to French brands and habits, though. Then, we really started missing people. After the hectic first days, we started missing family and friends and church. As we started to enjoy BN, Dannon, Perrier, and Smart, the absence of grandparents, cousins, prayer partners, and buddies stood out.

Today, I'm noticing the same thing. It's great to be back with family. We missed them terribly and are enjoying every minute we can with them. We have been surprised at how much we miss certain elements of our French life, but are getting used to American things again.

But I'm missing people. I miss our pastor and his family. I miss Sébastien, Jacqueline, Nicole, Emmanuel, Joelle, and the folks at the marché. I miss the people I worked with.

Just like four years ago, it's not the "stuff" that shows itself to be important. It's the people. That's how God intended it -- made for Him and one another. Relationships.

Today, my kids launch a new round of teachers and friends. So do we. And it will be good.

Life as a parent

2007-08-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

I've never tried to do this before, but this was too good.

HT: Between Two Worlds

No More Food Posts

2007-08-09T11:51:00.001-05:00

OK, so my beautiful and wise wife pointed out that my last several posts have been food-related. Gosh.

I will now fast food-related posts.

Surely, from all that I'm reading I can come up with something besides Mexican food and barbecue stories.

Check back and see. I'm hungry.

The Wall

2007-08-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

I haven't done much posting on our transition. I guess I'm still too much in the middle of it.

One important event tonight: I hit the wall. I knew it would happen. Rolling along, doing whatever I want, enjoying whatever I want. Then, the wall.

All thanks to the "Special Dinner" at Franklin's La Hacienda Restaurant. You know the plate: enchilada, tamale, chile relleno, taco, chalupa, rice, beans, guacamole. It was awesome.

And now I'm dying. We spent all day shopping for "standard attire" for the kids' school year, taking advantage of the "tax holiday." It was exciting. We didn't eat much all day, just to enjoy our first Mexican night.

I ain't what I used to be.

Quick thoughts on re-entry

2007-07-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

Wow. I can't believe we've been back in the U.S. for almost three weeks. It's been a wonderful whirlwind of visiting family, re-figuring out the Green Hills/Hillsboro/Belmont area of Nashville, worshiping with our hosts at Woodmont Baptist Church, and, well, eating. I haven't had much time to think about my "transition series," but here's a quick list of things that have been pleasurably present and noticeably absent, in no particular order:

What we've been really glad to see...

1. First and foremost, our families. It's been a real joy to be with parents, brother, sister, and nieces and nephews; and church friends.
2. Tennessee hills and cotton fields.
3. Swimming pools where you don't have to wear a speedo to get in.
4. A dollar's a dollar -- no figuring out the horrible exchange rate.
5. Pre-season college football coverage and NASCAR.
6. Dairy Queen. They have this "Chocolate Extreme" blizzard that's out of this world.

What has been noticeably absent...

1. Sidewalks. Nobody walks anywhere.
2. The vegetable guy -- though I was happy to find a farmer's market nearby. And you knew I'd say cheese.
3. Public transportation.
4. Our French church -- we've missed them much more than we expected to.
5. Pollution -- thank goodness.

I'm sure there is much more that I can add to this list, and I will as time passes.

Taking Home Questions

2007-06-30T01:27:00.000-05:00

I've still got internet, so I'll write some more...

Our gathering last night was fantastic. We missed a few of the folks that couldn't be there, but enjoyed meeting some new friends. Our four hours together affirmed my belief that our partage will be what I miss the most this year (though even now I'm dreaming of the feel of a warm baguette in my hand...). We ate, we sang, we prayed, we talked about the gospel, and I even cried a little.

I am also reminded of something I'll take home with me next week: questions.

If our group is not yet a church, what could I have done differently? What could I have said or prayed? I know I could have worked harder, hit the streets more, been more bold in my witness, spent more time with people.

Why didn't I say more to L. or S. or S. or M.? Why wasn't I more patient with C. or F.? What if I had been more forceful with another? If only I had gone to coffee with G. or had lunch with L.

I appreciated the encouragement from our friends - those who believe and those who don't - who said they were thankful for the way God has used us in their lives. I kept thinking about how much more He wanted to use.

I guess I've got two options (aside from using the week we have left to answer some of the questions above). I can let the doubts and regrets darken my future, or I can trust my Father to do His work. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it." About that, I have no questions.

What I'll Miss the Most

2007-06-28T13:04:00.000-05:00

I was going to wait a couple of days to write this entry, but the impending termination of our internet service dictates otherwise. Tomorrow night is the last meeting of our partage biblique (Bible study) for the year, and our last before our long stateside assignment. This group, this gathering, is what I will miss the most while we are in the U.S.

For 1 1/2 years, this group of 17-22 adults and children have gathered once a month for fellowship in the classic French fashion. Everyone brings one or two or three dishes, puts them in the middle of a table, and we pass them around and eat for three hours. This group is where I really learned the bisou, and where I really learned what it means to love French people. And to be loved by them. I will miss this fellowship of young and old, American and French.

For 1 1/2 years, this group has gathered for worship. One of our men -- a true Frenchman from a Catholic background he can't quite part with -- plays the piano while we sing songs from old French hymnbooks and new translated choruses. Some raise their hands and sing, some just listen. Either way, it's worship, and I love it. I will miss Robert singing and playing the guitar, seeing N. raise her aged hands in praise, and French songs that now mean as much to me as "Amazing Grace" and "Victory in Jesus."

For 1 1/2 years, this group has gathered to read and share from God's Word. Most of the group are non-believers. Some got their first Bible at this study and started reading it as a result of hearing their friends share the power of the Scripture. They found that the Bible was much more than an antique book of stories, but is rather a powerful and applicable source of Truth. We go around the circle every month (again, in classic French fashion) and everyone shares their insights or thoughts on the passage we studied. Sometimes, it's some strange stuff, but most of the time I am touched by the way the Holy Spirit teaches from inspired Scripture. I will miss the way the Bible (especially Acts!) comes alive every month when we gather.

For 1 1/2 years, this group has grown together. J. and G. and E. are all closer to recognizing Christ than they were a year ago. Every month, we see them draw nearer to the cross. L. has all kinds of philosophical arguments, but he also has found the comfort of the Scriptures and the Body in the midst of troubles. I have grown, too. God has humbled me over and over, reminding me that it's probably not the missionary who has the most to say. The Father has taught me what the church really is. I am going to miss seeing the Holy Spirit gather the Father's sheep into His fold.

I have shared in other places how hard it has been to plant a church in France. This group is not yet a church, but it's close. As close as any of us has been to starting a church in a long time. Now, we're headed back for the States for a season, leaving them to continue without us. Continue they will, because the group is not us. We are part of the group, the group is part of us, but it will go on without us. These folks laugh and cry, they are patient with my terrible French mistakes and still care about what I have to say.

I've been studying 1 Thessalonians for a message I'll preach this Sunday. Paul loved that church. In chapter 2, he says, "having been taken away from you for a short while -- in person, not in spirit -- were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to be with you..." (v. 17-18, NASB). He missed that church.

I think I'm getting ready to know how he felt.

What I've learned, part 1

2007-06-21T10:23:00.000-05:00

I was going to save this for one or two big posts on "what I've learned and will take home with me" on this stateside assignment, but a couple of blog posts I just read changed my mind. I know there has been a movement for some time now to rebuild or eliminate the Cooperative Program. Today, a post at Twelve Witnesses quoted several sections of a post by Bob Roberts. [As a disclaimer, I have to say that I don't know Bob Roberts and I haven't read his book, though he seems to be pretty hot right now.]

Both of these guys are advocating an overhaul of the CP, saying that it in our world today, we are in need of something different. I agree that the CP could use some serious improvements. Roberts is right when he says that "churches can't just send money and read stories of what other people are doing." CP giving is not a substitute for living and proclaiming the gospel. He is also correct that we should probably take a look at how well we're spending CP money.

That said, though, here's one thing I've learned and will take home on this stateside assignment:

1. The Cooperative Program is still the best way for churches to work together to accomplish the Great Commission.

The problem with Roberts' post is that it is bad history and makes false assumptions. He sees the CP as some kind of "tax" similar to that which sparked the American Revolution. The fact is the the CP addressed some serious issues affecting churches in its day. First, churches were looking for a way to accomplish the Great Commission, and the best answer was to do it together instead of separately. Roberts is apparently blessed to work in a large church with big resources. My churches aren't like that. In fact, the vast majority of SBC churches aren't like that. Do many churches substitute CP giving for living the gospel? Maybe so, but those small churches still accomplish more around the world together than apart.

Second, the CP addressed the society model. Churches faced constant appeals for money from individual missionaries and organizations. How do you choose? For huge churches, no problem. For churches I've been associated with, big problem.

I realize I am a beneficiary of the CP "tax." I am blessed and well taken care of by the giving of thousands of churches. I am also freed from the having to return home every other year to raise money as many of my colleagues are. I can continue my ministry without that fear of a church deciding to build a big building or hire another staff member and cutting their giving. I know that happens often anyway, but the impact is not as great. I am a beneficiary in that I recieved and am still receiving the finest theological education you can get without having to break the bank.

I understand Rogers' and Roberts' concerns. I really do. Some things need to change with the givers and the spending. But let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. To return to the societal model or to the time when only big churches could support missions would be a shame. Should churches be more "missional?" Absolutely. Does that mean we should get rid of CP? Not at all.

Thanks for listening.

A couple of things I won't miss

2007-06-20T08:47:00.000-05:00

OK, a couple of things I won't miss over this next year. These don't have anything to do with French culture, for better or worse:

1. Ladder climbers
2. "Strategy" (a vitally important part of our work, but a word that is WAY overused)
3. Fence builders (those who guard territory at all costs)

What I'll Miss, Part 1

2007-06-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

During all these changes in the Walters family life, I want to write a few posts about what I'll miss in France, what I'm taking with me, and what I will not miss. I'm going to save the not miss part for later so I can try to avoid sounding like I'm complaining, mad, culture-shocked, or some combination of all.

First, a couple of things I'll miss. Those who know me know that there will usually be food involved, so I'll get that out of the way by saying I'll miss fromage au lait cru. That's cheese made from raw (not pasteurized) milk. We don't have that in the U.S. because of goofy laws, to use technical language. I could also say that I will really miss foie gras, but that might raise the ire of too many animal rights activists and former James Bonds.

Food issues behind me now, I've got to say that one thing I'll miss here in France is the bisou -- the kiss on each cheek that is the standard greeting among friends. Whether it's in our Bible study, at church, or with people in town, I love the way our friends stop what they're doing to greet one another with this wonderfully intimate gesture.

Sure -- it's not easy for this American guy to get the hang of the bisou. Even after four years, I often find myself coming perilously close to a nose collision because I forget which side to start on. Some of my friends swear that in one part of France you start with the left cheek, but in other parts it's the right. Some regions kiss three times, some four. That may be true in their black-and-white culture worlds, but in mine it seems that it's never that simple. It's also hard to know when to go from hand-shaking to cheek-kissing. My greetings sometimes turn into a Michael Jackson-esque dance, with hands going back and forth and heads bobbing like strutting roosters. Now, I just go for the kiss.

For most of our time here, I've said that I would take the French bisou back to the U.S. with me. I think it's a wonderful greeting, especially among brothers and sisters in Christ. At least five letters from the New Testament admonish us to "greet one another with a holy kiss." And it's not just the act of kissing each cheek, there is also the fact that my French friends will stop everything to greet one another. Relationships are important.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well the bisou will make the trip back across the Atlantic. Kissing each other just doesn't translate. But who knows, I may try it anyway.

Going home...

2007-06-14T07:57:00.000-05:00

A colleague of ours (that would be Brandon) asked today if I would be blogging on our transition back to the US for our stateside assignment. We arrive in Nashville on July 6. His question got me thinking. It's not a bad idea. What are the things that will be hard? What will I miss? What will I NOT miss? What are the spiritual implications of such a move?

I guess the most obvious thing that we are praying about during this next month is actually the same thing we were praying hard about four years ago: our kids. We begged the Father to watch over our kids and give them ease with the language and good teachers and dear friends and fun activities. We prayed for good health and happy days.

And He answered.

Now, we're praying for our kids leaving their good teachers and good friends, their fun activities and the life they've become accustomed to. Rachel has sweet girls that she is very close to and she loves her school. Jeffrey was sad yesterday as he went to his last fencing practice. Daniel doesn't really understand that he won't be seeing Marie or Vincent or Marine next year. He loves his teacher and his school. For all its difficulties, this is life as my children know it.

Next month means wonderful reunions with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends from church. It will be great. But everyone's different now. It's four years later.

Next month means a new school with new teachers and a really different system. It means staying at school all day with no two hour lunch break and going to school on Wednesday.

Next month means American football and baseball and TV. Next month means Sunday School and youth group and GAs and RAs and choir. It also means church several days a week.

Next month means big changes. If anything is weighing on our hearts and prayer lives right now, that's it.

Thanks for listening.

Good Wine

2007-06-13T01:56:00.000-05:00

As for the formality of religious service, however, the hypocrite often outdoes the sincere Christian. Of all people he may be called a "master of ceremonies" because he tries to entertain God with his tongue and knee, with only words and outward ceremony. Yet God looks on the heart. If the wine is good a man can drink it from a plain wooden cup. But if a goblet is wonderfully gilded, but has no wine in it, the host mocks his guest by offering it to him.

-William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour: Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare, ed. James S. Bell, Jr.)

A message for us

2007-06-04T03:13:00.000-05:00

A message from David Hesselgrave's Scripture and Strategy: The Use of the Bible in Postmodern Church and Mission for all of us who work to share the gospel and plant churches, especially in our region and our organization:

Let it be crystal clear that this is not written as an indictment of any of these methodologies. Of course, some are superior to others. but all have made important contributions. Some still do and will continue to do so in the future. The weakness revealed by this history is not so much that this or that evangelistic method is mistaken or misguided. The weakness is that this or that method is so readily transmuted into an overall strategy for world evangelization. The weakness is not so much in the method as it is in our penchant for oversimplification and faddishness in embracing one method or partial strategy after another as an 'end-all' strategy. It is that faddishness that has caused church and mission leaders in the Third World to come to the place where they view American proposals and programs with a good deal of suspicion. There is indeed one way of coming to salvation, but there are many ways of contributing to world evangelization. That is the lesson to be learned from the experience of the recent past. (89)

It's not just a problem in the Third World.

Thoughts early in the morning...

2007-05-13T04:39:00.000-05:00

It's about 4:30 in the morning in Memphis, and I've been up for an hour. Wide awake. Raring to go. I got here about twelve hours ago, and today I'll head to Louisville for my spring seminars. Lots still left to do, so I'll do some more reading in a minute. Of course, that should put me right back to sleep...

Until then, some of the mixed up thoughts that were bouncing around my fatigued brain before I turned on the light.

1. It's Mother's Day in America, and I'm here with my Mom. I'm not sure I ever knew what a blessing that would be. On the other hand, the Mom I'm probably closest to in the world is right now the farthest away. Melanie is still in Paris doing what Mom's do, but without Dad. Not that I add that much when I'm there, of course. I miss her bad and would love to hold her about now and say, "Happy Mother's Day, sweetheart, you're the best." She's a Proverbs 31 lady if ever I knew one, and her husband and children rise up and call her "blessed." The good news is that Mother's Day in France is in June, so I'll be there!!!

2. On the flight over, I watched La Môme, the movie about French singer Edith Piaf. What a tragic, painful, dark life, but a voice that touched France and the US. What struck me on Mother's Day is that Piaf's mother left her when she was a little girl and her father was away during WWI. One scene in a café when Piaf's drunken mother comes in begging is pretty moving. Moms not only give us physical birth, they are part of God's plan for giving us life.

3. One more thing -- this one a gripe. Has anyone noticed that the hardest country for an American to get into is the US? Granted, I haven't been to very many places, and I am all for security, but it is work to get into my own country. What's more, I live in a country known 'round the world for its rude people. But I have to come here to get treated rudely. Oh la la.

What's more, I had the mark -- literally -- I won the customs officer lottery and got to go through all the machines. My briefcase got hung in the conveyor belt and when the customs officer jerked it loose, she broke the buckle. I said, "oh, you messed up my bag." She snarled in reply, "you want a complaint form?" I said, "no, but an apology would be nice." Really, I sort of just said that under my breath because I was in that man-with-no-country mystery place between the airplane and America. Then, I went to the next place and the lady said, "oh you're flight is pretty soon, go in lane B." I thought, "finally, someone who's nice." What I didn't realize was that "lane B" was the "potential bomber" line. I had to go through a bizarre catscan-type machine that blew little puffs of air all over me. Wow.

One thing about it: I'm proof that our TSA folks aren't guilty of racial profiling. Around me in "line B" were a well-tanned but very American couple, a very chipper young college student,then me -- the overweight redneck who only fits the profile of "wants BBQ bad."

Well, I'm pushing 5AM now. Better start the day. Happy Mother's Day.

Election Day

2007-05-06T01:58:00.000-05:00

Pray for France today as she chooses a new president. Big changes are in store whatever candidate moves into the Elysées Palace later this month. Pray for peace and for spiritual awakening in this country.

When the body hurts

2007-04-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

From time to time on this so-called blog I have reflected on the church. I have lived the last four years of my life trying to figure out what the church is, what part I have in it, and how to plant one in a culture that doesn't really want me to do that. I've started several "series" of posts on the church and managed to finish zero. Oh well.

This weekend, I learned something important about the church as "the body." In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says that "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it (26-27). We are parts of a body, the church. And when one part hurts, all of it hurts. It doesn't matter whether I'm a foot or a finger, when I hurt, all the body hurts.

Friday night, my buddy Jeff Mathews died. Jeff and his wife, Sylvia, and their little boy, Levi, are part of Smyrna Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, where I was a deacon, a youth worker, a music minister, and then pastor. Jeff and I were ordained together as deacons, sang in the choir together, and even played a little music as part of the much-celebrated "Four Amigos" of Annual Church Picnic fame. He was only a couple of years older than me, but was full of joy and wisdom and kindness and all the things you want as a member of the body. When this young buck pastor stepped over his bounds, Jeff had the amazing gift of bringing together older deacons and younger members. His smile and easy manner could bring peace to a tense situation. Everybody loved Jeff Mathews.

Then, four years ago, we left Smyrna Baptist Church of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, to come to France. Jeff and I have probably talked a couple of times since then for maybe half an hour total. But when we got the news about him Saturday morning, our hearts broke. Even after four years away, we hurt like we were there, and because we weren't there. Right now, as I'm writing this, they're having Jeff's funeral near Smyrna Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, then he'll be buried in the cemetery right out the front driveway, down the road to the right, and down about a quarter mile from Smyrna Baptist Church of Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Many of my friends are gathered together, probably pretty crowded in the chapel, where they're singing and remembering.

And I'm thousands of miles away. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.

Here in Paris, France, I got out my Ivan Parker southern gospel CD and listened to "Gone" and "Beulah Land" and "Because He Lives." I read 1 Corinthians 12 and Psalm 23 and some other passages that comfort me. And I remembered, too.

Because the body is the body, and we are its members. That's the church.

Night

2007-04-02T12:57:00.000-05:00

As you can see in my "current reading" list, I've just started Night by Elie Wiesel. This short book (only 109 pages in my copy) is Wiesel's memoir of his experiences as a boy in Nazi ghettoes and then concentration camps. It is a powerful read. The Shoah still has a profound effect in Europe.

In April, 1945, the last of the camps were liberated by Allied forces. After visiting the Deportation Memorial in Paris and then hearing from survivors during the 60th anniversary commemorations two years ago, I decided that I should read this little book every April for the rest of my life. Today, I'm starting my fourth time. I look forward to sharing with you as I go.

A Sabbath Day

2007-03-25T13:41:00.000-05:00

Today, I had a sabbath.

Not that I intended it that way. This morning was worship with the church at Rosny-sous-Bois. After a quick lunch, Jeffrey had a fencing tournament, then another hour of praise at the church. Any other Sunday, we would have worshiped together with others in our home. Sunday is a busy day.

On the way home from church, though, I had a flat tire. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal because we have a full-size spare. But the spare was already on because of the flat tire I had yesterday on the way to the grocery store. So, two flat tires on Sunday means no car. So, we stayed home.

I tried to do a little work -- just emails and such. But there haven't been any emails all weekend. I tried to read some of my seminar reading, but just couldn't get my mind on it. So, I piddled a little here and a little there. I watched a bloopers show with the boys. I took a half-hour nap. I studied up a little on the new nutrition guidelines from the French government then fixed mushroom omelets with extra butter. This blog post is the first "work" I've done all day, and you can tell I'm not working too hard on that.

Jesus was walking through some grain fields one day with his friends. For a snack, they began to pluck the heads of grain from their stalks. Some pharisees saw them and questioned their devotion and commitment. Jesus told them a story about how David went into God's house and took the bread there, ate it, and even shared it with his friends. Then Jesus (I imagine) looked over the fields, then at his friends, and said, "the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:23-28).

Today, I had a day of rest. God made it just for me, whether I meant for it to be that way or not. And I'm thankful.

France ahead of the world again

2007-03-23T14:08:00.000-05:00

Well, my adopted nation of France is ahead of the world again. The French national space agency just released all of its thousands of documents on UFO sightings for the world to see over the internet (see the story here). I'm not sure what's funnier: the release of the documents, the fact that the agency's server went down because of all the traffic, or the fact that the US won't release all of their thousands of documents because they are critical to national security.

Theology, Methodology, Ecclesiology, Oh my!

2007-03-17T07:17:00.000-05:00

As I was preparing to write more about J.D. Payne's article on ecclesiology and church planting, I decided to check out an article he refers to in the first few paragraphs. In the April 1998 edition of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Tom Julien, of Grace Brethren International Ministries, addressed the question, "what is a local church?" Going further, he distinguished between the essence of the church as revealed in the New Testament and the expression of the church in cultures. The gist of his argument is that church planters must distill the essence of the church in order to plant a culturally appropriate expression of the church. Dr. Payne agrees, saying that ecclesiology, our theology of the church, is the "most critical issue in church planting today."

As I was thinking about all this, I was also involved in an online discussion for one of my doctoral seminars on the emerging church movement. We were talking about whether the "conversation" is more about theology or methodology (maybe I can tell you more about that discussion and its origins in the future). I suggested an article that I found through Joe Thorn's blog: Mark DeVine's discussion of the emerging church movement and Southern Baptists. In that article, DeVine says that leader "Scot McKnight insists that the movement is about ecclesiology, not theology."

But what is ecclesiology if not theology? My classmate Lloyd caught that contradiction immediately. Certainly, our ecclesiology plays itself out in our methodology, and our methodology reveals our theology. Can those be separated? If you add our emphasis on strategy to the mix, things really get interesting. Does our strategy, which includes our methodology, line up with our theology, especially our ecclesiology? Maybe it does, but I'm not sure.

I want to work on these questions, though maybe with fewer words ending in "-gy." We'll see where it goes.

The Praise on our Lips

2007-03-11T09:55:00.000-05:00

My Jesus, My Savior,

Lord, there is none like You...

It seems like years ago (in fact, it has been almost ten). We were at Ridgecrest Conference Center, worshiping alongside others who had taken part in a week of conferences and studies during the Jericho missions week. The invitation had begun...

All of my days, I want to praise,
the wonders of Your mighty love...

I will never forget how it felt to stand with Randy Sprinkle, then director of prayer ministries for our organization, who had just prayed with and for us. All around us were people who had given their lives to spread the gospel to the nations. Their hands and their eyes and their voices were raised toward the Father. I thought I would never again hear anything so beautiful.

My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength...

A few years later, I was standing with our church's choir during the closing worship service of our missions emphasis week. We had just sung the same song, this time with lyrics in the languages where our church had worked. I thought I would never again hear anything so beautiful.

Let every breath, all that I am,
Never cease to worship You.

This morning, we were at a church in Paris, worshiping the Father. We sang. I'm not sure I'll ever hear anything more beautiful...

O Jésus, mon Sauveur,
Seigneur, nul n'est comme toi.
Jour après jour, je louerai,
car ton amour est merveilleux...

Through him then let us continually offer up
a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15

The CHURCH in Church Planting

2007-03-10T02:11:00.000-06:00

Church planters must take the time to search the Scriptures to answer the question, "What is the church?" Since the scriptures do not bow to the gods of this age, for some church planters this process will be painful, requiring them to surrender their visions, dreams, passions, desires, finances, and prestige that have developed over the years from Western cultural definitions and expectations for what constitutes a "healthy" church.

This brief excerpt from Dr. J.D. Payne's paper, "Ecclesiology: The Most Critical Issue in Church Planting Today," (available here) expresses well some of my concerns over our efforts to plant churches. I'll comment more on Dr. Payne's article later, but I have often written that our time in Western Europe has done much to strip away our "visions, dreams, passions, desires, finances [oh, yeah], and prestige" and give us a fresh, clean, simple, and, I believe, biblical idea that answers the question, "What is the church?"

Contextualized Strategy

2007-03-06T01:23:00.000-06:00

In his latest post over at Crushed Leviathan, Pêcheur comments on the "visible church." Though it's not the overall intent of his writing, he raises an interesting issue concerning our "strategy" for planting churches in Western Europe. Pêcheur writes,

In the Western world (Europe and America), to ask some to stop going to church (building) on Sunday is asking too much from them and they can turn you off. What you have is not "church" to them, no matter how innovative you believe yourself to be. On the other hand, there are some who are wanting some freedom from, what they perceive as restrictions (or even negative experiences) that come from a church structure (i.e. building, clergy, etc), that they will embrace a non-traditional understanding of "church."

I agree completely with his thoughts that we cannot forsake the "traditional church" in the name of innovation or creativity. Neither can we condemn the "contemporary" (or whatever you might call that which is not "traditional") for its leaders' efforts to engage culture. It takes both. Determining what "type" of church to plant is part of the hard work of missions, whether in the US or overseas.

Ten years ago, our organization adopted a worldwide strategy called "New Directions." You can read about it in Jerry Rankin's book, To the Ends of the Earth, so I won't go into great detail about it here. Part of that strategy is the concept of "church planting movements." We as workers in our agency, are to be about facilitating CPMs. I'm fine with that. I think it's a great general strategy for our organization. But it's just that: a general, worldwide strategy. It is our guide, our goal, and it provides some parameters for our work.

Here's the issue: its application in the context of Western Europe. The number one task of what we do is contextualization. We work hard to understand the culture where we live and to contextualize our communication of the gospel. We try every day to shed our own cultural baggage and biases in order to be a light to the world. New Directions, with its emphasis on church planting movements, is great. But it has been poorly applied in our context. We have neglected the first rule of missions and applied techniques and practices from another culture to another without considering how it fits.

In the far east, where CPMs were first identified, they were based on house churches. Men and women much smarter than me analyzed and determined some of the characteristics of these movements, and those characteristics were embodied perfectly in the house church movement. Someone decided that we ought to plant house churches in France and Western Europe just like they plant them in China. We were told to read books about house churches (even some books by Europeans and Westerners), we were taught about house churches in our orientation, and we practiced house church meetings. We were told not to go to an established church because it would confuse those who were watching.

The problem (for me, at least) is not house church. I agree with many of the fundamental principles and consider them biblical (simplicity, community, lay leadership, relationship, etc.). The problem is applying the form in this context. Small groups meeting in homes work here because people are committed to relationships and are perfectly willing to have people into their homes. As Pêcheur points out, however, it is a tremendous cultural hurdle when you call your house a church. The small home groups work alongside the larger corporate worship. They provide the community and the relationship. So, what do we do? We apply the principles in the culture and that's contextualization. That's what we ought to be doing, but infatuation with the latest fads of church planting or evangelism or whatever have distracted us. I'll be the first to admit that the difficulty of living and working here, the lack of visible fruit, can easily cause one to grasp anything that might "work," but we often pay by making our task even more difficult.

When I was in Tennessee, I saw churches split because preachers applied the model of Saddleback or Willow Creek indiscriminately and uncritically to their location. They did not take just the principles of purpose-driven, they tried to be a little Rick and do California music and wear Hawaiian shirts (that's an exaggeration to make the point). In Western Europe, we can start reproducing "traditional churches" that reach people, and we can start reproducing "simple" or "organic" or "contemporary" churches that reach people. Whatever we do, we've got to contextualize strategy and do something.

To my knowledge, there has not been a church started in France by our organization since New Directions (though I'd be ecstatic to be proved wrong on that). Other organizations have started churches, in some cases many churches. Could it be that we have cared more about implementing strategy than about fulfilling our commission?

The Subtitle Says It All

2007-03-05T11:09:00.000-06:00

I've just started reading (for the third time since coming to France) Donald Whitney's Simplify Your Spiritual Life. The subtitle says it all: "Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed." I think it ought to be required reading for everybody in any kind of ministry. We often feel overwhelmed while doing "good things." Whitney's book offers real suggestions for maintaining the "simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Check it out.

Talking about the church

2007-03-05T11:04:00.000-06:00

My friend over at Crushed Leviathan is starting a series of posts on the church. Since I've been trying off and on to do that, I'll join him by responding to his thoughts and adding my own. He's a sharp guy, so it should be enjoyable (for me at least).

The Rocks will cry out...

2007-03-03T03:47:00.000-06:00

We just got back last night from three days in Bretagne -- the westernmost region of France, famous for its rocky beaches, proud people, crèpes, and butter. It was a great time to get away with our family and see another part of this country. God used it to renew us spiritually and physically, thanks much to Parole de Vie, a ministry to young people, who let us stay at their retreat center in Dinan.

Wednesday, we spent some time with some good friends with a heart for Breton-speakers in the region. They introduced us to their passion for the area and their adopted people. That passion in itself helped restore us.

After a delicious galette aux andouilles (I won't translate that, but you can look it up if you want) in Huelgoat,* we visited an amazing park filled with huge moss-covered boulders strewn about a riverbed. It's an area that makes you recognize why the druids worshiped the spirits of nature in the region. It was awe-inspiring. We sloshed in the mud, climbed the rocks, and strolled in the woods, all the while worshiping the true Creator. I could not help but think that God had made the world and called it good (Genesis 1). We talked about Romans 1:20 and were inspired to think of Luke 19:37-40, where Jesus said that if we are silent, "the stones will cry out" praises to God. I left thinking that for centuries, the Druids worshiped the creation instead of the Creator and that, today, many scientists deny even the existence of a Creator. What I saw was evidence of a caring God who put each mighty boulder in its place and who brought us there for a time to encounter His glory.

*Trivia moment: We found out that Huelgoat is Breton for "high forest," which, interestingly enough, is rendered in German to become the name of a town in Tennessee where we used to live: Hohenwald.

Authenticity

2007-02-10T03:33:00.000-06:00

From Emerging Churches, by Gibbs & Bolger:

"Often, congregations and groups that are preoccupied with being relevant lose their authenticity in the attempt." (181)

THE Question

2007-02-09T05:14:00.000-06:00

We were contacted yesterday by a pastor friend on behalf of a man in his church -- a man who has been praying faithfully for our ministry in Paris since our arrival in August, 2003. We are so thankful for those folks. This gentleman asked the question that we often hear these days, and that is often on our own lips: when will you be starting a church? It's a question that's not asked in an accusatory way, but a genuine desire to see God do what we've been praying for here.

Here's my response. It's not earth-shaking or especially brilliant, but it comes from our heart:

Thank-you so much for your faithful praying on behalf of the peoples of Paris. Without that, our time here would be futile. You are a key part. You are asking the key question of the last three years: what about a church? And it's a question for which I don't have a clear answer. Over our time in France, we've tried to devote ourselves to learning the French language, learning the French culture, living for Christ in front of people who don't know Him, and trying to discern how to start a new church. So, in a sense, we've been "starting a church" for the entire time. In another sense, though, we're not there yet. God has done much: gathered prayer support from around the world, provided American volunteers to help us in our work, and gathered some French believers and non-believers into a Bible study. That Bible study may well become the church God called us here to start, but it's not a church yet. We've found that the process is very slow (sometimes agonizingly slow for us). But it's happening. For that, we rejoice.

Please continue to pray that the people involved in the Bible study (as well as other relationships) would continue to grow toward church. It has to be their decision, but we are trying to lead that way. Pray for the believers in the group, as well as the non- believers, that they would see their love of being together for worship and prayer is the beginnings of a community of faith. We believe God will do that.

Thanks so much for your support. We can never say how much that means to us, especially knowing that you have been committed to pray for us for three and a half years now. May God bless you abundantly in your own ministry and mission in Shelbyville.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

Jeff & Melanie

Church and Culture

2007-02-08T03:19:00.000-06:00

Two of my seminars this semester relate to topics that, at first glance, seem different: emerging churches and cultural anthropology. The key word there is "seem." I am amazed (and thankful) how much these two seminars fit together and are impacting my work. Cultural anthropology is about studying why people live, think, and act like they do. How does that culture impact the way that we share the gospel? It's a subject traditionally saved for missionaries. On the other hand, the emerging church "movement" in the US and Western Europe (especially Britain) is very much about impacting culture by living in it, which means studying why people live, think, and act like they do.

One great example of how this study is impacting my work is through a book called To Every Tribe with Jesus: Understanding and Reaching Tribal Peoples for Christ by David Sitton. As the title suggests, it's a book about unreached tribal peoples and, more specifically, about animistic cultures. I must admit that I first thought the book would be the first of the semester that didn't relate to my life in France (or the US). I was wrong. Ralph Winter suggests in the foreword that the book has much to say for those working in postmodern cultures, and he's right. Our world is very much affected by animism. Here in France, there are more fortune tellers and astrologists than there are ministers or priests.

It is a valuable exercise for us as missionaries, pastors, or church members to step back and consider our own world as another culture. When we come to our community as learners of culture, we might very well discover that all our reaching out is, in fact, cross-cultural missions.

Together

2007-02-05T10:57:00.000-06:00

A long time ago, I promised some of my thoughts on the church. I mentioned that during our time in France, God had stripped away many of the things I saw as important. I still want to keep that promise, but it's a big task that I want to do right.

Until then, here's the last paragraph of a paper I just submitted for a seminar at Southern (edited a little for this blog). I had to write a description of the characteristics of the early church as recorded in Acts. Maybe this paragraph will give you something of an idea of what God has taught me. Just in case, the key word is together...

"The twenty-first century church has much to learn from the first-century church, and the book of Acts is rich with characteristics of the first believers who carried out the Great Commission. The earliest churches were made up of baptized believers from every walk of life who worshiped and prayed together, broke bread together, shared of all things together, learned together from the teaching and preaching of the apostles, and sent out missionaries together from among their own, all in the power of the Holy Spirit. Their life as a community identified by their devotion to Christ and to one another became the mark that set them apart from the world around them."

Hillary, Segolène, and my Rachel Caroline

2007-01-20T10:30:00.000-06:00

I just read the news that Hillary Rodham Clinton has thrown her hat in the ring as a contender for the 2008 presidential election. According to the news, she's got a chance. Here in France, Socialist candidate Segolène Royal is running a tight race to be the first female Présidente de la République. Everyone's making a big deal about these two women and their history-making candidacies. It is a big deal, no doubt.

Why am I writing about this? Yesterday was my daughter, Rachel Caroline's, twelfth birthday. Twelve years old. And she's becoming quite a young woman: beautiful, smart, creative, bi-lingual, and loved by me. Just like her mommy.

When I read about Clinton 2008, I thought about Rachel. Here are two very different types of models: the strong politically powerful woman and Rachel's mother. The wealthy, connected, woman whom everyone either loves or hates, or the self-sacrificing, hard-working, others-serving woman whom I love. Who do I want Rachel to emulate? There's very little question.

Proverbs 31 says:

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates. (ESV)

That's alot more like Rachel's mother than like the two women whose faces we'll be seeing much of over the next couple of years. And that's who I want Rachel to be like. If my daughter is ever President of the United States or of the Republic of France (both of which she's certainly capable of), it won't be because she has paid her political dues. It will be because she looked to her mother and because they both looked to God.

Happy birthday, Rachel. You'll always be Daddy's girl, and I love you and your Mommy very much.

"Les Justes"

2007-01-18T10:03:00.000-06:00

One of the things that has often moved me since arriving in France is the tragic story of the Shoah, especially as it happened here. During the German occupation of France in World War II, thousands of Jews (as well as political prisoners, homosexuals, and other minorities) were deported at the hands of their French compatriots. In an effort to pacify the Nazis, the Vichy government went along with Hitler's policies to eliminate "lesser" races. It's a history that has only recently breached decades of shameful silence. The French have struggled to recognize the fact that the citizens of a country that proclaims "liberty, equality, and brotherhood" could turn on its own.

On the other side of this story, however, are les justes-- thousands of French men and women who risked their lives to protect Jewish families and children from deportation to "camps" like Auschwitz, where certain death awaited them. One of our former neighbors first told us of her grandparents who sheltered two Jewish children in their farmhouse. She added that there are still hard feelings between many French families because one turned another in for harboring Jews.

Today, the Republic took another step toward recognizing their past. President Jacques Chirac placed the remains of one of these heroes in the Panthéon -- the hallowed burial ground of heroes like Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Voltaire, and Resistance leader Jean Moulin. It is hard for me to overstate the symbolic importance of this act. In recognizing the heroes who risked their lives to protect others, the French are acknowledging again their own culpability, a process begun in 1995 by Chirac. The Shoah is a painful memory for the French -- and rightfully so. But this recognition is a step toward healing.

Unfortunately, this story has a sad side.

I watched the news today and listened to the story of a woman whose mother sheltered a young Jewish girl. The woman told of how her mother risked everything every day as she bought bread and produce to feed the extra mouth in her home. It was a heroic act. Then the storyteller said, "My mother was a believer. That's why she did it. I'm not, but she was." It struck me that this woman who watched her mother's risk and sacrifice, who was sitting beside the person her mother saved, knows exactly why her mother did it, but rejects it all. Her mother knew a Savior who had given His life for her, and she took literally His command to shelter the orphan and the widow. She is lost.

I live and work in a nation who today recognized their sin. They tried to take steps to heal. But there is no healing, no forgiveness, no peace without the one who gave Himself so that we might live: "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Memory troubles

2007-01-15T10:54:00.000-06:00

I'm really trying to work hard on Scripture memory. Between age and learning a second language (which pushes out everything else you've ever learned), it's not easy. Fortunately, this weeks passage is Proverbs 3:5-6 -- a standard for our family. This gives me another week to work on last week's passage!

Seriously, God is blessing me as I reflect on these passages. These next weeks are busy with new personnel arriving, a visit from one of our IMB trustees, a training workshop in London, and reading for my spring seminars.

Lord, give me straight paths!

Application of yesterday's post

2007-01-06T00:36:00.000-06:00

Because of the conviction associated with yesterday's post, I've added a weekly Bible memory passage from ESV to the right sidebar. To see the entire list of verses for the year, go here.

The "M" word

2007-01-05T12:40:00.000-06:00

We spend a fair amount of time around here talking, or hearing about, the "m" word. We talk to our kids about the "m" word we often hear on TV or in conversation. It's often translated as a word you'd never hear a believer say in the US, but is much more common over here. Another "m" word we hear about is the one that describes our job. Many of our colleagues cannot, or will not, refer to themselves except as "m"s (instead of as missionaries). It's really not a bad idea around here.

This morning, though, I was reminded of another "m" word -- one I've not ever had much fondness for. Donald Whitney, in Spiritual Disciplines, starts his discussion of practices for the Christian life with "Bible intake." He does a great job talking about Bible reading, Bible hearing, Bible study, and Bible application. But then comes the "m" word.

Memorization.

It's a word that strikes fear in my heart. Why? Because I've never been very good at it for one thing. It brings back too many memories of poems in middle school and the first few lines of Beowulf much later. Kids in France memorize like crazy: songs, poems, stories, grammar rules. We didn't do that much, so I'm not too good at it.

Dr. Whitney, though, reminds me of why I need to try harder. He points out that memorizing Scripture keeps it ready at my fingertips to strengthen my faith, to aid my witnessing, and to foster meditation. Memorizing Scripture is a mental exercise that makes us better able to share from God's word at critical moments that might pass while I'm frantically trying to find a verse I know is there. In our context, memorizing the key passages of the Good News of Christ helps me tell the greatest of all stories with authority. At one point, Whitney asks whether we would work harder at memorizing Scripture if someone offered us a thousand dollars for each verse. Ouch.

My wife, Melanie, grew up going to Bible Drill, where she memorized the books of the Bible and key passages. She still remembers those and they have a tremendous impact on our lives. For her, God's Word truly is a "lamp to her feet." One of my colleagues is a fantastic memorizer of Scripture. He is a powerful man of prayer and the Word. I love being with him because he always has the Bible on his lips.

God give me an insatiable hunger for your Word. Write it on my heart and bring it to my mind.

The passing of a blog...

2007-01-03T10:28:00.000-06:00

A few months ago, I was inspired by a friend to write a blog about what I've been reading. I made all of one post: the introduction. That blog, En Train de Lire, is no more. Instead of two separate blogs, I'll just post from time to time about my reading here on Dayspring Project. If you're curious about what I'm reading at the moment, I've added a list in the sidebar.

Feel free to comment on your own reading, especially if we happen to be reading the same thing.

"The Armor of Light" and the New Year

2007-01-03T01:36:00.000-06:00

I try not to make "resolutions." Last year, I sat down and wrote in my journal several things that I wanted to accomplish in 2006. They included reading the Bible through in French, prayerwalking every street in my city, translating a short book on French culture into English for my new colleagues, building our team, "praying continually," and reading a list of about a million books. I'll not say what I accomplished and what I didn't, though I got further than I thought I would.

This year, I'm keeping it simple. One thing (though this one thing entails much).

Yesterday, I read Romans 13:11-14 in my Daily Light:

And do this, knowing the time, that it is now high time
to awake out of sleep;
for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armor of light.
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness,
not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

One thing (among many) that struck me is the idea of the "armor of light." This is a battle I must fight. "Putting off darkness" is not simply a matter of asking forgiveness and promising God to do better. I must arm myself with the Light of Christ to repel the "desires of a man delivered to himself," as the French Semeur translation puts it.

My desire for 2007 is put off darkness and put on light. My spiritual practices have suffered in the last six months. If I failed to be all that God wanted of me last year, if I failed to accomplish all that I wanted to accomplish, it's because I've not "walked properly." I want 2007 to be different. My first feeble start is re-reading Donald Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. It's my favorite reminder of how to "discipline myself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7).

Jesus came as light. He called me to be light. I will put on light.

Joyeux Noël

2006-12-23T13:25:00.000-06:00

We wish you a wonderful and blessed Christmas. As we celebrate the coming of our Savior into the world, we join you in rejoicing that He is Lord over all -- from Tennessee, Texas, and New Mexico all the way to the suburbs of Paris and everything in between.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Car un enfant nous est né, un fils nous est donné,
Et la domination reposera sur son épaule;
On l'appelera Admirable, Conseiller, Dieu puissant,
Père éternel, Prince de la paix.
ESAIE 9:5

Joyeux Noël et bonne année! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

Jeff, Melanie, Rachel, Jeffrey, and Daniel

Another thought on culture...

2006-12-14T21:29:00.000-06:00

I was on my way back to Memphis today (so I can go back to Paris tomorrow!) and saw something that made me think: what does a $50,000 car with a little fish emblem say to the world?

Thinking about culture

2006-12-08T15:27:00.000-06:00

I arrived in Memphis Saturday without a problem at all. When you get off of the airplane there, the first thing that hits you is the smell of barbecue coming from inside the airport. It's a wonderful thing. We went straight from the airport to my favorite hometown rib place, which was a nice welcome. Then, I knew I was in Tennessee when I passed three different trucks driven by smiling men, each towing a four-wheeler with a deer strapped across the handlebars. It started me thinking about culture. We talk alot about that in my line of work, you know. We have to understand culture to share the good news. We have to love culture in order to reach people. But what is my culture now? I come from a place where I know what you mean when you say "full slab plate with slaw" and "eight point buck." I live in a place where you know the difference between a "Brie de Meaux" and "Brie de Melun" (two different kinds of regional cheese) and how to change trains in the middle of a crowd of several thousand people. I work in an organization where you have to understand acronyms like CPM, RLT, SC, FST, and ER. All those things are part of culture. And all of those things have shaped and are shaping who I am today.

Culture is where we live and who we are. It's the pond we swim in and it's the glasses we look at the world across. It's the filter through which we hear and understand. It's what we love and hate and sometimes wish were different. And it's all part of the world God has given us. Somebody recently said that we ought to be thankful for the culture where we live instead of just being thankful for where we came from. I say that I'm thankful for all of it -- ribs, cheese, trains, and all.

Gone to Kentucky...

2006-12-01T07:40:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow morning (Saturday), I will be heading out for two weeks of classes at Southern Seminary. We’re excited about the impact this program is going to have on our team’s ministry among the peoples of Paris. At the same time, we’re apprehensive about two weeks apart. Melanie and I have been a pretty close team for almost sixteen years and especially for the last three. We’re together for a big part of every day. Please pray for us during this time. Pray Colossians 1:9-10 for the two of us. Pray that God will open my eyes to all that He has in this growth opportunity. Pray for a time of spiritual renewal for Melanie. Pray for the kids. Pray for God to be glorified in all things.

What I'm Thankful For Today...

2006-11-23T04:05:00.000-06:00

I posted this on our "prayer blog" and thought it was important enough to put wherever I could:

Even though Thanksgiving is not a day celebrated in France, and even though I’m working today, and even though the kids are in school, I’m still celebrating. I’m overwhelmed by all that I’m thankful for and by the God Who has blessed me in spite of myself.

So, here they are, in no particular order:

I’m thankful for the sound of my wife singing “Your Grace Still Amazes Me” along with a Phillips, Craig, and Dean CD while she fixes pecan pie in our little kitchen.

I’m thankful for three healthy children who get up every morning loving their Daddy in spite of the fact that I’m not always what I want to be.

I’m thankful for the sound of my children praying.

I’m thankful for thousands of churches and individuals who give from their blessings so that I can do what God has called me to do.

I’m thankful for our partage biblique group, which has become in so many ways what church ought to be.

I’m thankful for my Mom and Dad, who chose me and took care of me and raised me right (even if sometimes I don’t show it).

I’m thankful for a rich heritage given me by my family -- a heritage so foundational that it holds me up whether I live in the US or in another place. I’m thankful for little phrases that are a part of me, like “I only like two kinds of pie: hot pie and cold pie.” (That’s one from my Granddad).

I’m thankful for memory -- of holidays and regular days, of grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles and in-laws and friends.

I’m thankful that I’m a new man, re-made by God, who gave His Son so that I could live and know Him forever. I’m thankful that He doesn’t change and that He’s faithful even when I’m not. I’m thankful for His Word and for the Holy Spirit, left to encourage me and convict me, explain things to me and correct me.

I’m thankful for beauty -- my childrens’ smiles, my wife’s eyes, a freshly-plowed field, music, art, a Cathedral, whatever it might be. It’s a reminder of how God wants things to be.

I know there’s so much more. And I’m thankful for that, too.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Fighting the good fight

2006-11-22T03:44:00.000-06:00

It's possible that you receive our weekly "prayergram," which we've been sending out every Monday for four years. To my knowledge, we've only missed two Mondays. The prayers taken before the Father's throne every week in response to that e-mail have sustained us as has the encouragement we've received when the Holy Spirit leads someone to contact us as a result of something they've read.

A couple of weeks ago, Melanie wrote a prayergram about spiritual warfare. In that note, she mentioned that the battle is sometimes difficult and that it seems the fight grows stronger as we get closer and closer to seeing a new church in our context. Several people responded to that prayergram, some by asking if we needed counseling or medical help. That surprised me. It was almost like "struggling with spiritual battles" was "code" for "doing something that could get you in trouble." I have to confess that I've often struggled with the concept of spiritual warfare. I sometimes think that we give our enemy more credit than he deserves or that we often shift the blame for our own weaknesses to Satan's connivances. Without a doubt, though, his attacks are real and are aimed to discourage, distract, and destroy all that the Father wants to accomplish in our lives, our family, and our work in Paris.

Reality is that we work in a dark place and that, while I don't worry about malaria for my kids or persecution for my brothers and sisters in the church, there are some serious dangers in our country. Loneliness can convince us that we really are alone. Frustration with our organization or the culture where we work can convince as that there is no hope for either. The unresponsiveness of our neighbors and the slowness of our work can lead us to believe that God is neither hearing nor answering our prayers. Just as cold and dreary skies are the norm for Parisian winters, clouds of doubt and failure can darken even those most confident of their calling.

The only answer is in the Scripture and in the church. For years, Melanie has read from "Daily Light," a book of daily readings compiled by Anne Graham Lotz and based on a much earlier work. Today, those readings spoke directly to both of us.

From Micah 7:8-9 -- "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness."

From Job (14:7): "There is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease."

And from Romans 8: "The Spirit...helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for teh saints according to the will of God."

The only answer to the spiritual struggles we have is recognition that God is for us. He has brought us to this place to bring Him glory and to show that glory to those who do not know Him. His presence will sustain us.

As for the second part of that answer, the church, that will come next...

Depuis longtemps...

2006-10-22T12:53:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. And during that log hiatus, there's been much going on. We've been to the US (where I gained ten pounds), returned safely to start a new school year, started a Ph.D. program at SBTS, taken on a leadership role on our team (for the next year), and, yes, continued to try to start a church. We're seeing God do so much in that direction, but there are still so many questions.

When we were in the US, one of the most striking things was the sheer number of churches. Big churches, little churches. Old churches, new churches. Dead churches, lively churches. Whatever they looked like, there were many of them. On highway near my in-laws' house, there were five new church "complexes" from five different denominations. All had moved from prior locations to the "by-pass."' It was amazing.

Those churches are meeting needs. They are finding ways to do ministry among a particular people in a particular place. I pray they continue to do that.

Some exciting things are coming. Check back soon (hopefully I will, too...)

Letting the scales fall off

2006-06-12T11:03:00.000-05:00

OK, so I'm not much of a blogger. I think the idea is that you do this more than once every other month. Sorry.

I did actually wake up this morning with a thought. We spent the day yesterday with some co-workers. One couple, B & R, are extra sharp. They've got a tremendous heart for one of the least evangelical people groups in France, and I can't wait to see what God does through them. After lunch, we went riding and talking. As we talked about everything from the joys of language learning to the intricacies of driving in France, I mentioned that if I ever got fired or otherwise, I at least had figured out how I would plant a church in the US. B sounded a little surprised. I have to confess that we were in the middle of a Parisian traffic jam (literally called a "cork") and I don't remember exactly what he said, but it got me thinking nonetheless.

At first, I felt a little guilty, though I'm sure it wasn't his intention. What was I doing thinking about planting a church in the USA when God has called me to do that in France? After I thought about it a little while, something struck me: my thoughts on planting a church in France are not that different from my thoughts on planting a church in the States.

I came to France full of grand ideas about planting churches. I had books on house churches, indigenous churches, incarnational ministry churches, missional churches, and cell churches. The more I got to know my new culture, though, the less sure I was about how to plant a church. As I looked around me, it didn't really seem like many other people had it figured out either. It was a little frustrating.

Now, almost three years later, God has done something in me. He's taken me and forced me to really (I mean really) think about what "church" is. As He has pared away much of the cultural baggage from my "ideas," He has replaced that by a more biblical (though still far from complete) idea of what church is. Many of the things I wanted church to be were only the latest, coolest, most "strategic" thing. I thought they were my interpretations of this culture, but were really a reflection of, or reaction to, my own.

Over my next few posts, which I hope will come more frequently than this one, I want to expand a little on this. I want to think "out loud" about planting a church.

But back to my original "issue." How can I think about planting a church in the US and in France? Because I want to plant a biblical church that is light in darkness. A church that goes beyond culture because the Gospel goes beyond culture. Contextualization of our message is vital. We have to communicate the truth to a world that doesn't think like we do. But the heart of church is the same in first century Jerusalem and in postmodern France.

Let's start church.

The DaVinci Code

2006-05-18T15:48:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make. And it's not just that it's been too long since I wrote on this blog last.

I went to see The Da Vinci Code today. I had some mixed reasons. First, I thought it was pretty cool that I would see a movie before anybody in America did. Very rarely do I get to see an American film before it's been out in the US. More importantly, though, I wanted to see the movie "everyone" has been talking about. Just this week, we worked alongside a team of students from Colorado who passed out invitations to learn the truth behind the story of Jesus. I wanted to see the movie so I'd know what to talk about.

Here are my reactions:

First, the cinema world doesn't have much to fear. It wasn't that good a movie. I don't usually agree with the movie snobs at the Cannes film festival, who generally panned the movie at its debut this week. This time I do. It's not that is was a bad movie, it just wasn't that good. The big stars were a little disappointing and some of the scenes went beyond cheesy. So, don't worry Oscar competition, this one's not a threat.

More importantly, though, the Kingdom of God has nothing to fear. This has nothing to do with the quality of the movie or the subject matter of the novel. Yes, the movie version makes the number one supporter of the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene (Teabing) look like a raving lunatic. It's just that God is much bigger than Dan Brown, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, and all these folks put together. The Da Vinci Code is not the end of the world. It's just another pothole in a long road of attacks on Jesus.

The greater "threat" today is the movement to prove this movie wrong by using the same logic Robert Langdon (the main character) uses. Logical proofs don't change lives. Jesus changes lives. My friends and neighbors who see this movie might just believe some of it. I guess to someone who doesn't have a new heart, it's pretty persuasive. But sermons on the historical truths behind the Council of Nicea aren't going to change lives.

Jesus will.

That's why I'll be telling my story of how Jesus made a difference for me. How he redeemed me from a life of darkness. How I'm different now because of Him. I may never convince someone that the "gospels" of Philip, Judas, and Mary Magdalene are false (they already believe it's the Catholic church who has convinced me of that). What I can tell them is that neither Philip, Judas, nor Mary Magdalene has ever turned anyone's heart of stone into a new living heart.

So, let's don't spend the next few months debunking all the pieces of the Da Vinci myth. Let's see this for what it is: another attempt by God's enemy to discredit the community of God's people. And let's see it for what God can make it: an opportunity to share our story of who Jesus really is: the Word who became flesh and walked among us -- teaching, healing, loving, and finally dying for us, then defeating everything we fear so that we can spend forever worshiping Him. Now that's a story worth hearing.

Some thoughts on leading

2006-05-01T10:06:00.000-05:00

Ever since our big regional meeting, I've been thinking a lot about leadership. I guess it's something I should know a little bit about: I used to be a pastor and am now a church planter and team leader. It makes sense, I guess, that the subject should be getting familiar. But the more I think about it, the less I think I know.

A few weeks ago, I started asking God for wisdom: wisdom to make good decisions, wisdom on how to deal with people, wisdom on what to do today and tomorrow and the day after that. I've always turned to James 1 where he says "if you lack wisdom, ask God for it." So I asked. I asked Him to show me how to live and to lead.

A day or two later (this was all part of one of those read-the-Bible-in-a-year plans), I got to James 3, where God decided to answer my prayer. He showed me that thing number one to learn about leading is to watch my mouth. The verse (11) where James talks about bitter and sweet water coming out of the same fountain got to me.

Then, I read verses 13-18. James 1 says "ask God for wisdom" then in chapter 3 he says "you want wisdom? Here it is." In The Message, it says to "live humbly and get along with others." In the NASB, it says someone wanting to be seen wise should "show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom."

Wise leadership means humility, gentleness, and "sweet water." What a change from the model of the world and many churches. God, help me to be like that.

More on this later...

Going to church...

2006-04-25T02:04:00.000-05:00

This week, I read an article about a recent survey by George Barna on American attitudes toward the church and spiritual growth. Apparently, on one-third of evangelical believers in the US think that “a person’s faith is meant to be developed mainly by involvement in a local church.” Aside from my usual skepticism about the way survey questions are framed, I found Barna's comments a little confusing.

Barna seems to connect lack of involvement in church to lack of commitment to God. He says that the survey results are evidence of a "soft commitment to God." Now, I'll be the first to affirm that involvement in a community of believers is absolutely necessary for our faith lives. That's why I'm trying to plant churches in France. It seems to me, though, that the problem lies not with believers but with churches. We in the US have not often shown how bodylife is important, but instead have emphasized commitment to the institution.

As far as implications for work here in WE, I'd guess that a survey here would reveal that even fewer people believe that church is important. Bringing the US model here certainly won't help. Being disciples (which means walking in community) will.

Voila

2006-04-22T14:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm going to try again. I've been actually reading some blogs now, so I think I've got a little clearer idea of what this is about. So, here we go.

We are about spreading light in a dark world. We'll be talking about that, missions, missional churches, postmodernism, my kids, and whatever else I can think of.

Bienvenue chez moi.

Welcome

2005-07-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

What is the Dayspring Project? Be patient, hold on, and find out...