FlowerDust.net

One of the “second opinions” in Mad Church Disease was written by my friends Shawn Wood. I met Shawn at a conference three years ago. Shawn did a talk called “Brand Schizophrenia” which he ended with what he called “the artist’s mandate.” The mandate was pretty simple and as an artist right up my alley.

Here is how Shawn puts it: We are all artists (Moms, web developers, baseball players, single dads, CEOs, Authors, Pastors etc.) and we have a mandate from God to be Great at the art we produce. The mandate is simply living a life of influence and meaning in a way that will affect others and leave a legacy that all shines back to the master artist that saved us all - Jesus.

There was a publisher at that conference and that simple mandate turned into a book that encourages everyone to be artists called 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One.

Shawn is a story teller. It’s a great story. I like great stories. So, I wanted to give away ten copies of a great story.

As with all book giveaways I would love to give you all one, but alas I only have a limited number…so here is how you can win.

Leave a comment to this post with your favorite book that we should all be reading this summer and a few of you will get the chance to have a autographed copy of 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One sent your way soon!

Use Tweet This below to double your chances!

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**MORE FREE BOOKS**
Shawn’s second book Wasabi Gospel comes out in August and I heard a rumor that he is setting up a book bomb and blog tour for July 8, 2009 - contact him at shawn@shawnwoodwrites.com if you want score a free copy of Wasabi Gospel (and an advance digital copy to boot) by being a part of the tour! Only 100 free books available so act fast!

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j_rein at 2009-06-27T15:39:14Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817
johnalex5 at 2009-06-26T15:54:18Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817
avtoolman at 2009-06-26T15:19:20Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817 Does your church have Mad Church Disease?
StandintheGapUS at 2009-06-26T14:28:25Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817
shanekba at 2009-06-26T14:22:11Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817
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SKirkham1967A at 2009-06-26T13:04:32Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817
niki716 at 2009-06-26T12:50:50Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817
jimlugar at 2009-06-26T12:44:35Z: BOOK GIVEAWAY - 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=2817

Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to host Catalyst Backstage - a behind the scenes look at Catalyst with interviews with speakers, pastors, and conference attenders. You can see some of those interviews here.

This year, I will be hosting Backstage again, and also will be speaking at Catalyst Labs with Los and Jon. As much as I love the Catalyst experience as a whole, the Lab day is secretly my favorite part of the event. Smaller environments, people sitting on the floor, up the walls, wherever there is space hearing exclusive and intimate conversation and thought by the Lab speakers. So…I must highly recommend you not only register for Catalyst, but please register for the Lab day. You will NOT regret it!!!

Anyway, today (Thursday) is the last day you can register at the cheapest rate. And rumor has it if you use the word “TONY” when you register you save even more money.

I personally wonder what other four letter words will get you a discount.

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Six months ago, I had the opportunity to chat a little with Gary Haugen, the founder of International Justice Mission. My friend Bethany, who also works at IJM, set up the call and I blogged about it here.

As I was flipping through the channels a few weeks ago, I stopped on a Dateline episode with the title “Children for Sale.” As soon as I hit the channel, I saw Gary being interviewed by Chris Hansen. The show was about Dateline going undercover with IJM in Cambodia. It was a couple of years old but the content is timeless. I was instantly taken back to the way I felt after reading Gary’s book Just Courage, and processing the conversation I had with him in December.

Even though I returned from India a little over a month ago, I find it so easy to let my heart slip back into the mode of oblivion. In the back of my mind I know there are life and death issues and injustice occurring all over the world but I retreat into my to do lists and my calendar and my email and making plans for myself.

I shove out of my heart the very things that make up the heart of God.

So, I talked to Bethany and asked if I could give away ten of Gary’s book on my blog today. It is such an important book. I think it’s one I need to read a little every day to simply be reminded that we are called to fight.

Ever feel like this?

“There must be more to the Christian life than this–more than church each Sunday and waving to my neighbors and giving some clothes to Goodwill when I go through my closet each spring.”

These aren’t bad things, of course. But they’re safe and comfortable and easy. And there’s a reason they’re not satisfying your desire for something more significant and meaningful–we’re created by God for adventure.

International Justice Mission president Gary Haugen has found that engaging in the fight for justice is the most deeply satisfying way of life. This book shows how we too can be a part of God’s great expedition.

I wish I could give a copy of this book to all of you. It is one of the most profound books I’ve read. But hey, you can win it. To be entered, leave a comment related to anything having to do with injustice. Your questions, your thoughts, your actions, your desires, whatever.  I’ll pick winners next Thursday and the winner shall be notified via electronic post. (That’s email). Use the TWEET THIS button below to earn double credit.

Tweets about this post:
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Recently, there have been some very serious questions asked about Mad Church Disease, and instead of writing an impersonal post, I thought I’d address you guys a little more formally, via video.

Please see below:

(This is what happens when you have some free time and a video camera late at night after the NBA Finals are over. And, just to clarify, no pastors were insulted in the making of this video. Andy Stanley also looks good, and Ed Young knows how to lead. Thankyouverymuch.)

A little over a year ago, I posted a question:

What’s one thing you feel like you can’t say in church?

337 responses later, it was clear that there are a lot of things many of us keep tucked inside for some reason or another. The question and overwhelming response was picked up by an Australian radio station, and even floated around in some atheist circles.

Since it has been a year since we’ve talked about this, and many of you are new here, I’d like to welcome your thoughts on things you can’t say in church. I am closing comments on this post as to keep them all in the original post below.

What’s one thing you feel like you can’t say in church? (And if you care to add — why do you feel that way?)

CLICK HERE TO RESPOND or just scroll down to the post below this one called “Keeping Your Mouth Shut”

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what is something you feel you can’t say in church, or around other christians?

for example…mine would be, “sometimes i feel like i can’t share how i really feel inside.”

funny, serious, whatever…what’s yours?

A few weeks ago, I told you about a partnership that I’m very honored to be in with a new web video teaching community called Innovative Ministry Leader.

Today, they launch! And they’re using a session of Mad Church Disease to kick it off! In this 20-ish minute video, I talk about my own journey through burnout, some principles for recovery, and what Scripture says about sacrifice and rest in ministry.

You can sign up today and use the promo code FLOWERDUST to get a 10% discount on your membership (any level - one month, six month, or one year) and your subscription is all inclusive meaning you can use it whenever, as many times as you like, wherever. Your whole staff or ministry team can watch the videos all for the price of one subscription.

Upcoming speakers are Jeff Deyo, Troy Gramling, Sheri Gould, Greg Stielstra, Jonathan Lee, Dino Rizzo, Paul Jackson, Tommy Kyllonen, Aaron Linne, Mark Batterson, Ross Parsley, Glenn Packiam, Skye Jethani, Carl Cartree and Jud Wilhite…they are adding more all the time, too!

I took a 40 second clip out of my video so you can kind of get a feel for it.

And, if you sign up now, you get eight of the Leadership Network Innovation Series books through Zondervan. You can see what those books are here.

Also, here’s a little screen grab of one of my videos (there are two more videos coming - one about pornography addiction and another about depression). I could have totally chose a more flattering photo, but there’s nothing like a little self deprecation.

The best caption for this photo wins a copy of Mad Church Disease!

Literally.

I had the opportunity to write a more in depth article on my three year Facebook journey — the good, the bad, the ugly, for PurposeDriven.com. And see, Rick and I are on the same page.

At least the same webpage. I really have no idea how he feels about Facebook.

So, if you want the full story behind my Facebook suicide, click here to read it over at PurposeDriven.com.

And I leave you with this very important question…

If Rick Warren and Joel Osteen got into a poke war on Facebook, who would win?

When I was seven, I “won” a trip to Schlitterbahn because I memorized all the books in the Bible and could recite them to our small, West Texas congregation. There is nothing quite like trying to say “Habakkuk” while standing on a milk crate (and three hymnals) in order to see over my dad’s oak pulpit. It was quite the balancing act.

Next up were Bible Drills. It was time to put that knowledge to use.

Ready?

Draw swords!

Proverbs 3:4 - Go!

Our classroom of fifth and sixth graders would flip urgently through the pages of our Bibles, scouring to find the called out scripture. There was nothing holy about it. Elbows were thrown, feet were mashed, voices were raised, tampers were thrown…but, by golly, did I ever know my Bible.

Fueled by competition, I went home to study, over and over again, where the books were located in my Bible. Trying to remember themes and stories and memorize the frequented verses so even if I didn’t actually find them in the Bible, I could ramble them off like I had.

Again.

Nothing.

Holy.

About it.

Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to do several interviews for radio stations or by phone and I’ll think of a verse in the Bible I want to reference. I typically fumble around,

“Well, um, I think Paul said….”

(If it’s something in the New Testament, you’re pretty safe going with either Jesus or Paul).

“In the Old Testament, it says….”

(By narrowing it down to the Old or New Testaments, you have a 50/50 shot of getting it right).

I know these verses. I know a LOT of verses. I just have no clue where they are anymore.

I’ve realized the Bible I use most often for research is online. It’s so easy to search for a keyword or topic and be flooded with a variety of results. Which, when you’re researching something, is really quite efficient.

Gone are the days I am digging through cross references and skimming down chapters and chapters looking for a specific verse. And you know what? I kind of miss it.

There was something very life-giving that comes from sitting down with Scripture in its paper form. There’s something about scanning and reading through Scripture intentionally, yet never knowing what other treasure you may find along the way. Granted, it takes more time, effort, and patience, but I have to say in the end, it’s more than worth it - at least it seems to be for me.

What are your thoughts? Have you seen how your personal scripture reading habits or knowledge has changed with the use of technology? I know for many people it enhances the experience. I guess I’m just wondering if I’m crazy for wanting to go back in time.

Unfortunately (and if you follow my Twitter account you already know this), I got pretty sick Thursday night. As in wake-up-at-2:30AM-Emergency Room-CT Scan-sick. After it came back all clear for appendicitis and other scary things, I thought I’d just fight through whatever it is and press on to Atlanta.

I picked up my rental car, literally had everything packed up and was heading back into the house to lock up when I was overwhelmed by the contents of my stomach. My temperature is all funky and I can barely move without throwing up. And it has been a long, long time since I’ve thrown up. Like eight years.

Part of me knows this is a spiritual battle and that part of me is second guessing my decision to stay home. What if I was supposed to move along in spite of being sick and I made the wrong choice? Another part of me thinks, “Hey, people get sick. You got sick. It’s out of your control.”

So I’m torn.

No doubt God is in control of all of the circumstances at hand and everyone who has worked so hard to make this weekend happen is being more than gracious and patient and loving.

I’m just having a hard time understanding…knowing I am probably overthinking everything…but I’m struggling, you guys.

Thanks for your prayers and love and encouragement. I know a lot of you have been in situations like this before and I could honestly use your wisdom right now.

Well, this is ironic.

I had the good intent of getting this post up about five hours ago, but you know what? I had a mess of random things come up in my schedule and I’ve literally spent most of my day away from my computer.

If, by some chance, I would have actually LISTENED to my friend Tony’s wisdom in his book Killing Cockroaches, I might have been able to plan, delegate, say no, redirect, and focus a little better.

Lesson learned.

Again.

So, before we get to the book giveaway stuff, you have to know Tony’s going on tour. I don’t know if he’ll be giving out hugs, if he’ll have pyrotechnics, or even a 300 pound body guard with zero body fat escorting him to and from his Prevost, but regardless, if he’s in your area, you have to have to be a part of the tour. And it’s cheaper than taking your team out to lunch. If you took them to the Melting Pot and not McDonalds, I mean.  Details are here.

Tony has been generous enough to donate ten copies of Killing Cockroaches to the Anne Jackson Book Giveaway fund. To be entered, leave a comment having to do with anything roach related - literal or metaphorical - and be entered. I’ll pick winners from both this giveaway and the Mad Church Disease giveaway next Thursday and the winner shall be notified via electronic post. (That’s email). Use the TWEET THIS button below to earn double credit.

Ready? Go.

Something I am SO excited about is…

We are taking some of the core values from each chapter of the book Mad Church Disease and putting them on video so churches or staffs or groups of people can use them to help walk through the book and begin a discussion.

Oh, and the thing I’m SUPER DUPER jazzed about is that they will be completely, 100%, no strings attached FREE!

We start working on them next weekend, and before we do, I’d love to get your opinion on what makes (for lack of a better term) a “teaching video” helpful to you?

If you haven’t read MCD yet, you can download a FREE chapter (which happens to be one of my favorite chapters) here.

And I just got a case of books in a few weeks ago, so if you’d like a bulk discount on books (10+ copies) just shoot me an email. We’ll get ya hooked up.

Have a great week!

Fact: Kem Meyer has the coolest chick hair I’ve seen.

Fact: She’s also given one of the niftiest presentations I’ve seen.

Fact: She has a book that you need to read.

Fact: Especially if you have no background in communication and you work in a church.

Fact: Or even if you do.

Fact: I have 10 to give away.

Leave me a comment with either your biggest communications FAIL or your biggest communications WIN and you’ll be entered into the contest…next Thursday I’ll pick ten random people and you’ll get a copy of the book! Tweet this post below and you are entered twice!

Tweets about this post:
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So here’s something you need to know about.

I’ve partnered with a new web-based video teaching/training site that launches next month called Innovative Ministry Leader. And the crazy kids over there are using my little video to launch things on June 9th! It was a great experience working with these guys. Even though it was the day Nashville got pounded by tornadoes, that didn’t stop them from doing the video shoot!

Following me in the month of June are videos from Jeff Deyo (Sonic Flood guy), Troy Gramling, Sheri Gould, Greg Stielstra, Doug Gould, Jonathan Lee, Dino Rizzo, Paul Jackson (no relation!) Tommy Kyllonen, Mark Batterson, Ross Parsley, Glenn Packiam, Skye Jethani, Carl Cartee, Jud Wilhite….and the list continues to grow.

Innovative Ministry Leader is the world’s first complete web-based training center for today’s leaders. It allows EVERYONE from your team (one person or one million) teaching and insight from innovative leaders from around the world.

IML has video teaching in the areas of leadership, worship, marketing, culture and technology.

Every month IML features new web-based videos that range in length from 20 to 60 minutes. There are areas for people to engage in chat rooms as they watch the teaching and even has a “buddy list” of sorts so you can connect with leaders with similar interests.

All videos are archived as well, so you can access them at anytime!

It’s a monthly subscription and it is SO affordable…$34.99/month for unlimited access to everything. Again — that is for your WHOLE staff, leadership team, volunteers, whoever!

**And…I’m happy to announce the first 150 people who register will receive all 8 of the Leadership Network Innovation Series books FREE!**

-

-Deliberate Simplicity by Dave Browning
-Confessions of a Reformission Rev  by Mark Driscoll
-The Multisite Church Revolultion by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird
-Leadership from the Inside out by Kevin Harney
-The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson
-The Monkey & The Fish  by Dave Gibbons
-Sticky Church by Larry Osborne
-Servolution by Dino Rizzo

So…click over, check it out, sign up…and can’t wait for June 9th when some Mad Church Disease teachin’ will be going down.

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The cold rain was unusual for Baton Rouge in December. Yet even in the dark, we pulled the van in to the parking lot at the Alamo Motel. The same motel where drug dealers and hookers are the nicer people you’d meet. Where a 47 year old stabbed his 76 year old cousin to death. Where a serial rapist found refuge until he was arrested.  Where girls under the age of fifteen are raped or sold for sex.

A group from Healing Place Church and I checked in on Miss Ella - a grandmother who was taking care of her six grandkids, and a dog, in a 300 sq ft motel room. If you could even call it that. She had a roof over her head and a few mattresses, but that was about it.

During the time I spent in Baton Rouge with the people at Healing Place Church — one thing was for certain. This church was living out the message of love and Christ in their own backyard. From the places where they were rebuilding from hurricane damage, to Dream Centers that housed anyone from the homeless to the domestically abused to the kid who didn’t have anyone to go home to.  While we were out, we saw another van delivering meals to the widows in this community. We visited strip clubs to give flowers to the dancers and earlier that morning, set up tables full of a warm breakfast for anyone who needed it. And there were several hundred who were fed.

Pastor Dino Rizzo and his team have been friends, encouragers, and champions in my own little ministry. I’m so green and new at this, but they don’t care. They challenge me, love me, pray for me, inspire me, connect me with others I can learn from, and they love to learn from others too. I don’t have much to teach them, but their attitude of openness and servanthood is beyond what I could possibly describe in a blog post.

Pastor Dino has a book out called Servolution. If you could package the DNA of Healing Place Church this book does that. I am not exaggerating when I say every single believer out there needs to read this book. We are called to transform the world with the love of Christ and Dino has been so gifted to share what he has learned along the way.

I have ten copies of Servolution to giveaway (although I highly encourage you to go ahead and just buy it).

Here’s how you win.

Leave a comment about how you have seen the church BE the church lately and you’ll be entered to win. I’m going to throw in something new this time. If you use the “Tweet This” button below and retweet this post, it will count as a double entry so you’ll have a better chance of winning, plus you’ll be spreading an important message that needs to be heard.  Next Thursday I’ll randomly pick ten people and Zondervan will contact the winners to get their mailing information.

Ready? Steady? Go.

Shame is a sickness…

A disease…

That keeps us hidden.

The remedy for shame is grace.

Grace that requires you to step aside when you know you’re right.

Grace that requires you to consider others better than yourself.

Grace that hurts and is dangerous.

Someone around you needs that grace right now.

Go give it.

And give it freely.

I heart Jud and Lori Wilhite.

Seriously.

I met Jud through my friend Mike Foster. The two of those guys authored a great book called Deadly Viper Character Assassins and every once in a while, I pop over and contribute on the Deadly Viper blog.

Jud and I met face to face for the first time at Catalyst, although he had helped me process some significant changes in my life before then.

He’s also part Texan. Which I dig.

Jud had a book release a few weeks ago called Eyes Wide Open: See and Live the Real You. I haven’t finished it yet, but that doesn’t stop me from recommending it to you.

Why?

I have always had a HUGE problem accepting WHO I am…the person God has created me to be. It’s been difficult to embrace the quirky, awkward, not always put together, sometimes shy girl who gets sweaty feet when she’s nervous. And as such, I would always try super hard to prove myself.

To God. And to others.

I am definitely on a journey to find my identity in Christ. And that is what this book is about.

And since we’re back to giving books away on Thursdays, I have ten copies of Jud’s book to giveaway.

All you have to do is leave a comment talking about your own journey to finding your identity or embracing who you are. I’ll pick 10 comments at random and contact the winners by email next Thursday.

If you can’t wait that long, pick up a copy of Jud’s book here.

Dave Ferguson asked me a provocative and intriguing question last week.

Do you know any women church planters?

For once, I was left dumbfounded.

I have never heard of a female church planter - EVER!

I asked him if I could blog this question and get feedback from you guys.

Have you ever heard of any women church planters?

What do you think about the idea in general?

I told you guys, I’m going to be giving a bunch of books away, no strings attached!

Because we’re humans, we’re hard-wired toward irrelevance–toward crossing the line. Jesus wanted his followers to be different. In the garden of Gethsemane, hours before facing the cross, he prayed that his followers would be in the world, but not of it.

So where is this line?

• Separatists cross it by going out of the world.
• Conformists cross it by becoming of the world.
• Only Transformists walk The Fine Line of being in the world, but not of it.

So which are you?

Both my husband and I tend to lean toward the conformist camp. We grew up very traditional, so now we are freely exploring the beauty and diversity of our faith.

Take this little test to see which camp you naturally gravitate toward.

*The Separatists–are anti-everybody, anti-everything, and they retreat from culture. Their excessive rules are an attempt to escape the world. Those who lean toward the Separatist camp are guilty of certain characteristics. Three of the most common are that they allow:

• rules to replace relationships
• microscopes to replace mirrors
• performance to replace passion.

*The Conformists–are hypocrites, biblically shallow and consumers of culture. Their excessive desire for trendiness results in merely mimicking culture. Those who lean toward the Conformist camp are guilty of certain characteristics. Three of the most common are that they allow:

• media to replace meditation
• liberty to replace love
• tolerance to replace truth.

Thankfully there is an alternative.

Enter stage right the Transformists, a new breed of Christ followers who are in the world but not of it and more clearly mirror New Testament Christianity. The backstory of Transformists is quite convincing. For starters, they don’t need to have everything figured out, for that would mean they’re Separatists. They don’t need to say anything goes, for that would mean they’re Conformists. They neither add to God’s Word nor do ignore it. Instead, they obey it.

They’re not perfect, but they’re seekers. They long to have a pure relationship with the Creator of the Universe. They desire to know the “why” behind the “what” and the purpose behind the principle. Of course there will be mistakes along the way, but this is what sets them apart. They have a little more grace and patience with each other, because they know what they’ve been saved from.

Above all else, they passionately love God and people. They don’t fear culture because they’re called to shape it. They don’t fear Christianity because they’re called to embody it. They are the Relevant. They are the Transformists*

HOW TO WIN THE BOOK:

**By owning up to your junk and posting a comment about which camp you lean toward, you’ll be entered to win The Fine Line give-away.**

10 random winners will score a copy of Kary Oberbrunner’s new Zondervan book The Fine Line and discover more about the Transformist way and narrowing the gap between Christ and Culture.

*(Excerpt from The Fine Line: Re-envisioning the Gap between Christ and Culture) by my friend Kary Oberbrunner.

So, about this time last year, I was on staff at LifeChurch.tv in OKC. One afternoon, I remember sitting with Terry Storch, Bobby Gruenewald, Craig Groeschel and Lance Young in Bobby’s office (it was pretty cramped…somehow Craig ended up sitting on the floor wedged behind where the door would open) and on this HUGE whiteboard, we were dreaming up this idea of uniting churches all over the world.

Could churches actually combine efforts to share resources, teaching videos, to give financially, and to fast and serve and pray together? What would that look like?

Why not try? And the whiteboard got really full, really quickly.

One Prayer was born. It started with four churches, then grew to eight. Then double digits. Then hundreds. Then thousands. And before you knew it over 2 million believers across the world were participating in this movement.

One of the coolest parts for me was watching the videos that churches would share for other churches. Because it’s all about sharing. Last year, people taught on what their “One Prayer” for the church would be. Personally, some of my favorite videos were from pastors who had no fancy equipment. Those who put their handicam on a tripod and sat in front of a wall and delivered an incredible challenge.

It’s almost time for One Prayer 2009, and just in case you haven’t heard about it, check out this video from Craig.

I’d really encourage you to explore the option of your church participating in One Prayer 2009. Whether you can contribute a video or not, just participating in such an amazing experience will be life changing for you and your church. The theme this year is “God is _________.” You can get the details and register here. Oh yeah. Totally free. Of course.

(By the way, Craig, if you stumble on this post. I think your hair looks awesome in this video!)

(Sorry, I am a girl and I notice peoples’ hair.)

(Just had to get that off my chest.)

I’m sitting in Terminal 3 at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after spending a few days in the Windy City. During my quick trip, I had the opportunity to share some time with the amazing staff at Community Christian Church, and also got to connect with some friends: Deadly Viper Mike Foster, coffee pastor Scott Hodge, Friendly Atheist Hemant Metha, and a few of the staff at Christianity Today and Leadership Journal including author-editor-pastor Skye Jethani.

Each person has a unique point of view on faith and Christianity, and needless to say, our conversations varied greatly.

I’m definitely in a season where I’m exploring and discovering what faith is to me - instead of just leaning into the tradition of my upbringing (which, don’t get me wrong, plays an important role).

A book that has helped me define so much of the tension between culture and faith is The Divine Commodity by the aforementioned Jethani.  Skye is a Zondervan author and we work with the same team, so Genius Marketing Guy sent me a copy of Skye’s book a long, long time ago - thinking I’d find it interesting.

I have to admit. I get around five books in the mail each week (not that I’m complaining), but it’s hard for me to find time to read them all. It did take me a few months to get to Skye’s book.

I wish I would have read it sooner.

As soon as I finished, I passed my heavily highlighted and marked up copy to my friend Shaun, who devoured it and gave a few other copies I had to a couple of friends on staff.

If you’ve ever felt a tension between faith, culture, and consumerism, I can’t recommend this book enough.

Skye doesn’t approach the topic critically, which one could easily do. He simply explores how a timeless faith and an ever-changing consumeristic culture mix (or in some cases, how they don’t mix).

Since may of the pastors I know would easily dismiss this book (because hey, let’s just admit that many of us wrestle consumerism in every compartment of life and it’s easy to just let it exist in apathy), I asked Skye about how church leaders should approach this book.

And I also asked to give away ten copies to random commenters.

Below is my conversation with Skye, as well as a quick video we shot at the CT Offices on Tuesday. I realize it’s a little lengthy, but it’s completely worthwhile. Get the book. It’s beautiful. It’s thought provoking. It’s incredibly well written.

Anne: For those of us who have read The Divine Commodity, we know you’re not being divisive or writing about “what’s wrong” with the church.  We know that it’s a book that explores the culture of modern-day faith and Biblical context and wisdom.

Why should a pastor read this book?  How can those of us who aren’t pastors graciously help communicate the message of The Divine Commodity without coming off like we have an agenda?

Skye: When the Apostle Paul wrote his letters to the churches, his great desire was for them to all reach full maturity in Christ Jesus. This required more than merely forming them into people of love and faith. Paul also diagnosed the ways they had been malformed by false teachers, ungodly cultural mores, empty philosophies, and the deceitfulness of the flesh. Making disciples was not just a process of construction, but also deconstruction. To the Colossians, Paul wrote about “taking off” certain things, and “putting on” others.

This is why I wrote The Divine Commodity, and why I believe church leaders as well as anyone serious about discipleship should engage the book. North American culture is dominated by consumerism—and I don’t simply mean the behavior of consumption, but the worldview of consumerism. The book does not take issue with the buying and selling of products, but the extension of self-indulgent and self-centered consumption to the point that it becomes the lens through which we see all of life and the cosmos—including God.

If pastors are passionate about “going and making disciples,” then they don’t only need to know what to form people into, but also what they must be formed out of—just as a doctor cannot prescribe a remedy until she has diagnosed the disease. The Divine Commodity explores what consumerism is, and how it shapes our understanding of faith, worship, mission, church, discipleship, and even God. Once this malformation is diagnosed, the book prescribes practices (both individual and corporate) that help us “take off” these things and “put on” Christ. It is first and foremost a book about discipleship within a consumer culture, and this is why pastors ought to read it—it will help them understand the context in which they are called to make disciples with its unique challenges and opportunities.

Now, to address your second question about how those who are not pastors might graciously communicate the book’s message. That’s a much simpler answer—live it. The book does not advocate a radical coup within the church or call for a revolution in the church’s structure. It’s not about strategy, systems, or programs. In fact, if nothing ever changes about the way your church operates, you are still able to engage and employ the lessons within The Divine Commodity. I don’t believe we can (or should) overturn our consumer culture. Nor do I believe churches (from the mini to the mega) should radically revamp their structures. That wouldn’t solve the threat posed by consumerism—it’s a far more elusive foe because the battlefield between consumerism and the Kingdom of God is not external, but within the heart and imagination of every believer.

As consumerism’s grip over you begins to loosen, and you experience the transforming reality of “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” the way you worship, serve, and relate will begin to change. In time, through resources like The Divine Commodity and others, perhaps others will join you in your quest for a richer Christian life. The gospel has always been an incarnate reality, transmitted life to life across the medium of relationship. As this begins to take root within your church, regardless of what the leadership or programming is doing, the message of hope, liberty, and fullness in Christ will spread like yeast through a lump of dough. So, rather than criticizing those still enraptured with Consumer Christianity, save your energy and simply let your life reveal a fuller glory which does not fade.

Check out some other bloggers’ thoughts on The Divine Commodity or You can read an excerpt of it here.

(Also, next Thursday I’ll be giving away 10 copies of another book….stay tuned! This might turn into a habit…)

To win the book, please leave a comment telling me how you’ve wrestled with a consumerist culture and faith, and I’ll randomly pick 10 people over the weekend and send them a copy of Skye’s book.

Dear Church with the Corny Marquee Sign,

Charlotte Avenue was bumper to bumper traffic as one would expect at 6 pm on a weekday.  Why I chose this route instead of taking the highway is beyond me.

As I inched up closely to the next stop light, I glanced up to read your old fashioned marquee sign with the archaic plastic letters, aged and tired. I rolled my eyes at your corny Christian saying.

After what seemed like an eternity, the light turned green and I finished my excursion to The Mecca of Things Unnecessary: Target.

Picking up my prescription (and contributing an additional donation of $64 to The Mecca), I traveled home, back on Charlotte Avenue once again.

Back to you again.

But instead of rolling my eyes again, I flashed back to my formative elementary school years when I’d pull down the boxes containing the same plastic letters in my dad’s workroom in the church where he was a pastor. He’d leave me a quote with a saying for the sign not so different than the one I’d read on yours today. Cautiously, I’d climb the church’s four foot ladder and meticulously line up the letters on the sign to form the words just right.

Because I was just as compulsive then as I am now.

I imagine your pastor similar to my father in those days.

Balding.

The only person “on staff.”

Away from his family.

Putting those little golf scoring pencils in the pews while picking up last week’s bulletins that people had left stuck behind the hymnals.

His office is a mess of old Matthew Henry Commentaries and prayer requests and he sits back in an old office chair with cracks in the leather, and as he looks at a photograph of a picture of his family, he leans back and takes a deep breath.

And I’m really sorry for rolling my eyes at your sign earlier. It was immature and inconsiderate. Because your boldness to say something positive on a street that sees so much darkness is nothing short of noble and redemptive.

And to your pastor I say thank you for being the man you know you’re supposed to be. It’s not an easy or popular job, and definitely not one that’s financially rewarding, but my own back yard is a better place for having you love and give the way you give.

And I can’t roll my eyes at that.

=====

At the National Pastors Convention, I had the chance to sit on a panel and discuss the use of technology and social media within the church.  You can actually see our pixel-shaped heads here if you’d like to see what went down (Thanks, DJ).

Anyway, over the last couple of months, the brain contained in my own pixel-shaped head has been doing a LOT of thinking. A lot. And if you were to have seen the interview I did at the I3 Conference, you’d see that I literally contradict myself within a week’s time.  Cynthia asked if I believed in the phenomenon of Online Community to which I eagerly argued, “yes, yes, a million times yes!”

At the NPC panel just a few days later, when I met Skye Jethani (remember, whose book Divine Commodity is the most profound thing I’ve read in a long, long time), we continued this “online community” conversation on the panel.

Out of Ur, which is a Christianity Today blog, posted a video of Shane Hipps (author of Flickering Pixels, another brilliant book) talking about virtual worlds and suggesting physical proximety is a factor in community.  Scot McKnight responded with a slightly differing opinion.  Skye asked me to respond as well.  And so I did.

Here is an excerpt…I’d love for you to post your thoughts over on Out of Ur, so I’m closing comments here.

In some instances, these online conversations have translated into personal communication (by email, chats, or phone) and some have even turned into face-to-face meetings. The platforms of social media certainly give these personal interactions a “jump start” so to speak, because you do, in some regard, know bits and pieces of the other person’s life.

But this is where it gets muddy for me. Is it community?

Given my experience living in both worlds, it may be surprising to hear, but I am beginning to lean on the side of no—what happens online is not community. Before you send me an army of frowning emoticons, please hear me out:

I believe what happens online is connection—not community.

People can be vulnerable and honest online. And at times these online connections can be more life-giving than many of our offline relationships, but they are not the same.

You will read an announcement in the full post on Out of Ur that might surprise you.  Once you’re done over there, come back over here and you’ll get the full scoop.

See you over there!

Then back here.

Phew! I’m getting tired with all this running around.

If you didn’t already know, I am a major, major fan of the people at Healing Place Church.  I had the opportunity to hang with some of their staff and volunteers back in December.  Serving the homeless and then going on the Midnight Outreach was one of the most profound experiences of my life.  It’s been two months and I am still processing it.

When I came back to Cross Point after my trip to Baton Rouge, I couldn’t shut up about how HPC is just oozing the love of Christ in simple acts of service.  Now Ryan, our missions pastor at Cross Point and Jenni, our Executive Director, are going to go experience the DNA of Healing Place.

Something else we’re doing, and that YOU have an opportunity to do, is SERVOLUTION!  Dino wrote a book with the same title, which I highly recommend you order millions of copies of.  But what’s amazing is the week leading up to Easter, they are challenging churches to just get out and serve.

It’s that simple!

From the Servolution website:

7 Days of Servolution is churches from all over the world coming together to express the love of Christ to the people in their communities through simple acts of kindness and generosity. From April 3rd through the 9th we are asking you to partner with us and churches from all over the world and bring that example set by Jesus to the people in your community. As you know this is the week leading up to Easter weekend. We believe that this is a great opportunity to invite people from all over your community to come out and be a part. Many times it’s during those weekends that people are the most receptive to the Gospel message and we want to help do all that we can to fill churches everywhere for people to have an opportunity to experience the love of God through salvation.

Cross Point is doing it.  And you should too.

You can get more info and sign up here!

This morning, I felt like I should pray to have an opportunity to help someone out financially.  We aren’t loaded with extra money, but we both have our jobs, can pay our bills, and have some left over at the end of the month which I know is more than a lot of people.  Within a few minutes, I checked my Facebook and there was an opportunity right there. BAM. Love it when that happens.

I know many of us in our churches pray that we will have opportunities to share grace and truth and hope with our communities.

I am thinking the biggest opportunity we’ve ever had is staring us right in the face and we don’t even realize it.

We are living in a financial crisis.  We all know our economy sucks right now.  I see a lot of emails about people losing their jobs, not being able to afford heat or food (food pantry/food stamp usage has gone up 32%).  People are living in cars.  On the street.  Wherever.

What are we doing about it?

Seth had a post today along the lines of thinking creatively in order to produce a different outcome.

Creativity changes the game, whatever game is being played. “We’re going to run out of cash by the end of the year,” is accurate unless you count creativity into the equation. Then the accurate statement is, “Under the current rules and assumptions, we’re going to run out of cash…” Big difference.

Let’s face it…churches tend to get stuck in ruts.  We do things because it’s the way either we’ve done them before or someone else has done them before.  We look for safety.  We want protection.  We want to be guaranteed success.  (Whatever that means.)

We ask for opportunities…WELL, HERE WE GO.

You want to “reach people?” What are some ways you’ve done this before? Sending out postcards? Investing in something fancy that will wow people when they arrive?  Sure…those things have merit.  They’ve “worked” before, so let’s stick with them!  That’s what we think.

RUT ALERT.

We, as the church, have a HUGE opportunity to help our communities.  What if you didn’t send out that mailer and instead, spent the thousands of dollars paying people’s heating bills or stocking up a food pantry?  What if we held off on an expensive purchase and threw a block party and got to know our neighbors?

The truth of what we communicate doesn’t change.  But how we communicate it SHOULD change, because part of how our message comes across is what we use to give that message!

We always talk about the televangelists who begged for money.  Oh, how they so desperately needed it…as they paid for premium airtime and wore fancy clothes.

That message? They don’t really need the money.

Our message is one of love.

One that puts others first.

But what are our mediums of communicating that message saying?

Does the way we do things line up with our message?

Are you willing to get out of the rut of safety and change it up?