According to Steve Taylor it's:

1. A story based in ordinary lives.
2. The conflict between comfortable pasts and painful new narratives.
3. The ability to subvert existing unjust structures rather than start new shiny things.
4. The power of what can happen when you trust yourself to organic processes.
5. The importance of welcoming the stranger in whom are found the keys to unlock pain and grief and bring healing.
   

That's missional church.

Labels: blogging, leadership

Labels: videos

I was telling you a couple months back that I was getting a new office space in my house. Well, I neglected to post a picture of my new space (what with the complete lack of blogging and all), so here it is:

You will notice:

• I only keep a few of my favourite books on the bookshelf in my office (the rest are in the basement).
• A bed for our miniature schnauzer "Bear"... she likes to lay down and watch me work. Very nice.
• Window air conditioning unit. Very important in the humid Ontario summer. I stay cool and refreshed while I work. Glorious.
• My space is clutter-free. I am a neat freak. This is my one and only space where I have full control of its clutter level.
• Artwork and plants... they make me happy.
  

You may not (won't be able to) notice:

• Inside the cabinet pictured are awards, certificates, etc. some of which are framed, none of which are displayed on the wall. That's just the way I roll.
• An Ikea wardrobe containing hundreds of VHS and DVD movies, hundreds of CDs, etc.
• The paint on the walls is environmentally friendly... and beautiful to work with (only one coat needed). We have made efforts in the past while to make our home as green as we can.
• A bulletin board above my desk. I throw ideas-in-progress on there so I can visualize what's next. It helps with my creativity and my organization.
• My acoustic guitar in the corner. I like to play. It helps me think and relax.
  

Labels: family, personal

I wonder if this commercial has anything to say to The Church?

Labels: videos

My friend, Randell Neudorf (who is also a leader at The Freeway) has a musical project under his alter-ego persona, 2x the Mono. Recently he created an ambient experimental album called "sound sketches" which is available for download. I use these tunes to create environments in worship, when I want to re-engage my imagination, and to foster creativity while I am working at my computer. You should go and give it a listen and consider purchasing it.

Labels: friends, worship resources

The Freeway is hosting an Allelon Summer Institute from July 7-11, 2008. What is a Summer Institute?

Allelon Summer Institutes were born out of a question: How do we accelerate the learning and development of leaders in the frameworks and skills to form mission-shaped churches? Over the past 2 years, these three day intensive learning communities have provided frameworks, tools and resources to many pastors, leaders and denominational executives.

In 2008, we are launching Allelon Training Centers (ATCs) in a number of locations across North America. Our Summer Institutes will feature quality courses and tutorials at our Regional Training Centers in missional leadership, practice and formation. These courses are designed at a Masters Level for clergy, church planters, elders, deacons, youth leaders and men and women from a variety of backgrounds engaged in leadership in their local Christian community.

We are offering a morning course and an afternoon course as follows:

8:00am-12:00pm - Mission-Shaped Groups: Structures For Missional Formation
Instructor: Alan Roxburgh
Cost: $299.00

1:00pm-5:oopm - Missional Church: Its Nature & Purpose
Instructor: Pernell Goodyear
Cost: $299.00

Labels: church planting, leadership, training centre

This past weekend I went to the Toronto Tattoo Convention with a good friend of mine. It was a really good time. We had dinner at Rich Tree Restaurant and headed over to the Hilton on Richmond Street where the convention was taking place. I must say, I didn't really know what to expect. I have never been to a tattoo convention before.

I have been really interested in tattoos as art for quite a few years now. One of the cool things at the convention was The Art Fusion Experiment:

Tattoo, as a cultural practice, goes back thousands of years and has held ritual significance, aesthetic significance and more for cultures. Now the world is experiencing a tattoo mania. At its core are a group of highly skilled, dedicated Tattoo artists who haven't always been willing to acknowledge their own artistry for fear of being too 'establishment'. Two premier tattoo artists set out to change this with the Art Fusion Experiment - a project of collaborative creation on paper and canvas that is a direct outgrowth of collaborative tattoo. Their experiment has unexpected results with thousands of participating artists from over 40 countries and even more fans.

Anyway, as I walked around 1000's of tattooed people, hundreds of tattoo shop displays, skateboard vendors, jewelery vendors, and was offered drugs... and other stuff, etc. and as I chatted with my friends from Cottage 13 (my tattoo shop in Hamilton) who had a booth at the convention, I couldn't help but think about a few things:

• I felt more comfortable and less uptight than I normally do at pastor's conventions. Weird.
• This is the kind of place that followers of Jesus need to be a lot more. I fear we avoid these type of places, and this type of a community far too often, in order to reside/retreat in our safe and comfortable Christian bubble.
  
• Art has significant power when it comes to communicating story. I find myself more and more drawn to tattoo art as story-telling.
  

Well, I forgot to bring my camera to the convention - rookie move. But, below is a picture of my latest tattoo that I am working on... it should be a full sleeve by October. My tattooist, Jen, started at my wrist and is working her way up. I am really happy with it so far.


I also realized that I have never posted a picture of my leg tattoo I had finished in the winter, so here is that as well (both sides of my leg mirror each other, the tattoo is of two Celtic dogs - representing "loyalty" and "friendship" - and two Celtic birds - representing "journeying to new places" and "resurrection"):

Labels: leadership, tattoos

Want to see pictures (taken by Krista Jefferson) of a recent worship gathering at The Freeway? Click here.

Labels: friends, photos, the freeway

Up until a couple days ago, I didn't have an office.

I used to have a home office. But it was taken over by the family for the computer and crafts, and whenever we have guests who need a place to stay (which is far more regularly than you might imagine), and for storage... and the room was re-named "spare room." I didn't mind at all. I am used to working wherever, finding wireless cafes, working in our living room, setting up shop at our coffee house (where I also don't have an office), etc. But that's the beauty of office to go.

But I had noticed my productivity and creativity were beginning to suffer lately. Especially since my role has become far more administrative as of late.

My daughter, Samantha - who will be ten in June and is growing up and becoming a young lady way faster than I'd like - wanted to switch rooms with the "spare room" because the "spare room" has a big closet (the biggest one in the house). "Why does a ten year old girl need a big closet?"... well, apparently that's a stupid question. So two days ago we switched the two rooms. She's growing up. We even had to buy her new bedding and accessories because her old stuff was for "little girls."

Samantha switching rooms is a move far bigger than switching rooms. It's allowing her space to grow up a little bit. Now, that's hard for a dad. Really hard. It seems like just yesterday that I held this little blonde baby in my arms and rocked her gently and thought "man, she looks like E.T." Now she needs a bigger closet?

Anyway, this meant that I had the opportunity to reclaim some office space (at the suggestion of my wifey... but I think she was just trying to soften the blow of my daughter growing up on me). So, I have set up shop in my new space. I am away all weekend, so I will paint it early next week because it's too "little girl" for me too.

Already, it has enhanced my productivity and comfort as I work. Hopefully, that will transfer into more creative thought. I'll try and post some pictures so you can all see where the magic happens.

Labels: family, personal

This video is of Cake... and it's delicious.

I was first introduced to Cake in 1996 when I lived in Barrie where I was a youth pastor. My friend, John-Mark, who has recently returned from Ghana where him, his wife and their two girls were missionaries for two years, played "Fashion Nugget" - a Cake CD - in the car one day and I instantly fell in love.

The funky drums, bass, and guitar, along with the catchy rhythms and unique vocal styling's won me over. I have been a big fan ever since. In fact, I have said on many occasions, when probed for such information, that they are one of my top five favourite bands of all time. I can often be seen and heard singing loudly to Cake tunes in my car. Cake makes me happy.

Music has always been huge in my life. From using music as therapy and escape from family feuds, to playing in several bands, to being a radio DJ for a while, to my church leadership experience, etc. I want to explore my life in music in some subsequent posts, bit by bit.

Labels: music, personal, videos