“Speaking about the Sundanese in general terms, we may make two statements which are both equally true. A Sundanese is not at all a [Muslim], and yet he is a convinced [Muslim] devoted to Islam. The explanation of this contradictory statement is to be found in one thing. All things considered, the Sundanese people have almost completely assimilated Islam, fitting it into their own ancient conception of the world and of life. Seen from this angle, the Sundanese have preserved their identity of pre-Islamic times. Yet, precisely because they have assimilated Islam to such an extent within their own ancient way of life, Islam has grown into their life and is really accorded its actual place of authority in the people’s soul. Can missions, can Christianity effect the same thing? No! Why not?

Because missions must formulate the problem on the basis of the Gospel in the following way: Christianity must be rooted in the soul of the Sundanese, it must learn to express itself in Sundanese terms and forms, but it must aso conquer the ancient view of the world and of life and transform it into spiritual life of an essentially different, Christian nature, instead of being submerged by or amalgamated with the old notions, as has been the case with Islam. This is the gigantic task of missions, calling upon people to repent and turn about, yet without ‘quenching the smoking flax.’”

~ Hendrik Kraemer, From Missionfield to Independent Church, p. 129

We talked about this in class the other day. I think there is a lot here for us doing mission in a postmodern context. Do we simply want people in our culture to assimilate Christianity into their lives or do we desire, and believe, that our faith necessitates a fundamental change in persons? Contextual – Yes! Transformative – Yes!

Here are some recent pics I took with our new digital camera. Enjoy ~

In our backyard ~



At Huntington Gardens ~

Sarah is starting to show. A few folks have been noticing. I’m not sure what I think about random strangers putting their hands on my wife’s ever-increasing belly though. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure it will.

Where and What is God speaking in my community today? Am I attentive to God’s voice around me? What prevents me from being attentive?

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Contextualization is a big deal at seminary, in discussions about missions, and in the talk about emerging church. Contextualization is given theological foundation in the Incarnation of Christ (i.e. if Christ was incarnated in human form, we need to be incarnated in the culture to which we are ministering). But is that all there is? Sometimes it seems like we stop at contextualized or incarnated and are happy with that. But Jesus wasn’t. Yes, he was incarnated, he was contextual, but he took that as a platform and twisted it. “You have heard it said, but I say to you…” He entered our world and told us of, and invited us to, an alternative life.

Could church be that way? Could we be contextual to our culture, but in the midst of this offer an alternative culture? Could we live in (I mean really live in) our communities, but at the same time provide an alternative community?

I’ve seriously gotten out of the discipline of blogging! I’ve been reflecting a lot on the nature of the church. Especially as related to being a “city on a hill” – alternative community. For one, I don’t know of many churches that really fit that description. Two, how do you form a people to become that? Part of that is the definite move in my thinking from an individualistic gospel to a more communal one. I’m still not sure what that means (what are the implications?), but I sense it in my soul and long to see it enfleshed in the church.

To start – I wish people would write more “we” worship songs, I’m so stinkin’ tired of “me”, “myself”, and “I” whenever WE sing worship songs in church (house church and institutional church). I feel like we come together to worship God and then we spend the whole time thinking about myself. It irks me.

Whew! Life with a pregnant woman! Wow! All goes well for the expectant (all three of us, we think), though Sarah has had some strange pains. The Doctor says they’re nothing to worry about, but they are debilitating at times. It’s hard to see your wife in so much pain and not be able to do anything. Makes me wonder about labor….

I’ve been reading Missional Church for class. It’s good and formative. A lot of thought went into that book. It’s seems like a good first step in the right direction (at least from where I’m standing). It’s so God to take the (what I thought were) random experiences in my life and begin to knit them together for God’s purposes. For example, when I went through the Servant Leadership school a few years ago I never realized how large of an impact it would have on future ministry and learning. Likewise with reading Nouwen and Parker Palmer.

Humm… I’ve gotten out of the habit of blogging everyday. My schedule has changed, so I’m getting used to the new routines. It’s the end of the second week of the quarter and hopefully I’ll get back in the habit.

Had a good hike (4 miles) this morning with Shane Hipps (who should really have his own blog). We talked about ministry, church, contextualization, modernity and whatever’s next.

We had a good youth ministry meeting last night. Relationships with the youth are starting to develop and grow. I’m looking forward to getting to know these kids better. I’m excited about putting the stuff I’m learning in class into practice – perhaps we can have a Missional Youth Ministry?! I hope so, that’s the endeavor we’re on.

This has been a tremendous time (though I’m not sure when it began), of questioning the questions and assumptions I’ve held about ministry, church, mission, vocation, and faith. Not a doubting time, but a reevaluating time of trying to honestly look at my understanding of church. What is the church? What is it’s mission? Even if I can formulate answers to those questions with any level of satisfaction I wonder how well are we answering them (by our practice) in the American church? I’m discouraged about the level of institutionalization, organizational lethargy, and “in-grown-ness” about most American churches. I have to believe there is a better way, but can we do it without falling into the same traps as those who have gone before us? The Church of the Saviour gives me hope, but I wish there were more examples….

I’ve recovered from my irritation of loosing a post. Spent a great time of pondering and reflection in a Long Beach park yesterday after the Greenhouse was over. I feel like I’m begining to gain, or return to, a centered place in my soul. Until today I would also would have said that I was beginning to get a sense of a call. But in class today our prof. talked about how the sense of call (and temple) in scripture was always in reference to a community – not an individual. I’m not sure what to do with that. But I like that. It is pretty presumptous to talk about MY call to do ____________.

Oh, I’m blogging from my laptop running on a wireless LAN on Fuller’s campus. My battery’s about to die, but it’s cool to be able to do email, blogging, and surfing from (almost) anywhere!

Ok, I’m really irritated. I just spent 10 minutes writing a post and now it’s gone!!! Agh!!!

I was reflecting on my 2nd day at the Greenhouse. It was good, still not as communal as I’d like. Maybe I’ll try to resurrect my thoughts about it in a post when I’m less frustrated!

Now I’m going to watch Monsoon Wedding, or read, or go to bed….

So, I’ve been thinking more about what my post last night – re: the starting point of church planting – individual or communal. Last night after the Greenhouse, on my 40+ minute drive back to Pasadena from Long Beach, I was listening to Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones on a CD from the Emergent Convention. Doug (I think) made the comment that we have traditionally our process is individual>communal>global (which is a bit what I sensed from the Greenhouse). He said Brian (I assume McLaren) was advocating the reverse – global>communal>individual. He (Doug) suggested we begin communal and it informs both global and individual. Intuitively the latter makes the most sense to me. Though I wonder how that works… How do you start reaching the community then allow that to change individuals and the larger global (regional?) community? Hummm… more thinking to do…