You and I are going to have to have a discussion later, young man............and don't think I don't get the Mystery Men reference. =0P

Regarding my prior comment, let me add some things. It is NOT the pastor or any other church worker's responsibility to plan these types of things. I believe that it very much is my (and by proxy our) responsibility.

But I'm really frustrated by this, which actually leads into my comment for this week's episode.

Jen and I would LOVE to try and put together some kind of event for the community or just to do something missional in the community. But I don't even know where to start.

Maybe it's because we're busy, or we've got a lot of other things going on right now that seem to absorb all our focus, or maybe it's the fact that we live so far away from St. Matthew's community and don't really know much about the area at all.

But I think more than all of those other excuses (and that's what they are), I still struggle with this whole missional living thing and just how to do it. One of the reasons why I said I'd like to see more of those types of things put together is because I need to see it happen more before I can really start to get my own head around it, but you're right...if it's put on by the church, then it's the same old thing...it's still attractional, it's still NOT missional.

This idea IS very foreign to the church of today and I agree that I think it IS very much Biblical. But my understanding of it and experience with it is still so young that the task just seems incredibly daunting, even though the point of it is that it shouldn't be.

So with regard to the whole seminar idea, I think it would be great. When I said that I wanted to see more opportunities, it was more to help me learn than just to see it get done. I think that this needs to get out there and start to really stew in the hearts of the entire congregation, and likely, the podcast, as much as some of us love it, isn't going to do the trick.

I say run with it, and let me know if there's anything we can do to help, because Jen and I realize that this has to be the future of the church if the church has any hope of staying viable and relevent in this world.

I talked to Jen about the podcast last night, and she immediately jumped on the bandwagon of calling me "Sphinx-like," saying, "Finally, I know how to describe it! You TOTALLY are The Sphinx!!"

I thought you were referring to the mentor character in Mystery Men, who always says sayings that sound intuitive, but really make no sense. Things like, "If you seek true wisdom, then be wise in truth," or whatever. lol

Just to get back on topic, though...this whole missional living thing IS something relatively new to the church. There seem to be various individuals from different backgrounds all saying similar things about how the church has been doing it wrong for some time and how we need to adopt a more "Jesus-esque" style of ministry which means living that commission with our lives, not just with our church.

And I'll agree with whomever you spoke to before. It DOES sound right. I DOES jive with Scripture. But it DOES sound very new and different, and those things can be scary, making education, even very basic elementary education, and guidance essential.

No new episode this week. Just wanted to give you a headsup.

Take the time to catch up and SHARE The Six with somebody.

I'll be back next week though. See you then!

Hey Listeners...

Here's my dilemma, i think i'd really like to offer a "missional living seminar" in a weekly series format... it's what I talk about on here each week, but I think it's something that most of us don't think of in a native fashion.

Right now we're backing away from 9:30 am bible studies (at Walled Lake) to make room for a new more intergenerationally focused children/youth/family ministry. At least for this fall.

So, wednesday night would be the next logical night, but I teach Lifelight, so I could do it then. Otherwise I can wait until Lifelight is over around late nov/dec or the first of the year.

If I don't want to wait that long, I have two options:

1. do it on a saturday in a workshop style format for 3-4 hours at once.

2. have someone else take a stab at teaching it on wednesday nights with my input/coaching.

Anyone up to do #2? Anyone vote for #1?

love some feedback if you could.

One more thing.

I'm also wanting to find people who are willing to step out and live the missional life, but who are also willing to blog about it regularly

I want to get a group of regular people in all different life situations/ages who are willing to chronicle their missional journey. It will be a part of this whole scheme I have.

SO... if you are willing drop me an email. you know my address, right?