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I was asked this last week about Barna’s new book Revolution. I confess that by-and-large I don’t read Christian books. Barna’s book is no exception. So while I couldn’t comment on the content of the book, I did comment on the title, Revolution.
Continue reading »
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There is a spectrum of approaches for creating community with and among unreached people. Let’s draw from the world of technology for an anology.
Technologies exist on an opacity/ transparency spectrum. [Hat Tip to polymath and wordmaven Dean Sharp for the find].
An OPAQUE technology is one in which the technology being used is cumbersome or is
“in the way.” Posting a photo to your website using HTML is opaque. The HTML stands
between you and the task you’re seeking to accomplish. In a sense, you can’t “see” through
the technology to the photos you want to post. Opaque technologies require skills and capacities that do not come naturally to the user. For a more TRANSPARENT technology, think of using “Point to and click” technology to drag the photo of your choice into the page you’re creating. Using your finger to point is more natural to the user than typing HTML.
A transparent technology is one in which the technology is invisible. Continue reading »
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In PART ONE of this Two Part post titled, The Mega Church and Home Church Networks: Twin Trajectories and Why We Need Them Both, I wrote the following:
The first [Mega Church] trajectory needs excellence and resources to launch and heart and hospitality to succeed. The second [House Church Network] needs heart and hospitality to launch and resources to succeed. [More on this in my next post].
One of the reason corporate leaders and corporate churches don’t get mission to the emerging culture is Continue reading »
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There seem to be two leadership trajectories in the west. The first seems to be characterized by the recent phenomena of mega churches in the world. The majority of church conferences today are focused on this reality. The essence of these conference experiences seems to be a kind of corporate leadership guide for aspiring Executives of Corporate churches. Each conference introduces a new inductee to the role of mega church pastor-hood.
The excitement this type of environment creates for some makes others yawn.
Continue reading »
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Alex,
I need your advice. I have a friend who is going to another extreme.
He feels that all churches teach legalism, all pastors have their own
agenda and churches should not have walls but “engage the darkside”.
For this reason, he has decided to not attend church at all. He has no
plans or possibly even no desire to seek out a church to be a part of
but he realizes he needs a mentor and he needs community, fellowship
with other believers.
Is Mosaic part of the Emerging Church?
I rarely pay any attention to rants against “into the Mystic…” The editorial early last spring by Brannon Howse was no exception. But, in light of the recent Calvary Chapel statement distancing themselves from the “emerging church”, I thought I would finally make a little comment about Brannon’s piece. I admit, Brannon’s piece made me chuckle and some of the comments made by some of Brannon’s posse have made me laugh out loud. In a weird sort of way, It was fun.
Continue reading »
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You can help create history this summer. On Saturday, May 13 at 4.00PM (PST) we’re going to send out [we hope] the first ever “live signal” from VOXTROPOLIS.COM. This will only be a “beta test” in anticipation of the January 2007 launch of the VOX site, but it will be a historic event.
This Saturday, you’ll walk through our place, meet all kinds of personalities, and hear all kinds of music. All impromptu. Hey, with some imagination, you may even be able to smell the food we’ll be serving. In order to get ready for January’s launch, we’re going to try a few “beta test” broadcasts this summer.
Are you ready for this? Be there for the first ever live signal: Saturday, May 13, 2006, 4PM PST at voxtropolis.com. See The CLOCK TICK.
Ever had you house “rolled”? You know, when kids take rolls of toilet paper and unroll them all over your yard, trees and cars? Something similar happens to me. I come home every now and then and see that someone(s) has been up to mischief because I find things left at my door. I took photos on my cell phone today to document what is becoming a regular occurence.
Aggravating isn’t it? To be required to find out who is behind these kinds of things. Whoever you are. I’m going to find you. And when I do, I’m going to thank you for supporting the “Search for The Mystic.”
It will be cozy, but there’s still room. Are you a student 28 years old or younger? Take advantage of the special rate designed just for you. LA or bust.
Now accepting applications for the 2007 cohort. Two 7-Day Immersion experiences next year in Orlando (February 2007) and Los Angeles (May 2007). Email alex@mosaic.org. The 2007 cohorts (online conversations) begin in September 2006, October 2006, and January 2007.
See you In The Mystic,
Alex McManus
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Mystic Leader’s Crash Course Part 4: Wind
Totally frustrated with me at my inability to help him, Lucas, my youngest son, turned and ran again, holding high his new kite on a short leash, trying in vain to catch a breeze.
“You need better wind,†I told him as he made another pass with kite flying inches over his head.
Wind related activity like pulling kites on strings, hoisting sails, building windmills, all come after the wind not before it. The Christ following movement is a wind related activity. The reason churches fail to fly is that they forget that wind comes first.
Here’s my claim: Mission exists because God is on mission. Yes, love motivates the missionary activity of God, but we wouldn’t know this if it did not compel the missionary action of God. Love has primacy but mission has priority.
Why do the winds of mission blow? Because God loves a world that is in deep trouble. This is a description of both God and the world we live in.
We live in a world that when seen through God’s eyes motivates mission. In other words, the missionary activity of God tells us the world is broken. In a broken world, mission comes first. Mission is the evidence of love.
The only God that can be known is the God who is on mission. There are no alternatives to Him only bland substitutes. The images of the God of nurture and therapy so dear to the heart of the American church, the sovereign God of the reformation in whose arms the elect are all safe, the creator God of neo-orthodoxy in whose home all men are brothers, must all submit to the God who has revealed himself as the God on Mission. God may be all, some or none of the others – nurturer, sovereign, father – but, whatever more he is, we come to know it in the aftermath of knowing Him as a missionary God.
To create a small group, build a church building, write a credo, train a choir, rehearse a band without knowing the God on mission, is like trying to fly a kite on a windless day, hoisting a sail or building a windmill without knowledge of the wind.
We try to prove the wind by the kite. But the wind will prove itself. And the kite will make sense in light of the wind not vice versa.
What do you think?
Posts in the series: The Mystic Leader’s Crash Course
Trivia: What do these digits mean?
into the mystic…
Alex McManus
Welcome back.
Origins discount expires on March 15
Just a reminder for those of you planning on registering for ORIGINS 2006. The early adoptor discount expires on March 15. In other words, the price goes up after that. Get over to the ORIGINS – The Mosaic Leadership Conference web site to register.
Killer Student Rate and Limited Housing Available Now
Are you a student 28 years old or younger? There is a killer student rate of of $79.00.
If you’re a student we also got a line on some inexpensive “dorm style” student housing. You must be registered for the conference to qualify. This limited housing option will go very quickly. I’d hurry. To get on the list for student housing, register and then mail me at alex@mosaic.org.
Thanks to all of you who have emailed me concerning the negative opinion piece written by Brannon Howse on the Christian Worldview Network website titled: Bethel College and Seminary, The McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church. I’ve decided to publish below the reply I’ve consistently given to those who ask for my take. Enjoy.
My Response
“Thanks for bringing the editorial to my attention. I guess I would have to say that I liked the piece. It really helped me understand what’s going on around here.” –Alex
Coming up…
into the mystic…
Alex McManus
Welcome back.
Two things tonight.
First, I write these two words tonight because I must: thank you.
Thank you for the way your input and coments spice up the “mystic”. Thank you for emailing me, encouraging me, befriending me. It’s an honor for me to be able to share His passion and mission with so many of you who will doubtlessly go much, much further than I could ever go. And so again, Thanks.
Secondly, I need your help. If you’ve ever been to ORIGINS –the Mosaic Leadership Exeprience, would you do two things with me. First would you share your experience with others by clicking on the following link: ORIGINS –the Mosaic leadership experience.
Secondly would you consider helping me spread the word by posting about ORIGINS or linking to it in March? Here’s a link to the 2006 MOSAIC Leadership Conference . Thanks in advance for your help.
I’ll continue my series “A Mystic Leader’s Crash Course” with some additional thoughts about “Light” soon.
Into the Mystic…
Alex
