We the future looks cool!

How's this for the Lord's Prayer?

The Lord's Prayer from Stewart H Redwine on Vimeo.

Simple and to the point

Sometimes all the trimmings takes away from the main meal! This is it, isn't it?

A great video to watch - leadership as dream not plan!

I have watched this short (TED talks are generally short, around 20 minutes) video a while back and kept it - why? Because it walks about one of the functions of the gift of leadership - the ability to inspire. Denny and Denny talk about this often - how easy it is to reduce ministry and Body life to a function of management instead of a releasing of a God-given and empowered purpose! I think if you take a little time and watch the video, you will understand exactly what they mean...what we need to do is to rely on the Holy Spirit to move people into action...people are not inspired into action via our plans and management "products" but rather by a dream - a dream of faithfulness to Jesus and a deliberate living out of new life in Him. In addition, to function, according to the videos language, in the "what and how" spheres essentially reduces Kingdom work to methodologies, programs and consumeristically-driven techniques where we as disciples become "peddlers of church products" not participators in a redemptive movement of God. I could go on and on about this...I have some other ideas...for now, it is best to let the video speak for itself and you "do the math"!

TEDTalks Simon Sinek-How great leaders inspire action - Simon Sinek (2009) from Roofcamp on Vimeo.

Tracking the Spirit - What the Holy Spirit is DOING!

I ran into this the other day. In fact, I was so "impressed" by it, I copied it for posterity...in other words, this list works because it is true. Right from the scriptures, you and me have a chance to see just "some" of the things the Spirit is up to. Besides tracking what the Spirit is up to in our communities of faith, there are plenty of other things that the Spirit is doing:

50 Things the Holy Spirit Does - from Reimagining Church by frankaviola

1. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
2. He guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
3. He regenerates us (John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).
4. He glorifies and testifies of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14).
5. He reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14-15).
6. He leads us (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1).
7. He sanctifies us (2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 5:16).
8. He empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49; Rom. 15:19; Acts 1:8).
9. He fills us (Eph. 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17).
10. He teaches us to pray (Rom. 8:26-27; Jude 1:20).
11. He bears witness in us that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
12. He produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence (Gal. 5:22-23).
13. He distributes spiritual gifts and manifestations (the outshining) of His presence to and through the body (1 Cor. 12:4, 8-10; Heb. 2:4).
14. He anoints us for ministry (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38).
15. He washes and renews us (1 Tim. 3:5).
16. He brings unity and oneness to the body (Eph. 4:3; 2:14-18). Here He plays the same role that He plays in the Godhead. The Spirit is the life that unites Father and Son. He plays the same role in the church. When He is operating in a group of people, He unites them in love. Therefore, a sure evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a group is Love and Unity.
17. He is our guarantee and deposit of the future resurrection (2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5).
18. He seals us unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
19. He sets us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).
20. He quickens our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11).
21. He reveals the deep things of God to us (1 Cor. 2:10).
22. He reveals what has been given to us from God (1 Cor. 2:12).
23. He dwells in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).
24. He speaks to, in, and through us (1 Cor. 12:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:11; Heb 3:7; Matt. 10:20; Acts 2:4; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12, 28; 13:2; 16:6,7; 21:4,11).
25. He is the agent by which we are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
26. He brings liberty (2 Cor. 3:17).
27. He transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
28. He cries in our hearts, “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6).
29. He enables us to wait (Gal. 5:5).
30. He supplies us with Christ (Phil. 1:19).
31. He grants everlasting life (Gal. 6:8).
32. He gives us access to God the Father (Eph. 2:18).
33. He makes us (corporately) God’s habitation (Eph. 2:22).
34. He reveals the mystery of God to us (Eph. 3:5).
35. He strengthens our spirits (Eph. 3:16).
36. He enables us to obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).
37. He enables us to know that Jesus abides in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13).
38. He confesses that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:3).
39. He says “Come, Lord Jesus” along with the bride (Rev. 22:17).
40. He dispenses God’s love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).
41. He bears witness to the truth in our conscience (Rom. 9:1).
42. He teaches us (1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).
43. He gives us joy (1 Thess. 1:6).
44. He enables some to preach the gospel (1 Pet. 1:12).
45. He moves us (1 Pet. 1:21).
46. He knows the things of God (1 Cor. 2:11).
47. He casts out demons (Matt. 12:28).
48. He brings things to our remembrance (John 14:26).
49. He comforts us (Acts 9:31).
50. He makes some overseers in the church and sends some out to the work of church planting [through the body] (Acts 20:28; 13:2).
Summary: The Holy Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and to His body. He reveals Christ to us, gives us His life, and makes Christ alive in us. The Spirit takes the experiences of Jesus … His incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension … and brings them into our own experience. Because of the Holy Spirit, the history of Jesus Christ becomes our story and experience.

Subscribing to Blogs, etc.

Good resource below...if you like to read blogs and keep track of sites you frequent, this is a great and indispensable resource:

You gotta smile when you watch this...we should be showing this daily to the people who are the Church!

When We Say Church from Doug Peterson on Vimeo.

Len Sweet and some thoughts on "Evangelism"...

Below is a video that I watched a bit ago - Len Sweet is someone I've followed for a long time in my journey not only as a leader but also as a follower of Jesus. I find his writings extremely exciting...he's been used by the Spirit to shape many of the aspects of life and discipleship (disciple-making as well) over the past years. This video gives you a snapshot of Len's new book on Evangelism...now, I come to that topic with a "rich history" of all sorts of different "techniques" of doing evangelism. But my heart and mind has been transformed over the years in this regard. I don't "do" anything in sharing Jesus with others...I simply try to find out what God is doing and join HIM there...I look for the fact that God is arranging Divine Appointments for me throughout my day...helping me see that there are relationship bridges that can be built...that God is already at work in the world and I attempt to do what Jesus did...join God is HIS mission of love, power and grace in the context of the world and story that He is writing in and through my life. That's a different perspective friends...that's a shifted paradigm...so I would encourage you to take a peek at the video. Then think about your life as a disciple...you live the mission of God...you join God in what He is already doing through His Holy Spirit in the lives of people you meet.

By the way, here's what my SoCal friend Spencer wrote about the video that he produced in this regard...it is a helpful intro to the video as well:

Leonard Sweet calls us to make an impression—a God impression—a nudge, a dent on everyone we meet. But how we do that is to listen to discern what the Spirit is already doing, and to nudge that person toward understanding that God is working in their life. And by doing so, by recognizing and naming those nudges, we are nudged as well. We discover incredible ways that God is working all around us. We observe His creativity and imagination in all our senses—hearing, tasting, seeing, touching, smelling.

The subtitle of Nudge is “Awakening each other to the God who is already there.” Every person you meet is a divine appointment, says Leonard Sweet as he talks about his new book, Nudge, with Spencer Burke, host of ThinkFWD. The overarching premise is that we don’t “take” Jesus anywhere, but that wherever we go, God is already there and our job is to find out what He’s doing and join in.

This thinking takes a different approach to evangelism. Rather than thinking of evangelism and discipleship as two distinct “tasks” of followers of Christ, Sweet suggests that they are bound together. Whereas in the past, evangelism was touted as “go and tell,” Sweet says we need to “shut up and listen.” Our role is not to come into a situation and tell our story, but rather to listen, to hear, to study what is happening in another person’s life, or in the community we are in. By doing this, we are recognizing that God is already there and we are following His lead. Sweet quotes John Wesley’s life-changing words, “Go and see the poor in their hovels, for Jesus is already there and He will be with you.”

Very likely, it was not just one person that helped nudge you in your journey to faith in God, but it was many people’s influence in your life. Many impressions that moved you to faith in God. And this is the part we can play for each other, awakening each other to God who is already at work all around us.

People's creativity astounds me...

I think we have alot more creativity in the "church" that goes untapped. We have our ways and our traditions sometimes cherished at the expense of great ideas many of which get squelched in the name of "we've always done it that way before". Here's a video that I just watched on the blog I read daily...it is one produced by a local faith community to alert people to the teaching that is coming from the pastor in week's ahead - I don't know if it was done for JUST children (since it is one a children's ministry blog) or whether it came in the midst of an entire congregation...all I know is that it got my attention! What creativity can we unleash to not only bless those with those gifts by giving them a forum to offer their gifts to God but also by having their gifts bless others? Your call! Here's the video:

Bewitched Intro from redeemer.tv on Vimeo.

And now a moment of humility...

It's been a long time...but how about this?

Yep, even blog editors have to take some time away for real life...recently, I (Robin Dugall) moved and accepted a call to Peace in Monroe, Washington. So, give me another week or so and I'll get back to regularly posting. For now, here's a jpg/powerpoint slide that spoke to me about the type of life God is calling us to live!

Reggie McNeal and an important, thought-provoking video

What is a Disciple - Video AND Audio version!

See below for the description of the video - this includes the audio track of the presentation giving Robin Dugall's comments on the slides/concepts presented during the teleconference.

What is a Disciple - Video and Audio version from Robin Dugall on Vimeo.

What is a Disciple?

This is a presentation video - this includes keynote slides and background music from a recent presentation given by Robin Dugall to a group of pastors/leaders - the teleconference was sponsored by the Tracking the Spirit initiative of the Northwest District of the LC-MS. If you want more information, downloadable version of the slides, etc. contact Robin @ rdugall@apu.edu

This is absolutely fascinating!

Past, hedonistic "time" perspective vs. future-oriented time perspective. Interesting video with profound implications! Care to discuss?

"Loving your enemies"...

A Canadian children's ministry pal, Henry found this video - here's what he had to say about it as well as giving an encouragement on how to use it especially with kids (although adults need to think/pray through this just as much if not more):

"thought it was pretty cool and a powerful way to jump start a conversation with children on loving your enemies. Any ideas on how you would use it? Here’s one idea that takes a transformational approach rather than an educational approach which could be easily adapted to whatever age group you might be teaching: Show the video to the kids without telling them what it is about or what topic you are talking about. After the video is done, have them tell you what it is about. Don’t correct or lead. Simply listen and allow children to give their input. Ask questions about how they felt about the video. Ask them what they thought about the person throwing stuff. Ask them what they thought about the person building the bridge. Ask them what they would have done if they were in the video. Have them imagine themselves in both roles. Read Luke 6:27-36 and/or Matthew 5:43-48 (HT:EC). Have the kids tell you what they think Jesus is saying in those verses and how those verses might relate to what they just saw. Finally, have the kids come up with ways they can follow Jesus in what he said in those verses. Have some sort of response time whether that be silence, prayer, an art project of some sort… be creative."

Bob Roberts' post on Evangelism...man, is he right!

Bob Roberts is a smart guy! He not only has invested his life in Kingdom living but also he is attempting to embrace ministry is a changing world. His books have inspired many of us to rethink ministry and mission. We (that would be the Tracking the Spirit team) would encourage you to read any of the books he's written...you can check them out by clicking HERE. Below is an article that Bob wrote for his blog...I believe it summarizes what has occurred within Western Christianity over the past decades. Although this is happening in our own back yard (European Christianity experienced this far earlier than we), it should not be a source of discouragement, fear, or yearning for the good 'ole days that never will come back...it is rather a call and challenge for a fresh expression of the Spirit's leading in our lives. So...

How Evangelism is Different in the 21st Century - By Bob Roberts Jr.

I know that many people read my blog that are not pastors and Christians, and for that reason I want to differentiate a couple of words that most of the time the media and others miss. One is “evangelism” - that is the practice of sharing your faith. It is tied to the word “evangelists” - which companies use to describe enthused salesmen - it comes from the Greek and it has to do with Christians passionately sharing what they believe in - Jesus Christ - and inviting others to follow him. The other word is “evangelical”. Notice the ending of the two words - “ism” and “cal”. The evangelical is one that is a more conservative Christian. They believe in the Divinity/Humanity of Christ and also the authority of the Bible unlike any other book. There are many other things I could say about both - but one is a practice - evangelism - that all Christians are to perform and the other is a tribe - evangelical - of conservative Christians. I’m writing today about evangelism. How is it different today than even 25 years ago?

First, evangelism was a presentation of who Jesus was. It was like giving someone their own personal “sermonette” be it the Four Spiritual Laws or the Roman Road, and at the conclusion you would ask a person to pray a prayer asking Jesus to forgive them of their sins and come into their heart. Evangelism has moved from presentation to conversation. I rarely witness (share my faith, do evangelism) the way I was trained when I was a teenager. It just doesn’t work in the current context. We talk about things, and I share Bible verses that I’ve memorized and the conversation evolves to where the person wants it to go and I attempt to answer questions to challenging things along the way.

Second, evangelism has moved from primarily a decision about eternity to a decision about a lifestyle. The objective of evangelism used to be to get people to heaven - in one sense it still is - and always will be. On the other hand, getting someone to get fire insurance (not going to Hell), is insufficient for a passionate faith. They have to love God for who he is as our Savior & Father, to live in relationship and community with him. Until people want to be transformed by Jesus, they are just being more religious - I want people to be far more than just religious - I want them to have a passionate relationship with Jesus that is changing their lives.

Third, evangelism that led to conversion was the end game of every person. Today, and in a Kingdom of God context, conversion isn’t the end game but the starting point of walking with God. There is nowhere in the Scripture it says we know that we know him because “we prayed the prayer.” But the small epistle of 1John says, we know that we know him because . . . . and he gives seven things. When you read those 7 things they all have to do with behavior, lifestyle, relationships, and servanthood. Those things don’t make a Christian, they merely point to the fact that people who have accepted Jesus - those things follow them. (It’s 5 short chapters - and in Biblical length like 3 pages - my communist and atheist and Muslim friends would like reading the little book - it’s near the back of the Bible in the New Testament - it’s 1 John, not John, look in your table of contents - it also talks about how we know that we know him because we confess that God has come in the flesh - another reason we believe Jesus is God.)

Fourth, evangelism was about the person you didn’t know. Today, evangelism is about the person you do know. All sharing of the Gospel involved knocking on doors and people waiting for us to show up and give them their own personal sermon. Our culture has changed. Relationships are the key to people coming to faith in Christ. I loved what a friend said recently at a meeting I was at, “I don’t want someone hitting me over the head with their religion. But as I’m grilling burgers with Chris I want to be able to say, hey what’s with this Trinity thing.” Recently someone asked me “why do you care about Muslims so much?” The truth of the matter is, I never did my whole life until the past few years, but then something happened I got to know a lot of them and became friends with them and they with me. What’s cool is, when you’re friends you can discuss your faith without debating it, you also listen with respect to one another even if you disagree.

Fifth, evangelism is as much about the impact it is making in the life of the one “witnessing” as it is the set of theological beliefs. You can’t just “share the presentation” anymore. The question is, “Does it work in your life?” But it isn’t enough for you to see it work in your life, do “THEY” see it work in your life. Keep in mind being called a “Christian” or being “Christ-like” was something the people in Antioch called the Christians, not a title they chose for themselves.

Sixth, evangelism was about passing on information and truth. Today, we share our faith not just with words but actions. Matthew 25 was always there! As we serve others, it opens massive doors to be able to share our beliefs. I don’t believe we should serve to convert, but those of us who are converted will serve and when people ask us why, at that point, we can tell them because of our faith.
Seventh, evangelism was about me telling and you listening. Today, evangelism is more about me listening to your story than me telling you mine, me listening to your view of God and what you believe and responding.

Eighth, evangelism is about presenting the Gospel and they accept Christ or I move on to someone else. That wasn’t the model of Jesus - but somehow we failed to realize we needed to have ongoing relationships with people. The people that I’ve seen come to faith in Christ generally had a long and ongoing relationship with them. I might add - they last as well. When we’re friends with people - and they truly accept Christ - it’s not like a fast food decision.

Good picture...not "perfect" but worth a peek!

Enjoying the Struggle to define "disciple"!

Enjoying the Struggle to Define what a Disciple is...

Ok - here's a good one for you...how would define the word, "Disciple"? Most of us when we think about the word "Disciple", innately click into prescriptive mode - in other words, we prescribe what a disciple is by what a disciple does. In other words, a Disciple is defined by Discipleship...the actions of a Disciple. In this instance, actions would be focused primarily on things like worship attendance in a local church, bible reading, prayer, a person's devotional life, financial giving, etc. Now, don't get me wrong - all these activities are good and can even be used as "measures" in assessing discipleship.

Yet, what is a Disciple? What is a Disciple in a descriptive perspective? Well, try this one on for size - a Disciple is one who is alive in Jesus Christ. In other words, a Disciple is a person who has the life of Jesus implanted by the Holy Spirit and manifested by the Holy Spirit in their life that they are now alive in Jesus. Again, a Disciple is defined not by what we do but by the life of Jesus in us. Before there is any "doing" as a Disciple, there is an essential "being" that comes from the life of Jesus alive in the heart.

Here's where this is all coming from...many of us have seen people come alive in Jesus Christ. Without training, extensive study, without commissioning or titles or degrees, many of us have witnessed disciples supernaturally discipling others. We have seen people transformed from being dead bystanders to being active and alive, passionately sharing the life of Jesus with all that come in contact with them. For many of these people, being a disciple is not what they are aspiring to be or trying to pull off in the habits of their life...rather, it is something they know they are because they know the life of Jesus. In this instance, the Holy Spirit is producing fruit..they are not trying to be better people, attempting to be moral and upright and loving...they just are because of the power of God residing in their lives. If you were to type their blood, they would bleed Jesus. For a disciple, Jesus is not a cause to be understood and/or represented..Jesus is life, pure and simple.

Where have many of us missed the boat? Why all the discipleship ministries and programs and studies in the local church and few actual disciples? Why do we have to do hand stands and heroic efforts to convince people to share their life, tell their God-story, live out their faith with Kingdom courage? Could it be that we are a bit confused when it comes to being a disciple? Could it be that we are finding it extremely difficult to paint a compelling picture of the experience of being a disciple? Could it be that we have succumbed to drafting a legalistic, "doing" vision of what a disciple is that has actually not brought life to people who desire to follow Jesus? Could it be that all of our efforts have led people more into sin management and shallow spirituality that remains an addendum to an already busy and culturally defined life (through narrowly defined spiritual exercises like the infamous "10 or 20 minute quiet times) than into the very life of Jesus in and through them?

I'm working on this...so allow me some latitude. The truth is that the Tracking the Spirit "staff" has rolled up sleeves and pantlegs and waded into this water intentionally. Here's what we have worked on - A Disciple is alive in Jesus...as Denny Lorenz just stated in an email yesterday, "A Disciple is one resurrected from death to life in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, and daily lives out that life." In other words, the Holy Spirit is drawing out what is true, right, holy and pure within their heart because that's where Jesus resides. Good works? They are not something that they are trying to do because they are attempting to be like Jesus...good works are what the Holy Spirit is doing through them. They are happening because of the life of Jesus in and through them. Good works happen almost effortlessly, quicker than you could have ever imagined because they happen not by sheer will power, guilt, or even training/mentoring but because they are being released through the work of the Holy Spirit. A Disciple, to allude to something I read in a new book by Len Sweet and Frank Viola, The Jesus Manifesto, doesn't ask "what would Jesus do" as if they could match up their actions with the actions of the biblical Jesus...but rather a Disciple asks and seeks to know/discern what it is that Jesus is doing and wants to do in and through their life? There is a difference! You see, the Holy Spirit wants to release what is already there in the life of Jesus in the disciple's life...in this manner, a Disciple is more than a noun - it is a verb, implying action and life.

You would think that we would have had this down...but the more I think about it, the more I feel like we need to reengage and enjoy the struggle to define what a disciple of Jesus is...any thoughts?

Don't you see a difference between these "two"?