I found free internet access at a local library in sunny, southern Florida. Blogging is way more fun than the ocean anyway, right? Starting to make plans for the vacation time... found some affordable snorkelling in the Florida keys (although it's about three hours away), possibly a wave runner, and probably take in a movie and beach walk with Tracy at least one night this week (free babysitting thanks to grandma). Starting to get my vacation bearings and it feels good to have several days sprawled out before me with nothing to do but enjoy the fam and rest, rest, rest. Oh, and of course, blogging the whole experience so you, beloved reader, can vicariously enjoy them with me. (I just heard someone say there's a cyber cafe close by... add that to above) I don't even know if I've mentioned where I am yet... Marco Island, Florida. This place is definetely getting hipper (cyber cafe!) all the time. When I came here for my senior trip we got busted for throwing tennis balls in the condo pool and the median age was over 60. More to come...
posted by >> Kevin @ 11:34 AM
Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Finally, finally, finally... I've been trying to get this guy to blog for several months and it's finally come about... you all are in for a treat! Chad Canipe is one of the finest people I've ever known. treat yourself right to some decent mental nourishment and visit his site often. I'm gonna.
The man, the myth, the Chad
posted by >> Kevin @ 11:34 PM
Cool link for a skateboarding outreach that is growing out of the life of our network.... Go Elizabeth!
posted by >> Kevin @ 3:59 PM
Here's a couple of my new favorite people... This is the illustrious Jeremiah Smith and his beautiful wife Melissa... they hosted Joe and I on our recent journey... more on that journey here
posted by >> Kevin @ 3:53 PM
Saturday, August 17, 2002
Arecent email I sent re: a gathering in Cincy on September 14.... if you're anywhere close to us or want to make a pilgrimage to Cincy, this would be a great day for it!!
Hi friends,
Here's some updates on our September 14th regional gathering. Things are coming together quickly and there's a growing sense of excitement among our churches for this event. A lot of you have asked what you can do to help. At the end of this email I list several things that are needed.
One point of good news I found out last night: we have confirmed Jim Henderson, founder of Off-the-Map (http://www.off-the-map.org) as our key note speaker. Jim is great at reminding people that evangelism can be fun, easy, natural and doable by everyone. If you're unfamiliar with Jim and his ministry check out his web site and drop him a line to say thanks for coming...
Here's the other updates...
-------------------------
::: The Itinerary :::
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Friday, 13 September
6:00-9:00pm Set up at the VC campus.
There's lots of prep work to be done in the auditorium and around the campus. Alan Creech will need help setting up worship stations, Owen will be working on an oversized map of the region so we can visually see where everyone is from, and Chad will be setting up some video projection. (Chris Marshall would you be willing to set up a lost persons station?) We'll also need to build something out of sheets and wood for a video screen and do general cleaning etc... there'll be lots to do so please plan on coming if you're able.
If any of the out-of-towners wants over-night housing for that night let me know. We can arrange that no problemo.
Saturday 14 September
1:00 Welcome and Orientation
1:30-2:30 Jim Henderson speaking on "Doable Evangelism"
(For Kids: during this time there will be 2 rooms available for children. One will have a storyteller + some veggie tales happening, the other will be a quiet room for napping kids and nursing moms)
2:45-3:45 Roundtable Discussions on various topics.
(We have 3 round tables confirmed at this time. Chris Marshall will be doing one on "Ordinary Attempts: Loving your neighbor by simply paying attention"; Alan Creech on "Ancient-Future Worship: Rediscovering worship for all the senses"; and Dave Nixon on "Service: Means to beautifying decaying neighborhoods"
NOTE: Dave's roundtable will take part of it's time to go out in the surrounding neighborhood to pick up litter. Kids are welcome and encouraged to participate in this one.
4:00-5:30 Neighborhood Party
John Barrow, Grill-meister, will be our GJ (Grill Jockey) as we serve up a party for our neighbors. There'll be plenty of food and games for the kids and adults. This will be a great opportunity to mingle with people from other churches and the surrounding neighborhood.
Also during the time we'll have some skateboarding where several kids from the neighborhood can showcase their skills... if you have a board and aren't afraid of the ramps bring it on! Otherwise, come to cheer on some kids who are constantly told "You can't skate here!" We want to say in every way possible, "We want you... you're allowed to skate here... you're included in the party"
6:00-8:00 Raise Both Hands
(Note: Baptists and Presbyterians who may not be comfortable with all this "raising the hands nonsense" may simply call this time "Tap Your Foot")
Mike Helm will lead us in a time of worship in song and we'll do several baptisms right in the middle of this time. If there is someone in your church who would like to be baptized, this would be a great time for it! Put the word out, you might be surprised... We already have 3 lined up...
This time will end in the auditorium wilh the lights low and the glow sticks swinging...
**** ALSO, during the whole day our auditorium will be open and available as quiet contemplative space. There will be several worship stations set up to aid people in prayer. It will be a great space to pray or just catch a breather. There will also be a room available as quiet space for children to rest/nap throughout the day as needed. ****
-------------
::: Needs :::
-------------
Here's some things we still need help with...
1. As many as possible to help set up on Friday night. It'll be a pot luck dinner at 6:00 and work starts at 7:00. Come for one or both and bring a couple other if you're able.
2. Video projectors. If you have a video projector we could use for the day please let me know... plan to bring it on Friday so we can get it set up...
3. Digital Video camera. Anybody got one or access to one? It would be a lot of fun to have a visual record of this event...
4. Finances. Initially I asked for $100 from each congregation/ network of house churches. We may need to up that for those who are able because of Jim's travel expenses. We also might take an offering that night. VC is planning to front the money out of some savings with the hope that others will contribute as they're able and the expenses will be covered. I'm confident they will. (on my better days!) If you are the point person for a congregation or network and can send the money in ahead, that would be most helpful...
5. Please forward this (or a shorter version) to your congregations/ networks... really, anybody you think might be interested in coming. I'm hoping we have 3-500 people for this... not that I like counting numbers... I just like big parties (once a year). So please help get the word out...
6. Plus all the things I'm forgetting that I'll frantically email later....
We're going to have a lot of fun!
Kevin
posted by >> Kevin @ 7:40 AM
Friday, August 16, 2002
Here's a Eugene Peterson translation of a passage from Matthew 11....
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Jesus
I sure hope Jesus is still in the business of teaching people the above because I'm desperate for it today....
My best bud from college Greg Hopwood just started blogging...definetely worth a looksy...Greg and Chris, if you read this, thanks for letting me stay at your home...it was great catching up...the sushi,the hottub,the lobster breakfast, the conversation, and the sheesha...a great time.
Do you ever reach those times when the batteries feel so low you can't just recharge them through the normal means? There are those times when a day off or more time in prayer or extra sleep just somehow aren't enough... I hit the wall... I hate hitting the wall... When I hit the wall I feel embaressed and wimpy. I feel like I'm not pulling my weight. I feel stupid for letting my batteries get this low... thankfully I live with some really wise people who always know what to do during these times... they send me on a retreat... they tell me to get the hell out of the house for my own good (and theirs) before I blow up and do something really stupid... So it's off to retreat I go! I just got off the phone with a new friend, sister Virginia from St. Anne's convent. They have agreed to let me come for a couple days this weekend... Oh how I need it!
So I'll be here this weekend but please don't come see me... you wouldn't want to see me like this anyway... I'm much more pleasant after retreats... I'll quit throwing things in a day or 2... just having a place lined up for the weekend feels like a pressure valve release.... ok... hi ho, hi ho it's on retreat I go....
posted by >> Kevin @ 10:52 AM
Friday, August 09, 2002
Three new blogs from some friends of mine... Joe Boyd, plants churches in Vegas and on airplanes...
Laura Ogle,likes to think she's insane but we all know she's normal (at least in the insane circles I run in)
I just returned from a wonderful trip to Quebec City and New Hampshire/ Boston. Our friend, Joe Boyd, from Apex network of house churches and I went to see a little of what God is doing in these places. The trip was generously funded by DAWN ministries. We're doing a fuller report for DAWN but I wanted to pass on some highlights to you right away...
<<:: Quebec City Highlights ::>>
• Hosted by "Team Quebec" a mobile ministry that intends to plant simple churches all over the city. Currently they have 5. We stayed in the team leaders' home, aka the Klopp family. The Klopp's have 2 beautiful children and were outstanding hosts.
• Quebec City was beautiful! It felt like a European city replete with the cafe's, cobble stoned streets, old church buildings, window boxes, cool breezes, great espresso, flowers everywhere, and art galleries galore.
• Meeting with 2 African pastors from Central Africa, Peter and David. Peter was nearly killed in the Rwandan massacres which were all over the news a few years ago. Now he's going to a university and plans on returning home (with a great education) to influence his nation. Both pastors are planting local churches while in Quebec that are affiliated with Team Quebec.
• Meeting around a campfire with Team Quebec and their interns to swap stories and build friendships. There were about 15 people there. The 20 somethings with Team Quebec are serious about their faith, view themselves as long term missionaries, and are a blast to be around. I'm hoping some will visit us in the near future so you can see for yourself.
• While walking the streets we met a gregarious red-headed gentleman who invited us into his home. Turns out he was the worship leader for one of the few evangelical English speaking churches in Quebec City. Richard said the odds of that happening are about zero... it had to be orchestrated by God! Richard (our host) plans to follow-up with him and strengthen the relationship between them and Team Quebec. At one point he said to Richard, "Hey, why don't you invite yourself over for dinner sometime?" (Person of Peace?) He also mentioned that they have lots of French speakers that come through a food ministry they run but they're not sure what to do with them. I'm guessing Richard could figure something out like, oh, I don't know, plant simple churches!! This guy was a God-send and to think we just "happened" to run into him...
<<:: New Hampshire/ Boston Highlights ::>>
• Catching up with my college pal, Greg Hopwood and his family. They just got hired by his church which owns a city block in urban Derry, NH. I went on a tour and the number of ministries they got going out of that space is staggering. When we arrived Greg and Chris (his wife) had sushi and a hot tub waiting for us. Not too shabby for a mission trip!
• Hanging with Jeremiah and Melissa Smith, who are soon to be church planters. They were amazing as hosts and tons of fun to hang with. Suffice it to say, we laughed a lot... Jeremiah showed us around Boston for a day. Yea, we laughed a whole lot.
• Had a wonderful dinner with about dozen potential church planting team members. Most of them were college friends of Jeremiah and Melissa. It basically turned into a house church type meeting where we ate, told stories, and prayed together. It was a sweet time. Afterwards Jeremiah said, "If that was house church, sign me up!" I thought, "Yea. me too!" It reminded me why we do home-churching. When it's good, it's really good. A great evening together...
Well, that's just some highlights... I'll pass on the fuller, more official report when it's done...
Kevin
posted by >> Kevin @ 11:27 AM
My friend and near-future house mate Ken Oster sent this quote:
“Who knows, perhaps that’s what the twenty-first century has in store for
us. The dismantling of the Big. Big bombs, big dams, big ideologies, big
contradictions, big countries, big wars, big heroes, big mistakes. Perhaps
it will be the Century of the Small.”
Arundhati Roy "The Cost of Living"
I've been thinking about smallness and the place of the micro-church in the wider body of Christ. The house church is like... espresso: contains the essence of the church in concentrated form. The house church is like a Bonzai tree: small but beautiful and elegant in its own right, church as natural,organic art. Some thoughts as we journey...
posted by >> Kevin @ 8:26 AM
Wednesday, August 07, 2002
This was kinda interesting... I read a book earlier this year called More Ready Than You Realize by Brian McClaren. Good book. I'm sure many of you have read it. for those who haven't it's basically an email conversation between Brian and "Alice" (not her real name). It's primarily about Alice's journey to faith. Well I just found out that at the "Off the Map" conference in DC, Brian will be introducing the real Alice... she's coming out! I'll be at the conference facilitating a workshop with Chris Marshall on "ordinary church planting." Come check it out and join the conversation with us for the day. We'd love to have you... More info at Off the Map DC
posted by >> Kevin @ 2:24 PM
Tuesday, August 06, 2002
Sitting in an internet cafe in the Detroit airport... I'll be home in less than 2 hours after this week long journey... needless to say I really miss Tracy, the kids, and my 500 closest friends which, if you're reading, likely includes you... I have some good stories to tell that will have to wait since this cafe is way overpriced... Last night Joe and I had dinner with Jeremiah Smith in his back yard with several friends he hopes to plant churches with. Most of them were college friends. The potential in that little band is enormous... well, I'm such a cheap skate but it's really bothering me that I'm paying for this by the minute.... so I'm gonna sign off with the promise to tell some stories in the next couple of days via this blog.... till then... peace to you...
posted by >> Kevin @ 4:11 PM
Sunday, August 04, 2002
Back in New Hamshire after a great time in Quebec. On a 1-10 scale Quebec was a 10... both from a relational connection/ ministry standpoint and as a tourist. Quebec City is just about the perfect summer getaway for North America. It was a breezy 80 degrees with blue skies all day and clear nights. The city felt very old Eurpoean with window boxes filled with over flowing flowers and cafes lining cobble stone streets... truly an urban beauty.Oh and did I mention the cuban ciagar as we watched the sun set over the St Lawrence river and prayed for the city? (BTW, Bishop Mike, I'm set to smoke another with you in west Palm... I'm all practiced up!!) I know I'm giving you all the touristy things...the ministry up there is thriving amidst some difficult circumstances.There are a lot of Catholics in name, a minor, minor fraction who are still practicing and a few evangelical churches (all under 50 people). There were whole sections of the city (like a neighborhood of 30,000) with no churches. If I weren't so rooted in Norwood I could easily see myself working there. The opportunities are enormous as well. I'll have more to say soon to flesh this out but the young folks in their twenties we met truly see themselvesd as missionaries to that culture. Quebec is a classic case study of the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few.
