Yesterday began in frustration and ended in joy. We decided to take the kids to a nearby park that has a wooden play castle. That was fun. But i twas downhill from there. We left the park without a clear sense of where to go so we just started driving. We ended up near a mall saturated with holliday shoppers. I hate malls. (We didn't go in). I hate shopping. (We did none). For some reason I don't yet fully understand I started to get sad, then depressed, then agitated, then I lashed out at Tracy. Then I felt worse. Then the cycle started over only this time from a lower begining point. So now there's a descending rut around sad/depressed/agitated. I felt like a jerk. So, predictably, I started acting like a jerk. I'm still not exactly sure why the spiral began. I don't really care at the moment. I do know that things got better in the evening when I was home and redocorated our living room, then afterwards spent time with Kenny and Marissa (housemates) and Chris and Doug (neigbors, good friends). We ended up putting up our Christmas tree and watching the Muppet movie. There were several moments when I thought, "This is what living in community is at its best. Spontaneous get togethers with housemates and friends in a warm (redecorated) setting where a heavy soul can find joy in some simple pleasures." I want that to be the norm in the New Year for my household. Nuf' said.

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:32 AM


Thursday, November 28, 2002

"If the LORD doesn't build the house they labor in vain who build it" Psalm 127

+++ Lord, Help me to build the house you're building. I want to be a part of your easy yoke and light burden building team. I want to focus on things with eternal value no matter what my occupation or earthly income 'source' ends up being. I'm yours. Now and forever. In this day, in this moment I'm yours, all yours. +++

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:01 AM

Spent the better of part of yesterday with Mike Lyons. Spent the best part with Tracy. (No offense Mike. Our time was good. Tracy time was... personal.) Mike and talked to a gentleman named Donald who coordinates urban ministry for the UMC for 2/3's of Ohio. He seemed very enthusiastic about the idea of developing some working UMC models of simple church planting. The idea is to try it in three districts as a pilot and then evaluate. If everything works out I might be working 1/2 time as an "independant contractor" for the UMC. It would be a pretty cool arrangement. Of course there are hurdles. Several layers of hierarchy to approve. Money to be allocated. etc. I'm not used to navigating all the politics of a large denomination. That's whole set of muscles I rarely flex. No. Never flex. It'll be interesting to see what develops. I yawned a couple times during the meeting simply because I was tired not because I was bored. I didn't think anyone had noticed. As we were leaving Donald says to me "Hope we didn't bore you!" Those were his parting words. I think he saw me yawning. Nice Rains.... veeery profesional. Good first impression! I'm such a heel sometimes.

Tracy. The kids got dropped off at the grandparents and we had some Mommy/Daddy time alone. We talked about going out to eat with some left over birthday money. We decided to dine in. A small table with candles and some jazz and Thai carry out. Nice. I mean, Niiiiiiiiiice. I'll behave.

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:36 AM


Wednesday, November 27, 2002

Going to Dayton to pick up friend Mike Lyons then we're heading to Lima together to talk to one of the big wigs in the United Methodist Church in Ohio who may just want to get behind an effort to start networks of simple churches as a church planting strategy. I think the United Methodists are getting tired of spending millions on church plants that fail. Hey, didn't they start out as a house church planting movement with some guy named Wesley? .... Methodists are cool. =)

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:14 AM


Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Yrsterday was frustrating. We've been trying to sell or otherwise unload the burden of owning a large formerly Cathloic church building. It just stopped making sense for a network of house churches to on such a thing. I agonized over the decision and even lost a couple of friends and alienated a few others in the process. Now the guy who has planned to buy it says he can't come up with the money. So, we're back to square one only this time we only have about a month to figure out what to do as I've completely cut it out of the budget for 2003. If it diesn't sell or aomething else doesn't emerge quickly it will feel to me like a serious step backwards in our transition. I'm quite confident God has a solution or at least a lesson in all this but it's not yet coming to the surface. Perhaps we are to keep and just use it in some diiffrent way. Lord, please, help, guide, surprise. I would like to out from under the burden of the building but not my will but yours be done. I trust your perfect plan. Please help me to do my part to walk in it and leave the things not under my control completely in your hands.

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:04 AM


Monday, November 25, 2002

I changed the words to the left "Anchoring Forward >" into a link that goes to a saint of the day. I know it's a bit of mystery meat navigation but I'm still working on the left side stuff. So for now, for those who read this, treat your self to a daily dose of our rich history as Christ followers. Think of it as a spiritual vitamin. It can supplement your intake of scripture and prayer. I should be writing commercials for a living. Weak, cheesy ones like everyone else.

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:20 AM

"Be inventive with hospitality.... discover beauty in everyone." (The Message, Romans 12)

The Lord gave me an idea yesterday to start having brunches in my home on Sunday mornings once every 4-6 weeks. I was thinking about making them by invitation and just inviting odd assortments of friends and random people I meet while out and about. It would be fun to do them on sunday mornings to avoid all the pesky Christians (big smile). It would be fun to have a heavy mixture of people, never the same group twice. That idea came to me yesterday after reading "be inventive with hospitality." I didn't even realize the connection till later. God is so creative. The idea came to me as an almost fully formed thought that I just pulled the car over and started taking notes on the idea. Some would call that "flow" or "being in the zone." Don't know. I do know God sometimes speaks to me via well formed thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere while I'm doing something else like walking or driving.

"Discover beauty in everyone." What an adventure. When I'm irrated with people my assignment is to find their latent beauty. It's there. I'm just not seeing it....

+++ Father,
Please give me eyes to see the beauty in people today. Remind me throughout the day to look for the good in others and activelly celebrate that. Re-train my mind and my eyes to see the good first. May this become my natural response as I work and rest with you today. Amen +++

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:16 AM

Still in the hopeful, expectant job hunting/waiting on God mode.... Still trying to find that balance of faith and action with re: to God's provision. Just found out yesterday that my friend Jason Evans was layed off and Jordon Cooper quit his church a couple weeks ago. Perhaps the three of us could lean on each other a bit as we walk through this transitional time. At least we can pray with empathy. Frankly I'm a little sick of transition. It feels like our network/ church has been in transition for as long as I can remember. A fwe year's ago I felt like I knew what my life was going to be about: planting missional communities with Community House (the residential community I started and still live/work with.) Perhaps I still will do that. I love to start things. Small businesses. House churches. Community Houses. My latest dream is to start a church planting institute that will foster disciplemaking movements. That would be a blast. I love to train and teach and coach. We have a big house that could serve as the class room. In fact, I envision it being decentralized around the city in homes with small classes for the most part. We have so many gifted teachers it would seem like a waste to not do this at some point. Timing. Timing. Timing. This one needs a little more bake time in the oven of prayer, the place of dreaming and godly scheming. I've got some partners in mind for this. Some of you are reading this right now, thinking "I should write Kevin and tell him that's a good idea and I'd like to be a part of the start up of this." Please do...

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:05 AM


Sunday, November 24, 2002

Here's some great advice for leaders (and church planters particularly) from a bunch of recovering addicts (aren't we all!):


The 12 A.A. Traditions

"During its first decade, A.A. as a fellowship accumulated substantial experience which indicated that certain group attitudes and principles were particularly valuable in assuring survival of the informal structure of the Fellowship. In 1946, in the Fellowship's international journal, the A.A. Grapevine, these principles were reduced to writing by the founders and early members as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were accepted and endorsed by the membership as a whole at the International Convention of A.A., at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

5. Each group has but one primary purpose-to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

While the Twelve Traditions are not specifically binding on any group or groups, an overwhelming majority of members have adopted them as the basis for A.A.'s expanding "internal" and public relationships."

These are not the 12 steps that an individual in AA goes through as they journey to recoveryy. These are 12 guiding principles for AA as an organization or rather as a movement. This is probably why AA BECAME a movement and not an institution in the first place. Somebody should really write an article on this. for church planters.

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:17 AM

A large part of our household met yesterday to pray about next steps vocationally. Most of the us are in transition and our day to day life is going to look a lot different after the first of the year. I'm realizing what a gift it's been over the past couple fo years to recieve a pay check from the network I serve. I definetely think there's a better arrangement coming but right now it feels like jumping without a net or letting go of one trapezee and flying through the air hoping the next one will appear just in time. Just in time. That's the mind set I need to have. My propensity is to try to plan out the next several years and get everything squared away. Where's the adventure in that? Where's the waiting for daily bread? Where's the "no taking a thought for tomorrow"? On the other hand, I have these habits like eating and caring for my wife and kids that I'd like to maintain and be responsible for. I guess the question I'm asking right now is what is my responsibility and what is God's? When does my looking for a job or considering the future slip into anxiety or worrying about tomorrow. Should I be passivive and just let him provide? Should I be active and looking in the "go till I get a no" fashion? I really don't know how to put this all together. For now I'm taking some small steps and waiting expectantly. I only applied to a couple of jobs and one came back a no and ultimately I was thankful for that. I want to be faithful to do my part. I don't want to worry and fret and act out of anxiety. How those intersect is the big question for me right now. All input welcome. I know there are people who read this even though I try to write as if I'm the only one who will read it. Could you do me a favor dear reader? Would you say a prayer for me? Would you offer some wisdom to a guy who rarely asks for help? Hey, maybe that's on eof the main lessons for me in this: learning to say, "I need help" to God and you.

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:11 AM


Saturday, November 23, 2002

"In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped off finger or cut off toe we wouldn't amount to much would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts of Christ's body, let's jmust go ahead and be what we are made to be without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't" (The Message, p. 224, Romans 12)

Envy. Pride. Comparing. Faking.

These are absolute community killers that I need to stave off at all cost. My mind needs to be transformed in these areas:

Instead of envy, I need to see how unique and special each person around me is and recognize my own uniqueness and not hide from that or fear that or be falsely humble.

Instead of pride I need to think of others ahead of myself.

Instead of comparing and competing I need to cooperate and see others as team members, as family members.... because they are. I need to remeber that competition and comparing led to the first sibling rivalry and ultimately to the first murder.

Instead of trying to be something or someone I am not I need to be myself and find joy in that and not enlessly trying to walk in someone else's vocation or gifting.

+++Lord, with you helping me today I want to lay aside the community killlers: envy, pride, comparing, and faking. With your help I will put on love, joy, peace and righteousness... with your help I will move closer to my vocation and take delight in helping others move toward theirs. With your help we will learn to cooperate and build something beautiful together that will bring you greater fame on earth. Amen +++

posted by >> Kevin @ 8:28 AM


Thursday, November 21, 2002

"I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then as every one of you does in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us not but who we are and what we do for him." ( The Message, Romans 12)

+++ Lord my heart is full recognizing your grace to me and all those I'm relating to. You have done so much for us over the past year. All I can do is be astounded by your grace, your goodness, your kindness to us. It is all you! Every good gift flows from your generous, fatherly hand. I am humbled to be a recipient of your grace. Help me to live into and ultimately to live up to the grace you've given. My heart is full of joy as I consider all the people and all the gifts you have intersected my life with. It is all out of proportion to what I "deserve," it's all grace. It's all you. +++

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:46 AM

So, I'm making the rounds, visiting all the churches in our network and I'm so encouraged by what I see and hear. I have left every gathering full -- from all the great food and spiritual nourishment. Food. What an important part of the emerging church, as it has been down through the ages. A long time ago my friend Mark Palmer said he was going to write an article on "The Theology of Shared Meals." I haven't seen the piece yet (Mark are have you written it?) but the title captivated me. It is simply astounding how often food and shared meals played a part in the ministry of Christ. Luke-Acts is especially full of references to food. I digress. The level of health in our churches is much higher than I expected. It is obvious to me that God has sustained and prospered us even the midst of incredible doses of my ignorance, organizational transition, and much adversity. In our weakness we are becoming a tribute to his strength. I'm no John Wesley but this circuit riding is lots of fun.

I've been amazed at how ready and excited our folks are about pursuing mission this next year. Ther's a sense almost across the board that God is going to cause us to bear fruit over the next year in ways we haven't yet seen. Literally every church has demonstrated readiness for action in the new year. It has amazed me. Last night a woman shared a simple strategy she is already implementing to reach those around her. She wanted to start a mom's prayer group and invited several Christian mom to participate bu nobody wanted to come so she just started inviting any mom who had a desperate need and wanted to pray for their child and have others pray for their child. The stories from her life re: her children being rescued are remarkable and other woman are starting to be drawn to her. I'm amazed at what is emerging with her through finding those who are desperate, offering prayer, and gathering them together for more prayer. I can actually see her starting a discipl-making movement in her neighborhood and all it's going to take is a desperate need, a simple invitation, and some prayer. Throw in God's power and a little coffee and the makings of a movement are all there.

Allelon. I was invited to be a part of a gathering hosted by this wonderful new network that is linking and resourcing many who are planting missional communities in the US. The network flows from the work of Mark Priddy and Todd Hunter (and their wives) among others and has been significantly influenced by all my favorite authors (Willard, Wright, Newbigin, Guder). I was really honored to be invited and am looking so forward to hanging with some of the most amazing people I know. Best of all I'll be travelling with my pal Mark Palmer and if we can talk him into it Alan Creech as well.

After visiting almost all our churches, being a part of a recent DAWN national gathering for simple church network leaders, and hearing about the emergence of Allelon I am hopeful that we'll see a movement in our day. It will be a quiet movement and fly under the radar for awhile (the longer the better! Because as soon as it becomes apparent to many others all the movement-chasers and marketeers will get their hands on it and soon we'll have "emerging church in a $99 box set" or "simple church networks in 5 easy steps" ... ) but we'll at least get to see it.

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:34 AM


Wednesday, November 20, 2002

A great example of taking the church to the people and not expecting the people to come to church... from the "Friday Fax"



France: "If the people don't go to church, we'll take the church to them"
"Many French people would never visit a church service, or even watch the
Jesus
Film in a cinema," says Sam Catoe, an American missionary in Paris. He
decided
to distribute leaflets offering to lend the Jesus Film to people in his
neighbourhood, thus establishing a personal contact. He was more than
surprised
to receive a mountain of requests. French-speaking volunteers delivered the
films, and every person who reacted positively to the film was asked whether
they would be willing to organise a meeting of people in their block who had
also seen the film. Almost everyone was willing, so nineteen house groups
were
quickly started, a number which has now grown to sixty. The participants are
most moved by what the Bible says about Jesus. "Very few of them have ever
visited a church," says Catoe.
Source: Sam Catoe, Paris

posted by >> Kevin @ 10:35 AM

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking around life -- and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wans from youand quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to it's level of immaturity God brings the best out of you develops well formed maturity in you." (The Message, p224; Romans 12)

+++ Lord, I make my life an offering to you. Sometimes I have no idea why you would want it but it's all yours! I know that you can make something of it and I can't. I want to be molded by you, shaped by you, changed from the inside out. I trust your artistry. I trust your creativity. I trust you to make something good and useful out of my puny life. My part is so small... but I feel a rush whenever I realize how big your story is and that my little story can be connected to it. So, again, today, in this moment I say, take my life and do what you will with it. I want to be shaped by you. I need my mind to be transformed by you. Too much radio. Too much TV. Too much internet. I need some edges rubbed off. I need to be in the hands of a true Soul Artisan. Shape me for your glory. I'm all yours. +++

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:35 AM

We had an interesting discussion in a seminary class yesterday. We were discussing how we "do" theology (theological method in practice) and how theology develops. We were specifically looking at the early Methodists and even more specifically John Flethcher and John Wesley. The point came up that journals and conversations are ways that our theology develops. Of course I had to say something... the first time I ever spoke up in this class actually. Blogs fit the discussion so naturally since they are public journals that people can respond to... and the bonus is that we don't have to wait till we're dead and/or famous to have them published!

Later I read a comment on someone else's blog (was it Frank Dorien?) about the internet being the equivalent of the road system during the Pax Romana that allowed the gospel (or any idea virus really) to travel far and wide rapidly. Then there was the printing press at the time of the reformation which had a similar effect through a different means. Now there's the internet. We're all aware of the power to transmit ideas there. It seems like movements in church history are accompanied by rapid disemination of ideas (part of the very reason they become movements, I guess). Perhaps God will use the internet to propel a movement in our time. He doesn't need it but He can certainly use it. But there's always that heart issue to wrestle with as well. The roads of earlier centuries have yielded lots of car crashes and people rushing to do evil. The printing press yielded many great books but it also gave us some poor books and porn. The internet too is loaded with land mines. Not only is hurtful material readily available it's often proactively offered (anyone who has had a hotmail account knows what I mean!). Then there's the temptation to decieve ourselves that we are gaining wisdom when actually we're just numbing our minds with information overload.

So, where is this going? Like many things in life there are opportunities mingled with risks, open doors followed by temptations. I'm excited to use the internet and hopefully bring God glory through it... and if he wills it maybe I'll get to be a part of a movement in my lifetime.

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:12 AM


Sunday, November 17, 2002

I've been looking for a site like this for a long time:Christian History Institute

It very much relates to the new title of this blog: The Kedge. So let's have a little contest... if anyone can guess the meaning of The Kedge I'll buy you a book, any book under $20, from Amazon.com. There's a little clue as a hidden link somewhere on the page. I will also tell you that I first encountered a kedge while reading a Len Sweet book....

Good luck! Contest ends in 1 week...

posted by >> Kevin @ 8:09 AM

Great article on John Wesley's societies and bands. Makes many of the discussions re: small groups, cells, and even house churches seem puny. (long article but worth the effort...)

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:39 AM


Saturday, November 16, 2002

Hey y'all... Chad Canipe is throwing down on the "vocational ministry"/ pastors need to get real jobs discussion over at his excellent web site/ blog. Check in on it... I know for many this would be rehashing a discussion that ensued on Alan's blog but perhaps there's some fresh things to say or developments in your thinking that can be shared. With my "salary" leaving me at year's end I must say this discussion feels more and more relevant every day to me... tick, tock, tick, tock Is Starbucks still hiring? Friends don't let friends work at Starbucks..... "MMMMmmmm Gingerbread Latte.... for free...Come on over to the Green side"... Not so sure I could handle Perry Como singing Christmas favorites for a whole shift.... I might end up throwing a Peppermint Mocha all over a disgrungtled customer who didn't get the right amount of Cinnanmon atop her Super-Venti soy no foam 2% hazelnut Latte... "With rage in his eyes and a steaming Latte in his right hand Kevin snaps as he recites the familiar but mis-placed and inappropriately timed words of a previous vocation: 'I baptize you in the name....'"

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:47 AM


Friday, November 15, 2002

"I open up and fill with love and
other objects evaporate. All

the learning in books stays put
on the shelf. Poetry, the dear

words and images of song, comes
down over me like mountain water."

Rumi

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:55 AM

My friend and mentor Steve Sjogren now has a blog and redesigned website. Worth a looksy...

posted by >> Kevin @ 6:36 AM


Thursday, November 14, 2002

New look thanks to Mr. Alan Creech. If you need some design work done, hire the man... he gots to eat ya know... and yes, Jason, I'm his pimp!

posted by >> Kevin @ 4:57 PM

New look thanks to posted by >> Kevin @ 4:55 PM

OK. I'm done fighting for awhile... it's hard to take shots from people you love. It's much easier to hit them however =)... here's a little something I'm thinking about and could use your wisdom on... why should churches be "networked"/ connected to/ in fellowship with other churches? Do we really need to have "networks" or associations of churches? What are the benefits and drawbacks? How does this intersect with a local church's autonomy? This is a relevant question for us right now as we navigate keeping our (home) churches connected and with regard to our association with the Vineyard.... I'm just asking... any thoughts? even better, any experiences (good or bad) from being connected? help...

posted by >> Kevin @ 7:21 AM


Wednesday, November 13, 2002

I'm teaming up with a pal from Dayton, OH to launch Plant it! Please let me know what you think... folks who read this blog are the first to hear about this (and my favorite critics) and I sincerely want your feedback. Let me have it... the good, the bad and the ugly... feedback that is... not readers... whatever...

posted by >> Kevin @ 10:48 AM


Tuesday, November 12, 2002

Well what have I done? I didn't mean to start a fight and then walk away... I'm still hear and wanting to be part of this discussion...

Let me say at the outset that I was playing devil's advocate a bit and trying to draw out discussion by being black and white. I do have strong opinions on the matter but I would not want to make it a point of division... it's not worth that...

I also wasn't trying to argue that homes are the only, godly, biblical place to meet... it was much more pragmatic and less dogmatic than that. I believe they're best because they subtly and naturally reinforce that we are spiritual family and lend themselves to intimacy and life-on-life discipleship....

So here's some responses to your excellent thoughts... I'm picking on only a few of you... (still love me, right?)

- Laura: You are not too flawed to start a church in your home in fact what little I know of you I would say you are very qualified and have the beginnings of one already with your kids! Simple church really is that doable...

- Tom: you have a lovely community that already functions as family in homes via your smaller gatherings (I would just take the plunge some day and call them what they are ie churches within a church within a Church within a Kingdom!

- Charlie I would agree with others who pointed out the difference between proclamation places vs. where churches originally gathered

- Doug: I agree with the spirit behind what you're saying (focus on what the church does vs. where the church meets) however, I believe the environment we meet in affects us and at times even forms us (shapes us via our perceptions and subconscious). Imagine raising a family at the mall 24/7... my point is that homes naturally reinforce what we're trying to be ie spiritual family...

- Jeremiah, since when is having a strong opinion sowing seeds of division? =) Sorry if it came across as alienating... not my intention... more of a gadfly, thought provoker than a dogmatic intent. It's like good, better, best thing not right or wrong per se... I think you rock and your heart not to alienate people is so cool. Pray that you don't become old and crusty and onery like me =) Dude, it's spelled d-u-d-e!

- James. Thanks for bringing the Orthodox perspective. I agree wholeheartedly with much of what you said. Here's a couple thoughts on beauty that I'll bet you'll agree with. Small can be beautiful. A home with a space dedicated to worship via icons and an alter is beautiful. Orthodox families functioning as churches is beautiful. Beauty can change the world... I guess I'm just proposing we package it (beauty) smaller...

posted by >> Kevin @ 3:31 PM


Thursday, November 07, 2002

I asked my friend who is a recovering alcoholic (who bounces from house to house in my neighborhood struggling to stay sober and make ends meet) how to reach his friends... He wrote out a list of 12 things that I thought were worth paying attention to and passing on...

1. Try to find something in common that you can build on
2. Let them learn to trust you. You have to earn that.
3. Right or wrong respect what they say. Don't be critical at first. Remember you are trying to get a story on him.
4. Never put his friends down or who he runs with. When they trust you they will respect what you say.
5. Listen to what he says about his home life
6. Praise them for what good they do
7. When he hits a problem don't tell him he is stupid. It may be that his world is coming to an end.
8. Do little things for them.
9. Give them something to be responsible for
10. (for teens) Don't try to put an adult head on his shoulders. Get down where he lives.
11. Watch for the con.
12. Boundaries. This is how far you can go. Don't cross it.


Street level wisdom for reaching out....

posted by >> Kevin @ 8:44 AM

OK... I'm in the mood to pick a fight, so here goes... (you know I love you, right?)... Churches should meet in homes unless that's impossible. To my institutional church friends I hope this pisses you off and you give me all the flawed reasons to own and meet in church buildings. To my simple church friends, I hope this pisses you off and forces you to reconsider meeting in cafe's and parks etc. The home is the best environment for church for many, many reasons...I'll start with this one: If church=family then where better to express family than in a home? There's the first punch. Your turn.

Email me or comment below...

(Alan, please steal this and make it a discussion if you'd like... my comments function isn't that good...)

posted by >> Kevin @ 8:29 AM


Wednesday, November 06, 2002

Some substantial updates (at least I think so...) at VC web site...

posted by >> Kevin @ 8:53 AM


Friday, November 01, 2002

Since it's all saints day, here's my favorite saint






>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

posted by >> Kevin @ 9:34 AM