God, Grace, Post-Modernity, and Peter

I had the chance to sit down with Josh Brooker over a good breakfast this morning and chat about the above. I always love getting out and connecting with people! Always. However, I find Josh to be an exceptional thinker and listener who I always love to be around.

This morning we downed Coffee at the Perfect Cup (thanks to Erika E. for the great service) and meandered about Grace and God via Josh's recent 6 month ordeal with being jobless etc. This part of the discussion included a connection to Peter and his own following of Christ via John's Gospel. We then spent some time discussing the linear fashion in which Modernity has taught us to "present propositionally" the gospel from which we spoke of all things post-modern etc.

Nothing better than coffee and good conversation to call us toward loving life! Thanks Josh.

The Cookout was Awesome

I really enjoyed the Cookout yesterday! I guess it was primarily the conversation... definitely. I love the kind of hang out sessions where we can really get to know each other more deeply and spend extended time just chatting and laughing.

I look forward to getting to know the One and Matthew's Table crowd better over the next months. I'm thinking another coffee shop concert series is in line soon.

If you didn't make it to the cookout or haven't made it to any connection point event we've put on I want to encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for the next one we do because this is a time like no other.

The Fence is Moving (Moved)

Well we are moving our field fence this weekend. For those that do not know this is a huge job. We must first detach the existing fence, which is on our property instead of on the horse owners (we bought 1 acre from their 11.5 acres). We then move it back adding fencing as needed... I keep thinking... why didn't we do this during colder weather months?

Oh well...

UPDATE:

The fence is now moved and I'm very happy! Come see it sometime.

Memorial Day Cookout RSVP

Please drop me an email and let us know if you ARE attending the Cookout (free cookout) this Monday. Please let us know sooner rather than later.

We will crank things up around 4pm. Please see the attached flyer below. As always call me if you have problems with directions.

Missional Pacesetters and Leadership

Goodmanson has a great blog post today about leadership among Elders, which is particularly insightful in the area of thinking through the practicality of how a group of elders might function within a missional and post-modern construct. You should jet over to his page and read the article.

I like Drew and met him in Los Angeles at a CoachNet workshop/certification thing in early April. He's an insightful, laid back, creative thinker who is part of an exciting church plant effort in the San Diego area (Kaleo). His discussion begins with a question that was raised at a church planter meeting and essentially asks how to operate as a plurality of elders and yet make decisions when there is disagreement. If you have ever sat in on an elder meeting this is an important question (probably if you've sat on in any meeting!). Apparently this question was fleshed out at the meeting in the following way via consensus: "almost all church planter/pastors brought up the belief that there must be a first amongst equals." The post continues with a quote from BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP Restoring the Eldership to Its Rightful Place in the Church (pdf) that essentially explains the definition of "first amongst equals".

The beauty of Drew's post is what follows the quote and not the quote itself, thankfully, wherein he asks a series of powerful questions, "So how does this work? How are you operating as a plurality of elders? Do you have a first amongst equals?"

Drew follows this series of questions with (emphasis mine),

Taking from Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by C. John Miller, this is a 'missional pacesetter who is able to break through the church's natural tendency to erect barriers to guarantee the church's comfort and safety'. This does not mean they are maverick decision makers but that they are focused on the cause of mission/movement in such a way that their gifts are being exercised in moving the mission forward.

He then brings it closer to home speaking of Kaleo, his home church, from a practical vantage,

At Kaleo Church, while David Fairchild is the primary preaching elder, I have never seen him use this position as leverage to demand his way. He builds consensus and seeks for unanimity even though many people at Kaleo might consider him the 'head pastor' because they are not aware of how decisions are made. Releasing the elders to be on mission flows from a shared commitment to the corporate convictions. This requires great trust between the elders, because other elders will have their own 'causes' that are guided by the normative/vision/values (corporate). The plurality releases individual elders to make decisions at the edges of the church, advancing the mission or cause.

What then follows is an excellent comparative section (at the end of the article) missional vs. pastoral leadership models.

I find the idea of a missional pacesetter(s) and the releasing of elders to "make decisions at the edges of the church" refreshing and imperative for ministry today, however I wonder what this would look like within our context? A context driven by volunteerism and unpaid "staff" leaders.

Anyone want to dream aloud with me?

Matthew's Table: Social Service

I'm really excited that our Community Groups at Matthew's Table will be cranking up some loving through service this summer. This is something that many of us have had a heart for since our inception. We kept saying we would wait until the administrative pieces were in place, until we had the leaders to lead out in this direction, etc. I finally realized, must have been blind, that we would be waiting forever and in the meantime we were not creating a culture of serving.

It's with this mindset the we will be putting ourselves out there in small ways this summer. Simply loving the community through action and fewer words. The Book Nook group will be heading over to a retirement home in town to simply sit, learn, and listen as we serve that under appreciated community. I just felt that we could wait forever without ever doing anything and that seemed just wrong. Instead of waiting for the right timing we've decided to simply do it as a small group once or twice a month.

By the way are you in a community group? If not please contact us today about the possibilities of getting involved in one.

Thinking Big: Study Indicates Room Size Matters

First follow this link because they have said far better than I could (the article links to this article on ceiling height and this journal where the former is to be published)

If you wondered I get my best ideas in the shower too. Joylene always laughs when I go to take a restful shower and next thing you know I've come out with a "newest and bestest" plan for life and ministry! Honestly I do get my best, or at least some of the best, in the shower. However, my shower is rather small. Then after realizing this and pondering the article I realized my office is really small. Next I thought about the Gathering, where we put on One, realizing that the ceilings are low there too!

I guess it's time to move, get a new job, and change our venue! :)

Who else finds themselves confined by small spaces? or do you think the scientific studies linked to therein are bunk?

Weekend Round Up

This was a relaxing but strange weekend. Joylene and I kicked things off by going our separate ways!? She took off with some girlfriends for a night out on the town in Chattanooga and I went to the Venue with some guys to listen/watch some local punk bands play.

As a side note the music was better than I had expected, especially Doomed Youth (who claim to be putting out a 7 inch shortly on Criminal something Records). One overarching feeling from the show was that those punks love each other far better than we brother/sisters who claim to follow Christ do, which may sound condemning and probably is so please forgive me but there was a sense of community in that small punk rock scene that is seldom witnessed by the other half. I digress....

After that most pleasant night Joylene and I chilled out very hard on Saturday sleeping until the unusual hour of 3pm!!! I haven't slept that long since I was in High School. The truth be told we have been experiencing bad allergies and took some Benadryl that simply knocked us out. Saturday we went out for my Birthday celebration with my Mother, late but great, to Terra Nostra in Chattanooga. Then basically rested the remainder of the weekend until now... here I sit on Monday morning feeling the need to meet my blog fix.

A Reminder to self re: Word of Mouth

Reading through my ever growing list of rss feeds when Seth Godin from Seth's Blog reminded me of something I had almost forgotten! Thanks Seth... but first a bit of context.

So as we put on One, a worship service/experience for young adults in our area, it's as easy for me as it is for large corporations, universities, corner cafes, and churches to forget one simple principle. People don't always come to your thing, your cafe, your conference, or your business due to some full scale logical excel spreadsheet based analysis , rather at times they come simply because it's the in thing to do. These ebbs and flows are to be understand as pertaining to mere popularity. However, "mere popularity" seems a joke itself, because well... popularity reasonable or not is .... well popular and thus important from a marketing stand point. Right?

Seth Godin writes, "often, something is popular just because it's popular." True. True. This eases and yet troubles my preoccupation with numbers... Honest and painful, I pray the Lord will remove my interest in pure outcomes and more so give me a heart for obedience to the vision.

Go here and read what I read and why not add his RSS feed while you are at it.

Leadership Development with Craig Groeschel

If you have any interest what so ever with developing leaders or leading for that matter you need to be taking notes on Craig Groeschel's series at http://swerve.lifechurch.tv on "Developing Leaders".

If you are serving with Matthew's Table and leading please take some time to read these blog posts.

Here's the series.

• Part 1.
• Part 2.
• Part 3.
• Part 4.
• Part 5.

Let me know what you think of these in the comments below. I'll provide my own commentary on the highlights once we get the ball rolling.

Ed Young: Raw and Authentic

I love the authenticity. The church needs more leaders with a vision and passion for being real and telling it like it is in an authentic manner. I believe we attempt to play the role of the "protector" or attempt to shield those within our ministries from the real stuff. It is this type of shielding and protecting that yields a culture where our leaders are thought to be super humans with zero struggles etc. This in the end sends an unrealistic view of faith, life, and community to the church. Thanks Ed.

What do you think? Simply post below as I would love to hear your thoughts... actually I value them a great deal.




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One User states, "Why GodTube.com is stupid"

Please follow this link to read the comments regarding this video. I stumbled upon GodTube some months ago, however this link is courtesy of Think Christian a site I highly recommend you add to your blog reader. (What's a blogreader? Go here)

So... what do you think? Very appropriate in light of the below post about Falwell... in my opinion.

Must Read: Blurring the Church-State Line (NPR)

Thanks to Valerie Silva who pointed this article out to me after a conversation we had regarding, however loosely, the same topic.

David Kuo writing for NPR's "All Things Considered" breached the subject of Blurring the Church-State Line: Falwell's Flaw. He is speaking of course about Jerry Falwell, whom died recently, if you are not up on Falwell just Google his name for a wide range of opinions. You need to read this article in it's entirety because I believe this discussion is increasingly important for those of us that are hoping to provide hope in a troubled world.

Kuo begins with the following, "Jerry Falwell is," my friend said "the reason I can't call myself a Christian in Hollywood. He is what everyone thinks about when they hear the word, 'Christian.'" This quote, while troubling to those of us within the bubble, is very true in my experience. That is I find the statement ringing true in my own relationship(s) with those who do not share my beliefs. How so? Falwell is our friend, namely in that he proclaimed what I find to be true in the gospel, even if he did so in a way I myself would not choose. Further, I find myself (prior to landing a job in full-time ministry) pressed into a corner when sharing my belief's with others for many of those "unlike" us immediately equate my/our brand of truth with that of the more extreme (aka Jerry Falwell). In this way Falwell as Kuo states did far more damage than help to the cause of Christ.

Kuo writes, "Falwell's great bet – that political power could create a more Christian America than the humble preaching of Jesus could – failed." Yes. I believe this is so true that it is scary. This statement or rather the understanding therein should be placed on a post it note upon our bathroom mirrors. Christ has called us to preach Christ risen, hope, relationship with Christ, and reconciliation rather than to legislate morality.

I echo the sentiment within this articles conclusion,

"If, out of that, more people come to know the Jesus of the Gospels rather than the Jesus of the GOP then it may well be that Jerry Falwell's ultimate legacy may be that he helped lead people back to God."

l truly hope that we as a people of God will move toward interaction and conversation with the Jesus of the Gospels rather than toward a Jesus that is consumed with legality and political posture.

Please read the article and let me know how you feel...

You Tube Promo #3

I just want to say thanks so much to all those volunteer leaders out there that make the little things become big things for others.

I spoke earlier about Jeremy Owens and the impact he is making on Matthew's Table. Today I want to give it up for Colt Helton who has been doing some camera work and video editing for us lately. Here's his latest installment.

One Round Up

Well another One has come and gone... we had a decent turnout, however the move from the Gathering to the Wink really engulfed us. I for one don't plan on using the Wink anytime in the near future. The Simple Fool sounded great! Alfred Turley was passionate in a major way about our Community Groups and it seemed that the message carried fairly well as we had a good initial response. Ben Bailey spoke about the focus that trails and tragedy bring in our lives via Jonah chapter 2. Finally, the Pulver twins provided a first hand account of what community has meant in their lives.

Don't miss the Memorial Day Cookout!!!

Are Numbers the Answer?

I was so moved by the following link that I just had to come over and post to it. I interrupted my wife to read her the post. What follows hits the nail on the head in my opinion.

History in the Making

"What is the Church?," said Brandon Headrick

I had an excellent conversation with Brandon Headrick a few weeks back and it's been fermenting since that time. Allow me to paint a brief picture of the scene. Brandon and I were getting together because several people in the community had told us we "needed" to get together and chat/hang out. Previous to our conversation the extent of our interaction had included facebook messages back and forth about getting together. I knew from Jeremy Owens that Brandon was missionally minded and not just in the theoretical "I like to talk about being missional" sort of way, but rather he was a man of action. I was excited to hang with this guy and wondered where the conversation might lead us.

After exchanging some pleasantries and the customary shop talk we sat down outside the Udder Creamery on Walnut Ave (near Los Pablos) with a water and some ice cream. Several moments into our conversation God placed an incredible girl at our table. She sat in front of us for nearly an hour speaking of the damage the "church" had down to her, the feeling of loss, and the guilt associated being a off and on again follower of Christ. The conversation was powerful and pointed. It was at this point that Brandon interjected a question...

"What is the Church?," he asked.

There was an extended silence. As we were able to give this sister a listening ear and words of affirmation we felt "church" was happening. Brandon and I spoke for another half hour after her leaving meandering about ministry and the embodiment of Christ within community in the "as you go" sense. The conversation was refreshing to say the least, however my mind continued churning for days after the conversation... What is the Church?

Now you must understand I am not unaware or lost within discussion of the church, however nor am I an expert. I've wrestled with God on this question realizing that my "in expression only" efforts to live out the mission of the church have often fallen into the vein of programing and processing (c.f. Simple Church). This of course pleads a discussion "what is the church" has anything to do with "what the church ought to be doing". I'm not going to develop those thoughts here, rather I will only say that the two should be wed to each other. In the midst of efforts that yielded only programming rather than a way of life I've always felt a sense of loss. This loss is most clearly identified as a feeling of misguided effort. Simply put I find myself feeling I ,and to some extent we, am/are working within a gluttonous model wherein the body of Christ merely feeds itself and perpetuates itself as a Christian sub-culture (c.f. Dan Kimball, They like Jesus, but not the Church). I'm not sure I can live that way anymore.

Rather, I must be less internally focused and more missionally minded! We must be people more consumed with meeting others where they reside than keeping our hands clean. Finally, as leaders we must lead in this way, which means actually modeling such behavior for those we lead.

Matthew's Table presents One

I'm really excited about the May 15th One that's coming up fast!

People ask me often why all the buzz and excitement for One... well let me address that issue for a few minutes, but first for those that don't know what One is all about.

One is a connection point that serves the Young Adult (20-30ish) community in North West Georgia. Practically speaking it's a service that includes hanging out, worshiping God to some really good music (see www.simplefoolmusic.com), and taking in some teaching. However, One has as its "real" purpose serving as a connection point to feed the aforementioned, perhaps you, into community groups where real questions can be answered and real relationships built.

That being said here's why I'm always excited about One:

One provides a place for some in our community to connect to God that have otherwise disconnected. Perhaps it's the atmosphere? Perhaps it's the relevant subject matter? I don't know, what I do know is that it does provide that place of connection and that excites me!

Secondly, One is an integral part of a process that helps us get closer to God (if a process and do that) and that excites me! In the larger scheme of things One fits into the processes of Matthew's Table, which includes community groups and service.

Thirdly, One is a place that you can come just as you are without any presupposed reference of how you "ought to be". I love connecting people and allowing those connected to simply be. We have a problem just being in our society. I believe the more we can do to re-learn being the better off we will be as a communal entity and that excites me!

So that being said I'm excited, cheesy or not, cutting edge or not, perfect of course not... I'm excited that God is doing something in a communities heart! Join us.

32nd Birthday Bash

Joylene, Alfred, Heidi and I went to Kampai Tokyo last night in Chattanooga and had a great time celebrating my oldness. It's great to have friends that care and make connecting a priority! Here are a few pre-dinner pics outside our house.

Matthew's Table Logo

Thanks to Jeremy Owens the Matthew's Table website and logo are nearing completion! I love being part of a ministry, Matthew's Table, where I am surrounded by leaders that bust their butts for the community. Jeremy has been taking it to another level lately working on multiple projects simultaneously so if you see him thank him for all his hard work!

Jeremy Rocks! Check out the logo in early form (I'm thinking the color will change to navy blue or some similar blue color). Enjoy.

Leadnow Conference Photos (D.C.)

The main conference center with one of the main Rightnow.org guys.


Friends from the Mission Society in Atlanta


A poor picture of a confused Donald Miller


Mark Batterson of NCC doing his thing during a main session (you can't see him but trust me)


Booths to connect people to varying missional ministries... good idea


Just in case you wondered about Jesus...

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Speaking Invitation

Joylene and I are available to teach a variety of topics (you can even choose the topic). We have done series such as Losing My Religion, Intimacy Issues, biblical studies on the book of Matthew among others, Small Group Leadership Training Events, or Marriage Enrichment Seminars. If you are interested in simply discussing the possiblity of having us speak or teach just contact us below. We deeply enjoy hanging out and sharing in any capacity with others and would love to help you grow your ministry so contact us and let us know what you have in mind.

email us at info@matthewstable.com

About

My wife grew up in Southern California and I in Dalton, GA. We were both educated at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago Il, where we both received BA's in Bible and Theology. We were married during our time in graduate school at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, MA. I myself graduated with two Masters in both Old and New Testament respectively while Joylene finished with a Masters of Marriage and Family Counseling. We have been married 5 years in June '07.

Currently Joylene is the lead counselor at Family and Friends Counseling in Dalton, GA. As aforementioned we moved from the Boston area with a crazy dream that had not yet found it's full development upon arrival in the Fall of 2005. This dream included ministry to young adults in some re-visioning of how we "do" church within a post-modern context. We have since grown to 10 small groups and an average attendance of 100 or so to One, our young adult worship experience, within the last 18 months.

Feel free to contact either of us with questions or comments about this site, Family and Friends Counseling, or Matthew's Table. Thanks for joining the conversation!


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Community Group Leader Weekly Check-In

Contact

For those that would like to contact me you can do so by sending me a note with your questions or comments to jeff dot green @ matthewstable dot com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

You Tube Promo #2

Here's the newest via Colt Helton... thanks Colt.

What is a Blog Reader and Why you need one

I just wanted to first explain and then suggest a service I use regularly called Bloglines (it's free).

Essentially you begin to accumulate a lot of blogs that you enjoy keeping up with as witnessed by the few I have listed to your left. As time passes you will find it clunky and difficult to go to each individual site every time you want fresh content. Solution! Bloglines or Google Reader or some similar website will ease your pain. You can read the more formal definition here from wikipedia.

How you say? Well essentilly you click on the RSS button on a blog (see mine on the top right?) and this allows you to subscribe to that blog via your blog reader such as bloglines, etc above. The advantage to doing so is that you can then go to one site, in my case Bloglines, in an effort to read all of your blogs. Here's a short yet concise list of features from Bloglines.

Key Features of Bloglines:

• All-in-one Blog and news feed search, online subscriptions, news reader, blog publishing and social sharing tools
• Available in 10 languages
• Mobile version optimized for handheld computers and cell phones
• Email subscriptions help manage your e-newsletter traffic
• Package Tracking (UPS, USPS & FedEx)
• Custom weather forecasts
• Quick Pick Subscriptions get new users started quickly and easily
• Personalized recommendations to find new subscriptions
• Bookmarklet for single-click subscriptions to any source
• Notifiers for all browser types to remind you when new articles have arrived
• Bloglines Saved Searches deliver future articles matching your key words and phrases
• Most Popular lists show the days hot topics and which blogs are getting the most noticed
• Handy add-on tools for bloggers such as automated blogrolls, subscription buttons

Go here for the full about on Bloglines.

Why not subscribe to a Blog Reader today such as Bloglines and begin purusing some blogs and adding them to your list?

Survey