“I Got Bored with Relevance and Just Wanted Truth”

…A first time visitor to The Bridge made this statement to me following our gathering this Sunday

It struck me that she made a distinction between truth and relevance.

She was a very engaging, obviously intelligent women, and she has come to understand what the church has been selling for some time: truth and relevance are different.

How did we get to the place where a relevant church was not a church that stood on and preached strong Bible?

I was thrilled she was at our community, and thrilled she enjoyed it, but I hated the experience she had with church.  She has attended a huge local church before spending some time in Seattle, and attending Mars Hill, and coming to see a difference she had been feeling for some time.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not drinking the haterade…I have no beef with mega churches, or even with seeker sensitive churches.  I think to a large degree they serve a purpose within the universal church by more effectively attracting the unchurched and dechurched.

At the same time, if I have heard it once I have heard it a thousand times…”I just felt like I graduated”…”I just needed more”…”something was missing”…

How are we as a community going to correct the misconception that truth IS the most relevant thing we can provide someone.  The two are not different…and if it is not founded in truth, no matter has slick, flashy, or cutting edge…IT ISN”T RELEVANT!

Are we to simply come to see different churches serving different purposes?

Are “relevant” churches in need of a truth makeover?

Are “truth” churches in need of a relevance makeover?

What has been your experience?  What are your thoughts?

Should Church Buildings Be Better?

I came across an article today highlighting some of the most creative buildings in the world…

There was a gas station covered with crochet, an office building that used light reflection to make it appear confetti was flying out of the window, and a building that had huge tentacles coming out of the windows. You couldn’t have missed any of these buildings because of their profound creativity…and you wouldn’t have wanted to.

I remember coming across an NT Wright article some time ago in which he was lamenting the lack of creativity in our church buildings.  His case was that the older generations of building were intended to, and largely accomplished an almost worshipful presentation to God by displaying creativity and art from the church.  He felt (as I do) that the church was to be a leader in the arts, and that our buildings were to clearly express our intent to offer God (and the surrounding community) our very best artistic effort. (in this case through architecture)

The counter argument is obviously that the church is not brick and mortar, but flesh and blood.  Investing in and creating an ediface of beauty and value may communicate, albeit inadvertantly, a “come to us”, “come to church” inward focus.  It would obviously take a great deal of effort and money, all of which could be used to serve and reach your context and community.

What do you think?

Should the church work to present more creativity and beauty in its architecture?

Or should we opt of of the building projects, simply find a suitable space, and use the remaining assets to serve and reach?

If you are getting married soon…

I have a couple of weddings coming up that I will be officiating…

If I could humbly, but vehemently suggest that you choose to format the ceremony with this beginning I think it will provide a memorable experience for all

The HUGE Announcement @ The Bridge

There is ALOT of back story, with alot of intersections, and alot of profound timing, but in the name of avoiding a blovel, I will just hit the high points…

God has been so gracious to The Bridge in our move to Clifton.  We have seen changed hearts and lives, a continual affirmation that the step was one toward health in our community, and a continued redemption of the history of our church.

In all of the good, I have continued to feel restless…

For many churches, to replant by moving the entire church 25 minutes away would have been a “destination” move.  To be honest, immediately following the move, I felt like it was a destination move.

As the months have gone by I have been able to identify my restlessness…it is very simply that our move to Clifton was nothing more than a step.  It wasn’t a destination.  I wasn’t the biggest move we will make.  And if it is, we are doomed.

That said, The Bridge has decided to make 4 large decisions as next steps in our journey:

1.  We have hired Jeff Flowers as our Executive Pastor

2.  We have hired Alan Oliver as our Discipleship Pastor

3.  We plan on launching 2 new sites over the next 2 years…one will be on the west side of Cincinnati, and the other with either be in Northside, or near Xavier University.

4.  We are looking for partners: financial and prayer (and ALOT of both)

If you are interested in partnering with us in any way, shape, or form, please comment below and I will follow up with you

These are enormous steps in the continuing story of The Bridge…steps that we take trusting God’s goodness and grace will direct us

Grace and Peace – Pastor Tim

The Arts and The Bridge (an amazing poem)

I haven’t done a great job promoting the arts at The Bridge

It is strange because I love art…music, design, painting, poetry…

I was very close to going to art school

For whatever reason, as we have been working to address the needs of The Bridge it is fallen by the side a bit…and it is something I want to correct

In large degree the church community has leaned more toward the business community than the arts community.  There are several reasons why, but many lack proper founding.  The church, and the things we do as a community, and within our community are more closely relatable to “art forms” than excel spread sheets.

Equally, the drive to create from nothing, to collect variables and form them into shape and texture provides more healer for the artist and those who observe it than any business model could accomplish.

I am hoping to begin to give art its proper place in our community.  We have alot of people who call The Bridge home who came to our neighborhood intending to be trained at The University of Cincinnati in some type of art form, so it would truly be a proper extension of The Bridge.

I came across this poem from someone who calls The Bridge their church home and wanted to share it with you.  I hope it blesses you as it blessed me

I have felt dark, alone and unloved

Even though I knew in my head You were there.

You were angry and annoyed

By my failures, inconsistency and hypocrisy.

I wasn’t good enough for you… I didn’t please You.

I repented and repented and repented,

until I didn’t know what else to repent of.

Day after day,

I wouldn’t look at You

because I felt like You didn’t want to see me.

And I thought if I did look

and You weren’t looking back

I would hurt all the more.

There were vague memories in my head

of times past where I remembered knowing You,

seeing You,

and feeling Your presence in my life.

Where did those times go?

Did they really happen,

and why not anymore?

I tried to trust what You told me,

but somehow it seemed weak,

not strong enough to save me.

I wanted to be no more.

But You.

You found me.

And I realized You never left me,

You never stopped looking at me,

You are helping me to remember.

And You are showing me what a good Father is.

I am trying to face the root of all my hurt,

Now that I know it is not you causing it

“for my good”.

It was a lie, and now I know it.

And am trying not to believe it.

I feel the softening of my heart

and You teaching me about yourself,

something I remember being my prayer

a long while ago.

Your words are becoming alive again

and parts of me are waking up

and growing up.

I am still the same person

with the same hurts and failures,

but what is changing

is my understanding of You,

and Your grace,

and the healing that comes from

truly being loved.

The New York Times Visits my Hood

Check out a great article in the New York Times on Cincinnati and some of its hot spots (from their 36 hour visit)

Thinking about life and death courtesy of Michael Jackson

Everywhere I have looked over the past week or so I have seen information about Michael Jackson…his death, his life, the accusations…

My man was a musical genius, no doubt about it (I am going with “Billie Jean” as my favorite)

And no one, NO ONE danced like MJ (2 words: moon walk)

With all of the sales, and all of the awards, and all of the genius that he undeniable possessed, there is still the issue of 27 million dollars in pay outs for allegedly acting unacceptably and inappropriately with children.  

The end of the story is that I hope MJ had made Jesus King of his life before he drew his last breathe, but as for his life, he has me thinking:

Would I rather be known for my craft, or my character?

What skill, talent, or gift will people have to point to in an attempt to justify a lack of or question of my character?

Would I be OK with never being known for a teaching I gave, a book I wrote, or an investment I made…but being known as a man of integrity?

Even further, would I be OK with being known as a minimally talented man of high character?

Proverbs 22:1-A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…

Charles Colson’s Integrity Accountability

As the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges, Chuck Colson learned the need for accountability the hard way. Now, as the founder and chairman of the board of Prison Fellowship ministries, he meets regularly with a small group of men. At their meetings, they ask each other the following seven questions:

 

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?

5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?

 

Theology Pub (Love this Idea)

Check out this idea and pics from Joe Thorn (pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in the western burbs of Chicago)

His church recently began the idea of hosting spiritual conversations in a local Irish pub…of the attending group, 40% are outsiders (not connected to Redeemer/not Christ followers)

What I Have Learned Doing Pre-Marital Counseling

Being a pastor has given me the opportunity to spend time with couples at important times in their relationships…

Many times, post wedding, the time I spend with them is during a difficulty or tragedy, but there are occasions when I get to spend time with a couple that is engaged to be married, doing their counseling, and sometimes, having the honor of marrying them

As with anything we do in repetition, patterns emerge, and in counseling I have noticed three: one discouraging and convicting, the other two very encouraging and hopeful

1.  Christian couples are the most difficult to counsel.

For more reasons than the length of this post permits, Christians tend to be defensive.  Sometimes it is guilt and shame.  Sometimes it is an expectation they think you hold.  Sometimes it is an expectation they hold.

Christians tend to struggle admitting areas they struggle, and will at times lie to hide things they feel like shed a negative light on them or their relationship.  It is frustrating for them and me, and feels like playing chess.   There are times when at a stale mate you have to allow them their path, knowing it contradicts God’s plan and will result is pain.

This is not to say I haven’t spent time with amazing couples. I am counseling a young couple right now…they are great, and are going to be a fabulous married couple that God uses.  In my experience, the tendency exists with any Christian couple…some just fight is better, or have less they cover, have less expectation, or haven’t been in the church long enough to know better.

2.  Couples who are not Christ followers are easier, more honest, and less defensive.

Because they either reject or do not know the standard of the Bible (or the church) those apart from Christ are remarkably honest.  They tell you their wounds, experiences, failures, thoughts.  Because you are a pastor they feel safe with you, and shoot incredibly straight.  They are generally open to new ideas or even conflicting worldviews.  Not knowing that they “should” feel bad, they don’t, even if they voice displeasure with their actions or belief.

I know there is debate about pastors marrying people apart from Christ…I simply do not understand what the question is.  People are willing to spend time with you, be honest about times of influence in their lives, and invite you to speak into their lives while being a part of one of the most significant days of their lives.

Truth is, I would rather spend the time with this kind of couple

Truth is, I am troubled that there are so few of these type of couples in the church

Truth is, I am not sure I am this type of couple

3.  Couples who are not Christ followers believe the Bible without knowing it.

I have been able to spend time with “mature couples” and young couples that are a apart from Christ, and I have found two things

-The Bible makes sense to them, and betters their marriage when they follow it.  Often times, not even knowing the what the Bible says, its truths resonate with them when its principles are presented to them

-Couples who have had time and experience (good or bad) sound very Biblical when they talk about how marriage should be.  I was able to spend time with a woman who had been married a few times, and was entering into another marriage.  As she talked about what she would like her next marriage to be I could not believe how much her thoughts were right out of God’s word.

The whole experience makes me love God’s word…

God, in creating marriage, knows the very best way to be married, to be a husband, and to be a wife.  God knows how to make our marriages healthy, happy, and expressions of His goodness and grace.  The Bible talks in great detail about how this can occur.  Anyone who hears His thoughts knows this, and anyone who has followed His ways has experienced this.