Three Is Enough … Todd Hunter

I met Todd Hunter about six years ago. Since that time we have hosted Todd on a few ETREK conference calls. He writes well about the missional turn. Yesterday Ed Stetzer posted the following release on his blog and today Jim Henderson with Off-the-Map included it in an e-mail. Todd’s new work should be a great contribution to and for us all.

Three Is Enough Groups – Spirituality For the Sake of Others
Todd Hunter, former CEO of Alpha USA, launches new ministry to focus on spiritual transformation

Boise, ID, April 2, 2008

Effective April 1, Todd Hunter (51) transitioned from his role of National Director at Alpha USA to launch a new ministry focused on helping pastors and lay leaders reach a generation that has become disenfranchised from the church.

Under the new non-profit, Society for Kingdom Living, Hunter will develop his writing, speaking and professional activities in the areas of conversational evangelism and the 21st century church. Hunter has a passion for evangelism but is convinced that Christianity in America has a massive image problem that stymies most attempts at evangelism. With the basic premise that Christianity needs to be re-practiced in order to help make followers of Jesus in this generation, he is developing resources and events that include writing a series of three books, the first to be published by InterVarsity Press, developing conferences, and teaching at key seminaries.

His first major conference to be held in Minneapolis on May 16-17 features conversational evangelism pioneers Mark Mittleberg, Becky Pippert, Dan Kimball and Garry Poole and Rick Richardson. Hunter has asked Jim Henderson and Off The Map to produce these conferences.

Hunter will begin this ministry by teaching and consulting on Three Is Enough Groups. These groups are designed to show people how to undo un-Christian faith by showing them that heaven is not the goal of Christianity - it is simply the destination. Being the servant - otherly people of God - is the goal.

Through his writing and teaching, Hunter will encourage churches and lay leaders to begin forming Three Is Enough Groups to help individuals pray, grow and serve. Keeping the groups small and focused insures that evangelism can happen anywhere, in the midst of people’s busy lives. Meeting in their most natural places of community – the workplace, school, or at the local coffee shop - Three Is Enough Groups will go on the Journey Inward of spiritual transformation and the Journey Outward of serving others. This will be done through the power of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of others - the least, the last and the missing.

Hunter will continue to be a consultant to Alpha USA and will remain on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He will have an active role in promoting Alpha, teaching on Alpha’s practices, building relationships and advising the organization on strategy.

Chancing the Pilgrim Sandals

A second “stream poem” inspired by Nude Truths. The project is the product of sisters Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen and Kristi Ylvisaker. Their artwork in this installation turns on the poetry of Denise Levertov. I was particularly taken by #6. The confluence of viewing this installation, reading N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope, and thinking about the Lectionary Texts for this past Sunday form the nexus of this attempt.

Chancing the Pilgrim Sandas

My feet have often been the focus of attention
Attention drawn to a lack of uniform perspective
Perspective fixed by standards of “normal”
“Normal” leading to conformity
Conformity to substance and style determined by others
Others’ measure of and fixed forms intended for preservation

Preservation of a way, not “the” way, a way
A way that for many stands as “the way”
Way of a system once inspired to transform
Transform not so much
Much posturing, much politicking, much pandering
Pandering to others, away from The One

The One who subverts everything
Everything is in range, not just some things but all things
Things considered shielded by present infirmity
Infirmity reaching to a core allegedly untouchable
Untouchable by The One until “That Day”

“That Day” reserved for the climactic
Climactic act as though the life, death, and resurrection of The One is somehow anti-climactic
Anti-climactic due to the depth of damage to the image
Image bearing now shielded until That Day - Some Day

Some day we will find our feet
Feet no longer fixed, and flat
Flat as in unprepared, unresponsive, unmoved

Unmoved by the plight of “the other”
“The Other” who “is us”, who is “not us”
“Not us” but part of us - interrelated
Interrelated by the bearing of The Image

Image obscured by decisions - ours and others
Others’ images to be seen as those bearing the image of The One
The One who first donned the Pilgrim Sandas
Sandals holding infleshed divinity - the Son of Man
Man yet God - incarnated

Incarnated, journeying in and out, down and back
Back - where we hope to go to a future yet unknown
Unknown in its specificity, known in its purpose
Purpose bound in the Pilgrim’s Story
Story giving power to life, giving hope

Hope inspiring the feet, feet now moving
Moving in ways bringing life “the other” - poor and rich
Rich in gentleness and respect
Respect for the image buried
Buried beneath
Beneath our ruined journeys

Journeys now shared
Shared by chancing the Pilgrim’s Sandals
Sandals of hope and peace
Peace from the Giver of Peace and His Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage chancing the Pilgrim’s Sandals

Without Reservation

One of the exercises we were invited to engage at Brian’s Everything Must Change Tour came when Linnea charged us with writing a “stream poem.” I enjoy poetry. I could not be confused with a poet. Here is my first attempt.
Without Reservation

Endless come the images provoking reform
Reform kept at bay by uncertainty
Uncertainty mounts as the wind carries
Carries us swiftly and unskilled as we look to land
Land where?
Where conviction intersects action
Action evidencing conviction
Conviction to finally take a step without reservation
Reservations as identity is often confined to labels
Labels intended to stymie, constrict and de-personalize
De-personalize denying the image bearing nature of we humans
Humans made in the image of God to reflect not themselves but the God in whose image made
Made for loving God and loving others
Others without reservation giving illustration of a reservation-less love for God

Cafe con Leche … When In Barcelona

I guess I have grown up. Nearly 20 years ago I was told when I grew up I would drink coffee. I grew up around coffee so it was not a lack of exposure. I took a sip here and there but the bitterness did not work for me. Caffeine was not the problem. I preferred mine cold and sweet. Sometimes I wondered if it were the residual grounds present at the bottom of the cup using older model coffee “percolators.” The advent of automatic drip with the finer filters did not entice me so I gave up on that idea.

Whatever the case, I guess I have grown up. That’s right, this past week I followed the maxim, “When in Spain do as the Spaniards.” Yes that was an adaptation for those who learned it, “When in Rome … .” Every day I found an occasion to enjoy a “cafe con leche.” Mix in a little sugar and I could have had several cups a day - and did.

What drove the decision? Spending a few days with people given to giving up their own cultural connections to incarnate Jesus in another culture spurred my imagination. We often think of hospitality in terms of how we welcome others. Sometimes hospitality turns on the way in which we respond to those who invite us in.

I recall a trip to Burma a number of years ago. We sat down for an evening meal. Our hosts were wonderful people. They set a meal before us that included “chicken.” I love fried chicken. Not one piece looked vaguely familiar to the “pieces” I had grown up enjoying. We took in a very good meal but could have easily offended our hosts by suggesting we would not even try what lie on the plate.

We entered a cafe in Barcelona. It would have been easy ordering a “coke light” and continuing to shun coffee. However, it seemed right to do what the vast majority do when sharing time together in this great city. With a cafe on nearly every corner - I think it was my brother to referred to Barcelona as one large shopping center - it seemed most everyone connected with others over a cup of coffee. Were we to share time with people from Barcelona it seemed coffee should not be a barrier. Whether or not this new habit will continue remains to be seen. But, when in Spain it just seemed right to enjoy the coffee as the locals did.

Hospitality works both directions. Hoping to expose people to an hospitable God may well be communicated in how well we respond to the hospitality of others.

Non-violent Resistance … Loving “Others”

Last month I listened in to a conference call with Anthony Smith, who blogs at Musings of a Postmodern Negro. Anthony spared us some of his time to reflect on leadership in reference to power. The course tended to wrestle with gender issues. But, the matter of race is not too dissimilar. Some may argue, and with merit, African-Americans suffered a greater wound than women. Then again, if one has not walked in the shoes of a woman ….

We who shared in the call marveled at a perspective few could really grasp. Some may have wanted Anthony to feel better about life in American as an African-American and assert, “Some of my best friends are black.” Fortunately any such thoughts were kept from the conversation.

Anthony closed the conference call with suggestions for reading and listening from African-American culture. I could not help but think of the kind of value Newbigin suggests when he refers to someone who shares a different perspective as an “intruder.” (See, Proper Confidence) Those with differing view points intrude on our constructions of the way the world is and force something of an altering to include how others see life. To exclude the intruder is to risk not only potential valuable correctives but reduces the intruder to a nuisance, and so their experience less than human.

One writer Anthony suggested we read was James Baldwin. He, Anthony, mentioned the essay, “The Fire Next Time.” I picked up a copy of, Baldwin: Collected Essays. I began reading, “The Fire Next Time” and noticed it was written in 1963, the year I was born. Sitting in the doctor’s office I made it about half way through. A couple of quotes caught my attention.

The really terrible thing, old buddy, is that you must accept them. And I mean that very seriously. You must accept them and accept them with love. For these innocent people have not other hope. The are, in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it. (Baldwin,p.294)

And if the word integration means anything, this is what it means: that we, with love, shall force our brothers to see themselves as they are, to cease fleeing from reality and begin to change it. (Baldwin, p.294)

I at once thought of Will Willimon’s recent Christmas Eve message. We like to think we are the best characters in a story. We so want to identify with those whose experience seems akin to our own. The problem comes when we do not see our story clearly. For example, Willimon notes,

When I read the Christmas story, it is unfair for me to read myself into the places of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, or even the wise men. This was their home. They are under the heel of the Empire, their lives jerked around by imperial decrees.

I live in Rome with Caesar Augustus, or maybe in Jerusalem up at the palace with that King Herod, lackey for the Roman overlords. I’d rather see myself as one of the relatives of Mary and Joseph. I wouldn’t mind being one of the shepherds, out working the night shift, surprised when the heavens filled with angels.

Identifying with Mary or Joseph is akin to suggesting, “Some of my best friends are black.” It is to assert some false connection. It outright denies our own place in our own story. The best we can do when entering another’s story is as Baldwin suggests, and I might add finds place in the way of Jesus, love. Jesus reiterated the long standing command to love our neighbor. The Apostle Paul concluded loving our neighbor sums up the whole Law.

Resisting the shaping of a culture, an economy, a politic, or a social construct may best be done by loving others. Entering another’s story in love creates a deconstructive opportunity giving birth and life to a re-constituted way of life calling for repentance and faith and relationship with and in Christ.

Listening and relational learning

One of our favorite, and honest, phrases parenting our girls was, “There are two sides to every story.” Occasionally this was construed as either, ‘You don’t believe me,” or, “How come you won’t assume my position.” These interactions came during conversational moments where in relationship with our girls we were attempting to learn together in a way a particular event could be a moment of growth and maturity, even for we parents.

Frustration generally curbed or slowed all of our learning. We so wanted to be understood  that our only gauge for understanding was for the  “other” to “come over to  our side.” Our girls would on occasion feel as though their parents did not listen and we reciprocated with the same feelings.

This kind of impasse is often experienced in any number of relationships. What we must be careful of is asserting the “other” is immovable and thereby exhibits a flawed character. It could be the “other” listened but for a variety of reasons did not assume a posture of holding on to his or her position out of pride and belligerence.  It may well have been the “other” found merit in the “argument” presented and may have even moderated some elements of a position but nonetheless found confidence in the decision made.

Attempts to couch this experience in terms of antagonists limits what we may learn. In other words, it is easy to make ensuing conversations and descriptions part of an “us/them” framework. Doing so runs the risk of exhibiting both a lack of humility and an attempt to control and direct the “other.”

Pastoring often brings such a criticism when it is perceived a person is not “heard.” Listening in this context means the one casting an  accusation is more interested in “getting their way” than working toward understanding that may even result in disagreement but not the dissolution of the relationship.

Over this past several months I listened and learned from a group of students. Our conversations centered on leadership beyond power. The ways in which we exhibit power over the “other” often leads to a decline in powerful leadership after the manner of Jesus as each person is interested in “getting their way.” The subplot of the course found expression in the title, “Beyond Power: Leadership and Gender in a Flattened World.”

Students with differing views and perspectives made for an  interesting, even intense, first couple of days. Over the course of the semester learning from “others” took precedence over positions. This does not mean some fell pray to the proverbial slippery slope of giving up ground only to be come …. you fill in the blank. Instead, what ensued was a final two days together that exhibited just how those who differ can learn and love one another to a place of powerful learning - relational learning.

Creating an atmosphere where this may occur in all  relationships may result not in a particular hegemonic position, but a plurality that allows us to see in ways we otherwise would not. Our own confidences are refined as we embrace the “other.” Since we cannot “fully know” the position of learning from the “other” seems to be a better place from which to move forward in following Jesus and working with others to live what my friend John refers to as, “reconciled lives with God and with others.”

Childhood Games, The Church and the Kingdom of God

My new friend Jim Palmer has a chapter in his new book, Wide Open Spaces, titled, “Here is the Church, Here is the Steeple …” Wow what memories that title drew forward. Maybe you recall hands clasped saying that little diddy while moving your hands correspondingly,

Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, see all the people.

Many of us recall our parents readying us “for church.” When asked, “Where are we going?,” it was far easier to say, “To church” than, “We are going to a building where the church meets.” It is more accurate to say the latter.

Jim works through the troublesome framework of equating a building with church rather than church as people. He rightly notes many of the common misperceptions created when we talk about “going to church” and ending up at a building rather than saying something like, “We are going to meet with the church.”

The point should be noted Jim has not dismissed church, he has simply relocated it. What sometimes gets confusing is the near elimination of “church” in relationship to Kingdom of God. One could make this dissolution work, maybe, if we operated from an eschatological perspective reminiscent of post-millennialism. Certain that Jim’s intended audience would be less interested in the-ism’s associated with a”millennial” view, it may be better to suggest how one handles the notion of hope and fulfillment.

If the Kingdom of God has any future implications connected to the return of Jesus then hope has both temporal and “eternal” expressions. Temporal expressions would be glimpses of what it would like like for the world to be completely set right. Not just an operation of the soul, but a redemption and restoration of all things. Here the people of God, in many hopeful cases local communities described as churches, live into the clothes of Jesus so that Advent is both anticipated and ongoing. (see Romans 13:11-14)

In the words of a song we recently learned in our community of faith wherein we must be the expression of the humble King who,

is God of the broken the friend of the weak,  you wash the feet of the weary embrace the ones in need

Communities of faith who live out this expression of the humble King give temporal glimpses of the Kingdom of God creating a wellspring of hope that one day these mere glimpses will be fully realized. The eternal expression would be just that, the fulfillment of New Creation.

When we think of those who come looking to be filled with a hot meal and given food for the week, we trust these temporal expressions of investing in the hungry will stir hope for the day when all will be filled.

The Turn of a Preposition - Hope for Relationships

I enjoy teaching. One of the best times of my week comes in sharing some time with a group of adults thinking about follow Jesus as we engage the Scriptures in a small group. Generally these settings call for an “expert” to “dispense” truth. Long ago I considered that model passe. The reason? Learning comes best when everyone engages. My role then is to facilitate a conversation around the subject of following Jesus. Nearly every week those who gather end up putting together one really deep, challenging “lesson.”

Recently we have been loosely following some devotional thoughts derived from Dallas Willard & Jan Johnson’s, Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice. This devotional book grew out of Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart. Our learning journey has taken us to consider how a community would look that practiced the expressions of genuine love the Apostle Paul describes in Romans 12. Working through this list resulted in a statement made by one from our group.

A personal story conveyed a matter with which we all wrestle. Generally we talk “to” people. We do things “toward” people. We leave those relational opportunities unchanged by the encounter because it has a “detached” feel to it. What really makes the difference is when we alter our “to” to “with.” Talking with people means we not only talk but we listen. Ministering with means connection beyond a “crop dusting” approach often prevalent in quick hitting “evangelistic” tactics. I realize this agrarian metaphor may not readily connect, but we in Oklahoma understand “affecting crops” from a distance.

Another chimed in suggesting a change in prepositions makes experiences less certain and can be quite messy. Beautiful observations that had us all considering how we may press to make the kind of community Paul described a reality not only in our “class,” but also in our church and community at large.

All of this with the turn of a preposition.

As we look toward Advent it is a healthy reminder that Jesus would be called Immanuel, “God with us.”

My New Friend Jim Palmer

Mark Scandrette, poet, pastor, catalyst, and friend , coined a phrase this past week - “My new friend Jim Palmer.” We spent the week as “condo” mates while working at Soularize in Nassau, Bahamas. One of our “condo” mates was Jim Palmer.

On Wednesday as we were making rounds and taking care of details I shared a seat in the van with Jim. He told me some of his story. I distinctly remember him telling me of his work at International Justice Mission. Jim shared the horrors of what I would refer to as the slave trade of young girls into prostitution in Asia. He was involved in something of an undercover meeting that eventually led to the freedom of many young girls. The experience took an emotional tole. Jim writes about the experience in his first book, Divine Nobodies.

During Soularize Jim served as interviewer extraordinaire.

Jim gave me a copy of Divine Nobodies. I read it on the plane home as we narrowly escaped the effects of tropical storm Noel. My plans were to read a chapter or two from Miami to Dallas. Early trips to the airport on consecutive days left me tired from staying up way to late to get up that early - 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

After the first introduction, yes Jim noted he broke a writing rule or two, I was gripped. I read the entire flight and forgot about my fatigue. By the time we landed at Will Rogers I only needed another thirty minutes to finish. Wednesday morning I got up early and finished. I laughed. I cried. I shouted for joy. I shared pain.

One endorsement suggested Jim may be the next Donald Miller. No disrespect to Donald, but I liked Jim’s book a bit more. It may be Jim’s experience as pastor and the oft disillusioning effects of working toward a practical theology. It may be feeling the pain of working through our own dark sides and coming out learning not only much about ourselves but about God. It may be the recognition we have too often ignored the mystical aspects of our spirituality ignoring the visible intersections of God in our world. Maybe it was connecting my own experiences with “divine nobodies” that kept “ringing the bell” for me.

I found a new friend. My new friend Jim Palmer is not just worth reading, he is worth getting to know. Despite his own misgivings about what he may be able to contribute to the Church and the Kingdom of God, Jim has been for me a refreshing “Divine Somebody.”

Order Divine Nobodies. Read it. Cry with it. Laugh with it. When you get up from reading keep your eyes open and your heart sensitive and see who God crosses your path with - these divine nobodies.

P.S. - I am looking forward to Jim’s next book, Wide Open Spaces.

Crashing Waves

We are staying right on the ocean. This morning the waves crashed against the shoreline. The rugged coast gave evidence of the repeated lashing of the waves. The force of Living Water against the boundaries we make for our own lives creates the distinctive work of the Spirit. There are certain to be times of challenge these next few days. Hearing the noise of the waves reminds me to listen to the Spirit as the life of Jesus crashes the shoreline of my life.

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