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Over the next 2 weeks, starting on June 30th, Kevin Martineau has invited guest bloggers to share what some of the most influential, motivating and life changing books they have ever read.

He will be highlighting them each day on his blog at http://kevinmartineau.blogspot.com/

I have copied a list of some of the bloggers below so that you can also visit their blogs and read what they have been writing, thinking, and experiencing on their life journey.

It should be a great 2 weeks of learning and adding some “must read” books to our lists.

I’d  also love to hear your thoughts and comments about important books you have read. So, leave a comment and let me know.

Here’s the schedule:

June 30th Darren Herboldhttp://www.darrenherbold.squarespace.com
July 1st Jeremy Jernigantomorrowsreflection.com
July 2nd Peter Pollackhttp://blog.hafchurch.org/peter
July 5th Andy Darnellhttp://www.andydarnell.com/
July 6th Jason Stasyszenhttp://www.connect2impact.blogspot.com/
July 7th Greg Boltwww.gregbolt.com
July 8th Doug Hibbardhttp://www.calvarymonticello.com
July 9th Bob Robbinshttp://bob.blogs.com/
July 13th Susan Hetrickhttp://blog.advicefromtheblender.com

This isn’t really part two, but more of a quick thought.  Again, thanks to Hugh Halter and his thoughts in The Tangible Kingdom.

I mentioned earlier that what really drew people to Jesus was who He was. The time he spent with people, His love for children and how He chose to live. this is probably different than the norm today of trying to sweet talk, dumb down the message of Christ today and wreck our real testimony by how we live.

Hugh Halter says, ” Our heart only changes as we live among the people for whom we will eventually advocate. Jesus modeled it this way in Matthew 9:36: “While He saw the crowds He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”If we as people aren’t living with and sharing life with those that are in need, (both natural needs and spiritual), we’ll never have a heart for them.”  that’s why if you go to Africa and hang out with starving children you have a heart for them. If you truly want to have an authentic, caring heart for people outside the church, live with them, spend time.  “as they grab your heart, your posture will change, your angle of approach will change, and the Kingdom will become a little more ttangible.”

this made me think today…..

You’ve probably heard someone says, ” I believe in God, just not the church or any form of organized religion.” Francis Chan in his book Crazy Love, says, “I don’t think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live. The expression would change to, “I can’t deny what the church does, (universal church ie followers of Jesus Christ) but I just don’t believe in their God.”

Actions by followers of Christ shape the conversation the world has about God. My actions, or lack of, are no longer the focus of humanity when and if I am truly engaging with people, and share some of their common values. IE as in caring for the poor, being a responsible citizen, being environmentally responsible, simply sharing life by being a responsible neighbor etc. The conversation shifts to where it was suppose to be all along. Simply God, and if people will choose to follow Him or not.

We (Christ followers) say and believe that Jesus is our model. However I’m not convinced we live our lives that way. Well, at least not often enough. Sociologically there is a concept of the “Looking Glass Self” where humans create an understanding of who they are based on the feedback of others. Simply, we define who we are by what others tell us, how people react to us, and how we see ourselves relating to the masses. Unfortunately I often judge my spirituality the same way. Isn’t it easy to judge our spirituality, our spiritual health, by the people around us? Those who are pretty much like us…other Christians sitting down the pew next to us. So often I pat myself on the back when I was polite to a neighbour, when I created space while driving so that someone could finally get into traffic. And on some level, I somehow think I was being Jesus to those people. I pat myself on the back and say to myself, “way to go being Jesus. Good job living incarnationally.” I think that we sometimes assume that if we are polite and nice, people will somehow know we are Christians and will want to know more about Jesus.  The reality is that that there is probably a person down the street, who doesn’t even believe in Christ who is nicer and more polite than me. Scripture calls us to follow the greatest example…Jesus. 1 Peter 2:21 -To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 John 2:6 -Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. So, you could write endless books on how Christ lived, but in some of my reading I have been thinking about His posture towards people.

Jesus, while a nice guy wasn’t too concerned about being polite. He was very concerned about being intentional.  Of all the stories about Jesus’ life and how he lived there is a very big common denominator. He intentionally spent time with people. He became their advocate. There are many stories that demonstrate this, actually all of them do on some level, but let’s focus on the story in John 8.  John 8 tells the story of a woman who was caught in adultery.  At that time there was one punishment for a woman who committed adultery. Death by stoning.  Harsh, yep you bet, but that was the reality of her situation. In walks Jesus. The religious leaders of the day were trying to test Jesus if He was going to uphold the current custom and law and judge the “sinner” He didn’t. Hugh Halter in his book the Tangible Kingdom says, “Jesus became her advocate, her protector, and he turned the question of judgement back on the religious people.”Halter defines an advocate as: One who looks past the outward behavior, vices, sin frailty, brokenness and confusion of a person. Advocates focus on winning a person’s trust and friendship.  It’s interesting that this was Jesus’s approach, and when trust and friendship were established the heart and desire to obey God quickly follows. To be intentional, to live like Christ requires us to change our posture. Too often I have had poor posture towards people and that has resulted in feelings of judgement. Christ like posture displays His love and helps humanity be open to His plans and ways for their lives.

A definition of posture is, “the attitude of the body.” Posture most often refers to our physical bodies. In terms of my spiritual posture, does it direct me towards living intentionally or not? Just as in our bodies, posture helps to set direction for forward movement. I have had to ask, which way am I pointing? Is my spiritual posture, which calls me to imitate Christ, setting me up to live an intentional life, full of interactions with the world, just as Jesus did? Or do I gauge my spiritual posture based on those around me, and I’m not condemning anyone, I’m being hard on myself since I so often check my spiritual posture based on others and not where my focus should be… the posture Christ took and how he lived. 

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to hear Alan Hirsch speak. (Forgotten Ways is his latest book.) That was the beginning for me on my current journey of thinking through the terms, ideas, methods, and many, many thoughts that come to mind when people mention “missional/incarnational” living. Since writing helps me process a little, I thought I would write a little bit and invite feedback if anyone else has some thoughts on this. As another side note, I have recently felt called to make life changes in order to live more intentionally, to make more space in life in order to spend more time with people,especially in my own neighborhood.

Some quick definitions. (From the bookThe Tangible Kingdom)

Missional People – individuals actively committed to living a “sent” life in the context of community.

Incarnational Community – a group of people with the posture, tone, motives, and heart of Jesus; those who physically represent him in a particular location.

So, starting this summer, my schedule has started to include more opportunities for me to interact with other people. Be that through the gym, sports,neighborhood/community boards, etc. To intentionally seek out relationships with those in the community that surrounds me. My reality was that over the last couple years I was either so scheduled with activities, church, etc that I had hardly met my neighbors,or I simply chose not to engage. You know even at church we have started to encourage everyone to only attend one group at church. (Be that offsite or onsite) It is important to understand why. Not just so that everyone can be busier with the rest of their lives, but so that there is also more time for intentional missional living in your context. Be that in your community or elsewhere.

Have you ever noticed how often God shows up “on the way”? As in an interruption of your schedule. It might have even happened to you today already. In Acts 3 Peter and John are walking towards the temple to pray, and they run into a lame beggar who stops them. They ministered to him, the guy has a great spiritual awakening, etc. In my opinion Peter and John walked into a setup by God. You know I “hear” God speak to me a lot during my times of reflection and meditation, but it’s easy to only expect God to show up during those times, when in reality He is setting us up all the time. It’s not just in church, during the sermon, during the small group prayer time that he heals, teaches us, comforts and speaks to us. I know we know this, but do we live our lives like we know. Scripture’s show us the picture of faith being lives out very dramatically on the streets, during the daily grind of life. Non-churched people saw the power of the early communities of believers, talking with them around tables, or in homes, maybe fishing in the sea of Galilee or at the local well. They interacted with them in life and through that interaction, through that friendship engaged in spiritual conversations.

Hugh Halter in “The Tangible Kingdom” says that incarnation speaks to our posture, our timing, and how much of our time we give people before we ever share biblical truths with them. (Prevenient grace is a term that says God is already at work in everybody’s lives calling them to Himself. It’s not as if I am some great bringer of truth. I am to be a friend, and I am blessed by having my neighbors for friends, and if God prompts the opportunity, if he “sets me up” for a conversation, then I will enter in, but my goal is to be there, to be available for that divine “setup” and i get to hang out with really cool people along the way, and I do hope that they would one day accept Christ as saviour, but my goal is friendship, the Holy Spirit has the tough job) Hugh goes on to say that, “incarnation also speaks to where the most important times of ministry will take place. To be incarnational, therefore, means that we must begin where Jesus began with us.Outthere! With People! Along the way!(Hugh’s emphasis)

So, the above narrative, in various forms, has been banging around in my head the last few weeks. I have many more, probably random thoughts, but this is why I am changing my schedule. I didn’t give people much of my time, just to hang out, have fun, and enjoy friendship and fellowship with them. If they wanted to hear the salvation message. Sure, sign me up, but to spend time, to laugh, to share our stories, to become a friend….sorry, too busy for that…Lord, I got the message. I’m sorry it took so long.

Imagine if Jesus walked into the room you’re in right now and said, “come on, get up, and come with me.” Where do you picture Him taking you first? Maybe it’s someone’s home. If so, whose? Maybe it’s someplace you’ve never been. Where? Why would He take you there?

Have you been too busy…with church….with all the things your kids “must do?”…with yourself?

I’ve started to simplify and I am still very busy and yet… I have made more friends in the last 3 weeks than I have in the last 2 years and my life is richer because of it.

PS I realize everyone is on a different path in their journey. However if this is something that seems to resonate with you I am thinking of starting a weekly meeting to go through the book “The Tangible Kingdom Primer” It’s an 8 week discussion guide to stimulate thought and conversation on the missional and incarnation life. I’d love for it be an informal discussion, with old and new friends. With food too. If this is something that would interest you, leave a comment or email me and we’ll set something up.

You can view a sample of the document here.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I don’t think I’ve been getting anywhere though. It seems like I have so many thoughts and ideas, but they seem surrounded in fog. I know God is peaking. I feel as if He has shown me a glimpse of something special, even spectacular. Its as if He has shown me a portion of a beautiful picture of a finished puzzle and then took the cover away so I couldn’t see the whole finished project. He’s given me 1000′s of pieces and then it seems I’m blindfolded. A hopeless situation. I know I must rely on Him and His working through me, so I submit to His work. But the reality is, I absolutely love these seasons when it seems God is speaking more than He usually does (perhaps I’m just listening more), but it can also be more frustrating. So, all I know is that He has begun a process within me. It feels like change, like transformation. To what end, I don’t know, but my trajectory is fwd and He is guiding me. Do you ever feel like this? So many thoughts, so little clue about what it all means?

I was reminded agin in Phillipians 4 to think on what is right, “Finally, whatever is true,whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

MalcolmGaldwell in his book “Outliers” Talks about the 10,000 hr rule. Basically it is the assumption (through much research actually) that it takes approx. 10,000 hr’s of practice to become an ‘expert” at any given task or area of learning. So, I embrace the process of learning, contemplation, etc. We are actually instructed in Scripture to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. It’s interesting that we need to get our thinking straight before transformation comes. So I continue to pray and think on what is right. I continue to try and use Phillipians 4 as a foundation for this journey He has me on. What is the journey He has you on currently? Are you spending your time on that journey, on Him? Or what else are you spending your 10,000 hr’s on? What are you becoming an expert at? What am I becoming an expert at? Actually embarrassing to think about for me sometimes. So, what have you been thinking about…is it to have the mind of Christ?

And even more important, Phillipians 4:9 ends with…whatever you have learned put it into practice. 10,000 hours is a lot of practice…Lord I’m not even close, forgive me for losing focus so often.