Church Planting through the Eyes of a 5 Year Old

Amber and her friend Kim went to the Orioles game this past Monday night
   (Unfortunately, with the O's having played 17 innings the day before, they
   didn't see much). Having just returned from a trip to NYC, I decided to take
   Emery and Reese out for dinner. On the ride to California Tortilla, their
   current flavor of the month,  a conversation arose about our move to
   Baltimore. As we talked about the relocation, slated to happen this summer,
   Emery proceeded tell me all about her impending Urban life.

   Emery's most excited about living within walking distance to the Science
   Center, the Aquarium, and Camden Yards. She loves the city and the "cool"
   houses. She loves how close everything is, and that there is no shortage of
   fun things for her to do. She loves that she'll be close to Annapolis, so
   that she can still see her family and friends that are nearby. She also
   likes that there's a California Tortilla on Pratt St in Batlimore, and that
   Berger cookies are made there. At current, she's least excited about not
   having a garage or a backyard anymore.  She's also a bit worried about how
   often she'll see her friends in Annapolis. The idea of a new church is
   shocking - mainly because she simply cannot imagine that there are people
   who do not know about Jesus.

   There you go: church planting through the lens of our five year old. Truly,
   Emery's sentiments mirror my own. There is so much for us to be excited
   about over the months to come, and much along the way that must be placed at
   the feet of Jesus. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

6 run 10ths & Adele Impressions.

Maybe it's because the Orioles had a six run 10th, and are still in first place as of April 17 (humor me, because April is all I have for baseball optimism)....

Maybe it's the fact that this Barista reminds of Adele - accent and all - which makes me want to do my impression. (I think you'd like it, unless you're a hardcore Adele fan).

Maybe it's the fact that it's 80, sunny, and crab season...

I'd say it's a combination of three, with a heavy dose of finally feeling refreshed. I'm not ready to sing a muppets montage or anything, but I am feeling content and at peace for the first time in a week or so.

We re-announced to Revolution on April 1 that we were leaving to plant a church in Baltimore at the end of 2012 - and moving there this summer while we finish at Revolution. The announcement led to some great conversations with folks who have a connections to the city (a person, a resource), or know it well enough to know why we're going. Then, with NCC's Mission team here in Annapolis, we did several projects in Baltimore, which only served to fuel the flames of excitement. We topped off the week with having 299 people attend Revolution for Easter, which was awesome.

Then I crashed.

It started with the fatigue from a week of long hours and little sleep. Then, I was hit with a fever whose prescription was not more cowbell, but shutting down completely for about 36 hours - even having to cancel on a friend I really wanted to see who was visiting DC. (If you know me, you know that I NEVER do stuff like that). Upon attending a conference planning session for PCTC, I knew I'd have opportunities to talk about Baltimore; yet, as people asked, I felt fear and self-doubt creeping in (accompanied by headaches and other after effects of being sick).

I think those in "Kingdom Work" need seasons like this - for two reasons. First, it reminds you that you're not superman. Vince Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." If you're doing big things for the Kingdom, take care of yourself. Sleep. Spend time with friends. Sabbath. . Sometimes, if you don't unplug, your body will help you do so.

Additionally, "the crash" helps you check your motivations. It's been good remember that we are not the answer for Baltimore, despite my closet of hoodies and my church planter approved reading glasses. . That's good news, because I've been to enough conferences at this point to know that I would struggle to live in any city that "needed" that...especially if "I'm going to ask condescending questions because I'm smarter than the breakout speaker" guy is there. We are not the hope, but we can play in supporting role in what God is doing in a city we love...and we do love Baltimore.

God has encouraged and refreshed me over the course of the past two days. I'm grateful for a bigger story than the story of the Ancarrows.

Homage to 2008 - Hope for Today.

A few years ago, I started this blog to keep the parents of our 2008 X/NCC MD mission team updated on our day to day endeavors.Those who have listened to the extended version of our story know that the 2008 trip to White Marsh was one of the most formative moments in our journey back to the east. To this day, I think about that trip: the funny moments, the doors slamming in our face in Dundalk, and a young Tyler Yentes trying to make a guy in a liquor take donuts from him for three consecutive days. There was chewed up bananas, being upgraded to the Hilton because the Hampton lost our reservation, hoosiers discovering Five Guys (before it was everywhere), me backing into fire hydrant, and Taylor Utley spilling tea on herself in a way that, to this day, is the spill most closely resembled someone looking like they have peed their pants (when they had not actually done so). To this day, there are songs that make me immediately take me to a moment of that trip - ranging from "No One" by Alicia Keys to "A boy brushed in red...living in black and white" by Underoath.

Before we even went on the trip, I felt God was calling me Eastward. By the end of the week, others seemed to know it too. A month after the trip, many of our leaders in Danville knew the same. A trip I hadn't even planned for us to go on was a catalyst to something I was never planning to do: plant a church on the East Coast.

I still think and pray about the people on that team. I pray that, through their questions, and assorted next steps on their respective journeys, they would live the stuff we learned on that trip. I pray that they would pursue more than a "because my mom said so" Bible belt faith that makes many pre-Chrisitan people so cynical, and that they would allow that faith to stretch them beyond the places that are comfortable for them. What's more - that they would become the next generation of church planters, core team members, and residents in neighborhoods where the gospel needs to be made known. I'm hoping one or two of them (if not more) may slide out this way to do it.

In about 48 hours, the 2012 X Mission team will pay a trip to MD. This time, I'm on the other side of the journey. It's going to be a great trip - and will be a huge help to both Revolution and the future Baltimore Project. What's more - I pray that it would cultivate even greater stories four years from now - in Danville, in Maryland, and beyond.

On Kony2012, Driscoll, & Manning

I've had a bit more down time than normal this week to imbibe media, particularly of the facebook variety. Its been an interesting week to do so.

At this point, you're probably familiar with Kony2012, a 27 minute movie posted by Invisible Chilldren that calls for the trial and arrest of Kony. Many feverishly retweeted and posted the film, while others feverishly used it as an opportunity to scold those retweeters/reposters on how IC uses their funds, and even whether or not stopping Kony really was ever a problem to begin with. (I'll say that many of these people are retweeting responses are seemingly no less informed than the people they are scolding with their repost).

Here are some thoughts on Kony2012:

1. The church has more opportunity than ever before to be informed about what is going on in the world around them. There is an opportunity in this to shine. Imagine the power that could be activated for the poor and oppressed...a good challenge to redeem our time online.

2. Yes, there is a healthy dialogue to be had about where and how non-profits use their donations. Charity Navigator, and other sites like it, are helpful tools, and should inform us about funds. However, those who want to be most snarky should also consider where and how their shoes, clothes, are manufactured. Also, you may want to reconsider giving Wal-Mart all your money.

3. Neither posting a video or a response to the video replaces Christians getting off their computers, and off their butts, to engage the people around them with the love of Christ. Additionally, neither replace generosity of partner with organizations that are fighting injustice. Be the hands and feet of of Christ, and not the fingertips that say bold things behind the keyboard. There are no easy answers to solving injustices that exist around us. The fact that there are no easy answers does not mean that people should do nothing.

You may have also seen that Mark and Grace Driscoll are making their rounds on the media circuit, promoting the book Real Marriage (I've not read the book yet). The segment was disjointed and weird....and exposed that Barbara Walters is a class act. Kudos to her for making something the segment while several of the ladies pouted in their corners. It's amazing to me how people who people rail on how others are "intolerant" are often more intolerant themselves.

Lastly, this week, the Indianapolis Colts said goodbye to Peyton Manning. Living in Indiana for almost a decade, watching Manning made me do what I was raised never to do - take an interest in a team owned by an Irsay. While I understand the circumstances surrounding the release, it makes me sad to see things end the way that they did. For me, it is the end of an era -specifically, the era of me caring about the Colts. I started following the Colts in 2003 for three reasons 1. They were a local team, thus easy to follow and talk to others about 2. Tony Dungy is as classy as they come 3. Peyton Manning is the kind of quarterback you get to watch once in your lifetime.

Well, I'm back in MD now, Dungy is on NBC, and Manning (and it looks like the rest of the talent) is saying goodbye. All the best Indianapolis - I'll be cheering for you when you play the Steelers or the Pats.

Check Engine Light, take 3 (or 4). Who's counting?

I'm currently in my 6th hour at the Severna Park Starbucks. This is the fourth time I've been to this Starbucks this week. Normally, this would excite me (especially if I'm not paying). Not this time, for this is where I go to work when my car is being worked on. Lately, I know this place too well. For the fourth time in the past five days, my car has given me the "orange light" that says, "How much is this going to cost me?"

(NOTE: Three things I miss about Danville, Indiana: Mechanics, Dentists, and Hair dressers I trust.)

Back to the issue at hand. My Honda, for 10 years, never had any issues, outside of routine maintenance. For 10 years, my honda has behaved like an Honda. This week, it feels like an 84 Chevette. It's now on its 3rd Engine Coil #4 this week. Each time, I've gone back to the place of the original drama that resulted in my December, "Breakdown in Hagerstown," because the coils are under warranty. As I sit here, waiting to hear the "why" on the coil failure, a few thoughts are on my mind:

1. Why didn't I learn more about how to fix cars?

2. Seriously, how much is this going to cost me?

3. Why does stuff like this drain me so much?

4. Seriously, how much is this going to cost me?

More than the waiting, and more than the money, I'm probably most frustrated that I'm so frustrated. I deal with big things pretty well, but I find "first world pains" so draining. On matters of comfort, I so easily trade trust and honest prayers with flippant self-pity . Comfort and control are so easily worshipped, and so easily are hidden by the surfacey sins that come accompany how you deal with being angry. One moment, I see God provide over and over for us, and on the next moment I find myself wondering, "God, why aren't you providing for us."

I don't like that the car is broken, and will probably cost more than I want to spend to fix (though I'm not doing that here). More than that, I hate that these situations expose idolatry in me. Even, more than that, I hate that I'm in hour 6 of having to let that fact speak to me. God, be patient with me.

Triumph of the City

I read a great book this month - Edward Glaesar's Triumph of the City. In it, Glaesar makes the case that cities are one of man's greatest invention. Here are a few of the things that I found most thought provoking:

Cities are about flesh, not concrete -"Cities are a place for ideas to move person to person within dense urban spaces, and this occasionally creates miracles of human creativity." The power of the city lies in its ability for iron to sharpen iron through the exchange of ideas. Improvements in information technology have only increased the amount of face to face interactions amongst leaders.

Cites revive when they have a blend of: Competition (small and large business who are innovative), Connection, and Human Capital. Any city that is not diverse in its economic strategy will simply, long term, be a boom town.

Poverty is a sign of a city's success. Cities attracts the poor, as well as new immigrants, for the hope of a better life. Poverty becomes an issue in areas where there is multi-generational poverty, with little hope for improvement of life. Essentially, if the poor are staying poor, the area is failing. Otherwise, cities become the place for the "American Dream" to be actualized.

We should help poor people, not poor places. Glaeser uses New Orleans as his chief example. The effort to rebuild New Orleans rooted in the right intention, but, he argues, helped the wrong people. Essentially, the money spent rebuilding buildings could given every resident of N.O. and the metro area $400,000. Which would be more effective, long-term, to help restore the city? Glaeser cites a work in Harlem that is doing this well. Having been to the gulf region after Katrina and having seen people trying to dig out their lives a year after the event, this made a ton of sense.

Reurbanization makes for a greener world. While many would think that skyscrapers are hurting the environment, Glaser shares how the suburban sprawl has created an obsession with the car that could be dangerous to our future, particularly if developing nations like China and India pursue surburban sprawl. Living in a city reduces a family's carbon footprint significantly. A person walking through a busy lower Manhattan area requires 9 sqft of space, while a parked Honda Accord requires 100 sqft. Also, city living, even with a car, can help a person use up to 150 less gallons of gas a year.

Government Policy's should help, not hurt, individuals who are contemplating moving the city. Perhaps inadvertently, the US govt is encouraging suburban sprawl, largely through mortgage exemption, which encourages home ownership as a right. Rather than banning the policy, the author advocates a cap of $300,000 on the deduction.

There are tons of other things that made sense to me, but those would be better suited to a cup of coffee and a conversation, so that context could be established. Glaesar is quick to point out how school system SHOULD be legitimate concern for families - though, in all honesty, I think this is a question we'll be answering throughout all of America, not just cities, if we continue to do things as we are doing them.

Anywho, if cities fascinate you, give it a read. If it makes you want to move to a city and be a taxpayer for the glory of God and the good of man, I know one that needs you.

The better side of Sunday

Sunday night's loss was so devastating that I failed to tell two really interesting stories from this past week's Sunday at Revolution. Both are ministry firsts for me, and help support the fact that there is never a dull moment at Revolution Annapolis.

Story One:

During second service, a very uncomfortably pregnant woman came to the lobby, just as I was getting ready to go in to listen to Josh's sermon. It's obvious that her pain is beyond the standard aches, pains, and issues of the 3rd trimester, and she has come to the lobby to make sure that she doesn't audibly express pain during the service.

The lobby, at that point, was comprised of four guys, all of whom are dads. We exchange pleasantries with her, uncertain what to say to a woman we've never met who's contracting in front of us. After all, each of us are dads - which means that we were each scolded at least once for saying something stupid during the labor and delivery process (I talked about food the 1st time, and reminded my wife how much money we could save if she delivered naturally the 2nd time). So,we quietly get here a chair, and, as a group of guys, slowly learn this woman's story. We find out that there is a delivery date already scheduled, and that she suspect these to be nothing more than intense Braxton Hicks contractions....But every few minutes, they keep coming.

The band clears to go on stage. Now it's just her and I. We talk about something. Contraction. Awkward pause. Heavy breathing and muffled groans that last about a minute. I say something like, "okay, you're through that one. Should I go get your friends now? No...um, ok." We talk some more. Contraction, then repeat conversation. I can hear the band starting the last song, and I help her move to another seat in the lobby.

Sure enough, she was right. The baby never came (and hasn't to this point). However, I can honesty say this is the first time I've timed the contractions (albeit, in my head) for a woman I wasn't married to.

Story two:

There are a few ladies who had arranged rides to our 2nd service. One recently left the Mormon faith, much to the chagrin of the LDS church. They've been "calling," - and by calling, I mean harassing and badgering on this lady's departure, which was based on her finding out more about their teachings (like many, she was unaware how it deviated from mainline Christianity). It's gotten so intense that she's had to threaten to call police.

They came calling again last Sunday morning. This time, they brought a van to give her a ride. Knowing she arranged a ride, she assumed it was her ride for Revolution. She gets in the van, and is half way to the van's destination before she realizes that the van is going to the temple - and not RA. She freaks out, and demands to be take to Revolution. The driver obliges. Officially, this the first time in my ministry career (that I know of) where a Mormon picked up a person to take to temple, only to drop them off at my church instead.

If I think about stories like this, rather than the final minute of a football game, then Sunday seems pretty amazing.