chrismc.net

how did we get here?

The financial crisis. Ok Greed, yes. But what exactly happened and how? This video sheds a lot of light on the topic. This is much easier to understand then the Wired mag articles that came out this month. The governments plan is to unfreeze the banks so they will start lending again. And they might, but unless they change the rules we will end up right back where we started. The rules for lending need to tighten, yes that means less home ownership, but as we have seen many people should have not been in the homes they had. I am afraid we are enabling too many people by bailing them out. If they can’t afford their 3.5% mortgage how will they afford a 5%?

We are fortunate in our area of DuPage. Not too many foreclosures relative to other parts of the country. Still, there are many people losing their jobs who were able to pay their bills, all because the economy is stalling out.

Since so many people identify themselves with their job, and their money, and their status in the ‘burbs, perhaps this is an opportunity. Many people will have to find themselves again after so much has been stripped away. Perhaps we will see increasing numbers of people leave the gods of this world and turn to the God off the universe.

Oh yea check out the video.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

wrapping up saturday

Had a great day at the Children's Hunger Fund Warehouse. About 75 WBC made the trek in the snow to wrap toys for children in need. We wrapped 24,000 bears in two hours. Awesome! There were 425 other people who helped. But we are pretty sure we wrapped the most 8>). Thanks everyone for coming and making it such a fun day.

True Love – phil wickham

This song has been cranking on my ipod the last few runs I had. Love it.

keller, carson, piper on mercy

These are just great. There really is a problem it seems with churches who have tackled justice in the long term somehow loosing their footing when it comes to the Cross. These videos are very insightful. Keller has written what I believe to be finest book on mercy and the Gospel I have ever read. Check my sidebar for it. It is called simply "Ministries of Mercy". I can't believe this book is not more widely read.

Watch all six parts of this youtube video, but the first two really get at the issues of Mercy.

keller, piper, carson on mercy and the gospel

portland fest

The Luis Palau Association is thinking about bringing their Festival 2.0 model to Chicago in 2010 or 2011. They have been meeting with churches and networks the past several months to measure interest. Because there is a growing network of churches hear in DuPage County linked together by CareFest they invited me to come out to Portland to get a look at their Festival, PortlandFest.

What makes their model different is the season of service taking place in the months leading up to the event. In a nutshell, it is the service that leads to relationships that leads to invites to the festival.

But does it work? I am curious of how effective this event is, and if we really need it here in Chicagoland. The LPA was hear 10 years ago and by their standards had a less than stellar event, although I have talked to some people who thought it was great. I was not living here at the time so I don't know.

I am not sure doing something like this in Grant Park is a wide idea unless their is ton of support from churches located in the city. I know Reverend Meeks' church is 100% behind it. His church choir has been touring and supporting the LPA for a number of years. But most of the larger churches are located in the suburbs as are the larger networks of churches.

It takes about 3 million simoleans to pull this off. Is this is wise use of those kind of resources? Not sure.

Even though this is called a "festival" it still sounds like a "crusade" to me. They have added extreme sports and music that appeals to a younger crowd. But it is still bring your friends, they hear they gospel message, they believe and put their life in God's hand. Is that still an effective way of evangelism in our culture? Maybe in the far more secular Portland but what about the Midwest? Not sure.

Will suburbanites travel to Chicago to hear the Gospel? Should they? Not sure.

So that is why I am heading to Portland. Somehow the LPA wrangled up someone generous enough to fly me out on a private jet with someone from Harvest and Christ Church Oakbrook. They are also putting us up in a hotel right across the street from the Festival. I look forward to seeing the event up close.

I am also hoping to connect with the Tarka's who moved back to Portland to lead worship at a great church out there. Which somewhat ironically is not involved with the Festival.

So I will blogging and twittering the trip. I will post some pics from the phone as well.

Technorati tags: cityfest, portland

interesting video

This is pretty cool. I can't believe someone would take the time to do a video like this. Fun to watch.

 

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

4 days 'till CareFest need a laugh?

I thought this was pretty cute. I can't even imagine what life is like with these guys!

 

working at the food pantry today.

As part of enter:mission I'm at the peoples resource center. Heartbreaking and encouraging.

what is poverty

I am always evaluating about what my job actually is here at WBC. I can define it in so many ways. Of course I try to do that in light of my own gifting and strenghts. And I try to find people who are good at things I am not good at.

 

I think I am good at mobilzing people. I think my job is to create situations where new relationships can be built. Relationships that are not about "targeting" someone for the Gospel, but rather relationships that are transforming for everyone involved. If you do Big Buddies, refugee ministry or our hunger team you are going to start a new relationships that is potentially transforming for everyone involved.

Which brings me to this video I disovered today. This Pastor is 100% right. The reason so many people are living in poverty or on the edge of poverty is because they simply do not have many friends. Not everyone who lives in poverty is friendless. Sometimes misery really does love company. But so many in poverty do not have relationships with those who can bring them real help. Not a handout. But real help. Not just money. But love. Not just clothing but compassion. Not just food, but authenticity. Not just a way out of poverty but a way to transformation through Jesus.

Check out this video. Because he is right. Not sure if this will work but the link is below.

 

The Work of the People: Product Details

Social Justice - yes.....Heaven and Hell - yes

Dan Kimball just posted some great thoughts on getting your church to focus externally... read more at the link at the bottom.

Yesterday in all 3 worship gatherings at Vintage Faith Church in our "Enter Hope" series, we focused on teaching how followers of Jesus need to understand a holistic gospel. We have formalized the formation of a ministry team who is developing and overseeing our local involvement in compassion and oppression projects and relationships in the community. We already have a global team established and we just went on a trip to Uganda to support an orhpange and local ministry there, we have supported Living Water International and have taken several trips to Mexico (another one is happening in June) where we help an orphanage there.

 

Social Justice - yes.....Heaven and Hell - yes
DanKimball
Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:19:50 GMT