Bill Couchenour

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

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Can You Live to be 100?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Dan Buettner, an explorer and National Geographic contributor , was featured in a TED podcast entitled, “How to Live to be 100+”. He travelled the globe to find “Blue Zones” - population pockets where people live an average of 10 years longer without the levels of cancer and heart disease we seemed to be plagued with. Once they identified these areas they synthesized what they learned from the lifestyles and came up with a list of “secrets to a longer, healthier life” they called the Power9. As you might expect, a few were related to diet and exercise. Eat more of a plant-based diet. Drink wine in moderation. Eat less (the 80% Rule says stop eating when you’re 80% full). And keep moving.

What I didn’t expect was that more than half the “secrets” would deal with social constructs. For instance, the people in the Blue Zones had a strong purpose for life. One group had a specific word for that purpose, yet no word for retirement. The groups averaged at least six close friends that one zone referred to as their Moai. (In the US, the average number of close friends has dropped over the last 15 years from three to one and a half). They took time to shut down daily to relax even if it was for only 15 minutes. At least one group observed a strict 24 hour Sabbath where they focused on God with prayer, shared meals and nature walks. And all of them focused on all generations of their family as well as their tribe.

It’s probably still too close to New Year’s resolutions to ask you about your diet and exercise. But what about your purpose?
- Do you have an “ikigai”?
- Do you have a time where you daily shut everything off to reflect and refresh?
- Do you have a strong network of friends at various levels?
- Is your family a priority?
- Do you have a strong faith?

The author says that we have very little chance to live to 100. But he does believe we can influence the length and quality of our lives by following the Power9. I think he’s right. What do you think?

MISSIONAL IN PITTSBURGH

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

I was reading last week and noticed it mentioned a couple of missional communities in Pittsburgh, PA. My wife and I were going to be in Pittsburgh the following week to pick up my Christmas present. It was an order from Recreational Equipment Inc. - some men love Home Depot; I love so we decided to check them out.

Our first stop was at In The Blood, a tattoo parlor in an eclectic part of the city. We were privileged to meet Justun, the owner, who had begun to work at the tattoo parlor when it was owned by a woman that practiced dominatrix. At one point they asked her if they could use the place for a Bible Study on Monday nights. Remarkably, she agreed and an incarnational ministry began. Later Justun was able to buy the place from her and now it is a business with an incarnational approach to connecting lost people with God. The basement that once witnessed evil now hosts works of God.

Not far down the road we found Hot Metal Bridge, a faith community born out of a kingdom mindset. We met Justin Keough and Jim Walker, one of the pastors who explained the church began as a partnership of two different denominations and exists to make a difference in their local community. They purchased a bar that they have converted for services and several people from the church rent the rooms above as living space. A major part of their weekend gatherings is when everyone from the homeless to those with six-figure incomes enjoy a communion meal together. The meal affords the time for the kind of genuine fellowship and celebration that creates community.

I was excited to experience these places and talk with people who are making a difference for Christ in neglected places. There is a significant percentage who will not be reached by the traditional expression of the church. We need more missional communities located where they serve people in love and engage people in conversation about the Lord. What does an incarnational expression look like in your world?

A Breakthrough Idea for 2010

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

I was reading through the “Ten Breakthrough Ideas for 2010” in the current issue of the Harvard Business Review when #9 caught my eye. The author acknowledged that the change-averse nature of established authorities, the accumulated layers of bureaucracy and the comforts of tradition made change cumbersome, if not impossible. So the thought was to create a separate skunkworks project that could nimbly operate on the side until it began to transform the organization. The idea, entitled “Creating More Hong Kongs”, was specifically to create charter cities to transform nations. Even though Hong Kong was created through unusual historical circumstances, it’s impact on China is readily apparent. Now imagine, say, Canada and Cuba setting up a joint venture to develop part of Cuba.

Historically, the church has also been slow to change - and that’s not been all bad. The change-averse nature of the church has protected her from heretical avenues of thought that would have led in the wrong direction. But it could also be argued that the business of the US church and some of the organizational facets have been too slow to adapt for meaningful ministry. It’s difficult to hold unwaveringly to the unchanging foundations of faith and, at the same time, remain flexible in approach and structure. The two become so intertwined that it can be difficult to know where one ends and the other begins. That makes needed changes tough to make in any reasonable period of time.

If you could make any change to help your church better carry out the cause of Christ, what would you do? Is God is calling you to make that change? Remember that change always begins with you but could a skunkworks projects be the answer?

ARE BUILDINGS NECESSARY?

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Recently Dan Kimball posted a message on the “Out of Ur” blog entitled “I Was Wrong About Church Buildings”. It’s a thoughtful reflection on how his attitude has changed since he’s been in a building. If you follow the discussion you’ll find a response from Ken Eastburn of the Well. It’s an interesting discussion about the necessity or convenience of buildings for churches. Below you will find my response to Ken. Feel free to share your thoughts too.

Dear Ken,

I’m not sure what the 1st point “being missional involves more than just being nice to people” has to do with buildings but the 2nd point is certainly germane to buildings (and any other ministry tool). The challenge is whose definition do we use for “convenience” and “necessity”? If Compassion International can feed 50% more children because of the conveniences of the building, I would call that building a necessity. But who makes that call? Would you consider the house you meet in a convenience or necessity and what criteria should we use for making the decision. If a house is a necessity, at what size does the house become a convenience? 2,000 sq ft? 4,000 sq ft? 10,000 sq ft?

I definitely agree that, in general, we have far more church owned facilities than we need to be the church (and many are ill-suited for ministry anyway). And that needs to change because far too many resources are going into consumer-style Christianity. However, we don’t make decisions “in general”; we make them for specific cases. That brings your 3rd point into play. Buildings may be preventing churches from doing what God really wants them to do. The issue for me is not whether it’s called a 2,000 sq ft house, a 4,000 sq ft house, a 10,000 sq ft house, a church-owned facility, a community building, a YMCA, a synagogue, a coffee shop, a theater, a bar, a blues club, or other. The issue is, “Where is God at work in your world and where does he want you to join him and what facility do you need/would work best to accomplish that mission?” Buildings are benign (until they’re occupied), to be used as needed.

I really appreciated your respectful tone. Too often we vilify people with whom we don’t agree. The solution does not reside in any one person; it’s found in the clash and collaboration of ideas and perspectives. I trust you’ll receive my comments above as the next step in a process of working toward an understanding together.

An Extraordinary Love

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I was on a stair machine at the “Y” a few of weeks ago finishing up some cardio. My mind was wandering until I noticed and elderly couple getting off the elevator. Now, it’s not unusual to see people in their 80’s working out there. In fact, they’re my heroes and I hope to emulate them as I grow older. But this couple caught my attention because of their slow, deliberate pace. She was shuffling behind a walker and he was in front of her with his hands on the same walker gently guiding her as he stepped backwards. They finally stopped at a machine that would allow her to sit while she rotated her arms by turning the handles like cranks. With great care he adjusted the seat and the settings until it was just right and she began her workout.

What struck me about the scene that played out before me was that you could sense a genuine love between the two. The way they looked and acted toward each other revealed an intimacy deeper than any you could find in the most ideal newlyweds. This was a love that was forged over the years through the trials and triumphs of life.

A couple of days ago I saw them again and decided I had to thank them for their example. I found out their names were Bob and Virginia and that they had been married for 62 years. Bob went on to tell me that Virginia suffered “dementia”. Though he despised the disease that had stolen the expressions of fellowship they had known for so many years, it was clear he had not lost his love for her. He was honored to serve her even though she could not give back and, for the most part, couldn’t even acknowledge his efforts. I kept the conversation brief and thanked them for their example so I could move on and try to contain the emotions I could feel welling up inside me. I had witnessed a great love in an ordinary place. May each of us be found guilty of loving that well.

“It’s GAME TIME!”

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I recently attended the banquet for our high school football team. The banquets are a time to celebrate team and individual successes and honor the seniors, most of which have probably played their last organized football game. There was a lot of emotion surrounding the entire evening but the highlight came when the coach had the guys stand and he asked them, “What time is it?” They answered loudly, “Game Time.” He asked a second time and they answered louder, “Game Time!” The crescendo built as he asked a third time and they shouted, “GAME TIME!” You could feel your spine tingle and I was reminded:

We were built for passion.

God designed us to be fueled by passion yet we spend most of our life seeking a security that is benign and lifeless. I think that’s why God was repulsed by the church in Laodicea as John describes it in Revelation 3. Their lukewarm, self-sufficiency made God vomit. We are designed to live life to the full and living any other way seems to be loathsome to God.

Are you fueled by a passion for something great? Are you excited by a cause something bigger than yourself? Are your dreams greater than your memories? This Christmas season I encourage you to pursue a God-given passion because I am convinced he wants to fill you. Celebrate Jesus. Seek Jesus. And recognize Jesus is asking,

“What time is it?”

What Are You Known For?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I was on a plane last week travelling from Denver to Jackson Hole when I noticed former Vice-President, Dick Cheney, sitting in the row directly behind me. Before we took off I sent a tweet about my travelling companion. Here are a couple of the replies I received when I arrived:
- “You’re in good shape as long as you're not on one side or the other while quail hunting with him.”
- “And it is hunting season...you lucked out!!!”
- “Duck!”

Interesting what people become known for, isn’t it? If I had commented that I was traveling with you, what would people say? Habit #2 from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People reminds us to begin with the end in mind. Picture being at the end of your life and turning around to reflect on your journey. What would you want people to say about you? How close is that to what people would say now? If you’re like me you’ve got some work to do by God’s grace and in his strength. Let’s encourage each other to be all God has created us to be and share grace in the process.

What will you be known for?

BTW – I shook his hand and thanked him for his service. The same honor I would give almost anyone who has served our country, regardless of the political affiliation.

A Lesson Renewed

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I was playing with my 20 month old grandson on some volcanic rocks at the end of a beautiful beach last week. On our way back to our chairs and towels he detoured into the palm trees and sea grapes. I called to him to follow me back to where we were “supposed to go”. But his dad (my oldest) motioned to me that we were to follow him. My son reminded me that good parenting isn’t forcing your children to follow your path. It’s teaching them to follow their own path and providing them teaching to enhance their discoveries and guardrails to guard them from danger along the way.

That got me wondering about our approach to discipleship. Maybe many of our programs for spiritual formation are too prescriptive requiring every person to follow the same path. What would it look like if we encouraged every Christ follower to find their own path by providing them guidance that was more descriptive than prescriptive? How would we then provide insights along the way to enhance their journey? How would we provide guardrails for protection without using the guardrails to force them in a particular direction?

The best book I’ve read on spiritual disciplines is Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline. He outlines the disciplines in three categories: Inward, Outward and Corporate Disciplines. He encourages us to use the disciplines to free us in our relationship with Jesus and not to bind us to religious practices. I like the balance he gives when he says, “The life that is pleasing to God is not a series of religious duties. We have only one thing to do, namely, to experience a life of relationship and intimacy with God.” Sounds like good advice.

MENTOR LIKE JESUS

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

We aren’t always aware of it but our lives are inextricably linked. We are abundantly blessed by the accomplishments of others that can come from unexpected places. Cogun has benefited directly from the efforts of a gentleman by the name of Regi Campbell. Regi is a highly successful businessman that intentionally committed his life to shaping others. Every year Regi pours what he has learned about business, marriage and life into the lives of select group of young men. We are privileged to have two of those men serving churches through Cogun.

Regi formalized a process that is in such demand that you can only get into his group by invitation. You can read about Regi’s process in Mentor like Jesus. This concept is so powerful that Michael Hyatt, the CEO of a competing publisher, is tweeting about the book. In fact, he’s planning on leading a mentoring group himself.

How about you? Maybe you don’t think you have anything to offer because you’re not old enough or successful enough. Regi would tell you you’re underestimating what you can do. You have more to offer than you realize! We all have something to contribute to the lives of others if we live an authentic (not perfect) life in Jesus. We just have to be intentional. We owe a debt of gratitude to others that can only be repaid by paying it forward.

Unchurched Prefer Cathedrals

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

If you Google that phrase you’ll find about 19,000 hits both praising and decrying research done last year by Ed Stetzer at Lifeway. It was research that we, as the Cornerstone Knowledge Network, commissioned as a way to gain an understanding of the perspective of those that don’t attend church. We didn’t expect some the visceral responses we got. Here’s are some examples:

“they should want to gather with other believers for the purpose of worshiping and learning more about the God who created, and saved, them...Oh, and that way, if they die before the church building is built, they'll actually BE part of the REAL church and spend eternity in Heaven instead of Hell.”

“There is something, though, about great architecture (and, for me, especially about centuries-old cathedrals) that is more worshipful and invites the Spirit strongly.”

“This article is way off base!”

“i think people are hungry for places that are Holy and set apart. a gymacafatorium just doesn't do that. I go to a church where the sanctuary is a sanctuary”

“From the perspective of designing a building to reach the "unchurched" this is already a losing battle.”

“In our ever increasing fast paced life, many may seek something that says God is here, has been here and will be here in the future.”

“I can't believe $$ was spent on this. Wonder what kind of toilet paper they prefer. BARF! The point isn't to get the "unchurched" "churched". We must get back to preaching the gospel to sinners.”

“I think traditional places of worship appeal to people so much because they feel so sacred.”

“As a pastor, I've learned that unchurched, unsaved people are incredibly foolish.”

(BTW - Here was one of the more intriguing blogs about the research)

I don’t think we were ready for the emotion the research generated – many of which missed the point. As Ed Stetzer said, if beautiful buildings reached people, western Europe would be one of the most churched areas in the world and it’s not. So what can we learn from the research? I think it highlights a couple of things to consider. First of all, we live in a highly spiritual nation. You wouldn’t know it from church attendance because “God” is in favor, not the church. That fact should excite us for the opportunities to connect if we realize many (most?) of those opportunities will come outside the church. We also did some interviews in conjunction with the research that surfaced a second point. If an unchurched person did go to church they would want authenticity. The cathedral designs spoke to them because they felt it was a true church. I think that has more to say about the people of the church than it does the building. If a unchurched person comes in contact with the people of the church and they sense an authenticity toward God and life, then they will be drawn to that church. Even if they attended a cathedral, they would leave if it subsequently felt fake or in some way manufactured.

Facilities can create compelling environments. But how important are they to ministry? Are there times or places or particular ministries where facilities would be more or less important?

Authenticity - from Kinkade to Van Gogh

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

More and more churches seem to be wrestling with what it means to become externally focused. In Missional Renaissance Reggie McNeal says, “We must change our ideas of what it means to develop a disciple, shifting the emphasis from studying Jesus and all things spiritual in an environment protected from the world to following Jesus into the world to join him in his redemptive mission.” But moving outside the walls of the church building to do ministry while doing life is messy. A friend of mine commented once that we don’t live in a Thomas Kinkade painting; we live in a Van Gogh.

Last year we spent a couple of days in West Virginia with Alan Jamieson, a New Zealand pastor and sociologist. Alan has spent significant time and effort researching why people leave the church. One of the reasons he gave has stuck with me ever since. Alan’s research revealed that many people leave the church because what they were hearing from the pulpit was not lining up with what they were experiencing in their lives. They were hearing, in their minds, an unrealistic picture of a life of faith – one they couldn’t measure up to. It was a picture that didn’t realistically address the garbage in life like addictions and failed relationships and broken spirits. They were hearing “Kinkade” but experiencing “Van Gogh”.

People are looking for the authentic Jesus - the radical, transformational Jesus of scripture that provides peace in the midst of storms, not always deliverance from them. Is that the Jesus that you see in your church? Do you think the perceptions of these church leavers are valid? Does Jesus desire to “fix” the circumstances in our lives or transform us through our circumstances?

JUSTIFIABLE ATHEISM

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In the prior blog I explained Joan Ball’s unusual road to conversion. Later in the weekend I talked to her about how she was able to maintain an atheistic view in the face of, what I believe to be, so much evidence that God exists. Here’s what she said: She was able to justify her belief that there was no God by her observance of Christians. Specifically, there were two observations that fueled her atheism:
1) The Bible – If it’s really true, how come Christians get to pick and choose what they believe?
2) Love – How can you say that you love other people when you beat each other up?

That was her “out”. That’s how she justified her belief in no God. In some ways I can understand what she’s saying. Often churches are known more by where they disagree than by how they are united. And, John says that “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” but I can’t say that’s always the case.

Do you think she had a logical justification? Was the problem more with her perspective or the reality of the situation?

BTW – You can catch Joan’s blog at http://blog.beliefnet.com/flirtingwithfaith/

AN UNLIKELY JOURNEY FROM ATHEISM TO FAITH

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I met Joan Ball this past weekend at Len Sweet’s Mountain Advance in Canaan Valley, WV. Joan has a unique story about how she came to a faith in Christ. She led a driven, successful life of determined atheism (she felt Christianity was for the weak). God began working in her life when she found herself looking for a lost item at a party. When no one could find it she prayed to a Saint her Mother had prayed to but she couldn’t even remember the Saint’s name. The lost item was found and immediately she was overcome with a powerful, supernatural sense that it was God that had answered the prayer. Later she came to a conviction that the Bible was true – except she didn’t know what it said. She began digging into the Bible and some weeks later understood who Jesus was and the relationship she already had with him.

What struck me about Joan’s conversion was that it didn’t follow the usual route. You know – someone shares the Gospel, the person feels convicted, they pray the sinner’s prayer and repent. In Joan’s case there was no Christian there to convict or counsel her. She seemed to have come to a faith in Jesus before she even knew who He was. Imagine that – God working without our help. Is that possible? Does that challenge the way you think about how God works? What if He doesn’t need us?

BTW - You’ll be able to read more about Joan’s faith journey in her book, Flirting with Faith: My Journey from Atheism to Something More, due to be released the 1st week in May 2010.

A MOVEMENT OR A CHURCH

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Last week I had the chance to speak at the Charlotte CKN Conference with my friend, Ed Bahler. I was watching the tweets from that day (#ckn09) and noticed a number of comments and insights that seemed to resonate with the church leaders in attendance. Based on the tweets, one of the most compelling comments was something Ed said, “Churches measure the ABC’s (attendance, buildings and cash) but Movements measure the 3 C’s (Christ, community and cause). Movements are about transformation – transformation of lives through Jesus, transformation of communities by the kingdom of God, transformation by people committed to a cause. Earlier this year I heard a pastor of a mega-church lament the state of his ministry when he said, “We went from being a movement to becoming a church.” Our hearts seem to crave the magic of a movement but too often we settle for the mundane mode of maintenance.

Here are some characteristics of movements and movement leaders:

Movements:
1. Create a compelling sense of purpose, adventure and meaning.
2. Proactively engage followers in that adventure.
3. Have a measurable destination.
4. Are never safe, predictable, or clean.

Movement Leaders:
1. See what others can’t see.
2. Do what others won’t do.
3. Be willing to be completely broken.

What is it in us that makes us long to be part of a meaningful movement? Do we miss the opportunity to create a movement because we are driven more by fear than the prospect of missed opportunities? What big thing would you try today if you knew you could not fail? What keeps you from doing what you know God wants you to do right now? Who knows, maybe that’s the spark that ignites a movement.