More writing...

Yesterday a couple hours after I wrote the poem, I had a sudden and overwhelming feeling I was suppose to write an article about the church and our culture. What follows is that Article...

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A Modern Parallel?
by Sandy McCann

Today as I listened to, felt and appreciated the power of my GM V-8 engine I was overcome with a feeling of sadness for the diminishing state of the American icon, General Motors. I do not claim to be an expert about such events in the business world but I am moved by the sinking feeling of loss and the responses bordering on desperation flowing out of South East Michigan and into other areas with automotive ties.

As I thought of this I became suddenly aware that much of what is going on in the world of the North American automotive industry is a hyper speed version of what has been happening over the last few decades as the established denominational churches in North America navigate the same cultural changes.

Watching the increasing focus on survival in both the corporate and UAW camps and the apparent lack of willingness to do a real world assessment of the culture and reconcile to work together is bringing great discomfort. Both sides rely on chosen leaders who want the best for those they lead. Both sides want the company to succeed and they think they have the answer. However the global market of 2006 will never be anything like the past dominance of the American brands so a new paradigm is needed to allow the automotive business to emerge.

Reflecting on the desire to avoid change seen in these challenges in the automotive industry, one can understand how painful it is for the organized church in North America to accept changes, live the new paradigm, to emerge from the past, a past to be proud of.

The way local congregations/churches have traditionally cared for their membership could be compared to the unions of the automotive industry. Protected and gathered into community with like minded people, life was good. A look at the drop in union membership over the last 15 years or so should be the taken as a symptom of the cultural shifts, a shifting that leaves many people sadly neglected and estranged from what they had put their hope in.

As leaders strive to keep things the same (often in well meaning pursuit of God’s direction) amongst the local bodies of believers throughout America that we call church, they are potentially neglecting people who have hearts to be part of God’s purpose. Those people perhaps do not yet carry the “union card” of faith in God, but there also are a great number who have just been “idled” and need to be recalled to the work the Master designed for them.

My personal passion for these “idled workers” was stirred when my two oldest children we “laid off” by a youth group that only desired to assist those who already knew their place on the team. I am trusting God that my now grown kids still have their cards tucked away and that God will help them find them at the right time so that they might rejoin the team.

In a world filled with broken homes, drugs, violence, and so many other hurts it seems that having questions about God should be considered the norm. It does not seem to take too much imagination to think that churches should seek those with questions and lead them to the One with all the answers. Jesus welcomed questions. His answers were often posed as questions back to those who asked. It appears that Jesus led people to seek God for His answer to them personally. Jesus gave colorful answers even though those of His culture living under the law might have felt they wanted black and white. Color is designed by God, and should be embraced.

First, speaking for myself and probably many others of the boomer generation, it’s hard to not want the relative safety of the past we grew up with. Not to deny the flaws in the old ways, but it’s hard for some of us to shake off our wish that North America could return to a time of cultural Christianity, where people loved and believed in God because those that led them loved and believed in God. This world God designed is about change; how we approach it needs to reflect God. In the past, we bought American cars because we believed in American engineering and American workers. I still do, but I recognize not everyone around me does. Churches like the unions of the past were the right thing for the culture of our past. Are they the right thing for now? Change is hard.

change

Well, after Roy set up a blog last night I was "inspired" to change my template. Green is my fav color...but the one I had was TOO green, lol.

Now I need to re-set up the links and stuff.

But I feel good about the change...this one is more *me*...

Sandy

Incognito

Recently I have been struggling with how God has made me to be. My human heart has been aching to be what the world defines as popular, fun, cool, etc. I have felt hopeless about EVER fitting in...so much so that I had begun to question whether God even intends us to "fit in."

About an hour ago, I felt the Spirit stirring me to sit and put words down. I believe the results tell the story of where God wants us to "fit in" (as well as where we might be misguidedly focusing our efforts.)

Tell me what you think...

Sandy
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Incognito: Standing in Shadow, Walking in Light
by Sandy McCann

I am old, I am young
Living rich, painfully poor
Man, woman, child
Seeking, searching, wanting something real
Standing in the shadows
Knowing there is pure warmth and light
In an unexpected way
From Him…I find light and love.

The shadows were not always so chilling
Their tell tale shapes
Outlining the hope
Of warmth, life, and love within
But now they are only cold shadows
Not understood by many
A symbol no longer
Of Him…I find light and love.

Walking past the shadows of the building
Church, temple, cathedral
My pulse begins to quicken
As my feet move me
Into the unknown
First falling, then soaring
Borne by the winds of new direction
By Him…I find light and love.

I gather strength from the multitude
Who worship around me
Without reserve
Abandoning thoughts
Worshipping freely, releasing the soul
In awe of the One
Worthy of our praise
To Him…I find light and love.


Offering His embrace to the lost
With eyes and hearts
Wide open, seeking them
Loving, hoping, sharing burdens
Side by side
Building not destructing
Brothers and sisters
In Him…I find light and love.

Sharing vistas with the scoffers
Listening, learning
Seeking to understand
With eyes always upturned
Meeting on common ground
Never condemning
Finding there is truth in the love
He sent for us
Through Him…I find light and love.

renewal and reflection

It snowed...we weren't able to make it to church...and once I knew we could not go (and got over a feeling of guilt by watching cars sliding off the road on our hill), I relaxed and had a better weekend than I have had for a long time...does that say anything??

Actually I am still so unsure of what to do about it all. I *want* our girls to have every chance to meet friends who will help them grow closer to God, but at what expense?

Friday I finished reading Lynne Hybel's book "Nice Girls Don't Change the World." Much of her experience is NOT mine because I did not grow up in church like she did, but I do understand her sense of things not feeling right. I have sensed for some time that God wants me to do something really BIG, but I am so easily discouraged by the words of those (usually those who don't know ME well) who feel they have insight into what God *might* want me to do. It most often centers around the fact that I am a homeschooling mom of 6 kids and how I should know God gave me that ministry field first. Like Lynne H. I know that there are seasons and I do not desire to short my family. However, I also know that God speaking to my heart is just that, MY heart, and no one else can hear. I have some significant people in my life who affirm the message I am hearing...and so I march on.

My greatest battlefield if anyone wants to pray for me is my ongoing lack of ability to enter into true worship in the corporate setting. I am feeling weak to be honest. Roy and I sat and did some worship music together last night...once I warmed up (in spirit) it was awesome! Sadly though I still miss the worship we were doing last year at church...in that setting I felt I could soar up and feel the warmth of the smile of God on me.

A dry spell?

It's been far too long since I posted here, but I have been a regular poster on other people's blogs and the message boards I belong to, so no, I am not in a dry spell. I guess partly I am feeling I am not sure the best place to share my thoughts. On the message boards I feel like I can sometimes help people...at least through encouragement.

I guess I feel way to selfish posting stuff here "just because"...

I do need to decide how to spend my time. With the Emergent Friends message board I am administering, another blog for the emergent conversation in NW Arkansas I just set up (hopefully soon to become an Emergent Village Cohort group), and my acts-vision.org site that needs to be completed...well, I need to decide.

A friend encouraged me to figure out how this vision I am carrying plays out. Well, that's a bit hard. I really think I share the same direction as Reggie McNeal shares in his book, The Present Future: " ...to help leaders who are practitioners in many different settings sort through the implications of an emerging world in terms of how we are church." My personal effort diverges a bit from what he said before that, "...because of my life calling..." since I believe God is calling me to do the same thing as Reggie but from the eyes of a sheep in the flock. Unfortunately, so far l have had almost no leaders accept that the Holy Spirit might actually work through a plain everyday mom like me. Does not the Bible have many stories of those who appeared to be not very "qualified" carrying forth the Kingdom message? I would be lying to say it does not occasionally at least hurt my human heart, but God calls me on to persevere.

Another friend (and very nice person) shared this weekend that her family has been attending the same church (and faithfully serving MOST weeks) for OVER 15 years and they still feel like they are not connected. It is for people like that, that I believe God calls me to keep on keeping on!

Sandy