Another Photo Get's Used.

This is the latest in a recent slew of photos of mine being used in blogs around the blog-o-sphere.

The composition of the photo isn't that strong, I only like it because she sticks out her tongue when she's concentrating (just like I do).

Anyway, you can view the blog that used the picture HERE. It's called, "Parents and Money". If they were writing an article about Hope's ACTUAL parents, then it would be titled, "Parents with no Money".

Just thought I'd share. Have a good day.

Launch Team Meeting #3

Eleven of us Gathered in Room 203 for the 3rd Launch Team Meeting.

We started on time. Yes, folks we started on time.

We heard from Amy (regarding Kids Church) and Heather (regarding the "Connection Team") - both of these talented ladies are trying to form TEAMS of people to drive these necessary systems. So, please, please get involved.

I blasted through "defining the launch team" and basically said the following...

"The main purpose of this team is outward focused toward the future church. It is a team of committed individuals who will work together to prepare for and execute an effective launch.

The Launch team is a temporary team in existence only through the Launch Day."

Lastly we brainstormed what could/should happen "Between the Sundays".
To set up the brainstorming session, I mentioned some of the phrases that characterize our church.

• Church isn't a building
• Church isn't a meeting on Sundays.
  
• Church is people learning to love others and God
• We want to be/build authentic community
  

With that in mind, here are some of the things that came up in that session. Anything in BOLD came up multiple times in different small groups. Please comment, if you'd like to add to the list

• Game nights
• Dinners @ homes - weekly
• Bible studies: some specifics- video based ones, marriage (Love and Respect), a study that helps define "reasons to believe".
• Play Dates - moms with kids
• Theology Pub- poor some beer, pic a topic and discuss... can be done at homes or in bars/pubs
• Movies and theology nights
• Conferences and Seminars
• service projects - local missions
• Saturday breakfasts, studies
• Dinners for Six
• Community Activities like Sporting Games and Concerts

What else? what has been a rich experience for you in your past that's not on this list? You don't even have to be part of the infamous Launch Team to contribute here.

A Jazz Bistro

A travel website: www.gosanfransiscocard.com used one of my photos. Check it out here.

To see the photo on my flickr site, then go here.

If you are like like live jazz music, then you'd like Les Joulins Jazz Bistro.

Just thought I'd share.

My Birthday Blog - an open letter

I've often thought about turning the whole "give-me-gifts-for-my-birthday" thing upside down. What if the birthday person planned their own birthday party, but instead of the party being for themselves, what if the honored guests were every one in attendance EXCEPT for the birthday person?

I mean, instead of receiving gifts and being myopic on this special day, what if we gave gifts and cards to those around us who make life worth living.

Personally speaking, my life is more of a wonderful adventure than a simple existence. It's people like you who have influenced, taught, and inspired me... and in a very real way, you've helped me to become who I am today.

photo: birthday card from my daughter, given after the breakfast she helped to make for me. (click picture for more birthday photos)

You have made me laugh and made me cry. You've taught me about faith, love and hope. You have helped me grow in patience and long-suffering (you know who you are), and that's not really a bad thing at all! You've spurred me on to accomplish things I never thought I could. You've gently stopped me from doing things that I shouldn't. You have made my life enjoyable, fulfilling and worth living.

You've hugged me when I've needed one. You've challenged me when I didn't ask for your help. You've pushed me to do what I said I'd do. You've sent birthday, Christmas and random cards - even when I don't send them back. You've given money and gifts and shown me generosity at the most significant and unexpected times.

You've called me on the phone, sent e-mails or asked me questions and I haven't replied. Your patience is inspiring.

You've let me try to lead you, to teach you and correct you. That's risky. You're brave.

You've trusted me with your children and you've let me be part of your weddings, births, and deaths. You're brave.

You've lived in my house or let me live in yours... either way, thank you. You've let me into your families, your poker games and around your dinner tables.

You've allowed me to worship with you.

photo: that's me at my birthday breakfast. (click picture for more birthday photos)

You've been my mom, dad, brother, sister, pastor, mentor, boss, and friend. You've nursed me when I was sick. You changed my diaper when I was young and somebody reading this may change my diaper when I'm old(er).

You put up with my various incarnations of immaturity. You've put up with my bad hair days... remember my afro? Remember my 'tail'? How long did I have that goatee and why did I ever wear pants that tight or shorts that short? And what was with that hot pink tank top in the late 80's? Maybe those things are your fault?

If you are reading this, then you probably have affected my life in someway or another. Thank you.

I'm trying to say that my birthday celebration is more about you than it is about me. I'm not going to buy you all gifts this year (no promises about next year, either). I'm trying to say that you are what makes my birth bearable. You make my life a "LIFE!". Without you, this day is forgettable. Because of you, I am 37.

Launch Meeting TWO

Last Week 11 of us gathered into room 203 at THIS church building and 'pondered' church. Outoud.

As a Leader, I know that a certain amount of discussion and input goes a long way in building team cohesiveness, but what I didn't know that our 'pondering' would take up the entire meeting time!

Although, we won't have the same type of meeting this coming week, last weeks meeting was quite significant to many of us. To use the words in the video we saw that night, I'd say our meeting helped our "hearts to beat more and more like God's heart". Hearts beating more like God's heart will go a LONG WAY towards the success of a church-plant!

After watching the video in the NOOMA series titled, "Sunday" we asked the question, "When it comes to church, what do you think God had in mind?". Here's a very quick summary of a very long and rich conversation

• It's supposed to be personal, not just something to "watch" happen
• It's about being connected, like a body
• It's not about formal rituals, not about being "talked at", but "talked with"
• More like a team than a hierarchy
• Church should go out and do more things - show the way, not just talk about it!
• It should put Jesus first, 'lift' him up, and feature him, not a 'show'.
  
• It shouldn't just be about 'self-help' - we don't need church to learn about that, we need church to revolve around Jesus and his ways.
• The people at the meetings should be excited, not boring.
• There's a large group of people who are really interested in Jesus, but are really turned off by the church (I dream about a church that can actually affect our culture in such a way that people won't make the distinction between Jesus and the church).

See you Sunday at 6pm?

Love ya,

Joe

p.s. Below is a clip of the video that we watched. If you'd like to borrow my copy, I'd be more than willing to let you.

Join our Launch Team?
By 2020 our population in Fresno is projected to grow by 362,000 people. If we were to provide a church for only 10% of the new growth, we will need 72 new churches with 500 members.

No county in America has more Christians in it today than it did 10 years ago. Church planting is the most biblical way of evangelism. The Church is God’s plan for a broken and lost world.

Even though church planting is extremely important and significant, you don’t need any special skills to join this church planting team. We are looking to increase the size of this team every single day until we ‘launch’ in May.

Cheesburger Face

Tonight at dinner, my daughter Hope said one of her many random comments.

She said, "If my face was a cheesburger, I'd eat my face all day long."

We were eating spaghetti. She makes me smile.

Just thought I'd share.

Hope turns seven years old tomorrow.

Launch Team Meeting ONE

Among other things, 13 of us spent time dreaming out loud what church could/should be.

Some of the thoughts:

• A place where opinions/dialogue matters. Not simply told what to believe and blindly go with that.
• A place where there is teamwork... everybody, not just a few, moving toward the goals.
• A place where you know you're missed when you're not there. A place where you'll find people going through the same things as you. Imperfect people bringing what they DO have to offer and getting involved
• a place for reality and honesty
• Accountability... where someone will call you and ask you what you're doing.
• Church should be a place you act the same as you do when you're home. Not a place where you "get conservative" and "fake" to attend, only to be 'normal' the rest of the week.
• TRUTH. The message. The plain, uncompromising truth in the scriptures. Church should be a place for that.
• A place the values and emphasizes kids and family
• A place for creativity
• A safe place to not be perfect
• Community - a place to journey together as much as possible. People shouldn't feel alone in the church. A place to connect, to carry other peoples loads and to be carried at times.

The Church is Beautiful. I expect us to spend more time dreaming about what Church could/should be, because the above might only scratch the surface.

We desire to tap into the brainpower and life experiences of those who will be part of The Launch Team. So, we broke into small groups and spent a short time asking the question, "How do we increase the amount of people on our Launch Team?" Here are some of the ideas.

1. Every group put emphasis on the “personal invitation” including use of all normal communication… e-mail, friends at work, etc.

2. Dinners for Six (this idea comes up about as often as a drummer!)

3. Message Boards – online (Myspace, etc.) and physical places like Colleges or laundry rooms

4. Using the 5,000 gifts idea and tweaking it so that it’s something like “5,000 reasons church should be amazing”.

5. Hang out where people hang out.

6. Invite a person with Church Planting experience to come into our meetings and suggest ways to increase the Launch Team

7. Speak with Churches

8. Christian Colleges like Fresno Pacific.

Thoughts? Comments? Anything to add?

What Are We Doing?!

As a young, new and non-traditional church, we have the luxury of unplugging for a season in order to Regroup, Reload, and Re-launch.

No, we’re not out of money. No, we didn’t forget to pay our rent at Kastner Intermediate School. No, we’re not on the verge of ‘shutting our doors’ for good. We simply get the chance to re-group and re-plan many things in order to best maximize our efforts at a successful church plant.

A short story: I was talking with an old friend at Starbucks (surprise, surprise) last Wednesday. He’s part of a brand new church. He was envious when he learned that we were going to back up and re-group. He wishes that his church would do a “bold move” (his words) like that. He feels like his church would be a better place, in the long run, if they had the luxury of stepping back to relook at some things.

My reason for telling this story is simply that although it’s risky to do what we’re doing (people might get the wrong impression) it’s good and wise to do what we’re doing at this stage of our development.

This time of pulling out of Kastner Intermediate School will allow us to do several things including:

• Attempt to raise needed monies.
• Attempt to find more people.
• Train a Launch Team
• Create needed indispensible, ongoing systems of organization.
• Find a new and better location than our previous location
• Plan a way to get the word out that we exist.

Ultimately we’d like to Re-launch Axis Community Church in a new facility in the near future (possibly Easter 2008).

Join us any Sunday night from 6:00-7:30 at Woodward Park Baptist Church for more information. Click here for map.

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!