Tag: Mark Batterson

Notes from The Idea Camp – #icdc

Watchin the Idea Camp today #icdc

I wrote about The Idea Camp a while back. I had hoped to have a local viewing party, but it never quite panned out. Instead I’m watching online physically by myself, but what seems like I’m right there with everyone thanks to technology.

Thanks to free online streaming and Twitter I’ve been watching and listening to a majority of the conversations taking place this weekend in DC. So far its been great.

I’ve been twittering my notes, so for those who haven’t been able to keep up, and for archival purpose, here are some of the notes I’ve taken through the pre-session and the first breakout session…

Hopefully these notes will spark creative ideas and innovation within your own groups.
Continue reading Notes from The Idea Camp – #icdc

True to Scripture and true to God

Mark Batterson (see something beautiful 1.15) took a quick trip to Germany last week with a group of other pastors and leaders, including Chris Seay of Houston.

He was able to stand at the place where Martin Luther posted his 95 Thesis nearly 500 years ago on Reformation Day (last Friday). Very cool.

He posted a short followup on Sunday:

Here’s the table where Martin Luther had his infamous table talks. I got in trouble for taking a flash photograph. Oops! Pretty amazing to think that much of our theological thinking today can be traced back to some of the theological conversations around this table. Luther’s five solas and 95 Theses and Augsburg Confession reshaped 16th century theology. But his table talks were the bread and butter of a simple parish priest that was trying to be true to Scripture and true to God.

I really like Batterson’s comments here. Imagine, theology that shaped our view of God and religion discussed around a simple table by folks trying to be true to Scripture and true to God. Not one individual but a community of believers, sitting around a table, probably enjoying a meal and drinks and discussing the activity of God within their world.

What theology will be discussed and shaped around your dining room table this week or in your living room?

Can theology still be shaped and molded for our day and time – or has it been set in stone now that Martin Luther and his peers have said all that they could say?

Some Beautiful updates

I don’t normally plug our podcast here too much (at least I don’t think so) but thought I’d give you a heads up on some great interviews we’ve had recently and a few that are upcoming.

Be sure and check out somethingbeautifulpodcast.com to listen to all our past, present and future shows.

This week on the show we have the first part of my interview with Greg Garrett. Garrett’s an English professor at Baylor University and also a lay-pastor at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. He recently wrote a great book – “Stories from the Edge A Theology of Grief” based on the summer he spent as a chaplain in Austin, Texas. I talked to Greg about how he dealt with his own personal “demons” and how he was led into the chaplaincy and some of what he learned in the process. Great stuff.

Also, last week we talked with Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC. Batterson recently released his second book, “Wild Goose Chase” and we talked about the book, the adventure of chasing the Holy Spirit and how Batterson has seen it play out in his own life.

Coming up we have the second half of my interview with Greg Garrett, as well as an interview with Frank Viola and a two part interview with Trucker Frank (aka Frank Schutzwhol).

I think they’re all stories worth talking about (whether you agree or disagree with the particular story) so be sure and check them out and let us know what you think.

Also, if you have a story, poem, or message that you think our listeners would love to hear — send it to us. You can send it as text only or if you’d like to record it in your own words you can send an mp3. Send all your submissions to :: somethingbeautifulpodcast (at) gmail (dot) com.

www.somethingbeautifulpodcast.com

Mark Batterson :: Wild Goose Chase

Well I’ve finished my copy of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson (In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day). Started the book on Saturday and wrapped it up today at lunch. It was a great easy read at 174 pages.

This is one of those books I’m sure my friends and family hate me reading — because I’m constantly stumbling upon great thoughts/quotes/ideas and dropping them txt messages or Tweets throughout the day to share those same thoughts.

As previously mentioned, the idea/title of the book comes from the name the Celtic Christians had for the Holy Spirit – an Geadh-Glas or “the Wild Goose.” It may seem strange calling the Holy Spirit “The Wild Goose” – especially when you consider what we typically mean when we say, “a wild goose chase” (in fact I’ve already gotten an e-mail from someone who doesn’t like the “double entendre”) — but to me I definitely identify with this image of the Holy Spirit.

When you’re following God’s plan for your life, I’ve found that it’s very rare for you to know exactly where you’re heading. And at times the path you’re heading down may seem pointless “but rest assured, God is working His plan.”

Throughout the book Batterson gives examples of six different cages we find ourselves in that keep us from truly chasing The Wild Goose. I found myself identifying with pieces of each one – but primarily the cage of responsibility.

I often find myself thinking, “I could do this – but I have other responsibilities I’m tied to.” I also find myself wanting, as Batterson puts it, for “God to provide miraculous signs before I come out of my cage.” I want God to part the river before I get my feet wet. Yet if we live our faith out this way — is it really faith?

Batterson points out that Mark concludes his witness of Jesus Christ by writing, “They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” If we get moving, God will confirm our direction along the way. That’s probably a good reason why Batterson will frequently make note on his blog that when it comes to his ministry and church, “everything’s an experiment.” We can’t simply wait for God to show us each and every step we should take. Sometimes you just have to stop praying and actually act by stepping out on to the water.

I also love Batterson’s point about the call for Christians to react in a way that’s counter to the world’s way of reacting. Throughout this year I’ve been challenged over and over again by authors like Brian McLaren and Shane Claiborne to be a true follower of Christ’s “third-way.” Batterson summarizes and explains it simply when he says, “it is much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one.”

Most of us are good actors — we can play the part. But our reactions reveal who we really are. And maybe that is why Jesus focused so much of His teaching on reconditioning reflexes.

Pray for those who persecute you.
Love your enemies.
Bless those who curse you.
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

… the supernatural reaction is both counterintuitive and counterreactive. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek. Think of it as spiritual aikido. We absorb the energy of others and convert it into a righteous response. So persecution becomes a catalyst for prayer. Hatred inspires love. And we convert curses into blessings.

Finally I was amused to re-read some of the stories Batterson’s been sharing on his blog the last year and a half. After subscribing to his blog a year or so back I often felt like I was reading a letter or a book from an old friend who’s re-telling some of the great stories of his life and laying them out as perfect illustrations for God’s love and guidance.

Skimming back through the book it seems like every page is marked to some extent. Maybe its just because this book comes at one of those points in my life where I’m feeling caught up in many of my own crazy wild goose chases, or it may just be that good of a book… you’ll just have to read it and find out for yourself.

The book drops at bookstores around the country next Tuesday – August 19th or you can pre-order it from Amazon.com via the link here in this post.

related ::
ChasetheGoose.com
Mark Batterson’s blog
SSL :: the wild goose chase

My Bucket List

Friday night Laurie and turned off the Olympic opening ceremonies (yes I know a cardinal sin) and watched the Bucket List. I loved it. She wasn’t as impressed.

The idea behind the movie is two men are dying of cancer and are only expected to have six months to live, so they make a list of all the things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.”

The movie reminded me of the “life goal list” Mark Batterson challenges folks to create in his first book, “In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day.” Basically a list of 100 things that you want to do/accomplish before your life is over.

Been thinking through some of my goals (especially realizing that I only a little more than have 4 full months left to complete my goals for 2008). Looks like I’ve blown one of them already – the take a photo each day of me in 2008. I think I lost focus/motivation after folks said they were getting bored with my photo selection in mid-April. Hopefully I’ll pick it back up next year – but maybe just take a photo a day – rather than a photo of me each day.

So far I did finish rebuilding a new encounter website as well as rebuilding the CasadeBlundell.com website (with a lot of great help and insight from my life).

I think I’ll easily meet my reading goal for the year. I’ve completed 10, almost finished with #11 and just received #12 and have #13-15 currently being shipped from Amazon.com.

My last goals that I’m still worried about/shooting for are:

  • Finish losing weight. My goal weight is 205. I’ve got about 20 more lbs to go.
  • See 8 new community groups started at encounter.
  • Get 4 new people on the sound or media shout rotation at encounter.

So… all that said – what about my Bucket List? Well, I’m still thinking it though. I’ll give you one of them though… bungee jumping.

Now how about you? What’s on your Bucket List?

related ::
IMDB :: the bucket list
SSL :: goals for 2008
the “new” casadeblundell.com
the “new” encounterthis.com

The Wild Goose Chase

Received a preview copy of Mark Batterson’s latest book, “Wild Goose Chase” on Saturday. Loving it.

I’ll post an extended review once I finish the book (which should be before the book’s release date on Aug 19th).

But I thought I’d post some initial thoughts/quotes that really stood out to me – thus far.

The idea/title of the book comes from the name the Celtic Christians had for the Holy Spirit – An Geadh-Glas or “the Wild Goose.” It may seem strange calling the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose – especially when you consider what we typically mean when we say, “a wild goose chase.” But if you really think about following the Holy Spirit – that’s what it’s really like. You have no idea where you’re heading. It may seem pointless when you follow The Wild Goose. “But rest assured, God is working His plan.”

“I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals.” We’re caged by so many things in our modern versions of “faith.” Batterson spends the rest of the book looking at six different cages we find ourselves in and comparing these cages to different people/stories we read about in Scripture. As I read about these cages I can see bits and pieces of me living in each of them. Some are stronger cages than others – but each of them keep me from the adventure The Wild Goose is calling me to follow Him on. “You cannot simultaneously live by faith and be bored.”

“We start dying when we have nothing worth living for. And we don’t really start living until we find something worth dying for.”

“When God puts a passion in your heart, whether it be relieving starvation in Africa or educating children in the inner city or making movies with redemptive messages, that God-ordained passion becomes your responsibility. And you have a choice to make. Are you going to be irresponsibly responsible or responsibly irresponsible?”

“Supernatural sadness and righteous indignation often reveal our God-ordained passions… if something causes you to weep and mourn and fast and pray for days on end, it is a good indication that God wants you to take personal responsibility and do something about it. Anything less or anything else is irresponsible responsibility… If you want to discover your God-ordained passions, then you need to identify what makes you sad, mad, or glad… God-ordained passions often break our hearts. And they can seem like an overwhelming burden to bear. But pushing our passions is the key to living a fruitful and fulfilling life.”

“One of the great mistakes we make is asking God to do for us what God wants us to do for Him. We confuse portfolios. For example, we try to convict people around us of sin. But that is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility, not ours. And when we play God, we not only do a poor job at it, but it is always counterproductive.”

“When Christianity turns into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity is always intended to be a verb. And more specifically an action verb.”

Batterson talks a lot about the cage of routine in chp 3. Excellent stuff.

“When God wants us to experience a change in perspective, He often does it via a change in scenery… where you are geographically affects where you are spiritually…

change of pace + change of pace = change of perspective

“We do things without thinking about them. And if we aren’t careful, we pray without thinking, take Communion without thinking, and worship without thinking… ‘These people say they are mine,’ God complained. ‘They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.’ … We need new words, new postures, new thoughts and new feelings.”

related ::
Mark Batterson’s blog
SSL :: quotes of the day
SSL :: more from batterson
SSL :: marketing or action
SSL :: goals for 2008
SSL :: church goals