More Small Groups

For the past couple months, we've had two main small groups meeting (which means almost every single person in our church is in a group). We've been reading a book together by Dave Browning called, Deliberate Simplicity. It's been great to read and discuss the foundational elements of Christ the King Community Church. I have also enjoyed listening to the people in my group translate the concepts of CTK into our context in Durango. These guys get it and I am thrilled! Perhaps my favorite thing about these groups, however, is their potential for growth. Already, we've seen new people show up to the groups brought by their friends (who were also new to our community), now we are preparing to multply from two groups to five. More important than the idea of having five groups is the reality that each new group has the beginnings of creating their own community. I can't wait to see what happens with these people who have spent the last several weeks learning to love God and others in a deliberately simple way as they embark on their own journeys...sharing Christ through authentic relationship in the context of a living room or coffee shop!

Personally, I'm excited about a group that I will be trying to establish with a some of the homeless guys who live in the hills above the soup kitchen. Besides looking for relevant ways to communicate Christ with these guys, I'll also be able to keep my eyes on the foosball/chess prize!

Chess and Foosball

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time at Manna House (the local soup kitchen). One reason is that it is a blessing to be able to be the pastor of a church and also be able to do things like volunteer my time regularly. The other reason is that most of the friends I've made in Durango are pretty much the homeless guys at Manna House. I'm having a good time getting to know a guy named Jim. Last week he told me he was the chess champion of the soup kitchen and challenged me to a match. I accepted even though I hadn't played chess since I was a kid with my brother and couldn't really remember which players moved where. Somehow I managed to checkmate Jim within five minutes of playing which simultaneously made me the soup kitchen champion and secured me a rematch the next day. Day two didn't go as well. Jim whipped me soundly two games in a row. Trying to salvage my dignity, I made some comment wishing there were a foosball table because I was sure I could beat him at a real game (the 99% of you who don't play foosball are laughing at that irony, I know)--big mistake! One thing you have to understand about homeless guys--they don't always have a lot going on...so Jim immediately seized the opportunity to challenge me to a game of foosball at the pool hall in town. I put up a good fight, but was bested in the end--even on the incredible Jim Fletcher (elder at SVCC and foosball prodigy) worthy Tornado table.

Ego bruising aside, I am loving the opportunity to get to know these guys at the soup kitchen. They are as ostracized by our community as they are fascinating and lovable. Perhaps my favorite thing about these last couple weeks has been that I actually get to be the one in relationship. Jim, Curtis, James, Lenny, and Clifford are my friends. Instead of being "up front" telling everyone how they should go about loving people, I get to do it and then tell them. If I am able to accomplish anything as the pastor of this church community, I want it to be that I am always able to do what I am teaching. I know that sounds simple, but it certainly has not been in my experience. Until now, I've mostly been so overwhelmed by the details of planning and implementing ministry that I've rarely been able to participate--especially relationally.

Charity Without Relationship

So, I've recently read a book by Shane Clariborne called, "Irresistable Revolution" that addresses mostly the issue of poverty--specifically our role as the church in dealing with the poor. To say the book was compelling would be an understatement. Two points he makes in the book were especially poingnant to me. First was the idea that, as a whole, the church tends to relegate caring for the poor to a "minstry area" as opposed to a primary function of the Church. When looking at Acts chapter 2, we see and emulate the fact that the early church met in homes (small groups) and in the temple (corporate worship) and ate together. Clairborne points out that, while the church seems to be concerned with the poor, the language in Acts 2 is much stronger than simply helping the poor. Early Christians sold everything they had to take care of the poor. There seemed to be a general understanding that Christians would all sacrifice what they had for the benefit of those who don't have as much. I don't see this as a slam on the present state of the Church, so much as an interesting revelation that warrants some thought (and dialogue if anyone cares to engage). I sincerely want our church to be inhabited by people who do not simply wish the poor well, or allow for a benevolence fund, but who consistently make sacrifices on the behalf of the poor.

The second idea that struck me was about charity. The author points out that, while giving money and extra clothes, etc. to charitable groups is good, it eliminates the relational aspect of helping the poor. To some extent, donating to charity actually contributes to the gap between the church and the poor by isolating both groups from eachother by means of a "middle man". I took this to heart as our church has been spending a lot of time at the local soup kitchen in Durango. There is no question that I have extra clothes, things, etc. so I decided to try giving through relationship instead of my usual method of making a large clothes donation to Salvation Army. I discovered a couple things...first, it takes a long time to help the poor through relationship because the one guy you meet may not need all your shoes, jackets, old shirts, etc. I'm realizing that it's going to take a while before I can unload some of this stuff (which means, I guess, that the point is more about relationship than "unloading" stuff). Another thing I've noticed is how exciting it is to give through relationship. I met with my friend, Jim at Manna House yesterday when we were preparing food for lunch. Jim is a guy who lives in a tent in the hills of Durango all year (yes, even in the winter with several feet of snow). We've gotten to know each other over the last few weeks mostly by playing "Name that TV Theme Song Tune" (which might make me a horrible kitchen volunteer--mostly messing around with Jim). I was nervous that Jim would feel awkward about me offering him a coat I had brought, but I asked him anyway. He didn't seem to feel awkward. He was very pleased as the jacket I was giving him (which has been collecting dust in my closet for a long time) was a massive upgrade from the one he was wearing. He said he wished he had some way to pay for the coat and I told him maybe he could show me some off-road trails sometime (another thing we've talked about a lot).

I'm starting to wonder if taking care of the poor is more about meeting their needs through relationship than just giving them stuff. I'm excited about what I'm learning and anxious to explore these things more--if for no other reason than the fact that at this point in my life in a new town, playing "Name that TV Tune" for half an hour with a guy pretty much makes him my best friend!

May I See Your Ticket, Please?

Well, I was offered both jobs I applied for at Purgatory and I decided to go with the ticket checking job over the lift-operator position. In the end, ticket checking seemed like a smaller, more tight-knit department. I think I'll have some great opportunities there to get to know the team and interact with all the other people at the resort--not to mention free skiing at Purg, Telluride, and about ten other resorts in this area!

I'm looking forward to the opportunity for relationship with this group of people as well as the chance to be part of a culture that is pretty foreign to me. I went into a snowboard shop the other day and it was surreal--like walking into a surf shop, except it was all snowboards. It's so funny to think back to my Pacific Wave days where I did my best to sell snowboards to people when I actually used a snowboard less than five times a season. This year I'll be in the snow on the mountain a mimimum of 60 days!