By Steve

I noticed this sign on Saturday evening while walking through the city of Santa Fe. It was intriguing enough to warrant a picture so I could share it with you.

Why would this Catholic church only unlock the doors to the bathroom during mass? It seems a sure fire way to welcome distractions and interruptions to their sacred gathering.

I have images of long lines of eager people waiting to go inside...not to meet with God, but to pee.

And then I began thinking. I wonder what other ways the church has locked the door to many peoples most desperated needs. I wonder what processes we have created that don't allow people inside other than on our time. I questioned if there are things that I do that serve more as a distraction to meeting with God than anything else. In that moment, I wanted to know what pictures others were taking of me, my faith, our church and blogging about it all.

And whatever it is people see, or photograph, or hear or blog about, I hope it is positive. Helpful. Unlocked and inclusive. Free. And speaking in to the needs that people really have, in the moment that they have them.

So that got me thinking about you, my (no ownership intended) faithful blog readers...what is your current experience or opinion or feelings about your faith and church?

By Steve

I love what I do and I have no idea why I wrote this blog:

By Steve

During a recent coaching session (one time a month I have a one hour phone call with Phil, my church planting coach) I was asked what it was that I invite people to. So that got me thinking on two levels.

First, I am less interested in inviting people to the church. I want to invite people to Jesus. In my experience, we (pastors) have become quite skilled at inviting (getting) people to come to church. What we're not as good at is helping people really experience, know and walk with God after they get there. We can end up with excellence in attendance and struggles at discipleship and life transformation (sorry for the redundancy). So one thing I am working hard at now is inviting people to Jesus first. It is my hope that as people "meet Jesus again for the first time" (a great book I highly recommend) that before too long they (we) will also want to gather in one form or another with other like minded, on the same sort of pursuit type folk...and we'll call it church. In other words, we can invite people to church, then add to that discipleship or we can invite people to Jesus (discipleship) and add to that church. I chose the latter.

The second level (although not really levels at all) has to do with what does it mean to invite people to Jesus...or what are you inviting people to? Or still in other words, if your not inviting people just to church, but to Jesus, what does that mean.

This is of course a loaded and a simple question to respond to. The challenge for me is to speak of it in a simple way. What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What does it mean? How do you do it? and on and on. I think through these things in deep and sometimes too complex ways.

For now, that means I will offer no answer to these questions. But I hope you will think about them more. I will say this. All this coaching and talking and thinking, it has inspired another article I am working on.

It seems that many, if not most people I talk with have questions. These questions so easily become conversations. These conversations sometimes do, but most often do not result in people coming to something (church or Jesus...which is precisely why my coach asked the original question). If they do come, then what about commitment?

So I am working on a writing now...From questions to conversations to coming to committing. I want to explore each of these things and the order of them. I'll post it when I'm done, or point you to whereever it may get published.

By Steve

Perspective.

It was a brief encounter, but I may never forget it.
I was standing on the corner of a busy intersection, waiting to cross the street. While waiting, I watched a man roll across the intersection in his wheel chair.

He was an older man, not too old, but a bit older than me I'd guess. He had just one leg, and he used it to push himself backwards through the intersection. As he got closer to me, within feet, I gently smiled. I guessed he was homeless (from the amount of stuff being stored on his wheel chair. I assumed he was poor. And obviously he had just one leg.

When he got close enough, I said hello. He kindly said hello back (At this point, most I encounter would ask for spare change or sort of brush me off).

Then I asked how he was doing (as if I couldn't tell I thought to myself).

Half speaking, half singing, he repeated several times "blessed, I am blessed." And he rolled away.

By Steve

By Steve

What's right?

I was reminded today from a friend, who overheard a conversation my wife was having with friends the night before, that briefly included the topic of me, of the question I most often ask my wife (I like long, confusing, run-on sentences with lots of commas that need to be justified by paranthetical statements).

Most mornings, I wake up happy. Most mornings, Ali wakes up a bit grumpy. Most morning, I ask Ali "what's wrong." (of course it's nothing, it's just how she wakes up I'm reminded daily)

This reminder from a friend from a conversation he overheard about how I often ask Ali what's wrong...got me thinking.

Why the focus on what's wrong? What do I gain from learning everything that is wrong? Wrong with my wife. Wrong with my friends. Wrong with my job. Wrong with the government. Wrong with an idea.

Instead.

What if we started asking what's right? I think I would prefer hearing all of the good and positive and right things in any given day than all of the bad and negative and wrong things.

So I have a proposal. I propose a "What's right" campaign. Where each of us begin asking what's right instead of what's wrong. Now for those of you who are already thinking of things that are wrong with this idea..."how can we fix people, or things, or ideas if we don't know what's wrong?" I don't know, find a way (maybe determine that fixing things is not always best).

I just want us to give this a try. Focus on what's right, and ask others what's right.

I am only one person pondering this. Some may read and comment on this. It is my hope that many will respond.

So my what's right campaign has a goal. I am looking for 10 comments to this blog. When 10 respond, I will consider my blog right and keep blogging. If and when it reaches 20, I will pursue taking my campaign to the next level...(the democratic convention could use another twist).

So read, write, respond and begin asking, "what's right."

By Steve

But what can we do here locally?

Although we have been back from Africa since late November, Ali and I still think of the people there daily and even more so this week. Pastor Stephen just arrived in San Diego and our fundraiser event is this Saturday. We hope to get many kids sponsored in addition to raising enough money to build a clean water well.

Much of my time for the fundraiser has been spent asking people and businesses for discounts and donations. The rest of my efforts have gone to explaining to people what we're doing with the orphanage in Africa in partnership with the Childrens Heritage Foundation.

The other day when explaining our efforts, a friend responded saying, "I love what you're doing in Africa, but what can we do here locally." In other words, how do we balance being people of service and sacrifice for others over sees and across the street?

This question spawned an ongoing discussion between this man and me, where we hope to create something that will make a contribution for people in need that live in our neighborhood. While this guy and me share no common faith, we share a common value...that we should use what we've been given to make a difference for others who have needs. This seems all to have come about because we travelled several thousand miles to help people. And because we now ask many people to help us to help the people in Africa. And now they're helping and they want to do more, locally.

I'm not sure where this will all lead, but I believe it will make a difference. It will help many. And many others will get on board to join our mission of doing good.

By Steve

Who you gonna vote for?

Not many have asked me that question, but I've found myself asking others often. Not sure if I'm looking for wisdom in others, new insights or just wanting someone to chose for me. Maybe its none of these things. Maybe all of them. What I do know, like many other Americans, I am much more interested in this election than any other in the past.

As a pastor I'm not supposed to push one candidate over the other...so I won't and I don't think I could at this point anyway. Many of them seem equally good and equally not so good from both parties, or should I say all parties (just in case you're not sure, I don't believe Christianity equals republican).

I am looking forward to more candidates dropping out and nominations being made. I'm done watching people beat up on their own. It will be so much better once they can fight against their enemy. At least this is how it all appears to me. I watched a portion of the republican debate tonight...boring...the best part was Nancy Reagan's glasses (she looked like a movie star). I was actually getting angry...angry at the way Romney would glare at Macain. Angry at how Macain would smirk at Mitt. Angry at how their were 4 candidates on the stage but only two got any real talk time...one almost none at all. Angry that regardless of how much change is discussed, it seems like same old same old to me.

So who are you going to vote for? Let me know would ya? I could use the help.

By Steve

What next? The tension of intentional and organic

I have been thinking much about where the church is headed in the future. I have been thinking about the future of Christianity. I have been wondering what role Citywalk might play. I have been thinking about what my own life may have in it all.

Small things I think about while trying to fall asleep.

Missio Dei, the mission of God, is what we are invited into and welcomed to join. How does one (lacking an appropriate verb here, should it be work, cultivate, advance, grow?) the Kingdom of God...Ultimately Jesus' mission, I suggest. Is it possible, and I think it is, to be about the mission of God, intentionally, but not subject it to pesticides. There is a difference between being a passive onlooker and allowing something to develop organically.

I still think organic is a good word. When I grow to the grocery store, I notice how the organic section is as small as a mustard seed. Most people avoid it, or don't even notice it. It is rarely given a prominent place in the market. You must enter the store intentionally seeking out the organic food. When you seek it out, eventually you will find it. You may not see many others around. It may cost a bit more. You may not see the immediate dietary results you were hoping for.

There may be a way forward for the church, for living Christian...that is organic. Where we don't force things but let them develop. Not passively, sitting on the sideline sort of letting, but intentionally partnering in the Missio Dei without infusing any more pesticides.

One thing that may require immense intentionality, is removing the pesticides that already saturate what currently exists. There are too many programs and ministries and blah, blah, blah that exist that in my courteous, humble perspective have nothing to do with what God is about. There are too many things we are encouraged to do and to avoid in our pursuit of living Christian that, in my gentle and kind opinion, are something quite different than how Jesus lived.

You can judge for yourself what these things may or may not be...as for me, It is my hope that the rest of my life is wrapped up in the missio dei, both the removal of pesticides and intentionally cultivating the fields of the Kingdom.

It's a great time to be alive. Don't you think?

By Steve

2008
Did you make a New Year's resolution?

I usually don't put much into this annual tradition of setting myself up for failure. I have never kept a resolution I've made nor do I know of anyone who has. What I do hear every year are the stats about how quickly we fail. Some just days, others last weeks and most of us have yielded our resolve after a couple months.

Maybe the reason why I (like many others) fail in our resolutions is because we don't put much into them. To resolve to do something means that you are determined, you mean it, your decision is thought out and has purpose. While poking around an online thesauras I discovered that the word courage is a synonym and half-heart an antonym of the the word resolution. Most years I make a half-hearted effort in my resolutions. This year I will have courage.

Like others, most years I resolve to do things like exercise and lose a couple pounds, read more, watch less TV, keep my house clean...
this year, I am taking a different approach. The other day Ali said to me that she had a feeling that 2008 was going to be a big year for us. What does she mean? I asked her too. She said that it was going to be our best year of marriage, that we would adopt our sponsor child Perez, we would return to Uganda...little things like that. We decided that these things would happen, but would not "just" happen, so we are making some goals. But these goals are not our resolutions.

Our resolution for 2008 is centered around the word stewardship. To be a steward means that we manage or care for something that belongs to someone else. To be a good steward of course means we do this well. What we are resolving to steward well this year, not half-hearted but with determination...and it will take courage (not the kind of courage it takes to ride a bike down a staircase, but the kind it takes to go against the norms). We want to be good stewards with our money and our time.

Even as I type I hear some thinking, not much different than making a budget and using a day timer. But it is, at least for us. We want to think differently about our money and time. Like we're stewards of them both, meaning that they are things that belong to someone else and we're just taking care of them. We want to think about money differently. Use it differently. Give it away differently. Spend differently. It's not just living by a budget but living by a different set of economics. And time too. We want to consider our time differently. How do we use it and spend it and waste it. And how can we give it away so as to make an investment with it. We are resolving, not just making a goal, but determining to work this out in our lives this year. I'm not even sure what it means to succeed. There is no completion date. It may not be measurable. But we believe this to be a resolution of purpose and significance. The only failure would be denying how Ali and I have both sensed this for our lives and not moving forward.

By Steve

How was your trip?

It should be expected that this would be the most common question people would ask me after returning from a 3 week trip to Africa. The trip was amazing, life changing in a sense...both in my life and in the lives of those I worked with in Africa. Only time will tell if the life change will last or if it will subside as I return to my normal life, but it is my hope that some things that influenced will leave me changed forever.

I was asked another question about the trip, I did not expect this one as much but it was profound and forced me to think (and I'm still thinking). I was asked if my views and perspectives of God had changed after seeing so much poverty and suffering and death. The answer is a frusterating yes and no.

It's hard, if not impossible to think of God and how he interacts with humanity outside of what we know. I know American culture and so I mostly think of God from the context of American life. So things like Gods blessing and provision and love for me comes from my understanding of what these things mean to me in my culture. But.

Take me out of my culture and place me in a foreign culture, such as Uganda and I must think differently of God. It's not that God is different, but the lense from which I now think of his love and provision and blessing have changed. What we think of as God's provision in America is quite different than what my friends in Uganda think of. Is God's love different for those in Africa than it is for me in America? Why are people suffering as they are in Africa if God love's them? The thing is, people ask the same question of God from within American culture too it's just that the circumstances (the cultures) are different.

So I cannot think of God through an American mindset while in Africa (though its hard not to and probably not even a good idea to do so while in America). I cannot say God is unfair or unjust because America is wealthy and Africans suffer. In the same way, I cannot return to America and say that we are apathetic towards God (even though I think we are, I just don't want to use African culture to make the point) because we don't sing like Africans do or we don't walk 5 miles to church like Africans do.

Still, something of the way I think of God has changed. It's like I have a new lense or second lense to percieve through. I have the experience of spending time with people who sincerely love and worship God through this other lense. It's helped me to see God more clearly and perhaps more of him. It's helped me to see that there is more to working out what God is like than what is going on in our culture...people all over the world, from many different cultures and circumstances are discussing faith and trust and worship and what it means to live as Christians. So I have a car and live in a city and have a comfortable bed and so on, and others walk and sleep on the floor and live in the slums and so on but at the core of who we are, our existence in the inner self...(quoting Samuel "Screech" Powers) "we are all so different, yet so similar!"

And one more thing. If each of us, every gender and color and nationality and peculiarity are created in the image of God, then the more you share life with others unlike you, the more you will come to understand what God is like.

By Steve

We're off!!!
Ali and I leave for Africa in just a few hours. It is unlikely that I will be able to access the internet while gone, so this is the last you'll hear from me for a couple weeks. If you think of it, we would appreciate your prayers for our travels and ministry in Mukono, Uganda. Here is a brief Itinerary just to let you know where we'll be. Write again Soon!

November 7

• San Diego to New York to London and arrive in Africa on November 10

November 11

• Pastor Steve Denney to preach/deliver sermon at True Vine Pentecostal Church at the school and boarding home

November 12

• 1000 – 1600 Pastor Steve Denney travels to Kampala and will speak to a group of high-level pastors

• 0900 Team to begin interviews and photographs of children

• 1400 – 1600 Ali to meet with teachers from the school to conduct small workshop

November 13

• 0900 Team to continue with interviews and photographs of children

• 1000 – 1600 Pastor Steve Denney to meet with a team of “village pastors”

November 14

• 0930 – 1000 General school gathering and ministering to children from the school

• Team to continue interviewing and photographing children

• Pastor Steve Denney may meet with another team of pastors

November 15

• 0900 Travel to Gulu – approx. five hour bus ride

• 1700 After lunch, we will visit the camp in Gulu

November 16

• Meet with the 10 children, take photographs and conduct interviews

• Travel back to Mukono

November 18

• Sunday church service – Pastor Steve Denney to minister service

November 19

• Africa to London to Paris to New York and arrive San Diego November 24

By Steve

So what of this "prophetic voice" I speak about?
Last week I wrote about speaking up and letting your voice be heard. But I am speaking of something more than simply sharing your opinions, concerns and passions...I am speaking of something I call the prophetic voice. Not everyone will appreciate this, but they never have.

In the scriptures, we see that priests and prophets were often at odds. Priests focussed on regularity and traditions. They had credentials, upheld order, wore special clothing and gave them selves a "scent of holiness" with perfumed oils. But what happened when the people (the people the priests were leading) began "going through the motions" with spiritual half-heartedness? When their hearts and minds are unengaged? When ritual faithfulness blinded or numbed them to the very real needs that surrounded them and the social injustices that followed? Answer...a prophet would arise. They would speak unashamedly about the disgust God had with external religious observance without sincerity, without compassion for others, without recognizing what God was doing around them and how they should get involved (read Isaiah 1:1-17)

They had no credentials, special clothing or perfume. What they had was a self-authenticating passion and unavoidable moral substance. Often their purpose was to disrupt the status quo, so a prophets life was disturbing, unruly and sometimes shocking (Consider why the prophet Hosea married a prostitute or how the prophet Ezekiel staged a protest in the nude). Of course the priests, the one's to keep order, were not real pleased with these disruptive prophets.

As hard as the priest worked to help people in religion, it was the prophet that helped people really get at the heart of God. It is no different today. We need prophets, people who will use their prophetic voice to help people connect to the heart of God...to follow the way of Jesus...to wake people up to what is going on all around us and what it might be that God (not politics, military, finance etc) might want us to do about.

You don't need credentials, but a passion. As you see what goes on, as you listen to God...respond, speak up, react. Not just because you have an idea. Not because you want to be disruptive. Not just because you're mad. But because God might have something to say through you for others. It may be a new idea. It might be disruptive. It might make others mad. That's nothing new. But if it is from God, a prophetic voice, it needs to be heard.

By Steve

Do I get Starstruck?
I don't get too worked up over meeting famous people. I'm not into autographs or pictures of celebrities. It's just not that big of a deal to me. Last weekend reminded me of that.

Not that either of these people have tremendous celebrity status, but they do have a following and when they are in a room, they are the stars...the ones who people want to meet and talk to.

On Friday night I was at the house of Blues to see David Crowder. It was a great show and when it was over I went home...no need to stick around to meet Mr. Crowder. On Sunday I attended a Q&A with Brian Mclaren discussing his new book and any other questions we may have for him. When it ended, I stuck around to talk with people, and while I stood a few feet from Brian, I didn't really even meet him, we just exchanged a few words as we were leaving (you know, like thanks and goodbye). I simply do not get starstruck.

But something struck me about these two "stars." On one hand it wasn't so much what they communicated but the demeanor in which they communicated...humbly, passionately. David didn't just want us to sing, he wanted us to live like we sang. He wanted us to take the lyrics and the enthusiasm with which we sang them and take them to the streets and live them. The concert was more than a production, it was a catalyst for us to make a difference. Brian was the same. It wasn't just about his book or his ideas, it was about learning together and actively living out what we are learning and believing. These guys aren't stars for their music or books, but for how they live and promote the message we find in them. These are people I like to meet.

I guess by the end of the weekend I was a little struck.

By Steve

Choose a club: A golfers answer to no specific question
I am not a golfer. My dad golfs. My brothers golf. Many of my friends golf. And I have hit the ball around before, but I am no golfer. So most things about golf I am unqualified to write about, but this one thing I know, if you are going to golf you must have clubs. The first few times I golfed, I used only 3 clubs, a seven iron, wedge and putter. The more I golfed, the more I realized how helpful it was to have more clubs in the bag, clubs that were better suited to certain situations. One of the challenges of golf for me is determining which club to use at any given time. Some tee shots I use the driver, some an iron. In the fairway it's usually an iron (but not always) but I must choose between the 5 and 7...I have better luck with the 7 but if I hit the 5, it will go further. And around the green is another story.

The point is that when golfing I lug around an entire set of clubs for a reason, and I am learning how to select the right club at the right time. I can't imagine returning to the golf course now with just 3 clubs. The thing I've noticed, is when we are asked questions often hard questions, we answer as if we have just one club in the bag...the same club, same swing, same everything regardless of the situation.

I am often asked my position on what could be considered "in the sand trap" or "out of bounds" issues (challenging things)...things like pre-marital sex and homosexuality, issues of faith, evil and theology, things globally such as the war, poverty and environmentalism and what any of us can do about it and many many more.

I guess I could enter into every conversation with only my driver, and swing away hoping to send the ball as far as I could...but then, maybe that is why so many seem to be driven so far from church. I guess I have a question. Could it be that when we talk with others, that we would do well to consider what clubs are in the bag, and learn to play the right club in the right situation? As I type, I can hear you thinking...but the Bible sets a standard and pre-marital sex and homosexuality are sin....If we don't take a strong position on the Bible/heaven/hell/baptism/Trinity etc. we are sure to join the countless others on the slippery slope.

I am not suggesting that we don't have convictions or beliefs, what I am hoping for is that we learn to choose the right club for the right time and swing accordingly (more often in the way of swinging our arms around one another in embrace, not serving a knockout blow). Sometimes we need to be confronted. Often we need to be accepted, shown love and be given patience. We need to extend grace to each other, even if we completely disagree about the dogleg up ahead. Rarely do we need to be told that what we're doing is wrong. This seldom helps do anything except build walls and turn people away. And helping each other experience the love of Christ and turn people towards Jesus is probably the best move we can make.

Every club has a use, and we must learn to use the right approach at the right time...and we must choose a club so choose well, please.

By Steve

Aging, DMV's and the bull horn

Last week at home church we watched and discussed the nooma video, bull horn. It is a short film about a guy, completely disconnected from reality, no friends but big agenda...standing on a crowded street corner and shouting his evangelistic comments into a bull horn for all to hear (though none were listening).

Yesterday was my birthday...I know happy birthday. How old am I? 35. My Nevada drivers license expired on my birthday, so it was finally time to go to the DMV and get my California license (something I was supposed to do within 10 days of moving into the state). This would be the perfect time to avoid the procrastination speech you may be inclined to give.

So there I was, standing outside the DMV at 7am (1 hour before they opened and already #30 something in line) on my birthday. I was studying for the written exam I was about to take, again feel free to avoid any discussion of procrastination, when guess who showed up. You got it, bull horn man.

It was actually bull horn two men and one lady. They were younger, hipper and obviously had friends, but they were still bull horn people. There are few things I like about bull horn people, but hi jacking the DMV line, a captive (or stuck) but disinterested audience that included me and on my birthday. One of the best gifts I received that day was actually going inside the DMV where I could no longer hear them yelling at me about going to hell if I didn't accept Jesus. The hardest part of the day was when, in close earshot of bull horn, the DMV lady asked my profession. I desperately wanted to say ear plug manufacturer.

It's weird, the older I get the more patient I have become with the DMV and less patient with Mr and Mrs bullhorn. Just because I'm getting older doesn't mean you have to yell.

By Steve

"how's the church going?"
A question I hear often, I just wish I knew what it meant. Or maybe I should say it like this, I wish I knew what the person asking the question meant. Because depending on what the real question is behind the question, my answer will vary.

Some want to know about our attendance. Some our budget. Some our # of baptisms. Some our involvement in the community. Some about our location. Some the friendliness. Some the music. And so on.

So how is Citywalk doing...well it depends. Some will think we are struggling while others may not. The outside person watching the #'s will feel differently than the person who's life is being transformed because of their home church.

So I apologize if you've asked this question and have not received a straightforward response. I will say this, I love what we're about and what we're doing. I confess at times it feels like we're still trying to find our way, but I couldn't do it any other way. I believe in the vision and dreams of Citywalk and count it a tremendous privilege to live life (churching if you will) with others in our community.

By Steve

Following Monday's post, maybe the most important question at hand is how is Paul doing? It seems that he has made it past the most critical stage but they are keeping him in the cardiac critical care unit of the hospital to be safe.

On Monday night, I was told he was watching Monday night football...a good sign of normalcy. I was also told that he mentioned to his daughter that he wanted to "go home." She replied, "I think Jesus is in charge of that," to which Paul quickly responded, "Not that home!"

Thanks so much for praying. In the spirit of James chapter 5, I believe your words spoken to God have been powerful and effective.

By Steve

Occasionally someone will ask me where I went to school. So here you go to all who care about my academic profile.

I spent my first two years at a small school called Greenbrae, but transferred for the remaining 4 years to a new school named Katherine Dunn. After completing elementary school, I attended Dilworth Middle School for two of the most memorable years of my life. I attended Reed High school to round out my required education.

I chose to stay in Reno after high school and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelors of science in Health Science. Two weeks after graduation, I was driving to Illinois to begin work on a Masters degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I completed a Masters in religious education and returned to Reno where soon after I became a pastor.

One thing I love about school is the profound influence teachers have on our lives. From Mrs. Housby in the 3rd grade to Dr. Ortlund in seminary, I am grateful for the people that have helped me become who I am today.

By Steve

I just received this question by email this morning from a friend:

I wanted to ask your opinion, I hope you don't mind. Is there any way to have a great worship team who does a great job with the music and the energy and a true passion to please God, and have a congregation that loves the music, has great worship yet gets the impression that you are putting on a Christian rock concert each week and not truly leading the crowd into a personal worship time?

Here is part of my response:

The short answer to your question is, I believe its possible but not probable. At least not in the American model mega-church. This model focuses on excellence and attendance…and those things, even if unintentional often come across like big production. One other thought. All of us Christians would do well to think more deeply about your statement, “congregation that has great worship.” Great worship and great music are not synonymous. What is at the heart of great worship? What really matters? Whose “job” is it to help us get there? If all of us in attendance on Sunday morning would rethink such things, it would probably take some unnecessary pressure off of the band. Just a thought.