CO2 - Deceptively powerful

When Steve Jobs first presented the iPhone, there were millions of people saying to themselves, "Another cell phone... I've already got one of those... What's the big deal?"

Now, however, if you ask anyone who has an iPhone (including me) why it's "a big deal", they will keep you pinned down for hours going on and on about all the cool aps.

I think of CO2 in the same way.

On the surface, the CO2 can seem (pick one) mechanical, artificial, boring, uninspiring, basic, pedestrian. "Listening to God... Ya, I know how do that. What's the big deal? This is first grade stuff. Been there, done that. I'll be bored with this in two weeks. I'm looking for something really powerful! Something life changing! Got anything like that?"

I'm sympathetic to these comments because, on the surface, CO2 does look like just another gimmick. What has changed for me is that I've come to see CO2 not as a program with boxes to be checked but as the entrance to an inexhaustible gold mine. I've been doing it with a number of people (individuals and groups) for over a year and I'm not close to being bored.

What I've come to understand is that I will spend the rest of my life learning to pay attention to the heart that Jesus gave me. Learning to accurately notice and name what I'm feeling. Learning to understand what those feelings are telling me about what is going on inside. And, learning that same attentiveness to the hearts of my partners. And, most importantly, learning to accurately and deeply hear my Father's voice.

So, how to communicate to people the true nature of the CO2? (Just so we are clear, it's not really about CO2. That's just a container for these two rhythms. And, it's not even about the rhythms. They are just doorways to help us connect to the heart - my heart, your heart and God's heart. That's what's important!)

I have two thoughts on helping people "get" the CO2.

First, and most important, do it with them. Just reading about CO2 doesn't really do it justice. But, getting close to someone who is going deeper in learning pay attention to their own heart is a transformational experience by itself. And, connecting daily with someone who has an increasingly intimate, conversational relationship with the Father begins to create a powerful hunger within a person.

Second, tell stories. (One example is the interview we posted a few days ago with Tim Morris.) Paint the picture of what it's like to daily walk through the CO2 door with another person.

Show people what an iPhone can really do and most of them will be amazed and intrigued. They will begin to see that it's way more than "just another cell phone". They'll probably begin to want one for themselves.

Same with a CO2.

Your thoughts?

John

More from north Denver

Yesterday, I told you about a new MRT that has formed in the north part of Denver (centered in Brighton, CO) with Hobby Chapin and Robbie James. This is the third MRT in Denver. (Can you picture the day when there are dozens of MRTs in your city?)

The video below helps us imagine what the future might be like ...

1. It's a monthly regional gathering of house churches in north Denver that flows from Hobby and Robbie's MRT. Seven house churches are represented in this video. (Can you imagine dozens of regular gatherings like this in your city?)

2. It's a gathering that centers on listening to the Lord. In particular, notice how singing and worship is flowing from listening. (Can you imagine a growing multitude of believers in your city who are experiencing the reality of all of life flowing from listening to God? Worship, community, study, mission, etc.)

3. It's Hobby's first video! (Can you imagine a day when we have a huge library of powerful videos that help us picture every aspect of organic church life? That tell an "alternate story" about what church can be?)

Your thoughts?

John

Being "a community of practice"

This comment from Peg Batcheller is a great picture of our MRT Experiment functioning as a "community of practice". In this case, Peg in New Mexico is learning from Hobby Chapin in north Denver (see yesterday's post). I love it!

Hobby,

Thanks for this great description of what you guys are doing. I'm invited to meet with a group of women leaders in Clovis, NM, this weekend, and I was praying about what to share with them. There are about 7-10 women who are hungry to get something started there, with lots of passion but have little direction. Your post about your new MRT gives definition to what I need to share, so this is very timely. I ask you all to pray with me that God will move in an amazing way to raise up many CO2s and simple churches in the NE area of New Mexico and into Texas.

Peg

We'll be praying for you Peg. Let us know how it goes.

John

New MRT in Brighton, CO

Hobby Chapin is a church planter centered in Brighton, Colorado (north of Denver). He has been an important part of our Denver MRT for several months and recently felt the Lord leading him to start another MRT in Brighton with a fellow church planter, Robbie James. (I know... Hobby and Robbie!)

Here's Hobby's story...

Last month we started meeting as an MRT. We meet on Sunday nights from 9:30 to 11:30. We alternate between our homes and function out of our basements. We begin by checking in and prayerfully drawing out what is happening in our hearts. We have both had some heart issues concerning our families and our identities as apostolic leaders.

We have been doing some leveling early on to say where do we think we are going. We have made a list of the things we think will be on the horizon to address. I type up a summary each week. I listen before our MRT to see what God wants to talk with us about. After our check in, we both throw out a few things we think the Lord has for us to discuss. We put them on paper and expose them. Then we take some time to be quiet and listen together about the specific thing the Lord wants to say. When we break silence we both share what we heard and draw out what we think God is giving to us. So far we have talked a lot about households, the supernatural work of God, apostolic leadership, stages of equipping, and how to facilitate a group toward being in the presence of God and hearing from Him.

We have a vision to equip our leaders toward MRT. For the moment we feel like we need to invest with one another as a closed group. In a short time we have taken good steps toward building a foundation on which we can work together. We are in a time of narrowing our focus. The MRT has been a blessing for synergy. It has also been a blessing for our friendship. We are great friends and love one another deeply and value very much our opportunity to walk alongside one another in ministry.

What do you see in this MRT that encourages you? What do you learn from what Hobby and Robbie are doing?

John

More on our name

Hobby Chapin (Brighton, CO) asked some deeper questions about this issue of having a "name". I thought I would share with the rest of the MRT Community my answers to him.

*What do you and the team think Luke 10 is and what you hope it will become.

I see The Luke Ten Community as a starfish-type community or organization. It's DNA is a set of practices (like the rhythms of CO2, MRT, etc.) which reflect values (all the things, Hobby, that you and I have talked about... listening on a heart level to you, me and God; church = family; leaders = parents, mission flows from listening, etc.).

Luke 10 is also a set of relationships defined by people who are engaged in the practices. The level of commitment ranges from slight (one of the 550 people who has joined LK10.com) to significant (those who are participating in the MRT Experiment on a regular basis... as you are). People self-define their level of engagement.

What do I hope it will become? Seems to me that many in these early days of the house church movement are still reacting against the abuses of structure in the traditional church (spider-type organization). I think we have the opportunity to see a prototype for organic, starfish-type regional leadership teams. Could we dream of the day when there are a multitude of MRT-type teams in cities and regions around the world?

Why have a name and tag, etc. in the type of movement we are sharing? Names seem to be in the nature of being a community or family. (Of course, "names" in Scripture were always very important. In fact, "naming" was something God expected Adam to do back in the garden. See Gen. 2:19-20.) So, we have the Chapin family, the tribe of Benjamin, the Christians (Acts 12:26), the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5) etc. Examples from The Starfish and the Spider of names for starfish organizations: Alcoholics Anonymous, the abolitionist movement, Al-Qaeda, etc.

A name, in our case, becomes a short hand for our particular practices/values and our particular relationships. To say it another way, our name (and "tag line") should say something about our God-given uniqueness and calling. (For example, when I say "Hobby Chapin" a distinct and unique person comes to mind.)

Further thoughts about "naming"? And, about "The Luke Ten Community" as our name?

John

Your thoughts on... our name

We asked for your feedback a few days ago on a "tag line" for this ministry. You gave us some great input! We haven't come to a conclusion on that but will let you know when we have.

Today, we want to work backwards to the name itself. We've been using "The Luke Ten Community" because of our believe that Jesus most clearly explains His strategy for the expansion of His Kingdom in that chapter. And, we are a "community" connected by common values. (Think "starfish" instead of "spider".)

So, what's your response to that title? Does it communicate what we want to communicate? Do you have other suggestions?

We want your thoughts on this.

John

CO2: From theory to real life

We've been discussing the theory of "churches of two". Today, I want you to hear a real story of transformation and healing.

Pictured to your right is Tim Morris, a graduate of Denver Seminary and a house church leader here in Denver. Recently, Tim Pynes had a conversation with Tim (Morris) about how God has used the rhythms of the CO2 to bring deep healing in his life. Go here to hear the podcast: http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/2010/04/c02-potential-for-inner-healing.html

What do you learn from this story that gives you a clearer understanding of the CO2 rhythms? What questions does the story provoke for you?

John