{"id":1926,"date":"2010-11-10T01:15:17","date_gmt":"2010-11-10T07:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/?p=1926"},"modified":"2010-11-09T23:33:32","modified_gmt":"2010-11-10T05:33:32","slug":"missions-catalyst-11-10-10-practical-mobilization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/?p=1926","title":{"rendered":"Missions Catalyst 11.10.10 &#8211; Practical Mobilization"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In This Issue: Cruise Ships, Battleships, and Bulls in the China Shop<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>FEATURE: Cruise Ships, Battleships, and Bulls in the China Shop<\/li>\n<li>SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: Food, Glorious Food, Smooth Hummus and Pita<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.missionscatalyst.org\/\"><!--more-->Missions Catalyst<\/a> is a   free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed  to  inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it  to  fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch  with  how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward  it  freely!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/?cat=9\" target=\"_self\">Practical Mobilization<\/a> by <a href=\"..\/?page_id=610\" target=\"_self\">Shane Bennett<\/a> is published once a month.<\/p>\n<h3>FEATURE: Cruise Ships, Battleships, and Bulls in the China Shop<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Two Mobilizing Ideas from the Fertile Mind of Carol Davis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Winter is knocking on the door here in Indiana and I&#8217;m enjoying the morning ritual of lighting a fire in the fireplace. It&#8217;s not as easy as turning up the thermostat, but I love to watch as kindling, match, and bellows transform the cold, gray firebox into a happy, roaring inferno.<\/p>\n<p>I want the kingdom of God to be like that. Yeast and mustard seeds are fine and all, but how about <em>torch, poof, blaze<\/em>?! I like the sound of that. And that is also one of the reasons I cock my head like a <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTELvA1Vw5oiHzD8DxP48d4KSI_RWE2nADVGgqHDRYsNKa9W8K3D3Rgf\" target=\"_blank\">curious German shepherd<\/a> when my friend Carol Davis begins to speak. She&#8217;s one of the smartest people I know. I love to hear her talk about Jesus and his plans for his message to spread throughout the world. Her years of experience involved in church planting both within and beyond her culture have produced a harvest of wisdom and insight. Her strategic, Jesus-centered mind gains her a hearing among church planters and cross-cultural workers globally.<\/p>\n<p>You won&#8217;t find Carol all over the Internet, but I&#8217;ve <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaO3vUSgCH_vC4cC_yj_i9vefkhFsad1A92ECKKQ8uKsjHV1TGAYfOg==\" target=\"_blank\">written about her before<\/a> and want to share with you a few gems she handed out recently. In the interest of full disclosure, I&#8217;m writing this here not just because it&#8217;s important, but also because I want you to get Carol&#8217;s best stuff through an article instead of in person in order to free her to spend more time hanging out with me and my team!<\/p>\n<p><strong> 1. Cruise or Cruiser: Two Ways to Think about Us<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\nAt least a couple of images or metaphors for the early church emerge from the pages of the New Testament: Paul describes them as the <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTH5QWCqGx6VAfiE9osSueE29-9g0OgXWRRDzDI09Pd1129U0fK99uWDyPEPa2WhXaeKrX-T4Ncnf9q5OsBkA5nf_mFjJiURZPZq9YroYWaCgJu0FFtt9Z9ixCW0li3mkFhP7iHQi-Ga05qGK3DVREo1o8f6Uxsqttc0PuTBqkQ0ga4UDKjFhtWm\" target=\"_blank\">body of Christ<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTH5QWCqGx6VAfiE9osSueE29-9g0OgXWRRDzDI09Pd1129U0fK99uWDq2Klhee25LOosJ4o5D4-g3tX2zzmVPRhVh_R6UFz8MbdzKh1OjpmpygAHHJpsHgelf34xOVMsZUYNJzq5SWr6KI6kbwsZnXA6MQluirkXfIIBhTHof57UjvYmiikspa1VxBNYbkK67FnVORSpAGxww==\" target=\"_blank\">army of God<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Among the two, Carol asks, which seems to be more popular and in vogue today? Which gets more press and conversation? The body of Christ, for sure. It is both good and biblical to think of us as the body of Christ. And we live in a time when militaristic metaphors are decidedly unpopular, for good reasons. Yet an exclusive focus on the &#8220;body of Christ&#8221; image can lead us slowly, often unnoticed, to an inward, &#8220;us-centered&#8221; orientation.<\/p>\n<p>The earliest Christians, thinking they needed to complete the whole Great Commission before Jesus returned in their lifetime, may have leaned more toward the &#8220;army of God&#8221; image. When we think of ourselves as the army of God, we call to mind the mission of our collective salvation and the plans of God for our planet.<\/p>\n<p>Consider a cruise ship and a naval cruiser. Carol says she got this idea from her friend Paul Kaak. The cruise ship could represent the &#8220;body of Christ&#8221; metaphor, and the naval cruiser the &#8220;army of God.&#8221; Which one has the clearer purpose and higher calling? At the same time, on which are we likely to find the best community &#8211; the tightest, most deliberately interdependent focus? The naval cruiser for both, right? Interesting thought, isn&#8217;t it? We&#8217;re a better body of Christ when we are <em>also<\/em> the army of God!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Application<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\nAs mobilizers, how can we encourage a fresh vision for the body of Christ living and serving as the army of God? Maybe by advocating for more complete terminology for starters. I&#8217;d love to <a href=\"mailto:shanebennett@takeitglobal.org\" target=\"_blank\">hear your ideas<\/a> on this.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Come and Go, and Who Does Which<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\nCarol also stretched my mind with some of her thoughts on two expressions of the faith in the early church. She said the first followers were comfortable with both the &#8220;come&#8221; and &#8220;go&#8221; expressions of the faith. We might speak of these today as attractional and missional. The church, at least in America, has become expert in &#8220;come&#8221; while marginalizing &#8220;go.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Leaders at <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPcXLMB2Qlh7GLuoa5rG-XtkzgKklepXk0\" target=\"_blank\">Granger Community Church<\/a>, arguably one of the best attractional churches in the U.S., suggest that <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTGtJdcuaJ70FeQraClwi58DbitY88oOwjNlenjm-_v5FN_5JApe35xulr2IhHdzY7Yg0fM-0NXQ4FE8u4CXpQCGlRVMBTUxZvQ=\" target=\"_blank\">40 percent of a given community<\/a> in the U.S. might be interested in coming to a relevant church, leaving 60 percent who will likely never consider attending a church &#8211; regardless of the coolness of the worship or the presence of masterfully relevant <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTELvA1Vw5oiHzD8DxP48d4KHGQoGn5EIEayA7jMpZ2upPYymiCAK6Hf\" target=\"_blank\">Andy Stanley-esque teaching<\/a>. Sixty percent! They called a conference under the name <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTHAob1QHr7k2qgHmDlGzTOPKE7J3_8Uk0k=\" target=\"_blank\">AND<\/a>, saying we need to reach out to both the 40 percent <em>and<\/em> the 60 percent.<\/p>\n<p>How did we become like this? Think about it. In the early days of the church, leaders with &#8220;go&#8221; gifts were in charge. They were apostles, sent ones. Jesus had whispered in their ears, &#8220;This is a global message. Take it all over the place.&#8221; Today most of our church leaders have &#8220;come&#8221; gifts. They are wired up to attract people to come, then equip those who do to live godly lives. This is the gift and work of God in and through them. It is good.<\/p>\n<p>Yet trouble happens when we marginalize, overlook, or mothball people in our midst with apostolic gifting. Carol explains:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Go people can&#8217;t stand meetings. They show up late, leave early, and forget to bring something to take notes on. They turn in expense reports late and can&#8217;t keep receipts. They don&#8217;t fit in, don&#8217;t want to live by a plan, and are often misunderstood by their leaders. They may have <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTFrGr-yjpXL0clczdsyCVaoDlR9lZq7AWbRPuy51yjrm9rvHrxq40gD-yoEGGWzq-yMyFuaCJjTg9C9GKPVgkmQx3Vw7u3A_-xCDJvMfeWG9g==\" target=\"_blank\">ADHD<\/a> and can find no passion for growing or maintaining an existing program. They&#8217;ve got to go start new stuff.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>These people may not fit well into the system. They are bulls and your church is the china shop! But if we can figure out how to release them with grace, love, and maybe a little bit of accountability, they&#8217;ll extend the gospel into new places and people.<\/p>\n<p>(Just so we&#8217;re clear: The attributes of an apostolically gifted person can often also describe an immature person. The trick, as it often is, lies in discerning between the two.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Application<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\nHow do we find, bless, and release the apostles? Earlier tonight, I just went for it: I was speaking to a room full of fresh-faced rock stars at <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTGxRYnHruc3DmwJY9NSDIUX\" target=\"_blank\">College of the Ozarks<\/a>. I described the gifting and told them I was looking for 30 or 40 people who would lead a group of their pals to some of the <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTF2GF1yrYXjAbjeVFiupdzeScwYpO5bSFADozspVW4AhZJpa0v9Kj2fURX9q57-RYB85xcDpXHiQ7tAqon0bI4ZKhhCw2LevLjE_yACJPlBag==\" target=\"_blank\">most untouched parts of the Muslim world<\/a>. Afterward, I chatted with two who just might do it. Out of a couple hundred students, that&#8217;s one percent. About right, and certainly sufficient in the hands of God. How are you finding apostles? Again, I&#8217;d love to <a href=\"mailto:shanebennett@takeitglobal.org\" target=\"_blank\">hear from you<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: Food, Glorious Food, Smooth Hummus and Pita<\/h3>\n<p>My new friend in Louisville, Kentucky, Jonathan Braden, recently published the coolest little book I&#8217;ve seen in a while. To my mind the <em>Louisville International Food Guide<\/em> has set a new bar in Christian publishing &#8211; especially since, as Jonathan says, it&#8217;s being used to get folks from local churches involved in going to restaurants and ethnic markets to pray and build relationships.<\/p>\n<p>Go to <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTH4uvz94ynglt06CRY4fDAgz3fDkCw3N3TDMWGKdIS4xkGqUL89wYmQgFVJclF9CYaewoNRflzLGTSXXR4jgYyR\" target=\"_blank\">his Facebook page<\/a> now and begin to dream about a similar guide for your city. If you&#8217;re from a town like mine your guide might be a lot shorter than Jonathan&#8217;s. (The extent of our ethnic cuisine is two Thai places and a <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPaqtmacg9NTEcAv_MORzm1ArXyJ9-Ev-i8qpSGRC7AtN7u_i3smtztA==\" target=\"_blank\">Bob Evans<\/a>. Trust me, unless you&#8217;re from the Midwest, Bob Evans is a cross-cultural experience!)<\/p>\n<p>What about putting together prayer tips for the peoples represented by various restaurants?<\/p>\n<p>Keep up the good work, men, and pass the <a href=\"http:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?llr=zaeaz4bab&amp;et=1103890041738&amp;s=0&amp;e=001l8HGrJHqmRn0nYmMkzVPQS1eh0PcZfCADKrGlp5QkNwTdO_dAoHtvePzfWjAqBIPcLjMssxIp4LaL7UgrGVa89cESOK4ddJIkr_aTt_NI7svnLMqr3nbZVwFVSaUU8H-\" target=\"_blank\">lahmacun<\/a>.<br \/>\n<!-- AddToAny BEGIN --><br \/>\n<a class=\"a2a_dd\" href=\"http:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmissionscatalyst.net%2F%3Fp%3D1926&amp;linkname=\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/static.addtoany.com\/buttons\/share_save_171_16.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Share\" width=\"171\" height=\"16\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/static.addtoany.com\/menu\/page.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- AddToAny END --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In This Issue: Cruise Ships, Battleships, and Bulls in the China Shop FEATURE: Cruise Ships, Battleships, and Bulls in the China Shop SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: Food, Glorious Food, Smooth Hummus and Pita<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-practical-mobilization"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1926"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1931,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1926\/revisions\/1931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}