You have to see this video from TED that Aaron Niequist turned me onto when he put it on his blog – it’s clever and funny, but I think it’s profound.  Derek Sivers says that a movement requires that people get a glimpse of its followers.  (People don’t emulate leaders; they emulate their fellow followers.)   Paul seems to be working with the same logic when he tells the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor 11:1).

If we buy into Sivers’ analysis of the anatomy of a movement (and I do), then art has a critical role to play in elevating the stories of the movement’s followers.  We in the Church ought to be fiercely committed to telling the truth with our art, but I don’t think that always means doctrinal, dogmatic truth.  Sometimes it means human truth, when a life is opened up, absent of pretense or masks, and shown to others.  We need to use our art to magnify the human voices of Jesus’ followers. 

A lot of us have seen the I Am Second videos that do exactly that – they’re full of real people who are identifying themselves as followers (saying “I am second to Jesus’ lead in my life”).  Here’s one of my favorite examples from Granger of art used to elevate the story of a follower of Jesus:

My Story from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Using art to tell human stories is an important part of telling the truth.  It’s a way of allowing the stories of the Gospels to jump off the pages of Scripture and into our 21^st century lives.  You can put on a killer event that has a huge impact without telling real stories.  I’m sure God can use something like that.  But if we’re looking for the portable, far-reaching, exponentially-growing, world-changing, injustice-confronting, beautifying movement that we believe the Holy Spirit is ready to carry out through our churches, I think the stories of Jesus’ followers have to be given a significant place in our art.  They provide traction for everyone who is standing on the sidelines wondering if this movement is for them.  We’ve recommitted ourselves to the priority of telling those stories at Granger as we enlist our art in service to the movement of Jesus.  I think our movement requires that kind of art.   

Has your life been changed by art that revealed the story of a follower of Jesus?  Have you seen the movement of the kingdom catalyzed by art that tells the truth like that?  Tell us about it in the comments. 

So many of the God-stories in which GCC has been instrumental in the past two and a half decades have been made possible by the weekend gathering.  And that’s no surprise.  Mark Beeson, our senior pastor, led the way on this effort with a vision for an encounter with God that was helpful for people who were for from Him or His Church.  We’ve worked hard to use the weekend to clearly tell the story that God is writing, and to unleash its potential to change the lives of those who hear it. 

However, we think the mission – reach the world for Christ and join Him in manifesting His kingdom – is going to require new ideas as the world changes.  Check out my boss’s thoughts on this here and here. 

Most of our art has served the weekend, and that’s a good thing, because the weekend has served the movement well.  But what happens when the weekend isn’t the only thing that serves the movement?  We need art that serves the movement directly, rather than art that serves an event that serves the movement. 

So I’m chewing on a question: what’s the difference between art that serves an event that serves the movement, and art that serves the movement? 

(As far as defining terms goes, I’m assuming a movement is something that can gain ground on the culture, that it moves faster and further than the general population itself.  I’m assuming that it influences subversively – a movement’s growth isn’t accomplished by legislation, for example; although a nation’s laws might be a the FRUIT of a movement, they are not the means of a movement.  Movements are accomplished by their ability to capture hearts and inspire deep commitment.  They have to cost something to participate in – time, heart, money, status.  And the world has to be fundamentally different because the movement swept through.)

I have a few initial thoughts on what art for a movement must be, but I’d love to start by hearing from you, too.  Have you seen art fuel a movement?  What was it about the art that made it so powerful as a part of the movement?       

Katie is sharp, kind, proactive, and a lot of fun to work with.  She and her husband, Jeremy, are committed to following Jesus wherever He leads, and I’m grateful that the journey has led Katie to our team.  She’s ready to dive into the beautiful chaos that we call Creative Arts, and we’re ready for her!  This won't be an easy job, but that's why we're so excited to have found someone like Katie, with the strength she'll bring to the role.  

Chances are, you’ll encounter Katie sometime soon.  If you’re on the team at GCC, I hope you’ll help me in making her feel welcome. 

Katie, we’re glad you’re with us!!

Some of you know that GCC has had a strong presence over the years at Center for the Homeless in South Bend.  We’ve forged a transformational partnership with the Center, mobilizing hundreds of people annually on mission to serve the homeless. Currently, we’ve joined hands with CFH in the construction of a new addition to the center designed exclusively to serve homeless vets. Nearly one-third of all homeless Americans served in the armed forces at one time. In the South Bend area, estimates are even higher. Currently, there are over 100 homeless vets in Michiana. We’re going to change those stats.  

On April 23rd, Dan and Lisa Vukmirovich are Dancing with Our Stars at the South Bend Center For the Homeless Auction.  Dan and Lisa are both on my team; Dan is our Pastor of Music, and Lisa is one of our stellar volunteer vocalists.  They’re representing us and working to help raise awareness and funds for the Center.  I wanted to let you know that you can jump in to help support the Center, and to stand behind Dan and Lisa as they represent us.  They’re carrying the banner of Christ and GCC into our community, and I thought you’d want to know.  

If you’d like to vote for Dan and Lisa in the dance, click the link below:

https://www.events.org/creg.aspx?e=25719&m=10#raffle

You know the first service the Church ever held was an Easter service?  Well, not technically, I suppose.  But basically, Peter and the rest of his crew held a big open air Easter service at Pentecost.  Don’t believe me?  Check it out here.

The Holy Spirit comes sweeping into the lives of Jesus’ followers, and they begin proclaiming the wonders of God in languages that everyone in the diverse crowd of onlookers can understand.  Then Peter, the guy who could never get it right just a few pages earlier, stands up and preaches the sermon of his life and offers a wake up call to thousands of people who have been waiting for daybreak all their lives.  He tells them about Jesus – that he went into the tomb, and though he might have seemed like an ordinary man for that moment, he came out of that tomb and showed everyone that He was Lord.  It’s good news that Jesus is Lord, too. 

Money could be your lord, but it’s a pretty cruel savior.  Success or sex or friends or religion… same story.  If we’re going to find release from submission to these vacuous gods, we need a better Lord.  Jesus is the only King that actually deserves our lives. 

So we stand on the history of God’s people this weekend as we summon all our best.  We’re hoping to get people’s attention by making some noise (the marching band helps), by speaking clearly so the diverse crowd of onlookers that shows up at GCC can hear the message, by sounding the wake up call to thousands of people that matter to the King.  I couldn’t be prouder of my team this weekend… this was a challenge to pull off, but it’s been amazing day!  I don’t know what you’re doing this weekend, but I hope you experience the wake up call.  Jesus is Lord!  (and Happy Easter!) 

He lives in the basement, which is also where he plays and sings his heart out from time to time.  You can't really hear it in my bedroom, but I really like taking naps on the couch in the living room, and you can definitely hear it there.  Today was a good day for a nap, I thought, until Seth got inspired.  The nap was over.  But it was a good thing.  After getting over the disappointment of a deferred siesta, I told Seth this might be my favorite song of his, and I wanted you to enjoy it, too.  

But Jesus wasn’t just talking about some cosmic, otherworldly kind of second chance.  He reached out and healed people’s bodies.  He restored outcasts from the fringe of society to a proper place in the heart of the community.  He came to teach us that the ‘spiritual’ second chance we need touches every part of our lives – our bodies, our minds, our dreams, our relationships, our work…

There’s a place in South Bend that exists for second chances, and I want you to know about it.  Dismas House has been providing housing, mentoring, community and accountability to ex-offenders since 1986.  A quick web search will tell you that in the U.S., we average a recidivism rate of somewhere around 60%.  In other words, once you’re released from prison in America, the odds are better than 50:50 that you’ll end up back in there.   Since Dismas South Bend has been tracking its own data, only 16% of its participants have ended up back in prison.  That’s amazing.  I had a chance to spend some time with the crew at Dismas Monday night and hear their story.  Here’s a terrible, fuzzy picture I took with my phone:

Dismas isn’t just interested in giving a hand out.  They’re offering a hand up to their residents.  Each person is expected to pay for a portion of their expenses, typically through employment.  However, if you’re from Michiana, you can know how hard this has been lately.  If you’ve had a hard time finding employment in this economic climate, imagine how hard it is when you have to include a conviction on your application. 

In an effort to find alternative methods of raising support, Dismas Designs has been created.  It started with one woman, Coretta, who discovered a talent for making jewelry.  Now the whole house is in on the action, and they mean business.  They’ve partnered with a class of students from Notre Dame that’s studying social entrepreneurship – using business solutions to tackle social problems – and are pulling together their business plan.   

If you’ve always wanted to be a part of someone else’s second chance, this is for you.  These former convicts are choosing a better future and working hard to make it happen, but you can help.  Dismas Designs needs donations of old jewelry that they can use to make their new creations.  They need places to sell their wares.  And they need us to spread the word. 

If you’re interested in helping in anyway, will you contact Maria Kaczmarek, Executive Director at Dismas?  Call 574.233.8522, email dismassouthbend@sbcglobal.net, or head to www.dismassouthbend.org to learn more.  

You can find details here.  It's gonna be awesome!

I have the privilege of serving and leading a team of staff and volunteers that deserves my best, and I need help giving it to them.  I’m looking for an armor bearer – someone who can fight alongside me each day for great art and a strong team that honors God and fulfills the calling He has for us.  I’m looking for an assistant in all the areas where my leadership is required.  Here’s a role summary:

• Maximize Pastor of Arts and Teaching’s effectiveness as arts team leader
• Represent Pastor of Arts and Teaching to staff, volunteers, and other church leaders 
• Assist Pastor of Arts and Teaching with prioritization and scheduling
• Protect focus for Pastor and Arts and Teaching by screening distractions

If you’re interested, head to the MY SONGS page, download the description and check out the details.  If you think it might be a fit, email Jami Ruth (jruth@gccwired.com) with your resume.  

*Seriously, send your inquiries and resumes to Jami, not me. Anything sent to me will be disregarded.

I love you so much, Mom and Dad.  You've both been such a huge part of my life, loving me and Jeff, leading us, taking care of us, teaching us, putting up with us.  Your faithfulness to each other has been a huge gift to us, too.  Thanks for giving each other and us your very best, year after year.