Scandalized

Many of you who are reading this probably found your way here via Jessie McQuillan's recent article on us in the Indy (12/20/07). Welcome to All Souls Missoula.

I haven't read what Jessie's written yet, but from what I know of her character and caliber, I suspect she'll give us a fair shake. She turned over lots of stones, asked a ton of questions, and scurried down on all sorts of rabbit trails (which is precisely what good journalists do).

And we encouraged her to call it like she saw it. At the very least, the story should be interesting (we provided plenty of fodder, and Jessie knows how to write). But if you came here looking for us to rant about the press, you'll be disappointed. Sorry.

So why else might you be here?

Some of you might be here because you're curious. Maybe you're looking for community, maybe you're looking for a church, maybe you're just looking.

Whatever the case: welcome. Take a look around. Make yourself at home. Just be forewarned, if you're expecting "yet another evangelical church," we're probably not it. At least not in the way you might expect. So ask lots of questions. Figure out what makes us tick. See if we're on the same page. If so, great. And if not, that's fine.

Of course, some of you are here for a different reason: you're skeptical. And that's good too. You should be. But maybe not for the reasons you might think. After all, much of what passes for Christianity these days probably isn't.

So how do you discern the real from the fake?

If you're like me, you probably start by looking for the dirt. The fine print. The skeletons in the closet. After all, everyone has them. It's like that classic line from the Princess Bride: "Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something."

The same thing applies to the church - anyone who claims theirs isn't dirty is probably selling something. In fact, when it comes to church, 'dirt' is actually part of the definition: if Jesus came for "sinners" rather than "saints" we shouldn't be surprised when they show up in church. That's who it's there for - broken people who aren't all cleaned up.

So what we're really looking for as we evaluate churches (or people) is a particular kind of dirt. You know what I'm talking about. It's the hypocrisy. The scandal. These are the reasons we (rightly) write off churches.

And that's why some of you are here. To figure out our scandal.

Once again, though, it might not be what you expect.

Here's the deal. If you spend any amount of time poking around our site, or reading Jessie's article, or just hanging out with us, you are going to find things that seem scandalous. Guaranteed.

Some of you, for instance, will be appalled to learn that we actually baptize babies (gasp!), or that we dig 16th century theologians like Martin Luther and John Calvin (shudder!). Others will be horrified to discover we think the Bible is God's word (puh-lease), and that Jesus really meant it when he said he was the only way to get to God (how narrow minded!).

Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that we belong to a denomination that doesn't ordain women. And we like to drink and smoke. Sometimes we even cuss.

At this point, pretty much everyone in the world reading these words is seething in rage at something I just mentioned (kind of a funny picture, don't you think?).

But that's precisely the point - if you get to know any church well enough, you will discover some thing that just scandalizes you. And you'll be so pissed off you have to walk away.

Eventually (if you last that long), you'll either stop walking back into churches altogether (many do), or you'll start choosing not to look in any closets (don't ask, don't tell, and maybe no one will get hurt). The problem with the first approach is that you cut yourself off from community; and with the second you end up settling for something that's not real community anyway. It's a lose-lose situation.

And that's not just the nature of church - that's the nature of every relationship.

If I could pick any person in the world, and see them deeply enough, read their mind, discern their motives, look beneath the veneer, I'll bet I would find something that I despise.

Why? Because they are not me.

That's how all of us work. And that brings us to the real scandal (the 'scandal behind the scandal').

It's not that there are things about us (or any church, or any person) that positively piss you off, that make you want to walk away and never look back. Nope, that's suprisingly un-scandalous.

The real scandal is that some people who feel exactly like you do - positively scandalized by something we believe - will nevertheless choose to be a part of this crazy church thing called All Souls Missoula. Some will. Some already have.

And the real question is how to explain that.

Why on earth would someone who's diametrically opposed to us - on theology, or Jesus, or the pro-life issue, or whatever - still be attracted enough by what's happening here to actually pitch in and get involved? To talk rather than walk, to engage rather than bail. To listen, to learn, and to love one another deeply, even if we don't share convictions about some really big things.

To us, that's the real scandal, and the the real story. I don't know whether Jessie will capture that, or if she'll even try. But if I was looking for dirt, that's where I'd start.

So there you have it. Food for thought. Or ammo for the guns. Either way, we'd love to talk about it over coffee or a beer. And now you know where to find us...

Christmas Eve Service

Every year, it seems Christmas becomes more and more commercialized, less and less meaningful. And far too often, our response is simply to try and cram more 'holiday season' into our already packed schedules - more parties, more decorations, more presents (they always seem to cost more too), more stuff that needs to get done before we can actually sit down with family and friends. Then suddenly, before you know it - *poof!* - another Christmas come and gone. Too often, the only thing that remains is a feeling that we'd like to do it differently next year.

What would it look like to actually inhabit Christmas - not the cheesy Hallmark version that gets peddled to us every October through December, but the real Christmas, the ancient version, that one that goes all the way back to events so significant it actually moved people, reordered their entire year, their lives?

Would would it be like to experience that kind of Christmas - be it ever so briefly - the kind where God reaches down from the heavens and touches humanity? I'm not sure how we get there. But I know I'd like to try. And I suspect that it's only going to happen in a community of friends who share that same desire, rather than off on my own.

So here's the deal. We'd like to invite you to join us for an informal Christmas Eve service from 7-8 PM on Mon, Dec 24 @ the Cryder's. Anyone is welcome, even if you've never been to anything before, even if you're not sure whether you believe in Jesus or not. A time to sing, to listen, to contemplate, to make the Christmas story our own, all with friends.

If you don't have any plans for Christmas Eve, we'd love to have you join us. Contact Christian (529-5568) if you have questions or need directions.

1st Annual Christmas Party

It's official! We're throwing our 1st annual Missoula Project Christmas Party and we'd love to have you and your friends join us! Here's the skinny...

• festivities start on Friday Dec 14, at 7 PM
• we'll be having fine wine and amazing tapas (light appetizers)
• beginning at 9:30 PM we'll have live music by local legend, David Boone! (if you missed him at the Wilma, you can catch him in our basement)
• because of space considerations, we're asking parents to get a sitter for young children, and we're limiting attendance to the first 50 folks who RSVP (which means, you probably ought to click that link RIGHT NOW and let us know you'd like to come el pronto, before someone else does first!)
  

Here's one other thing. Normally, Missoula Project parties are completely free of charge. This time around though, we'd like to do something special for some people in our community who could use our help. Here's the skinny.

Would you consider making a tax deductible donation (~ $10/person) when you arrive? The Missoula Project will match all funds raised (up to $1000) and use them to help "adopt" two or three single mothers in our community who don't have any other support network. We'd like to help them with Christmas presents, clothes for their kids, unpaid bills, as well as any physical needs. We'd like to brighten their holiday season, but we'd also like to be a resource for these women all year long.

Would you help us with this effort? Even if you can't come to the party, you can still contribute to this effort - simply make out a check to the "Missoula Project" and write "single moms" in the memo line. You'll get a receipt for financial purposes at the end of the year. We'll keep you posted on how the money gets spent.

In addition, we may identify additional non-monetary physical needs - like helping to install a new water heater, or passing along some toys that your kids have outgrown, or maybe just being willing a mother's children so she can have a break. If you'd be interested in helping us think creatively about meeting some of these less tangible needs, please let Austen (218-8181) know.

We look forward to celebrating Christmas with you, and we invite you to help us make someone else's Christmas a little better while we're at it.

Vision Dinners

So we've been here in Missoula for over a year now, asking lots of questions, seeking to understand what makes this city great and where it still needs work. And many of you have been invaluable in this process - you've shared your insights, offered suggestions, and you've welcomed us into your lives.

Now we'd like to return the favor, by sharing what we've learned, where we're headed, and how you can be involved (whether you are a follower of Jesus or not).

In the last week of November, we'll be hosting a series of "Vision Dinners," and we'd like you to join us. There's no commitment on your end. This is simply our way of saying 'thanks' and letting you know where we see things going from here. It's a chance to share a great meal, hear about our vision, ask questions and offer feedback. It's our way of keeping you in the loop.

If you have any kind of interest in the Missoula Project - whether a lot or a little - you should really try to make one of these evenings. We hope to paint a clear picture of where we're going over the next year, how we hope to serve this community, and how we hope to be a community (where you don't have to share our convictions in order to be our friends).

• WHERE: The Cryder's place (2307 River Rd).
• WHEN: Wed, Nov 28; Thu, Nov 29; and Sun, Dec 2; from 6:30 - 9 PM.
• WHAT: A great evening of food and friends.
  

So there you have it. If you're interested in coming, please let us know which nights work best for you. If you have questions, call Christian (529-5568) or Ryan (529-2468).

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Explorers Groups - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Explorers Groups:

• Q: So are you guys Christians? Yep. Our allegiance is to the Jesus of the Bible. And we're here in Missoula to start a church that loves the city, fosters real community, and provides a safe place for people in process to figure out what they believe (even if it leads them in a different direction).
  
  
• Q: Why are you doing this? That's a good question. Many of our friends here in Missoula are not Christians. At the same time, lots of them are interested in thoughtful spirituality and real community, and both of those things are surprisingly hard to find. Perhaps this is because in many 'communities' (church or otherwise) there are certain things we have to think / do / believe in order to 'get in' - we get acceptance if we agree. The problem here is that the relationship is contingent - if you end up thinking / doing / believing the wrong thing, you're out. And that stifles honest inquiry.
  
  We believe there's a better way. We think we should accept people simply because they are created in the image of God. That fact alone qualifies you to be our friend. Our goal for this group is to give friends like this a place where they can safely ask any spiritual questions, to figure out what they believe, without any danger of being rejected, regardless of what conclusions they come to. If some of them end up in our church, that's great. But if they don't, that's fine too. They will always be our friends.
  
  
• Q: Why are you focusing on Jesus? Isn't that a little bit narrow? See, this is why you should be coming to this group - that's a great question! :-)
  
  Let's put it like this. We think it's good to ask hard questions of every religious leader. We also think that the best way to learn about a faith is from someone who really buys it. We believe in Jesus. We're not convinced about Buddha or Muhammad. So how fair would it be for us to try and tell you about all three faiths? In a very real sense, we're focusing on Jesus because that's the place we feel most competent to speak.
  
  We encourage all people to develop thoughtful positions on other faiths (that's why we ourselves seek friends who embrace other religions - so we can learn what they believe and represent them as well as possible). For this reason, people of other faiths are very welcome in this group - even if you have no interest in Jesus, you can help us see how he's similar or different to your persuasion. Plus, you can probably think of some really great questions and help keep the conversations honest.
  
  
• Q: I'm not interested in Jesus. Why would I want to come to something like this? Another great question. But maybe you should flip it around and ask yourself, "Why aren't I interested in knowing who Jesus was and what he stood for?"
  
  Quite simply, Jesus is one of the most influential figures in human history. He's made some amazing claims, and he has had an amazing impact.
  
  What if you were trying to convince someone about the reality of global warming and they simply said, "Oh, thanks, but I'm not really interested." Wouldn't we point them to the significance of the claims and the impacts, and ask them to at least consider the data?
  
  Similarly, what thoughtful person wouldn't want to reach an informed opinion on who Jesus is and how he managed to have such an impact? Maybe you've already done that, but most people haven't - their opinions on Jesus (and Christianity) come from anecdotal sources: friends, parents, the Jesus channel, the people who go door to door.
  
  What if the Jesus-you-are-not interested in is actually just a caricature of the real Jesus? There really are good reasons for rejecting Christ and Christianity... but how are you going to know if yours is one of them? Wouldn't it be worth taking a good hard look at the historical documents, just to consider what Jesus actually said?
  
  
• Q: Look, we don't have the original documents! And the ones we do have are full of errors and contradictions! A lot of people seem to think this, but most of them aren't aware that there's an entire scientific field devoted to reconstructing original texts, and that the texts we have now are exceptionally close to the originals. So here's a question for you: "Do you know how thoughtful scholars - Christians and non-Christian alike - answer those challenges?" If not, well, maybe you should come to the group and ask it! :-)
  
  
• Q: What if I just like you guys, but I'm just not interested in your Jesus? We'd be flattered to say the least (and we would want you to know that we offer our friendship regardless of what you think about Jesus). But we'd also want to ask you a question in return: "What if the things you like about us, about this community, are actually the result of something Jesus is doing?" What if what you like about our relationship is actually evidence that he is real. How would you figure that out without looking at Christ?
  
  
• Q: What if I'm just too busy? Look, we understand what it's like to be busy. But have you ever noticed that the more we fill up our schedules, the emptier life seems to become? Maybe what we really need is to slow down, for just one evening a week, to share a great meal and think about the big questions in life? It's worth considering...
  
  
• Q: Ok, so let's say I show up. Do I have to bring anything? Nope, just bring your appetite and the toughest questions you can think of (we're serious about this!)
  
  
• Q: Well, do I have to say anything? Nope. You can say as much or as little as you want. We won't ask you to sing, or pray, or give money. You can come as you are and be yourself.
  
  
• Q: What if I can't come every time? That's fine. You can come once, twice, whatever you feel like. There are no obligations. No ones going to call you up or track you down if you decide not to come back.
  
  
• Q: So what are other people saying about it? Here are some quotes (and we'd be happy to introduce you to folks who have been through Explorers so you can ask them for yourselves)...
• “I became friends with all sorts of people from backgrounds very different than mine, who were as confused (and probably just as hesitant) about religion and God as I was.” ~ Kelly H.
• “A fun, stimulating environment where I could air my doubts, vent my frustrations, and openly discuss my many difficulties with organized religion.” ~ Marc U.

Have a question we haven't answered? Feel free to ask us about it...

The Man Behind the Curtain

Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz, when we finally discover that "The Wiz" is just that middle aged white guy behind the curtain, and all the "magic" turns out to be mere smoke and mirrors - hi tech gizmos to make something ordinary look amazing?

If I was an outsider looking in on All Souls, I'd be waiting for that moment.

Sure the parties are fun, but what comes next? Sure that post on Jesus and Pot is interesting, but when the rubber meets the road, what's it really going to look like? Sure we've got a vision for community that is open to everyone, regardless of where they are (or aren't) spiritually, but how's that actually going to pan out? After all, aren't we here to start another church, and isn't that just adding to the problem?

When are we going to see your real colors, guys? When you start holding services, or talking about Scripture, what's the 'real you' going to look like?

Yep. If I was on the outside looking in, that's the question I'd be asking.

So here's your answer. Or at least, a glimpse of an answer, a taste of where things are going. To share it, we'd like to introduce you to our good friend Tim Keller. Now, it's true we don't actually know him personally; nevertheless, we consider him our pal because of the difference he's made in our lives - in how we think about church, community, tolerance, and most importantly, about the gospel.

If you really want the dirt on us, Keller will help you uncover it. I can't guarantee we'll ever say it as well as he does, or measure up to his ministry, but he's the best example I have in terms of what we're aiming for, how we understand Jesus, what we hope to accomplish. If you want to see where we're going, this is the place to start.

[Warning up front: it might be a little scary, especially to folks who feel comfortable in their spirituality. Heck, it still scares me, and I'm a fan...]

So here's the invitation. Grab a good cup of coffee or a nice cold beer, find a comfortable chair, and listen to Keller's thoughts on The Community of Jesus.

This is Tim interacting with Jesus' most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, from Luke 6:12-36 (available here if you don't have a copy of the Bible handy), and I think he nails Jesus' message: contrary to popular opinion, it's not primarily ethical (what we need to do); instead, it's focusing on what Christ himself has already done, and how that transforms us (individually, but also as a community).

If you want to understand what drives us, this is a "must listen."

And that brings us to a second invitation. We'd actually like to hear what you think about this stuff. Agree, disagree - we're interested in it all. So much so that in the coming weeks we're going to start creating some opportunities for you to ask questions and say what you think. Some of it will happen in person, but much will take place in an online forum.

And the one thing that will make it work - kind of like the Sunday Soundoffs - is real diversity of opinion. That's why we actually want your feedback, regardless of where you are spiritually.

So here's the deal. Anyone is welcome to participate - whether you're a follower of Christ or not - but you need to ask if you'd like to have access. You can say as little or as much as you'd like. Any question is fair game. And we'll never try to "convert you" - our job is just to be honest and upfront, to explain where we're coming from and why, so that you can make up your own mind.

If you really want to see where things are going from here, this is the place to be, and Keller's comments are a great place to start.

So go ahead, take a look at the man behind the curtain. And then tell us what you think. We're looking forward to some fascinating conversations...

Supporting the Work

Here at All Souls, we do not pass an offering plate. We do, however, depend upon financial gifts to operate. There are 3 ways you can contribute financially and all three are tax-deductible:

1. In person - come worship with us on a Sunday and drop your check or cash in the offering box located at the back of the room.
   
2. Electronically - contribute online via the web by using this link. Quick, convenient, secure. And it supports both one-time and recurring transactions.
   
3. Snail mail - simply mail your check to:
   
   All Souls Missoula
   P.O. Box 758
   Missoula, MT 59806

If you'd like your donation to go to helping the poor and needy in our community, simply write "mercy" on the memo line (for e-giving, type "mercy" into the notes of your transaction).

You'll receive a statement of giving at the end of the year for tax purposes. Holler if you have questions.

Summer Solstice Party

(Click image for a larger view)

It's official, we're having a Summer Solstice Party on Friday, June 22 and we'd love to have you join us. It's happening at the Cryder homestead (2307 River Road - if you've never been to our house before, it's easy to find: we're just south of the Clark Fork River, on River Road between Russell and Reserve - look for our mailbox; we're down the alley next to it).

This will be an informal affair. We'll be firing up the barbeque around 7 PM, and hanging out around the firepit until Midnight (at least). You are welcome to come when you can and stay for as long as you'd like. If you feel like bringing something - fine wine, great beer, and a friends of all sorts are always welcome. Those who appreciate a fine cigar might want to bring some of those along as well.

Additionally, if you have an artistic talent, we'd love to have you share it with us - sing a song, share a poem, spin a yarn. We enjoy this kind of thing, especially on a fine summer evening around a fire with friends. We think some of the best art happens "off the record" in community settings like these.

So slow down, and enjoy the longest day of the year. Before you know it, the summer will be over. Time to make the most of it while you still can.

If you're interested in coming, please RSVP to Christian, or call me at 529-5568. Holler if you have questions.

(ps - some people find it odd that followers of Jesus would throw parties like this; if you're curious about the theological rationale behind it, you might want to listen to Tim Keller talk about Jesus as Lord of the Wine)

Saturday Night Soundoffs

Q: What the heck is a Saturday Night Soundoff?

A: Saturday Night Soundoff (for lack of a better name) is a once-a-month opportunity to meet with friends, share a great meal, and discuss things that matter, not as experts, but as ordinary people seeking to live meaningful lives. It usually happens on the second Saturday evening every month!

We believe that ideas are important, and the best way to work on them is in the context of community - the more diverse the better (yes, we really mean that). Each time we get together, we'll discuss one or two topics, taken from newspapers, magazines, film, or just your own fertile mind. We've discussed such things as technology, peace, justice, sex, self-esteem, and aliens (yes...aliens - the E.T. variety).

The purpose is not to promote any particular viewpoint or agenda - it's to stimulate thought and cultivate dialog (which just might deepen our own understanding). Future topics are wide open (what ideas move you?) and anyone can lead a discussion (whether you are a Christian or not).

To be really clear - this is NOT a Christian conversation (in the sense that it's originating from a Christian perspective, or that it's trying to convince everyone of a Christian conclusion). It's a conversation among friends - some of them followers of Jesus, but many of them not - and it's all about learning how to sharpen our own thinking, to ask good questions of others, and to listen well.

In other words, it's all about fostering understanding and friendship. And it's an awful lot of fun!

If this sounds even remotely interesting, please come join us for the next soundoff, to see how the whole thing works and to share your own perspective. We hope you'll invite your friends too. It should be lots of fun.

Please RSVP if you plan on attending so we can know how much food to prepare.

Jesus & Pot

"So what do you think about smoking pot?" That's what the young woman asked me, Joe Pastor, as she leaned across the table in Wordens where we were eating lunch.

That's a good question. After all, Scripture doesn't exactly say a whole lot about the demon weed (other than in Genesis 15, where it's God doing both the smoking and the pot - bet you didn't know that was in there, did you?).

So how would you answer this? And what's the truly Christian response?

Too many times we would-be followers of Christ say little more than "Bad dog! No biscuit!" as we wag our finger disapprovingly in the asker's direction. But is there a better answer? Can we say something more? What would Jesus say if he was the one answering? Be careful not to assume this question is a gimmee.

With cases like this, I think its often helpful to consider what's NOT being asked - or rather, to ponder the question behind the question, the real premise that often lies unexpressed. You see, someone who asks this might actually be asking a several different things, for several different reasons.

For instance, he might be saying "Does God even care what I do with my body? Does this 'faith' thing have any connection with the way I live my 'real life'? Or are the two so disconnected that I can do whatever I want in the here and now as long as I 'believe in God' as being important for the hereafter?"

In a case like this, I'd want to say, "Hey, God DOES care what we do with our bodies." Jesus doesn't just come demanding intellectual allegiance - he actually has the gall to claim authority over every inch of creation, over every breath we take. Jesus demands we acknowledge him as Lord ("the big Kahuna") in everything we do. This is why he can say that ANYTHING that does not flow from faith-in-him is nothing less than rebellion, sin, wrong.

My wanting to smoke pot is nothing less than high treason if I'm pursuing it for my own sake, my own indulgence, as my own little corner of the universe where I get to do what I want, to be my own king.

And my NOT smoking pot can be exactly the same thing - just as self-serving, just as treacherous, just as wicked in God's sight.

Yes, you heard me right - choosing NOT to smoke pot could actually be a sin. (I realize it's probably been a while since you heard a pastor say that from the pulpit. Preaching is a dismal affair these days).

You see, someone might actually be asking a very different question altogether: "Does God love me more because I DON'T smoke pot?"

To restate the question slightly, "If my irreligion (my badness) results in wrath, shouldn't my religion (my goodness) earn me favor?" The answer (surpisingly) is no. Here's why.

Far too often, Christians use "sins" like smoking pot (or whatever your favorite vice might be) as both a hammer and a ladder.

As a hammer, we point to people doing "bad things" and just nail them right between the eyes with it - we withhold our approval (or dish it out) based on whether or not the person conforms with our standard of morality. But Jesus doesn't deal with people this way - he tells them to trust in his goodness, not their own.

As a ladder, we use this same standard to prop ourselves up, to give ourselves pats on the back because we're "good people", we do "good things", and we're not like all those nasty "sinners" ("Thank you God that I'm not like all those other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. Don't you love me because I'm so good and holy and obedient?"). Jesus rightly reserves his harshest criticism for people like this - whitewashed tombs! hypocrites!

You see, we can do all the right things, but for all the wrong reasons. We can do what is "good" not because it's good, but because we see an opportunity to use that "goodness" to make ourselves look better than others. No wonder Jesus got ticked (and if Jesus is pissed, then God's not buying it either).

So in a case like this our answer should be emphatic - absolutely NOT! If you think God loves you more because you are NOT smoking pot, or less because you ARE, then you don't really understand the message of Christ. You do not know what grace is yet.

God does not wait for us to clean ourselves up. He doesn't give us an ethical standard of behavior, a set of rules, a list of dos-and-don'ts, and then lavish his affection on those who measure up, and frown disapprovingly on those who don't.

Nope, his criteria is much simpler than that: Are you family? Are you royalty? Are you a son or daughter of the King? Blood really is thicker than anything else. Especially when it belongs to Christ, poured out for us. He meets us where we are (although he never leaves us there).

In light of this, there is a very real sense where it doesn't matter one whit whether or not you are smoking pot. The only thing that matters is this: Do you have Christ as your big brother? Are you clinging to him for all your rightness and approval from God? Because he alone is the entry point to God's favor, and he's not just the door - he's the whole house and estate as well.

Jesus Christ IS the promised land. He is the bread of life. He is living water. He is everything we are looking for in everything else (including pot). He's not just for the sweet-bye-and-bye. He delivers life in the here and now.

If I have Christ, God cannot love me more than he already does. Even if I smoke pot. But everything that pot is, all the good that it gives, that's just a pale reflection, a dim echo, pointing to something bigger and better and stronger. Something that is only found in Christ.

So does God care if we smoke pot? Absolutely. And absolutely not.

Both of those statements are equally true. And the answer that is most appropriate depends entirely on the question behind the question, on where the person asking it is really coming from. It depends on her context, her motive, her heart.

And to figure that out, I'm going to have to have a relationship with her first - I'm going to have to learn to listen, to ask good questions, to discern what she's really asking. I'm going to have to learn to love her, not because she agrees with me, not because she props up my particular code of conduct, but simply because she is created in the image of God, and he loves her, even while she is still his enemy, even before she's got it all together, even while she is still a work in progress.

Just. Like. Me.

You see, even at my best, I am still a piece of work - always in process, never fully arrived. And I need to constantly remember that God loves sinners just like me, so much that he was willing to die for me. And for her. And for him.

At the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is this - will I acknowledge my own inability to measure up; will I put all my hope and trust in Christ's goodness on my behalf; will I pledge my allegience to him, rather than to myself.

Does that sound scandalous? It should. Is it intoxicatingly freeing? Absolutely. Why? Because it gets me over myself, and it allows me to really love others where they are, without requiring them to change first.

I wonder how many of us are really willing to love like that?

To love Christ, not because of what he can do for us, but simply because he himself is stunningly beautiful and lovely? To love those who are different from us, even if they never change or become like us, simply because God himself has loved them first?

To love ourselves, not because of anything we do, or haven't done, but simply because God himself loves us already, because he's tickled pink with Jesus, and if we're with Christ then we're ok too - because what's ours is his, and what's his is ours, and nothing (not even pot) can separate us from the love of God.

We'd like to be a church where you can put THAT in your pipe and smoke it...

What's to Love About Missoula

As we get to know Missoula, there are a number things we've come to love about this city. We figured you might enjoy them too. (This list is by no means exhaustive, but if you're new to our community, these might be good places to start. And if you see something you think we've missed, please let us know about it...)

• Arts - there's no doubt about it, Missoula is a great place for the Arts, and the quality is surprisingly high for a small town in the middle of nowhere...
  
• Missoula Art Museum (MAM) - a first class art museum, with a great selection of Native American art)
  
• Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) - the largest children's theatre in the world, and they do a stellar job with adult productions as well
• Missoula Symphony - a great little symphony, with a brand new conductor
  
• Breweries and pubs - there's no doubt about it, we have a soft spot for the Kettlehouse and Sean Kelly's, not just because they're great places to get a good beer, but because they're great places to hang out with friends and build relationships.
  
• Coffee shops - Missoula is home to some remarkable places to get your daily fix. Here's a handy dandy list of our favorite spots...
• Community & culture - (more info on a lot of these at the Missoula Downtown Association)
  
• First Fridays - the first friday night of every month downtown businesses host the work of local artists. Take a stroll around downtown and enjoy!
  
• Farmer's Market(s) - there are two, actually: the Clark Fork River Market (in Caras Park, by the fish scultures), and then the Missoula Farmers' Market (at the north end of Higgins by the train tracks).
• Out to Lunch in Caras Park - where else does an entire community get together on Wednesdays for lunch?
  
• Garden City Brewfest - second Saturday of May, downtown in Caras Park (you really don't want to miss this)
• Missoula Carousel - a favorite for kids of all ages, located downtown in Caras Park
  
• Non-profits worth supporting - Did you know that Missoula is the home to the largest number of non-profits per capita of any city in the nation? Wow! Of course, there's no way we can list them all here. Instead, we'll just share some of our favorites (and we know folks in almost all of these - we'd highly recommend them to anyone looking to volunteer in the community)...
  
• Free Cycles - a community bike shop, where you can get help fixing your bike or building a new one. Cool.
  
• The Poverello Center - a great organization that provides food and shelter for the homeless in Missoula.
  
• YWCA - these folks do a lot to help women in crisis.
• Youth Homes - similar to the above, but with an emphasis on kids (emergency shelter, group homes, foster care - these guys have been here for the long haul).
• 1st Way - a great organization serving women with unplanned pregnancies (they pregnancy tests, ultrasound, and can help women understand their options)
  
• Garden City Harvest - they run community gardens throughout the city
  
• Clark Fork River Cleanup - an annual earth day celebration where 300+ folks turn out to clean up the river.
• Hellgate Hunters & Anglers - a local grassroots chapter of the National Wildlife Federation, these guys work hard to restore wildlife habitat and promote conservation
  
• Sustainable Business Council - an organization dedicated to helping businesses in Missoula buy local to promote a sustainable economy.
• News and events - anyone who has lived here will tell you that one of the hardest things about Missoula is keeping up with everything that is going on. Here's how we try to cope...
  
• The Independent - Missoula's alternative newspaper (which is pretty darn mainstream, when you consider how many people read it). Great insight into some of the fascinating people that give Missoula its character...
• New West Missoula - a great online site for news and views of all things Missoula
• Missoula Events - a weekly calendar of what's going on here in the Garden City
  

Please note that none of these links imply any sort of "endorsement" on the part of the businesses or organizations referenced - many of them have no idea that All Souls Missoula even exists. We just think these are things worth loving in Missoula, whether you are a Christian or not...

Core Values (Longer Version)

Let's face it - the simple fact that we want to start yet another church is not necessarily a good thing, in and of itself. After all, there are plenty of churches we'd probably all be better off without.

It seems to us that what really matters is what kind of church we want to create, and why. And the best way to get at that (aside from nice long conversations over Cold Smoke) is to look at...

The Things We Value Most

1. Above all else, we value Christ, the Scriptures, & the church - We realize this is not exactly a popular position these days. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a core value if we only held it because it was trendy. We align ourselves with the historic Christian faith, not because we think the Christians got it all right, but rather because we think Christ got it right for us. We think this is the essence of real Christianity - to put all confidence in his perfection rather than in our own.
   
   
2. In an age of deep skepticism and uncertainty, we also value truth - We think people desire truth, and we believe truth is knowable. This is not to say we have it all figured out - we just believe that real Truth is accessible, because it is located in a real living person, Jesus Christ, who has been revealed to us. We believe the Christian faith is profoundly rational (it stands up to intellectual scrutiny), and that it is also existentially satisfying (it makes a real difference in our lives).
   
   
3. We place a premium on authenticity & integrity - We desire to be honest and upfront, not just about what we believe, but about how we as humans constantly fail to measure up to our own standards. We think real integrity requires us to admit our ongoing lack of integrity, not just in our deeds, but in our thoughts and motives too. We think the church is for sinners (like us), not the righteous. So we desire to create a community where sinful people can be brutally honest about their struggles - their doubts, their questions, and their faults - without being rejected for it.
   
   
4. We also value genuine community - where people are accepted not because they agree with us or affirm our position, but simply because they are our friends, created in the image of God. We believe real community meets people where they are, while at the same time caring enough to point out where we still need work. It's a fact: we are often blind to our own sins and shortcomings, even though we are very good at spotting the deficiencies in others. And this is precisely why we need community - I need others to help me see my own flaws and weaknesses, to bear these burdens with me. We are not meant to walk through life alone.
   
   
5. We welcome outsiders & skeptics - people in all stages of their spiritual journey, regardless of where they are (or where they end up). We appreciate questions, concerns, and doubts, even when we don't know the answers. This is true even for those who disagree profoundly - we think you should be able to be a part of what we are about, even if you don't yet believe everything (or anything!). We want our church to be a safe place for people in process to work out their faith, even if it ends up leading them down a different path than ours. We'd rather hang out with honest pagans than dishonest religionists.
   
   
6. We appreciate beauty, the arts, & culture - wherever we find it, whether it is "Christian" or not. We believe God is alive and well and working all over the place, and we're more than happy to celebrate the good and beautiful wherever we find it. We desire to promote these things within the broader community of Missoula, to reflect them in our worship. Ultimately, we desire to live beautiful lives that are focused outward rather than inward, in service rather than consumption.
   
   
7. We are committed to service & stewardship - We believe the church exists to serve - not just itself, but our neighborhoods, our community, and our environment. We need to care about things that matter, about the poor, the oppressed. We should be passionate for justice and sustainability. We seek the welfare of the city, and desire to love the city on its own terms, without strings attached. We must never think of our faith as abstract, or simply theological - real faith works, it makes things better in the world around us.
   
   
8. We value diversity - ethnic, cultural, economic, ideological. We believe a healthy community welcomes a wide range of perspectives and opinions. The last thing we'd want is a church full of people that look and think just like we do (trust me on this).
   
   We also value dialogue - We think that ideas matter, and the best place to work on them is in a community where people are free to think differently. Ultimately, we believe that the Gospel gives us the ability to discuss real differences without fracturing friendships or requiring monolithic agreement. This is only possible when our identity is not tied up in what we think, do, or feel, but is instead located in who we know: Christ.
   
   When I really understand what it means for him to accept me as I am, the acceptance of others becomes much less important. The gospel gets us over ourselves, which is vital for real dialogue in a diverse context.
   
   
9. We are committed to peace & reconciliation - We believe that Christ calls us to be people of peace, and that true peace always starts on a personal level, beginning with those around us. We believe we have a responsibility to seek reconciliation with those we have offended (whether intentionally or not). This happens when we confess our own faults, ask for forgiveness and seek to make amends if need be. If we have wronged someone, we are sincerely committed to making it right.
   
   
10. Last but not least, we value public worship - We believe that all people created to worship, but we are quick to worship all sorts of things other than the living God of the Bible. We are a people prone to idolatry (yes, even in these modern times), and part of our responsibility as a church is to call one another back to true, spiritual worship. While real worship is always more than just a Sunday service, public gatherings are certainly appropriate. It will be a while before we begin this aspect of ministry, but we'd love to have you join us when once it starts (whether you are a believer or not).
    

So there you have it. Not an exhaustive list, but it should help paint a picture of what we value. We welcome you to check us out, and see for yourself how we measure up...

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I picked up a book last night called The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards - it was terrible, not because it was bad, but because it was so good: I couldn't put it down until I finished the final pages at 3 in the morning. Argh! Not a good thing, when your alarm goes off at 5:50 AM.

What fascinates me about this book is what it has to say about "secrets." Here's the basic premise (hopefully without giving too much away) - a doctor is forced to deliver his wife's child in the middle of a raging snowstorm. The only complication is that she's actually carrying twins - the first, a healthy beautiful baby boy; the second, a Downs Syndrome baby girl. The year is 1964, when such children are regularly institutionalized - after all, babies like this rarely survive long anyway, and even if they do, their quality of life is marginal at best.

As a doctor, David Henry knows his daughters prognosis full well, and rather than force his young wife Norah to deal with such a tragedy, he makes a snap decision to try and protect her from a lifetime of unspeakable grief. His solution: hand the "defective" daughter to his nurse to deliver to an institution, while he informs his wife of the tragedy - she delivered twins, but her daughter did not survive childbirth. She is dead. Gone.

With that simple little secret, the future is inescapably changed, his doom is sealed - unbeknownst to anyone, the nurse flees into hiding to raise the child as her own.

The rest of the book is riveting, because we get to see firsthand the effects of his fall - on his relationship with his wife, his son, and eventually everyone else around him. It's a tragic book (I'm not sure I could read it again), because it's not Hollywood - it's brutally true to the lives that many of us have experienced ourselves.

The one ray of hope comes unexpectedly, as David Henry confesses everything - no more secrets - to a young woman with child.

In the silence David started talking again, trying to explain at first about the snow and the shock and the scalpel flashing in the harsh light. How he has stood outside himself and watched himself moving in the world. How he had woken up every morning of his life for eithteen years thinking maybe today, maybe this was the day he would put things right. But Phoebe was gone and he couldn't find her, so how could he possibly tell Norah?

The secret had worked its way through their marriage, an insidious vine, twisting; she drank too much, and then she began having affairs, that sleazy realtor at the beach, and then the others; he's tried not to notice, to forgive her, for he knew that in some real sense the fault was his. Photo after photo, as if he could stop time or make an image powerful enough to obscure the moment when he had turned and handed his daughter to Caroline Gill. ...

He had handed his daughter to Caroline Gill and that act had led him here, years later, to this girl in motion of her own, this girl who had decided yes, a brief moment of release in the back of a car or in the room of a silent house, this girl who had stood up later, adjusting her clothes, with no knowledge of how that moment was already shaping her life.

She cut [paper] and listened. Her silence made him free. He talked like a river, like a storm, words rushing through the old house with a force and life he could not stop. At some point he began to weep again, and he could not stop that either. Rosemary made no comment whatsoever. He talked until the words slowed, ebbed, finally ceased.

Silence welled. She did not speak. ...

"All right," she said [at last]. "You're free."

And this single act of honesty produces the deepest intimacy he has ever experienced - it's not sexual, but relational - with a human being who knows the very worst about him and yet who does not reject him for it.

He'd poured out his story to her in such a rush, the first and last time he had ever told it, and she had listened without judging him. There was freedom in that; David could be completely himself with Rosemary, who had listened to what he'd done without rejection him and without telling anyone, either....

He confesses. She accepts him as he his. And he finally finds freedom.

What if the church could be like this - a place where you could lay all your garbage on the table, all the deepest darkest secrets that you've never told anyone, and still find acceptance, forgiveness, love. There is something deeply freeing about honesty and real love - it never minimizes the wrongs we have done; it embraces us in spite of them; and it refuses to leave us in our place of desparate isolation.

I think the church must be like this, because God is like this. And this is the kind of church we desire to be, because this is the only way to experience the freedom of the gospel.

Coffee Shops in Missoula

Ahem. I know we all need to care about global warming, nukes in Idaho, delisting the wolves, and so on, but there's other things that matter too. Like coffee. Lots of coffee. Finding the best coffee. And telling others about it, since after all, we're all in this together and we might as well have a great cup of joe to help us on our way.

Most of my friends know I have a weakness for coffee shops (probably an understatement), and Missoula certainly has a number of options to choose from if you're looking for a great cup of joe. Since I've been here about 6 months now, I'll weigh in with my perspective on some of the establisments that I've discovered thus far. So here's my take on the coffee scene in Missoula...

• Bernice's - great coffee (very strong!), with a nice southern exposure and plenty of glass to stare out of. Downsides include lack of electrical outlets and wireless access, but the variety of folks who call this place home more than makes up for that - you can actually strike up a conversations with people at adjoining tables here, and I like that a lot. If you stay for lunch, try their Herb hardrolls (some kind of cream cheese stuff in the middle, for only a buck... very nice!)
  
  
• Butterfly Herbs - not only the best coffee I've found in Missoula, but also at one of the best prices anywhere ($1.50 gets you a cool mug with unlimited refills). If you like to talk to lots interesting people, this may be one of the best bets around - just belly up to the bar and wait a few minutes. Biggest downside: lack of table space and electrical outlets (I always end up feeling guilty if I sit there for more than a few hours, like I'm stealing from someone else's cache of coffee coolness). If you stop in, be sure to try the Chocolate Berry Blues (choco-covered blueberries)... I start salivating just thinking about them.
  
  
• Break Espresso - one of the best places to drink coffee all day long (eg. it's not so strong that you start shaking after 2 cups) - your best bet is to purchase the coffee card (13 drinks for the price of 10), and then refills are just 25 cents apiece. Lots and lots of tables (by far the biggest coffee shop in town). My only complaints - I wish they replaced a few of the smaller tables with single bigger ones, so you could actually sit and talk to strangers if you feel like it. That and the wireless has been pretty flaky of late. Oh yeah - you simply HAVE to try their ham and cheese breakfast bagel (but dang! they need a new toaster!). And the conversations in the men's bathroom is worth the visit all by itself (How come the woman's bathroom doesn't have stuff like this scrawled all over it? And how would I know?)
  
  
• Liquid Planet - Liquid Planet is one of the very first coffee shops I visited when I came to Missoula, and my initial reaction was "wow, this place is cool". I still think it is, but I don't find myself going in very often. Maybe it just feels a little too commercial. Good coffee, great hot chocolate (my kids LOVE it!), and the breakfast crepes are to die for. Definitely worth checking out. The internet is free now, but lack of outlets can be a problem.
  
  
• Trout River - one of my most recent discoveries, I almost hesitate to even mention this place (kind of like a favorite fishing hole). The Hunter Bay coffee is ok (not great), and refills are too expensive (75 cents), but the atmosphere is exceptional - nice big windows with a south-easterly exposure, great background music, and the place is almost empty (in other words, it's a great spot to study). I really really like that aspect (and heck, it's connected to the fly fishing shop next door... kind of like heaven in that regard).
  
  
• Catalyst - another interesting little shop on Higgins, with pretty decent coffee (and as many refills as you want). I need to spend more time in this place to really get a good feel for it, but I liked it when I visited. The balcony area was cool, but the lack of wireless means I'll probably never spend a lot of time there.
  
  
• City Brew - I used to spend a lot of time in the place back when I lived in Billings (but then again, there aren't exactly a lot of coffee shop options in Billings). Decent coffee (their Ethiopian Harrar is excellent!), free wireless, outlets, nice people, etc. But it still feels too much like a Starbucks for me.
  
  
• Starbucks - yeah, right. Starbucks is kind of a "last resort" for me. I don't think I've purchased a cup since I've come to Missoula. And I'm not missing it. Plus they charge for their Internet. Sheesh... (Hot Tip: Butterfly Herbs sells bumper stickers that say 'Friends don't let friends do Starbucks'... Priceless!). If I do have to drink at Starbucks, I avoid the coffee and order an Americano (much more consistent).
  
  
• Food for Thought - good food, ok cup of coffee, lots of local campus traffic. Nice place to hang out and watch people. But boy those chairs are hard on my butt.
  
  
• Bear's Brew (or something like that) - it's only a block away from Food For Thought. I've only been in once - the atmosphere would have been nice, but guys, can you PLEASE get rid of the little Christian fishy on the sign and ditch the whole Christian music over the sound system. Rich Mullins aside, I cannot STAND most contemporary Christian music (and heck, I'm a pastor - imagine what it feels like for all those poor folks outside of the church). Blech! Blech blech blech. Like getting coffee grounds in that last swig from the bottom of the cup.
  
  
• Barnes & Noble - I love coffee, especially when I'm surrounded by books, but its still too commercial for me (all those Starbucks complaints apply here as well). B&N is kind of a last ditch option for me, when I can't even find a Starbucks. Needless to say, I haven't spent much time here of late. (Aside: how come The Book Exchange doesn't have coffee and internet? That could be really cool...)

So that's pretty much it for right now. If someone knows of places I'm missing I'd love to hear about it. Until then, I still stand by my earlier lament (see I Need an Infusion) - what I miss most in coffee shops in this town is a big common study table where lots of people can sit together, study, and then chat every now and again when they feel like it. I still haven't found that kind of community aspect yet, but I'll keep on quaffing, and if I do, I'll be sure to let you know...

Even in Missoula

"Hey, I just want to know, do I look like him?"

That's what he was asking, the guy leaning in over the table, interjecting himself into our conversation. He looked only at me; he did not acknowledge the man I was having coffee with.

It took me a moment to understand why: Jimmy, on my right, was black. This guy standing to my left, however, was not. Yet half an hour earlier, I had asked him, "Hey, are you Jimmy?"

He had been standing alone on the other side of the coffee shop, waiting for someone, head turned to the side, unshaven face making his features look darker. And as soon as he had turned to look at me, it was obvious he wasn't the person I was there to meet. But that's the hard part of connecting over coffee with someone you haven't seen since they were in high school - neither of you knows for sure what the other person's going to look like.

So it was my mistake, and now that Bearded Guy realizes I took him for Black Guy, he's evidently insulted, insulted enough to actually walk up to our table and toss out his smart-assed comment. I was stunned. And then I was pissed. I realize that is strong language, but there are times when nothing less than strong language is appropriate.

I fumbled for words, saying something lame like "Well, I haven't seen him in years..." but Bearded Guy just sauntered off. Jimmy, to his credit, never even blinked. He just sat there for a moment and then continued the conversation.

Someone said a while back that they hoped we'd be tolerant here in Missoula. Not of this kind of behavior. Sorry folks, but its just wrong. And it pisses me off, because the church is meant to be a place where God's grace is extended to all who seek it, where there are no second class citizens, where justice rolls like water. Martin Luther King didn't make that up you know - he was just quoting the prophet Amos. Racism should piss us off, even in Missoula. Especially in Missoula. And especially in the church.

The church is meant to be a place of justice. And sometimes, that requires us to take a stand and say things are wrong. It also requires us to put our money where our mouth is and strive to make them right. Because the church is meant to be the place where heaven and earth meet, where God's agenda breaks through and actually makes a difference in the world.

If diversity bothers you, you probably won't like our church. But that's ok. After all, the kingdom of God is not for everyone...

Who Is Welcome?

Here at All Souls, we do not distinguish friend from foe on the basis of color, race, creed, or even sexual orientation. Yes it is true that we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, three-in-one, Holy Trinity. And yes we see the Bible as his word to us.

But all are welcome to participate in our community of faith (and many do!) - even those who disagree, even those who doubt, even those who struggle, even those who do not yet believe.

With the Scriptures, we confess that Christ came to save sinners (which means us, even more than it means you). And we believe that Christ offers hope to all who desire change. In short, we believe that Christ is vitally important, and the sole criteria for whether someone is in or out as a follower of Christ is their attitude towards Jesus, towards his word, towards fellow pilgrims. Everything else is secondary.

In the same breath, we note that Jesus himself was patient with people who were still trying to figure out what they thought about him, probably because he knew that faith is often a process. So Christ welcomed those who didn't believe - he hung out with "sinners", he went to their parties, he shared their joy and tears. Christ invited the undecided to check him out, not from afar, but up close; not because they agreed with him, but simply because they were people whom God loved.

Consequently, anyone is welcome as a friend in our community, regardless of their spiritual convictions (or lack thereof). The sole criteria is that you be human, be yourself. Jesus valued authenticity, and so do we. So welcome, one and all. We look forward to getting to know you.

What Kind of Person?

Picked this up off of NewWest earlier today - 25 year old Jackson Hole skier Justin Kautz died after skiing off a cliff to avoid an avalanche.

What struck me about the article is that Kautz doesn't come across as just another partier, or even just another powderhound - instead, it seems to me that he was actually thinking about what it means to live a life well:

Friend Jenna Cropley said Kautz lived like we all want to: “purposefully and passionately.”

Just a few months ago, Kautz quit his job as manager at Stiegler’s restaurant, took out a business loan and started woodworking full time—a trade he learned from his father.

‘“This is what I’m going to do to make money,” Cropley remembered him saying. “‘How is making wood things going to change anybody? My writing is my real work, that’s what will impact people.’”

Indeed, he always carried a book of poems or politics in his backcountry pack next to his shovel and extra layers. He even laminated his skis with inspirational quotations and had the phrase "lines to ski, stories to tell" taped to the back of his ski helment.

He wrote short stories, made a complete Powder Magazine mock-up with original photographs and writing, published several articles and had nearly completed a book of short fiction to be called The Ford at Penuel.

“Justin was passionate about skiing, true, but he would skip even the biggest powder day to write,” said former girlfriend Elise Stiegler. “And yet, even then, if you came by, all he wanted to do was make tea and talk.”

Friends say Kautz lived the change he hoped to see. He donated 10 percent of all the money he made selling wooden sculptures and engravings to Invisible Children, Inc., which works to educate people about children kidnapped and forced into military service in Uganda.

This is the kind of person I want to meet here in Missoula - someone who is passionate and intentional, not just about enjoying the great outdoors (or great beer like Kettlehouse), but about thinking, about writing, about living, about community, about others.

I know folks like this exist here - after all, Missoula has a reputation for producing people like Kautz - but I haven't run into many of them yet. Which probably means I just haven't searched hard enough.

Of course, I intend to keep looking, and the next time I find myself in Sean Kelly's I think I'll raise a glass to the memory of Justin Kautz...

What Kind of Church?

As we run into folks around Missoula, one of the questions that comes up quite often is, "So what kind of church are you going to start?" And that's a difficult question to answer.

On the one hand, it's hard to know what's really being asked - kind of like when someone says, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" Do they really want to know? Or are they just exchanging pleasantries? Are they interested only in externals, like career and earning potential? Or do they actually care about what kind of person you want to become?

On the other hand, even if you do know what someone is asking, it's still very difficult to put into words. You cannot quantify what a church is simply by describing its location, its creeds, its theology, its liturgy.

A church is not simply an organization - it's an organism, a moving target, a work in progress. It consists of many members, all walking through life in different ways, directions, manners. It aims for a standard (to be like Jesus, to share the good news about him, to care for the poor and needy, etc), and yet it always falls short of the goal, too - not simply because we inevitably disagree over specifics, but because we are all sinners, we are all bent, even those of us within the church.

As a friend of mine once reminded me, "Yes, the Church is a whore; but that whore is the bride of Christ and your mother, and you have no right to abandon her."

Ouch. And actually, it's even worse that that. The church is a whore because I am a whore, which is precisely the point of the gospel:

"I am a whore I do confess, put you on just like a wedding dress,
and I run down the aisle, run down the aisle, to you..."

- Derek Webb, Wedding Dress

So what kind of church DO we want to start?

Hmm, are you sure you really want to know?

If so, you might want to start by considering What If..., or by taking a look at our Core Values. Or how about the The 'Following Jesus' Manifesto from Today At The Mission (written by someone who lives / works in a homeless shelter), talking about what it really means to be a follower of Christ - it's not like we embrace every single one of these literally, but we sure like the gist of them:

1. Stop talking about Jesus. Just stop. If we loved the people around us half as much as we say we love Jesus the rest of this manifesto would be entirely redundant.
   
2. Live a secret life. Invest the time, effort and vulnerability necessary to delve deeply into the scripture and prayer. Spend long periods of time in stillness. There is no shortcut to this, there is no other way. Without a deep and secret life we soon find ourselves talking about Jesus instead of being like Jesus.
   
3. Stop pretending. I'm a Christian, and I suck. So do you. Let's get that out of the way, shall we?
   
4. Give more than you get. There will always be more than enough.
   
5. Be present for those around you. Following Jesus has nothing to do with your work, your resume or your income. In fact, nothing that matters does.
   
6. Treasure broken-ness. Our broken places are sacred spaces in our heart. Honour them. Value them. In doing so you love the unlovely, publicly declaring the beauty of God's image in everyone. Greet the broken with comfort and cool water.
   
7. Throw a party.
   
8. Know Jesus well enough to recognize him on the street. This is rather important, because he can always be found on the street - and he usually looks more like a pan-handler than a preacher.
   
9. Accept ingratitude and abuse as a fixed cost. Embrace them, and then go the extra mile.
   
10. If you follow Jesus, you will anger religious people. This is how you will know.

Strong words. Yet this is a snapshot of the Christian life that resonates with us. We might not agree with all of these credos, or put them quite this way; we might want to add a few more or nuance them slightly - but on the whole, these are the kind of people we hope to become, and this is the kind of church we'd like to plant here in Missoula.

Of course, you can't describe a church in ten short bullet points. But you can paint a picture, and much of what we will be writing about over the coming months will be intended to do just that - to offer sketches, glimpses, hints of what we're about and where we hope to go.

We may not ever be able to describe what we are after exhaustively, but given enough time and snapshots, I think the vision we are pursuing will start to become clear. And in the meantime, we'd still love to hear from you...

Contact Us

Here's how to get in touch with us:

Ryan & Rachel Sutherland
2704 Emery Pl, Missoula, Mt 59804 [map]
Ryan - r.k.suth@gmail.com cell: (406) 529-2468
Rachel - rachelmotherland@gmail.com cell: (406) 529-2467

If you'd like to talk, we'd love to get together over a cup of coffee or a beer. If you want us to keep you in the loop for upcoming events, please email us and ask to be added to the monthly newsletter.