I'm curious. Tell me your plan if you've got one. I've been thinking about this the last few days. One thing I'm sure of is that I need to have a plan. If I don't I doubt I'll spend enough intentional time growing in my relationship with Jesus through the Scriptures. 

The balance I'm trying to strike right now is between reading too much and reading too little. I think trying to read through the Bible in a year doesn't afford me the time to meditate on particular passages. I feel like when i miss a day or two I'm so far behind that then reading is a chore not a joy. However, if the passages are too small then I can just sit down, zip through them and move on with my day. I'm thinking 1-2 chapters per day would be the best idea for me but I want to follow some kind of routine with it so that I'm held accountable to something.

So again, do you have a plan and if so what is it? If not, is there anything holding you back from making a plan?

Merry Christmas Everyone,

As Melissa and I get closer and closer to being on the ground in Toronto I'm trying to read more and more about the city and what's happening there. It goes back to a post I made a while ago about being a student of your city. 

Well, my efforts include reading the CTV Toronto News Blog which lead me to an interesting article today on the 10 Fresh Ideas for Toronto. There's some great stuff in there but number three, written by Annie Kidder of People for Education really caught my eye. Here's what it says:

3. Community-school partnerships

Annie Kidder, People for Education

One way to renew Toronto is by building stronger links between our city and our schools. We have to think of schools as assets that affect families and children, and not just through education. Every neighbourhood has a local school that can become a true hub of the community, with a rich variety of programs. Community agencies and public health offices could be located in our schools, sharing costs and helping to fill empty space created through declining enrollment. There could be a local coordination office with representatives from different groups, including schools, public health, and housing; and staff positions at schools to foster school-community links. Everyone should feel that the school down the street is a place to find the support that they need. The school board and the city, by working together, can make better use of the rich resources within Toronto's schools, and provide accessible support for the families who live here.

My immediate thought, especially when reading the bolded line, was "this is what the church should be...and used to be". Sadly though it's another stark reminder to me that we have lost what we once had - that is the trust and favor of society.

How great would it be if a few churches began a grassroots movement with this goal in mind? What if we just substituted the word "school" for "church" in that paragraph. Re-read the paragraph again with that change. What a vision this makes!

One way to renew Toronto is by building stronger links between our city and our churches. We have to think of churches as assets that affect families and children, and not just through education. Every neighbourhood has a local church that can become a true hub of the community, with a rich variety of programs. Community agencies and public health offices could be located in our churches, sharing costs and helping to fill empty space created through declining enrollment. There could be a local coordination office with representatives from different groups, including churches, public health, and housing; and staff positions at churches to foster church-community links. Everyone should feel that the church down the street is a place to find the support that they need. The churches and the city, by working together, can make better use of the rich resources within Toronto's churches, and provide accessible support for the families who live here.

My vision for The Church is that we re-engage with culture to such a degree that we win back the trust we've lost so that a paragraph like this can even be remotely possible. Today I don't believe it is. So the question is, how do we begin to make steps towards this? How do we begin to win and build trust again? Do you think this is a dream worth pursuing? Why or why not?

Man this is brilliant. Below is a post I read at Church Marketing Sucks and It's so cool I needed to pass it along. These kinds of efforts warm my heart and I think are the kinds of actions that speak most loudly to our not-yet-following friends.

The good folks at The Chapel in Chicago have come up with an interesting idea to spread the word and the warmth this year. It's called Yule Log 4 A Cause, and here's what they have to say about it:

Many people in Chicagoland will go through this winter without coats, scarves, gloves, etc. Let's do something about that. Here are 4 ways you can take part.

Those four ways? Members of The Chapel have offered to donate a quarter for each unique site visitor, so you have already given by visiting, and you can keep giving by recommending the site. Also, they give information about dropping off coats and scarves at their church as well as making a one-time donation.

It's encouraging to see a church getting creative like this to address a problem in their local community. These sorts of sites have been popular in the past--FreeRice and The Hunger Site are two such examples. But it's a great way to develop your church's identity as a group who cares about local issues and putting an end to the pain in your city.

As of this writing, they've donated $331.25. Let's go ahead and help them get that number a little bit higher. Plus, who doesn't want to curl up in front of video fire.

Merry Christmas friends!

I was driving to an appointment yesterday morning, looking around at all the brown grass and thinking how un-Christmas like it looked here in Warren, MI. This morning though, there is a light, fresh blanket of snow covering the ground. It's really helping me to feel the warmth of the season (ironic, I know!). It's also helping me to remember the God's mercies are new every morning - one of the most outstanding promises in scripture! It's a promise Mel and I are experiencing day after day.

In my last email I told you all how our Visa is not coming in time here in Warren and we're off to the GTA long before we meant to be. This is still true. However, as new as the fresh blanket of snow, is this development. We've been offered an opportunity to continue our time of residency with a site of our partner church, The Sanctuary, in Pickering, ON thus giving us a chance to land a bit more softly in the GTA before heading out to begin the full time work of planting Montage. We're really grateful for this chance and for all the mercies God shows us day by day. While in Pickering, we'll complete our residency curriculum, work with them on some exciting evangelistic work that church plant is doing and also begin to lay some of the groundwork, till the soil as it were, in the downtown area. Dan Collision, the lead pastor in Pickering is currently planting his third church so the chance to learn from his experience is going to really add to our experience, just as learning from Craig McGlassion has these past 5 months.

There of course will be more details coming your way as they come to us and right now I have one request to make. The question of where we will living in Pickering is still lingering. The church there is currently searching their contact base for an option that will suit our family, including the addition of our son in April. We feel we need at least a 2 bedroom residence, furnished or not, to accommodate our needs. At this time, Melissa and I are still searching for another $700/month in support and this does not include our rent as it's been and was going to be free here in Warren for the remainder of our stay. Obviously a free place to stay would help greatly in our move to Pickering. Perhaps one of you knows a snow bird or person with extra residency options in that area and that would be amazing! There may also be some of you who have been considering how to give at the end of the year for tax purposes. If that's you please consider us as an option - you can now give to the Sanctuary and receive tax benefits for your gift. Anything is helpful and I will be sending the specifics on how to send those resources in early next week.

We so appreciate all the love and support you've shown us this year! More than anything we want you to know what a blessing you all are and how loved we feel. Our God is magnificent and his mercies will continue to be new even as any of us look towards challenges in 2010. We are so excited to see what God will do through Montage to make his glory and presence known more and more in Toronto. I hope you will all remember that you are as much a part of this work and his plan as Melissa and I are. Let's press on together in the work he has given us!

Much Love,

Tim, Melissa and Layla

I was conversing with a friend today about the life on mission and ways church planters can make inroads into places where real human beings live, work, and have their being. He told me about two new initiatives that I hadn't heard of before.

The Awaken Group

Temple Handbags

I wanted to highlight these not because of who founded them but because of the mindset they represent. These are dedicated followers of Jesus asking themselves how can we have influence and relationship with, and add value to sectors that most pastors or Christians don't think to see as a mission field. I've thought for a long time that most high capactity church leaders would mix well with the corporate world. In fact, perhaps to our missional detriment in the end, many of the best executive and senior leaders in churces come out of the corporate world. I am thrilled to see people asking the question "how can we put these people back in the marketplace"?

It's a question I think all of us need to ask ourselves. What has God given me that I can use missionally in the marketplace? Could we reimagine what it means to serve as a member of the Church so that we free up our people to be missionaries rather than run programs? Are there services that our church could offer the community that would add value to the people around us AND put living temples, the re-presentatives of the Image of God in close contact with the very people we hope will come to see the light of Christ?

I'm wondering if anyone out there has ever a dreamed a dream along these lines? Have you thought of some way you can put your talents to more use with God's mission in mind?

I was reading this post today and it reminded me of the first time I read it. I was reminded of how inspired I felt when i read it and how Mel and I both determined to adopt this as a mantra. There are so many things we can buy but the truth is none of it is nearly as important as the experiences and memories we'll make. At the end of my life I want to feel rich in experiences rather than stuff.

How does this resonate with you?

Last night I had the extreme privelidge to hang out with 3 of my closest friends. Brendan Waters, Justin Kudding and Nate Northridge were all members of the Country Hills Community Church music team with me and later we all played in a highly talented and under utilized band (a whole other storey). Music is just a part of who we all are and inevitably when we get together our conversations center around Jesus and music - admittedly not always in that order ;-)

I took a chance to ask them what is exciting to them and how they feel God is speaking to them right now and I've got to say I'm just pumped for what God will do through these guys in the days to come. Nate and his wife Christina are at a church here in Calgary called C3 and Nate is hoping to work closely with them next year in getting a music production company set up. Awesome!

Justin and Brendan are feeling God call them to be actively engaged in expanding the worship communities musical horizons here in Canada. They see a gap in our community in that most of what is coming from the group right now is very cookie cutter. The industry is just trying to pump out the next Chris Tomlin and not really exploring new musical territory or taking any risks. These guys are phenominal musicians and God has blessed them with some amazing contacts and I believe he will do some awesome thing through them.

As they described what they wanted to do with music they talked a lot about intergrating some more jazz oriented chord voicings and syncopated rhythms into their worship music. I heard this song a few weeks ago at Paradox after the service (thanks Tom!) and thought it would be the kind of music Brendan and Justin will be making. I hope I'm not putting words into their mouths.

The Studio Cut

The Live Version (so you can be sure he hits EVERY one of those notes live - awesome!)

Isn't that just awesome??!! Can you imagine what God has in store for us through people who are willing to take creative risks for Him?

The thing that gets me is that when I hear these guys articulate their vision it excites me for them and it motivates me to be as clear and compelling about what God has given me to do as I can be. It also fills my sails with the desire to help people fulfill the dreams God has given them.

I wonder if anyone else has a dream out there they need to begin to get out into the world? Something God has uniquely called and gifted you to do? Maybe it involves risk or challenging the status quo. If you do, I'd love to hear about it and for you to let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do to help you make it a reality - seriously, anything!

Hi friends,

If I had to summarize what the experience of church planting has been up to now I'd say "unpredictable". I've heard someone say before that if you want to make God laugh just tell him your plans. I think we're becoming living proof of that. I guess some people might look at uncertainty as reason to be stressed or nervous but for us it has been nothing but completely exciting! Every time God throws us a curve ball he proves to us again that it's Him who is building the Kingdom and Montage - and its not us.

All that preamble to let you know that once again something completely unforeseen has happened. Melissa and I have discovered that we will not be given the R-1 Religious Workers Visa we need to stay in Detroit for the last 6 months of our residency in time. As such, we will be leaving the United States on January 4th and likely we will be heading straight to Toronto to settle into the life God has called us to there.

There's a really big part of us that is sad about this. We've been so blessed to spend these past months to get to know the people at Paradox and we've learned so much from Craig McGlassion and his crew. I want to thank them for all of the ways in which we've been grown through their leadership and friendship. I know our relationship will in no way end here and that there is much more influence they will have over us in the days to come.

At the same time we know that what is happening is exactly what God has always had in mind and so we're excited. We can look back and see how God has been marking out this path for us to be ready to take on this challenge at this time. Through our friends at Vision 360 Detroit (who are now official partners with Montage, btw) God has provided us with a plan by which we can engage the city and begin to build the relationships necessary to see an indigenous faith community rise up out of downtown Toronto. He has provided The Sanctuary and the CNBC family of churches for us so that we won't be showing up in Toronto alone. The Sanctuary will also be sure that we have another coach to help us work through the rest of our residency curriculum and so we will continue to learn through that process the same way we would if we were still in Detroit.

All the way along God has also been providing the resources needed for us to be in Toronto. Although we will continue to look for more partners we now have 4 organizational partners helping with the resources needed to start Montage as well as a series of friends and family supporters who will still be a crucial piece of making Montage come to life, to God's glory. Just to be really clear, this doesn't change our need for the support funds that were pledged for this time and on over the next 3 years. These generous gifts have always been a very important part of the way in which Montage can get up and off the ground and this doesn't change that - in fact it likely makes them more crucial given the expense of living in downtown Toronto.

There is so much more that could be written but this will catch you up to date for now.  Our plan is to begin meeting with groups of people to share the vision and plans for Montage in detail. We want you all to know where things are at and begin to answer your questions in person. As soon as we can book the venues for these meetings we will be sure to let you all know so that you have the chance to come and hear.

Thanks again for all you mean to us, for your prayers and support. We're thrilled to be living this life with all of you :-)

Tim

Things to pray for:

1. Melissa's health as we move and she continues to carry our unborn son.
2. That all of the details of moving won't bog us down or distract us from the people we still can care for.
3. That we'll find suitable housing and the resources will be there to move smoothly.
4. That God would begin to work in the people and relationships we'll begin to build as soon as we get there.
5. For Paradox, that this move won't interrupt the good work they're doing.

I really believe that people following Jesus have to be engaged with and knowledgable about the issues facing our world today. At the top of the list of hot topics in our day are the topics of global poverty and climate change. One of the ways I keep up with these events is by subscribing to ONE.org's newsletter. This morning I got this letter and I thought I'd draw some attention to ONE.org and this issue by posting it here. My hope is that all people following Jesus take a greater interest in globabl issues, regardless if you agree with this post or not. The planet was given to man through God and we should continue to be the ones who steward it most and best.

Dear ONEers,

Well I'm writing you from the kitchen table at my in-laws home. Here it's Christmas Day. Well at least to us it is. We've done all of the things we'd normally do on Christmas Day, even digging the vehicles out after a severe snow storm (one of Calgary's less endearing qualities). Of course the biggest Christmas Day event in most homes is the gift exchange. We're no different but for some reason a new perspective on the exchange hit me today.

As we unwrapped gifts I noticed how much care my in-laws gave not just to get us gifts and be generous but how they really were very personal about nearly everything. Layla's favorite show is "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and so nearly everything she got was related to Disney and Mickey. My in-laws got me several pieces of running parephernalia, the treats were all sugar free, both gifts related to my desire to lose more weight (or lose it again - *sigh*) as well as a book about Wayne Gretzky and some great wine accessories and steak knives - nearly all my likes were represented. The same with my wife's gifts.

The point? I don't know about you but so often I give so that I can get. In other words, I buy something that I think the other person will like but my goal isn't to invest in them or bless them so much as it is to give something to get something in return. Perhaps every one of you are better human beings than I am and don't suffer from this temptation but, in case you are, let me encourage you as I encourage myself. See this season not as a time to get things but to invest in others. When you buy gifts, make it your goal to bless people beyond what they expect. Pour as much as you can into the gift buying process. Show people how much you've been paying attention to what matters to them. Bless them as Jesus has blessed you and the rest of humanity in his coming. The further I go down this journey with Jesus the more I think investing in others is a crucial and yet overlooked aspect of what it means to be His follower.

I wonder if anyone else has a story to share about the impact a really personal Christmas gift has had on you?

Thursday afternoon I had the chance to meet again with someone who has become a good friend of mine. His name is Mike Harris. Mike is a church planter and works part time for an organization called Vision 360. Some of you may be thinking right now "I thought you were working with 360 already". Yes, they've been part of our coaching network in Michigan but up to this point it's only been a coaching relationship.

On Thursday the nature of the relationship changed. See, Mike and I met about 360 becoming official partners with Montage which means they will have some level of financial committment to Montage and in turn, us back to them for future church planting ventures. This is increadibly exciting and makes sense for a number of different reasons.

1. Vision 360 and Montage both believe in the importance of Cities: As we have seen Toronto as the place where a nationwide change could begin so has 360 seen many world cities as strategic to the re-alignment of our world to the purposes of God. It's awesome to have friends who just get what you're doing.

2. We see the future similarly: Vision 360 believes, as we do, that the church needs to begin to think differently about ministry in Canada and North America. This has become clear to me as I have listened to Mike and his new boss, Alex McManus, talk about church planting. Again, we simply get one another.

3. Vision 360 will help with our financial needs: It takes money to plant a church. It's helpful to have people like 360 come along side us and in a very tangible way say that they believe in us and will help to see God's vision for Toronto come to pass in part through Montage.

I hope this excites you as it does me. We now have 4 invested partners in Montage - ELI, Paradox, The Sanctuary/CNBC, and Vision 360. Momentum is building and I'll tell you why this is exactly the right timing on Monday.

Have you ever spent time looking at one of those confounding pieces of art work - you know the kind that people tell you there is supposed to be some secret image in it but no matter how long you stare at it the image never seems to pop out? Its frustrating isn't it? I mean we try everything, squinting, crossing our eyes, opening and shutting them really fast and in the end it can feel like all we're doing is amusing the other people standing around us who are able to see us make a fool of ourself. But you know, if you stick with it, if you change your perspective enough times then you really can see the image emerge. It's a gratifying experience, isn't it? The truth is though without all of that thinking and perspective changing you would never have seen what was there all along. The fault did not lie in the picture, the fault was with us and our perspective.

I've recently become convicted about my perspective on those outside of the church. See I grew up believing that if God was going to speak he was going to speak only through those inside of Christendom. I believed that anything worth hearing came from inside of a building with hymnals, bibles and a steeple or cross on top. As such, I didn't put much value on what those outside of the church were saying. After all, they weren't prophets or evangelists or apostles, right? Why would I listen to them?

Then my perspective began to change. Jesus is in the business of redemption. We as people are slow to change the fundamentals of who we are. I do mean the things we believe or the object of our worship - that changes as Jesus reveals himself to us. I mean the things that have been put deep in our souls by God. Things we cared about even before knowing or acknowledging Jesus as God. See, being that we're made in God's image we all have pieces of the divine in us. Things that God has put in our souls that MUST be done. I don't think those things change when we come to Christ - they're not meant to. They were given to us even before we knew where they came from and Jesus is seeking to redeem those things back for his glory.

This is a huge shift in my thinking - cause it means that even before people come to love Jesus there are divine messages hidden in their souls that we need to hear and help bring out of them. There are not-yet-redeemed prophets, evangelists and apostles all around us. People through whom God is giving us warnings about the future, messges that should direct us back to Jesus and people who are going to save the world who aren't yet followers of Jesus but none the less are speaking messages to the world from God. 

Do we have examples of this in the bible? Examples of God bringing a message to his people from the outside? Sure we do. Melchizedek was the first one. This Prophet of God who was not Hebrew coming to deliver a message to God's chosen people. In the New Testament we read about Cornelius, the man who saw a vision and went to Peter through whom God showed Peter that his gospel was not just for Jews but for the whole world. See God is speaking in, to and through the world and I have often missed it because of my perspective. 

What do you think? Does this sound totally off the deep end to you? Is it a huge leap for you to think that God is using the world to speak to the world about himself? Is it possible that we as followers of Jesus need to begin to look outside the walls of the church for God's message in, to and through the world? If so, what does our role look like as interpreters, supporters and shapers of the message? Remember, the message and messengers still need to be redeemed. The question here is how and in what fashion do we need to change our thinking in order to become effective at this?