It's another new year. 2009. At least for those of us sharing the same calendar. Time is a God-created construct. It has many practical purposes. Though its what we choose to do within time that matters. We can use it, waste it, make the most of it, cherish it, loathe it.

Most cultures celebrate the coming of a new year. It often brings hope and the feeling of a fresh start. It provokes reflection, may cause pain, or may be a catalyst for positive change.

On the other hand, January 1st is a day like any other day. It has 60 seconds to a minute; 60 minutes to an hour; and 24 hours till completion. January 1st and the ensuing year, as far as time goes, is special if we choose for it to be special. It will be meaningful and ensure growth, if we work at it.

Of course, there are no guarantees for what the year will bring. What is most important is how we make use of our time, and how we respond to what time brings our way.

As for me, I long to make the most of this year. Past years of pain have taught me to be grateful for Jesus, my wife, children, and friends more than anything. Though I believe work, play, rest, and personal growth are important areas to focus on.

How about you?

1. What are your thoughts on the new year?
2. What are you looking forward to?
3. What would you like to be different about this year?

I was just talking with Makeesha on Facebook about how both of our families are having multiple Christmas times and locations this year. We had a great Christmas with my Mom (in-law), Aunt, and cousins last Sunday. We had a really nice meal together and opened presents for the kids. Then my Dad and Uncle came up from southern California to spend an early Christmas with us a few days ago and we had a lot of fun with them. We are going to have Christmas with our kids this morning at our place, and then later in the day with my Mom, sisters, and step-family up north. We'll come back tomorrow to have our final Christmas time with more family. After that, I'm really glad that my wife has a few days off work and we'll have a great time recovering!

In the midst of all of the busyness and fun with family, I'm doing my best to remember that Christmas is a birthday celebration for Jesus. I'm not surprised that Christmas has turned into a time where family gets together, and people give and receive. Those things are true to who Jesus is. I struggle with the over-commercialization of Christmas. Though I'm grateful that for most of my life it has brought me closer to those around me, and brought a lot of joy to my life.

Thank you Jesus for coming to earth 2008 years ago (well, close enough). Thank you for revealing yourself to me 15 years ago and for being the best Gift I ever received.....and keep receiving.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone! Drive safe, and let me know what you're doing for Christmas when you get a chance.

My friend and colleague John Morehead mentioned Alan Jamieson's book A Churchless Faith in a comment recently. It reminded me of a book review I did on it for the pastor's journal Mosaic a number of years ago. I thought many here are on the type of journey the book chronicles. Here's what I wrote:

Jamieson based this book on his doctoral thesis in sociology on faith outside of the Christian church. Its purpose is to focus on the faith journeys of men and women of varying ages who have left evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic (EPC) churches. A key area of Jamieson’s research was based on interviews with 108 "church leavers" as well as other experiences and conversations Jamieson has had with persons who have left the church for varying reasons. According to Jamieson these were not the stereotypical types of church leavers he had expected when embarking upon his research. Rather these were persons who had been committed to a local church for a significant number of years. Ninety-four percent of them had been involved in a significant area of leadership.

In addition to interviewing church leavers as to why they left the church, Jamieson interviewed 54 pastors, theologians, Christian counselors, and church consultants because he believed them to be "An obvious source of information about why and how people leave". However, the majority of the pastor’s ideas as to why people leave were inconsistent with research into why people actually leave. Contrary to this, most of the lecturers and counselors did have a significant understanding of this phenomenon.

Jamieson’s research challenges the commonplace assumption that people who leave church do so because they have "backslidden" in their faith, have little commitment to Christ, or a variety of other stereotypes of church leavers. Throughout the book, Jamieson lets church leavers speak for themselves as to why they left. Many of the church leavers became disillusioned with important aspects of church. Importantly, however, this didn’t necessarily lead to disillusionment or an abandoning of the essentials of their faith. Many church leavers remained dependent on the wider EPC community, whether through Christian television or radio. Some of them met in smaller non-churched based fellowship groups as well. However, other church leavers appear to be in a semi-permanent state of non-resolution in regard to holding on to or discarding their faith.

Jamieson’s book is to be commended in regard to seeking to understand why people leave EPC churches. Yet this isn’t the only valuable aspect of this book. From Jamieson’s research into what post-church gatherings of church leavers looks like, there are words of wisdom and a useful way forward in not only making church a place that is valuable for those who otherwise could become church leavers, but it may also give some direction to understanding what would be involved in making church meaningful to the majority of the population who have become disillusioned with the church before they entered, much less left, one.

I went to church for the first time in months yesterday. It was a megachurch I hadn't visited before. It had a familiar rhythm:

1. Kid's off to Sunday School.
2. Greeted by several people on the way to my seat. Every one of them included people I already knew, or individuals who were trained church greeters.
3. Sat down looking at large professionally done stage and the back of many heads.
4. Looked up to notice stage lights were appropriately red and green for the Christmas season.
5. Listen to professionally performed songs.
6. Fight boredom and yawns.
7. Listen to applause after each song for a performance well done.
8. Announcements.
9. Told to say 'Merry Christmas' to those around me instead of the usual 'hi'.
10. Prayer for money going to, first and foremost, bloated building and other overhead costs.
11. Wish I'd brought toothpicks to keep my eyes open.
12. Listen to well-crafted sermon, which included being helpfully reminded of things I already know.
13. Shuffle out the door.
14. Joy to be leaving.

This rhythm is not simply disillusioning to me anymore. It's outright dull and boring. Here are a few personal thoughts:

1. I'm going to keep attending a church gathering on Sundays for the time being. I doubt I'll get much out of it--though I hope I'm wrong. However, my kids and wife want to go and that's enough for me. I don't think the former have heard my feelings, and don't think they need to at their age.
2. Church is not about Sunday. My best moments with the wider group of people around the world that collectively are the church have been those where there is discussion, laughter, food, serving each other and our community. It has also been with the same online, right here and on other virtual spaces. Paid buildings that serve as gathering spaces (i.e. local church buildings) are overrated.
3. The church is too entertainment, instead of relational and service, focused. Even at its megachurch best, I'd rather be entertained by a movie if I'm going to sit in a large crowd and not talk to anyone around me.

While I'm on a list writing roll:

1. What are your thoughts on the above?
2. What is your current relationship with the local church?