I'm so pumped about what God is doing within Overflow Collective (OC). If you've been out of the loop, OC is now a network of missional church communities (MCCs). (We define what MCCs are on our website: http://overflowcollective.org/#/churches-mccs) For us, our focus is on expanding the Kingdom much more so than building up our brand, Sunday services, etc, and we're trying to let our behaviors reflect this desire. Here's just a snapshot of what gets us excited...
We've been having more people connect and interact in our MCCs throughout the week than at our Sunday services. We're celebrating this!!!! While we'd welcome everyone to come on Sunday, this fact means we're reaching people who for whatever reason aren't interested in "church as usual." We've made a decision to prioritize biblical community over attendance at a service, and as a result, God's allowing us to connect with people that we wouldn't otherwise be able to reach.
We have two Knoxville based churches that are uniquely different from each other and are experiencing authentic, biblical church community around the mission of Jesus. Even though they share overall vision and DNA, the way they're expressing church life is unique to their culture of people and context. We celebrate the diversity that's happening!
In Kodak, TN, we're helping our first MCC form outside of Knoxville. This community is currently meeting in the restaurant at the Smokies' Stadium, and I can't wait to see how God continues to form this disciple-making community.
As we look into the 2nd half of 2013, we believe we're just getting started. We currently have 8 people involved in intense leadership development because we can see the potential for several more MCCs forming as we move into the fall and spring of 2014.
God's moving, and we're just trying to keep up. If you're a part of Overflow Collective in some capacity, I want to encourage you to continue following Jesus throughout your rhythms of life. He wants to work in and through your life to meet people where they are and move them forward with Him as you overflow your faith! If you're connected to another church but you pray over OC, please continue to pray that God grants us the necessary wisdom to stay in step with Him as we learn on the fly. If you have questions about what we're doing or maybe you're aren't connected to a church and would like to know more about OC, I'd love to have coffee or talk on the phone sometime. Feel free to email me: joshoverflowcollective@gmail.com
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Cold Coffee
About this time last year I started the journey of intentionally trying to acquire a taste for coffee. That journey has led me to a point where I now enjoy/long for a cup of coffee or two throughout the day, but it's also taught me a lesson I'm referring to as "Cold Coffee." This concept came from having several cups of coffee brew from time to time that would end up getting cold because I'd get sidetracked or distracted. By the time I finally got to my coffee, it was too cold to drink, and I've discovered that at least for me it doesn't taste the same reheating it in the microwave
In some situations, it was a good choice to let my coffee get cold as I turned my attention toward something else. For example, our almost one year old often tries to destroy things, and He will also occasionally do what little brothers do and start bothering his 3 year old brother. In both of these situations, I've had to go "be the dad" and as a result, end up coming back to my coffee after it's dramatically cooler than I like. While disappointed my coffee was now cold, I think I obviously made the better choice.
However, there are other scenarios in which I've became frustrated by my cold coffee... Like when I get in my A.D.D. mode and completely forget that I have a cup of coffee waiting on me or when I get wrapped up in something not important like reading a blog about UT football. When I finally remember my coffee, it's too late; it's cold!
Ok. To my real point... As we go through life, we have to learn to recognize when we have allowed or should allow our coffee to get cold. However, in these situations, the coffee is merely symbolic to something much more meaningful.
Some of us may have things in our life that need to be ignored so we can pursue something better. For example, your "cold coffee" may be your addiction to Facebook, that if ignored, would free up more time to pray, read Scripture, or have substantial conversation with the people in your life.
Others of us may need to start taking advantage of our coffee while it's hot and stop letting it get cold. An example of this would be responding intentionally and immediately to the Holy Spirit's promptings regarding someone. Have you ever been in the middle of a task and all of sudden someone comes to your mind? This could very well be because God wants you to reach out to this person and be intentional about spending time with them. The key is to respond when prompted. Drink the coffee when it's hot because that's when it's best. All too often we wait, put it off, ignore it, and if/when we finally get around to touching base with that person, nothing comes of it. I have several personal examples of how this has played out both positively and negatively in my own life.
So, this is the concept of cold coffee... now you apply it to your situation!
In some situations, it was a good choice to let my coffee get cold as I turned my attention toward something else. For example, our almost one year old often tries to destroy things, and He will also occasionally do what little brothers do and start bothering his 3 year old brother. In both of these situations, I've had to go "be the dad" and as a result, end up coming back to my coffee after it's dramatically cooler than I like. While disappointed my coffee was now cold, I think I obviously made the better choice.
However, there are other scenarios in which I've became frustrated by my cold coffee... Like when I get in my A.D.D. mode and completely forget that I have a cup of coffee waiting on me or when I get wrapped up in something not important like reading a blog about UT football. When I finally remember my coffee, it's too late; it's cold!
Ok. To my real point... As we go through life, we have to learn to recognize when we have allowed or should allow our coffee to get cold. However, in these situations, the coffee is merely symbolic to something much more meaningful.
Some of us may have things in our life that need to be ignored so we can pursue something better. For example, your "cold coffee" may be your addiction to Facebook, that if ignored, would free up more time to pray, read Scripture, or have substantial conversation with the people in your life.
Others of us may need to start taking advantage of our coffee while it's hot and stop letting it get cold. An example of this would be responding intentionally and immediately to the Holy Spirit's promptings regarding someone. Have you ever been in the middle of a task and all of sudden someone comes to your mind? This could very well be because God wants you to reach out to this person and be intentional about spending time with them. The key is to respond when prompted. Drink the coffee when it's hot because that's when it's best. All too often we wait, put it off, ignore it, and if/when we finally get around to touching base with that person, nothing comes of it. I have several personal examples of how this has played out both positively and negatively in my own life.
So, this is the concept of cold coffee... now you apply it to your situation!
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