Well I have been meaning to post for a while now on this concept of a “bi-vocational” lifestyle. In the circles I swim in it is generally called bi-vocational ministry and basically means that you work two jobs. One is usually a church leadership job and the other is a job from some other industry. But I have come to realize that a bi-vocational lifestyle stems a lot farther than ministry and it should be noted and recognized as something valuable.

You see in church life if you work another job it is because your church can’t support you and your real goal is to not be “bi-vocational” anymore.

Generally people work one job and then they have their hobby on the side, but it’s not a job. However, anyone that is working two jobs is generally looked down on like they can’t hack it. Two jobs generally means that one job doesn’t pay enough so you better get two jobs. But this is not what I mean by being bi-vocational. Bi-vocational to me is working two jobs because of the goals and dreams you have for your life.

Not everyone is able to work their dream job and afford to live respectfully. I have musician friends who love music and get paid for it, but it would never pay enough for them to quit their day job, nor are they looking to do it full time. Sometimes there are things you do because you would do them anyway. If someone took the money away from their gigs, they wouldn’t cease creating and playing music. They would continue to play and be overjoyed by what it brings to their life.

Which brings me to my life. I am now undergoing my own transition. I realized that “church leadership” for me was the thing I would do anyway. I love thinking through my understanding of God according to Jesus teachings and I love teaching our group. I love thinking of ways that our church can be more active in the local community and serve there. I love connecting with people who are undergoing tough life situations and listening and advising. I would do this anyway, and for it to be my main source of income can actually hinder the passion behind it (at least for me, i was feeling this).

It was my sister-in-law, or maybe her husband, or perhaps a jungying dream psychotherapist who they quoted that said something along the lines that we all need two jobs.

One is to fulfill our practical needs and one is to feed our soul.

I really resonate this, and perhaps that is where I am moving. We seem to act dualistic in these decisions. We either do what we have to do to live, or we suffer and do the things that give us life. But why not both?

So what do you do for practical needs and what do you do for your soul?

I am not sure what this is going to look like for me personally, but it is important to note that I am not going bi-vocational because my church can’t support me, or so that I can be supported fully later. I am doing it to save my soul. And that’s all I can say on that right now.

thoughts?

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Originally uploaded by lkrabe.

Here is a sweet pic of Deric and I in the bahamas via an underwater camera.

I am in the middle and Deric is to my right. Not sure who that is behind me on my left.

I’m really getting into these TED talks.

Why does poverty still exist despite decades of development aid? In this talk, Iqbal Quadir explains why “aid does damages: because it empowers authorities instead of people,” and advocates a new approach to development from below, “by the people for the people.” His own experience as a child in Bangladesh and later a banker in New York brought him to realize that “connectivity is productivity” — and that a simple cell phone has enormous power. Now his telecom company, GrameenPhone, offers service to most of rural Bangladesh, creating new opportunities by connecting villages to the world.

I was going to post some detailed thoughts from the community forum, but instead I will share a couple of ideas and then allow you to read Deric’s email sent to our google group last night that said things perfectly.

The big thoughts that I would like to share are that over the next 4-6 months two major things are going to happen.

Kristin and I are going to be moving to Bi-vocational ministry. We are going to find jobs and work for the church and for the neighbourhood.

Our church is going to be giving 51% of everything we take in through tithes away. We are going to give it locally, globally, for needs of people and of organizations that are moving forward to Kingdom of God on earth.

I opened the meeting by sharing where and what Solomon’s Porch was that is mentioned early in Acts (3:11, 5:12). How it was a place where the early believers gathered together outside the more inner walls of the Temple. It was there that believers demonstrated their works of service, teaching, prayer and all other things that made up the early church. We talked about doing more together and being less individual in our view of church/service, and more holistic and connected.

Tim mentioned working together through maybe an enterprise that serves our community, or simply finding ways to be less consumers and more givers.

Others shared about turning Tuesdays gatherings into a place to be active in works of service as well as reflective.

And Deric spring boards from that…

I really do agree with all those who talked about serving together or business together.. whatever it is.. more places to intentionally be together serving the community or doing something for others we need that – if it makes money or profit so we can give more away Awesome!!!

but I do think it means being together more.. I’m all about people going out and trying things and starting things.. but I do believe we shouldn’t do it alone – I think we need to do more together. I think we should always be asking who can I take with me? grocery store, movie, pub, dinner, lunch, Out of The Cold, driving 1hour and half to have noodles with some other dude , if it is more than one great.. but if it is even if it is just one other .. success!!

Maybe this might be saying NO to more things we are doing alone and yes to more that we can do together? Because there has to be a sacrifice somewhere… Maybe part of even considering to do something new or different should only be if there are 2 or 3 that say yes or I’ll do it with you. maybe this starts to become a community (TOH) value..

EX: So I really want to go to a see this movie.. but I have no one to go with and there is one or two people already heading to the pub… I think I should go to the pub…

or I really want to serve at this ministry in Downtown Eastside.. yet I know their are a couple people already going to is Out of the Cold on Thursday night.. even though I might like this other thing better or even feel more comfortable I find a way to join the majority rather than being a lone Ranger..

Doing it together needs to start winning more often than doing it alone. . . I have a new idea or I want to start something I don’t dare do it until I have 2-3 people that want to join me in it. The Church has always been at it’s best throughout History when it is Together – that is what we really have to offer!!! That is when other’s have the most opportunity, I believe, to see Christ at work.

I think it is really a needed shift in our thinking. I feel at times many of our comments, mine included, often come from deep sense of individualism/consumerism that is embedded and engrained in us from a young age.

At Solomon’s Porch they were doing it together. . .

I think this was beautifully said, thanks Deric. And I will post the rest of the notes from the forum for people to see soon.

Ok this might be a little early, but if you live in Vancouver, please save the follow date!

A few of us from the open house and a few friends with the same vision are planning a huge fundraiser for a well in Africa December 15th at the Coal Harbour Community Centre. We hope to raise $10,000 towards the building of a few wells.

We have started a blog at http://wearewell.wordpress.com/ to give you more details, such as attire and what will happen at the event.

This is the 3rd or 4th annual party we have held and each year we have grown the pot.

Anyway, save the date and if you want a more formal invite respond in the comments below and I will send you one.

my m&m character

thanks Nick

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Originally uploaded by urbanplanter.

Come to our once a month gathering and reconnect with us at Wise Hall.

Kyle is going to be speaking on the looking at the ancient Hebrew Meaning of the word “Remember” and the importance of remembering on this Remembrance Day.

We are going to be once again meeting at 11:00am.

Looking forward to see you there!

I felt free today.

Free in a way that I have not felt in a long time.

I forgot about money, time, and how much work I have to do (or think I have).

I spent all day with Anna’s Grandpa and close family friend working on the electrical on my house. Changing wires, grounding wires, changing plugs, inserting new breakers. For a short time today I was in literal earthly heaven. It was the best place I have mentally been in a long time.

Sometimes people need to do electrical work to save their soul.

Mark Scandrette and Kyle Martin

Originally uploaded by Jordon.

Having seen this photo on my new friend jordon cooper‘s blog, I thought it would be a good segway into a few personal thoughts of the Soularize conference.

The conference begun with a great day at a private island called Rose Island. The pic here is of Mark Scandrette and I on our way back from the island having a great conversation about what church looks like in our relative contexts. Mark is part of a community in San Francisco called ReImagine and I find that it is always the Bay area guys that I connect most with.

Mark also led a rad seminar on community life and talked about these experiments they do with their group where they make lifestyle changes in order be a visible difference in their neighbourhoods.

After the private island, where Deric and I were able to do some snorkeling (we brought our own flippers and everyone was jealous), eat some good food, and converse with a variety of people, we headed back for the first session. The first session was led by NT Wright of which i posted some notes here, which was powerful. Although I am profoundly impacted by NT, it was Richard Rohr that changed my life. I posted some poor notes here.

It seemed that the conference centered on “Heaven on earth” or a earthly view of paradise, or something along those lines. Rita Brock spoke on the early church and the art that came from it (notes), NT showed the Kingdom of God theme throughout Acts, Brennan Manning brought us back to seeing God as Father/Abba (notes), and Richard Rohr spoke on maturity in Christ and the contemplative life.

I gained a number of new friends, a potential podcast opp with Nick, a refreshed way at looking at the world, and yet none of my current problems solved. But again, that wasn’t quite why I went in the first place.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next one.

This morning I saw in the tree, across from my desk through the window, a bird. It was jumping from limb to limb collecting the seeds of the tree for food. It is hard to say whether it was actually getting any food. It reminded me of the don’t worry passage in Matthew, but I wasn’t excited to read it. Especially when the bird seems to be starving and the limbs seem to be bare. But here is the passage anyway.

Matthew 6:24-26
24″No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

25″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I don’t want to worry. But the bird wasn’t getting any food either!

Perhaps what I should learn is that I mustn’t let my needs limit my desire. I need to go all out in my life, I can’t be static in my waiting around for things to be revealed. I need to take some action for my life, not only in figuring out what I am to do, but also to give my best to my current life. Even though the sad bird wasn’t getting any food it kept looking and it kept being a bird.

What does it mean to be human?..it means to keep jumping from limb to limb, being who God created me to be in the best way I know how, not letting empty branches turn me into something I am not.