What's it really take to change the world?

I am in way over my head ... probably not the opening line to anything that is intended to be inspiring in anyway. shape or form.  I've been told that one of my strengths is "self-awareness", which I think means that I am painfully aware of all of my flaws and tend to be truthful about them.  In other words, don't bother listing for me all of the ways that I may be inadequate, chances are that I am way ahead of you on that list. 
The latest revelation of my inadequacies took place during a walk from downtown recently.  As I was walking and observing all of the projects in process around here, my mind drifted to the forces driving all of this.  I began to think of the investors and the investments necessary to enable all of this.  Within two blocks of me are two 13 story projects running simultaneously ... with half a dozen currently in the pipeline to break ground soon.  To say that this neighborhood is taking shape overnight would not be an exaggeration. There is big money and big investors seemingly moving heaven and plenty of earth to form a new destination and neighborhood.  Within a mile of where I sit right now, savoring my eggnog latte, people with the last name Gates, Allen, and Bezos are making world changing decisions.  This neighborhood is quickly establishing itself into, arguably, the most influential neighborhood in one of the most iconic cities in the country.  These names are changing the worlds that they lead, which are in turn changing the world itself ... for better or worse is still up to history to decide. 
Amazon, Bill and Melinda Gates, Vulcan Development, a host of other world renowned entities, and Common Table all call South Lake Union home.  Now lets all play the "one of these things is not like the other" game.  The, in over my head, self aware part of me can spot the obvious in just a quick glance at the list.  But, and I do mean one big "but", fortunately looks can be deceiving.  One other thing that I am aware of besides self is that "way over my head" is exactly where I need to be for Common Table to reach the status of world changer.  It is in this place that God gets to work his best stuff and when God works his best stuff, the world can't help but be changed
Back in the day, it used to be that, when a community was established, everything was formed around the influence of a church or churches.  In cities and neighborhoods alike, churches had places and locations of prominence.  They had influence.  Over the years we have gotten out of the business of forming new neighborhoods and churches have fled the cities that were influenced by them in earlier years.
So I ask myself, sitting here savoring eggnog lattes, a few questions as I continue to marvel at all of this.  What would happen to the formation of a new neighborhood today if a church or churches were central to its well being?  What would happen if Jesus became a bigger name in the neighborhood than the above mentioned names?  What might happen if God were really in charge and his people allowed him to work through them instead of despite them?  What might the result be if God's people invested in God's project like everyone else invested in everyone else's projects?
The only answer that I come up with to all of these questions is Common Table.  One of my other strengths happens to be that I am a dreamer.

getting some balance in the season of giving

So apparently today has been proclaimed as "Giving Tuesday" by those who know better than I. 
Don't get me wrong... I am all for it ... in fact I wish that I had come up with it.  Joanne and I have become so much more aware as the years role on and we experience things that open our eyes to a world that we had been so very insulated from.  It was only 5 Christmases ago that we jumped all in to the movement known as Advent Conspiracy  and through it have immersed ourselves in the cause of clean water throughout the world, partnering with Living Water International, and drilling wells for villages without clean water access. 
The reality is that we in the United States will spend upwards of 500 billion dollars between Thanksgiving and Christmas...much of it fueled by the frenzy that has come to be known as "Black Friday" and its evil twin "Cyber Monday".  Experts in the realm of the clean water issue estimate that it would take only around 40-50 billion to eradicate the clean water crisis from the planet.  So, pretty much, we are at the very least way off balance in our priorities.  We are consuming ourselves to death.  #GivingTuesday seeks to bring a little perspective to the season of giving and allowing us to channel some of our giving towards issues far beyond whether or not ipads and elmo's are in stock.  There are so many good causes out there within the realm of the non-profit world.  People are certainly still without access to clean water.  People are still homeless and hungry.  People are still suffering from disease and the effects of natural disasters... there is certainly no shortage of places for you to gain a bit of balance in your holiday giving.
Let me add one more.  In the season with the underlying message of the arrival of the baby Jesus,  wouldn't it be fitting to be part of letting people know and understand the implications of that beyond the cuteness and nostalgia of shepherds and angels.  Let me ask you to consider helping to plant a new church in a neighborhood that could really use another to be planted.  Why a new church you ask?  Here are just a few reasons:
1.  Upwards of 5000 churches close their doors each year while far below that number are begun.
2.  Planting new churches is undeniably understood to be the most effective way in connecting new people to Jesus.
3.  If we are to ever re-establish a balance point during the Christmas season, beyond the great intentions of #GivingTuesday, wouldn't it be to connect and reconnect people to the real meaning, heart and purpose of Christmas?

So I ask you with all sincerity, to consider this gift as something that can help both in balancing your own celebration of giving this year as well as to help bring balance to a neighborhood through the gift of a new church planted deep in their heart.

You can make your (tax deductible) gift by going here and select "Common Table" as the destination.