Verve? What the Heck is Verve?

Verve is the product name for a lot of things: an energy drink, a FORD concept car, a designer dog collar, a record label, an Aussie energy company, a 90s Britpop band, a Brit WC, and a Bollywood fashion magazine. When I first heard the name, I asked, wasn’t Verve a record label? Sure enough . . . though primarily a jazz label, with most of the major figures in Jazz during the 1950s and 1960s, Verve Records included a diverse range of artists in other genres. These included Charlie Parker, Bing Crosby, Frank Zappa, and Larry Norman. The Verve label was created by improvisational people breaking out of a world of traditional principles and practices who brought together an eclectic mix of voices. Sounds familiar.

The word verve means “energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas; excitement of imagination, vitality, spirit, energy, liveliness.” As the tagline for this blog is “Adventures in being the Church,” the title Verve fits our vision quite well.

Luminaries like Phyllis Tickle suggest that we are in another reformation that will be every bit as profound as that of the 16th century. This blog is born to serve (in a small, but earnest way) that great transformational process, examining and inspiring contemporary expressions of verve in the Church.

How are we going to do this? Regular contributors, Kathy Escobar, Kirsten Strand, (both have experience in leading people to be the church in new ways) and I, will post on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing our thoughts, observations, experiences, and questions about the adventure of God leading people to be the church in new ways. You’ll also find book reviews, interviews, introductions to other online resources, and occasional guest writers too.

I’ve served in many leadership roles in the institutional church for over 30 years, since I became a Christian at 24. In the past few years, those experiences have led me to investigate new movements in the Church—visiting churches and groups, attending conferences and workshops, blogging, visiting many blogs and webites, listening to mp3 lectures and sermons, and doing a lot of reading. I have had successes and failures in facilitating new adventures in being the church. Recently, a friend and I have entered into the process of beginning a new group for people seeking “meaningful faith.”

I confess that I approach this blog with mixed motives, some honorable and altruistic, and others which reflect my own brokenness. While my approach may be imperfect, I pledge to you that I will always honestly share my dreams, my concerns, and my questions. 

This blog is intended to encourage and inspire. It is meant to be a place for those who dream of a Church which actively brings Kingdom purposes to our world, be that in fresh and meaningful ways, or in ancient, but newly contextualized practices. Some of you who read this blog may be content in the institutional church, and are here out of curiosity, or even suspicion. Others may be asking tough questions about what it really means to be a follower of Jesus Christ in ways which meanginfully reflect the love of God. Or, you may be dreaming new dreams, longing for for the day when you can put some of your vision for the church into action. Some of you have one foot in the institutional church, but are exploring new expressions of the church, new ways to be God’s agents in the world. And there will be those who have already been actively engaging in contextual ministry, expressing God’s Kingdom values in your community. All of you are welcome. I thank you for reading and invite you to comment on these posts.   

So begins this particular, perhaps peculiar, adventure. May His grace and peace be with you.