Weak Signals Defined

Remember when car radios had dials? Sure, you had pre-sets with all of the stations you like, but sometimes you'd go wandering across the dial in search of some new or old or better or novel. You moved that thin red pointer across the FM band of static. Below the static, music might emerge. The signal was too weak for you to hear with full clarity. But somewhere out there -- if you drove a little further north or south or east or west -- that song was being hear loud and clear.

Weak signals are patterns of human behavior, phenomena in nature, or movements of the Spirit that are trying to happen. You sense them, but what they will fully mean is yet to become clear. If you are truly interested in experiencing this "new thing," you're either going to have to curiously fiddle with your dial or drive a particular direction.

Right now there are all kinds of weak signals happening in Christianity.

• Rick Warren and Bono turning our attention towards Africa
• Passion artists creating large, catalytic worship experiences
• Prominent thinkers switching political allegiances
• Multi-site video venues
• Spiritual direction and theophostic prayer as an alternative to counseling

It's too soon to know if any one of these manifestations will lead to a paradigm change, or if they are merely a kind of blip on the radar. The only way we'll know is if we pursue understanding of them (or sit back and watch them run their course).

I am treating my sabbatical as a God-given opportunity to track down some weak signals in my life. Over the past months and years, I have begun to hear some "new songs" spiritually, but there is so much static from all of my activities that I haven't given myself completely to exploration.

In this blog, I'll name some weak signals I am hearing about my own life and document my attempts to find clarity. Undoubtedly, there will be many dead ends and lost signals, but I am more and more excited about what God will produce in the search. One thing you can count on -- I'm going to use this blog to honestly process what God is showing me. It may not be for the faint of heart.

I'm posting on the blog for two reasons:

1. As you read, I'm hoping God prompts you to pray.

2. As you ponder, I'm hoping God prompts you to comment.

I thought this would be a fun experiment -- a few dozen people with the freedom to interject, praying together about one person's journey over a fixed time period.

Please use this blog however you want to --

• If you just want to read it to know how to pray for me, that's kosher
• If you want post a quick thought, prayer, word of encouragement, or photo, that's cool
• If you want to ask me a hard question or exhort me to track something down, I'm up for that.
• Heck, you can even respond to one another

Obviously, my intention is not to devote my entire sabbatical to blogging. I may go days without posting. I may not be able to respond to everyone's thoughts.

Stop by every once in a while. I'll email all of you regularly a bullet point correspondence with high level prayer requests. You'll get the real story, though by showing up here.

I am so blessed to have all of you as travelling companions. Thanks for being on my team during this season.