So here we are a group of 5 rebel-like 50 year olds meeting in our homes and other places. We have all but done away with the church service. We like to eat when we get together and share. I guess you could call us organic. I used to think that that meant you were a vegetarian. (I'd gladly be a vegetarian if they dropped the rules of no meat). The dictionary meaning has to do with body organs... mmmmmm interesting. The 3rd definition is almost the opposite of what I thought it meant. 3. of plant or animal... having organs or an organized physical structure. Organized physical structure?????? Having organs????And what type of organ do they use, pipe/electric or standard. I don't know, I think I'll come up with my own word. I need a word that means all these things. 1-eating together. 2-relational. 3- caring. 4- learning. 5- mobile, fluid, adventurous. Any ideas????
Anyway this is not going where I first intended it to go. As I read about what is happening in the church I am encouraged to see the church is changing. What I am a little concerned about is how the Lord is doing different things. My concern is not with the Lord but with us. Will we all separate and do our own thing instead of working together? Recently I got to thinking that it seems kind of useless to only connect with those home groups/simple churches who think exactly like us. Or to try and birth simple churches that have our values and way of doing things. There are groups out there that take a Jesus only approach. There are others who just wanna hang out and have nothing to do any type of training or discipleship. Next you have groups that have a vision. Those who have some basic values. There are some who get into deeper training. There are those who are simply doing the church thing but in their homes. There are groups which focus highly on evangelism.... some on community.... and some on mission. Some a mixture of all three..... And you know what each group is producing bible verses to support their stand. As for me and my house we like em all. Well we don't like em all but what good does it do to stay away from each other?
What I desire is a mixture of all the above. In 10 years from now I want people to look at us and say, "they were about vision because they embraced vision and came to a fullness of being visionaries. (fullness does not mean perfection) Then they look at us and say "look how they loved one another because we embraced a lifestyle of one anothering and came to the fullness of loving one another." They look at us again and say they have helped so many people because they embraced mission and came to a fullness of being missionaries. They were mobile, fluid, bubbling, adventurous. They loved diversity. The loved to celebrate. They engaged with the hard sayings of Jesus. They loved the Word of God. Through the valley of tears and failures, the the ups and downs, through the dying and the living of life, through the struggles, through the joy and laughter, through all of the crap life and the enemy throw at us, they learned to be disciples of Jesus.
But it doesn't start with all the above. It starts with getting to know the Father, the Son...Jesus and the Holy Spirit. "For they who know their God shall gain strength and take action" (Daniel 11:32) I do not think though that we are called to do all these things in different seasons. For example, we will get to know God for a year and a half. Then we will pray about all this for a year. Then we will build community for three years and then we will think about reaching out. No no no. They all begin at the same time. The orders have all been given. But the foundation is getting to know GOD. Let's walk together.......

Here is a song I wrote about 20 years ago.

ANGELS UNAWARES

I met a man whose name was
I admit that I don't know
He had dirty hair
And his back was bare
He had nothing

When he looked into my eyes
I quickly turned away
It was plain to see,
He would ask me
For something

As he slowly came my way
He reached out his hand
But I told him no
That i had to go
Somewhere

As I walked away I heard someone say
Who is my neighbor?
From deep down inside I heard someone cry
I knew it was my Saviour I knew it was my Saviour

As I turned to watch him go
My heart was stilled in fear
He was standing there
Then into the air
He disappeared fjd

This song is based on a true story about a man I helped in L.A. just after I gave my life to the Lord. (1975) The story is too long to retell but his last words were I'll meet you back here at 4 o'clock. I came back and he never showed. (At least not in the flesh). Who knows????

zuzu@mts.net

I was really inspired this morning by Laurie Chalmers blog. I haven't blogged in a while. But inspired by Laurie, I will share what our church is in the process of doing. Becoming a little more intentional about what we do. Three of the five people in our church live in Southern Manitoba. The other two (Winnipeggers) about a 45 minutes away. . The 3 who are southerners have been talking about becoming more intentional in our area. For example, this past Saturday morning, we met for breakfast. Chatted and caught up on our lives. Wayne is a Christian book distributor and is on the road a lot. We also discussed some of the things we'd like to get more intentional about. We prayed a bit and i shared some scripture. "trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not unto your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight." There is a single mom across the street from us (early 30's) who lost her husband in a boating/hunting accident when they tried to cross a lake (about 5 years ago). Halfway across a storm met them. Being quite experienced at what they do, they thought no sweat. But as the waves got bigger two of the three in the boat were thrown overboard. They died. Now she has been alone for 5 and a half years. Their two boys are a handful. I mean a handful. (but they are great, just two boys full of enegy). Well any way, my wife Linda went to talk to Linda (the widow) (earlier in the week) and she put together a list of things for us to do. So after breakfast we went over to her house and raked the leaves from around her bushes and house, dug up the weeds from the soil around her hedges and cleaned all the windows on her house. It took us about 5 hours. Someone (Phyllis) brought us donuts. Wayne had to leave so Lynn and I invited Linda and her boys over for pizza. I share this hoping that it will inspire others to good works.
I recently read something by Elton Trueblood ( forward to "Call to Commitment). He was quoting Gordon Cosby. "If you want to make something real, make it local." I do not believe being intentional about something takes away from being authentic. Nor do programs. The Church of the Saviour intentionally agree to pray for an hour each day and weekly attend "the school of Christian living." People are astounded at how real, deep and authentic they really are............ Thanks Laurie for sharing your coffee time with us. Feel free to contact me at zuzu@mts.net