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Wednesday, October 01, 2003
New Blog:
Please click here
and please change your links.
heidi 7:02 PM
Monday, September 29, 2003
I am completely ripping off Mike Bishop's blog. But I thought this was great stuff in reference to thee church planting question "how big is your church,
I've stopped answering that question, at least straight out. There are so many reasons why, but the main one is that I refuse to use numbers as a measure of success against Jesus' charge to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Notice he doesn't say, "go and make disciples - counting them along the way to make sure you can accurately measure if you're being 'effective' or not."
Anyway, David (who happens to be in his 60's and definitely "gets it") had a great idea for a response. What if, in answer to the dreaded question, we said something like, "Wow, that's a great question. Let me ask you this, how many friends do you have? Not just acquaintances, but people you actually share your life with - people that know who you are and you are working out your discipleship together?" Of course, they would answer something like, "Oh, three or four people at the most." To that you would say, "Wow, that's great. That's how big my church is too." Tongue firmly planted in cheek, of course.
I found myself abit lost today thinking about the church and me. I really want to "do life" with people and do church with them. I still find myself very sensitive to the common reaction by people who have left the "original big denominational vision" we started out with and gone on to other "big visions" for church. Oh my reaction is not to them since they never talk to us anymore. It's just in my head. But something got me thinking about the people who we met when we first moved here. People I intentionally got to know thinking we'd be life long friends. Oh, I remember my daughter told me that her best friend was a daughter of one of the women I was getting to know yet we have not seen them in nearly a year. My thought was yeah some best friend they never call us to see how we are and never seemed interested in us when we got the boot. Yet they were the very people who warned us about what we were getting into with the big cheese. I do not get it. But I feel sad today.
heidi 1:44 PM
Friday, September 26, 2003
Behold the Oracle's wisdom:
Personality type: Clueless
You don't go to Starbucks much; when you do you just tag along with other people since you have nothing better to do. You would like to order a Tazo Chai Crème but don't know how to pronounce it. Most people who drink small mocha are strippers.
Also drinks: Wine coolers
Can also be found at: The mall
this is what starbucks thinks of me, well then I guess we have to order our coffee from Peets So stick that in your foamer and steam it.
heidi 1:08 PM
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
If our message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.
Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messenger, errand rummers from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us-trail and torture, mockery and murder; what jesus did among them, he does in us-he Lives! Our lives are a constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While wer're going through the worst you're getting in on the best!
We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
taken from The Message 2 Corinthians 4
heidi 7:05 AM
Monday, September 22, 2003
It is pouring out right now. It sounds so nice. Samuel our eldest son turned 6yrs old today. We are celebrating by going to a fine hamburger establishment for dinner, his favorite eatery.
Sara and Will Sansbury came to visit this weekend we really enjoyed meeting them in person. It is also good to hang out with folks from other churches.
I have started reading the message and I just love it. It seems so lively to me. I can't explain it. It is simple and to the point. I love how eugene writes the intro. I can't even believe I read the intro to a bible.
will write later the kids are sugared up and now they need me.
heidi 2:10 PM
Friday, September 19, 2003
Gregs blog is all about what we have been dealing with. What I have been dealing with. I am excited though as I hear the voice of the good shepherd inviting me to let go of the ways I use people and to let him affirm me in his perfect goodness. Not only to affirm but to influence and redesign my heart, my loves, and my muddled up ways of coping. To breathe the free air of the kingdom and to embrace all that jesus taught about the kingdom.
yesterday my neighbor came over and helped me paint. I am so grateful for our budding friendship.
heidi 4:04 AM
Monday, September 15, 2003
Well, I have to share a really neat story with all you out there who desire to be missional and keep it as local as possible.
Our home builder came to do some wall repairs for our final 12 month warrenty. There were so many spots large and small that it requires me to basically re-paint the entire 4 rooms. Mind you we have 18ft high ceilings. So I have to purchase more paint and put in the time.
Well the builder told me there was no way they would re-paint it. So I was devestated. Well in the meantime a neighbor who I am getting to know came to see the damage. She was freaked out.
Yesterday she called me over to give me something. When I went to her home she handed me $20.00 to purchase new paint. Her mother-in-law whom I never met made the donation.
Then she told me that she had talked with other neighbors and that a group of 6-8 neighbors were coming over to re-paint my home and to help me prepare for the conference.
Then her husband wrote a letter to the CEO of the company. Can you believe it?
For months Greg and I have been wondering how we were going to be friends with our neighbors and now they are coming to our home to help with a church conference that none of them will be attending. Most of them go to McChurch and I have never had a spiritual conversation with any them (on purpose) they know that we are pastors and I am stunned.
Can I get an AMEN
heidi 11:16 AM
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