Opportunities

I feel really blessed by our efforts to extend the borders of the kingdom this past Sunday at House Church. For those not able to be present, I asked everyone to bring 5 $1 bills. I had 5 different envelopes...one for an orphan in Brazil, one to adopt a homeless man or woman at the Union Gospel Mission and sponsor them for 16 meals, two envelopes for two different folks who are out of work, and one for a friend who is desperately ill and often controlled by her husband. We were able to put about $30 per need in an envelope simply by everyone bringing 5 $1 bills! Awesome!

If you couldn't come, or would like to add to any of these envelopes, please bring some cash Sunday - I will have all the envelopes available, and then I will deliver the gifts with help from some of you this next week!

If you haven't been to the Greatest Gift Catalog Ever site, check it out at http://www.thegreatestgiftcatalogever.org/ You and your family can give real life gifts to needy folks right here in our own community this Christmas.

This Sunday we will be discussing Luke 22:7-38, and sharing our meal together during our normal House Church time. Hope to see you all then!

3D Glasses

It seems to me that the problem I have faced recently is that the story I though I was living as 'real' was in reality, a hologram. I looked at it, and the characters of my story seemed deep, rich and multi-dimensional. But then, when conflict entered the picture, many of these characters in my story turned out to be made out of cardboard and propped up with bricks.

Which made me think of these cool 3D Christmas glasses we own. When you wear them, first of all, you feel super sexy, because they are green with little Christmas bulbs on them, and, because, well, they're 3D Christmas glasses.

When you look through the glasses at the lights on the tree, you see the little light with NOEL written above and below the light. Whoa! Cool! Everyone loves these glasses. We paid $2.99 for them fifteen years ago at Drug Mart, but people still ooh and aah over them every year!

The down side is that when you take the glasses off, you realize it wasn't real. It was cool, it amazed me for a minute, but it was only a party trick. Which is fine if we are talking about a $2.99 pair of 3D glasses from Drug Mart. We got all the value that was required from them.

But it's not OK when we are talking about the community of faith. Too often, I think, people's experience of 'the church' resembles our 3D glasses. A certain person comes into a group of people who seem to be different. People who extol the power of God as well as the grace of God. These folks invite you to put on the glasses and you are moved by a song, a sermon or an event. Whoa! This is awesome! I wish I had a pair of these glasses to give everyone I know!'

So we continue looking through the glasses until one day the Christmas tree gets dry and brittle and combusts, threatening to burn everything down in its path. We take off the glasses to rub our eyes and decide whether or not we are dreaming, whether this is really happening or not. But as soon as we take the glasses off, we realize that nothing we were seeing before was real.

And now the person feels gypped, because what they wanted was an authentic experience of God, but what we handed them was a $2.99 pair of 3D glasses from Drug Mart.

I long to quench my thirst for the almighty though a day-in and day-out, authentic experience of God. And to be challenged by my community of faith to settle for nothing less. But even as I write these words, I am not sure exactly what this would look like. But, just as Columbus struck out to find a new world, I too, long to find this.

We have scheduled a retreat for January 8-10, 2010. This week I have asked many of you to play one role or another during the course of that retreat. I would again encourage you to free your calendars and come along as we seek God's face together.

Thanksliving

One of the most painful lessons to learn these last few months has been the awful truth that the 'reality' I had been living for the last several years was, in reality, a hologram. It looked good, liked the eagle on the credit card, but it simply wasn't real. I knew this because of all my 'close' friends who apparently forgot that I existed overnight. Friends who had accepted love and hospitality from our hand but then turned their backs on us when we were no longer useful to them. Folks who claimed to follow Christ, who claimed we were 'family', yet couldn't be bothered to lend a hand when we were down and nearly out. This has been a most bitter pill to swallow for someone who has preached community and togetherness within the body of Christ throughout his entire adult life.

However, this bitter pill has also made me more conscious of those relationships that are sweet and solid and true. It has made me even more conscious to say what I mean and mean what I say. So, in that spirit, I offer you these 10-ish statements of Thanksliving this November, 2009:

1. Wisdom, coupled with belief, is a powerful entity. I am so thankful to Betty Nelson and Bobby Hoover for providing me with both. They both believe in me, but also are not afraid to offer me their wisdom when they think I need it. For this I am deeply grateful.

2. I believe that Joy and Hope are the most noticeably 'different' qualities in a Christian's life. I Peter says that you and I are to 'always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that we have.' This would seem to suggest that folks should notice something different in us, something joy-full and hope-full, and then ask us about it. In the face of extremely difficult times DeeDee and Earl have always been just such a breath of fresh air in my life. You guys are like a cool Summer Breeze that never seems to stop blowing, even when times are tough.

3. Faithfulness and Fidelity are traits I value above all others. Greg and Bill, I appreciate the way you have stuck by your guns in the past months. From the meeting about 'wineries' forward, you have been completely consistent and forthright, even when you felt I needed to change something I was doing. But you have never treated me differently than you had previously. To my entire House Church, and especially to the group that hosted the 'meeting' - Bill, Donna, Greg, Betty, Bobby and Terry, I say thanks for your willingness to stand tall for what you believe to be right.

4. Stepping up to the plate is hard to do, but we always seem to grow best in times of adversity. It seems like it forces us to take steps we wouldn't ordinarily make. I was so aware of this one Sunday at the Elliott barn when Ray suggested that he had been on spiritual autopilot but he was now awake and listening for what God had to say. That was such a powerful moment for me. I also remember asking Connie to close us in prayer on one of our first Sundays, and she looked at me and said, 'I would be honored'. And I knew that those words were COMPLETELY true. This painful experience was opening doors before my very eyes.

5. Sometimes the most beautiful moments come in the simplest activities. There are some Sunday nights, when we have shared the common meal at AXIS, and had our devotional, when I look around the room(s) and smile. Different groups will be deep in conversation, laughing and talking and sharing community. I LOVE IT!

Then out of nowhere, someone will say something, or I will break into one of my comedy routines or someone will do something goofy, and then Taylor will start laughing. Now let me tell you, there are few pleasures in life as rich as Taylor Price laughing deeply. Her eyes roll back in her head, and briefly her breathing is suspended. Then she rocks forward, while she waves her hand in front of her face, telling us not to do anything else, or she may explode. Recently we have added Amanda McLemore to this mix, and to get the TWO of them going is a rare pleasure indeed!

Or it might even be out at my fire pit on a Tuesday evening, a place Keith Bailey loves and calls his own. We get to talking and laughing, and I am trying to keep Kara from disturbing the ladies Bible study that is going on inside, because she is so loud, boisterous and full of life. Few people I know enjoy life like she does, and it is infectious!

Or it may be our wonderful book club, which rarely studies the actual book assigned, but more often than not really DOES Church.

Small, simple, everyday moments that make for a rich life.

6. HONESTY. Rare and beautiful though it is, I have begun to experience it within the community of Christ in recent months. From finding out that a certain blonde sister tried smoking and driving her daddy's truck at age 13, to a certain brown brother who helped his older siblings in their illegal escapades because his hands were the smallest, I have begun to know the people I worship alongside deeply and honestly. Sure they have foibles, but how awesome is it to know someone inside and out? To know that you can truly depend on someone and that you know the real them. I mean, I have known Stacy for over 8 years, but have now learned more in the last 6 months about her than the rest of that time combined, and how great a gift is that? Stacy is a treasure!

And I know I already said this, but it is a powerful thing to be in a group of people where Donna can say 'What the Hell does that mean?' in response to part of the sermon, which was a VERY truthful response that I am sure many people have wanted to express during the sermon time. Or to have Jeremy Walraven ask one of his really deep questions because he feels like he can! Those are GREAT moments!

7. FAMILY. Let me tell you about family. Family is being allowed to feed jello to Amy Foster after her surgery (she HATES to let anyone help her) - or Anne bringing us dinner when we are stressed out beyond belief - or the joy of watching my children watch Becky Bingham come through the door - or having Betty Nelson as a surrogate mother - or having so many people around who also love your children - or having your best friends fly back from Panama at the darkest hour of your life. Now those are experiences of family.

8. HOME. Lester, Taylor and Caitlyn have all mentioned how much they feel at home, well, in our home. Yet for me I feel the most at home within the safety and proximity of this group of people. Even when Jamie and Jeremy are being robbed once, twice, three times a lady - sorry, couldn't resist :-) - there is the book club showing up at their door, coming to help pack boxes and get the stuff out before anything else can be stolen. And I swear to you, in those moments when their 'home' was being transported down to David and Cindy's house, there was still a feeling of home to me, because we were together, sharing even in the painful moments of life.

9. Youth and wisdom coming together. My children get to have a fun 'kid' song each Sunday. Donna doesn't always want to play along :-), but I will assure you that someday Nathan, at least, will remember doing Church in his home in such a way that he truly was a part of what was happening.

And to have young couples like Jamie / Jeremy, Corey / Deanne and Robert / Sofia, right alongside folks like Betty and Bobby, who are perched on the entrance ramp of their ninth decade on this earth. To have teens like Kara and Becky, as well as 'mature' folks like Jack, Theresa, Bill, Donna, DeeDee and others who have been around people of faith for quite some time now. That is truly a 'community of faith'.

10. To have a community of people that value the arts - from JP's guitar playing to Donna's sewing - to Greg's artwork - to Kate's jewelry - to Kara and DeeDee singing, for all of these and more, I am truly grateful. I was blown away at the response to our little coffee shop night, and I look forward to more opportunities to share as we use all of the avenues God has given us to express ourselves for His glory.

11. Finally (I did say 10-ish!) I am remiss if I do not include my wife, who lovingly cleans our home every week so that we can have house Church and AXIS in her space. She never complains about cooking or cleaning or having so many people in our home, but always plays the role of perfect hostess, even though she now works full-time, and for that I am grateful. I could ask for NO BETTER partner in my life than Amy, and even as we celebrate 18 years together, it get better and richer every year.

So, all that to say, THANK YOU! For being a part of our lives and sharing the blessing of who you are, THANK YOU! And may we all continue to be richly blessed as we seek His face!

Grace and Peace

Ryan

House Church Retreat

Hey, everybody! Hope you are keeping your schedule clear January 8-10 for our upcoming House Church retreat in Dallas. Charles Kiser from the Storyline Christian Community in Uptown Dallas will be coming to share the story of what God has been doing in their recent Church plant. We will also be using different House Church folks to serve as small group facilitators and resource speakers. MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! Don't allow other things to crowd into your schedule...this is an awfully important event in the life of this little group!

To get a good count, please let me know by December 1st if you plan on going so we have enough hotel rooms. We will be staying at the Springhill Suites in Addison. The price is $50 / person for multiple people in a room, more if you think you snore too badly and have to have your own room! :-)

This price includes lunch and dinner on Saturday, as well as your room and retreat materials (Breakfast is also included in with your room price). We want EVERYONE in our House Church to come, so talk to me if money is going to be a difficulty. We will probably meet to leave Friday around 6pm at our house and head up the George Bush Turnpike to try and beat the traffic. We'll grab a quick dinner somewhere and get settled in at the hotel! Click the picture above to get a detailed schedule you can print off!

Topic for Sunday

Hey, everybody! Hope you are having a great week! Our text(s) for the weekend are going to be from the 19th and 20th chapters of the book of Luke. The first story is from Luke 19:11-27, the Parable of the Ten Minas and the second is from Luke 20:9-19 and the Parable of the Tenants.

These two passages deal with stewardship issues that have been very much in the front of my mind after reading the book for book club entitled 'The Hole in our Gospel.' Hope you will take a chance to read over these texts ahead of time so we can be ready to share on Sunday!

Book Club Schedule

Hey, everybody! I don't know if you are interested in book club or not, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD BE!

So you would know and could join if you would like, we will NOT meet this next Tuesday, November 24th, but we will meet the 1st, 8th and 15th of December at our house, 6:30-8:00pm. We will be using some video curriculum from Donald Miller during that time, which coincides with his new book, called 'A Million Miles in a Thousand Years'.

Taylor Price and I highly recommend this book to you. I think it is the best thing he has written since 'Blue Like Jazz', and a very well constructed book. He makes his case for about 150 pages, and then really jams his point home in the last 100 pages. We won't ask everyone to read it, but would encourage you to at some point.

We will take off the 22nd and 29th of December for the Christmas Holidays and resume on January 5th (no, the NCAA Football Championship game is on the 7th, Bill!). The book we will be reading is called 'Have a Little Faith: A True Story', by Mitch Albom. It is a fairly short, easy read and even better than 'Tuesdays with Morrie', in my opinion. It is a $23.99 hardback book, but currently available from Amazon.com for only $9.95.

Hope to see you on Tuesdays!

I am in love with a hypocrite

He loves both saint and sinner

The life long faithful - the death bed beginner

He loves the tax xollector and the tax evader

He loves Luke Skywalker and he loves Darth Vader

He loves the home of the free and the land of the brave

The poorest of the poor with child labor slaves

He loves those who are both pro-life and pro-war

Just as those who are pro-choice and for elevating the poor

Yes - I am in love with a hypocrite

He loves burnt orange and crimson red

He hooks’ em horns and flips’ em down

He loves the smiles of the victors

And the losers’ tears and their frowns

He loves good guys just as much as the enemy

He loves Steven Spielberg and he loves Ron Jeremy

He loves Obama and McCain and he still loves George Bush

He loves Osama and T. Pain and those who pull weight and kick-push

He loves the raging alcoholic

Just as the man who’s never touched a bottle

He loves the obese who can’t get out of bed

Just as much as the bulimic runway model

He loves left brained analyzers and right brained creatives

He loves immigrants with an accent just as much as the natives

He loves those with bank accounts and those who only fold cash

He loves those dressed in white and he loves Johnny Cash

Yes - I am in love with a hypocrite

He loves the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers

He loves Irish Catholics and the Puritan Quakers

He loves Hip-Hop and he loves Rock’s Roll

He loves salsa - meringue - and R&B soul

He loves Garth Brooks and Stevie Wonder

Myley Cyrus and Jay-Z

He loves Reba McIntyre and the Jonas Brothers

N’Sync and Ice T.

He loves non-supernatural atheists

Just as Christians who live by the Bible

He loves Hindus - Muslims and Buddhists

Simon - Paula and American Idol

He loves communist China just as much as the U.S. of A.

He loves Sarah Palin and he loves Tina Fey

He loves Fidel Castro and Kofi Annan

He loves gumbo and etoufee -- egg drop soup and won-ton

Yes - I am in love with a hypocrite

He loves Dancing with the Stars

And the cow that jumped over the moon

He loves the great white hope Larry Bird

And the black hall of fame quarterback Warren Moon

He loves the Yankees and the Red Sox

The Steinbrenner’s and whoever owns Boston

He loves the Cowboys - and yes - Jerry Jones

No matter how much the new stadium cost ‘em

He loves the overachievers in life

And those who believe c’s get degrees

He loves the man who just won’t stop running

And the woman who prays for him on her knees

He loves Brittney Spears on stage

And Brittney Spears when she’s bald

He loves Michael Vick on the football field

And when the prison guard calls

Yes - I am in love with a hypocrite

He loves the black sheep in the family

And the pink elephant in the room

He loves the immorally tolerant

And the intolerably crude

He loves warm fur coats and the people at PETA

He loves steak and potatoes and vegetarian fajitas

He loves stone builders and those who cast the first stone

He loves Mother Theresa and he loves Sharon Stone

He loves those who sprint and those who can’t walk

He loves the eloquent speaker and those who don’t talk

He loves red-headed pastors and Jewish Rabbi’s

He loves those fervent in the congregation and

those who gossip and tell lies

Yes - I am in love with a hypocrite

He loves both saint and sinner

The life long faithful and the death bed beginner

The only thing he doesn’t like is the sin - but he loves the sinner

The only thing he dislikes is the sin - but he loves the sinner

As a matter of fact - he hates the sin - but he loves the sinner

Therefore - he is NOT a hypocrite - that’s what my ego calls him

He is NOT a hypocrite - though our culture expects him to choose sides

He is NOT a hypocrite - although he loves those we love and

he loves those we hate

Yes - he goes by many - many names - but has only one Son

Neither of them are hypocrites - they merely desire for us to be one.

-- Will Richey, December 2008

I am very proud to say I commissioned this poem from Will for our Advent Service in 2008. I am more proud to know Will and count him as a friend and brother. He is ridiculously gifted and every time we get a chance to do something together, I am always better for it. Many of you have asked for the text to the poem, so here you go!

DOING Church

Ok, so tonight I was with a group of people who DID Church (that's a Bill Akins-ism). The strange part was that we were at UTA when it happened.

A few of us went to a Postsecret event held tonight at the Bluebonnet Ballroom in the University Center at UTA. If you aren't familiar with Postsecret, you can go to www.postsecret.com to see what the phenomenon is all about. It is the brainchild of a man named Frank Warren who invited people to send him their secrets on postcards. Later he created a blog which he still updates five years later with secrets he receives each week. He has also created five books from the postcards, the latest book dealing with issues of death and spirituality. WARNING: some of the messages are R-Rated. They purport to be real secrets and Warren's goal is to create a community for people to be able to truly share what is hidden deep inside of them.

At the event tonight he showed several examples of his postcards and also spoke on his experience of knowing so many of people's secrets. He then opened up a couple of microphones, and allowed folks to share with the crowd!

One young lady spoke of all the love she has to give, and how afraid she is that she will never find that special person to share her love with. As she closed her tearful statement another young lady called out from the crowd, 'Me, too!'. Then from the other side of the ballroom another young lady said, 'I'm afraid of that, too.' Finally, a third lady stood up and shared emphatically that she didn't meet that special someone until she was 37 and so the young lady should not give up hope. It was a beautiful thing, and a powerful evidence of community.

The interesting thing for me was I had this sense (not sure if it was exactly a vision or not) of Christ standing in the middle of this community with arms outstretched, responding to the deep and real hurts people were sharing.

But secretly I wondered...have we in the community of faith offered the same opportunity to people that they were receiving tonight? The opportunity to share things that folks are desperately afraid of, and help them to lay those fears down at the cross? And then I thought, how many folks within our tiny house Church are nursing these same types of secret fears?

How can we help them to see the beauty and truth David speaks about in Psalm 3...I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. To find comfort in God and surround people with a community who refuse to remember your lowest moments.

I want to be THAT people.

Grace and Peace

Ryan

Thanksgiving

Lauren Winner said in her book, Girl Meets God, that she had maybe been truly THANKFUL a couple of times in her life. Not a fleeting moment of thankfulness, but a season of realizing how TRULY blessed we are.

Tomorrow we will focus on part of Luke 17, in verses 11-19, and the story of ten lepers. All ten were healed but only one came back to be thankful to the one who healed them. Jesus asks, 'but where are the other nine?"

Come prepared to share things you are thankful for as we prepare for the season of Thanksgiving we celebrate in this country.

AXIS Retreat

A little video from our retreat in September!

Another Church Sign

* Sigh *

Burying the tendril

This past Sunday those of us who were present for house church had communion before we actually took part in 'communion.' We had a very heart-felt, and at times, teary discussion as we contemplated the three stories we know so well that are found in Luke chapter 15.

We split into two groups and I asked three questions...

1. Describe a time when you were lost geographically.

2. Describe a time when you felt lost spiritually.

3. Describe a time when you found something, geographically or spiritually.

It was the second question that seemed to provoke the emotion, and at times, even tears. As I was reflecting on that discussion this week, I started reading the book, 'Under the Tuscan Sun' by Frances Mayes.

'The way we have potatoes is the way most everything has come about, as we've transformed this abandoned Tuscan house and land over the pat four years. We watch Francisco Falco, who has spent most of his seventy-five years attending to grapes, bury the tendril of an old vine so that it shoots out new growth. We do the same. The grapes thrive.

To bury the grape tendril in such a way that it shoots out new growth I recognize easily as a metaphor for the way life must change from time to time for us to move forward in our thinking.'

For those who may not know the tendril is that part of the stem on a vine that serves to attach a climbing plant to its support. So that apparently, at some point in the life of the vine, the best thing you can do is to cut off the part that is connected to the building or fence which serves as its foundation. Only by doing that can the vine once again experience real, new growth.

For many of us, we have been cut off from that institution that has been in many ways the foundation for us spiritually. But we have also found this to be an opportunity for new growth. Perhaps not the way we would have scripted it, but sometimes it takes burying the tendril to produce true growth.

Sunday we will be discussing Luke 16, and the Parable of the Shrewd Manager...one of the most difficult passages in all of the New Testament...see ya then!

Lost something?

This week we will be looking at Luke chapter 15, which has three stories about being lost and then found. A lost coin, a lost sheep and a lost son.

I am going to ask people to share in small groups this week, so you can give these questions some thought ahead of time...

1. Describe a time when you were lost, geographically...

2. Describe a time when you felt lost, spiritually...

3. Describe a time when you found something...

Hope you've had a GREAT week!

Grace and Peace

Ryan

The Soul

The soul, in many religions, spiritual traditions, and philosophies, is the spiritual and eternal part of a living being, commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; as distinct from the physical part. It is typically thought to consist of ones consciousness and personality, and can be synonymous with the spirit, mind or self. The soul is believed to live on after the person’s physical death, and some religions posit that God creates souls. In some cultures, non-human living things, and sometimes other objects (such as rivers) are said to have souls, a belief known as animism.

-- Wikipedia

It can be tough to differentiate at times between soul and spirit, terms which are often used interchangeably. But check out these verses, which list them side by side, thereby suggesting that they are, in fact, different.

* I Thessalonians 5:22-24

* Hebrews 4:11-13

* I Peter 2:10-12

* Ephesians 6, ESPECIALLY verse 12. It seems that there are realms which we may sense, but cannot ‘see’ that are playing a part in our story. Quantum Physics is backing that up at the moment, discussing dimensions that are there but may not be ‘visible’ to the naked eye. So, what is our soul? Does it change as time goes on? What is the difference between our soul and our spirit?

Finally, it may help to go back and look at the Creation story in Genesis 1, especially the part about man in verses 26-ff. God endows qualities within man that are not given to others, the most important one being that we are designed in God’s own image. What does that mean? How are we LIKE God? We aren’t eternal or all-knowing, so which attributes of the God-head are we like? OK, your turn to chime in now!

Luke 13

So, here are my questions that I never got to really answer Sunday or even really talk about from Luke 13, especially verses 22-ff.

1. What does the 'narrowness' of the door (v. 24) have to do with the point Jesus is making in this parable?

2. Why does the host get up and close the door? (v. 25)

3. Why can't Jesus ever just answer the question? (v. 23)

A toast to Donna Akins

I hereby propose a toast to Donna Akins. For all the people out there who have listened to sermon after sermon and ached to ask only once, 'What the Hell does that mean?', we salute you. Raise your glass high Mrs. Akins, we all love you dearly, even more today than last week!

Eschatology - what the hell does that mean?

Eschatology From the Greek, Eschatos meaning last and -logy meaning the study of, is a part of theology and philosophy concerned with what are believed to be the final events in the history of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world.

One of the great texts about the end of the world and things to come is found in I Peter Chapter One:

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

In recent history, the Left Behind Series has brought to the front some issues regarding the 'rapture', which is the belief that some will be left here on earth and some will be whisked away to Heaven. There are those who believe in the rapture in the Christian community, as well as those who do not. Some believe Christ will come back and reign for 1,000 years as one last opportunity for us pitiful humans to get it right. Whether or not you believe in this will dictate whether you are pre-millenial, post-millenial or a-millenial. Have I confused you yet? The bottom line for me is that Peter tells us that even Angels long to look into some of these things. However, if you are interested enough to do some study on your own, here are some key scriptures:

* I Corinthians 15 (esp. v. 50-52)

This whole chapter is on resurrection, but the part about how we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye is where some of our eschatological theology comes from.

* I Peter 3:18-19

These verses are part of the Nicene Creed, and talk about Jesus going to preach to the souls in prison, or in torment. Nearly all early Christian Scholars believed this to be in the realm of the dead. Were these souls in Hell? Were they in Purgatory (a waiting area)? Or were they literally in prison here on earth?

* I Thessalonians 4:13-18

This passage concerns the second coming of Christ. Again, there is a specific moment in time when a trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will rise first, which would seem to indicate that they had not yet been resurrected. Where were they? In what 'form' were they?

* Revelation chapter 11

This concludes the long section on the '7 Trumpet Calls of God', and well, you figure it out and let me know.

More to come on the nature of the Soul.

Grace and Peace

Ryan

Narrow Door

Common Meal Tomorrow: The Best Hamburgers this side of the Pecos Valley!

I was at mentoring group this past Thursday, and Grady quoted Brian McLaren...McLaren said of his upbringing in the Plymouth Brethren Movement that he grew up in the Church of the last detail. They worried about everything...the kind of music that could be used in worship, who could what during their gathering time, what decorations could be put up in the auditorium, what time the worship gathering should end, etc. They crossed every 'T' and dotted every 'I', and to be a part of their group you had to do the same.

I grew up in a similar situation -- only the name brand was different, I learned quickly that you had to toe the line or you would find yourself outside of the club. Then, as an adult, I began to learn about things like Grace, and how unmerited favor has been bestowed on each of us.

So that makes the passage from Luke 13 something of a throwback, especially verses 22-30. What does the narrow door mean?

Upcoming Calendar!

Above please find a calendar of upcoming events for our House Church! Click on it for a better view!!!

Luke 12

'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.' -- Luke 12:15

All kinds of greed...hmmm...and I thought there was only one!

This 12th chapter of Luke is very interesting. In these verses Jesus warns against all kinds of things: gossip /tongue wagging (v.1-3), fear (v.4-7), blaspheming (v.8-12), greed (v. 13-21), worry (v. 22-31), not being watchful and ready (v. 35-48 and v. 49-59).

What are you greedy for? What might Jesus say to you is not as important as you think it is?

Tomorrow we will discuss Luke 12 and our lunch menu is Meatball sandwhiches, which DeeDee is bringing!

Have a great day!

Luke 11...Continued

We didn't get a chance on Sunday to discuss the rest of Luke chapter 11, but there is a very interesting section from verses 14-28 where Jesus talks (on the surface at least) about demon possession. the underlying conversation seems to be about the strongholds within each person's life. In verse 23, Jesus says, 'Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.' In a world that doesn't like black and white issues, this appears to me to be a very simplistic thing. Like a light switch that must be either off or on, Jesus says, you must be with him or scatter. I think the additional possibility is that if your hands are full of your own 'stuff', then you can't gather the things or people Jesus has called you to gather.

Jesus then goes on to say, 'When an evil spirit comes out of anyone, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, I will return to the house I left. When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.' I think, of this whole chapter, this might be the most relevant portion for us today. When I decide to lose some weight, and start watching my eating habits, but DON'T exercise in addition to changing my eating habits, the change never lasts. To change a bad habit, you must REPLACE the habit with another practice, as well as all the circumstances that surround the bad habit.

Finally, we read: 'As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you. He replied, blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.' Jesus seems to be speaking to all these people He meets throughout the book of Luke about the things they hold dear...family or friends or possessions or whatever, and he consistently turns their whole world upside down. Someone says something definitive that seems to make sense and Jesus says the opposite. I don't think he's being obstinate, I think He is consistently challenging his listeners to look at their world in a completely new and different way from the norm in their society.

How might Jesus be asking us to look at our world in a fresh way today?

Light and Darkness

If you read Luke 11:35-36 you will find the following...

'See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.'

I have struggled over the years, trying to figure out how to be full of the light. In my effort to accomplish this, I immersed myself into nothing but Christian music and literature for a period of time -- but still I found myself a mix of light and darkness. So then I went the other direction, and sort of scorned the "Christian-eze', but after a season, I realized I was still a mix of light and darkness.

I realized that this was not the reason for my being full of light or full of darkness. So, here I am, still pursuing that ideal of perfect light...

Turn To Me...

"O my child, I have waited long for your coming. My eyes have grown weary with watching, and my heart heavy with longing for you.

For I have said 'Rest in Me', but you have striven. I have said, 'Stand Still', but you have continued to run. I have called, but you have been listening to human voices.

Turn to me.

You do not need to do more. Like the sinner who misses the gift of saving grace through absorption in good works, so you, My child, have missed My sweet reality in your frantic effort to please Me."

-- Frances J. Roberts

Weak

Sign on previously mentioned Church building near our office. Content changed, my feelings remain the same:

'7 days without prayer makes one weak.'

Better theology, but...

Only if you mean it...

For the last several years I have had a personal code I try very hard to live by...if I'm not willing to sign my name on the dotted line that I said it, then I am not going to speak it into life. I have not always lived up to that high standard, I'm sure...but it has served as an excellent gatekeeper for my tongue.

In much the same vein, Amy Foster really got me thinking yesterday. She said she didn't know what really being a sold-out disciple might look like today. After reflecting on Amy's question, I realized that I have actually made some revisions in the past few weeks about what I believe true discipleship might look like...

I believe that God has more in store for us than being 'good Church attenders.' I believe being a disciple means a whole lot more than I was ever taught that it did. I believe God is calling me to live radically for Him in the context of a culture that pays little attention to him. I believe that God can send me out into this world however He chooses to...with money, without money, to the Holiday Inn EXPRESS, to the streets, etc.

But what, to quote Mrs. Foster, does discipleship really look like -- day in and day out?

This morning I was reading in Rob Bell's new book (thanks to Casey) and I came upon this...'ONLY IF YOU MEAN IT. This would make an excellent mantra, wouldn't it?'

What if we only did those things we REALLY meant? If we spent so much time with God that we came to value the things He valued and then only thought, said or did those things we really mean?

Now that, I believe, is something to ponder as you begin your week. Thanks to Rob Bell and Amy Foster...

Discipleship, Part 2

For this Sunday, September 20th, we will be looking at some passages on discipleship and watching another video by archaeologist and historian Ray VanDerLaan. The specific texts we will be looking at are:

Luke 9:1-9 Jesus sends out the 12

Luke 9:57-62 Counting the cost of following Jesus

Luke 10:1-24 Jesus sends out the 72

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Grace and Peace

Ryan

Thank You!

Thanks to all who helped me celebrate my 40th birthday last night. I enjoyed all of the cards, gifts and well wishers. It meant a lot to see everyone out in force at Tres José...I was completely shocked, and had NO idea it was coming! I feel totally loved and blessed, and wish I could truly express to you what I feel in my heart for each one of you!

Discipleship

Following our discussion this morning, I just wanted to post a couple of questions and thoughts that were raised so you can chew on them further this week...

1. This morning we discussed the people in our lives who we felt had shown us the greatest picture of discipleship. Most of the people mentioned were what one might term 'average folk.' Aunts, friends of the family, grandparents, etc. Folks who loved and served and consistently lived out the presence and spirit of Christ in front of us.

Based on these examples, what do you think the true definition of a 'disciple' is?

2. What does it mean to be a disciple in our culture today? Is it different today than it was in the time of Christ? Why or why not?

3. Turn and look at the end of Matthew 28...why do you think Jesus specifically commissioned his followers to go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations? How is that that different than the commission offered in many American Churches today?

4. In the video we watched, Ray Vander Laan challenged his listeners that the disciple (talmid) is not someone who wants to know what the rabbi knows, rather he or she is someone who wants to BE what the Rabbi IS. A disciple, Vander Laan says, is 'consumed with being like our rabbi.' How consumed are we today? How badly do we want to be like Jesus?

I pray that this is a GREAT week for you, and may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi!

Starting a new week!

'O my child, I have waited long for your coming. My eyes have grown weary with watching, and my heart heavy with longing for you. For I have said, "Rest in me," but you have striven. I have said, "Stand still," but you have continued to run. I have called, but you have been listening to human voices.

Turn to me.

You do not need to do more. For you will find your quest ended. Then you will see how futile has been all the struggle. Like the sinner who misses the gift of saving grace through absorption in good works, so you, My child, have missed My sweet reality in your frantic effort to please Me.'

As we begin another week, take a deep breath, relax and sink into God's all-encompassing love for you!

Tomorrow's Gathering

Hello!

In case you are just wondering what we might be doing at our gathering tomorrow, here goes:

We will be looking at Luke 8, the Parable of the Sower, particularly the first few verses prior to the actual parable.

Also, we will be watching part of a video by one of the greatest theologians of our time, Ray VanderLaan, about the meaning of discipleship!

So, if you get a chance...take a look at Luke 8!

Grace and Peace

The Church That Shall Remain Nameless Near My Office

OK, in the classic vein of REALLY bad Church signs...this one is right next to the Peripetee Office.

You can't spell victory...

With an absent 'T'.

Clearly this will bring thousands flocking to Christ. Argh.

Sleep Tight

I am here at my computer, having had a marginal day which was uplifted, as usual, by my book club and time at the Foster's. In addition, Connie Bingham gave me a devotional book this evening, and it had something in it that I just HAD to share with you!

'Behold, I am near at hand to bless you, and I will surely give to you out of the abundance of Heaven.

For my heart is open to your cry; yes, when you cry to me in the night seasons,

I am alert to your call, and when you search after me, the darkness will not hide my face;

It will be as the stars which shine more brightly in the deep of night.

Even so it shall be.'

And that reminded me of my favorite compline prayer from the book of common prayer...and I am praying it for each of you tonight, especially for the Akins....Bill, Donna, Brandon, Katie and Elisabeth...

'Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.'

Singing through life

After working with DeeDee and Steve for several years, I can't believe I am blogging about this, but here goes:

One of the hallmark passages for restoration people comes from Ephesians 5:19: 'Speak to one another with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' This is one of the two passages in the New Testament from which our forefathers derived our plan for a cappella worship.

On a similar note, I'm not sure if you are aware of it or not, but DeeDee SINGS! She has a beautiful voice, and she uses it CONSTANTLY! Driving down the road, sitting at her desk, watching TV, doing her hair, whatever. She is humming or singing something. Now, while she does have a gorgeous voice, it can occasionally be a slight annoyance when she is on her 53rd song of the day, and it isn't 11:00 am yet!

But the real meaning of that passage in Ephesians 5, I believe, will back DeeDee up in her 'songful' approach to life. Nowhere in that passage does it seem to indicate that Paul is referencing what we do when we gather as a body (sorry to my ancient forefathers!). Instead, he seems to be teaching us how 'we should walk in the way of Love, as God showed us love through Christ.' We should be the kind of people with a song in our heart as we be-bop down the street!

Now that can get hard, especially when life seems to have turned out differently than you had planned for it to go. But don't lose heart! And, 'always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

WOULDA-COULDA-SHOULDA

If you can handle one more Shel Silverstein poem, this one struck me between the eyes...

WOULDA-COULDA-SHOULDA

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas

Layin' in the sun,

Talkin' 'bout the things

They would-coulda-shoulda done...

But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas

All ran away and hid

From one little did.

Man, have I been stuck. Better yet, PARALYZED. Analyzing everything that has happened, scrutinizing every word spoken, every look cast, every thought attributed...And all the while, I have been frozen in neutral, unable to move out and move on.

So it's time.

I am re-reading 'Cloister Walk' for our book club and I came upon a passage that really struck me...

'..an important aspect of monastic life has been described as "attentive waiting." A spark is struck; an event inscribed with a message -- this is important, pay attention -- and we wait attentively, EXPECTING God to show us what we need to see...'

So, here I am, waiting attentively, trying to kick the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas from my path! I'll close with Psalm 62:5... 'Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from HIM!'

Grace and Peace