Romans 5

As I was reading Romans 5 today, I was struck that there actually DOES seem to be a formulaic aspect to our walk with God - it just isn't the formula I grew up with. Also, I was struck by the strange things we are supposed to rejoice about -- and i t made me wonder anew if God and I are on the same page, and I am indeed where I need to be!

Hope you have had a GREAT week, and I look forward to seeing you in the morning!

Retreat Recap

So, another retreat has gone by! It was a wonderful weekend and I was thankful to share it with all of you! We missed having some of you, but we also welcomed folks who had never been to a retreat before. The singing and music were great, the food and conversation engaging and the times of study and sharing deep and rich.

I got a lot of flack from some of you from Sunday morning, which going in, I knew would not be a tasty cup of tea for some of you. But it is good for us feelers to be reminded that there ARE thinkers among us! They might even ENJOY such rituals (horrors)! I believe it is also very good for us to stretch different muscles than the ones we use each and every week (this is a basic building block of any personal training regimen). And finally, our greatest strength can also be our weakness. Our informality, which is what draws most people to us, when taken too far leads any (and I do mean ANY) pause or moment of silence to be a performance platform for all those comedians among us (and we have MANY).

I love it when the Words of the Gospel come in and we stand to recognize the power and authority of the words of Christ. I love the congregation being deeply involved in the sacrament of baptism. And while I am not suggesting in any way we adopt High Mass rituals and customs, I am glad we had the opportunity to experience something very different than our weekly norm together!

All that being said, Natalie typed up our memories from the first couple of years of House Church, and I wanted to share them with you (especially if you didn't get a chance to be present on the retreat)!

Favorite Memories of House Church (January 2012 Retreat)

The most meaningful memory I’ve had at House Church is the constant sense that God has a purpose in bringing this unique group of people together. My observations of our gatherings always bring a genuine joy to my life and cause me to question the priorities I set for myself. It has shown me that going out of your comfort zone can bring you to new comforts you might not have experienced otherwise. Considering the majority of the group is older than myself, I have begun to learn to listen more actively instead of being lost in my own head, because there is a lot of wisdom spoken week after week.

I don’t think I could come up with just one. Every Sunday I look around and feel so richly blessed by my H.C. family. I tell people it’s like Christmas with the family every week—without the baggage. Y’all are my family in every sense of the word. I enjoy hearing everyone’s point of view. I love when Donna and Betty bless us with their vast wisdom; Earl and Corwin’s take on things; Amy’s (both of them) gentle, thoughtful words; Ryan’s relentless prodding. Great music, beautiful singing, heartfelt prayers.

I remember a Sunday that I stayed late and we played cards. It was a great memory because it felt like family. Going through a tough time was really eased with some cards and conversation.

My favorite memories are all the little things over time. Every cup of tea Amy and Cyndi have offered me when I’m sad. Every time Ryan has made me laugh so hard I stopped breathing. Every hug from good friends. Every prayer received when it was hard for me to ask for it. Every delicious meal shared. Every encouraging word from DeeDee and so ma ny others. I love you all!!

I remember the time when the kids came from Arkansas and they said we have “real old people”!

I remember the first Sunday we met there were so many mixed emotions. One of my favorite memories is some of us cleaning up after lunch and breaking out in spontaneous singing. We started singing “Blessed Be Your Name” and I have never sung those words and meant them more.

My favorite memory of House Church was that first time Bill and Donna were there—about several months after we started. I just remember feeling such a relief that they had felt something I had felt and wanted to be somewhere else too! It was just confirmation that we weren’t just a bunch of rebels.

I will never forget Ryan using a “big” word and Donna saying, “What the hell does that mean?” I knew it was my kind of church.

Baby singing, visiting teens—“real” old people, “what the H does that mean?”, the common meal, getting to know our younger people one on one.

Common meal (especially banana pudding) [insert drawing here]

The first time I got to go to Moni’s with the Gibbons, Needels, and Fosters was magical. Saul is the man.

The Axis I first tasted Ryan’s sangria...mmm....

My first time at House Church, January 29, 2011. I looked around—saw and heard everyone singing in beautiful harmony praising God with voice, djembe, guitar, and mandolin. Then the active Bible discussion that followed where thoughts were shared and feelings discussed…it was beautiful and I knew I’d found my place home.

Getting to really know people I ordinarily wouldn’t have gotten to know: DeeDee, Amy Foster, Bill & Donna. Feeling loved and accepted and truly concerned for.

First visit to House Church and I felt like I was at home with my family.

The first Sunday Annie came to House Church was a pretty good sign for me in knowing what kind of woman she really is. The second Sunday she was in House Church, however, I wasn’t even there, and the way she described how included she felt, that was a particularly happy feeling for me.

The Sunday when my grandparents came to H.C. Ryan and Daniel led worship, my grandpa whistled harmony and my family enjoyed worshipping in the presence of the Lord with all of you. Then we took up a collection for Rhonda which was enough money to get her back on her feet, give her food, gas, money to pay bills (she then industriously found a job soon after that!). It was just a really beautiful day from morning to night—full of heart, and I remember driving back home that night and crying tears of joy because I hadn’t had a day like that in a long time.

When Corwin was going through his divorce and he shared with the group and everyone wept with him and shared his grief and heartache.

My favorite memory is a collection of memories based around one event that I feel really defined the year for me. The amount of support I have received in physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional capacities has been overwhelming. For me this year, you have been my family—in more ways than the usual “church family” has meant to me in any previous body of believers. I specifically remember being surrounded by all of you with hands, hugs, and words of encouragement. It felt like being placed in another world for a few minutes. I believe this group of Jesus followers has really carried me through the year 2011. I could say more…

Eucatastrophe Retreat

Eucatastrophe is a term coined by J.R.R. Tolkien which refers to the sudden turn of events at the end of a story which ensure that the protagonist does not meet some terrible, impending, and very plausible doom. He formed the word by affixing the Greek prefix eu, meaning good, to catastrophe, the word traditionally used in classically-inspired literary criticism to refer to the "unraveling" or conclusion of a drama's plot.

For the past nearly three years we have been sharing, serving and worshipping together...and it is time to CELEBRATE! I had hoped to have a larger number of our folks on this retreat...because I think it is important to celebrate what God has done, is doing and will CONTINUE to do in the future.

Friday night is going to be focused on dinner and sharing. Saturday we will be doing a variety of activities, and I am not completely sure what order they will take place in. For those of you who have been berating me for details, you may be disappointed to learn I have not even created a schedule for this gathering. I have a loose idea in my head, and the materials to cover, but that is all. Some of you will be very excited about this, because schedule's mean very little to you, and some of you are hiving up thinking about not having a printed schedule. Whichever camp you fall into, (the Chronos group or Kairos group) I trust that this weekend will remind you of how amazing God truly is!

So, Where Are We?

I have spent these last weeks looking at some difficult passages of scripture. Let me summarize some thoughts after looking at these passages.

* Genesis 4 -- The story of Cain & Abel. The Hebrew word Timshel. Meaning MAYBE. It MAY BE that you will make a good choice, Cain, but it MAY NOT. And remember, sin is crouching at your door.

* Philippians 1/2 -- You should have the SAME mind as Christ Jesus -- who EMPTIED Himself and became obedient, even to death ON A CROSS. Oh, and work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

* Ephesians 2 -- Salvation is GRACE. PERIOD. YOU DID NOT EARN THIS. You were ALL dead in your sins when Christ saved you. Yet you also are God's POIEMA, or masterpiece of craftsmanship.

* I Corinthians 5/6 -- So, there is this guy. Part of your community. Doing bad stuff. Seriously bad stuff. You have allowed him to continue in that. Even encouraged it, because we are all 'free'. NO. Drive him out. Root and branch. I MEAN IT. GONE. And about that whole taking other believers to court thing? NO. If you do, you have already lost. WHY NOT SUFFER WRONG? WHY NOT RATHER BE DEFRAUDED?

* II Timothy 4 -- Do what I have taught you. Forget that you are young, because when folks are not doing what God wants them to do (and he provides an EXHAUSTIVE list), then I want you to REPROVE...REBUKE and EXHORT them. But do so with complete patience. Now that is a new twist on Church leadership. Totalitarian authority combined with TOTAL patience. Hmmm....

* Galatians 5/6 -- So don't allow FORMS of religion, such as CIRCUMCISION, to become more important than GOD. DON'T do these things, such as...anger, rivalry, dissension, envy, drunkenness. But RATHER be FILLED with the Spirit and its fruit...peace, joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness. For when we make the FORM more important than the FUNCTION, we REMOVE THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS.

* Finally, Acts 15 -- where there is a problem about believers being circumcised. And as hard as it is for us to realize today, the word of the Apostle Paul could not carry the day. So Paul and Barnabas are sent to Jerusalem, where they lay their case before Peter and the other Disciples. At the end of an extended period of debate, James, whichever James this is, stands up and renders his 'judgment'. No sexual immorality, no blood, no food sacrificed to idols. But what about the rest of the Torah? NO COMMENT. And this seemed good to everyone, so they sent letters to the Churches...WHAT? Where are the rest of the laws and commands? Why does James get to render judgment? Why aren't Peter or Paul or even Barnabas elected to this job?

So, as we segue back into Romans, it is with this backdrop:

1. There clearly are things we should do and some we shouldn't. (Galatians 5 & I Cor. 5)

2. While this is set against a backdrop of grace (Ephesians 2) and a sense of humility modeled upon Christ (Philippians 2) -- there is still a strong sense that we should step in when folks are out of line (I Corinthians 5 & II Timothy 4).

3. And why do you think you should be relieved from suffering? Why would you not think it better to suffer for Christ? (I Corinthians 6)

4. Because at the end of the day, man apparently has a consistent problem with holding up a particular pattern of worship as being more important than the worship itself. Whether that problem stems from circumcision (Acts 15 & Galatians 5) or clapping or instrumental music, the tide of the Church seems to constantly deposit us on this same beach. And how do we choose who gets to make the final choice, or be the one who rebukes us back on the right path? How do we choose between Peter, Paul and James? Because TIMSHEL is still in place, and it MAY BE that we make the right choice, but even if we don't, sin is still crouching at our door. So, Goebel Music, where is the PATTERN for us to behold?

The Eucatastrophe

Eucatastrophe is a term coined by JRR Tolkien which refers to the sudden turn of events at the end of a story which result in the lead character's well-being. He formed the word by affixing the Greek prefix eu, meaning good, to catastrophe, the word traditionally used in classically-inspired literary criticism to refer to the "unraveling" or conclusion of a drama's plot. It is a surprise, and a joyous surprise at that. I can think of no word that better sums up my experience with this House Church. Born from the most difficult period of my life, I had no idea what to expect. Yet when Greg, Cyndi, Anne and I decided to go be with Crystal Jones at the passing of her father, Natalie, DeeDee, Amy Foster and Bill / Donna all pitched in to help get the kids to / from school. This retreat will focus on the joy that can be found in community, as we celebrate today and look to the future. I hope that everyone will come and join us for a wonderful weekend! Click the graphic to enlarge the poster and print it if you didn't get one of the copies on card stock!

Sunday Morning

What is the role of pastor / teacher? Elder? Mature Christians within the body? Further, how do we handle it when someone does something that clearly is against what God wants for our lives? When that thing is called sin? How can we call one another into accountability without wagging a finger of judgment? How can we live humbly within our community so that if someone does question us we will respond in a way that God would approve of? We will look at II Timothy 4 and Paul's comments to the young preacher Timothy, his 'son in the faith'.

Randy Harris Audio

This year at the ACU Summit (that artist formerly known as the Lectureship), Jonathan, Amanda and I took in a most amazing three day class taught by one of the foremost thinkers and orators of our movement, Dr. Randy Harris. Dr. Harris is decidedly monk-like, perpetually single and dresses in black (head-to-toe) every day. But the monastic lifestyle which he pursues each Summer seems to give him abundant time to think critically and hopefully about the kingdom of God. The class was entitled Cruciformity, and took place in three parts. The first two days were very good, leading to the crowning jewel, which took place on Wednesday! Here they are for your edification...they will be available soon as a free download on Itunes...

Click the Title to go to the audio...or right click it to download the audio file...

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

All Things Are Lawful...

Well, between Robotics Competition, The PS 150 Benefit Concert I emceed for tonight and the Rangers going to the World Series, it has been quite a day. And we are continuing through a list of scriptures I gave you a couple of weeks ago.

All that being said, however, I did want to briefly comment on the scripture for tomorrow. We will follow up our study of Ephesians 2, and the emphasis Paul places there on the power and necessity of grace by looking at I Corinthians 5/6...where Paul tells the Corinthians most strongly to avoid tempting things, and to realize that we are free, and all things are lawful...but many of them are still not helpful.

How do we balance this sense of gracious living with the reality that God still has expectations for our lives, and he still wants us to avoid living in certain ways? It is almost midnight, so I am not going to try and comment further...but we will pick up there in the AM...see you then!

Thoughts on Grace

I found an article that I thought was particularly good on the concept of grace. Click HERE to access the article. I think it is such a hard concept to grasp that we have received unmerited favor from a Holy God, and then trying to decide what our response to that Grace should be...confidence -- humility -- power -- thankfulness? How can you be confident in your status with God while maintaining a healthy understanding of what the book of Isaiah tells us about the difference between God and us...

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

If you haven't done so already, make sure you read the blog article below for the passages we will be studying tomorrow...and enjoy the rainfall!

How can we keep this thing between the lines?

It is difficult to read the words penned by Isaac Watts in the hymn, 'Alas and Did My Savior Bleed' that Christ died 'for such a worm as I', and not begin to feel really badly about yourself. It is ironic that posturing ourselves in a correct relationship with a Holy, Almighty God puts us in a place that may make it difficult to remember that God also sent his one and only Son to die on our behalf.

We need to balance the reality that we are sinful, fallen beings who have been called to a life of freedom through slavery to Christ with the entire canon of scripture. For instance in Hebrews ch. 5 the author, in telling us about our great high priest, Jesus Christ, says that because of Him we may '....with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.'

Paul tells the Ephesian believers that they are God's 'Poiemá', his one-of-a-kind masterpiece(s). His workmanship, like that of a master carver. So even though we aren't God, we ARE made in His image, intended to reflect His glory to those around us.

So, as we continue our study, let's look at the length and breadth of scripture...Sunday we looked at the following verses:

• Genesis 4
• Matthew 5
• Philippians 2
• James 1

This Sunday we will cover all or part of the following verses:

• I Corinthians 5/6
• Galatians 5
• Ephesians 2
• I Peter 2
• John 8
• II Timothy 4

DeeDee wrote a song recently that seems to hold these 'opposing' views of us, both wretched and desperately loved in a song entitled 'You Don't See Me As I Am'. I was particularly moved by this verse / chorus combination:

On the outside I impress

On the inside, I'm a wreck, a mess

They can't see past this mask

They can't see that deep inside I'm dying

Inside I'm crying

Worthless, spent and sick of trying

Hoping no one sees me as I am

But, YOU don't see me as I am

Filthy, stained and so unworthy

Undeserving of your Love

You don't see me as I am.

Beautiful, Dee...and I will close with these words by Lady Julian of Norwich, with an addendum by Madeleine L'Engle:

'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well (no matter what).'

Romans 1

As we began our study of Romans this past Sunday, the thing that Corey and Connie brought up that caught their attention was, what does it mean to be a 'slave for Christ' (Romans1:1) in our culture in the year of our Lord 2011?

It can be deeply troubling to realize that these words might very well apply to us as they did for Paul...because in Paul's life it meant that God often changed his schedule and prevented him from going the places he wanted to go; it also meant shipwreck, imprisonment and persecution.

So, what does it mean for us today?

This coming Sunday will mark the shift in the discussion toward handling of sin. The online dictionaries define sin in the following manner...An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.

Paul says that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but Christ prays that we might be perfect, even as He is perfect. What does this mean? Are we 'once saved, always saved?' Or are we working out our salvation with 'fear and trembling'?

Look at II Timothy 4 and Paul's instructions to what must have been a teenage / young adult Timothy...do those instructions still hold true today? This is deep material and we may spend a few (Sun) days on it!

Tomorrow's Lesson

As we turn our minds to the book of Romans, let us prepare by looking at some related passages from the New Testament:

* Philippians 1

* I Corinthians 2

* II Corinthians 3

Do you hear any themes that are playing out in all these passages? Does Paul seem to be repeating himself at any point? What might that indicate about how important he thinks these ideas are?

Finally turn and read Romans 12:1-2...do you hear anything different in this passage than the ones we looked at above? What do you think the core of Paul's message about the kingdom may be? What does that mean for us today? How does my life have to be different because I beieve God's word to be true?

Life in the Kingdom

I would highly recommend this series of books by author James Bryan Smith...

* The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love With the God Jesus Knows

* The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ

* The Good and Beautiful Community: Following the Spirit, Extending Grace, Demonstrating Love

His material has been the source of our recent series on the kingdom of God...and we are studying The Good and Beautiful God in our book club discussions on Tuesday evenings...

Smith's final take on the kingdom, translated by yours truly goes something like this...The Kingdom of God is a life lived out in the context of a community of others that exists for the good of others in the world rather than their own interests. It is a radical lifestyle that is foreign in SO many ways to the culture of 'going to Church' found in many American Churches.

We will now turn to study the book of Romans on Sundays, as well as its role in defining the Kingdom of God. It was Romans that transformed the thinking of Martin Luther, who started the reformation which led to the eventual creation and proliferation of nearly every denomination within Evangelical Christianity. Click HERE to link to Luther's preface to the Book of Romans, which is a crucial document in the thinking and spiritual formation of the church in the last several centuries.

Text for Sunday, September 4th

The text for tomorrow morning comes from Acts 4:23-5:16 and involves lying, greed, death, signs, wonders, communal living and prayer. Should be a good morning!

The image is from some work we did at the Mansfield Church of Christ, along with our interior decorator, Cheri Williams!

Matthew 11

The text for tomorrow morning is from Matthew chapter 11...where we find John the Baptist in prison, asking Jesus if he is indeed the one who is to come...

You might also read Malachi 3-4, which is where scholars think John's reference of 'the one who is to come' is found...

Then go back and look at the Magnificat (Luke 1), Jesus opening sermon (Luke 4) and the Beatitudes (Luke 6) and notice...what are the similarities in the kingdom references in these places?

See you in the morning!

The Beatitudes of Luke

Tomorrow morning we will be looking at the kingdom perspective of Luke found in his version of the Beatitudes (chapter 6)...

They hold significant differences from those found in Matthew, particularly in that there are groups who will be blessed and 'woe unto' certain groups.

Is this simply a list of virtues, an unattainable value system to aim at, or is Christ drawing us a picture of how He wants things to run within His kingdom?

See you in the morning!

I'm Alive!

I always find it the hardest to blog and stay on top of things when we are traveling in the Summer! Yet, it is always a time of tremendous growth and renewal as well! This Sunday we will be looking at Luke chapter 4 (esp. verses 16-19) which is Jesus opening 'sermon' to his hometown congregation.

Read through Luke, chapter four and consider:

* What did Jesus mean by the kingdom of God? Not only in idealogical form, but also in everyday, real world living when he is using this expression? What things does he want to get across here in his 'first sermon'? Why do you think He chose to begin with this lesson?

The Kingdom of God

Jesus never mentions going to Church. Over and over again he instead uses the metaphor of the coming kingdom. We looked yesterday briefly at Luke 11:20, where Jesus indicates that the kingdom may have erupted already.

Next week we will look at the song of Mary from the end of the first chapter of Luke. Often called the Magnificat, I believe it has some things to teach us about the meaning of the kingdom.

I have been influenced greatly in recent months by the work of a professor named Scot McKnight. I would highly recommend two of his books...The Blue Parakeet:Rethinking how you read the Bible and One.Life: Jesus calls, We Follow.

Heaven?

My daughter, Lily, is a wonderful, amazing disciple of Christ (even though she is only 6) . She spoke in reverent awe yesterday of her uncle Greg and aunt Cyndi, as she came to realize that they weren't going to be home this Summer because they were going to Romania to be 'missionaries'. She spoke that word 'missionaries' in a hushed whisper as if saying the name of some male heartthrob she realized that she was in love with.

On our recent vacation to Washington D.C., she decided to write a book about Heaven, which is one of her favorite topics. Amy helped her write the book, and Lily served as the chief storyteller and illustrator. It is a wonderful little book, and if I can convince her, I will share it on this blog.

My problem is this: I don't know exactly what I think and feel about Heaven. Here are some of my questions: if Heaven is where I want to go, why don't I want to go right now? Second, are all those descriptions of Heaven in Revelation just metaphors, or is it really going to be that cool? What will my existence be like (I have heard it said by some who can't carry a tune in a bucket that standing around all day singing hymns doesn't sound like a goo time to them)? Finally, is Heaven my ultimate goal, or is a byproduct of a life lived for the king today, making that life my ultimate goal.

Click HERE to read a cool blog article on this topic, and respond if you have deep meaningful answers to my questions or if you have other questions you want to add to the list!

Aaron and Corwin

So, Aaron and Corwin.

What can you say? Are they crazy? Are they out of their minds for the Lord?

It reminds me of what the Apostle Paul says in II Corinthians 11...Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

The apostle Paul has been driven in this passage into talking "crazy" -- but it is crazy for a purpose...helping the folks in Corinth understand exactly who he is and what he is all about.

Aaron has come to plant a second House Church. One that will share the same spirit as the Gibbons House Church, but will probably look nothing like it, and will certainly not be targeted toward the same individuals.

Currently, Aaron and Corwin (in their spare time) are wandering around the parks and bars of Arlington, actively seeking out the lost and hurting of our community to befriend in the name of Christ. Their methodology is different from most 'ministers', as they are different in personality and temperament from most ministers. You do not need to endorse or support all of their views, as long as you recognize that there IS a kingdom purpose behind their ideas and activities.

Aaron has come here from Bon Aqua, Tennessee with the express purpose of starting a new work....you can click HERE to understand more about this new work. He is close to landing a full time job with Lone Star Comics to help support himself as a tentmaker. Please pray that God will lead them to what they need and who they need as they seek out the 'lost causes' of Arlington.