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.