tentative plans...

Just finished a book by Henri Nouwen titled "The Return of the Prodigal Son." It is a book that was inspired by Rembrandt's famous painting depicting Jesus' parable. Unless you have a lot of time, I don't know that I would recommend the book, however, he has a great conclusion, which may be worth your time.
He spends the first two thirds of the book talking about the roles we play, and talks about both sons, then he finishes by talking about how eventually, we should begin to take on the role of the father. We should begin to welcome people home. To be the one that expresses forgiveness, to be the one that has a party over the one who was dead. Those of you who are going to move to a whole other state just to start a church, I think God expects all of us to take on the role of the father to a certain extent. I understand we will each experience times of being the prodigal and needing to come home, and times of being the elder son and being a judgmental jerk, but overall, we are going with the purpose of starting a community of faith where there was not one before.

So that is the "devotional" side, here is the practical. OK, doing some thinking about some tentative plans. I am thinking through how we can go about a lot of things, so here is some of what I am thinking right now. Hopefully most everyone can get to Denver between July and September of 2009. Those were dates most everyone I had talked to felt fairly comfortable with, and I understand that may not work out. But I am thinking once everyone gets there that will get there, we start meeting.
Now, I think for about 2 to 3 months we can just meet, just those of us that are there with the express purpose of starting this church (which remains nameless). What we will do at those meetings is a lot like Bible study, but maybe a bit more involved. We can discuss important issues, difficult topics. Obviously the most prominent, at least in my mind, is homosexuality. We will work through the issue, and while we won't have all the answers, we can at least have a starting point, and at least be on the same page. We will also need to work through budget, and things like that. So what things do you think we will need to talk and think about?
I am thinking after we have had a chance to do that for awhile, we can expand some, begin to have worship services, specialized groups, figure out a place to meet, even if its temporary, structure children's and youth ministries, and on. This is obviously only tentative, and I really do want some of your input on how you think this can go, how you would change it, etc. I think the time where it will just be the founding core will really benefit us because we will get to know eachother better, we will have a good, unified vision, and we will all have similar goals from the outset.

Proverb of the week "A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you; the wise, when rebuked, will love you." Proverbs 9:8. What you jokers think?

Who are we?

I had the great pleasure of seeing some long lost friends this weekend. It was great. We were talking about church, and they were telling us how they are finally at a church that they love, that they believe in. It was great to talk about why.
So one of them was telling us why she loved it so much, and she said some friends had come to visit. She said after the service was over, the friend, who was not a Christian, was telling her how much she loved it. She was just so happy to finally have a church that they didn't have to say "well, look the preaching isn't great, but the music is ok right?" or "Listen, I know the service sucked, but you can really build community here" or anything on those lines. Her new church could represent itself. It was a good community, not perfect, but good, that was capable of making a good impression on people without having to be explained or excused. This is what I hope we can become.
On that note, what are some ideas you have had for a name? We don't have to decide now, but if we could get some of the ideas out there, then maybe we could start to think and pray and narrow it down. Some that I would like to eliminate, not because they are bad, but maybe either over done or just copies: Mars Hill, Grace, 1st Baptist (JK), Agape. I'm sure there are more, I'll post them as a I think of them. Here are some I have either thought of and kind of like or really like: Hesed Community Church (Hesed is the Hebrew word for covenant, love, etc), Refuge, I like Koinonia (Greek for fellowship) but I think it maybe overdone, can't remember more now, but I would love to hear your ideas. And its ok if you hate my ideas, I'm not married to any.
Love you guys, and hope you have a good Christmas, let me know how you are.

What are we for anyway?

I posted some of these thoughts on my personal blog, but I think it is really something we should probably toss around. Right now on facebook, there are quite a few groups for or against a boycott of the movie "The Golden Compass." Now, I just couldn't contain myself and had to get on one of the boycott groups and ask them why they were wasting so much energy on a movie, and I have to ask you guys, why are Christians most known for what they boycott today?

Probably if you went up to the average guy on the street and asked him what Christians were all about, he would probably say something like "Well, I know they don't like the gay community, and I know they are against abortion, and I know that they don't like Harry Potter," and it could go on. I think it is a great shame that we are probably most known for what we are against, be it evolution, the big bang, abortion, homosexuality (and I know we need to talk about that, it will probably be a round-table discussion when we are all at Denver, much better to talk about in person).

Jesus told the disciples that they would be known by their love, kinda seems more like we should be known for that huh? So it will take us some work, to establish that we should not be known for what we are against, but what we are for, which should be humanity, the disenfranchised, those who cannot help themselves, those who are outcast and lonely. So the question now is, what do you think we should be known for? Love doesn't count, thats a gimme. My answer would be reconciliation. I think we are called to help reconcile people to God, and to be reconciled to each other. I think that brings healing and helps make the world a better place. What about you? What do you think we should devote energy to making ourselves known for?

The proverb of the week "Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust?" Proverbs 20:6

Fears

Sometimes when I start to think about starting a church in Denver, it seems like it is only a dream. It seems like it is at least a decade away, so why worry. Then there are other times, the other night for instance, when it seems like it is going to happen tomorrow.
When I am really honest with myself, there are some things about this that really scare me. What happens if something happens, and none of you are able to go? What happens if we get there, but we can never find a place to meet? What happens if I can't get some job that will be flexible with hours, or if Robin can't get a job? What happens... The thing is, there are quite a few things that scare me about all this, and I think that is normal. This week, I just want to invite all of you to share what scares you about it.
Or if you would rather talk about wisdom, here is the proverb that I thought you may like this week. "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Prov. 18:21

Give Thanks

Happy late Thanksgiving everyone. Hope you got to see some family, hang out with people you don't see enough, etc. What are you thankful for this year? I am grateful for you guys, thinking of moving a long ways from where you are to start a new community of faith. I am thankful to have such a loving and understanding wife, someone who really believes in me, someone smart, and beautiful. Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving.

Wisdom

The other day in my Scriptures 2 class we were talking about wisdom, specifically Proverbs. We were talking about how smart everyone in our country is today, but how many problems we have because people do not have wisdom. I think this is a good note for us. We are considering something that is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, something daring and difficult. I think it is extremely important for us to have wisdom.
Back in the day, all the best and brightest got together and discussed the Bible, theology, and God. Now the best and brightest study money, science, and law. Many of them have never sat down and thought about how life works. Many of us have never sat down and thought about how life works. So, I think each post from now on I will include a verse or two from Proverbs. We can either discuss it, or whatever topic happens to have caught my attention lately. Hope that works for you guys. So for today, what do you think wisdom is? Who do you think of when you think of wisdom? Ever had a situation where you needed a lot of wisdom?
Proverbs 18:13 "He who answers before listening-- that is his folly and his shame." Thoughts?

Football

One of the real difficulties that many people have had at churches in the United States today is that it seems like ministries are phony a lot of times. "Come on over and we'll do something that no one really wants to do, or thinks is worthwhile, but we will do it because we always have..." This is the attitude we find a lot of times.
Last year, during football season, I started having guys over to watch college football with me. Sometimes they had to endure me yelling and cussing at the TV, others they got to see my jubilation when we won the Big 12 championship. I never intended in the beginning for this to be a ministry, but I think in the long run it turned out to be one, in a way. I was able to make a connection with a couple guys that otherwise I might not have had. They had to see me at my worst, but in the end I was able to convey, hopefully, something of the change that Jesus has been in me. I think God wants us to minister where we are passionate. We can find a connection with almost anyone out there, but I think it should always be genuine. Each of you has something you are passionate about, and something that you can connect with people that maybe the rest of us don't have. What is something that God may want to use in you, to make a difference as we start the "Fancy Walrus" together... I really laughed out loud at that... pretty ridiculous... so what has God made you passionate about that maybe you could share with people that need to be shown God's great love?