Hey Y'all,
Thanks for allowing a couple week hiatus as Amy and I worked through an extremely busy season at Portland 4. As James said some days ago, it IS summer, and it is good to be doing the things that make summer a time to connect with your family, get projects done, etc. So reading can be a bit sporatic. So here's 1) to reengaging, and 2) not being legalistic about it, while still trying to be diligent and walk through this thing together. Hugh brings up a LOT to process, and as Monica said, sometimes it's going to take re-reading some things for it to sink in or for one to form a well-thought-out response.
Total side note here: I really wanted to find a video of an old SNL skit called "Wedgie Fever" to embed in this space. It is an epic sketch that many have never heard of. Tragically, it is not on any of the "best-of" dvd's (an inexcusible ommission on either the Jon Lovitz or Phil Hartman libraries), and a google search left me empty-handed. As any good 80's boy would be, I am seriously disheartened by this (I wish I was joking).
I do not have 20 bucks--but I will FIND 20 bucks and give it to whoever provides me this sketch in embeddible form! I will not be complete until this happens.
Look for Amy's post, as well as your own posts for actual REAL commentary on this chapter (good stuff already there!).
Jason
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
This chapter made me think of, how much of a sermon do we really remember vs. how much of a face to face conversation do we remember? You forget about stuff after you heard it or read it (unless it really impacts you). But you remember things more when you talk about them with someone else. Or at least I do.
Well I have taken a little break as well but I am back. I don't know if it is just me but I have to say that I am a little discouraged from reading since I just don't see as much participation. Anyway I am still trying to read a chapter a day, but I have fell behind which I think we all have cause you know we have lives.
This chapter was cool and the one thing that I think in regards to it that I still need to work on is relationships, relationships, relationships... I know that I love relational ministry and that is what God has called me to but that does not mean that it is easy cause it takes a lot of time as well. But this is how I came to know the Lord was through my youth pastors bringing me into their lives and their families. I also try to look back as the book suggests and see what I remember and it all has to do with the relationships I had with my youth pastors and my fellow friends who were doing their best to follow the Lord as well. I know this is what churches want but it is hard to pull this 1,700 year old wedgie out of our butts and do relational ministry to it fullest.
I also like the part on page 52 where he said we are way too independent and I don't know what would happen in the church if we all actually came back to being willing to just share anything and everything with one another, would there really be any needy in the church? Would we need to call a repair man, would a pastor have to go in dept to put on a new roof, would elderly person have to get groceries. My point is we all have skill (nun chuck skill - bow staff skills, sorry) and if we are all willing to share this stuff and these skills that we covet so much I think we would all see some huge blessings.
Thats all sharing and relationships.
James
It made me sad thinking about what people have done to the church since Constantine. "Church suddenly became a place you went to instead of a people you belonged with". My Mom always says, "People are more inportant than THINGS". I believe this is true, yet I still find myself falling into old traps. Loving people comes first...before any schedule, ritual, tradition, etc... The statement about the author slamming his head with the rake for the third time...I can relate! I ask myself, girl...did you just do THAT again?? I've definately been there!
Paulette
Quote on page 53, “Just as with the Corinthian church, when you create a safe place for anyone to move toward God, you’re going to have a messy situation.”
Sometimes I find myself living in an idealistic world. It is the kind of world that- if I can- I want to make it as clean and perfect as possible. Example: If I have 8 glasses and one breaks then it’s just not right because it isn’t an even number. Living like that expends a lot of useless energy- especially when I have applied that to my being. The ideals of perfection is a journey that always has an abrupt ending. It is impossible and leaves one’s self feeling worse than ever.
What I love about Jesus is that He is the embodiment of perfection. And because of that perfection was able to bring redemption to those far less than perfect. In fact- we are broken. We are “messy.” The redemption that He brought takes all of us who are broken and messy and puts us together- and somehow He makes us beautiful. It is much like a mosaic. One piece at a time it is broken and doesn’t amount to much- but together, with the work of the artist- makes a beautiful redeemed piece of art.
What is this to say about the church? We are not to expect perfection in those who share our journey together- but instead we are to create an environment where the broken and those that don’t feel they amount to much are welcomed with us. Together in the hands of the Artist he redeems us to make a beautiful Mosaic.
Post a Comment