Are We Excused, Is It Just To Hard? It Isn;t My Fault They Do Not Tust!

Chapter four, dives right into what I have heard so many times. From the lost I hear that they have already been let down and do not trust anymore. From the saved I hear that it is not the fault of the individual church member, that others have sinned and smudged the image of the Church Universal. Thank God in His Trinity that He never felt like, "well it's not my fault, I never have sinned, forget about them I have perfection". Thank fully He is not like us.

Am I seeing things right?

Is this the first time anyone has posted anything on this blog since Nov.the 11TH??? I was hoping we would share some excitment! This book is really cool, it gives me hope that we can change our community for Christ. Have all of of us old fooggies insulated ourselves away from the world so much we truly do not know any lost folks? Carol and Carly we are counting on you and your life group! Facebook tells me that our youngest members are the only folks still associated with people whom are not yet church! Well that is not really true, Facebook suggests still other members are touched by the world still. Lets pray that our eyes will be opened folks, and lets spend some time out side our holy huddels. Is everybodys hairdresser and barber saved? Do you go inside your bank or credit union? Do you know a teller? Lets make an effort to find relationships. No more drive throughs, pick a branch, pick a teller.

If I can get under your skin could you get under someone elses?

A community for those that are not here yet.

Chapter 3 of the book calls us to be that church that Pastor Casey has been talking about! A church focused on being the community that exists for those that are not there yet. It is not about us and you do not need to first know the secret code before you arrive.

If I were an enemy and I wanted to attack a community, one of the first things I would do would be to divide them. Individuals are so much easier prey. If I couldnt break them into individuals at least seperate house holds, isolated away from their neighbors. Then as I came in for the kill many would not know what was going on.
There is an enemy and I just described North America.

Richardson, conveys that today the isolation that has been deepening in our communities has left large numbers not knowing the elementry basics of our faith.
I know a guy in his 50's who named his dog Luke. He had no idea it was a biblical name, let alone the name of a gospel, (he didn't know what a gospel was either). He had choosen it from an old movie, "Cool Hand Luke" and wanted it made clear it was not about that skywalker guy. Anyway the point is he grew up in a family that was unchurched and raised his kids the same and they have kids now. They are a long way from God and his people. There are two churchs in sight of where he lives. In the twenty years he has lived in his home he has never meet anyone that went to those churchs. He told me I am the only guy who has ever bugged him much about church.

When I think about it I am not sure why a guy like him would ever just decide to go to church any way. He doesn't know he is missing anything. Now I am thinking differently, the next time I see him I am going to tell him that I have been praying for him. Then I am going to ask him if there is anything he would like my prayers for him to contain or cover. Where you going to go when you die, has never seemed friendly to me, even if it is. Next time my Christian buddies are doing a guy thing or a go and serve someone else thing, he is invited for sure. I need to invite him to our community, we have some nice folks.

Richardson says on page 51, "the conversion process takes longer and requires learning the language, concepts and identity of being Christian. This kind of learning can take place only in community".

We must be disciples, submitting to the Spirit, Ch 2

Chapter two, just drives home the power that we have available to us. A disciple knows that Christ likeness is the goal. What are the things we see our Lord doing in the Gospels? He knew His word, He kept a close relationship with His Father through prayer, and His Father sent the Holy Spirit to Him. We know this part from the testimony of John the Baptist, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from Heaven and resting upon Him. I didnt know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, He told me,"The one on who you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that He is the Chosen One of God." Befor His ascension, Jesus promised His disciples "And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised." Look at Acts chapter 2, His promise was fulfilled and the prophesy of Joel was preached by Peter, "In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servents-men and women alike."

My fellow disciples these are those days! Let the Spirit lead us in God's Word, if we beleave He will transform us into the likeness we are called to. Then we will see the things God has prepared for us and we can join in His work and be used with power from Heaven. We must be disciples our selves, this is submission, our own nature will struggle with this for sure. Confessing this struggle should remind us as well what we are asking our neighbor to do. We give ourselves up to be transformed, it is a struggle that the enemy pounds us with. Have mercy on your neighbor, he is under attack as well and may not have a clue about it.

Read chapter two carefully, I think it is the most important part of this book. Be edified by the statement on page 36. " The only witness that bears fruit is collabrative witness, directed by the Holy Spirit."

We will never make disciples with out being one. I think that is why we are in such a mess in North America and our churchs are loosing ground. We may be beleavers, saved by Grace but not disciples transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Definition of a Disciple

As Casey has asked us all to consider the definition of a disciple and respond back to him if we are all on the same page, I did that, e-mailing him my answer. He has asked me to share what I wrote back to him here. So here it is (plus a little more):

After having read the definition below, I am completely in agreement with what you're saying ... I, too, long for a time when there is NO ONE at CBC just "playing Christian" or "playing church" ... we cannot expect God to use us unless we, as individuals and community, are fully-committed to moving forward, toward Jesus and becoming like Him, which leads us to passionately desire to help others on their journey towards Him. And you're right, there is no "completed by" date on this ... not 'til we get to be in His presence in Heaven. I am praying for our CBC family that all will either be on board with this or be weeded out (which I know sounds harsh) but God was pretty clear when he said "take out the fakers" from among the believers because they cause distractions and tend to be self-focused rather than God-focused. So there are my $.02 worth :) Hopefully that's what you wanted from me :)

On a side note ... I know I owe you one more name of my "intentional relationship" list ... I have been excitedly working with Rebecca ... and even got the opportunity to pray with her yesterday ... see, God is SO cool that he has brought her son to Topeka (from Texas where he lived with his dad) as well brought him to be enrolled in Wanamaker Elementary as a 5th grader, BUT ALAS to be IN ELLIS' class AND unbeknownst to the teacher of this intentional relationship, now has her son sitting RIGHT NEXT to Ellis! How incredibly cool is that? She was SO worried about his first day at school yesterday and so I asked her if I could pray with her (to which she agreed) and so we prayed, right there on the spot ... :) I LOVE THAT!!! GOD is at WORK there!

So ... all that to say this ... I have been earnestly praying that God would lay on my heart the next one ... the next person that I can help on their journey ... and maybe that's not the right approach ... but I just haven't come to anyone yet. I have a lead of a non-believing mom of one of Carly's friends, but that has not been established and if it is established, that will be an "online" relationship most likely as they don't live here (I don't think). So ... am I taking the wrong approach with asking God to lead me to the second one? If so, how should I be praying? I'm excited that God would even use me at all ... I just want to be accountable and fulfill the request that you've given to us.

I Have Emerged From The Wilderness

It wasn't 40 years but it wasn't 40 minutes either. Thank God for rescuing me from the wilderness better know as cyber space and now I am "blogging" ! Reader Beware !

Welcome Reimagining Team!

First, let me thank you all for being willing to read this book. I want to invite each of you to comment chapter by chapter on your thoughts, insights, concerns or questions. Please be as honest as you can with your comments. We want to learn from each other. I am not asking any of you to mindlessly swallow everything you read in this book. I am asking you to allow it to get you to think beyond what we typically envision regarding evangelism. We will schedule a face to face discussion meeting by the end of the week. We will try to allow that to take place prior to Thanksgiving. In the mean time please read through chapter one and post your thoughts by the end of the week. Next week we will try to work through at least two chapters. Don't forget to email me the names of two people you are going to intentionally develop a frienship with over the next few months.

I really look forward to growing and learning along side each of you! Thanks for participating!