the journey

What is missional church? (Allelon)

I just received word about this via Twitter...

Craig Van Gelder & Alan Roxburgh - What is Missional Church? from Allelon on Vimeo.

Tags: Allelon, Craig Van Gelder, Alan Roxburgh, missional, missional church

The day the media showed up

The Fort Hood Memorial
Originally uploaded by mbushor

It was our goal to be a blessing to those who were mourning as result of the senseless shootings at Fort Hood on Thursday.

One of our Elders prepared a memorial garden complete with crosses and flags & photos of the tribute appeared around the world.

Continue praying for everyone involved.

Children were frightened.
Families waited anxiously for answers.
First-responders saw unspeakable things.
Heart-breaking stories were told.
People were shocked with horrifying news.
And a number of our church families were touched in some ways.

May the God of all comfort and peace bring healing and hope during uncertain times.

Forgiving the church

When we have been wounded by the Church, our temptation is to reject it. But when we reject the Church it becomes very hard for us to keep in touch with the living Christ.

When we say, "I love Jesus, but I hate the Church," we end up losing not only the Church but Jesus too. The challenge is to forgive the Church. This challenge is especially great because the Church seldom asks us for forgiveness, at least not officially. But the Church as an often fallible human organization needs our forgiveness, while the Church as the living Christ among us continues to offer us forgiveness.

It is important to think about the Church not as "over there" but as a community of struggling, weak people of whom we are part and in whom we meet our Lord and Redeemer.

~ Henri Nouwen
Daily Meditation

Tags: church, Henri Nouwen

Ed Stetzer: NINES

I really enjoyed this installment of the NINES.

All of the other NINES videos may be viewed here.

Tags: Ed Stetzer, NINES, Leadership Network

Brighter!

Love it!  Shine bright!

Tags: Brandon Grissom, Brighter

Towel & basin Christians

In my life, I've been around a lot of brick & mortar Christians.  They've mistakenly thought that Christianity is all about going to church, building huge edifices, maintaining facilities, and attending committee meetings "at church."

But there are others, however, who are towel & basin Christians who've tried "doing church" and have determined that being the church is the Way of Jesus. 

Instead of criticizing and pointing their finger, they see their job as loving and giving a hand.

Tags: Christianity, church

N.T. Wright on blogging and social media

Here's N.T. Wright, one of my favorite New Testament scholars, being interviewed on kinnon.tv.

NT Wright on Blogging/Social Media from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

Tags: N.T. Wright, kinnon.tv