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Hey everybody, It's been a long time since I've posted. Traveling does that to me. It takes me out of my element. I pulled a scripture last night and had the printed version sitting here on my desk...the scripture is from the Message in Matthew chapter 4. In verse 12 it begins..."When Jesus got word that John had been arrested (John the Immerser), he returned to Galilee. He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. This move completed Isaiah's sermon: 'Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, road to the sea, over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations. People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light; sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up.'"
People sitting out their lives in the dark. John the Immerser was a leader and had been thrown in jail...awaiting his execution. The people were nervous and even John himself had tinges of doubt about the divinity of Jesus. He sent messengers to Jesus asking him, "are You the One who is to come or should we wait for someone else?" So faced with hard times...people retreat. So we have life happening over here, and then we have people who are not part of that life. People who have retired into complacency and given up on seeking anything better than what they see in their current situation. You know when you spend much time in the dark, it starts to be comfortable. You start to adjust. Your eyes start to adapt to where you can use the very limited light and see enough to get around. Of course in the dark you don't see the vibrancy of color. In the dark you don't see the clarity of form and detail. In the dark, everything is a shade of gray. In the dark, you just get by. And just as darkness limits vision, it also limits hope. So people in the dark, people without the huge light of Christ, sit out life...they sit out life in that dark, dark country of death. And yet when you allow your eyes, your heart, your spirit to adjust to the light...to be open to the reality of the Christ...life begins. And you watch the sun (Son) change everything that was once dark, and dreary, and gray.
Derek
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I was really disappointed to get the e-mail last night saying churches were going to be charged for being on mychurch.org. This has been such a blessing. I realize there are costs to everything (and I certainly am not a fan of the extreme advertising on myspace), but it's just disappointing. Especially for smaller churches.
Are there any further details coming?
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Please forgive me if this blog comes off sounding wrong, but I just read an advertisement for a church that identifies it as a "Spirit Filled Church." Hmmm...if we are One Holy Church and together we are the body of Christ, made alive through His Spirit, which is poured out on all who believe...aren't all churches 'Spirit Filled?' If not, what does 'Spirit Filled' look like?
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 Stress can be brutal. Worry can be debilitating. Neither is from God. I was reading in John 14 where Christ is telling His followers that He will be crucified. This is not good news; and they really don't want to hear of it. But He is giving them fair warning about what is going to happen. He doesn't want them to feel confused or surprised or abandoned. And so Jesus says, "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught."
Guys, I'm going to be leaving you...but don't worry...my "parting gift" to you is PEACE. You will feel peace because you will not be alone. I will continue to be with you. I know you're used to having people leave you for good, but when I leave it will only be temporary and in a different form. And so Christ is true to His word. After they witnessed His arrest, torture, and crucifixion, the followers were frightened and locked themselves in a room. The whole concept of "the parting gift of peace" seemed a million miles away. It seemed like just a bunch of empty promises; like words spoken by someone who wanted to cheer them up...remote...impossible. An angry mob had demanded the crucifixion of their leader and they wondered if they were next. So they found themselves in this locked room, trembling.
And then something remarkable happened. Jesus (who had died) stood among them and said, "Peace to you."
The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. "
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
Peace to you! No really, peace to you! In case you didn't catch it the first two times, peace to you! Christ wants us to understand this point. He wants us to believe that it is possible. Peace to you. Peace to you. Peace to you. Said 3 times to His followers. And He is saying it now. Peace to you. I am with you. I have given you the Comforter...my parting gift. Do not be afraid. Be at peace. Be of good cheer. Christ is truly the Prince of Peace. Are you letting Him rule? Are you letting His peace consume you? What is causing stress, pressure, confusion? Give it up. Make it right. Let it go. Don't worry about what others will think. Resist peer pressure. Stop doing things that keep God at a distance. Get involved. Disengage with toxic people. Do what you need to do in your life to make the promise of peace real. Ask Christ to come into your life and make His gift of peace a living and active thing.
Peace to you!
Derek
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I recently gave this advice to someone who sent an e-mail asking my opinion about his being drawn away from the "traditional church" format:
I like your conviction. I think God is moving in amazing ways and through lots of different formats. It's alway important to remember that Christ is head over His One Holy Church that manifests itself in all kinds of ways, places, formats, organizational structures, worship styles...Unified Diversity! However, if we allow the organization or the denomination or the pastor or the elders a place above the Christ...than we are doomed. Maybe the Church is guilty of this. I think that the Church has been and should be in continual 'reformation' to try and contintually align ourselves to the vision of God and where He is leading. Because left to our own devices, humans have the tendency to make our own plans and come up with our own visions that might deviate from what would be pleasing to God. I think there does seem to be a certain reformation away from "traditional" church formats and to something more relevant and fresh. If we're not relevant - who is going to listen? And if no one is going to listen - who is going to change their hearts and lives and live in a personal relationship with the Christ?
I see the 'home church' or 'emerging church' concept as another way to allow people to meet Christ and we should go where God is leading. If He is leading you there - go! Go with all His energy and be effective in His kingdom! That's the position we are in with Convergence. God led us outside the traditional to try and impact the lives of those led away from 'traditional' church format (suits, offering plates, strict organizational structure, church building). We're trying to BE the church. Sounds like you are being led in a similar direction. Godspeed, my friend...and enjoy the journey!
In His Grip,
Derek
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