Come to the Table – a Communion Meditation
Below is a short Communion mediation I wrote recently. Imagine as you read it a huge table filled with wonderful food + the communion elements.
Come to the Table
Keller on How to Treat Homosexuals
I thought this was a fair and gracious handling of an increasingly difficult topic. From my perspective, Keller is the epitome of grace and dignity. I am not a huge fan of his Calvinism, but there are few I would vote for to represent Christianity more than Keller.
To Haiti and Back
Last week I had the distinct honor of visiting Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The later I have been to many times and love, the former…never. The reason was to pay a visit to Julio and Suzette
Volcy. They are church planters with Christian Associates. His intention is to start a church in Petionville, a part of the massive city of Port au Prince. I believe the official numbers for residents of the city are around the 5 million mark. Most say it is about the size of Chicago – an immense city (some estimate many more).
I know Haiti has gained a substantial amount of international attention since the earthquake in 2010. It was a gigantic quake with literally scores of aftershocks. The Haitian government estimate at least 316,000 died in the catastrophe. The multiplied tragedy is that Haiti was the poorest country in the western hemisphere before the mindboggling natural disaster occurred. The city is enormous without a central sewage system. The road system is quite undeveloped and transportation is arduous, and that is an understatement. If you think the roads are bad in your city, quit complaining. For many of the roads in the city you need to think of driving through a wheat field, only about 10x worse. I needed a kidney belt just to drive around. The picture to the left is the highway just before the Haitian / Dominican border. Also, the poverty is pervasive (I just read over 50% unemployment, some say it is up to 60%).
Should we use the word “Leader?”
While perusing FB today, I came across the below quote from Lance Ford. http://www.facebook.com/lncford
“Both “servant-leader” and “servanthood” are watered-down terms that fall short of the necessary gumption to overcome the leader-centric mentality that saturates the church world. They are but twists on a vague notion of semi-humility. In many evangelical leadership cultures the idea of a servant-leader is in reality tantamount to a benevolent dictatorship.”
To Haiti and DR
Headed for Haiti and the Dominican Republic today. Please pray for me that I would have a sensitivity to those around me and that God will keep me from sickness.
I will be with Steve Adams (CA’s Latin American director). On the way back, I will stop in Denver for CA’s Engage event (candidate assessment) and a colossal strategic planning day.
Christian Associates International :: Laying Down Roots
Here is a great story about CA and New Community church planter, David Von. A real time picture of how missional church planting can happen. Click the Header to see the article.
rf
Fulfilling Mission: Nouwen
When we live our lives as missions, we become aware that there is a home from where we are sent and to where we have to return. We start thinking about ourselves as people who are in a faraway country to bring a message or work on a project, but only for a certain amount of time. When the message has been delivered and the project is finished, we want to return home to give an account of our mission and to rest from our labours.
One of the most important spiritual disciplines is to develop the knowledge that the years of our lives are years "on a mission."
5 People I Want to Meet In Heaven
Ok, I know that heaven is a debated topic – eternal “floaty” place or New Creation or blah, blah, blah. This post really isn’t about the theological place, but more of longing and musing. I was simply thinking about Christian people I have respected from history I would love to meet, to have a coffee or pint with and chat.
Ok, here is my list (drum roll please):
Watergate figure Chuck Colson reportedly near Death
100 Who Believe!
We had a great time last night gathering here in Spokane, WA with folks interested in Christian Associates ministry in the world. We call it our 100 Who Believe. We are looking for 100 people who believe that the church can be different in Western Europe and beyond and are willing to invest toward that end.
If you are looking for a way you can tangibly change the world for Christ, you should consider a monthly gift of $25 or $50 to assist what we are doing in some of the least church cities of the world.