Updates:
1. The consignment sale went great! I sold 158 items out of 168 that I consigned! YEAH!
2. The fish was o.k. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if we never had it again. The Claddaugh must have a secret recipe or something!
3. I still haven’t thought of a book – my friend didn’t ask today, but we’re having lunch tomorrow so maybe she’ll just surprise me.
4. The Farley’s (new youth minister) are here full time now. I truly hope they like Wichita and I’m sure they’ll be a great blessing to Westlink. I hope Westlink blesses them too.
5. Our family’s website is up and running now though it is not exactly the way we want it yet. Check it out at www.teamdrybones.com
Old Friend:
I had a long talk with my friend Tim lastnight. He used to be my Partner in crime at Soul Quest and Zenith. We had connections before that though. I went to college with his younger brother at York in the early nineties. Anyway, it’s been a long time since we’ve talked. The last talk we had was last fall when we asked him to pray about the possibilities surrounding our future with Dry Bones. (I feel guilty for not keeping in touch better). Before I handed off the phone to Benny, we got an interesting dialogue going about the state of the church and the world around it. You know, the same things I’ve been blogging about and reading on friend’s blogs…Are we relevant to the world today? Is there a better way to be Jesus to the masses? Are we too inward focused? Good traditions aside, are we pleasing God with our worship? How big is too big for a church? Why are we inviting people in to join us instead of going out to join them? Lots of interesting things to talk about. Tim said he’s been thinking about these things for many years, but just recently started talking with people about it. I think he said I was the 2nd one he had discussed this with. He encouraged me to get a dialogue going with our friends, and on my blog. I told him which blogs I read to be encouraged, blessed and challenged.
I asked if he’s read McLaren yet. He’s never heard of him before. There are so many out there leading the way down a new path, a road less traveled so to speak. There is a throng of people that want to make a difference in our world today and are willing to try different methods to do that, and yet there is a group that claims it’s all apostasy and those of us who are desiring the “different” are falling away from God. I know that the Bible is clear that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever – he never changes, but it is also clear that his methods did change. He taught and trained the people in OT times with different methods, signs, laws, etc. than he did with the people in NT times. Don’t you think he could be doing the same with us?
Over and over again I read in scripture that Jesus WENT to the people, with the people, and loved the people. When news spread about the miracles he was performing, people flocked to him like sheep without a shepherd. He had compassion on them and told them stories using everyday examples they would be familiar with so they might understand a little easier what he was trying to teach them. He ate with them, and stayed in their homes, even though they were despised by society. It seems to me that his methods worked, why not try it now? I know there are many who are, so don’t think I’m just griping to gripe. Sometimes I just feel like my denomination is so secluded and afraid of being like the world, so they stay in the “Christian world” that has been created, where it’s safe. Again, I know I am not the spokesperson for my denomination. I’m struggling to find my place in the bigger picture.
I’m sure I’ll post more on this later. Until then, I welcome the dialogue and the new perspectives that are out there. Any thoughts?
I checked out your site about Dry Bones. It looks good. I liked Max’s page too. We mentioned you and Dry Bones to our church Sunday. Some people knew about Dry Bones, but the preacher explained it to the congregation. They didn’t want to commit at this time. We need to be more stable first, too. We don’t want you to count on us and then we fail you. We will keep you and your mission in our prayers. We love you and your mission.
Niki, i have’t read your blog in a while, but i came back to it today. your comments about the church are thought provoking for sure. i was blessed to be able to attend the ACU lectureships last month and it was an encouraging time. don’t despair, the Lord’s church is alive and well and as relevant as ever…. but i do think we get stuck in a rut sometimes (like, for generations at a time) where all we see is what is where we stand at the moment, rather than being able to see God working in, through, and around us. Psalm 33 says “the whole earth is full of his unfailing love” it was then, and it still is today. sometimes we are the recipients. sometimes we are the givers.
i think i’m not addressing exactly what you were talking about, in fact i know i’m not. but i just wanted to let you know that God is working in Guatemala, through and in spite of His people. and i know He is doing the same at home. thanks for the challenge.
ps – better be careful using the “d” word (denomination) 🙂