Mission

Just as God
Is a missionary God,
so the church
is to be a missionary church
~Craig Van Geider

Map

Here is a map to the house where we have bible study. I effectionately call it the "sanctuary". In reality its a living room.



Copy it to your desk top and print it off.

See you Sunday @ 5:30
Cook Out and look at Peter's Sermon on Values

2 weeks

had the hardest time trying to get this thing to post.....

We are two weeks into our Sunday night gatherings. Last night there were about 16 of us in the "sanctuary". It was nice. We are going through the book of Acts. SO MUCH information. Gotta narrow it down some. I am excited though. There were some new faces which is always nice.

Things are going pretty well. Got our first bill from the Hospital today for Lilly's surgery...lets say faith is what this will be all about. haha

Please continue to pray foor the Church and its Mission to Joplin. Pray for the people Jesus desires to reach and share his hope with.

I am in St. Louis again for some time with fellow church planters. No tickets on the way up this time :) I did some how forget my suitcase...yes you are free to make fun of me on that... If there hadn't been an impromptu puppet show brake out in my living room as i was loading my car I would definately have remembered my clothes!!

it's about what we do with all the little things.


Steev

2 Weeks

We are two weeks into our Sunday night gatherings. Last night there were about 16 of us in the "sanctuary". It was nice. We are going through the book of Acts. SO MUCH information. Gotta narrow it down some. I am excited though. There were some new faces which is always nice.

Things are going pretty well. Got our first bill from the Hospital today for Lilly's surgery...lets say faith is what this will be all about. haha

Please continue to pray foor the Church and its Mission to Joplin. Pray for the people Jesus desires to reach and share his hope with.

I am in St. Louis again for some time with fellow church planters. No tickets on the way up this time :) I did some how forget my suitcase...yes you are free to make fun of me on that... If there hadn't been an impromptu puppet show brake out in my living room as i was loading my car I would definately have remembered my clothes!!

it's about what we do with all the little things.


Steev

Bible Study

Looking like Fools

Video Link

Georgia Congressman Lynn Westmoreland undergoing some "spiritualgative" reporting by Stephen Colbert.

I like humor and I like satire. This is most likely why i enjoy Stephen Colbert so much. He has a way of showing us what we are. all of us. There is something about toying with hypocrisy and ignorance that results in eye opening laughter. The abilty to see our faults, laugh at them and then seriously reflect on them is something that is genuinely human and potentially profoundly Christian.
There are definate times in my life when Jesus is a lot like Mr. Cobert. He just sits back listening to me whine and moan about my self. He watches me live and work out my beliefs and interact with people all with a slight smirk on his knowling face. And then at just the right moment he exposes me. sometimes to myself in private. Sometimes blantanly in public for all the world to see. I think sometimes I make him embarassed. Sometimes i make him very sad. Other times I think he just shakes his head and laughs.
We need to learn to laugh more. We need to learn to look more deeply at our lives. We need to weed out the hypocrisy and the arrogance of thinking we are better than we are. What we do and who we are reflelts who Jesus is in the eyes of a watching world. If we are no more than a joke we have failed. If we are fools for Christ then we can count all this to Gods glory.
This video clip was a good reminder to me. A reminder to laugh. A reminder that Christian trinkets do not make me a Christ follower, mandating laws do not change hearts and if you are going to scream about something know what you are screaming about. Proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sin-not more laws. Proclaim freedom and hope- not more restrictions. Preach a new heart and transformed mind not a political party.
This hurts my heart, reveals my own hypocricy and stings.

Thats "truthlious" to the core.

Steev

Technology

Well here i sit in the hospital waiting to see myu little girl after surgery. seems technology is moving into Joplin quickly. FREE WIRELESS! I heard yesterday that the local McDonalds are now Hot spots as well. Hmmm. Joplin-you've come a long way baby. i have seen an increase in usage over the years by teens (the largest growing segment of population). I Have witnessed an increase in the effects of cable, internet and now wireless in everyone ones lives. When i moved here there was a definate lag in styles, knowledge and trends but in just the last year or two it has been cut in half or more as technology and information become so much more accessable. This new "glocal" invironment is even coming into smaller markets now such as Joplin further showing how our lives will come closer and closer together and the lines of urban and suburban will draw closer together creating all new cultures and changing dramaticly the current culture groups. Interesting. I wonder what the effects of all this new technology will be on people in the area. specificlly how will it effect the church as a whole. I wonder will we embrace and use this-redeeming it for Christ or run and hide from it adding technology to our "don't do it" christian bubble list.

Steev

Reminder

If you have received a support letter or email. this is your reminder that it is sitting on your desk or in your inbox waiting for a response. Please prayerfully considering supporting this church plant and our family. if you need another copy please email Steev at:
steev@mysterychurch.com

God Bless.

The Inges

Last Week

Well Well. Another week is upon us. I can't beleive I have been at this for Six weeks now. Sheesh. Seems like forever some days and others its like 2 days maybe. its FLYING by. So last week was an exciting week.
Lots happening and when i say exciting I do not mean great, I mean just that- exciting.
SInce starting this crazy journey my wife's car has been in the shop, my car is going in the shop, many extra expenses have come our way, sick kids, etc etc. Now my wonderful wife Ashley is having medical tests and my youngest daugher experienced a very painful hernia at the "should not be having hernias age" of only a year and half. OUCH!!!

Suffering.
Paul talks of suffering for the gospel in many of his letters to the church. Many Christians would have you think that to join Christ in his mission is to become healthy, wealthy and worry free. You will live like a pimp enjoying your riches while the goddless world stays at bay. You will have no concerns, troubles or hard times. Jesus makes it all better right? Well according to Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, and according to my own personal experience, when you have set out to truely follow after Jesus and the things of heaven Satan shows up and Hell breaks loose.

God is concerned about his people.
The Bible says he even disciplines those he loves. The devil may send much upon man but it is nothing that God has not allowed. Sobering thoughts. Jesus allows the effects of sin to enter my life and the lives of those i love. God permits suffering for the purpose of building us up in reliance of him and the pursuit of righteousness.
As i drove home from the hospital thinking about my little girl and my wife and all the concerns pushing in on my world I'll admitt, I was frustrated. I was tempted to ask "why?". Why if we are doing his will, planting a church and seeking to serve and save the lost would Jesus be ok with all this, even allow it? But a funny thing happened. Just as quickly as i begin to think upon all that was "wrong" the Spirit reminded me of this...Why? Because He Loves me. Because Jesus is in control even in the rough times. Because his glory comes before my comfort. Because he is sovereign in my joy and in my pain. Jesus desires our total commitment and obediance. Not some or part or what we dont like, but ALL. He will ask us to give up everything in the way of worshipping and serving him. He will cause us to lean so far into his divinty that we in our humanity can no longer stand upon our own feet. Jesus LOVES US so much that he will allow us to be tempted and to suffer and to be wronged for the express purpose of teaching us about his grace, his mercy and his control. "You are not God" he reminds us.
I should want for God to remove all these things (and i do) but i could also learn to suffer. I should learn to loose myself. I should be willing to take my child up the mountain of sacrifice. I should find peace beyond all understanding and perseverence in all things. In these moments I can truely understand, wholey worship and faithfully reveal the Mystery which is Jesus Christ. I can related to both his suffering sacrifice as well as the plites of man. I can accurately portray what it is to live as Christ and to gain in death.

May you learn to suffer well. And may you lean into Jesus and find Joy.
Grace and Peace

-Steev

p.s. As an update, my wife is doing well and we are debating our next steps, My daughter will be having surgery this week to repair her insides oh and my truck's check engine light went off! SWEET!

What is this Mystery?

Mystery is from the Father, Revealed in the Son, Understood through the Spirit and proclaimed by
the Church.

As a church Mystery is the continuation of Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles. We are here to reveal that
which was kept hidden for ages and generations (Col 1:26) and is now made known. Through the Gospel we are heirs and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:6).

We are servants of the gospel. Responsible for the proclamation of God’s ultimate plan of reconciliation through the atoning sacrifice of his only son Jesus.

The Greek word “mysterion” was used by the pagan mystery religions of Paul’s day. It was used to describe something that was hidden and obscured, available only to the initiated and elite. Paul, as he did in Athens with the “unknown god”, took this term, understood by the people of the day and redeemed it for Christ. As any good missionary would do, he revealed and explained the mystery. Instead of suppressing a false truth, he illuminated the real truth.

As a church we desire to do the same thing. To reveal The Truth to a world saturated in falsehood. To build a community encouraged in heart and united in love with complete understanding of the mystery of God, namely Christ. (Col 2:2,3)

Mystery, today as much as in Paul’s time, speaks to the people and religions of our day. It makes God’s Mission known and still embraces the unknown. Mystery nurtures faith, accepts questions and provides an answer. It is the kingdom and reign of God, both hidden and revealed, a parable and a paradox.

The mystery is Jesus, the head of the church, made known.
It’s the knowledge of this treasure, this wisdom and it’s glorious riches.

Business Cards

Got my new business cards done and ordered. Should be here soon. Maybe then i can stop writing on all sorts of random paper and things i keep handing out. Nothing says join our church or donate like my email scratched out on a Starbucks napkin.
Not like a fancy card says much more either i guess...


Steev