Incarnation

God.

When He set out to bring His rebelious creation back to Himself knew it would be messy. The whole mystery of the Incarnation of Christ is God getting dirty. He CHOSE to enter a broken world and be subject to all it had to offer. He humbled Himself, lowered Himself down to our level. Its better that way you know.

When I talk to my kids, especially when its important, it means something to them when I lower myself to their level. When I get down and look them in the eye. When I get on my knees and play, laugh, cry, cuddle... the meaning increases, the moment is real.

Jesus did that. He came down. He got dirty. He played, He laughed, He cried, He suffered like all of us.

Incarnation is about moving forward. It is about pressing into something to better understand it, to better Help.

Christians are called to the same. The Father sent the Son, the Son sent the Spirit and the Spirit sends the church. Just as Jesus is the visible image on an invisible God, the church is to be the image of Christ in the world.

How's your reflection this week? Have you looked in the mirror lately? Have you taken a good long look back over the last 72, 48, 24 hours of your life? What's it look like? Who does it reveal?

Excuses

Well the Holidays are in full swing. As you see from the lack of postings everyone is busy. I am learning that this time of year is hard on church planting. People are just so busy. We are all traveling, spending, partying...you name it. Its just nuts. Not sure what will happen when our college students head home...wait and see I guess. This is all a learning curve for sure.

We are looking forward to pushing into 2007. We are hoping in late January to meet all together and begin building a regualr worship service for Mystery. Please be praying for us to find a place to gather corporately. Ideally a Free place is best, but God will provide the means for his provisions.

The whole thing is making me reflect on my own involvement in churches over the years. Its lead to repentance in thinking about others as well.

I would say that we should all step back and ponder how we understand and live out the gospel day to day.

How are we helping advance the kingdom?
In what way do we hinder the kingdom?
What opportunities is God placing before us and how am I pursueing his glory in them?
How could I be more involved with Jesus' mission in my city?
What sin keeps me enslaved to a self centered gospels which are not gospel at all?

Mission and the City

Here are some good challenging reads on Living Missional in our city. The challenge to find and frequent 3rd PLACES and the need for churces to Engage in Urban Renewal.

Thoughts? Post a commment.

Christmas Service

Mark your calendars. We are having a Christmas Service. This will be our first "public" gathering as a church and Everyone is Welcome! Bring a friend and share the season and excitement. Plan now to join us.
*there will be childcare but all older kids are welcome to join us for the service.

Seek the City

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."- Jeremiah 29:4-7

God has called us to fall in love with the city (see post "never" bellow) Not to avoid it. Part of the reason so many ministries fail is the ministers commitment to that place and people. The main reason for mission failing often is God's people failing to love, serve and seek the best for the city. People know if we are just doing the motions of religion. That's why it is so shocking to the world to see Christians actually being Christ. It is a beautiful thing, a attractive notion.

What could you do to live more for the city? What preferences, selfishness and sins keep you from mission? What would happen if you made your ways his ways, settled down, had kids, made a life, invested in, prayed for and blessed the people and city to whom you are sent.

We are not stuck here, we where placed here.

Repent, Rebuild, Restore & Reclaim

The Gospel As a Means

The Gospel isn't just the means of salvation, but it is the very way we grow in maturity as Christians.

One Punk

It's got me interested...
Click to view Commerical

The Sum of the Gospel

All problems, personal or social come from a failure to see the gospel in a radical way, to get "in line with the truth of the gospel" (Gal.2:14). All pathologies in the church and all its ineffectiveness comes from a failure to use the gospel in a radical way. We believe that if the gospel is expounded and applied in its fullness in any church, that church will look very unique. People will find both moral conviction yet compassion and flexibility.

Dr. Tim Keller

Hello Pastor

Oh man....way to close to home. MP3 recording of a message left on a Pastor's phone.
Give it a listen.

Never

"We can never reach a community that we do not love. We will never reach a people whom we are unwilling to love." - Breaking the Missional Code

Meaning

"Not only do we know God through Jesus Christ, but we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ we cannot know the meaning of our life or death, or God or of ourselves."- Blaise Pascal

The Gospel vs. Religion

As Jesus lived his life & Paul modeled Jesus' life. So too are we to model Christ. Such is our Example. This is being a Christian. -1 John 2:6

The Whole Gospel to the Whole City with our Whole Strength.

Boring

"It is a sin to bore people with God."- John Piper