MCC - Sunday Aug 10th, 2008

Blend of two events (cp "stories" which may imply that they didn't really happen) the dialogue with the Rich Young Man and the debate with the Pharisee re: the greatest commandment.

Community - Who Are We? (ex. Disciples)

Common Unity - for the original followers it was not easy, but at least it was simple: follow me; obey my commandments. Jesus offered a relationship with purpose and spiritual satisfaction... follow Jesus and do whatever he asks.

Calling - Why Are We Here? (ex. )

Context - When and Where Are We? (Chronologically in Kingdom history; geographically, culturally, etc.)

Mud pies anyone?

John Piper gives us an interesting quote:

We are like children playing with mud pies in the slums because we don't know what it is to spend a day at the beach.
-C.S. Lewis (thanks for the update jimmy)

I ganked this from Tim.

Core Values

These are my current thoughts (in no particular order):

Authentic Relational Community
Those who follow Jesus will most often journey with others along the way. To achieve genuine community members must feel safe enough to be honest. There must be freedom of expression and freedom for participation and from participation. Everyone chooses from himself/herself the level of each relationship within the community.

Holistic Living
Every aspect of our lives are allowed to remain integrated not compartmentalized. Life is messy and often complicated. The value community offers is hope, help, and encouragement realities in our lives.

Loving accountability
Love requires balance; challenge and encouragement as well as confrontation. This is a difficult undertaking. Friends who find this balance are to be treasured.

Devotion to God’s mission
Missio Dei.

It is all from God. He brought us back to Himself through Christ's death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to Him through Christ.
2 Cor. 5 : 18

Alpha Community

I’m working toward launching the first community. It will serve as a development group. The mission is to experience life in the context of an authentic community. If you’re in the Arlington, Texas area and think you may be interested or if you'd like to participate in the eCommunity you can contact me.

∼ Take a spiritual journey in the context of an authentic community. ∼

Ready, Set, ...

...wait.

Sunday. July 27th. America's Best - Mansfield. 5:00 pm.
Come and See.

	What are you searching for? How will you know when you find "it?" What will you do then?

emergent conversations

TallSkinnyKiwi offers this formula for emergent conversation gatherings:

- It was FREE.
- It took place in kitchens, and i love kitchens.
- Shared accommodation was encouraged and reasonably priced.
- The schedule emerged organically to fit the needs of the participants.
- It had a tribal feel - elders were honored and children were included as equals.
- Nothing took place on a stage.
- There were no key-note speakers. In fact, there were no speakers at all on the promotional material which means that people came to connect with God and each other rather to hear an important man speak from a stage.
- Cooking, food shopping and cleaning duties were handled by everyone. We all put money in the pot for communal food experiences.
- The final worship experience happened outdoors and was lo-tech.
- There were no candles.
- I repeat . . . there were no candles. Anywhere. For the whole gathering. Serious!
- There was freedom to add or take away from the schedule.
- They let our family throw a pizza party for 100 people.
- Lots of bloggers were there.

btw... the blogger spell checker thinks tallskinnykiwi should be replaced with "telekinesis". It's a thought...

think about it...

I was enjoying a mental debate between the inner voices (both sound like me so it's easy to switch sides when one makes a significant point).

Conversion vs. Transformation

Merriam-Webster provides these definitions:

conversion - an experience associated with a definite and decisive adoption of religion

transform - to change in character or condition

That's handy because it fits the point I want to make. I'm the kind of guy that revels (takes intense pleasure or satisfaction) in subtle distinctions. Or as it might have been put on Boston Legal, "I'm such a slut for subtle distinctions." ...I digress.

"Conversion" is the battle cry for Traditional and Pragmatic Evangelicals (see The Younger Evangelicals by Robert Webber). It's exclusive; a line in the sand. The litmus test of Christianity (at least Western church culture). Little else really matters. "You're a believer, you’re not a believer; saved or lost; insider or outsider; acceptable or unacceptable." Faith is an acquisition or a destination.

"Transformation" is the buzz for Younger Evangelicals (again see The Younger Evangelicals by Robert Webber). It's inclusive; everyone's looking and searching for something. "Believer's and pre-believers." They prefer the term, "Christ Follower" to "Christian." Faith is a spiritual actualization, a journey, and a process (some may not be aware that they're on a God-quest).

It's like Certs. "Certs is a breath mint. No, Certs is a candy mint..." For me both can be true simultaneously. Two very different ways of understanding and experiencing the same reality. At this point I see the resolution as blue-green; both blue and green, yet neither blue nor green. ...ymmv