Read this quote today:
"Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Waiting, then, is not passive. It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her."
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Hosea
Hosea called today.
He wanted to talk to a pastor.
He got me. The guy with an office tucked away in the underbelly of the church next to the nursery. The guy who works on graphics all day.
We talked about the things that are going on in his life right now and we talked about the things that are going on in my life. We talked about pain and struggle. We were open and honest with each other and we prayed for one another. We had church (the way it was meant to be) right there on the phone. Without the lights and the music. Without the coffee and donuts. Without the, "I'll pray for you's" and the "God bless you's". Without the kid's ministery, without the youth group, without the college and singles ministries. Without a choir and a worship leader and without a pastor. We had church.
Through this i realized that it isn't the people who are paid to be "pastors" that will make the greatest impact on this world's dark places and dark hearts. It's those people who have offices in the nursery and who have no faces and no names. It's the army of the invisible people. The army of the faceless, nameless people who will make the greatest advancements for God's kindom.
I also know that the greatest steps in spiritual growth do not happen within the confines of the church buildings but in the world around us. In the lives we live day in and day out. In the relationships we build and the lives we live.
He wanted to talk to a pastor.
He got me. The guy with an office tucked away in the underbelly of the church next to the nursery. The guy who works on graphics all day.
We talked about the things that are going on in his life right now and we talked about the things that are going on in my life. We talked about pain and struggle. We were open and honest with each other and we prayed for one another. We had church (the way it was meant to be) right there on the phone. Without the lights and the music. Without the coffee and donuts. Without the, "I'll pray for you's" and the "God bless you's". Without the kid's ministery, without the youth group, without the college and singles ministries. Without a choir and a worship leader and without a pastor. We had church.
Through this i realized that it isn't the people who are paid to be "pastors" that will make the greatest impact on this world's dark places and dark hearts. It's those people who have offices in the nursery and who have no faces and no names. It's the army of the invisible people. The army of the faceless, nameless people who will make the greatest advancements for God's kindom.
I also know that the greatest steps in spiritual growth do not happen within the confines of the church buildings but in the world around us. In the lives we live day in and day out. In the relationships we build and the lives we live.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
The Voice of Conflict
I don't think there has ever been a time in US history since the Civil War where American people have been so divided and resentful of their own country. Obviously I wasn't around for the Vietnam situation but , although not now, at some future point I could see our country dividing and in essence experiencing civil war. We're already experiencing this on the political level.
Of course maybe as I’m coming of age where I can see and understand the political undercurrents that happen behind everything I am really just witnessing what has happened for years.
Mankind is at odds with itself. What are we fighting? Do people really care about what happens to the Iraqi people. Do they really care about war? If the people who are so outspoken about the war cared as much for the people who are being effected by the war as they are with the war itself then shouldn’t we see them actually doing something for those who are suffering from the long arm of conflict in the middle east. I have yet to see any real action (other than protesting and yelling) being taken by those who are the most vocal about the atrocities of this war in Iraq. Huh, sounds like the Christian culture.
Of course maybe as I’m coming of age where I can see and understand the political undercurrents that happen behind everything I am really just witnessing what has happened for years.
Mankind is at odds with itself. What are we fighting? Do people really care about what happens to the Iraqi people. Do they really care about war? If the people who are so outspoken about the war cared as much for the people who are being effected by the war as they are with the war itself then shouldn’t we see them actually doing something for those who are suffering from the long arm of conflict in the middle east. I have yet to see any real action (other than protesting and yelling) being taken by those who are the most vocal about the atrocities of this war in Iraq. Huh, sounds like the Christian culture.
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