From Secular to Sacred

Took a walk in the woods today with Joy and Jamie.
So beautiful outside.
Now I'm watching The Blues Brothers.
So ridiculously funny.
The presence of God makes all of life sacred.

Stay and Watch A Little Longer

The four of us took a cruise. It was amazing. Joy and I truly enjoyed being out on one of the decks and just being very near to the ocean for periods of time....observing, reading, and drinking in the sunsets.

One night a larger group than normal came out on the deck to watch the sunset. As soon as the sun went under the ocean, most of the folks went back inside. But it was during the next half hour when the sky truly became transformed with colors of pink and purple in ways I cannot desribe...only to say it was wonder-full.

The Kingdom of God is like this. God does some pretty surprising and beautiful things, and if we choose to keep waiting and watching, we can participate in what the Lord is creating.

May it be so for you.

Truth Has A Body

I'm reading a great book called Emerging Churches by Bolger and Gibbs. They were talking about the sometimes ambiguity of truth...that truth isn't simply a set of propositions, but that truth has a "body." The life of a person best represents the truths that have shaped that life and one's life has shaped the understanding of truth. Think about all the truths that have changed you and continue to bring change in how you view and live your life. And think about how your living has directed your acceptance or rejection of certain truths.

So, here's some questions.

*What truth has most given you passion lately?

*What truth do you believe God is desiring to still give you insight about?

*If you could summarize the truths that your life has so far most clearly demonstrated, what would they be?


One truth is...I am thankful for my friends and companions on the journey.

Bertand's Book

Hi. How you doing? I'm happy tonight. I'm sitting by a fireplace, and I'm reading.
I'm reading my grandfather's Bible. His name was Bertrand David Nysewander, and he was a UM pastor. This Bible consist of the New Testament and the Psalms....just a nice size book to carry for the journey.
I'm really enjoying reading this Bible because I'm reading it in a new way. I'm reading it through the lens of Jesus and the kingdom. It says that Jesus taught, preached, and lived out the "gospel of the kingdom." And then it goes on to paint a painting of what this gospel is. So far it's about healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace-making, trust, love for God, secretly praying and giving, being comforted, mercy, and being salt and light for this world that God has created and loves so very much.

I feel like my grandpa put this book into my hands!
I need to have it as a focus to know what "it" and what I am all about.
I need it to help others know what we're about ...that it's about the gospel of the kingdom in the church, but even more than that, the gospel of the kingdom on this earth.
And I need it to help us get past the language that our main business is "making disciples," because when we stop at that we are tempted to only count numbers and think we're accomplishing our goal. But our goal is to make disciples of Jesus who are fully called and devoted to both learn what that gospel means and then give the rest of their lives to proclaim it through word and deed.

Starving Jesus

I received an e-mail today from a young man who has decided to give up his fledgling acting career and go to seminary. He's used his talent to produce a short film titled Starving Jesus (that he's also selling to support his seminary studies). You can watch the video on his blog, Send Blaine To Mars. Pastor Jim is very passionate about "everyone in ministry" and this video is about letting go of what we hold on to that prevents us from getting out of the pew and doing something, instead we hold on and "starve Jesus."

What am I holding on to? How am I starving Jesus? Why is it so hard to let go?

Incarnation (entering the world) of churches

In early September I started visiting my 59 churches. My last visit is tomorrow night! Each of the gatherings has been beautiful...times of sacred conversation. Parishoners Celebrated what God has been doing in their midst during the last year, and at times, we gained a glimpse of what God might be leading them to do/be next.

I've realized that God can work God's ways among churches of ALL sizes.

I've realized that God works God's Creative Kingdom Making Power in a Thousand different ways. (Variety is God's thing...just look around the creation!)

I've realized that churches refuse to give up and almost always fight for Life just like individual human beings.

I've realized.
I've loved.
I've been loved.

Incarnation(having entered the world) of Christ Church

I was with them-we were with them for 12 years from 94 to 06. It was an amazing chapter in our life story. Lafayette and the church were the right places and people in which to raise David and Rachel. The church went on an adventure of thinking, struggling, praying and discerning, researching and organizing, and finally deciding to move 2 miles south to be about the Kingdom business. After constructing a pretty cool building, we did a number of other things like hiring an amazing staff. We also began the long, arduous, and absolutely fun journey of creating worship that spoke to younger seekers of God while continuing to address the needs of those cherishing the tradition. I'm also proud that we began and continue to feed 50 folks each week at the mental health drop in center and provide worship every Tuesday night at the homeless shelter. Young families came to the church with their children and came into their own. And we made such beautiful friends.

Now, we are gone. With their new leader Jim, they are moving into another cool chapter of life together. Three services begin tomorrow!

Now, we are gone. Such is life. Bless them Papa. Thank you Christ Church.

Incarnation(entering the world) of Bob

I was spending some time in the Marion Starbucks. There were three folks who were training and getting prepared to operate the new Starbucks that's opening on the corner of 22 and 69. One of them went outside for a smoke just as I was leaving and heading for my car. I decided to make some human contact happen with him.

His name is Bob. He and his wife just moved from Dayton , because she just got a job here as a repoter for the local newspaper. Bob told me that there's not many jobs to be found in this area. We talked a little about living in this rural part of Indiana....a little isolated but beautiful. We talked a little about church. I told Bob about the other coffee shop near the new Starbucks called Paynes. He says he's heard it's a nice place. It is. But I'll probably go buy a cup of coffee from Bob too. Bob went back in to train for his new job. I headed for my car to go to work.

Authentic

I picked up an old book the other day called JESUS/NOW by Leslie Brandt. He wrote some cool words that I want to share with you.



The person who is deeply committed to God and his purposes,
Who accepts his or her own humanity,
Its fallibility and failures,
Who responds to God’s forgiving love
And indwelling Spirit,
And recognizes the injunction and call
To be a loving servant,
Who emulates Jesus Christ
In His loving and sacrificial servanthood,
That person is an authentic Christian
Who truly is assigned to building God’s Kingdom
In the world today.

Thanks-Giving

thankful
for the sun shining this morning through the windows and bathing the room
for Crosby, Stills, and Nash playing on the machine
for my wife Joy Ellen Hupp LaSuer who seems to be sticking close my whole life long
for the coffee in the cup
for family and friends
for The Presence that doesn't leave despite my anxiety and lack of understanding
for the life of Jim and Mary Payne and so many more beautiful lives
for my blue jeans and sweatshirt
for sabbath
sweet sabbath.
Shalom to you my dear companions. Shalom.

the rhythm of the Kingdom

the rhythm:
of the Kingdom coming inside: being a part of the community of God's children, receiving transformation, caring for each other......
of the Kingdom coming out there: doing our daily work, loving our family and friends, noticing and honoring the Village Pantry worker....

the rhythm:
of the Kingdom coming inside: light and love and glory coming into our inner being...
of the Kingdom coming out there: volunteering so someone can get medical care...

the rhythm:
of the Kingdom coming inside: church ministry to teens and children, young families, and older adults...
of the Kingdom coming out there: schools, hospitals, government, people being fed, prisoners visited and prepared to exit into the world...

the rhythm:
of the Kingdom coming inside: transformation as God desires...
of the Kingdom coming out there: transformation as God desires...

the rhythm:
of the Kingdom coming inside: fun and food and sleep and music for us...
of the Kingdom coming out there: fun and food and sleep and music for everyone...

A Picture of My Emerging Journey

Trev and I go to the Emergent Conversatiion in CA. and hear a guy named Brian discussing some things with some other dudes on stools.

Joy and I begin the trilogy of A New Kind of Christian...wow.

Trev and I travel again to CA ...this time to go to the Creation Spirituality event. This leads to living within the wonder of creation and realizing that the story of the fall is very true...just not that true. And by the way, Matthew Fox told me that not only can I challenge/dialogue with the scripture in the local church but that I must!

Christ Church friends engage in the conversation.....Tom, Mark, Marcus, Trev, Nancy, Schnepps, David and Josh, Aaron, ...................................................!

Joy and I read Marcus Borg.

I, and we, travel to keep learning.

It becomes about the life of Jesus. How did he live, and how are we therefore called to live.

It becomes about the Good News that the Kingdom of God, the Mission of God's Love, is breaking through right now and inviting us to join in.

And what does an emergent church look like......caring for and enjoying each other, gathering around Christ and his ways, and then going out to live and love as he leads having the dust of the rabbi on us.....I'm still not sure. The journey continues.

Whatever

Wow. Got a day off. Kind of.
So tired. Ready to ......listen to music cranked up.
Rachel's coming home today. ....that's cool.
Life can get pretty freaking serious.
Jamie dog is sleeping in the sun...inside that is....fairly cold outside.
Leader of the Evangelicals who's combated homosexuality is accused of homosexuality.
But we are all human....true?
Need to go to a movie soon.
Are there humans out there?
I hope Kevin's new job is good stuff.
I hope Christ Church's 3rd service goes excellently.
I wonder if there is still a Lafayette over there.....it's like a parallel universe thing.
Ok, I'm out of here.
Peace.

In Any Size Church!

Last night I went to one of my charge conferences. It's a small church in the heart of Anderson....50 people in worship....they run a ministry for children who have a parent in jail...most of the new people in the church and in the community come from broken situations in life...out of the 50 people attending worship, 15 sing in the choir...and they continue to become like Jesus for the sake of others.

What I have discovered as I have visited 40 churches so far is that God's Mission can happen in any size church! I have some large churches who are working very hard and doing some amazing things to touch people's lives both in and outside the building. And I have small churches that are alive and well and seeking to be faithful and change one life at a time.

I must admit that somehow I and most of the UM's I've known have lost sight of this over the years. We have dismissed the reality and power of the small and medium sized churches. Growth in church size is indeed one of the signs that the Kingdom is happening in our midst but so are other things like people deepening their faith and seeking to do God's will both inside and outside the community of faith. And this church in Anderson, even though they are indeed having some numerical growth, are also being faithful by the planting of spiritual seeds in the hearts of at risk children and others.

So, this Jesus follower says,
Hey, check it out, there's good news and that is that the Kingdom of God is happening right now in and through all sizes of church communities!

Hey, keep your wits about you, God's Kingdom is at hand.
It may come in the form of God's steadfast love, joy and peace.
Perhaps it will arrive as a moment for you to serve in just the right way.
You never know when it will show up.
It could be like what happened to Joy and I
when we were walking in the woods yesterday, and all of a sudden, three deer ran by.

It might be an opportunity to forgive and reconcile.
It might be a brand new understanding that you weren't ready for until now.
There is a Rule of Love....a Mission of God that is emerging on the earth
and inviting us to join forces with.

I invite you to re-read the book of Matthew.
It has one main theme and that is that
the Kingdom of God is at hand. And all the rest of the book describes that Kingdom and how Jesus and his students help bring about God's Rule of Love.

God's Kingdom...ready to emerge
in our hearts,
our relationships,
our churches,
our communities,
and our world.

Our Mission Is About God's Dream

I just finished preparing for the upcoming gathering/conversation in Indy about McLaren's book The Secret Message of Jesus. It is so inspiring! As I travel around to the 59 churches in my district, a couple of things stand out. One is that the people and power of God are both alive and well in churches both large and small. The second is that the church must learn that the goal is not ultimately about the church. If the church "gives up its life, it will find it."

The main vision the book says Jesus was about is "What is God's Dream for the world and what can we do to work along with God to bring it about?"...not... "How can the world make the church be all it can be?"

So, the church is on a mission. We do want a strong church, but that is not the ultimate mission. The mission is God's Dream. I'm watching Star Trek-The Next Generation right now. The mission is not for there to be a strong starship Enterprise. It is for a strong Enterprise to fulfill the mission of exploring the universe. Our Bishop phrases it like this..."making disciples for the transformation of the world."

Breathe in, Breathe out

Breathe in-breathe out

I was looking at the 9 Jesus ways(Blog date July 21)from the line of thought that some might be more personal and some more interactive-this eventually lead to the idea of breathing in from God and breathing out to community: the combination of breathing in and breathing out being necessary for life
This configuration came to mind:

Breathe in

Community-this gave me a whole new
appreciation for community-I had been
thinking of it in the sense of me giving to
it-but this configuration helped me see
how much I get from community

Breathe out

Sevanthood

Breathe in

Knowing that God is in control and God is good

Breathe out

Bringing healing and wholeness to all, esp the outcast

Breathe in

Seeking God’s will

Breathe out

Confronting darkness

Breathe in

Connecting to God

Breathe out

Forgiveness


I’ve used this as a prayer, actually doing the breathing-it’s been effective.

The ways have also taken on new meaning for me in their different pairings-Breathe in community, breathe out servanthood; Breathe in community, breathe out forgiveness,etc.

I Touched The Number 5

As I was in bed last night, I prayed to God. I asked God again to take away my fear of death...to show me something as I slept. Then I had a dream.

I dreamed I was out of my flesh and blood body, and I was a spirit being. I was trying to figure out how to get/fly around. Then I spotted a sort of door or something with the #5 on it, and I decided to fly toward it and touch the number to prove to myself that I had some kind of control over this new "body" I lived in. I got down to the 5, touched it, and then I saw myself in a mirror. I was a different version of Craig all aglow in green light. (still kind of a little dude...oh well!) Then, I woke.

Perhaps God was revealing a glimpse.

I shared the dream with Joy and she recognized the #5 connecting to the 5 things I've talked to her aboutly lately as being very important guiding truths to me at this point in my journey. They are:
1) God loves us and life is a gift despite the reality of crisis in our midst. I choose to view life in this way vs. the other way around. May we embrace the wonder of it all and be here now.
2) We are invited to connect to God's transforming power on a regular basis.
3) Living a Jesus kind of life is what it's all about....serving, healing, seeking, forgiving...
4) We are asked to create many God communities/conversations both inside and outside the church building and people.
5) We're to do our part in transforming the world and to get on board with what the Boss is initiating on this planet just like he is in that other existence where light filled creatures continue their journey in seeking the deepest meanings.....

Dreams are cool crap.

Bridges Out Of Poverty

Back in August, Tim posted a passionate call to serve the poor. The responses were not really a surprise (to me). It's a huge issue, so huge that we, together and as individuals, often have a difficult time getting our arms wrapped around it. This is understandable, because those in the middle class - and I think anyone reading this falls into that category - do not understand the world of poverty, no more than those in poverty understand the world of the middle class, or the middle class understands the world of the wealthy. We are a class society, and each class has its hidden rules and assumptions that make it difficult not only to understand each other but also to move between classes, either up or down.

This idea is not new. I recently attended a lecture by Phillip Devol, co-author of Bridges Out Of Poverty, and I have begun to read a book written by another of the co-authors, Ruby K. Payne, titled A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Often we in the middle class who want to "help" the poor operate under the hidden rules and assumptions of the middle class without realizing it. They are the very mindset, or "mental map," within which we unconsciously follow as we go about our day-to-day lives. The poor and the wealthy have a different set of hidden rules. I've found all of this extrememly enlightening. Many of the hidden rules of poverty are often misinterpreted by the middle class who are often trying to help people get out of poverty, and many of our government programs designed to help those in poverty do not take this into account either.

In general, the poor live in the present. What is most important to them is what is happening right now. In effect, they are in "survival mode" and don't consider the future implications of the choices they make in the present. That is not a criticism; as I said, their mindset is necessary for daily survival. Often we think of poverty as solely a scarcity of financial resources. While financial resources are certainly important, it is acutally the scarcity of a variety of resources that define poverty - resources such as emotional, spiritual, support, mental, and physical, including financial. All three classes can be defined by how they use and manage these resources. For instance, to the poor, money is meant to be spent . Emergencies will always happen, so you might as well spend it now while you have it. To the middle class, money is to be managed, because the middle class mindset is focused on the future - for vacations, retirement, kids college, remodeling the house, etc. In the wealthy class, money is for investing and preserving, because the wealthy mindset is focused on preserving key connections and the status that comes with those connections.

So what does this mean? Well, one thing that struck me was the importance of relationships among the poor. People are a resource for those in poverty. Any wonder why Jesus spent time with the least, last and lost? Because he found them entertaining? (Entertainment - and the ability to entertain others with your stories and personality - is an important resource to the poor.) Or was he developing relationships? This is kingdom stuff here.

So in answer to Tim's challenge - our first step is to understand the poor and the world they live in, and the resources that are available or not available to them that go beyond the financial. Develop mentoring relationships with the poor to help them transition to the middle class. Help them understand the "hidden rules" of the middle class so that they can function. Once a person transitions from poverty to the middle class, they lose the relationships and resources they once had. It's like when a person graduates from high school and goes to college. The high school friends who don't go on to college are left behind, and maybe resentful that you did because they know the relationship won't continue. And when you get to college it's a different world from high school, with different assumptions and rules that you have to learn during that awkward freshman year.

But when you're in college, there are upper classmen who might provide help along the way, even mentor you on the "ins and outs" of college. That's what the poor need as they transition to the middle class, and where we can help. It's also where government programs fail. Once a person "gets out" of poverty, the government cuts the support they got to get out in the first place! A person transitioning out of poverty needs 2 to 3 years of support before they begin to understand how to live in the middle class.

I could write a lot more. Just go find the books I mentioned if you haven't already read them. Your eyes will be opened. God bless!

4 THOUGHTS

4 thoughts:

1) God loves us and has given us this most amazing existence called life. One of my friends, who was in the process of dying, opened all his prayers by saying....God, thank you for the gift of this day. .

2) We are to help people become more like Jesus. Christians can get way off base. I'm reading a book about the election of Gene Robinson as Episcopal Bishop who, by the way, is gay. One of the groups that was protesting this is out of Topeka Kansas and their webite is GODHATESFAGS.COM
May our churches actually create Jesus-like people who, by the way, are called to love the people in Topeka.

3) I believe we are called to create 1,000 different kinds of community so folks don't have to go on the journey alone.

4) We are called to take God's love to the world and all we encounter.

Who We Are and What We Do

Joy and I continue to be guided by The 9 Ways of a Jesus Follower. We daily write them out from memory and use them as a formula for prayer. Last night I put them into two different categories that I think are important.

Who we are as Jesus followers:

* We are people in community.
* We assume a Yes about the God of the Universe. (faith)
* We seek God's will.
* We are connected to God for power and transformation.

What we do as Jesus followers:

* We offer healing and shalom to all especially the outcasts.
* We teach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God.
* We are servants.
* We confront darkness.
* We forgive and are reconcilers.

After deconstructing and reconstructing my faith, this is what came out on top and has stuck. I pray that it continues to shape how I live.

Oubache Cohort begins a regular conversation



once a month on every 2nd Friday at 6:00pm



at Paynes coffee shop



behind the Cracker Barrel



on the corner of 69 and 22



by Gas City Indiana.



The first gathering is November 10th.



Watch this blog



for conversation questions/articles.

LIVE BIG

In a sense, death for us all, swiftly approaches. So, we are invited by that reality to hold life precious and dear.

We do that by making each day and relationship count.

I witnessed a young couple angry and sniping at each other in the grocery parking lot. I don't want to be judgemental of anyone, but I feel like I've seen too much of this lately.

But I also see so many folks, including some of those same couples, seeking to make a difference in the world.

I was at a funeral of a UM pastor last week who kisssed his wife goodnight and died. At the end of the worship service, the pastor who was officiating told us to go forward to "live big...don't live small" he said, "but live big!"

I am so very thankful that we have a big God and the Jesus community empowering us to do just that.

REVIEW: The Meaning of Jesus

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions
Marcus J. Borg and N.T. Wright

Borg and Wright are two friends who happen to be on opposite ends of the theological spectrum. But not as much as you might think. The book is written as a "debate" of the historial Jesus. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of the life of Jesus and the sources of our knowledge of his life, namely, the gospels. His birth, teachings, death, resurrection and return are chapter topics. Each author takes turns "going first," and apparently each read the other's chapters and then rewrote their own chapters in response. Because they are truly friends, the debate is respectful and honest.

Most of you reading this are likely familiar with Borg's theology. For those who aren't, Borg is the "liberal" in this debate. He applies an historical-metaphorical approach to studying the Bible. He believes that the gospels do record actual events and actual sayings of Jesus, but he also argues that the gospels also containg events and sayings that didn't happen, but are conveyors of metaphorical and equally important truths. Wright is the "conservative," who believes in the historicity of the gospels. He argues that the gospel writers recorded these events and sayings because they believed they really happened. Both agree that the Bible contains timeless metaphorical truths, and view the gospels in a 1st century Jewish context.

Borg is easier to read than Wright. Borg's writing is easily understandable, while Wright's style is more "theological." Some of Wright's words just aren't in my vocabulary! But overall the book is fascinating, and a wonderful overview of the historical Jesus debate.

The real gem is the final two chapters. The title of the section is Jesus and the Christian Life. Borg and Wright summarize their positions and how each relates to living a Christian life. Borg includes a summary of the differences in positions in his chapter, and admits "some of the differences between Tom and me concern detail of relatively minor importance. Others might be more apparent than real and might be reconciled through sustained dialogue. Still others are not merely apparent, but real and major. I will comment, respectfully and affectionately, and (I trust) clearly and fairly about how I see the major differences." If only all our conversations about our faith and beliefs be so framed.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it presents different viewpoints. Sometimes I agreed with Borg, and sometimes I agreed with Wright. The "major differences" mentioned by Borg are in the areas of sources, methods, viewpoints, etc. They both agree that Christian living is simply taking Jesus seriously as a revolutionary prophet who challenges the political, social and religious status quo. Here is what each says in their final chapters, as summaries of what it means to live a Christian life.

Wright: "Is it not the ultimate aim that we should come face-to-face - and hope and pray to bring others face-to-face - with the one whose face (wounded yet glorious) we see the face of the creator God, the covenant God, the one who loves us more than we can guess? Is it not that we should be transformed by that meeting, that gaze, so that we can share the same love with the world around?"

Borg: "Being Christian is not about believing, but about a relationship with the God who is sacramentally mediated to us through the Christian tradition in a comprehensive sense of the word: the Bible, the gospels, Jesus himself, and the worship and practices of our life together in Christian community."

We can argue the details, but this is the only conclusion.

God, Jesus, and Kundalini Yoga

Last night I watched a tv show about the life and work of Andy Warhol. He was seeking to capture the new thing that was happening in the art world. He did it better than anyone and led the way. As I watched I tried to capture in my mind what the new thing in the Christian world is that I'm trying to get on board with and perhaps do my part along with others to lead the way. I know the main thing is a renewed focus on the Kingdom of God. I really like that. But as I watched and thought about my part, the words God, Jesus, and Kundalini Yoga came to mind.

I love God. God is everything to me. God is the creator of this marvelous existence. I can understand the nature of God through the beauty of a flower as clearly as through the beauty of scriptures.

I am captured by Jesus. I want to be like him when I grow up. Always going back to the life and teachings of Yeshua informs how I and the churches I'm connected to are to live our lives in his name.

I was and still am being changed by Kundalini Yoga. Through deep breathing and chanting the centers of energy have opened in my inner being. The tightening in the lower area provides courage to live life and the love in the center of my chest is offered each moment to the world and to God. Somehow this energy and the Spirit are one.

One of the new things that I think is happening in the Jesus Movement is honest sharing and acceptance of how we are being shaped by different paths to God...even though we mainly work within the "Jesus neighborhood." I think that through this kind of bold honesty we will attract many people who otherwise dismiss us as irrelevant.

I pray that along with Warhol, we might create the paintings the Master Artist desires to place in The Exhibition he hopes the world to see.

Believing that God is good

This is Joy- I couldn't figure out how to do my own post, so I'm doing it through Craig. As I said on my "9 ways"post, "believing God is good" has been one of the most powerful "ways" inmy faith journey. When I decided I wanted to develop and clarify what all that meant to me this is what I came up with:

Faith
The self forgetfulness of faith.
I matter, but I'm not all that matters.
Being present in the moment
With the self forgetfulness of faith.
I give myself fully
for the sake of
A Vision larger than myself
becoming larger in that moment-though becoming larger matters not.
Worries and doubts of the future cannot consume me
when I am present in the moment
with the self forgetfulness of faith
giving myself fully for a Vision larger than myself.

The Atmosphere is lifegiving, nurturing
Sometimes within a lush forest
sometimes within a storm
Giving me a way to see my world
As lifegiving, nurturing.
Giving me a choice-
at every turn-
of seeing opportunity-
another open door.

I believe in htat which is infinite
which is yes.
I believe.
Help my unbelief, You Creator in which I live and breathe and have my being.
Create in me
and through me.

with thanks to Marcus Borg and ee cummings

I Can Give My Heart To This

Some things:

* I have finished my book of collected poems. If you're interested, I'll send you one. What a joy for me to have about 7 years of my life captured in 78 poems. Fun.

* Tim and I are hosting an event on Wednesday Nov. 8th in Indy. We are wanting to bring together about 25 people to discuss McLaren's latest book The Secret Message of Jesus. It will take place during the day. If you're interested, let us know.

* Lastly, I have not been in the Bible at all lately. (Confession feels so good!) Being a District Superintendent does not force you to preach and teach scripture like being a local pastor does. But, I've been reading The Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill. He wrote The Gift of the Jews and How the Irish Saved Civilization. Anyway, in the book he was talking about Luke's take on Jesus and he came to the scripture that you all know so well...and it goes like this.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
Because he has annointed me
To preach the good news to the poor
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind
To set at liberty those who are oppressed
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

This makes me cry. For I don't know what all religion and the church is about, but I can give my heart and life to this understading of the Jesus Movement.

I love you all.

some thoughts and feelings before david turned on football and the three of us eat

death?
life with one another!

chakras broken free in the gut, heart, and mind.
yeshua spirit filling those same cathedrals.

son playing guitar on porch.
wife upstairs.
daughter in muncie.
dog next to me on the couch.

filling the need to give to missions work.
sister n law hands me collection box for World Communion Sunday.

wedding coming for michael and yi.
gibran reading on love included in the service.

spent the day with parents loving then looking at "retirement home."
my parents have lived in the flesh gibran's understanding of love.

tired of christianity
more in love than ever with the radical rabbi.

breathing in the presence of God.
breathing out that same presence to the world.

forgetting to do one or the other
causes one to die.

Images of God

Joy and I had the following discussion in the car.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” Even though we still like the thought in this prayer, it reminds us of the image of God we had at the time which was an older white man with a beard sitting on a throne. Let’s talk briefly about our more current images.

We like Acts 17 which says “In God, we live, and move, and have our being.” God is therefore not out there somewhere, but we are within the God reality. God is our Atmosphere. Borg says God is "What Is".

The 9 Ways of Jesus previously discussed on this blog speak well to us about God’s image. God is "Servant", " Forgiver", " Confronter of darkness", "Healer", "One who both goes after and teaches The Way", "One who invites Trust", "Powerful", and " Creator of Jesus Community".

Jesus called God his Papa. I like that image and it can lead to others like a Mother or Grandmother who comforts the child. I think the feminine metaphor for God feels like a good change. Jesus confronted Jesrusalem and then he said he desired to gather her children together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

Jesus tried to give us a new sense of God by describing God’s nature to be like a little seed growing into a big tree, a little yeast permeating and making to rise the dough, light, and salt.

Are there current images of God that you are being invited to embrace?

When Is This Going to Get On Our Radar?

Did anyone see the census report statistics that just came out? We have a higher percentage of Americans living today in "deep poverty" than ever before--or at least as long as they've been keeping the numbers. The only increase in median income comes from those over 65 with investments and social security. There's a decent editorial in the NYTimes today, but you can find them elsewhere. Things are worse than most folks thought.

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting children. The poor don't seem to be getting much of a voice in the blogs we've been posting back and forth, or have I missed it?

Prophets are rarely appreciated. They do sometimes comfort the afflicted, but most often afflict the comfortable. In fact, Wallis documented that when homes in the average Israelite village were roughly equivalent in size, there tended to be no prophet raised during that period. But when the discrepency became large between the homes size of the rich and the poor--during those periods God raised up prophets to address the situation among his people. Just peruse Amos a bit and you get the biblical sense of what Wallis is pointing to.

Where are the prophetic voices among the emergent communities? Is there not a word from God about the last, the lost, and the least? And are not post-modern women and men better able to see and address these? Someone out there, help me understand what the point of doing church a new way if our focus is just as inwardly focused as the old way of doing church? Please understand, I'm not being critical of you all. This after all is new, and is just taking its first steps. But does the emergent movement have any clue on how to overcome partisan bifurcation--a dividing of all things into the two a priori camps of conservative and liberal?

For me personally, we have got to get up a head of steam and learn to speak truth to power wherever and however we can. It a needs biblical, spiritual basis--but it surely needs to happen and happen more often than I am seeing it. I would love to see this happening and how it happens within the emerging church.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Hunters & Gatherers

There's a new cohort beginning to meet in Lafayette. The Hunters and Gatherers cohort will begin meeting on Thursday, September 7, from 7-9 p.m. in the Gallery Room, and will continue to meet every Thursday night. The cohort's founders are Nancy Mockros, who is a member of LifePath, an emergent church community in Lafayette, and Jeff Greathouse, the youth ministry coordinator at Christ UM Church. Since the Oubache Cohort is essentially an online community at this point and has no regular meetings planned, this is an opportunity for anyone reading this to join in the H&G gatherings. They will be reading and discussing No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-As-You-Are Church by John Burke. If you're interested please e-mail Nancy at lifepath@insightbb.com. I've invited both Nancy and Jeff to participate in the Oubache Cohort blog so we may be hearing from them from time to time. I would also like to add that this doesn't preclude Oubache Cohort meetings at some time and place to be determined in the future.

Resonance

During the Sunday School hour, I've lately been wandering from classroom to classroom trying to find my niche after my favorite short crazy holy man followed God's call to Marion. I landed in a class that was just beginning to explore the "authenticity" of the New Testament. Seemed like an opportunity to stir up some trouble.

We watched a clip from a video. The speaker was setting up his premise and it seemed kind of OK - until he said something about inerrancy. I thought, "Oh boy here we go." The class leader turned off the video and opened the floor for discussion.

I waited a beat and no one spoke. I took a deep breath and started.

I spoke about the historical-metaphorical approach to Bible studies, first-century Jewish culture and oral traditions, and the difference between truth and fact. I thought I'd said way too much so I stopped and waited for someone else to say something.

Those who did speak up tended to agree with me. One person commented that she always wondered how the gospel writers could remember the exact words Jesus said. Others agreed. I was somewhat surprised (or maybe I shouldn't be) that there are others out there with questions. but are afraid to question.

The second session of the series wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, unless you want to get into an arguement on which gospel was written first and when. My reaction is generally - who cares? If you get all the Bible scholars in a room I think they would almost to a person agree that the New Testament was written during the first century. What else really matters after that?

I think I've found a Sunday School home - but I still miss the short crazy holy man.

Rocked

What's going on? Why is life so beautiful and terrifying? I must live in the now. This moment in front of the computer. There is pretty music playing. I am physically well. My family is ok except my parents, but they are surrounded by love....I pray for your love to both surround and invade them. I have work to do. ....eyes to see....

I miss trev, schnepperino, worship at the church, and donuts and laughter on friday morning. But here I am. And just yesterday I said to my family how much I love this new job...and I do. I just miss...

Life is sweet and good and sad and scary and ...and ...shh....there's the music again....I am being embraced by....life....Her life....a Grandmother rocking me and singing her song.

Well, I'm heading to the porch with the dog to eat my cheerios. I love you all. I thank you all for being a part of my life. I pray that the goodness of reality rock you and yours back and forth..back and forth.

Peace. Out.

Sweet Sabbath

Wow, what a sabbath day.

Joy and I went to a community worship in the park service. One of my Methodist churches joined with some churches from other denominations to put on the service on a most gorgeous August morning. The service was deep, rich, and beautiful.

We then drove to my parents in Ft. Wayne. They are going through a troubling time, and we kids and others are trying to see them through. It was good and right to be there.

Then we flew home, listening to good music on the radio, to see Rachel Marie who was home very briefly from college to do laundry and pick up the books she ordered on line....our sweetie.

David boy was in Lafayette for the weekend and called me to make sure I knew Tiger was winning the PGA this day, so I got to watch one of my heroes do his thing.

We then had our second Sunday evening worship and conversation experience. It was very cool because one of my pastors and his wife joined us. He is involved in the emerging church happening. It was an excellent time.

Afterwards, Joy, Jamie, and I walked down to the river. It is a cool evening, and the moon flowers were open tonight. Their smell is awesome!

And after God worked and created on all the other days, he rested on the 7th....blessed it and made it holy....and said again, Oh man, that is good stuff!

Today and Tomorrow

I'm watching a movie with Joy and David...CSA Confederate States of America.
Good stuff.

Rachel's been moved into her new home in Muncie and classes start Monday.
The girl's growing up.

Decided to live like Jesus today.
Want to tomorrow.

Down By The River There Was A Spark

Well, tonight, Joy, Jamie, and I walked down to the river and settled in the gazebo. We then began our first worship and discipleship experience of this new kind of God community.

First, there was a brief word on the Word from the pastor. (Joy asked me which one of us was going to be the pastor....good question..probably don't need one.)

Secondly, we had a time of Quaker silence.....being silent and seeing if anything good surfaces to share. There was.

Next, Joy sang a simple song. That ended the worship, and the discipleship part began.

We first discussed who we are as an emergent community and who we are not....what we believe and what we don't. It seems very important to me in a new kind of church to have this kind of conversation or pondering often and up front kind of like what people in AA do.

Lastly, Joy and I remembered and discussed the 9 ways of Jesus living. This probably took the longest, and we finished as we walked along the river.

So these are the first ingredients in the new soup we are cooking. They include:

Simple worship.

Defining and discussing who we are as an emerging kind of church.

Using the 9 fold Jesus path as our guide.

p.s. When we got home, Joy sang, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going." I wonder if this is that kind of spark.

Revolution!?

Tonight
the music plays
and i am well,
beyond well into shalom zone.
My question is
are there any revolutions left?
FDR put millions of unemployed people to work
planting billions of trees, building parks, and making trails.
It was a dream that he stuck to no matter what called the C.C.C.
Giving hope and purpose and beautifying the earth.
I am asking you my friends
do we have a revolution left in us?
Is there something that we are being called to give our lives to?
Will you help me start new kinds of God communities?
What if it takes the next 10 years of our life
to find out and participate in what the Highest is up to?
Kennedy stated that in 10 years we would go to the moon.
What is our moon?

Another Honest Psalm

I miss my friends!
But I love you God.

I've got a cool job, yet I have done something completely different the last 25 years...and this is really wierd!
But I do thank you for the good stuff that hasn't changed and the new challenge.

I am afraid of death!
But I'm going to live in this moment right now.

I don't have a local church community, and you guys take it for granted just like I did!
But Joy Ellen and I are going to try and start one.

Peace!
Out!

Three Things

I. Hey, I was looking for a book or an article that would be good for my pastors to discuss, debate and be en-thused by at our meeting in September. One of my young buck's suggested a book called In The Name Of Jesus: Relections on Christian Leadership by Henri Nouwen. It is a small, excellent book that I would highly recommend. Nouwen shares lessons he learned moving from the Harvard community to living at L'Arche community for the mentally handicapped and how this connects to a Jesus kind of leadership. It is based mostly on the story of the temptations Jesus faced regarding his leadership.

II. I was walking on the beach and I met a lady that the locals call the"turtle lady." She has lived near the beach for 25 years, and she watches for the sea turtles who come to bury their turtle eggs in the sand. After about 50 days, they, in her words, explode out of the hole like a volcano. She, sometimes with her friends, builds a barricade behind the babies so that they don't head the wrong way toward the lights of houses as well as builds little trenches for an easier path toward the ocean. A few out of a hundred will make a go of it to the water and in their new environment. But the ones that do survive and thrive will come back some day to the same beach to bury their eggs.
For us too, life is a challenge and it takes alot to head in the right direction, survive, and thrive. But we are not alone, and there are unseen forces helping us along the way. And perhaps we too can make the journey to just the right places where me might bring forth new life to this worn yet beautiful world of ours.

III. We just went to see Will Farrell in Talladega Nights. Very, very funny!

HEARD IT ON THE RADIO. I LIKE IT.

An Impatient Letter From Godby Bo Lozoff
Bo wrote the following article for the Human Kindness Foundation newsletter at Christmas-time, 1989. It was then included in his 1990 book Just Another Spiritual Book.
Since then, the essay has been widely circulated, though almost always uncredited. Radio commentator Paul Harvey included the piece in his radio program on two occasions, apparently receiving a deluge of calls, mail, and faxes (we hope mostly positive). Now this piece can be found at numerous websites, often edited, and usually listed as, "author unknown." The following is the original letter.
Date: Eternity
From: GOD
To: My Children on Earth
re: Idiotic religious rivalries
My Dear Children (and believe me, that's all of you),
I consider myself a pretty patient Guy. I mean, look at the Grand Canyon. It took millions of years to get it right. And how about evolution? Boy, nothing is slower than designing that whole Darwinian thing to take place, cell by cell and gene by gene. I've even been patient through your fashions, civilizations, wars and schemes, and the countless ways you take Me for granted until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again.
But on this occasion of My Son's birthday, I want to let you know about some things that are starting to tick me off.
First of all, your religious rivalries are driving Me up a wall. Enough already! Let's get one thing straight: These are your religions, not Mine. I'm the Whole Enchilada; I'm beyond them all. Every one of your religions claims there's only one of Me (which, by the way, is absolutely true). But in the very next breath, each religion claims it's My favorite one. And each claims its bible was written personally by me, and that all the other bibles are man-made. Oh, Me. How do I even begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense?
Okay, listen up now: I'm your Father and Mother, and I don't play favorites among My Children. Also, I hate to break it to you, but I don't write. My longhand is awful, and I've always been more of a "doer" anyway. So all your books, including the bibles, were written by men and women. They were inspired, remarkable people, but they also made mistakes here and there. I made sure of that, so that you would never trust a written word more than your own living Heart.
You see, one Human Being to me -- even a Bum on the street -- is worth more than all the holy books in the world. That's just the kind of Guy I Am. My Spirit is not an historical thing, It's alive right here, right now, as fresh as your next breath.
Holy books and religious rites are sacred and powerful, but not more so than the least of You. They were only meant to steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with each other, and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with Me.
Which brings Me to My next point about your nonsense: You act like I need you and your religions to stick up for Me or "win souls" for My Sake. Please, don't do Me any favors. I can stand quite well on my own, thank you. I don't need you to defend Me, and I don't need constant credit. I just want you to be good to each other.
And another thing: I don't get all worked up over money or politics, so stop dragging My name into your dramas. For example, I swear to Me that I never threatened Oral Roberts. I never rode in any of Rajneesh's Rolls Royces. I never told Pat Robertson to run for president, and I've never ever had a conversation with Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, or Jimmy Swaggart! Of course, come Judgement Day, I certainly intend to...
The thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of loyalty pledge to Me. The true purpose of your religions is so that you can become more aware of Me, not the other way around. Believe Me, I know you already. I know what's in each of your hearts, and I love you with no strings attached. Lighten up and enjoy Me. That's what religion is best for.
What you seem to forget is how mysterious I Am. You look at the petty little differences in your scriptures and say, "Well, if this is the Truth, then that can't be!" But instead of trying to figure out My Paradoxes and Unfathomable Nature -- which, by the way, you never will -- why not open your hearts to the simple common threads in every religion?
You know what I'm talking about: Love and respect everyone. Be kind. Even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be of good cheer, for I Am always with you. Learn how to be quiet, so you can hear My Still, Small Voice (I don't like to shout). Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity and gracefulness, for you are My Own Child. Hold back nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die will surely die, and the parts that can't, won't. So don't worry, be happy (I stole that last line from Bobby McFerrin, but he stole it from Meher Baba in the first place.)
Simple stuff. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It's like you're always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I'm very tired of being your main excuse. Do you think I care whether you call me Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Wakantonka, Brahma, Father, Mother, or even The Void or Nirvana? Do you think I care which of My Special Children you feel closest to -- Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed or any of the others? You can call Me and My Special Ones any name you choose, if only you would go about My business of loving one another as I love you. How can you keep neglecting something so simple?
I'm not telling you to abandon your religions. Enjoy your religions, honor them, learn from them, just as you should enjoy, honor, and learn from your parents. But do you walk around telling everyone that your parents are better than theirs? Your religion, like your parents, may always have the most special place in your heart; I don't mind that at all. And I don't want you to combine all the Great Traditions into One Big Mess. Each religion is unique for a reason. Each has a unique style so that people can find the best path for themselves.
But My Special Children -- the ones your religions revolve around -- all live in the same place (My Heart) and they get along perfectly, I assure you. The clergy must stop creating a myth of sibling rivalry where there is none.
My Blessed Children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotry and confusion. The whole planet is connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases, and mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program! If you really want to help Me celebrate the birthday of My Son Jesus, then commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry, clothe your naked, protect your abused, and shelter your poor. And just as importantly, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I've given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, loving, and laughing together.
Finally, My Children everywhere, remember whose birth is honored on December 25th, and the fearlessness with which He chose to live and die. As I love Him, so do I love each one of you. I'm not really ticked off, I just wanted to grab your attention because I hate to see you suffer. But I gave you Free Will, so what can I do now other than to try to influence you through reason, persuasion, and a little old-fashioned guilt and manipulation? After all, I Am the original Jewish Mother. I just want you to be happy, and I'll sit in The Dark. I really Am, indeed, I swear, with you always. Always. Trust In Me.
Your One and Only,
GOD
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Human Kindness Foundation, PO Box 61619, Durham, NC 27715; (919) 304-2220

Great Idea, We Cut It Down to Four

Joy & Cohort bros and sis's,

I had requested a copy of Craig's list of what it means to be a follower of Jesus and was inspired by it. It is not only good stuff, but wisely used. I'm so pleased to see his wife, Joy, has helped create it and then had the wisdom to go back and edit it. (It gives the list so much more credibility!) As we at St. Andrew have wrestled with our mission: to become like Jesus and help others do the same, we found that such a mission begs the question: "So what's it mean to be like Jesus?"

I like very much what you have come up with, but I thought you might be interested in what we've been kicking around along the same theme. As a matter of fact, we too wanted a tool that would help us examine our ministry and shared community life so that we could stay on track. The way I've been thinking about it lately is like four legs of a table. And if we're talking tables, wouldn't we be talking about the Lord's table upon which he constantly provides for his people a feast of grace? But more so, aren't we the Lord's table through which God provides to the world that same feast and that same grace?

Each core aspect of what it means to be Jesus (each 'leg' of the table) also includes a question that flows from some aspect of Christ's life or teaching that can be asked of any new or existing ministry (or decision or pray or plan or contemplated direction for our lives). For instance, am I led to exchange my expectation of being served (bib) with a desire to serve (apron)? I recognize that a lot of this begs an unpacking I cannot easily do via this blog, but I invite you all to consider them and see if they make any kind of sense to you. It is a shorter list and misses a lot of personal nuance of your list, Joy, but then again it comes out of a more corporate confession than a personal one.

First Leg

To be like Jesus is to first be centered on God.

We are called to be God CENTERED

For Jesus it was always about God and God’s grace.

Does it turn on a light?

(Help others see God, themselves, & others in light of God’s grace?)

Second Leg

To be like Jesus is to be focused on relationships

We are invited to be OTHER FOCUSED

Jesus came to bring reconciliation.

Does it build a bridge?

(Bring God together with people and people together with each other?)

Third Leg

To be like Jesus is to be committed to (God-centered) community

Life is best lived when we are COMMUNITY ORIENTED

Jesus invested himself most deeply in those who shared his journey with him

Does it encourage us to exchange our bibs for aprons?

(Move from a focus on being fed toward a focus on feeding others)

Fourth Leg

To be like Jesus is to be need-driven

To follow Jesus faithfully means we too are NEED DRIVEN

Jesus’ life was directed toward the deepest needs of all people.

Does it make another's burden lighter?

(Sharing with others what God has already shared with us)

To apprentice ourselves to Jesus, or to be one of his disciples, is to become more and more like him. Reflecting on the above we might say the following:

Jesus

• Helped others see God and themselves truly
• Built bridges between people and between God and people
• Inspired and empowered his followers to serve & love each other
• Reached out to heal, feed, and forgive those in need

9 ways

This is Joy- the wife Craig mentioned in his first entry. I wanted to share a tool we came up with-Craig came up with it first, actually, wanting to analyze just exactly what it was Jesus did here on earth, according to the Gospels.
I think I was the one who got him to realize what a meaningful tool it could be, using it to think about how one could live after the pattern of Jesus. I changed the wording a bit to make it more meaningful to me, but I think it is essentially the same. I use it for devotions sometimes, seeing if I can remember all 9-and think maybe the one(s) I can’t remember I need to work on more.
The Jesus way of life is BEING
1.forgiving
2.one who brings healing and wholeness to all, especially outcasts
3.in community
4.one who demonstrates and teaches the way of love
5.one who connects to God for power and transformation
6.one who seeks the will of God-the way of love
7.one who confronts darkness (I’m definitely weak on that one!)
8.a servant
9.one who has faith that God is good.
The last of the 9 has been especially meaningful to me, especially when I get anxious about things. In Heart of Christianity, Marcus Borg gives a definition of faith as “a way of seeing”, saying the way we view reality really does make a difference in our actions toward it. If I see “the whole”, or God, as giving, nourishing, sustaining, gracious, this faith makes possible a “willingness to spend and be spent for the sake of a vision that goes beyond ourselves”, and leads to the “self forgetfulness of faith”. I’m working on strengthening that faith, that “way of seeing”.

THIS IS A START

I am not sure anyone is reading my remarks or cares much about them, but I shall continue ...hoping to make connection and community. Recently I attended one my largest churches. It is doing a good job reaching many people with the love of God. The sermon was good and I am sure God is using the theology presented to bring people both closer to God and more compassionate to humankind.(Borg's definition of faithful religion) I will call it "traditional theology." It is... Creation, the Fall of humankind, Justification through Christ, and Regeneration through the Spirit. Like I say, I know God is using this for goodness in the Kingdom, but it is really the only Christian theology openly presented to the world. I think my theology is something like...Creation; God loving us, teaching us, and disciplining us in the midst of our goodness as well as our frequent failures; Christ and the Spirit empowering and teaching us for the ways we are called to live and love for the sake of God's Kingdom on earth; and the Mystery and Hope of heaven for all of God's children.
I know I have to challenge the Bible in some places to claim this belief and understanding, and yet, as Matthew Fox said to me, not only can I do this but I must. And I believe my heritage as a United Methodist gives me permission to wrestle with my scriptural beliefs through other scriptures, the tradition, my experience, and my reason.

I see my theology as being more reasonable and like what I see in the human experience itself. I don't condemn my children because they mess up or need to kill something so I can forgive them. I just forgive them. And then I continue to love and teach them and believe in who they are meant to become through their growing up and through God's grace offered to them in so many ways.
The traditional theology seems to view things and people as basically bad. I think creation is basically good even though at times we are far from what God desires. And in the end, the tradtional thought leaves out a whole bunch of people who because of one reason or another will not be able to fit into this "saving relationship" with Christ while on this earth. The Jesus I know and see in the scripture was never about leaving people out but always seeking to bring them in.

My son once asked me if I was ever going to speak openly about what I believe and don't believe or just keep quiet about what I don't believe. Darn whippersnapper! Well boy, this is a start.

MY NAME IS

**One of my favorite movies is Dances With Wolves. Costner has basically taken on his new identity as a member of his new found Indian tribe but has to return to the fort for his diary. He then is taken prisoner by soldiers who bind him and demand that he explain his actions. Finally, he decides not to talk in English anymore and in his new language declares only one thing to his captors and that is his new name. Well, today I declare my new name. My name is "a new kind of Christian."
*I am a devout follower of the way of Jesus, and the Jesus I know is not afraid or judgemental of people who travel the paths they best know toward the love and reality of God. He joins their journey.
*My name is Christian and I choose to show great love and respect and be in relationship with all people including both heterosexuals and homosexuals because that's what Jesus would do.
*I am a Jesus dude and I choose to love and serve along with all my brothers and sisters in Christ whether they be conservative, liberal, a little bit of both, or labels we haven't even heard of yet.
*My name is child of God and within God I live and move and have my being.
*I am Christian and I view our wonderful Bible historically, metaphorically, and sacramentally.
*I am a Christian pilgrim and I am human, still learning, seeking to live the Jesus life and bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, and on the adventure of my life.

My name is ...Craig...and, along with the Costner's of the world, I seek to find and hold on to my diary , that is my story with God, as well as my new language and tribe.

ALL INVITED

ALL INVITED
*For about five years now, my wife Joy and I have been blessed by the Emergent movement and in particular the writings of Brian McLaren. I can best summarize this by saying it has helped us go on a journey of exploring with others in an honest manner what we most truly believe and desire to act upon, what beliefs we struggle with or reject, and what “a new kind of Christian” might look like in today’s world. I would like to invite you to participate with this online forum as well as gathering from time to time in person to walk together on this strange yet exciting path of being a Christ follower in this post-modern world.
*Last week, at Epworth Forest, my wife and I ran into three friends that we hadn’t seen for 25 years. They are developmentally disabled adults and yet three of the most beautiful people you would want to meet. While I was interacting with them off and on for a couple of days, I began to think about the theology that a person must intellectually accept Christ as their Savior to make it to heaven. And if this is the case, my three friends won’t make it. I don’t believe this! I believe in Grace! So my question is the following. If we were to move toward being “a new kind of church,” could we say openly that we do indeed believe in the saving presence of Christ and his ways and yet also believe that it is just like Christ to bring that saving presence to all of humankind through His grace, ways, and people? I believe there are many un-connected people who would be more likely to connect with this good news. What do you think?

Welcome

Welcome to the Oubache Cohort!

"Oubache" is the French phonetic spelling of "Wabash," a river in northern Indiana and a branch of the Ohio River. A "cohort" is a place of connection and support. The Oubache Cohort is part of the Emergent learning community. Like the expansive Mississippi river system of streams, creeks and rivers that flow into the ocean, the Oubache Cohort is a branch of the ongoing Emergent church conversation that is flowing worldwide and refreshing the Christian faith.

The Emergent movement includes thoughtful Christians who are examining new ways of being disciples of Jesus Christ. According to the Emergent Village website: "Emergent is for people who feel called by God to invest their lives at this new edge of transition, exploration, creativity, challenge, collaboration, faith, danger, and opportunity."

The Oubache Cohort is a learning community. An emergent learning community is "primarily a place of communal exploration, theological and professional reflection, honest connection, and strategic collaboration. These learning communities are geared toward post-critical, constructive conversation, rather than deconstructive rants about the current state of the Church." (Emergent Village)

The Oubache Cohort hopes to:

• Assist a new generation of leaders
• Promote and enhance grassroots participation in the emerging church conversation
• Encourage and continue theological dialogue

As you participate in this cohort, regard the conversation as a journey of faith, both personal and communal. Ask questions and share your thoughts. Be prepared to learn from others. Treat others with respect and kindness as modeled by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Above all, seek truth.

Make God bless and guide us on this journey.