Love Kindness

I heard this song as I was driving home last week.  Not a great song that I would buy but listening to the words..... wow.  And I remembered Micah 6:8--what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. 

So many times we confuse nice with kind, and they are two different things.  Kindness seems much more active to me, and deeper.  Nice can be superficial.  And maybe, just maybe, kindness doesn't always look nice.  I don't know!  Thoughts?

WE CAN BE KIND

~David Friedman

So many things you can't control
So many hurts that happen everyday
So many heartaches that pierce the soul
So much pain that won't ever go away

How do we make it better?
How do we make it through?
What can we do when there's nothing we can do?

We can be kind
We can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
We all need the same thing
And maybe we'll find
If we are there for each other
That together we'll weather whatever tomorrow may bring

Nobody really wants to fight
Nobody really wants to go to war
If everyone wants to make things right
Then what are we always fighting for?

Does nobody want to see it?
Does nobody understand?
The power to heal is right here in our hands.

We can be kind
We can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
We all need the same thing
And maybe we'll find
If we are kind to each other
That together we'll weather whatever tomorrow may bring

And it's not enough to talk about it
Not enough to sing a song
We must walk the walk about it
You and I
Do or die
We've got to try to get along

We can be kind
We can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
We all need the same thing
And maybe we'll find
If we are kind to each other
That together we'll weather whatever tomorrow may bring

And maybe we'll find
True peace of mind
If we always remember
We can be kind.

Intergenerational Relationships

I continue to read "Tribal Church" and find it a fun and thoughtful book to read. 

Chapter 2 talks about fostering intergenerational relationships.  One great quote on page 21 is "Church growth trends that market specifcally to younger generations while ignoring the elderly, and congregations who care for older members while neglecting young adults, exacerbate the schisms in our society."  The church however should be a place where there is community, not for some but for all.  How is it then that our congregations have come to cater to an age group or demographic? How is it that we talk about racial harmony and yet many of our communities are highly segregated on Sunday mornings?  Do we walk the talk? Do we think that Jesus has to be proclaimed differently to the demographic we speak to?  Is that what is meant by contextual?

I hope not, and yet I have to admit I see quite of bit of homogeny in our church today.

Tribal church reminds us that we do need to offer what people need in order to hear the proclamation of God.  Try to be a young parent and listen to a sermon while you try to keep your child quiet, even if the church says they are welcome--they can see the squirms of some. The council says they will provide a nursery when they have enough to warrent one. Will anyone come back to worship when they didn't have a nursery when they visited to "check out" the church? Is child care provided during meetings or events? With work schedules and single parenthood, it can get expensive to have to get a babysitter to participate in committee meetings or fellowship events. 

What are some things that the church could do that would say we really welcome all people into our church?  What would say we value all generations?

Connection in Displacements: What YA seek in Church

I am currently reading "Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation" by Carol Howard Merritt.  I'm almost afraid to read about young adults as an old person, because as Carol says, I think I see them through tinted glasses.  Honestly, I don't feel old.  So I hope to throw some things out there and get feedback.

First though, I speak to my fear in a way of justifying criticism.  I KNOW that a book is not about all people, no book is.  It is the author's experience, and it is the readers responsibility to test, challenge, agree or disagree.  Ministry is to an individual, who never fits the stereotype or image portrayed.  Having said that...

Early in the book, (pg 16) the author writes:  "When a young person walks into a church, it's a significant moment, because no on expects her to go and nothing pressures her to attend; instead, she enters the church looking for something. She searches for connection in her displacement: connection with God through spiritual practices, connections with her neighbors through an intergenerational community, and connection with the world through social justice outreach."

She goes on to say that even, maybe especially smaller churches have the resources to respond in meaningful ways when they understand their contexts and make a place for them.

Thoughts?

Imagine

Imagine--
Imagine a Church where all people are invited to hear the Word
Imagine a Church where the primary witness is Jesus Christ, not policy
Imagine a Church where all generations are equal and heard

Imagine a Church that reaches beyond the walls
Imagine a Church that realizes the need for collaboration
Imagine a Church that invites all to hear God's call

Imagine a Church where people no longer harbor resentment
Imagine a Church where people can differ and still be one
Imagine a Church where "We can" and "We will" are heard often

Imagine, just imagine.  In the words of John Lennon, I wonder if we can.  I hope one day you'll join us, and the world will live as one!

What's going on?

Hi all.  I have really not been keeping up on this well.  So far not many followers, but very important followers.

I am working to get a retreat set for sometime at Michi-lu-ca.  CJ is to get me some possible dates so you can keep them open.

Elliott Drake has posted on facebook his experience at Churchwide Assembly.  I think it would be good for us to talk a little about not only his experience, but the decisions. 

I'll try to do better. But I'd love to see other posts as well.

1 Peter 3:1-7

3Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, ²when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; ⁴rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. ⁵It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. ⁶Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you. ⁷Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.

1 Peter 2:13-25

¹³For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. ¹⁶As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. ¹⁷Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor. ¹⁸Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ²²“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.