another mystery solved

No more wondering about where sausages come from; now I know thanks to our visit to Cypress Gardens on Saturday.

beg, borrow & steal

When you can't think of anything to blog about, link to other people's blogs...

I'm not even sure where to begin about this post from Brant.

Kyle does a great job discussing Lent.

This parable by Bish will get you thinking.

stuff on the eve of lent

It's been a while so here are some random thoughts for today:

1. I'm looking forward to Lent starting tomorrow. I like the idea of having those 40 days set aside to reset & reboost my spiritual batteries. There's something about having a period of time set aside for some intrspection that can't help but be fruitful.

2. I was invited to share about Lent & Ash Wednesday to a small group from another church in town a couple weeks ago. The family hosting/leading that group was once part of our community. They left us to get involved at another church & we blessed them on their way. It was really neat to see the influence we had on them & how they're influencing others. Their meeting was pretty much a carbon copy of our gatherings: sharing dinner, sharing needs, sharing scripture, sharing communion, and sharing dessert.

3. Speaking of our community, we are no longer associated with the Vineyard. We reached an impasse over the Vineyard's insistance that we sign a trademark agreement to protect the name & brand of the Vineyard. We had some definite philosophical & theological objections. First, it's just flat out wrong to brand or trademark the church. It stinks of consumerism and commercialism. The term "vineyard" has too rich a biblical meaning to try to claim exclusive rights to. Part of the contract would have required us to participate in legal action against other churches or ministries for unauthorized use of "vineyard" in their name. That also flat out wrong. So we stood our ground & were asked to go our way since we didn't want to play nice. Quite frankly, it's a bit of a relief. We feel more free to be who were are now.

4. Thanks to the generosity of our community Lisa & I will be traveling north next month to take part in at Vineyard Central in Norwood, OH. We're really looking forward to that.

an inconvenient truth

Sometimes this gospel thing can be really hard if we stop & consider the implications. Kyle's quote below and this story about a church & the sign below is challenging as well. I've been wondering what would happen if we really took Jesus' words & example at face value & really, truly lived them out.

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell."
- Jesus

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
On the contrary:
'If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
- St. Paul

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
- St. Paul

something to think about

Kyle had some great words of wisdom on his blog & I just had to echo his thoughts here:

I will continue to insist that the only legitimate orientation for the Church in the world is a Eucharistic one: we are the Body of Christ, broken, and the Blood of Christ, poured out so that others might have life. When Christians insist to the broader world that their "rights" (and even social privileges) be respected, we reveal our desire to be the masters of other people, rather than to be broken for their sake, after the calling of Jesus the Christ. Jesus refused to treat enemies like enemies, and did not refuse to be broken at their hands, for their own salvation and healing. We who were enemies of God have been healed and reconciled by the suffering love of God. When we refuse the suffering of love - and the suffering of rejection that is part and parcel with it - we set ourselves up against the divine economy of healing and salvation.