If You’ve Never Stayed Late At House Church…
You probably should.
I’ve said this many times before, most of the time the real church experience happens after some people leave at the traditional ending time. For whatever reason, there’s less pressure to put on a show or make something happen. Everyone all of the sudden becomes real and the true church experience begins. It reminds me all over again why I love church in a living room.
Tonight, we talked a lot about motivation, desire, and the tension between being real and organic and at the same time pursuing a supernatural lifestyle that causes you to live “un-naturally.” Very little of the conversation was planned, but I think it was good for everyone.
However, the biggest reason to stay late–everyone gets really goofy around 9:30. Tonight, Sean was talking about his farmers’ tan that he gained playing golf. Christy told Sean that there are swimsuits that actually allow UVB rays through the sunlight through so people can tan and not be naked. My response was it was a way to bring out everyone’s inner nudist.
The conversation continued until we had milked the phrase “inner nudist” for all it was worth. It was decided by all that sermons such “The Inner Nudity of Jesus” and “The Kingdom of God and the Inner Nudist” would be popular in pop culture. Marc Driscoll was voted most likely Christian leader to preach a sermon on the topic and have it actually make sense. A good time was had by all.
Travis
Weekend
So…I haven’t been publishing lately. Things have been busy. In reality time with Jesus has been a priority over blogging. I may try for a while to keep up here with short posts about events instead of large posts about my soap box issues. We’ll see if I can restrain myself.
This weekend I took Bryan Hamilton with me up to Osage, Iowa. We went because we heard about a gathering of house churches from around Iowa was going to happen and I’ve been looking for others in the area who God has been speaking the same things to.
Well, the event was small, but it gave me a good chance to meet those people who did come. I had some good conversations with Kyle from Omaha, Bryan from Des Moines, and Mike from Osage. Hopefully we’ll see them all again some time.
The coolest thing that happened though was I was finally able to articulate the challenge before us as we transition from “Church As We Know It” (CAWKI) and into “Church As God Wants It” (CAGWI). The challenge? We have been simultaneously living with two masters…the yoke of religion and the yoke of Jesus. The challenge before us is to simultaneously come out from under the yoke of religion and at the same time press in to God to be more closely yoked to His Son. Only an increasing yoke of Jesus accompanied by a removal of religious yokes will free us from lawlessness to walk rightly with God. Everything else is chaff.
Travis
This thing
I’m about to post about my day and I realized that I was going to use a phrase I don’t normally use here but I found it scrawled on the walls of my heart. So I thought I would define it quick so I could link to it. It’s very 21st century I think. If I had more time I’d create a wikipedia entry.
So the term is “This Thing.” What do I mean when I say “This Thing?” I believe before the end of the age that God is going to raise up a Bride that is faithful to Jesus like no other generation in church history. In the midst of the greatest persecution ever from a satanically inspired world leader, God will pour out His Spirit in unprecendented ways that will bring in a global harvest of epic proportions. It’s the book of Exodus plus the book of Acts multiplied (Micah 7:15, Joel 2, Revelation 11:3-12). It’s IHOP’s Prophetic History plus Houses that Change the World plus an apostolic and prophetic revolution like we have never seen. It’s viral networks of churches full of people following the Lamb wherever He goes. It’s Jesus’ plan for the end of the age. You’ll enjoy it, I’m sure.
Anyways, “This Thing” is the the church of Jesus Christ as it is today, saying a weak “Yes.” She may not look like a pure and spotless Bride yet, but she’s coming through the wilderness, what do you expect? Rest assured of this…She is going somewhere.
Buckle up…it’s going to be a fun ride.
Cluster Map
Pursuing Glory 