Tag: encounterthis.com

Looking back and moving forward

Traffic cone
Traffic cone | Photo by Jonasb

It’s been nearly two months now since Laurie and I left the plains of Red Oak for the fields of Forney.

As part of the move, we of course carried with us a number of dear memories and relationships that we made during our four years with encounter.

Luckily, we don’t leave these things behind when we move — we carry them with us.

Yesterday, Brian and I were trying to remember when it was that he shared an illustration that’s stuck with me and others ever since.

Setting out four construction cones around him, Brian drove home the point that we should be building spaces of grace wherever we go — especially as followers of The Way.
Continue reading Looking back and moving forward

you first

the greatest joy in giving the greatest sacrifice…

we joined another part of the body of Christ this morning, so missed our usual gathering with encounter – but Brian brought it this morning for sure. watch the video (the message starts about 15 min in).

video on ustream

Finding real life

This morning Brian laid a challenging discussion on us. Are you finding real life?

We started off with a look at things we want people to focus on…

  • my temptations
  • my relationships
  • my joys
  • my thoughts
  • my fears
  • my desires
  • my walk with God
  • my questions
  • my needs
  • my feelings
  • my goals
  • my dreams
  • my longings
  • my hopes
  • my hurts
  • my past

We’re always looking for people to fulfill those areas of our lives. We want to be understood. We want to be listened to. We want to be fulfilled. We want to be accepted. We want others to fill those areas in us.

Yes – that goes for me for sure.

But Scripture tells us, “For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, he shall save it.” Mark 8:35

And, “Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.” 1 Cor 10:24

So what if we took that list and looked instead to fulfilling those needs in others?

Like our wife. Our kids (for those of you with em). Our parents. Our family. Our friends. Our co-workers.

Would we even know how to do that? Do we even know what they need when it comes to…

  • their temptations
  • their relationships
  • their joys
  • their thoughts
  • their fears
  • their desires
  • their walk with God
  • their questions
  • their needs
  • their feelings
  • their goals
  • their dreams
  • their longings
  • their hopes
  • their hurts
  • their past

I humbly submit that I could probably only answer 40-50% or so of those correctly for the people in my life. Probably less for many others.

Why is that? I could blame them and say, “Well they’re just not open enough. They’re just not sharing enough. They don’t want me to know.”

But I’m pretty sure the onus is on me. It’s up to ME. If they’re not giving “the right answers” then I’m not asking “the right questions.”

If we all live for ourselves and what we can get out of the deal – nobody wins. But if we can give of our lives for the sake of others – we all win.

A closing thought (a re-tweet) from @aaronaiken this morn :: Spend 1% of your time staying informed on the world, and 99% improving your world and you won’t even remember this recession.

I’d suggest changing the phrasing slightly to “99% improving THE world” but you get the idea.

What say you? Anyone figured out how to do this well? Anyone know of someone doing this well?

11/365


11/365
Originally uploaded by Jonathan D. Blundell.

walk by faith

We were challenged this morning to face our giants. To face the areas in our lives that are keeping us from taking the next step with God.

Brian pointed out five giants we face. I think I could use some help against each giant.

fully surrender
intentional relationships
caring for others
personal responsibility
leadership

I’m looking forward to seeing where God takes all of us over the next year.

Will I believe you when you say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to rid my endless fears
You’ve been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

Well I’m broken- but I still see Your face
Well You’ve spoken- pouring Your words of grace

-walk by faith
jeremy camp

Better be living it out…

listening to Matt Chandler at a church planting conference….

“If you’re gonna teach this (missional life) you better be living it out. Because eventually the people are going to look around and say – we haven’t seen any of your neighbors in the water”

– Matt Chandler from Resurgence Conference
Vision of a Church Planter

ouch! a slap in my face.

goes back to the ideas several of us have been talking about as far as what a leader/pastor/facilitator looks like for community groups and/or home churches.

what is a leader ::

a leader takes responsibility to create desire to know God more

how do they do it ::

live out the 6*
assumes the responsibility of others lives
assumes the responsibility of guiding others toward personal priesthood
creates an environment of:
– spaces of grace
– intentional relationships
– relevant truth

*the six (or what we do) ::

celebrating what God is doing (worship)
telling others outside what God is doing (evangelism)
connecting and accepting on another (fellowship)
intentionally guiding one another to Christ and towards personal priesthood (discipleship)
being sensitive to know and meet needs (serving)
living and being transparent and authentic

thoughts? ideas?