What in the world...?

HAS EVERYONE GONE CRAZY?

It might seem like that. People seem more tense than ever. It seems like everything's a battle, and there's blood everywhere. The world seems pretty broken, and the future looks mighty dim, and we're all shaking our heads, wondering how we got to this crazy place. But here's the thing...

This is nothing new. The world's crazy. Always has been.

There is, however, a path that helps us make sense of it and navigate it and maybe even make a dent in it. And that path is called The Way of Jesus.

But The Way of Jesus is all about steps. 

So this is your formal invitation to Step One.

The Way of Jesus, like any path to a place where you've never been, is better walked with someone who knows the way, or at least someone who's a few steps ahead of you. So, Step One on The Way of Jesus is to find some running partners, some navigators, some guides.

We're inviting you to join us. We Questers are asking the very same questions you're asking, but we think we've found a path through the crazy. We're feeling our own way down this path, and we're inviting you to get on it with us.

It may be bumpy and dangerous, but what way isn't? And at least on this Way, you don't have to go it alone, and it's headed toward someplace we think you'll like.

Take the first step by joining us at our Sunday Gathering.

Future Shock

We've been talking about how God isn't looking for excuses to punish you or reasons to weed you out, but instead, he wants to help you become a good citizen of the kingdom. So, if God is more interested in what we're becoming than he is about who we are and what we've done, then maybe he's just generally more interested in our future than our past? Maybe he's less interested in our record - how we've responded to things previously - than he is about how we respond from here on out. 

If that's true, part of me says, "That's great! It's all about what's next! It's all about potential!" But another part of me says, "Oh, dear. What if I don't do any better than I have? What if my future is just as messed up as my past?"

Good question. But maybe a better way to think about it is to remember that Jesus didn't just stroll into your life once you noticed him. You didn't call him out of retirement. The reason you noticed him is because he's been there all along; you just didn't notice him until you figured out what to look for. He's been at work in your life, and a huge part of your development as a Jesus follower - as a disciple - is noticing that. The first big step in your sanctification process - your God-directed forward movement - is this awareness that your future matters, both to you and to him.

With that understanding in your back pocket, the rest of your life is all about a kind of four-step process: engage - respond - correct - repeat. Prayerfully step out. Respond to things as best you can. Based on results, make prayerful corrections. Then do it all again. And again. If you keep this up, God will use you, grow you, and bless you.

It's not easy, but it's awesome.

Blessings!
Pastor Ed

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Series Title: 7 THINGS
Message Title: God's not exclusive
Date: 4/3/16
Main Passages: Galatians 3:28

Some questions for reflection or group study (or please comment on them, below):

• In what ways have you felt excluded - in life - in the church?
• Does the idea that God is "inclusive" make you uncomfortable? If so, how? If not, why not?
• What -isms have you struggled with receiving or giving (racism? sexism? ageism? etc.)?
• How has your church family helped you with any of this?

Bless this mess

Last week, we made the case that the first thing we need to know about God before we can move forward and get to know him better is that he's not mad at us. God is not characteristically an angry God who enjoys smiting those who cross him, but is rather a loving God that desires a relationship with his creation. 

So God isn't mad at us, but who is "us?" Who is God not mad at? Surely there are some who aren't included, right?

God desires a relationship with us, and that relationship is not contingent upon our spiritual condition. He wants to reconcile with us now, even if we're still all messed up.

God's not just looking for the really knowledgable folks or the really humble folks or the really spiritual folks. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

He wants to adopt ALL of us into his family, even if we're broken and confused. He desires connection with all of us, even if we're judgmental and arrogant. He wants to bring us all together under the same tent so we can shed those old identities and adopt new ones. He wants to heal and enlighten and humble and soften and embrace us, and he wants us to become the kind of people who can do the same for others.

So, who is us? It seems that "us" is everyone who is humble enough to enter this tent. It is anyone who is willing to draw together with God's varied and beloved creations, in all their messiness. It is anyone willing to set aside their opinions, and embrace people who look different, who smell different, who vote different, who believe different, in order to form a new kind of family.

It is messy yet beautiful, like a child's finger painting or a jazz improvisation. It is chaotic yet orderly, like a coral reef or a beef stew. But imagine if we removed the mess and the chaos. How boring would that be?

Blessings!
Pastor Ed

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Series Title: 7 THINGS
Message Title: God Isn’t mad at you
Date: 3/27/16
Main Passages: Romans 8:31, Jeremiah 31:3-5, Zephaniah 3:17, John 3:16

Some questions for reflection or group study (or please comment on them, below):

• What role (if any) did fear play in your faith, growing up?
• So, if God's not mad at us, is it okay for us to be mad at him? Explain.
• If you always thought God was mad at you, has this changed? In what way?
• If we shouldn't use "God's gonna getcha!" to reach people, what should we use?