Things to Come

This past thursday was very nice. We had a delicious meal prepared by Janelle. Thank you Janelle! As the email said, (by the way thank you so much again for sending that out Jess, and Monique. way to add the prayers part!) we watch a video with Rob Bell talking about God. Shocker i know. We talked about what it looks like to breath in God, and to breath out the crap we hold on too. We talked about trusting those around us and ultimately trusting God. We also looked at what does it mean that the ground we stand on is holy and is it holy even when we feel such darkness and evil on it? We also touch on the idea that God created all people, so all people are sacred. Do we treat them as creations of God or are we to busy labeling them and calling them the "Other"? It was a good time, hopefully for all else as well.

And now its time for a foreshadow into things to come and a look at things that were. (its a bit long)

In the beginning we began by talking about "In the beginning". We started this group by exploring who God is, and what that means for us. We talked about how this story we are apart of today, our lives, are connected to the story that started when God created. The story didn't end when the bible was finished, we are still writing the pages to this story whether we like it or not. Sorry. Our lives and the story's we read in the bible are not two separate timelines, but one continuous timeline.

As we have been exploring this story, our story, we have been asking several questions. Who is this creator God, and what does He ask of Us? What does His voice sound like, and what does He think of us? Why do we read stories in Acts of people joining the movement of Christ by the thousands, yet today we see nothing like that in this nation? What does it mean for us today to be a people chosen by God? What does it mean to be a loving community, that is a blessing to all families on earth? What does it look like for God to dwell among us, a family, a tribe, a community? What ultimately is our response to the call of our Creator who created everything that is? very easy questions, I know. Just kidding...

In the weeks to come we are going to be discussing a teaching by Dr. Kim. I said on Thursday that i would kinda give a brief over view of some of the things he talks about. Josh and I are really excited to start talking about this stuff, we feel like this is where the movement, the faith we are apart of gets exciting. ( know forgiveness and grace are exciting too, but after that this is exciting.)

Dr. Kim brings up thoughts/answers to most of the questions posted above. When people in the group say that they struggle with what it means to be a Christian in the every day and in their work place, Dr. Kim, talks about body of Christ today, and what that might look like. He talks about something called Jubilee, and what God intended it for, when establishing His chosen people, the Israelites. Jubilee is a way of bringing about freedom, joy, and rest. (it never got practiced, until Pentecost.) He talks about this idea that often times in evangelical circles ,we settle for the minimum requirement Gospel.
What would practicing this Jubilee look like in Philadelphia?

Dr. Kim Tan talks about how God wants to restore the family, the tribe. This idea of social holiness which the individuals extravagantly love the whole family.
What does social Holiness look like for us apart of the body of Christ, the Church?

Another thing he speaks on is this idea of generosity, over tithing.

This is a super brief not very good over view of what he speaks on. I said I would post something like this just to let you know what you are getting ready to listen too. I know it is very long, and maybe hard at first to listen. Maybe ask God to help you with focusing and listening to it before you start. Or if you want someone to listen to it with and to discuss as you listen ill have a lot of free time this week, give me a hollar, or find someone else.

Josh and i think this is pretty amazing and transformational stuff. I'm a nerd when it comes to listening to things that talk about bringing the Kingdom of God, transformation, and hope to the city I live in. I would love to see peace settle in this city and love over ride all the hatred and anger i see.

Here is the podcast reposted. Hope you can get through it and more then that enjoy it!
Any thoughts feel free to post.

Thanks again everybody for being apart of this community, family, tribe thing we got going on.

Much love, grace, and peace

Chris


Here is the Dr. Kim Tan Podcast so that you don't to scroll down the screen.
+ Dr. Kim- Jubilee Gospel

If you want it on your Ipod as a Podcast here is what you do:
Itunes music store> search> YWAM Re:Engage 2006 > find the one you want and download it to Itunes.

You will also find the Q and A there.