God has placed us in a family and/or body. We need each other to stay centered in Christ. The Board is appointing a Theology Committee that will take special interest in guiding this area, nudging us along in our journey of discovering the beauty of Jesus and his ways.
Posted by: Len
Church: Metro Community Kelowna, BC
Date: December 31st, 2010
My long time friend Roger Helland and I have nearly completed a book which will be published by IVP this fall. The title will be “Missional Spirituality,” subtitle still in process.
As I was reading the revision of chapters 5-8 this morning I was struck by these paragraphs. These are penned by Roger and they are really a beautiful summary of this section, “practices of heart and soul.” “Practices” always move us beyond abstraction, and “shalom” is the perfect word to connect us with a wider theological vision.
“Imagine the scene. Assembled before King David is a vast crowd of Israelite officials and warriors summoned to witness his charge to Solomon—next king and Temple builder. It is a defining moment in Old Testament history. Hushed people listen. David advises, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts” (1 Chr. 28:9). The Hebrew term for wholehearted devotion is literally a “heart of shalom”—a whole and complete heart. A missional spirituality will seek to love God and people from the whole person not from isolated parts. Evelyn Underhill remarks,
“For a spiritual life is simply a life in which all that we do comes from the center, where we are anchored in God: a life soaked through and through by a sense of His reality and claim, and self-given to the great movement of His will. Most of our conflicts and difficulties come from trying to deal with the spiritual and practical aspects of our life separately instead of realizing them as parts of one whole.”
In many ways, a missional spirituality is about enlarging the size of our hearts. It’s, “moving from the preferential love (phileo) of friends and family, to the unconditional love (agape) that is wide and boundless. What prevents us from engaging [people] in greater depth and frequency is the size of our heart..”
Posted by: Lil Goertzen
Church:
Date: December 31st, 2010
The three buses destined for Manitoba left Minneapolis last night between 11pm and 11:30pm. The road at Alexandria MN has been closed due to ice. They are in town at a service station, and the buses and the SBC bus are all together, and safe. Before leaving last night, we loaded the buses with water and food.
Keep praying for the drivers, leaders and the youth!
This mesage was posted at 7am, December 31/10 by Lil Goertzen
Posted by: Lil Goertzen
Church:
Date: December 31st, 2010
All the buses are gone, the large meeting room is cleared of all the equipment, it’s quiet. It’s 12:48am on December 31, 2010 and I’m having a hard time settling down.
For all those wondering about the buses and vehicles: the van headed for Ontario left around 8pm. The buses going back to Manitoba left between 11 and 11:30pm. The bus drivers felt confident in driving north this evening in spite of the nastyand very aware of the weather system brewing closer to Fargo North Dakota.
Your prayers for safety on the road are much appreciated.
Thanks too for praying for the students who were struggling with some kind of flu bug. Today, we didn’t have any kids complaining about upset stomachs, etc. The bug seemed to hit fast, do its thing for about 24 hours and then disappear. Thank you Lord, for answering prayer and restoring health.
Talk to the youth from your church and encourage them to tell their stories from TF. I know you too will be excited and encouraged with what they tell you.
Less than 24 hours are left in 2010. All the best to each of you in the New Year! May God bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.