Stewart 5

Right now, our community is reading The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch.  Though technical and term-filled throughout, it is an excellent book on what the Church could and should be doing.  It has been quite stimulating as we consider what it means to be the Church in ways that are true to our calling and effecting in reaching those who need to experience God and His Kingdom.

I know Alan pretty well.  And I know his heart.  Though the book can seem a bit technique-ish, I think that would be a misreading.  He actually advocates a very simple and powerful approach to faith.  But reading his book and the ensuing conversations has got me thinking alot about the various methods, techniques, and structures we spend so muh time talking about, studying, and copying from one another.

I believe that ANY method, model, or technique that does not REQUIRE God’s Spirit to work is just an interesting (and possibly “successful” in the short-term) means.  Further, we can not build in God’s Spirit to our plans.  However, can we MAKE SPACE for an utter dependace on God’s Spirit?  This is not to neglect or deny the vision God gives us to act on.  It is believing enough to act with the unknown/ambiguity space in the middle that can ONLY be filled by God’s Spirit.

If God is leading, are we leaving room for Him to move and possibly even surprise us?  Where is God in our plan?  Where is faith?

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So, I received TWO Official Absentee Ballots in the mail yesterday. Should I vote twice and send them both? They will catch that and only count one, right? I’m not so sure though, because I am surprised that I received to two ballots, so can I trust them to only count one vote?

AND, do I go ahead and vote now or do I wait to see if anything new unfolds in the seemingly never-ending drama that is The US Presidential Election splashed across Fwd:emails, blogs, and Yahoo?

This will be the first time I am voting by absentee ballot. After I “Completely fill in the oval next to your candidate or issue….using dark ink” I must place my ballot in the Official Election Mail envelope and sign the declaration on the back otherwise my vote is invalid. The Declaration of Voter includes much of what you’d expect, I am a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, temporarily residing outside of the U.S., blah, blah, blah, and then, “I have not been influenced.” I can’t sign my name to that and as a matter of fact who can? We have all been influenced! I think they must mean threatened, coerced, or intimidated, as indicated on another info document included in my official ballot packet. Which, by the way, is a felony.

I do wonder how some of the Fwd: emails, blogs, news articles, commercials, etc. are not considered coercion, intimidation and threatening. The law must be talking about physically rather than emotionally? Cause I must say that some of the stuff I read feels abusive. Not abusive to me personally, but abusive to REAL persons- Joe, John, Sarah and Barack.

Hmmm, anyway, just thinking about influence…

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I love you.

Looking forward to sharing this next year with you – I think it will be the best one yet…

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in our community worship time tonight, we were asked to consider what are some things we are hoping for/moving toward.  God brought three things to my heart:

1. to call others to radical faith and life in Jesus
2. to influence people to influence people
3. to see see NCSA expand and flourish

Yes, there are many other things on heart and mind as well, but these were the ones from tonight.  each is happening, but I believe God desires each to increase.  Would you quickly stop and pray right now for me in these?

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are you like me… you have lots to do.  instead of this motivating you to start plugging away, one bit at a time, it actually leaves you getting almost nothing done.

sometimes i think i spend more time thinking and organizing what i need to do than actually doing anything.  this is compounded when a bunch of what i need to do is write – which i love – but that take a bit of heart and creativity out of me.  so, hard to crank our one writing assignment after another.

so, if you are one of those people waiting for a newsletter, update, blog post, curriculum, plan, or notes, then i have to tell you that it’s not quite finished.  but will be “soon.”

and for all 10 of you that read this blog just a quick note to say we will be in the USA in December and Jan.

• We will arrive in LA on 9 december and be there until around the 15th-17th.
• then, fresno through dec. 26.
• 27-jan 2 we hope to travel through SF to Ashland, Oregon.
• back to Fresno jan 3-18.  (Arthur and Melissa will be in SoCal for training 1/11-15).
• whole family to SoCal (Dinseyland?  San Diego?) Jan 19-23.
• depart home to South Africa on the morning of Jan 24.

of course, that’s some of the info i need to actually write out nicely for an update email, but you heard it here first (reason enough to read this blog, don’t you think?

maybe tomorrow i will get to one of those other things i need to write.

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In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God (2 Cor 3:14-15)

I love this picture – that our lives can be so transformed by Christ and infused by his spirit that we give off an exquisite fragrance.  And that as others smell this, they would desire it themselves.

It reminds me of “The Odour of Sanctity.” In the Catholic Church, there is a tradition that a specific scent (often compared to flowers) emanates from the bodies of saints.  I think this was said of Teresa of Avila, Therese de Lisieux, and maybe Francis?

In light of the scripture above, maybe this isn’t such a remarkable claim.  Perhaps this wonderful metaphor was manifested physically in some of those who were so close to Jesus that they literally smelled of God.

I’d be happy if it was metaphorically true of me.  I desire to be so close to Jesus that he oozes out of me.  That people would smell – literally smell – the Gospel.  This is my prayer for me and you today.

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yesterday we were driving to the gym.  waiting at the robot (traffic light), all the guys selling things came walking by.  the smaller boy asked, “why don’t they sell things that people want?”

the older boy chimed in, “yeah, what about petrol (gasoline)?”

this is a great idea!  imagine, you are sitting at the robot (traffic light) and realize you are running low on petrol (gasoline) and there is a person RIGHT THERE to top you up. they could charge you nearly anything and you would pay simply for the convenience.

the boy is a genius.  don’t steal this idea.  we need the money.

see you at the corner…

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the last 2 weeks have been great.  i’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what i want my days/time/life to be like.  i tend to do this – revisit my roles, commitments, etc. in light of my vision statement and what I feel God is telling me at the time.  The past while has been good on all of these, and I think I am really moving further and further into the way God would want me to be.  So, as stated above, the past 2 weeks have been particularly good – especially in making time for people, prayer, and thinking.  Feel like Melissa and I are moving more into the same page in some big/important areas.  Add in that I got to lead a 2-day training on Friday/Saturday that I love and people seem to really enjoy AND that we got to see our good friends Trevor & Neli on Sunday…. it’s been really good.

However, had a bad 24 last Thursday/Friday:

Friday 10pm – computer hard drive froze/died

Friday afternoon – our car’s electronic ignition stopped working

Friday 8pm – broke my pinky toe

The funny thing is, all the above three things are very inconvenient, expensive, and painful (in that order).  Yet, none of them have been derailing.  Do you think it could be because of all the great things God is doing in our life right now?  Something about seeking first God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be taken care of…

God doesn’t promise that nothing bad will happen to those who love/follow Him.  But I believe that He does prmise to be there with us, often overshadowing the rest.

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