Comments on: The truth hurts: or why we shouldn’t start Drive-in theaters http://charleswear.com/2008/01/08/the-truth-hurts-or-why-we-shouldnt-start-drive-in-theaters/ the publisher of Next-Wave Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:12:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Charlie Wear http://charleswear.com/2008/01/08/the-truth-hurts-or-why-we-shouldnt-start-drive-in-theaters/#comment-85 Charlie Wear Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:59:56 +0000 http://charleswear.com/2008/01/08/the-truth-hurts-or-why-we-shouldnt-start-drive-in-theaters/#comment-85 I resonate with what you are saying Ronni. Here is a bigger question: How can we create welcoming and including communities of faith? I resonate with what you are saying Ronni. Here is a bigger question: How can we create welcoming and including communities of faith?

]]> By: Ronni http://charleswear.com/2008/01/08/the-truth-hurts-or-why-we-shouldnt-start-drive-in-theaters/#comment-84 Ronni Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:21:46 +0000 http://charleswear.com/2008/01/08/the-truth-hurts-or-why-we-shouldnt-start-drive-in-theaters/#comment-84 Family. Community. Being more than a building and a meeting... granted we need somewhere to meet... but for the first time in my life I've had my pastor at my house, had those around me fellowshipping in my home, been to their homes more then just to drop off something and been a part of their lives and dreams. THAT is what it looks like. I left a contemporary, wifi, free coffee and donuts, program driven, watch the show and able to come and go without being noticed church. I watched so many people come... try to connect and leave. Go ahead and try that here... before you leave at least 10 people will have introduced themselves to you and you WILL meet the pastor and they will follow up with you (but not be pushy). After a few months here, my pastor is the dude that I know if I went into hiding now for some reason, he'd show up at my door wondering what is wrong. Seriously. He let me into his life and got interested in mine, and I think I have a better relationship with this dude than some that I walked with for years in the prior. We keep forgetting that the church is about family and connection... and I'm sorry but no matter how good you are at managing small groups...etc... that is hard to keep going in a big church. I'm not saying it can't be done, I won't box God in like that... but generally... no. Lives are changed in families... in relationships... where iron can sharpen iron. Hard to get sharp if nobody ever touches. Family. Community. Being more than a building and a meeting… granted we need somewhere to meet… but for the first time in my life I’ve had my pastor at my house, had those around me fellowshipping in my home, been to their homes more then just to drop off something and been a part of their lives and dreams.

THAT is what it looks like. I left a contemporary, wifi, free coffee and donuts, program driven, watch the show and able to come and go without being noticed church. I watched so many people come… try to connect and leave.

Go ahead and try that here… before you leave at least 10 people will have introduced themselves to you and you WILL meet the pastor and they will follow up with you (but not be pushy).

After a few months here, my pastor is the dude that I know if I went into hiding now for some reason, he’d show up at my door wondering what is wrong. Seriously. He let me into his life and got interested in mine, and I think I have a better relationship with this dude than some that I walked with for years in the prior.

We keep forgetting that the church is about family and connection… and I’m sorry but no matter how good you are at managing small groups…etc… that is hard to keep going in a big church.

I’m not saying it can’t be done, I won’t box God in like that… but generally… no. Lives are changed in families… in relationships… where iron can sharpen iron.

Hard to get sharp if nobody ever touches.

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