Charlie Wear’s Notes

Today, by Rob Bell…

USA Today:

A new survey of U.S. adults who don’t go to church, even on holidays, finds 72% say "God, a higher or supreme being, actually exists." But just as many (72%) also say the church is "full of hypocrites."

Yikes!

Unity is an illusive ideal. Be careful of praying this dangerous prayer, “O God, make us one!” A church split is bound to follow!

On the other hand if two or three can agree on something, it is clearly very powerful. Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” I can give you this guarantee, when Jesus is there with you, stuff will happen.

Probably my best experience in ministry happened when (in this case there were four of us) just a few of us came together with the idea of ministering to skateboarders in Moreno Valley, CA. No in-fighting, no politics, all we were doing was what God asked us to do. Guess what? Stuff happened. The financial needs of the ministry were met. Kids were introducted to Christ and to moral values. It was a great experience.

Two or threee in agreement is a powerful thing…

I just couldn’t resist this video posted by my friend, Chris Elrod. If I lived in Lakeland, Florida this is the kind of guy I would like to be my pastor. How much fun is this?

"You want forgiveness, get religion?" — Peter Parker, Spiderman 3

"Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." Jesus, Matt. 8:12, The Message

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly." Jesus, Matt. 11:28, The Message

I saw Spiderman 3 yesterday. I was struck by Peter Parker’s struggle with forgiveness in the movie. I mean Spiderman does some bad things, he thinks he kills someone, he purposefully injures his "best friend," he picks fights and hits his girlfriend. What kind of a super-hero is this? One who struggles with the angst of existence, no doubt.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." Paul, Romans 7:15-20 NIV

Eventually Spiderman gets forgiveness from his best friend and girl friend, and it turns out he didn’t actually personally kill anyone.

Here’s my question, and the point of this whole exercise: "If religion is not the answer for those who need forgiveness, why do we Christ-followers behave as though it is?"

I found this by way of Jordon Cooper's Church of the Exiles site. It is from David Fitch's Reclaiming The Mission blog:TEN THINGS ANYONE WHO JOINS IN A TWENTY FIRST CENTRUY MISSIONAL CHURCH PLANT SHOULD NOT EXPECT1.) Should not expect to regularly come to church for just one hour, get what you need for your own personal growth and development, and your kid’s needs, and then leave til next Sunday. Expect mission to change your life. Expect however a richer life than you could have ever imagined.2.) Should not expect that Jesus will fit in with every consumerist capitalist assumption, lifestyle, schedule or accoutrement you may have adopted before coming here. Expect to be freed from a lot of crap you will find out you never needed.3.) Should not expect to be anonymous, unknown or be able to disappear in this church Body. Expect to be known and loved, supported in a glorious journey.4.) Should not expect production style excellence all the time on Sunday worship gatherings. Expect organic, simple and authentic beauty.5. Should not expect a raucous "light out" youth program that entertains the teenagers, puts on a show that gets the kids "pumped up," all without parental involvement. Instead as the years go by, with our children as part of our life, worship and mission (and when the light shows dim and the cool youth pastor with the spiked hair burns out) expect our youth to have an authentic relationship with God thru Christ that carries them through a lifetime of journey with God.6.) Should not expect to always "feel good,"or ecstatic on Sunday mornings. Expect that there will ALSO be times of confession, lament, self-examination and just plain silence.7.) Should not expect a lot of sermons that promise you God will prosper you with "the life you've always wanted" if you’ll just believe Him and step out on faith and give some more money for a bigger sanctuary. Expect sustenance for the journey.8.) Should not expect rapid growth whereby we grow this church from 10 to a thousand in three years. Expect slower organic inefficient growth that engages people’s lives where they are at and sees troubled people who would have nothing to do with the gospel marvelously saved.9.) Should not expect all the meetings to happen in a church building. Expect a lot of the gatherings will be in homes, or sites of mission.10.) Should not expect arguments over style of music, color of carpet, or even doctrinal outlier issues like dispensationalism. Expect mission to drive the conversation.O AND BY THE WAY … Should not expect that community comes to you …. I am sorry but true community in Christ will take some "effort"and a reshuffling of priorities for both you and your kids. Yes I know you want people to come to you and reach out to you and you’re hurting and busy. But assuming you are a follower of Christ (this message is not for strangers to the gospel) you must learn that the answer to all those things is to enter into the practices of "being the Body" in Christ, including sitting, eating, sharing and praying together.If anyone out there is interested in this kind of place … join us or another missional church gathering somewhere.

From the USA Today:
"This fall, episodes of many series, including the biggest hits and newest shows, are available online for free as networks try to hold on to audiences while finding new business in new technologies.
"We need to think of ourselves not just as a broadcast network, but a network or platform where ABC connects its viewers to its shows across any technology. It could be through online, cellphone, portable media player or television," says Albert Cheng, who oversees digital media for Disney-ABC Television Group."
There is something here we need to listen to, I think?