The Clock is Ticking

Over at RevGal this week, Sally shared the thoughts of the newly elected British Methodist Vice President, Eunice Attwood. These were shared at the Annual Conference in the last week.

I want to be part of a church that is prayer-filled -
A church that is resourced and sustained by the Bible,
A church that can offer hope even in a credit crunch,
A church that can live well with difference and diversity.

I want to be part of a church that welcomes the wealthy, those who have power and influence -
A church that knows how to party and celebrate life,
A church that acknowledges death and speaks boldly of resurrection,
A church that doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but encourages all the questions.

I want to be part of a church that throws parties for prostitutes -
A church that welcomes those who seek asylum,
A church that longs and yearns for justice,
A church that listens to those no-one else wants to listen to.

I want to be part of a church that believes in transformation not preservation -
A church where all who are lost can be found,
A church where people can discover friendship,
A church where every person takes responsibility in sharing the good news.

I want to be part of a church whose hope is placed securely and confidently in the transforming love of God -
A church that engages faith in its communities,
A church that makes and nurtures disciples of Jesus.

A church where the story of God’s love is at the centre.
I want to be part of a church that offers outrageous grace, reckless generosity, transforming love and engaging faith.
This is God’s story Transforming Love: Engaging Faith.

My prayer is that by the power of the Spirit of God at work amongst us, it will increasingly be our story.

So, Sally asks, what kind of church do we want to be part of? What does our "dream church" do? How does it behave in the 21st century.

Well....

1. I want to worship and fellowship in a church that remembers that this is the most important thing:

But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:34-40

Because I see all too frequently that we forget that part about loving our neighbors, being too quick to judge instead.

2. I want to be part of a church in which I can say "Jesus is my Savior I choose to follow, but who am I to say that someone who doesn't agree with me is wrong?" without feeling like I've just dropped a bomb.

3. I want to be part of a church that isn't all feel-good and warm fuzzies. That does convict me, that does make me feel called to task when I really have stepped outside the appropriate boundaries--but does it with love and not condemnation.

4. I want to be in a church that recognizes that the most important ministry work I do rarely happens inside the church walls, and that I will choose to minister there (quietly, with minimal mention of my faith) because that's where the people who need ministering to are many times before I choose to make it to a worship service.

Oh, let me continue that thought....I want to be in a church that recognizes that the most important work ANY church or church member does is not inside the 4 walls. It's in the world.

5. I want to be in a church, in a world, that doesn't box God in. How do we forget so easily that He is the God of wonders beyond our galaxy?



Wander over to today's Friday Five at RevGalBlogPals for other musings on the church in the 21st century.

I was asked again last night why I still live and work in my small town. Really, at 20,000+, it's not a "small" town, but it has that feel for me. And you know, it's home.

I agree, sometimes you've got leave home to appreciate what's there, sometimes in order to find yourself. But there's 2 songs out on the radio right now that are very much speaking to me. The first is Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me."



I mentioned in the post for Sunday Scribblings, that I'm feeling a birth of newness in myself. As I laid in bed last night, radio going softly, I realized that it's so much more than that. I'm coming back to myself. I'm not pushing myself away from who I am anymore. Trying to be bigger and better, when I really just need to be little ol' me. Lady Antebellum's "American Honey" reminds me of that.




I'm digging Zac Brown Band's "Free" right now, too. The feel of the video is just one take on the song. For me, it's an affirmation of where I am right now--on the verge, but ever so free.

P sent me this today. I think I'm supposed to dance to it. Really would prefer a glass of wine and a snuggle.

It's Thursday. This is a beautiful day.

It really is. I woke up, to find that The WonderDog had slept through the night, which he hasn't all week. In fact, we've been sitting here half an hour after our morning walk and he's dozed back off. He's seriously catching up after days of not being able to sleep.

More than that, I'm feeling renewed myself. I feel rested and happy today. I'm still not pleased with the things going on in the country, but I realize there's nothing left for me to do right now. I can, however, make plans for my garden in the spring, continue to save money and pay off my bills, and look forward to the Christmas season. This year will be good. And I need to plan ahead for the next. May seem a bit 'head in the sand' to some, but it's what I can function right now.

But, it's also just a beautiful day. It's Thursday, one more day in the work week. I'm heading to our land this weekend, and feeling way beyond content with me right now. It's beautiful today.

So, yesterday, I'm flipping through channels yesterday and land on Oprah. I have to explain--I don't watch Oprah. I believe that she's disturbed and completely well...off her rocker.

Yesterday, she had a panel of people on. All I caught was that she was checking in with a mother who had called in about a disturbing series of text messages her 12 year old son had received from another 12 year old after a failed first kiss. The girl had texted him saying she loved him and offering him oral sex. The mother's question was does she or does she not address the girl's mother?

Okay, easy answer...yes. You're daughter has some issues if she's 12 and offering that. Chances are not good that she just doesn't realize what she's said. Sady, twelve year olds know these days.

As disturbing as that was, what really disturbed me was that Oprah was giving this advice. I work with teenagers every day, but I would never dare to tell someone how to parent his or her child. Why? I'm not truly a parent. Sure, for 8-12 hours a day, I'm "mom" to my kids at school, and they know they can come to me. But I'm not really a parent.

So...because that disturb-ed me...Some music for you. I realize that this song doesn't lend itself to this issue well, but..that's not the point.

It's been a while since I've done a post on what I'm watching on TV when I get up. It's a lazy morning, so I'll do that.

I've turned on CMT this morning. I really do like to watch music videos. I like to see what other people's ideas about the music. I like to see if my ideas are in line with ideas.

The first one I see is a live performance by Taylor Swift. It's her performance of 'Should Have Said No" on the ACMs this year. I like Taylor Swift because I think she really is talented, and I'm amazed that a 17 year old is doing this. However, I think as a live performer she's not all that great. Her voice lacks quality in my ear.

Hehe..Julianne Hough "That Song in My Head." What a fun song. And she's fun to watch. She's one of the Dancing with the Stars actually dancers (not the celebrity wannabe dancers).

Kid Rock's new one "All Summer Long." I'm not really much a Kid Rock fan, but I sure do like this song. It's my new summer favorite. (ok, so maybe not the part about "smokin' funny stuff")

Miranda Lambert's "Kerosene." I like this pretty girl gone witch. All of her songs are well..anthems for women who've been walked on. I love it.

"Home" by Blake Shelton. I love this sexy man. And this song is great. It's one of those things I can't explain, but it gets to me.

Sugarland's Stay. A song about "the other woman" realizing she doesn't have to lay there and wait for him to choose her--not that she should've put herself in that position in the first place, of course. Jennifer Nettles (1/2 the duo) is an emotional singer. She puts everything she has into what she sings. I saw them when the opened for someone else last summer. Amazing. Utterly amazing. And I love this blackbox video.

Jimmy Wayne..new guy out these days. Song's called "Do You Believe Me Now?" Apparently, the voice in this song had a premonition about losing his girl to another guy who looked at her. She laughed it off And then the guy got her. I like the song. It gives credence to all those who fear that sort of thing.

Alan Jackson "Good Time." Okay, cute song, I guess. I have this fear that I'm being sacrilegious here, I don't like Alan Jackson. Never have. I recognize his now some sort of country music icon, but...no.

Ok..it's a beautiful day. Find me poolside.