re-engaging WHOLENESS - the big story

January 11, 2010 // No Comments »

Last night we stepped back into our journey through the Big Story. Our purpose has been to venture into the waters of the Bible as Story. For months now we’ve been challenging the idea that the all to prevalent “version” of the God Story is told as a kind of cliff-notes summation of the Story. If we are to bottom line the importance—it would often be FALL - you are jacked, broken, no good; followed by REDEMPTION - get unjacked and receive the promise of eternal life with God. This is the story so many have heard, told, and understood God to be authoring.

But it’s simply the anemic version of the story. It’s limited. Therefore, it feeds an entirely anemic picture of God, creation, and life as we know it.

This blog will be a location to continue to build on our view of full Story—and let’s be honest, any way that we write it will still be a limited version.  So humility must be put on.  We are on a journey—and we’ll rework this as long as we are breathing, I pray.

Also, God and His Story is too wonderful for full explaination on the digital pages of this or any blog—too wide sweeping for any category that you or I feel comfortable with—and to real-world experiential to be bound by language and thought. But we’ll try to do our best. And we’ll use many great minds, many controversial explainations, many people far ahead of us to quote and build upon. We’ll be processing the story in the midst of silence/surrendering/centering prayer, ancient readings, imaginative/ignatian meditations, and many other practices that tenderize our heart/mind/soul/body to be AWARE of God.  We’ll allow HOSPITALITY and SOLIDARITY to/among the poor, the creative, the hurting, and those living with a deep sense of “there must be more” to also shape our AWARENESS of God.  We’ll be living out our context—our “wiki-stories” (Scot McKnight describes) as God’s Story in us. The context in which we work out our understanding of The Big Story is unique–and if we cannot work it out in our day-to-day ordinary (yet soaked with sacredness) lives—then we won’t truly see His Story as ongoing.  It will be merely bound by pages–and we’re back to a far too limited version.

But, before moving ahead—last night, we broached some questions—they became telling of our location in the journey, as a community, to our willingness to be open to a larger story, one that begins and ends with greater implication than FALL/REDEMPTION. The Story we are wrestling with includes CREATION / FALL / REDEMPTION / RESTORATION. These are the questions we engaged:

* Which story looks like the one God is telling?
FALL - REDEMPTION
 or CREATION - FALL - REDEMPTION - RESTORATION

* What Lens are you looking at life through (F/R or C/F/R/R)?

* What can you imagine the difference to look like in seeing our world through 
 F/R or through a lens of CFRR?

* Is the “choice” over the two stories mere semantics?

* Where does your faith (following Jesus) matter most—now, or one day?

* Which “version” of following Jesus do you think our world is most hungry 
 for—-the now or the one day?

* Where does your faith (following Jesus) matter most—now, or one day?

* How do we live as a community reflecting the 
 Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration story?

* What would it mean for us to see the Plaza District—vulnerable families, the questioning/expressing artists, the displaced and “under-celebrated”, those longing to make a difference in the world – through a lens of CFRR?  And what does it mean for us to live, rethink, reform our language and lives to a CFRR kind of perspective?

Posted in RESTORATION

My Year In Review - Flickr

January 7, 2010 // No Comments »

Go to the Flickr site for images from last Sunday’s “My Year in Review” stations.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fusionokc/sets/72157623035667587/



www.flickr.com convergence:OKC’s My Year in Review 01-03-2010 photoset

Posted in Awareness, Uncategorized, spiritual practices, the gathering

the treasure of the church

November 22, 2009 // No Comments »

when i think about what the church of the last several decades has regarded as its treasure, the things of value that it has to share with those outside, two things come to mind.

first, in my opinion we have long misread the parables jesus shared about the treasure (what he referred to as the kingdom) that one should forsake all to search after.  we have somehow connected the priceless treasure to some no-cost, ethereal afterlife full of pretty, happy, perfect people.  attractive in some ways, but a treasure with no cost??  and what connection does that have to my family, my job, my neighbor, the suffering guy on the side of the road i try so hard to ignore everyday?

second, we have invested millions in “attractional” buildings complete with restaurants, workout facilities, and even well-paid staffs to tell us exactly what we should believe (knowing we will never figure that out on our own), to make sure we are practiced up on latest marketing models (b/c honestly we’ve trying to sell something that is of little interest to most people anyway), and to do all of the real work for us, so we don’t have to adjust or give up anything in our own lives (except for those not-so-pretty habits like smoking, drinking, or having homosexual friends…you know those things are not kosher with the perfect afterlife we’re trying to sell).

i’ve had tons of ideas for what kind of “treasure” is of true value to someone living this god-life pounded into my head or even dreamed up in my own, but never thought of this (SEE THE YOUTUBE VID BELOW) as the true treasure of the church.

as i joined in with rethread today, this video and idea was very fresh on my mind.  there were several times during the afternoon, where i kind of pulled back from the sometimes craziness of the store to observe what was really going on.  i thought of the recent (and not so recent) financial struggles within our community.  why would god not “bless” a community who trying to honestly pursue life with him?

when jesus said, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” i’ve always thought about the idea of not focusing on material things so much.  but at rethread today, i could not get my mind off of the real treasure of our community…our often desperate and hurting neighbors and friends in and around the plaza.  i believe our convergence community is finding our treasure in them, and our hearts are following.  i am so grateful to be so rich with our usually-neglected neighbors…the real treasure of our church!

Posted in Solidarity, justice

the limited nature of singularity

November 17, 2009 // No Comments »

consider Rollins push back against a singular voice.  what do you think?  how does the parable challenge or encourage the way forward for convergence as community effort.

Posted in RESTORATION, Solidarity, the convergence collective

essentials = donuts and shared life

November 15, 2009 // No Comments »

as a community - convergence continues to be shaped by a heart to ‘embrace restoration through hospitality, solidarity, and awareness.’ a part of that restoration is sharing life - not being an organization or a hierarchy or an effort of only a few. a sense of ‘one another’ - carrying for, bearing burdens of, serving, . . . it all paints the picture of each other investing life in the community.

take a look at Peter Rollins thoughts on sharing life . . . the donut — may very well be a vital “image” of leadership.

What stands out in these ideas?

Posted in RESTORATION, Solidarity, the convergence collective

Conversation: Wholeness (continued)

October 2, 2009 // No Comments »

@  the gathering (5pm most sundays) - we’ve been exploring NARRATIVE.  More than just any story, THE BIG STORY that, we believe, is worth tying our life to.  It’s the story of WHOLENESS - the story of the way things are and the way things are meant to be.  We, as a part of creation, are really experiencing the tension—at all times.

last week, we talked through this idea that we, humanity, are all IKONS of God - reflections of God.  He has made us to be drawn toward building, creating, naming, engineering - this reflects Him.  When we engage these through love/benevolence and creativity—we are perpetuating this God-reflective work He began in creation.  However, when we engage these through self-preservation, isolation, and competition - we are perpetuating the wreckage that moves us further from God.  We’re building, creating, naming people - no matter what.  But, if we destroy or curse or attempt to gain power over others - in turn, dehumanizing others and destroying creation - we participate in fracturing of life as we know it.

But we’re meant for restoration, we’re meant for love. we’re meant for wholeness.

Posted in RESTORATION, the gathering

Community Meal

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just a following up to our community meal . . .

What a great night!  We had such great neighborhood participation - that we were literally out of chairs.  As i think about all that we’ve been processing this summer - regarding our embracing restoration through HOSPITALITY, SOLIDARITY, and AWARENESS - i feel like we are seeing our efforts to be more embedded in the neighborhood paying off.  I pray that our city (now and one day) will be and is better off because we are a people willing to gather out of LOVE for God and LOVE of our City!

By the way - we’re doing the next COMMUNITY MEAL soon - check the calendar for dates.

Posted in Hospitality

community meal for the neighborhood this sunday @5pm

September 25, 2009 // No Comments »

The Neighborhood is invited for a COMMUNITY MEAL this Sunday, September 27th @ 5pm.  If you are apart of a convergence house church - bring the following:

SCRIVNER’S = side dish
CAPLINGER’S = main dish
ADAM’S = dessert dish

otherwise, BRING YOUR FAVORITE DISH + the appropriate utensil

Posted in Hospitality

missio: restoration through awareness (*prep question)

August 12, 2009 // No Comments »

This coming Sunday (August 16) - we’ll be answering the question . . .

Missio - engaging restoration through AWARENESS
What are you seeing when you imagine a community engaging restoration in the plaza district and in your world?

“Maybe God is waiting for us to be silent long enough so he may begin painting a new picture in our imaginations, to begin transforming our image of a manageable deity into one that can truly inspire.” - Skye Jethani

Posted in Awareness, RESTORATION

missio: restoration through SOLIDARITY

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sunday night - our conversation was enhanced by three clips from The Soloist.  in those clips we were challenged with the idea of SOLIDARITY.  that our lives would be compassionate expressions of God to one another.  compassion - not limited to sympathy - but taking on the full idea of “suffering with” others.  living life alongside others.  This compassion or solidarity isn’t about getting to know someone to “fix them”.  this tendency to “fix” assumes answers solve the difficulty and suffering we encounter and it assumes we have all those right answers.  really, do we?  Solidarity says - presence in others lives is vital.  and within those relationships, there is healing, celebration, joy.

It seems that God took a solidarity approach in sending Jesus–who, took on life among us.

We must be a community that is present . . . not assuming we even know the needs, questions, or suffering that is going on, until we are faithful to live among others.

friendship over fixing - it’s not efficient or resourceful; it’s not power driven or cool.  and yet, it’s the way of restoration…

“Occasionally I would read about different sorts of Christians that would confuse me, like, say, Mother Teresa.  Mother Teresa seemed like a great woman, but her approach struck me as highly inefficient.  I mean, she was literally feeding the poor.  One at a time.  Didn’t she see that her impact would be much greater if she developed some sort of system for feeding the poor that could be franchised around the world? Wouldn’t that be better?” - Phil Vischer (creator of Big Idea Productions)

Posted in RESTORATION, Solidarity

restoration:hospitality

August 3, 2009 // No Comments »

last night we spoke of mission.  seeing Jesus teaching by example and parable that making room for others (hospitality) is what His Restorative Way is about.  We considered luke 14, a caravaggio painting, songs, an interview with michael frost, all that we might immerse ourselves in the way of hospitality.  We asked these questions…

*Is HOSPITALITY a mission of God?
*Therefore, is HOSPITALITY a legitimate mission for our community?
*How will we reshape our community activity to show HOSPITALITY to all–especially those in the Plaza District?

“Hospitality is extending to strangers a quality of kindness usually reserved for friends and family.” - Christine Pohl

“Whenever, wherever, however the kingdom (of restoration) manifests itself it is WELCOME.” - Krister Stendahl

What are you imagining?

Posted in Hospitality, RESTORATION

hospitality: kids

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Last night was, i hope, was challenging to discover the vast mission of God as being FOR making room, “hospitality”.  our community direction, i’m confident, is toward hospitality (among a few other things that are restorative in nature).  As we opened the conversation–several of you expressed areas where we SEE hospitality as vital.

FOOD . . . more on food in the plaza district in some future posts.

KIDS . . .  daran voiced this, and several others were nodding their head in agreement.  The children of OKC are on our heart - specifically those in the Plaza District area.  With kids on our heart - take a look at the article in yesterdays paper.

http://newsok.com/article/3389827

The article states, “Oklahoma ranks 44th among states in the study of the well-being of America’s children. That’s down from 38th in 2005.”

AND share what you think….and let’s dream together to play a role in the restoration of children!

Posted in Hospitality, RESTORATION