The church called “Community Dinners”

5 11 2016

The church formerly called Westminster Community Church has changed its name to “Community Dinners.”

I celebrate their motive — to live out their community life in a way Jesus would.

I admire their innovation — leaving their building and the time, energy, and expense it consumed, and becoming a group that congregated in various locations around northern Seattle.

I love their practicality — serving dinners to any who will come, planning to build affordable housing, offering skills training all in Jesus’ name.

For those who are worn out on the term “missional” read their story here and be encouraged as they seek to be just that.


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Categories : Gospel, Mission

Walk to the park

3 11 2016

A young couple with kids lives intentionally in an urban black community. One day they were heading to the local park for a walk. A child from a house next door asked, “Can I go with you to the park”?

“If your mother and dad tell us you can go.”

The child took off running to get permission.

In the time it took for her to return, 11 kids with at least one parent showed up to join in.

It was quite a walk to the park that day.


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Categories : New Community

How would Jesus vote? or would He? (4)

20 09 2016

Jesus saw the Kingdom of heaven so clearly that He may not have invested much concern over U.S. Election 2016. Explaining the source of the believer’s provision, Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt.6:33).

Jesus saw the Kingdom of heaven so clearly that He may not have invested much concern over U.S. Election 2016.
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Some have suggested to me that Jesus was endorsing civic involvement (or at least paying taxes) when He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). I take from this that Jesus instructs everyone to obey the laws of the land. I find more insight regarding this election in the description given of Jesus by the Pharisees and Herodians: “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” (Mk.12:14).  If this description were not true, I believe Jesus would have contradicted it.

Jesus-in-boatWhat would Jesus do? How would Jesus vote? He would probably be so focused on building the Kingdom of God that we would not be much involved with the election. He might abstain out of voter apathy!

Or He might use the election season as an opportunity to teach on integrity, love of neighbor, value of life in all its forms, compassion, protection of those at-risk.  He might seize the opportunity to expose self-righteousness, fear-mongering, futility of depending on the schemes of man, and selfish protection ones’ own rights while tolerating the exclusion of the widow, the orphan, the trafficked, and the foreigner. He might contrast the value of free trade against greedy opportunism of the already-wealthy. He might expose the difference between the right to bear arms with the unavoidable outcome of a militarized society.

In my own thinking, I will either abstain from voting for President or write in Michael Maturan of the American Solidarity Party about which I have written briefly here.

No matter what, I see this season as yet another wake up call as to where my allegiance must lie.

(photo credit: in-formatio.com)

My earlier election thoughts starting with Moses.

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Categories : Mission

The American Solidarity Party – worth considering

20 09 2016

In all the conversations surrounding Election 2016, I was glad to learn of the American Solidarity Party (ASP). Just a few years back it was called the Christian Democrat Party. I do not favor a political party taking the name “Christian” because I believe we who follow Christ are of a heavenly Kingdom. Associating the name of Christ with a political organization is unhealthy in my view.

marturenMichael Maturen, the Presidential candidate for the ASP is described in wikipedia and this article in Alitea magazine. He is Roman Catholic, which explains his conservative stance on social issues such as abortion and euthanasia. His pro-life posture extends to opposing capital punishment. While I am not impressed by what I have read about Maturen in terms of political qualifications, I have not learned anything about him that causes me concern in terms of character. A major concern is that Maturen lacks the kind of experience required for the Presidency of the USA. He is, as far as I know, untested in such a leadership role.
Having read the platform of the ASP on their website, I do not claim to comprehend all of the issues nor agree with everything there, but on many points it resonates with those of us who desire to honor God and see Him honored in our country.
american solidarity party logoThe ASP is a minor third-party, most popular in California and Texas. It will not be on the ballot in many or most states (in which case a write-in of “Michael Maturen” will be needed).
I am undecided as to whether or not I will use a vote for the Presidential race, or focus on these expressions as my “voice.” I will not vote for either Hillary or Trump, so Maturen is the only viable voting option I see at this point.
I welcome your input!

Summary from wikipedia (accessed 9/20/2016):

The American Solidarity Party (ASP) is a Christian Democratic political party in the United States. Its motto is “Common Good, Common Ground, Common Sense.” The political position of the American Solidarity Party is socially conservative and economically distributist. Therefore, the ASP holds to socially conservative views such as adhering to a pro-life position with regard to abortion, capital punishment and euthanasia, as well as opposition to same-sex marriage and opposition to pornography. With regard to economics, labor issues and foreign policy, the American Solidarity Party is liberal, seeing the “moderate welfare state as the public expression of every citizen’s responsibility for his poor brother or sister.” As such, the American Solidarity Party notably opposes conscription, and favors “equal access to the polls, the courts, housing, education, and credit”.In addition, it supports “amnesty and a path to citizenship” for immigrants currently residing in the United States and “oppose[s] the militarization and fortification of our national borders”. With regard to healthcare, the ASP advocates the creation of a decentralized ‘single-payer’ system. It supports the dignity of work, as well as stewardship for creation, advocating for “generous funding for research in safe and renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind-power.”

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Categories : Trail Guide

When a church embraces grace

19 09 2016

The experience of the church at Antioch is reproducible and transferable because the qualities that created their community-life emanate from the unchanging life of God. Every time they gathered, they saw thankfulness and wonder in each other’s expressions. They were a church amazed by God’s grace, amazed at their inclusion in the forever-family.

grtitude irresistibleFrom The Amazing Potential of One Surrendered Church, by Robert E Rasmussen (p.36)


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Categories : Amazing Potential of One Surrendered Church book

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