sign, sign, everywhere a sign!

Hello everyone. Suzy & I just got back from the Smoky Mountains. We did a long weekend "get away". It was refreshing. Along the way we met with or conversed with friends from 3 different simple church expressions. It is fun to watch Jesus build. You can read more about these "encounters" on the previous blog.

As we travel (which we have done a lot of over the last 3 years) we encounter a lot of interesting signs. The warnings have included moose, tractors, bear, bridges, ice, snow, flood, etc. However, the following warning sign was new to me but made me chuckle. I had to turn around in the middle of a mountain road just to take this pic!

mickey

Great Day / Networks

Sat. morning and I am sitting in the Smoky Mountians writting this blog. I am always reminded of how God's power, nature, and attributes are visable thru observing creation. He has placed a "fingerprint" of Himself in all He has made.

Yesterday was a good day for me (us). We met Tim & Tiffany Catchim (Ikon Community) at Starbucks (Clarksville, Tn). It was great to hear their stories and affirm how God continues to speak with such a consistant voice. We discovered several issues that he had been bringing up to each of us. We left there and continued east towards the mountains. At the spur of the moment we decided to crash a gathering of The Catalyst (a home church in Monterey, Tn). Not knowing were they were located, I called Jason Duncan (The Way - Gallatin) hoping he could get on the net and find the address for me. He did. Thanks, Jason. We had met Bob Carlton (The Catalyst) in San Antiono previously. It was interesting to just crash in, meet his wife and friends as they were begining to settle in for the evening. The "DNA" was so familier.

The point of this ramble? I am beginning to see a network develop within the simple church arena. When we travel, we now have friends that share our journey located all over. It will be fun to continue to watch the growth.

Mickey

God's personal directive

Sometimes this is how I feel when trying to follow thru on assignments I think God has given me!
......mickey




I had lunch today with a dear friend. He has been in various forms of professional ministry for many years. Each time we get together he wants to know all of the latest from within the simple church journey. He fullly believes this is the direction God is moving the church and dreams of the day he and his family can fully make the transition. As of now, however, his life is tied to a valid extralocal ministry that keeps him primarily within the institutional church setting. I have another good friend that lives on the east coast. He has a significant ministry along the eastern seaboard and in England. I was first introduced to books such as Megashift and Houses that Change the World in conversations with him. Yet he, like the first friend mentioned, continues to labor within the field of the institutional church. Both share the realization (belief) that God has placed them where they are and has yet to release them from their responsibilities even though they desire this journey.

It is easy to digress to "selling" simple church as if it were a product. In our passion to faithfully support the growth of this movement it is easy to forget that each believer MUST hear instruction from the Lord in order to move in faith. I would never want to talk someone into a journey that God has not birthed in their heart. I only want to be there to encourage,support, and affirm those to whom God has already revealed His instruction. I find it best to continue to allow Him to be in charge!

looking forward....
mickey

It's O.K. to be "church" with friends!

A friend defined church as the pursuit of God in the company of friends. Whether the reader approves or disapproves doesn't change the reality of is a significant exodus from institutional church setting in a quest for intimate relationships with both God and fellow pilgrims. Many of those on this quest seek a more organic, program free environment where each believer is a full participant in the process. I have had the opportunity over recent years to be involved in numerous conversations with many making this exodus. They are seldom angry or arrogant about the church situations they are leaving. They seem to all share the same story. That story centers around God leading them out of the busyness of the Christian machine and into a simple journey with committed friends. Most report they have seen increased personal growth and found a true freedom after taking the risk.

It is amazing to me that these believers endure this journey even with the disapproval of family and former relationships. The voice from the Lord appears to be so significant that all other voices fail to deter them. That fact reaffirms to me the hand of God is in this paradigm shift. If you read this blog and relate to what I am writing about PLEASE email me. I would love to hear your story.

I plan to begin a 3 part blog on the "temple mentality". Stay tuned!

Mickey

New Years cabin gathering

My new years resolution is to try to be more disciplined in blogging! We'll see just how long it lasts. My goal is at least once a week.....

We had a great time New Years eve / New years day at our cabin. Several friends from the local simple churches along with family gathered New Years eve. We brought in 2008 amidst football games (TV), card games, good conversation, and wayyyy tooooo much food! New Years day brought in extended family along with friends for much of the same. We were surprised by a brief snow shower that offered a modest ground cover. It was enough for me to hit Suzy with the first snowball of the season! You can see her excitement in the picture! Also, I have to post Danyel (my daughter) holding Noah. I'm now a proud gray haired grand dad!

Happy New Year! Thanks to God for His encouragement and leadership in the past year. I know He will be equally faithful in 08!