(RECIPE)
1) YOU NEED A HOUSE
(this ingredient is optional...a coffee shop, park, creek bank, etc may be substituted based on availiability)
2) YOU NEED A CHURCH
(2-3 persons will suffice - however more may be added daily as necessary)
3) YOU NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT
(HE is the most important ingredient and should be in the #1 position - without Him the recipe will fail)
4) STIR TOGETHER
(each ingredient has it's own unique flavor paramount to the mix)
5) THIS RECIPE WILL EXPAND QUICKLY
(take care to not let your container be too small - this recipe will produce enough "starters" to grow multiple new house churches if prepared properly)
for serious dialogue on this subject feel free to contact me thru www.networkvine.org
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
letter from a friend...
I meant to share this earlier, but better late than never! Please read the following letter from a friend (identity protected). It illustrates the simple yet profound working of Jesus in our lives and families.
(from my friend)
Prayer works! I know we've heard this a million times but hear it again PRAYER WORKS!!!!!!!!! It really works when we cry out to our mighty God THEN let Him do the work in His time, in His way, to His will.
For the past several months I've been going through a season of refining (still going) but this week end Jesus gave me tangible evidence, a gift of showing me how He is trust worthy and faithful to do what needs to be done without my figuring it out and manipulation in the circumstances. For once I was able through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to say from my heart, sincerely my heart, "change me Lord, guide me in my responses, my reactions. What would You have me do, not do, say, or not say?"
My husband who has a habit of saying "I don't hear God," heard God this week. He was shown areas that need to be worked on in his life. He was listening and he heard! PTL! He called me on his way home Friday and my husband who is a bonified stuffer said we were not through talking yet and we were going to pray this week end. Music to my ears :-)
Our whole week end was great especially at ******* Saturday night. But the best part was yet to come. I was given my heart's desire, what I've been missing for so many months - at bed time my husband knelt by the bed, put his hand on my head, leaned over by body and prayed for me. How sweet the sound!
It was really God leaning over and kissing me on the cheek.
Thank you for allowing me to ramble but my thankfulness to Jesus is so overwhelming and over flowing I can't contain it, it must be shared - so tag you're it.
(from my friend)
Prayer works! I know we've heard this a million times but hear it again PRAYER WORKS!!!!!!!!! It really works when we cry out to our mighty God THEN let Him do the work in His time, in His way, to His will.
For the past several months I've been going through a season of refining (still going) but this week end Jesus gave me tangible evidence, a gift of showing me how He is trust worthy and faithful to do what needs to be done without my figuring it out and manipulation in the circumstances. For once I was able through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to say from my heart, sincerely my heart, "change me Lord, guide me in my responses, my reactions. What would You have me do, not do, say, or not say?"
My husband who has a habit of saying "I don't hear God," heard God this week. He was shown areas that need to be worked on in his life. He was listening and he heard! PTL! He called me on his way home Friday and my husband who is a bonified stuffer said we were not through talking yet and we were going to pray this week end. Music to my ears :-)
Our whole week end was great especially at ******* Saturday night. But the best part was yet to come. I was given my heart's desire, what I've been missing for so many months - at bed time my husband knelt by the bed, put his hand on my head, leaned over by body and prayed for me. How sweet the sound!
It was really God leaning over and kissing me on the cheek.
Thank you for allowing me to ramble but my thankfulness to Jesus is so overwhelming and over flowing I can't contain it, it must be shared - so tag you're it.
connecting the dots....
I often hear the comment that mega churches can do things that house churches can't. (ie: large scale relief projects, building hospitals, building water systems in developing countries, etc) This may well be true in present tense but I believe it to be far from true in the design and intent of our Creator.
The problem, as I see it, is that many simple church expressions continue to be "lone rangers". These expressions often sparsely dot the landscape making geography a hurtle to overcome. In our situation, here in rural Tennessee, we have to make a committed effort to have working relationships with organic communities 3-6 hours distant. I am convinced that those efforts are not in vain. I can see (partly in the natural, partly in the Spirit) God beginning to fill in the spaces (ie: all the small towns, communities that lie between those functional networks). Just today I was blessed by a email from Jeff that indicates they have discovered a new house church 10 minutes from where they live! God is continuing to "ekballo" those of His choosing into this stream of simple function.
Back to the problem. Simple churches must learn to value connection. We are infinitely stronger if we work together and support one another. Large tasks can be accomplished by multiple expressions of simple churches working together, pooling resources, sharing information, etc. on a "as needed" basis. It is to this end that I express this passion for regional gatherings where leaders can build relationships and learn to trust one another. Many of us have exited a corporate system that operated from the top down (and mostly remained contained within the confines of singular organization/institution). The challenge becomes how to think "bottom up". Multiple autonomous expressions of Jesus coming together to accomplish larger tasks.
It is my prayer (literally) that God will raise up men/women in regions who will fight the battle to bring leaders together. As real functional relationships begin to form we will discover the ability to accomplish those tasks relegated to "mega churches". Imagine the power of organic multi-expression co-operation and how that would be viewed by the world around us.
The problem, as I see it, is that many simple church expressions continue to be "lone rangers". These expressions often sparsely dot the landscape making geography a hurtle to overcome. In our situation, here in rural Tennessee, we have to make a committed effort to have working relationships with organic communities 3-6 hours distant. I am convinced that those efforts are not in vain. I can see (partly in the natural, partly in the Spirit) God beginning to fill in the spaces (ie: all the small towns, communities that lie between those functional networks). Just today I was blessed by a email from Jeff that indicates they have discovered a new house church 10 minutes from where they live! God is continuing to "ekballo" those of His choosing into this stream of simple function.
Back to the problem. Simple churches must learn to value connection. We are infinitely stronger if we work together and support one another. Large tasks can be accomplished by multiple expressions of simple churches working together, pooling resources, sharing information, etc. on a "as needed" basis. It is to this end that I express this passion for regional gatherings where leaders can build relationships and learn to trust one another. Many of us have exited a corporate system that operated from the top down (and mostly remained contained within the confines of singular organization/institution). The challenge becomes how to think "bottom up". Multiple autonomous expressions of Jesus coming together to accomplish larger tasks.
It is my prayer (literally) that God will raise up men/women in regions who will fight the battle to bring leaders together. As real functional relationships begin to form we will discover the ability to accomplish those tasks relegated to "mega churches". Imagine the power of organic multi-expression co-operation and how that would be viewed by the world around us.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
culture, the god of the west
At the outset I understand that many who are wiser and better versed than me will disagree with what I am about to say. <(that is my disclaimer!). Yet I have been carrying the weight of this communication for awhile and must get it "off my chest". I understand that like shoes, one size does not fit all, so if this doesn't apply to you, then simply don't apply it!
Our western culture has become a god (yes, even in the lives of believers). Let me back up and lay a little framework for this discussion. Recently I have been involved in numerous conversations about the difference between meetings and living out community. Repetitively, I hear the defense that many people, due to the complications and demands of life, only have time for a weekly meeting and little more. They accept this as the "cards they have been dealt" and are willing to live with the consequences. Generally speaking, we live in a prosperous culture. In our area of the country it is not uncommon for a young couple to own a house, 2 cars, widescreen TV, etc. You get the picture. This lifestyle creates the necessity of "the grind" to pay for everything. When children come along, it is a given that they must play sports, take music lessons, be in the school play, take the college prep classes, and generally outshine all of their competitors so they can "get ahead" in life. The routine becomes the immovable absolute around which "Jesus" and "community" must struggle to form. The scripture that immediately comes to mind is "do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...."
A friend recently told me a story about a visitor from Japan. The friend took the Japanese man on a tour of the area. The visitor pointed to a "typical home" as they passed and posed the question, "How many families live there?" He was absolutely shocked to find out it was occupied by one small family. He was accustomed to multiple families sharing much smaller quarters. Yet we consider our "space" as a nonnegotiable right. Families (believers) all over our nation are sacrificing the joy of experiencing real community by serving at the throne of "keep up with the Jones'" I have had the opportunity during a couple of seasons in my life to live out something very close to "community". Those times had their challenges but also offered great reward. I remember them as "good times". Relationships (with God and man) were more important than the "bottom line". I admit my belief that true communal living is on the horizon for the church. I can't defend that a time of shaking is coming that will result in radical changes of lifestyle. I am surly not suggesting that anyone launch out into such arrangements without clear leadership from their Father. I AM suggesting that the believer can be ahead of the curve by opting out of some of the demands of our culture. A friend recently stated, "the rat has nothing I want, why would I want to be in his race..." No matter your position in life, there are things you can do to simplify. Simplification leaves more time for what really counts.
I will finish my rant with this novel idea. What if Jesus, His Kingdom, and His directives become the steadfast immovable absolute in our lives leaving culture to mold itself around that center?
just ranting,
mickey mooney
www.networkvine.org
Our western culture has become a god (yes, even in the lives of believers). Let me back up and lay a little framework for this discussion. Recently I have been involved in numerous conversations about the difference between meetings and living out community. Repetitively, I hear the defense that many people, due to the complications and demands of life, only have time for a weekly meeting and little more. They accept this as the "cards they have been dealt" and are willing to live with the consequences. Generally speaking, we live in a prosperous culture. In our area of the country it is not uncommon for a young couple to own a house, 2 cars, widescreen TV, etc. You get the picture. This lifestyle creates the necessity of "the grind" to pay for everything. When children come along, it is a given that they must play sports, take music lessons, be in the school play, take the college prep classes, and generally outshine all of their competitors so they can "get ahead" in life. The routine becomes the immovable absolute around which "Jesus" and "community" must struggle to form. The scripture that immediately comes to mind is "do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...."
A friend recently told me a story about a visitor from Japan. The friend took the Japanese man on a tour of the area. The visitor pointed to a "typical home" as they passed and posed the question, "How many families live there?" He was absolutely shocked to find out it was occupied by one small family. He was accustomed to multiple families sharing much smaller quarters. Yet we consider our "space" as a nonnegotiable right. Families (believers) all over our nation are sacrificing the joy of experiencing real community by serving at the throne of "keep up with the Jones'" I have had the opportunity during a couple of seasons in my life to live out something very close to "community". Those times had their challenges but also offered great reward. I remember them as "good times". Relationships (with God and man) were more important than the "bottom line". I admit my belief that true communal living is on the horizon for the church. I can't defend that a time of shaking is coming that will result in radical changes of lifestyle. I am surly not suggesting that anyone launch out into such arrangements without clear leadership from their Father. I AM suggesting that the believer can be ahead of the curve by opting out of some of the demands of our culture. A friend recently stated, "the rat has nothing I want, why would I want to be in his race..." No matter your position in life, there are things you can do to simplify. Simplification leaves more time for what really counts.
I will finish my rant with this novel idea. What if Jesus, His Kingdom, and His directives become the steadfast immovable absolute in our lives leaving culture to mold itself around that center?
just ranting,
mickey mooney
www.networkvine.org
Thursday, September 11, 2008
simple letter of example
Sorry for the delay in writing. Once again, I have been sick and unmotovated....yuch. Suzy & I made the trek to Dallas for the H2H conference, rushing back to beat the hurricane evac traffic from La. Thoughts on the conference may come later. Today, I want to pass on a simple, functional letter from one of the local gatherings:
At our gathering Sunday at the home of Pam and Mark Beall we had a lady, Barbara Lane who shared something that hurt her heart. It was something her husband of 51 years said to her concerning money she has used over this period of time to help those in need. She has always been a giver reaching out to others as Jesus directed.
Their needs have always been met. This month has been especially tight for them partly because of filling up their gas tank making ready for the winter to come.
We prayed for Barbara, her feelings of hurt and for her husband and his understanding. Today her husband brought in the mail among which was an envelope for Barbara with no return address on it and she did not recognize the hand writing. She opened it to a piece of computer paper neatly folded with the words "Jesus loves you" on it. Then a $100 bill fell out in her hand.
Needless to say her husband was surprised as well as Barbara and she had the opportunity to gently look at him and say "you can't out give God."
I just wanted to share this with Barbara's permission to let you know He is our provider and He is faithful. If you have a need be it financial, emotional, spiritual, He is faithful and desires to rescue you.
If anyone of you in our group was the obedient giver, Barbara says "thank you".
Please feel free to pass this on especially to others in the Paris area and if you have news of what's going on in your meetings we would delight in hearing how Jesus is working in the every day life of believers
Carlen
At our gathering Sunday at the home of Pam and Mark Beall we had a lady, Barbara Lane who shared something that hurt her heart. It was something her husband of 51 years said to her concerning money she has used over this period of time to help those in need. She has always been a giver reaching out to others as Jesus directed.
Their needs have always been met. This month has been especially tight for them partly because of filling up their gas tank making ready for the winter to come.
We prayed for Barbara, her feelings of hurt and for her husband and his understanding. Today her husband brought in the mail among which was an envelope for Barbara with no return address on it and she did not recognize the hand writing. She opened it to a piece of computer paper neatly folded with the words "Jesus loves you" on it. Then a $100 bill fell out in her hand.
Needless to say her husband was surprised as well as Barbara and she had the opportunity to gently look at him and say "you can't out give God."
I just wanted to share this with Barbara's permission to let you know He is our provider and He is faithful. If you have a need be it financial, emotional, spiritual, He is faithful and desires to rescue you.
If anyone of you in our group was the obedient giver, Barbara says "thank you".
Please feel free to pass this on especially to others in the Paris area and if you have news of what's going on in your meetings we would delight in hearing how Jesus is working in the every day life of believers
Carlen
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