Inclusive

On the serious side: Gary's comment brings up something I've been wondering about since we started this. There's probably research out there somewhere. But I'm wondering if having a community that's more inclusive ( less divided by age or anything else, less focus group oriented) is a healthier community over all, maybe less self-centered? It's probably in sociology journals somewhere? Any observations or experiences. I appreciated Gary's comments.

One Anothers

The infamous "one anothers" I keep referring to... (a pastor we had about 30 years ago brought these to everyone's attention.) These are for every member of the Body of Christ - they're not focus group specific, gift/leadership/layman specific, or even age specific. They maybe not even believer specific, just one-anothers! You'll catch the heart of it.

These are from the Epistles. It's interesting to look at one anothers in the OT and Gospels, too. These are to-do one anothers as opposed to not-to-do's and (absolutely) read them in context. (NIV)

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." Romans 12:10

"Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Live in harmony with one another." Romans 12:16, I Pet. 3:8

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another..." Romans 13: 8 et al

"Accept one another, . .. just as Christ accepted you..." Romans 15:7

"full of goodness, complete in knowledge, competent to instruct one another." (read it in context) Romans 15:14

"agree with one another" I Cor. 1:10

"serve one another in love" Gal. 5:12-14

"bear with one another in love" Eph. 4:2

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you." Eph 4:32, I Pe 1:22

"Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." Eph. 5:19

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Eph. 5:21.

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another ..."Col 3:13

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Col 3:16

"Encourage one another and build each other up." I Thess. 5:11

"encourage one another daily." Heb. 3:13

"let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." "encourage one another" Heb. 10:24-25

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." I Pet 4:9

"clothe yourselves with humility towards one another." I Pet. 5:5

and there are a couple more...

In very nature God

Maybe this borders on being too theological but I'll share it. I was talking with George about the leadership post. (I've almost got him convinced that he should blog. Almost...) He reminded me of the passage he's been thinking and talking alot about lately. Call it observation or call it revelation depending where on the spectrum you stand:

^{Philippians 2:5-11
5}Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. . .

You should read the whole passage. But his observation is that all these qualities are "in very nature, God." Did God change when He came to earth? Did Jesus change when He ascended?
Or is He the same, yesterday, today and forever?

Man created in the image of God? God taking the form of man? Who is this God we serve?

Last year during Advent when I was reading the passages about the glory of God I realized that the glory of God is that He bends down to the lowly, as opposed to the glory we associate with a rich, famous, politically powerful king or famous person - a really interesting word study (still looking at each in context) Maybe it comes full circle. He is King, but who He is defines "king". Who He is defines "glory."

We see through a mirror darkly, or maybe glimpses through a dirty window, but we keep looking and every glimpse we get of the Living God changes us and (hopefully) we'll reflect on Him and reflect Him a wee bit more - ambassadors to the world, to one another and to our children.

Young Leadership

I've decided to edit and repost this (the reason I'm 8000 words behind on my other writing project). After I posted this for three hours last week, I got an email from someone I respect, saying he didn't really understand so I took it down. I let it rest for a week but I'm left still feeling that this is something I need to say. Given that all these guys have me laughing hysterically (I'm only exagerating a little bit) I feel even more compeled to post this. So here goes:

Over the last two years a number of people my age have said little things, not intending to be mean, but implying that when you’re working with people who are a generation or more younger than you, you have some responsibility to “keep them in line.” I confess that I've ignored the comments for lack of a pointed rejoinder instead of jumping to your defence. But each time I get a little more ticked off, "You're telling me that our generation has the task of keeping a younger generation in the old paradigm when God is trying to use them to break the rest of us out of it?" My pointed rejoinder! Ok, it's not great but at least I'm working on it.

The fact that Jesus was 30- 33 years old during his years of ministry is profound. Don't you find it odd that God didn't let Jesus live long enough to minister as an old man? Why, I wonder...

Our attitudes towards leadership matter to God. Read about Miriam and Moses. The annointing, even the abilities of a leader aren't neccessarily age related. Read the story of David, and Samuel chosing the next king. Read about David and Saul or even little Samuel. Wisdom isn't always age-related. Look at Proverbs and Jesus in the temple. Experience isn't even always age related. Look at the story of Naaman.

There are alot of people who don't understand the wealth that different generations can bring to the table and the ways that we form one another. (If I really get my act together, I'll post a list of one anothers.) This isn't a top down process or Jesus never would have come to be a man, a poor carpenter, no less- a baby, a child....

Working with younger generations means more than just keeping them in line. Our growing together as the Body of Christ requires building relationships, humility, and mutual respect. Believing that you can live and work together and learn things from one another, not just about ipods, but about who God is, violates something deeply ingrained in the more authoritative-traditional parent/teacher/church leadership model.

As parents, teachers, leaders there are always battles to fight but we have to pick our battles. We have to choose carefully. At the moment, I'm picking this one because it's blocking my way- no, not my way but the way for the people who will carry the next generation on their shoulders.

We're each made in God's image, none perfect, whatever generation we come from. What does that mean anyway- perfect? What does it mean- a Father, a Son, a Holy Spirit - one God? Are the omnipotent 3-in-1 so unlike our generations?

We challenge these same strongholds when we include children in the ways that Artisan is including children. Spiritual strongholds? Thoughts and ideas that raise themselves up against the knowledge of God and obediance to Christ.

You think spiritual warfare means "Help! We're on the defensive?" It means we're on the offensive. We're taking ground. It's the ground that you have to keep taking in order to keep knowing God better. And you have to take some risks to do that. There isn't one generation that has it all together. There never has been and there never will be. We're a body made up of many parts and we need each other.

Ok, it's still too long, but I said it.

and the story board...

I also listened to a great story teller with a flannel board who had some 5 year-olds mesmerized!