Life and stuff, and a little rugby

I haven't been doing too well at blogging as of late.  It's not that I don't have anything to say... those in my household will tell you I always have something to say.  It's just been a time thing.  So, I'm writing this at 10:30 at night, when I should probably be thinking about sleeping, but I'm determined to get a few things said.  Pardon me while I ramble a bit.

First of all, I love my life group.  I don't like always going to LG, but when I'm there I love it... and love them.  This past Sunday night was huge... we got down and dirty with some relationship issues.  Everybody had input, no body dominated the conversation (unless I did), I thought that everybody left thankful that they came.  

Why bring this up?  After, if I don't like LG, and I'm supposed to be the ring-leader of the thing, then we have real problems.

I mention it, because, there are so many people around me who simply don't have a group of people to "lean in to."  No body to get "down and dirty" with life issues, especially when life passes through the filter of scripture. 

Here's the good news:  I got an email from "Linda" today that she had sent to tons of people that she knows.  It was all about how important her LG was to her and her husband, and why others should be involved in a group.  Thats good stuff... her words carry a lot more authority than mine.  Thanks "Linda" for the encouragement.

On a totally different subject, I'm loving rugby.  I love the team aspect, love watching these guys begin to "get" it.   And I'm totally pumped about our first game next week.  First home game EVER at IHS.  Ben and the boys are counting the days... probably the hours.  I think I am as well.

Middle of the Night Thoughts

Maybe it was the late supper...

Maybe it was because I knew Ben had to be up at 5am...

Maybe it was medicine that I'm still taking for this cold that wont go away...

Or maybe it was something else...

Regardless, I've been up since just before 3 this morning.  It's funny what you think about in the predawn hours when you wish you could sleep, want to sleep, but just can't get there.  As I tried to slowly breathe in the still, cold, night air, I couldn't help but begin to think about how blessed I've been.  Now, before you move on to something else because you think this is going to be a boring Thanksgiving post, HOLD ON!

This season tends to make all of us reflect on how blessed we are because of the stuff we have.  And, it's somewhat typical to be thankful for our family and other significants in our life.  Interestingly enough, as I listened to the silence this morning, I've thought alot about the process of life that has shaped me.  Decisions made, churches served, family circumstances, etc.  

These are the things that have shaped me; the things that have hardened, softened, smoothed, and roughed.  Does that make sense.  Sometimes we think that life just rumbles along leaving us in it's wake.  I was reminded again this morning how God desires to use our circumstances to shape us in to the people he has called us to be.   Circumstances turn in to processes when we act on them, and more importantly, act on them through faith.  

I wont get into too many specifics, but most recently Pam's fight (our fight) with breast cancer and the decision to step into the life of a family in our church and walk with them on an extremely personal level are two examples of circumstances turning to processes that will forever shape me. 

 And I am thankful.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 ESV

Group Life Conference 2008

The 2008 Group Life Conference concluded today at Willow, and as usual, it was an amazing time of both challenge and renewal.  Both the general sessions and the more intimate breakout sessions pushed us as leaders to re-imagine both how and why we are currently leading a small groups ministry in our church.  

One of the dangers of a attending a conference like this is that it can be overwhelming trying to process all that you've seen and heard.  One friend said he felt like he'd been in the matrix while here, and that he will never be able to look at his "small group world" the same.  That is both a good and terrifying thing.

I'm going to post some notes and thoughts from the conference in the next few days.  This first post is actually from the last session, and speaks to the possibility of evangelism being a purpose and result of heathy group life.  I'd love to hear your comments...

Principles for community bringing transformation

1.  Redefine your evangelism starting point as God's response to a broken world.  Exodus 3:6-10 (God has heard the cries of His people)  People are crying out all around us.  Sin brings death, death brings tears... we must respond.  Help me respond, help me hear.  That is much different from:  "Listen to how I want to help you and change you."

2.  Identify God's response to the brokenness of your own life.  It's easy to think that we have been fixed.  What is God doing in your life?  What is he working out in you today?  If you don't know that, evangelism slides to information only.  Forget evangelism and forget transformation.  Our church and small groups are full of people who are filled with pain and they are waiting for us to respond.

3.  Identify and love the brokenness in your group.  When we identify the hurts and brokenness among us we can use that as a launching pad for ministry.  See the brokenness as a launching point.

4.  Re-establish evangelism priority.  The church exist for those who are not a part of it.  

That last point is especially important to me.  It has been ringing in my ears for several years now, and today was a good day to hear it again.  

More later....