Monday, January 31, 2005
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Purpose and Life
in the last entry, I posted some "randoms" from a four-man conversation in a local coffee shop. I'll be doing that from time to time. It's a way of letting supporters and friends in on what kinds of ideas are shaping our heart here.
at the end, you'll find a statement like:
"...making converts has been killing the church..." or something like that. I got a good comment from Justin on it. I want to respond in an entry, as well as the comment I posted in response.
first of all, I admit that statements like that come in the flow of a conversation and aren't the best for public posting... They can cause problems in their roughness and absolutness.
But I stand behind that statement. You see, the meaning of that statement hinges on the term "making converts". Jesus NEVER told us to do so. He spoke in terms of DISCIPLES, all the time. He also told us to BEAR FRUIT! And to LOVE one another... These are all precise, guiding articulation of Jesus' teaching on our purposes here.
Now we do find Nicholas, a convert to Judaism, in Acts 6. He becomes a Christian (after being a convert) and then is a deacon. Church history has some interesting things to say about this Nicholas, but that's not for here...
And Jesus speaks of conversion, too. He uses it in the imperative sense: "Convert, or perish." Repent is a good meaning here. Turn to me! You know?
So the noun form of convert, as well as the verb form, are surely Biblical language. But the PREDOMINANT commands don't say "Make Converts". This would be akin to saying "change people's minds" (which thing we do, since the love of Christ constrains us to convince men 2 Cor 5).
The predominant teaching of Jesus had to do with God, each other, the poor, the sick, prisoners, outcasts, forgiveness, giving away, love, obedience, fearing God, bearing fruit...
Now some say that this fruit is the fruit of "souls" coming into the kingdom, or "converts". This is a view of fruit that gives us a false assurance. There are so many who have a ton of converts--people whose minds are changed by their teaching and whatnot--people who have joined their Christian movements--but they don't have LOVE! They don't touch the poor--physically. They don't have time for kids and stupid people. They avoid the lowly and the needy.
But Jesus is commanding a life that loves (has genuine affection for) the poor, needy, outcast, sinner... a life that GIVES AWAY the stuff of the world and embraces the cross in the little, daily stuff... footwashing, toilet-scrubbing, child loving, homeless-hugging life.
...a life content with obscurity that sees Jesus in the face of every "least of these", His brethren... a life involved, swirling, mingling with the prisoner, the poor, the needy...
the sea of need can close over our heads. Let it. It's a good death.
We aren't here to solve the problem, but to drown in an ocean of loving them. funny thing--when you step out of the boat with this mentality, you FLOAT!
Our key...
Our source of purpose...
Our focus while on this earth...
is not all about propagating the faith.
It's about loving God. Loving God is seeing Jesus and serving Him in our neighbor! It's being His neighbor!
Purpose found in propagation is detrimental to the health of the church... that's because the health of the church is dependent on us seeing that it's "all about". Having a goal, a purpose that is bigger than the "movement", "institution", or any posterity or credit we get...
It's all about PLEASING THE LORD in the way we love each other and the world.
This includes preaching the word at all opps.
In fact, "converts" (rescues, salvations, saved souls) are the result of this love for God and our neighbor. The LOVE is the purpose. This is in contrast to "church growth" and "soul winning" purposes, which are a popular idol...
So, we all know that "church growth", "soul winning", "movements", "institution", "conversion", and "converts" are Biblical language.
But something deeply unspiritual and profoundly hindering has proceeded from this misplaced focus. We need to return to a focus that pleases the Lord. A good look at Romans 12, the whole chapter, will be medicine to heal...
This just a rant,
at the end, you'll find a statement like:
"...making converts has been killing the church..." or something like that. I got a good comment from Justin on it. I want to respond in an entry, as well as the comment I posted in response.
first of all, I admit that statements like that come in the flow of a conversation and aren't the best for public posting... They can cause problems in their roughness and absolutness.
But I stand behind that statement. You see, the meaning of that statement hinges on the term "making converts". Jesus NEVER told us to do so. He spoke in terms of DISCIPLES, all the time. He also told us to BEAR FRUIT! And to LOVE one another... These are all precise, guiding articulation of Jesus' teaching on our purposes here.
Now we do find Nicholas, a convert to Judaism, in Acts 6. He becomes a Christian (after being a convert) and then is a deacon. Church history has some interesting things to say about this Nicholas, but that's not for here...
And Jesus speaks of conversion, too. He uses it in the imperative sense: "Convert, or perish." Repent is a good meaning here. Turn to me! You know?
So the noun form of convert, as well as the verb form, are surely Biblical language. But the PREDOMINANT commands don't say "Make Converts". This would be akin to saying "change people's minds" (which thing we do, since the love of Christ constrains us to convince men 2 Cor 5).
The predominant teaching of Jesus had to do with God, each other, the poor, the sick, prisoners, outcasts, forgiveness, giving away, love, obedience, fearing God, bearing fruit...
Now some say that this fruit is the fruit of "souls" coming into the kingdom, or "converts". This is a view of fruit that gives us a false assurance. There are so many who have a ton of converts--people whose minds are changed by their teaching and whatnot--people who have joined their Christian movements--but they don't have LOVE! They don't touch the poor--physically. They don't have time for kids and stupid people. They avoid the lowly and the needy.
But Jesus is commanding a life that loves (has genuine affection for) the poor, needy, outcast, sinner... a life that GIVES AWAY the stuff of the world and embraces the cross in the little, daily stuff... footwashing, toilet-scrubbing, child loving, homeless-hugging life.
...a life content with obscurity that sees Jesus in the face of every "least of these", His brethren... a life involved, swirling, mingling with the prisoner, the poor, the needy...
the sea of need can close over our heads. Let it. It's a good death.
We aren't here to solve the problem, but to drown in an ocean of loving them. funny thing--when you step out of the boat with this mentality, you FLOAT!
Our key...
Our source of purpose...
Our focus while on this earth...
is not all about propagating the faith.
It's about loving God. Loving God is seeing Jesus and serving Him in our neighbor! It's being His neighbor!
Purpose found in propagation is detrimental to the health of the church... that's because the health of the church is dependent on us seeing that it's "all about". Having a goal, a purpose that is bigger than the "movement", "institution", or any posterity or credit we get...
It's all about PLEASING THE LORD in the way we love each other and the world.
This includes preaching the word at all opps.
In fact, "converts" (rescues, salvations, saved souls) are the result of this love for God and our neighbor. The LOVE is the purpose. This is in contrast to "church growth" and "soul winning" purposes, which are a popular idol...
So, we all know that "church growth", "soul winning", "movements", "institution", "conversion", and "converts" are Biblical language.
But something deeply unspiritual and profoundly hindering has proceeded from this misplaced focus. We need to return to a focus that pleases the Lord. A good look at Romans 12, the whole chapter, will be medicine to heal...
This just a rant,
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Rohs St. Cafe in Cinci...
randoms from a four-man conversation at Rohs St.
what do i need to do this stuff?
got utilities, still on.
got the mortgage, not foreclosed yet.
got enough food, indeed!
got friends.
TVs.
All kinds of truck!!!
we can just start!
we're terrible managers of what God's given us...
jubilee/ransom/stewardship
loving peoplesubverting the system
asking for lessgiving away what we do have.being a place to serve...
creating a place for lifechange to happen conversation to happen
putting ourselves on a shoestring to do it...
being a slave to the beggar...
past the idea of posessing god
no to making converts, yes to pleasing his heart...
how much of the giving to who asks is objectively for us?
what about when we run out? Then faith begins!
surely simplistic, but look what happens!
according to what we have, not don't?
making converts is killing the kingdom.
200 years of preaching religion has cheesed us out.
the healing comes in living the word
what do i need to do this stuff?
got utilities, still on.
got the mortgage, not foreclosed yet.
got enough food, indeed!
got friends.
TVs.
All kinds of truck!!!
we can just start!
we're terrible managers of what God's given us...
jubilee/ransom/stewardship
loving peoplesubverting the system
asking for lessgiving away what we do have.being a place to serve...
creating a place for lifechange to happen conversation to happen
putting ourselves on a shoestring to do it...
being a slave to the beggar...
past the idea of posessing god
no to making converts, yes to pleasing his heart...
how much of the giving to who asks is objectively for us?
what about when we run out? Then faith begins!
surely simplistic, but look what happens!
according to what we have, not don't?
making converts is killing the kingdom.
200 years of preaching religion has cheesed us out.
the healing comes in living the word
Monday, January 24, 2005
Got Skills?
Like a carpenter to build up shelving and get our first floor kitchen finished? It's simple stuff, and I do it so slowly... and poorly... and so many of our people are so in over their heads in the good stuff God has given them, and we don't represent a very deep skills pool, y'know?
anybody got skills?
anybody got skills?
Trimbles!!!
Huge welcome to the Trimbles, who will come with their 3 kids to visit us, this week, for a couple days...
Come to the table...
Come to the table...
Bansens' Visit
Shawn and Ginger.
Hannah and Eli.
Thank you for your visit.
Thank you for sharing food with us.
Thank you for sharing your husband, Ginger, as he got dirty and scraped up, putting wiring into the First Floor bathroom in the Chase House...
Thank you, Shawn, for sharing your heart and life with the little band of Grubbykupp. We owe you a debt of love... We're with you guys as you look into your missions calling...
Thank you, Steve Ulery, and Joanne, for all you put into the visit--extra electrical supplies, and love and fathering to two of the most godly people we know...
Thank you Jesus for the Bansens' visit.
Hannah and Eli.
Thank you for your visit.
Thank you for sharing food with us.
Thank you for sharing your husband, Ginger, as he got dirty and scraped up, putting wiring into the First Floor bathroom in the Chase House...
Thank you, Shawn, for sharing your heart and life with the little band of Grubbykupp. We owe you a debt of love... We're with you guys as you look into your missions calling...
Thank you, Steve Ulery, and Joanne, for all you put into the visit--extra electrical supplies, and love and fathering to two of the most godly people we know...
Thank you Jesus for the Bansens' visit.
Prayer night Sat. Jan 29
Come to the table! arrive between 8pm and 1am...
Chase house
1320 Chase Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45223
Chase house
1320 Chase Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45223
Last Night's Meeting
Hey, It was super for me to just relax after dinner and enjoy listening to everyone just getting to know each other. It was also for me to share a kitchen corner and 1/2 bowl of potato soup with a dear, local person who came for help...
help... what is help? I think Help is a sign of love. Help is effective giving... Sometimes we give what's not needed. Sometimes we give what's not ours to give. But sometimes we get it right and HELP someone... Those are the times that I live for. I don't know if that was last night, though. Usually I never know if I did do that. I fly by instruments, ya know? Blind...
Dinner was potato soup.
People went to the meeting room so early and just sat around. Judy comes and gets me and I'm talking to JW in the kitchen, loving his visit so much (I love you, JW). I wish everyone would come to our meeting night, every time... That the potato soup had no bottom, that we ate everything in our house in one night...
It was cold in the house. Wicked cold, but not too bad, y'know?
Then I took up the guitar and we had some songs... Want more of that stuff? Come on prayer night, ready to minister to Jesus... the next one is this coming saturday...
Then we opened up and I read Psalm 114, 115 from the Daily Psalter readings of the Anglican Church...
At "the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S, abut he entrusted the earth to it's peoples" we had to kind of laugh. That accounts for the problems!
Then we looked into the end of Job. How this young buck, Elihu, called out Job and his three friends for what they were... How God condemned Job's friends' advice, vindicated Himself, and gave Job brand joy. How Job prayed for the three.
But we went away asking, "How could Job's friends have done better?" and "could I have even done as well as they"?
you know, one of their faults, for all their good intentions and pious efforts to show Job wrong and God right (and job was wrong. and god was right. just not like they thought) their fault was that they tried to help Job without understanding what was going on.
They thought it was your garden variety "this guy sinned and now God's smiting him".
But it was the fairly rare "this guy is so righteous that God is betting on him for sport with Satan".
Tough call from where we stand. How does that bear on how we look at each others faults, and trials.
Hey, we don't need to fix each other. We don't have to stop each other fromhaving disasters. And we'd better watch out what conclusions we jump to, eh?
help... what is help? I think Help is a sign of love. Help is effective giving... Sometimes we give what's not needed. Sometimes we give what's not ours to give. But sometimes we get it right and HELP someone... Those are the times that I live for. I don't know if that was last night, though. Usually I never know if I did do that. I fly by instruments, ya know? Blind...
Dinner was potato soup.
People went to the meeting room so early and just sat around. Judy comes and gets me and I'm talking to JW in the kitchen, loving his visit so much (I love you, JW). I wish everyone would come to our meeting night, every time... That the potato soup had no bottom, that we ate everything in our house in one night...
It was cold in the house. Wicked cold, but not too bad, y'know?
Then I took up the guitar and we had some songs... Want more of that stuff? Come on prayer night, ready to minister to Jesus... the next one is this coming saturday...
Then we opened up and I read Psalm 114, 115 from the Daily Psalter readings of the Anglican Church...
At "the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S, abut he entrusted the earth to it's peoples" we had to kind of laugh. That accounts for the problems!
Then we looked into the end of Job. How this young buck, Elihu, called out Job and his three friends for what they were... How God condemned Job's friends' advice, vindicated Himself, and gave Job brand joy. How Job prayed for the three.
But we went away asking, "How could Job's friends have done better?" and "could I have even done as well as they"?
you know, one of their faults, for all their good intentions and pious efforts to show Job wrong and God right (and job was wrong. and god was right. just not like they thought) their fault was that they tried to help Job without understanding what was going on.
They thought it was your garden variety "this guy sinned and now God's smiting him".
But it was the fairly rare "this guy is so righteous that God is betting on him for sport with Satan".
Tough call from where we stand. How does that bear on how we look at each others faults, and trials.
Hey, we don't need to fix each other. We don't have to stop each other fromhaving disasters. And we'd better watch out what conclusions we jump to, eh?
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Folks are starting to visit!
This is wonderful. We've got friends from Northern Indiana, the Bansens, visiting today. Shawn and I will wire in some lighting and receptacles in the Kitchen and Bathroom on the first floor. The kids will all play (Hannah, and Eli with our Aaron and Seth)
The roads are fairly impassable, as it snowed last night, late, but we're ok. Happy to be together, in Jesus, today.
There are three young men, with JP in the fore, who are pioneering into a vision for the next "household of grace"...
They'll join together and carve out a mission to christ in themselves, each other, and our neighborhood... It's a little like when guys became monks, but much different for many reasons, too...
Less than 30hours work/wk.
availability for conversation with neighbors
inward journey in prayer and holiness
outward journey in being good samaritan neighbors...
stuff like this will get worked out...
...with fear and trembling...
The roads are fairly impassable, as it snowed last night, late, but we're ok. Happy to be together, in Jesus, today.
There are three young men, with JP in the fore, who are pioneering into a vision for the next "household of grace"...
They'll join together and carve out a mission to christ in themselves, each other, and our neighborhood... It's a little like when guys became monks, but much different for many reasons, too...
Less than 30hours work/wk.
availability for conversation with neighbors
inward journey in prayer and holiness
outward journey in being good samaritan neighbors...
stuff like this will get worked out...
...with fear and trembling...
Monday, January 17, 2005
buttkickin teaching
there was buttkickin teaching the other night at housechurch. we loved it. Thanks to Mr. Weiss (check out his blog) for talking about how to judge between false and true teachers.
other teaching came from Scriptures in:
Matthew 24
1 Thess. 4
2 Thess 2
1 John 3, 4
Rev. 13
Daniel 9, 12
Zech. 12
read it! live it!
other teaching came from Scriptures in:
Matthew 24
1 Thess. 4
2 Thess 2
1 John 3, 4
Rev. 13
Daniel 9, 12
Zech. 12
read it! live it!
Electrical Need
Hey, There's an electrically trained brother coming from Indiana, this weekend coming. Pray for our work on the house. He's Shawn Bansen. His wife, Ginger has been Judy's friend for like 14 years. Their kids, Eli and Hannah, are adorable and fun...
It'll be a GREAT weekend! Thanks, guys...
we also have no way to pay for all the supplies for the work... Hint Hint... anybody got cash?
It'll be a GREAT weekend! Thanks, guys...
we also have no way to pay for all the supplies for the work... Hint Hint... anybody got cash?
Dollar for you
I'll give you a dollar if you read this and comment, or email me... especially if your last name is dollar...
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Prayer Nite
Tonight is a prayer night at the Chase House... Tom's already here. It's 7:39. We're going in.
We Need Help!
I'm happy to say that we're in over our heads, here in Cincinnati.
Unless God does some really powerful stuff, really soon, we're dead.
There are more than a few brothers called to this new kind of work (a rehash of the old kind) who are in over their heads, too.
We still don't feel we have any rights beyond what the Bible describes, but we're asking you to join us by Helping. Love looks like help. Good advice is good, but help helps. Call, email, or come to find ways to do it...
Unless God does some really powerful stuff, really soon, we're dead.
There are more than a few brothers called to this new kind of work (a rehash of the old kind) who are in over their heads, too.
We still don't feel we have any rights beyond what the Bible describes, but we're asking you to join us by Helping. Love looks like help. Good advice is good, but help helps. Call, email, or come to find ways to do it...
Lewminator Blog Revived
Hey! for all of you who want a more personal look into the world of Lew, check out Lewminator. I've started posting there, again.
Don't forget to click on the blogs in the margin of this one to see what's up in the world of Cincinnati Jesus Freak Blogging...
Don't forget to click on the blogs in the margin of this one to see what's up in the world of Cincinnati Jesus Freak Blogging...
Friday, January 14, 2005
Prayer Night
This Saturday (tomorrow Jan. 15, 2005) is a prayer night! Come between 8pm and 1am, and stay till you're done. It's all about Jesus and the Body. A time set aside for Spirit ministry and ministering to the Lord in praise and prayer...
Thursday Night Glory
Last night was our Thursdsay night study at Lookout Joes, in Mount Lookout cincinnati.
JP, Rachel, John L, Britt, Meaghan, Brother Tom... All of you, I love you...
It was so easy to kick back and relax with such a group of deep believers... We looked intently into some killer scrips. We're looking into the 2Tim 22 and following... The implications of this are life shaking...
only the unshakeable remains!
JP, Rachel, John L, Britt, Meaghan, Brother Tom... All of you, I love you...
It was so easy to kick back and relax with such a group of deep believers... We looked intently into some killer scrips. We're looking into the 2Tim 22 and following... The implications of this are life shaking...
only the unshakeable remains!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Chase House Work Needs: a list
Ministry/1st Floor Life:
Kitchen-
-Wiring in Countertop Range (220v) from box downstairs
-Vent the Range through the floor and out the basement window
-paint the kitchen
Servant Stairs:
-Rip out carpet (miserable light blue, stained to death by asphalt from drive)
-Paint steps 2-tone brown and white, texturize
-paint stairway a light color
Wiring/Electrical:
-Lighting and receptacles need to be installed in the house. It would be fine to run exposed conduit and wire moldings. Whatever it takes to get the place RUNNING with light and power.
Meeting Room:
-build temporary wall between Mtg. Room and Downstairs Hospitality Quarters.
-Paint
-Lighting (i'm thinking track lighting, here.)
Hallway/Dining Room/Atrium:
-Strip Wallpaper
-Paint
-Lighting-- the whole place is running on lamps. It's dark, and not energy-efficient.
This is a list of the First Floor Hospitality Areas that need work. We want you guys to come help out! It's a great way to get into what's going on here! Comment here to get involved!
Ministry/1st Floor Life:
Kitchen-
-Wiring in Countertop Range (220v) from box downstairs
-Vent the Range through the floor and out the basement window
-paint the kitchen
Servant Stairs:
-Rip out carpet (miserable light blue, stained to death by asphalt from drive)
-Paint steps 2-tone brown and white, texturize
-paint stairway a light color
Wiring/Electrical:
-Lighting and receptacles need to be installed in the house. It would be fine to run exposed conduit and wire moldings. Whatever it takes to get the place RUNNING with light and power.
Meeting Room:
-build temporary wall between Mtg. Room and Downstairs Hospitality Quarters.
-Paint
-Lighting (i'm thinking track lighting, here.)
Hallway/Dining Room/Atrium:
-Strip Wallpaper
-Paint
-Lighting-- the whole place is running on lamps. It's dark, and not energy-efficient.
This is a list of the First Floor Hospitality Areas that need work. We want you guys to come help out! It's a great way to get into what's going on here! Comment here to get involved!
House Meeting:
Today's house meeting, the second of our special series, was really fruitful... We looked at some of the accomplishments of the year:
-Dining Room useful every day, not totally overtaken with Chaos. Nice 12-top table...
-Meeting Room is developing very well.
-Floors finished, carpets out on curb.
-Normal Weekly Cleaning on schedule for 1st floor.
-Exercise Area established in Basement.
-Bookshelves built in study.
-books out of basement.
-two nice, new wheeled gargabe cans!
-Latches on all bathrooms, bedrooms.
-Common kitchen Progressing: first Stove wired in.
-Banister fixed on servant stairs to first floor...
We are very grateful to all the people who are helping us. Thanks for the time you're putting into the establishment of a house of ministry in a generation that is discovering Jesus in the "unlikelies".
Today's house meeting, the second of our special series, was really fruitful... We looked at some of the accomplishments of the year:
-Dining Room useful every day, not totally overtaken with Chaos. Nice 12-top table...
-Meeting Room is developing very well.
-Floors finished, carpets out on curb.
-Normal Weekly Cleaning on schedule for 1st floor.
-Exercise Area established in Basement.
-Bookshelves built in study.
-books out of basement.
-two nice, new wheeled gargabe cans!
-Latches on all bathrooms, bedrooms.
-Common kitchen Progressing: first Stove wired in.
-Banister fixed on servant stairs to first floor...
We are very grateful to all the people who are helping us. Thanks for the time you're putting into the establishment of a house of ministry in a generation that is discovering Jesus in the "unlikelies".
I'd like everyone to notice that Judy's dad, Johannes Weiss, now has a blog. His teachings are solid, Biblical, and Spiritually right-on. Sacred Cow Beef sold here, without money and without cost. Click the link right here, or in the margin, and catch a hardy bite of truth!
Monday, January 10, 2005
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