Where do we go now?

Well the lab results are back and they look good. My assumption is that the cancer has been removed or at least controlled, but I have not met with the doctor yet to be told for sure. Nonetheless I am really moving into a higher gear in ministry. The new challenge is to determine exactly where God is leading me and Sharon. I have read some incredible authors lately, Frank Viola, Shane Claiborne, Ravi Zacharias, and others and am in the midst of rethinking church. I had the opportunity to meet Frank Viola and when I told him that I pastored a traditional church he suggested that I needed to just walk away from it as it would lead to nothing but frustration. Interestingly Shane calls the frustration a gift. I respect these men and their thinking but walking away from people I love is not easy. And me simply leaving leaves everyone else in this traditional way of "doing" church and may never help them move to actually "being" the church. So I am left with the challenge to help move our gatherings to a more organic existence. What is really wild is that I am not wanting my brothers and sisters to compromise their dogma; I am asking them to lose it! I have this vision of us living and functioning like Jesus. Call me crazy but I think it can happen.

Our community of Charlotte, MI is wanting to become the most generous community in the country. It has generated a most interesting dialogue as we explore questions like what does generosity look like, and how will we know when we get there and how will this be sustained with our children and the generations to come. Talk about God giving us a golden opportunity to shine as His people this has to be it. I am just frustrated (like Frank said) in that the community of believers are not seeing it. I proclaim it but no one seems to be really interested. So now what God?

There seems to be interest in a building project at the church so Sharon and I are thinking some residence facilities for the homeless (instead of a bigger sanctuary). Or maybe we continue to move outside of the church and its traditional inhibitions to establish a mission. It is a decision that generates great excitement and unbelieveable headaches as I feel the tension. If you have any thoughts I sure would appreciate you passing them on. It's like stopping at the gas station to get directions. You are my person behind the counter pointing out the window. I am paying attention and the path calls.

Meet you at the next fork in the path.