Godspeed My Friend

I am really not liking this whole war thing! I've had people tell me that it changes everything when you send someone who is close to you. Now, I know how they felt. On Sunday, my "little bro" Keith is heading "over there" and I can't stand it. It is really something when you are so challenged to trust God with the life of someone you love like family. I know Keith will do awesome, but it is hard to imagine that in a couple of days, he will step out of a plane and step into an entirely different world that is hostile and unstable. I guess the best thing to do is pray. Lord, we lift Keith up to you. May he be light and love in a dark place. May you bless him and make him a blessing while he is away from us. May you keep him on our hearts and minds that we will lift him up daily. May you place a hedge of protection around him and all of the other men and women involved in this war and may you bring him home safely! We love you buddy!

Church

I found this awesome description of the emerging church from Leonard Sweet the other day. Thought I would share it becasue it gives a brief but awesome description of where we are trying to go.

"Karl Rahner, the great 20th century Catholic theologian, referred to what he called Thermos- bottle Christianity. This is a form of pseudo-church where you keep everything inside warm and cozy and fresh, but let the outside freeze and take care of itself. Missional churches are focused on what God is doing in the world. Their circles face outward, not inward. This is a culture that loves gated communities, and there are gated churches to match. Missional churches are putting back together what for too long has been rent asunder: the whole gospel, both the personal gospel (evangelism), and the social gospel (justice and kingdom ministries). "