All Church Meeting June 9
June 8, 2010
All church meeting tomorrow night: 6pm at the church. Bring fruit, sandwiches, veggies, cheese, and crackers. The goal of the meeting is to provide church members with an update on issues the Elders have with ConneXions & First Serve. A bit of history will be provided, an overview of the issues at hand, and then an opportunity for you to ask questions. We are not voting on anything. The goal is to put the issues before the church members so they can provide feedback to the leadership.
Jail Break
June 2, 2010
Once upon a time there were two men who had brought a compelling message to a small town which desperately needed to hear it. An inadvertent act of kindness lead to them being blackmailed. The media so twisted their story, that the local mob was brought in to teach them a few things about using good manners. The police intervened just long enough to drag them to jail where they were beat further, just to appease the local powers that be.
The story doesn’t say if they were discouraged. But it does say they turned some dirty fishing tunes into what turned out to be something like gospel jam session. They didn’t expect anything except a public hanging in the morning. Instead there was a jail break; even they were surprised with the outcome. More June 5, 9:30 AM at the Bend church.
A New Theology
April 29, 2010
A NEW THEOLOGY Join me 9:30 AM Saturday morning for ConneXions open forum discussion. We are going to look at a new theology, which was captured in a story Jesus shared in response to being asked, “what is required for my salvation?”
We’ll delve into the story in class (Luke 10:25-42), but just as importantly, we’ll ask some of the hard questions about what this says to us today. Questions like:
Who is my neighbor? What is my response to their suffering? What is our response as a community?
I can’t help thinking, when I read of the life of Christ, that we are being called to a new theology….
First Serve: Will you trust Me?
April 22, 2010
WILL YOU TRUST ME? A couple months ago I shared the story of the first 20 years of my life. Which was a quest to earn God’s favor. To answer the question, “Does God want me?” Another way of asking, “Does God love me?” Which requires another, “Why would God love me?” And after failing on every front to prove my worth, he finally stopped me. He made me still. Enough to speak to my heart. He said, “Course I want you. Course I love you. Your my son.” The second 20 years of my life was the struggle to understand what it looks like to live as a son. To become a son. The pressing question seems to have been from God. To me. Which is, “Will you trust Me as your Father?”
I’ll be sharing at First Serve this Saturday April 24th. Music starts at 8:30 AM. See you there? Craigan
An Early Church Model
April 13, 2010
Early Church Model What is the early church model and how does it compare to what we are doing in Bend? Looking in Acts we see a pattern of numerical growth, geographical growth, and spiritual growth. How? And is that happening in our church today? How far have we wandered from the model. Are there some lessons that can bring us back to that model?
Growth Growth from a group of frightened men and women followers of Christ, to an early church body of Christ that changed the world. From the original 12 disciples to 120 men and women believers, then to 3000 believers were baptized in one day, then to 10,000 believers (5000 men plus women and children). From Jerusalem they were called to Samaria, Judea, and to every land and every people. Every people included the secular (gentiles), those who lead in our community (kings), and to our fellow Christians (Acts 1:8). What did their spiritual growth look like and what can we learn from them in our ministry in Bend?
For those who missed Pastor Jerry’s ground shaking sermon April 10, 2010, I would invite you to listen to it online. Use the link from this website to the Adventist church website. I just did, felt compelled to summarize it below, and to use it as the basis for ConneXions discussion this weekend – with the addition of how we are going to apply it in real ways to were we are in Bend. Join me April 17 at 9:30 AM and for further discussion and potluck at 1:00 PM at the Carlson’s home.
A Marketplace Community?
April 11, 2010
A MARKETPLACE COMMUNITY What if you hadn’t been to church in years, were looking for a spiritual community, loved to hike and ski, and wished you could come down from the mountains and soak up a great discussion over hot chocolate and cinnamon toast?
What if you were from a church where they had great speakers and a great praise band, but you just felt lost in the crowd and wished you were a part of something a bit more intimate where you really had a vital role to play?
What if you were from a church where things were pretty well set when it came to format and style, you had some ideas for something new and different and wished you had some group support for creativity?
What if you weren’t interested in church or religion, but felt strongly about current moral or social or environmental values of your community, and wished you had a place where you could openly explore your personal values?
What if you have been a Christian for a long time, you feel like your really just going through the motions, even feeling downright bored, and wished there was a group with a strong sense of mission that was tangible, where you could wear your flannels and get dirt under your fingernails?
Join us this weekend at ConneXions as we explore how in practical terms we can take our mission and ministry to the next level; to do what we’ve really felt called to as honest followers of Christ.
Meeting Together May 14-16
April 5, 2010
ANNOUNCEMENT: We will be meeting together May 14, 15, and 16 in SUNRIVER to think, talk, and pray.
WHO’s INVITED? Anyone who wants to offer their leadership in word or deed or spiritual gifts to ConneXions/First Serve Ministries. I invite you to PREPARE by browsing Oikos, Deliberate Simplicity, Crazy Love, Present Truth in a Real World, Inside the Mind of Unchurched Hary and Mary, but especially the Word of God. Prepare with PRAYER and fasting for God’s leading; making note of His speaking to your heart and mind for the direction of our community. Let go of distractions, agendas, traditions and consider an ADVENTURE where you have a fresh start at describing worship, group study, community; an eager and supportive close knit group of FRIENDS waiting to help make it happen; a Father who has a GOOD heart and wants to bring LIFE to His children in Bend. Please sign up! (Sign up sheet is available at ConneXions Class)
(Note: Hope to have a house or two rented. We plan on dividing up meal preparation. Children will need to be off site; sorry, but to be intentional we need to eliminate distraction!)
Resurrection
April 4, 2010
Resurrection. 
We believe in the resurrection. But what does it mean for us now. Is it that it proves the divinity of Christ? Is it that it somehow guarantees he will return? I have certainly thought both. Yesterday’s ConneXions discussion by Angie presented the Rob Bell challenge:
“These first Christians believed that Jesus’ resurrection had implications for the entire universe. Their tradition had taught them that the world is broken and desperately in need of repair and that at some point in the future, God was going to put it all back together. For them, this future restoration had nothing to do with leaving this world; it was all about the restoration, the renewing and reclaiming of this world.”
Hmm. Wow. Resurrection and restoration. I suppose the resurrection was the restoration of Christ as the Son of God; from death to life, from life on earth to his return to the Father. Sounds familiar. The gospel message. The great commission.
Go as my disciples, going into all the world teaching what you have learned from me (Matthew 28). Go as my ambassadors to proclaim “Come back to my Father” (2 Corinthians 5). Receive the power of the Holy Spirit and be my witness to the ends of the earth (Acts 1). Go and heal the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom, release from darkness (Isaiah 61). It rings of restoration.
“These first Christians believed very passionately that the world was not made better through military power and political coercion. This gospel they were living had nothing to do with using political force to force people to live according to your laws. For them, this gospel was about serving the world especially those on the underside of the empire. For them, it was about serving, not ruling.”
Wow. Reminds me of the second service communion that followed ConneXions. Here is the King come to earth as a man. His disciples see him at the very least as a great Teacher and are perhaps beginning to understand he is the promised Savior. They go to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover and Jesus turns the tradition upside down. He begins it by taking on the role of a slave and washing the feet of his disciples. Serving. Not ruling. Then he breaks bread and drink and pronounces them symbols of not a revolution that will break the rule of Rome. But as symbols of his willingness to be broken and bleeding, to die so as to break the rule claim of sin and Satan. To set the captives free. Serving. Sacrificing all. Not ruling.
The resurrection of Christ. What good news for us today! Freely you have received. Freely give.
His story, My story
January 20, 2010
FIRST SERVE and CONNEXIONS TOPIC for JANUARY 23rd
Until recently, my life, my story just hasn’t made sense. And not for a lack of trying…a lifetime of trying. Yet, perhaps I wasn’t ready. Now I am seeing The Story for the first time. I am beginning to see my story in His Story. And, although you may be starting at a different place, I know you have a place in The Story, too. So, I want to share with you the story. As I see it. I want to give you a picture of The Door and of The Path. Then share a bit of my struggle to reach The Door and begin on The Path. All I can say is while it’s not an easy road, I love being on it and know I’m heading home.
Join us 8:30 AM for songs and a homily, Speaker: Craigan
Discussion right after: “How do I get to the door?” 9:30 AM ConneXions, Facilitator: Craigan
Present Truth
December 3, 2009
As a candle in the darkness, Adventist history is remarkable for the fearless and continued search for truth as found in the scripture.
Where the reformation ended with a radical stand for the Bible as the source truth and the final authority, with salvation by grace through faith and not by works, history begins again with the story of a people not willing to be bound by tradition.
Early Adventists were compelled by an inner thirst for the kingdom of God. They were humbly lead by the Spirit in the study of the Word for a present truth to heal the wounds and light the torch for their generation.
Join me in ConneXions on Dec 5 at 9:30 AM as we discuss Present Truth for our generation.
Join us at the Carlson’s Dec 5 at 6:00 PM as we turn Present Truth into a mission and message for Bend.
Craigan
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