Saturday, October 21, 2006
Love is the essence
I like everything we are about is Love. The love we have for each other spills over to those around us. Because of this, we never really need to know clearly where we are going or what exactly we are supposed to be doing. Love fits into every crack.
Friday, October 20, 2006
NEW Feature!
Now you can scroll all the way to the bottom of this page and view our latest video. We'll be posting videos from our gatherings, ministries - perhaps some random things too.
This video is from Intermission-TLU...the worshippers nailed their prayers to the cross. Listen in and hear the sound of nails being pounded against the backdrop of the beautiful strings instruments.
This video is from Intermission-TLU...the worshippers nailed their prayers to the cross. Listen in and hear the sound of nails being pounded against the backdrop of the beautiful strings instruments.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Freedom in Lovemaking...
From my friend Doug Pagitt at Soloman's Porch in Minneapolis and to my ClayPeople friends:
"And yet in this freedom, this sense of moving adead without knowing exactly where God will move things, there is security as there is in the best kind of lovemaking: a time of finding new surprises in a comfortable place, of the deepest intimacy, of resting secure in the knowledge that our efforts will not be rejected"
with love,
Tim
"And yet in this freedom, this sense of moving adead without knowing exactly where God will move things, there is security as there is in the best kind of lovemaking: a time of finding new surprises in a comfortable place, of the deepest intimacy, of resting secure in the knowledge that our efforts will not be rejected"
with love,
Tim
The New Orelans gathering
We've all safely returned from our first gathering...The New Orleans gathering. The time was simply profound, spiritual, impacting and challenging. You'll be able to read more from us in the coming days as we post stories, insights, revelations and prayers of the journey.
A special thanks to Marc and Dana, our wonderful spiritual mother and father, Anton and Sean - pastors at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mandeville, Vicki Entzel - youth director at Hosanna, and all others we were priviledge to meet, dialogue with, and be a part of life together - even for a moment.
In the coming months we will be sending out more from this gathering - including a newsletter. We'll be releasing to all our friends, families, and partners what we've taken away from this gathering. Included in this will be thoughts on where God is calling us. Please pray for us in this time of deep discernment and conversation in order to test out this calling God has prepared for us.
shalom.
Tim
A special thanks to Marc and Dana, our wonderful spiritual mother and father, Anton and Sean - pastors at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mandeville, Vicki Entzel - youth director at Hosanna, and all others we were priviledge to meet, dialogue with, and be a part of life together - even for a moment.
In the coming months we will be sending out more from this gathering - including a newsletter. We'll be releasing to all our friends, families, and partners what we've taken away from this gathering. Included in this will be thoughts on where God is calling us. Please pray for us in this time of deep discernment and conversation in order to test out this calling God has prepared for us.
shalom.
Tim
The Apostles
I've been diving deep into two areas in my recent discernment: the narrative themes God has been writting in the chapters of my life and the spiritual gifts God has given me. I'm increasingly convinced that I am called to the function of apostle. In Eph. 4, we get a 5 function understanding of gifts for the disciples of Christ. The role of apostle is one of a pioneer, entrepreuer, visionary and trans-local ministry. This hits home for me as I reflect on growing up, always moving from place to place and from my more recent "homelessness".
People ask me: "Tim, Where are you from?" or "So, where's home?". I don't have good answers to these questions. My childhood was in Texas, then Louisiana, then Mississippi (no laughs please...) and finally back to Louisiana - only to go to school in Texas. Meanwhile, growing up, family was in Ft. Worth, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Now, family is in Georgia (Andrew), Portland (Kevin), Washington, DC (Mom, Dad, Colin), Ft. Worth (Grandpa, Uncle/Aunt/Chad-cousin) and Ft. Lauderdale (other grandparents) and Pennsylvania (other Uncle Aunt/Cousin). On top of that I have mentors in Boulder, Mandeville, and friends scattered FAR beyond that. But I'm finding a profound joy as I am priviledged to connect people from all these places. All these places are my home.
Sitting around a noisy living room near New Orleans, I found myself with two mentors and their children (one adopted from China of course), a friend from high school, and two other friends - clay friends - from Pennsylvnia and Minnesota (but really New York). Gathered, we were the church, a hidden little gathering of conversation and faithful attempts at following Christ.
This is problematic though. My church has only boxed in ideas and roles of leadership -of which "the apostle" doesn't neatly fit. Where do I belong? How does all this fit in?
People ask me: "Tim, Where are you from?" or "So, where's home?". I don't have good answers to these questions. My childhood was in Texas, then Louisiana, then Mississippi (no laughs please...) and finally back to Louisiana - only to go to school in Texas. Meanwhile, growing up, family was in Ft. Worth, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Now, family is in Georgia (Andrew), Portland (Kevin), Washington, DC (Mom, Dad, Colin), Ft. Worth (Grandpa, Uncle/Aunt/Chad-cousin) and Ft. Lauderdale (other grandparents) and Pennsylvania (other Uncle Aunt/Cousin). On top of that I have mentors in Boulder, Mandeville, and friends scattered FAR beyond that. But I'm finding a profound joy as I am priviledged to connect people from all these places. All these places are my home.
Sitting around a noisy living room near New Orleans, I found myself with two mentors and their children (one adopted from China of course), a friend from high school, and two other friends - clay friends - from Pennsylvnia and Minnesota (but really New York). Gathered, we were the church, a hidden little gathering of conversation and faithful attempts at following Christ.
This is problematic though. My church has only boxed in ideas and roles of leadership -of which "the apostle" doesn't neatly fit. Where do I belong? How does all this fit in?
Thursday, October 05, 2006
In One Week...
We'll be together. So here are some my reflections on the Kingdom...
Favorite imagery - The Family. There's something about families. I'm in the midst of redefining my own "family" as I begin to include some of my closest friends as brothers and sister, and mentors as Mothers and Fathers. It hard to fight with family. Underneath it all there's a special connect an innate kind of love that makes dialogue, tension and resolution happen.
Favorite Parable: The mustard seed. I'll do some biblical storytelling on this cause I love it so much..."for the birds of heaven to make their nests". What kind of nest are we building under the branches of the kingdom?
Favorite Play-on-words: King-dom is an odd translation. Mainly this is odd because Jesus as "king" has some odd implications. Also it implies a male dominated "reign" and brings back into the story of God's people to a well, less than hoped for time period. The whole Kingdom thing wasn't exactly great for Israel. I like Assai-Diaz's "kin-dom". While probably a looser translation, it gives a relationship to the family of God concept.
Clearly, to me anyways, Matthew isn't talking about heaven or hell, he's not talking about a politcal reign or any other sorta power reference, or any other Platonic-influenced concept. So what do I think he's talking about...you'll see.
TS
Favorite imagery - The Family. There's something about families. I'm in the midst of redefining my own "family" as I begin to include some of my closest friends as brothers and sister, and mentors as Mothers and Fathers. It hard to fight with family. Underneath it all there's a special connect an innate kind of love that makes dialogue, tension and resolution happen.
Favorite Parable: The mustard seed. I'll do some biblical storytelling on this cause I love it so much..."for the birds of heaven to make their nests". What kind of nest are we building under the branches of the kingdom?
Favorite Play-on-words: King-dom is an odd translation. Mainly this is odd because Jesus as "king" has some odd implications. Also it implies a male dominated "reign" and brings back into the story of God's people to a well, less than hoped for time period. The whole Kingdom thing wasn't exactly great for Israel. I like Assai-Diaz's "kin-dom". While probably a looser translation, it gives a relationship to the family of God concept.
Clearly, to me anyways, Matthew isn't talking about heaven or hell, he's not talking about a politcal reign or any other sorta power reference, or any other Platonic-influenced concept. So what do I think he's talking about...you'll see.
TS
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