The Tangible Kingdom

I'm kind of late to the game on this book. About a year ago I heard the buzz about it, but just now have cracked the cover on it and boy can I tell you that in the first 30 pages I tagged something about every third paragraph. There's just something when you see something in writing that has been rambling around in your mind and heart. I'm afraid I know how this will end--it will be another book to "ruin" me to status quo in the local church.  I won't ever be the same again.

I'll keep you posted as I go and as I delve into the issues and statements that I read. All those that I've already marked are worthy of individual blogs and posts here. I'll try not to overwhelm you with all of my gleanings.

You can download 16 pages of the book here and read it for yourself.

Taking It To The Streets- Spring Break In Snyder

Mission Snyder from Jim Drake on Vimeo.

Over Spring Break, our church did mission work within the city at the Cedar Row Apartments. These apartments have been in a part of town that has been known for shady activity before and they carry with them a stigma. They are under new management and The Hilliams (owners/managers) are trying to make a difference in the area with positive changes.

We joined with them that week to redo the front facia of two of the buildings, paint inside the hallways, clean up the carports and trim trees. All the while the neighborhood kids were involved with a Backyard Bible Club.

Due to my surgery I was unable to attend but one evening--but kuddos go out to the church members who sacrificed for the ministry in this area. We had a glowing testimony from the Hilliams in church yesterday. I'll try to post that later this week.

Any church can do this---you just have to have the eyes to see.

Five Words Today's Church Needs To Hear

My friend, Brady Traywick, has just returned from a week long trip to India to encourage the church there as it blossoms and grows.  

His email tonight to prayer partners and supporters both encouraged and educated me on what was going on there.  

His five words for the American church also humbled me and made me think just what is necessary for "church" to be church".   I share them here:

Several words frame my recent experience......Simplicity, Suffering, Passion, Urgency, Suck-it-up (okay, so not a word but phrase).

• Simplicity......the Indian church is rapidly reproducing itself and seeing the fruit we only dream about here......why? perhaps - because all of the trappings of materialism are cut away and they simply obey the Scripture. They tell their story, they tell His story, and they give account. Then they repeat the process.

• Suffering......it seems shallow, empty, very hallow to even type about this: We have no clue, better yet - I have no clue of the real meaning of suffering. Truly their suffering is not 'theoretical', it is not a suffering of words....it is real, it is visible, it is brutal.

• Passion......not the charismatic, I am so happy, I lift my hands to the Lord kind of passion - but real depth, breadth, kind of.....quiet strength that comes only after real suffering. You can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices.....it is authentic, validated by first hand experience - not possibilities.

• Urgency......every trip to the "ends of the earth" only stirs my passion for my Jerusalem. My first inclination is to sell the farm and move the whole family tomorrow. I am confident that this will happen before God checks me out, Lord willing. Yet for now.....I am stirred with renewed passion that my Jerusalem needs the 'grace and mercy' of JC. 

• Suck It Up......we (I) need to quit whining! Christians need to get off of the couch and start telling their story, start telling His story, and then give an account. How much more 'equipping' do we need before we implode? We, (I) need to die to the American Dream and live with full abandon toward an eternal perspective. We need to engage people with the gospel at all costs and with all measures. Time is short!
  

So, if I were to ask you today "What is absolutely necessary for the church to exist in America today?--what would it be?  A building?  Programs?  Missions?  Just what is absolutely necessary?   Have we so adorned "the church" with our expectations that she can't function the way she is suppose too?

Food for thought--let me hear from you!