A Saturday Meeting.

Yesterday I was invited to a meeting at the church to explain to the congregation the new action plan that is being put into the church governance. For a long time the church I get to go to has huge gatherings on sunday but lacked the community outside of that. This "action plan" is calling out the church to be the church. I was so encouraged in so many ways because since 2006 I have been bathed in the teachings of Jesus through Reid and Steve, and have been given so many great tools (S.U.P.'s) that model what it is to "Be the body and be the church!"

Yesterdays meeting affirmed so much of what I have come to know and love about Sonshine and the community that we have here. How we are basically a group of people who have come together for one purpose, to Love God and Love Others. The guest speaker was a "lay leader equipper" who came in to tell people what I have been hearing for YEARS. "You are all ministers, pastors can not do everything, it is time to step up and serve the community and be the difference you want to see." The speaker than went on to affirm MANY TIMES, in MANY MORE WORDS how Discipleship = Automatic Evangelism. And she showed the congregation that we are ALL called to serve!

There were so many other great points that were affirming to the S.U.P. and I was reminded that these points are not SOME NEW GREAT IDEA! They are simple, they are biblical and were foundational to the early church! By reading the S.U.P. and saying "YES" to partnering to these churches we are being equipped for a LIFETIME OF SERVICE! Reid and Steve, be encouraged that the church I go to is finally getting that it isn't about the Building (hot flashy ski boats), it isn't about the large events (being on a houseboat on a beautiful waterway for 5 days), but it is about Befriending, encouraging, modeling and challenging (the people). It is about the people, and having a Genuine love for Christ(week 1) and a Sincere love for people (week 2). Yes!

I was challenged by all days this week but especially by Fridays:

"Would you run off and tell all your friends about Peter's failure or would you continue to be int relationship with Peter? Would you give him 5 ways to be a better follower or would you point him to Jesus every moment you had a chance to? John chose to love Peter. He kept his mouth shut, pursued Peter in Relationship, and pointed him to Jesus at any and every chance ( John 20-21) Do you love people like that?"

Lord, why do I keep choosing to be the Pharisee? Lord I want to love the way you love, transplant my heart again, make me a new creature again. "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." Lord may I die so I can life for you! I want to love the way you love!