Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Grief and Glory

For those of you who read Pamela Mutambirwa's story I posted on June 4, please join me in prayer for her husband and daughters, for sweet and faithful Pamela passed on to glory yesterday. Below is Brother Godwin's email notifying us. I am in tears, even as I rejoice. --Caron
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l am sad to inform you that Pamela Mutambirwa died today . . . she passed away this morning in Harare so they want the body to be carried from Harare to burry her in wedza this has really saddened many christians since she was a very strong saint however we are happy that she will be in the Lord's arms as she was faithful before God. Her husband Farayi does not work so it is going to be a big problem in buying the cooffin ,transportation for the body from Harare and also food to be eaten on the funeral. God willing l am going to help on food to be eaten at the funeral we are happy because Pamela and her husband are faithful in the Lord at the time of her death she was now worshpping with Mukondwa church of Christ she was also a commitee member for the ladies at Mukondwa the whole church will miss her a lot. As l writting l am praying that God will open the avenues for her body to be transpoted to wedza and also help in buying the coffin and the food at the funeral pray for the 2 kids who were left behind, otherwise our good work is going on well here May the good Lord bless you and pray for this hard time we have we are really morning our beloved sister to us at Mukondwa we are taking Pamella and Farayi as Priscilla and Aquilla in the bible they were lovers of God pray for thje husband and the kids we love you ln His name Godwin

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Did You Know?

I realize I've been pretty sporadic on the blog this summer, but it's only because God has been so busy in my life and heart that I've moved into a phase of intense listening. About the time I think I've learned something worth sharing, He says to me, "Be quiet. I'm not done teaching you yet."

Nevetheless, I do want to point you toward a fascinating video on YouTube that you might not have seen yet. I first encountered it at a teacher training earlier this summer, then came across it again today in an email sent by another simple church planter. Invest just 8 minutes to watch Did You Know? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U), and it may very well open your eyes to the task set before us.

Many of us are finally paying attention to how dramatically the world has changed in the past few years. How dramatically it's changing day-by-day. We're beginning to figure out that if the world is changing, then so must our presentation of the gospel.

Don't get me wrong: the gospel of Jesus is timeless and perfect, but it must be presented in a variety of ways to the diverse listeners out there. In fact, as we say in Line of Departure (see the link to the right), we're going to have to scramble if we're serious about building the kind of relationships that earn an audience for the Good News.

Diversity is exactly the reason I believe there's a place for traditional churches, megachurches, rural churches, urban churches, simple churches, etc. By simple, I mean those that meet in houses, neighborhood parks, coffeeshops, pubs, work places, or parking lots.

You see, the world thinks it has Christianity figured out. That it's outmoded. Outdated. Out of step with reality. Shame on us for giving them reason to think so. To be honest, too many Christians reinforce that misperception by the lackluster way they live their faith. The hateful way they live it. The untransformed way they live it. Or the bubble way they live it, isolating themselves in Christian enclaves with little outside influence or value. Can't deny I've been there.

Bob and I have been exploring our city with new eyes lately. Asking the Lord to help us really see where people are, who people are, how they're hurting, and how we can better connect them to the salvation of God in Christ Jesus. Pretty eye-opening to a couple of folks who, just a few months ago, were convinced this is an unusually "Christianized" community.

It's our own little version of Did You Know?