Our latest edition of The God Journey entitled Koinonia Killers has just been posted on our sister website thegodjourney.com.
In this edition Brad and I discuss koinonia killers. Christian fellowship isn’t rocket science. People passionate about Jesus who get near each other find themselves sharing his life without much work at all… unless something gets in the way. And believe us, things can get in the way. We call those koinonia killers and Brad and Wayne not only discuss the kinds of things people can do that sabotage, even unwittingly, but also what others can do to turn those moments into doorways of growth instead of barriers to body life.
On a personal note, today is Sara’s birthday, so we’re celebrating that. The fires in Southern Cal are unbelievable and many have called to make sure we’re out of harm’s way. The big one is about 10 miles from us but moving away. We had one behind our development yesterday, but a quick response got it out in two hours. In addition to the podcast, I put up a new chapter in the Jake saga.
First thing tomorrow morning I head to Visalia, California to do a staff and elders retreat for a Mennonite fellowship there and then speak at their weekend services. Yes, this is a strange invitation for me, but I’m excited for the hungers I hear coming from those folks, and to be reacquainted with many of my friends from that region.
Hi Bro’
Praying that those fires will stay away from your home. Horrible stuff.
Looking forward to listening to this God Journey podcast as well as reading the next Jake chapter. After all this time I’m finally reading it and enjoying it much.
Also looking forward to hearing how the Lord will use you and your time with the Mennonite folks.
His peace to you.
Dave
Hi Bro’
Praying that those fires will stay away from your home. Horrible stuff.
Looking forward to listening to this God Journey podcast as well as reading the next Jake chapter. After all this time I’m finally reading it and enjoying it much.
Also looking forward to hearing how the Lord will use you and your time with the Mennonite folks.
His peace to you.
Dave
"It’s difficult to be in a room with those kind of people…"
This podcast was disturbing. I think a follow up is in order to explain in positive terms how to love broken people. And not just "broken"… Can you talk about loving people who are physically or mentally disabled?
I don’t think going to church, or being in fellowship with other followers of Jesus, is meant to be a drag. But what do you think about the word "compassion" as "suffering with." Again, this isn’t a theological query but related to having relationships with people who are broken, suffering, and disabled — cut off from most of society, accepted by some of those so called very faithful people in churches (to their credit or disdain…?), and perhaps not someone you would "naturally" relate to. That is, it may take steps that Feel unnatural to enter into these relationships.
I have confidence you have an answer to this. I’ve seen how this can work (and really not work) in formal churches. I’d just like to know what this looks like in the way you are living out relationship with Jesus.
"It’s difficult to be in a room with those kind of people…"
This podcast was disturbing. I think a follow up is in order to explain in positive terms how to love broken people. And not just "broken"… Can you talk about loving people who are physically or mentally disabled?
I don’t think going to church, or being in fellowship with other followers of Jesus, is meant to be a drag. But what do you think about the word "compassion" as "suffering with." Again, this isn’t a theological query but related to having relationships with people who are broken, suffering, and disabled — cut off from most of society, accepted by some of those so called very faithful people in churches (to their credit or disdain…?), and perhaps not someone you would "naturally" relate to. That is, it may take steps that Feel unnatural to enter into these relationships.
I have confidence you have an answer to this. I’ve seen how this can work (and really not work) in formal churches. I’d just like to know what this looks like in the way you are living out relationship with Jesus.
Hi Andy,
What I have been learning in regards to loving others, whether broken ones or the ones that seem to have it all together, is that I need to first see and grab hold of the fact that Father loves me fully and has promised to take care of me. As I recognized His compassion for me I became changed and became compassionate myself. We love because He first loved us.
Understanding that has helped me tremendously to take my eyes off of myself and my needs and turn them towards the needs of others. I am far from perfect with this. Sometimes it just seems like a nice theory when my own needs appear to be so great at the time.
The other thing I’ve been learning is to when to let go of people – to let go of my expectations of them and those of myself. We are just called to love them, serve them, and not control the outcome. So as far as loving those that are hard to love I need to take the matter to the Lord and ask Him what am I to do, then let go and allow Him to do. There is such freedom in that, in letting go. Trusting Him for the outcome even though we may not see it. We may not even see it in our lifetime.
I don’t know if this clicks with you but I wanted to share my "current" understanding of how the Lord works in this.
By the way, I enjoyed your website and the images there. Great stuff!
Dave Aldrich
aldrich@stebbings.com
Hi Andy,
What I have been learning in regards to loving others, whether broken ones or the ones that seem to have it all together, is that I need to first see and grab hold of the fact that Father loves me fully and has promised to take care of me. As I recognized His compassion for me I became changed and became compassionate myself. We love because He first loved us.
Understanding that has helped me tremendously to take my eyes off of myself and my needs and turn them towards the needs of others. I am far from perfect with this. Sometimes it just seems like a nice theory when my own needs appear to be so great at the time.
The other thing I’ve been learning is to when to let go of people – to let go of my expectations of them and those of myself. We are just called to love them, serve them, and not control the outcome. So as far as loving those that are hard to love I need to take the matter to the Lord and ask Him what am I to do, then let go and allow Him to do. There is such freedom in that, in letting go. Trusting Him for the outcome even though we may not see it. We may not even see it in our lifetime.
I don’t know if this clicks with you but I wanted to share my "current" understanding of how the Lord works in this.
By the way, I enjoyed your website and the images there. Great stuff!
Dave Aldrich
aldrich@stebbings.com
I found this podcast to be refreshing and very helpful and even humorous!I love hearing Brad and Wayne just bellowing away with joy and peace not wanting to bind up the listeners with legalsitic demands and rules in order to gain a spiritual persona.I thought it was really beautiful when they were describing the freedom we have in Christ..it makes me feel like i can relax a little bit on myself and not be so worried God is in my life to "thwart" everything.
I found this podcast to be refreshing and very helpful and even humorous!I love hearing Brad and Wayne just bellowing away with joy and peace not wanting to bind up the listeners with legalsitic demands and rules in order to gain a spiritual persona.I thought it was really beautiful when they were describing the freedom we have in Christ..it makes me feel like i can relax a little bit on myself and not be so worried God is in my life to "thwart" everything.