Comments for The Renew Project http://therenewproject.org inviting people into the creative mission of God Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:58:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Punk’d By God by Claire Koenig http://therenewproject.org/2010/04/01/punkd-by-god/#comment-28 Claire Koenig Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:58:33 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=224#comment-28 Years ago (actually, decades now), when Dean was a youth pastor, he and another youth pastor cooked up a prank for a Halloween party. It was held in an old barn north of 580 in Dublin - not too far from Santa Rita. So each group "performed' for the other - a couple shifty-looking guys wandered in and hung around the edges. Then some cop-looking guys came in, dressed in suits and with real (although completely unloaded) shotguns, announcing a search for escaped inmates. One of the shifty guys hit the light switch. Chaos ensued. Lots of screaming high school girls. Great Halloween idea. Some of the "inmates" got eat up by well-meaning party bystanders. One of our youth sponsors was upset for months. Sigh. But, yes. On the subject. Faith, Religion, "Church," three entirely different subjects that we often lump together. Being in church doesn't make you a believer any more than being in a barn makes you a pig ... I heard a speaker last week talking about Mark 13, and his point was, in Jesus' mind, the temple (in this case, the literal one, not the representation of Christ himself) wasn't all that important. If it was destroyed, that was OK with him. I could go on but I really do have to get to work now... I just read Dean Nelson's book "God Hides in Plain Sight" and he talks about finding the sacraments in places other than formal church setttings. I'd recommend it. Not a difficult read. Oh, and that other youth pastor? Steve Madsen, now pastor at Cornerstone. All survived. :) Years ago (actually, decades now), when Dean was a youth pastor, he and another youth pastor cooked up a prank for a Halloween party. It was held in an old barn north of 580 in Dublin – not too far from Santa Rita. So each group “performed’ for the other – a couple shifty-looking guys wandered in and hung around the edges. Then some cop-looking guys came in, dressed in suits and with real (although completely unloaded) shotguns, announcing a search for escaped inmates. One of the shifty guys hit the light switch. Chaos ensued. Lots of screaming high school girls. Great Halloween idea. Some of the “inmates” got eat up by well-meaning party bystanders. One of our youth sponsors was upset for months. Sigh.

But, yes. On the subject. Faith, Religion, “Church,” three entirely different subjects that we often lump together. Being in church doesn’t make you a believer any more than being in a barn makes you a pig … I heard a speaker last week talking about Mark 13, and his point was, in Jesus’ mind, the temple (in this case, the literal one, not the representation of Christ himself) wasn’t all that important. If it was destroyed, that was OK with him. I could go on but I really do have to get to work now…

I just read Dean Nelson’s book “God Hides in Plain Sight” and he talks about finding the sacraments in places other than formal church setttings. I’d recommend it. Not a difficult read.

Oh, and that other youth pastor? Steve Madsen, now pastor at Cornerstone. All survived. :)

]]> Comment on Punk’d By God by Regina Evans http://therenewproject.org/2010/04/01/punkd-by-god/#comment-27 Regina Evans Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:47:25 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=224#comment-27 "Faith teaches us that God exists where religion fears to tread, that beauty and grace are unfolding outside the programs we care for so dearly, and that we are still young on the journey toward love. " Where religion fears to thread.....yuppppp! Doing this play in the theater has been a TRIPPER! yesterday I was thinking "Man it would be sooo cool if peeps around me understood about spiritual battles (as we are going through many during the play's making), etc, etc. because THEN I could just say 'Well, you know that is just the enemy! Trippin!". Instead I find myself having to deal in love with peeps as they take my head of for no reason. And I have to say...its kinda pissing me off. BUT, at the same time it is a lot bit fun. Learning about love and patience and listening is always a hoot! Right?! I guess its like this: No one really cares about your spiritual giftings outside of the church. They care more about your character and how you are going to respond to them. Well, peeps care about it in the church too...but we seem to us spiritual battles and giftings as an excuse sometimes. we lean on it...instead of leaning on love first. its hard to do that outside the church....nobody cares! What I am learning is that my gifts seem to be in suspension as God is growing my character in certain areas. Its more about the show and feel of LOVE. Because it is all that we GOT. Love..the key ingredient to Gods heart. And CHARACTER. i hope that makes sense.... peace ps YOU ARE A TRIP! what a great story! “Faith teaches us that God exists where religion fears to tread, that beauty and grace are unfolding outside the programs we care for so dearly, and that we are still young on the journey toward love. ”

Where religion fears to thread…..yuppppp! Doing this play in the theater has been a TRIPPER! yesterday I was thinking “Man it would be sooo cool if peeps around me understood about spiritual battles (as we are going through many during the play’s making), etc, etc. because THEN I could just say ‘Well, you know that is just the enemy! Trippin!”. Instead I find myself having to deal in love with peeps as they take my head of for no reason. And I have to say…its kinda pissing me off. BUT, at the same time it is a lot bit fun. Learning about love and patience and listening is always a hoot! Right?!

I guess its like this: No one really cares about your spiritual giftings outside of the church. They care more about your character and how you are going to respond to them. Well, peeps care about it in the church too…but we seem to us spiritual battles and giftings as an excuse sometimes. we lean on it…instead of leaning on love first. its hard to do that outside the church….nobody cares!

What I am learning is that my gifts seem to be in suspension as God is growing my character in certain areas.

Its more about the show and feel of LOVE.

Because it is all that we GOT. Love..the key ingredient to Gods heart. And CHARACTER.

i hope that makes sense….

peace

ps YOU ARE A TRIP! what a great story!

]]> Comment on Playing With Labels by tray http://therenewproject.org/2010/02/06/playing-with-labels/#comment-22 tray Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:34 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=208#comment-22 my labels: Generic, irregular, damaged, free... my labels: Generic, irregular, damaged, free…

]]> Comment on Make Something! Parties a Big Hit by liz http://therenewproject.org/2009/12/08/make-something-parties-a-big-hit/#comment-14 liz Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:01:26 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=192#comment-14 so glad to hear that it went well! i'm bummed i'm can't make it on the 12th. i'll be out of town. :( i'm sure it will be delightful! so glad to hear that it went well! i’m bummed i’m can’t make it on the 12th. i’ll be out of town. :( i’m sure it will be delightful!

]]> Comment on Do Something Different This SATURDAY (date change). by Experiments in Advent « The Renew Project http://therenewproject.org/2009/11/24/monotation/#comment-13 Experiments in Advent « The Renew Project Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:30:18 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=179#comment-13 [...] Give ← Do Something Different This SATURDAY (date change). [...] [...] Give ← Do Something Different This SATURDAY (date change). [...]

]]> Comment on Do Something Different This SATURDAY (date change). by liz http://therenewproject.org/2009/11/24/monotation/#comment-12 liz Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:50:33 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=179#comment-12 this event sounds excellent. how are you defining monotation? this event sounds excellent. how are you defining monotation?

]]> Comment on Friends by Monte McClain http://therenewproject.org/friends/#comment-10 Monte McClain Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:02:03 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?page_id=82#comment-10 I like what you're up to. Blessings and courage to you in this wide and radical vision. I like what you’re up to. Blessings and courage to you in this wide and radical vision.

]]> Comment on Love Feast by Phyllis Pincosy http://therenewproject.org/2009/10/16/love-feast/#comment-9 Phyllis Pincosy Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:19:28 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=103#comment-9 Eating together, listening and really hearing are great first steps. May we practice hospitality all around Oakland. Phyllis Eating together, listening and really hearing are great first steps. May we practice hospitality all around Oakland.
Phyllis

]]> Comment on Get Renewed on Your Blog by Nichola Torbett http://therenewproject.org/2009/10/07/get-renewed-on-your-blog/#comment-7 Nichola Torbett Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:32:14 +0000 http://therenewproject.org/?p=80#comment-7 I've added you to our resources page, John. Thanks! I’ve added you to our resources page, John. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Introducing The Renew Project by Reggie Evans http://therenewproject.org/2009/09/29/first-look/#comment-4 Reggie Evans Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:14:20 +0000 http://therenewproject.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/first-look/#comment-4 Flipping the script. Praying and so excited. Have some verses for you. Blessings! Hi Serena! Hugzzzz -peace Flipping the script. Praying and so excited. Have some verses for you. Blessings! Hi Serena! Hugzzzz -peace

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