Comments for The World Is My Parish http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:41:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Values by Sam. http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/values/#comment-162 Sam. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:41:12 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=125#comment-162 Thanks for sharing your journeying Matthew. You've got me thinking too this morning with your post. Thanks for sharing your journeying Matthew. You’ve got me thinking too this morning with your post.

]]> Comment on Terribly excited by Matthew Johnson http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/terribly-excited/#comment-160 Matthew Johnson Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:24:35 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/terribly-excited/#comment-160 Thanks guys. Love you both. Thanks guys. Love you both.

]]> Comment on Terribly excited by Jeff Melton http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/terribly-excited/#comment-159 Jeff Melton Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:11:59 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/terribly-excited/#comment-159 I'd love to be able to read about and be affected by the change God is working in your life, Matt. I don't mean to pile onto any guilt you may be feeling about not blogging, but your own experiences (with Twitter) show how you can be touched by another person's internet ramblings. Peace. Grace. Rest. I’d love to be able to read about and be affected by the change God is working in your life, Matt. I don’t mean to pile onto any guilt you may be feeling about not blogging, but your own experiences (with Twitter) show how you can be touched by another person’s internet ramblings. Peace. Grace. Rest.

]]> Comment on Terribly excited by Brett http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/terribly-excited/#comment-158 Brett Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:40:06 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/terribly-excited/#comment-158 Praying for you, brother. Praying for you, brother.

]]> Comment on I Have an Enemies List by Rudy http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/i-have-an-enemies-list/#comment-157 Rudy Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:32:59 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-157 Matt, I love that I came across your name on internet monk. Thats fantastic man. I can't believe that the ownership group that manages the Pirates isn't on this list. How many losing seasons in a row? How many more to come? Enjoy football season, should make things better for all of you in the keystone state. I pray you and your wife are well. -Rudy Matt,
I love that I came across your name on internet monk. Thats fantastic man.

I can’t believe that the ownership group that manages the Pirates isn’t on this list. How many losing seasons in a row? How many more to come?

Enjoy football season, should make things better for all of you in the keystone state. I pray you and your wife are well.

-Rudy

]]> Comment on I Have an Enemies List by Ralph Howe http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/i-have-an-enemies-list/#comment-155 Ralph Howe Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:56:14 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-155 Have you considered the Number One Enemy: satan? Have you considered the Number One Enemy: satan?

]]> Comment on I Have an Enemies List by Andrew C. Thompson http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/i-have-an-enemies-list/#comment-154 Andrew C. Thompson Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:51:04 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-154 Yes, I would add a few more: 15. "We've always done it this way" attitudes 16. LSU and Bama (but I think we're gonna beat LSU) 17. The "once saved always saved" mentality 18. Cookies ("Stop tempting me, evil ones!") 19. Lukewarm discipleship 20. Mosquitoes. You know, the big nasty ones. Yes, I would add a few more:

15. “We’ve always done it this way” attitudes
16. LSU and Bama (but I think we’re gonna beat LSU)
17. The “once saved always saved” mentality
18. Cookies (“Stop tempting me, evil ones!”)
19. Lukewarm discipleship
20. Mosquitoes. You know, the big nasty ones.

]]> Comment on I Have an Enemies List by John Leek http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/i-have-an-enemies-list/#comment-153 John Leek Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:29:09 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-153 Looks like a pretty good list to me! Looks like a pretty good list to me!

]]> Comment on Best Post I’ve Read in Some Time by Matthew Johnson http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/best-post-ive-read-in-some-time/#comment-152 Matthew Johnson Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:00:42 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-152 One of the things I like about this guy's post is that often our ways of "getting closer to God" are completely insular. A group Bible study or prayer group only reaches, typically, a group of like-minded people. Asking forgiveness of someone else, treating some random person kindly and even serving them some way, even tipping well is a way of mimicking Jesus that teaches us about the heart of of a God who sent the Son. I get the anger and frustration with the local church. No, really, I GET it. In many ways I've lowered my expectation of her just to emotionally survive. I don't like that. I also think that every single one of us has an idealized vision of what the Church (capital "c") would look like that runs the spectrum of mega-church to house church and everything in between that will never be realized. Some days I want house church, some days local church of about 100, other days I'm jealous of the huge churches. I've finally just thrown up my hands and said, "Jesus will redeem it all and I hope he does it soon!" One of the things I like about this guy’s post is that often our ways of “getting closer to God” are completely insular. A group Bible study or prayer group only reaches, typically, a group of like-minded people. Asking forgiveness of someone else, treating some random person kindly and even serving them some way, even tipping well is a way of mimicking Jesus that teaches us about the heart of of a God who sent the Son.

I get the anger and frustration with the local church. No, really, I GET it. In many ways I’ve lowered my expectation of her just to emotionally survive. I don’t like that. I also think that every single one of us has an idealized vision of what the Church (capital “c”) would look like that runs the spectrum of mega-church to house church and everything in between that will never be realized. Some days I want house church, some days local church of about 100, other days I’m jealous of the huge churches. I’ve finally just thrown up my hands and said, “Jesus will redeem it all and I hope he does it soon!”

]]> Comment on Best Post I’ve Read in Some Time by Jeff Melton http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/best-post-ive-read-in-some-time/#comment-151 Jeff Melton Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:48:17 +0000 http://theworldismyparish.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-151 "Many churches are jerk factories." As you say, "Boom". I quit going to brick-and-mortar churches when I realized how pissed off I always was when I returned home. Me and Jesus are fine, thanks. It's a lot of His kids with whom I have problems. I haven't nearly enough grace (yet) to deal as generously with them as He does. I'm patiently awaiting the opportunity to see house churches springing up all over our area. They'll be populated with burned-out pastors (mainline and otherwise), fed-up former churchgoers, freaks, hippies, and a whole bunch of folks who never, ever, not once felt welcomed in a building full of strangers who really just pretended to give a shit about them. These churches will look more like Acts 2 than anything you've ever experienced before. The Spirit will lead, because people will embrace the equality of spiritual giftings. Children of God will participate in worship together because they believe they need no leader but Christ's Holy Spirit. Works will be done because they won't dilute their tithes on building projects, light bills, rent, mortgages or salaries. There will always be a big enough place to meet, because when one living room fills up, they will simply open up another. There will always be enough, because all will embrace Paul's bi-vocational approach to ministry. It will be the organic, cellular growth many say they want to see, but are too scared to fully embrace. Are house churches the only answer to jerk church-goers? Nope. The Body of Christ needs lots of different parts. I just don't want to hang out with the assholes anymore. Come, Lord Jesus. “Many churches are jerk factories.” As you say, “Boom”.

I quit going to brick-and-mortar churches when I realized how pissed off I always was when I returned home. Me and Jesus are fine, thanks. It’s a lot of His kids with whom I have problems. I haven’t nearly enough grace (yet) to deal as generously with them as He does.

I’m patiently awaiting the opportunity to see house churches springing up all over our area. They’ll be populated with burned-out pastors (mainline and otherwise), fed-up former churchgoers, freaks, hippies, and a whole bunch of folks who never, ever, not once felt welcomed in a building full of strangers who really just pretended to give a shit about them.

These churches will look more like Acts 2 than anything you’ve ever experienced before.

The Spirit will lead, because people will embrace the equality of spiritual giftings.

Children of God will participate in worship together because they believe they need no leader but Christ’s Holy Spirit.

Works will be done because they won’t dilute their tithes on building projects, light bills, rent, mortgages or salaries.

There will always be a big enough place to meet, because when one living room fills up, they will simply open up another.

There will always be enough, because all will embrace Paul’s bi-vocational approach to ministry.

It will be the organic, cellular growth many say they want to see, but are too scared to fully embrace.

Are house churches the only answer to jerk church-goers? Nope. The Body of Christ needs lots of different parts. I just don’t want to hang out with the assholes anymore.

Come, Lord Jesus.

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