Monday, March 30, 2009

We are all beggars!


What an incredible, painful, joyful, tearful and heartfelt last couple of Sunday's we've had at Whipple. I've been talking about what it means to be dangerous (a good dangerous) as a Church and that it takes people to become dangerous disciples to make it happen. (After all isn't the Church really just people and not the building? Remember "here's the church, here's the steeple, open the door, see all the people"?)

One of the things I've been trying to drive home is how important our stories are in touching people and how they become a gateway to the bigger story. (God's epic story through time of His love reconciling people to Him.) I've said it like this, we are all beggars telling another beggar where to get food (think I got that from Andy Stanley or Ed Young). Each week I shared a simple story, a beggars story, a "cardboard testimony" of how God has changed someone's life.

I talked about "Story" and how the human condition, how the marginalized, the outcast, the forgotten, the one's we chose to ignore, all have stories, too. I said that when our story (which is God's story) intersects with their story, God shows up, lives are changed, relationships get restored, and lives get healed.

People were invited to come forward and to write their cardboard testimony, their story, and place them at the front of church as an offering to God. I saw people come forward who I knew their story and how God had worked in & through their lives-I rejoiced & celebrated with them.

I saw people come forward that are in the middle of their story, and they are still unsure of the way the story looks-I cried with them.

I saw people come forward who want or need God to be a part of their story. Their story is one of pain, abandonment & grief-I prayed & grieved with them.

Throughout it all, God is working to restore & rebuild people back to Him. And it's not only happening at Whipple, it's happening all across the world. What's your Story. Please leave a comment as we can encourage one another.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

God of the City

This song has become an anthem of our church. We have video loops we play on the screen during the song that we got from Willow Creek, but I just found this one on YouTube and it's really cool. I hope you know that God has a plan for you city, do you?

Monday, March 16, 2009

A Dangerous Church Parties

We are excited that on April 12, Easter, we will be concluding our Dangerous Church series with a big party, because a Dangerous Church knows how to party! We will be having two, yes two services on that Sunday. One at 8:30 and one at 10:30. Each service will include full children's programs, worship and baptisms. We're excited about what is going on here, God is moving. If you don't have a church home, we invite you to join us on Easter. If you are a regular part of Whipple Creek, get ready to party!