the Church, the Bride...what does it look like?

as we have talked about on here, our small group is SLOWLY going through The Shack.  It has been well documented that it is fiction and a good story and fiction...we discussed this on here a while back in this post.

a great thought is in chapter 13 when Mack had been to see the judge behind the waterfall, he comes out and is talking with Jesus.  He says;

"Was i seeing heaven when i was seeing missy?  it looked a lot like here."  

"Well, Mack, our final destiny is not the picture of heaven you have stuck in your head--you know, the image of pearly gates and streets of gold.  Instead, it's a new cleansing of this universe, so it will indeed look a lot like here."

"Then what's with the pearly gates and gold stuff?"

"That stuff my brother," Jesus began lying back on the dock and closing his eyes against the warmth and brightness of the day, "is a picture of me and the woman I'm in love with."

...

"It is a picture of my bride, the church: individuals who together form a spiritual city with a living river flowing through the middle, and on both shores trees growing with fruit that will heal the hurts and sorrows of the nations.  And this city is always open, and each gate into it is made of a single pearl..." He opened one eye and looked at Mack.  "That would be me!" He saw Mack's question and explained, "Pearls, Mack.  The only precious stone made by pain, suffering, and - finally - death."

what a beautiful description of the C-hurch.  i made the comment, i would love to find a church like that!  one member said something like, well if you do, there wouldn't be any people in it.  just jokingly.  but it got me to thinking... is it possible to find something like this now?  a church like this now?  not perfect, but similar.  if these verses in 2 Peter are true, wouldn't it be true that we ought to be looking more and more like the church that is being described in Revelation 21-22? I'm not saying it will look exactly like that, but shouldn't the C-hurch be looking more and more like that?

Maybe it is?  I don't know.  I'm just asking is it possible for a local new testament body to look more and more like this description?  

methods vs message...

i came across this post from Brad Lomenick, the leader of Catalyst on tuesday morning.  it is a short 5 minute video of an interview rob bell did with a guy named shane hipps.  

have you ever heard someone say, the methods change but the message must never change?  i have.  i have heard sermons preached about this topic, at conventions and conferences where large groups of pastors were gathered.  and i agreed with the statement and the message.  

then, i thought about what shane hipps had to say in the interview.  the method must never change, b/c the method is the median and the median is... you...

this prompted me to consider what is our message?  pastors, churches, staff, buildings, children's ministries, life groups, etc...  in all of this, what is our message?  i mean, i know what it is supposed to be.  but what is it saying?  what does God think of all of this?

i love asking questions and being stretched beyond my normal thought process...

no answers...only questions....!  thus far...

consumerism

whith christmas right around the corner...the question of consumerism has been rattling around my head. i dont know if you remember the video i posted a while back, but it was on the story of stuff pretty powerful video...so if you havent watched, go now and then come back and finish this.

here is why it has me thinking...we (kim, the kids and i) have been searching for a church. (i use the word searching pretty lightly) we have been looking for a church and really enjoy jra. i have come to grips with the fact that it is a mega-church. you know the thing about it though, is the pastor TEACHES the word of God. he isnt a preacher, he is a teacher...that is huge for us. we love the kids programs, the music is really good...but if i am not careful, i will (and sometimes do) become a consumer of God. the great services have effect on me, but then i look for another to lift me back up. i enjoy this guy, but not the other guy. i like when someone leads worship more than someone else and i become a shopper to the things of God.

instead of being consumed by God, i become a consumer... HUGE difference in the economy of God. God is not looking for consumers, He is looking for those who are willing to be consumed by Him for His glory! the greatest part for you and me? we get God and we get to play a supporting role in His-story! that to me, seems much more invigorating, much more vital, much more appealing than just sitting idly by and shopping the things of God and consuming what we want...

just a little monday morning rant for you! lol i have to get it all out here before this weekend. i am speaking at a d-now in springfield this weekend. so, lots of thoughts and ideas going through my little brain.

be consumed!