learning and implicating

I'm reading a great book by Doug Pagitt right now. There's an interesting point in the current chapter that talks about learning and that "we only learn out of frustration - the frustration that we don't know but need to, the frustration that life isn't working but there could be a better way."

He goes on to say that learning (in this context he's talking about preaching) should lead to implication rather than application. We always try to apply things to our lives, but implication instead means that our learning leads to a change. "Application is about how a piece of information fits into your life. Implication is not about fitting; it's about redefining. It's not value-added suggestion; it's a call to see the story and join in it."

Journey, then, is about frustration and implication. We want to be an environment where we learn b/c we need to find a better way. We want an environment where our confrontation with the Bible leads to implication--how will this change me/us and the life I/we live?

Journey...frustrated and implicated. How's that for a slogan? :-)

life...

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: take your everday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." - Romans 12:1-2 The Message



Don't forget our worship gathering on Sunday at 5:30 pm at the church.

Dying to Live

I've been reading Blue Like Jazz lately and I came across a great quote on page 185. He relays a story about a man who owned a bed and breakfast and tirelessly served the guests. Don asked him how he does it day in and day out. He replied, "Don, if we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus."

Wow. There's a thought provoking sentence. I confess that I am incredibly selfish. I regularly wonder why life isn't about me. Why can't it be about me? Why can't I have mine? Why can't... I'm selfish. Perhaps I should ask myself whether or not I am really following Jesus. He was not selfish...far from it. If I'm following Jesus then I need to be becoming more like Him. John the Baptist referred to Jesus and said, "He must become greater and I must become less." (That's my paraphrase) We need to follow that approach to life.

Our statements from work camp a few years ago: It's not about me. I will choose joy. When in doubt, keep on loving.


Bible Discussion group at our house tonight at 7:00. Worship Gathering at 5:30 pm on Sunday at the church.

Discussion Group

Hey, gang. Tonight we had our first worship gathering as a core team. Good stuff! We worshipped through song, had a teaching time, etc. We looked at Mark chapter 1 and had a great discussion on it. We will have another worship gathering next Sunday night at 5:30 pm at the church.

In preparation for Sunday, as will be the custom in the life of Journey, we will be having a Bible Discussion Group on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm at our house (call for directions if you need them). Anyone who is interested is welcome, but it’s also not any requirement. It will basically function as a Bible study sort of time and the discussion will form the basis of the teaching for next Sunday night. You’re not tied in to being a part of the discussion group on a regular basis, although anyone who wants to be a “regular” is certainly welcome. If you can only make it from time to time, that’s fine too. So, if you’d like to join us, please do so this week and check it out. If you can't make it, feel free to post your questions, comments, or insights on Mark chapter 2 right here on the blog.

This week at Journey

We're having a worship gathering at the church at 5:30 pm on Sunday. Be there...