Kewl posted this comment in a discussion on one of our church ratings. It’s a great reminder not to assume people are selfish (un-otherly) just because we see they have more material possessions than we do.
Abraham received,
a promise - that God would make his seed as abundant as the stars of the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore
a blessing - I will bless you with abundant blessing
Jesus is the ultimate blessing. However, Paul said that the blessing given to Abraham came upon the church (Gal. 3:14).
But God gave Abraham a blessing in his lifetime. It was material abundance.
Most of the Old Testament figures were highly prosperous. The way I see it, God gave them blessing to be a blessing.
When Jesus talked about in Matt. 24 (25?) about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the prisons, etc., I see this as being possible through prosperity. You certainly can’t feed anyone else if you can’t feed yourself.
Granted that a lot of prosperity motivations are not fueled by the desire to help those who are in need. That’s not my problem. There’s nothing I can do about if I did take it on as my problem. (more…)
My name is Bobby Triplett, I have become over the last couple of months a disciple so to speak of “Jim and Casper Go to Churchâ€. I received the book through the RELEVANT Leadership Network and to my surprise… it changed my life.
Over the past year or so, God has been changing me from the inside out… and giving me a vision and a passion to be the church. To show this 20somethings generation that they are a revolution… that God is worth trusting… and that people are worth loving.
I have been a church planter, as a worship leader/arts pastor, (www.crossingonline.org ) that grew into this mega church giant, and now God is calling me to plant again… but a new kind of church… the kind where less is really more.
Thank you for rocking my world… thank you for being honest… thank you for valuing the opinions of the people we are called to fall in love with…Matt and Jim…you two are a revolution.
I am sure you get this a lot… but if your ever in Tampa Fl… and watch to catch a game, or a great meal and have a conversation… hit me up Guys.
Matt and I spent most of yesterday talking with Danny Dodson and his colleagues from churches all over the country. They asked insightful and challenging questions. My brain was stretched and my heart was overwhelmed at times realizing that on some deep level our book has opened the door for people to really talk and really listen.
Speaking of listening- the people we met with put in some serious listening time with Matt and I. It was humbling to be on the receiving end of (not so free) attention giveaways. I much prefer being the interviewer rather than the interviewee.
Randy Siever flew in from Reno to be at the conversation with us and I flew in from Seattle - Matt picked us up and we headed to the hotel where we spent the rest of the day.
Following two hours with Danny and his Executive Pastor colleagues we had lunch and then shot about two hours of video with his Senior Pastor Cal and his son. They will use it for a series of talks they will give.
I had a drink with Jason,his wife Brooke and his friend Matt in the afternoon and then Kerry Mackey and his friends drove down from Mission Viejo to meet with us and do a podcast which will come out in October. Kerry is in charge of new members and first impressions at Saddleback. it was a very powerful and once again humbling time.
During our conversation with Kerry I began to put together how our book is helping people and why it gets such powerful word of mouth.
We’re giving people permission to talk about difference
We’re creating a third place where people learn to converse without control
We’re giving them a model of co belligerating which provides them a way to understand how to authentically connect with people with whom they have differences
Jim and I just got back from our first road trip since writing our book.
From Friday, September 14, through Sunday, September 16, we were in Colorado–Denver area, more specifically–where we visited the University of Colorado (Boulder Young Life group), Pathways church (www.pathwayschurch.org), and The Refuge (www.therefugeonline.org).
Thank you Kathy Escobar, Karl Wheeler, Marty Nunez, John Nunez, Dave and Ron from Pathways, and everyone who helped and hosted along the way (you, too, mom!).
And an equally endless thank you to everyone and anyone who attended our talks. We were thrilled and honored to have such a wonderful turnout and it was a joy spending time with you all. Comments? Questions? Non-sequiturs? Let’s have ‘em!
(Note that I purposely styled the headline of this blog entry as a template fit for calling out what we hope will be many, many more visits to many more places and with many more people. For example, “Jim & Casper on the Road, Vol. 2: Seattle, November ‘07″ or “Jim & Casper on the Road, Vol. 22: Rome, Bejing, & Barcelona, January ‘08.”)
See as many of you as possible as soon as possible.
