stay

You know, the vast majority of churches in America don't even get to celebrate 10 years with their pastor. That is so sad to me.

Too often Christians, pastors and members alike, leave their church (and it generally doesn't matter the reason) and steal from themselves the opportunity to grow in their faith and love with God and with one another. Just like any other relationship (e.g. family), there is generally more to gain for all persons involved by exercising the disciplines of humility, endurance and listening than by leaving.

This is something God has been teaching me (and I won't tell you how long he's been trying):

If I'm walking in the Spirit and sense a point of frustration, it's generally God's nudge for internal growth or external ministry. If I'm walking in the flesh and sense of point of frustration, I generally just make myself and everyone else around me miserable.

And as I type this, I'm remembering something I shared in my Father's Day message:

Because God is perfectly right, infinitely loving, absolutely holy, inexhaustibly patient and inexplicably merciful... and because, as our Heavenly Father, he is more interested in our holiness (character) than our happiness (temporary pleasure) -as is any parent - his discipline of us is always the very least it will take to get our attention and communicate our need. The very least.

God knows what we need. He knows when we need it. He also knows what it will take for us to receive it. (ouch)

are you a Christian or a member?

Before you read this week's email, click HERE to read and watch last week's email. Very important...

So, I finished Craig Groeschel's book called "it" - what a great Kingdom, leadership, vision, fellowship, inspiring, affirming, challenging read! So, now I'm reading The Mystery of Christ by Watchman Nee and it's amazing how God is connecting "it", last Sunday (and if you still haven't read and watched last week's email, what are doing?!?) and Watchman's book.

Craig challenged his readers to celebrate what God is doing in other churches. Doing so reminds us that WE are collectively the Church, that WE together are the Body of Christ. Then, I read this in Watchman's book:

Being a Christian is something individualistic, whereas being a member is something corporate. Being a Christian is something one does for himself, whereas being a member is something for the Body. [Just as] there are many terms with opposite meanings, such as purity and uncleannes, holiness and commonness, victory and defeat, the Spirit and the flesh... In the same way, the Body is in opposition to the individual... Once a [person] sees the Body of Christ... he will no longer live for himself but for the Body.

At the inception of his "11" series, Dave said (and I believe he was quoting someone, just can't remember who), "There are two things no human being can do alone: get married and be a Christian."

Ponder this: If it was through the body of Jesus Christ that the fullness of God dwelt and was expressed for all humanity to see, experience and benefit, that we are called "the Body of Christ" must therefore mean we are the continuation of Christ's life and ministry here on earth (see Col 1.19, 2 Cor 5.20, 1 Cor 12).

One more: When you think of "the Body of Christ", does your mind think beyond wb?

The Body of Christ is not a doctrine; it is a realm.
It is not a teaching, but a life.
~ Watchman Nee

last sunday or lasting sunday

Last Sunday was an AMAZING day! We "got to"... worship as a family of believers, celebrate our graduates (WAHOO!!), listen to our student pastor bring it (a.k.a. "deliver the sermon" for you old-school folks), witness the declaration of 5 people's love and commitment to Christ, and enjoy a meal of fellowship and unity (supporting our east Asia mission team).

Willow Bend was ROCKIN' last Sunday...
and not just because we turned up the volume, either!

Do you know what made these experiences so special? Do you know what can make these experiences more than just a "last Sunday" memory? Check this out...

In all the churches in all the world, we are the only church that had US worshipping together, THOSE graduates to celebrate, THAT Student Pastor to bring it, THOSE souls to declare, THAT meal to enjoy and THOSE servants going on mission.

We are the ONLY church in all the world who has YOU... and US! Now understand, we don't have a corner on any part of the church-market; there is nothing we DO better than every other church in the whole world. BUT, there is no other church who can do what WE do because no other church has US.

YET, Scripture teaches us:

But God has so composed the body...
that there may be no division... that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. ~1 Corinthians 12.24-26

We may be the only church with you and with us, but we are not THE only church. We are only one part of the Body; we are only one fellowship within God's Church. And just as no other church can do what WE do, we can't do what any other church does... because God has sovereignly and uniquely designed each member (each church) to collaboratively, collectively and cooperatively make up his Body, the Church; the Bride of Christ.

We had a lot to celebrate last Sunday. So, if Scripture is true, I guess that means the whole Body rejoiced with us. How cool is that?!?

Here are some pictures from our baptism last Sunday and a video from a local church (and pastor friend of mine). Let's watch and rejoice together.

Click HERE to watch and be prepared to be moved...