If we are going to redefine what we call "church" then we need to redefine how we talk about church. So, in the accurate definition of church, is it still not a good thing? It seems to me, in this accurate view, that WE are the church - that we who are "in Him" are that new entity. And this, to me, is where I see that that term "the kingdom" and that term "the church" become synonomous. If we are "alive in the kingdom" then we are a "part of the church" and so in order to enter the life of God's kingdom, one must enter the church, and as we simply are the church where we are, we infect the cultures in which we live with the living kingdom of God."

There was a panel on "e-tools" - using the internet as the church. Interesting. Can we have "church" on the internet, in chat rooms, message boards, and on blogs? Good question. Can there be any real community built in these ways or is it merely a way to hide from real community? I think we put too much weight on "the internet" or "the tv" or some other thing. These things are not the problem. They just are what they are. The problems are in us. If we are trying to hide then that is our problem anywhere and it needs to be transformed out of us. blahhhhhh....

Todd Hunter on creating missional communities instead of "churches" that people "join." Good stuff. Rethinking what it means to be a pastor - back to ancient model of spiritual director - helping people toward transformation. He also encouraged us to not quench the work of the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are excesses and stupid things but we cannot live and do effectively in the kingdom what we need to do without Him. Here's the quote" You cannot do what you need to do while being suspicious of the Holy Spirit. Don't use the excesses of others as an excuse.

Doug Paggit's workshop on new ways to view leadership in the church was great. 6 metaphors on leadership: shepherd, military, chaplain, coach, ceo, entertainer. The new way: organic gardener - gooood stuuuff! This gardener thinks about all the things that naturally produces a good garden. They facilitate what causes good growth in the garden - soil, weather, time of year, what to pull out and what to add (natural). It's a balance between "letting" and intentionality. Very encouraging - very God I think.

Now we're here about to go to bed. It ends tomorrow - there is a party in a park with several things going on. Then we go home on Sunday. That's all for tonight.

| posted by + Alan | 2:15 AM | |