Relationship, relationship, relationship.....

It is funny how when you do something different how your whole way of thinking has to change. For example, in the typical mind of a "normal" pastor (ha ha ha I use that term loosely, heh) most of your time is spent in your office "doing" work because it is expected of you from the church and probably by yourself that just in case if anyone needs you that you can be reached immediately and they know where to go.....but then you have God leading you into a network or Organic gatherings/churches called The Waters. And this ministry is solely based on relationships with those who do not go to church or if they do it is only at Easter or Christmas, and how in the world would they know that you love and care for them if you sit in your office all day long in a building that they have no idea where it is, and if they did know where it is That most of them would shrug it off or be fearful of the judgment that lies inside of one.....so I try to make my office "in the world" coffee shops, the Mall, Panarea Bread Co. (because they have free wireless internet, heh) And even thought sometimes I may not look up from the (Tiffany's borrowed from Asbury UMC) laptop, people still notice me and people still talk to me and relationships form and slowly over time develop! And eventually God is discussed and glorified and the Kingdom is brought into existence through one more person. That is why I am "different" I live my life for God and others. (sure I take care of my family and my life) but my focus is one God and love living this life and living to love! Please, find your love and live it, and I want you to know that I pray that your life is in Christ!

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Well, I have started a weekly meeting with Aaron Klinefelter who is one of the house church pastors in the VC it is a network of house churches and doing exactly what we feel God calling us to do and be for around 7-9 years now and they are doing exactly what we have felt God calling us to do, it really is amazing what they do and how we have thought up some of the same basic ideas before knowing that they are already doing them. I am meeting with Aaron and Bill Enns on Thursday afternoons. Bill is the Sr. intrum pastor at one of the largest Presb. churches in Cincy. He is getting his Dr. in leadership and I believe has a lot for us to learn from, as well as, us "younger" pastors are teaching and helping him to relate in how to minister to the future leaders within the church. Markus will be joining us probably as well!

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I also am meeting on a weekly basis with Markus Watson who is the associate Pastor of the Presb. church in Union as we meet weekly to pray for one another's ministries and talk about this model for ministry and how it would look for each of us and even the far remote possibility that we could possibly "being" this network together and bridge some lines between the denominations. Amazing to me how god pulls his church around in ways that no one would ever expect and the very culture we live in has the possibility to be transformed! I still can not wrap y mind around that thought...and yet I have a very clear sense that God is doing indeed a new thing in this world and that he is blessing us to join him in this amazing kingdom work!

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Also, I am now meeting weekly with Roseanna who is one of two (the second one has not come forward or to mind yet...but we sure could use them!...please help us with this one prayer team, heh) people who will be organizing (along with me) the parties that we are throwing to start developing relationships with others who could be possible attenders of these organic gatherings some time next year. So, the parties will start happening as soon as we can start to contact everyone and find out when and where they were thinking about throwing a few of them. The meeting I had with her went well and we are going to send out a general letter to let eveyone know that we received thier responses and to get the ball rolling! It is exciting times..but lots of work to be done...so please keep the prayers flowing in this area!

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I am preaching this Sunday so if anyone would like to come hear a Christmas sermon from the book of Revelation (yeah that is right) the I would encourage you to come and enjoy a new way of looking @ Christmas! @ Florence UMC 9am and 11am this Sunday! heh heh....

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Also, it is my privilege to tell you all that the first Organic gathering will be the 2nd Friday of Jan. 13th Joseph-Beth @ 7:00 pm and we will be meeting and enjoying some time together and talk about when we will start the weekly gatherings and take this organic gathering thing out for a ride around the town, heh.....

We are in the process of making sure everyone who is invited marks it down on their calendars and can make it to the gathering! We are very excited about it and can't wait to find out what God desires for us to be! Look out world we are about to unleash our existence in Christ upon you! ha ha.... and for those of you with an over active imagination...that unleashing will be love, and grace, and maybe a little sprinkle of forgiveness and reconciliation, heh....

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Until next week, I beg you to enjoy the presence of God on your knees sometime this week, it is amazing how great my time with God is when I just get on the floor and play with him, talk with him, and sometimes even fall asleep in his arms! Enjoy your life this week and be blessed so that you can in turn be a blessing to others!

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Peter: Forget them, Wendy. Forget them all. Come with me where you'll never, never have to worry about grown up things again.
Wendy: Never is an awfully long time.
--Peter Pan

When is the last time you did not worry about grown up things and sat down with God like a child and played? I think you might need to play with God more often just like I need to. Believe me He has really cool toys! God bless yall and please KUTPs!