imagining how the church can reorient around mission

While enjoying a wonderful break with my family in Seaside, Oregon, I was able to carve out enough time to read Henri Nouwen's perceptive book entitled, Discernment. In the book, he makes several statements regarding how he spent much of his life craving affirmation, attention and acceptance of others. read more

I see the world through the lens of people.

What
does it mean to be a missional community of faith?  There is much talk about what that is, what it looks like
and how it works.  Newbigin (one of
the true forerunners of the current movement) identifies six characteristics of
a missional community:

1. It practices corporate praise, thanksgiving, gratitude,
   and grace;
2. It declares truth that challenges the reigning
   plausibility structure
3. It establishes relationships within a local
   neighborhood
4. It encourages mutual service in the priesthood
   of all believers
5. It expects mutual responsibility rather than
   individualism
6. It nurtures hope and a re-imagined vision of
   the future

I
love these.  read more