Reminders

The leadership team for our church had planning 'get away' this past weekend.

During our time together I became increasingly aware of our journey of being church: past, present, and future...

We discussed the main areas of focus for our congregation and reflected on our journey. As a leadership team we must reflect on what has been in order to know what could be.

Our time was focused on what is now... being present in the 'now' is very difficult.

Most of the time I like to be somewhere (usually anywhere) else than where I'm at. I have a perpetual life set on a grass is greener perspective. Yet, I'm finding that being present is far more engaging that longing (urning) for something else.

I was most reminded about Jesus' words about the 'kingdom.' Jesus kept/keeps inviting followers into a kingdom that is here and elsewhere at the same time.

There seems to be a now and a not yet aspect to faith... I'm often reminded about what I know about myself others and the world, but more often I'm reminded about what I don't know about those same things.

Our congregation is full of now and not yet. We get to figure out how we live in a new kingdom that is not of this world.

All the while we get to be reminded that God is in control and that we get to participate in God's interests.