post-round

post-round is a term that was released to our quad-district convention at the begining of this month. Dr. Leonard Sweet introduced the idea. It is a term, along with post-modernity, that is a hot issue. A book also dealing with this topic (or idea) is Thomas L. Friedman's The World Is Flat. This book, in which I'm currently reading, deals with leveling the playing feild--outsourcing. Companies have undergone the process of creating an outsourcing of product, from customer service calls to tax returns. This cheap form of business is leveling the playing field, as Friedman puts it.

the other day I called my cable company with questions about my statement. After she had answered all my questions, she of coursed, asked if I had any others. Pausing a moment and then thinking about this book I have been reading I asked her where she was located. She told me Vancouver. I decided to continue with my probe. I asked her if she worked out of her house or a calling base or a central location. She told me the main branch was located up there. (Besides the intrigue of a Canadian Cable company working in the US) I asked her if their company did any outsourcing. She laughed--obviously knowing what I was asking--she continued with, "we do not have calls taken in foreign countries or anything like that." Once I got over my embarrassment I decided I was not the one to take this quest--I will leave that to Friedman. However, this does leave me with a question: should it be referred to as, Post-Modern or does the term Post-Round compliment the emerging culture we live in.

How does the emerging culture affect the influence of the Church? Is there Church in an Emerging Culture? Can the Church stand?

Lets look at it this way: Jesus, the ultimate Emergence... jesus sent hope to the tax collector and fear to the self-righteous pharisee. he walked with the meek, poor, sick, lowly...the sin of the world--prostitutes! He befriended the outcasts that no one wanted to set their eyes upon, but he did. We are all the outcasts, we are castaways from God's sight because we are all self-proclaimed stellar people who believe we have no faults, errors, or wrongs--we are good people-it doesn't matter right? Yes It Does. Jesus walked with us, with you the self-righteous pharisee. Christ wants a repentant heart. He wants you to cry, GOD HELP ME. It is in that time that the pride is shed away and the curtain is torn. When we feel we are down in the crevice of the sand filled hole, Christ comes to us. He emerged from the walls of the synagogues to be with you. He is with you.

the culture, when Jesus introduced himself, emerged like no one had ever seen before. There were people who resorted to non-violence to get their point across. Stephen, while being stoned to death, ask God to forgive his killers, for they knew not what they are doing. Jesus confronts a Jew and asks what's better: for someone to tell someone they are healed or tell a paralytic to take his mat and walk.

The worship was emerging from a segregated place to Jesus walking with them. They would gather to share stories, smiles, to encourage, laugh, and cry, but also to praise God for all he had done. Then the followers would depart and know God is a living God who once walked with them, and continues to walk with them.

The church was not church without people. Jesus created a body--his body of believers--fellow worshipers who could come together and share Love. They expand. They share. They believe. Others also would believe. But, they didn't rely just on numbers. When a person believed and wanted to be a Christian they were not allowed to act in a disobedient way. They could not and would not be allowed to proclaim Jesus in an unChrist-like way. They were held accountable. By each other, by Paul, and by God. So, fast were the Israelites to want to worship a tangible God. They, even Aaron, decided to make the invisible visible, so they created a false God--a golden calf. So, fast are we to say God does not walk with us, he is not seen. He cannot be real, I can't touch him...

[they say]

BUT, it is us. Fellow Christians who have wronged those whom we try and reach. It is people like P.R. who defile the name of Jesus. People, you must understand, who claim to know the living Lord, but do not carry his ways. They do not share Love, build the body, and unite others in a common bond. NO. They destroyed what so many people before them tried to tie together. Do I dare mention the wrong: the Crusades, the people who claim to be Christian but use it only as a label, the abortion bombings, the pro lifers, the "christian" republicans.

the world was a broken heart...joined together by one man... jc

The truth is that we [christians] are all hypocrites. We claim to have this awesome knowledge and want to share that with everyone. But, we can't measure up to it ourselves. The truth is that we can't. We [all people] have a void. A longing to know. We all look up and wonder--wonder what it is, who it is, why it is? the answer? We [all people] have sin. He wants [all people] to know him. That is His desire. When you seek, your heart is opened up. You understand the new life. You understand why, what, who...You understand that you are forgiven, all your wrongs--because of his bruised, beaten, bloody body-CRUSHED. 4 You. You realize you still have sin and do things wrong daily; however, you also realize he did this act for you and took on all the worlds sin 4 you. It is in that PARADOX that you live. Sinner/Saint - 100/100.

He is seen, he can be reached, he does walk with us. FAITH. faith is a hard word to describe--seek.

JK

The Works

here i am. introduced to the processes of blogging. am i a native or just a rookie.

i supose that will need to be determined by you