Just about every Sunday night when I leave our gatherings at The Riv- I come with a sense of: "that just happened" (said in the voice of Ricky Bobby)- Well, I come home with a sense of -WOW! Elations of joy inexpressible. I am trying to put into words what really can't be defined. So, I am trying to paint a picture with words (it's hard- a picture really is worth a thousand words). After our Gatherings I feel love for others and loved. I am humbled by God's presence in ways both mysteriously spiritual and communally real. I am refreshed and enlightened (and not really about teaching-even on 'off' nights I leave having learned something profound about who God is in Jesus Christ). So, last night I was up late-couldn't sleep- but not in a bad way. It wasn't an anxious 'awake', but rather I am filled with so much joy I feel sleep wastes the "trip". And I was up early (4 A.M.)-but I don't feel sleepless, but rested, strengthened, fresh-ready.....ready for life this day and week.
As I was up early (and lest anyone think I am trying to sound more 'faithful' than I am- the late and early hours had more than their share of Sport Center and Internet reading on the Cowboys!)- and the jubilation that filled me stimulated me to muse on why I love the Church, especially The Riv (no offense to any other church, but for my family- it's the greatest community/church I've ever known, and I thought my last two churches were that respectively).
1) Jesus Christ founded the Church: Mt 16:18, Ephesians 2:20-22
2) Jesus gave/gives His life for and loves the Church: Ephesians 5:25
3) Jesus is the groom for his bride-the church: Revelation 19:7-9, 21:1-2
4) God, in Jesus Christ, lives in and through His body, the Church: 1 Corinthians 6:19
5) God the Son , Jesus Christ, is often experienced in mind blowing, clandestine ways through the gathering of believers: Matthew 18:20 (for MacArthurites, this passage is way more than about church correction-), Communion 1 Corinthians 11:26, Creative Worship -Zephaniah 3:14-17, Ps 22:3
6)God the Son, Jesus Christ, is often experienced in mystifying and hidden ways when the Church not only serves- but journeys in partnership with the poor, the oppressed, the captives, and least of these (in the world's view)- Matthew 25:31-ff.............and the River dreams this, aspires to live this holistically,......and does this w/ a large measure of faithfulness in it's early days.
7) Because Jesus shared, is better than Jesus hoarded! I heard a pastor the other day speak of being intimate with Jesus, and all of his stories of intimacy were about being alone with Jesus, meaning the bible (in his paradigm). I love those moments, but they are not complete in and of themselves. They find their completion (if that is even the best way to describe the furtherance) when I share those moments with others in the church- and they rejoice with me and share their own stories, and we find our stories not just co-existing- but actually converging into one larger story! I agree with the Old Hymn- "I'd rather have Jesus", and I think that write agrees with the Psalmist (16th Psalm)- who said- (verse 2-3) "I say to the LORD (God in Jesus), I have NO good apart from YOU! (and then he continues in describing by saying...) As for the saints (the Kingdom Community/church) on earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is ALL my delight!"
That makes me wanna shout- Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! "behold how good and beautiful it is for the brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity!" (ps 133;1) It's not a matter of Jesus isn't good enough alone- it's a matter of How much do we really experience Jesus alone? And the norm is that Heaven is a place of "many rooms" for lots of brothers and sisters all Loving Jesus TOGETHER!
8) I am way better with The River, than I am with anything else!- I'd move from Nebraska to Florida to be a part of The Riv. I'd turn down $80K to pastor a larger church in a beautiful area to stay here (may have happened..........but who cares). And I am only getting better as a Follower of Jesus- b/c of the Church, especially/specifically The Riv-
9) The people I love most in this world (there are a few others who are in the "most") are the people of The Riv. From Samantha to Tori, to Zach, to Luke, To Hosanna, To Bell Bells, to Jason and Melissa...Alyssa, Lexi, J.T. to Jeremy & Melissa...Donovan, Tobin,........Jake and Cassie....Hailey-Emma, Eric, Daniel, Kyle, Justin & Beth, Sweet bittems (Beth T), Super Willy, Hale, Elizabeth, Jared, Jason #1 my bud, Kaitlin, Th'rain, Keith and Dotti :-), Josh Woods, Kalyn (soon to be with us!), Amy Foote=one of our missionaries, Lauren LaRose=another of our global missionaries (we miss you and can't wait for you to return), Tony and Deborah Mujasi =our Ugandan brother and sister, the Church of Musese which is so much a part of The River for me- Stan Crush on Facebook even though you are a made up person!, Kelsey S., Fil De Sousa, David and Casey even though Alabama stole you- Matt P (even though we oddly enough have never seen you when certain other people don't come- "Am I right" ...i don't even know what that means...is it from ground hog day?), and of course there are others who have come once or even several times and we love you/ I love you- The Riv-people I love the most!
10) I love The Riv-cuz we can be ourselves! The River-it means a "whales vaggg.........."- okay it doesn't, but Scholars say the meaning was lost 1000's of years ago.
Peace and Grace to The River-
And Grace and Peace through The River- Thank you Jesus for this Community and Your life flowing through it into my life.
(posted by Sam)
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16 comments:
Wow, what can I say?! Our family loves The River more than words can say. We loved it when we lived in Atlanta largely because we loved (still do btw) the Crums, but now we love it because this is the closest we have ever felt to really experiencing genuine community in Christ (doesn't mean we've arrived, certainly not).
I know, for me, I am still a very linear, modernistic thinker, as much as much as I labor not to be, but I love the fact that I and others are accepted, regardless of where they come from.
I, also, love our dna, not just words but indicators of what we believe life is really all about in Christ. I have found great joy in sharing this journey/adventure/story with those in The River, and I am very excited about what else is going to happen through all of us in Northwest Florida. I love all of you guys and gals near and far who are connected to The River in some way (especially you Sister Wanda...wow, what can I say, you've probably changed my life) and cannot wait to see how God works in our lives next! Christ has a lot of work to do in me and I am sure in all of us, but it is great to know we can blow up ourselves in chemistry class once in a while and it not really matter! "Who's retarded now?!"
Seriously, I am filled with awe at what God is doing in The River, and I hope for better things in the days ahead. Love you guys!
sfmtxzWOW! I can't believe Sister Wanda????!!! I think of all those lonely nights that I would call her, and after she ended her date w/ Eric she'd come talk to me and comfort me. And I know how many times Daniel has felt comfort in the "spooning" arms of MaryWanda as he looked into her eyes and then made out-Christian makeout that is- not that worldly stuff.
Ok...
First, I am crying from laughing so hard at The River meaning a whale's giney and the Sister Wanda comments. Oh, Christian makeouts.
Second, Justin and I love and are forever changed from being a part of the River. Jesus Christ, through the community of the River, continues to save me.
I love you all SO SO SO much and I'm thinking I will blog about my love now.
Ok cue sappy Ray Boltz song(take your pick, they're all hits to the Lord)...Aaaaand go, I love the River because of our White Hot ODDDDER???...and next, I'd rather have Sister Wanda than Silver or Gold. She is the River, and subsequently "she gets it". Also I'd like to point out the guy who spoke for 30 mins the night I talked, "he gets it". Annnnd I'm done, Let's pray, and then sing "Blessed be the tie that binds".
Really though, seriously though, more seriously dough. All the people Sam our beautiful and compassionate leader named, are all really important to me and the reason I am here. Not enough can be said about each person and their impact on me so I will go no further, and leave with this. "You are all evil, their is no hope, thank you".
I Love you guys like a brother, and I love you girls like brother. and I love you Kalyn unlike a brother. Love Love Love, lifted me!
well with all that said people reading our blog that arnt part of our church are going to thing we aare all swingersor at least some of the people are...lol.
But I truely love the River. It has changed me , my family(made it bigger thats for sure..ok that may not sound right...but you all know what I mean.). I believe there are many more changes to come. I use to hate changes, but I am begining to like them. God is truely in and through the river.The river has given me more hope and love, compassion and sympathy, and authenticity.Thank you all for loving god, me, my family, and this community. Thank you for laboring at/for it. We love you.
when our family first came to the river it was like a breath of fresh air...after way too many years in "traditional" or "modern" churches we finally felt at home. i must admit, the thought of moving from the atlanta area made me VERY nervous. there were some days i couldn't even talk about it. i warned jason after we made the decision to move that i would probably drive him crazy with my range of emotions. (sorry j) God has a way of making us so uncomfortable where we are that we get ready to move on.
I am so thankful our journey has brought us to where we are now and I am grateful for the part that each person in the riv community plays in my life. I love you all! (thanks for the blogs and for causing me to stop and reflect on this awesome journey so far!)
the river rule! :O)
these comments are the flow of my love for you all. As much as i love to laugh and have a good time-i'm a little choked up reading these. I really, truly am thankful (as we are collectively and invidually are) to Jesus for His body- in The Riv.
these blogs, these comments- well 90% of the time, they work every time!
I think that is my 50th reference to "Anchorman", aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand movie night- "Anchoman" is coming-I feel it.
peace-
s
I know this is going to sound "cheesy"... but 'The Riv' gave me hope again for something I didn't for a long time believe could exist... not because of a formula of how you all 'did church'... but honestly because of your hearts and the way that you each had committed to live life together with common goals.
I'm continually grateful to be a part of this community.
i am such a blessed person to be a part of this community. where living for christ together is central and unifying. no matter how diverse the group,we are all living one common dream. amazing!
the last comment was mine
I really, really, truly, sincerely, in every sense of the word, love you all, in every sense of the word, really. There are things every day that I see in our community that encourage, inspire and intruncidate...oh, yeah, I said it, me. Coming down here from Omaha was the, well, one of the, best things to ever happen to me. I am so grateful to be a part of this and thank you, Sam for your inspiration and intruncidation, yep, said it again.
what makes this word (intruncidate) so awesome, is that it is such a massive word that it cannot even be "googled" nor can we find it in any dictionary. Perhaps if we owned the George W. Bush dictionary we may find it.
from sam, the above comment, i thought i was logged in.
well I would just like to tell you all, though I am one of the youngest to the river, I really do love you guys and am so very grateful for being introduced to this community. It's the first place I've been since living in Pensacola where I feel that the group as a whole sees life and God in the same light that I do. This is both a reassuring and encouraging thing to me and I'm super stoked about The River and where it is going
Filipe, I was really glad to meet you the other night at the Riv, and we are really stoked you are here. The River really needs guys like you who are creative. Looking forward to getting to know you better.
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