Escape, Choreography, showing up

Quick Thoughts from Oct. 10:

• I loved getting to hear from Oleg Reutki, the national director of New Hope Moldova.   “After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was like the dark ages–  people were so desperate, they began to sell each other.” 22,000 orphans–  boys and girls growing up with the very real danger of being trafficked.  Restoration supports a transition home for teen-age girls who have left the orphanage system and we sent a team there 2 weeks ago.  Very cool of God to put Oleg in the US, at our church, just days after the team got back so our community could hear more about what we are doing in Moldova.

• Again, I am very thankful to Cornelius Plantinga and his book, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be. Plantinga pushes the reader beyond the ‘typical’ sins and helps us think more deeply about the places in which we need to be transformed.  The categories of ‘escape’ that I talked about in my sermon were his language.  I contextualized the ideas for our community.  If you are looking for a book to push you deeper in your confession and worship, this is a great read.
• “We are to become responsible human beings: people to whom God can entrust deep and worthy assignments, expecting us to make something significant of them…”  Here are the ways I suggested we escape responsibility:  we conform, we connive, we leave town, we specialize, we go limp.
• On leaving town…  please hear my message:  when you are gone, you are missed, because you are an important part of our community. It is a loss for us.  And… “is this a way you escape?  it is a lot easier to not have to grow in loving others if you don’t see them.  It is a lot harder to grow in knowledge, if you are not wrestling with the Scriptures on Sunday mornings or in small group.”
• Vestry nominations are open until Oct. 17.  Send me an email if you have one.
• There will not be worship services on Quincy St on Oct. 24 because of the Fall Retreat!
• I am rejoicing for I know (as opposed to doubt), I know that through your prayers and the choreography of the Spirit of Jesus Christ… this (this prison, this being the object of other’s envy and rivalry, this being maligned) THIS will turn out for my deliverance.  (Phil 1.19)