"Living loved and listening is the only way to live loving and love living."
"As we learn to live loved, our lives become a paradox that creates a question that may lead to an invitation." Elaboration: especially in today's world, the peace, kindness, other-orientation that comes from living in intimacy with Father tends to be very noticeable. When others are frantic and we are peaceful, when we refuse to enter into another person's anger, when we are kind in the face of harshness, etc., it creates a question in people's minds that often leads to an invitation to share why we are so different!
"New Testament has very little to say about leadership, but when it does it describes it in terms of being another's slave. Whenever anyone comes to me as a 'leader' my first question is always, 'Does this person feel like they are serving me or do they expect me to serve them?' And as one who is a 'leader,' can those I 'lead' sense with consistency that I am their slave?"
"The 'five-fold" gifts to the church mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 ff. are just that: GIFTS, and if they act otherwise they are not Jesus' gift to His people, no matter how 'gifted' they are."
"The fivefold gifts cannot 'equip' without first healing the saints. We have seen too much of what unhealed people do when they are 'equipped' for works of ministry!"
"Apostles train us how to be 'sent' to our own little sphere, Prophets train us to hear God (prophecy is about hearing more than talking!), Evangelists teach us how the Good News will naturally explode once it becomes truly good news, Pastors teach us how to care, Teachers train us how to learn."
"Fear is a feeling, faith is a growing conviction."
"Faith is the fruit of growing intimacy with Abba, not a work that derives from information."
"Transformation occurs best in community, life-on-life in the power of the Holy Spirit!"
Okay, enough of these.
Just a few one-liners...what do you think?
Stay lost in Papa's love.
Tom, one of Abba's kids
5 comments:
Tom! Remember me? Friend and student of Kent Smith. Now my wife Katrina and I live in Chicago. If you're still in town - give me a call! Reply to this comment and let's connect.
Still in town, Mark. Do you have my phone number? Email me (same email as before, either Foursquare or Gmail). I am in the Chain of Lakes area at a Foursquare camp until I fly out of OHare around 8:30 tomorrow night.
Tom,
It was great to meet you over the weekend. Now that I know your blog, I will keep in touch with you and build some dialogue about "simple church."
Blessings,
Gerald
Thanks, Gerald! I look forward to our continuing dialogue, and I am much richer for having met you, friend!
Hey, Tom, I found you! :)
If you've seen "Avatar", "I SEE you!"
Much love and hugs to you -- look forward to the next run-in. I'll be at a board meeting in Colorado Springs this weekend ... will you be around? Email if you like: brehmites @ aol . com (minus those bot-confusing spaces).
Shalom, Dena
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