Content in All Church-planting Circumstances

Content in All Church-planting Circumstances

 

I love the Apostle Paul even though he said nonsensical and sexist things like “women will be saved through childbirth.”  I love Paul because he’s a regular guy who was actually transformed by Christ.   Like Paul, I find church planting to be a good way to transform an attitude of want into an attitude of contentment.  Paul said,

 

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4: 11b-12)

 

 

 

Plenty of volunteers and visitors at our first service!

 

As I have worked so hard to start this new church for Christ, I have known need and plenty too.  First the plenty:

-                     God guiding me

-                     members, staff, donors, and volunteers who share the vision for a new kind of church

-                     a generous husband

-                     an assistant who compensates for my weaknesses and is fun to work with

-                     really good actors who make me smile and laugh

-                     a humble artistic director with talent and taste

-                     AV guys who come an hour early

-                     kind and supportive landlords

-                     wise and supportive pastors and denomination workers

-                     loving Doodles

I could go on and on!!!

 

 

 

Dirty trailer with someone else’s logo is one of many marketing needs

 

Now the want:

            -           dirty trailer with someone else’s logo

            -           Spirit Club teachers (nearly impossible to find)

            -           only two family groups at first volunteer meeting

            -           new software and MACs than won’t communicate with PCs

            -           TIME!

            -           marketing dollars

            -           lost income from financial crisis

            I could go on and on!!!

 

I think I know the same secret Paul does: God loves me and provides just what I need, just when I need it.  He wants me to keep on asking and keep on working, but at the end of the day trust He knows just when to dispense which blessings and which challenges. The Lord really is my Shepherd. I do not want – I enjoy the adventure!

Recent Netflix I Liked

I have a great movie-watching system.  I go to screenit.com to find movies rated “6” or higher by a random 1000 viewers (critics are too picky).  If the movie is highly rated and interests me, I add it to my Netflix queue.  If I see the movie in the theatre, I delete it from Netflix.  If not, it is a nice surprise in the mail months later.

 

Here are all the movies I have seen recently and liked:

 

Iron Man – one of the few movies both Greg and I enjoyed (all the rest of the movies listed here I couldn’t get him to watch with me!).  I liked the development of Tony Stark’s character. I liked the heavy metal music.  The portrayal of “terrorists” was stupid.  But, I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end . . . twice.

 

Son of Rambow – I loved the wise insights into the various stereotypes: the “bad boy” who was simply neglected; the “over-religioned boy” who decided to risk hell for real life; their unexpected friendship; the “pious Mom”, the “mean big brother.” Warm and happy ending.

 

 

The Straight Story – this movie is so slow I almost shut it off.  It’s about an old man driving across the Midwest in a lawnmower. Once I re-programmed myself into slo-mo, I realized this is what it’s like to be older and slower and weaker in a fast-paced world – portrayed by the trucks whizzing past the lawnmower.  The main character’s  WWII experiences still alive in his mind reminded me of many patients I came to know in the hospital. So many parts of this lovely journey rang true to human experience.

 

Charlie Bartlett – more good psychology and humor.  About a teen who became the school shrink, dispensing drugs and advice in the bathroom.

 

Juno – I love that girl.  I contrast her character to Page O’Toole in Jodi Picoult’s Harvesting the Heart.  O’Toole’s baby has low-risk surgery and she’s passed out on the sidewalk hallucinating – in fact, everything with her is an emotional overreaction.  But  Juno’s Ellen Page gets pregnant in high school and handles the whole thing with compassion and reason.  Funny too.

 

August Rush – if you love music, you’ll get this movie.  Corny but it worked on me.