Going for more

Last Thursday, during the adult morning worship in Columbus, Shane Claiborne spoke and had a number of memorable things to say.  Just a couple that stuck in my mind:  He said that the gospel does not spread by force, but by fascination.  Which I take to mean that living out the gospel in authentic, practical ways carries with it an element of wonder and awe and magnetism.  We are curiously drawn toward those who are humble, who carry out acts of mercy, whose lives look different because they have sacrificed their own will for God’s will.  And we also become, or can become, a source of fascination.

He also noted that sometimes people come up to him and tell him how screwed up their life was before they met Jesus.  They were in bad shape, all messed up, and then Jesus enabled them to get everything straightened out and in order.  Shane’s response to this is that he tells the person he’s happy for them but that his experience was just the opposite.  His life was in pretty good order and then he met Jesus and it got all messed up.

These and plenty of other thoughts and experiences are no doubt brewing in the minds of those who were able to attend Convention.  My sense is that the energy and vision and Spirited words gained there will have a significant impact on CMF over the next while.  I encourage us to tell stories to each other and reflect on what it means for our lives.

Personally, I’m trying to soak in Convention things even while preparing for the Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay.  I’ll be in church on Sunday and will fly out for Asuncion in the afternoon.  I appreciate your willingness as a congregation to support me in going to these events and I will work to be a good steward of the relationships and challenges given through the experience.  I don’t know for sure if I will have online access in Paraguay, but if so I hope to send a couple updates during my time there.  My time will be split between the Mennonite World Conference in Asuncion, Paraguay, and visiting friends who are working with MCC in Bolivia.  During this time I’m trying to be open to more ways of being fascinated by the gospel and getting my life messed up for Jesus!

In the words of the Columbus theme, may we continue to Breath and Be Filled.