didn’t get a chance to post about my lunch with ben yet. i can tell i’m starved for fellowship: i dumped on him pretty hard, everything i’ve been processing over the last few months. we spoke openly and honestly about our faith, our frustrations with Harvest (HCF), etc. i think a good portion of what i said was way off his radar, coming from places he hadn’t considered, ventured. still, a lot of it hit home. we have common felt needs; it’s my application, my vision for addressing/meeting those needs that is coming out of left field.

a couple things coalesced as we talked:

• MOPS is our most successful* ministry by far @ HCF. in it’s first year the those four ladies (w/ help) connected with approx. 20 moms, most of whom are disconnected from God and His community. that’s as many as attend HCF on a typical sunday. so what’s the next MOPS? what’s it gonna take for the next person to get off their rump? generally, i think folks are lacking passion (see my previous kierkegaard blog). passion will be obtained/received (i’m not quite sure what the correct word should be here) by (1) participating in genuine community/fellowship; and (2) abiding in Christ.
• neither of these (community nor abiding) happens regularly @ our sunday gatherings, and i don’t belive we can tweak what we’re doing on sunday to make it happen. there is too much inertia, too many unwritten rules. people need to be shocked to life. that’s part of what the alt.worship transformation in pathmakers is about. i know some may only throw up another layer of armour. my prayer is that the radically different approach will serve as a wake up call, leading people to deeper engagement with their faith and God.
• another purpose in the alt.worship transformation is to give people the freedom and tools to abide in christ in new ways. most of us are trapped by a single devotional tool: the “Daily Quiet Time” a fear of anything associated with catholicisim, ritual, tradition, mysticism, etc. pervades the evangelical church. people need to be set free of these shackles. i think the ideas presented in Sacred Pathways will be among the most important concepts for HCF in the coming season.
• family schedule permitting, i will start hosting a “third space” gathering ASAP.

to summarize: this Panera was church for 2-1/2 hours on monday.