Hi all,
Barb and I are back from our Finnish and Dutch conferences, and it was so good seeing old friends and make new ones.
For Chris, we were away from him a total of 3 of his work weeks
He goes to a workshop Monday-Thursday
each week, and we dropped him off Sunday, April 10, and didn’t pick him
up until Friday the 29th, and it was just too long, with a few
‘behaviors’ as they call temper outbursts in that last week. So in the
future rather than back to back European conferences we’ll have to
separate them to keep our total time away at no more than 2 weeks – They
said the last week, each morning, he would refuse to go to the
workshop, but just sit by the window looking out saying ‘Dad is coming
to get me, I’m NOT going to work!’…
I remember when we placed him in the
group home 13 years ago and felt like the worst parents in the world for
doing so, and one night after Barb fell asleep I lay in bed telling the
Father either heal him or take him home – and suddenly the Lord stood
in our bedroom, and without greeting simply opened with:
“Would you have Chris miss out on the
fullness of his reward by Me taking him home early, just because you
feel bad for having to place him in a group home?” I humbly apologized
saying “I’m sorry Lord, I never considered Chris’ rewards and his part
in our ministry, of course I want him to have the fullness of his
reward, but under one condition: That he not suffer any abuse or
neglect.” He looked at me and with one quick downward nod of His head as
He spoke, said, “Done”, and disappeared.
In between then and now has been great
difficulty on both his and our parts, but the Lord never promised an
easy life, just eternal life.
People are forever
The whole of the New Testament was
written by apostles who started family based churches that met in
homes,writing to people in those home based churches. To understand the
New Testament any other way is to take scripture out of context - no
matter how you celebrate the gathering of saints, from denominational
churches to independent charismatic to house church - that is just
history.
Their focus in the New Testament was on
relationships, which followed Jesus' teachings that if someone sinned
against you, go to them and try to mend the relationship. That principle
is stated from Matthew 5 where Jesus said to leave your gift at the
altar and be reconciled, to Matthew 18:15 to go 1 on 1 to make peace, to
Galatians 6:1 to restore one who has trespassed in a humble spirit, to
the James 5:16 exhortation to confess our trespass to the person we
trespassed against and pray for one another that the relationship would
be healed.
Relationships are the key no matter how
you celebrate church, though some structures are better at the
development of relationships than others. I remember what the Lord said
to me in His February 4, 2001 visitation:
"See what I see, people running
to and fro to this meeting and that, looking for the spectacular
thinking that is supernatural, while they miss the supernatural work in
their midst, even in their own hearts...As it was in the beginning, so
it must be now; I'm moving in relationships."
We often misunderstand what the Lord is
trying to do in our midst because we attach what He wants to our
own experience or education and understand it through those eyes. As I
like to say, we don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are.
People may think they are called to plant
churches, or start a house church, but in reality we are called to
develop relationships, and from the vitality of those relationships
comes meetings in homes.
Come and go as you please?
A healthy family based church that meets
in homes as depicted in the New Testament is very different from some
who claim to be in the 'house church stream', but often call it 'simple
church' or 'organic church' - there are some good and balanced house
churches under those banners, but many are not.
A house church is not a miniature of the
auditorium church, each week dictated by 1 person what will happen in
the meeting, nor is it a come and go as you please bless me club with no
sense of order or commitment.
In scripture we see people dedicated to
each other in the Lord, meeting with purpose and working through
challenges rather than leaving the group when challenges in
personalities arose.
Acts 2:42 says "They continued
steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers." Note 'continued steadfastly'.
The Greek word translated 'continued
steadfastly' is 'proskartereo', literally meaning 'to be strong
towards', meaning perseverance continually towards a person or thing. It
is also used in Acts 1:14 speaking of how the 120 continued in prayer
during those 10 days between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost.
They were strong towards the apostles teaching, fellowship, eating together and in prayer/worship.
To have teaching, fellowship, food and/or
the Lord's Supper, and prayer/worship without the 'continued
steadfastly' element, you just have a come and go as you please, no
requirement placed on you, bless me club using the name 'church'. The
purpose of the gathering of the saints is to conduct the business of the
kingdom, which is furthering the discipleship process, not just to make
people feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I know what the Lord has said to me, that
the days of church without purpose, including house church, is past and
the body of Christ is being urged by the Spirit to grow up in our
relationships.
That is why I say so often that house
church is a lifestyle, not something we do. When you invest the time and
effort in relationships, those people you are still going to know 100,
500, even 10,000 years from now and beyond in the ages to come, it
requires purposeful commitment. But that is what the Spirit is saying.
No matter how you celebrate church, invest in relationships in Christ.
2 new series
Our ordeal with Chris of this thing
called life, along with a couple of requests to do so, prompted me to
record the series “Why God?”, and will help you look at the larger
picture when dealing with heart-rending issues like handicapped
children, chronic physical conditions and such here on earth.
The other series, David the Future King,
is the first of a 3 part series about the Psalms David wrote at
particular times of his life - before being king, while king, and in
exile when Absalom rebelled. You'll not only learn more about David, but
gain insights into his emotions and spiritual ups and downs - and where
some of your favorite verses and Psalms came from.
Thank you!
After the last 2 busy summers being so
busy, this one is being taken at a slower pace, and we are enjoying it,
Chris now settling back into a routine, which is so important to him,
and us.
Thanks for being part of our lives, and remembering us in prayer and in your giving – thank you!
Blessings,
John & Barb, & Chris
New cd/MP3 series:
This
series links the life of David with Psalms he wrote during three
periods in his life: Before being king, during his reign, and in exile.
Part 1 looks at the Psalms he wrote before becoming king, studying each
event that led him to pour out his emotions in the Psalm related to an
event or challenge, with the result being the listener will know David
much better, and be better able to walk through the pressures in their
life. You will be able to related to David's raw emotions and spiritual
struggles and how he found peace and safety in the Lord in the midst of
stressful and often life-threatening situations. A fascinating series
that will give greater understanding to the Old Testament and Psalms and
their place in history.
Answers for Those with Special Needs Children or Caring for Those with Long-Term Conditions
When
a child is born with an infirmity or condition, or develops one, or we
unexpectedly must provide long term care for a loved one, an
unanswerable question of faith arises from within: How can a loving God
let this happen? Our faith is shaken to the core and we hear teachings
on healing and the loving Father but we are dealing with long term, life
changing challenges that don't make sense. This series deals with those
questions from John & Barb's personal experience with their
physically and mentally handicapped oldest son. Having walked through it
from babyhood to adulthood with him, and having walk theologically
through all the standard answers, including having their faith largely
destroyed and rebuilt in the process, this will offer help and answers
to those struggling with these issues, or for those who know someone
struggling with these issues. You'll regain peace, have some answers,
and be able to put to trust the Father once again.
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