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I have been stuck in the Atlanta airport today since early this morning.  I have been reading a bunch and working on the iLife series which starts this weekend at Epic Church.  But, I came across this thought provoking equation.  Read it.  Think about it.  Wrestle with it. Pray about it. Talk about it with others. Then share your thoughts.

Building + Clergy + Program = Church.

Body + Mission + Kingdom = Church.

*from http://threadsmedia.com/index.php?/store/detail/sent-leader-kit/

It seems to me the first is a very common way of “doing” church and even starting churches here in North America, in Tucson to be specific.  We find a location to meet, we raise some money to hire staff, we structure the best program we can think of for: children, youth, adults, bible study, and so on.  Then, we feel we have a church!  And the things I hear and even at times, I confess… think, if we just get a better place, get more staff, and have better things to do then we have a more successful church.

The later has a focus on relationships.  The relationship with Jesus as its foundation.  With the “body” being those who have accepted the forgiveness from Jesus Christ and have made a decision to journey with Jesus though life.  That journey is made with others toward the common focus which we hear over and over though the pages of the New Testament which is about brining the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.  Which leads the final addition to the equation; a Kingdom focus.  Not a “my church”, “my denomination”, “my city” focus but a Kingdom focus.  One that says, “I don’t care if my name ever become great, or if my church ever becomes great.  I desire for the name of Jesus to become great and that the Kingdom of God/Heaven is multiplied here on earth.”  When those things happen we have a church being born.  A place where you can be you.  Where you can journey with others toward a common goal, and serving our cities, friends, nation, globe, family… in the name of Jesus Christ.

I have more thoughts about this but thought I would share what I have thus far with you.

What a PICTURE?!

Here are two teams playing an important game, deciding a conference champion.  And this 5′ 4″ girl pops a home run over the center field fence to take the lead. Only to have her knee blow out as she rounds first base.  She can’t continue her celebration run around the diamond.

• If she doesn’t get around the bases her homerun will only be counted as a single.
• If her own team assists her she will be called out for, “aiding the runner”.

It is her senior year in college, possibly her last at bat for her softball career and her FIRST homerun EVER!

Unbelievably the first baseman and shortstop of the OPPOSING team scoop her up, and yep, carry her around the bases stopping at each base to gently let her touch each base with her good leg.

I first saw this story on ESPN’s late night Sportscenter.  As I am watching it tears are streaming down my face.  It is an amazing story and wonderful picture of so many things good.  Sure it is a wonderful act of sportsmanship, which by the way could be said, it caused the opposing team to lose the game.  Final score 4-2.

“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” The first baseman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”

How true is this for Epic Church?  It really isn’t all that much about who is “in” and who is “out” but what is important is the the people of Epic Church give their lives away for others who are in pain and help them run the bases of life.  If Epic Church lived out this story 100 times over I know our city would be different.

There are people in Tucson with deep pain and they are just begging someone to come over scoop them up and help them on their journey.  The pains of life, divorce, addiction to drugs, addiction to porn, pride, idols, death, being laid off, being dumped, abortion, lust, being lied to.  The list could go on and on.  We have these pains inside of us and desire/need someone to come along side and help us on our journey.

What if the people of Epic Church said, “It isn’t so much about if you are a good person or a bad person.  It is more about helping people become all they were designed to become.  They, like me, are creations of Jesus and they deserve to experience God’s goodness.” ?

Rankin & Tadlock write, “If you move your eyes from projects to people, true service can take place as you keep the divine appointments He has set.”

I am sitting at the Starbucks on Speedway and Wilmot working on stuff for the 1st ever Sunday Gathering for Epic Church and I am listening to some songs on iTunes and most of the time I just have it in the background to help me focus but for some reason I paused in my work and the lyrics caught my attention and I thought I would share them with all 2 of you who read this silly blog project of mine.  Enjoy and if it strikes a chord with you please feel to share your thoughts:

“Cause what we got is what we need and everything else is only greed. It’s greener on the other side.  Oh why can’t we be satisfied. ” - Shawn McDonald Greed on his Roots CD.

“The originating idea, light from God’s Word, and relevant materials should live in the mind and possess the life of a preacher until they represent the deepest conviction of the soul.” - Brown, Clinard, Northcutt & Fasol

This struck a chord with me tonight as I was reading it.  Does it make you go hummm?

-Jake

It is impossible for a Christian to be in sin and be happy.

What does that mean to you?