ATTENTION!!! God is moving his church to a house near you. That was always God's plan for his church. He doesn't need us to "Build" a building where people can attend a religious meeting. God wants us to "Be" the church that offers help, healing and hope right where people live. The New Testament church wasn't a network of buildings, but a network of people who met from house to house. The evidence of this is clear:
- Pentecost took place in a home
- The Last Supper took place in a home
- The wedding feast of Cana took place in a home
- Some of Jesus most important teachings were given in homes
- The first Christians met in homes for worship, teaching and prayer
- Paul wrote, "Greet the church in your house"
- The New Testament church was a "House Church"
Believers-Church-Network is an attempt to respond to what God is doing in the world. I don't think Jesus ever intended for his Church to be a group of people who remained paralyzed within the four walls of a building. I think it has always been his intention for us to become a network of brothers and sisters who are being transformed by the love of Jesus and sent out into the world. -- Bob

"The kingdom of God belongs to them." That's what Jesus said when his disciples tried to get between Jesus and some children who were crowding around him. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "don't forbid them because the kingdom belongs to them." What are some of the kingdom qualities that Jesus treasures in Children. How about enthusiasm, spontaneity and curiousity? Or what about the capacity to be authentic, uncomplicated and trusting. I believe these are a few of the qualities that Jesus treasures in those who choose to live as the children... of God. -- Bob

“Our whole being… is one vast need…crying out for Him who can untie things that are now knotted together and tie up things that are still dangling loose.” -- C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Do you know this face? His name is Wyatt Earp; not the famous law officer and gun slinger who lived in the wild west, but another Wyatt Earp who is far less famous... except in the eyes of God. Jesus said that God notices the Wyatt Earps of the world. He notices every sparrow that falls to the ground, and he knows and values the nameless, homeless, yet priceless men and women who live on our streets. During the height of his popularity, Jesus was passing through a village where a huge crowd had come out to see him. There were two blind men in that crowd, but they had been pushed aside by the mob. Somehow, Jesus heard the men's cry for help over the noise of the crowd and went to their aid. Those who are serious about following Jesus need to be on the lookout for fallen sparrows and anonymous characters like Wyatt Earp. Both are priceless in the eyes of their creator. -- Bob

BALANCE... when you live aboard a sailboat, you don't take it for granted... you have to work at it. Balance is even more important in the life of a Christian. Jesus said, "I am the alpha and the omega." Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus led a balanced life. He wasn't a single issue Messiah. He didn't focus on the alpha issues and neglect the omega issues. He came to guide us through all of the complex twists and turns of life; from alpha all the way to omega. Jesus was comfortable dining in the home of a rich man, and he was comfortable hanging out with the poor. He came to save the lost and he came to proclaim the way of peace. He called people to walk by faith and he challenged them to love justice. He exposed the hypocrisy of some religious leaders who wanted to stone a woman who had committed adultry, but he also challenged the woman to, "Go and sin no more." Jesus came to bring life and to oppose death. I believe that means he is opposed to anything that might kill, steal and destroy. He came to say no to abortion... child abuse... capital punishment... hunger... terrorism... wars and rumors of wars. Jesus is the alpha and the omega. We can't afford to get so caught up in the alpha issues of life that we neglect the omega issues of life. There is no such thing as an Alpha Christian or an Omega Christian. Anyone who follows Jesus needs to follow him from alpha all the way to omega. -- Bob

Jesus doesn't ask us to "Go" to church. He wants us to "Be" the Church. But there is a lot of confusion about what it means to "Be" the church. Most of us identify "Church" as the building where we meet for worship. Even though I've been critical of that definition, from time to time I slip and do the same thing. But the church is never identified by a building in the New Testament. The New Testament identifies the Church of Antioch... Corinth... Ephesus... by the Christians who gather in each of those communities. The first church building wasn't built until around 234 AD. That means the church experienced great vitality and growth before a single building was built. You could argue that the bigger and more beautiful our church buildings have become, the smaller and weaker the church's impact has been. After spending a couple of years worshipping in the tiny mud church buildings in the mountains of Northern Nigeria, I thought it would be great to worship in one of Europes great cathedrals when we traveled through Europe a few years ago. However, we were disappointed when we showed up for Sunday morning worship and found the building locked. We learned later that the cathedral functioned as a museum Monday through Saturday, but it was closed on Sundays. No matter how grand and glorious church buildings may be, they cannot compair with the strength and vitality of 2 or 3 Christians who gather in the name and focus on the mission of Jesus Christ. -- Bob

When our walk with Jesus becomes a lifestyle rather than a weekend religious exercise, we begin to enjoy the priceless treasure of life in the kingdom of God. Jesus says it is like discovering a pearl of great price. Juan Carlos Ortiz provides an interesting adaptation of that parable.
"I want this pearl. How much is it?"
"Well," the seller says, "it's very expensive."
"But, how much?" we ask.
"Well, a very large amount."
"Do you think I could buy it?" "
Oh, of course, everyone can buy it."
"But, didn't you say it was very expensive?"
"Yes."
"Well, how much is it?"
"Everything you have," says the seller.
We make up our minds, "All right, I'll buy it," we say.
"Well, what do you have?" he wants to know. "Let's write it down."
"Well, I have ten thousand dollars in the bank."
"Good- -ten thousand dollars. What else?"
"That's all.
“That's all you have?"
"Well, I have a few dollars here in my pocket."
"How much?"
We start digging. "Well, let's see--thirty, forty, sixty, eighty, a hundred, a hundred twenty dollars."
"That's fine. What else do you have?"
"Well, nothing. That's all."
"Where do you live?" He's still probing.
"In my house. Yes, I have a house."
"The house, too, then." He writes that down.
"You mean I have to live in my camper?"
"You have a camper? That, too. What else?"
"I'll have to sleep in my car!"
"You have a car?"
"Two of them."
"Both become mine, both cars. What else?"
"Well, you already have my money, my house, my camper, my cars. What more do you want?"
"Are you alone in this world?" "No I have a wife and two children....."
"Oh, yes, your wife and children, too. What else?"
"I have nothing left! I am left alone now."
Suddenly the seller exclaims, "Oh, I almost forgot! You yourself, too! Everything becomes mine--wife, children, house, money, cars--and you too." Then he goes on. "Now listen--I will allow you to use them for the now. But don't forget, they are mine, just as you are mine. And whenever I need them you must give them to me because now I am the owner." -- Bob

Where can we find the spiritual firepower to live above our human frailties so we can faithfully follow Jesus? There is a story near the end of the Gospel of Luke that offers some clues. After Jesus' death most of his followers went into hiding. Two of them decided to head for the village of Emmaus a few miles from Jerusalem. They had heard rumors that the tomb was empty, but they weren't willing to stay around to find out what had happened. As they walked along the road to Emmaus, discussing what had happened, Jesus met them along the way. Since they were convinced that he was dead, they didn't recognize him. They continued to walk with him and talk with him and were so taken by this "stranger" that they invited him to stay with them. As they ate together that evening, Jesus took bread and blessed it. When he broke the bread and gave it to them, their eyes were opened and they finally recognized Jesus. Their encounter with Jesus kindled such a passion for him that they had to share it with others. We will develop the spiritual firepower to live above our human frailties as we walk together with others who are committed to walking with... talking with... staying with... eating with... burning for... and telling others about Jesus. -- Bob

"Christianity" is often referred to as a major world "Religion." But I have a hard time thinking of Christianity as a religion because of the toxic affect that religion can have on those who long to be religious. Religion requires people to practice rules and rituals that often move them further away from God rather than drawing them closer to God. Someone has said, "Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship." I agree with that statement, but it doesn't go far enough. I believe that Christianity needs to be a lifestyle; the "Lifestyle of those who follow Jesus." However, the Christian lifestyle needs several things to make it practical, functional, sustainable and enjoyable. First, we need to have the kind of relationship with Jesus that provides the spiritual firepower to move us beyond our own human weaknesses. Next, we need to be part of a community of others who are committed to following Jesus. We also need to live within the guidelines of the scriptures so we can be mentored in the ways of Jesus. And then we need to practice a lifestyle that is "about others" rather than "about ourselves." Finally, we need to make a daily commitment to prayerfully, faithfully, enthusiastically long for and live out the values of Jesus... No Matter What! -- Bob

What should those of us who are trying to follow Jesus call ourselves. The term "Christian" carries so much baggage with it. Do we really want to identify ourselves with the "Christian" Crusaders who raped and pillaged their way through Europe? Do we really want to be identified with the "Holy Christian Church" that helped to create the Dark Ages rather than reflecting the light of Jesus into the darkness? Do we really want to identify with a movement that, over the past 2000 years, has executed an estimated 25,000,000 "Heretics" who refused to support or participate in the politics of the Church? And what about the "Christian" right? Should the followers of Jesus be identified with a movement that is much more about political ideology than solid New Testament Christianity? So what should we call ourselves? Jesus People? Jesus Freaks? Followers of Jesus? Disciples of Jesus? Do we need a new name for those of us who are reluctant to identify with what Chrisitianity has become? Until we figure out what to call ourselves, let's continue to lift up the name, reflect the values and follow the way of Jesus. -- Bob

“For many years now I have taken to going to church less and less because I find so little there of what I hunger for. It is a sense of the presence of God that I hunger for.”

-- Frederick Buechner