Monday, March 31, 2008

Answering a few whys...

At the end of each Worship Gathering, we ask people with needs or questions to meet with a member of the staff. Yesterday, a lady who was with us for the second time had a few questions. Maybe others may have the same questions and just never made it to the front to ask them. For their benefit, here are the answers.

Why don't you do communion each service?

Different denominations and different local fellowships have varying approaches to communion, or the Lord's Supper. We believe that it is an important symbol and act of obedience reserved for born-again, Scripturally baptized believers. Since our Sunday mornings are intended primarily to engage outsiders, not insiders, there are many people here who would not understand exactly what was happening, and why we are asking them to not participate. So, instead of Sunday morning, we usually celebrate the Lord's Supper on Sunday evening every two or three months, at a special service where it is the primary focus. We also serve the Lord's Supper in Community Groups or in other small groups as requested.

Why is there no cross in the Worship Center?

Actually, there is often a cross as an element in the projection graphics, but there is no permanent cross in the furniture of the room. If an outsider needs a physical symbol to identify who we are and what we believe, we are failing as a fellowship. Insiders already know, and try to be a living symbol of the presence of Jesus to everyone around them.

Why don't we have pew Bibles? Why isn't everyone bringing their Bible?

Scripture references are always included in the projection show that supports each message. And remember, we are trying to engage outsiders on Sunday morning. Often, people coming to our Worship Gatherings are not familiar with the Bible and trying to find a passage may be a distraction for them. Projecting them means no one is distracted away from the message. Also, Pastor Ken sometimes uses more than one translation version, so there is no confusion between alternate wordings of the passages he uses.

Hal Hunter

A Week After...

Last Sunday was Easter, and we packed out the house both Worship Gatherings. Even with a lot of extra chairs in the Worship Center, there were only a couple empties. It was so full a few Baptists had to sit in front!

But yesterday the crowd was more manageable. As a matter of fact, fewer than half as many people were in worship than last week.

What changed? Death still stands defeated and Jesus is still alive. If we had reason to celebrate last week, is this week any less deserving of celebration?

Hal Hunter

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Knowing, But Not Yet Believing

There is something interesting to notice about the Gospel accounts of the resurrection and first few days afterward. Jesus' followers were presented with the evidence of the empty tomb, told by angels of the fulfillment of the prophesies, given every reason to believe what they had been told would happen did happen- they still had their doubts. When Thomas heard from men he had every reason to trust that Jesus was alive- when he heard eyewitness testimony- he still doubted. It was only when they had a personal encounter with the risen Lord that they went beyond knowing to believing.

It is the same today. We can read the accounts in the Gospels; we can read John's, Matthew's, Peter's and Paul's testimony; we can hear friends tell us about the truth. But, until we have our own encounter with the living Savior, until we feel the power of the Holy Spirit speaking to us, until we surrender our hearts to His love and grace, we only know it. And knowing is far short of believing.

Hal Hunter

Friday, March 21, 2008

Today is Good Friday...

and we are remembering and celebrating something really unusual... betrayal, abandonment, torture, cruel death and a borrowed tomb.

Let's admit it- that's what Good Friday is all about. We don't really like to think about it in detail, but when we talk about The Blood of Jesus and The Work of the Cross that is really what we are talking about- the end result of the work of sin in the world- loneliness, pain and death.

Take some time before Sunday morning and read Matthew 27:33-61, Mark 15, Luke 23:33-56 and John 19:17-42. It helps put the celebration of the Resurrection into perspective.

Hal Hunter

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Rattling some chains...

This morning something happened at Argyle that may have changed some lives. We had a visitor. Not just any visitor, but a scruffy, ill dressed, sort of blurry guy, sporting a classic ZZ Top beard. He shuffled in about 15 minutes before the first Worship Gathering. He spoke to no one, and some were reluctant to speak to him. I understand that some who saw him headed across the parking lot from the front sidewalk debated if it was a good idea to let him in.

But some folks greeted him, welcomed him, took him to the Cafe and made sure he had breakfast. When he sat down in the Worship Center, alone, several people spoke to him and shook his hand. But, a lot of people were looking at him and wondering. As Pastor Ken spoke, he moved about the Worship Center a couple times; a few people worried at his intentions. After all, we didn't know him or anything about him. Was he dangerous? Crazy? Violent?

It's funny how we see things that fool our eyes. The scruffy stranger was one of ours, wearing costume. We know him well, see him frequently and like him a lot. But, by wearing clothes that looked dirty, a beard and long hair, we stopped seeing him and started seeing a scary stranger.

Pastor Ken has spoken to us a lot the last few months about trying to see others as God sees them. Now, he has offered us some dress rehearsal. Thinking missionally and being the church in the world sounds easy enough- until you actually look the scary stranger in the eye. Loving your neighbor is simple- until your neighbor actually comes in and tracks mud into your nice neat life.

A little secret- I didn't know this was going to happen. I saw him as he stood on the sidewalk looking toward the front door. I remember thinking to myself, "If he comes in, he's going to smell pretty bad." (By the way, since he didn't, some people were a little suspicious about him. No one recognized him.) I was distracted by a request from someone, and the next time I saw him he was in the Welcome Center, alone, looking around. It crossed my mind I was going to have to go over and speak to him. It was a thought of duty, not pleasure. But. someone beat me to it, and I was off the hook (I really felt that way). They took him to the Cafe, and I was able to skate.

It's not easy admitting I didn't handle the challenge as well as I ought to have. Shoot, I handled it pretty badly. There were lots of people, people who aren't paid to be under-shepherds, who did a lot better job of dealing with this challenge. I hope I learned that it is easy to be distracted from seeing people the way God does; how superficial the basis of our prejudice often is; how hard it can be to overcome our own reluctance to step out of our comfort zones and take a risk for God and His kingdom.

Pastor Ken brought a powerful message today- but it wasn't really in the words he spoke. You can hear the words he spoke on the website, but trust me- the real message wasn't spoken today. It was lived.

Hal Hunter

Friday, March 07, 2008

Things that sneak up on us...

Every year, twice a year, I say I am going to remember Daylight Savings Time changes; remember them in advance, that is. Remember them far enough in advance to remind everyone a week or two before, so Rick isn't singing a solo at the first Worship Gathering.

We are living in the most information-rich environment that has ever existed in human history, and yet there will be a fair number of people who will miss getting the word and miss changing their clocks Saturday evening and will be late Sunday. Not that I am be critical- I missed it until late Friday. I just hope most people are more aware of their surroundings than I. Sunday morning will tell us.

Hal Hunter