House Church Talk - recent gathering sponsored by Off The Map

[Janet Murphy]

<<We are in the business of Kingdom come. We swear singular allegiance to
the King who has called us out and told us to fight. We are in the business
of sniffing out wherever the enemy is opposing those in the way of Jesus and
kicking his ass back into the shadows of his deceit.>>

Oh yeah, EXCELLENT!!  I always enjoy going to the Off The Map
website....seems so honest, ya know?

Here's another goal we sorely need......letting God's people know how much
He adores them as a parent adores a child.  I don't know, I've been feeling
His love in an increased way as of late.  No, not with things going better,
problems getting solved, etc.    But just feeling the love anyway.    Anyone
else been feeling it?

Peace,
janet
www.janetmurphy.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Bowen" <bob_bowen at fuse.net>
To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 1:14 PM
Subject: House Church Talk -  recent gathering sponsored by Off The Map


> HC-Talkers:
>
> David Anderson asked for an update from the recent gathering sponsored by
> off-the-map.  Here it is:
>
> It wasn't really sponsored by Off The Map.  Off The Map, Emergent, The
OOZE and some others did promote it on their web site.  Nearly 260 people
attended "Mayhem" in Cincinnati in January.  I think 15 states and Canada
were represented.  House Churches from as far away as Seattle, San Diego and
New Hampshire attended.  It was an awesome opportunity to dialog with folks
doing House Churching/Missional Communities from across the country.  These
were folks who are passionate about mission, community and Kingdom
discussed, worshipped, prayed, reflected, interacted with tension,
encouraged etc. etc.
>
> On interesting thing that happend was we asked the group how they found
out about the conference.  Less than 50 said they heard about Meyhem thru
the web sponsors.  The remaining 200+ folks found out about Mayhem through
reading our blogs, or networking with other folks.  It was like the person
you were talking to would know someone who know someone that knew you.  It
was awesome how the whole house church networking thing worked.
>
> Brian McClaren led 4 discussion and he did his usual outstanding job.
There were 2 sets of 5 breakout sessions covering topics from living in
community, to belonging, leadership issues, etc.  All were well received.
>
> Coming out of this, the team that put this conference agreed that were are
not in the business of putting on conferences, training seminars,
inspirational workshops or the like. We are not in the business of becoming
a hub for all things emerging church/missional communities/simple
church/organic planting/fill in the blank. We are not in the business of
hiring speakers, providing multi-media resources, creating a new
denominational affiliation or becoming known. We are not in the business of
postmodern arrogance or deconstruction of the church. We are not in the
business of top-down structures or creating Christian industry. All of these
are not a big enough idea to compel us to lay our lives down for.
>
> We are in the business of Kingdom come. We swear singular allegiance to
the King who has called us out and told us to fight. We are in the business
of sniffing out wherever the enemy is opposing those in the way of Jesus and
kicking his ass back into the shadows of his deceit. We are in the business
of connecting leaders and servants one to another. We believe that these
relational networks are the bridges that the Holy Spirit is naturally and
organically traveling across to accomplish his task on earth. We are in the
business of encouraging leaders and communities to think local and to think
neighborhood. We are in the business of believing that the future is open to
being co-created with the God who has initiated relationship. We are in the
business of taking responsibility for mission here on earth and believing
that it entails the redemption of the whole of creation here on earth. We
are in the business of thinking simple, doable, communal, monastic,
missional, relationa!
> l and catholic. We are in the business of embracing mystery, suffering,
death to selfish ambitions and vain conceit. We are in the business of the
prophetic without concern for any other audience except for the voice that
has called us. We are in the business of becoming irrelevant (as Nouwen says
it) in order that we can finally be free to love our neighbor.
>
>
> Bob Bowen
> Denver Bronco Fan Since 1961
> bobbowen.blogspot.com
> www.off-the-map.org
>
>
>