2012...the year begins with changes. My church is moving to a new location. Only thing is, we don't know where just yet. We are checking out the possibilities, and waiting on the Lord. We will know in two weeks where we will be located. (at least we intend to know) Hopefully it will be the last physical move. Of course, moving involves change. I think we're getting pretty good at change. We've done a great deal of shifting and adjusting in the last couple of years; but we are not yet what we will be.
Between the now and the not yet...it's a bit uncomfortable, but at the same time, I like change...it means challenges, and I think that's good for us. It's easy to go with the flow; it's not so easy to pursue a dream wherever it may take you. It can be difficult to navigate when there aren't any signposts pointing to the destination. But I know there is a bridge...
There are things I want and need in a new place. Physically, I really need it to be handicapped accessible. It doesn't matter to me if it's a store front or a cathedral; if it's not accessible, it's not going to work for Adam and me. We can't be part of anything if we can't get into the building. It doesn't matter how great the worship is, how fantastic the preaching is, how wonderful and loving the members are and how comfortable the seats might be. It doesn't matter if the most famous and best speakers come to visit. It doesn't even matter how much we are loved by the others; if it's not accessible, it doesn't do us any good.
I wonder how many people are left out because they simply can't get in?
There are many different barriers to church attendance. I mention perhaps the most obvious, but there are so many others.
Being different. Looking different . Too young. Too old. Wrong clothes. Too poor. Too rich. Too crazy. Not crazy enough. Too cool. Not cool enough. Tattoos? Piercings? Purple hair? Mullet? Blue jeans? Three piece suits?
Not acceptable.
What keeps you out? Who would you keep out? What gets you in? Who would you bring in?
I say ...fling open the doors and let everybody in! I hate being left out.....I bet lots of you do too. I hope to see every expression of the love of God wherever we end up. The doors have been closed too long and the staircases have been too high. I hope we are accessible to every disabling condition. After all, wasn't Jesus?
Between the now and the not yet...it's a bit uncomfortable, but at the same time, I like change...it means challenges, and I think that's good for us. It's easy to go with the flow; it's not so easy to pursue a dream wherever it may take you. It can be difficult to navigate when there aren't any signposts pointing to the destination. But I know there is a bridge...
There are things I want and need in a new place. Physically, I really need it to be handicapped accessible. It doesn't matter to me if it's a store front or a cathedral; if it's not accessible, it's not going to work for Adam and me. We can't be part of anything if we can't get into the building. It doesn't matter how great the worship is, how fantastic the preaching is, how wonderful and loving the members are and how comfortable the seats might be. It doesn't matter if the most famous and best speakers come to visit. It doesn't even matter how much we are loved by the others; if it's not accessible, it doesn't do us any good.
I wonder how many people are left out because they simply can't get in?
There are many different barriers to church attendance. I mention perhaps the most obvious, but there are so many others.
Being different. Looking different . Too young. Too old. Wrong clothes. Too poor. Too rich. Too crazy. Not crazy enough. Too cool. Not cool enough. Tattoos? Piercings? Purple hair? Mullet? Blue jeans? Three piece suits?
Not acceptable.
What keeps you out? Who would you keep out? What gets you in? Who would you bring in?
I say ...fling open the doors and let everybody in! I hate being left out.....I bet lots of you do too. I hope to see every expression of the love of God wherever we end up. The doors have been closed too long and the staircases have been too high. I hope we are accessible to every disabling condition. After all, wasn't Jesus?
