Gathering Places

Jesus said "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt 18:20) Thus we can surmise that when we gather together we are always sitting down with Jesus in our midst. I am thinking of several of those gathering places as I write.

Monthly area pastors have been invited by the mayor of Flint, Dayne Walling, to pray with him in his city hall chambers. I suspect the young mayor is desperate enough to tap every group and power available to try to move the city forward. Whether the mayor or others understand, Jesus is in this gathering too. Frankly, I wish I too would be filled with an ever deep sense of His presence in our gatherings. How would that change the ways we address each other? How would we spend our time differently if we could see the Lord gathering with us? Or how would our prayers change if we truly understood how close the Lord was in the time?

I like thinking of taking Jesus with me in my daily encounters. I can envision him at the Elbowroom Coffee shop each Monday where I meet with Pat and Jim, my accountability partners. We are each serious about the ministries Jesus has called us to. I think I need to pull up the "empty chair" more often to remind us of the Lord's presence and keep us thinking about others we should invite to our gatherings.

I can even see Him in the midst of our trustee meeting held at the Westside Diner. I love having church business meetings with our trustees in a "greasy spoon". It is great being interrupted by one of our regular waitresses who have even shared prayer needs with us. I actually think this is a business meeting the Lord likes to attend.

The church is always gathering is it not? Many limit their thinking and practice to only meeting on Sunday morning. The reality is that the people of God who are passionate about serving the Lord are gathering much more than 2 hours on a Sunday.

Just the other night three of us from New Wine met with the leadership team of a new Lutheran Church in Clarkston, Michigan (about an hours drive from where we live). They call themselves "The Gathering Place".   http://www.thinkoutsidethepew.org  What a joy it was to share with the group. They just kicked-off this new work in February. They are doing many of the things we have been living out the past seven years. They have rented some space below a Liquor Store and Tanning Salon. Part of their gathering space, just as you walk in, is a living room area. This greeting space is warm and welcoming and fits with their vision banner "we do church in your living room". Another space is dedicated to a play space for kids while the remaining space is partitioned off for small group study and seminar space for programs like Financial Peace and Griefshare. It was a great joy to encourage them as they start this new work. It was a joy to recount how Christ has grown us and met with us as we have gathered through these early years of church life.

May we ever grow in our sense that when we gather, Christ is in our midst.

"Growing For Christ" Napkin

Dr. Jon Shuler shared 6 essential for Christian growth.  They are so basic and I was trying think of a way to remember them when I am meeting with people our over coffee or a meal.  If it fits on a napkin I can remember it so here we go....

As a new or young Christian everyone wants to grow closer to Christ.  There are six key essentials to making sure you are growing and they all are about 3 relationships.  To help you remember this,  think of the phrase "Growing For Christ" and the 3 letters GFC.

The first relationship we need to tend to is God.  As you have already asked Him into your life, now one must keep talking with Him.  Any time is fine, but many set aside time for prayer in morning or at night.  Thank Him, praise Him and tell him your concerns.  But also learn to sit quietly before Him that He might inspire your thoughts and speak to your heart.  The second essential is get in the habit of doing a personal Bible study.  Start small but think regularly.  This is often how God speaks to His people today.  Your heart will often leap when the Spirit speaks to you directly through His word.  It is never too soon to start memorizing verses that speak to you.

The second relationship is with Christian Friends who know Jesus.  It is essential to begin meeting with a small group of Christians who are praying and studying the Word together.  It is best to meet weekly.  Some meet in a home, others at churches, while some meet at a coffee shop.  Talking about your faith with others will help you grow in leaps and bounds. Next find a mentor.  One person, usually of the same gender, whom you see is following Christ.  If you want to grow, sitting at the feet of a mature trusted Christian will put your growth process on fast forward.

The third and final relationship for growth is with a Church.  Find a fellowship that meets regularly near your home that honors God's Word.  Attend several times first but make a commitment to membersip soon.  The fifth essential to growing for Christ is to worship regularly.  You will be blessed but more importantly you will enter into what you were made to do, which is to give glory and praise to God.  This is a critical environment for your growth.  Finally, you must practice generous giving from the start.  You can not out give God, but in response to all He has done for you, He asked us to give of our time, talents and treasures.  People who give grow.

New Wine Report - June 2012

One of our folks at New Wine last month walked into our Sunday celebration when everyone was greeting one another. The room was overflowing with people catching up on the happenings of the week. The person turned to me and said: "This is New Wine uncorked!" So many people who have had reason to visit our fellowship remark that there is a gentle, loving and vibrant spirit present in us. I know God is certainly not done with us yet, but I am glad that what we have is being shared with those who join us, even if it is just for a moment.

I like this image of being "uncorked". I have to admit at times lately it has felt as if we were uncorked and flowing out into the world at a new level. From this little fellowship have had members in China, Columbia, New Zealand and Israel. Soon Kate Robinson will be going with a short term team to Rwanda. Micah & Stephanie, our seminarians, just graduated this month and will soon start ministry as an assistant in Missouri. Mike and Amy Cupp, who we helped in discernment, have begun their work in Grand Rapids. Even our new friend Tim Goodrich who is out in Philly was touched by his short time with us and is considering a more intentional relationship with the Anglican Mission. Can you hear the cork popping?

This month started with our Flushing Cell group participating in the National Day of Prayer and I helped coordinate a local prayer event that involved well over 100 people praying for our community and the nation. Next, over a dozen of us spent a Saturday morning in a time of listening prayer. See our blog (NewWineMission.blogspot.com) for more details, but the bottom line is that the Spirit reaffirmed in us that we were on the "right path". We are called to continue to build a community who loves God and loves each other. Last month I had several opportunities to share the vision of creating discipling communities through house churches with several people. One, a Lutheran church planter who is starting a new church in Oakland county, has asked me to bring a group of our members to meet with his new core group this month. Our influence and ministry continues to flow out!

In May the White House student Cafe ministry finished its first 11 week Friday Night coffee club near the UM Flint campus. We hosted over a dozen artists and probably saw over 50 different people stop by with as many as a dozen of them international students. The planing committee of this ecumenical ministry has decided to continue the work next Fall and expand it in scope. We sense the Lord's blessing and have seen significant conversations and relationships built as a result of this outreach activity.

Just last week our music team hosted another praise night in their home. This simple night of learning new songs is more than just a jam session. We sing old songs and new songs. We even broke out some rhythm instruments. One person said they could just feel the strong presence of the Spirit on our time together. She said she went away having come somewhat spent, now refreshed and strengthened . It once again shows that when the Lord is in the midst (even in our rehearsal time) people are blessed.

Finally, Deb and I were blessed with a new used car this month to replace the one lost in my March accident. To our total surprise donations came in to meet the whole cost of replacement! The full story of this blessing is posted again on our blog under "Kulchar Kruizer God's Gift". Thanks to all who prayed for us and were used to help make this incredible blessing.

Yes I can say last month that New Wine was "uncorked" in mid-Michigan.