Focus. Gravity. Rhythm.

the following is my weekly email from 11.3.08 (if you’d like to be on the Vineyard Church of Savannah weekly email list just email me at kent@vineyardsavannah.or

Hey Vineyard folks,

I’m writing my weekly email a little early this week, well…because there’s a lot happening tomorrow with the Big Election and all.  Of course some of you have already voted like I should have but, oh well, most of us haven’t.  If you noticed, I didn’t say one word about the election yesterday at church.
a.  I’ve already said my piece.
b.  You’re mind is probably already made up.

Let me just say this:  Jesus following people are split on the two leading candidates for different reasons.  Each side has folks that don’t understand how the others can possibly vote the way they are and vice versa.  Unfortunately Jesus is not on the ballot – not that He would be anyway.  If Jesus were with us in bodily form today He would not take sides – He’d simply take over.  But until that day…we sludge through the muck of human existence – politics, economics, bills, dirty diapers, relationships and all.

So while you’re in line waiting to vote (I assume you’ll vote):  be courteous, don’t sneer at anyone who’s wearing a _____ pin or sticker, fight the urge to scratch out bumper stickers, bring mints or MnM’s to share with those in line, take a deep breath and know that if your choice wins or loses the sky will not fall, God will still be in charge, and we will still have LOTS of work to do.

I love each one of you and I don’t want our life of following Jesus to be adopted by any candidate or political party – vote your heart, do your part, and roll up your sleeves to continue the work of loving God and loving others.

I am voting…I have chosen a candidate…no, I’m not telling anyone but my wife who that is…and no, I’m not completely happy with everything they stand for but not voting is choosing not to participate.

put that in your hanging chad and smoke it…

Kent

I’m really excited about the Southeast Vineyard conference this week.  Sure it has speakers and meetings and workshops but most of us treat it as a family reunion.  It’s great to re-connect with old staff members, friends, and others who do the same thing week in and week out that we do.  It’s good to worship, eat and laugh together.  It’ll be in Atlanta this year which isn’t too far for us.

Kent

website for the Atlanta Vineyard Church who is hosting the conference

Janna, that would be my wife…or as I tell my daughter, Daddy’s girlfriend…and I watched a movie the other night called “Lars and the Real Girl.”  I must say it was good.  Not real action packed if you’re looking for that but really funny and out there (not Dumb and Dumber funny).  It’s about a shy guy who brings home a girlfriend, his family is thrilled until they find out it’s a blow up doll.  Please don’t let that freak you out.  It’s a sweet movie (did I just write that…sheesh)…but it’s good.  Finally an appropriate time to ask WWJD actually pops up – no pun intended.

Kent  (link below)

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm69703168/tt0805564

Taking breaks is a good part of anyone’s rhythm. God built a sabbath rest into the ancient Jewish rhythm and we continue that today by resting at various times. I take breaks from speaking on Sundays…which is both hard for me and a nice change. This past Sunday I taught the 5-10 year olds instead of speaking to the grown-folks. Yay. It’s good for me and I actually had a good time. The lesson was on “patience” – what a great topic for 5-10 yr olds. By taking a break from your daily routine you are able to get a different perspective, get some needed rest, recharge, or let someone else take a chance. By taking a break you are saying “the world doesn’t need me every blessed minute and God is bigger than mysl

I get really, really frustrated with Christians – of which I’m one.  We’re a group of slackers.  We are all hypocrites.  All of us have our theology wrong – we’re all heretics.  No one has the corner on perfect knowledge.  Everything I believe about God is flawed in some way.  Why?  Because I’m human and can’t begin to understand God.  One thing I do know – one thing that the Bible says all the way through.  One thing that the Hebrews said over and over.  One thing that earliest Christians adopted as their mantra.  There is one God.  He’s the Creator and in control.  Jesus was fully God and fully man.  There is hope for us because of Jesus.  Christians are just dirty humans who have begun to get cleaned up.  Some of us even enjoy the mud and that’s where it gets murky.