insight + job

     We have talked about trying to blog at least every Sunday, starting today.  I hope that this happens, but that is just talk at the moment. 

Insight:

     I’ve had several insights in the last two weeks, but haven’t taken the time to write them out. They are a little stale in my mind, but I’ll try to recount them.

     It is refreshing to be around the congregation / community / church that is Reba Place. The people here are committed to Jesus in a way that we are or at least as we want to be. Coming from the institutional religious environment we were in, I can say that we are refreshed, challenged, and ministered to by this new place.

     The worship meeting is something really special for me. It is really different to spend time with folks who believe that Jesus’ commands and teachings are a serious possibility. Different in the light of our experiences with more socially acceptable type Christians, and interpretations that make Jesus more palatable for Americans. 

     Last Sunday at the end of the service, there was a young woman who came to the front during our congregational sharing time and she was really open about her troubles and she felt safe to do that. Though I always like the sharing time because it’s spontaneous and interactive and people come to church with the idea that God may speak through them or want them to do something, this instant was significant for me. This lady speaking from her heart about her own problems, being really vulnerable was revealing the environment of sincere people with genuine acceptance of messy people and their flaws. The reaction of the congregation was full of grace as well, and I would guess the woman feels more comfortable after doing this. I am thankful to have finally found a church like this. Because I am a mess, and I need to talk through it.

     This accepting environment isn’t complicated or hard to pull off logistically. The thing is, it takes a group of people well trained in grace and truth. It takes a lot of trust on the part of the vulnerable one. And for me, I feel like I keep loosing trust in church folk. So there is hope here.

Job front:

     I really like the job I’ve had at the picture frame shop. I like the quality of work that we do, and I really like working with a lot of people who do not know Jesus. Unfortunately, as I have already reported, the pay doesn’t cut it. So through a lot of stress and some prayer, and some sharing, I have been offered a job at Plain and Simple (the Amish furniture shop that Reba Place owns). We should be able to make the pay work at the new salary. Something particularly cool about this is that I will get a first-hand look into the practical business side of running a community. If we continue on this journey to one day form a community of our own, this experience will be really good, and I would have never thought to train myself in business on my own. Plus, I’ll get to work directly with the Amish – awesome!

JWM Sunday 10.19.008