Just back from an incredibly pleasant lunch with one brother from Orlando, FL (Matt) and a couple from Pasadena, CA (Dottie and Fred) where we reacted to an incredible message given during the first plenary session by Andy Crouch. It was such an enjoyable time where we each spoke and clarified what God was showing us in the first message and in general as we journey through this concept of transforming culture.
I took three pages of notes in the session with Andy Crouch and he really started us all off with a bang and I hope that I get the motivation to take some of my notes and elaborate on them here as I think they’re incredibly relevant for the Church at large. The session motivated some exciting conversation at the lunch table and makes me look even more forward to meeting some other brothers and sisters in Christ to hear their perspectives and discuss what God is doing in each of us.
May God grant us all the willingness to flourish in unuseful ways with an understanding of the pain that surrounds us with the intentionality of being at play in the midst of pain… being adults who are secure enough to still be children. (I know that begs more explanation, but… you’ll either have to talk with me about it or pray that I am indeed motivated enough to expand on my notes.)
Hopefully, you see in these writings a man who is staying The Course and pursuing The Path amidst the pitfalls and selfish ways of being a son of Adam. I pray earnestly that my writing would encourage some of you by showing you that this journey - though arduous and sometimes tragic - is a journey of great satisfaction. A satisfaction greater than our greatest imaginings. The trials and refining fire of tribulation are to be recognized as a small shadow of the suffering of our Savior so that we can rejoice, as Peter and the disciples did, to be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Name.