An Open Door...

At Mavuno Church

Today we visited a church that came out of the ministries of Nairobi Chapel where we worshiped Sunday. The church, Mavuno, seeks to reach young people from around 23 - 35ish who are middle class Kenyans working in places that can influence their society. From the picture, you can see that they are in tents on the site of a previous drive-in theater.

Their clarity and passion for reaching out and discipling is unparalleled in my experience. Their ultimate purpose is to follow Jesus by effecting and changing their society to be more just and to reach people for Jesus.

Tonight the pastor of Nairobi Chapel, Oscar Muriu and his wife Beatrice, invited us to their home for dinner. They included some of the church staff as well. Incredible hospitality mixed with great conversation made the evening fly as we shared together how God is working around the world in our various settings.

Under a Tree

After a long day of listening to pastors at Nairobi Chapel share about their ministry strategies, I took a short walk from the guest house to Africa University Campus. Students are gathered in clusters chatting. Birds and dogs are talking in the background as well.

For pastors the question always remains of how to share Jesus with people, call them to follow and assist them in walking with Jesus through a lifetime of ordinary days. The answer/s to this involved question takes up much time and energy among pastors...articles, papers and books with answers fill libraries.

My meager response to the question is that week by week I continue to attempt to share with us what Jesus taught and hoped his followers would do. Then I let go knowing that each of us will have to choose to practice Jesus' ways for ourselves.

Will we say 'Yes!' ??? That is the question...

Home away from home

We are staying in the guest house at Africa International University. Today is a relaxed day.

Worship at Notre Dame

Disney Village France

Blessings, D.  On May 23, 2012, at 1:13 PM, "Diane Bell" wrote: Yes. I know I am in Paris, France and should be seeing Paris sights. This evening we dashed off to Disney Village for a bit before dinner.

Monday, November 21, 2011, 2011 - “After Thoughts & Other Thoughts”- “Greeting with Gratitude” – Romans 16:1 – 16

We did it!! Yea!! If you are reading this, you made it through reading and blogging through Romans! Congratulations! Do something extra nice for yourself today. You’ve been faithful! Happy Dance!!

As Paul closes this letter, we are able to see that the people in Rome were not nameless, faceless people for him. Paul knew quite a few of them and loved them…counted on them. He had reminded them that they all needed God’s grace and love in their lives. They all needed to be forgiven. They all belonged to Christ. They were to respect, honor and love each other as Christ had respected, honored and loved all.

We are the 2011 ‘model year ‘of the church. As such, may you continue to be strong, courageous, loving and kind as you follow Jesus.

Thursday, November 17, 2011 – Romans 16:25 - 27

Don’t ever think you could out-argue Paul!! Even in an impressive benediction, he unwaveringly reaffirms his basic premise that both Jewish Christians and Gentile/Greek Christians are part of God’s mysterious plan in Christ. Their stories are interlaced in the prophetic writings of the Old Testament.

Christ’s life, death and resurrection have brought all back into right standing with God. The Christians in Rome, whether Jewish or Gentile/Greek, are blessed to have faith in Christ. The glory belongs to God forever and ever. AMEN.

(This concludes our reading of the Book of Romans. YOU MADE IT THROUGH!! CONGRATULATIONS!! HAPPY DANCE!! See you one more time next Monday for 'After Thoughts & Other Thoughts'.)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 – Romans 16:17 - 23 or 24

In concern for the Christians in Rome, Paul gives brief closing instructions: watch out and keep away from those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way. Watch out for smooth talkers and flatterers. In other words, don’t leave your brain at the door…keep thinking…keep checking what you are being told and see if it goes against the grace Paul has emphasized. Paul wants them to be wise and to trust themselves to discern what is sound teaching and who are faithful teachers.

Paul spends time in passing on ‘hellos’ from those who are with him…building and renewing connections among the early Christians.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 – Romans 16:1 - 16

When Paul commends Phoebe to the Romans in the first two verses, he is doing for her what his co-worker and friend, Barnabas, did for him years ago.

After Paul/Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he decided to follow Jesus. He immediately began preaching in Damascus that Jesus was the Son of God. Later when Paul went to Jerusalem, the Jewish Christians around Jerusalem found it difficult to trust this guy who had been hunting them down and persecuting them.

At that point, Barnabas stepped forward and commended Paul to them (Acts 9:27: “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”) Because of Barnabas’ commendation, Paul was trusted and let into the life of the church in Jerusalem.

In Romans 16, Paul is passing on that favor for Phoebe who is believed to be the person taking Paul’s letter to Rome and reading it to the believers there. She is a leader in the church in Cenchreae and has been a benefactor to Paul. He knows her, trusts her and commends her to the Romans.

Monday, November 14 - “After Thoughts & Other Thoughts”– “Accept One Another” – Romans 15:5 - 13

A hymn we sang last Sunday sticks in my head when I read today's scripture passage. The hymn was written in 1974 by Fred Kaan and references Jesus speaking to the disciples in John 15:12 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." The words and thoughts of this hymn are my hopes and prayers for us today wherever we are and whatever we are doing:

Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;

teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.

Be present, Lord, among us, and bring us to believe

we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.

 

Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life

we struggle to be human and search for hope an dfaith.

Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,

to love them as we find them, or as they may become.

 

Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved

in living situations to do the truth in love;

to practice your acceptance, until we know by heart

the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art.

 

Lord, for today's encounters wit all who are in need,

who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread,

we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on;

renew us with your Spriti; Lord, free us, make us one!