Comments on: Communal Love in Proximity http://stephenmurray.co.za/2009/02/communal-love-in-proximity/ light conversations of a church planter... Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:08:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Stephen Murray http://stephenmurray.co.za/2009/02/communal-love-in-proximity/comment-page-1/#comment-1600 Stephen Murray Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:31:27 +0000 http://stephenmurray.co.za/?p=992#comment-1600 Ant - I guess ideas ar what missional communities are supposed to develop in their own context. The main idea is to simply get communal in our daily rhythms which are aligned to the rhythms of our various broader communities. This way we at least have the community in the face of the broader community - so that's the proximity. Ant – I guess ideas ar what missional communities are supposed to develop in their own context. The main idea is to simply get communal in our daily rhythms which are aligned to the rhythms of our various broader communities. This way we at least have the community in the face of the broader community – so that’s the proximity.

]]> By: T. Michael Cart http://stephenmurray.co.za/2009/02/communal-love-in-proximity/comment-page-1/#comment-1590 T. Michael Cart Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:34:16 +0000 http://stephenmurray.co.za/?p=992#comment-1590 Love, truthfully, is what it has always been about. When we are washed in the blood of Jesus, we begin to love in a way that was unknown to us previously. We begin to see people through the lens of eternity, which causes us to necessarily arrive at the overwhelming beauty and complexity of each living person, regardless of socio-econimic stature, sub-cultural minutiae, voting record, musical taste, or what ever else we would normally dislike about them. In addition, we start to make sacrificial choices motivated by that love instead of by the promise of receiving something in return. It goes against all we've been taught and all that we observe in the world. That contrast; that ridiculously improbably shift in spirit, is enough to take the hardest person and turn them into a sharp instrument for the Kingdom of God. Love is, and always has been, the center of it all. Love, truthfully, is what it has always been about. When we are washed in the blood of Jesus, we begin to love in a way that was unknown to us previously. We begin to see people through the lens of eternity, which causes us to necessarily arrive at the overwhelming beauty and complexity of each living person, regardless of socio-econimic stature, sub-cultural minutiae, voting record, musical taste, or what ever else we would normally dislike about them.

In addition, we start to make sacrificial choices motivated by that love instead of by the promise of receiving something in return. It goes against all we’ve been taught and all that we observe in the world.

That contrast; that ridiculously improbably shift in spirit, is enough to take the hardest person and turn them into a sharp instrument for the Kingdom of God.

Love is, and always has been, the center of it all.

]]> By: Caffeinated Thoughts http://stephenmurray.co.za/2009/02/communal-love-in-proximity/comment-page-1/#comment-1576 Caffeinated Thoughts Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:27:35 +0000 http://stephenmurray.co.za/?p=992#comment-1576 <strong>Twenty Items of Interest (v.48)...</strong> 1.  I’m concerned about what is going on in Mexico with drug cartels and their overall instability.  A few links for you to check out:  Disorder on the border over at Intellectual Redneck, Tracy Karol posted on Texas’ role re... Twenty Items of Interest (v.48)…

1.  I’m concerned about what is going on in Mexico with drug cartels and their overall instability.  A few links for you to check out:  Disorder on the border over at Intellectual Redneck, Tracy Karol posted on Texas’ role re…

]]> By: Ant http://stephenmurray.co.za/2009/02/communal-love-in-proximity/comment-page-1/#comment-1571 Ant Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:15:47 +0000 http://stephenmurray.co.za/?p=992#comment-1571 Nice post, Jesus also said the world would know that we belong to Jesus by the love we have for each other. Thus mission is forged in our public "love affair" we have with each other (hmmm sounds bit dodgy!) This can have a massive impact on ministry. Youth work can benefit from this in a big way. I'm finding most teens are coming out of broken homes, single moms (with numerous boyfriends), abusive and neglected situations. Thing is, they need love more than anything. If they can experience Christian love in a family context, the redemptive ramifications for that teen can be massive! Any other ideas to foster communal love in proximity? Within a traditional church setup or a multi-site setup? Nice post, Jesus also said the world would know that we belong to Jesus by the love we have for each other. Thus mission is forged in our public “love affair” we have with each other (hmmm sounds bit dodgy!) This can have a massive impact on ministry. Youth work can benefit from this in a big way. I’m finding most teens are coming out of broken homes, single moms (with numerous boyfriends), abusive and neglected situations. Thing is, they need love more than anything. If they can experience Christian love in a family context, the redemptive ramifications for that teen can be massive! Any other ideas to foster communal love in proximity? Within a traditional church setup or a multi-site setup?

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