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Carole Steinberg A year later in Simple Church

Well we have been meeting in homes and other places for a year now as of this weekend, and I must say I'm still feeling like this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm still connected with our former church for a few things here and there, mostly going to the local mission and women's events etc. There are some things I miss about the IC, but overall the simple church thing fits. The hardest part for me is that my sons (17 and 16) don't like the simple church, they still visit a few local churc… Continue

Added by Carole Steinberg on May 22, 2009 at 9:54pm — No Comments

Nik P. Breasts, Marketing and Christian Outrage

At midnight, someone logged in and created a fake profile picturing a woman that could have been a porn star. She had an exotic name and God's dispenser of nourishment for her child poked through the thin shirt she wore. She promised to lead me to a land of free ring-tones if I would follow her by clicking her link. The danger is obvious. I hope nobody followed the link to express their outrage. Who knows what viruses infest Free Ringtoneland? How many people fall for such traps, with such bait… Continue

Added by Nik P. on March 28, 2009 at 8:51am — 3 Comments

Jeanne Smith Just a short update.

Hello my friends, We want to give you a update on what's happening with Healing Communities. First, we are very excited that Keith's book "Hauskirchen Manifest für Deutschland" should be out in the coming days. There is a brief description on the main page of our website. As part of the book addresses issues of youth disaffection it is particularly aporsite that the book is published at this time. As soon as the book becomes avai… Continue

Added by Jeanne Smith on March 28, 2009 at 2:00am — No Comments

Kathryn Brogdon A Little Time

I have to tell you this. I know I have heard the Lord. What I am about to say, I do not say lightly. The time to fret and carry on about the institutional church is over. It is over. A friend told me the other evening that he used to gripe continually about the state of the church/churches until one day the Lord told Him, “My Body is robust. My Body is strong. Don’t you ever say that my Body is weak again.” I didn’t think too heavily about it at first. The institutional churches, Messianic cong… Continue

Added by Kathryn Brogdon on March 24, 2009 at 8:44am — 2 Comments

Nik P. But I don't have time to prophesy . . .

I just completed writing our 2nd unit evals and now we have a mid-year consultation committee. More writing, more deadlines. In the midst of it, I hear the Lord speaking on various topics. None of His topics have to do with my little career or writing requirements for my job at the moment. I feel the fire shut up in my bones and I'm going mad without enough time to develop what He has placed on my heart. He is telling me to use the internet to explore local barter-economy options to help His pe… Continue

Added by Nik P. on March 6, 2009 at 6:47am — 1 Comment

Nik P. God is Decorating my Home Church

When I first moved out of the house some 20 years ago, my dad asked what I wanted for my birthday. I asked for a set of 4 chairs that I'd found at Venture (remember that chain you mid-westerners?) I've been re-covering the seats since then, but the blond wood and straight-line Swedish look has gone way out of style. (for me anyway) I am happy to announce that these still-sturdy chairs are finally being donated to Goodwill! After I got the new couch, I knew in my heart of hearts that I wanted 2… Continue

Added by Nik P. on March 1, 2009 at 9:30am — 2 Comments

Nik P. What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?

Question: "What is the difference between the Kingdom of God "and the Kingdom of Heaven?
Answer: While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. In r… Continue

Added by Nik P. on February 23, 2009 at 9:01pm — 1 Comment

Aida A mysterious awakening

I wasn’t planning to write a third blog on "Dances With Wolves" but, as I was reading, I found a portion that I just had to quote here. It said, “They spent less than three full days in the temporary camp, and three days is a short time in which to undergo extensive change. But that’s what happened. Lieutenant Dunbar’s course in life shifted. There was… Continue

Added by Aida on February 23, 2009 at 7:12pm — 4 Comments

Aida More Dances With Wolves

I recently finished reading Dances With Wolves. Actually, it only took me three days to read the entire book since it was so fascinating. I had originally planned to donate my copy to the school library but I’ve decided to hold on to it since, in my opinion, it’s definitely a journey book that's worth re-reading. As the story progresses, the change in the ma… Continue

Added by Aida on February 23, 2009 at 7:04pm — No Comments

Nik P. Furniture for a Cause

We just bought a love seat at Furniture for a Cause. It is run by SAMM Ministries here in San Antonio. I was amazed because it is like any huge discount warehouse store. They have a combination of new and donated furnishings for every room of your home. I am expecially excited because I never did finish re-upholstering the couch that our old neighbors gave to us. It served its purpose for the past year, but I don't need the pressure of seeing the unfinished project that no longer brings me joy.… Continue

Added by Nik P. on February 22, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Miguel Christmas Basket Project Ecuador 2008

Being on full-time Missions in the heart of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest has helped us redefine what is important. This past Christmas, over 30 families received a basket of much needed items. Many here hope the holidays pass quickly because they are reminded of what they don't have. Delivering these baskets and ministering to poor families needs has been a blessing for us. Pray that those who have been touched would continue to seek God in 2009 and that we would have the opportunity to follow up… Continue

Added by Miguel on February 1, 2009 at 8:00am — 4 Comments

Aida Dances With Wolves

I just started reading "Dances With Wolves". I've never read it before or seen the movie. I've had the book for a while but just now wanted to start it. So far, I'm enjoying it immensely. There's a quote on the back cover that I found fascinating. It said:… Continue

Added by Aida on January 31, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Aida A season to plant

This life of grace is an exciting life. For years, I struggled as a believer and then a number of years ago, God started to turn my spiritual life upside down. The beginning stages were the most difficult of my life and I honestly thought I’d never make it. However, even in the difficul… Continue

Added by Aida on January 25, 2009 at 6:48am — No Comments

Nik P. What is . . . this about a new coffee shop?

The short survey that I posted last week showed that people want an information clearinghouse as well as a social gathering site. So, I started the new tab, "What is. . ?" to gather what we find about the simple church conversation. According to google analytics, which tells me how the site is being used, Rick's old coffee house has been the most popular social draw. We are going to make an open cafe group because many folks just never found Rick's. The second most popular social draw is Aida's… Continue

Added by Nik P. on January 19, 2009 at 11:02pm — 1 Comment

Nik P. Like a Swarm of Locusts

As I have been thinking about Christian relationships, and how we get along with each other, I have been concerned about the little groups that seem to swarm up. My initial image was a circle of vultures, or a pack of wolves, tearing apart a victim. Why do we swarm up this way? Looking to the Bible for reflection, I recalled that their image was that of locusts, eating the crops. After Moses gives the commandments in Deut 27, I found Deuteronomy 28:38 “You will sow much seed in the field but yo… Continue

Added by Nik P. on January 17, 2009 at 9:47am — 1 Comment

Aida A study of spiritual abuse - "The Crucible"

Recently, I read “The Crucible” for the first time. This play written by Arthur Miller in the early 1950’s is today considered a… Continue

Added by Aida on January 15, 2009 at 6:51pm — 4 Comments

Nik P. Bible Story Theology

The way that I think about God (my theology) is based on some key Christ-centered images that I see in the Bible stories. • In the victory of the cross, Jesus overthrew violent powers with vulnerability rather than aggression. • By exalting the Lamb, God reached down to provide the divine sacrifice for us with forgiveness rather than vengeance. • Through election to servanthood, God’s chosen people were anointed to serve rather than be served. God’s ways are not like our ways, and He often use… Continue

Added by Nik P. on January 10, 2009 at 8:53pm — No Comments

Miguel The Most Dangerous Sadducee

"I consider the most dangerous champion of the Sadducee school is not the man who tells you openly that he wants you to lay aside any part of the truth, and to become a free-thinker and a skeptic. It is the man who begins with quietly insinuating doubts as to the position that we ought to take up about religion, doubts whether we ought to be so positive in saying "this is truth, and that falsehood," doubts whether we ought to think men wrong who differ from us on religious opinions, since they m… Continue

Added by Miguel on January 1, 2009 at 12:16pm — No Comments

Miguel The Anti-Fulfilled Eschatology Tool Kit for 2009

10 Reasons Why "This Generation" Doesn't Mean "My First Century Audience" (explains the various flaws arising from Preterist interpretation of Matt. 24: 34)
Abomination of Desolation, The… Continue

Added by Miguel on December 31, 2008 at 11:11pm — 3 Comments

Nik P. Why 4 gospels?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the most popular tellings of Jesus’ life in the time when they realized they were still alive to tell it and it needed to be passed down. The different stories had slightly different views that reached different peoples in different times. Mark was straight forward, perhaps an early recording without embellishment. Matthew speaks to a Hebrew audience, drawing on Torah and messiah. Luke speaks to a gentile audience, cultured in Hellenism. John comes later with th… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 29, 2008 at 7:46pm — No Comments

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Faith, Community, Mission

We may live far apart, but we are a community built in, through, and with the indwelling Christ. Our worship is a sacrifice of time, given to know Him intimately. We each serve, minister, and express our Lord Jesus, who is the only Head. Let us be known simply by our love for each other, in anticipation of when every knee will be bent in His Kingdom. And, let us follow the earthly mission Jesus began and passed to His followers to “preach goods news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recover sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
We are here to support, confront and clarify each other's place as aliens in the world but not of the world. Est: Nov, 2008.

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