Yea, It's about what's NEXT

Yes, I'll be going to the NEXT Church Conference again this year (in Atlanta this time).  Every year since this group of forward-thinking Presbyterians began to meet I've at least poked my head in. I'm way over the median age limit for the group. But this is the future of the church so I'm happy to show up and cheer them on.  Besides, it's fun to attend such an event without me having to plan it.  I can just show up and be inspired.

Most of the times that I've gone, I've found a new contact, been introduced to a new way of doing church, or have just been inspired to think about the future of the church in a new way. My "little church with a big mission" wants to know how to be the face and hands of Jesus in new ways, but also how to do this faithfully with the crowd that keeps showing up on Sunday morning.

January Spiritual Nurture

In the past, I've noticed that many folks have a difficult spiritual time in January. Maybe it's that they're pushing themselves to follow through on all those New Year resolutions, or maybe it's just that in the northern hemisphere, the light has been going away for a while--the S.A.D. syndrome--or maybe it's just the post-Christmas blahs. With all the tasks we've placed on ourselves for living up to our own (unrealistic?) expectations to 'enjoy' the holidays, it's no wonder that we fall short and feel let down.
What would really help us is a return to the practice of sabbathing, that is, letting go of what's not important. A new book came to my attention from a colleague. I'm going to read it, as soon as I get the time!

 
The book is the true story of how author Jen Hatmaker (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.
Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. They would spend thirty days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe "seven sacred pauses." So, what's the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It's the discovery of a greatly increased God--a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better existence.