missio

I’m ready to get to public service. ASAP. The preaching bug is getting to me.

So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 11:15

We’ve been having an “incident” here at Harmony Church. A guy, let’s call him Kevin, had been attending small group for a few weeks, and all of a sudden starting last week, I get a couple of emails from him threatening my reputation and physical well-being in not-so-polite language. Now, mind you, up until this point, he had been somewhat cordial, albeit a bit strange, but not threatening in any way. And now it had come to rumor-filled newsletters being sent out on his behalf and threats of him “ripping out my brain”. I responded kindly (seriously) and with Scripture references (1 Corinthians 13, specifically: I’m not weak because He who dwells in me is not weak), and for a solid week, I heard nothing from him. Until today. Miranda received two handwritten notes on her car and door and I had two fresh emails in my inbox, threatening me with a golf club.

Once I stopped simultaneously laughing and worrying about Miranda, I went to the magistrate’s office. No luck in having him involuntarily committed; I’m not immediately family. I didn’t want to press charges just yet, so I’ve tried contacting his mother. No such luck yet, but hopefully soon and she will be able to help. Please pray for our safety and wisdom in making future decisions. It’s a simple reminder that you’re not a threat to Satan if everything is going smoothly. Seems like the Dark Prince is slightly worried by the revolution that’s going on in Eastern NC.

Building with a sword and a trowel (Nehemiah 4) in Greenville means so much more now…

I was thinking last night what Harmony Church might look like in 20 years. I know, I know, it’s a long-term vision. But be quiet for a minute, and let me speak. It’s my blog. So there. Here are three options I came up with:

1. We will no longer exist. In 20 years, we will have failed, floundered, or just plain given up. Greenville isn’t worth saving. Move on.
2. We will be an average Greenville area church. Just with ‘cool’ music, a loud pastor, and we meet somewhere ‘different’. 200-350 people, VBS, Sunday School, the whole shebang. We’ll have an effective small groups ‘program’, and will be doing financial campaigns, complete with colored-in thermometers and obscure Old Testament passages. (stole that from Chandler)
3. We will be blowing the roof off in Greenville. We will be a group of families whose children have grown up together. We will be doing long-term ministry in Greenville, including the low-income section. We will be rockin’ on Sundays, upwards of 2000 people meeting to celebrate Jesus’ name. Art shows, concerts, community ‘days’ all contribute to a good reputation of the church in Greenville. But most of all, Jesus’ name will be just a bit more famous.

Which do you like? I’m partial to the last choice.