Searching for the promised land... back to the upper room.

Numbers 13 and 14.. and the tyranny of the majority vs the sacrifice of the minority ruled the day.
Today's class was about "how we seek" and discern in order to act in accordance with God.  Quite literally...

Things to remember:

• the majority is not always right, maybe even rarely right
• act in compassion and love as the Holy Spirit guides you
• God telling you something? look for correlation in bible study, prayer, circumstances and the church.
• Just because someone is alone, in the minority, doesn't mean they are wrong. 
• Remember that God loves you, sustains you, and that you are special.. you have nothing to fear
• where faith is strong, fear is fleeting.
• Joshua and Caleb were awesome...even in their "failure of leadership"
• the people suffered when they chose a path not in accordance with God's will
• people suffer when they listen to the wrong voices
• people suffer when they lose their focus on God's will for them
• we need not suffer. we are amazing

"God fully expects the church of Jesus Christ to prove itself a miraculous group in the very midst of a hostile world.  Christians, of necessity, must be in contact with the world but in being and spirit ought to  be separated from the world. --- and as such we should be the most amazing people in the world."  

--- A W Tozer 1897-1963

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
--- Marianne Williamson.

THE DRAMA & THE WANDERING...
In regards to OpenDoor's space and the exodus from the gym today...

We can't continue to meet in the gym folks. The lack of respect for the class and our conversation is not acceptable and we are creating a volatile environment and unnecessary distraction for our time together. Administrative meetings, setup, cleanup, will continue.. That is the fact and no amount of preaching about respecting our class' environment and needs in "a gym" will rectify it.  Our style of class is not going to work in there.  It may be true that we are forcing and exposing poor decisions by others as we discussed, but the outcomes are not helpful. We must act to stop it now. The class' decision to simply exit and reassemble back in our old classroom today was the right one. The rest of the church, "the majority" can't and won't adjust, but we can and will.  

For the time being I propose that we go back to our classroom. It is my prayer and request that each of you would pray and think carefully about the space limitations and begin thinking about creative solutions. Seek God's will in our challenge.  

What is he telling us through the bible, prayer, circumstances and our church of late?

• we should switch rooms?
• we should meet at another time?
• we should combine with other classes in larger rooms?
• we should split our class and go out and tell what we've learned?
• something else that we can't even imagine.

The connection of these lessons and events is not an accident. I believe firmly that we are having our actions tested.. Don't forget who we are. or whose we are.... remain focused on our mission and purpose.. it isn't to grow out class' numbers.. It is to maximize our impact to the outside world.. through our lives and examples in Christian service.

REMINDERS: 

Open Door is ...   from OpenDoor at a glance

focused on using our gifts and life community to reach out and go out.. not just invite in.. 

Who we are:

• We are mostly married 30 somethings, 40 somethings, and 50 somethings. We tend to have children of differing ages in elementary school, but not necessarily.
• We enjoy thinking about current issues, and talking about how to actively use the gospel in our every day lives/applications.
• We aren't afraid to discuss and even question entrenched ideology and theology in a safe, inclusive, environment of friends.
• We care about one another and we act accordingly, going beyond the "traditional" expectations. We strive to sacrifice for one another, to make a difference.
• We ALL want to learn more about loving one another through regular study of the Bible, and further through regular fellowship and study. (in ecclesia)

Whose we are: GOD's period.

We are believers and searchers. A few of the favorite saying of Jeff are

• "I don't know the answer, but I still believe"
• "Every day is an opportunity"

We have learned in the past two years that we are ALSO:

• Constantly changing... seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance as we join God in his plan for our lived.
• Specific, beloved, first born, children of Christ