No church, no problem?

I've been thinking and reading a lot recently about people's view on the church. What is it for? What does God desire from churches? Are churches becoming unnecessary, or will they become so in the future? Jesus talked about building His church on "this rock." What did he mean? Visible church vs. invisible church?

My very short take on it all: God intends for us to live out our commitment to Him within the context of a church community, both visible and invisible. We cannot do without the web of relationships that comes from being a committed member of a church body, at least we cannot do very well.

Granted the church has its problems today, just as it always has, but what can we expect? The church is made up of people in desperate need of grace from God, and who continue to struggle to live how God desires even, and perhaps especially, after they join the community. We should not do away with hospitals because we find sick people there, that's the whole reason for the hospital. Healing sick people is not the only, or main, purpose of the church, but it is one of them, and God desires for that to happen first and foremost within His church.

Anyway, here's some links to stuff I've been reading that touches on these issues in one way or another. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Books:
The Shack, William P. Young
The Reason for God, Timothy Keller

Articles:
http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=946&var3=issuedisplay&var4=IssRead&var5=100 (Courtesy of Bill Barnes)

Sermon Prep

I'm always amazed how preparing a sermon is different every time, and yet God somehow always comes through to get across what He has on His mind. Inevitably there is a point in my preparation process where I think, yea this isn't going well, and what am I going to say on Sunday? Which isn't a good feeling at the time, but it drives me back to asking God to do His work through my preparation, which of course is a very good thing. I am somewhere around that point right now preparing for this Sunday, and remembering that it's happened before gives me some encouragement, and an assurance that God will come through this time as well. So now, to the task of bringing the thoughts and insights of the last few days together into something coherent and God-willing helpful for others.

Childs Family Backpacking Trip Summer 2008

It's a tradition 43 years in the making. My mom and her dad first found this secret spot in the summer of 1965. Most years since, parts of the Doyle/Childs family have made the 6 mile trek in to enjoy the pine tree forests, drinkable spring water, rainbow and brook trout (yum!), and just time away from the hustle and bustle of life.

Audrey was an honorary member of the family last summer, but got to be a full fledged member this year.

Here we are preparing to set out on our hike:









In camp:









Friend in the forest:










Fish for breakfast:

g3 men's backpacking trip

I was reminded this past weekend how much I love the outdoors, especially in the Sierra Mountains. The smell of pine trees, clean air, and dirt in your hair. :)

It's so easy to get caught up in all the craziness of modern society and lose sight of what's important in life. But somehow taking some time out, slowing down, and just walking around in the middle of a forest, by a lake, up a mountain of rock boulders, gives me some perspective on things.

This past weekend I got to spend a couple days with 4 other great guys from g3 (New Church's young adult group) up at Lake Margaret near Kirkwood ski resort. It was such a blessing to enjoy some unhurried time together hiking, swimming, telling stories, playing the bean game, and much more.

It makes me want to get out to the mountains more often, we'll see what we can do.

Steve



Here's some pics from our trip:

g3 Men's Backpacking Trip