CCDA conference

Randy and I went to the CCDA conference today at Central Dallas Ministries about incarnational ministry - the theology and practice of relocation. To summarize, what we heard was that Jesus didn't "commute" to be with the people every day. He was born a poor Jew and came to dwell among us (the Message says "moved into the neighborhood"). If we aren't in the neighborhood - literally - then their problems are their problems. When we become a part of their community, the issues become our issues and we can identify with them, just like Jesus did with us. The speaker, Noel Castellanos, from Chicago pointed out that the Church today could be described as "commuter" and generally has little, if any, discernable impact on any particular neigborhood/community. Anyway, I could blog some killer quotes, but I won't yet. Bottom line from yesterday? To really understand the incarnation of Christ will impact how we live here on this earth. Sounds simple (but I cried all the way home from Dallas yesterday)! When the Lord is stripping away all your "crutches" and "excuses" it's excruciating. All the things I heard rang true with my spirit, but I didn't particularly want to hear them. I prayed on the way to Dallas that the Lord would break whatever it is inside of me that doesn't really want to right now - it's a bitter sweet answer. Wanted to share an excerpt from an email from Julie Pennington, one of my faith heroes. God was sweet to have her send it - she doesn't know what's been going on with us (by the way, she ended up putting this in their newsletter, so I'm not revealing her deepest darkest secrets):
"It's been a sweet week here wandering to the Lord in prayer on you behalf and thinking about you. One more thing I think I am supposed to share with you. We have had a hard February (yet full of incredible breakthrough this last week)-- I have almost quit about four times this month. But learning anew or maybe for the first time about God's grace for me each day. On a bad end to a particularly hard week, I was secretly plotting my escape from here. The whole shebang- getting to the airport, buying tickets home, packing up some stuff, do I take the kids or leave them here, what would Brent think when he came home and I was gone, etc. However, I got stuck on the issue of where I would go once I got back to the U.S. because I couldn't think of one friend or family member that would let me wallow in self pity and not send me back over here and tell me to work things out. So I stayed. Died some more and the Lord came and revived my deadness. I share that all to say, that when that day comes for you and maybe it already has, the day you realize that you are so far in over your head, made some mistakes, are ready to run and hide and forget it all, the day the lies are louder than the Truth, I wonder if maybe we are just normal and this is a part of the journey. Like when my doctor told me when Ben was a newborn that I wouldn't be a real mom until I let Ben roll off the bed accidentally. I thought to myself, "I will never allow that to happen." A few months later, clunck, and he's wailing on the floor. And now the Lord pours His love on me to give me strength for each day as I am so weak. So all this to say, maybe we aren't real "missionaries, church planters, ministers to the poor" until the day we plot our escape and then realize the Lord's power in our deep deep deep weaknesses. What He has called you/us to is impossible. Praise God. May He be glorified in our foolishness. May he make you/us more foolish and make us love Him more."
Amen. Blessings on this awesome family,
anda