AHCC, like most churches, is a church in transition.  We are still discovering who we are as the church.  In a way, discovering this is like discovering who we are as individuals.  How we view ourselves can either keep us from achieving our potential or launch us toward it.  I have known too many people who could not fully see how God made them and subsequently they allowed themselves be less.  So it can be with churches. 

Jesus did not hesitate telling us what He thought about the church and He employed multiple metaphors to illuminate His view.   The Flock, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ is but a sampling.  When considered together, Jesus clearly had a grand perspective of His church.  He expected it to reflect the divine DNA from which it came into being.  Like Him, He anticipated the church would be world and history changing. ..I’m not sure that is what we are seeing today….at least in America.

I suppose we could get into a really heated discussion as to what is wrong with the American church.  But I would rather focus on its potential greatness.   Just a cursory reading of the Book of Acts, reveals not just a dynamic ecclesial leadership, but a powerful ministering church.  As such, the world of the early church was not so much changed by its leaders as it was by the community of Christ followers.  These believers rocked the Roman world.  They lived lives that Christ modeled before them and they continued the ministry to others He started.   In a sense, looking at Christ ought to give us a glimpse of who we are.  In the word of the ancient Antioch church we are “Christians”, “Christ-like”. 

I guess I am freshly challenged to consider who I am in the light of Jesus.  I am too quick to define myself “by” myself.  But that should not be the case.  I am in fact “in Christ” (Ephesians 1) and now He is, in great part, what defines me.  This of course is even more applicable to His church. If we want a clear view of who we are, we need only look once more to our Lord.  This perspective can launch us to our potential as the church, the Flock, the Body and Bride of Christ.    

What do you think?

This is my first blog.  What I mean to say is this is the first time I have ever blogged.  Oh, I have read some, and quite frankly wanted to add my comment a time or two, but until now, I have resisted.  Actually, I have wanted to do this sort of thing for quite some time.  Before I became the pastor of Arbor Heights Community Church, I attended a mega church.   One of my frustrations was not having a venue to ask questions or give my opinion or for that matter challenge the conventional wisdom.  It’s not that I wanted to cause trouble, but what I did want, was to have a conversation.  I wanted a place for my voice.  The pastor had a platform from which his voice could resonate, but I had nothing.  There was no place where I could contribute, challenge or share my musings regarding the church and my journey with Christ.

Therein is the ultimate purpose of this blog.  In that context I said to myself, if I ever have the opportunity to be a senior pastor again, I will create a place where other believers can have their voice heard.  It will be a place where a conversation can take place between fellow believers; a place where their thoughts, ideas, or frustrations can be shared and a place where “we” can wrestle through together the amazing journey of a life with Christ and His church.

As with all blogs, you have the opportunity to keep your identity anonymous.   This will allow you to speak freely and I encourage you to so.  However, I also encourage you to be constructive. I have never been impressed by someone’s ability to see the “wrong” in something.  Most folk can do that.  What impresses me, are those that can see not only the wrong, but the way to “right” that “wrong”.   What impresses me even more is the one that can see the “wrong”, discover the resolution and implement it without grandstanding about the “wrong”.  So, though we must consider the “wrong”, it is the “right” that brings resolution that is the primal goal of this blog.  I do have final approval as to what comments are posted.  Given this is a church blog; I will use discretion in posting comments that keep this a constructive experience.

My personal goal is to post once a week.  I will make every attempt to keep to that commitment.  My posts will reflect my thoughts on my journey with Christ and His church and of course reflections on any of your thoughts and comments.  I invite you to start a conversation on another topic.  My hope is that every conversation will benefit our own life with Christ and the life we share with each other in Christ.

Ken