manna?

Deeper Walk: Are We There Yet?

Posted by Ed and Lois

Article By Dan Leinbaugh (Thanks To Relevant magazine)

He sat across the table from me at a Subway and retold a story that had changed his life. As he recalled the struggle of climbing Mt. Fuji in the dark and being one of the few to make it to the top as the sun rose over the land of the rising sun, his voice cracked slightly and his eyes became intense. It was a pivotal point in his life when God revealed to him the millions of people that were living in darkness and without hope. God had put a passion in him on that mountain that would change the rest of his life.

I realized two things that day: first, I’m not losing any weight eating at Subway, and second, I hate stories like that. I hate stories like that pretty much because I don’t have a story like that.

Most of us haven’t stood on a windswept mountaintop where, in an instant, God laid out the purpose of our lives. And, while God seems to speak to some as loud as a trumpet blast, for most of us, the still, small voice of God is just that: very still and very small. And so we sit, ears strained, trying to hear God, just in case He might say something to us ... anything.

Super-spiritual people point to Moses, who sat around staring at bushes for 40 years until he was ready to be used by God. Or Abraham, who was one billion years old before God followed through with His promise of starting a nation through him. And in response, I nod my head in understanding, but inside my heart is breaking. Will it really be that long before God gives me something significant to do? Before He gives me a purpose? When will I arrive?

In the meantime, I continue my spiritual journey in the backseat, pestering God. “Am I there yet? Am I there yet? How much longer?”

Jesus told a story about a boss who, before leaving on a long journey, entrusted his employees with varying amounts of cash with the idea that there would be a good return on his investment. You will recall that two of the employees doubled the money, while the last guy buried what he had for fear he’d lose it all. But what is really striking in that story is the line that is repeated several times: “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

Maybe I want to change the world, but have I changed my apartment building? My neighborhood? My church? Even myself? Have I taken a backseat in my spiritual journey, waiting for “the” moment to arrive while thousands of moments pass me by?

T.S. Eliot said, “We had the experience, but missed the meaning.” Every day God places experiences before us. Most of them are small and easy to miss, but they are packed with enough meaning and significance to change lives. The key is being faithful with a few things.

I Don’t Like Church Anymore

Posted by Ed and Lois

Interesting article by Doug Tappan in Relevant Magazine

I’ve decided I don’t like going to church. It’s not that I’m going to stop going. But I came to the conclusion last Sunday, as I was showering before church, that I’ve come to the point where I just don’t feel like it makes a difference in my life. When Sunday morning comes, I find myself wishing it were Saturday where I would have the entire day to do whatever I wanted.

It hasn’t always been this way. I used to love going to church. I would look forward to it every week. I loved the worship time, ate up the preaching and enjoyed the fellowship with the people around me. However, all this has begun to change for me lately. I’ve come to the point where I don’t want to be bothered with talking to people. It’s not that they’re not good people, it’s just that I really don’t want to talk to them. I find that I’m not as interested in the worship and preaching as I used to be. In fact, I usually find every possible way to criticize the songs we sing or the delivery of the message (that’s the effect Bible college can have on some people).

You see, the problem with all this is that I’m in ministry myself. It’s actually my job to be at the service on Sunday morning. Maybe that’s part of the problem. Maybe I’m bitter that I have to go into “work” while other people can go and enjoy the service because they have no obligation.
Full Post
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/article.php?sid=4636

Sunday October 10, 2004

Posted by Ed and Lois

Manna meets @ 10:42ish AM at the Park Theatre

248 South River Avenue
Holland, Mi 49423-3201

Still studying Acts

Riley Armsrong In Concert Tonight

Posted by Ed and Lois

Concert starts at 7:30 ( or there about)

Recording artist Riley Armstrong will be performing with band Thursday, October 7 at 7:30 at the Park Theatre in downtown Holland. Tickets for this event are $5.00 for students and $6.00 for adults and will be available at the door only. The Park Theatre is located at 248 North River Avenue in Holland, Mi. (Near Hope College) Riley is being brought to Holland by Bystrom Productions (Thanks Tomi and Joe and family) and Manna Fellowship.  Should be a great night of music and fun

Manna Book Club( a subversive group if ther ever was one)

Posted by Ed and Lois

Next meeting Thursday Oct. 14 at 7:00 PM in Barnes And Nobles. (Near the coffeeshop)

I’m not sure what we’re reading, but I think it’s Stephen King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. We’re not meeting this week due to the Riley concert.