House Church

I recently joined some of my new friends for church. It was different from the church I am used to, we didn't meet in a Catholic school for one thing. It was actually in a house, hence the name "House Church. The church is a group of about 20 people, mostly young married or college age. It was started or actually planted about 6-8 months ago. One of the couples had helped plant another church in McAllen, Texas and is now here heading up this plant. The wife, Leslie, and I talked for a while about where or why the idea of a house church came about. I got the impression that they don't intend for it to remain in the house but that ideally it would grow, much like how the church I go to started in a bar and now has moved on to the Catholic School. This house church in particular is similar to Journey Church, I believe it is actually affiliated with Fellowship Church, which I know little to nothing about. Anyway.... I enjoyed my time there. Everyone was great, good conversation, good food, children running around, and laughing.
As far as the set up went, it was much like a Bible study in my opinion. We focused on a verse, meditated on it, went around the table and talked about what stood out to us, focused on it some more, and of course prayed. Meditating on scripture is a great and very important, I wish that I did it more often. It was similar to CAPTOR. (is that right? Man I should really have the acronym right if I'm going to bring it up) So, while I found the my time there worth while, I think I went into the situation with lots of questions. My friend and I discussed it briefly.
One of my concerns was that the structure of the night was something that happened every week, with no other elements of the traditional church service that I am used to. Why is this important? I'm not sure that I know how to explain. Mainly because I am not knowledge in this area. All I know is there should be more to it. I'm not saying this out of judgment, right now I am just saying it out of feeling. I'm pretty sure if I did some research or reading on the subject, I could explain why there is or should be structure and traditions in a church service. I do barely remember Mike talking about why we structure our service the way we do, but the only specific thing that sticks out is that the Bible doesn't have a detailed description of what formal worship should consist of. So why do we do it? I want to know. How did we come to the traditions we have today?

One other thing that I wasn't sure about and need insight on.....
These three "elders" of the house church, how are they being held accountable? Who is keeping them in check so they don't start pushing views that may not line up with scripture?
Shouldn't there be some sort of authority over them that doesn't go as far as calling it a heirachy?

These are my questions. May I just reiterate that I really had a nice time, and I think these people's love for Christ is beautiful and genuine. I need to understand this for my own sake, so that I can understand my church and other churches.

So hit me!! What ya got?

Grace

My sister is one of the biggest blessings in my life. She is genuine, loving, playful, hopeful, and just plain funny. Her husband and I like to joke that she is a cross between Monica and Phoebe, but the truth is she is very smart. I'm not sure when she became a Christian, but I have noticed a lot of changes in her in the past few years and I can only explain those changes by her growing faith. The birth of her three beautiful children has had something to do with that I think. She is an amazing mother. I often feel like I'm being mothered by her in many ways. (in a good ways) She has stuck by me through all my challenges, as I have been going through changes in my theology and my struggle to understand doctrine. I think she thought I was going crazy during most of it. Even when I was at my lowest and the most sensitive, she was nothing but a comfort to me. We would have heated conversation and debates about the sovereignty of God, and most of the time we end them by saying, "Well I just don't know, Della" "Well I don't know either, Amy."But now, formerly a "Free Will" Baptist, after spending several late nights on the phone with my brother, and devouring a few books on the Grace of God, I think that she would say that she is completely reformed and is floored by the things that she is learning. Now granted, this whole concept might sounds silly. "Big deal she's reformed!" Well, it is a big deal. For maybe the first time she is really thinking about what God's grace for us means. Understanding her place in her salvation, understanding that she is more sinful than she had ever imagined but also more loved that she could have ever dreamed, (Tim Keller) makes her as giddy as watching Elmo makes her son Hayden. ( The cute little guy she is kissing here) I love to see this in her. I love to see it in anyone. Amy is one of the most beautiful people I know. And I am so glad that God predestined us to be sisters.

FRIENDS

Kickin' em' when they're down. I had no intention of hurting a friend this evening, but I think that I may have kicked him while he was down. May I just add that the key word here is FRIEND. A friend is someone that you care about, spend time with, encourage, pray for, listen to, but in no way hold posture towards as anything more than any other person you claim as a friend. While I realize that the line between myself and this friend has been gray or even dotted in the past, I am fairly certain over the past few weeks it has been dark, full, and maybe even written with a Sharpie. Even so, I was trying to be sensative to the overall situation, while trying to explain to him that I might be moving on. Now my intention was to inform him before he heard it from someone else, or before he saw something that he might find questionable if he were under the impression that we might actually be more than friends. (Which, once again was made clear by him and me that we were nothing more.) So, although I was only doing what I would expect one friend to do for another, and what he even admitted he appreciated, I think that it may have hurt him, more than I had expected. Did I not do it tactfully? Should I have waited until there were actual concrete plans of moving forward? If I had waited until then, wouldn't it have been a little late to mention, " Hey, by the way I'm going on a date tonight, thought you might want to know."? I was trying to do the right thing here. Any opinions on whether I did or not? Jeeze....I quit.

Family Ties

Trouble-maker Mercer and Precious Ella

Aren't they hilarious. Well, I guess you can't really tell by the picture, but these two are just a couple of the fun new additions to the Sanger clan. The new generation of Sangers is wonderful. There are currently eleven of them, all under the age of 8. Dunning, Mercer, Fenton, Hobie, Hayden, Eliana, Hadley, Remy, Ella, Bennit, and Cal Henry. Precious. I pray that one day I can add to the mix.