Amazing Bible Studies "outdoors"

Ok, I'll admit we are blessed here in Arizona with some great weather in the winter. So, now that we don't "attend church" we have moved our Bible studies outdoors!

The first study we did at the Riparian Water Preserve. We walked around the park talking about sowing seeds. It was great to see how some seeds might fall on the path...other seed amoung the thorns and still others in good soil. I really think our 2 younger kids got it! The KEY to what we studied - Don't worry about where you put the seed, just get the seed out there! What was funny to watch, is how many people would see us with Bibles and head the opposite direction.

It was a wonderful Sunday morning spent with my wife and our 2 younger boys.

Last week we took another Bible Study field trip and went to a new housing development. We walked around a "foundation" for a home. Then we went to a home that was already built. Our discussion was around building a foundation on something solid (God). We spent time in prayer and then the boys wanted to play at the nearby playground...it is wonderful to live in the freedom Christ came to bring us!

And about our older 2 kids? Well, my son is really praying about what God would want him to do. He is still VERY involved in an institutional church, but he is spending time in prayer and conversation with me about where God wants him. My constant statement to him - just be faithful to God where ever you are. Our daughter is also still attending the ic as well. She enjoys the social aspect of going and we know God loves her more than we do and therefore we trust Him to move in her life as He knows is best for her.

Let me pause and take a moment to say - we are not anti-establishment. We are not anti-church. Our calling from God is to let individuals know there is spiritual life outside of "churches". God is not confined to the walls of a building. If you have struggled to find a church and maybe you've even given up - rest in God's peace, open His word, talk to God...he is your Father and LOVES YOU! You are not alone!

Mark

First Official Day outside of Church

Although it has been a few weeks since we left the institutional church (ic), I have actually been travelling on business. Today is the first day of waking up on a Sunday morning without "getting ready to go to church". Wow...43 years of waking up on Sunday mornings "getting ready to go to church".

So, what are we going to do with our new found freedom on Sunday morning? I am excited to say that we are going to a local park (Riparian Water Preserve) and we are going to share some of how Jesus interacted with His people. With our 8 & 12 year old, it will be fun to be in an outdoor setting as we walk with Jesus.

Speaking of our younger 2 children...they had a program back in the ic recently that paid them "bucks" for doing certain things. They got "bucks" for bringing their Bible, memorizing verses, answering questions, and bringing friends. The "bucks" were then turned in each month for prizes like Target gift cards and toys. Our 12 year old said, "I didn't feel like it was a good thing to get paid to do things, but I wasn't going to turn it down." You see in the ic you exhaust every way possible to get people to do things and then you turn to bribery, or more common guilt. This is not Jesus way...that is not the way of our Father.

I have to be honest, I have not guilt this morning. The verse that has been thrown at every non-compliant christian, "forsaking not the assembling of the Saints" has lost its incorrect meaning. I am truly walking in the freedom that comes from Jesus Christ. I am thrilled to be a part of His Kingdom and cannot wait to see where He leads and to who I will share His love.