the encounter

31 - Dec - 2008

re: encounter peeps conspire to offer hope

Date: 31 December, 2008 | Posted By: Jonathan Blundell | Category: Take Action, encounter

Ok, Here is the stats:
We gave away 7 dinners to 7 families, and 2 families got gift cards (for Christmas presents – they already had food). I thought we did 10 but the final count was 9!
In each of the boxes a family got everything to make their Christmas dinner complete including drinks and dessert and a $10 gift card to Walmart. This was the most fun we have ever had! Thanks guys:)

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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29 - Dec - 2008

Where will you meet Christ?

Date: 29 December, 2008 | Posted By: Jonathan Blundell | Category: Reflection

The House for all Sinners and Saints blog writes about responses their tribe gave to the question, “Where did you meet Christ this week?”

in friends who love us better than we know how to love ourselves
in a baby, thought to have been miscarried…still in there!
in a funeral
in the flour dust of baking with my mom
in the ridiculousness of my own consumption
in the beggar near my house
in coworkers
in my partner’s painful home-stay
in the mountains
in my room
in an unexpected conversation about faith with a new friend
in a love letter
in a shared meal
in perceived regression
in receiving a home-made gift from a 5 year old first thing in the morning
in 2 old neighbors I had never met
in sickness that has forced me to rest
in the chaos of packing a house
in tears
in a co-worker disenchanted with the church
in 10,000 turkeys donated
in children laughing and playing in church
in a young black youth struggling to be a father
this morning in a man on the street with a bleeding forehead, he said he recognized me; i gave him some money and he called me “brother”
in a young mother in transitional housing trying to stay clean and sober
in the softness of the falling snow
in that old lady’s laugh
in kneading dough
in an inebriated man with grandfatherly advise
in a cat sleeping on my lap
in quiet time alone
in Jesse Sims on Colfax
in Koreans in a Chinese restaurant
in quiet time alone
in my buddy Jason
in someone noticing I had not been at church and praying for me. It was not someone I expected to do this.
In conflict
in doubt & hope
in a hug from a security guard; a response to a simple gesture
?
in ‘coincidence’ of a reunion
in a conversation at the Thanksgiving table
in carrying a couch
at Quiznos
in the face of the dying
in myself
in long dialogues with a friend
in the simple presence of others during a tough worship service
in a phone conversation with an old, wise friend
in grace, when I did not expect it
in my sister’s pain
in learning from others
in dinner with housemates
in my babe
in a cop
in silence
in a random drunk girl
in a friend who has walked away from his faith but still is graceful in giving
in my church and its generosity
in my mother

Where did you meet Christ this week?

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23 - Dec - 2008

when kingdom and culture clash

Date: 23 December, 2008 | Posted By: Brian | Category: Faith, Reflection

Blessed are the poor; those who hunger; those who weep; and those are hated, cut off, reproached, and cast out for the sake of Christ. (luke 6:20-22)

But great concern and sadness toward those who are rich, who are full, who laugh now, and to those who are spoken well of. (luke 6:24-26)

These verses have introduced quite a bit of conversation and question into our existance as Christ followers. What we naturally pursue in this life are the things that Jesus pronounces a great “woe” towards: being rich, full, without hurt, and thought well of. And the things that Jesus gives His greatest blessing towards, we tend to shy away from: poverty, hunger, sorrow, and reproach.

Is Jesus promoting a lifestyle of poverty, need, and rejection?
Are we to reject the pursuit of the American dream?
Jesus told the rich, young ruler to sell all he had and give to the poor. Is that what we all are to do?

These words of Christ certainly bring a great distinction between the kingdom we often seek to build and the kingdom that God is building. They also bring sharp contrast to the pursuits of man and the pursuits of God.

Those who seek a life without need, without dependence, without pain, and without rejection will discover a life filled with emptiness, need, dependence, pain, and a false sense of security.

Yet for those who live in need, hunger, sadness, and rejection; they will discover a life full of contentment, joy, meaning, purpose, mixed with the ability to experience in a great way the realm and kingdom of God.

These are indeed difficult words in a culture that pursues the opposite of what Christ blesses. Perhaps because they so sharply reveal the true intentions of the heart. What does it reveal to you? How do you process these quests of the Christ’s kingdom?

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22 - Dec - 2008

Peter Rollins :: No conviction

Date: 22 December, 2008 | Posted By: Jonathan Blundell | Category: Faith, Reflection

(embedded video)

Would you be proven guilty?

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21 - Dec - 2008

re: encounter peeps conspire to offer hope

Date: 21 December, 2008 | Posted By: Jonathan Blundell | Category: Faith, Take Action, encounter

encounter peep post :: Kari McHam

Some may say that its about presents. Some may say that its about being with family. Others may say that its about the birth of Christ. And me…well….i think its about sharing God’s love with those who dont know what its like. I mean, yes its about the birth of Jesus, but you know what…Jesus would be feeding the hungry and getting his hands dirty – I imagine that He would tell us to stop all the hussel and bussel and get your hands dirty, so Thank You Encounter Family – with donations of food and the $480 that you donated over the last few weeks – 8 families in Waco will get to have the best Christmas dinner they have ever had. Thank You for being Jesus with skin on. Merry Christmas.