Vicar writes 4th/ 5th June 2011
How are we reflecting the Heart of our Father?
If the church is to reveal, express and communicate the father heart of God within her community and to a lost and hurting world, what will that mean for us here in SJC?
Like the father who waits for his prodigal son (Luke 15), will we wait and be always ready to embrace those who are lost and returning? Do we accept another person in Christ? Do people remain on the fringe or feel drawn to the love of the Father through our community?
Do we have a culture of encouragement, where one's potential - not weaknesses- are highlighted and magnified? Are people here growing into their calling and destiny in Christ?
Is there an edge of discipline in the way we exercise our fathering? God disciplines him who He loves. Are we concerned and helping one another conform to the image of Christ?
Are we patient with the ministry of teaching, instruction, giving advice and intentional conversations? Do we care enough to give time and energy to journey alongside and mentor our "sons and daughters"?
Are the fathers of our biological families growing in their effectiveness as fathers? Are we planting seeds positively for the generations to come? And through the church community, is that spilling over in the way we father the fatherless?
Do we really know our "children"? Is there intimacy and personal care shown consistently? Are there some on the fringe because the church is neither a family to them nor a channel to experience the heart of our Heavenly Father?
Do you realize that this whole article is written in questions? What are our answers? What is our Father saying to us as we move back to Leedon?