AUTHOR: Robin Dugall DATE: 11:52:00 AM ----- BODY:

Hi - I ripped this from Andrew Jone's blog...definitely worth a read! "Pentecost Sunday is the day I think about the birth of the church and the church as it exists today, spanning the globe as the most diverse, most multi-national, fastest growing movement ever. Its exciting to be a part of it. Ever wondered how ecumenical your church is? [I know that word is a no-no in many places . . .but if you cant bring it up on Pentecost Sunday, when can you?] The most widely read document in your church is probably the hymn book or the songs that get projected on the wall for you to sing each week. Take a look at who the songwriters are and do some research - you will be surprised at how ecumenical your church is. Your church may snarl at the catholics, but it is reading their prayers. Your church may snub the charasmatics, but it is singing their songs. Your church may dismiss the emerging church, but it is probably using their software. Today is the day to realize that the church is bigger than you think, and bigger than you would like it to be. But if that's the way Jesus is building it, then we all better get onside." Don't you get the feeling sometimes that things really are bigger than you make them out to be in your mind? I remember the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains...HUGE! Bigger than I could wrap my brain around. I remember the first time I saw the Grand Canyon...HUGE! Bigger than my imagination. The Kingdom is bigger than many of us think. Just when we think we have figured out who is "in" and who isn't, I think Jesus relishes the fact that HE and HE alone controls the boundaries. Surprise...the Church is bigger than you think! Yep, there is probably more "Emergents" in than some would feel comfortable with...hmmm...there might be more mega-churches in than some would feel comfortable with...I think the final tally of who is "in" and who is not "in" might even surprise some fundamentalists! Oh well...so much for the knowledge of good and evil. Next life around, it would probably be better just to let God be God.

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