open doors

I have a dream of church. A church where doors are open, whenever you drop by. A church where people are ready to listen and help at any time. A church where doors don't need to kept shut because of lack of helpers or people willing to share their lives. A church where people find a home whether there are church members or completely un-churched people. A church that is ready to help, no matter whether you are in need of food, shelter, prayer, conselling, or simply, love. A church that is preparing youngsters to be disciples. To really live out their faith, to give room to that and to help them do so. A church that is giving room to the body of Christ to worship, learn, live community without excluding the world. A church that is ready to be watched and to take everyone in. A church that combines all of that at ones. In my mind there is this complete vision of church. I'm dreaming of that kind of church. I'd like to build up such kind of church. I'd like to see such kind of church in the Salvation Army. Do you think that's possible?

watching THE CLOUD

Reading one of Spurgeon's sermons one line struck me: Our need to watch THE CLOUD.

This picture goes back to the people of Israel wandering through the desert, led by THE CLOUD, day and night, which told them when to rest, when to start travelling again, and where to go.

In some different context Jesus also is talking about the necessity of watching the signs happening the way we are watching the weather.

So, this is the idea: Believing that God is walking in front of us by his Spirit the same way he was in front of Israel in the cloud, we simply need to watch THE CLOUD to follow his leading.

So, where is THE CLOUD in your life? Resting? Wandering?

Follow THE CLOUD!
And we will be fine!