Don't call it a comeback...

Let's not talk about how poorly I am at updating this blog. Let's not talk about the fact that I haven't done anything with it in a month. Let's instead just go into what's going on now.
This Sunday, November the 15th is the first church service of the painted door. (thepainteddoor.org) You can view some more information here: thepainteddoor.org. We are getting really excited about it. Lots of cool things have been happening as we have geared up for the service.
Today at prayer meeting (which happens every Wednesday @ 7am @ Eckhart park) we talked about some of the practices, the rhythms, of what we want to be about. We talked about fellowship and hospitality, and the difference between them. The conversation about what hospitality consists of really spoke to me. We talked about hospitality being reaching out and caring for the needs of those you interact with. It's much more than inviting them to church, it's building a relationship, meeting them whever they are and trying to fill whatever needs you can. My family is not really a "church family," that is an area of my life that that has become very much my own. Because my faith is who I am, because it is such a big part of my social life, I often neglect my family. I have set plans for weekly Bible studies, and prayer meetings and church service, and yet I don't have a time to hang out with my parents. Now I'm 23, growing up doing yoru own thing is part of life, but for someone who prays for the salvation of his family, someone who desperately wants them to experience a personal relationship with Jesus I really suck at having a relationship wtih them. How am I showing hospitality? How am I inviting otusiders into my world? How am I entering theirs? How am I meeting them where they are?
It has been said that it is hardest to reach out and evangelize your family because they know all the stupid things you do and think. I dunno if that's true, I do know its hard. ANd so then I say, well what was Jesus about? He met people where they were. He healed, he ate with, he loved, he spent time with, he died for. He did the things that people needed, even though he didn't have a home of his own, he showed hospitaltiy to those he interacted with.