02.27.08 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

The middle of my week has been wiped out by being sick. Doesn't leave much room for creativity in writing...so I won't try to fake it here.


I would encourage you to read an article by our friend Kary Oberbrunner:

Becoming Who I Already Am- The Secret to Living a Life of Holiness

Click the link above and it'll open in a PDF doc (you might have to go to page 2 to see it)


I did want you to know about our Assembly on Sunday night....and a couple of other things in the news section.


Press on,

Mike

See the rest of thequest UPdate HERE

Gift from Feyboi

At our assembly on Sunday, I received this gift from Feyboi a church leader in the Central African Republic as an encouragement to our ministry and to be a "fisher of men". Our church family helped he and his wife (Christine) finish their Bible Training School over the last 3 years.

incarnating into an aquarium by Alan Hirsch

Check out this illustration of incarnation:

The Forgotten Ways » Blog Archive » incarnating into an aquarium

02.19.08 thequest UPdate

thequest family,
We went on a World Tour at our Assembly on Sunday night--from Columbus to Africa to Iraq back to Columbus. It was a great time of challenge and broadening our perspectives.

Pastor Ken Dillman of Ekklesia Church shared with us about his experiences in Iraq (also he got a write up in the Columbus newspaper about it that day too-here's the link)

He shared particularly about the differences between the Iraqi church and the American Church. We have it good in our culture (sorta like heaven), so we aren't as hungry for the things of the Lord as they are in the Iraqi Church. He even showed a clip of a worship service from there which was powerful.

Also we heard from Sylvia about her recent trip to the Central African Republic (CAR). She shared about orphan care and the ministry there. In addition, she presented me with the gift of the woodcarving (see below).

This gift is from Feyboi--a leader in the church in CAR who thequest helped complete Bible Training School (and his wife Christine). It's a hand carved piece that is beautiful. Syl told us that it is a man who is coming back from fishing and the statue is to be a reminder that we are FISHERS OF MEN.

"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him." Matt 4:18-20 NLTWhat a great thing to remember, it's time to fish...and we are are to be fishermen. Glad to remind you today!

Press on,

Mike

The rest of thequest UPdate HERE

02.13.08 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Mindi and I had the privilege of gathering with 200-some organic church planters in California last weekend at Church Multiplication Associates 2008 Conference. It was an impactful time in the sessions and workshops, and hanging out with like-minded and like-hearted people. What a joy to be embedded in what God is doing!

Many things were shared and discussed, but one of the most gripping things for me was the first session on Friday night with Deb Hirsch. Her talk was about the Obstacles to Living On Mission. She had 7 obstacles, but her first one out of the blocks was: "Distorted Views of Jesus." Deb went on to share the following quote:

"If your conception of God is radically false then the more devout you are the worse it will be for you. You are opening your soul to be molded by something else. You had much better be an atheist" - William Temple

I was stopped in my tracks. I have too often settled for a nice Jesus, than for the disruptive, radical, loving Jesus who is on the pages of the Gospels. He isn't just a pasty-white clean shepherd in stain-glass. He is the Good Shepherd--that is clear. Yet he told his followers to hate their mothers, to sell all they had, and to get behind me Satan. He overthrew tables in anger. He wasn't sanitary and privileged. He was earthy and real.

Deb's challenge was to run back to the Gospels and uncover again the Jesus who lived and loved on those pages--and who still lives and loves at the right-hand of God our Father.

I challenge you, to go back to the Gospels and ask Jesus to show Himself again as He really is there...that we might love Him and obey Him as He deserves.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)  

Press on,

Mike


Read the rest of the weekly UPdate HERE

02.03.2008 Mud Super Bowl with thequest folks

It was a pre-Super Bowl backyard football game. The Stadium for this Bowl was The Field at Second Avenue Elementart.

A muddy affair where everyone no one got hurt, everyone got sore, muddy and cold! So fun. Enjoy the pics