Strawberry Patch May 29, 2008

05.29.08 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Strawberries...yum. I ate one out of my garden this morning. It was big and red and juicy.

I began thinking back a few years to a little article I shared that became a vision for us at thequest >> a strawberry patch vision . I was looking back at those pictures and I realized that our patch has grown in our backyard. It has filled in the space! Below is a picture so you can see it ( and there are a few more on the blog. )

In addition our strawberry patch for thequest has continued to grow and reproduce in urban Columbus and beyond.

In the news section below you'll read about a new church getting started here in the city that is an off shoot. You'll also read about our friends the Kipps who are shooting off to another place...and our family is too. There are people who are living transformed lives in different corners of Columbus and around the world because of thequest. Read the rest of that news HERE!

We are also seeing that new leadership is emerging within thequest to continue the vision of being a Strawberry Patch. There will be more to share about all of that in the weeks to come.

Press on,
Mike


Read the rest of thequest UPdate for this week HERE

Strawberry Plants in May 2008

The Strawberry Patch Vision cropped up from this article:
http://www.thequestcolumbus.com/resources/strawberrypatch.htm

And here's some pictures from today from the same area...

05.01.08 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

This week I've been challenged about following Jesus. I've been thinking and praying a lot about discipleship and being who God wants us to be- personally and as thequest family.

We'd talked over and over again about how our logo is a paper chain...and part of the rationale behind that is that "everybody can be involved." I was challenged with a picture from the world of nature this week which brings some more perspective.

watch video
It's about ducks-not the kid's favorite Donald-but real ducks. The story book picture is mama with a trail of ducklings following right behind her. It's not just for the story book, but it's real life. And it relates to following Jesus. He is the one in the lead, the Head of the Church. And we all follow Him.

Each duck has a responsibility to follow the one in front and that's important for the one coming immediately behind. Each duckling is showing the way for the next one coming along.

Many folks have said that everyone needs someone ahead of them in the journey and someone to bring along in the journey (ex- Barnabas, Paul, Timothy). We need people both ways! Sometimes we get selfish and are looking for people to pour their lives into us. It is also our privilege to pass on what God has taught us to others!

As soon as the duckling hatches, it gets inline. And the one in front of it in line shows what it has learned. And so guess what...everybody is involved. We are following the King- yet we are also helping those who come behind.

Follow me as I follow Jesus is how Paul said it (1 Cor 11:1). This isn't limited to those of Paul's caliber (who is that?), but is available for the person who is 4 days old in following Jesus. They can help someone 3 days old in the Lord...and THEY SHOULD! They will mature faster helping others! Those who are in line following Jesus are leading others.

Don't push the metaphor too far, but get the point-- EVERYONE IS A LEADER, EVERYONE IS A FOLLOWER. Everybody is involved! Don't be on the sidelines, learn from God and pass it on!!


Don't forget...this Sunday night we'll have another time of prayer and conversation for thequest.

Press on,
Mike

PS. Thanks to Curtis Sergeant for the duck metaphor and applications from his talk at the 2008 Organic Church Movements Conference- Buy the CD HERE

Read the rest of the quest UPdate HERE