FAR from Tabernacle to Temple and beyond...

In the last 6 months, the church that I serve as Pastor has made a move from years of operating in Tabernacle mode to a new way of operating in Temple mode. Let me explain... as you follow the children of Israel in the Old Testament, you see that while they wandered toward the promised land, they had a mobile structure called the Tabernacle where they worshipped God. For the 8 years that Sharon and I have pastored Community of Joy, we have been in Tabernacle mode... always setting up and tearing down each week and not having a permanent location that was ours. Now on July 22 of this year, we opened the doors of our new ministry center which is the opening of a new mode of operation... the Temple Mode. A permanent place which does not require the constant set up and tear down... it has other requirements...

I am grateful for the Tabernacle years because in those years, we developed some attitudes and practices that have taken us FAR... and will take us FAR in the years to come.

These attitudes and practices are:

F- Flexibility --- we are a very flexible bunch of people... able to punt when needed.

A- Adaptable --- we are a very adaptable bunch of people too! When a challenge arises... we don't quickly throw up our hands in despair or resignation, we seek God's direction and start brainstorming ways to surmount the challenge.

R -- Relational --- we ARE a place where relationships matter! And I pray that we will always be that! One way we will work at this value is through small groups... it is my hope that everyone will be part of a small group... so they can experience the blessing of supportive community!

With these three attitudes, we will go FAR in 2008 and beyond!