yourtown4jesus.com

E-newsletter for October 31st 2007

The first “cold” weather of the year has just hit us here in Texas (down into the 30’s at night, which for TX is pretty cold), and it is a stark reminder that this year is rapidly slipping away from us all. Since I was also at my company’s annual review day yesterday, I had another reminder of both the year past and the year to come. This reminds me of a short poem, though I am not clear who wrote it that says, “Only one life, will soon be past! Only what’s done for Christ will last.” So that is my question to all of us as we see November looming in from of us. What are we doing that has the ability to out live us?

For Felicity and I, probably the greatest blessing this year has been watching the amazing impact of training people in simple church planting as a mechanism for following up large numbers of people coming to the Lord through major crusades. Many of you will have known about and prayed for our work with Hamilton Filmalter, a wonderful, South African evangelist. It is the powerful multiplication of those house church movements that has brought this approach to the follow up of crusades to others, such as Gail Graves, that I described in a recent e-letter. Gail would now like all of you to know that he is actively soliciting teams to come from house churches all over the country to the major crusade that is planned for this coming January in Caracas. Would your house church consider sending a group to Venezuela for a week to ten days or more to help establish house churches among the new converts from the crusade? If this sounds at all like something the Lord may be prompting you to do, please click on this link to learn more.

We have been working hard on the technology for getting the newsletter out to everyone who appreciates hearing from us, and not sending it to those who really do not want it! With the new software that we are now using, it should be much easier to both join the newsletter, and to jump off the bandwagon at any time that you decide that the newsletter is not a help to you. We are trying to do the same with the resources that are available through the house2house website. We are now able to offer an increasing number of the DVDs that we have produced to you for free use on the web. Our goal in doing this is to help spread the message of what is happening in and through simple/organic forms as church as widely as possible. Can you help us by passing on this email to anyone that you think may be interested to get onto the newsletter subscription (CLICK THIS LINK TO SUBSCRIBE) or who may want to be aware of the new resources available on line?

So what difference do resources make? I don’t think that I can put it any clearer than Michael Tummillo has put this in one of his recent emails. “At the 2007 National Conference in Dallas , Labor Day, 07, I bought the “Tidal Wave” DVD. It knocked my socks off! All I can say is GET IT! As a Workplace Chaplain, I’ve been scheduling viewings of this DVD with groups of coworkers at the facilities, making them aware that, no matter where we go, WE ARE THE CHURCH. The DVD has generated many questions and many thanks. That’s all I do. I’m of the mind that, if God has anointed a thing, we could read a soup can label and ministry would happen. These resources are invaluable!”

John White puts his own gracious spin on this in a recent “coaching” email:

House2House Ministries <http://www.house2house.com/ > has done us a great service by releasing the excellent video “When You Come Together”. In the past, this resource has been available for $12.95 but they have now made it available on the web for free. You are free to use it and pass it on to others. QuickTime or Flash

Here are my thoughts about the video and how it might be used. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

1. It articulates many of the values that we think are important. House church is not just a meeting but a spiritual family. When the group does come together, it is not to implement a program but to listen to Jesus. Etc. You may find it helpful for existing groups to clarify and deepen values.

2. In some ways it is better than a book because people can actually see what the gathering looks like. I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me what you do when you do church this way.

3. It’s also better than a book because a group of people can watch it together and then talk about it.

4. It’s a great starting point for a “person of peace” who is being drawn in this direction. “Watch this (alone or with some friends) and then let’s talk about it.” Who do you know who needs to see this?

So, take a look at the video. Listen to the Lord about how to use it. And, let the rest of us know what happens. (If it turns out that this is a helpful resource, ask your house church or network to consider making a donation to House2house so that future resources can be funded. <http://www.house2house.net/donation.html> )

We will soon add the “Tidal Wave” DVD to the list of resources available free on the web. Can you help us by letting everyone that you want to see one of these DVDs know that they can see if with no cost on the web. Then, if you find the resources useful, you help us by buying the high quality DVD version from the house2house site so that you can use that for home or office viewing with groups who will benefit from it.

The article that I am going to point any interested readers to this week is more like a thesis than just an article. The author, Bradley Cooper, makes a fascinating case for the fact that the dwindling impact of church on society and the lessening role of traditional church structures in the lives of many Christians may actually be the harbinger of God’s plan for revival. If you have a couple of hours to spare, this is a very worthwhile and intellectually and spiritually challenging read. Follow this link for this article on “The Coming Revival In The Desert.” If you are looking for a good article that won’t take an evening, but just a few moments to read, try “Preaching and the House Church Movement” by Sara Horn. You will find it at preaching.com . It is wonderful to see quality writing in well received journals actively exploring the role of house churches.

We have long maintained that every powerful move of God is preceded by a prayer movement. And, church history shows that a movement is only sustained as long as it is prayed for! With the various house church movements reaching some sort of critical mass here in North America, it makes me ask if we are seeing the prayer movements to sustain the house church movements. Whatever huge numbers Barna reports as moving into simple/organic structures, it is not likely to be a true foretaste of revival/reformation unless we all choose to pray. This may be the time to encourage each other to get back out those old books by such saints as Ole Hallesby and E. M Bounds on prayer. Read them, and then live them.

I think that the 60 seconds that I aim for in reading these e-letters is up. I’ll add some more thoughts in a week or two.

Tony and Felicity on behalf of the H2H team.

Only one life

Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Author Unknown

• Email to a friend • •