Who are we and what are we doing?

I was hanging out yesterday with my buddy Pernell and his wife Margie. We went to a conference on Urban Missions, which was sponsered by the PAOC. It was more a symposium for their denomination on what they should be doing in terms of Urban Missions. Greg Paul spoke last night on how the poor need to be the center of what the church is. Very challenging. He went back into the Old Testeament and layed the ground work for the poor being the center. I am still working this over in my head.

He talked about the need for a reformation in the church. I beleive it is already happening, whether the church wants to accept it or not. We are a part of that reformation, but we have by no means "arrived".

I was however amazed and disappointed at the same time at how those who follow Jesus, downplay some of the very clear directives and warnings Jesus gives us in order to stay comfortable.

I am still working this through and probably will be for a long time.

I went out for a beer with Greg afterward. He is much more optimistic about the chances of the present church reforming than I am. He feels God's call to educate the present church and has been focusing energy there. I applaud him. My feeling at the moment is that as 30 and unders leave the church, they will be the ones to start new works that relect better, what God's heart really is for our world. I could be wrong....