the story

Kevin's Blog

2008-08-25T12:02:00.001-05:00

Our friend Kevin leaves on Friday for three weeks in South Africa. He'll be blogging his trip, and here's what he had to say:

i will be spending about three weeks with my friends ben and alicia . what will i be doing there? well i'm not really sure. believe me, this is not a hook drawing your interest, i really don't know. i'll be there. doing what they do. drinking some cappuccinos. mispronouncing a myriad of nouns, common and proper, maybe an adjective every once in a while to liven things up. but i just bought the ticket last week... so...

blog!
http://kevinkuoni.wordpress.com/

i plan to update this every few days.

my expectation is to be razed. that this experiment in truth will give an answer or two, refocus some questions and open the floodgate to more. and i hope to chronicle what might be useful or colorful or fun for you all to read.

please join me

April 6 at the Story

2008-04-04T13:58:00.001-05:00

This Sunday, we'll begin looking at a single word and its implications for us as a community. That word is

Missional

Don't worry if you're not familiar with it. In fact, if you're so inclined to get acquainted with it, check out this article.

At 5 PM, you have two options:

Our own Keith Parrish will be accompanying in a voice recital at Belmont at 5pm. It should last about 50 minutes and could be a fun endeavor, if folks want to come and enjoy some music.
Or you can bring some food and eat said food at 5 PM at the story (at Sam and Lynnette's house - 1315 7th Ave. N.). If you want a theme, here 'tis: bring food that's mixed together (gumbo, stew, casserole...you get the picture).

Then, at 6 PM, we'll begin to unpack this word missional and begin to discuss what it means for us to be a missional community in the middle of Nashville.

See you soon.

Latest Conversation: Where in the world is God?

2008-02-22T07:25:00.003-06:00

There are lots of opportunities to find God around us - but often, God isn't where we hope, expect or demand that God be. Thus, we have to be aware of the local and make an effort to watch, listen, and hope in order to see the work of God everywhere.

Until Easter, we'll be asking the deep question: Where in the world is God?

To answer it, we'll actually have to get out of our houses, apartments, comfort zones and social circles. But, it's a quest worth undertaking, and one we can't afford to ignore.

Advent Is Here

2007-11-25T08:52:00.000-06:00

Now that Thanksgiving is in our rearview mirror and we're speeding towards December 25, we'll be spending time each Sunday evening at the story to prepare for the incarnation event that we call Christmas.

Come be a part. Food at 5. Community gathering at 6.

Come and Listen - Part 3

2007-10-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, we began to look at the idea of listening.

Most of us probably think of listening as a very passive activity, and nary a spiritual one at that. Thus, the overarching challenge of this series has been to understand listening as an active spiritual discipline.

This is difficult sometimes because we may be accustomed to thinking that God speaks in the loud moments. So we listen to preachers preach, singers sing and talkers talk. Step one for us was to understand that God is saying something even when God is silent.

Secondly, because we may think that God only speaks through the Bible, church music or prayer, we miss when God is speaking through other people, art, or music. So, we challenged each other to see other parts of our culture as a text through which God can be talking to us.

Tonight, we examined the idea of church as DJ. A DJ in a club picks and samples all sorts of music to give the crowd of listeners and dancers an overall experience that is full, rich and diverse. However, in most church settings, the sound has been very monophonic, offering only one viewpoint and one perspective.

Thus, to understand God, we've got to be able to sample from other peoples' opinions and ideas, our own experience, the wisdom of the ancients and any other situation or setting that can offer up the ideas and truths of God.

As William James said, "Truth happens." Therefore, we've got to be able to listen to truth wherever it may choose to happen. And often, it happens where we least expect it. But when it does happen, we're never the same because of it.

Upcoming

2007-08-19T19:30:00.000-05:00

We won't meet next week (August 26). Use the evening to spend time with people you like.

We'll use September 2 as a chance to reconnect with everyone, welcome those back who were gone all summer, and look forward to the fall.

how (not) to speak of god: the journey begins

2007-06-10T20:26:00.001-05:00

that which we cannot speak of is the one thing about whom and to whom we must never stop speaking.

tonight at the story, we embarked upon our journey through peter rollins' how not to speak of god, from which the quote above is taken. whereas last week we were asked to "take sides" with one of two statements (1. I cannot speak of God, or 2. I must speak of God), this week we allowed ourselves to sit in the tension between the two. though i lean toward the former, i for one feel more comfortable with the middle ground.

we only made it through the introduction and the foreword, but it seems like many of us are hopeful about this book. we are hopeful that it might promote healthy dialogue among those of us who gather together. we are hopeful that it might provide a language with which to speak and actions that we might take. we are hopeful that it might be a tool through which we are able to connect to god, to ourselves, and to others in a way that is life-giving.

p.s. does anyone know what the teeny-tiny words on the cover say? that vertical crack that runs through "how" and "speak" is really words running down. looks like there are some on the right edge of the cover as well.

for tomorrow, june 10

2007-06-09T16:27:00.000-05:00

this summer, we're traveling together through Peter Rollins' How (Not) to Speak of God. for tomorrow, june 10, you should have read the foreword and the introduction. no worries if you didn't have a chance to read it. you should still come. :) if you don't yet have the book, we've got copies you can have.

also for tomorrow, take a look at the picture below, and ponder. on that subject, that is all for now. more to come later.

postcard from johnnybaker.blogspot.com

Summer Plans

2007-05-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

It's been a great spring at The Story.

This summer, we'll be looking each Sunday at Peter Rollins' book, How (Not) to Speak of God. We'll have free copies for everyone.

As always, dinner's at 5 and we'll start discussing at 6.

sun april 15th - we travel the road to Emmaus

2007-04-15T06:57:00.000-05:00

Luke 24

Nashville's Hospitality House

2007-04-11T20:26:00.000-05:00

These next few weeks, as a means of giving back to our local community, we're collecting items for Nashville's Hospitality House.

Stuff on their wishlist includes:

Food
soft drinks & bottled water
fresh fruit & vegetables
family-size frozen entrees
bacon & sausage links
microwavable soups & entrees (no refrigeration required)
mayonaisse, mustard, ketchup and condiments
large cans regular & decaf coffee
corn meal
canned vegetables
semi sweet chocolate chips
sugar - greatly needed!

Other
phone cards
Target gift cards
Kroger gift cards
notepads & pencils
puzzle and activity books
games
current magazines
shower curtain liners
laundry supplies (detergent, bleach, fabric softener)
hair dryers
travel size toiletries
bathmats
cleaning supplies
33-gallon trash bags

come and see

2007-04-08T21:10:00.000-05:00

Hold fast to the story of life.
Trust that this is God’s story
and that in every time and in every place,
new life is emerging, relentlessly, in this broken, dying world.
Go into the world and put yourself alongside it.
(from hold :: this space)

as it is recorded in the gospel of john, jesus called his first disciples saying, "come, and you will see" (john 1:39). the gospel of matthew says that on easter morning when the women went to the tomb, the angel who told them jesus had risen said, "come and see the place where he lay" (matthew 28:6) if there's meaning today for my life from the resurrection story from long, long ago, it's that hope is never stamped out, opportunity is never shut down, and places of possibility are ever abounding. and so as one who claims to live in this reality, then i am called to hold onto hope, participate in the opening up of opportunities, and create spaces where the seemingly impossible becomes possible.

*****************************************

the poet she writes of war and politics and of loneliness
she scribbles her thoughts about love
she looks to the sky; on tiptoes she tries to reach for the stars
she dreams of the days still to come

come and see
come and see
dive deep into the mystery
come and see

she’s an awfully small girl in an awfully big world where it’s easy to hide
but sometime she dares to believe
that life—it exists beyond moments in time; that there’s more she will find
that somewhere there’s a place of possibility

come and see
come and see
know the beautiful mystery
come and see

she’ll write songs about freedom
she will sing them aloud
and dream dreams of redemption
taking place in the here and the now

come and see
come and see and be
overwhelmed by the mystery
come and see
(copyright lynnette davidson 2003)

Holy Week Reflection

2007-03-30T06:16:00.000-05:00

Come join us this week as we begin Holy Week with a crucifixion reflection. This will be a time of worship and contemplation as we view Jesus in the midst of death and defeat. Vic will walk us through this time while we try to understand what it all meant (and still means).

Like...

2007-03-11T19:58:00.000-05:00

Tonight at the story, we discussed parables: what they are, why Jesus used them a lot, and why we don't use them at all. Then, we used this format to try and describe church in general and the story in particular. Here's what we cam up with:

church is like...

...a 7-11. It's open 24 hours to any who wish to shop there. All the basics you need to get by are provided. Even though some vary slightly in their customers and merchandise, there are very similar in their content. Sometimes, its patrons and employees will be stereotyped or targeted by violence. It has something for everyone, no matter your age or social location. It provides sustenance for the local community. It serves as a gathering place for youth.
...the embodiment of the grace and mystery of God's love through his creative people. It is a revolutionary force that seeks justice and freedom to become truly his disciples responding to the needs of others with hope and love. It is relational, the living bride of Christ that shows the world who God really is.
...a hospital seeking to find people who are wounded by the world around them. It should provide the medicine and skills to heal them and bring peace, fellowship, love, caring, and support.

the story is like...

...a walk in the sunshine. It is to be shared, and it connects us to a bigger and more meaningful life than one lived in isolation.
...a bus, sometimes full, sometimes half-full, picking up passengers exactly where they need to be picked up, but delivering them to perhaps unexpected destinations. Even though the destination may be somewhat surprising, everyone on the bus somehow knows the journey is, as the cliche says, almost as important as the destination.
...people who plant daffodils. To do so, you've got to plant bulbs deep into the ground with lots of hard work, water, fertilizer, and sunshine. You plant the bulbs in the fall in hopes that when spring comes, the ground will give way to yellow loveliness bursting through, offering peace and joy and love and hope to all who pass by.
...encountering an empty parking lot on a Sunday afternoon. For a time, we are free to cross over and transverse the lines that usually contain our vision and truncate our imagination. We are free to dance over boundaries that keep everything in its proper place and re-imagine the space with brilliant creativity.
...the yellow van in Little Miss Sunshine. We're all going somewhere, but for difference reasons. But the point is really the ride and how we relate to each other along the way.

sunday - march 11

2007-03-10T15:48:00.000-06:00

we continue to look at life and message of jesus as we journey through the season of lent. tomorrow night, we'll be diving into some of the parables. what do they mean? what purpose do they serve? are we supposed to follow them--literally or metaphorically?

5:00 potluck dinner
6:00 parables

for more information, e-mail storynashville at gmail dot com.

The Discipleship Thing

2007-02-18T20:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight at the story, we looked at the notion of discipleship. What is it? What was it? Is following Jesus metaphorically today any different that following him literally then? Who do you follow? Who would you follow if they knocked on your door today? Bono? Oprah?

For some, discipleship invokes ideas of voluntarily following someone in a particular walk of life. What many call a mentor today may look like what some called Jesus in the first century. Some disciples followed Jesus for a few years very closely. Others following for a short time and at a distance.

However, Jesus seemed to call the ones who needed to to hear something, and better yet, needed someone to follow. In the wake of this, a movement was born and a world changed. And in that, there's not much difference between then and now.

resources from last sunday

2007-02-13T07:54:00.000-06:00

What if God was one of Us? - Video

Opening Prayer:
Lord,

When you left home on the ultimate mission trip
You chose to make the table the center of your ministry

Always including those religious leaders we wish you wouldn’t
Always passing by our festive gatherings for the company of tax collectors and sinners

And while we speechlessly sat as ones stunned by your rejection of our comfortable recliners with a good view of the TV, you sat down with the weary on rickety stools that could have easily been crudely put together from the scrap wood of old mangers..

But tonight..despite our former pride..you invite us to that table, to your table
To the place you have redeemed through the outpouring of ever expanding love
Oh lover..we accept...may your love bind us together tonight.
In the name of the one who was only recognized by the Emmaus walkers at the table

Amen..

We also used this prayer by Walter Brugg to frame our liturgical journey over the next few months:

Prayer - Occupy Our Calenders

Our times are in your hands:
But we count our time for us;
we count our days and fill them with us
we count our weeks and fill them with our busyness;
we count our years and fill them with our fears.
And then caught up short with your claim,
Our times are in your hands!
Take our times, times of love and times of weariness,
Take them all, bless them and break them,
give them to us again,
slow paced and eager,
fixed in your readiness for your neighbor.
Occupy our calendars,
Flood us with itsy-bitsy, daily kairoi,
in the name of your fleshed kairos. Amen.

creative God

2007-02-12T21:16:00.000-06:00

last night, mark led us in talking about the creative act of the incarnation. i guess i've not really thought of the incarnation as something creative. i tend to define the creative with things like art, poetry, and music. but what if the definition of creativity is much broader than i've assumed it to be? what if creativity is community organizing? what if creativity is how one person approaches another with whom she's had some sort of difficult relationship? what if creativity is finding new and deeper ways in which to forgive? what if creativity is putting hard-earned money toward better uses? what if creativity is taking care of the earth? what if creativity is finding ways to pull in folks who've been left out? what if creativity is opening up hope-filled possibilities, everywhere you look?

if we have been formed in the image of God, and if God is a creative God, then it must follow that we, too, are creative. every single one of us. whether or not we can paint, rhyme, or sing. so what is it that we must do as a community to foster our creativity - alone and together? and what are ways the creative God is being born in us?

This Sunday: 2.11.07

2007-02-06T20:36:00.000-06:00

From Mark:

For the past few weeks we have considered the governing metaphor of the Appalachian Trail and how our life together as a faith community often places us in varying locations with diverse traveling partners. This Sunday we intentionally begin aligning our journey with significant elements of the church universal for an important and what I'm sure will be grace-filled time on the trail.

As we begin to consider the life of Christ, Sunday marks our encounter with the incarnation. How did God come to us? Why in the world would God choose to come through thelegs of a woman in route to making redemption possible? Why did God choose a baby instead of apache helicopters?

In the incarnation, we see an incredible expression of the creativity of God and that creative brilliance of our Creator will be our focus this weekend. I hope you might begin thinking about ways in which you creatively engage the world - art, music, sermon, writing, teaching, etc. What's involved in the creative process? If God is creative and we are imago dei [created in the image of God], what does that mean about being fully human? How does the incarnation express the creativity of God?

Come at 5:00 for a creative potluck dinner and at 6:00 we will take up this part of the journey with many others around the world.

New Calendar

2007-02-04T09:18:00.000-06:00

Check out the calendar link in the sidebar. We've added this feature for two reasons:

We want to keep everyone in the know. Check the calendar for the upcoming topic each week, as well as when we'll be gathering.
We want to create community more intentionally outside of Sunday evenings. This is your calendar, so anything you're doing that is open to the rest of us (like grabbing a cup of coffee, catching a movie, etc.), post it on the calendar and see who joins in.

Enjoy.

Destination Resources

2007-01-28T21:55:00.000-06:00

Because for some, talk of a destination is talk of the end times, here are a few things Mark found on the web this past week:

- In 2006 The Rapture Is At Hand was published as a work of Hypertext fiction This satirical work of fiction is billed as a Choose Your Own Afterlife novella, mimicking the CYOA acronym of the popular Choose Your Own Adventure children's books, which were published for two decades. This novella is set in a Rapture imminent Bible Belt. It is up to the reader to decide whether to remain or depart for the more secular-minded Northeast. There are 24 possible endings, some of which portray the Rapture as occurring. The Rapture occurs in these endings in various ways, none of which subscribe to any accepted Christian Eschatological view.

- Fun Facts About the End of the World

Beware.

Is That a Bible in Your Pocket?

2007-01-21T20:30:00.001-06:00

Back in college, as I was trying to save people from the depths of hell, a group of buddies and I all used the same dry-cleaner. Jimmy was a Detroit native living in Birmingham. When you dropped off or picked up some shirts, you needed to make sure you had at least half an hour because Jimmy liked to talk about everything from Red Wings hockey or Tigers baseball to college life or your family. His dry cleaning skills were adequate enough, and I think we all liked the fact that this real adult seemed to take our impending adulthood seriously.

Soon enough, these conservative Christian friends and I began to discuss how we could approach Jimmy in regards to Christianity. Who would ask him if he were a Christian? If he went to church? If he knew Jesus? If he even cared?

I think we all stereotyped Jimmy based on the war stories he told of his younger days when he enjoyed heavy drinking and drug use. He liked to interlace his conversations with profanity, and we didn’t think you could be a Christian and cuss, so we were fairly certain that Jimmy hadn't been saved yet.

As my Christianity began to change, I began to enjoy conversations with Jimmy more and more. I looked forward to his stories and valued the time we spent when I picked up my clean pants. I began to care less and less about the state of Jimmy's soul or if he had recited any magic words for the sake of eternal fire insurance. No doubt some of my friends were dreaming of the day when they would go in for their starched shirts and walk out with Jimmy having just recited the Sinner's Prayer.

As graduation neared, one of the guys wanted to get Jimmy something for doing our laundry for four years. I thought something related to Detroit sports would be a nice token since that was clearly the love of his life. Instead, my pal gave Jimmy the typical, "I-don't-think-you're-a-Christian-so-please-read-this-and-learn-how-to-be-one" gift: a Bible.

I remember going into the dry cleaners the day after Jimmy got his leather-bound present. He showed it to me. I asked him if he liked it, or if he had ever read it. He said that he had read parts of it, but that he would just put it next to the others that guys in previous years had given him. I pictured Jimmy's nightstand full of thin gold-trimmed pages with the words of Christ in red. Jimmy then thanked me for never trying to shove Jesus down his throat.

Tonight at the story, we used the idea of supplies as it relates to both hiking the Appalachian Trail and living in the way of Jesus.

Along the Trail, packs can weigh in excess of thirty pounds. While one can expect that the average hiker's backpack has necessities like a sleeping bag, a tent, socks, food, a water purifier, and rain gear, oftentimes people take along things they don't need. There is a small supply store in Georgia that will do a pack audit for you, going through your stuff and picking out the things you don't need as you hike. On average, this place will save a hiker between 5 and 10 pounds. But, invariably, most hikers will keep the things they don't need, just because they think they want them.

It's the same for any of us on the journey of life. Our homes are full of things we don't need because we've bought the stuff we think we want. And very little of it is beneficial. We may be committed to justice in theory, but when it comes down to it, our bank statement says a lot more about our theology than our Bibles.

And the very things we think people need on their spiritual quest may be the last thing they want. Giving a Bible to Jimmy was like someone giving me a fully loaded 35-pound hiker's backpack. I simply have no use for it.

Inevitably, Christians will continue to give people things. Bibles will be handed out, tracks will be distributed, advice will be given, and opinions will be offered. But I think that if we are to truly live missionally, then we need to be giving things to people that they can actually use – things that are valuable in many ways. We must offer a listening ear, friendship, an open door, and a loving heart.

This week, why not do an audit of your home and see what you're caring around that you don't need? And, do the same with your Christianity. What assumptions are there that you should discard? Think deeply about this one as you walk the fine line between want and need.

The Cast of Characters

2007-01-15T21:58:00.000-06:00

By Mark Shivers

On Sunday Night, Sam and Lynette continued to help us think about the nature of who we are called to be as church through the metaphor of the Appalachian Trail. Each summer, hundreds attempt the full and thousands attempt only parts of the 2,000 mile hike from Georgia to Maine. Along the way, friendships are spontaneously formed around nightly fires and covered shelters. In these spontaneous communities, stories, food and cooking gear are exchanged and shared. Those on the trail do not travel with their own name but are given new names by others along the way.

As we watched some of a documentary on the AT, Lynnette pointed out the many different characters on the trail that do not fit the typical REI or outdoorsmen image. Instead, there were people of all ages attempting the trail for a variety of reasons. Some traveled in pairs, others traveled alone. Some met up with others along the way, others were intent of not letting anything slow down their journey. Some felt the freedom to leave the trail for food and drinks, others felt it necessary to stay on the trail for a "pure" hike. Sam and Lynette even mentioned stories of a blind thru-hiker and another who carried a tuba the whole way.

How is the journey of faith like the AT? Does the character of our journey welcome spontaneous occurrences of community? Do we spend too much time trying to define who is "on the trail" and who is "off it?" How do we treat those who take breaks and only do a few parts each year? Fascinating questions as we continue to develop a living blueprint of what it means to be a community of faith in Nashville, TN.

"House Church" Survey

2007-01-10T07:51:00.000-06:00

Worshippers who attend services in independent house churches report higher levels of satisfaction than those attending conventional church services, a new study shows.

At this point, we have no idea where the story will go (in terms of size or meeting location). But, we're happy for the meantime meeting in homes, sharing food and conversation, and challenging each other to walk in the ways of Jesus. This why I found this survey so interesting.

Check out Ethics Daily for more information.

First Steps

2007-01-08T22:02:00.000-06:00

Last night, we began what looks to be a fun and exciting time at the story.

Using the notion of hiking the Appalachian Trail as a backdrop, we began to get a clearer understanding of what this journey is like as we try to walk in the way of Jesus.

If you're unfamiliar with the Appalachian Trail, it's no picnic. If you're up for it, be prepared to carry 30-pound packs on your back, full of everything you'll need for the next 3-4 months. You'll be hiking between 10 and 25 miles every day, if you want to finish before it gets too cold. Make sure everything is waterproof, because it will rain and you'll have to keep going. You may get lucky and find some sort of shelter to sleep in, but those are few and far between. Watch out for bears in some areas. Your feet will grow one show size by the time you're done. You may get a chance to shower.

But despite the lack of creature comforts, thousands attempt to traverse the Trail every year. But only a few hundred or so actually make it all 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. Why is this?

Watching the first part of "2,000 Miles to Maine" gave us some quick ideas. This documentary follows one brave hiker as he trudges his way up the Trail. Along the way, he makes friends, meets interesting characters, has a blast, falls down, gets hurt, gets sidetracked, and wonders if it's even worth it.

And for us, walking in the way of Jesus is much the same.

As we begin to choose our own adventure this year, the next three weeks will allow us to see what this journey is all about. So, with the Appalachian Trail as our grand analogy, here's what we're discussing these next three weeks:

January 14: Cast of characters - Who's involved in this Jesus journey? Do we even want to be a part of it? What role does a faith community play in our quest to keep going with this way of life? Who was there at the beginning? Who will be there at the end?
January 21: Supplies - What should we take along? What do we pick up along the way? What tools are valuable? What can be discarded? What needs reworking, changing, or modifying? What's helpful?
January 28: The Destination - Where exactly are we headed? Who's been there? Will it be worth it? How long will it take? Are we there yet?

These next few weeks will be a great introduction to the story, so if you've never been, now might be a great time to jump in, meet some great people and try to get a better understanding of what we're trying to be about.

an exciting beginning to the year

2007-01-07T13:53:00.000-06:00

Do you remember the "Choose Your Own Adventure Books" you read as a child...or read to your child? (If you still read them today, that's okay, too.) Do you remember the excitement and suspense? Do you remember the power of being able to make a decision for yourself? Do you remember wondering if you would regret your choice? Do you remember the relief of knowing you could learn from your choices and start the whole thing over? Do you remember simply feeling?

The first Christians had to choose their own adventure. The choices they made shaped the faith for hundreds of years. They made mistakes, they had successes, they did good things and bad things; but above all they remained committed to the compelling adventure of trying to live in the way of Jesus. And that has been the story of our faith throughout the ages.

So over the next few months, we'll examine the things (good and bad) that make Christianity what it is, and we'll dream about what it should and could be. We'll set out on an adventure of discovery, excitement, fear, relief, hope, and love, helping each other (re)discover the vibrant life that Jesus embodied. Journeying together, we'll choose our own adventure.

Feel free to come along. We've always got room for more.

Happy 2007!

2007-01-07T09:01:00.000-06:00

the story convenes again tonight after a restful winter hiatus.

We'll continue to meet every Sunday evening at 5 for our community meal, and our discussion/worship/meeting time will begin at 6.

If it's your first time with the story, you don't need to bring anything - we always have plenty to eat! But, if you'd still like to bring a dish for the community meal, feel free! Anything is fair game, and we always have interesting concoctions for your dining delight.

This spring, we'll be looking at some of the things that make Christianity what it is. We want to live out a faith that is real, relevant, vibrant and meaningful. In order to do this, we'll be looking at things like the life of Jesus, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the early church, all in attempt to uncover the meaning of it all.

Come for the food, the challenge, the community, or just because you have nothing else to do. We'll be glad to see you.

advent: peace

2006-12-03T20:36:00.000-06:00

tonight at the story we lit the second advent candle, which represents peace. as we listened to U2's "peace on earth" we created our own wailing wall of sorts. using post-it notes, each of us identified persons who face injustice and oppression and who lack peace.

'Why don't you break in? Tear the sky apart, like the prophet said? Break the ceiling open, like the friends of the paralyzed man? Come, as you warned, like a thief in the night, and force your way in? After all, it's your home! It's where you belong! And I'm ready, waiting, pleading for the in-break of your kingdom!' (prayer taken from Advent Readings from IONA, by brian woodard and jan sutch pickard. available at www.ionabooks.com.)

we selected one of the post-its off of the wall, lit a tealight, and said the following: I light a flame in honor of those who ______________, and plead for the in-break of God's kingdom.

some thoughts on peace, as shared by our group...

shalom, the hebrew word which we typically translate as "peace," carries with it the notion of wholeness
a line from rent: "the opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation."
the act of creation gives people dignity.
there isn't yet peace on earth because there is great evil in this world.
equal may not be just.
it is the responsibility of God's people to call attention to injustice.
i'm starting to believe more and more that we are the ones called to do good in this world, bringing light to dark places.

advent: hope

2006-11-26T20:23:00.000-06:00

the story is observing the season of advent beginning this week instead of next (the official start of the liturgical calendar) because many of us will be traveling closer to christmas.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (The Message) "'Watch for this: The time is coming' - God's Decree - 'when I will keep the promise I made to the families of Israel and Judah. When that time comes, I will make a fresh and true shoot sprout from the David-Tree. He will run this country honestly and fairly. He will set things right. That's when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety. The motto for the city will be, "God Has Set Things Right for Us."

Some thoughts on Advent:
The holidays can be a busy, chaotic time. Days filled with hurry and rush...with malls, crowds, and traffic jams. The stores have been ready since before Halloween for us to come and spend our money buying presents for everyone we know. Tacky music fills the air and gaudy lights are strung haphazardly upon trees and houses all too close to our own. We plan and we cook and we clean and we prepare...all on top of our regular schedules. There is much to do and little time in which to do it.

Beneath all of the songs and the lights and the "cheer" lies a deeper reality. Beneath the surface lies a world that is all too unkind...a world full of shadows. We live in a world full of discontentment, disarray, and fear. We are a people who have experienced catastrophe, turmoil, and disappointment. We have seen evil - both great and small. We have known pain, loss, and sickness. We are tangled up with our own inabilities and inadequacies. We are discouraged, downcast, and disillusioned. We have exhausted all of our options. We are hopeless and helpless. We live in a dark place.

This is nothing foreign or new. This problem has been around for a long time.

Is this not the same situation in which our spiritual ancestors found themselves? After the promises made to Abraham and Sarah, the glorious event of the Exodus, the entry into the Promised Land, and the rise of Israel as a nation, everything fell apart. The kingdom split into two, and each part was subsequently destroyed. The people were sent into Exile. They experienced what seemed to be the silence of God. They must have wondered: Have we been abandoned? Have we been forgotten? Have we been forsaken? Can God, if God even exists, be trusted? Do you and I, in some of our more honest moments, not ask the same questions?

The people - the ones in Exile - believed that things were not over. They believed that God would hear, answer, and deliver. They anticipated the coming of the Messiah amidst a world of oppression and injustice. They longed for redemption from the systemic evil around them. They held out hope that God would follow through with all that God had promised. The people awaited redemption.

During times when God seemed to be strangely absent in their present, they remembered God's actions in their past. When faith was shaken, when questions arose, and when doubt surfaced, they didn't give in or give up. Instead, they thought about the former works of God, which in turn enabled them to envision the future.

Then one night a tiny baby was born in a barn in the city of Bethlehem. This baby was born to bring light and life and love into a darkened world. This baby was born to deliver. This baby was none other than God. This baby was Jesus Christ.

The season of Advent encompasses the four Sundays that precede Christmas. There are four weeks of waiting, longing, and anticipation. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ into the world, looking back to the first coming of Christ and also looking forward to the second coming (or return) of Christ. During Advent, we wait with and through the characters who trace the promise of the Messiah through the Scriptures, and we hear their stories as witness: Elizabeth and Zechariah, John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph. We wait especially with Mary; just as Christ formed in her body, so we reflect on Christ being formed in our lives, coming again to us, being born again in us.*

Advent is a time of expectation and anticipation. A longing for the restoration of all things. The cry of those who have experienced a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance from a God who has heard the cry. And so during Advent, we look back, but we also look forward. We are not unlike our ancestors from thousands of years ago. We dream of darkness to light, despair to hope, and death to life. We, too, await the coming of the King.

During the rush, the chaos, and the emptiness that so often characterize this holiday season, it is important that we quiet our hearts and our souls, taking time to remember all that God has done. We look back upon the birth of Jesus Christ - the light of the world born among us and in us. We think about all that has happened before. And we also look forward. We anticipate and await and welcome all that will happen in days to come. We expect to see God at work. We expect to be God at work. We long for the coming of Christ.

*thoughts for this paragraph adapted from Alternative Worship.

Waiting: Think of a time when you waited a long time for something. What were you waiting for? What did you do? How did you feel? When you finally got it, did it meet your expectations?

Luke 21:25-36 (The Message) "It will seem like all hell has broken loose - sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

"And then - then! - they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style - a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!"

He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here - when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too - these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

hope
1 archaic : TRUST, RELIANCE
2 a : desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment hopes of seeing you>; also : expectation of fulfillment or success hope of a cure> b : someone or something on which hopes are centered hope for victory> c : something hoped for
1 : to cherish a desire with anticipation
2 archaic : TRUST
transitive verb
1 : to desire with expectation of obtainment
2 : to expect with confidence : TRUST
synonym see EXPECT

Questions about hope:

What is hope? What is the opposite of hope?
What takes hope away?
What gives hope?
Have you ever been given (or have you given) false hope?
Can you think of a time in your life when you’ve waited with hope?
Is there a difference between passive hope and active hope?
What do you hope for?

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12 (NRSV)

history

2006-11-20T12:31:00.002-06:00

Reader 1: Attention, Israel! God, our God! God the one and only! Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love God with all that's in you, love God with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. (Deuteronomy 4:4-9, the Message)

ALL: Love the Lord your God with all your heart
Love the Lord your God with all your soul
Love the Lord your God with all your strength

Reader 2: History: A chronological record of significant events, often including an explanation of their causes. A treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena. An established record. Events of the past. Tale. Story. We are a part of the story of God that came through Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Miriam, Joshua, Rahab, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, David and Bathesheba, the prophets of old--Amos, Micah. Then Jesus was born as God incarnate, and the story continued through Mary and Joseph, Peter, John, Mary Magdalene. Then the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, and the story continued through the disciples, Paul, Barnabas, Lydia. And this is just a small part of what is recorded in the Bible as we know it today. Two thousand years later, the story continues. And we, too, are a part.

So let us remember our history. Let us remember, too, that the stories of history are always told within a context—and are often interpreted. Much of what we know has come from the viewpoint of the "winner." Far too often, the stories of the "losers"--the natives, the slaves, the immigrants, the minorities, the women--get swept under the rug and are lost forever.

As we continue the story of God, let us try our best to remember the whole of our history--stories told and untold. Let us speak not only of the triumphs and successes, but also of the tragedies and failures. Let us live with a sense of humility, admitting that we do not always know the whole truth and that there are times when we may be wrong. Above all, let us do our best to love God and to love others--producing beautiful stories of hope, truth, and goodness that will be told in generations to come.

Reader 3: When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?" Jesus said,"'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." (Matthew 27:34-40, the Message)

ALL: Love the Lord your God with all your heart
Love the Lord your God with all your mind
Love the Lord your God with all your soul
Love the Lord your God with all your strength

A parting question: What if, in centuries to come, the stories that are told about us are stories of how we did good in the world?

missional - church as God's sent people

2006-11-15T21:29:00.000-06:00

we dream of...belonging to a community that is determined to follow God into mission, living in the way of Jesus and turning outside of itself to be a redemptive blessing in all the world.

Church, from Theology for the Community of God, by Stanley Grenz

The church is a people who covenant together to belong to God - that is, to be holy, to be set apart from the world for God's special use. As this holy people, we are to proclaim in word and action the principles of the kingdom, showing others what it means to live under the divine reign. But more importantly, as Christ's people we are to show forth the divine reality - to be the image of God. To be the people in covenant with God who serve as the sign of the kingdom means to reflect the very character of God. The church reflects God's character in that it lives as a genuine community - lives in love - for as the community of love, the church shows the nature of the triune God. En route to the consummation of his purpose, therefore, God calls the church to mirror as far as possible in the midst of the brokenness of the present that eschatological ideal community of love that derives its meaning from the divine essence.

quick thoughts:

the idea of being "missional" is rooted in God's character and purpose as a sending God.
the church IS mission rather than DOES mission.
the church is God's sent people; wherever God's people are, there is the church.

Exploring the call to be God's sent people:
(1) What do you understand to be God's mission in the world? Can you name any specific examples?
(2) Do you think you have a role to play in that mission? Can you name any specific examples?
(3) What might a missional community look like, in terms of practices and characteristics? What might it do? Who might it be?
(4) As missional people, what practices might we incorporate into our daily lives?
(5) As missional people, what practices might we incorporate into our life together as the story?

links of interest

2006-11-05T20:58:00.000-06:00

here is the link to the site john was telling us about: www.saveclaudia.com.

and here's more info about habitat for humanity's ten houses in five days in nashville.

prejudice of love

2006-11-05T20:56:00.000-06:00

tonight at the story, mark led us in a discussion about an ethic of risk. we considered together acts 10:1-11:18, the story where peter has a vision in which God tells him to eat food that he has always known to be unclean. peter, a jew, then goes to the house of cornelius, a gentile, and says, "God has shown me that i should not call anyone impure or unclean...God does not show favoritism but accepts those from every nation who fear God and do what is right."

mark brought up the idea of binary oppositions - straight/gay, white/black, liberal/conservative, contemporary/traditional, and on and on and on. he suggested that we often use these binary oppositions as a way to define people in terms of who's in and who's out. we are prone to "secure our identities by defining ourselves against the other." furthermore, we often privilege one of the oppositions above the other, and, in doing so, "naturally construct systems with centers to support that choice."

but for those of us who claim to value diversity, what does it look like to hold a both/and position? what does it look like to look at each of the polarizing ends and say, "is there another, perhaps higher, way"? mark points out that this is sort of what mclaren does in a generous orthodoxy. if i'm not mistaken, this is also a conversation that neo has with dan in a new kind of christian.

so what does it mean to be a community of faith submerged in diversity? mark suggested that it means living with a "prejudice of love" that is continually breaking down boundaries. and that if we are going to err on one side, we might ought to err on the side of inclusion, rather than on exclusion.

ethic of risk...

2006-11-01T06:32:00.000-06:00

This week, we will continue to playfully and provisionally flesh out our living blueprint in thinking about what it means to a community of faith submerged in diversity. That is, we will consider what it might look like to intentionally live within an ethic of risk that resists hard boundaries of definition and is always willing to join God on the other side of our exclusions. In the very ways that we choose to identify ourselves as "the story," we may inevitably begin to define ourselves by what we are against. Or, might there be a way to be church with a prejudice of love that is continually breaking down boundaries?

Our text for the week will be Acts 10-11:18.

Come at 5:00 for a potluck dinner and at 6:00 ready to think about giving ourselves away.

integrating faith into every area of life

2006-10-29T20:23:00.000-06:00

Growing up I had this notion of church time and regular time. Some might term this the sacred and the secular. In high school I was a part of a group that met weekly as a means of spiritual formation. We had weekly assignments (Scripture, prayer, journaling, etc.) and came together to talk about what we'd experienced during the past week. This was, overall, a really good thing. But I remember doing a "time" activity where we charted out how much of our week was spent eating, sleeping, praying, reading Scripture, going to school, watching tv, hanging out with friends, participating in church activities, etc. The intent was to show that where you spend your time is where your priorities lie. But there was the underlying assumption (or maybe I made it myself) that church activities or "God-activities" are inherently better than other activities. I remember counting up the hours and feeling pretty good about myself for having a lot of time devoted to the sacred.

As I see things now, that no longer moves or inspires or motivates me. That approach segments my life and keeps God relegated to certain areas. I have heard it said that people's number one spiritual desire is for God to play a larger role in their lives than God is currently playing. I wonder if part of the frustration surrounding that desire is because we've allowed prayer, worship, and ministry - and all of the other God-activities - to become a crutch that actually impedes our relationship with God. By keeping them separate, have we allowed our understanding of these activities to get in the way of living with God? Have we kept God out of the areas of life in which we spend the most time? As a high schooler, for example, there was no getting around being at school from 8 to 3, five days a week. Was that not a place and a time where God was? As an adult, there's no getting around being at work from 8 to 4:15, five days a week. Is that not a place and a time where God is? Tonight at the story, we looked at this notion of living holistically, integrating faith into every area of life - mind, body, soul, and spirit.

Think through the details of a typical day in your life, then consider the following:

* What part of your day is your favorite? What part do you look forward to the most?
* What part of your day do you loathe? What part do you dread the most?
* What would be your ideal day?
* If you had an extra hour in the day, how would you use it? Sleep? Work? Fun?
* What are the points during your day where you interact with God?
* What if all points during your day are an opportunity to interact with God?
* What if every moment is an experience that can pointedly connect us to God? (e.g. Conversation = relationship, thought, spoken word, listening. God. God. God. God. Meal = taste, smell, nourishment, filling. God. God. God. God.

It seems like it might be easy to enjoy and see God in things we want to do (our favorite parts of the day). But how do we do this with the things we have to do (our loathed parts of the day), given the fact that it often feels like there are so many more have-to-do things than want-to-do things?

Read Acts 17:22-31. In this passage, Paul quotes from one of the Athenian poets/philosophers: "We're the God created" (The Message), or "In [God] we live and move and have our being" (NIV), or "We live in [God]. We walk in [God]. We are in [God]" (NCV). This passage indicates to me that God is everywhere, literally moving from the air around us. God is not a distant God. And yet sometimes we're unaware. Sometimes we don't notice. If sacred space is every space, then how do we approach life?

There is not an ounce of life that we can remove God from. Prayer and worship and ministry and "God-activities" are bigger and broader and more open than we know. Sacred space is every space. Every moment is an opportunity to connect with God. So as we approach this week, may we not live compartmentalized lives, where God is pushed to the edge. May we instead live holistic lives, where God is at the center of everything - the center of our very existence.

the late kyle lake had a lot to do with the thought underlying this discussion.

This Week - Sunday, October 29

2006-10-27T06:34:00.000-05:00

Last week the Story gathered to talk about and practice authenticity - What does it mean? What does it look like? How can we be authentic with ourselves, with God, and with others? We had a good discussion and even left with some "assignments." ;)

This week, we'll continue work off of our living blueprint and to journey together as we discuss the notion of integrating faith into every area of life - body, mind, soul, and spirit.

Come for an interactive time as we try to live out the story of God in Nashville.

where we're headed

2006-10-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Sunday, October 22

2006-10-20T16:47:00.000-05:00

Benjamin Franklin once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So we've been thinking: If we want a different kind of church, then we have to do things differently to form it.

This week, we'll continue to journey together as we discuss who we are and who we're becoming. Eighteen months ago, Lynnette wrote what came to be known as the "Blueprint for our Dream," which describes the type of faith community we want to belong to and believe others want to belong to. This blueprint is a living document that can be changed, edited, amended, spell checked, and reworked. Each week, we'll look at a different trait of who we dream of becoming.

But we won't just be talking. We'll be worshiping, giving, eating, serving, thinking, hoping, dreaming, and living deeply together. So come be a part. Be present with us as we attempt to figure out where we came from, who we are, and what we can all be together.

This week's idea will be: being authentic (true and honest) with God, with others, and with ourselves. What does this mean? What does authenticity look like? Why does it matter for people of faith?

Come for an interactive time as we try to live out the story of God in Nashville. We'll be at Sam and Lynnette's house. Join us for potluck dinner at 5 and we'll start dreaming together at 6. Call Sam at 260-3082 with questions. Hope to see you there!

Light Wins!

2006-10-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

Last night, the story participated in a worship experience called Dark/Light. Lynnette led us in thoughtful reflection about the power light has over darkness. The personification of light for Christians is Jesus, whose light was the life of all people.

I am always impressed with the power of light. It’s something we rarely pay attention to, except when we walk out of a movie theater at 3:15 in the afternoon and stumble around as if in some foreign land. Complete and utter darkness is rare in our technological world, where ambient light from streetlamps or alarm clocks allows us to make out familiar shapes as we tiptoe to the bathroom at 3:15 in the morning.

But, if you’ve been camping or caving and are faced with the situation of being unable to see your hand in front of your face, you know the immense power of a small match. A tiny spark breathes life into a dead night, and faces around the campfire can be recognized. A little light has the power to brighten an entire room.

It is not so with darkness. Were there such thing as a ‘dark match’ or a ‘flashdark’ (as opposed to a flashlight), It could not have the same effect. Darkness is only good when it monopolizes and envelops. Light can be a minority and still break through.

This is why I believe in the good. This is why I believe in beauty. Even though this world sucks a lot, and bad things happen, and people take advantage of others, I still believe in the power of singular and dedicated individuals and groups to turn the tide and become beacons of hope.

Like candlelight vigils fills the night with light and hope, so am I filled with possibility that things will get better. I believe that light wins, here and in the end.

sunday, october 15

2006-10-12T12:34:00.000-05:00

this sunday, october 15, we'll gather for something that looks a bit more like corporate worship, as we've traditionally called it. there will be prayers, scripture, liturgy, communion, and the like. we'd love to have you join us. we're meeting at sam and lynnette's house at 6:00pm.

if you 're so inclined, please come at 5:00 for a potluck dinner. this is a great time to meet people and get to know them better...and it's also a great time to eat some good food! feel free to show up at 5:30 or 5:45 and munch on whatever is left.

call sam at 615-260-3082 or email storynashville@gmail.com with any questions. hope to see you there!
.

this week

2006-10-04T09:42:00.000-05:00

once again, we'll gather this week to re-imagine church.

last week's time was very refreshing. there are people all over Nashville who want to be a part of a people who are affirming, loving, accepting, challenging, and real.

we'll gather this Sunday at Steve and Elizabeth's house for food at 5 (pot luck – bring something yummy!) and the conversation will start at 6.

Call Sam 615-260-3082 with any questions.

the conversation deepens

2006-10-02T06:28:00.000-05:00

Last night, 20 folks gathered at Kyle and Susan's house to continue talking about a dream we all share.

This isn't a 'wake up in the middle of the night sweating' kind of dream. This is a dream that a lot of people in Nashville have been having for a long time. It's a dream that is as deep as our souls. It's a dream about hope, reality, authenticity, truth, and love.

And so we gathered to begin talking about this shared dream. The first step was to talk about our nightmares. People from ages 2 to 62 shared what didn't work for them in other churches. Some were running from landmarkism and oppression. Some were asked to leave due to their views on a number of subjects. Some want a place where their kids can be kids and where they can be themselves. Some want a place where they are truly challenged to get off their butts and make a difference. And all of us want change.

Next Sunday (October 8th), we'll be meeting at Steve and Elizabeth's place to keep talking. We've shared where we've been. Now we'll talk about where we want to go.

Anyone is welcome to come and be a part of this conversation. You've got your own unique voice and it needs to be heard. And this is a dialogue where your opinion matters and where your voice is valued. Come be a part and tell your story.

Community meal (potluck) at 5. Discussion at 6. We'll see what happens after that.

The Dream Continues

2006-09-28T09:04:00.000-05:00

This week, we'll be gathering at Kyle's house to talk more about what church looks like. We'll also explore the possibilities of how the church of our dreams might become the church of our realities here in Nashville.

There should be a good crowd, complete with people ages 2-62. Should be a fun conversation.

We're meeting at 6 and we'll have some good snacks and a great time. Bring the fam.

Call Sam with any questions at 615-260-3082.

in the beginning...and still today...

2006-09-24T21:18:00.000-05:00

tonight the story gathered for worship. using liturgy adapted from the wee worship book, we listened to genesis 1:1-2:3 from the message and the word on the street. it's a personal preference of mine, but something about worship in the language of today makes a whole lot of sense to me. i'm all for history and tradition--don't get me wrong--but prayers, litanies, and lyrics written and spoken with words i might actually use during the course of the day??? i love it.

the phrases that stood out to me tonight were: "this is the story of how it all started" - eugene peterson (the message) and "fantastic - i love it!" - rob lacey (the word on the street). i wonder if the beginning looked something like an artist standing before a canvas, filling it with shape and color as she pleases. this fantastic story communicates an enormous amount of possibility. newness, excitement, thrill, potential, hope, wonder, fear. it's that feeling you get when you embark upon a new journey in life. moving to a new city, going to a new school, heading off to college, accepting a new job, getting engaged. it's that mixture of emotion and reason, faith and doubt, hope and fear. everything all rolled into one. and you stand there looking around your home, your classroom, your dorm room, your office, your heart and say, "what if...?"

what if god had those same thoughts and feelings? what if god had hopes and dreams for the world at its inception? what if god still has hopes and dreams for the world? and what if we are the ones charged with the responsibility--or is it the joy?--of making them come true?

velvet elvis wrap-up and next steps

2006-08-27T19:41:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, we conclude our look at Velvet Elvis. It's been a great discussion, and we've really connected as a new community. Come (at 6) and be a part.

And, beginning on Sunday, September 10, we're going to imagine the church we've always wanted. Each week this fall, we'll think, talk, and dream about what it feels like to be a part of a community trying to follow God in the way of Jesus Christ. And, we'll also have a chance every month to go and look like a community trying to follow God in the way of Jesus Christ: we'll volunteer, worship, feed, help, teach, serve, try and give. By dreaming, talking and being, we think we may arrive at this thing we've all been waiting for. See you at Sam and Lynnette's on the 10th.

"I Wish I Could Home-Church My Kids"

2006-08-16T15:15:00.000-05:00

This was written by Sam, someone who is involved with the story:

A friend said this to me over dinner last Thursday. Playing off the always-controversial home-school option, he was describing his distaste with his current church’s programming and missiology.

He went on to elaborate about the importance of his children to be part of a larger community and to take part in something bigger than themselves. There is something valuable, he feels, about being a part of a growing and vibrant community that takes seriously the teachings of Jesus to feed the hungry, give to the poor and love your neighbor.

But he wasn’t finding it in the church he has called home for the last few years. Somewhere along the path to fatter membership rolls, the church began to embrace circus-like sensationalism and has lost its focus on being a refuge to the broken. In place of sacrifice is now a gospel of entertainment, an ethic of power, and a mentality of isolation. And it was no place he wanted to raise his kids.

Lost in this sea are countless others – individuals, families, teenagers, the elderly. Some have been Christians all their lives, and others are too nervous to explore what a life of discipleship might really look like. But, all may identify with the value of planting trees they will never sit under, and giving to something that only can be birthed by collective action.

And it’s always easier to sit and watch. It’s easier to not go to church than it is to go; it’s easier to not call that person you wish you knew better than it is to pick up the phone and ask the questions that lead to deeper friendship; and it’s always easier to shout from the sidelines than to get in the game. But deep down inside, we all want to play. We all long for real community – the kind that says, “You’re going through that? Me, too. But hey, if we walk through this together, we just might make it.” They, we, I – all of us – long for authenticity. We yearn for people we can be ourselves around. We desperately want people to look at our faults and not cover their eyes in pity. We want other broken souls to eat with, to dance with, to bitch with, to cry with, and to laugh with.

But it’s still so hard. My brilliant wife told me soon after we met that the price of intimacy is reckless abandonment. In our culture that rarely prizes vulnerability, community – true and lasting community – is only birthed through deliberate risk.

How do we create this?

We’ve got to value the baby steps. We’ve got to cheer on those among us willing to open their homes, their wallets, their hearts and their ears in the name of community. We’ve got to commit, little by little, to the rising tide that comes with repeated interaction. We’ve got to grab our surfboard and ride that wave until it crashes on the shore of deep communion. And then we’ll sit in the sand and build castles with our friends until it’s time to splash in the scary surf once more.

Walking hand in hand, we all arrive at the destination of meaningful community together. And there will be no distinction between home-churching and churching our kids, for we will BE the church. We will have freed the old institution from its oft thought of role as a place and we will be the ones we have been waiting for.

with a cherry on top

2006-07-23T17:52:00.000-05:00

we're getting together for ice cream this friday. bring the family. and some friends.

this is a great time to come and hang out, to ask questions about the story, and to meet some of the great folks in our community. call us with questions (615.260.3082).

we've moved...

2006-07-18T07:10:00.000-05:00

...to mondays, that is. it was better for some of our folks if we switched nights, so we now meet on mondays at 6 pm at sam and lynnette's house. come for the conversation. children welcome.

next week (july 24) we'll be talking about movement 3 (true) from velvet elvis. we'll be looking at truth: what is it? is it absolute? does it matter?

tomorrow night

2006-06-05T13:10:00.000-05:00

we take our first steps tomorrow night as a community, and everyone is invited to come along for the ride. as a reminder, we've got free books, and we'll have some snacks and some great conversation as we begin to dream together as a community. if you have any last minute questions, or need directions, call sam at 615.260.3082.

free book

2006-05-21T18:54:00.000-05:00

we've got free books. if you're interested in joining us for our velvet elvis discussion beginning on june 6 at sam and lynnette's house, we can get you a free copy of rob bell's book. we've got a limited number, so if you're planning on coming along for the ride, email us and we'll save you a copy. and we'll have coffee and other snacks, but you don't need to reserve those...we'll have plenty.

welcome to the story

2006-05-14T00:57:00.000-05:00

For nearly two years (and perhaps much longer than that), we’ve been dreaming about something. We’ve been waiting on the outside of a stream, having no idea how far it runs, how deep it is, or how cold or hot the water may be. From time to time, we’ve dipped the tips of our toes into the stream, but that’s about it. We’ve been looking for a community that feels like home—a community that encourages us to be fully who we are, and yet demonstrates how we can be even more. We’ve been asking ourselves, “What is the Church, and what is our role within it?” We’ve been looking for a place of possibility. We’ve been searching for something beautiful. We’ve been longing for something that will prove to be impossible to leave.

In the midst of our waiting and wondering and searching, we’ve encountered others who’ve expressed similar sentiments. We’ve had dinner time conversations with folks who seem to want the same thing. Someone once said, “We are the ones we have been waiting for!” And we’re beginning to think that that may be true of us in this time and place. We’ve decided that now seems as good a time as any to jump into the stream. So we’re planting the seeds for a new faith community in Nashville called the story.

the story is a faith community in Nashville, Tennessee that seeks to live life with God in the way of Jesus Christ.

What will the story look like?
That’s a good question, and we don’t have an answer for it. Unless, of course, you count, “It depends,” as a real answer. We’re not sure yet, and we believe that’s a good thing for the time being. We want to grow organically and see how things progress.

Who is a part of the story?
Lynnette and Sam Davidson are currently functioning as the planters, pastors, leaders, architects, gardeners…whatever you want to call it…of the story. Lynnette graduated from Truett Theological Seminary in December 2003 with a Masters of Divinity focused on theology. This fall, Sam will begin working towards a Masters of Divinity focused on social justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School. That said, we value a team leadership style and hope to move in that direction as the story progresses.

Why the name--the story?
About a year ago, we developed a “blueprint” for the community we’ve been dreaming about (see the “blueprint” link on the top right-hand side). When we looked over this document a bit later, the idea of “story” stood out to us—the idea of being a part of the story of God; the idea of measuring success not by numbers but by the depth of the stories emerging from the community.

Why another church in Nashville?
We are aware that Nashville already has too many churches to count. Nashville is a place with a church building on nearly every corner, and it is the official home of various denominational agencies. But sometime in 2005 we read this statement on the tennesee cbf website: “In most cities in Tennessee, 80 percent of people under thirty have not been within the doors of a church in the past year except to attend a wedding or a funeral.” That statistic bothered us. Not because people haven’t been inside of a church building in quite some time, but because we suspect they’ve had little connection to any sort of faith community in quite some time. We hope to be a community that makes sense to and is welcoming of and provides places of possibility for such people.

And so we invite you to explore the story with us—to come into the conversation with us. We’re starting this summer by reading the book Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell.

our dreams

2006-05-02T00:53:00.000-05:00

living the story of god means:

-working together to create space where people can live in relationship with God and with one another by:

being authentic (true and honest) with God, with others, and with ourselves
integrating faith into every area of life - body, mind, soul, and spirit
creating "places of possibility" - sacred spaces and times that are infused with meaning and purpose in which people can live out the dreams of God in accordance with the desires of their hearts and their unique gifting and ability
engaging the challenge and the beauty that is found in diversity
struggling with hard questions and difficult times in community; clinging to and communicating hope
allowing love to be the force that moves people toward healing and wholeness

-ordering our lives according to the kingdom that Jesus described by:

belonging to a community that is determined to follow God into mission, living in the way of Jesus and turning outside of itself to be a redemptive blessing in all the world
liberating the imagination by devaluing the currency of the empire and radically shifting images toward those more in line with the kingdom of God
struggling for justice and peace; crying out against oppression - mourning it, condemning it, and calling for change
forming dynamic (as opposed to static) structures and systems that do not get in the way of mission, but rather promote it
promoting creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, not always taking the roads that are safe or familiar; not being afraid to abandon long-held patterns of predictability; making space where fresh life can spring forth

-telling the story of God as expressed in the Bible and being a part of the story of God that continues today by:

learning from the history of our faith and of our world, remembering the tragedies and the failures as well as the triumphs and the successes
honoring that which came before us, that which is now, and that which is to come
remembering that we are a part of a greater story and looking for ways to bless one another
being connected to, dependent on, and serving the global Church
redefining the metrics of success by measuring not by numbers but by the depth of the stories that emerge from the community