[empty]

That's me tonight. It's almost like the roller coaster I've been on has rattled the brain into emptiness. Couldn't get into blogger to soothe my ego with the stats. (Simple pleasures.) Felt sorry for Pen at The Gutless Pacifist for some errors in his Christmas rant. He's updated his post to reflect it. Easum, Bandy and Associates new web site seems to be up and running. They see a Three Track approach to the church today.
Track one is "in the box" which amounts to church renewal.
Track two is "outside the box" which is developing a growing faith community.
Track three is "beyond the box" which is all about mission movement.

Typing that - the thought came to mind about the changes I am about to go through in my own ministry. Being "bi-vocational" is a new idea for me. It is moving into the "beyond the box" realm for me. It is about getting into - and being an integral part of the greater community. But not as a "pastor" or "professional religious person" or an official "representative of the faith community." It is to live the life of Jesus in what I do day in and day out.

It is, in many ways, what the 12th Step of the AA steps is about... to practice these princples in all my affairs as my mission. My personal mission, not the mission of an organization or an institution.

Which is why I may be feeling empty. For 30+ years I have been in all those official positions and places living the mission of the church. They were good years. They were where I was called. But that is not for today for me. I have been emptied. Kenosis in the words of spiritual growth and development- self-emptying. Then to be open to be re-filled in new ways for a new day and a new mission. Like Darryl Dash over at The Dying Church has been talking about with the need for the church to die to self, my process is one of being emptied. Which sure sounds like what God is doing with me.