The Holy Bubble

In a March 25 blog post titled 'Church Without a Mission'I was writing about my Intentional Interim Ministry field project. The field project when finished will be the final hurdle in receiving my Intentional Interim Ministry certification from the Center for Congregational Health.

In that blog post I mentioned the church I was working with wanted me to do the field project on Mission. Their request prompted the why question from me because it appeared they had no Mission.

I have been working with the church for about 6 weeks now and have affirmed my initial impression was correct, it is a church without a mission.They remind me a group of christians living in a holy bubble.



The particular church I am referring to meets three times a week and has church for themselves. They are sheltered, protected, and intentionally keep themselves free from what they call "the world". In effect they have isolated themselves from the very people they need to be the salt and light of Christ too.

The church people remind me of what Jonathan, a 22 year old young adult, says in the book by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons title UnChristian Jonathan says "Christians enjoy being in their own community. The more they seclude themselves, the less they can function in the real world. So many Christians are caught in the Christian bubble."

I have been trying to communicate to the particular church people I am working with they are living in this Holy Bubble. I am challenging them to pray, think and become creative with ways they can burst the Holy bubble and become real salt and light in the world for Jesus.

First Fly Rod Trout

I have been trying to learn the field sport of fly fishing. Yesterday I caught my first brook trout on my new fly rod. Fly fishing is much different than fishing with spin cast The presentation of the fly must appear to the trout as normal, that in itself is a skill to learn. You must also learn to read the water and know where the trout are. Both are skills that am I just beginning to learn the basics. Caught the one pictured on a Green Wooly Buger. Hopefully many more fun days on NC mountain streams.