Shine

[Subversive Underground]

Shine
by Keith Giles

The Bible uses several metaphors to describe the Church. We are called the Bride, the Family of God, and the Body of Christ.

We are never referred to as an organization, a weekly meeting or a business.

In God's heart, we are a living organism. We are a Body made up of interdependent parts with Christ as our head.

We are a family, adopted sons and daughters who are blessed beyond measure to call the Creator of the Universe "Papa".

We are a Bride, the fiancee of the Son of God, radiant by His Glory, madly in love with the Groom, being made ready for a wedding feast at the End of Time.

We are carriers of the Kingdom message, empowered by His Holy Spirit, called from the four corners of the Earth, on a mission of love and service and daily sacrifice.

We are sons and daughters. We are fathers and mothers. We are housewives and computer engineers. We are musicians and artists. We are mathematicians and scientists. We are poets and truck drivers and marketing executives and elementary school teachers and airline pilots.

We are the global ambassadors of God's love to a hurting and dying world.

We are the Church when we are awake and when we are asleep. We are the Church when we are driving on the freeway and when we are talking on the phone. We are the Church when we are in line at the Grocery Store or eating a cheeseburger in the food court.

We are the Church - Agents of change who have one simple command to fulfill; "Love one another".

If we could really understand this. If we could really see who we are every minute of every day, there is nothing that could stand in our way, not even the very gates of Hell.

Can we defend the cause of the orphan and the widow? Can we speak up for the abused and the enslaved? Can we share what we have been given with those in our own community who have nothing? Can we lay aside our petty differences and learn to forgive and love and befriend those who are right in front of us?

Can we learn to love others as Jesus loved? Can we give the way He gave? Can we lay down our lives, our wants, our needs, our comfort, for the good of someone else?

All of Heaven holds it breath in anticipation, awaiting the outcome of this drama of life we find ourselves in.

The Kingdom is in motion. Your assistance is required.

Don't miss your chance to shine.

-kg
www.KeithGiles.com

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NEW HOUSE CHURCH NETWORK - OCHOUSECHURCH.COM
This week I set up a website and a dedicated email address for people here in Orange County who are curious about house church and want to learn more. The website is OCHouseChurch.com and my hope is to connect local house church leaders with one another, and with people here in our community who are looking for a house church family to join.

I plan to host a free, monthly "House Church 101" class to answer questions, provide info and equip people to start their own house churches.

Pray that other local house churches will join me in this effort. I would love to have their help in coaching, training and welcoming new people into the house church movement.


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CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Last week I set up a little survey over at SurveyMonkey.com to find out a little more about the 250 or so people who currently subscribe to this little weekly e-newsletter.

If you haven't taken the survey yet, I'd appreciate it if you took some time to do so. It's only 10 questions long and it's
RIGHT HERE

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