Oikos

I was privileged today, to attend the most awesome church I have ever been too. It was small, but very effective. We had but 6 people show up: Me, Sarah, Isaac, Andrew, Hannah, and a partial Moriyah. Service was around 10:30, in the living room. Dress code was (at least for me) pajamas. Isaac lead singing, Andrew lead the Lord's Supper, and I lead the discussion. This was an impromptu church service on the day of Sarah's birthday, born of the frustration I have been feeling to praise and worship in a community unbound by cultural expectations. I have not felt free to celebrate Jesus since we moved, until today. We clapped, danced, sang, and stomped. It was lively. We were preached to from Matthew chapter 4, the great temptation, and a challenging discussion followed. It was a day of liberation for me. My favorite part was being with people who are as interested in following Jesus as me. Even though I live with these people I had been blind to this attitude among them.

And so, I would like to publicly declare the opening of a new church in Redmond, Oregon: Oikos Church of Christ. Oikos (pronounced hoi-kos) means house or home. Or rather the community that you would find in one's house or home. I don't know if we will meet every Sunday, or once a month, or if we will ever meet again at all. But I think that the Kingdom revolution looks like dancing, singing, and praying children. Keep us in your prayers.

A very good ego hit

I am a stubborn person. I have named all three of our earth walking children, and so I assumed that the fourth (and last) I would name as well. But my beautiful wife is also a genius, and beat me this round. However I will beat her to the punch and announce Wolfgang baby #4's name:

Moriyah Jean

Moriyah is Hebrew for "instructed by Yahweh," and Jean means "God is gracious." Jean is Sarah's mom's name, and my mom and sister's middle name.

The sweetest sound I've ever heard

Hannah loves to sing! Yeah! She sings everythig from "Ducks like rain" to "Moon, moon, moon." But my favorite is when she sings "Jesus, I want to be like you."

I got tagged too

A book that changed my life besides the Bible:
Seven habits of highly effective people - Stephen Covey
My friend articulates the importance of this book very well: “Jesus tells me to love my neighbor as my self, this book teaches me to love my self, and then how to love my neighbor.”

The story of my experiments with truth, an autobiography of Mohandis Gandhi
This book taught me simplicity

A book I’ve read more than once:
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

A book I would take with me if I were stuck on a desert island:
Everything I need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten – Robert Fulgham
or
Lord of the Flies – William Golding

A book that made me laugh:
Through Painted Deserts – Don Miller
My favorite Miller book, and I laughed hard!

A book that I wish had been written:
poetry, I've always wanted to write poetry.
I wish Jesus' mother, Mary would have written a book from her perspective about the Messiah.

A book that I wish had never been written:
I don't know if there are any. However I didn't like Wild at Heart – John Eldridge, but that's another post all together.

A book I’ve been meaning to read:
The Great Omission – Dallas Willard (next book on my list, gotta finish “the brick” first)
A Simple Path – Mother Teresa
The Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning
End of the Spear – Steve Saint
The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical - Shane Claiborne (if I was not married and had no children, this is the ministry I would be doing)
Searching for God Knows What – Don Miller
The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson – Ralph Waldo Emerson
something Brian McLaren – I still haven't read any of his stuff

I’m currently reading:
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Covey
The Divine Conspiracy – Dallas Willard
Organic Church – Neil Cole (this is a great book for anyone who is involved in a faith community)
Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John
The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless – Ahmet Zappa (Frank Zappa's son)

Tag your it!
Sarah Wolfgang
Kristi Beeman
Ryan Woods
Steve Maxwell
Emily Wallace