Blurry eyes, warmed heart

As I write this my eyes are blurry, kind of burning--a little like how it feels when you've read a book for too long. I've been in sessions here in Washington from 9:30am to 10pm and not a minute has been wasted. This is a VASTLY different conference than CCDA. For example, today we talked through what it means to be a member of a church, church discipline, planning services (from the songs to the prayer to a year long preaching schedule), we also looked at adult education in the church and what that can look like. Last night was no lighter, we studied church constitutions and covenants and sat through an elders meeting. Perhaps some of you who are reading this are thinking--I'm sure glad YOU'RE there and not ME! I might agree with you actually, as it does sound very dry and institutional. However, one comment made by one of the elders of this church last night hit me hard, and for those of you who have been Christians and in the church for a long time you probably already know this (I'm just a little slower than the rest of you): 'God dwells among His people...the Church'. Its a simple statement I know, quite obvious if you've read the OT and read Paul's letters to the churches, but in this context it makes sense to put all this effort into membership, discipline, accountability, prayer, confession, and polity. These structures, which are under constant evaluation, help us sinful human beings to flesh out the love of God to each other in the church and to the rest of the world--not so we can be nice and better people, but to give proper credit to God as He deserves. Its good to see this church, and hear some of the messy stuff they deal with--it confirms what I've always wondered: the church is made up of messy sinful people, whom God has graciously forgiven and called his own sons and daughters, and we stumble along towards maturity. Its quite special and remarkable to be part of it.
Ken