Counting My Blessings...

A beautiful beach day!
It felt like the first day of summer today! Blue skies, sun shining, lying on a sandy beach, the kids having so much fun playing in the sand, catching minnows, and splashing around... Thank you Lord for these precious moments!

My brothers and sisters in Christ.
Over the past two years God has drawn Jon and I along on a journey seeing the Church through different eyes. We have been challenged on issues of church unity and the many judgements/misunderstandings that are so often cast back and forth. What a rollercoaster ride this has been! I went through a stage where I was devouring up theology books, active on both catholic and protestant forums, speaking to trusted friends/family/pastors seeking to understand the differences and also the things we hold in common.

Both Jon and I grew up in very inter-denominational church settings. I grew up overseas on the mission field, going to boarding school and church and raised/taught by dorm parents/teachers of many different denominational backgrounds working for many different mission organizations. Upon our return home to Canada we switched churches many times--mennonite, baptist, missionary church, alliance etc. Jon's dad was a minister in small towns. He was basically pastoring the only church in small (VERY small!) towns across Canada. Of course this drew people of many different denominations together for one common purpose--to worship God and fellowship together. Both Jon and I feel God has been weaving the tapestry of our lives with a common goal to pursue church unity. Here are some verses that have inspired us...

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

I find it is always a bit scary and daunting to visit a new church! I don't like the feelings of uncertainty--what to expect for the service, will people be friendly, will we stand out, will the kids adjust/behave etc... A year ago we decided we wanted to try to visit different churches in our area about every two months to expose our children (and ourselves) to various christian church traditions outside of our home church...plus we have come to realize what a great lesson we learn everytime we have to be in the newcomer's shoes! It shows us how to welcome visitor's more effectively in our home church :-)

So, this morning we visitted a catholic church in our area. We once again felt we were among sisters and brothers in Christ. I have come to understand many of the theological differences and common ground between catholics/protestants... However, I have to say what has stood out for both Jon and I in our visits to various churches over the past year is that there are many true followers of Christ in each of these churches no matter the shape of the theological box! I pray for continued unity of all true followers of Christ.