Austin Mustard Seed » Reflections

Ephesians 2:11-22

John Chandler — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:40:34 +0000

This Sunday, we are moving on to Ephesians 2:11-22. At first glance, this looks like a difficult text to understand, but as I’ve been studying it, I’m stunned by the beauty of the images Paul uses. I’m excited to share it with you as we work together to understand what it means for us today. Of course, I hope you can take a few moments each day to read over it before Sunday and come with your own comments and questions.

Ephesians: The Back Story

John Chandler — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:24:54 +0000

This weekend, we begin our journey through the book of Ephesians. But before we get into this letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, we’ll take a look at the time Paul spent in Ephesus. Understanding the city and Paul’s relationship with the people there will offer a rich texture and backdrop for our study of the letter itself in the weeks to come.

Paul’s time with the people of Ephesus is recounted in Acts 19 and 20. Specifically, this Sunday we’ll look at Acts 19:8-41 and 20:17-38. Take some time to read these passages this week, and bring your observations and questions from the text with you to our gathering on Sunday.

Looking Toward Pentecost

John Chandler — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:02:05 +0000

The image to the right comes from an 11th Century book called the Bamberg Apocalypse. This page portrays the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 — the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church.

We will remember and celebrate Pentecost on Sunday, May 23. As we anticipate and expect Pentecost in the coming weeks, we will sit together in some key texts that describe how the church was anticipated and then enacted by Jesus and the Spirit through the disciples and other early followers.

Serve Austin Sunday | January 31

John Chandler — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:30:45 +0000

This Sunday, January 31 is Serve Austin Sunday. We will be joining with other churches from the Restore Austin network to serve needs around the city. Our church community will be helping to host a grillout downtown to feed hundreds from the homeless community in downtown Austin. We’ll be at 7th and Neches from 4-6pm. If you’d like to caravan or carpool from North Austin, meet at the Chandler’s house at 3:30pm.

Quotes from Sunday

John Chandler — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:00:04 +0000

Last Sunday evening, we spent some time in silence reflecting on some quotes on…silence. Here they are, for further reflection.

—

When we sit quietly in God’s presence, the sediment that is swirling in our souls begins to settle. We don’t have to do anything but show up and trust the spiritual law of gravity that says, Be still, and the knowing will come.
–Ruth Haley Barton

Silence is the discipline that helps us to go beyond the entertainment quality of our lives.
–Henri Nouwen

So if we really intend to submit our bodies as living sacrifices to God, our first step well might be to start getting enough sleep. Sleep is a good first use of solitude and silence. It is also a good indicator of how thoroughly we trust in God.
–Dallas Willard

The drama of silence is that it is the stage where God shows up more frequently than in the bustle of our busyness.
–Dan Allender

People listened to me expectantly,
waiting in silence for my counsel.
After I had spoken, they spoke no more;
my words fell gently on their ears.
They waited for me as for showers
and drank in my words as the spring rain.
–God

One of the most sobering things I learned as I listened to my exhaustion and allowed God to minister to me is that when I am dangerously tired I can be very, very busy and look very, very important but be unable to hear the quiet, sure voice of the One who calls me the beloved.
–Ruth Haley Barton

Video From Last Night

John Chandler — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:33:09 +0000

Here’s the video we watched as part of our gathering last night:

Special thanks to Christine Sine for putting it together and making it available.

Serve Austin Sunday is November 29

John Chandler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:14:54 +0000

This coming Sunday, November 29, is a fifth Sunday, which means its Serve Austin Sunday. In place of our gathering, we will join with other churches in the Restore Austin to serve at locations around the city on Sunday afternoon. We are going to help organize canned goods from a food drive for Caritas Austin. We chose this project because it should be family friendly for those who want to bring kids. We’ll be there from 3-5pm, and you can find the rest of the details via the Facebook event. Please take a few moments to RSVP either way so I can let them know how many to expect from the aMS church community.

The Official aMS Facebook Page

John Chandler — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:37:20 +0000

I’ve slowly been building a Facebook page for our church community. It will serve as a hub for special events we are part of, like the upcoming Serve Austin Sunday event. I’m also using it to share information or thoughts that might be helpful or reflective for all of us.

Anything posted there will also post to our @atxmustardseed twitter feed, so follow one…or both.

Round 3

John Chandler — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:04:01 +0000

The Round #3 is coming up at Space12 on November 20th, 7:30-10:30pm. What is The Round?

It is a beautiful intimate evening of musicians sharing the stage with slam poets and live painters.

THE ROUND & how it works:
3 songwriters sit on stage together
often collaborating loosely for a unique performance
sometimes with backing musicians

joined by slam poets and live painters
a relaxed & intimate evening of collaboration
audience sits in rapt attention

There is a $5 cover and donations are accepted. You can learn more or RSVP on the Facebook Event page.

Looking Back: Lectio Divina

John Chandler — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:50:47 +0000

This past Sunday, we shared an experience in Lectio Divina together. This is an ancient way of reading Scriptures that can be practiced both individually and in community. For those who were there who might want to explore it more on your own, here’s a review of the stages we worked through together:

Lectio.
Slow your mind down as you read the words.
Pay attention to what words or phrases stand out.

Meditatio.
Meditate on a significant word or phrase.
Take note of how you are responding to it.

Oratio.
Means ‘speak.’ For the first time, you initiate a thought.
Ask God what to do with what you’ve been given.

Contemplatio.
Quiet your soul and body.
Sit quietly in the presence of God.