Comments for Metrospirituality http://www.metrospirituality.org Exploring the Uniquely Metropolitan Spiritual Life Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:34:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Livable Tension in a Troubled Empire (Part 1)… by Thame Fuller http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=205&cpage=1#comment-1112 Thame Fuller Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:34:23 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=205#comment-1112 In light of your observations, I thought you might appreciate this quote on the unfortunate (at least) tendency of 'empire' values to corrupt the church: In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise. – Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate In light of your observations, I thought you might appreciate this quote on the unfortunate (at least) tendency of ‘empire’ values to corrupt the church:

In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on
the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a
philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it
moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America
where it became an enterprise.
– Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate

]]> Comment on Livable Tension in a Troubled Empire (Part 1)… by Mike http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=205&cpage=1#comment-811 Mike Sat, 23 May 2009 21:16:54 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=205#comment-811 Hi, nice posts there :-) thank's for the interesting information Hi, nice posts there :-) thank’s for the interesting information

]]> Comment on Livable Tension in a Troubled Empire (Part 1)… by Rick Reynolds http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=205&cpage=1#comment-779 Rick Reynolds Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:39:57 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=205#comment-779 good words. My wife & I lived in a Christian common purse community on Capitol Hill in the late 70s early 80s. It devolved into cooperative living with simple lifestyle & cooperation. Life lessons. We still have people living with us, and now we find we're in vogue again. The church has been captive long enough. I look forward to meeting with you and finding out more about Ethos. good words. My wife & I lived in a Christian common purse community on Capitol Hill in the late 70s early 80s. It devolved into cooperative living with simple lifestyle & cooperation. Life lessons. We still have people living with us, and now we find we’re in vogue again.

The church has been captive long enough. I look forward to meeting with you and finding out more about Ethos.

]]> Comment on What I’ve Been Doing for the Past Year… by Bruce http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=199&cpage=1#comment-774 Bruce Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:25:24 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=199#comment-774 Jason - this is the coolest thing i have heard in a while. The Red Del Camino (http://www.lareddelcamino.net/en/ ) has taught us more about holism than i can describe and has transformed CCC to a great extent. I totally resonated to what you were saying about building in dignity and having a humble approach. Historically the church's imperialistic approach has done more harm to the Kingdom of God then help. If you are looking for a missional network to get behind you, i believe Ecclesia (http://www.ecclesianet.com/ ) would be a good source. In fact, we have a few churches it portland involved. (don't know much about the Portland churches). Keep me posted, i want to be a part of this. Jason – this is the coolest thing i have heard in a while. The Red Del Camino (http://www.lareddelcamino.net/en/ ) has taught us more about holism than i can describe and has transformed CCC to a great extent. I totally resonated to what you were saying about building in dignity and having a humble approach. Historically the church’s imperialistic approach has done more harm to the Kingdom of God then help. If you are looking for a missional network to get behind you, i believe Ecclesia (http://www.ecclesianet.com/ ) would be a good source. In fact, we have a few churches it portland involved. (don’t know much about the Portland churches). Keep me posted, i want to be a part of this.

]]> Comment on What I’ve Been Doing for the Past Year… by Jason http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=199&cpage=1#comment-772 Jason Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:09:12 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=199#comment-772 Thanks for the questions Bruce... No we aren't giving up our housing status...willingly that is...we aren't doing the Shane Claiborne deal. The equality we are looking at stems from people being turned away from Sunday worship...and in a real sense community with the Church as a whole. Housing status should not determine your place in the community of the Church. That is, most of our outdoor friends are seen as a project...an outreach...someone to feed and then go back to our homes maybe once a week, month, year or when a need is identified. Not our fellow workers with equal places at the table. This gets insulting real fast, and makes them feel lower then those who are trying to help them. For example, when we do music on Monday nights, we bring two Djembe's a set of Bongo's and an extra guitar (sometimes). These are open to anyone who wants to play. We encourage participation from everyone there, not just Dustin, Jeff, Brandon and I. The talking time is the same deal. I led a discussion on Prayer the other night...and the Nickelodeons made me feel bad for how little I pray...that was a humbling and intensely cool experience. It is a way we can try and restore dignity to all at the Table, while being touched and learning from each other. I've met more Christians on the streets then in the malls. What we are doing can be translated this way: Monday Nights (Nickelsville, TC3 Gatherings) = Life Groups (Bible, Prayer, Corporate Worship, and Community) Sunday Afternoon Gathering (under the overpass) = Sunday Morning Gathering (Bible, Prayer, Corporate Worship, Community, and Service - lite) Meeting throughout the week (various locals) = One on One Relationship building (Community, Service, Prayer, Multiplication) Beyond that, we're looking to point people to social services and the like they may need to help people plug into resources that are there...food, shelter, transitional housing and the like. So basically we are talking about starting a church together with three Pastors (Dustin, Jeff and I). Dustin's wife provides the income for his household as of now, so he has the time to spend on the streets day by day. Because of that, he's been the epicenter for a lot of things that has happened. Jeff and I both work full time so that limits our availability to be in the community...so to speak. The idea would be to have a 50-75% non-housed to 50-25% housed ratio. What we are trying to do is not create an outreach or even a purely homeless expression...but a blending of housing statuses....really and truly a dissolving of housing status as a divider. Jeff is a musician and Dustin has the time invested and is seen as a pastor for this community. He's also spent years in professional church ministry. Me...I'm still trying to figure out how I fit given my schedule and all. Seems to be par for my course in life really...but who can complain. How will this affect Ethos? Good question and one I don't have an answer for. I love the community and people here in West Seattle and we are most assuredly not going anywhere. I still want to serve WS in what ever way we can. We are 100% committed to our neighborhood, and love serving here. How will the Outdoor Church fit in and interact with Ethos...just have to wait and see :) And, BTW, I should have included the various partners and individuals who financially supported us through that two year period in my thanks and gratitude... glarring omission and I apologize. Cornerstone's support was huge...and I can not express Pam and I's appreciation to your community enough Bruce...you guys rock :) Thanks for the questions Bruce…

No we aren’t giving up our housing status…willingly that is…we aren’t doing the Shane Claiborne deal. The equality we are looking at stems from people being turned away from Sunday worship…and in a real sense community with the Church as a whole. Housing status should not determine your place in the community of the Church. That is, most of our outdoor friends are seen as a project…an outreach…someone to feed and then go back to our homes maybe once a week, month, year or when a need is identified. Not our fellow workers with equal places at the table. This gets insulting real fast, and makes them feel lower then those who are trying to help them.

For example, when we do music on Monday nights, we bring two Djembe’s a set of Bongo’s and an extra guitar (sometimes). These are open to anyone who wants to play. We encourage participation from everyone there, not just Dustin, Jeff, Brandon and I. The talking time is the same deal. I led a discussion on Prayer the other night…and the Nickelodeons made me feel bad for how little I pray…that was a humbling and intensely cool experience. It is a way we can try and restore dignity to all at the Table, while being touched and learning from each other.

I’ve met more Christians on the streets then in the malls.

What we are doing can be translated this way:

Monday Nights (Nickelsville, TC3 Gatherings) = Life Groups (Bible, Prayer, Corporate Worship, and Community)
Sunday Afternoon Gathering (under the overpass) = Sunday Morning Gathering (Bible, Prayer, Corporate Worship, Community, and Service – lite)
Meeting throughout the week (various locals) = One on One Relationship building (Community, Service, Prayer, Multiplication)

Beyond that, we’re looking to point people to social services and the like they may need to help people plug into resources that are there…food, shelter, transitional housing and the like.

So basically we are talking about starting a church together with three Pastors (Dustin, Jeff and I). Dustin’s wife provides the income for his household as of now, so he has the time to spend on the streets day by day. Because of that, he’s been the epicenter for a lot of things that has happened. Jeff and I both work full time so that limits our availability to be in the community…so to speak.

The idea would be to have a 50-75% non-housed to 50-25% housed ratio. What we are trying to do is not create an outreach or even a purely homeless expression…but a blending of housing statuses….really and truly a dissolving of housing status as a divider.

Jeff is a musician and Dustin has the time invested and is seen as a pastor for this community. He’s also spent years in professional church ministry. Me…I’m still trying to figure out how I fit given my schedule and all. Seems to be par for my course in life really…but who can complain.

How will this affect Ethos? Good question and one I don’t have an answer for. I love the community and people here in West Seattle and we are most assuredly not going anywhere. I still want to serve WS in what ever way we can. We are 100% committed to our neighborhood, and love serving here. How will the Outdoor Church fit in and interact with Ethos…just have to wait and see :)

And, BTW, I should have included the various partners and individuals who financially supported us through that two year period in my thanks and gratitude… glarring omission and I apologize. Cornerstone’s support was huge…and I can not express Pam and I’s appreciation to your community enough Bruce…you guys rock :)

]]> Comment on What I’ve Been Doing for the Past Year… by Bruce http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=199&cpage=1#comment-771 Bruce Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:08:11 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=199#comment-771 Yo - great update - always love hearing from you all. Help me to read between the lines. "We don’t want to show up a couple of times a week and “do church for” our outdoor friends. We want to live life with them, and treat each other as equals…because of course, we are. " Do you plan to move into a "non-housed state"? Your opening paragraph talked of an updated in your life, then quickly switched to what Dustin was up to, is this something your church will focus on? Something that you will replace your church for? We love you guys and want a better picture of what all of this means for the Douros family! Yo – great update – always love hearing from you all. Help me to read between the lines. “We don’t want to show up a couple of times a week and “do church for” our outdoor friends. We want to live life with them, and treat each other as equals…because of course, we are. ” Do you plan to move into a “non-housed state”?

Your opening paragraph talked of an updated in your life, then quickly switched to what Dustin was up to, is this something your church will focus on? Something that you will replace your church for? We love you guys and want a better picture of what all of this means for the Douros family!

]]> Comment on New Blog URL… by Micah http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=194&cpage=1#comment-431 Micah Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:28:07 +0000 http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=194#comment-431 Tell us more about this "Dean" guy. He sounds pretty unsavory to me... randomly scouring the internet for strange URLs? Dunno if I'd trust him. Tell us more about this “Dean” guy.

He sounds pretty unsavory to me… randomly scouring the internet for strange URLs? Dunno if I’d trust him.

]]> Comment on All of My Hard Work… by Frank http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=186&cpage=1#comment-404 Frank Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:27:41 +0000 http://www.douros.net/jasonblog/?p=186#comment-404 hey bro, i'm sorry i'm reading this so late! congrats man. i know its been a long road but wow, you made it! you the man! word. -frank hey bro,
i’m sorry i’m reading this so late! congrats man. i know its been a long road but wow, you made it! you the man! word.

-frank

]]> Comment on The Batman by KC Jones http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=56&cpage=1#comment-401 KC Jones Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:15:53 +0000 http://www.douros.net/jasonblog/?p=56#comment-401 Batman is Soooo HOT!!! XD I"m a major fan girl. Batman is Soooo HOT!!! XD I”m a major fan girl.

]]> Comment on The Curse of Ham by Noah… by Marc Scott http://www.metrospirituality.org/?p=178&cpage=1#comment-399 Marc Scott Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:31:35 +0000 http://www.douros.net/jasonblog/?p=178#comment-399 Hey you know a nice thing to look at in Ephesians is that Husbands are told 4 times to Love and in that love to do various things... Paul only had to tell the wives once. Yeah we are thick headed and it's taken us years to learn to be partners together rather than Lording over our wives... As head of household when things aren't done right it's our fault...when things go well the team is acting the way it's supposed to... Well Gentlemen let's live and love like Christ and you won't have to worry about the rest. Hey you know a nice thing to look at in Ephesians is that Husbands are told 4 times to Love and in that love to do various things… Paul only had to tell the wives once.

Yeah we are thick headed and it’s taken us years to learn to be partners together rather than Lording over our wives…

As head of household when things aren’t done right it’s our fault…when things go well the team is acting the way it’s supposed to…

Well Gentlemen let’s live and love like Christ and you won’t have to worry about the rest.

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