Church on the Edge Update
It’s past time for an update. So many of you who subscribe to these posts and podcasts are dear friends from our time in Korea. Now, we are scattered all over the world. That’s great, but I sure miss seeing you! I miss hearing from you as well. So, here’s my email for those of you who would like to contact me -
dan.churchontheedge@gmail.com.
Now for the update.
Sherri and I are no longer in Florida. Many of you know that. Plenty of others do not, as I am learning.
We moved to High Point, North Carolina, last July, and I began serving Embrace Church. We are a small fellowship of deeply committed disciples of Jesus. We welcome all people from whatever background they may come. It’s genuine real, and believe me when I say people know it; they feel it.
Our church is loosely structured - more organic, less institutional. After twelve years of serving Seoul International Baptist Church (now Freedom Village Church), I could not go back to a rigid, structured church environment.
After a brief hiatus, I recorded the sixth season of podcasts for Church on the Edge. I am releasing these weekly on Substack, but they are also on Spotify and most other podcast providers.
For those of you listening to this sixth season, you probably have noticed that I’m a little less (how should I put this?) tactful than in past seasons.
I mention this in one of those podcasts, but this more forward approach came about after a conversation with my daughter Mary. I shared with Mary that as a follower of Jesus, I wanted to serve as a peacemaker. It really is my desire to build bridges, both in the church as well as to those outside of the church and outside of the Christian faith.
Mary thoughtfully responded by saying that sometimes we have to be willing to engage in topics and share things that are not always easy to hear. As an immigration attorney, she often has to tell her clients things that are not pleasant but help prepare them for things to come.
The church in our day desperately needs to hear that, just as in the days of Jesus and the early church, God is moving and working among people and people groups we often ostracize or ignore.
For example, I was reading an article the other day about the guitar player for Velvet Revolver. Velvet Revolver was, in a very real sense, Guns ’n Roses reborn without Axl Rose. Anyway, the article focused on this new guitarist and his relationship with Slash and the rest of the band.
All the guys in the band, except Scott Weiland (dead now of an overdose), were free from years of substance and alcohol abuse. They were committed to staying that way while touring. The road can be hard for bands, lots of temptations.
Anyway, this new guitarist was commenting on touring with Velvet Revolver. He said something like this - “I’m not really into Jesus, but it was a great experience playing rock ’n roll with these guys.”
Think about it. Talk about breaking the mold! But Jesus meets us where we are and as we are.
I’ll close with these words from Nirvana’s song, “Come as You Are.” It’s a worship song for me, and I mentioned it in a recent sermon. After church this past Sunday, our sound guy played it over the speakers -
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be.
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don’t be late
Take a rest, as a friend
As an old enemy
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend
As an old enemy
That’s what Church on the Edge is all about. I hope that’s what all of us, as followers of Jesus, are all about as well. In Christ,
Dan