The Stoops Arrives

Howdy Everyone,

I'm Michael Stoops, the new intern pastor at Community Lutheran Church.

I want to use this blog more than in the past. Posting material after each of our Bible studies will allow us to ponder over what we learned from the Bible and from each other. I also hope to add my own ponderings from time to time (I'm a pastor and, hence, long-winded by nature). Please utilize the ability to leave comments to continue the conversation. And here's why that is important:

In Jesus' world, it was assumed that you had as much to learn from the discussion of the text as you did from the text itself. One person could never get too far in a twisted interpretation because the others were right there giving her insight and perspective she didn't have on her own. Jesus said when he was talking about [his followers interpreting the text] that "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Community, community, community. Together, with others, wrestling and searching and engaging the Bible as a group of people hungry to know God in order to follow God.

- Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis pages 52-53

This is my hope for this year: to be a community that is "hungry to know God in order to follow God."
To be a community that welcomes new voices to the conversation.
To be a community that loves others.
To be a community that loves Jesus.

Stoops