Just had home-group tonight and it seemed like pure chaos. We just birthed a new group two months ago (in the capable hands of Sean & Kim Patterson) and we are already over 50 people in number. It was too wet to meet outside so we crammed everyone into my living room. It was kind of like playing Chinese house church!

What I like about our group:
Singles - Marrieds - Parents - kids: in the Same room together!
Not all caucasian
Socio-economic diversity.
Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Libertarians, independent, who cares!
Age range from newborn to late forties
Some people like country and others punk some Rush (ewwww!)
Longtime followers of Christ, newcomers to Christ, and seekers
People hang out together, whether it's at homeless camps, shows at Bernie's, fires in my backyard, or at the Movies, etc.
Everyone's got a interesting story (Jim told me that because he is now following Jesus, he won't watch cock-fightin' any more)
Some are well read.
Some are not.
People really care about each-other
We have many self proclaimed geeks.
Women who like extreme sports and men who like the Gap!
This group loves the poor.
Many like Johnny Cash
Some like Joey Ramone

But most of all- These guys are trying to follow Jesus and it's really messy!
Kinda looks like the New Testament.


  ¶ 11:22 PM

  Just one story before bed.

I have two wonderful children Ian (5) and Kathleen (3) birthed by my wonderful wife Adrienne. My son is obsessed with other people's dogs, which is fine by me, seeing as though I will never get one (after the cujo fiasco with my last dog).

At first Ian would run out and begin petting someone's dog without asking. This distressed us a bit so we instructed him to always ask for permission to pet someones dog, and to then ask if it was a kind dog.

The other day our friend Ben Rosen was watching the kids play on the porch. A neighbor walks by and Ian calls out, "Can I pet your dog?"

The neigbor give an affirmative answer, so Ian trots of to greet the dog. Before he would pet the dog he asked the neighbor if his dog was kind, to which the neighbor said, "yes."

Ian then got very serious and he asked,

"Is your dog lovin' Jesus?"

The neighbor was somewhat embarassed and silent so Ian asked more intensely,

"Does your dog love Jesus?"

The neighbor responded with a frustrated "yes", Ian hugged the Dog, and the neighbor left quickly before Ian could start probing him with questions about his faith.

God has given my son Big kahunes at such a young age!

  ¶ 1:18 AM

  This is my first attempt at bloggin so please bear with me.

I live in the so called "University District" of Columbus Ohio. A popular bumpersticker reads, "The University District: A Smart Place To Live." Perhaps it should instead read: "The University District: It's A Riot!" (I live a short walk from OSU campus)

I do love this place.

Jeff  ¶ 12:35 AM