Well now isn't that ironic

I'm sorry but I am trying hard to catch my breath after the recent smack down I received from the Holy Spirit. Actually I really did deserve it, but really actually, He didn't smack me down, but it sure felt like that impact on me.
So what am I talking about? If you have read my previous stuff, you are aware that this site is about some musings of arousing the people of God in Eastern North Carolina (and any who may read it elsewhere who will share the burden and pray). Much of what I have posted is about finding a way to arouse the churches and body of Christ in Eastern North Carolina.
There was that first "ah ha" moment when it seemed that the path was to help the churches find a way to be alive and healthy in a quest to serve God. But now there is this, this ironic conclusion that it is not necessary to find a way to help churches become healthy and alive. The deal is we do not have a way and there is no way for us to do it. Only God can energize His church.
So here is the game plan, let's stop trying to do God's work for Him and let's get really serious about yielding our lives to the control of His Holy Spirit so that as He chooses He might do His work through us. So join me in singing it O.K.? " Draw me nearer, nearer nearer precious Lord to thy Precious bleeding side."

Is all this bad stuff really something good?

There is in fact a lot of tension in our churches. I know of 6 churches that have forcefully terminated pastors in the last 18 months. I hear of stories every week of struggle and tension. Why is it happenning? I think primarily becuase we are in the midst of a transitin of church life from the traditional american model to a more missional model that relates with impact to the world in which we now live.
Since most of our churches have their roots in the traditinal american church it is a tough time. It is clear that it is no longer a matter of if it is happening. The only question is in each setting how long? In most settings that I see it is probably true that this is the last generation for that church unless it leaves a footprint in the next generation.
This makes it tough on pastors who are caught trying to meet the needs of two very diverse sets of people. It is also tough on chruches because much is at play, emotions, family, traditions, theoology, it is all in flux.
So what do we do, fight it or go with the flow? I think that if we step back, it is not a bad thing but a good thing. I too have all my roots in a traditional american church, a church that is now no longer on mission for God, irrelavant to the culture and time. So if it passes away and some other church model comes along that is on mission and is transformational to the community is that not a good thing? I think so. So I suspect we ought to put our energies on seeing our selves as transitionaries. We are the Samuels of our day. We have assumed that God cannot reach todays generation without us and that all is lost if our church model fades away. Guess what, He is reaching them and He is raising up disciples who understand the difference between church membership and disciple of Jesus.