The emerging church continues to emerge in interesting directions I suppose. My friend Tom Ponchak, his wife Lisa and their family of 3 girls are going back to "Rome." Well, "going back" for Tom and Lisa, both cradle Catholics who moved into other Christian circles for quite a few years, in pastoral ministry, planted a church very much like vine & branches in Florida.
Tom has been going through nearly exactly what I have for the last year or so. We have talked/processed about it together a decent bit during some of that time. I have definitely appreciated Tom's perspective over the last months. I'm sure there will be more in the days to come as we both navigate a re-entry into this big Catholic world we've stepped back into. Our stories are so similar, it's really a little freaky. And we find ourselves both in a very similar place now.
For my part (I'm sure Tom would concur), I feel also like saying now that the great love and admiration that I have for my friends that I have been journeying with for the last several years, other church planters and leaders and Kingdom workers, has not changed. I am following God as I know how. The deep drawing inside me to come back into the Catholic Church was not ignorable, and eventually, for me, was something I needed to do. I know this is a big change. I know there are differences that confuse people. Hell, they confuse me. So, we continue to journey together. We are, ultimately, on the same path. Things won't be exactly the same. Are they ever? God is constantly drawing us onward and father inward. It takes different forms at different times. We keep on walking and helping each other walk. I am fortunate to have deep friendships with people who love me and support me.
"Then, if we cannot as yet think alike in all things, at least we may love alike. Herein we cannot possibly do amiss." John Wesley
"Keep your eyes on the crucifix, for Jesus without the cross
is a man without a mission, and the cross without Jesus
is a burden without a reliever." Fulton J. Sheen
"...I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be
completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self." Henri Nouwen
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