Reinhold's Journey

Guests and other blessings

This is a great summer. British weather (fine moonings, wet afternoons), an abundant fullness of beauty and berries in the garden and the blessing of visitors, mainly through couchsurfing.com (check out our profile at http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/rinoregi/) Last weekend, we had Kyle and Chris, two brothers from the US with remote (though still noticeable) Swiss descent. They came on short notice but we enjoyed them so much. Next weekend, another US couple will stay for 3 nights.

Last night, bluegrass night at the Schmitte and this weekend, we will have the famous bluegrass festival here in Thun. This is where I first fell in love with the curvy thing that I hold in my arms so much, by the name of Martin.

I feel very much blessed right now. And by the way, much more short bits of my life and thoughts are on facebook...

Ralph Winter (1924-2009) honored by Kiwi

Ralph Winter is a man I have never met personally yet travelled many of his thoughts like well-laid tracks.... He passed away at the age of 84 on May 20th. Andrew Jones finds good words remembering him.

Euro Church

Just came back from a small but significant consultation in Rome, the EuroChurch conference. The speakers were unique - Johannes Reimer from Germany and Gerard Kelly from Crossroads Church Amsterdam. And then we had a strong catholic charismatic delegation, led by Matteo Colisi from Bari. The exchange of ideas with European leaders was very valuable, and the visit to Rome in the afternoon breathtaking.

EuroChurch.net is an European Forum for Church / community innovation and multiplication and far too less known for what it could be. We will now work towards making it a serving tool for Church leaders all over Europe (including Central/Eastern). Imagine a Think Tank where the burning questions of The Church in Europe Tomorrow will be reflected in a highly relevant way.

And NO, this picture is in no way an allegory for the streams of Church in Europe... :-)

Preparing for Rome

Tomorrow, I will be for three days in Rome with leaders from the Eurochurch network. Look forward - not only to meet inspirational men (there are so few women around at these conferences!!!) but also have a trip to the Eternal City.

Have you heard the one about Father, Son and the Spirit wondering where to take a trip? After a long discussion, Rome was suggested by the Father and the Son. "Wonderful", the Spirit said, "thats a place where I have never been so far..."

You can guess: I have read The Shack - which changed my mental image of God and brought Them much closer to my heart.

Our friend being operated today

Roger Langel has been a close friend for some years now. Together with his wife Ursula, they lead the "Rüdli" in Einigen at the Lake of Thun - a place where the membrane between Heaven and Earth is unusually thin. Two days ago, he unexplicably fell down a 3 meter wall, full on his face. Besides breaking both hand ankles, his face was totally smashed. Today, a team of 10 specialists is going to operate on him for an expected 10-hr-operation. All the bones of his face and part of his skull will have to be removed and partly replaced by steel elements. Most probably, he will never again look this way. We love him, his wife and family and pray for wisdom for the doctors and success in that extremely difficult operation today.

A great weekend

I had a good weekend and feel very grateful and blessed.

On Friday Night, Bluegrass jam night in the Schmitte here in Steffisburg, a fantastic 3rd place. Lots of fun with my Martin guitar.

Saturday morning, I helped Oli moving, together with many of his vineyard friends. I am always touched by the love and "togetherness" of the Vineyard Thun folks. After that, 2 successful hours in the garden - fixing and mending things, because the garden season starts again.

In the afternoon, we went 250 kms to St.Gallen, seeing my wife's parents on the way. Mom is 86 and Dad is 92, and they still live in their beautiful house with their huge park-like garden, overlooking the Eastern Swiss Mountains. Although they are healthwise not always well off, you always go away strenghtened and in a good spirit from them, having talked and laughed a lot.

Today, my wife and I had a Church Service in the Reformed Church of Wattenwil together. She did the preaching, and I did the music, using the e-piano. Was fun and people are always grateful when they hear some different style of music.

Then we took a long nap and then an hour bike riding in the beautiful spring sun. After that, some last preparations, and I had to lead the missional service at our Sports Church here in the Thun area. One of our team preached for the first time, there was a singer from a different church, and things were wonderfully orchestrated by a higher intelligence. From the talks and the reactions, a great night - very encouraging.

Ready for a new week now. I will have to prepare 8 minutes on Church Planting in Europe - a presentation on the mission-net conference in Oldenburg, Germany. Travelling almost 2000 kms for those 8 minutes, but its worth it, having 6000 kids listening. I look forward to the Easter weekend.

Frost in Europe

I had 3 days with Michael Frost in Germany, right now we have a conference with more than 200 young leaders. Mike has a wonderful way to challenge us without insulting anyone. I understand many things about missional church much better, listening to his words for the second time. The IGW is a fantastic biotope to build great friendships and create a new way of understanding church. Wow. And Michael's passion for the Kingdom and for people are infectuous.

Seminars

A Seminar is a place where seeds are sown (say the Latins). I had a 3-part seminar at our local SportLife church on "Living in the dimension of the Kingdom". I tried to put some of my discoveries of last year into words, partly based on Dallas Willard's "The Divine conspiracy". This book has shaped my understanding of the Kingdom more than many others before.

The seminar I am preparing now is on "Dualism". In a weak minute, I suggested to hold it on the upcoming congress with Michael Frost in Aarau. Whereever Missional Church - generally Church in the 21st century - is discussed, Dualism as Greek Influence on the Gospel (to overcome) is an important subject. Where does this influence come from? How can we read the New Testament in a non-dualistic way? How do we avoid to become "monistic" on the other hand? These questions interest me - maybe you know some literature that deals with it? If you can - come and join us on the conference, either in Aarau or in Essen.

Younger leaders for more and new churches

I spend a few days in Germany. Visited Mark Reichmann, interesting leader who starts building up a monastic order community in a catholic order house in Karlsruhe. Beautiful experience to be together with his family.

Now I am in Münster. Stefan Lingott and some of the European DAWN team organized a small consultation - basically trying to express the DAWN vision "as many churches as possible for a nation" in a language and style for a new generation of leaders. We are not many, leaders from Sweden, Norway, NL, Germany, and Switzerland; but for me, its great to wrap my mind again around strategic questions. Two outcomes among several:

- We will try to put the missiological idea of Saturation Church planting into a new language so that it communicates better to people who are no longer at home in modernity.

- We will try to motivate Church Planters and apostolic individuals to gather in regional networks. Pioneers need networking and encouragement.

After this, i will go to Bremen to see my sister and her husband, leaders of Paul's Church, as well as our new web designer, Jens Stangenberg. Will be back in Switzerland on Tuesday.

Active sunday

I am resting from an active and beautiful sunday. Quiet time this morning, then 3 hours in the snow with my wife and granddaughter, skiing and sledging. Fantastic snow and sunshine. 

After that, a big town reception for Fränzi Mägert-Kohli, the new Snowboard World Champion, proud citizen of Steffisburg, Christian, and a very nice person :-) Surprise guest: Ursula Bruhin, Christian as well and former 4x World Champion. I realized again: how many Christians are salt of the earth here in the Thun area - and what could they do if they would mention God just a tiny bit more often in a non-obtrusive way!

Fränzi is World Champion

Wow! Fränzi Mägert-Kohli, Christian from Steffisburg, became Snowboard World Champion yesterday in Korea. With her whole house group, she takes part in our church seminars and is, as a Christian, a role model to many. This is the top of her career so far. She did not give up, and even newspapers mention her prayers. Congratulations, Fränzi!!!

One more year

Yesterday it was my birthday - I hung one more year on the line...:-) at 57 now, the next decade of my life seems to be approaching very quickly, arghhh :-)

I have not been blogging a lot - you can meet me on facebook, if you want. We have had a great Christmas and New year`s time, i am healthy, feel good (most of the time) and am still trying to balance out three or four jobs.

Last night, for my 57th birthday, I invited 6 or 7 handpicked friends for a Gentlemen's night with a cigar in the smoking room of an old castle here in our town. I enjoyed these guys so much - some former youth group guys, some from a past House Church, some just friends and interesting guys . 7 men, successful in business or in social professions. 7 men, loving Jesus. 7 men, willing to live as Salt of the earth in society. 7 men, no longer in a normal "church".

Try new things

Yesterday, new things in our family: My daughter-in-law Emily got a Fast Food Car on Ebay and started an Asian Noodle Bar, having their first engagement on a local Christmas Marked yesterday.

And we as SportLife Community organized a Christmas Salsa Party in Thun, including a Salsa Crash Course given by my son Markus. It was fun but exhausting, and we bought far too much beer. Anyone needs a box of good Swiss beer for Christmas?

Now I am preparing an evangelistic sermon for tomorrow night on "The Down-to-Earth God".

A little courageous step out of the system

He finally did it!

Friendship coffee

Wolfgang and Mercy Simson came to say hello for an hour or so this morning - what a joy. And how much I appreciate all you friends out there! You're a true gift of God.

Heaven hotter than Hell?

Dallas Willard surprised me again this morning. Becoming "Christians" in order to get to heaven without becoming Disciples can be really dangerous - who says that Heaven is a kind of transcendent "nice, air-conditioned luxury hotel with unlimited room service and spectacular amenities for eternity"? If God is a consuming Fire, Heaven could be hotter than hell; how can anyone survive Heaven, if he / she has not been a disciple here  - which means a learner how to live in the Kingdom-among-us-now ? How happy would some fearful, bitter, lust-ridden or hate-filled "Christians" be if they would be forced to live forever in the unrestrained fullness of the reality of God, not protected by the merciful time-space continuum we live in now? "There is a widespread notion that just passing through death transforms human character", writes Willard (The Divine Conspiracy, p.331). "Discipleship is not needed. Just believe enough to "just make it".... But what if death only forever fixes us as the kind of person we are at death? What would one do in heaven with a debauched character or a hate-filled heart?" The fires in Heaven may be hotter than those in the other place. Wow - and again: that's why we are told to make disciples and not "Christians".

A dollar from uncle Ralph

I spent 4 days in Zürich teaching and was generously invited to stay at the house of a friend there. First night, we went to a huge Pentecostal Cell Church (one of the two largest churches in Switzerland, the other is ICF Church). Kind of a culture shock for me - hadnt been to a big church for a long time, and specially not to a pentecostal one. these folks seem to be happy all the time!!!
By chance, Ralph Neigbour was teaching that night - he has a special longstanding relationship with them. And because I knew a bible quote, I got a dollar bill from him. Now I was happy too (although no one knows how long it will be worth something:-). I will guard this as a piece of memory of ministry encounters - next to, for example, a piece of rock from the Berlin wall. Guess I am getting old and sentimental.

Couch surfing

We had a visitor this weekend and spontaneously became members of www.couchsurfing.com - a world wide network of travellers and ppl sharing their homes and couches for them. Our son, living in Bern, has weekly guests in his apartment from all over the world. What a chance to meet folks and share the love of God. Did you know that hospitality (Greek: the love of strangers) is a necessary quality of the Last Times, as much as prayer? See 1 Pt. 4:9.

Sports weekend - what a challenge

I am part of a church plant among sports people in the Thun area, and we have a weekend with Christian sports people from the whole country. Wow - what a good challenge for me. A national coach, multiple world champions in Canoe, Snowboarding etc - this is a great training for me. How do they prepare? How do they deal with success and failure? What difference does their being a Christian make? I have never been a sportsman, but the determination and motivation of these folks impresses and challenges me.

First night of seminar

In the new Sport Life Church, I am holding a seminar on the "Somewhat different church". What a joy to teach a bunch of - mainly younger - people who are willing to take a new approach to being Church. Positive, intelligent and enthusiastic folks - from a Swiss Snowboard Champion (who attended with her whole House Group) to an elderly couple who ist struggling to take the shift from very traditional to Missional. The seminar will be three evenings.