Great quotes from General Assembly: Nashville

     I've heard some powerful things in a few short days at the Disciple General Assembly in Nashville
Rev. Holly McKissick opened the assembly with an amazing sermon.  A few of her tidbits were:
     *The great thing about being a Disciple is that we know things aren't black and white.  "There's a lot of gray."
     *Disciples know that we don't have exclusive rights on Jesus.
     *Disciples don't claim to have all the answers.  We are humble thoughtful people who journey together as a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
     *The world needs a church like ours!
While preaching in worship Rev Bill Lee spoke about the church's call to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world of HIV/Aids.
     *The church is called to bring healing and to use "any means necessary."
     *Disciple preachers should stop sounding like Joel Olsteen and raise the roof of the church by speaking truth to power.
     *Jesus didn't get permission to heal the sick and he didn't apologize for it when people became angry. He touched people and he used any means necessary to let people know they are loved. 
General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins said in her state of the Church address:
     *God is most fully known in the brokenness of our lives, not in the perfect unbroken loaf.   We meet God in the crumbs of the broken bread.
     *As Disciples, we are learning to fulfill our purpose from the edges of our culture.  Isn't that where it all began and where we were always supposed to be?

 And from Pastor Deb:  I love being a Disciple, where we welcome all at the table of Christ, as God has welcomed us!