The word "church" means different things to different people.  For traditional Christians it means a building, but it's beginning to take on a new meaning.  Church doesn't mean a place, but more of a broad feeling associated with the place.    It's not usually thoughts of the building that you take with you during the week, but the people, the generosity, and the feeling of meeting God in a place are what really stick. 

Church used to mean an uncomfortable pew and holding still while my dad preached, but recently I've been imagining what "church" would be to me if I could design it myself!

Tell me what YOU would like to see or feel in church and I'll post later about what's on my mind!

Leave a comment about something like:

What factors to you make a perfect church

Have you had an experience at a church that was really unique and good?

What's your dream church like?

 Looking forward to hearing your brilliant thoughts!

It's an easy thing to pray. Only a short few minutes of our day, asking, talking, sharing, praising Him who gives us so much.

So, today, I'm asking that you'll pray especially for someone close to our hearts here at beZao. Larisa & Matt are co-founders of Kirabo Foundation and over the course of the past 8 years, has adopted 5 children from Uganda. Levi, their youngest & newest son has required a heart surgery since birth, and on February 11, he officially & legally joined their family and headed to the hospital for preparations. Here is an excerpt from their blog.

I'm never one to complain about snow. In my book, there is never enough on the ground. Winter is one of my favorite times of the year. It does have the draw back that you don't get to see your neighbor's much. Well, most winters at least.

This year we have had record snowfall. We currently have a little over 2 feet on the ground and most of that fell in the last 3 weeks.

While most of the time in the north country, people tend to stay indoors during the winter, (at least in our neighborhood) when we got our big dump of 14 inches of snow in 24 hours, people had to get out and shovel. So after the snow stopped falling, we headed out to shovel and dig each other out. I think on that one day, we met more neighbors then I have in the 4 years of living here. We met people that we never see.

I live in a big city with a large university and medical
center where people from all over the nation and the world come to "earn wisdom
and stature" before moving on. The nature
of the community is somewhat transient, which allows for some unique
elements. Conversations are always
bracing, friendships are diverse, and new thoughts and ideas are endless. I must admit, I love it! My church experience has been a bit less
thrilling. This town is large and spread
out, and our local church is not really central to anyone. Busy work and school schedules and travel distance
seem to prevent some of the “normal” things you might see in a medium sized
church from occurring.

Just read a thoughtful blog over here. Julie Smith had some really beautiful ideas about passionate inquiry into our spiritual goals for the New Year.

Read.

Re-evaluate.

Resolve.

Renew.

I know her questions have given me reason to delve deeper into my true aspirations for t his coming year.