Holy crumbs! Portland is a Movement!

Jesus said: "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Whereupon, the Canaanite woman replied: "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table."

The new year - 2007 - is well under way. New agendas await for those dining on the long extendible table of the once-unified-ICOC and those dogs snatching at the crumbs underneath it. I am a bottom feeder. What's happening on top is only news when bits and pieces fly off the topside into my mouth. Honestly, I am very happy with the crumbs! However, when dogs like myself bite back, the master's table is quick to reply: "You only fight our dust!"

Jesus, at the time, considered it wasteful in order to deliberately entertain dogs - the act of tossing bread - rather than the child starved through neglect. And those doggies were the non-Jews of his time! They were not considered "family". However, the Canaanite woman, was aware that even the crumbs are holy! When it mingled with dirt on the floor or saliva of other hungry competitors under the table - it didn't matter - the crumbs were holy!

So what do I make of the scrap?

It's official in my humble opinion - since feeding of the crumbs, starting this blog a year ago, that the PORTLAND MOVEMENT is an official term for the Portland family of churches, also described here, as the House of Renovation. Kip McKean made that announcement in his article: A Modern Day Jethro. "Truly, there is so much good news to report concerning the PORTLAND MOVEMENT OF CHURCHES." [4th February 2007] Furthermore, Kip McKean has an official website [www.kipmckean.org] which, now describes the Portland family of churches as the PORTLAND MOVEMENT. Their aim is summarised as follows from McKean's official website regarding the PORTLAND MOVEMENT: "McKean and the other leaders of the Portland Movement saw a tremendous wave of evangelism sweep the world in the days of the Boston Movement (ICOC). Their conviction is to learn from the past and to build a church growth movement that will far surpass any of the previous efforts of the ICOC."

I think it is very signifigant, because again in my humble opinion, McKean is the only person that can bring about reconciliation in the family of the once-unified-ICOC. No other former ICOC leader has achieved by himself what Kip has done regarding tearing down relationships and re-building new friends on a scale his life demonstrates persisting with the message of the disciple approach. Perhaps it is Kip's intention "to rebuild the churches", but never again will the ICOC be put back together again. The lesson of Humpty Dumpty: All the kings horses and all the kings men could never put back together Humpty Dumpty again.

It is now a matter of attitude. Those of us under the table will assuredly be fed from the table top like never before when McKean and his millenium friends move down this coming April to L.A. If he is not settled to unify or "keep bridges there" meaning to act in a role as an appeaser to those long-forgotten associates in L.A. ICOC then heaven help us! This trip definitely is all to familiar whith the 1990 Boston trip to L.A. but with a twist! Back then, in the Boston days, in their opinion there was in that great city no "God's fellow-workers". Today, it is a different ball game. If so much memories swamped McKean's mind in his recent visit to the University of Florida football stadium then Kip will surely choke on his oatmeal reaching L.A! On the other hand, it seems his move seems like a sort of demonstration of will. Perhaps a contest. The former L.A. church will rise from the metaphorical ashes. Here we'll see the former World Missions Evangelist of a bygone era in Episode 1 rise to the occasion doing exactly what he has done before in the capacity of World Mission Evangelist now as the proud bearer of that title in the Portland Movement.

So how can Kip possibly improve his attitude and bring about reconciliation?

Impossible. If unchanged, he'll remain a contemptible person in 2007.

If we can return to Jesus' story. The crumbs that fell merely from the table or from the childrens mouth fed faith! The Canaanite woman not only benefitted for herself, but her daughter was healed from that very hour when the Holy Crumb, filled up her empty room. Jesus also said: "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you."

As Gentiles, let us not fight each other for the crumbs on the dirty floor. Like dogs, snarling, biting and devouring each other whole. What do we achieve by eating flesh and blood? If we feast on tables, let us not make light of the Bread of Life. Let us consider the mere fact of a Holy Crumb. It can raise life through FAITH!

In conclusion. If your are not part of the "ICOC family" or if you are part of a "new movement" or established one - does your faith heal or does it send people away? What is happening in your very hour?