BJ's Night

Every Thursday night about 40 twentysomethings from my church crowd into a home for Bible study and extended hang out time. But about every 7 weeks or so we skip the Bible study and the home and have a "BJ's night." Last night we had a BJ's night--a night of feasting, laughing, and conversing with each other and with strangers at our local BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse.The reason we do these BJ's nights is because we want to be a loving, engaging presence in our community--rather than a reclusive Christian club that just holes up in a home. We believe that the gospel calls us to go to the places where people in our community gather (BJ's is a prime twentysomething hang out) and to interact with, love, and show our neighbors that Christians are a joyful bunch who know how to dine, laugh, converse, and drink a beer or a soda to the glory of God.Last night we spread out to 5 or 6 different tables throughout the bar and restaurant and enjoyed a great night out. We're new at this and we're still learning how to love the strangers around us and the employees who serve us. In fact, we're still learning how to love and enjoy each other as Christians--still learning what it means to delight together in the new community we have in Christ.If you think of it, please pray for us as we continue to embark upon these BJ's Night adventures.