I neglected to mention in my last post that the article by Tom McCulloch was from the second issue of life together. Of course this post is also based on that issue. This article by Ken Pagaard is a basic review of "They Left Their Nets" by Graham Pulkingham, the pastor of the Church of the Redeemer in Houston. I wanted to highlight both of these articles because they show that relatively early in the life of the community, two ideas had already become prevalent. My last post discussed one of these; the universality of community. Ken's article already begins to put forth the idea that when one leaves community or the church, that they are turning away from following Jesus. I don't think Ken wanted to make his statements that strong -- but that was a widespread interpretation -- and a feeling that many would take away from the community.


Ken reviewed this book because it is a report of how the community at Church of the Redeemer came about. It is filled with personal testimonies of the people who were the early members of that community. It was a very challenging book. I can remember devouring it myself. It was just the book for one who was really seeking a deeper walk with God. I was that person in 1973. I wanted to grow closer to God and I didn't want to be one who turned back. Of course, the idea of the early disciples leaving their nets, their occupation, to follow Jesus was the genesis of my decision to leave the US Navy.