Lord of Life by some accounts is considered part Elburn. Although, that is up for debate. It is also considered LaFox at times and has been associated with Campton Hills and with St. Charles as well. It is sometimes aptly described as the church that is nowhere, but somewhere. The reality is that Lord of Life is in just the right place. The reality is that Lord of Life is in all these different communities. The church is not a place. It is not a location. The church is the people of God. So wherever the people are, that is where the Church (with a capital C) is at.
That said – in Men of God this morning, our speaker, Jim Mozderin, shared something I never had crossed my mind about the name of the community Elburn. EL in Hebrew is the shortened form of the word Elohim, which means God. This is stretching it a bit, but using two different languages we get God and burn from the name Elburn.
Fire is the a symbol – oftentimes more than a symbol – of the Holy Spirit. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush that was on fire, yet not consumed by the fire. It was by a pillar of fire the Israelites were led in the desert. God used fire to lick up the water in the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Then came the day of Pentecost and as the disciples gathered in the room, tongues of fire danced on their heads.
Elburn is a place where God is present. His fire burns. The Church in that place is rising up!