If you haven't heard, Greg is not preaching this month, but instead we are rotating through the very talented men in our church who will be preaching. Dick Pritchard preached the first weekend, Josh preached last weekend, Jason is preaching this weekend, and Dan will be finishing up the month preaching. Dick and Josh have done a great job and I'm sure Jason and Dan will also. If you're available at 9:00 a.m., please come and support them.
We have a lot of special things planned for the three services in December. You won't want to miss them. Seriously!
Have a blessed chilly Thursday!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
You See Bones, I See an Army (cont,)
Sorry for the hiatis, you'd think I'd have more time, not working! So many things to do!
Continuing with chapter 2 by Floyd McClung.
Being incarnational means relating to people in ways that allow us to identify with people without compromising our message.
Paul preached, gathered the new believers, taught and baptized them, and then trusted the Holy Spirit in them to empower them to live thier faith in their culture, not apart from it.
Some people believe that the attractional approach to church is about improving our programs, projecting better audiovisuals, and getting people to come to our church instead of the church down the street. It caters to the consumer mentality of shopping around to find the church that fits us. There are church growth conferences dedicated to better parking lots and more appealing children's programs. When I hear people talking like this, I feel what Jesus must have felt like when he cleansed the Temple. What have we come to? Better parking lots? The right packaging of our worship set? Is church really that far gone in our Western ways of doing things?
I believe there are distinct advantages to such a simple expression of church and ministry:
1. It is simpler to get things done. It doesn't take a long time to conduct the business meeting of the church!
2. Accountability is more natural and powerful with two or three people. It is more difficult to confess sins or weaknesses with a larger group of people.
3. There is grater flexibility. It doesn't take as long, or involve as many decisions, to change or adapt to new opportunities.
4. Communication flows more easily with a small group of people. Misunderstandings can be cleared up more quickly when the group is smaller.
5. There is greater proximity to people who don't know Jesus. It is natural for a small group to meet in a restaurant or bar or office, thus keeping a group located among people who don't know Jesus.
6. Direction is more quickly and clearly confirmed in simple. church. God often uses two or three others to confirm what he says to us.
7. Leadership stays natural and relational. When the leadership functions in a small group of people, it is much more difficult for it to function from a lofty position since everyone knows each other.
8. Multiplication can happen spontaneously as the group grows. It doesn't take a worship band, a fat check, a telemarketing campaign, and a new building to plant a new church!
The difference between complicated church and simple church is that the complicated church relies on programs to disciple people, while simple church empowers people to disciple people.
That was such a good end note, I'll end there. A few comments:
On the paragraph on attractional church. I believe it is very easy for people (church staff, congregation) to believe this is the best model to reach the community for Christ. After all, it's like luring ants to a picnic. You make it smell good enough, they're bound to come. It makes sense. But is it Biblical? Did Jesus spend time making his message 'look' and 'sound' good? No. He was at times offensive, angry, and frustrated. But he delivered the message of salvation clearly and without compromising. He didn't sugar-coat it. He talked about sin. He even specifically pointed out the sin in the people he was talking to. There's conviction for you! Let's be basic in our message, not manipulative, wrapping the Gospel in twinkling lights. Some might say we should strive for excellence in trying to reach every one we can for Christ. Yes, we should strive for excellence. But let's not compromise. I believe God made the Gospel attractive and powerful and able to stand on it's own without us interferring with it to try and make it better. It is timeless. It works by itself, yesterday, today, and forever.
Also, on catering to the consumer mentality of shopping for church: I think 'the consumers' have it backwards. WHERE IS PRAYER? It is not about US finding a church that fits US. We should not be consumers here. If God is Sovereign Lord in our lives, God should be directing us to the church He wants us to attend. He does this with His purpose for our lives in mind. We should be praying about where He wants us to go and be obedient to that calling. We should not attend a church because our parents do (if we're over 18), or because our friends do, or because it is where we accepted Christ, or because it is the only church we've ever attended. We should attend a church because it is where God has called us for this season. The season may last a lifetime, or less than that. There is no sin in changing churches when we are on our knees before our King and are led to go elsewhere because God wants to teach us something else under another Shepherd. The Shepherd doesn't own the sheep. God does, and He calls the sheep as He wills. Though loyalty is a great thing, it is secondary to calling. Who and what are you being loyal to? Don't be so loyal that you sacrifice the care and feeding of your soul. You won't be as useful to God as quickly if He has to heal the damage caused by you being in the wrong place.
Blessings on this cold, windy Wednesday.
Continuing with chapter 2 by Floyd McClung.
Being incarnational means relating to people in ways that allow us to identify with people without compromising our message.
Paul preached, gathered the new believers, taught and baptized them, and then trusted the Holy Spirit in them to empower them to live thier faith in their culture, not apart from it.
Some people believe that the attractional approach to church is about improving our programs, projecting better audiovisuals, and getting people to come to our church instead of the church down the street. It caters to the consumer mentality of shopping around to find the church that fits us. There are church growth conferences dedicated to better parking lots and more appealing children's programs. When I hear people talking like this, I feel what Jesus must have felt like when he cleansed the Temple. What have we come to? Better parking lots? The right packaging of our worship set? Is church really that far gone in our Western ways of doing things?
I believe there are distinct advantages to such a simple expression of church and ministry:
1. It is simpler to get things done. It doesn't take a long time to conduct the business meeting of the church!
2. Accountability is more natural and powerful with two or three people. It is more difficult to confess sins or weaknesses with a larger group of people.
3. There is grater flexibility. It doesn't take as long, or involve as many decisions, to change or adapt to new opportunities.
4. Communication flows more easily with a small group of people. Misunderstandings can be cleared up more quickly when the group is smaller.
5. There is greater proximity to people who don't know Jesus. It is natural for a small group to meet in a restaurant or bar or office, thus keeping a group located among people who don't know Jesus.
6. Direction is more quickly and clearly confirmed in simple. church. God often uses two or three others to confirm what he says to us.
7. Leadership stays natural and relational. When the leadership functions in a small group of people, it is much more difficult for it to function from a lofty position since everyone knows each other.
8. Multiplication can happen spontaneously as the group grows. It doesn't take a worship band, a fat check, a telemarketing campaign, and a new building to plant a new church!
The difference between complicated church and simple church is that the complicated church relies on programs to disciple people, while simple church empowers people to disciple people.
That was such a good end note, I'll end there. A few comments:
On the paragraph on attractional church. I believe it is very easy for people (church staff, congregation) to believe this is the best model to reach the community for Christ. After all, it's like luring ants to a picnic. You make it smell good enough, they're bound to come. It makes sense. But is it Biblical? Did Jesus spend time making his message 'look' and 'sound' good? No. He was at times offensive, angry, and frustrated. But he delivered the message of salvation clearly and without compromising. He didn't sugar-coat it. He talked about sin. He even specifically pointed out the sin in the people he was talking to. There's conviction for you! Let's be basic in our message, not manipulative, wrapping the Gospel in twinkling lights. Some might say we should strive for excellence in trying to reach every one we can for Christ. Yes, we should strive for excellence. But let's not compromise. I believe God made the Gospel attractive and powerful and able to stand on it's own without us interferring with it to try and make it better. It is timeless. It works by itself, yesterday, today, and forever.
Also, on catering to the consumer mentality of shopping for church: I think 'the consumers' have it backwards. WHERE IS PRAYER? It is not about US finding a church that fits US. We should not be consumers here. If God is Sovereign Lord in our lives, God should be directing us to the church He wants us to attend. He does this with His purpose for our lives in mind. We should be praying about where He wants us to go and be obedient to that calling. We should not attend a church because our parents do (if we're over 18), or because our friends do, or because it is where we accepted Christ, or because it is the only church we've ever attended. We should attend a church because it is where God has called us for this season. The season may last a lifetime, or less than that. There is no sin in changing churches when we are on our knees before our King and are led to go elsewhere because God wants to teach us something else under another Shepherd. The Shepherd doesn't own the sheep. God does, and He calls the sheep as He wills. Though loyalty is a great thing, it is secondary to calling. Who and what are you being loyal to? Don't be so loyal that you sacrifice the care and feeding of your soul. You won't be as useful to God as quickly if He has to heal the damage caused by you being in the wrong place.
Blessings on this cold, windy Wednesday.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Let This Challenge You
If you're not already excelling in the grace of giving, here's a great place to start. If this 4-year old can do it, you can too!
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/financial-management-from-a-4-year-old%E2%80%99s-perspective/
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/financial-management-from-a-4-year-old%E2%80%99s-perspective/
Monday, November 9, 2009
Crazy!
As if the frozen should and tendonitis wasn't enough, I came down with a UTI 2 weeks ago. Fortunately I just finished 7 days of antibiotics and was feeling mostly better by the time we went away this weekend for our anniversary to A Lovely Place, where we go every year. The day before we left, however, I was cooking for 4 hours, making spaghetti, chili beans, apple crisp, and a couple batches of chocolate chip cookies. As I was stirring the spaghetti on the back burner, the steam from the pot of beans on the front burner gave me a rip roarin' burn across my stomach. The pain left in about 3 hours. The skin started coming off the next day. Now it's a little green. Not to worry, though, I see the Dr. on Wednesday for my shoulder. It may be more than a frozen shoulder, the Physical Therapist said today, as I can't do my exercises without gobs of pain. So, we'll go down the xray, MRI route like before to rule out other things like bone spurs, rotator cuff tears, etc.
Greg came down with a cold over the weekend and he's in bed trying to sleep. He has to work tomorrow. It's always something!
Greg came down with a cold over the weekend and he's in bed trying to sleep. He has to work tomorrow. It's always something!
Shoes in church
I showered and shaved............. I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat. In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer...... As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side..... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'
'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.
The shoe man said............. A quiet 'Amen.'
I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?
'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended........... And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering... And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out......... What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me......... To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man... For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service........ As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow.............. And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer........ I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark...... And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.
He said, 'My names' Charlie.............. I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''
'I know that my appearance.........'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try...................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here...........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'
My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize........ For daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here...........'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'
I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.
'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man.............'Is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought,................. This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am. That his dirty old shoe touched my soul
You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
I respect you, and truly cherish you.
I got there and sat. In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer...... As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side..... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'
'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.
The shoe man said............. A quiet 'Amen.'
I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?
'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended........... And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering... And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out......... What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me......... To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man... For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service........ As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow.............. And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer........ I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark...... And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.
He said, 'My names' Charlie.............. I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''
'I know that my appearance.........'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try...................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here...........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'
My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize........ For daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here...........'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'
I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.
'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man.............'Is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought,................. This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am. That his dirty old shoe touched my soul
You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
I respect you, and truly cherish you.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A Little Braggin'
I'm so proud of my daughter. Here's why:
1. Every year of Jr. High and High School, she participates all week long in homecoming week by dressing up in the particular type of costume set forth by the student body. This, though it has been embarrassing at times for her, shows how much school spirit she has and how much she is dedicated to participating in school activities. She works on the float every year, though only a handful of kids from her 50 student class do so. Here she is this year as a superhero:
1. Every year of Jr. High and High School, she participates all week long in homecoming week by dressing up in the particular type of costume set forth by the student body. This, though it has been embarrassing at times for her, shows how much school spirit she has and how much she is dedicated to participating in school activities. She works on the float every year, though only a handful of kids from her 50 student class do so. Here she is this year as a superhero:
2. At the end of Homecoming week this year, the kids had MORP. Prom spelled backwards, as the girls ask the boys. It's not a romantic dinner/dance kind of thing. It's a friend/activity kind of thing. This year she asked a very nice young man from her class. I asked her why she picked him out of all the boys in her school. She said, "He's the only boy who I've never heard anything unwholesome come out of his mouth." This shows her priorities. She isn't interested in the muscle-bound, cute, athletic boy because of how he looks. She looks at the character of the person to decide who she wants to spend time with. 1 Sam. 16:7 says, But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Here they are before they left for the Standford football game as Robin Hood and Maid Merriam.
3. Last night she had to drive her new car to youth group for the first time. She's been working on driving the manual transmission. She was very apprehensive. Greg and I left to go to dinner. When we got home we were happy to see she had driven her car. When she got home she said before she left she called her Youth Pastor and asked him to pray for her. He prayed for her on the phone. She said she felt at peace afterwards and was able to drive there. I'm proud of her being able to ask her Youth Pastor for prayer and seeking God for strength. Today she drove her car to school all by herself for the first time. She's growing up!
4. She's braver than I was at that age. Her wisdom teeth are coming in. Because she's had braces, she wants to get them pulled, as they're crowding her other teeth and she doesn't want to waste the thousands of dollars the braces cost. How thoughtful!
Okay, I'm done bragging for now. Thank you for indulging me! Have a blessed Thursday evening.
Fantastic post
Check out Perry Noble's post:
http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/11/04/15-signs-that-a-church-is-in-trouble/
http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/11/04/15-signs-that-a-church-is-in-trouble/
Monday, November 2, 2009
You See Bones, I See an Army (cont,)
By Floyd McClung, here are my highlights from the first half of Chapter 2.
You don't have to go to a Bible school for four years to be a leader in the church. In fact, Jesus defined leaders in the new way of doing things as servants. If leaders are servants, anyone who serves God's people through their gifts, leads.
We win battles by fighting in the opposite spirit. Instead of violence, we fight with peace. Instead of anger and hate, we fight with love and forgiveness. Instead of power, we fight with humility. Instead of demanding our rights, we fight with meekness and transparency. Our weapons are not those made with human hands, but they are fashioned in the hearts of humble people.
Such a focus of serving and engaging our culture will continually drive humble and fearless people to their knees in dependence on God for fresh outpourings of the Spirit.
Being "full-time" for God is not about being called to a religious vocation or the mission field but about realizing that no matter what our vocation or where we live, we are called to represent the heart of God and share the love of Jesus all the time. Holistic spirituality means that making money and earning a living is not the primary purpose of any occupation, but being there for God - active, subversive, and courageous - is our calling and purpose.
The apostles of the church are not all up-front, highly charismatic personalities.
An apostolic church is a church that is gripped by the imperatives of Jesus to preach the good news and plant new communities of faith. Apostolic leaders are missional. That is, they align themselves with the mission of God. An apostolic leader is one that believes the whole church is a sent church. Their defining values are to win, gather, and multiply kingdom-minded communities that reach unchurched people, impact culture, and touch nations. Apostolic leadership is God's mechanism for mobilizing his people.
Institutional churches have ignored the role of the evangelist, prophet, and apostle. Pastors and teachers have had more than their share of recognition. It's time to restore greater balance to all five of the equipping gifts that Paul describes in Ephesians 4, but not in a top-down, command-and-control structure.
Apostolic leaders encourage holy dissatisfaction, risk taking, questioning, and experimenting.
I have found personally that to the degree I am caught up in maintaining church structures, something in me dies. My creative gifts and energy turn inward and I am less effective in every way.
In a real sense, a true biblical maverick acts in a prophetic manner by exposing the lies that the dominant group tells itself in order to sustain its shared illusions.
Being incarnational means relating to people in ways that allow us to identify with people without compromising our message.
Paul preached, gathered the new believers, taught and baptized them, and then trusted the Holy Spirit in them to empower them to live their faith in their culture, not apart from it.
That's enough for now. There's more, lots more. Think about these statements. Do they agree with your view of church? Do they make sense? Are they totally different from what you've always believed and experienced?
Have a blessed sunny Monday.
You don't have to go to a Bible school for four years to be a leader in the church. In fact, Jesus defined leaders in the new way of doing things as servants. If leaders are servants, anyone who serves God's people through their gifts, leads.
We win battles by fighting in the opposite spirit. Instead of violence, we fight with peace. Instead of anger and hate, we fight with love and forgiveness. Instead of power, we fight with humility. Instead of demanding our rights, we fight with meekness and transparency. Our weapons are not those made with human hands, but they are fashioned in the hearts of humble people.
Such a focus of serving and engaging our culture will continually drive humble and fearless people to their knees in dependence on God for fresh outpourings of the Spirit.
Being "full-time" for God is not about being called to a religious vocation or the mission field but about realizing that no matter what our vocation or where we live, we are called to represent the heart of God and share the love of Jesus all the time. Holistic spirituality means that making money and earning a living is not the primary purpose of any occupation, but being there for God - active, subversive, and courageous - is our calling and purpose.
The apostles of the church are not all up-front, highly charismatic personalities.
An apostolic church is a church that is gripped by the imperatives of Jesus to preach the good news and plant new communities of faith. Apostolic leaders are missional. That is, they align themselves with the mission of God. An apostolic leader is one that believes the whole church is a sent church. Their defining values are to win, gather, and multiply kingdom-minded communities that reach unchurched people, impact culture, and touch nations. Apostolic leadership is God's mechanism for mobilizing his people.
Institutional churches have ignored the role of the evangelist, prophet, and apostle. Pastors and teachers have had more than their share of recognition. It's time to restore greater balance to all five of the equipping gifts that Paul describes in Ephesians 4, but not in a top-down, command-and-control structure.
Apostolic leaders encourage holy dissatisfaction, risk taking, questioning, and experimenting.
I have found personally that to the degree I am caught up in maintaining church structures, something in me dies. My creative gifts and energy turn inward and I am less effective in every way.
In a real sense, a true biblical maverick acts in a prophetic manner by exposing the lies that the dominant group tells itself in order to sustain its shared illusions.
Being incarnational means relating to people in ways that allow us to identify with people without compromising our message.
Paul preached, gathered the new believers, taught and baptized them, and then trusted the Holy Spirit in them to empower them to live their faith in their culture, not apart from it.
That's enough for now. There's more, lots more. Think about these statements. Do they agree with your view of church? Do they make sense? Are they totally different from what you've always believed and experienced?
Have a blessed sunny Monday.
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