Thursday, March 30
"Program complete . . . you may enter when ready."
The finishing touches have been put on the re-release of the church website. It is not in its finished state; but it is ready for public consumption. Check out the link in the sidebar, or if you don't feel like wandering that far with your mouse, just click this link right here.
Friday, March 24
The Family Circle is Complete!
One of the joys of raising a family is watching them reach important milestones. Our family reached a very significant milestone today.
When the phone rings and the voice on the other end is your eldest son (7 years old), your heart tends to flutter - especially when he says "Brother needs to talk to you!" Oh no, what went wrong?
Imagine my joy to hear my youngest son (5 years old next month) report "Guess what, Dad? I just asked Jesus to forgive my sins and make me part of His family. I am a Christian now!"
It seems that my oldest has been praying for his younger brother. Today he asked "When are you going to become a Christian?" Younger sibling replied "When I am ready." causing his older brother to ask "Well, are you ready?" After a few moments thought, the answer came, "Yes, I am ready today!" So two small boys knelt at the side of their bunkbeds and soon found their mother. "Good news, Mom! Our family is all Christians now!"
Just when one thinks life cannot possibly get any better, God shows just how wonderful HE can make life.
When the phone rings and the voice on the other end is your eldest son (7 years old), your heart tends to flutter - especially when he says "Brother needs to talk to you!" Oh no, what went wrong?
Imagine my joy to hear my youngest son (5 years old next month) report "Guess what, Dad? I just asked Jesus to forgive my sins and make me part of His family. I am a Christian now!"
It seems that my oldest has been praying for his younger brother. Today he asked "When are you going to become a Christian?" Younger sibling replied "When I am ready." causing his older brother to ask "Well, are you ready?" After a few moments thought, the answer came, "Yes, I am ready today!" So two small boys knelt at the side of their bunkbeds and soon found their mother. "Good news, Mom! Our family is all Christians now!"
Just when one thinks life cannot possibly get any better, God shows just how wonderful HE can make life.
Sunday, March 19
A Step back in Time
Tomorrow I have the extreme privelege of revisiting a former ministry. The pastor and people of Grace Baptist Church in Sonora, CA, have graciously invited me to preach as part of their "Shepherds' Conference." This yearly conference is a time when various pastors come and preach to the congregation. The emphasis this year is on pastors who have previously ministered at Grace.
I look forward to seeing the people and the ministry again. But the greatest aspect of the day will be opening God's Word again with these dear folks.
I look forward to seeing the people and the ministry again. But the greatest aspect of the day will be opening God's Word again with these dear folks.
Monday, March 13
An update
Final touches are being put on the re-release of our church's website. Many thanks are due to the tireless efforts of Mr. Larry Vanerwegen, who is voluntarily taking on the "joy" of turning my design dreams and ideas into bits and pixels of Internet reality. Stay tuned for the Grand Re-Opening!
Wednesday, March 1
The Revolution will NOT be televised!
Please understand as you read that I am fully aware of the fact that I am a relative newcomer to the ministry scene. I am in my first year of the senior pastorate and have only served seven years prior to this in youth ministry. HOWEVER, my 24-year relationship with Jesus as my Lord and Savior gives me more than enough backing on the subject I approach today.
While in training (both undergraduate and seminary), I recall hearing again and again of the importance of knowing one's audience. This is good advice! Paul (Acts 17) first understood the background of his audience before addressing them on Mars Hill. In recent years, many companies and service providers have brought their unique talents to bear in ministry related areas. But what happens when the researchers do more than gather the data and report the trends? What happens when the pollsters begin making the decisions for you? Can the right data lead to the wrong conclusions?
The answer to the last question is a definite "yes" and is graphically illustrated in a recent book published by George Barna titled Revolution. In this treatise he shares insight into a growing crowd of 'revolutionaries' (his term) that will overtake the church scene in the next 20 years or so. These revolutionaries find spiritual fulfillment outside the walls of traditional church ministry; and have forsaken the local church to better identify with the Church (the global body of believers). Barna's conclusion is that within 20 years, Christians will only find 30% of their Christian activity taking place within church walls (down from it's current 70%). He uses this statistic and the personal experiences of others to advocate a serious shift in thinking - one that calls for believers to join the revolution and leave the local church.
Wait a minute! This is throwing out the baby with the bath water! Let's accept for a moment that what Barna is saying is true about current trends among Christians. If the next two decades will find believers spending less time within the church walls, this is not a reason to abandon the local church - it is a call to make the most of every opportunity those believers are in church! A shift in thinking needs to take place between the pastor's ears. He must strive to not only show the relevance of what he preaches and teaches, but show how that relevance must be acted out in daily life.
To be honest, much of Barna's book left me upset. One who had done seemingly so much to advance the cause of Christ is now advocating the abandonment of the church. To be sure, we cannot continue to minister to a 21st century culture with a 20th century model; but the solution is to change models, not abandon the product line completely. (A mixed metaphor to be sure, but I hope you understand the point.)
The revolution Barna predicts will happen. My prayer is that it will not happen as he sees it; but that we as a local church will realize that "church as it's always been" cannot continue.
While in training (both undergraduate and seminary), I recall hearing again and again of the importance of knowing one's audience. This is good advice! Paul (Acts 17) first understood the background of his audience before addressing them on Mars Hill. In recent years, many companies and service providers have brought their unique talents to bear in ministry related areas. But what happens when the researchers do more than gather the data and report the trends? What happens when the pollsters begin making the decisions for you? Can the right data lead to the wrong conclusions?
The answer to the last question is a definite "yes" and is graphically illustrated in a recent book published by George Barna titled Revolution. In this treatise he shares insight into a growing crowd of 'revolutionaries' (his term) that will overtake the church scene in the next 20 years or so. These revolutionaries find spiritual fulfillment outside the walls of traditional church ministry; and have forsaken the local church to better identify with the Church (the global body of believers). Barna's conclusion is that within 20 years, Christians will only find 30% of their Christian activity taking place within church walls (down from it's current 70%). He uses this statistic and the personal experiences of others to advocate a serious shift in thinking - one that calls for believers to join the revolution and leave the local church.
Wait a minute! This is throwing out the baby with the bath water! Let's accept for a moment that what Barna is saying is true about current trends among Christians. If the next two decades will find believers spending less time within the church walls, this is not a reason to abandon the local church - it is a call to make the most of every opportunity those believers are in church! A shift in thinking needs to take place between the pastor's ears. He must strive to not only show the relevance of what he preaches and teaches, but show how that relevance must be acted out in daily life.
To be honest, much of Barna's book left me upset. One who had done seemingly so much to advance the cause of Christ is now advocating the abandonment of the church. To be sure, we cannot continue to minister to a 21st century culture with a 20th century model; but the solution is to change models, not abandon the product line completely. (A mixed metaphor to be sure, but I hope you understand the point.)
The revolution Barna predicts will happen. My prayer is that it will not happen as he sees it; but that we as a local church will realize that "church as it's always been" cannot continue.
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