Re-Thinking How We Do Church: The Next Leg Of Our Journey
We decided that to solve the problem, we wouldn’t stick with “church as usual,” but we would employ a little divergent thinking to come up with a different path. So, here’s what we’re planing to do. Instead of trying to find a facility where we can do everything we feel necessary in one location, we’re going to come at it from two different angles.
Re-Post: A Raw Self-Evaluation From Chris Yambar
My friend Robin pointed me to another friend’s blog recently. Chris Yambar is an absolute riot to hang around, and always keeps you laughing, but he is also one of those guys that challenges and convicts you just by being who he is. I definitely think it’s worth your time to take a few minutes to read his latest blog post.
How to Tell A Friend They’ve Crossed the Line
I’m not sure if this is okay to say or not, but I really don’t like watching American Idol. I don’t mind watching the last few episodes of the season, you know the part where everyone left can actually sing on key, but I can’t stand watching the auditions at the beginning of the season. I know that a lot of people enjoy watching the tone deaf people doing their best impersonation of a alley cat in heat trying desperately to impress the judges, but it just hurts my ears too much.
I Think Jesus Laughed At Farts
The other day, I realized something about my own particular Christology (that’s the fancy word for the stuff I believe about Jesus). I think Jesus laughed when people farted. It’s funny! Even grown-up, mature business men will laugh when someone farts in the men’s washroom. I think Jesus laughed at farts.
Who Do You Trust?
Jesus said once, “”Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”" (Matthew 11:28 MSG) The real question isn’t whether or not Jesus is capable of making good on that promise, it’s do we trust him enough to follow him there even if we don’t know what the final destination is?
Up For The Challenge
One of my favorite podcasts is the video podcast from TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design). I find the different topics and ideas presented to be incredibly stimulating, and I love learning how to be a better presenter from some of the incredible communicators that show up at the TED conference.
This past weekend I was watching some of the latest postings to the podcast and came across a fascinating talk by a guy named Lewis Pugh. Lewis Pugh had a concern. He watched as the polar ice cap kept creeping back and how the ice at the North Pole kept getting thinner and thinner and he decided to do something about it. He wanted to do something that would grab the business and political leaders of the world by their “collars and shake them” to make them aware of the problem of climate change. So, what Lewis did is arrange to take a little dip, only he decided that he would take his short, twenty minute, one kilometer swim at the North Pole.
Casting Your Nets
Sometimes I chuckle when I’m reading a passage of scripture. I mean, there are some pretty funny parts in it. For example, when Matthew is telling us about Jesus going into the desert to fast for forty days he says this, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” I always laugh at [...]
An Awesome Book Summary by Robin Dugall
I have been enjoying my friend, Robin’s, chapter summaries of “The Tangible Kingdom” by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, so I thought I would point my readers to his blog as well. He’s done such a nice job of capturing the essence of each chapter that I thought others would enjoy it, and hopefully it will encourage you to get a copy of this book for yourself.
Re-Thinking Missional Children’s Ministry
I have been wrestling, as a pastor, and church leader, with some of the missional concepts and also with some of the questions that need to help us understand how we got here in the first place. As I’ve been reading, and talking with others on the missional journey, I have noticed a disturbing gap in the thinking and theorizing that’s been done so far. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of talk about what children’s ministry might look like in this missional paradigm. In fact, it seems to me that a lot of the churches that might be considered to be missional are actually undermining themselves in their children’s ministry.
“Image”ine That
The chair you’re sitting on has never gossiped about someone, or flipped someone off in traffic. It has never been jealous of other chairs, or lusted after someone that walked by. According to a lot of sermons I’ve heard over the years, the chair under your but right now is a better Christian than I am. Does that make sense?