Two Problems with "Pastor Do it All"

This is NOT mine, I got this from the book LifeKeys, pgs 78-79.

"Thinking that leaders can do it all has two problems. First, when leaders think tehy have to do everyhitng, the results are often less than satisfactory. Perhaps a vsionary ministry led by someone with the gift of apostleship falters because of inherent disorganization; someoen with the gift of administration may have helped bring order to chaos....Maybe an education class falls short of its goal because the materials weren't ready for the teacher; someone with the gift of helps could have solved the problem....

"Second, an unexamined belief that a minister can do everything means that the leader isn't allowed to discover which gifts he or she really has. think of all the gifts that ministers can be called on to use: teaching, administration, leading, shepherding, mercy, knowledge, wisdom, helps, giving, encouragement....Let's be honest: most leaders lack at least some of these! We can force them to do it all, a pathway to exhaustion and defeat by the endless needs of the congregation. Or we can let them use the gifts God has given them and step forward with our own gifts to fulfill the roles God meant for us to play."

Christianese

I did a little search for this word and came across this funny dictionary. When, by God's grace, someone who has never been to church before walks through the door into your church, it really matters what message we send! We are their first encounter with Jesus. The nature of first impressions tells us we they will probably decide in the first 7 minutes whether they will come back a second time. We don't want to speak in a foreign language. Jesus needs to be accessible!

What other Christianese terms are out there?

3 questions to ask yourself

I got these from a friend of mine on Monday. They can help us learn to walk with God moment by moment:

1. What would Jesus Do?

2. What does God think?

3. What is the Holy Spirit saying? What does He want me to know about Him and about myself right now?

Change or Die

On Thursday, Anne and I, and 14 other people from Grace, were in Anderson, SC listening to Perry Noble. One of the things he championed, as other church leaders have, is that the church needs to change or die.

Look at the new facebook that unveiled this week. It now looks more like twitter plus many of the extras we all like. It changed. It updated. It's creators saw that what they had going wasn't as effective as it needed to be.

Three weeks ago Andy Stanley related at Catalyst One day that even in the latter half of the 20th century, many church pastors built and conducted their ministries in much the same way for 20 to 50 years without much change. I saw an example of this when I went to Grand Rapids last month. While the church I visited has seen several new pastors, and a few aesthetic makeovers, it still looks like a church from 1970. The church has not added to their number. Seminary graduates still wax eloquent in the pulpit after a few "praise songs" sung along with the organ. I am not saying this to tear this local church down, (it's full of wonderful, simple, country-folk), but to challenge the process, or lack thereof.

Back in seminary the battle cry was "Semper Reformanda" (always reforming). But do we really know what that means? We say it, but what it actually looks like differs greatly among those who utter it.

The church at large is already fading into oblivion in the United States. But there are many churches who are seizing the opportunity, this moment in history. It is a critical one. The purpose and place of the church in the world has always been critical--people are dying and spending eternity in judgment and separation from God. But in this financial economy, in this information economy, in this idealogy economy, the message of Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and THE Life needs to be heard.

I realize these thoughts are incomplete and would be better put into several blog entries. I just had to get them out though, and let you fill in the blanks. Please feel free to add to the discussion.

In closing, here are a couple questions for you: Does my church want to change? By change I mean: become "relevant" (for lack of a better term), to actually put the timeless gospel message in a context and language and experience that people can understand.

Secondly, do I want my church to change? Why or why not?

Perry Noble twittered this morning, "if a church wants to see change in the community, then it must be willing to BE the change that it wants to see!"

easterateola

easterateola

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The 200th Post!

Yes, it has taken me a lot longer than many bloggers to reach 200 posts. I've got a long way to go to becoming a better blogger, but fellow bloggers tell me practice, practice, practice. I am humbled and grateful for your readership. I always welcome your dialogue with me, in fact I covet it, as part of my yearning for community with you.

I was reading Proverbs 3 yesterday and again today. Note the structure of verses 1-12: each set of two verses has a command and a blessing. Verses 1 and 2:

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

"Do not forget." "keep them."

What's the result? "long life" and "prosperity." Do you want to "live long and prosper?" Know and do what God says.

Verses 3 and 4:

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

Hold on HARD AND FAST to love and faithfulness--make these a part of your personal DNA.

What's the result? Favor with God and man.

You do vs 5-12. There's a lot to be learned here!


(Side note: Verses were invented 1500 years after the New Testament was written).

Are You Playing it Safe?

If I posted this already, I don't care. You need to see it again.



It's sort of funny, but what is Jesus saying to you in this?

checking in

I have unintentionally been taking a break on here. I sort of was in a fog the whole time I was in Michigan. It was a good trip and I can tell you more about it soon, maybe. Since then, the rest of the week has just been heavy on content, between the conference I attended Thursday (Catalyst One Day at Northpoint) and getting back into gear around home and church.

I've sort of had a love-hate relationship with this blog. It takes work for me, but sometimes it just really flows easy. At this moment I have the energy to explain myself but not the energy to put together a coherent, inspirational entry. Hopefully they will start to flow again this week. 'Til then...peace out...