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Reaching Beyond Our Church Walls

How can be more effective in outreach or evangelism? Take a look at this brief post I wrote for Christian Ministry class. Only by knowing your target will you know what language to speak. Paul addressed Jews differently than Gentiles. Beside English speakers, we have ethnic groups speaking only Portuguese and Hispanic in this town. Cultural, intellectual, economic and other differences abound. Effective communication demands knowledge. “We were doing pretty well except … one dreadful night we tried out hip-hop worship on a bunch of white indie rocker kids.” [1] In starting a service blindly: I had failed to think missionally about who we would reach out with, who we would reach out to, or how we would reach out …I had wrongly thought only attractionally … if I had a good band and … preached a good sermon, we could put together a good event that would attract lots of people … I failed miserably. As this train wreck of a church service rolled along … it became painfully clea

Delight, Commit, Trust

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD” (Ps 37:4-5a). Critical decisions require knowledge of God’s will achieved by delighting in him, knowing his voice and committing everything to him. Engaging those around us is crucial in decision making, each bringing different gifts. Our church’s confirmation program was woefully inadequate, severely flawed. It is under the umbrella of Christian Education, which I chair. As the pastor’s project, our ideas were continually discounted. He left; opportunity arrived for revamping the program ensuring our youth encountered God. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Prv 15:22). The former chair rejoined the committee. A gifted retired teacher experienced in curriculum writing, involved with the youth, and voila, a new curriculum was born. We were all involved and unanimously approved it. “One important part of organizational communications is to co

The Road to Postmodernity

How did we get to this postmodern post Christian era? Take a look below. The Classical view was humanistic/sacred whereas the Modern orientation was scientific/secular. “Modern science requires only one ontological level, the physical,” [1] beginning and ending with sensory perception. Science’s indices are space, time, matter or energy, which are convertible. [2] Being one planed, “…to speak of anything in science as having a different ontological status—as better, say, or more real—is to speak nonsense.” [3] Modernism defined knowledge by what could be learned by study of physical objects. “…there is … only one kind of entity in the world ... physical objects; and … only one kind of knowledge … the kind that natural scientists have.” [4] Impressive achievements wrought by technology, demonstrated the truth they proposed. Postmodernity reacts to Modernity in recognizing Enlightenment rationalism’s failure, “call[ing] into question the ideals, principles, and values that lay a

A Profound Mystery

Belonging to Christ as “a bride in relationship to her loving and caring bridegroom (Eph 5:25-32) [1] is my most cherished image. Though “bride,” is absent from the passage, its meaning “is a profound mystery … I am talking about Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32). Having been under loved and well loved, this interconnectedness with Christ is richer, dearer as my husband ministers love to me. “Christ loved … and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25). “It was on the cross that our Lord gave himself up for his bride … all the more telling, since ekklesia is feminine.” [2] Encouraging my education and vocation, Ray lovingly sacrifices. Christ’s “mak[ing] her holy, cleansing her …washing with water” (Eph 5:26), loving her as is, but transforming her as “separate for himself a people for his own possession” [3] is profound. Paul possibly “was alluding to the purification of the bride before the marriage ceremony (Ezek 16:9).” [4] His “radiant church” (Eph 5:27a) “in unsullied sp

Looking at God from Ground Zero

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This is a powerful article about suffering. Looking at God from Ground Zero by Carolyn Custis James September 11, 2007 | Memory fades. Time and distance work gradually on us until the unbearable images of 9/11 and the ensuing nightmares finally release their grip—at least for those of us who didn’t suffer personal losses. We’re sleeping peacefully through the night again. Air travel may be fraught with long lines, delays, and inconveniences in the aftermath of 9/11. But once the cabin door slams shut and the plane rolls onto the tarmac, we’re back to reading books again, dozing off for in-flight naps, and laughing out loud over comedy re-runs. We’re no longer nervously assessing other passengers or having our blood run cold at every thump of turbulence or unfamiliar noise. Sometimes a fading memory can be a blessing. Sleepless nights and fear of flying can be debilitating. Sometimes, however, fading memories take away too much from us. We may be feeling better. But have we t

Conversion, Call and Consequences

These are some observations regarding Paul's conversion in Acts. Acts contains elements of conversion and call in each passage. Ananias doubted Paul’s status until God’s revelation (Acts 9:13). Paul only received the Holy Spirit when Ananias laid hands on him (Acts 9:17). Paul was baptized, demonstrating belonging to Christ (Acts 9:18). If strictly a calling, he would have previously been baptized. Acts 22:16, “…be baptized and wash your sins away” indicates conversion, the significance of which Paul teaches in Romans 6:3, 4; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:4-6 and Colossians 2:12. Each passage implicates new life in Christ. Baptism’s presence signifies conversion. Paul’s commissioning is also intrinsic to the pericopes. God tells Ananias of Paul’s work (Acts 9:15). Paul immediately started preaching in the synagogues (Acts 9:20). God sends Paul to the gentiles (Acts 22:21). God appoints Paul as a servant and witness (Acts 26:16). Could this indicate conversion (servant) and

Apostle Paul, a Brief Introduction

Being “born in Tarsus , an important city of Cilicia ,” [1] would insure that there was Greco-Roman influence in Paul’s life. He was born a Roman citizen, through his father, which: Assured certain privileges, among them the right to appeal to the imperial court (Acts 25:11, 21; 25:32; 28:19). Paul’s use of Greek confirms his origin as a Hellenistic Jew of the Dispersion, at home in the urban culture of the Greco-Roman world. Paul’s loyalty to his ancestral faith remained a mark of pride. [2] Paul took great pride in his Jewish heritage. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless (Phil 3:4-6). His family was evidently very pious since he was sent to Jerusalem as a youth to study under Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3). A