Claimed, gathered and sent

This discussion regarded Natural Church Development and which of the eight quality characteristics was the most difficult to improve. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions (Mt 7:17-20). Passionate spirituality is the lowest quality characteristic in most of New England ’s Lutheran churches. It seems that this may be the most difficult to improve, at least for someone in the leadership of the church. Questions in the survey that indicate the level of spirituality are, “Times of prayer are an inspiring experience for me” [1] and “I am enthusiastic about my church.” [2] Many Christians do not have as vital a prayer life as they should. Despite teaching, prayer meetings, Bible studies etc., can

We have all been called names, some good and some bad. I remember being called fat, difficult, insubordinate, careless, slow. What about you? Sometimes you aren't actually called a name, but treated in a way that implies you are careless, stupid, a screw up? It's painful. What does God say about names? "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it" (Rev. 2:17). Naming is very personal and intimate. We name our spouses, children, our pets. We have "pet names" for those we love: sweetie, honey, sweetheart. God names us, calls us beloved, my child, precious, holy and mine. Can you imagine the Lord having a special, pet name for us, that only he and we know? "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass

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 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

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

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

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