This morning I am meeting a guy named Dave Browning. He is talking about church paradigm shifts and it should be an interesting talk. I will let you know how it turns out.
Have a great day...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Organic Church - Preface
There has to be a better way. The church in America is in a slump. People are disinterested in church. (Honestly, I get a bit bored with church sometimes.) Many seem to desire to grow spiritually, but spiritual growth has been equated to church attendance and that just does not cut it. Church attendance just does not equate spiritual growth. Many seem to also want community, and the church does not answer that question either. What is termed as "church" (worship and some sort of small group gathering or Sunday School) is meeting criticism from those on the inside as well as those on the outside.
From the inside the leaders are asking why won't people come and how can we get more people here? Why does this not feel like what we read about in the Bible? Why do some many seem not to like us? Why do many of the ones that come, come out of obligation?
From the outside, people are asking why does church not help me grow spiritually? Why do I get criticized when I come or don't come? Why do "church" not look like what I read about in the New Testament? Why is it boring and if it is not boring why is it a show? Why does church suck?
I am frustrated by the fact that when I mention church, the idea that pops into people heads is a building that you go to to worship and gather and that is where church happens.
There has to be a better way and I believe that there is a better way. A way that looks more biblical. A way that you could actually imagine Jesus doing. Away that does not require a trained professional to do. The answer is not in what we have been doing for that last 200 years, but what was done 2,000 years ago.
Questions:
1. What frustrations do you have with church?
2. What do you believe must be done?
From the inside the leaders are asking why won't people come and how can we get more people here? Why does this not feel like what we read about in the Bible? Why do some many seem not to like us? Why do many of the ones that come, come out of obligation?
From the outside, people are asking why does church not help me grow spiritually? Why do I get criticized when I come or don't come? Why do "church" not look like what I read about in the New Testament? Why is it boring and if it is not boring why is it a show? Why does church suck?
I am frustrated by the fact that when I mention church, the idea that pops into people heads is a building that you go to to worship and gather and that is where church happens.
There has to be a better way and I believe that there is a better way. A way that looks more biblical. A way that you could actually imagine Jesus doing. Away that does not require a trained professional to do. The answer is not in what we have been doing for that last 200 years, but what was done 2,000 years ago.
Questions:
1. What frustrations do you have with church?
2. What do you believe must be done?
Friday, February 15, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Walking Indee--Passion
Life with my Weimaraner...
So, Indee is a very passionate dog, about a number of things...food, damn squirrels (it's damn squirrels because when she is watching them out the window, you can tell she is thinking, "what are those damn squirrels doing in my yard?"), people and other animals...
She's a smart dog and in her three years of existence she has realized that the place where the food is kept is on the counter (the fact that her nose works overtime has really helped with this realization). She knows that she is not supposed to get on the counter, but that is where the food is kept, so I think she thinks it is worth the risk. When you catch her on the counter and yell at her to get down, she gets down, usually without too much prodding. But the fact remains, her passion for whatever she has discovered on the counter is overwhelming to her and me for that matter.
Passion seems to be a buzz word in the world today. There seems to be some group or other talking about passion all of the time, but at the same time, it seems to be lacking. There is no fire. There seems to be little motivation behind most of our endeavors. Real passion is when you go after whatever and do whatever you must do, no matter who yells at you. Real passion is pursuit no matter what the consequences.
After you catch Indee on the counter, eying that apple that you set out for a snack in five minuter, will be back at that counter ready to pounce if the opportunity arises even tough she just got in trouble.
So, I guess the question is what will you and I pursue no matter the consequences? What is worth our pursuit no matter the consequences?
So, on a sidenote...a quick glance in the concordance in my Bible at the word "passion" all have a negative connotation. It also strikes me that we are not commanded to be "passionate." I know that I may be being a bit strict on the definition, but there are those out there who are "passionate" about being "passionate" and I am just wondering if we should be "passionate" at all?
So, Indee is a very passionate dog, about a number of things...food, damn squirrels (it's damn squirrels because when she is watching them out the window, you can tell she is thinking, "what are those damn squirrels doing in my yard?"), people and other animals...She's a smart dog and in her three years of existence she has realized that the place where the food is kept is on the counter (the fact that her nose works overtime has really helped with this realization). She knows that she is not supposed to get on the counter, but that is where the food is kept, so I think she thinks it is worth the risk. When you catch her on the counter and yell at her to get down, she gets down, usually without too much prodding. But the fact remains, her passion for whatever she has discovered on the counter is overwhelming to her and me for that matter.
Passion seems to be a buzz word in the world today. There seems to be some group or other talking about passion all of the time, but at the same time, it seems to be lacking. There is no fire. There seems to be little motivation behind most of our endeavors. Real passion is when you go after whatever and do whatever you must do, no matter who yells at you. Real passion is pursuit no matter what the consequences.After you catch Indee on the counter, eying that apple that you set out for a snack in five minuter, will be back at that counter ready to pounce if the opportunity arises even tough she just got in trouble.
So, I guess the question is what will you and I pursue no matter the consequences? What is worth our pursuit no matter the consequences?
So, on a sidenote...a quick glance in the concordance in my Bible at the word "passion" all have a negative connotation. It also strikes me that we are not commanded to be "passionate." I know that I may be being a bit strict on the definition, but there are those out there who are "passionate" about being "passionate" and I am just wondering if we should be "passionate" at all?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lincoln's Birthday
Today's is Lincoln's birthday...I wonder if our country would exist without this man...
"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.... "--Second Inaugural Address
"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.... "--Second Inaugural Address
Organic Church
I have just finished a very challenging book called Organic Church by Neil Cole. This book has really shaken me up in a way no book has in quite some time. I think when we look at the church today in America and much of the world, we see it as inadequate and our attitude is that "you dance with the ol' boy that brought ya!" and so many of us continue to "do" church like our fathers taught us.
My friend had a great post on trudging. And that is what many leaders of the church have resigned them self to.
But as Cole points out there is another way, there is a way that looks more like what we read about in the New Testament. There are other ways. Our "fathers" never told us that there were other ways and that is probably because they did what their "fathers" taught them and the fathers never told them that there was another way.
I am looking forward to walking through this book and really contemplating on what is next for us.
My friend had a great post on trudging. And that is what many leaders of the church have resigned them self to.
But as Cole points out there is another way, there is a way that looks more like what we read about in the New Testament. There are other ways. Our "fathers" never told us that there were other ways and that is probably because they did what their "fathers" taught them and the fathers never told them that there was another way.
I am looking forward to walking through this book and really contemplating on what is next for us.
Monday, February 11, 2008
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