Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is bornUnto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world[2]
[2] “Welcome To Our World” – Chris Rice, Deep Enough to Dream, 1997.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thoughts about John Wesley
I read this morning that John Wesley was "a man whose eloquence and logical acuteness might have made him eminent in literature, whose genius for government was not inferior to that of Richelieu, and who, whatever his errors may have been, devoted all his powers in defiance of obloquy and derision, to what he sincerely considered as the highest good of his species."(from Journal of John Wesley, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
As I read this thought I'm struck by the part that says, "in spite of his errors" and "in defiance of obloquy and derision" (obloquy-1 : a strongly condemnatory utterance : abusive language 2 : the condition of one that is discredited : bad repute ) devoted all his powers to what he considered the highest good of his species.
How many times are we deterred by our own knowledge of our weaknesses and errors and because of them a fear of people's condemnation and derision?
I have watched people struggle and quit when others derided them, criticized them, and condemned them. Most often the comments that hurt us the most have a grain of truth and a bushel of falsity, but our minds, most often most acutely aware of our own shortcomings and sin, magnify the grain until it becomes a huge bog of quick sand which drags us down.
The only way I know of dealing with this is to own our sinfulness and failures and errors(repentance), lay them before God (confession) and accept our forgiveness and renewed status in Jesus (the positive part of confession) and bodly move forward secure in the fact that Phil. 1:6 is being worked out in our lives.
As I read this thought I'm struck by the part that says, "in spite of his errors" and "in defiance of obloquy and derision" (obloquy-1 : a strongly condemnatory utterance : abusive language 2 : the condition of one that is discredited : bad repute ) devoted all his powers to what he considered the highest good of his species.
How many times are we deterred by our own knowledge of our weaknesses and errors and because of them a fear of people's condemnation and derision?
I have watched people struggle and quit when others derided them, criticized them, and condemned them. Most often the comments that hurt us the most have a grain of truth and a bushel of falsity, but our minds, most often most acutely aware of our own shortcomings and sin, magnify the grain until it becomes a huge bog of quick sand which drags us down.
The only way I know of dealing with this is to own our sinfulness and failures and errors(repentance), lay them before God (confession) and accept our forgiveness and renewed status in Jesus (the positive part of confession) and bodly move forward secure in the fact that Phil. 1:6 is being worked out in our lives.
Friday, November 14, 2008
New Statistics from Gary McIntosh
Did the name of your church influence your decision to attend
No 84% Yes 12% Uncertain 3%
Did the pastor’s preaching influence you decision to attend
Yes 90%, 6% no, 3% uncertain
No 84% Yes 12% Uncertain 3%
Did the pastor’s preaching influence you decision to attend
Yes 90%, 6% no, 3% uncertain
George Hunter notes
Here are some interesting notes from George Hunter's lecture at the American Society for Church Growth. The topic was evangelizing Pre-Christians.
George Hunter
Belonging comes before believing
Themes: Community, compassion,
If you don’t learn to communicate redemptively inside the body you won’t be effective in communicating effectively outside the body.
If you are orthodox
Lack of Communication
Conversations—Declining market for one way communication.
Feature the theme apostolic
It is one of the earliest and most perennial terms referring to the church.
The church is apostolic –sent out to pre-Christian people whom the Lord loves.
This is the main business of the church.
Proliferation of congregations within local churches. Groups with similar homogenaeity within a body. Who care for each other
The church features a strategic perspective of evangelization.
Strategy is the
Most churches are driven by the demands of the calendar rather than by a strategic vision of an overriding purpose.
The gospel is the only thing we have that the world doesn’t already have.
Cultural, emotional relevance in presenting the gospel. Christianity is a religion of the heart . To become a Christian is to be set free from an emotional world that was destroying you. Guilt, doubt.
The secular world has an ecstasy deficit. We need to help people discover grace through sublime worship experiences.
One of the supreme unspoken issues is “What is normal church like?”
Church should welcome people as though they have come into their true home for the first time in their life.
The domesticated relatively trivial church is not what Jesus or the apostles had in mind.
Another myth—The great commission is our purpose, but to fulfill it, all you need is correct theology.
Counter analogy—NPR interviewed a botanist. Phd in Botany and taught for 30 years.—He decided to take early retirement and build a great Victorian garden. Five years later, his intended Victorian garden, was not a Victorian garden, but no one would have perceived it as a Victorian garden. Why? Birds, insects, droughts, pests sabotaged his dream. After 5 years he went back to GB to visit the gardens, this time, he made a revolutionary discover, every great Victorian garden has a great Victorian gardener. They knew more than enough botany, but they also knew soil science, meteorology, ornithology. In our complex world, you can’t even build a Victorian garden without an interdisciplinary approach.
You must have an inter disciplinary approach to church. Behavioral Sciences, anthropology, must be part of our understanding of our world.
Evangelism is not merely the enrolling of people into eternity, it is also the ministry of enlisting of people into working in the mission of Jesus in mission, justice and the other callings of Christ.
You can’t fulfill the mission of Jesus without building a critical mass. The building of that critical mass is called evangelism.
Two Scientists
Arthur Edington—Cambridge—Astro physics—1930 “Why I believe in God”—“Relativity explained”
“The entire universe is more strange and complex than we imagine, indeed it is more strange and complex than we can imagine.”
Paul—No one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit
Albert Einstein—“We must make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
In the academy we don’t make it simple enough-- The majority of academic people are virtually unintelligible.
In mission we often succumb to the temptation to make it simpler than it can be.
The biggest hurdle is the folk wisdom that assumes because we have slogans we can interpret reality.
One reason to use the apostolic is that every other term has a shelf life of less than half a generation.
Don’t enter your horse in non-main business races.
George Hunter reads Mere Christianity almost every year.
P 199—God became man in Christ that we might become little Christs.—CS Lewis. If the church is not doing that, then everything we are doing is a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It is possible that the entire universe was created for this purpose.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Persecution
I spent a day with a pastor in India. I won't tell you his name, but he was an unassuming,but deeply committed man of God. After coaxing by my trip guide, he finally fessed up that he had baptized over 5000 people in his ministry. He had just returned from a 350 km trip to baptize two people out of the area of persecution so that they wouldn't have to suffer.
He has been beaten, stabbed, and jailed for his preaching of the gospel. We were there to help facilitate some additional church planting. He said, "I know that if we plant more churches it will raise the awareness and probably cause more persecution, but I have been praying that God would provide more churches and if necessary, I am willing to be beaten, stabbed, go to jail again and even to die if that's what it takes for people to hear the gospel."
I am humbled. A preacher, willing to give his life, willing to ride 250 miles per month on an old motor scooter to "circuit ride" to the churches who have no pastors. I may not see this brother again in this life, but I'm sure we will meet in heaven and rejoice together.
Most of the time we when we talk about bruised reeds, we are thinking metaphorically, but in this case, it was real bruising. It is very Jesus-like. "He was bruised for our iniquities" also real.
What would you do?
He has been beaten, stabbed, and jailed for his preaching of the gospel. We were there to help facilitate some additional church planting. He said, "I know that if we plant more churches it will raise the awareness and probably cause more persecution, but I have been praying that God would provide more churches and if necessary, I am willing to be beaten, stabbed, go to jail again and even to die if that's what it takes for people to hear the gospel."
I am humbled. A preacher, willing to give his life, willing to ride 250 miles per month on an old motor scooter to "circuit ride" to the churches who have no pastors. I may not see this brother again in this life, but I'm sure we will meet in heaven and rejoice together.
Most of the time we when we talk about bruised reeds, we are thinking metaphorically, but in this case, it was real bruising. It is very Jesus-like. "He was bruised for our iniquities" also real.
What would you do?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Reflections from India
Having returned from India I am amazed at the juxtaposition of social brokeness and joy in the Lord. I preached at a Burmese refugee camp. These are some of the poorest of the poor, yet they are joy-filled with hope in the Lord.
These people live 10 to 12 to a dwelling-usually a single 12'X12' room with community bathrooms somewhere in the building. Because they can only earn $40 per month and rent is $30 per month, it is usual for three generations to live in the same place.
They work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week with little protection from their employers who take advantage of them.
When I worshipped with them, their joy was real, their smiles warm, and they welcomed us into their homes. For them a mansion in heaven is more desirable than what is here on earth. They eagerly await the coming of their Redeemer.
Broken but not crushed. We are the people of God.
These people live 10 to 12 to a dwelling-usually a single 12'X12' room with community bathrooms somewhere in the building. Because they can only earn $40 per month and rent is $30 per month, it is usual for three generations to live in the same place.
They work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week with little protection from their employers who take advantage of them.
When I worshipped with them, their joy was real, their smiles warm, and they welcomed us into their homes. For them a mansion in heaven is more desirable than what is here on earth. They eagerly await the coming of their Redeemer.
Broken but not crushed. We are the people of God.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Shack
A board member for Stadia recently recommended "The Shack". It is a book that should be read by all. It deals with our road to God on so many levels. For the purposes of this blog, it deals with the question, "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" or the question of evil. The technical term for this is a theodicy-- like the book of Job, it causes us to lift the cover off our pain and look at what is going on behind the scenes in the heavenlies. It is not the Bible and thus it most likely does not describe God fully or possibly even accurately--who of us can, but it will make you think about God. It will also help you put your own pain in perspective. For some comments and preview you can go to http://www.theshackbook.com/index.html
Monday, January 14, 2008
This from a reader
My experience is that overall emotional stability or better yet, happiness, is a daily issue to deal with. I think overall we are better off if we follow the lifestyle as taught by Jesus and the Bible, but it doesn't make us immune to the attacks of Satan or other people or just natural circumstances such as disease or accident to us or loved ones.
I find wisdom in what Solomon wrote overall in Ecclesiastes about having a balanced life, a partial summary as contained in these verses:
2:24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
3:12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
8:15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
So to me the practical application of these verses balanced with all other parts of the Bible is this: Bad, disappointing and discouraging things are going to happen to all of us while here on earth. When those things happen, how do we keep our balance and get back up to par? Depend upon God per the verses you quoted plus apply what Solomon stated in Ecc.
So how do we apply this in a practical way? In my opinion we need to plan and do those things that have a probability to bring us satisfaction, joy and happiness. It sounds simple, but isn't always that easy. When we get wrapped up in our work, even if it is ministry work, over time it can cause us to ignore those things that otherwise bring us satisfaction and joy. Over a period of time we get out of the habit and can actually "forget" how to do those things.
I think its important then to take some time and identify what kinds of experiences will likely bring us satisfaction, joy or happiness... and make it a priority to regularly participate in those types of activities. Maybe its spending more quality time with those we love. Maybe its going to more ball games or getting more physical exercise or going fishing with a friend or tending a garden or whatever. Perhaps its a combination of a few different activities during the different seasons. I think there's some wisdom in the old adage, "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy." Or, take time to smell the roses.
In any event, the bad times are going to happen and I think its good to have a regular dose of good times in order to help balance out the bad times.
Gary Martinez
I find wisdom in what Solomon wrote overall in Ecclesiastes about having a balanced life, a partial summary as contained in these verses:
2:24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
3:12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
8:15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
So to me the practical application of these verses balanced with all other parts of the Bible is this: Bad, disappointing and discouraging things are going to happen to all of us while here on earth. When those things happen, how do we keep our balance and get back up to par? Depend upon God per the verses you quoted plus apply what Solomon stated in Ecc.
So how do we apply this in a practical way? In my opinion we need to plan and do those things that have a probability to bring us satisfaction, joy and happiness. It sounds simple, but isn't always that easy. When we get wrapped up in our work, even if it is ministry work, over time it can cause us to ignore those things that otherwise bring us satisfaction and joy. Over a period of time we get out of the habit and can actually "forget" how to do those things.
I think its important then to take some time and identify what kinds of experiences will likely bring us satisfaction, joy or happiness... and make it a priority to regularly participate in those types of activities. Maybe its spending more quality time with those we love. Maybe its going to more ball games or getting more physical exercise or going fishing with a friend or tending a garden or whatever. Perhaps its a combination of a few different activities during the different seasons. I think there's some wisdom in the old adage, "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy." Or, take time to smell the roses.
In any event, the bad times are going to happen and I think its good to have a regular dose of good times in order to help balance out the bad times.
Gary Martinez
I haven't written lately
Sorry for those of you who have looked here and found nothing new for the past two weeks. I've been traveling extensively and found myself too tired to write at the end of the day. Not an excuse, but at least an explanation.
I found today that some of you have not been able to post comments. I think I have remedied that situation. If you still find you can post a comment, please email me at mbigelow@stadia.cc and I will work some more on it. I'm still new to this blog business.
I removed the survey this morning since no one could post to it. Overwhelmingly, 80%, people felt that betrayal is the worst bruising they have undergone. I have to confess that it makes sense to me.
I've been thinking the last few days about the role of music in helping us through our bruisings.
In the two major bruisings of my life I have found each time a song has spoken very clearly to me and helped me through it.
When we lost our daughter 32 years ago, "It is Well with my Soul" became a solid resting place for our faith. Sometimes we sang it by faith, trusting that it was well with our souls even though it didn't feel like it.
Last year, as we went through other trials, "Blessed be Your Name" became a source of strength. The only downside of having songs that take you through these times is that you can hardly ever sing them again without our eyes becoming moist as we think of God's faithfulness to us. However, that's a small price to pay for the blessings we have received from song.
Martin Luther said, "besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart…"
It's no wonder he wrote "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" while on trial for his faith.
He also said, "I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people happy; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor."
So, find a song, sing it strong and let it help strengthen you through the hard times.
I would be interested in other songs that you have found a help in times of trial. Please post a comment and let me know.
I found today that some of you have not been able to post comments. I think I have remedied that situation. If you still find you can post a comment, please email me at mbigelow@stadia.cc and I will work some more on it. I'm still new to this blog business.
I removed the survey this morning since no one could post to it. Overwhelmingly, 80%, people felt that betrayal is the worst bruising they have undergone. I have to confess that it makes sense to me.
I've been thinking the last few days about the role of music in helping us through our bruisings.
In the two major bruisings of my life I have found each time a song has spoken very clearly to me and helped me through it.
When we lost our daughter 32 years ago, "It is Well with my Soul" became a solid resting place for our faith. Sometimes we sang it by faith, trusting that it was well with our souls even though it didn't feel like it.
Last year, as we went through other trials, "Blessed be Your Name" became a source of strength. The only downside of having songs that take you through these times is that you can hardly ever sing them again without our eyes becoming moist as we think of God's faithfulness to us. However, that's a small price to pay for the blessings we have received from song.
Martin Luther said, "besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart…"
It's no wonder he wrote "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" while on trial for his faith.
He also said, "I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people happy; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor."
So, find a song, sing it strong and let it help strengthen you through the hard times.
I would be interested in other songs that you have found a help in times of trial. Please post a comment and let me know.
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