Here is a video I just watched...it is one from a professor at Salt Lake Theological Seminary concerning "loving" Mormon people. I think it is profound in the sense that it communicates HOW we embrace our culture and enter into conversations with people without "hammering" them theologically. I think it is worth the few minutes to give it some consideration! If you want, chime in some comments...I'd love to know what you think!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Going against the flow...a disciple's lifestyle?
Going against the flow...it seems to be a style of living and thinking for many...especially those who seems to have the most impact in any given human situation. Yep, there can be risks to that style of life...but frankly, "no risk...no glory". As Seth Godin says below, maintaining the status quo is a recipe for failure. Seth's post today is worth a quick look:
Boundary makers by Seth Godin
Some artists continually seek to tear down boundaries, to find new powder, new territory, new worlds to explore. They're the ones that hop the fence to get to places no one has ever been.
Other artists understand that they need to see the edges of the box if they're going to create work that lasts. No fence, no art.
Can't do both at the same time.
My guess is that you're already one kind of person or the other. When people present you with an opportunity/problem, what's your first reaction? Some people immediately start looking for loopholes or weak boundaries. "You didn't say we couldn't do xxx". For these people, the best and most obvious solution is to completely demolish the problem and play by different rules.
Other people, some just as successful, take a hard look at the boundaries and create something that plays within, that follows the rules, but that is likely to win because of this.
In my experience, either can work, but only by someone willing to push harder than most in their push to be remarkable. Going with the flow is a euphemism for failing...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
An insightful article...
A brother in the Lord by the name of Roger Thoman recently wrote an article for the Simple/House Church website that is insightful on some of the issues that any traditional “church” faces when transitions are “in the wind”. These stages are theological, biblical and “heart checks” that must be navigated for real transformation to occur. I think his list is helpful…if you want to see the entire article, click HERE.
1. Letting go of old paradigms of church life.
2. Exploring New Testament gatherings.
3. Re-boot to Jesus.
4. A new missional heart and longing.
5. Fresh discovery of our own passions, spiritual gifts, and calling.
6. Integration of an organic, fruitful lifestyle with organic gatherings that support it.
7. Our kingdom influence spreads and even becomes reproductive in its impact.
1. Letting go of old paradigms of church life.
2. Exploring New Testament gatherings.
3. Re-boot to Jesus.
4. A new missional heart and longing.
5. Fresh discovery of our own passions, spiritual gifts, and calling.
6. Integration of an organic, fruitful lifestyle with organic gatherings that support it.
7. Our kingdom influence spreads and even becomes reproductive in its impact.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Forgiveness with an Incarnational Touch
One of the values that I hold close to my heart and lifestyle as I attempt to do what I can to build a movement of followers of Jesus is a commitment to incarnational living. The fact that God incarnated Himself into the world to be able to give people an opportunity to experience the love and power of God is more than significant...it is one of the truths of the Gospel that stands out in the confusion of the religious landscape. The fact is - you and me are the contemporary incarnation of Jesus...the Spirit dwells in our hearts and lives. People need the touch of God on their hearts...but often WE bring that touch! Enjoy the video!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Are you living life IN or OUTSIDE the jar?
Friends, this is one of my favorite videos...why? Because it is a great discussion parable to be able to look at what has occurred in many people's experience of "church". While you watch it, ask yourself the questions - what are the implications of this parable? How has our faith journey been domesticated? Have we been trained to live and bring up future generations "in" the jar? How does that brand our identity? How does that affect our mission?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Comments from Monday's Presentations!
1. A few comments on the presentation from Jerry:
Thoughts on the conference call - Today I joined the conference call feeling a bit skeptical. My skepticism came from two directions:
First, I really didn’t know what the “project” we were going to discuss was going to be or what might be asked of me. Secondly, I find myself at kind of a low point. I am less sure of myself and my work at St John than I ever have been.
The conference call really helped me deal with of this skepticism. First, I must say the call answered many of my questions. But it not only answered my questions, the presentation challenged me. I still have questions, but the questions have changed. I now have practical questions about how this works and doesn’t work. Second, the call enlightened me about some of the concerns I have about my own ministry at St John. What I heard really affirmed what I have learned through the years and the presentation helped explain some of the disappointment I am currently experiencing. It even gave me some new ideas. Prior to the call I had not made plans for the trip to Portland in February because of my questions. But now I am anxious to go and would vote for making the session a day longer. I think we have lots to do.
Some thoughts:
I realize the church has become institutionalized, but how do we deal with it? I thought the one slide about working with the church lent some insight. I have a lot of questions in this regard. I wonder if it might not be easier and more effective to start new groups alongside (or even outside) the existing church rather than try to change the people inside the church. I don’t know. I believe God’s Spirit will give direction here.
I love the concept of discipleship groups. I have come to realize long ago that discipleship is the missing concept in many LCMS churches and that it is the “powerhouse” of the church. In fact, the last couple of years I have been working with a model we call FITT for Life. FITT is “Christ For me, Christ In me, Christ working Through me as an individual and Christ working Through us together. Although I think this acronym describes the Christian life, I haven’t been very effective in selling it.
Along the same line of thought, several years ago the staff at St John began working with a new definition of Christian education. Our new model is: Christian education is accomplished best through multiple learning experiences, but education is not active until it is applied to the learner’s life and we live it together in community. The fact that education isn’t happening until it is applied to the person’s life has been something we have understood for a while, but what is new to us is that a great deal of learning occurs through life together. This last part is a key to appreciating that we are the body of Christ and the function of the Body in learning and growing.
Pastor Jerry Reinke
November 18, 2009 10:03 AM
2. Comments from Toby:
Jerry….you are not alone in the frustrations of ministry……If nothing else I pray that all of us together can encourage and help one another in discipleship ministry. We are trying some new stuff here in this very area which I can share more of later. Not sure if it will work but never throw in the towel.
Toby
Thoughts on the conference call - Today I joined the conference call feeling a bit skeptical. My skepticism came from two directions:
First, I really didn’t know what the “project” we were going to discuss was going to be or what might be asked of me. Secondly, I find myself at kind of a low point. I am less sure of myself and my work at St John than I ever have been.
The conference call really helped me deal with of this skepticism. First, I must say the call answered many of my questions. But it not only answered my questions, the presentation challenged me. I still have questions, but the questions have changed. I now have practical questions about how this works and doesn’t work. Second, the call enlightened me about some of the concerns I have about my own ministry at St John. What I heard really affirmed what I have learned through the years and the presentation helped explain some of the disappointment I am currently experiencing. It even gave me some new ideas. Prior to the call I had not made plans for the trip to Portland in February because of my questions. But now I am anxious to go and would vote for making the session a day longer. I think we have lots to do.
Some thoughts:
I realize the church has become institutionalized, but how do we deal with it? I thought the one slide about working with the church lent some insight. I have a lot of questions in this regard. I wonder if it might not be easier and more effective to start new groups alongside (or even outside) the existing church rather than try to change the people inside the church. I don’t know. I believe God’s Spirit will give direction here.
I love the concept of discipleship groups. I have come to realize long ago that discipleship is the missing concept in many LCMS churches and that it is the “powerhouse” of the church. In fact, the last couple of years I have been working with a model we call FITT for Life. FITT is “Christ For me, Christ In me, Christ working Through me as an individual and Christ working Through us together. Although I think this acronym describes the Christian life, I haven’t been very effective in selling it.
Along the same line of thought, several years ago the staff at St John began working with a new definition of Christian education. Our new model is: Christian education is accomplished best through multiple learning experiences, but education is not active until it is applied to the learner’s life and we live it together in community. The fact that education isn’t happening until it is applied to the person’s life has been something we have understood for a while, but what is new to us is that a great deal of learning occurs through life together. This last part is a key to appreciating that we are the body of Christ and the function of the Body in learning and growing.
Pastor Jerry Reinke
November 18, 2009 10:03 AM
2. Comments from Toby:
Jerry….you are not alone in the frustrations of ministry……If nothing else I pray that all of us together can encourage and help one another in discipleship ministry. We are trying some new stuff here in this very area which I can share more of later. Not sure if it will work but never throw in the towel.
Toby
Welcome to the New Adventure and Journey!
Hi friends in Jesus -
This week, under the guidance of Denny Langston, Denny Lorenz and Patti Maggoria, we began a journey together in exploring new paradigms in ministry and mission. The great thing about this journey is that it is NOT something that we hope to guide, steer or restrain...rather we are following the Spirit in seeing how HE moves and inspires us - each in our own context, each with our own gifts, insights and passions. The beauty of it is that we are doing this IN COMMUNITY - accountable to each other for sharing what God is teaching us for the sake of the Kingdom of God!
This blog is forum for ideas...questions...insights...praxis...learning...whatever we want to make it! We'll have one rule and one rule only - we are faithful to the Spirit and open with each other based on the love that we share for Jesus Christ!
So bookmark this blog...better yet, subscribe to it via Bloglines or some other RSS tracker...that way you can check back regularly to read, respond, post, etc.
Let the journey begin!
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