Quote from Exponential 2012

Quote for Pastors, Church Leaders, Missionaries, and Church Planters:


“Your responsibility before God is not a spectacular ministry. Your responsibility before God is a faithful and sincere heart grounded in what God has called you to do, faithful to serve Him.”
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                            - Jud Wilhite

Church History (Funny, if you catch it)

July 28, 1148: Too weak to retake Edessa from the Muslims, the armies of the Second Crusade besiege Damascus. They blundered and were forced to retreat within five Day s. Believers throughout Christendom were shocked and devastated that a crusade preached by a moral exemplar (Bernard of Clairvaux) and led by royalty (King Louis VII of France and Emperor Conrad III of Germany) would fail.

July 28, 1727: Moody, stiff young preacher Jonathan Edwards marries Sarah Pierrepont, a lively 17-year-old. The union proved happy and produced 11 children, six of who were born on Sundays. This caused a bit of a scandal, because people then believed children were born the same weekday they were conceived. Nonetheless, people admired the marriage, including George Whitefield, who declared, "A sweeter couple I have not seen."

                                                                              - christianitytoday.com 

So Appropriate for Today!

“There is meaning in every journey that is unknown to the traveler.” 


                                                                            ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Theological Term of the Day

Covenant

A Covenant is an agreement between two parties. The agreement, according to Ancient Near East custom, consisted of five parts: 1) Identification of parties, 2) Historical prologue where the deeds establishing the worthiness of the dominant party is established, 3) Conditions of the agreement, 4) Rewards and punishments in regard to keeping the conditions, and 5) Disposition of the documents where each party receives a copy of the agreement (e.g. the two tablets of stone of the 10 Commandments).

                                                                                                    - carm.org

Sacredness of Another

Wonderful Video about Priorities

Discipleship

The following is a Q & A article about discipleship from Exponential featuring Larry Osborne. I thought it was good enough to pass on to my friends in Church Leadership and to everyone here...

_________________________________________________

Five years into North Coast Church, Founding and Senior Pastor Larry Osborne realized the programmed discipleship classes his Vista, Calif., church was teaching weren’t making disciples. In 1985, he implemented the church’s small group system, now one of the largest small group ministries in the nation, with 91 percent of the 8,000-plus attendees involved in a weekly Growth Group. In this Q&A, Osborne shares about the church’s shift from information to relationships and the “bur in his saddle” these days.

Last year you tweeted: “Discipleship is a rather simple concept: Obedience. Why do we make it so esoteric and complex?” How have we made discipleship complex?

The Greek word for disciple, mathetes, simply means follower. That includes people at the front of the line, in the middle, and at the back of the line. And there are good followers and not so good followers. But we have tended to confuse leadership with discipleship. I hear people over and over say, “Well, I define a disciple as … ,” and I have this sense that we probably ought to let Jesus define a disciple. He used the word mathetes. And in His definition of a disciple, He included some people who weren’t exactly stellar in all the things we think a disciple should do and be.

Jesus talked about obedience: If you love me, you’ll obey me. John talked about Here’s how to know that you know me—we will obey Him. And obedience isn’t perfection; it’s obeying the light we have. According to Prov. 4:18, the light gets brighter the more we follow the light we have. But we tend to look at maturity. We love the lost, we love the baby Christian and the on-fire, charge-the-hill Christian. But anybody struggling, the smoldering wick or bruised reed, we want to snuff it out or break it off.

So that has been a bur in my saddle as I’m watching the pendulum swing from an easy “believism” to raising the bar and thinning the herd. Essentially, we’re going back to the 1930s and ‘40s when my mom became a Christian. She grew up afraid of full commitment because she was always told, “If you do that, you’ll end up in Africa. The Christians take the hard path.”

What impact does/will this have on church leaders and their people?

It ends up in a lot of gift projection—trying to make people into us instead of what God’s called them to be. It leads to absolute lack of patience and bearing with one another. Basically, we become what I call an accidental Pharisee. That’s pretty much what the Pharisees did—you were either this or you weren’t. It was a very clear black and white line. We tend to take Jesus’ commands to an individual and make them into a command everybody must follow.

North Coast’s mission statement is Making Disciples in a Healthy Environment. How have you simplified this concept?

We’ve always avoided classes and a set of hoops to jump through or even disciplines to practice. For 27 years, we’ve tried to get people into weekly community groups because we believe that all the “one anothers” of Scripture and the things we’re supposed to obey are going to show up in community, whereas in a class all you’re doing is taking notes. There’s not a lab to live it out.

We’ve always had more than 80 percent of attendees involved. I think this year, we’re at 91 percent of weekend attendance. We believe everyone should be in a weekly community gathering of some sort. In our internal meetings, everything is about creating community. We’re very clear on what our core is—worship, teaching, community and mission. Everything else is just an ancillary offering.

Today in Church History

July 23, 1373: Saint Bridget (or Birgitta) of Sweden dies. The pious and charitable mystic and founder of the Bridgettine Order, greatly influenced the pope's decision to return to Rome.

July 23, 1583: Protestant printer John Day, who was responsible for publishing Hugh Latimer's sermons, Nicholas Ridley's "Friendly Farewell," and John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, dies.

July 23, 1742: Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles, dies. Born the twenty-fifth child in a clergyman's family, she became one of the most notable mothers in church history.

                                                                                     - christianitytoday.com

This is a good one...

The atheist can't find God for the same reason that a thief can't find a policeman.                                                          - Author Unknown

Theological Term of the Day

Cosmological argument

The Cosmological argument is an attempt to prove that God exists by appealing to the principle that all things have causes. The most basic form of the argument would be as follows: there cannot be an infinite regress of causes, therefore, there must be an uncaused cause: God. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) had a version of the Cosmological Argument called the Argument from Motion. It is from Aquinas argument that we get the phrase unmoved mover. 

                                                                                                 - carm.org

Quote of the Day

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” 


                                                                            ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote of the Day

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

                                                                                                                              - 2 Peter 3:9

Obnoxious About Fast Food

It is sure interesting and fascinating to watch "Christians" interact with other people. Not so much in church, but when they meet conflict out in the world. I had read the following quote a few weeks ago, and then witnessed it yesterday. 


“If truth is not undergirded by love, it makes the possessor of that truth obnoxious and the truth repulsive.” 
                                                                                                                          ― Ravi Zacharias
If a person is not served their "fast food" in a timely manner, it is quite interesting to see the response. 

Theological Term of the Day

Conviction

Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit where a person is able to see himself as God sees him: guilty, defiled, and totally unable to save himself (John 16:8).  Conviction functions differently for the Christian and non-christian. For the non-christian, conviction reveals sinfulness, guilt and brings fear of God's righteous judgement. Whereas, conviction in the believer brings an awareness of sin and results in repentance, confession and cleansing.

Theologically, conviction is produced by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), the Gospel (Acts 2:37), conscience (Rom. 2:15), and the Law (James 2:9). Conviction of sin brings man to the cross and shows the need for forgiveness.

                                                                                                          - carm.org

Old Testament Verse of Day...

Leviticus 19:18

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself."

 - Sounds a bit like the New Testament, doesn't it?

Intercessory Prayer

The following was part of my devotions this past week, and helps me understand what intercessory prayer is, at its core. 


Offering intercessory prayer means nothing other than Christians bringing one another into the presence of God, seeing each other under the cross of Jesus as poor human beings and sinners in need of grace. Then, everything about other people that repels me falls away. Then I see them in all their need, hardship, and distress. Their need and their sin become so heavy and oppressive to me that I feel as if they were my own, and I can do nothing else but bid: Lord, you yourself, you alone, deal with them according to your firmness and your goodness.


                                                                           - Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Forgiving and transforming God, thank you that under the cross of Christ we all stand equally together under your love and mercy.

South of 40

Bill, this post if for you. 

(Susan, tell Bill to look at my blog!)

Here are the kids at Bill and Susan Roberts home a few weeks ago.
Susan and Wild Bill fixed smoked chicken (and smoked hot dogs!), California bean dip, home made mac and cheese, green beans, and brownies! It was awesome, as usual.

In this pic,Tegan with the hose, spraying the other two, who are "trapped" on the hammock.




There ya go.

Pop Quiz!

For those of you who like Geography, try this super fun Geography Quiz site. Just click the link and then click on a quiz! It is a good way to learn where the countries are located around the world. 


I just scored a perfect on Europe...it only took 3 tries!  :-)


GEOGRAPHY QUIZ

Today in Church History

July 11, 1533: Pope Clement VII excommunicates England's King Henry VIII for remarrying after his divorce.

July 11, 1656: Barbados expatriates Ann Austin and Mary Fisher become the first Quakers to arrive in America. Officials promptly arrested them and deported them back to England five weeks later.

July 11, 1681: Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, is executed, having been found guilty of treason. He was the last Catholic to die for his faith in England and the first Irish martyr to be beatified.

July 11, 1886: Protestant missionary Horace Underwood secretly baptizes Mr. Toh Sa No in Korea—the first recorded Protestant baptism in that country. However, an underground church was probably already active in Korea, begun by Korean workmen who had heard the gospel in China.

July 11, 1955: Congress puts "In God We Trust" on all U.S. currency.

                                                                                           - christianitytoday.com

Theological Term of the Day

Consecrate

To consecrate something is to formally set it apart for special use.  Bread was consecrated in the Old Testament(Exodus 25:30; Lev. 25:5-9) as were people (Rom. 1:1; Gal.1:15).

                                                                                                                               - carm.org

What I like...

Since I am in a bit of a transition, I was thinking this week about things I enjoy and how I like to spend my time. So here's a few of the fun things that came to mind!


Hiking (not mosquito's)
Playing Hide and Seek with the kids in the house (Lights out and tag option)
Scenic views (without binoculars)
History (Christian/European/North American stuff mostly)
Starting projects (that have purpose)
Playing board games with the family (as long as we play by the rules!)
Finishing projects (that make a difference)
Fast computers (and internet connections)
Conversation and discussion with friends and family (not gossip or counseling)


I am sure the list could go on and on, but those are what come to mind.


What about you?

A Prayer for Today...

O God, you are my God,
for you I long;

for you my soul is thristing.
I long for you like dry, weary land without water.

Give me your strength and your glory.
I wish to praise you all my life
fill my soul as with a banquet.

I cling to you;
hold me close in your hands.


                             - Psalm 63

Today in Church History

July 7

July 7, 1647: Thomas Hooker, Puritan pastor, political theorist, and founder of Connecticut dies on his sixty-first birthDay (see issue 41: American Puritans).

July 7, 1874: Popular New England preacher Henry Ward Beecher demands an investigation by his church into the charges of adultery brought by Theodore Tilton, who later sued Beecher for "alienating his wife's affections." The jury could not decide whether a sexual affair had really taken place.

July 7, 1946: Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917), founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, becomes the first American to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

                                                                                                 - Christianity Today

Passing it on...

I received this from quote from a dear friend and brother in Christ. It is from Persian Poet Jellaludin Rumi concerning the resurrection power of Christ..

"I don't care if you're dead. Jesus us here, and he wants to resurrect somebody." 

My favorite dessert is...


BLACK RASPBERRY PIE!!!






My second favorite desert is...



CHEESECAKE!!!


I wonder if anyone has ever made Black Raspberry Cheescake???


That would be amazing! 

Happy Fourth!!!

Pics from my phone last couple of years....

Theological Term of the Day

Confirmation

Confirmation is a ceremony in Roman Catholicism, Easter Orthodox Churches and in some Protestant traditions. Within Roman Catholicism, the rite is performed by a bishop, as a one of the seven sacraments of the church that is supposed to strengthen a person and enable him to resist sin. It is usually done at the age of 12 as an affirmation of vows of faith that occured in baptism 1. The Bishop dips his right thumb in holy oil and anoints the person on the forehead by making the sign of the cross and says, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

In Protestent traditions, confirmation is something that a person who was baptized as an infant goes through later in life and is generally connected to their becoming a voting member of the church.

                                                                                                                       - carm.org

Sunday Prayer

Grant unto us, Almighty God, that we, communing with one another and with Thee, may feel our hearts burn within us, until all pure, and just, and holy, and noble things of God and man may be to us lovely, and we may find nothing to fear but that which is hateful in Thine eyes, and nothing worth seeking but that which is lovely and fair therein.

Let the divine brightness and peace possess our souls, so that, fearing neither life nor death, we may look to Thy loving-kindness and tender mercy to lift us above that which is low and mean within us, and at last to give the spirit within us the victory, and bring us safe through death into the life everlasting. Hear us of Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

George Dawson