Come to the waters

Michael over at Boar’s Head Tavern looks at the Corinthian church and sees a bunch of proto-Baptists running around. Rose Madrid-Swetman over at Jesus Creed is the latest entry in the Pastor’s Wisdom series. She says her church has replaced buildings, budgets, and butts with conversations, connections, and collaborations as the way to measure success.

In my squirrel brain, the two topics overlap - or to be like Rev. M-S, connect.

Paul writes to the Corinthians, Continue reading ‘Who sent you? What did you do?’

Craig has collected everything he could find that Wesley wrote about the Bible. Link here.

When I went to grab a URL for Scot McKnight’s site for my last post, I stumbled upon a really cool series he has just started. He is asking experienced pastors what one thing they would focus on more if they were starting all over again.

Here are the first three responses - Kent Anderson, Cindy Nicholson, Bob Smallman. They are great. I’ll be checking back regularly in search of more.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and will all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

You shall love the LORD your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deut 6:5)

The tricks we play with that word “love” are well known. For me, it is not primarily a word about feelings - although it is hard not to slip into that. It should not merely be something we say as a self-report about our own inner life. Love is primarily something we do.

This raises a good question for me this morning: How do we love God? To love someone is to do something for that other person. What could we possibly do for God?

Continue reading ‘What does God want for Mother’s Day?’

John Wesley’s sermon Scriptural Christianity includes his brief three-tier approach to proclaiming the word:

They endeavoured herein to speak to every man severally as he had need. To the careless, to those who lay unconcerned in darkness and in the shadow of death, they thundered, “Awake thou that sleepest; arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” But to those who were already awakened out of sleep, and groaning under a sense of the wrath of God, their language was, “We have an Advocate with the Father; he is the propitiation for our sins.” Meantime, those who had believed, they provoked to love and to good works; to patient continuance in well-doing; and to abound more and more in that holiness without which no man can see the Lord. (Heb 12:14)

Continue reading ‘Is there enough thunder in our pulpits?’

While international relations slow up relief efforts by the United States government and the United Nations, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is doing its part to help the victims of the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma).

The UMCOR news release is rather short of details about its work. I have no doubt the resources of world governments are badly needed.

Pray for those in need.

Also in the news: 10 million children under the age of 5 die each year from easily treatable health problems.

Acts 2:1-21

Right before the Spirit came, the text tell us about the disciples casting lots to see who would replace Judas. We see the disciples reduced to total dependence on God. They have given over all initiative and simply huddle together. They gaze up at the heavens where Jesus went and rattle their dice cups as they wait for some sign or indicator from God.

In their openess to the leading, they made themselves ready for the Spirit.

And when the Spirit came, it thrust them out of their hiding. Jesus promised that the Spirit would turn them into witnesses, and he was not kidding. Immediately they found themselves thrust from their huddle out into the world where they had to explain - to proclaim - the work of God among them.

My book on small church administration (thank you license to preach school) says that a pastor needs persistence to be a good administrator with a small church. It says that it takes about five years before you can make any significant changes.

Now, I’m not presumptuous enough to believe that after four weeks in my church that I have any idea at all about what change - if any - would be good. I’m a big fan of the idea that it is not all about me.

However, that word “significant” has me thinking. What - exactly - are these significant changes that I should avoid? I’d prefer not to figure this out after the fact if at all possible.

Gavin has a blurb on his blog advertising a conversation in Tennessee about “Connecting with the Spiritual Interests of Non-Religious People.” Part of his blog entry is a list of words that have been replaced in the lexicon of such people.

Examples include Church Community, God Peace, Holiness Compassion. Sounds interesting and emerging. One of these days I have to learn to drink coffee.

One combo that caught my attention was PC Mac. Like everyone else with a television and YouTube access, I’ve seen the “I’m a PC, I’m a Mac” ads and parodies. So, I was wondering, why is Mac a good analogy for the emerging realities. I went and read a little bit of analysis about Mac. Here’s one article written in January. It makes some interesting points.

Continue reading ‘Are we PCs in a world were Macs rule?’

I’m looking to create a list of blogs written by pastors/laity in small churches. They do not have to be primarily about small church life, but part of my purpose in putting the list together is to create a resource for people looking for those in similar settings. They don’t have to be UM.

Do you know any good blogs for this list?