Building together

Great Post by Gina about perspective.
She refers to Dr Tim Elmore's book Habituitudes. About people having different perspectives on what they're building/working towards.

It got me thinking about those that say I'm "laying a brick" - if they're laying a brick to build a house, while someone else is laying a brick that they think is part of a garden wall that would create interesting dynamics and if allowed to continue would end up with an interesting building.
This really highlights the need for a vision and vision casting.So that everyone can be on the same page and working towards the same aim.

I have come to give you church and church in abundance!!!

Reggie McNeal's new book Missional Renaissance lays out the shifts the church needs to make, to be who she's meant to be today.

One paragraph that sticks out for me is this one- it comes after he makes the point that people go to the airport to go somewhere else, the airport is not the destination even if it's beautiful:-

When the church thinks it's the destination, it also confuses the scorecard("Measuring success in Church"-me) It thinks that if people are hovering around the church, the church is winning The truth is, when that's the case, the church is really keeping people from where they want to go, from their real destination That destination is life Lucky for us, it just so happens this is what promised to bring us (He did not say, "I have come to give you church and give it to you more abundantly") Abundant live is lived out with loved ones, friends, and acquaintances in the marketplace, in the home, in the neighbourhood, in the world.

What do you reckon ?

Easter in Halstead

The Churches got together in Halstead, Essex to re-enact the Easter story for all to see last Saturday. It was very effective and moving.

Good challenge out of Orange Conference

SOmebody at the conference shared this on their blog... Reggie Joiner shared last night about Prodigal Son story at the Orange Conference! I was there last year and would've liked to go again this year ...

Comparing the Loving Father’s response to the returning son to that of the Older Brother.

LOVING FATHER: Preoccupied with whoever is missing
OLDER SON: Preoccupied with self

LOVING FATHER: operates on a context of forgiveness
OLDER SON: operates under a context of shame

LOVING FATHER: throws a party
OLDER SON: throws a fit

LOVING FATHER: confronts the older brothers thinking
OLDER SON: criticizes the loving father ways of thinking

LOVING FATHER: probably kept the porch light on for the sons return
OLDER SON: probably turned the light off and locked the door

As a church - our heart, our mission needs to be that of the LOVING FATHER. We need to treat every prodigal the way a loving father treats his prodigal son. We need to make sure our church emphasizes FORGIVENESS & JOY.

Good stuff to act on.

One (young) person can make a difference

I've been impressed with the curriculum our Youth Pastor has been using recently from Youth For Christ USA Three Stories. "I was so impressed I bought the company" NOT - but i did subscribe to their youth evotional. Today's highlights a young person who is making a difference in their community and much further afield. Here's a snippet

"Nine months later, the No Cussing Club has a Web site, claims 10,000 members and boasts chapters in several states and countries. Hatch considers his greatest
achievement, though, to be getting his hometown of 25,000 to become a cuss-free
zone. "

Check out the whole evotional here

Location Location Location!

Just back from out light the night outreach at Church. We invested in a bounce castle. It was a hit with all the kids that came by. We gave out a bunch of goodies to those that came by. The bounce castle afforded us the opportunity of conversation with the kids parents. They expressed gratitude for a break from their trick or treat trekking.
Our location was dictated by the strong prevailing wind. We were situated away from the residential area nearest the church. I saw a lot of families and kids walking down a nearby street.
They seldom changed direction to walk our way. Our location let us down.
That got me to thinking too. Perhaps our invest might have been better used in another location altogether. Perhaps a parent or small group with families would have been able to reach out to their neighbours with the bounce castle and goodies. Something to chew on for next year !
What have you tried at Halloween to connecting with your community ?

Fathers !

Robin over on Robbieducky as he engages in parent ministry sets out a challenge for fathers. He points out that David was an awful father.
My question how could he fall into that way ? Perhaps where he was at with his sins, I wonder if he felt that he didn't have the moral authority that was his to discipline his son ?
If such a person who was after God's own heart be in that situation, we need God sooooooo much to help us guard our hearts and minds to these dangers. And of course to bring healing and restoration to us fathers, so we can be more like the father he would have us be.

Morris Dirks at CMA-Canada Eastern District Conference part 3

Morris moved even closer to home as he took us to the parable of the two me who prayed (Luke 18:9-14).
Our spituality - do we have Pharasaical Spirituality which has something to prove or something to compare ?
or do we have Tax collector spirituality ?

He posed a to-the-point question for us to ask ourselves as we serve others - What is the primary emotion God has for you ? Is it anywhere near love ?

Finally bringing it to an end he asked us if we were thinking - I'm glad I'm not like the pharisee - then we are the pharisee :0

Morris Dirks at CMA-Canada Eastern District Conference part 2

Morris knows where it's at. He was encouraging us to look at our motives and emotions as we serve.

What are our motives -

Are we compromising to please other ? (1 Thes 2:1-6)

Are we working to prove ourselves ? (Phil 1:6)

Are we staying on a pedestal that people put us on ? (I Cor 3:4-9)

Emotions
Let God be in touch with your emotions otherwise they'll rule you !

Much to chew on !