A man I respect deeply once told me, “If I’m able to have sex with a woman that’s not my wife, then I’m just as able to lie about it Tuesday morning at IHOP.”
This comment in response to this blogpost on men’s accountability groups reminds us that technique and programs will not create holy men. This is a work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of men who develop real friendships around Christ.
Ok … this was just for fun. I guess I always knew I’d fit into Picard’s crew, but was afraid I’d probably wind up with the Space Balls… Go ahead, click the link, you know want to know where you belong.
You scored as Enterprise D (Star Trek). You have high ideals and know in your heart that humanity will continue to evolve in a better people. No matter what may happen, you have faith in human beings. A rare quality. Now if only the Borg would quit assimilating people.
Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics) |
So. How different from my world is the world and worldview of the college freshman in 2006? Thanks to Ron Keener at Church Executive Magazine for pointing to the Mindset list of Beloit College. The list is fun to read (and will make my peers feel a bit old!). A couple of insights into their world:
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Keener’s statement that “These cultural touchstones have shaped the lives of today’s first-year college students, and churches had better understand what it means if they wish to connect with the new/Next generation” is what caught my attention. The challenge to consider the larger issue of how the class of 2010 will view church compared with their parents and grandparents is important … especially when it comes to things that are not really about Jesus or the Bible. He points us to Marion Aldridge’s list of 103 distinctions. I guess it is no wonder that leadership in the church is sometimes a bit difficult!
However, whatever the worldview – old or young – the Word of God is still sufficient. As Paul stressed, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1, ESV)
At Crossroads Bible Church it is time once again to select Elders to join our leadership team. It is always a deliberate process, and one that demands careful, and prayerful, thinking. I have long appreciated the commitment of our leaders to select other leaders that live out the biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
Since I’m on point to shepherd this selection process I found myself drawn to some recent posts that were worthy of reflection. It is my strong conviction that developing leaders to serve as elders is among the highest responsibilities of a pastor. Unashamed Workman has good thoughts on growing elders. Nine Marks has several good articles – one here on qualifications, and another asks several church leaders “What lessons have you learned the hard way in selecting elders?” John MacArthur provides a short overview of the whole concept on the Grace Community Church Website. I very much appreciated this message from Ray Stedman (blast from the past) – especially his reminder that:
The congregation does not select elders; the Holy Spirit does. He chooses men in every congregation and develops within them the character qualities needed, leading them through various experiences to train them. The job of the other elders is to keep alert and see who it is the Holy Spirit is putting his hand on.
It is amazing how easily the church tends to forget that it is God’s church and He will do his work in His way. I look forward to seeing how the Holy Spirit works in our midst this year!
By the way, this little piece of “art” has nothing to do with this post. I just thought I needed to add a graphic for some reason.
Driving to church this morning I found myself flipping between Christian radio stations more than normal. It seemed that every song played was repetitive, trivial, and focused on “me.” This is not about style … it is about the lyrics. Worship songs and “hymns” that do not draw us to consider God may be nice, but they usually fall short of provoking true worship. Often only making me “feel better”. I wonder if the satire of Songs for the Lukewarm church might help explain things? Or the similar list of “hymns” here? Of course, you might miss the point if you have never heard the original hymn. I guess I’m a bit reflective today, and just wondering once again if it might be possible that what we sing infects us with a passion robbing view of living the Christian life.
The church’s worst enemy is the man of little faith within the membership, not the faithless man of the world.
These words, attributed to D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, should cause every church leader to pause. Maybe this is why Peter wrote:
” Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:12-17, ESV)
God desires a pure, strong, church to impact the world. He will purify it himself if leaders do not guard it themselves. Maybe that is why Peter continues in the next chapter with the command to leaders: “Shepherd the flock of God among you ….” Good shepherds will watch out for the flock, they will seek to strengthen the weak Christian and shore up the faith of the wavering one. They will guard it from those who would undo things from within because the church is not ours, it belongs to the one who sacrificed himself for it.
My daughter was in an accident this week. The other car hit and ran with no witnesses. She’s out of work for two weeks and out some bucks too. Her attitude probably trumps what mine would be.
I read a lot of books. Few make me laugh out loud. This one did. I think it might make women roll their eyes, but guys will learn a lot about the differences between men and women. Like, “While men enjoy normal movies involving submarines and explosions and daring rescues, women prefer movies that involve British actors and shrubbery and agonizingly slow plots. And they want you to watch these movies with them.” Of course it may be that I’m just in a strange mood and things just seem funny.
Unashamed Workman is a blog I came across this morning. I like it. I’ll be back. It is now on my blogroll. Colin has put some time into building a great blog (unlike your’s truly). He has dug out some great articles from the blogosphere. Like this one by Mark Driscoll on pastoral burnout, and this one on leadership.
Steve Camp talks about Satan and his strategy for the church. “He will not demand a cross, but will only speak of a better way to successful living. His ‘gospel’ focuses on man and his needs; not with God and His glory.”
This would be an interesting Sunday School class to attend. If you can’t make it to Scottsdale every week, you can download the lessons here.
Here’s a Google mashup that Bible students will love.
Detail oriented, planning tech types will love this post!
Thanks to Travis Carden for this Grace to You archive of John MacArthur messages. Not just mp3 files – you can download written transcipts as well!
Church Superbowl Bash is shut down! I mentioned this last year when our church hosted a party (Seattle was in the big game if you remember). The NFL is apparently even more serious this year. Home parties are NOT the issue – whether church sponsored or not; however a church venue is. (along with viewing it on a TV larger than 55” among other quirky limits). The amount charged is not the issue either. All that fast-talk by the announcers at the end of a televised game (“expressed personal use”; “owned by NFL”; etc.) is what this is about.
I think the rule is a bit odd … sports bars can do it but churches can’t … but our response as believers is of more interest to me. Most seem to think that we should just do it anyway … “it is a stupid rule,” or “we’re doing it in Jesus’ name to win men to salvation,” or “the NFL can’t tell the church what to do.”
I liked the response of Bill Shoulta, pastor of Melbourne Heights Baptist Church in Louisville in the Courier-Journal:
“How absurd!” he said of the NFL’s stance. “… Maybe churches should get a copyright on the NFL’s use of such terms as ‘Sunday,’ ‘Saints’ and ‘Hail Mary Pass.’ Every time a player points heavenward, goes down on one knee, or shows the sign of the cross after a touchdown, maybe the cheerleaders should pass the offering plate. Let’s charge the NFL for hyping the personal faith of the respective head coaches for the Bears and Colts. Perhaps we should be reimbursed for the loss of income that churches sustain from members who attend Super Bowl activities.”
It all seems to come down to money. Greg Aiello of the NFL said that “The network economics are based on television ratings and at-home viewing. Out-of-home viewing is not measured by Nielsen.”
I have a sense that the backlash to the big, bad NFL will lead to changes, but until then, there is nothing here that gives the church a right to violate the legalities just because they don’t like the rules. The Bible says something about being faithful in little things. The NFL is not forbidding the churches from speaking truth, worshiping God, or anything else intrinsic to the Faith. I’m glad that the church mentioned in most articles decided to cancel. Besides, why do we need the Super Bowl to bring men to church … to bring men to God? Last time I checked the Scriptures that was the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
Since I’ll probably only have lady readers for a while I guess I’ll have to come up with something “frilly” for my next post.
Musings of a Random Nature 