“Simple Church”…your thoughts

Have you read the book “Simple Church”?  Our staff is reading through and discussing it presently.  I’m really liking it.  What are your thoughts behind this “revolution” of making church strategy / ministry more streamlined and simple?

Note to self re: ecumenical worship participation

When you’re the sole Baptist representative on a community Thanksgiving worship service program slate including Catholics and assorted Lutherans it ain’t cool to refer to your fellow clergyman’s vestments as “costumes”…..apparently.

I’ll have to remember that.

Announcement of gratitude…and hiatus

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has visited this blog site over the past several weeks.  We’ve had some outstanding give-and-take and I’m better for it.  Hopefully, you can say the same.

While I’ve been blogging for several years now, I’ve never had as much traffic as I did yesterday (just under 1,400 page views).  It’s mind-bloggling!  That second “L” was intentional.

For a number of reasons, not the least of which is the peak of deer-hunting season, I’m taking a hiatus from blogging on this site.  There won’t be any new posts and I won’t be moderating any new reader comments (after about 10 p.m. tonight, local time).

I’m hoping that my other blog site will be getting some traffic and some new contributor pictures will be coming daily!  Please consider visiting there.

In the meantime, I hope you will take to heart my post from yesterday.  Peace and blessings to you and yours.  2 Peter 3:18

A lesson I’ve learned in ministry

I am a Southern Baptist pastor.  I’ve worked in vocational ministry for almost 21 years.  And I’ve learned some things along the way.

Once we were considering introducing a “controversial” ministry approach (don’t ask…that’s all I’m going to say about it).  We had meetings, discussion and, ulitmately, a vote.  One of the men in the congregation was very outspoken against the ministry throughout the “discussion phase” and an obvious “NO” vote when the ballots were cast.

The “ayes” had it.  The new ministry was going to take place.  It was expensive, required a schedule change, and was going to be an absolute volunteer-eater.  But we went forward, God blessed it, and numerous lives and families were (and continue to be) affected in a very positive way.

While that’s all pretty cool, here’s the lesson I learned.  The gentleman who was so against the ministry and who had cast a dissenting vote was there to volunteer his time and gifts in any way he could.  And he barely missed a Sunday doing it!  That’s a servant heart.  It may not always go the way you want it to.  But at the end of the day we have to realize that we are all in this thing together.  His church had made a decision.  He was part of that church.  Therefore, his best effort was required…and given!

Whether or not your candidate wins on November 4th (in races local, statewide, or national), I hope you will join me in making a commitment to pray for and support the winner(s).  We are under the compulsion of Scripture to respect the authority that’s been placed over us.  We are all in this thing together.  Our country is about to make an important decision.  You are a part of this country.  Therefore, your best effort is required.  But will it be given?  May we be found as passionate AFTER the election as we have been before it.

Consider adopting as your motto the following:  My country right or wrong….when right, to be kept right.  And when wrong, to be set right.   (c. 1872, Senator Carl Schurz, R-MO)

Blessings.

Obama’s rhetoric of “change”

It will likely look something like this.

Can you be pro-life and pro-Obama?

Denny Burk doesn’t think so.  I agree with him.

Read his careful handling of the subject here.  It’s also worth the time to read the articles he links to in his article.

Obama would have to go against nearly EVERY congressional and senate vote he’s ever cast on this issue in order to become the “pro-life” president he’s trying to portray himself as.

Wake up, people!