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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Sunday, November 27, 2005
St. Thomas' Sun. Nov. 27/05
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St. Thomas' children play along with "I've Got the Joy Joy Joy" before going downstairs to begin rehearsing Dec. 18th's Christmas Pageant.
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
Culture Shift
Eric, Charlene & I attended the CCN Satellite Simulcast at Redwood yday, entitled "Culture Shift". It turned out not be about how Christian ministries need to come to terms with the changing mindset of our society -- not that I don't think that's worth discussing.
By the way, I'm thinking we must have arrived at at least "Pre-Post-Post-Modern" by now. What do you think, Pomo?
Instead, it was about stating some rather obvious things about creating a certain life-giving environment in your ministry. Were these guys *paid* to restate these things!? ;) Okay, I'm not opposed to restating basic ideas.
The most notable part to me was the impact of unhealthy relationships on a ministry. The speaker's advice to a leader of a suffering ministry was to give up planning new programs for a while, do a check-up on relationships and do what was necessary to heal them --
-- and do it all before Sunday, because worship would need to be cancelled. "That's according to Jesus (Mt. 5)!" said a grinning Wayne. "Not me. Take it up with him!"
Now I'm not entirely happy with that approach to Christ's commands (though I'm sure I've used it) but
I do recall a ministry conference at which we cancelled Communion because one sub-ministry was in conflict. I don't think (but I don't know) if those conflicts were ever solved and by the next year another sub-ministry also had conflicts unresolved to this day. I'm kind of assuming they have returned to celebrating communion among the survivors anyway. Maybe they offer prayers for the dead.
I, of course, am greatly influenced by Andy James and I remember his
emphasis on the importance of people over programs.
This is not to say that programs should not be reviewed, sometimes dumped or adapted to changing trends etc., but it left me convinced that the main need of every ministry is *good people*, even when equipment, funds and facilities may seem insufficient. If you have good, willing people working in God's enthusiasm, generally speaking) they can make a good time out of little material.
Again generalizing: people will be attracted to this, which will bring funds, equipment etc.
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Re. unhealthy relationships impacting effectiveness:
What if the divorce has already occurred? Eternal ineffectiveness? I know divorced or separated people who get back together. I know of a Christian worker let go for breaking one of the "serious" of the 10 Commandments and then rehired. (Let's not pretend that Evangelicals don't grade sin.) I just don't want to limit the possibilities when God and Grace are available in our circumstances.
By the way, I'm thinking we must have arrived at at least "Pre-Post-Post-Modern" by now. What do you think, Pomo?
Instead, it was about stating some rather obvious things about creating a certain life-giving environment in your ministry. Were these guys *paid* to restate these things!? ;) Okay, I'm not opposed to restating basic ideas.
The most notable part to me was the impact of unhealthy relationships on a ministry. The speaker's advice to a leader of a suffering ministry was to give up planning new programs for a while, do a check-up on relationships and do what was necessary to heal them --
-- and do it all before Sunday, because worship would need to be cancelled. "That's according to Jesus (Mt. 5)!" said a grinning Wayne. "Not me. Take it up with him!"
Now I'm not entirely happy with that approach to Christ's commands (though I'm sure I've used it) but
I do recall a ministry conference at which we cancelled Communion because one sub-ministry was in conflict. I don't think (but I don't know) if those conflicts were ever solved and by the next year another sub-ministry also had conflicts unresolved to this day. I'm kind of assuming they have returned to celebrating communion among the survivors anyway. Maybe they offer prayers for the dead.
I, of course, am greatly influenced by Andy James and I remember his
emphasis on the importance of people over programs.
This is not to say that programs should not be reviewed, sometimes dumped or adapted to changing trends etc., but it left me convinced that the main need of every ministry is *good people*, even when equipment, funds and facilities may seem insufficient. If you have good, willing people working in God's enthusiasm, generally speaking) they can make a good time out of little material.
Again generalizing: people will be attracted to this, which will bring funds, equipment etc.
----------------
Re. unhealthy relationships impacting effectiveness:
What if the divorce has already occurred? Eternal ineffectiveness? I know divorced or separated people who get back together. I know of a Christian worker let go for breaking one of the "serious" of the 10 Commandments and then rehired. (Let's not pretend that Evangelicals don't grade sin.) I just don't want to limit the possibilities when God and Grace are available in our circumstances.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Ockey Action at St. Thomas' Sr. Youth Group, Nov. 15/05
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What! You think this picture was posed!?
And we even found out where hockey is mentioned (well, sort of) in the Bible.
Matt. 27:59 - "Joseph took the body."
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Saturday, November 12, 2005
DYU Overnighter: Nov. 11,12/05
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Click here for pics of the Deanery Youth Unit Overnighter Nov. 11,12/05
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Saturday, November 05, 2005
Article on Evangelicalism: Link from Pomo
Pomo Christian (no that's not the title of Tim's novel) links to this article attempting to describe/defend Evangelicalism to the general misinformed populace.
What do you think?
I wonder if it's accurate that the difference between Fundamentalism (i.e. the actual movement of that name in the 20th century) and Evangelicalism (having existed for much longer, though not necessarily under that name) is the former's emphasis on Separatism.
Otherwise, their doctinal differences (such as they are) might truly appear minute to the observer. I should try and find a copy of the original "Fundamentals" tracts or books or whatever. I think there were 20. It may be that, for instance, Pre-Mill eschatology was one of them and 6 24 hour days of Creation.
In any case, it probably is not fair of Evangelicals to totally disown Fundamentalists, who are arguably a subset of Evangelicalism.
What do you think?
I wonder if it's accurate that the difference between Fundamentalism (i.e. the actual movement of that name in the 20th century) and Evangelicalism (having existed for much longer, though not necessarily under that name) is the former's emphasis on Separatism.
Otherwise, their doctinal differences (such as they are) might truly appear minute to the observer. I should try and find a copy of the original "Fundamentals" tracts or books or whatever. I think there were 20. It may be that, for instance, Pre-Mill eschatology was one of them and 6 24 hour days of Creation.
In any case, it probably is not fair of Evangelicals to totally disown Fundamentalists, who are arguably a subset of Evangelicalism.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
St. Thomas' Sr. Youth Group Drapizzama Musicjam!!: Nov. 1/05
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Here are some pics from the Nov. 1st Drapizzama Musicjam.
featuring
RP and the Punk Peach:
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