I love Paul Tripp! In this article he addresses an issue that many
today simply prefer to ignore. Anger is a Kingdom calling!
Here are a few extracts of his very balanced article.
I took the liberty to highlight portions for emphasis.
rgh
"God calls you to be good, and he calls you to be angry at the same time."
"...those of us who have been called to represent the character and call of God
in local church ministry need to pray that we would be righteously angry.
We must pray that a holy zeal for what is right and good would so fill our hearts
that the evils greeting us daily would not be okay with us.
We must pray that we would be angry in this way until there is no reason to be angry
anymore. And we must be vigilant, looking for every opportunity to express the righteous
indignation of justice, mercy, wisdom, grace, compassion, patience, perseverance, and love.
We must be agitated and restless until his kingdom has finally come and his will is finally
being done on earth as it is in heaven. For the sake of God's honor and his kingdom...
We must determine to be good and angry at the same time."
"Injustice must not, cannot be okay with us. The immorality of the culture around us
must not, cannot be okay with us. The deceit of the atheistic worldview---the philosophical
paradigm of many culture-shaping institutions---must not, cannot be okay with us.
Righteous anger should yank us out of selfish passivity. Righteous anger should call us
to join God's revolution of grace. It should propel us to do anything we can to lift the load
of people's suffering, through the zealous ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to bring
them into the freedom of God's truth."
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/11/27/anger-is-a-calling/
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
What Kind Of People Should Ministers Listen To?
Brothers,
Perry Noble summarizes one of the most critical challenges that confronts
each of us. Who do we listen to when it comes to making decisions?
Perry lays out eight practical and relational traits that must be flagrant
if we are to give anyone audience to our lives.
I rejoice to report that each of my covenant friends in RFM consistently demonstrate these relational virtues.
As we approach "Thanksgiving Day", I feel especially graced to represent
the "Crown Rights of King Jesus" with such honorable men of covenant,
character and conscience.
O Lord!
For this I am grateful!
rgh
#1 – Those who know me, who have spent time with me and understand
that there is a person behind the personality.
#2 – Those who have seen me at my best and worst…and love me anyway.
#3 – Those who do not automatically assume the worse about me and always
give me the benefit of the doubt. (ALWAYS beware of the person who
seeks to pounce on you as soon as they hear something bad!)
#4 – Those who are willing to stand with me in a tough time–
THOSE WHO BLEED WITH ME CAN LEAD WITH ME!!!
#5 – Those who offer correction for the purpose of building up rather
than tearing down (people who always seek to tear you down
should be ignored!
#6 – Those who are willing to take a confrontation straight to the person
rather to an online audience.
#7 – Those who are not always looking for a reason to attack/hate you.
#8 – Those who have the goal of restoring you when you mess up
and not wounding you!
Perry Noble summarizes one of the most critical challenges that confronts
each of us. Who do we listen to when it comes to making decisions?
Perry lays out eight practical and relational traits that must be flagrant
if we are to give anyone audience to our lives.
I rejoice to report that each of my covenant friends in RFM consistently demonstrate these relational virtues.
As we approach "Thanksgiving Day", I feel especially graced to represent
the "Crown Rights of King Jesus" with such honorable men of covenant,
character and conscience.
O Lord!
For this I am grateful!
rgh
#1 – Those who know me, who have spent time with me and understand
that there is a person behind the personality.
#2 – Those who have seen me at my best and worst…and love me anyway.
#3 – Those who do not automatically assume the worse about me and always
give me the benefit of the doubt. (ALWAYS beware of the person who
seeks to pounce on you as soon as they hear something bad!)
#4 – Those who are willing to stand with me in a tough time–
THOSE WHO BLEED WITH ME CAN LEAD WITH ME!!!
#5 – Those who offer correction for the purpose of building up rather
than tearing down (people who always seek to tear you down
should be ignored!
#6 – Those who are willing to take a confrontation straight to the person
rather to an online audience.
#7 – Those who are not always looking for a reason to attack/hate you.
#8 – Those who have the goal of restoring you when you mess up
and not wounding you!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
RFM Judicial Disqualifiers
Brothers,
In light of the recent post about SGM and the Cross of Accountability,
please review these traits that disqualify an RFM Minister from the
process of "Judging Righteously"regarding ministerial conflict, relational
or behavioral sin, and church court proceedings.
We serve in an adult world brothers! Man Up!
rgh
1.Failure to bring forth the teachings and standards that have
been imparted and modeled.................................................[dismissive of history]
2.Failure to employ perspirational study through investigative
research and assigned reading............................................[lack scholarship]
3.Failure to demonstrate a mature ability to define issues and
inability to think through the complex stuff of life..................[lack critical thinking skills]
4. Failure to show a mature ability to make consistent application
of scriptural principles and pattern......................................[lacking biblical wisdom]
5. Failure to maintain principled centered objectivity .............. [Unprincipled mercy]
Relationships are more important than issues,
Truth is more important than relationship!
In light of the recent post about SGM and the Cross of Accountability,
please review these traits that disqualify an RFM Minister from the
process of "Judging Righteously"regarding ministerial conflict, relational
or behavioral sin, and church court proceedings.
We serve in an adult world brothers! Man Up!
rgh
1.Failure to bring forth the teachings and standards that have
been imparted and modeled.................................................[dismissive of history]
2.Failure to employ perspirational study through investigative
research and assigned reading............................................[lack scholarship]
3.Failure to demonstrate a mature ability to define issues and
inability to think through the complex stuff of life..................[lack critical thinking skills]
4. Failure to show a mature ability to make consistent application
of scriptural principles and pattern......................................[lacking biblical wisdom]
5. Failure to maintain principled centered objectivity .............. [Unprincipled mercy]
Relationships are more important than issues,
Truth is more important than relationship!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sovereign Grace Ministries Assessment
Ted Kober of "Ambassadors for Reconciliation" spoke this week at Sovereign Grace Ministries PastorsConference. At the end of his message, Ted gave an overview of what his team is learning about Sovereign Grace Ministries polity, process and procedures.
As a family of ministers, RFM should digest the observations from their initial
research and interviews. The assessment put forth should motivate each of us to have a clear grasp of the "Cross of Accountability" as a redemtpive process with defined procedure for handling conflict and charges.
An audio recording of the AFR session is also posted on the SGM site below.
rgh
1.SGM has been blessed to grow over the last three decades.
2.SGM has been effective in their focus on church planting and witness.
3.SGM’s quick growth has not been accompanied by the appropriate
development of structure, process, and policy (and he lists several examples).
4.A number of people have expressed hurts and anger over the way discipline
has been handled within SGM churches.
5.When significant charges were brought against the chairman and several board
members, SGM had to develop processes in the midst of conflict. This is extremely
difficult. Ideally a system is in place so everyone knows what to expect, but this was
not the case for those bringing or receiving allegations.
6.No matter who assisted SGM during this crisis, they were going to be criticized.
Nobody could come into the middle of a crisis and design a system that satisfied
everyone, and everyone will be able to find something to criticize. This is to be
expected in the middle of a conflict.
http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/sgm/post/Ted-Kobere28099s-sermon-and-some-initial-observations-on-Sovereign-Grace-Ministries.aspx
As a family of ministers, RFM should digest the observations from their initial
research and interviews. The assessment put forth should motivate each of us to have a clear grasp of the "Cross of Accountability" as a redemtpive process with defined procedure for handling conflict and charges.
An audio recording of the AFR session is also posted on the SGM site below.
rgh
1.SGM has been blessed to grow over the last three decades.
2.SGM has been effective in their focus on church planting and witness.
3.SGM’s quick growth has not been accompanied by the appropriate
development of structure, process, and policy (and he lists several examples).
4.A number of people have expressed hurts and anger over the way discipline
has been handled within SGM churches.
5.When significant charges were brought against the chairman and several board
members, SGM had to develop processes in the midst of conflict. This is extremely
difficult. Ideally a system is in place so everyone knows what to expect, but this was
not the case for those bringing or receiving allegations.
6.No matter who assisted SGM during this crisis, they were going to be criticized.
Nobody could come into the middle of a crisis and design a system that satisfied
everyone, and everyone will be able to find something to criticize. This is to be
expected in the middle of a conflict.
http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/sgm/post/Ted-Kobere28099s-sermon-and-some-initial-observations-on-Sovereign-Grace-Ministries.aspx
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