Reformata Family of Ministers

This Borders On Witchcraft!

2012-02-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

J. lee Grady is a proven discerner of the counterfeit and the frauds
who flow "unchecked" within the charismatic stream. His recent article
is excellent and this quote nails the seriousness of the issue.

rgh

"...The charismatic movement has become an embarrassing mixture.
Some preachers dangle God’s promises over people’s heads and
offer elusive promises of prosperity "if people will call this number
now and give a donation."

Others fake certain body movements to make people think they are
super-charged by God. Others mix exotic anointing oils (on sale now
for only $12.99!) or they create anointed candles, suggesting that certain
scents can trigger the Spirit’s power. This borders on witchcraft."

http://charismanews.com/opinion/32755-please-stop-the-holy-ghost-smackdown

J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma. He is the author of several
books including 10 Lies Men Believe and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale.

Does God Really Hate Divorce?

2012-01-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

Some will think this post a reaction to the pain our family is undergoing

due to my daughters present divorce process initiated by her

husband who has chosen apostasy to his covenant oath to his wife and children

sworn before Christ in the presence of many witnesses.

However, it is honestly motivated by a recent SBC blog posted on the 20th.

The author does a thorough job pointing out problematic KJV translation of

Malachi 2:16 regarding the issue of divorce.

Does God personally hate divorce?

Does God hate the man is who guilty of divorcing his wife?

Does the man hate his wife when divorcing her?

In other words,who in fact is the subject of hate that Malachi speaks of?

Many credible translations actually reveal it is not God who hates divorce

in this passage, rather, the man who wrongfully divorces his wife is actually

guilty of hate.

Read these translations for motivation to employ Berean Nobility to pursue

your own scholarly exegesis.

I personally believe the Holman translation to be one of the best ever produced.

rgh

Holman Translation:

"If he hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD God of Israel, “he covers his

garment with injustice,” says the LORD of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves

carefully, and do not act treacherously."

New International Version:

“The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD, the God of Israel,

“does violence to the one he should protect,” says the LORD Almighty. So be

on your guard, and do not be unfaithful."

Contemporary English Version:

"The LORD God All-Powerful of Israel hates anyone who is cruel enough

to divorce his wife. So take care never to be unfaithful!"

Wycliff Translation:

"When thou hatest her, leave thou her (not), saith the Lord God of Israel.

Forsooth wickedness shall cover the cloth of him, saith the Lord of hosts;

keep ye your spirit, and do not ye despise. (even if thou hatest her, leave

thou her not, saith the Lord God of Israel. Yea, let his cloak cover his

wickedness, saith the Lord of hosts; so keep ye watch over your spirit,

and do not ye despise her.)"

http://sbcvoices.com/does-malachi-216-condemn-all-divorce/?

Compromised and Dangerous!

2011-12-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

Brothers,

While thinking through recent years, it seemed profitable to post this
axiom that we have maintained and proven to be a trustworthy principle.
If you recall,we taught it as a means of personal ministerial accountability
and for the flock to protect themselves against compromised ministers
who go rogue.

"Beware of any man who publicly declares he is accountable to others and yet,
when called to account for sin and compromise, he then defies,denounces, and
denigrates the very accountability he once publicly affirmed". Beware! Such a
person is absolutely dangerous and should be "feared" rather than "followed!"

Unfortunately, we have watched "brothers" immediately abandon their
ministerial covenant when they were held accountable for an uncharactered
life or confronted for violation of ministerial ethics or were guilty of
compromised conduct unbecoming to ministers.

With that in mind, some of these same "brothers" continue to distort facts,
deceive the vulnerable, and denigrate our ministry. However, I find a
grace-filled confidence to enter 2012 since we remain accountable thru
ministerial covenant with the same honorable brothers that we have been
relating to since the Redeemed Community days in the 90's.

I am indebted to Bishop Bill Mikler, Pastor Jim Crabb, Joe Sacco, John Reyes,
Jon Paul Jordan, Frank Freeman, Norm Waddell, Jacob Watson, and Pastor
Kenny Tanner for relational accountability and covenant friendship.

Should anyone hear slanderous accusations against our character or ministry,
please employ these righteous actions as a means to silence false accusers:

1. First, ask the individual if he was ever in relational covenant with RFM,
and if so,were his credentials revoked or was he asked to surrender them?
After they answer, apply the above axiom.

2. Second, contact any of the brothers mentioned to confirm our sustained
covenant submission to them regarding ministerial, marital, doctrinal,
ethical and moral integrity. Request them to explain the RFM
"Cross of Accountabilty".

Stengthened by grace, our mutual covenant commtment has endured years
of relational testing and correction of one another.

rgh

15 Characteristics of Great Leaders

2011-12-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Thom Rainer put together 15 characteristics of great leaders.

They:

>see possibilities rather than obstacles.
>do not blame others.
>do not have a victim mentality.
>give credit to others.
>seek what is best for the organization rather than for themselves.
>respond to some critics and to ignore others.
>see past the latest obstacle or challenge.
>are continuous learners.
>exhibit true humility.
>admit their mistakes.
>take calculated risks.
>are more likely to make quick decisions.
>have a love and a passion for what they do
>are first great leaders in their families.
>mentor others to become great leaders.

http://www.thomrainer.com/2011/10/fifteen-characteristic-of-great-leaders.php

Five Commands of "Unregenerate Pew Fillers"

2011-12-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

Brothers,
I am convinced that Pastors today are held captive to five commands
mandated by unregenerate pew fillers.

Even worse, ministers delight in crafting their sermons and structuring
Sunday mornings to satisfy these man pleasing appetites.

Why? Because doing so becomes the means to stroke personal ego by
fulfilling their "ABC's Vision" for secularized leadership success
defined as Attendance, Buildings, and Cash!

The Five commands:

>Tell me what I want to hear.....................................Narcissism.
>Tell me what will make me feel better......................Sentimentalism
>Tell me what will work for me..................................Pragmatism
>Tell me what is the least costly ............................... Consumerism
>Tell me what is inoffensive........................................Permissivism

With these in mind, read the article below from the Huffington Post.
Not the resource center for biblicism.Yet, the Pastor writing the article
is spot on.

Here is an extract from this confessing Pastor:

"I'm the pastor of a church called Redemption Church in Olathe, KS.
Our church was planted in 2003 and founded upon church leadership
principles that worked like a charm. We grew from 2 families to around
200 families in the first three years. We planted another church in a nearby
town and continued to grow. But, when we decided to reject sentimentality
and pragmatism and chase faithfulness instead we really began to grow ...
smaller that is. I don't know for sure because we no longer count, but my best
guess is that we have decreased by more than half."

If pressed about my church's growth strategy, I usually say it is to get smaller
and die; to continually decrease the amount of time, resources and energy we
spend trying to have the ultimate church experience, and to spend more time
actually being faithful.

Nowadays, faithfulness -- not success -- is our only
metric. Success is about "doing." Faithfulness is about "being," and it's
really hard to measure."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-suttle/how-to-shrink-your-church_b_1095841.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Please Do Not Leave Me To My Self

2011-12-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

Brothers,

Mark Driscoll says,"You’ve got to confront sin in yourself, in your spouse,
and in your friends.There is no greater contempt for someone than to leave
them in their sin."

I whole heartily agree!

Proverbs 27:6 puts friendship in proper perspective:“Wounds from a faithful
-sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy."

With these foundational stones, lets all be pro-active in our pursuit of
relational integrity together by allowing personally close brothers to
answer questions like these proposed by Nathan Burke:

>Where do I most consistently fail?

>What patterns do you see that annoy or frustrate you?

>What is something you’ve wished I would do or stop doing?

>Where/how am I not living up to my potential?

>What are my blind spots?

>How can I be of more help to you?

Now the final question. Are we being faithful friends to one another?
Then send your answer to these questions or give me a call.

Proclaiming The Crown Rights of King Jesus!
rgh

http://theresurgence.com/2010/10/30/what-gordon-ramsay-taught-me-about-friendship

http://theresurgence.com/2011/11/28/3-things-you-need-to-know-about-sin

"Good And Angry For The Kings Honor!"

2011-11-28T06:45:00.000-08:00

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/

What Kind Of People Should Ministers Listen To?

2011-11-21T07:19:00.000-08:00

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!

RFM Judicial Disqualifiers

2011-11-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

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!

Sovereign Grace Ministries Assessment

2011-11-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

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

7 Qualifying Questions For Potential Leadership

2011-10-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

The effectiveness of a minister is directly related to the quality of leaders
around him.Tony Morgan presents 7 qualifying questions that should be
considered when examining potential leaders.

1.Do they have the leadership gift?
This is the key question that shapes everything else. If they aren’t a leader,
they shouldn’t be on this team. You also need to consider leadership capacity.
We know from Scripture that there are leaders of tens, fifties, hundreds and
thousands.

2.Are they a big-picture thinker?
In other words, this person always prioritizes the church’shealth over what’s
happening in their specific ministry area. They are more concerned with
alignment to the overall goals rather than defending their turf. They won’t let
their passion fora specific ministry get in the way of making decisions that help
the entire church take a step forward.

3.Is this person a strategic thinker?
You need people who can think beyond the daily details. There are places for managers on your team. You need people who can take the game plan and makeit happen. Your senior team, though, isn’t the place for managers. Find people whothink about the future and then canstrategically propose how to get from here to there.

4.Can they build teams?
In ministry, this is primarily about building and equipping teams of volunteers. As thechurch grows, you also need people who can develop staff teams. These are the folks who have demonstrated they can identify and empower other leaders. If their instinct is, “I need to do this myself,” you have the wrong person.

5.Do they share the vision and values of your organization?
This is no team for someone who perceives they need to provide checks and balances.Maybe they pride themselves on being the “devil’s advocate” in your organization.Thedevil already has an advocate — you don’t need one on your senior leadership team. Every leader at this level needs to be 100 percent on board with the church’s vision and values.

6.Does this person help us reflect the diversity of our ministry?
Sometimes we falsely assume every leader is wired up just like us. That’s absolutely not true. Leadership comes in a variety of shapes and sizes based on someone’s gift mix, background, personality and experiences. Consider using the “Leading From Your Strengths” profile to help you identify how different strengths are the foundation for different leaders.

7.Is this person a lifelong learner?
Ideally, you’ll identify people who will grow with your organization. It does no good to have someone who has all the answers, because tomorrow the questions will be different. You need people who embrace leadership development for themselves and their teams.

By the way, especially for smaller or newer churches, you don’t necessarily need to be paid staff to be on the senior leadership team. For lay people, though, they still need to be fully engaged in ministry and serving in a leadership capacity.

If a volunteer leader can’t invest the time to do that, you may need to move them into more of an advisory capacity or just pull them in on specific projects.

http://tonymorganlive.com/2011/10/24/who-should-be-on-the-team/?

LifeWay Survey: Majority Of Pastors Experience Loneliness

2011-10-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

LifeWay Study: Majority of Pastors Experience Loneliness

2011-10-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

Though almost all pastors feel privileged to be in ministry, a majority also experience loneliness and discouragement.

That is the finding of a survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors conducted Aug. 17-24.

A full 98 percent agree with the statement, "I feel privileged to be a pastor," with 93 percent strongly agreeing. Only about 0.5 percent of pastors disagree with the statement.

Yet more than half (55 percent) also agree with the statement, "I find that it is easy to get discouraged," and 55 percent say being in pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times.

"Many oft-quoted statistics speak of miserable and unhappy pastors, but that's not what we see when we actually ask them," explained Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources. "There is discouragement and loneliness, but when 98 percent agree it is a privilege to be a pastor, we also know there is a great honor to being a pastor."

Pastors 65 and older are the least discouraged age bracket. While 30 percent of those 65 and older strongly disagree that it is easy to get discouraged in ministry, only 19 percent ages 55-64 strongly disagree along with 13 percent ages 45-54 and 11 percent ages 18-44.

Pastors 65 and older are also most likely to strongly disagree (39 percent) with the statement, "Pastoral ministry makes me feel lonely at times." Twenty-nine percent of those ages 55-64 strongly disagree, as well as 21 percent ages 45-54 and 19 percent ages 18-44.

Ironically, pastors of larger churches are lonelier. Of those in congregations with average attendance of 250 or more, 17 percent strongly disagree that pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times. In comparison, 32 percent with churches of 0-49 and 27 percent with churches of 100-249 strongly disagree.

"Pastors feel privileged, but clearly the reality of constant service can take its toll," Stetzer said. "There is discouragement and loneliness in ministry. It appears that the larger the church the more present the loneliness."

Positively, nearly eight in 10 pastors (79 percent) disagree with the statement, "Being in ministry has had a negative effect on my family." A majority (58 percent) strongly disagree. Twenty percent somewhat disagree, 15 percent somewhat agree and 4 percent strongly agree.

"This statistic has to be one of the biggest surprises," said Stetzer, who has also served as a pastor. "Pastoring can be stressful on a family, but contrary to some hyped statistics, most do not believe that being a pastor has hurt their family.

"Pastoring is difficult, and family life is a fishbowl, but overstating the challenge and dangers of pastoring can discourage pastors and create an expectation of family disruption leading to that very problem," he said.

Pastors in the South (63 percent) are more likely to strongly disagree that ministry has had a negative effect on their families than their counterparts in the Northeast (51 percent) or Midwest (54 percent).

The study found that 18 percent of pastors have more than 10 close friends in their congregation. Sixteen percent have six to 10, 38 percent have three to five, 10 percent have two and 4 percent have one. Twelve percent of pastors have no close friends in their congregation.

Pastors 65 and older are less likely to have no close friends in their church and most likely to have more than 10 close friends. Six percent of pastors ages 65 and older have no close friends, compared with 14 percent ages 55-64 and 13 percent ages 18-44.

More than a third (34 percent) of pastors 65 and older have more than 10 close friends in their church.

Pastors in the Northeast (20 percent) are more likely to have no close friends in their church than those in the South (10 percent) or West (9 percent). Additionally, those identifying themselves as Mainline (18 percent) are more likely to have no close friends than those identifying themselves as Evangelicals (10 percent).

Relationships matter and it appears that pastors value those friendship—particularly as they get older," Stetzer explained. "Older pastors (and I would add, younger pastors with wisdom) have developed more close friendships within their church and are less likely to be discouraged or lonely. This combination mirrors workplace studies that have shown that more friendships at work correspond with higher satisfaction with a person's job and life."

http://www.charismanews.com/culture/32124-survey-majority-of-pastors-experience-loneliness-discouragement

Four Points of the Resurgence Movement

2011-08-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Brothers,

Mark Driscoll presents four points of the Resurgence Movement. He explains that while being personally Reformed, he has issues with ministering from a theology of the 5 points of Calvinism because it doesn't work from a God centered theology. Clearly insightful and most compelling.

Each RFM minister should take a few minutes and listen to Driscoll's presentation. While fascinating, it will also provide give us the opportunity to maintain a state of being current with theology and movements. Remember, ignorance isn't a Kingdom virtue.

rgh

http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/25/four-points-of-the-movement

Post Preaching Depression

2011-07-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Brothers,

You have heard me mention this issue over the years. Most Sunday evenings are brutal as I slide into this post-adrenaline zone. You may find this article helpful.

rgh

Have you ever been mightily used by God, get a spiritual high, and then the next day feel like a schmuck? Have you ever been running on a spiritual high for quite some time only to be blown away by an equally crushing period of depression and dryness? If so then you might be experiencing Post-Preaching Depression; or as Archibald Hart has termed it, “Post-adrenaline Depression”.

Hart describes it this way“…what I was experiencing was a profound shutdown of my adrenal system, following a period of high stress or demand. It was as if my adrenal system were saying, “That’s enough abuse for now; let’s give it a break,” and shut down so that I had no choice in the matter.”

Sometimes we experience this because we are adrenaline junkies. Sometimes we experience this because there are seasons in our life when we must rely upon adrenaline (God gives it for a reason). The problem is that we often abuse adrenaline. We get addicted to the “high’s” and become pleasure-seeking adrenaline junkies. So, whether you are addicted to adrenaline or you just crash after big events there is wisdom in understanding post-adrenaline depression.

For me almost any time I preach I am totally spent afterwards. I typically preach on Wednesday evenings. After youth group is over I am exhausted. On Thursday I am drained for a little while but usually back up and running by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

This past week I was the Camp Director/Camp Pastor. It took a few weeks of late nights, stressful planning, and tons of adrenaline even to get ready for camp. Then there was a week of actually speaking twice per day and being responsible for over 100 people. Needless to say at the end of the week I was fully exhausted. I actually felt depressed at youth camp on Wednesday and Thursday and am only now beginning to “see the light”. I am having difficulty writing, preparing sermons, speaking to others, as well as battling feelings of worthlessness.

So, what do we do when we crash? How do we fight post-adrenaline depression? Hart’s suggestion may seem surprising: “cooperate with it”. He further explains. “When the adrenal system crashes its need for rejuvenation far exceeds my need just to feel good. In fact, the mood that it creates is deliberately designed to slow me down so that recovery can take place.”

Rather than fighting this feeling it is best to listen to its message. Try to relax. Do not try to find more adrenaline by ski-diving on your day off, just rest, do low-grade activity. As a pastor it may be wise not to take your day off on Monday (or me on Thursday) but rather do “easy” things in the office to recover. Take your day off when you could actually enjoy it.

Hart offers a few more helpful suggestions for dealing with this:

>As soon as possible after the activity is over, go aside and relax for a while.

>Allow the low mood to come over you, welcoming it as your friend.

>Pay attention to what the “healing” process feels like in your body; it’s not really unpleasant if you interpret it as something good.

>Continue to relax for as long as possible, without tackling any task awaiting you, giving priority to your recovery.

>When you feel like it, mark time by doing routine, low-adrenaline demand activities”

>If you are feeling depressed, accept the feeling as part of the recover process—it has no other significance, so don’t try to interpret your feeling or believe any of the negative self-talk that always accompanies it

What do you think? Good advice? What are areas where this thought can be developed further? How might this be difficult to follow? If you are interested in what Hart has to say I would suggest these two books: Unmasking Male Depression, Adrenaline and Stress.

http://sbcvoices.com/mondays-ministry-musing-post-preaching-depression

The Demise Of The Ministers Housing Allowance?

2011-06-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

The common practice of ministers being unethical,immoral and criminal may very well cause each of us to lose a financial benefit in the days ahead. The housing allowance provision is already in the court system and it isn't looking good.
rgh

"When pastoral scandals hit the mainstream news, often the first item cited as evidence that a minister is misusing his or her position is the housing allowance tax break that allows pastors to deduct housing expenses from their income. Sometimes the pastor in question will claim his entire salary as housing allowance. For others, its the sheer size of the allowance that raises suspicion.

At the request of Senator Charles Grassley, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) will lead the independent commission to investigate and offer recommendations to lawmakers on a list of eight issues related to ministry ethics and finances. Housing allowances are near the top of the list.

A 2009 lawsuit filed in California by the Freedom from Religion Foundation argued the housing allowance tax benefit violates the Constitution's Establishment Clause. A government request to dismiss the case was rejected in 2010, allowing it to proceed to trial. Experts like Richard R. Hammar, an attorney and senior editor of the Church Law & Tax Report, are concerned that its outcome may spell the demise of the benefit."

— Church Law & Tax Report

http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/65-news-main/19143-housing-allowances-on-thin-ice

10 Simple Things We All Should Say

2011-05-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Saw this posted by Justin Taylor. May our hearts be postured with such humility and character.
rgh

1. Please forgive me.

Better than "I'm sorry," which can often be followed with an "if" or a "but," these words indicate a humble heart. Bad pastors hide their faults behind the cloak of their authority, practice self-defense against all charges, and basically pretend. Good pastors know they're sinners and admit it.

2. You're right.

Good pastors know they're not always (not usually?) the smartest, most "spiritual" person in the room. They are zealous to give credit and acknowledge achievement and intelligence, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it encourages and empowers others.

3. You're wrong.

Bad pastors chicken out when it comes to calling people on sin or biblical ignorance. Good pastors brave potential conflict and hurt feelings and say "You're wrong" in gentle but firm ways when necessary.

4. Jesus loves you.

Why did we stop saying this? I think because it became cliche. I'd love to see a recovery of the art of "Jesus loves you." Strategically said at times of others' admissions of failure, sin, or trouble, "Jesus loves you" is a fantastic way to speak the gospel into people's lives.

5. I love you.

I think one reason we stopped saying "Jesus loves you" to people is because we don't really love them ourselves. Might as well save the hypocrisy, eh? But good pastors lay their lives down for the sheep. Telling people you love them is a reminder to them and to you that sacrificial love is your calling.

6. Me too.

Next to "Grace is true" (see below), these might be the most important words in pastoral counseling. Bad pastors trade regularly in "Not me." In the pulpit and in the office, bad pastors set themselves apart from their congregations with tales of adventure, spirituality, and personal holiness. In the pulpit and in the office, good pastors talk of sin and trials and utter ineptitude and say, "Me too." I have seen entire countenances change when I've said some variation of "Me too."

7. Any time.

Of course you don't mean it literally. But you kinda do. Good pastors are available.

8. Thank you.

Bad pastors think they're owed. Good pastors know everything is a gift.

9. Grace is true.

I think deep down we all want to hear "You're approved" (see below), which is why we find "Grace is true" such a radical statement. You probably won't use the words, of course. But good pastors take the opportunity to glorify God by "talking up" his amazing grace every chance they get. Just 30 minutes ago, my writing of this post got interrupted by a visitor who wanted to talk about works and grace. I relished the chance to confirm his suspicion that grace is true. Bad pastors may say grace is true but the context of their teaching and the expectations in their leadership say "Your works must be this high to ride this ride." I know some of my friends hate it when "gospel" is used as a verb, but I just have to say it: Good pastors gospel their people. :-)

10. You're approved.

Everyone wants to believe they have what it takes, which is why it's such a bummer to hear the first half of the gospel and learn we really don't. Don't leave your people hanging. Be a good news pastor. Bad pastors beat their people up with their failures. Bad pastors are always disappointed. Good pastors know grace is true and Jesus is Lord, so they are ready to challenge every self-despairing soul with the wonderful truth that in Christ we are approved by God. Good pastors tell people they do have what it takes when they have Jesus' righteousness. Do you trust Jesus? You're all set, then.

http://gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/2011/05/10-simple-things-good-pastors-say.html

Five Myths About Forgiveness!

2011-05-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

These Five Myths about Forgiveness are written by Dr. Sam Storms.You will
find his writings promoted on John Pipers Desiring God, Monergism, Driscoll's
Acts 29, and AdrianWarnocks site.

I mention all of this so that you can sense the weight of this brothers influence
in the Kingdom and why each of you brothers should prioritize reading the entire
article.

You will discover that the article supports the doctrinal position advocated
during our Redeemed Community days together and which is consistently the
same today. Note that it certainly applies to a relatively recent attack upon
our doctrinal position via a public venue.
.
Be encouraged, we are not alone my friends. There continues to be a broad
and deep remnant of kingdom oriented citizens.

rgh

1. Contrary to what many have been led to believe, forgiveness is not forgetting.

2. Forgiving someone does not mean you no longer feel the pain of their offense

3. Forgiving someone who has sinned against you doesn’t mean you cease longing for justice.

4. Forgiveness does not mean you are to make it easy for the offender to hurt you again.

5. Forgiveness is rarely a one-time, climactic event.

http://www.acts29network.org/article/forgiveness-what-it-is-what-it-isnt/

http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/MP3-Audio--Multimedia/All-Speakers-Lectures-and-Sermons/Samuel-Storms/

Laughter Commensurate To Humility: "A Tribute To Joe Sacco"

2011-05-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

When I received the videos of my recent visit to Teen Challenge, the first
response was to watch the introductional part where I attempted allow the
students to enjoy laughter at the expense of Joe Sacco.

As I began to watch, I was so overcome with hysterical laughed that tears
were rolling down. What would cause such a reaction? Hearing Joe Sacoo
laughing louder than everyone else in the room, even though he was the
strategic target of the humor. This quote decribes why my special friend
could laugh loudly with 250 other men in the room.

[rgh]

Terry Lindvall writes in Surprised By Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis:

"Laughter is a divine gift to the human who is humble. A proud man
cannot laugh because he must watch his dignity; he cannot give himself
over to the rocking and rolling of his belly. But a poor and happy man laughs
heartily because he gives no serious attention to his ego….Only the truly
humble belong to this kingdom of divine laughter…Humor and humility
should keep good company.

Self deprecating humor can be a healthy reminder that we are not the center
of the universe, that humility is our proper posture before our fellow humans
as well as before almighty God…"

http://trevinwax.com/2011/05/02/humility-and-humor/

We Are Not- We Do Not!

2011-04-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

Brothers,

Please review these "We Are Nots" extracted from the "Acts 29"
doctrine site. While knowing who we are and what we believe is primary,
being able to articulate who we are not and what we do not believe is just
as essential in today's church culture.

Full explanation of each statement is explained on the site below.

rgh

•We are not liberals
•We are not fundamentalists
•We are not isolationists
•We are not hyper-Calvinists
•We are not Dispensationalists
•We are not egalitarians
•We are not Open Theists
•We are not religious relativists
•We are not nationalists
•We are not moralists.
•We are not relativists
•We are not Universalists
•We are not naturalists
•We are not rationalists
•We are not evangelical feminists
•We are not embarrassed
•We are not ashamed
•We are not polemicists

http://www.acts29network.org/about/doctrine/

New Identity: Reformata Family of Ministers

2011-04-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

While we bless the inauguration of the Redeemed Community site that solely
seeks to bridge relational connection of former friends and members,
we wisely see the potential for confusion since it does so void of the foundational,
historical, doctrinal,and covenantal identity that was the DNA of the ministry and
which RFM continues to model today.

That being the concern, we are making a slight but substantive name change so as
to maintain clarity for our ministerial identity while minimizing possible secondary
connectivity through name recognition.

"Reformata" simply means the church reformed and was used as the battle cry during
the Reformational era. Thus, the term intentionally maintains covenantal continuity
with our original "agents of change" ethos while communicating the covenantal,
doctrinal and missional substance of our relational identity as a Family of Ministers.

Therefore, our "Antiochian Identity" is now Reformata Family of Ministers
and will continue to be abbreviated as "RFM". Shout!

For The Kings Honor!
richard g. hanner

The Kind Of Leaders We Want Around Us!

2011-04-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

Perry Noble points out a strategic truth RFM ministers should embrace,
emulate, and advocate. In other words, "we" must "be" this kind of leader
to one another.

rgh

Proverbs 16:13
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.

Leaders MUST value people that are honest and speak the truth.

However, one of the things I always say is that a leader cannot listen to everybody…but the “somebody’s” that he/she does listen to MUST be willing to speak unfiltered truth in love.

With that in mind here are the qualities I believe a leader should always be looking for…someone who is…

Trustworthy – Can you trust the person who is speaking truth to you? Have they, over time, demonstrated a consistent love for Jesus, for His church and for you? A leader should ALWAYS listen to people they trust–period.

Respectable – I have found that it is nearly impossible to listen to people you do not respect. So, with that in mind take a look at the people you have around you…do you respect their CHARACTER (incredibly important) and their COMPETENCE level? (It is REALLY sad when leaders who purposefully surround themselves with people they feel superior to in regards to competence. If you are always positioning yourself to be the smartest person in the room then you either struggle with pride, insecurity…OR BOTH!) Even if someone doesn’t know me that well…I have always found myself still listening to people whom I respect.

Understanding – A leader should always listen to someone who understands the entire situation. People who take shots at you because they heard a rumor about you or have based their opinion off of a 30 second soundbite that was taken out of context should simply be ignored. However, someone who comes to you in love with a desire for a sincere understanding of something you said or a decision you made is someone that you should definitely listen to.

This is, in no way, a complete list…but, just wanted to share these three characteristics.

http://www.perrynoble.com/2011/04/13/the-kind-of-leaders-i-wantneed-around-me/

The 26 Qualifications For A Minister

2011-04-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Over the last 38 years, I have read and reread these character qualifications listed by the Apostle Paul.To be honest, I confess that there is most often "pain of conscience" when doing so.The imperative for such prominent Christlike virtues in a ministers life should awaken a real sense of Godly fear in each of our souls.

My dear brothers, may we "Love One Another" enough to correct or receieve the same should these standards become "perceptively" violated in the form of behavioral pattern.

rgh

"....before any man can serve the Lord in church leadership, he must meet a list of 26 requirements in his life. When a man meets all these requirements, he is to be recognized by the sheep as a truly qualified shepherd. The list is found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1; it is stringent and weeds out a lot of men who might like to be church leaders. But this list also motivates men to become more like Christ, the True Shepherd of the flock. It provides a God-given target for men to aim their lives and ministry at. Furthermore, this list is the same for every church in every culture, because every man who grows in Christ-likeness looks more and more like the qualities of this list."

Starting with 1 Timothy 3:1–7, each man to whom Jesus grants leadership has all the following qualities:

1.“aspires to the office of overseer”—one who is internally motivated by deep conviction to do all that Christ may ask of him in the care and feeding of Christians;

2.“is above reproach”—against whom no accusation of sin is justified, but is upright in every area of life;

3.“the husband of one wife”—a man who (if married) is not adulterous, is not flirtatious or sexually impure in any other way, but is completely given to his own wife;

4.“temperate”—one not given to excess in pleasures or habits;

5.“sober-minded”—a man who is not given to foolish or eccentric thinking;

6.“respectable”—a person who elicits trust from others by virtue of godliness and kindness;

7.“hospitable”—one who cares for others with his own resources, especially in the use of his home;

8.“able to teach”—one who directs others into Scripture, providing effective guidance and instruction;

9.“not a drunkard”—one who is not overcome by sensory pleasures such as alcohol;

10.“gentle”—a man who might be slandered and mistreated but will still serve with meekness and unfailing graciousness;

11.“not quarrelsome”—one who makes peace and maintains it by upholding biblical standards and comforting others;

12.“not a lover of money”—one who invests in God’s kingdom, is generous, and refuses to make money in any manner that dishonors the Lord;

13.“manages his own household well”—in humility and strength, he successfully leads all aspects of family life into conformity with the word of God;

14.“with all dignity keeping his children submissive”—whose younger children, if any, display the fruit of their father’s wise and godly hand in their attitudes and characters;

15.“not a recent convert”—one who has been tested by numerous trials and has displayed a stable faith in the midst of failure and success;

16.“well thought of by outsiders”—there are no just reasons even among unbelievers for why this man should not be a leader of the church.

Then from Titus 1:6–9, those not already covered in 1 Timothy 3 are:

1.“his children are believers”—in older children there is evident fruit of sovereign grace, the seal upon the man’s private and intimate conduct in the home;

2.“not be arrogant”—one who is not filled with himself in speech and actions, who prefers others above himself;

3.“not quick-tempered”—one who is not rude with people, or has a low boiling point when he is ignored or doesn’t get his way;

4.“a lover of good”—a man who prizes good works, who loves to see good come to pass, and shuns or reproves all things less than good;

5.“upright”—one whose dealings with all men are correct and true, who does not steal or malign, and who rejoices in integrity, even to his own hurt;

6.“holy”—one who shuns sin in every form, who will reprove it in others professing godliness, and who lives to worship Jesus Christ as his greatest joy and highest priority;

7.“disciplined”—conducts himself with godliness in every situation;

8.“holding fast the faithful word”—one who is knowledgeable of Scripture and is deep in conviction to its tenets, both doctrinally and ethically;

9.“able to exhort in sound doctrine”—one who can comfort the depressed and challenge the lax with a doctrinal approach to God and life;

10.“able to refute those who contradict”—can use Scripture to confront hardened error, and if need be, will follow every Scriptural command out to its full extent, such as in church discipline.

If only all churches today were led by such men! For when a man truly matches up with Christ’s qualifications, then he is worthy to be entrusted by the sheep with leadership over them. Scripture tells us several times to submit to such men (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; 1 Peter 5:5; Hebrews 13:17). The elders have been granted the same kind of authority in a church as a godly father has in a home (1 Timothy 3:4–5).

http://www.thetitusmandate.org/archives/14

Symptoms of False Doctrine

2011-03-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

Erik Kowalker has served the church well by posting this awesome quote by
the great J.C. Ryle.

Each of Ryle's points progress deeper into the inroads of the danger involved. By doing so,
I believe he is an earthly echo of the voice of Christ speaking from his Throne Room
to his church!

[rgh]

Many things combine to make the present inroad of false doctrine peculiarly dangerous.

1. There is an undeniable zeal in some of the teachers of error: their “earnestness” makes
many think they must be right.

2. There is a great appearance of learning and theological knowledge: many fancy that such
clever and intellectual men must surely be safe guides.

3. There is a general tendency to free thought and free inquiry in these latter days: many like
to prove their independence of judgment, by believing novelties.

4. There is a wide-spread desire to appear charitable and liberal-minded: many seem half
ashamed of saying that anybody can be in the wrong.

5. There is a quantity of half-truth taught by the modern false teachers: they are incessantly
using Scriptural terms and phrases in an unscriptural sense.

6. There is a morbid craving in the public mind for a more sensuous, ceremonial, sensational,
showy worship: men are impatient of inward, invisible heart-work.

7. There is a silly readiness in every direction to believe everybody who talks cleverly, lovingly
and earnestly, and a determination to forget that Satan often masquerades himself “as an
angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

8. There is a wide-spread “gullibility” among professing Christians: every heretic who tells his
story plausibly is sure to be believed, and everybody who doubts him is called a persecutor
and a narrow-minded man.

All these things are peculiar symptoms of our times. I defy any observing person to deny them.
They tend to make the assaults of false doctrine in our day peculiarly dangerous. They make it
more than ever needful to cry aloud, “Do not be carried away!”

~ J.C. Ryle

Warnings to the Churches, “Divers and Strange Doctrines”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1967], 76, 77.

http://jcrylequotes.com/2011/03/07/8-symptoms-of-false-doctrine/

Four Qualities of Good Preacing!

2011-02-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

Kevin DeYoung shares four qualities essential to good preaching:

1. Veracity – This is the more crucial quality. Without this your preaching is not faithful. It may attract a crowd. It may win you applause. But it will not be good. Christian preaching must first of all be true–true to the text, true to the whole counsel of God, true in whatever else you say or cite. A seminary student or lay elder or new pastor may not be the most comfortable or the most gifted behind the pulpit, but so long as he says what is true and biblical, God can use that preaching.

2. Clarity – Truth is first, but if you say what is true but don’t say it so people can understand you, it isn’t worth much. Clarity means we pay attention to the structure, the flow, the pace, and the length of our sermons. Clarity doesn’t mean the congregation must remember your three points, but they should know what the text was about and what you were trying to say. If your pastor is true and clear, rejoice! You have more than many congregations.

3. Authority – This quality is easily abused, but without it you are left with a fine sounding lecture. Remember, what surprised the crowds most about Jesus’ teaching was that he spoke with authority (Matt. 7:28-29). Good preaching sounds forth with certainty, not because the preacher is infallible, but because God speaks through him, making claims on people’s lives, declaring the truth with boldness, taking courageous stands where others cower in fear.

4. Authenticity – This is the hardest quality to describe and it takes the longest to acquire.....Does your unique personality come through in preaching? Are you comfortable in your own skin? Do you have a connection with the congregation? Does your preaching sound like someone talking about the gospel or calling people to believe the gospel? Are you an advocate for Christ or a witness to Christ? Is there, to use John Murray’s phrase, personal, passionate, pleading in your preaching? This is what I mean by authenticity.

Veracity is a non-negotiable. After that, work hard at clarity. Then pray for Spirit-anointed authority. And finally, stick with preaching for at least five years and you’ll start to grow in authenticity."

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/02/09/the-four-indispensable-qualities-of-good-preaching/

Standard Bearers Should Encounter Tough Grace!

2011-02-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

"Christianity Today" posted a great article regarding sexual standards for Pastors and other roles that are divinely designed to be standard bearers for God's people.

Personally, I am more than fatigued with the "compromised compassiontes" who are willing to extend unprincipled mercy and all to eager to pervert biblical grace when leaders are caught or exposed for committing sexual sin.

You will note that I took the liberty to underline certain points. Refreshing indeeeed!

rgh

"...among Christians, consistent enforcement constantly butts heads with grace. How do we apply grace to pastors, teachers, and others whose calling involves modeling the Christian life for those younger and still very much in formation?

Often when institutions exercise discipline, someone cries, "I thought Christianity was all about grace!"

Grace does not always, everywhere, and immediately mean wiping the slate clean. Communities need to take into account the impact that leaders' misbehavior has on others. To express the comprehensiveness of God's grace, institutional forgiveness of an offender must also focus pastoral support on the wounded and betrayed.

We apply grace differently to students and others whose lives are, by definition,
still in development. We rightly expect Christian faculty and clergy to model the Christian life."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/february/toughgracesexstandards.html?start=2

Do You Despise Authority?

2011-02-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

This is a very timely article posted by Adrian Warnock today.
Surely our journey together has provided ample opportunity
to see the reality of how easy it is for a minister to be guilty
of this most besetting sin within our own stream.

With that in mind, along with the caution of this article, may we
adhere to the Apostle Paul's admonition to remain mutually
submitted to one another my brothers!

rgh

"It is very easy to despise authority without even realizing that you are doing so. Especially living in our modern world which emphasizes independence and being a “self-made man”.

In the quote below which follows a crucial verse that stresses the importance of leadership, Spurgeon says it well. A self-made man is a failure by definition. Maybe you are a pastor yourself, and your immediate response to this is to say “Amen, my people really should listen to me more!”

But I ask you, who are you following? One of the greatest perils of evangelical church structures is that we have removed the concept of a single global pope, and replaced it with a myriad of mini-popes.

Each of us can have a tendency to think that we have all the answers and we do not need to listen to anyone else. Are you at the top of a pyramid? Is there no one who you are submitted to? Do you see no need to learn from another?

Then, with the respect that is due your office, I urge you to beware. For I fear that you are in a perilous position. Could it be that one of the reasons for the terrible statistics surrounding pastors resigning their ministry is simply that they were never meant to walk alone?

Like many today, I react strongly against some of the formal, institutional structures that denominations bring. But, the solution to the ills of denoninationalism is not independence. God has designed us for inter-dependence and to be first a follower before we expect others to follow us."

           Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you;
           and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
                                               Hebrews 13:7

"Some, under the pretence of being taught of the Spirit of God, refuse to be instructed by books or by living men. This is no honoring of the Spirit of God. It is disrespect to Him, for if He gives to some of His servants more light than to others—and it is clear He does—then they are bound to give that light to others, and to use it for the good of the church. But if the other part of the church refuse to receive that light, to what end did the Spirit of God give it? This would imply that there is a mistake somewhere in the economy of God’s gifts and graces, which is managed by the Holy Spirit."

—Charles Spurgeon, Words of Counsel for Christian Workers (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1985), pp. 112–113. cited in John Piper, A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1997), 182.

http://adrianwarnock.com/2011/02/do-you-despise-authority/?

God Grant Us To Lead From An Honest Heart!

2011-01-31T18:05:00.000-08:00

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord
counts no iniquity,and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:2

An honest heart is a post from: Ray Ortlund

We cannot deceive God. Twice in the Acts God is called “the Heartknower” (Acts 1:24; 15:8).
But we can deceive ourselves.

Here are four differences between deceit and honesty in our hearts.

One, a deceitful heart doesn’t know its sin because it doesn’t want to know.
But an honest heart is saying, “Bring it on.”

Two, a deceitful heart notices how well a sermon applies to someone else...
But an honest heart is too concerned about itself to judge another..

Three, a deceitful heart, when it isn’t growing, blames its inertia on hardship
or its church or even on God himself. But an honest heart says, “It’s my fault.
I need to get in gear.”

Four, a deceitful heart delays response. It says, “I’ll get around to it, even soon.
But I can’t right now.” An honest heart puts God first. Delayed obedience is a way
of saying, “I’m setting the terms. I am Lord.” But an honest heart says, “Lord,
whatever you want – right now.”

An honest heart says,with the old hymn,

The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2011/01/31/an-honest-heart/

How Should Young Ministers Respond To Seasoned Criticism?

2011-01-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

There's been some buzz regarding John MacArthur and a comment he made about a book by Darrin Patrick. What a wise and generous hearted posture by Patrick to those coming to his defense by criticizing MacArthur:

"For those of you who have been quick to be critical of Dr. MacArthur, please remember that we all need to be corrected from time to time.....ALL of us who are younger need to give a careful listen to the concerns of seasoned pastors, many of whom have forgotten more than we might ever know."

This is very refreshing since I was personally attacked and accused of being arrogant when I forthrightly stated the obvious to a young,inexperienced, first year seminarian novice.

What was my sin? I "spanked his inner child" when I informed him that after 35+ years of seasoned ministry, 3 church plants, 17 years of teaching at a bible college, earning a master
and a doctorate, he simply wasn't my teacher.

That he thought he could and should be demonstrated he was a "pompous ignoramus".

rgh

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/01/25/darrin-patrick-and-john-macarthur/

http://www.gty.org/Blog/B110121_Radical-Individualism-A-Good-Trait-for-Young-Pastors

Liturgically Sacramental

2011-01-13T16:54:00.000-08:00

These extracts from an article by the Internet Monk explain the significance of liturgy within the sacramental view of the corporate assembly of God's covenant people. As the writer makes clear, it really is a matter of substance over style. Consider clicking on the site and reading the entire article.
rgh

"Most battles over worship in evangelicalism are about personal preferences with regard to style. What kind of music? Can we dress casually? Is the building and “worship space” marked by Christian symbols? To what extent should we use media and technology? Can I sip my latte while attending the service?

Bottom line, however, the nature of the service has changed little in the fundamental approach to its purpose. There may be (a lot more) singing, a praise band instead of organ, piano, and songleader, inclusion of drama, PowerPoint or video clips, and a casually dressed pastor who doesn’t stand behind a pulpit, but the “big event” remains the sermon, the “worship set” continues to prepare people to listen to the preacher, and the message is still designed to prompt a response. Today’s culture has replaced yesterday’s, that’s all. And this has led to conflict that has mainly erupted along generational lines and/or between those who are more “traditional” in their preferences vs. those who want church to be more “relevant.”

At the same time, many people have left revivalist traditions to join liturgical traditions—Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and others whose worship is based on an entirely different foundation.

It’s not that liturgical churches have “forms” whereas non-liturgical churches don’t. It’s not that liturgical churches always use traditional music. It’s not that liturgical churches do exactly the same things week after week whereas free churches are “spontaneous” and change things up all the time. The non-liturgical churches are often just as repetitive in their own patterns. These are all “style” matters, and while there are some generalizations that might be made about stylistic differences between liturgical and non-liturgical churches, this is not the main distinction between the two worlds.

At root, the difference is between a sacramental understanding of how God works, and a non-sacramental view.

This is where I return when I feel unworthy, day after day. I return to the Lord’s supper. It is there that I am accepted. It is there that I am forgiven. It is there that I am declared worthy. It is there where the last will and testament is read, and lo and behold…I am included! It is there that I receive a full share of the inheritance.

We also receive these gifts in the preaching and teaching of His Word, and in the words of Christian encouragement spoken between the brethren.
But the sacraments are something tangible. Something that we can actually see, feel, touch, smell, and taste.

■The liturgical tradition calls the church together for a much different reason. It holds that God’s family needs to live in the Gospel through regular sacramental gatherings. In worship we actually, literally, objectively receive the benefits of Christ’s finished work through Word and Sacrament, are nourished for our ongoing journey, and strengthened to live in new obedience by the Spirit who fills us through the tangible means God has provided."

Liturgy is not a style. It is the way God comes to us in grace.

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/liturgy-is-not-a-style

Retirement or Redeployment?

2011-01-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

"The economic crisis of recent years has forced many Americans to rethink and redefine retirement as a matter of necessity. For Christians, this represents an important opportunity. The ideal for Christians should be redeployment, even after employment.

There is so much Kingdom work to be done, and older believers are desperately needed in this great task. There are missionaries to be assisted, ministries to be energized, young couples to be counseled, boys without fathers to be mentored, and wisdom and experience to be shared. The possibilities for Christian redeployment are endless."

Al Mohler
http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/01/06/for-the-sake-of-the-kingdom-redefining-retirement

Can You Detect Your Frenemies?

2010-12-27T16:34:00.000-08:00

My definition of a “friend” has certainly been revised over the years after being kissed by Judas, undermined by Jacob, foraken by Demas, defected from by John Mark and disappointed by unprincipled Barnabas.

However, I have now discovered a better term for pseudo "friendships" which were never really authentic.

"Frenemy or Frienemy": the term is increasingly being used to describe someone who may have been a friend but has now become an enemy or is a person who disquised himself as a true friend but in reality was a personal enemy. These uncharactered types are very common in ministry circles and local church congregations. They can even appear within the family.

The first known use was in "77 but gained popularity in 2000 and was entered into Websters new words in 2009.

" fren·e·my Pronunciation: \ˈfre-nə-mē\ :plural fren·e·mies Etymology:
blend of friend and enemy: one who pretends to be a friend but is actually
an enemy"

What are the prominent traits of a true "frenemy"that I have experienced:

>a frenemy is utilitarian at heart-desiring to relate as long as it is beneficial to them

> gives backhanded compliments that undermine while giving others the
opportunity to mock and ridicule, but makes themelves look or feel good.

>a frenemy may put up a facade but has no concern for your honor,reputation or influence

>they may have stayed with you through difficult times but are actually antagonistic behind your back

>when offended, angry or disappointed, a frenemy will insult, attack, or defame your character to others

>he/she will speak disapprovingly of your true friends because they remain loyal, faithful, and covenantal in the face of your "common to man" flaws, frailties and imperfections

>;as empty chested cowards, they have a temperamental aversion to conflict and truth speaking, so they ignore biblical mandates to confront redemptively[ Matthew 18], choosing rather to backbite in order to solicit comfort from other uncharactered types.

>when caught in their sinful compromise, they point out technical fouls to divert attention from their own wrong doings

Who are your Frenemies?

Are You An Enabler Or Reprover?

2010-12-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

Here are good questions with the answer by T. M. Moore in an article written for the Chuck Colson Ministry Center. I absolutely believe Pastors often choose to be enablers of the works of darkness [don't ask-don't tell] by their parishioners because they compromisingly believe it to be more beneficial over having the character and courage to reprove them.
[rgh]

" Why do you think pastors are reluctant to “correct with great asperity of zeal” the sins of their people? Could this be related to....wanting to be loved by men more than by God?"

The Book of Pastoral Rule

Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604)

“For indeed it is the duty of a ruler to shew by the voice of preaching the glory of the supernal country, to disclose what great temptations of the old enemy are lurking in this life’s journey, and to correct with great asperity of zeal such evils among those who are under his sway as ought not to be gently borne with; lest, in being too little incensed against faults, of faults he be himself held guilty.”

There has been a drift in preaching these days away from confronting sin toward comforting and encouraging the faithful. These must go hand in hand, however; for we can give no true comfort or encouragement to those who insist on holding to their sinful ways. Unless pastors are willing to preach against sin, they will, Gregory says, bear the responsibility for all the sin that ravages the souls of their flock. Better to face sin boldly, and call for repentance, than to allow it harbor in the heart of the Church (Ps. 66:18).

http://worldviewchurch.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&mailid=101&key=73ace81cd18f6bdd2564233fa0315e5e&sub=11774-c9045dc3ee05317dcbd3651f4e7dbd4b

The Alignment Factor

2010-12-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

Tony Morgan shares that churches not growing or who are in decline are simply maintaining the status quo while hoping it generates different results. Here’s his picture of a fully-aligned church with the fundamentals that produce growth.

rgh

•The primary purpose or mission of the church is established.

•A focused ministry/discipleship strategy has been established to accomplish that vision.

•All of the church’s ministries and programming are intentionally designed to fit into that strategy.

•The church is structured with staff and volunteer leaders and teams around the strategy.

•Resources like money, facilities and space on the master calendar are distributed to maximize impact rather than to maintain fairness.

•There’s a web and communications strategy in place to keep everyone focused in the same direction.

•The teaching includes life application that identifies specific next steps to engage people in a discipleship journey that mirrors the overall strategy of the church.

•Rather than celebrating when lots of people gather, the success of any special events or initiatives are measured by how they help people engage in this journey.

•The church is capturing stories and measuring data to determine if the strategy is working as intended.

http://tonymorganlive.com/2010/12/13/big-churches-getting-bigger-the-alignment-factor/

ETS and Wrights NPP

2010-11-30T17:48:00.000-08:00

The Evangelical Theological Society [ETS] chose the theme of "Justification By Faith" for their 2010 gathering of scholars. Obviously, Wright's New Pauline Perspective was the centerpiece and Wright was the invited guest.

In his report about the this years ETS meeting, Dr.Craig Blomberg made the following observation concerning the much debated issue. His assessment is more than thought provoking......Selah!
rgh

"Church and parachurch groups that make sweeping prohibitions against their members imbibing anything of the new perspective at best simply don’t understand it and at worst are quenching the Spirit’s work in their midst. In fact, the more likely danger for most evangelicals, especially those who most severely criticize the new perspective, is that they will miss the necessary applications of Paul’s warnings to their own proclivities to draw theological boundaries too narrowly between insiders and outsiders, to overly elevate their cultures, nationalities, and tribalisms to a place for inappropriate boasting, and to invoke mandates as to what people must do or believe to be insiders far beyond anything demonstrably biblical, and thus unwittingly mirror precisely a majority of first-century Palestinian Jews (and so-called Jewish Christians), whose views Paul in turn anathematizes!"

[Craig L. Blomberg is distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the author, co-author or co-editor of fifteen books and more than eighty articles in journals or multi-author works]

http://www.koinoniablog.net/2010/11/blombergets.html?

Great Quote

2010-11-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

"Truth without love is dogmatism.
Love without truth is sentimentality.
Speaking the truth in love is Christianity."

- Bob Russell

http://trevinwax.com/

Are Professional Ministers Really Thieves?

2010-11-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

This indicting quote is from Raymond F. Culpepper, General Overseer of The Church of God, Cleveland Tennessee. He posted a brief article addressing the state of the Church back in March '09.

I underlined the specific point for special empahsis.

[rgh]

"Every year, David B. Barrett of the World Evangelization Research Center in Richmond, Virginia, and Todd M. Johnson of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary publish an update on the status of world Christianity and major religious trends....Overall there is a small but steady growth in giving.... to Christian causes.

Tragically, one finding is that more money is being stolen by 'professional ministers' than given to global missions."

http://forwardtogetherinchangingtimes.com/goblog/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=STATE-OF-WORLD-CHRISTIANITY-2009.html&blogger=Raymond&Itemid=1

http://forwardtogetherinchangingtimes.com/

Average Tenure for A Pastor to Serve A Local Church

2010-11-07T16:59:00.000-08:00

"Albert Mohler, in a 2009 episode of his talk show, asked, "Why Do Pastors Leave the Ministry?" noting the troubling trend that evangelical ministers are staying in congregations for shorter windows of time, with an average of about three years in a call."

http://www.reformation21.org/articles/gratitude-for-grace-in-ministry.php

How Would John Piper Encourage A Depressed Pastor?

2010-11-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

John Piper recently announced an extended sabbatical due to many unhealthy dimensions of his marriage and ministry.As one of my heroes, this brother modeled a seasoned faith as well as mature manliness by confessing such human weakness. Scripture identifies this virtue as grace based humility.

For this reason, he is more than qualified to speak to the issue of ministerial depression since it often accompanies the sifting temptations associated with public confession and feelings of personal failure.
[rgh]

1) I would listen to him first.

I'd ask, "What has it been like? How did you get to this point?" That's a past question. And I would ask, "What's it like now? What are you feeling? What does 'burned-out' mean for you? Is it, 'I'm not sure I believe anymore'? Is it, 'I have no energy to get out of bed tomorrow '? Is it, 'I'm so discouraged. My people are not being changed at all'? What's the nature of it?"

So I would ask questions and listen. That would be my first approach.

2) And then, based on what I heard there, I would probably counsel him to step back and get some perspective.

Ask your church for a leave: a week, a month, three months. And if they love you and value what you do, they might give it to you.

Be honest with them. Don't try to pull the wool over their eyes. Go to your leaders and say, "Here's my situation. Give me counsel." They may then ask you to get some counsel. They may send you to a renewal place. Or they may just give you time.

Make sure you discern the physical, emotional and spiritual components of this.

3 ) Then I would encourage him that great saints go through this.

Elijah seemed to be like that. He seemed to be burned-out when he ran from Jezebel and said, "I've had it. I'm done. I'm not going to do this anymore."

And isn't it interesting that in James 5 we're encouraged to pray by looking at Elijah. James says that Elijah, who was a man of similar nature to us, prayed that it would not rain for three and a half years, and it did not rain for three and a half years. And the whole point of saying that is to say, "You remember Elijah don't you? He was discouraged. He was a man of emotions that were up and down." And James is saying to ordinary folks: "Elijah went through it. You're going to go through it. He prayed. You can pray."

So I would try to encourage him that a feeling of being burned-out happens to saints, so that he doesn't feel picked on.

4) And then I would try to take him to the preciousness of Christ and the preciousness of the ministry.

I would try to help him dream a dream again, that he can come through this and God can give him a new lease.

I have had numerous pastors testify to me that discovering Christian hedonism has been revolutionary to their ministry. Christian hedonism says that the desire to enjoy the ministry and to enjoy God is a good desire. In fact, it is an essential desire, according to Hebrews 13 where a sad pastor is bad for his church and a happy pastor is good.

Now Christian hedonism can put a weight on you and make you feel guilty if you're sad, or it can release you to say, "You mean this is OK to want to enjoy what I'm doing?" And many pastors have found hope in Christian hedonism. And so I might take him there and try to show him some of those texts.

5) And I would pray with him.

Copyright 2010 John Piper. Website: desiringGod.org

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101104/how-would-you-encourage-a-burned-out-pastor

Our Mission: Heavenize Earth!

2010-10-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Brothers,
I have the priviledge of conferencing each Friday with Bishop Mikler and Boyd Morris. The relational fellowship is edifying and the conversation is theologically invigorating.

As an introduction to Boyd, you guys will certainly be edified by this excerpt from a message where he advocates Christendom over the religion of Christianity.

Boyd Morris is an ordained presbyter of the BASILEIA ABBEY, a regional community of the BASILEIA ALLIANCE.The mission of the Alliance is to heavenize earth by replacing the fallen world system with the kingdom of God.

[rgh]

"Jesus did not preach Christianity. He preached the kingdom of God. The apostles did not preach Christianity either.They also preached the kingdom of God. The apostolic Church of the first three centuries did not preach Christianity, but gave rise to an alternative form of civilization called Christendom, right in the middle of the RomanEmpire, much to the consternation of most of Rome’s Emperors.

Nor did the Celtic Church of the fifth through the eighth centuries preach Christianity, but instead formed the first expression of Christian culture, that is, Christendom, outside of the Roman Empire. Examples could be multiplied, but they all in the end illustrate one point: Jesus did not give His flesh “for the life of the world” to start a religion called Christianity."

Sex Offenders: A Test For The Church

2010-10-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Brothers,

Christianity Today recently published another article addressing the issue of Sex Offenders in the pews.Though the challenges associated with the task are more than monumental,we must think through the implications for the local church so as to jealously guard the weak and vulnerable among the flock of God.

[rgh]

In April 2010, Christianity Today International conducted a survey of 2,864 people, including ordained church leaders (15 percent), church staff (20 percent), lay leader and members (43 percent), and other active Christians (22 percent).

Respondents were drawn from the readers of CTI publications and websites, including Leadership.

The purpose of the "Sex Offenders in the Church" survey was to explore attitudes and beliefs on whether to allow sex offenders to participate in faith communities. The survey explored what practices churches use to keep their congregations safe when sex offenders are welcomed.

....8 in 10 respondents indicated that registered offenders should be allowed to attend church, although under continuous supervision and with appropriate limitations

Do They Belong?

In your opinion, do convicted sex offenders who have been released from prison belong in a church?

* 79% Yes, as attenders, under supervision, and subject to appropriate limitations
* 24% No, if one or more of the offender's victims attend the same church
* 21% Yes, as a member
* 5% Yes, as an attender (no limitations, no supervisions required)
* 4% Yes, as a leader
* 3% No, convicted sex offenders do not belong in church

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/communitylife/discipleship/sexoffenders.html?start=1

Reading Translates Into Leading

2010-10-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Brothers,

This is a follow up to the post regarding books I highly recommend.
Thought you might enjoy subscribing to the follwing resources that
come to me via email and thus are perused regularly and often.

Not only is reading a grace-based spiritual discipline, but it is a ministers
personal investment toward "staying current" regarding substantive
issues facing the church.

Remember, ignorance is not a Kingdom virtue!

Shout!

[rgh]

9 Marks E Journal http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/pastoring-women

Ed Stetzer Lifeway Research http://www.edstetzer.com/

Leadership Weekly http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/

Christian News Headlines http://www.delicious.com/christianheadlines/topheadlines?page=1

Dr. Cal Baisner http://www.cornwallalliance.org/newsletter/

CBMW Blog http://www.cbmw.org/Blog

Catalyst Leadership http://christianitytoday.imirus.com/

Barna Research http://www.barna.org/

Beggining With Moses http://beginningwithmoses.org/home

Reformation 21 http://www.reformation21.org/blog/

Best Christian Blogs http://mychristianblogs.com/

Theological Word of the Day http://wordoftheday.reclaimingthemind.org/blogs/

Christianity Today online http://www.christianitytoday.com/

Religion News http://www.religionnewsblog.com/

Sola Dei Gloria http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/

Christian Ethics Can Be Problematic

2010-10-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

"Here I Blog" is a site that frequently poses ethical dilemmas for us to consider. Bear in mind that many of these scenarios are based on real life issues. Today's example deals with the lottery. Other topics have included church discipline and cohabitation.
rgh

What would you guys do?

While away visiting relatives in another state one of your friends from church bought a $1 lottery ticket at the influence of his cousin. He never plays the lottery and hasn’t thought much about it. He figured that it was only $1 so what could it hurt?

It turns out that your friend ended up winning $5 million!

He comes to you for advice on what to do. He’s not sure how the folks at your church may react. He’s not sure if he should tell anyone or not. One of the first things he wants to do is tithe to the church. Then he wants to pay off all of his debts and just sit on the money so that it does not take over his life in any way.

He wonders if a large lump sum donation would spur conversation in the church. And he wonders if church leadership will ask where the money came from. He also does not know if he should tell anyone else in the church besides you. (Of course, his spouse knows.)

What would you do?
>Tell him to tithe and say nothing.
>Tell him to give all the money away since it’s lottery money.
>Seek your pastor for advice?
>Help find someone to manage it for him?
>Rebuke him for playing the lottery?
>Ask for a personal love offering?

Related posts:

Ethics: Cohabitation In the Church
Ethics: Excluding A Single Parent from Church Membership
Ethics: Immodest Dress In Church
Ethics: A Yoga Class Starting at Church
Ethics: Resign Church Membership To Avoid Discipline

http://hereiblog.com/church-member-wins-lottery

Should We Give "Altar Calls?"

2010-10-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Greetings Brothers,

Please consider subscribing to http://www.confluenceblog.com/confluence which is a new "Reformed-Continuationist" blog. You will be edified with very relevant discussions and substantive articles being posted.

The one I am forwarding is but one great example. Check it out!

[rgh]

Allow the Spirit to convict

Well, it is difficult to answer this in a brief compass without being misunderstood. Let me answer it like this: The history of this invitation system is one with which you people ought to be more familiar than anyone else, because it began in America. It began in the 1820s; the real originator of it was Charles G. Finney. It led to a great controversy. Asahel Nettleton, a great Calvinist and successful evangelist, never issued an “altar call” nor asked people to come to the “anxious seat.” These new methods in the 182Os and were condemned for many reasons by all who took the Reformed position.

History speaks

One reason is that there is no evidence that this was done in New Testament times, because then they trusted to the power of the Spirit. Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost under the power of the Spirit, for instance, had no need to call people forward in decision because, as you remember, the people were so moved and affected by the power of the Word and Spirit that they actually interrupted the preacher, crying out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” That has been the traditional Reformed attitude towards this particular matter. The moment you begin to introduce this other element, you are bringing a psychological element. The invitation should be in the message. We believe the Spirit applies the message, so we trust in the power of the Spirit...I have never called people forward at the end for this reason; there is a grave danger of people coming forward before they are ready to come forward. We do believe in the work of the Spirit, that He convicts and converts, and He will do His work. There is a danger in bringing people to a “birth,” as it were, before they are ready for it.

The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call “a temporary faith” or “a false profession.” There was a great Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great danger.

Trust in the power of the gospel

I can sum it up by putting it like this: I feel that this pressure which is put upon people to come forward in decision ultimately is due to a lack of faith in the work and operation of the Holy Spirit. We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people And of course He does. Some may come immediately at the close of the service to see the minister. I think there should always be an indication that the minister will be glad to see anybody who wants to put questions to him or wants further help. But that is a very different thing from putting pressure upon people to come forward. I feel it is wrong to put pressure directly on the will. The order in Scripture seems to be this – the truth is presented to the mind, which moves the heart, and that in turn moves the will.”

Article: Dr. Lloyd-Jones on the Altar Call (http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles)

http://www.confluenceblog.com/dear-dr-are-we-to-give-alter-calls?

Why You Should Know Dr. Al Mohler

2010-10-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Dr.Al Mohler is one of the most influential evangelicals of our day. He's a conservative and a complementarian. If you receive CT Magazine, you know they just did a front cover article on him. I personally peruse his blog on a regular basis.

With all that in mind, I am posting the following information from firstthings.com so you guys can familiarize yourself with this excellent theologian and cultural apologist.
rgh

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Why you should know him: Oft-quoted for his views on cultural and religious issues. Time.com called Dr. Mohler the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.”

Denomination: Southern Baptist

Position: President and Professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world; Editor-in-Chief of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology

Previous: Editor of The Christian Index; Associate Editor of Preaching; Host of “The Albert Mohler Program,” a daily radio show distributed nationwide by Salem Communications.

Education:

B.A. Samford University

M. Div. Southern Seminary

PhD Southern Seminary (in systematic and historical theology)

Postgraduate study/research at the St. Meinrad School of Theology and Oxford University (England)

Area of expertise/interest: Evangelical theology; Southern Baptist doctrine; cultural issues

Books: Published five books, including Atheism Remixed; contributed chapters to several books including Here We Stand: A Call From Confessing Evangelicals and The Coming Evangelical Crisis.

Other writings: The Washington Post’s On Faith religion column; maintains a blog at AlbertMohler.com.

Assessment: Dr. Mohler is a prime example of the type of evangelical leader who has a profound impact on our country while remaining relatively unknown outside of Christian circles. He was one of the key figures in the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention, a monumental change that affected the largest Protestant denomination in America.

As bold as he is intelligent, Mohler often takes positions that are politically incorrect (e.g., his claim that Jews and Muslims dont worship the “same God” as Christians) or that would raise the eyebrows of his fellow Baptists (i.e., his view that couple who choose “deliberate childlessness” are in violation of God’s moral order). He is also an ridiculously prolific writer, producing a quality article on culture and society for his blog almost every weekday.

Anyone who wants to know the direction that conservative evangelicalism will take in America would do well to keep track of this influential theologian.

http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/10/know-your-evangelicals-albert-mohler/

http://www.firstthings.com/masthead

The Reformation Of The Supper

2010-10-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Brothers,
Justin Taylor did this recent post regarding The Covenant Meal. I forward this so that we all can "stay current" on such doctrinal topics which have significant implications for our ministries and churches. Click on the site below to read the essay in PDF format.
rgh

Here is a thoughtful, helpful essay from Kim Riddlebarger, entitled “The Reformation of the Supper” (PDF)....The essay looks at three issues related to how often the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated, and how one’s theology of the Supper can impact the answer to that question:

>The Biblical Evidence for the Frequent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

>The Historical Evidence for Frequent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
>Some Pastoral and Theological Implications of Frequent Celebration

http://www.wscal.edu/alwaysreformed/11-Riddlebarger.pdf

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/10/18/how-often-should-we-observe-the-lords-supper/

The Gospel Of God's Righteous Wrath

2010-10-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

"M]odern evangelism begins with, “God loves you and wants to make you happy.” Read the literature of the user-friendly movement and you’ll notice a preoccupation with conveying every message in a positive tone…

[But] there is no way to synthesize the truth about God’s wrath with a positive-only presentation of the gospel. There is no way to declare the truth about God’s wrath to an unbelieving sinner in an “optimistic” tone.

As a result, the gospel preached in these [seeker-sensitive] churches is often truncated—and the point that is most deliberately censored is the very place Paul began his gospel presentation—the reality of divine wrath!

Those who feel they must be forever optimistic are forced to ignore crucial sections of Scripture, including most of Romans 1, Luke 16, all the Hebrews warning passages, much of the core of Old Testament truth, and about half of Jesus’ teaching. And so the philosophy shapes the message."

John MacArthur

http://apprising.org/2010/10/14/without-gods-wrath-his-love-loses-its-meaning/

Gospel Doctrine Creates A Gospel Culture

2010-10-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Brothers,
It's been our joy to exegete the book of Romans over the last few months here in laGrange. Paul the Apostle was theologically brilliant as he logically presented his gospel in this majestic book.

Dr Ray Ortlund frames the significance of doctrinal exposition and the culture it is intended to create within our Gospel oriented communities. His precision is astounding.

[rgh]

"Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. The doctrines of grace create a culture of grace, healing, revival, because Jesus himself touches us through his truths. Without the doctrines, the culture alone is fragile. Without the culture, the doctrines alone appear pointless.

.The doctrine of regeneration creates a culture of humility (Ephesians 2:1-9).

The doctrine of justification creates a culture of inclusion (Galatians 2:11-16).

The doctrine of reconciliation creates a culture of peace (Ephesians 2:14-16).

The doctrine of sanctification creates a culture of life (Romans 6:20-23).

The doctrine of glorification creates a culture of hope (Romans 5:2).

If we want this culture to thrive, we can’t take doctrinal short cuts. If we want this doctrine to be credible, we can’t disregard the culture. But churches where the doctrine and culture converge bear living witness to the power of Jesus."

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2010/10/11/gospel-doctrine-gospel-culture-2/

What Have You Been Reading?

2010-10-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

John's Wesleys rebuke below of a young minister should be sufficient challenge for each of us to devote ourselves to the discipline of reading.

I was reviewing my library today and began to jot down titles of books that I have enjoyed reading in recent history and can highly recommend to you brothers.

>Humility................................................................................by C.J. Mahaney
>Paul on Trial......................................................................... by John W. Mauck
>When Shall These Things Be.............................................. by Keith Matheison
>The Faith............................................................................... by Chuck Colson
>Galatians............................................................................... by Gorden Fee
>The Shape of Sola Scriptura.................................................by Keith Matheison
>God of Promise................................................................... by Mishael Horton
>Being The Body....................................................................by Chuck Colson

"What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is want of reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. Oh begin to fix it!.... Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher."

John Wesley, writing to a young preacher, quoted in D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Letters Along The Way, page 169.

Just what Is "Bad Preaching?"

2010-10-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Brothers,
Have you ever wondered if you were guilty of "bad preaching?" Jeff Keeney shares," contrary to popular opinion, bad preaching isn’t when the preacher reads his sermon, mumbles or bores his audience.... that is merely bad delivery..."

Check out his post about the Good, Bad, and the Ugly of contemporary preaching. Jeff's thoughts on what classifies as even worse "Worse" Preaching" is more than thought provoking. May I kindly suggest you read the entire post.
[rgh]

Worse Preaching:
Today’s preachers are finding new ways NOT to preach the Gospel. There are some sermons that are worse than bad. While even a bad sermon contains the bare elements of the Gospel, these sermons have no Gospel at all.

1. The Golawspel Sermon
•This is a classic example of confusing Law and Gospel, so that neither is clearly preached. Golawspel preaching neither wounds nor heals, neither kills nor makes alive, neither accuses nor absolves.

2. The Gospel–Assumption Sermon.
•In this kind of sermon, the preacher almost preaches the Gospel. He might refer to Jesus as Savior; he might talk about God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy.

3. The God–Loves–You–Anyway Sermon.
•Pioneered by Robert Schuller and perfected by Joel Osteen, this kind of sermon presents what I have called “a gospel without sin.” In this kind of sermon, your problem is not sin, it is failing to reach your potential. But don’t worry, be happy,and keep trying, God loves you anyway.

4. The Little–Engine–That–Could Sermon.
•In this kind of sermon the preacher talks a lot about how hard your life is. Stress, not sin, is your problem. Instead of Jesus on the cross to save you, the preacher proclaims Jesus in your heart to empower and encourage you to keep trying.

5. The Sinners–Someplace–Else Sermon.
•The preacher proclaims the Law, but not to his audience. He preaches against the sins of sinners someplace else: politicians, homosexuals, abortionists, secular humanists, Hollywood, and all the other sinners “out there.” Everyone goes home secure, thanking God they aren’t like other men—but not justified.

6. The “Life–Application” Sermon.
•This is the classic example of preaching the Christian instead of the Christ. Promoted by Rick Warren and others, these sermons are by far the most common kind of worse preaching. In this case, the preacher is convinced that the ultimate goal of preaching is to teach people how to LIVE. In the “Life–Application” sermon, Jesus becomes just anotherparadigm for you to live by.

Not Christian Preaching at All:
.There are sermons being preached from Christian pulpits that cannot be called Christian in any sense of the word; they can hardly he called sermons. They have neither Law nor Gospel, neither sin nor grace. They fall into the category of what the Bible calls “smooth talk and flattery,” “empty words,” “godless chatter” and “hollow philosophy.”

http://gospelcentric.org/2010/09/20/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-contemporary-preaching/

http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/

9Marks Journal: The Awful Reality of Hell

2010-09-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings Brothers,

9Marks Journal is always an informative and doctrinally conservative read. May I kindly recommend that you read through this issue and then do yoursel a favor by registering with their site to receieve future issues.
The people you lead will be glad you did.

For the Kings Honor!
rgh

http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality

Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality

By Jonathan Leeman

There’s Something Worse than Death

By Kevin DeYoung

The doctrine of hell is ballast for our ministries, which will help us sail straight toward our most urgent task: proclaiming the gospel.

Why Hell Is Integral to the Gospel

By Greg Gilbert

Some think that by minimizing or ignoring hell, they are making God more glorious and more loving. Far from it! The horror of what we have been saved from only intensifies the glory and wonder of our salvation.

What Then Shall We Preach on Hell?

By Sinclair Ferguson

Hell is an awful and overwhelming reality. Yet where Scripture speaks, pastors must not be silent. Here’s some practical help for this demanding calling.

http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/hell-remembering-awful-reality

93 Year Old Minister

2010-09-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

Brothers,
This story was sent to me today and ministered grace. What will we say after 50 years of ministry life in the Kingdom.

rgh

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....

When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ .....

"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....

Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."

The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose
the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during
a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they
knew it the best."

Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may
He'll be there to lead the way.

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
Have no fear, for I am near."

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

The Largest and Fastest Growing Churches In America

2010-09-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

"In conjunction with LifeWay Research, Outreach Magazine has published its annual issue charting the 100 largest and fastest growing churches in America.

Looking at attendance figures from February and March this year research showed that attendance was up by over 75,000 between the 8,000 churches with supplied data.

Texas has the most churches on the list of fastest growers with fourteen.. Florida and Illinois each have with California at seven plus Georgia and Tennessee both with six
.
The youngest church on the Fastest-Growing list is second-ranked Experience Life of Lubbock, Texas, which opened in 2007.

The oldest church is 78th-ranked Mountain Christian Church of Joppa, Md., founded in 1824."

Top 5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches

1. 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Ga., Kevin Myers (30 percent, +2,226)

2. Experience Life Church, Lubbock, Texas, Chris Galanos (60 percent, +1,061)

3. The Rock Church and World Outreach Center, San Bernardino, Calif., Jim Cobrae (25 percent, +2,646)

4. People’s Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Herbert Cooper (58 percent, +1,085)

5. Faith Church of St. Louis, Fenton, Mo., David Crank (36 percent, +1,200)

Top 5 Largest U.S. Churches

1. Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen, (43,500)

2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Ga., Andy Stanley (24,325)

3. Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, Ed Young Sr. (24,041)

4. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., Bill Hybels (24,000)

5. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., Dave Stone (19,230)

http://www.outreachmagazine.com/magazine/recent-issues/3762-The-2010-Outreach-100.html

http://www.everydaychristian.com/news/weblink/8351

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ordinary Time?

2010-09-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

"There are actually two intervals of Ordinary Time within the Christian church year. The first interval begins after Epiphany (the arrival of the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus) and continues until Lent (the forty days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus). The second interval of Ordinary Time begins at the conclusion of Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit) and continues until Advent (the coming of the Christ child). We are currently living within this second interlude of Ordinary Time, waiting for the approach of Advent. But this is hardly the Church's way of saying the day before us is ordinary.

Far from announcing days that are commonplace or mundane, Ordinary Time is a season of anticipated living. The term actually comes from the word "ordinal," which means that it is time "counted" or "numbered." Though the Church's festive banners may have come down after the celebrations of Easter and Pentecost have ended, the startling realities of life under the banners of a resurrected King and the presence of a Holy Comforter have begun. The Christian, the church reminds the world, lives expectantly between the power of the resurrection and the assurance that Christ will come again—as a babe in a manger, as Christ the King.

Though Jewish feasts and holy days were a major part of the lives of Jesus and his disciples, the same was true for them as it is for the church: the majority of their time together was the time between holy days. Yet far from being described as the lull between holidays, the disciples' "ordinary time" was spent healing and feeding crowds, proclaiming the kingdom, raising the dead, and learning at the feet of the Son of God. More often than not, they were genuinely surprised by the one in their midst, no matter how ordinary the day. In the everyday lives of Christ's followers today there is a similar expectant quality within each moment. It is time counted; time that matters."

Ravi Zacharias Ministries
A Slice of Infinity
http://www.rzim.org/resources/read/asliceofinfinity.aspx

Excellent Quotes

2010-09-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

“Tradition is the fruit of the Spirit’s teaching activity from the ages as God’s people have sought understanding of Scripture. It is not infallible, but neither is it negligible, and we impoverish ourselves if we disregard it.”

—J.I. Packer, “Upholding the Unity of Scripture Today,” JETS 25 (1982): 414

“The best way to guard a true interpretation of Scripture, the Reformers insisted, was neither to naively embrace the infallibility of tradition, or the infallibility of the individual, but to recognize the communal interpretation of Scripture. The best way to ensure faithfulness to the text is to read it together, not only with the churches of our own time and place, but with the wider ‘communion of saints’ down through the age.”

—Michael Horton, “What Still Keeps Us Apart?”

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/09/10/just-me-and-my-bible-is-unbiblical

A Template For Personal Prayer When Being Malciously Attacked

2010-09-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Psalm 7:1-11 is a great template for prayer when compromised men set themselves against us. The Psalmist maintains personal integrity by inviting divine scrutiny.

O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.

O LORD my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,

If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,

Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.
Selah!

Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.

Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.

The LORD judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.

O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.

God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

Jack Hayford: Making Integrity a Reality

2010-09-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

All of us have been saddened to watch close friends and fellow ministers sell their spiritual birthright by sacrificing integrity for a morsel of momentary gain.

Jack Hayford has a great article in Charisma on the subject. Please check it out. Here is an except from Strang publication. Awesome!
rgh

"A heart of integrity is the birthright of the newborn believer. But like Esau's, it can be traded off by choices that indulge the world's or the flesh's immediate demands rather than respecting the worth of God's promise to give us lifelong, abiding blessing. It rises from in the life of a redeemed soul that chooses to learn and live in the fear of God; a life in Christ removed from condemnation and yielded to Him."

http://www.strangmail.com/sendstudio/display.php?M=506760&C=67858c8abc3d73a4945c573f8d0ee781&S=11052&L=9&N=7616

I.R.S. Defines What A Church Is

2010-08-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Kevin DeYoung post: "The U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that religious groups who primarily offer radio and internet worship services do not meet the IRS definition of church. In his ruling, Federal Circuit Court Judge William Bryson emphasized the associational test which defines a church as an organization whose members meet regularly for worship. In addition, the IRS has outlined 14 criteria for determining what is and and is not a church."

DeYoung resourced a post by Thompson & Thompson professional corporation and law firm, providing tax exemption and a wide variety of transactional services for nonprofit clients.

Here is their post.

{RGH}

"....The IRS, which apparently is unconstrained by the First Amendment, has nonetheless ventured where angels fear to tread, and has established criteria which, in its view, define a church as follows:

1. A distinct legal existence
2. A recognized creed and form of worship
3. A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government
4. A formal code of doctrine and discipline
5. A distinct religious history
6. A membership not associated with any other church or denomination
7. An organization of ordained ministers
8. Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies
9. A literature of its own
10. Established places of worship
11. Regular congregations
12. Regular religious services
13. Sunday schools for religious instruction of the young
14. Schools for the preparation of its ministers.

The Tax Court, which is apparently unconstrained by the IRS administrative criteria, has adopted its own view, consisting of most of the same criteria compacted into 7 or 8 points. See, e.g., Pusch v. Commissioner, 39 T.C.M. 838 (1980) or Chapman v. Commissioner 48 T.C. 358 (1967). In any event, not all of the 14 criteria must be met by every individual church, since only a substantial denomination will meet all of the criteria, and the IRS must allow for the existence of independent churches. Thus, there is substantial "wiggle room."

http://www.t-tlaw.com/cf-14.htm
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/08/27/theological-acumen-from-the-irs/

Pure Life Minitries: Pastors Admit Struggling With Porn

2010-08-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely speechless. These glaring stats from Pure Life Ministries demonstrate where we are in the church. It's another sad day in the Kingdom.

[rgh]

"The statistics say that 50 percent of Christian men are struggling, 20 percent of Christian women are struggling, and 47 percent of families say pornography is a problem in their home," he reports.

...what is perhaps even more surprising is the truth about pastors as "37 percent admitted a struggle with pornography."

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1127154

http://www.purelifeministries.org/speaking-ministry

Southern Baptist Resolution On Protecting Children From Abuse

2010-08-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting
Resolution No. 7

WHEREAS, The Bible stresses the protection of and care for children, as evidenced by: its condemnation of the ancient pagan practice of child sacrifice (Leviticus 20:1-7; Ezekiel 16:20-21); its special regard for orphans in the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 24, 26); and the teaching of Jesus, who welcomed and valued little children (Matthew 18:1-5; 19:14); and

WHEREAS, Faithful Christians throughout history have risen to the defense of children, as seen in the Early Church’s protest of the practice of “child exposure”—in which unwanted infants were abandoned and left to die; the work of nineteenth-century Christians such as Lord Shaftesbury and others, who campaigned against child slavery and enacted child labor laws; and the diligence of those who defend the right to life of unborn children today; and

WHEREAS, Violent physical and sexual crimes against children have reached alarming levels in our nation, thus showing child abuse to be a leading issue requiring the urgent response of God’s people; and

WHEREAS, This abuse has occurred too often in churches and homes—which ought to be places of shelter and safety—and it has happened at the hands of family, educators, ordained ministers, and ministry workers—who ought to be trusted persons of authority; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2002: called Southern Baptists to practice integrity and fidelity to God; urged accountability among spiritual leaders to the highest standards of Christian moral practice; urged seminaries and related educational institutions to emphasize ministerial integrity; encouraged religious bodies to rid their ranks of predatory ministers; called on civil authorities to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors; called on our churches to discipline those guilty of any sexual abuse as well as to cooperate with civil authorities in the prosecution of those cases; and urged our churches to offer support, compassion, and biblical counseling to victims and their families; and

WHEREAS, LifeWay Christian Resources and many state conventions offer extensive resources designed to assist churches in addressing this issue; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express our deep level of moral outrage and concern at any instance of child victimization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we implore Southern Baptist churches to utilize materials from LifeWay Christian Resources and state conventions and other relevant research that help churches prevent child abuse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we strongly recommend that Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities respond to any suspicions or allegations of child abuse in a timely and forthright manner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities to exercise moral stewardship by observing responsible employment practices, including performing criminal background checks on all ministers, employees, and volunteers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals who commit heinous acts against children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals, churches, or other religious bodies that cover up, ignore, or otherwise contribute to or condone the abuse of children; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we pray for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land and intercede on behalf of victimized children, asking God to heal their deep emotional and physical wounds, grow them into mature and healthy adults, and stop the cycle of abuse from repeating itself in another generation.

http://ministry-to-children.com/southern-baptist-convention-2007-resolution-on-protecting-children-from-abuse/

Clergy Suffer From Hypertension and Depression More Than Most Americans

2010-08-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

The New York Times gives a sobering report about the pressures associated with our ministerial vocation. Read this and you will discover the reason I now take a cruise every chance I get as well as why I have absolutely abandoned the institutional churches "ABC's competetion model". [attendance-buildings-cash]
[rgh]

"The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could."

"Public health experts who have led the studies caution that there is no simple explanation of why so many members of a profession once associated with rosy-cheeked longevity have become so unhealthy and unhappy."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&hp

The Pastor's Family and Church Involvement

2010-08-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

SBC Voices posted this "relevant" article that addresses every leader in the local church. I've extracted two of the models [family commitment vs laissez faire]relating to family involvement in the life of the local church.

For 38 years I have personally advocated "the family commitment model" for ministry team members,elders,deacons and leaders. This mean't having to exhort,reprove and and even rebuke at times those who drifted toward the laissez-faire model.

Even worse,in recent years, I had the most unfortunate experience of serving with a "Pastor" and some of his "elders" who actually dumbed down the commitment level for their own family while publicly advocating a higher standard for all the other families in the church. Obviously, we had some serious "face time" over such flagrant hypocrisy.
[rgh]

"When the only one of a family who shows up on Sunday receives a check for it, the people in the pews wonder why they bothered to show up and get told about how much more involved they need to be each week."

>The Family Commitment Model: The pastor’s family is committed as members to the church. They attend with the same involvement that would be considered “faithful” for a regular member (aka not gone for soccer 6 months of the year), and are allowed to find their own ministry niche. The church is taught not to freak out if the kids aren’t at the 6 am senior adult prayer breakfast. The wife is free to use her gifts and talents within... the church as she deems appropriate.

Positive: Church commitment and involvement is kept serious for the family. Within that commitment, there is freedom for individual family members to find their place. Pastor’s family can set model for how other busy non-paid church members can reasonably be involved....

>The Laissez-faire Model: For those who slept during economics class, laissez-faire basically means “hands-off.” In this model the pastor adopts a “hands-off” model towards his family’s church involvement. If they want to go, he’ll give them a ride, but he’s not twisting arms or waking people up on a Sunday morning. If they come, they won’t be asked to do much more than fill a pew. Forget ministry involvement; if they want his wife to be involved, they should pay her! And of course, if Junior joins one of those traveling carnivals known as “tournament teams”, then the wife and kids can disappear for 6 months and no one will care as much. If the family is tired on Sunday night, then dad will show up and preach, but it’s Home Makeover time for everyone else.

Positive: Kids can never complain about being forced to go to church. If they are involved it is a credit to their personal interest and effort. Negative: Kids can never complain about being forced to go to church. Tell me which 5 year-old will set their alarm and get themselves ready for church each week, especially if they find out Spongebob is on tv. Some forced activity is healthy for children. And usually this “non-committal” kind of model winds up leading kids to other commitments in place of church, often still not at their own choosing. The pastor’s family may not hate him for taking them to church each week, but they might resent him for sending them to softball games all weekend in 100-degree heat. Dad and family may end up living two totally separate lives. It also sends the message to other church members that if one isn’t paid to be at church, then showing up isn’t important. When the only one of a family who shows up on Sunday receives a check for it, the people in the pews wonder why they bothered to show up and get told about how much more involved they need to be each week.

http://sbcvoices.com/the-pastors-family-and-church-involvement

Five Kinds Of Deep Preaching

2010-07-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

How many times have we heard parishoners say they are not being spiritually "fed" by the preaching in their home church? Scott Chapman does us all a favor by addressing the issue in his article,"Five Kinds of Deep Preaching".

Lets see how each of us fare by placing Chapman's grid over the message we last preached. Read the entire article for an explanation of his points.

[RGH]

>Biblical Depth

>Intellectual Depth

>Experiential Depth

>Cultural Depth

>Application Depth

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/preachingworship/preaching/fivekindspreaching.html?start=1

Offending the Bible- Believing Religious

2010-07-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

Ouuuuuuuuch! Tim Keller is a prophetic truth teller in this assessment.
[rgh[

"Jesus' teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of His day.

However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect.

The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted do not bother coming to our churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church.

That can only mean one thing.

If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did."

- Dr. Tim Keller

http://jonathanherron.typepad.com/jonathan_herron_dot_com/2010/06/i-heart-tim-keller.html

Churches Grapple With Welcoming Sex Offenders

2010-07-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

Back in May I did a post about the conflicting topic of sex offenders that is increasingly confronting the local church. While many ministers would like to be simply dismissive of the issue or just flatly deny that it is a pressing issue for congregants, our culture is unwilling to do either. For this I am truly grateful.

The Saturday headline of the Washington Post read,"Churches grapple with whether to welcome convicted sex offenders". My brothers, we Ignore this issue to the peril of the innocent and vulnerable among us. Note that I took the liberty to highlight two significant portions for emphasis.

[rgh]

"All are welcome" is a common phrase on many a church sign and Web site. But what happens when a convicted sex offender is at the door?

Church officials and legal advocates are grappling with how -- and whether -- people who have been convicted of sex crimes should be included in U.S. congregations, especially when children are present:

-- Last month, a lawyer argued in the New Hampshire Supreme Court for a convicted sex offender who wants to attend a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation with a chaperone.

"What we argued is that the right to worship is a fundamental right and the state can only burden it if it has compelling interest to do so, and then only in a way that is narrowly constructed," said Barbara Keshen, a New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union attorney for Jonathan Perfetto, who pleaded guilty in 2002 to 61 counts of possessing child pornography.

-- On Monday, the Seventh-day Adventist Church added language to its manual saying that sexual abuse perpetrators can be restored to members only if they do not have unsupervised contact with children and are not "in a position that would encourage vulnerable individuals to trust them implicitly." Garrett Caldwell, a spokesman for the denomination, said the new wording in the global guidelines tries to strike a balance between protecting congregants and supporting the religious freedom of abusers in "a manifestation of God's grace."

-- On Thursday, a law took effect in Georgia that permits convicted sex offenders to volunteer in churches if they are isolated from children. Permitted activities include singing in the choir and taking part in Bible studies and bake sales.

The Rev. Madison Shockley, pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, Calif., which publicly grappled with whether to accept a convicted sex offender three years ago, said he hears from churches several times a month seeking advice on how to handle such situations.

"The key lesson for churches is this: The policy, however it winds up, must be a consensus of the congregation," Shockley said. "I talked to so many pastors who decided they're going to make the decision because they know what's theologically and spiritually right -- and that's absolutely the wrong thing to do."

Shockley's church will soon commission a minister to address the prevention of child sex abuse; the church also distributes a 20-page policy on protecting children and dealing with sex offenders....

Read the full article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070205128.html?hpid=sec-religion

Equipping The Saints With Focused Gender Distinction

2010-07-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

The new 9Marks eJournal addresses relevant topics associated with Pastoring Women.Here are some of the highlighs and click on thier site for the full journal.
[rgh]

> Why Complementarianism is Crucial to Discipleship
> How Pastors Can Equip Women for Ministry
> Older Women Discipling Younger Women
> Wise Words for Young Mothers

http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/pastoring-women

Why Redeemed Family of Ministers Advocates Complementarianism

2010-06-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

TG4 leaders Mark Dever, J. Ligon Duncan III, Albert Mohler Jr. and C.J. Mahaney all are committed complementarians. The statement below was written by J. Ligon Duncan, giving T4G's rationale for embracing complementarianism. To which we say "AMEN!"

One, the denial of complementarianism undermines the church's practical embrace of the authority of Scripture (thus eventually and inevitably harming the church's witness to the Gospel). The gymnastics required to get from "I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man," in the Bible, to "I do allow a woman to teach and to exercise authority over a man" in the actual practice of the local church, are devastating to the functional authority of the Scripture in the life of the people of God.

Two, and following on the first point, the church's confidence in the clarity of Scripture is undermined, because if you can get egalitarianism from the Bible, you can get anything from the Bible. Paul may be excruciating to read aloud and hear read in a dominant feminist culture, but he's not obscure in his position! In 1 Tim 2:11-12 he says, "A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." Elsewhere, in 1 Cor 14:34-35, we find the confirming parallel to this previous pronouncement: "The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church." These verses (and many others) are uncomfortably clear and certainly politically incorrect, and though some of us may be consoled by "exegesis" that shows that they don't really mean that women can't preach, teach, rule in the church, yet there remains this nagging feeling that such interpretive moves are the victory of present opinion over clear but unpopular biblical teaching. Cultural cooption of the church's reading of the Bible robs the church's ability to speak prophetically to the culture and to live distinctively in the culture, which in turns undermines the church's Gospel witness.

Three, because the very ideal of equality championed by egalitarianism (whether secular or Christian) is a permutation of a particular strand of Enlightenment thought, and because this particular ideal of equality is actually alien to the biblical anthropology and ethic, whenever and wherever it is read into the text of Scripture and its principles are worked out consistently, there is a competition with a biblical view of manhood and womanhood. For instance, try to find this view of equality in Genesis 1-it's just not there. Consequently, commitment to evangelical egalitarianism opens the door for two competing but incompatible ethical norms and ideals within the individual, family and church. If the egalitarian impulse wins out, the church is compromised precisely at the point where paganism is assaulting the church today. For, as Peter Jones has brilliantly demonstrated, paganism wants to get rid of Christian monotheism by getting rid of the Creator-creature distinction. And one way paganism likes to do that is through gender confusion-hence, the bi-sexual shaman, the sacred feminine, goddess worship, etc. Paganism understands that one of the best ways to prepare the way for pagan polytheistic monism over against the transcendent Creator God of the Bible is to undermine that God's image in the distinctiveness of male and female, and in the picture of Christ and the church in marital role distinctions, and in the male eldership of the church. Egalitarianism is just not equipped for that fight, and in fact simply capitulates to it.

Four, when the biblical distinctions of maleness and femaleness are denied, Christian discipleship is seriously damaged because there can be no talk of cultivating distinctively masculine Christian virtue or feminine Christian virtue. Yes, there are many Christian ethical norms that are equally directed and applicable to male and female disciples, but there are also many ethical directives in the NT enjoined distinctly upon Christian men as men and Christian women as women. Furthermore, the NT (and the Bible as a whole) recognizes that men and women are uniquely vulnerable to different kinds of temptations, and thus need gender-specific encouragement in battling against them in the course of Christian discipleship. Evangelical egalitarianism, fearful as it is that any acknowledged difference between men and women could set the stage for inequality of role or status, is utterly unprepared to help the believer with these distinctive commands or temptations.
Egalitarian discipleship of Christian men and women has, then, an inherent androgynous bias. But that is not how God made us. He made us male and female. Thus, Paul warns Christian men against the soul-peril of "effeminacy" without in any way criticizing (and, indeed, admiring and encouraging) the "femininity" of women.

We need masculine male Christians and feminine female Christians, and that kind of discipleship requires an understanding of and commitment to complementarianism. Hence, denial of complementarianism compromises Gospel discipleship.

For these reasons and more, I think we were right to "deny that any church can confuse these issues without damaging its witness to the Gospel."

http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Why-Together-for-the-Gospel-Embraces-Complementarianism?

Unhealthy Church Environments

2010-06-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

Many authors and researchers have attempted to describe unhealthy church patterns and the leaders who create them. One of the major points for concern involves the critical issue of honest communication.

Charactered leaders advocate open, transparent and straight forward communication throughout the ministry.They promote a culture of accountability by inviting any and all questions relating to personal, ministerial and leadership integrity. These will be responded to with "straight up" answers while purposefully affirming the congregants asking the questions. Anything less than this should give every member pause about the health of the church and the trustworthiness of it's leadership.

Therefore, after reviewing several of the more prominent writings on the subject, I have extracted their substantive comments on the subject.

[rgh]

>Communications are ambiguous, events
are "spun" the way the leadership wants to present them. Pertinent information is
hidden from members. Straight answers are not given; different people may be told
different things.

Finances may be kept secret, with misleading financial statements that hide where
the money really goes.

Frankly, there is so much dishonesty in unhealthy... churches that people may not
even know they are being dishonest. The ability to "spin" things to make the system
look better or to get people to conform becomes a second language....

>People who identify problems are viewed as a threat. They are marginalized,
stigmatized and cast out of the system.

>Thought Control....simple answers to complex questions, and using "loaded language"
to shunt the thinking process.

> Their communication is not straight. Their speech becomes especially vague and
confusing when they are defending themselves.

>Information Control- information enables people to make decisions; hiding
information prevents sound decision making and leads to manipulation.

>Secretive- When you see people...being secretive-- watch out. People don't hide
what is appropriate; they hide what is inappropriate

Ken Blue
Healing Spiritual Abuse

David Johnson, Jeff VanVonderen
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse

Steven Hassan
Combatting Cult Mind Control

Who Tithes These Days?

2010-06-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Scott McKnight shares,"You might be surprised what the numbers tell us about who and who doesn't tithe. In "What Americans Really Believe" we get a pretty full disclosure of some significant facts about tithing."

Fact #1: poor people are more likely to tithe and give a higher percent of their income that wealthy people. Thus, Americans who make 10,000 or less give 11.2% of their income, while those who make 150,000+ give 2.7% of their income. There is a basic descent of percent of income given from the poor to the wealthy.

Fact #2: denominationally, the spectrum moves from Catholics (2.2%) to Lib Prots (3.0) to Cons Prots (5.5) to Black Prots (5.7) to Mormons (7.1) in percent of income given to the church. The percent giving a tithe goes like this: RCC (2.5), Libs (5.9), Cons (14.4), Black Prots (13.5) to Mormons (34.0).

Fact #3: those who tithe or who give more correlate with such things as church attendance.

After the jump, two more interesting facts:

Fact: widows and widowers are the most likely to tithe: 20.1% widows vs. 16.7 widowers tithe.

Fact: older people are more likely to tithe. The average age of an American tither is 54.1 yrs.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/06/who-tithes-these-days.html#ixzz0qTumS7EC

Many Ministers- Few Churches

2010-06-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

Wow! Ministry Today Magazine reveals that Protestant Ministers are having a difficult time with opportunities in local church service. Seems there are approximately two ministers for every congregation.

I personally think this dilemma could be greatly reduced through the formation of missional church palnting teams.

RGH

"There are more than 600,000 ministers in the United States, but only 338,000 churches, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. This is causing a glut of qualified but unemployed pastors, especially as church attendance in many mainline denominations continues to slide.

Smaller congregations are being hit particularly hard because they typically have more trouble finding funds during bad economic times. Many are now unable to afford a full-time minister. With the average church attendance in the United States at 75 people, these small churches are now being forced to either pay their minister less or use part-time clergy.

"There's lots of really good pastors out there who are having a terrible time," Phil Leftwich, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, told The Tennessean. Among Presbyterians, there are four pastors looking for work for every one job opening."

http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/65-news-main/18927-tough-job-market-for-protestant-pastors

Beware When all Men Speak Well Of You

2010-06-07T11:37:00.001-07:00

Paul the Apostle was more than aware that following Christ would put him in conflict with the unrighteous and unprincipled.Yet, many ministers are satisfied today to cower in the fear of man and to compromise character through people pleasing.
All of this in order to avoid conflict.

In fact,Peter Robinson, associate director at the Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law made an alarming discovery. After working with hundreds of ministers, he found that a pastor's preferred option of dealing with church conflict is “avoidance".

Seems Charles Spurgeon had a more charactered and biblical approach to the ministry. Please God and leave the consequences to the final day!
rgh

"A Christian minister must expect to lose his repute among men. He must be willing to suffer every reproach for Christ’s sake. But, then, he may rest assured that he will never lose his real honor if it be risked for the truth’s sake and placed in the Redeemer’s hand. The day shall declare the excellence of the upright, for it will reveal all that was hidden, and bring to the light that which was concealed. There will be a resurrection of characters as well as persons. Every reputation that has been obscured by clouds of reproach for Christ’s sake, shall be rendered glorious when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let the wicked say what they will of me, said the apostle, I commit my character to the Judge of quick and dead."

From a sermon entitled "Assured Security in Christ," delivered January 2, 1870. Image by connor395 under Creative Commons License.

http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/

http://www.mediate.com/articles/newberger.cfm

Teach Me To Be Generous

2010-06-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

"Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will."

- Ignatius, 1491-1556

http://trevinwax.com/2010/06/06/prayer-for-generosity

Videotaping Under Skirts At Church

2010-05-31T09:23:00.001-07:00

The local church has long been a target for pedaphiles. The failure of leaders to exercise "due diligence" along with their "unprincipled mercy" have allowed children to become easy prey.

However, with increased sexualization of culture and the downward spiral of permissiveness of society, we are seeing rapid increase of predator's and offender's in our midst.

Here is a quote from Christianity Today that powerfully demonstrates the seriousness of the issue confronting us today:

"One of the most vexing problems facing our society, and more particularly the church, is how to deal with sex offenders," said Pat Nolan, vice president of Prison Fellowship. "As one pastor expressed to me, 'Jesus taught us to be forgiving. However, he also has made me shepherd of my flock, and it is my responsibility to protect them from the wolves."

This news article of a sex offender openly videotaping ladies in the church is a simple illustration of Pat Nolan's sobering truth.

[rgh]

A Jackson, Tennessee man has been charged with videotaping under the skirts of 40-50 women and girls at his Lighthouse Pentecostal church. Richard Rushton, the perpetuator, was registered as a sex offender in 2003. He spent nearly six years in a Florida prison for three sexual offenses in 1995 and 1996.

Check out these related topics:

>http://blog.yourchurch.net/2010/04/dealing_with_sex_offenders_who.html

>http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/churchlawtaxupdate/sexoffenderswhoattend.html

>http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/december/5.16.html

>http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/04/sex-offenders-in-the-house-of-god-how-to-deal-with-it.html

>http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/search/?searchall=&query=sex+offenders&x=13&y=12

>http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2010/01/nc_court_upholds_sex_offenders.html

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12562577

http://delicious.com/christianheadlines/topheadlines?page=2

Be Mature In Your Thinking?

2010-05-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

Excellent article from The Churck Colson Center For a Christian Worldview. Here are a few excepts.

[rgh]

"....We are mature in our thinking, when every aspect of our thought life is subject to Christ and His Word, focused on the good of others, determined to achieve Kingdom outcomes, and ready to suppress any manifestations of evil, then we will see real progress of Christ’s presence and rule in our lives."

"...now let’s figure out how to make it operative in our own minds.Let me suggest three parallel paths on a road to mature Christian thinking.

>First is the path of spiritual disciplines
>Second, the path of wisdom from others
>Finally, the path of serious Christian conversation

"Becoming mature in our thinking won’t just happen; we’re going to have to work at, and work at it for a lifetime, walking the paths of spiritual discipline, seeking wisdom from others, and conversing with Christian friends, until, increasingly, the mind of Christ in us becomes the mind we actually use."

http://www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/columns/viewpoint/15283-paths-to-mature-thinking?

Is Lust Justification For Divorce?"

2010-05-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a great question that was posed to Probe Ministries. Many of you brothers will remember when a lady at Redeemed Community appealed to this text for grounds to abandon and then divorce her husband. Significant to note is that some minister friends thought we were to hard when we enacted discipline for unbiblical cause.
The answer that Probe gives is the same position we took in the marital conflict and the very reason we took disciplinary action.
[RGH]

Question:

"In Matthew 5:27ff. Jesus says that if a man lusts after a woman he has already committed adultery in his heart. Then, in v. 32 Jesus indicates that sexual immorality is the only justification for divorce. Is, then, lust justification for divorce? If so, what degree of lust is justification for divorce? Or, if it is not Jesus' intention to allow divorce for lust, please substantiate this position." Thanks.

Probe Answer:
"The bottom line answer to your question is no, lust is not grounds for divorce.
If you look at the context of the Lord Jesus' remarks about lust in Matthew 5, what you see is that He is "pulling back the rug," so to speak, on outward sins to expose the underlying problem, which is sin in the heart. Murder doesn't start with murder; it starts with sinful anger in the heart (vv. 21-22)...

The main point to all of these illustrations in the Sermon on the Mount is that a sinful heart lurks behind every offensive action. By shining the light of His perfection on our dark hearts, the Lord very effectively makes us aware of how short we fall of God's standard of righteousness. That's why we need to receive Christ's righteousness, since we have none of our own.
So the point about lust is made to expose the sinful motives of the heart, showing that even before one actually enters into an adulterous relationship, there's a heart problem that's just as serious in God's eyes as acting on it."

http://www.probe.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=fdKEIMNsEoG&b=4485965&ct=5513351¬oc=1

What Is Christian Counseling?

2010-05-15T07:32:00.001-07:00

I have often heard this statement, "They advertise Christian counseling,but it is certainly less than biblical in it's approach."

How can this be? Well,many counselors are professing Christian's while their training and focus is completely void of a biblical worldview.

What then is the difference between a Christan counselor and Biblical counseling? Robert Kellemen,Ph.D, is a Licensed Counselor. In his article,"What Makes Biblical Bounseling Biblical", he demonstrates the contrast. Here is an extract.

[RGH]

"Truly biblical counseling addresses the complexity of life lived in a fallen world. The Bible profoundly describes existence through our creation in God’s image, our fall into sin, and our redemption in Christ. Only when taken together can we understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically.

Biblical counseling follows a holistic approach to the nature of human nature. Created in the image of God, we should reflect God in our relational (spiritual, social, and self-aware), rational (images and beliefs), volitional (motivations and actions), emotional (responses and reactions), and physical capacities. Only when united can we help the whole person to become a whole person.

Biblical counseling takes a robust approach to counselor training. It refuses all shortcuts as it recognizes the need for equipping in biblical content, Christlike character, relational competencies, and Christian community. Only when combined can we produce truly effective soul care-givers and spiritual directors."

http://www.rpmministries.org/

He That Endureth To The End?

2010-05-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

Check out this summary of the three main views regarding security and perseverance of the saints posted by Reformation Theology. [rgh]

1. Classic Arminianism• One must persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers can lose their faith....
• Those dying without faith in Christ are condemned.
“The believer who loses his faith is damned.”

2. Antinomianism• One need not persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers can lose their faith.
• Those who lose their faith are saved, since they once believed.
“The believer who loses his faith is saved.”

3. Classic Calvinism• One must persevere in faith to be saved.
• True believers cannot lose their faith, since it’s God’s gift.
• Those dying without faith in Christ are condemned.
• Those who “lose” their faith never had it to begin with.
• God will preserve true believers and they will be saved.

http://www.reformationtheology.com/

Guarding Against Embezzlement

2010-05-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

Financial checks and balances are essential in todays culture. However, this article reveals ministries must now go further.This is worth posting for Redeemed Ministerium and for all of the represented ministries. Check out these extracts from Leadership.Net.
[rgh]

"Embezzlement is on the rise in churches of all sizes. One major church insurer logged 32 embezzlement-related claims in 2009, up 12.5 percent from its recent annual averages. "Regrettably, financial misconduct tends to be more predominant in economic down times," says David Middlebrook, a Texas-based attorney specializing in church law.

Fraud experts often refer to a three-legged stool for embezzlement risk: opportunity, need, and organizational ethos.

>Opportunity often is born out of non-existent or poorly managed financial controls.

>In terms of need, church leaders must pay attention to hardships in the lives of their employees. The most common scenario for church fraud involves longtime employees who face an unexpected financial stress—a job loss for a spouse or an extended illness with hefty medical bills for a family member.

Some studies suggest the average tenure of a church employee who commits fraud is seven years. "These employees don't start off thinking they're going to steal," says Frank Sommerville, another Texas attorney. "They think they're going to borrow from you and pay you back when things improve."

>An ethos that encourages transparency and requires high standards helps prevent financial misconduct. Sommerville advises, "It really is helpful if churches create this above-reproach, ethical standard, something they continually talk about and include in their code of ethics—'We're going to operate above reproach in every area of ministry from the senior pastor and board on down.'"—from Your Church magazine (Jan/Feb 2010)

What to Watch For:

Workers with stressful financial situations
Infrequent audits from outside CPAs
Little oversight of collections
Too few people count the offerings
No rotation among finance team members

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/thepastor/administration/guardagainst.html

Top Ten Mistakes Preachers Make

2010-05-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Much thanks to Erik Kowalker for posting these. He does a great service to the church and I recommend you brothers frequent his site.
[rgh]

10. Imitating others

9. Overuse of illustrations

8. Unwarranted spiritualising of the text

7. Lack of preparation

6. Lack of application

5. Decontextualisation (interpreting a text out of its biblical context)

4. Prayerlessness

3. Preaching to others without first preaching to yourself

2. Being boring

1. Not preaching Christ

http://kowalker.com/2010/05/08/top-ten-mistakes-preachers-make/

Fours Signs You Know You Are Working With A Leader

2010-05-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

#1 – They come to you with problems…AND the solutions as to how to solve them. Any fool can see a problem…but it takes a leader to examine WHY the problem is there and then WHAT to do about it. One of the greatest things about the team of people I serve with is most of the time when someone presents a problem they already know how to solve it. (AND…when they do not then they admit it instead of trying to fake their way through it!)

I’ve said this on this site before…but one of the best questions a leader can ask to the people he serves with when presented a problem is, “what do you think should be done about it?”

#2 – They are more upset about a mess up than you are.
When someone on staff here at NewSpring Church drops the ball I rarely have to get upset because they OWN what they do…and so they are as bothered about the mess up than I am on most cases.

Passion for what a person does is essential if they are going to be an excellent leader. AND…you can’t PAY someone to be passionate…either they are or they’re not!

#3 – Being around them actually fires you up.

People are contagious…attitudes and all.

One of the things I love about the team I serve with is that being around them and discussing church, ministry and life in general STIRS my passion for what I do.

People WILL contribute to the fire inside of you…they either throw water or gasoline on it…and one of the most common traits about leaders is that they are always throwing gas on other people’s fire.

I know some people think they always need to be “the devil’s advocate” in a meeting…which basically presents two problems…

First…the devil doesn’t need a freakin’ advocate…he’s doing pretty well all by himself.
And second…we aren’t exactly supposed to be working for him!
Now…the truth SHOULD be told when a bad idea is brought up…which leads to the next one…

#4 – They don’t retreat inside their shell when conflict arises but rather embrace the tension in the room and will speak the truth in love until a resolution is reached.

One of the BIGGEST problems in church would today is UNRESOLVED CONFLICT among staff! A disagreement will take place…and because a person would rather just “make nice” rather than work towards a solution they will lie and say that things are fine and agree to an idea or philosophy that they do not completely buy into.

But…a leader will speak their minds…even if they know it is not going to be popular…and even if they know that in the end they will probably lose the argument…they would MUCH rather than have a clear conscience than be a coward.

When conflict arises in a room then I believe a GREAT solution is right around the corner. All people need to do is realize they are on the same team, working for the same goals and be willing to speak truthfully in respectful ways so that the best idea can be presented and be adopted.

http://www.perrynoble.com/2010/05/04/four-signs-you-know-your-working-with-a-leader-part-one/

Seven Sure Fire Ways To Blow Up A Church

2010-04-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

Chuck Lawless:

>Begin my ministry as a teacher and refuse to be a learner.
>Assume that the “honeymoon period”... is the time to make as many changes as possible.
>Expect to fix everything overnight.
>Teach a theological system more than the Bible.
>Study always and seldom “hang out” with people.
>Blame undiscipled members for acting like believers who have never been discipled.
>Pray reactively rather than proactively.

Read the whole thing for an explanation of each.
http://news.sbts.edu/2010/04/16/seven-sure-fire-ways-to-blow-up-a-church/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/16/seven-sure-fire-ways-to-blow-up-a-church

Is It Time You Pulled a Piper?

2010-04-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

John Piper recently made an announcement that has produced more than a little buzz. His suspension of personal ministry for an extended sabbatical is framed by Christianity Today's "Building Church Leaders Newsletter" as a question that all ministers should ask themselves.

If the answer is affirmative, then great caution is advised in how to proceed. The article addresses the reality that most congregations are simply unfamiliar with the topic.
Hence, practical wisdom should be demonstrated by addressing three levels of attitude that must be changed before making such an announcement.

I have personally seen this counsel violated and watched as confusion leavened the flock and credibility forefeited. As is always the case, Wisdom really is "justified by her children".

[RGH ]

What about you? Is it time you "pulled a Piper?" To get a sabbatical, I needed to change attitudes on three levels.

The Board
These people weren't for or against sabbaticals. They didn't have an opinion. No pastor before had ever asked for one, nor had they ever thought to offer.
Changing their attitudes was more a matter of educating than convincing. Aided by a pamphlet supplied by my district, I simply informed my board about the nature of sabbaticals.
The pamphlet outlined the unique nature of a pastor's workload (six-day workweeks, no free weekends, weeknights away from family, few free holidays, etc.) and possible effects—such as burnout and stress on the pastor's family.

The pamphlet also listed the benefits: a grateful pastor with a renewed vision, a more grateful pastor's wife, happier pastor's children, a pastor with enhanced training, and a deepened awareness of the love of the congregation for the pastor.

I didn't have to do any selling. I just let them read it and then asked if they would approve two months in the coming year. Aside from concern over details of pulpit supply, there were no objections. My request was passed unanimously.

Two lessons I learned: (1) Get reinforcement from an outside source (such as the pamphlet, or a similar document from your denomination), and (2) make sure you give enough advance notice.

The Congregation

If the elder board knew little about sabbaticals, the congregation knew even less. I learned the hard way that redundancy in communication is as important as back-up systems on an airliner.

After letting the congregation know about the dates of my sabbatical, I paid the matter little attention. That was a mistake. Several months before I was to leave, a congregation member came to an elders' meeting.

"I work two jobs to support my family," he said, "and no one gives me two months paid leave. Pastor Archetype never took a sabbatical. Why should Pastor Jay? I question his work ethic."

I'd have made it easier for myself if I'd communicated better to everyone.

My suggestion: distribute the same material to the congregation that you give to your board. Write about it in your church newsletter. Use informal opportunities to get the message across. Then accept the fact that you'll never have every one's approval.

You

Boards and congregations can be won over. If they love their shepherd, they'll probably come to support the concept. The most difficult person to convince may be you.

When a fellow pastor heard about my sabbatical, he said, "Either you are really self-confident or just a fool to leave your congregation for two months." He saw the sabbatical as a risk that they might prefer me gone.

As a safeguard for the congregation and me, we built a provision into our sabbatical policy. I agreed not to use the time to look for another church, and they would not look for another pastor. We also agreed to a minimum of two years ministry after my return.

Another fear might be that the church will falter in your absence. We had just started a second service shortly before my original sabbatical dates. In order to insure some equilibrium, I postponed my trip for two months.

When I left it was with the conviction that God would take care of the church in my absence. He not only kept them well. The attendance figures were up when I returned. He proved to me that I'm not as important as I might think.

A sabbatical may seem too good to be true. As pastors, we're used to struggles and weariness. Yet, with a slight change of attitude on these three levels, you can get that needed rest. You, your family, and maybe even the church will appreciate it."
JAY BEUOY
http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/downloads/survivalguides/takingsabbatical/sg41-d.html
http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/downloads/survivalguides/takingsabbatical/sg41-d.html

A Wrong Concept Of Forgiveness!

2010-04-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dan Juster is considered to be one of the premier Messianic Theologians of our day. Peacemakers ministry has even posted several chapters from his book"Due Process." I am posting excepts from the introduction and his chapter on forgiveness. Like Peter of old, I am not ashamed to remind us all of what we have been taught. Princple is superior to pragmatism and Truth must rule supreme in every relationship.
[rgh]

"With regards to the American Church...the words of the prophet certainly hold true: "My people do not understand My ways" (Ps. 95:10; Heb. 3:10). Today, most people who claim to be followers of Jesus do not understand God's standards of righteousness and justice. It is not that we are striving toward that standard and falling short. Rather, we do not even know what our Father expects of us. Our shallow, media Christianity has taught aspects of the basic gospel, but most Christians and Messianic Jews are creatures of shallowness. They have not delved into the Scriptures to understand the ways of God. Popular conceptions of God's ways are at war with the teachings of the Bible. Although the believing community is called to be a city on a hill, a light shining in darkness and the salt of the earth, we are instead a laughingstock of fallen clergy and people full of slander, with children in rebellion...."

"A wrong understanding of forgiveness has been major cause of the destruction of justice in the Body the Messiah. Forgiveness basically means to release another from further indebtedness. When a person says, "I was wrong, will you forgive me?" the example of Jesus requires us to forgive. This forgiveness may require that restitution be made by the offending party to prove real repentance (the fruits of repentance). To say "I'm sorry" can be a cheap way for a person to continue in sin and be indulged by others. The manipulator will take full advantage of that. On the other hand, if the person is truly repentant and the issue is not one of a sin pattern, the offended party may release him from restitution. In either case, the motive of the offended party should be love."

"Some will be shocked to read this. It goes against what has recently become popular Christian teaching. The old humanistic indulgence returns under the guise of "You must forgive me." Some unbelievers, like con artists, have claimed to be believers in order to literally "rip off" the saints, secure in the fact that the saints must forgive and take no action. Is that really so? The saints can disfellowship the rogue and take him to court so that society is protected."

"Forgiveness does not mean that we give up our quest for a justice motivated by love and for the good of all."

http://www.peacemakers.net/unity/DueProcess.htm

John Piper Takes 8 Month Leave

2010-03-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

It has been announced that John Piper will be stepping back from ministry for a prolonged period in order to refocus his priorities. The integrity Piper demonstrates is a model worthy of emulation.

We've all watched ministers hide their issues only to see the dire consequences.
I am absolutley convinced that whatever a minister is willing to compromise for gain, he will eventually lose.

At RMS, we should hold men like Piper in high esteem. May I suggest everyone click on Adrian Warnocks post below and watch the entire video.

[rgh]

"I asked the elders to consider this leave because of a growing sense that my soul, my marriage, my family, and my ministry-pattern need a reality check from the Holy Spirit. On the one hand, I love my Lord, my wife, my five children and their families first and foremost; and I love my work of preaching and writing and leading Bethlehem. I hope the Lord gives me at least five more years as the pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem.

But on the other hand, I see several species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with Noël and others who are dear to me. How do I apologize to you, not for a specific deed, but for ongoing character flaws, and their effects on everybody? I’ll say it now, and no doubt will say it again, I’m sorry. Since I don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins."

http://adrianwarnock.com/2010/03/john-piper-taking-eight-month-break-from-ministry/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/03/28/john-pipers-leave-of-absence/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2010/4555

What Are The Essentials?

2010-03-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be of interest to share what we discussed at "The Gathering" Sunday morning. For a "thought experiment", we asked what components of the contemporary church could be deleted in order to emphasize the essentials of authentic N.T. body life.

Here are the answers: buildings, audio-video , bulletins, worship bands, 501 [c] [3] status, high profile-platform centered ministers, segregated children and youth ministries. Yet, all of these things are given pride of place today as identity makers for what a genuine church is. When in actuality, they are "xtra biblical traditions" that are in fact "non essentials" for corporate life.

My point for this experiment wasn't to extol a "primitive paradigm" advocated by some nor to promote the "regulative principle" advanced by others. Rather, we unpacked Acts 2:42-46 to demonstrate that the specified practices of the early church were intentionally produced by the Holy Spirit in order to solidify and sustain the sacramental life of Christ within the covenant community.

Dr. Luke records four essential components: Doctrine, Fellowship, Eucharist and Prayers. These Spirit induced practices are divinely designed to be foundational priorities for the corporate identity of all God's Covenant People. The early church gave them such pride of place, that all the Christ followers pursued them together with zealous devotion.

Queing off the meaning of the word "fellowship",we looked at expressions that flowed from their intentional "sharing of life" that should be re-prioritized by the modern church.

>Sharing their heart affection for one another through their relational greetings. 1 Peter 5:14

>Sharing their material goods in order to meet one anothers needs. Acts 2:45-47

>Sharing a common meal together called a "love feast". Jude 12

>Sharing table fellowship together with Christ through the Eucharist. Acts 2: 42-47

These expressions are the core essentials that the early church devoted themselves to with zealous constancy. Each "koinonia" practice is wrapped in the language of caring, sharing and belonging. Now that is genuine relational covenant my friends. Whatever extra's we do,we should never be guilty of deleting any of these.

RGH

Preach The Word With Gravity,Light and Air!

2010-03-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Leadership weekly newsletter has a fantastic article explaining why ministers who focus upon being dynamic and photogenic, deliver sermons that do not make an impact. Mark Labberton says there are three intangible qualities that give life when we minister: Gravity,light and air. Their absence in a sermon will be felt.

Here are some brief extracts for your reading pleasure. I found his comments to be worthy of contemplation. Hope you brothers do as well.

[rgh]

>....gravity... is not limited to a mood or personality or form. Gravity is the central pull on the preacher's life. What does the preacher's life demonstrate to be his true center as he dares to stand and speak in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

>...light... does not serve itself but what it illumines. It's light that helps people see what matters, and to receive and engage with all that is available.

The preacher should shine the light of truth, understanding, empathy, wisdom, justice, compassion, and hope into the ordinary world and lives of the congregation. It is light to see by and to see with. It's not blinding or violating. It's the kind of light that reveals God to the people and the people to God.

This kind of preaching is in contrast to the much murkier light of mere cleverness or charisma. It's not the dazzling light of manipulation by which the congregation is captured by the aura of the preacher more than by the gospel itself. Instead, the preacher gets out of the way in order to let "the light of the knowledge of God's glory shine in the face of Jesus the Christ."

>... air ...is like breathing grace. It is rejuvenating, motivating, strengthening. Alternatively, polluted air or a shortage of air makes life much harder. When I am listening to or preaching a sermon, I am hoping for some good spiritual oxygen with as little pollution as possible.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/preachingworship/preaching/elementalpreaching.html?start=1

Jackasses,Stallions and Mules

2010-03-11T14:07:00.001-08:00

"Take your vitaminz" blog really summarizes the intentional"feminization of the church" and it's castration of Kingdom Manhood. Rise up men of God! rgh

"The problem I am seeing is that we are so desperate for good men that we are not sending them into the field. We take men designed to be warriors and we make them into ecclesiastical pacifists. All men start out as a jackass, are designed to be stallions but the church tries to make them mules: sturdy, less volatile, sterile.

I think the church has a dysfunctional codependent relationship with its men. Some pastors need affirmation from other men generally because their own absentee father never did. Conversely, the men need the pastor to do the work of the ministry so they don’t have to. As a result, the pastor works slavishly, often at the expense of his family, for affirmation and the men pay tithes and compliments to avoid the work of mission so their lives aren’t distracted away from their own goals—often financial gain or recreation. It’s a convenient relationship, but it’s not Biblical."

http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2010/03/jackasses-stallions-and-mules.html

Counsel From Charles Spurgeon in 1867

2010-03-07T17:54:00.001-08:00

"I counsel you, my dear friends, when you have a choice of the ministry you shall attend, do not select a man merely for his learning, nor according to his standing in society, nor according to the excellence of his speech. Remember, all these may be but as sounding brass, and as a tinkling cymbal; they may just mean nothing, and less than nothing. "

"But, on the other hand, should the preacher be illiterate, if God’s Spirit evidently rests upon the man, and he speaks from his heart to your heart, and God has blessed his message to you, it will be better for you to frequent the humblest shed where God is present, than to worship in the most respectable edifice where you will have nothing but the words of man, without the living power of the living God.

My soul is more and more growingly convinced that the great need of some of us is not to cull the flowers of rhetoric tastefully, and polish our sentences, till they glide daintily into your ears, but to let the speech come forth with unchecked freedom, the outpouring of our hearts in simplicity under the power of the Spirit."

http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/2010/03/from-one-heart-to-another.html

2010-03-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Ed Stetzer is presently serving as interim minister for a congregation that has experienced some very difficult days. His assessment of conflict and how we should navigate through is refreshing!
rgh

"Every church goes through struggle and conflict. That's what happens in a family regardless of its size or tribe. But what overcomes the obstacles, heals our wounds and unites us together on mission is the gospel. I hope it is at the center of your worship gathering!"

http://www.edstetzer.com/2010/03/two-rivers-and-gospel-healing.html

Preaching As Though We Had Enemies

2010-03-02T03:08:00.000-08:00

Wow!
The virtue of humility is deeply convictional and relationally costly rather than what some put forth as being compromising and cowardly.

Stanley Hauerwas postulates that if we Proclaim Truth with certitude, we are likely to be accused of being arrogant and authoritarian.

You mean I have been preaching with "humility" all these years?

[rgh]

"Humility derives not from the presumption that no one knows the truth, but rather is a virtue dependent on our confidence that God’s word is truthful and good.

Ironically, in the world in which we live if you preach with such humility you will more than likely be accused of being arrogant and authoritarian.

To be so accused is a sign that the enemy has been engaged. After all, the enemy (who is often enough ourselves) does not like to be reminded that the narratives that constitute our lives are false.

Moreover, you had better be ready for a fierce counteroffensive as well as be prepared to take some casualties. God has not promised us safety, but participation in an adventure called the Kingdom. That seems to me to be great good news in a world that is literally dying of boredom."

—Stanley Hauerwas, “Preaching As Though We Had Enemies,” First Things (May 1995), 45-49.

Are You Faithful or Deceitful?

2010-02-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

Reading this article tonight and thought of the message we shared during the opening session of the R.M.S. gathering on the topic of Covenant Friendship.
This is awesome! The last paragraph is especially powerful.

May the Exalted Christ grace each of us to be "faithful rather than deceitful" friends. The writer in Proverbs 27:6 certainly reveals the stark contrast.

[rgh]

Faithful are the wounds of a friend...deceitful are the kisses of an enemy

"A simple reading of this verse reveals that true friendship is not void of confrontation. Too many people assume that if confrontation or disagreement enter a relationship, that relationship cannot be or remain a true friendship. This view of friendship is based on the expectation that a beneficial relationship is never supposed to have difficult moments, or a beneficial relationship is one in which both parties do as they please and never interfere in one another’s lives. But the Bible teaches just the opposite. In fact, as this verse implies, a truly beneficial relationship is one in which one party “wounds” the other.

Solomon says: “faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Right away, we see that a friend, a true friend, will sometimes “wound” you. We have to ask: What kind of wounds is Solomon referring to?”

These “wounds” are of a particular kind. Solomon calls them “faithful.” This word (aman) means such things as “that which gives support, that which upholds, that which nourishes.” This term is used in a literal manner to describe the pillars of a building; figuratively, it refers to what is reliable or trustworthy.

The word translated “wound” (petsa) means just that, a wounding or a bruising caused by a blow. Solomon is speaking of words spoken by one to another which, while emotionally painful and perhaps hard to endure, are, in the end, of significant benefit. They are words or challenges spoken by one to another that are designed to reveal faults, but not for the simple purpose of condemnation; they are words or challenges spoken by one to another for the purpose of edification.

Here is the fundamental distinction between the Bible’s view of friendship and the world’s view of friendship: A true friend is the one who will speak to you about your sin—not to embarrass you or make himself look better by comparison, but in order to make you a better person and a person living a more honorable life before God.

We should note that the teaching of Solomon has two sides to it. There is the side of the one giving the rebuke and the side of the one receiving the rebuke. A true friend will give the rebuke and a true friend will receive the rebuke. Humility, therefore, is mandatory for both parties.

Contrasted to this kind of beneficial relationship, Solomon presents what amounts to a false friendship: “but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

A true friend wounds for our benefit, but the one who kisses us, as it were, or speaks flattery or seems to find nothing to criticize in us is, in reality, an enemy. An enemy, not a friend, praises us when he should rebuke us; an enemy, not a friend, ignores our faults when he should identify them."

http://bordwine.org/?p=203

LifeWay Survey: Most Influential Ministers

2010-02-13T06:41:00.000-08:00

LifeWay Survey reveals Billy Graham and Chuck Swindoll lead the list of Protestants top ten most influential living ministers...followed by:

- Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, and founder of In Touch Ministries.

- Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of the best-selling book, "The Purpose-Driven Life."

- John MacArthur, pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., and president and featured teacher of the Grace to You ministry.

- Barbara Brown Taylor, religion teacher at Piedmont College in northeast Georgia and author of 12 books including "An Altar in the World."

- David Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego County, Calif.

- Max Lucado, minister of writing and preaching at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and the recipient of three Christian Book of the Year awards.

- John Piper, pastor for preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and author of more than 30 books, including "Desiring God."

- Andy Stanley, senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, and Browns Bridge Community Church – all in the Atlanta area – and founder of North Point Ministries.

http://www.lifeway.com/article/?id=170048&cid=LifeWayResearchUpdateFebruary2010204

Integrity Is King!

2010-02-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

"As a leader, you have to not only do the right thing, but be perceived to be doing the right thing. A consequence of seeking a leadership position is being put under intense public scrutiny, being held to high standards, and enhancing a reputation that is constantly under threat."

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward
Firing Back

Charisma Magazine:

"Only those who are honest and sincere in their character can stand the heat of a thorough examination of their lives. As the Bible tells us, " He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known" (Prov. 10:9, NKJV).

People of integrity don't abandon their values and principles under pressure. They know that times of adversity and temptation are precisely when values and principles matter most. They keep promises. They fulfill obligations. They maintain their honor even when it is costly to do so.

Your integrity is the most profound expression of who you are. Integrity is the ultimate expression of your relationship with yourself, of a vow that you make to yourself about the kind of person you choose to be. If you compromise your integrity, you may get away with it for a while, but no one gets away with it forever. People who lack integrity are eventually exposed.

To be a person of integrity, you must stand for truth and righteousness at all times—even when you are under fire, in extreme temptation, in times of loneliness and solitude, and great need, suffering and want. If your integrity is something you can put on and take off like a suit of clothes, it's not integrity at all. It's just a disguise to hide the person you really are."

Pat Williams is senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic and one of America's best-known sports executives. He is the author of more than 50 books....

http://www.charismanow.com/index.php/charisma-channels/men/25493-integrity-is-king#ixzz0fNGvqMSU

Burned Out,Flamed Out Or Tired Out?

2010-02-12T06:25:00.001-08:00

Some estimates reveal that a high percentage of those who enter vocational ministry will only last 5 years. Others sources document that a mere 1 out of 10 actually reach retirement.

In the following article, Rick Warren explains to conference attendees why he believes many he knew 10 yrs ago are no longer in ministry. You may be surprised by Warrens diagnosis and his prognosis.

[RGH]

"About 10 years ago, Pastor Rick Warren made a long list of the "up-and-coming" pastors in America he wanted to pray for.

Just as he had older mentors who prayed for him when he started Saddleback Church in southern California at 25 years of age, he felt compelled to do the same for the younger generation of pastors.

Unfortunately, about half the people he listed are no longer in ministry today.

"They burned out; they flamed out morally; they got tired; they got discouraged; they quit," Warren said Tuesday to thousands of pastors and ministry leaders.

"You don't get credit for starting the race. You get credit for ending it well," he stressed. "The only way you're going to finish well is if you build roots, not fads, not therapies, not management."

Warren, who has been training pastors for 30 years, believes most churches, pastors and Christian leaders are "spiritually rootless." While they chase the latest fad, methodology or technology, many are not rooting themselves deep in Christ, Scripture and love. And without deep roots, Christ followers give up ministry as soon as life gets hard. "

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100210/rick-warren-calls-for-radicals-rooted-in-christ/index.html

The Temptation To Seperate Public and Private Life

2010-02-07T15:56:00.000-08:00

Justin Taylor posted this insightful article by Paul Tripp. We should all ask,"Is This me?"
[rgh]

..." we are used to big borders between your public personal and your private life. By the time you are nine years old you learn that there are things you don’t talk about and must protect. We live in an incredibly individualized culture. We are very used to living in networks of terminally casual relationships. We are very used to living as fundamentally unknown. What that can promote is this disconnect between public ministry and the actual realities of my private life. Not only do those exist, but no one knows they exist because few people know me."

"How many people actually know you? How many people are aware of, concerned about, ministering to, not the public guy of leadership, but to the private man? How many people know what kind of relationship you have with your wife? How many people know what kind of dad you are, the condition of your finances, what you do with the rest of your evening when you leave your study, where you go on your computer? How many people in your life actually step over that boundary between public persona and private life?"

"Would you say that there is any way in your life that the public man is different than the private man? Is there consistency between public confession, public preaching, public calls to godliness and the way you approach your life, or is there incongruity? "

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/02/01/paul-tripp-the-dangerous-calling-of-pastoral-ministry-and-culture

J. Lee Grady Is Antagonizing!

2010-02-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

Writing in Charisma Magazine, J.Lee Grady absolutely “speaks truth in love”. His words are biblically antagonizing! [rgh]

“We’ve mastered the art of hype. We know how to fake the anointing. We push people to the floor during our altar times. We know how to manipulate music and crowds so that we can create the atmosphere of the anointing. But in so many cases the real anointing isn’t there. In its place is a hollow imitation.”

“Some charismatic leaders today are even selling specially handcrafted oils that promise the Holy Spirit’s power. Others sell scented candles that claim to bring God’s presence. And last year one brother was traveling the country with feathers in a jar-claiming that these belonged to an angel with healing powers.

“Lord, forgive us for our charlatanism….”

http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/26080-recovering-the-axe-head-of-genuine-anointing

The Theological Serenity Prayer

2010-01-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

Brothers,

I am confident you will find it very easy to agree that I need to personally adopt this modification of the Serenity Prayer. So go ahead and shout "Amen!" [rgh]

Lord,

grant me the serenity to humbly accept the theological inconsistencies
that do not make a difference

The courage to graciously challenge the ones that do

And the wisdom and knowledge to know the difference!

http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2010/01/the-theological-serenity-prayer/

Aspiring For A Platform

2010-01-09T05:35:00.000-08:00

Kingdom Greetings Brothers,

Here is my personal definition of what it means to have a ministry platform. Check it out and then read Tony Morgans article concerning the issues associated with such a privilege.

"A Platform is simply when the Grace of God brings us to the place where others intently listen for the treasure of "His Voice" through the flawed container of "our earthen vessel". This increased scope of influence is afforded solely for the advancement of his Kingdom purposes! "

Now consider the wisdom below by Tony Morgan. WOW!

{RGH}

*No one owes you a platform.

*Sometimes someone who is trusted can help you get a moment on the platform, but you still have to deliver to keep it.

*The harder you try to have a platform, the harder it is to get it.

*If you do what you’re designed to do and you are faithful to stick with it over time, there’s a good chance you’ll have a platform.

*Not all platforms are created equal, but all have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others.

*Relationships are the foundation of a platform. If you can’t build relationships, you can’t have a platform.

*The person who yells the loudest doesn’t necessarily get the platform.

*If you never stop and listen, you probably won’t get the platform either.

*If it’s just about you, you don’t have a platform.

*You’ll lose your platform if you don’t continue to use it for positive change. You have to move people to a better place.

*You’re more likely to leverage your platform if you tell stories that engage both the head and the heart.

*You’re more likely to keep your platform if you ask questions.

*If people can’t have access to you and your daily life, your platform is probably shrinking whether you know it or not.

*Platforms are established over time and lost in an instant.

*Lots of people want a platform, but very few are gifted to have a platform and even fewer are humble enough to keep it.

http://tonymorganlive.com/2010/01/06/platform/

Four Reasons Leaders Stop Leading

2010-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

By Perry Noble

#1 – Fear –
being a leader does not mean that we will never be in situations that make us shake in our shoes; in fact, it means quite the opposite. When a leader allows the fear of a circumstance to trump the fear of God in his life…he ceases to lead.

#2 – A Desire To Please Everyone –
Moses, the greatest leader in the Old Testament, had people ready to kill him on several occasions. After Jesus preached His first sermon people took him to a cliff and wanted to throw him off. (Luke 4:28-30)
The Apostle Paul actually had people who traveled from town to town just to persecute him. If Moses, Jesus and Paul could not please everyone…why in the world would anyone think they could. When the shift goes from please “Him” to pleasing “them,” it’s over. You’ve ceased to lead!

#3 – Addiction To Comfort –
There is always a price to pay if you want to go to the next level…and so often when that price begins to impact a leaders comfort zone he will back off from leading the charge and slip into cruise control. This type of person refuses to seek advice from other leaders. They refuse to read anything that may be helpful. They refuse to attend any sort of conference that may challenge them. They refuse to believe that there are better, more effective ways to do what they are doing. All because IF they did these things they may have to face CHANGE…which totally blows up comfortability.

#4 – Disconnection From God – THE most DANGEROUS thing a leader can do is to STOP focusing on God and BEGGING Him for direction. Going back to Moses for a second…all Big Mo did was listen to God and then do what He said. When we become so busy “doing” leadership rather than focusing on the ONE we are supposed to be following in order to effectively lead others…we (AND the people we lead) are in trouble.

http://www.perrynoble.com/2010/01/05/four-reasons-why-leaders-stop-leading/

Four Skills Needed To Be An Accountability Partner

2010-01-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

Jeff Fisher reveals four key responsibilities we have in holding one another accountable. These characteristics should be clearly observable in the way we relate together as Covenant Friends. [rgh]

Cheer
The man who makes himself accountable needs to know he is not alone. He needs to feel that someone is on his side. He needs someone to root for him, but not from the sidelines. An accountability partner is right on the field with him.

Challenge
A man plateaus at times and settles into a comfortable level. This is when the accountability partner needs to challenge. He needs to help his friend stay focused on the big picture, the vision and the mission.

Confront
Confronting a brother in Christ is the hardest job of an accountability partner. No one likes to confront, but when a man is willfully sinning, it is important that we step in and be “our brother’s keeper.

Confrontation is needed when there is negative momentum. When sin and failures occur they need to be addressed. When a man is hardening his heart or not willing to take the next step, he needs to be confronted over his choices. When a man’s behavior is hurting others, it must be confronted. Confession and repentance are the right responses to confrontation.

Comfort
Every man experiences hurts, wounds, disappointments and failures. But it takes a man a long time to start talking about them. As your relationship grows, your friend will begin to trust you with the deeper things. He will slowly expose the hurts of his heart and his feelings about them. This will require that you learn to comfort and be a caring friend.

http://newmanmag.com/e-magazine/122809/story1.php