"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
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Counsel From Charles Spurgeon in 1867
"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
"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
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
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
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Preaching As Though We Had Enemies
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.
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.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Are You Faithful or Deceitful?
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
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
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
- 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
Friday, February 12, 2010
Integrity Is King!
"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
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
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