This week I am reading
God As He Longs For You To See Him by Chip Ingram.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Still Vacationing
Yesterday two dreams came true for our family. First the my kids went to Canada's wonderland which they really enjoyed. And I went to Canada's Bass Pro Shop. For most of the day while they were in the park.
I think now that I have been there to the Bass pro shop my local tackle shops do fine for me, at least there we chat and while they may not have all that I want but most importantly they do have what I need to catch fish in my area.
This is in my mind likened to mega church's compared to smaller ones ... Which can offer more for needs than wants. But since we are consumer driven there will be people for both places.
Not only did I spend time in Bass Pro I walked the huge mall connected to it. Which is not my favorite thing to do.
But I was killing time so I went into every store that looked interesting and one of them was a high end furniture place which sold statutes of Buddha for over $ 500.00 and as I looked them over I noticed that they were cracked .... And in the middle of the Mall in the middle of this big city of TO I was remained that we do Do serve they only Living God who Is the I Am.
Later
I think now that I have been there to the Bass pro shop my local tackle shops do fine for me, at least there we chat and while they may not have all that I want but most importantly they do have what I need to catch fish in my area.
This is in my mind likened to mega church's compared to smaller ones ... Which can offer more for needs than wants. But since we are consumer driven there will be people for both places.
Not only did I spend time in Bass Pro I walked the huge mall connected to it. Which is not my favorite thing to do.
But I was killing time so I went into every store that looked interesting and one of them was a high end furniture place which sold statutes of Buddha for over $ 500.00 and as I looked them over I noticed that they were cracked .... And in the middle of the Mall in the middle of this big city of TO I was remained that we do Do serve they only Living God who Is the I Am.
Later
Monday, July 18, 2005
Still on vacation
Its Monday so today I have been thinking about yesterdays church service. We went to the Salvation Army the church of my youth. It was great to hear real band music though my kids were not sure of it.
but there was a statement made in the sermon that has gotten my attention when the captain said we needn't follow the popular pop culture of our day as preached by TV talk show host but Go to Jesus. Which is true but the more I think of his sermon what he was preaching was pop gospel one of a partnership with Jesus not surrender. A shallow fix and not at change from the inside out.
It was as my father said a internet sermon.
You see its very hard for a preacher to attend another church we get critical and maybe see what needs fixing in us .
Later
but there was a statement made in the sermon that has gotten my attention when the captain said we needn't follow the popular pop culture of our day as preached by TV talk show host but Go to Jesus. Which is true but the more I think of his sermon what he was preaching was pop gospel one of a partnership with Jesus not surrender. A shallow fix and not at change from the inside out.
It was as my father said a internet sermon.
You see its very hard for a preacher to attend another church we get critical and maybe see what needs fixing in us .
Later
Friday, July 15, 2005
Vacation time
Today I have read the book Loving The Church You Pastor by David Hansen.
It is a great read and a book that is easy to identify with.
And I like what he has to say in reminding us that we need to love the church and the people that we pastor for the church is God's lamp stand in our community.
He doesn't use a lot of the current Leadership mumble - jumbo that is recommend today , but he writes as one who has been there and has learned that we simply must Love the people.
Later
It is a great read and a book that is easy to identify with.
And I like what he has to say in reminding us that we need to love the church and the people that we pastor for the church is God's lamp stand in our community.
He doesn't use a lot of the current Leadership mumble - jumbo that is recommend today , but he writes as one who has been there and has learned that we simply must Love the people.
Later
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Vacation time
I am now on Day three of my vacation in Hamilton Ontario a way from home and its extremely HOT Here....
But My mind is still back on the past week of Beulah camp. Where in a business meeting the question was asked and batted around if we as ministers should hand back to the gov't our lic's that allow us to do wedding since the Gov't has passed the bill that allows for same sex marriages.
Some say we need to do something in protest to this move by the gov't.
I can remember a day when we protested against Hollywood and didn't attend movies in theaters and now if some church's didn't have power point movie clips for sermons they would be lost or show `g' rated movies following a service for the kids.
Time won that battle and now find a pastor who hasn't been to a theater in six months and I can take you to see a live dinosaur.
I can remember a time when dancing was a No-No ! And now Christians offer dance lessons Again time won out.
Social drinking is in Atlantic Canada still a No-No ! But rumors have it that time is changing that.
I remember once we would never eat in a restaurant that served the stuff but now we have Christmas dinners in the very places we once forbid.
I don't want to go on but to me our Time to do something has long since gone by - we were to silent on the abortion issues , and the evolution educational issue.
So I think that those who matter in politics know the church usually caves , and remains silent . But we have to do something.
How about if Christians started joing political parties and working from within the party where a difference can be made. Or even vote.
How about if we remember that glunty, lying , stealing, corse joking are as much sins as .....
How about Christians start living honestly and pay their taxes honestly!
How about we love people and know that God can change them as us.
Yes we need to do something and be prepared for the skeletons to be uncovered.
What will I do ? For now I will keep my Gov't lic. That lets me marry.
Reason 1. In the rural church we don't get many weddings any ways.
( right now I have zero booked )
Reason 2. I can either say yes or no to any one who calls.
Reason 3. Honestly I enjoy the little bit of $$ that comes from doing a wedding.
Reason 4. I really don't like doing the pre marriage counseling.
Reason 5. It takes time away from fishing !
But I would hand in my licesences if and here is my reason.
If I could no longer preach that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Here are my thoughts
Later
But My mind is still back on the past week of Beulah camp. Where in a business meeting the question was asked and batted around if we as ministers should hand back to the gov't our lic's that allow us to do wedding since the Gov't has passed the bill that allows for same sex marriages.
Some say we need to do something in protest to this move by the gov't.
I can remember a day when we protested against Hollywood and didn't attend movies in theaters and now if some church's didn't have power point movie clips for sermons they would be lost or show `g' rated movies following a service for the kids.
Time won that battle and now find a pastor who hasn't been to a theater in six months and I can take you to see a live dinosaur.
I can remember a time when dancing was a No-No ! And now Christians offer dance lessons Again time won out.
Social drinking is in Atlantic Canada still a No-No ! But rumors have it that time is changing that.
I remember once we would never eat in a restaurant that served the stuff but now we have Christmas dinners in the very places we once forbid.
I don't want to go on but to me our Time to do something has long since gone by - we were to silent on the abortion issues , and the evolution educational issue.
So I think that those who matter in politics know the church usually caves , and remains silent . But we have to do something.
How about if Christians started joing political parties and working from within the party where a difference can be made. Or even vote.
How about if we remember that glunty, lying , stealing, corse joking are as much sins as .....
How about Christians start living honestly and pay their taxes honestly!
How about we love people and know that God can change them as us.
Yes we need to do something and be prepared for the skeletons to be uncovered.
What will I do ? For now I will keep my Gov't lic. That lets me marry.
Reason 1. In the rural church we don't get many weddings any ways.
( right now I have zero booked )
Reason 2. I can either say yes or no to any one who calls.
Reason 3. Honestly I enjoy the little bit of $$ that comes from doing a wedding.
Reason 4. I really don't like doing the pre marriage counseling.
Reason 5. It takes time away from fishing !
But I would hand in my licesences if and here is my reason.
If I could no longer preach that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Here are my thoughts
Later
Monday, July 11, 2005
Beulah is here and gone
Being a Wesleyan in Atlantic Canada , now the next biggest event on my calendar will be Christmas. Why ? Because now Beulah is over our annual church camp that we attend yearly.
It was a great camp except for my son who was introduced to playboy. Which has lead to me to coin this phrase for any who listen " when sin isn't preached in the pulpit it will be lived out in the camp."
I don't want to liver under finger pointing again , but are we not to be separate from the world .
The preaching was great during the camp, I got plenty of outlines for future use, I have learned I can never have enough outlines.
But the preaching I heard ( my opinion) never really came out and said Playboy is sinful. Though challenging and I like 6 point sermons.
It was camp and maybe there areas one does not want to tread on and rather assume people know. But do people know what sin is ?
I can't buy a thing without well explained directions on it from light bulbs to cereal and everything in between . Marketing makes sure that no assumptions are made when you buy something so there are directions to be read so you can do it right.
And here is the key... How many are reading the directions so they can know how to live for Jesus ?
Later
It was a great camp except for my son who was introduced to playboy. Which has lead to me to coin this phrase for any who listen " when sin isn't preached in the pulpit it will be lived out in the camp."
I don't want to liver under finger pointing again , but are we not to be separate from the world .
The preaching was great during the camp, I got plenty of outlines for future use, I have learned I can never have enough outlines.
But the preaching I heard ( my opinion) never really came out and said Playboy is sinful. Though challenging and I like 6 point sermons.
It was camp and maybe there areas one does not want to tread on and rather assume people know. But do people know what sin is ?
I can't buy a thing without well explained directions on it from light bulbs to cereal and everything in between . Marketing makes sure that no assumptions are made when you buy something so there are directions to be read so you can do it right.
And here is the key... How many are reading the directions so they can know how to live for Jesus ?
Later
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