tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36220258016782470942024-02-21T02:23:34.242-08:00Vibrant Church RenewalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-26821087595055304872015-10-07T14:10:00.000-07:002015-10-07T14:11:19.834-07:00Volatility Yields to Vision<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week we began a conversation about what it means to lead the church in a VUCA world, a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. This military term has become a trendy word in business and academic circles to describe the new reality of a world that is rapidly changing all around us. This VUCA world is having a tremendous impact on our churches and therefore, must have an impact on the way we lead as those entrusted with stewardship of the church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let’s look at the first word that makes up the VUCA acronym. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines <i><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volatile" target="_blank">volatile</a></i> as “likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way.” Volatile does not always mean dangerous, it simply means that the change comes quickly or at a much greater magnitude than was expected. The volatile nature of our world can be seen quite clearly in the technology industry. A company that once experienced long-term success can quickly find itself struggling to survive. A great example of this is Kodak.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV7ojtpEofGfGG6r1WIOlwVKWhqGBDs3jitpNjkWwRZTOlUHJn-Q3bfmz2ygOiv1ClcPUC_U5-TuADx17ARbCLiLEUbycMJcDm3hc9L3GKHQomgcy1SQXrDaMBq5L1VbvZ9hGXNP8tFI/s1600/Fade+Away+Quote.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV7ojtpEofGfGG6r1WIOlwVKWhqGBDs3jitpNjkWwRZTOlUHJn-Q3bfmz2ygOiv1ClcPUC_U5-TuADx17ARbCLiLEUbycMJcDm3hc9L3GKHQomgcy1SQXrDaMBq5L1VbvZ9hGXNP8tFI/s320/Fade+Away+Quote.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to <i>The Economist,</i> in 1976 Kodak accounted for 90% of film and 85% of camera sales in America. Until the 1990s it was regularly rated one of the world's five most valuable brands. With the rapid rise of digital photography Kodak has lost billions in recent years and, as <i>The Economist </i>says, “After 132 years it is poised, like an old photo, to fade away.” The sad part is that leadership at Kodak saw this digital world coming. What was their downfall? I don’t have time or space to detail their full story (<a href="http://www.economist.com/node/21542796">read it here</a>), but it boils down to apathy and and a lack of clear direction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it possible that this has been our downfall in the church as well? We have known for years that the world around us is rapidly changing and with it the religious landscape. The magnitude of this shift slapped us in the face with the release of the 2014 Pew Report on <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/RLS-08-26-full-report.pdf"><i>America’s Changing Religious Landscape</i></a><i>.</i> This study revealed that the percentage of American adults (ages 18 and older) who describe themselves as Christians has dropped by nearly eight percentage points since the 2007 report. Over the same period, the percentage of American adults who are religiously unaffiliated (describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular”) has climbed from 16.1% to 22.8%. These numbers reveal an ever increasing volatility for the church in America that has unfortunately been met with a certain level of apathy by most churches and its leaders. The need for vision is urgent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shared a principle last week from Bob Johansen, of the Institute For The Future, that states that volatility yields to vision. The need for vision in the church is nothing new. The ancient wisdom of King Solomon points to its necessity when he writes, “Where there is no vision, the people perish..” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+29%3A18&version=KJV">Proverbs 28:18</a>). So, the need for vision is not new, but the demand for it has been increased by the level of chaos that has been generated by our rapidly changing world. The church (and the world) is hungry for leaders who will stand up and say, “I know the world is confusing and many things are uncertain, but this is where we are going. Now let’s figure out together how we are going to get there.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news is that we are not left to our own understanding in seeking to define the future of the church. Unlike the leaders of Kodak, our future does not depend on our ability to predict what’s next in this volatile world. I still believe that we serve a God who longs to give us the wisdom to see His desired future for our churches and our lives. If as leaders, we will diligently seek to hear his heart and then lead with the vision He has provided, then the church will do more than simply fade away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What do you think? How are you responding to the volatility surrounding your church? Let me hear your thoughts.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">For more resources on Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism go to:</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a><span id="goog_1302510280"></span><span id="goog_1302510281"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-29430060699826428532015-10-01T09:44:00.000-07:002015-10-01T09:44:29.714-07:00Leading the Church in a VUCA World<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard the term “VUCA”, but when I first listened to an explanation of the meaning of this term I immediately connected with it. It describes the environment in which I am seeking to lead my team and my organization each and every day. My team just so happens to be a group of staff and volunteers, and my organization is a historical church in my denomination, but nonetheless they are looking to me for leadership.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TtEzJrV9lkV6URRD3KfUG6suk_yfu-IdS36YoRyxsuUeQpby2QPjiBAhW-zD2srf53aAVpgElLCr1bB1wdbx9d2C0Czcx7lZ6G77WKurvsfrfK4LYc-r_1rgZ5TxZQJoTIxHUyl2PjQ/s1600/vuca+ahead.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TtEzJrV9lkV6URRD3KfUG6suk_yfu-IdS36YoRyxsuUeQpby2QPjiBAhW-zD2srf53aAVpgElLCr1bB1wdbx9d2C0Czcx7lZ6G77WKurvsfrfK4LYc-r_1rgZ5TxZQJoTIxHUyl2PjQ/s200/vuca+ahead.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VUCA is a military term that was introduced following the Cold War and was used to describe the landscape of a changing world where they were seeking to train and equip leaders to respond to a world that was <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">v</span>olatile, <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">u</span>ncertain, <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">c</span>omplex, and <span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">a</span>mbiguous. Many of us were awakened to the reality of a VUCA world following the events of 9/11 and then again after the financial crisis of 2008-2009. Businesses and organizations that once enjoyed decades of stability and predictability found themselves scrambling to make sense of this new world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Church has not been immune to these seismic shifts in the way this new world operates. Most churches and leaders are confused about how to respond to this VUCA world. The churches they know and love once enjoyed a great deal of stability and even predictability when it came to projecting what the coming year’s attendance, budgets, and ministry needs would be. They are now left with a church that is staggering around dazed and confused, unable to gather themselves and respond to the VUCA that is happening all around them at warp speed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Businesses are now taking their cues from the military and are seeking to train their corporate leaders to lead differently in this new world were VUCA is the order of the day. If the church is going to adapt to this new world and seek to not merely exist, but thrive in this new world then we must learn to lead differently as well. Bob Johansen, of the Institute For The Future, has helped businesses and denominations equip leaders to respond to these new challenges. He suggests that in a VUCA world volatility yields to vision, uncertainty yields to understanding, complexity yields to clarity, and ambiguity yields to agility. These are specific responses we must provide as leaders in our new environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The old world in which the church existed is gone for good and with it our idols of comfort and stability. Over the next couple of weeks my goal is to unpack how we can lead more effectively in this new world. It’s a world with immense possibilities to the leaders and churches who will choose to adapt and respond.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more resources on Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism go to:</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-77802682558380934932015-09-23T09:50:00.004-07:002015-09-23T09:50:40.852-07:00The Power of Word Pictures<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTBNwpnq_bsC_plAt64W62VhWz4J6s3wXSacjavRHcZbLKw8XhWaSOdvfAzkP1kjw7WxDQwr8hXqy5wD2DGhzwIbKkTJ2ogo82lBwCCNJquU5UzxYwN33dQLSUFP3OM5mcoRqTwcqVdc/s1600/iStock_000057083284_Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTBNwpnq_bsC_plAt64W62VhWz4J6s3wXSacjavRHcZbLKw8XhWaSOdvfAzkP1kjw7WxDQwr8hXqy5wD2DGhzwIbKkTJ2ogo82lBwCCNJquU5UzxYwN33dQLSUFP3OM5mcoRqTwcqVdc/s320/iStock_000057083284_Large.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus employed analogies to describe salvation: born again, bread of life, justification. These metaphors are inspired, because Jesus used them in his own salvation preaching. The analogies remain with us today showing how these word pictures still communicate. We can make use of these scriptural analogies while evangelizing. These analogies can become background for scripting conversations with our hearers. Jesus was very keen on this method of communication. For example, he used Bread, a staple of sustenance, and living water, a necessity for survival. People could im</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mediately understand how important these items were in their everyday life.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus used these metaphors to teach spiritual lessons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We can also find our own cultural analogies for engaging people in spiritual conversations.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">For example, movies often portray themes of forgiveness and sacrifice. Popular songs speak of desire for commitment and true love. Movies and music are ordinary activities in which virtually everyone participates.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">In both the Old and New Testaments God uses ordinary objects to communicate extraordinary truth. God employs the same principles today to communicate His truth to individuals.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> He uses signs, symbols and stories from everyday life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more resources of Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism go to:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a></span><br /><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-49924636613297748682015-09-08T10:37:00.001-07:002015-09-08T10:38:33.963-07:00Values-Discerning Witness<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can show people what is right in God's sight. Worldly priorities, such as fun and escape, have simply been misappropriated as ultimate values.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon sensing what is valued, the encouraging Christian witness says "yes". We need not take the position, "No, you are wrong." We can say, "Yes". For instance, Marilyn, an accountant for twenty years and a mother of three boys, observed, "Nothing is more important in this world than family."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdCeRC7IxLMojOLcrdYkvn4NuzwImZ-ATs28Rl-5DSg8WRAJOASsKV7aFuxX0FO2NyXCJfEGqXnp9MhklKICBUCI9HZcV6gkI3SCW7xkdw4EB2ZIPxFkceXCTxIa__UOhAu8l9PNO1AM/s1600/startup-594091_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdCeRC7IxLMojOLcrdYkvn4NuzwImZ-ATs28Rl-5DSg8WRAJOASsKV7aFuxX0FO2NyXCJfEGqXnp9MhklKICBUCI9HZcV6gkI3SCW7xkdw4EB2ZIPxFkceXCTxIa__UOhAu8l9PNO1AM/s320/startup-594091_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jodie, her coworker and a member of the Methodist church, responded, "I, too, love my family. Isn't God good to allow us to share in close, loving relationships! I thank Him all the time for giving me my husband and daughter." Most human values generally reflect something of what God feels is important, too. The most constructive evangelism takes a "yes and" position, not a "yes, but" position. This is a powerfully effective way to witness, for the listener serves as a cooperative partner in exploring what Christ has to offer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A "yes and" approach acknowledges God is already at work in the life of the unconvinced. When unbelievers identify God's truth in their perspectives, the work of evangelism advances.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contribute by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more resources of Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism go to:</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-89730921791040000742015-09-01T11:38:00.000-07:002015-09-01T11:38:59.409-07:00The Authority of Reason<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two types of revelation–special revelation and general revelation. The witness of God's Spirit through Jesus as attested within the Bible is an example of special revelation. General revelation is God's handiwork seen in the natural world. The Christian witness should stand strong on this claim: science tells us about God.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tM-oJlNMDug5COeUMQ6OP1ER2JWEyjmaq6LDwGKJ0omI4iNZsYAy6hDu3ur2_dx4c3ALRzVdRFYGlBS1XipP0U4weCcFfNVRs5KwCvU22X5EseCYrZ0q30UrqwL_hzMMPGJvxDOKGKs/s1600/IMG_2225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tM-oJlNMDug5COeUMQ6OP1ER2JWEyjmaq6LDwGKJ0omI4iNZsYAy6hDu3ur2_dx4c3ALRzVdRFYGlBS1XipP0U4weCcFfNVRs5KwCvU22X5EseCYrZ0q30UrqwL_hzMMPGJvxDOKGKs/s320/IMG_2225.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">At first glance, this appears to be a controversial claim, for no one will agree unless he or she already acknowledges God's existence.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Our hearer will probably not acknowledge God's existence at the same level as we do.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">So we will have to warm our hearers to the idea that if there is a God, and if we understand God as creator--one who is all powerful, and all knowing—then his creation will be reflected in nature.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Since science is the key to understanding nature, God willingly allows science to testify to his creation.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The universe works in an ordered manner. For example, the moon remains at a consistent range of distances that has varying positive effects on the earth, such as gravity. For the moon to get out of its orbit would cause the earth to disintegrate. The same is true of the sun. The conclusion is that we live in a rational universe. Otherwise, science would yield no knowledge in the face of chaos. We should pose this question to the hearer: how long of a jump is it from the fact of the universe to a rational mind that created the universe?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more resources of Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism go to:</span></span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a></span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-88239866219469637042015-01-26T17:28:00.000-08:002015-01-26T17:28:02.922-08:00Prayer Without Perspiration Leads to Paralysis<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our last
blog post we began to explore the process of renewal through the lens of the
story of Nehemiah. It is a story that
continues to remind me as leader of renewal that this journey requires courage,
wisdom, God’s favor, and an enormous amount of prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ms8bw_YYuNGGj4sWOjqGgkiAIEugWsIwDM04sq7PyQxnQ8fKRGne3G78EOWvbCK3jgSn6GqP43TufDw3daCcF15IupVcqDrGaIWbs4zljKFIddkGmdanBZJlNf8iXYnCbVwmCxi7fV4/s1600/lying+down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ms8bw_YYuNGGj4sWOjqGgkiAIEugWsIwDM04sq7PyQxnQ8fKRGne3G78EOWvbCK3jgSn6GqP43TufDw3daCcF15IupVcqDrGaIWbs4zljKFIddkGmdanBZJlNf8iXYnCbVwmCxi7fV4/s1600/lying+down.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andy Stanley
writes, “Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with
the tension between what is and what could be.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is out of this tension that God-sized visions are born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was certainly the case for Nehemiah. He
received word about the poor condition of the city of Jerusalem and the burden
of that drove him to his knees in prayer to the God of the city.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the midst
of this season of prayer Nehemiah gets a glimpse of what could be and a
God-given vision is born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know it’s
God-given because in Nehemiah 2:12 he reveals to us that these plans are “…what
God had put in my heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does
Nehemiah respond to this God-given vision?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He responds with more prayer.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nehemiah
realized that this was no small task that God was calling him to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, from a human perspective it seemed
impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And from where you are
standing, what God has called you to may seem impossible as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let me tell you something – a God-given
vision will always be bigger than we can accomplish on our own and the
magnitude of that vision should always drive us back to our knees.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As your read
through the story of Nehemiah you are going to find that prayer played a
critical role at every point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one
thing you may not notice as readily is that these prayers were always followed
by action.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what I
have come to realize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of our
churches in need of renewal aren’t lacking in the area of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They pray a lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are lacking in the area of action, and
prayer without perspiration leads to paralysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At some point you have to get up from your praying and actually DO what
God has called you to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, the
church becomes paralyzed and renewal is an impossibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here is the question. How can we mobilize our congregations from the posture of prayer to the place of action?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please leave your comments!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more resources of Vibrant Church Renewal and Evangelism go to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-10478002405354448302015-01-07T17:31:00.000-08:002015-01-07T17:31:28.826-08:00Burden Gives Birth to Vision<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After twelve years of ministry in the same church I have been doing a
lot of reflecting on the process of renewal and the ongoing work of building a
vibrant church. The journey has been filled with some overwhelming
challenges that taught me to lean deeply into my Creator for wisdom, strength,
and assurance. It has also been filled with amazing times of joy and
fulfillment as we have watched God transform many lives and the church he chose
to partner with in that transformation. It has
been an incredible journey thus far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days with a sister church
in a neighboring community to share with them a few of the lessons we have
learned on this journey of renewal. Over the next few weeks I want to
share with you some of the principles I have found in God's word about
renewal that I believe have proven themselves time and time again along
our journey and in many other places that have experienced vibrant renewal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Principle #1: Burden Gives Birth to Vision</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Z13J-v7LfLXVlWuCGyzFkP6UZEm3q5Av11RpiPG4FhscISEgviI3FKogpyZXEc4cH0d9Itg17iVZFbLMXxkwE2EfFEsd_VjK8bEK0w9hBwoFS0nSdu5yQ5725ioJPKWA9SMq6Waf40/s1600/telescope-122960_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Z13J-v7LfLXVlWuCGyzFkP6UZEm3q5Av11RpiPG4FhscISEgviI3FKogpyZXEc4cH0d9Itg17iVZFbLMXxkwE2EfFEsd_VjK8bEK0w9hBwoFS0nSdu5yQ5725ioJPKWA9SMq6Waf40/s1600/telescope-122960_1280.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the books I return to often when teaching and preaching on
vibrant church renewal is the book of Nehemiah. There are so many ways
that the process God took his people through mirrors what we have experienced,
and as we read in Nehemiah 1:4, it all begins with a burden for the
city of Jerusalem and the people living there. When Nehemiah heard that
the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins it says, "When
I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted
and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah is overwhelmed with a
heavy burden for all of Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the things I find so interesting about Nehemiah is that at this
point he had never been to Jerusalem. Nehemiah was born in
captivity following the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of
Nebuchadnezzar around 587 B.C. He had grown up in Babylon and it begs the
question, if Nehemiah had never been to Jerusalem then why would he be so
burdened for the city and those who lived there? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assume for just a moment that Nehemiah grew up under the teachings of parents
who were devout Jews. In that case, he likely grew up on bedtime
stories that retold the history and adventures of his Jewish culture.
Stories of heroes, like Moses, Joshua, King David & his mighty men.
Many of those stories included stories of Jerusalem…like when David
killed Goliath, cut off his head and carried it through the streets of
Jerusalem! Those stories have a way of sticking in the minds of young
boys, and even though he had never been there, Nehemiah had developed a passion
for the city of Jerusalem…the city of his people…the city of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so when some of the Jews had been given permission to return to
Jerusalem and rebuild the city…Nehemiah had high hopes of a new day for the
people of God and the city of God. I’m sure somewhere in the back of his
mind he hoped to visit there someday and to see the city in all of it’s
splendor in a way that would glorify God. So, when Nehemiah gets word
from Hanani, who is traveling from Jerusalem, that the city he loves is in poor
condition he is heartbroken; he is overwhelmed with an enormous burden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we move on to how this enormous burden gives birth to a God-sized
vision for the city, lets not be so quick to move on from the place of
overwhelming pain for the condition of the city of Jerusalem. We
love to talk about vision, but how many of us are willing to spend some time in
a season of brokenness in order for that vision to truly be rooted in a passion
to see God transform our cities?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our American culture does not deal well with seasons of pain and
brokenness. We do everything we can to ignore it, deaden it,
self-medicate it, or prescribe it away. Christians and church leaders are
just as guilty as anyone. We run from pain and as a result we miss
what it means to wrestle with God through the pain and to hear His voice
gently leading us out of that place of darkness and into the future that He
desires for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH6RN329IqyFNb-NyMJyi1hUogsqhv9NT4IUG1IVJXJ_u3YYfWeQ9ic2qx2q-P2nYF3oKvTpvnBT8ihboxUAebqgMCTFXLzi9uiCp3eVMs26w12ga2IE3jlFUjtOujFEmFY-wKY0izKQ/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH6RN329IqyFNb-NyMJyi1hUogsqhv9NT4IUG1IVJXJ_u3YYfWeQ9ic2qx2q-P2nYF3oKvTpvnBT8ihboxUAebqgMCTFXLzi9uiCp3eVMs26w12ga2IE3jlFUjtOujFEmFY-wKY0izKQ/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was during such a season of pain that God would begin to speak to me
about the steps to take that would lead to the renewal of Springfield First
Church of the Nazarene (now One Life Church of the Nazarene). I had been
the pastor for a little over three years and while we had experienced marginal
growth we had just gone through a staff transition that was painful to me
personally and had caused several young couples to leave the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was in the midst of this painful season that I found myself crying
out to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was heartbroken over
the current condition of the church. I was grief-stricken about our
inability to make a significant difference in our city and our inefficiency to
reach it for Christ. I had a choice to make. Would I run from it
and move on to another church? Would I ignore the pain, try to deaden it?
Or would I remain in it until God used it to give birth to a vision
that would renew and restore. I chose to remain in it and for the next
several months I brought that burden before God and listened to his voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nehemiah didn't run from the pain of the burden he had for Jerusalem.
In fact, before Nehemiah ever did anything; before he ever cast a vision
or made a request of anyone for support he spent 5-6 months fasting and praying,
wrestling with God. It was out of that season of pain that a vision,
a dream for the future of the city of Jerusalem was born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the lesson for us today. We will never accomplish anything
of significance where God has placed us until we are first
willing to be overwhelmed with a burden.
Let me ask you a question. If Nehemiah was burdened for a city he
had never been to, how can you and I not be burdened by the decay of the
cities, schools, and neighborhoods that we are surrounded by each and every
day? It is out of this deep pain that God-sized visions are born.</span><span style="font-family: Alte Haas Grotesk;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click <a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal" target="_blank">here</a> for more resources related to Vibrant Church Renewal.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-83960486622112890012014-12-30T07:16:00.000-08:002014-12-31T06:07:42.332-08:00Encouraging Discouraged Worshippers<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haggai 2:1-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Setting: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On October 17, 520 B.C. the people of God are depressed and
complaining. They have moved from exile back to their home country, but it is
not the same. The Temple, the center of worship and a symbol of the presence of
God, remains unbuilt. The new proposed Temple pales in comparison to their
former deluxe building. The negative contrasts preoccupy the conversations of
the old timers who speak of the glories of the former days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haggai, the prophet, brings words from God:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRzwq_OZNToK8iQVoh5K9u2_uOn1b4f5mq7vQmF3bHv-tipYqplRBgtoQaTyUOkvcSEQveY5N4ZtJGrqbupVUAHCGToVNPsjrMJNk-7FAa2rmOSxLCiS_XfLSZh5JSBoQcV96NSSBUB0/s1600/woman-571715_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRzwq_OZNToK8iQVoh5K9u2_uOn1b4f5mq7vQmF3bHv-tipYqplRBgtoQaTyUOkvcSEQveY5N4ZtJGrqbupVUAHCGToVNPsjrMJNk-7FAa2rmOSxLCiS_XfLSZh5JSBoQcV96NSSBUB0/s1600/woman-571715_1920.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. “Be strong” (4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. “I am with you” (4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. “Don’t fear” (5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. “Be strong and work” (4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. “I will fill the temple with my glory” (7).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. “I will grant peace” (9).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How mighty these words of encouragement apply in your
setting in the coming year?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-26921115215985155342014-12-15T14:08:00.000-08:002014-12-15T14:08:43.158-08:00Don't Waste Your Christmas<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This coming
Sunday is the Sunday before Christmas, and while this is an amazing day for the
church to celebrate the birth of Christ, it is also an opportunity for the
church to boldly proclaim the good news to those who are unchurched. Unfortunately, in many churches this will be
a missed opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWnPip0hnlNsM8TTxC2fNkb4kDPF4-eUy_NMbR5sNH2bZrueu6CKQQlk-CnhqK6XDYBHwT7K6MifI9YGR0wjUiRCasVs4uaAlwpi74TTla1wIWPmpsCJzCeW3EwDjdJL_fmpDvvXlw5k/s1600/crib-542516_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWnPip0hnlNsM8TTxC2fNkb4kDPF4-eUy_NMbR5sNH2bZrueu6CKQQlk-CnhqK6XDYBHwT7K6MifI9YGR0wjUiRCasVs4uaAlwpi74TTla1wIWPmpsCJzCeW3EwDjdJL_fmpDvvXlw5k/s1600/crib-542516_1280.jpg" height="320" width="279" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Statistics
continue to declare that we are increasingly surrounded by the unchurched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the latest articles I read from the <a href="https://www.barna.org/churchless#.VIt28Ti9KgE" target="_blank">Barna Group</a> reports that there are roughly 156 million U.S. adults and children
who are churchless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a staggering
number!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they were a nation, they
would be the eighth largest nation in the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can bet that there are thousands from
my community and yours that contribute to that number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While those
numbers are alarming, I still find reason for hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see evidence that many of the unchurched
around us are still open to an invitation to church, especially at Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to a study conducted by <a href="http://www.lifeway.com/Article/LifeWay-Research-finds-Christmas-is-prime-time-for-church-invitations" target="_blank">LifeWayResearch</a>, “91 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, including a
majority of atheists, individuals claiming other religions, and agnostics or
those with no religious preference.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition to that, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Unchurched-Next-Door-Understanding/dp/0310286123" target="_blank">Dr. Thom Rainer</a> writes that, “Eighty-two percent of
the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an amazing opportunity!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past
Sunday at <a href="http://www.417onelife.com/" target="_blank">One Life Church</a> where I pastor, we had our annual Children’s
Christmas Program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one of the
highest attended Sundays of the year and there are a high percentage of unchurched
people in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always take time
to present the gospel even though I know most people are there to hear the kids
instead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past Sunday six
people responded to the message by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five out of six were individuals who were
there because a friend invited them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas only
comes around once a year; don’t miss this amazing opportunity to reach the unchurched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who should you invite to this Sunday’s
Christmas service?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Those
who used to go to church, but no longer attend.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Those
who don’t attend church consistently.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Those
who have never attended church.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Sunday we
will celebrate Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an
amazing opportunity to point people to the Savior who was born for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“…for today in the city of David there
has been born <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for you</i> a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord.”</b> (Luke 2:11 NASB; italics mine)</span><span style="font-family: Alte Haas Grotesk;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out other helpful articles and tools on <a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal" target="_blank">Vibrant Church Renewal</a> and <a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/evangelism" target="_blank">Evangelism</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-77543832099250587462014-12-09T08:23:00.001-08:002014-12-09T08:23:37.782-08:00What good is Christianity?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brett Lawrence wrote an article in the <u>Leadership Journal</u> in the
fall of 2002 describing the spirituality of</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Gen-Next in their twenties who are far from God.
He addresses three questions Christians need to answer when dealing with this
generation. The questions reveal the hearts and fears of this generation.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Question 3: What Good is
Christianity?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a question
of utility and relevance. Does Christianity have value to me? The concept is
described in the article, "Does your belief change lives? Does your
religion work? Does it help me, whether I'm in your group or not? Or are you
just another self-serving group?" <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Lawrence
5)</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSpKmeDpAGn6km1Dw3ANT9E2UyuFtaae3Tab1lBzfymb0nAj_t-2dzuK-dsFlF4FnGvp20MB6Eb5XoAibhO-bti-KMmlm4EyfO0OkENWN79REAWQJSKb1BYBr1T-yZogWOd1LaB0wdGk/s1600/cityscape-407694_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSpKmeDpAGn6km1Dw3ANT9E2UyuFtaae3Tab1lBzfymb0nAj_t-2dzuK-dsFlF4FnGvp20MB6Eb5XoAibhO-bti-KMmlm4EyfO0OkENWN79REAWQJSKb1BYBr1T-yZogWOd1LaB0wdGk/s1600/cityscape-407694_1280.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />Answer 3</b>:
Christians are to demonstrate value in the context of the worldview which Gen
Next live in. There is value in laying our life, finances, abilities, and
aspirations to give a Gen Next person something. The article summarizes,
"There is a fundamental call to Christians to be involved in generous
compassion to the poor and the broken and the underprivileged. There's more in
the Bible about justice and compassion than evangelism" <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Lawrence 6)</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My response:
</b>Listen to the arrogance of the perspective! Somebody is owed something. We have
forgotten the Sovereignty of God. We can be instantaneously ground to dust,
killed for our faith, or simply destroyed by our Creator for His glorification!
What rights and privileges do we have, in the context for which we were
actually created?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God recognizes
only two types of people: the saved who believe in Christ Jesus and those who
do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no distinction between
man, woman, Jew, Gentile, freedman, slave, wealthy, poor, broken, or underprivileged.
At the final judgment, Jesus separates those who have demonstrated the fruits
of salvation. Those who are allowed in have participated in the works that God
gave them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> being saved by grace
(Eph. 2:1-10). Those who enter see the kingdom of heaven not as some privilege
or right, but as an incalculable valuable gift of pure unmerited mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aggregately,
Christianity strives for peaceful order and benevolent goodwill. Often it has
been subjugated by the worst of examples among followers. The demonstrated
principles, doctrine, and dogma of Christianity are beneficial for any society
willing to embrace the blessings of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This article
shocked my thought process in a much-needed way and that was the point of the
article. We need to think differently if we are to evangelize those whose
context is different. Some see a generation of people that do not know what to
believe, who to trust, and incapable of deciding what is truth. Every
generation has been that way and it is likely that it will continue to be that
way until Christ returns. As the holy context of the Bible remains unchanged
and the world continues to devolve its context away from the plan of God, our
ability to grasp and bridge the connection of the world context and the cross
will become ever-increasingly difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on Vibrant Church Renewal and free resource visit our page <a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lawrence,
Brett. "Starbucks spirituality: postmoderns have three questions for
Christians that you'd better be ready for." <i>Leadership 23.4 (Fall
2002): p81. From Religion and Philosophy Collection.</i> (2002). 3 December
2013.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-80366423101896508942014-11-25T07:18:00.000-08:002014-11-25T07:18:39.637-08:00Isn't that just your reality?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brett Lawrence wrote an article in the <u>Leadership Journal</u> in the
fall of 2002 describing the spirituality of</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Gen-Next in their twenties who are far from God.
He addresses three questions Christians need to answer when dealing with this
generation. The questions reveal the hearts and fears of this generation.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Question 2: Isn't that just
your reality?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcKuaYFvJLr97T0DwtZfFcgtZw6nSnOK_AOdfVEQmgCm2Jb7WVjkxOn4FIwv3z-6HNCJBayhmkDr7MRSXrw99SC-xIYxsuGJGvf_JRbz987_vhdKZ3v32hWdbEq0tyBIB1ycIJqpFBXE/s1600/people-378037_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcKuaYFvJLr97T0DwtZfFcgtZw6nSnOK_AOdfVEQmgCm2Jb7WVjkxOn4FIwv3z-6HNCJBayhmkDr7MRSXrw99SC-xIYxsuGJGvf_JRbz987_vhdKZ3v32hWdbEq0tyBIB1ycIJqpFBXE/s1600/people-378037_1280.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The spiritual
smorgasbord is at work in this generation. You pick your reality and I will
pick for me. According to the article, "You can't say either Christianity
is true or it's false. Reality is also/and . . . They [early Christians] helped
create the facts they observed, and then reported them out of their
interpretation of reality. Scientists do that. Writers do that. Religious
people like you do that" <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Lawrence 4)</span>.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Article Answer 2:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The "whatever works for you" mentality is a permanent perspective
that has a chink in its armor. According to the article, "People are open
to Jesus . . . They just don't consider him the only way. I try to engage them
in who Jesus is and not that the others aren't correct."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My response:</b> In
the Gen Next population, relative reality is as insidious and as engrained a fact as the Theory of Evolution. It weakens the eternally true message of John
14:6 to one choice among many (touted equal) choices, much to the delight of the
father of lies. He is working on many fronts: lifestyle choices, marriage
choices, abortion is a choice, the Bible is just another book choice, etc. The
approach to engage them in who Jesus is is reminiscent of Paul's address at the
Athenian Areopagus about their altar to the unknown god.<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lawrence, Brett. "Starbucks spirituality:
postmoderns have three questions for Christians that you'd better be ready
for." <i>Leadership 23.4 (Fall 2002): p81. From Religion and Philosophy
Collection.</i> (2002). 3 December 2013.</span></span></h3>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-44623952687370963732014-11-17T12:13:00.000-08:002014-11-17T12:14:36.217-08:00How can I trust you?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Brett Lawrence wrote an article in the <u>Leadership Journal</u> in the
fall of 2002 describing the spirituality of</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Gen-Next in their twenties who are far from God.
He addresses three questions Christians need to answer when dealing with this
generation. The questions reveal the hearts and fears of this generation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Question 1: How can I trust you?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK19M71B4ZXNDRcBJP7jJG0YSxeCnHKehKYqHhE7xZO9S2GbRJnVUnrQwaGkf0GVdBE8BIXWng3y8cqlv98l2NbELDZLc2Mc7CXLRCxba5xM_tkPL05y8y0OUuXaAyr4pyXJIIyX8TCbA/s1600/fear-441402_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK19M71B4ZXNDRcBJP7jJG0YSxeCnHKehKYqHhE7xZO9S2GbRJnVUnrQwaGkf0GVdBE8BIXWng3y8cqlv98l2NbELDZLc2Mc7CXLRCxba5xM_tkPL05y8y0OUuXaAyr4pyXJIIyX8TCbA/s1600/fear-441402_1280.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the turmoil of the life the Gen-Next has experienced there is distrust
boiling within their being that places them at odds with everything else. They
distrust authority. They dislike anyone telling them what is right, what is
good for them, and what is allowed. Freedom-to-choose is their mantra for
living. The article quotes</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">
Rick Richardson, "When people ask questions about homosexuality, for
instance, we're tempted to think they're asking questions about right and
wrong. But they're not. They're asking about dominance and oppression" <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Lawrence 2)</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Article Answer 1: The mistrust is often directed at Christians, not
Christ. Our example is a bad one. We preach a loving God with condescension
in our hearts, scorn in our eyes, and rules on our hands. Trust is built on
actions, then words. We are called to</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> proclaim <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and demonstrate</i> the
kingdom of God. According to the article, "Let people know you've heard
them and that you have compassion for the hurts people experience"<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> (Lawrence 4)</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My response: This
is an eye-opener with a mixed response. Jesus explained the issue of social
benevolence in Mark 14:7 and Deuteronomy 15:11suggesting our opportunity to
demonstrate God's mercy in our generation. I believe it is sad but true that
Gen-Next has a "what's in it for me" mentality that is requisite in
getting their attention. The adage, actions speak louder than words, rings true
through all societies. When people share a meal, work together, recreate
together, etc., one's life speaks more profoundly than one's mouth. It seems to
be because of investment. In this world, words are easy but demonstrating a
doctrine <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shows</i> what you are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lawrence, Brett. "Starbucks
spirituality: postmoderns have three questions for Christians that you'd better
be ready for." <i>Leadership 23.4 (Fall 2002): p81. From Religion and
Philosophy Collection.</i> (2002). 3 December 2013. </span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-72897497429602034132014-05-14T09:41:00.000-07:002014-05-14T09:41:01.483-07:00Rethink Evangelism<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL3hqToS2zRvzlTMCYQ60vdydqDMXXYWJV8QMHnmzxECrs9SfuPGiujfcUhn5iAabQS9I7acflI5nT-snf3tQmFrfFc31cURELIs7PHLl9UW6Qlprf7zIXBBOxKgSl3Ob7ztJqDH9TIA/s1600/rethink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL3hqToS2zRvzlTMCYQ60vdydqDMXXYWJV8QMHnmzxECrs9SfuPGiujfcUhn5iAabQS9I7acflI5nT-snf3tQmFrfFc31cURELIs7PHLl9UW6Qlprf7zIXBBOxKgSl3Ob7ztJqDH9TIA/s1600/rethink.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find a strange phenomenon at work among Christians. They question why they evangelize people. In fact, the introspection may be debilitating. Some will not reach out to the unchurched or non-Christians, because they fear doing so for the wrong reasons. Now they appear in other areas of their lives, specifically at work and in their walk with God to be motivated by love for God and others. But when telling receptive people about the Lord, they pause, "Am I doing this for the right reason?"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">Some go as far as to invoke the gunslinger analogy, "Am I witnessing in order to have a notch on my belt?" Another invocation quotes a saint, (that sounds better) St. Francis of Assisi, "Witness, and if you must, use words." (Problem: St. Francis did not provide this golden quote according to the Franciscans.) This misquote accomplishes, however, two desirable outcomes: 1. It points to the need for the Christian witness to live a life of integrity including good deeds. 2. The second desirable outcome is that it excuses the Christian from saying anything. ("Desirable" because the person quoting St. Francis seems to prefer being a silent witness.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">We have a saying, "Some things go without saying." The Gospel is not one of those things. Our lives and acts of kindness do not automatically point to Jesus. Our lives do not explain what begs to be known. The atonement needs some explanation. Repentance is not what people do without Christian encouragement. We must witness using words. Let me invoke another saint. Paul wrote, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A14&version=NIV" target="_blank">Romans 10:14</a>). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<h4>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">To help your congregation rethink evangelism, check out our free training modules on the <a href="http://usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal" target="_blank">Vibrant Church Renewal</a> website.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></h4>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-61758641967384630772014-04-29T07:39:00.000-07:002014-04-29T07:39:28.741-07:00Managing Change In The Local Church<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWYdMFmCuF3N5PikQHtJJ4bRw7Gg4Dgbr_yBmUnJvDUVcB1T1wPcx7LA9HGKZmmwNuyqGo-Sd2_h7sV96oDt0ji41atzxWSRMrWI2IlWM4ujVI5GOE_wFOZbMDCp9W5HaD_TTHCF1DZc/s1600/Change.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWYdMFmCuF3N5PikQHtJJ4bRw7Gg4Dgbr_yBmUnJvDUVcB1T1wPcx7LA9HGKZmmwNuyqGo-Sd2_h7sV96oDt0ji41atzxWSRMrWI2IlWM4ujVI5GOE_wFOZbMDCp9W5HaD_TTHCF1DZc/s1600/Change.png" height="157" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every pastor/leader wants to make changes and have those
changes embraced by their congregations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More changes would be implemented if the leadership team were confident
about the outcomes and how they would be viewed by folks in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The measure of risk, the uncertainty and the
stress involved serve as obstacles to faster change and the betterment of
circumstances and of ministries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The looming possibility of failure impedes change as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if our idea bombs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will be lost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will change be regarded later? More
questions and fears arise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not
imagined concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are real. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how do we affect positive change any way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Find out at </span></span><a href="http://usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">.
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> Click on Training Modules, then on
Managing Change in the Local Church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-81053082635014720572014-03-13T07:38:00.000-07:002014-03-13T07:38:56.000-07:00A Conversation with Stan Toler<div class="Body1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciFHGFZUj8D4FSTy4Wrot1FjmXxW3zCOtOyyW4OgxI4EGaD49TGPIYmZMbiJiGqepomM1eJsP9CEoIJtSMOVRxhOho3yOvRiKQKj9ya7uCZkDp920GwlkxRxMTwLvTVVqS96hn7S9Cao/s1600/Toler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciFHGFZUj8D4FSTy4Wrot1FjmXxW3zCOtOyyW4OgxI4EGaD49TGPIYmZMbiJiGqepomM1eJsP9CEoIJtSMOVRxhOho3yOvRiKQKj9ya7uCZkDp920GwlkxRxMTwLvTVVqS96hn7S9Cao/s1600/Toler.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with Dr. Stan Toler, General Superintendent Emeritus in the Church of the Nazarene. We spoke about his beginnings in ministry, his love for the church, and vibrant church renewal. It was a fascinating and hope-filled conversation. Check it out below!</b></i></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are your earliest memories of the
church?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan:</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My earliest memories of the church are very
fond and bring laughter and tears to my eyes, because I was converted at a very
early age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My call to preach came at
seven years of age in a vibrant church in the hills of West Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as a result its always been a point of
enlightenment to me that small churches should never be underestimated,
because here in a little church of sixty in one renewal endeavor (revival), with
an evangelist that they had called to preach, had nine little boys respond to a
call on their lives to preach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us
went into the full time ministry and have served faithfully for God, not one of
us fell away from that calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
that group we’ve had a General Superintendent, a District Superintendent, a
missionary, an evangelist, and the rest pastors.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was your first pastorate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first pastorate was in Ohio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was seventeen years old and I had preached
a youth crusade when I was sixteen in Newark, Ohio and the whole church,
seventeen people, had come to the youth crusade. At the end of the service
on the last night they told me that God had impressed them that I was supposed
to be their next pastor, and I was just a junior in high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after that I felt indeed that the
Lord was leading me to do that and so I started pastoring my first church at
seventeen years old as a junior in high school.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
Did you go to college after that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Stan:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, in fact, my first year in college I
continued to pastor the church and lived off campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then ultimately I went on staff in a local
church for the rest of my time in college and served with John C. Maxell and
Tom Hermiz, who were great mentors to me in a vibrant church setting in
Lancaster, Ohio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I was exposed to
some of the best leaders that are in church ministry, even today.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere in there you found the time to fall
in love and get married?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Stan:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, I also sang and preached in a college quartet and we went south
to Georgia when I was eighteen years old and I met Linda Carter, the daughter
of Jimmy Carter, not the one you</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">re thinking about, and
ultimately four years later we were married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This March we will celebrate our forty-first anniversary.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that first pastorate you have pastored
churches of all sizes in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. As a General
Superintendent you have witnessed the church in action all over the world. What
is it you love most about the church?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the connectivity of the Church of the
Nazarene is the thing that is most exciting to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that we are joined together around the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having served as superintendent
in jurisdiction in South America as well as Africa, I’ve witnessed God’s hand
of blessing and vibrancy on the church in a way that has encouraged me about
the future of our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think
the glue that holds us together is that we are connected as Nazarenes as a
family more than any other denominational group that I’m aware of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like we’ve been able to maintain the
ability to know each other and somehow we are able to connect the dots of
relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, no matter where I’ve gone in the world to the eighty-five
countries I’ve been in, there’s always been someone that knows someone else in
the Church of the Nazarene that I’m supposed to say hello to or take something
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more importantly it has been
stories about how someone was converted under their ministry, or I learned the
importance of the spirit-filled life as a result of this persons ministry, or
because of that professor in the classroom helped me with my theological
understanding, or this pastor performed our wedding or dedicated our children,
and so you find that unity of purpose in our church family because of it.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:</span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the reasons I wanted to sit down and
talk to you about vibrant church renewal is because I know that you love the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s evident to everyone that has
ever been around you that you love the church and love the Church of the
Nazarene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Research
continues to tell us that roughly 80% of the 300,000 Protestant churches in the
United States have plateaued or are declining. The most recent report from the
Board of a General Superintendents given by Dr. David Busic confirms that the
CON in USA/Canada is no different, experiencing a steady decline in weekly
average worship attendance. Some would say there is no hope for the established
church. What would you say?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the words of Jesus are ever present in
my mind where he said, “I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not
prevail against it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s a day of
persecution and accusatory action against the church, and I think invariably
the church has flourished during those times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I believe that there will be a spiritual resurrection of evangelism
and outreach across denominational lines because there are many people that are
praying and fasting and believing God for renewal, not only around the world, but
also in USA/Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m convinced that vibrant churches have intentional focus and
they will not be distracted from their call from above to fulfill the mission
of Jesus, which is to seek and to save the lost as expressed in the Church of
the Nazarene ‘to make Christlike disciples in the nations.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, vibrant churches know how to zero in on
what’s important and I believe that calling a church to prayer and to fasting
and renewal will help us to focus on what’s important, and that is the souls of
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am praying for a harvest of
souls across our land, our nation, and I believe it’s going to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many others who are praying the
same prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we need a <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+7%3A14&version=NASB" target="_blank">2Chronicles 7:14</a> experience in our churches, and if we will humble ourselves
and pray and will stand for truth and right, God will reward us with his
faithfulness and give us a revival in our land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brandin:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>There are some that would say that as a
church all you have to do is be faithful – just keep praying, just keep
preaching the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you believe that
there are other actions that must go along with our faithful praying and
preaching?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Absolutely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And certainly that was the obvious mark of
the early church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together they prayed, they
worshipped, they sang songs, and read scriptures and that should always be who
we are and what we’re about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
believe that vibrant churches not only have intentional focus, but they focus
on the human hurts and spiritual hopes of individual people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we look beyond the walls of the
church to a community that is hurting and try and help people who despair, when
we try and address the hurts and offer ministries that meet those needs, I
believe our churches will grow again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was an old Greyhound Bus ad that they used as a slogan
that said, <b><i>“When you focus on basic needs your always needed.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m convinced that when we focus on the needs
of others we will have a harvest of souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s one thing to give a cup of cold water, but it’s also important that
we give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because when his name is mentioned, it’s the name above all names and
mystically, wonderful things happen, in my opinion.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Something you said there
reminded me of a something I read somewhere that said, </span>“<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Trendy wears off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Useful never does.</span>”<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Stan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Yeah, that</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think
I see in the millennial generation the desire, the aptitude, and the
willingness to make a difference and to impact the culture rather than the
culture changing the church and the dynamic of the church that we have the
ability to impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We certainly should
make adjustments to reach people, but that doesn</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t mean we have to compromise
to the culture, but we surrender to Christ and sacrifice in our lives as a
witness to the culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can use
that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">It</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s interesting to me that the world continues to borrow our
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transformation is a new buzzword,
transformational leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">m old-fashioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
believe that Romans 12 is right, that we don</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t have to conform to the
pattern of the world, but that we can be transformed by the renewing of our
minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stewardship is another word that
the world has taken hold of and used, and the church has abdicated on the
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe we need to take back
some of that turf that belongs to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transformational
leadership, by definition, motivates people to a higher level of morality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, think of what the church has to offer
when you think of it as being transformed by the renewing of your mind and
presenting your life as a living sacrifice to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can God do with that life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Some want to put all their
eggs in the basket of church planting and ignore the need to focus on
revitalization. Even with all of the emphasis on church planting we are closing
churches faster than we can open them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My simple question to you is, why revitalization?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>I think that’s a wonderful question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a church planter right out of college,
so I know something about planting a church a thousand miles away from home and
not having any people, or property, or money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I believe that it’s still true that new churches started and planted
have a greater ability to evangelize because of their fluidness and their mode
of operation than existing churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
I maintain that we have to plant churches in order to continue to grow and even
equally important to assimilate unchurched people into an environment that is
friendly to them when they’ve had no church background whatsoever, and it
becomes a comfortable place for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, I am convinced that church revitalization can
take on new meaning, especially if we borrow from the <a href="http://www.lifechurch.tv/locations" target="_blank">LifeChurch</a> model and
others who are having more than one campus - multi-site, multi-campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe we can borrow from that if more
churches that are successful, and have the capacity to do it, and have a church
staff, if they would adopt churches that are struggling and invest in them, we
have the ability to do some very good things in terms of church
revitalization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a sense that is what is happening now with many of these
models we are seeing where churches are having four or five or six
campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our case I think we have
church buildings and a remnant of people and all they need is an investment in
them, maybe musically and financially, to raise the bar in terms of the music
and their reaching out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe in terms
of improving their facilities so they can be up-to-date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we have a lot of potential in that
realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I’m very much a believer in assisting and revitalizing to
bring church health to the many churches that are in existence, and I would
consider that one of the greatest challenges, for our strong churches to
consider investing in those as much as in church planting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love what people like <a href="http://southsidechurchva.org/about/staff" target="_blank">Jerome Hancock</a> are doing in Richmond,
Virginia at <a href="http://southsidechurchva.org/" target="_blank">Southside Church of the Nazarene</a> where they have picked a couple of
churches like that and have really assisted them and revitalized them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now they have become campuses, but they are
still a part of the whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are no
less a part of the district and no less a part of the general church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Brandin:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Church consultant Gary McIntosh
concludes that only about 5% of pastors are turnaround leaders. Thom Rainer,
who has done years of research for the Southern Baptist Convention, notes that
"there are not enough turnaround pastors to lead even one-third of
America's churches in need of a turnaround."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">How can
we help churches experience a turnaround when their pastor may not be a </span>“<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">turnaround</span>”<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> pastor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how do we do it in a way that affirms
that pastor is still highly gifted and valued as a part of the kingdom?</span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Stan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Your question is spot on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I would agree with McIntosh and
Rainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I respect their research and I
respect them as great leaders whose writings are helping the church be real
about where we are and where we need to go. And I believe that the best way for
that to happen, because most do not have that turnaround ability as described,
is for us to have more of the adoptive process across our districts from strong
churches that will take an interest to encourage, support, and train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And more mentoring needs to occur from those
churches, from top to bottom, from the lead pastor to every staff member in
that church sharing what they know and investing in churches that are weaker,
but have tremendous potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I think
that is the heart and soul of connectivity in the Church of the Nazarene being
expressed and lived out on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I believe the younger generation will see this much more
clearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are much more willing to
allow the lines to be blurred in order to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, we</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ve got to reach across the
nation and help one another in an adoptive process, in my opinion.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brandin:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>What you are describing is out of the box
and, to be honest, for most of us is a risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To be able to reach out and do something like that is a relational risk,
as pastors might feel threatened over turf, and a financial risk to invest in
something outside your self. What would you say to a pastor or a congregation that
is wrestling with the decision to take a risk like that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stan:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>I think my first observation, having
served in a denominational leadership role, is that you should always make
yourself aware of any boundary issues, and extend the proper courtesies before
you make commitments or reach into an area that is not one that you have
permission to go into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve always, as a pastor, tried to respect those types of issues and boundaries and it is
important to the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I would
also encourage those in leadership to allow more creativity and to not just see
boundaries, but to see the potential of these partnerships developing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think a lot of the larger churches are starting to see the
value of partnership in world areas, such as <a href="http://www.bethanynaz.org/africa" target="_blank">Bethany First</a> that partners with
Swaziland, and it is incredible what has been accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same regard, if we would become more
aware across USA/Canada of churches that have tremendous potential and all they
need is a little bit of help for one season, and then they could flourish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that would make a huge difference in
the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all that said, God is building his church and in my
travels, both as a General Superintendent and now as a passionate speaker on
the subject of church development and leadership, I’m more encouraged than I’ve
ever been about the potential of our church worldwide, but specifically in
USA/Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve never had a better day
in terms of technology, in terms of the monetary support, educational
opportunities, facilities, and the wealth of knowledge that is available to
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the greatest day we’ve ever
had, and if we will seek God’s blessing on every avenue of ministry then he can
help us multiply what we have invested in communities for Christ’s sake.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RECOMMENDED RESOURCES</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-assessment" target="_blank">Nazarene Missional Church Assessment</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/training-modules" target="_blank">Church Renewal Training Modules</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-8460238129925099322014-03-05T14:27:00.001-08:002014-03-05T14:27:39.445-08:00Same Team<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">One of
the greatest joys in this season of my life is to watch my ten-year-old son
play basketball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and his friends are
at that age where they are really beginning to develop an understanding of the
game and yet it still isn</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t quite natural to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are still those confusing moments when
you can see the panic set in and they aren</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">t quite sure what to do.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NYzdjGGBeZJQMc52mN1Q4FgrEygQqCpJqx3qAY9ovOJxF76RCqjMDdsCLd7vdQb8GT1_Bf50pMaP2sKHvGzq5IJCFZv8ipEM_VDM6QTTw-UFiNdiTSOHmMg-Oi8ZzAgc0hzMHS3vTao/s1600/Basketball_Goal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NYzdjGGBeZJQMc52mN1Q4FgrEygQqCpJqx3qAY9ovOJxF76RCqjMDdsCLd7vdQb8GT1_Bf50pMaP2sKHvGzq5IJCFZv8ipEM_VDM6QTTw-UFiNdiTSOHmMg-Oi8ZzAgc0hzMHS3vTao/s1600/Basketball_Goal.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">One of
those moments is when they and one of their teammates comes down with the same
rebound and they both have the ball simultaneously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They</span>’<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ve been taught since they
first stepped on the court to be aggressive and to grab the ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly they find themselves where they are
not quite sure what to do and the natural instinct is for them to fight and struggle
over the ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they struggle
against each other, the coach (and me) are yelling, </span>“<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Same team!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same
team!</span>”</span><br />
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">In the
question of church planting or church renewal the answer is </span>“<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">yes.</span>”<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact of the matter is we are on the same
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the Church of the Nazarene is
going to change the current trend of decline then it is going to take both
church planting and church renewal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
good news is that our denomination has already recognized the need for both
church planting and vibrant church renewal. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the
direction of USA/Canada Regional Director Bob Broadbooks the Church of the
Nazarene has identified <a href="http://vimeo.com/60176738" target="_blank">five key strategies</a> to address these challenges facing
our denomination. The five strategies include:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>intentional leadership development, vibrant church renewal, clear and
coherent theological identity, passionate missional outreach, and multi-faceted
new church development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vibrant church
renewal and church planting (multi-faceted new church development) are both
valuable members of the same team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most
recent <a href="http://nazarene.org/files/docs/General%20Board%20Report%202014%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> from the Board of General Superintendents pointed out that the
average weekly worship attendance of the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada
has declined by nearly 38,000 people between 2005 and 2013. That is a
significant challenge and it is going to take both vibrant church renewal and
church planting to meet the need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the message is clear...we are on the same
team! We need pastors who are gifted and
passionate about church planting, and we need pastors who are gifted and
passionate about vibrant church renewal.
Let us not become confused and start fighting over the ball. Let's cheer
one another on and together we can win. <!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more resources from Vibrant Church Renewal visit <a href="http://usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-37779317466771616612014-02-18T06:55:00.000-08:002014-02-18T06:55:30.916-08:00Inviting the Unchurched<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inviting the unchurched to church may be the first steps
toward their conversion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one time
common wisdom was, “Lead a person to Jesus and he will come to church.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we tend to see people attending a church
event, observing a worship service and participating in a small group
fellowship before becoming a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fellowship offered by the congregation is understood to be a
significant “means of grace.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiD5oDR_xsvCdvxn1O1JR2U-9kisgAtdobJg1tN7oPCT2LUqZitOG_HTlmsKYq4xgX5mPJVfk8J53qDAp9Ht0dw50_DNjIRAcMtIAtWI8_-HchdfJHb8gxrQwF0dUoxOket-cE9ByjSs/s1600/inviting-the-unchurched-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiD5oDR_xsvCdvxn1O1JR2U-9kisgAtdobJg1tN7oPCT2LUqZitOG_HTlmsKYq4xgX5mPJVfk8J53qDAp9Ht0dw50_DNjIRAcMtIAtWI8_-HchdfJHb8gxrQwF0dUoxOket-cE9ByjSs/s1600/inviting-the-unchurched-1.png" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A barrier stands in the way of more people coming to faith
in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The obstacle is our church
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They experience an uneasiness
about inviting the unchurched to church. Meanwhile polls indicate people want
to be asked to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to be
wanted and to feel included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want
to be asked but not pressured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asking
them multiple times is okay with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They want to think about the invitation. The pressure comes when we say,
“You ought” or “You should.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on inviting the unchurched visit <a href="http://usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">http://usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a>.
Click on "Training Modules" and then on "Inviting the Unchurched."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-69206270623722285762014-02-06T06:13:00.003-08:002014-02-06T06:13:39.123-08:00Creating A Major Cardiac Event<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read a recent article in the <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/percent-do-not-change-bad-health-habits-after-heart-attack/article_f30164af-2368-5cf5-8bdc-3f641a7607b8.html" target="_blank">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a> that chronicled
the surprising fact that many people don’t make significant changes to their
lifestyles following a heart attack or stroke.
The article referenced a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association,
which shows one in four men do not make ANY (as in none) lifestyle changes after
a heart attack, stroke or other major cardi</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ac event. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-P3_B0RqfWLUyYxyBmUAtpr46uBRaC79j8fcJCr-sdnyzl_9u6s6iWcS9kq6pN3IGOu2DGE44Hlre0YbncmIOn7WMxi6QrOw1uNP1YPHrY-PjPUwXRgsD_CwU9ZuWY3-sryhSOpZV7w/s1600/cardiac-217139_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-P3_B0RqfWLUyYxyBmUAtpr46uBRaC79j8fcJCr-sdnyzl_9u6s6iWcS9kq6pN3IGOu2DGE44Hlre0YbncmIOn7WMxi6QrOw1uNP1YPHrY-PjPUwXRgsD_CwU9ZuWY3-sryhSOpZV7w/s1600/cardiac-217139_640.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was amazed to read that a near-death experience was not enough
motivation to bring about a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition to that, how many symptoms or indicators of poor health was ignored
prior to these major cardiac events?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
are we so slow to make the necessary changes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is it denial, apathy, or a symptom of how difficult change is?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thomrainer.com/2013/11/11/very-sick-churches/" target="_blank">Thom Rainer</a> estimates that about 40%, or around 150,000 churches in America,
are very sick. He writes, “They are one stage away from being terminal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As pastors who are serving in these churches
or churches that are beginning to show signs of illness, what can we do to help
shake up our churches enough to get them to make the necessary changes that
will not only avoid death, but also restore life and vitality?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a recent conversation with Dr. Lyle Pointer he made the following
observation: “<span style="color: #1a1a1a;">I think leaders have to create a
cardiac event. Most churches die because they ignore the symptoms and
nobody has the courage to sound sufficient warning to serve as a crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Losing members and decreasing numbers are
accepted as a part of the normal cycle—it’s not alarming to them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our jobs as leaders in church renewal is to be
truth tellers, to tell the truth about the current reality of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This “truth telling” can serve as a cardiac
event in the life of the church and serve as a wake up call to the congregation
that change is necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A useful tool in this truth telling process is the <a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-assessment" target="_blank">Nazarene Missional Church Assessment</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This tool
measures the churches health/vitality in six key areas (Spiritual Vitality, Worship,
Discipleship, Leadership, Missional Outlook, Missional Partnership).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This assessment can help a church begin to
look at its current condition and develop an action plan to make the necessary
“lifestyle” adjustments that lead to a healthy church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some, even a majority, may look at the signs of sickness
in their church and still choose not to make any changes, but there is hope for
those who are willing to face reality and make the changes necessary. God can still heal and restore the church
today if we are willing to allow him to shape us into the missional communities
He’s called us to be.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Alte Haas Grotesk"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To use the NMCA please contact:</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rich Houseal</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Research Services</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17001 Prairie Star Parkway • Lenexa, KS 66220</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="mailto:rhouseal@nazarene.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rhouseal@nazarene.org</span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-800-306-9928 • direct 913-577-0652</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-4279211093370572772014-01-28T05:52:00.001-08:002014-01-28T05:52:59.780-08:00Advantages of Persecution<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99dY_VHOSm9IG7d39ksqAYLA5r3IiMzFfPgqBWJTCHxA4AKk7nZliqrtiNITdJNQRjb7hVpHR5tT_F_rvptfMaUaJ-JG_3xVePrAEDxaIk7cNuKAK_50lrIaiXASCwcaH7FZucD-U9uc/s1600/800px-Early_jacaranda_sprout_with_second_round_of_leaf_growth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99dY_VHOSm9IG7d39ksqAYLA5r3IiMzFfPgqBWJTCHxA4AKk7nZliqrtiNITdJNQRjb7hVpHR5tT_F_rvptfMaUaJ-JG_3xVePrAEDxaIk7cNuKAK_50lrIaiXASCwcaH7FZucD-U9uc/s1600/800px-Early_jacaranda_sprout_with_second_round_of_leaf_growth.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Act 1:8 quotes Jesus as saying, “… you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few chapters later, in Acts 8:1, the church
historian records, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“On that day a great
persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the
apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Saul gave consent to Stephen’s death as
the first Christian martyr, the church scattered because of persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s people scattered, but they were not
silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every where they went they told
the stories of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Persecution widened the scope of witnessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Church experienced geographic expansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of God also benefited spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Explore the advantages of persecution at <a href="http://www.missionevangelism.org/">www.missionevangelism.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click on training modules and then “Preparing
for Persecution.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-62186466307891878212014-01-21T04:59:00.000-08:002014-01-21T04:59:28.242-08:00Preparing for Persecution<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christians who want to witness to their non-Christian
friends and family members prefer not to.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One reason: Christians’ longing to honor God through witness is diluted
by their fear of an angry or cold response.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This fear is real.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We fear
persecution.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, not the kind where we
will be martyred or beaten.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we know
the cold stare, the snarling sarcasm or the snicker.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiF9nE-ldrl5Q_q1cCigRFmRXeUq-1Pqlbpq6duGDHQuidVDOKyFSOQN6YbyUtfshQRefbZ3Jk8NtiVfwKD8t8YUoHuzD-12nm0MzI9ULmCGjQcyvbNwZ_9CmpluaSgzx8ikBiFebH98/s1600/19083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiF9nE-ldrl5Q_q1cCigRFmRXeUq-1Pqlbpq6duGDHQuidVDOKyFSOQN6YbyUtfshQRefbZ3Jk8NtiVfwKD8t8YUoHuzD-12nm0MzI9ULmCGjQcyvbNwZ_9CmpluaSgzx8ikBiFebH98/s1600/19083.jpg" height="200" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we excuse our silence with, “I do not want to drive them
away from God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we may imagine, “If
I said it better.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some ask, “How do I
explain my faith without getting a negative reaction.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The honest thing to say to that question is, “Prepare for
persecution.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus assured His
followers they would suffer persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What are we to make of Jesus’ prediction? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never said, “If you were really committed,
you would face it bravely.” Witnessing without fear is a catchy title, but not
the typical experience of most Christian witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how do we deal with persecution?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See <a href="http://www.missionevangelism.org/">www.missionevangelism.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click on Training Modules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then click on “Preparing for Persecution.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-10926044827773967322014-01-07T05:49:00.000-08:002014-01-07T05:49:48.227-08:00Diagnosis is Key to Treatment<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most intriguing
things I read this past year was a short blog by Thom Rainer titled <i><a href="http://thomrainer.com/2013/04/24/autopsy-of-a-deceased-church-11-things-i-learned/" target="_blank">Autopsy Of A Deceased Church</a></i>. The blog is a candid examination of the
things that contributed to the death of a church that had been in decline for
several decades. Thom had consulted with
this church several years earlier, but an unwillingness to change led to its
ultimate demise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7Jdxlpl3HP0nxJrST5SUO44_5lmOcVkb3c8oe25QmHhA05d-YIOIYP1t6klZQdf8i9k5PJ2cuBzK5Qv8dr6UidXf1f207jhYGTDVNGrlKK6NICAabAj1D1OL0Sodq3W_D7id8GMljoU/s1600/diagnosis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7Jdxlpl3HP0nxJrST5SUO44_5lmOcVkb3c8oe25QmHhA05d-YIOIYP1t6klZQdf8i9k5PJ2cuBzK5Qv8dr6UidXf1f207jhYGTDVNGrlKK6NICAabAj1D1OL0Sodq3W_D7id8GMljoU/s1600/diagnosis.jpg" height="197" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The saddest part of this
story is that it is the story of so many of our churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know from statistical data that as many as
63% of Nazarene churches are in plateau or decline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many will choose to follow the path towards a
slow and gradual death, but that doesn’t have to be their fate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steps can be taken to restore health and
vitality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As any good physician will
tell you, early diagnosis is key to treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Church of the Nazarene provides a terrific free diagnostic tool
called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-assessment" target="_blank">Nazarene Missional ChurchAssessment</a></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The NMCA is a
congregational survey designed for Nazarene local churches to help a local
church assess its current ministry, and provides perspective for the task of
creating a church action plan to address areas that may be robbing the church
of health and vitality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you enter into 2014 the
question is will it be another year marked by decline and the slow and gradual
march toward death or will it be a year marked by changes that lead towards
life and vitality?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fist step towards
life could be as simple as taking a survey that serves as a diagnostic tool for
creating a healthy, vibrant church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To use the NMCA please
contact:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rich Houseal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Research Services<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17001 Prairie Star Parkway •
Lenexa, KS 66220<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:rhouseal@nazarene.org">rhouseal@nazarene.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-800-306-9928 • direct
913-577-0652<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Today I have given you the choice
between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and
earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that
you and your descendants might live!”<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i></b>(Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-89246402630630672472013-12-03T06:11:00.000-08:002013-12-03T06:11:13.725-08:00Why am I here again?
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<o:Company>Springfield First Nazarene</o:Company>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It must be the diet coke!”
That’s what I tell my wife when I once again forget one of the few items
she has sent me to the grocery store to retrieve. I don’t know if it is the busyness, the
seemingly rapid aging mind, or truly the diet coke, but I have a tendency to
forget what I’m doing at times. I can
set out from the bedroom to the kitchen only to get there and ask myself, “Why
did I come in here?” Ever happen to
you? Do you need reminders?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHawt_x_6-0y88OcVrKYlGm4kGkL2jSTOyRCZGxe9S38c-vVE5uu87Fn2Z9SE8P9fmCoeDipHAkR-3ibygpPTQFDrctHrMWTvE9902eyY1ePEIb7w0118FO8KIZVbkq9ACTGwjRfVcveE/s1600/reminder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHawt_x_6-0y88OcVrKYlGm4kGkL2jSTOyRCZGxe9S38c-vVE5uu87Fn2Z9SE8P9fmCoeDipHAkR-3ibygpPTQFDrctHrMWTvE9902eyY1ePEIb7w0118FO8KIZVbkq9ACTGwjRfVcveE/s200/reminder.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that the same thing happens to us as we lead the
church. It’s easy for us to forget why
we are doing what we do. Are we working
hard each and every day to try and make everyone happy? Are we trying to build a bigger church? A church with a good reputation in the
community? You might find yourself
asking, “Why did I come here anyways?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reminded this week by the familiar words of Paul in 1
Corinthians 9:22-23, <b><i>“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might
save some. I do all this for the sake of
the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”</i></b> Paul explains that everything he has done,
all of the hard work has been “for the sake of the gospel” that he “might save
some.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder from time
to time. That reminder sharpens my focus
and renews my energy. That reminder
encourages me that its worth the extra hours spent visiting hospitals and
making phone calls to the wayward. That
reminder whispers to my spirit and says, “The hard work of renewal is worth the
effort.” Why? For the sake of the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more articles and helpful tools visit <a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a>.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-90325340616760520962013-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:002013-11-20T11:36:52.226-08:00Here to serve!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMONaU_Tjk84QJK_8UZW1xYdKK_XtqKv7huE_fuGq9NZJrpUJmZyme0Wd2RJYlpweclV447aUeFN4gqJ5JyDDKoet0FL5lwBmN05wURsqEdji8NqgFXyZ-vhewGXdRDEz8LBsFkANKeU/s1600/Nazarene+Logo-stacked.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMONaU_Tjk84QJK_8UZW1xYdKK_XtqKv7huE_fuGq9NZJrpUJmZyme0Wd2RJYlpweclV447aUeFN4gqJ5JyDDKoet0FL5lwBmN05wURsqEdji8NqgFXyZ-vhewGXdRDEz8LBsFkANKeU/s200/Nazarene+Logo-stacked.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are a Nazarene pastor or laymen then Vibrant Church
Renewal is here to serve you and your congregation. Vibrant Church Renewal is a division of the
Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada Region and is here to serve to local church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the leadership of Dr. Bill Weisman, Director of
Evangelism Ministries, and Dr. Lyle Pointer, Facilitator of Vibrant Church
Renewal, it is our mission to assist Nazarenes in bringing a new sense of
mission and purpose to their plateaued congregations. This is accomplished
through sharing resources, creating training events, and through spreading the
vision via social media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, would you take a moment
to let us know how we can best serve you and your congregation? Your feedback is very important to us. <b>Please
take a moment to tell us:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your name</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">where you serve</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">what tools, resources,
and training would be most helpful to you in leading your church.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</b></li>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also contact us at (816) 686-5480 or <a href="mailto:vibrantchurchrenewal@gmail.com">vibrantchurchrenewal@gmail.com</a>. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-24523758772879629102013-10-30T12:58:00.002-07:002013-10-30T12:58:41.033-07:00A Jeremiah 29 Guide to Church Renewal
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past couple of weeks I have been
reflecting on God’s message to His people in Jeremiah 29 and what it can teach
us about church renewal. I think there
are some important lessons for us here.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If there was ever a group of people that were
desperate for renewal is was the captive Israelites of Jeremiah 29. They were once a powerful people group with
resources, influence, and a clear identity as the people of God. Now all of that was gone and they found
themselves in a place that was politically, culturally, and religiously
confusing to them. Sound familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite all of this, God had a message for
them that would help guide them through this confusing time and would
ultimately lead to their renewal. I
would summarize God’s message in Jeremiah 29 with the following five steps:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Face reality.</b> The people in Jeremiah 29 had a tendency to navigate towards
people who would tell them what they wanted to hear, people who would tell them
that the “glory days” were soon to return.
The first step toward renewal in Jeremiah 29 was for the Hebrew people
to face the reality and to realize that there was no going back to yesterday.<br />
<br />
One of the most difficult but critical steps of church renewal is helping our
congregations face reality. Yesterday
isn’t coming back and as long as we continue to hold on to yesterday we will
never experience renewal and enter into the new days that God has for us.<br />
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Keep on
living in the present.</b>
When people realize that things are never going to be what they once
were they are often filled with despair.
One of the dangers of despair is that we are tempted to stop living; we
just lie down and wait for death to come.
This is one of the reasons God told the people of Jeremiah 29 to <b>“Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant
gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry
and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many
grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away!”</b> These tasks were a reminder to keep on living
in the present.<br />
<br />
Rather than being overwhelmed with despair by our current reality, our
congregations must keep on living in the present. Rather than sitting down and waiting for
death to come our congregations need to keep on doing the things that sustain
life in the present – worship, pray, fellowship, disciple, outreach,
evangelism, etc. These things show that
we are still living.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Multiply. </b>I find it
significant that God specifically instructed them, <b>“Multiply! Do not dwindle away!”</b> I recently preached this message in my church
and a gentleman came up to me afterwards and told me, “History has proven that
any people group that decides not to reproduce will cease to exist.” That only makes sense doesn’t it! <br />
<br />
If we forget as a church that our primary task is to continue to produce baby
Christians who will mature and produce even more baby Christians then we too
will cease to exist. Reproduction must
be a priority in any church that is going to experience renewal.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpG49_gckdP0AVrciw7ow-MqPpRY0sridyoRD7RtumTV4-lhhqSrodPpoha730Pt3cARRQAufNrOu8GlRM3M5mTvphCUFPfNhyIeCAbjhMRcsU2a15JEiGcrTtg71LbxQS6Uhr2C8qmA/s1600/Community+Service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpG49_gckdP0AVrciw7ow-MqPpRY0sridyoRD7RtumTV4-lhhqSrodPpoha730Pt3cARRQAufNrOu8GlRM3M5mTvphCUFPfNhyIeCAbjhMRcsU2a15JEiGcrTtg71LbxQS6Uhr2C8qmA/s320/Community+Service.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Engage your
city at its point of need.</b> I love the fact that God instructed the
people of Jeremiah 29 to go to work for benefit of the city. Most of the Hebrew people saw the people of
the cities they now lived in and those in charge as the enemy. Yet God tells them, <b>“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you
into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your
welfare.”</b><br />
<br />
In an attempt to be brief here I will simply point out that God instructed them
to <b><i>work</i></b>
and <b><i>pray</i></b>
for the peace and prosperity of the city.
Most of the time we are okay with the praying part (at least in theory),
but what about when it comes to the real work it takes to meet the greatest
needs of our community? <br />
<br />
Can you imagine the type of renewal that might come to our churches if we would
get on the frontlines of working for the welfare of the cities in which God has
placed us? God told the people of
Jeremiah 29 that if they did so it would benefit them as well. I think the same is true for our churches.<br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Be a people
of hope.</b> In
the end God tells them to do these things because He has not forgotten them, he
has a plan for them, and those plans are to give them <b>“a future and a hope.” </b>You
live differently when you move from an attitude of despair to one of hope. You look at your circumstances
differently. You respond to situations
differently. You speak to people
differently. You even sound different.<br />
<br />
Let’s be a people of hope. Do not
despair. God has not forgotten His
church. He has plans for your future and
He desires to give you hope. Let’s live
in light of that and be a people of hope.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out more resources at <a href="http://usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal">usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal</a>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622025801678247094.post-61729996951711549682013-10-22T06:47:00.001-07:002013-10-22T06:55:43.109-07:00Raising the Joy Level<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certain occasions jump with joy. Graduations, weddings,
first full -time job, birth of babies, a person deciding to follow Jesus. Then there is the rest of life. The routine may move into monotony. The pressures of finances, misunderstandings
and unreasonable expectations syphon off the excitement and enthusiasm we
formerly experienced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNsdob6AIIUM0Q-tqG1Y0csbHq99ddsNHHdPvt1_RewWKLd7lcMkm7-0jN2KBTgK3iYsBK3rrvVghkVz_SaLTZ8U6esagUn1Pey6xVn2TMmBlgg-PuSgzQXEbWLK2ZQhcLNe0KdPIdRE/s1600/Raising-the-Morale-of-a-Plateaued-Congregation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNsdob6AIIUM0Q-tqG1Y0csbHq99ddsNHHdPvt1_RewWKLd7lcMkm7-0jN2KBTgK3iYsBK3rrvVghkVz_SaLTZ8U6esagUn1Pey6xVn2TMmBlgg-PuSgzQXEbWLK2ZQhcLNe0KdPIdRE/s1600/Raising-the-Morale-of-a-Plateaued-Congregation.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same kinds of things happen in a congregation. Conflict arises. Our favorite pastor leaves for another
assignment. The dreams of a growing
church slide into the drudgery of trying to sustain the programs that used to
be effective. Months melt into
years. The numbers of people recede like
a man’s hairline. Empty chairs increase
in spite of the desperation of prayers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do we address the morale of a congregation? What is the level of your congregation’s
morale? Would it help to take a Morale
Inventory to see what can be addressed?
What if the leadership team or the congregation studied “Raising the
Morale of the Plateaued Congregation”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to www.usacanadaregion.org/training-modules<a href="http://www.usacanadaregion.org/training-modules">http://www.usacanadaregion.org/training-modules</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scroll down to “Raising the Morale of the Plateaued
Congregation.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16649267121815821563noreply@blogger.com0