Thursday, March 30, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Perspective
My friend "e" has offered some interesting Lent perspectives on her blog. I asked if I could share them with you guys and she said yes. Find one here and the other here. I also found this on a website offered by a community (small group of about 12 in London)that really pushes the worship envelope! This entry offers an interesting perspective that ties in with what Ken's been presenting lately to us. Go here and see a really cool slide show that I wish we could use at Wellspring but I can't figure out how to load!!
Posted by Steve Paynter on Mon 20 Mar 2006 - link
If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you more blessed than million's of people in the world.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
We are hugely blessed.
We need to remember it and keep our lives in perspective and our hearts open to God.
Jesus too has something to say about who are the truly blessed. Matt.5.
They are those who know their need of God.
Those who mourn for what is not right in them and in our world.
Those who are teachable, and hunger and thirst for a better justice and righteousness.
Those who leave behind a preoccupation with self and look outward beyond themsleves to see God at work in our world and its trouble.
To see the beauty, mercy and grace of God in the unexpected places of life and follow Jesus there.
Our lenten response (fast) could be as follows:
Fast from discontent.
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from worry.
Feast on God's providence.
Fast from complaining.
Feast on appreciation.
Fast from unrelenting pressure.
Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from self concern.
Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety.
Feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement.
Feast on hope.
Fast from endless noise.
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm.
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Which one of these is for you? Or write your own.
Posted by Steve Paynter on Mon 20 Mar 2006 - link
If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you more blessed than million's of people in the world.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
We are hugely blessed.
We need to remember it and keep our lives in perspective and our hearts open to God.
Jesus too has something to say about who are the truly blessed. Matt.5.
They are those who know their need of God.
Those who mourn for what is not right in them and in our world.
Those who are teachable, and hunger and thirst for a better justice and righteousness.
Those who leave behind a preoccupation with self and look outward beyond themsleves to see God at work in our world and its trouble.
To see the beauty, mercy and grace of God in the unexpected places of life and follow Jesus there.
Our lenten response (fast) could be as follows:
Fast from discontent.
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from worry.
Feast on God's providence.
Fast from complaining.
Feast on appreciation.
Fast from unrelenting pressure.
Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from self concern.
Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety.
Feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement.
Feast on hope.
Fast from endless noise.
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm.
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Which one of these is for you? Or write your own.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
A New Kind of Christian - Chapter 16
I want to work with everyone we can find who wants to pioneer what it means to be a new kind of Christian in a new kind of church in the uncharted terra nova that lies ahead of us. There are so few working at this exploration of faith into postmodern territory, and all of those who are, are exhausted because it is so difficult. I think God’s heart must be pained because so few are exploring beyond the edges of our modern maps and at how exhausted those few are.
In my mind the ideal seminary would be one part monastery, one part mission agency, and one part seminar. Here’s what I mean.
By monastery, I would want the seminarians to live in community of some sort, to experience a real sharing of life and of “the offices” of shared spiritual practices. It strikes me that a retreat is like a short-term monastic experience. It’s intense – and intensity is an undervalued key to spiritual growth – and it’s holistic: it’s not a matter of just adding some Bible onto a busy, fragmented life.
The mission agency part is closely related. In my mind, while modern Christianity was fixated on systematic theology, the erection of a conceptual cathedral that would comprehend all truth, so postmodern Christianity will focus on mission, on our role as agents of God’s kingdom. This would mean internships in churched, soup kitchens, youth center, refugee camps, church-planting projects, etc. My seminarians would be sent out on several missionary journeys during their apprenticeship.
The seminar part would be different form a traditional school, which assumes that people learn best by listening. My students would read or experience something and then they would discuss it with their fellow learners, with the teacher present. We wouldn’t stop with information transmission, of course; that would only be the beginning. More important would be integrating that information into our understanding of the story. By story, I mean the story of God’s work in the universe and in particular, the story of God’s work in the human community.
Ultimately this transition into the post-modern world is not about changes in musical style, preaching style, liturgy, or architecture, although all of those things may change. At heart, it’s about attitude, theology, and spirituality. Maybe that’s why the traditional-to-contemporary change was so disruptive – too often we tried to change exteriors without changing our attitudes, theologies, and spirituality.
I think you could be an architect of a new kind of faith community. I firmly believe that the top question of the new century and new millennium is not just whether Christianity is rational, credible, and essentially true, but whether it can be powerful, redemptive, authentic, and good, whether it can change lives, demonstrate reconciliation and community, serve as a catalyst for the kingdom, and lead to a desirable future.
In my thinking, church doesn’t exist for the benefit of its members. It exists to equip its members for the benefit of the world. To do that, it is about three things: community, spirituality, and mission.
Community means that we create a place of belonging where people can learn to believe the good news belong to a community that is learning to live it, and become together a living example of it. We accept anyone whom Christ accepts.
Spirituality focuses on the holy part. But it is not just about individual spirituality. The spirituality itself is communal. What we experience with God in secret must be brought to the community and shared like a common meal.
In my thinking, both spirituality and community flow into mission. We are sent not to be served but to serve, and we are sent not to the healthy but to the sick. The church doesn’t exist to satisfy the consumer demands of believers; the church exists to equip and mobilize men and women for God’s mission in the world.
In my mind the ideal seminary would be one part monastery, one part mission agency, and one part seminar. Here’s what I mean.
By monastery, I would want the seminarians to live in community of some sort, to experience a real sharing of life and of “the offices” of shared spiritual practices. It strikes me that a retreat is like a short-term monastic experience. It’s intense – and intensity is an undervalued key to spiritual growth – and it’s holistic: it’s not a matter of just adding some Bible onto a busy, fragmented life.
The mission agency part is closely related. In my mind, while modern Christianity was fixated on systematic theology, the erection of a conceptual cathedral that would comprehend all truth, so postmodern Christianity will focus on mission, on our role as agents of God’s kingdom. This would mean internships in churched, soup kitchens, youth center, refugee camps, church-planting projects, etc. My seminarians would be sent out on several missionary journeys during their apprenticeship.
The seminar part would be different form a traditional school, which assumes that people learn best by listening. My students would read or experience something and then they would discuss it with their fellow learners, with the teacher present. We wouldn’t stop with information transmission, of course; that would only be the beginning. More important would be integrating that information into our understanding of the story. By story, I mean the story of God’s work in the universe and in particular, the story of God’s work in the human community.
Ultimately this transition into the post-modern world is not about changes in musical style, preaching style, liturgy, or architecture, although all of those things may change. At heart, it’s about attitude, theology, and spirituality. Maybe that’s why the traditional-to-contemporary change was so disruptive – too often we tried to change exteriors without changing our attitudes, theologies, and spirituality.
I think you could be an architect of a new kind of faith community. I firmly believe that the top question of the new century and new millennium is not just whether Christianity is rational, credible, and essentially true, but whether it can be powerful, redemptive, authentic, and good, whether it can change lives, demonstrate reconciliation and community, serve as a catalyst for the kingdom, and lead to a desirable future.
In my thinking, church doesn’t exist for the benefit of its members. It exists to equip its members for the benefit of the world. To do that, it is about three things: community, spirituality, and mission.
Community means that we create a place of belonging where people can learn to believe the good news belong to a community that is learning to live it, and become together a living example of it. We accept anyone whom Christ accepts.
Spirituality focuses on the holy part. But it is not just about individual spirituality. The spirituality itself is communal. What we experience with God in secret must be brought to the community and shared like a common meal.
In my thinking, both spirituality and community flow into mission. We are sent not to be served but to serve, and we are sent not to the healthy but to the sick. The church doesn’t exist to satisfy the consumer demands of believers; the church exists to equip and mobilize men and women for God’s mission in the world.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
A note from Lita
Dear Ken
Friday afternoon my father passed away. He had been sick in the hospital with pneumonia. However when I spoke with my mother Friday morning my father seemed to be doing better. The tube in his throat had been removed because his lungs were clearer, but his kidneys were not working. They were going to start him on dialysis Friday. My mother signed the papers and talked about my father coming home in a few days. That afternoon while she was visiting him he coded. He did not want to be kept alive by machines so my mother told them to let him go. Even though we believe dad is absent from the body and present with the Lord it still hurts. Please pray for my mother. She has taken care of my dad and done everything for him for 28 years. I'm not sure she understands how much of a void there will now be.( My father had lost both his arms 28 years ago.) Thanking you in advance for your prayers and so thankful for our Great God!
Lita
Friday afternoon my father passed away. He had been sick in the hospital with pneumonia. However when I spoke with my mother Friday morning my father seemed to be doing better. The tube in his throat had been removed because his lungs were clearer, but his kidneys were not working. They were going to start him on dialysis Friday. My mother signed the papers and talked about my father coming home in a few days. That afternoon while she was visiting him he coded. He did not want to be kept alive by machines so my mother told them to let him go. Even though we believe dad is absent from the body and present with the Lord it still hurts. Please pray for my mother. She has taken care of my dad and done everything for him for 28 years. I'm not sure she understands how much of a void there will now be.( My father had lost both his arms 28 years ago.) Thanking you in advance for your prayers and so thankful for our Great God!
Lita
Leaning Into Community Space
Juli is right. We've neglected our space here . . . wait, I should own my own stuff. I've neglected this space. But no more!
I recently closed down my own blog because it had become a bit too "all over the place" and wasn't as much fun. However, I don't want to lose the outlet completely because that blog allowed me to share some interesting findings on the church in general. So, if you guys don't mind and think you might enjoy it, I thought I'd post cool things I find about the emerging ways of doing church right here on our very own Wellspring space!
Today I'm passing along a prayer request . . . and maybe a call to action? Shannon (our partner in London) shared this with me. Some of you know that she's part of an advocacy group trying to stop human trafficking. When I told her Kevin wanted to know about her sports interests she admitted that she hadn't learned the rules of London's football. Then she told me about the following. Don't know if you'll be shocked or just shake your head in that kind of knowing way we all do when there's little left to surprise us about how far humanity will go!
For the articl, click here.
I recently closed down my own blog because it had become a bit too "all over the place" and wasn't as much fun. However, I don't want to lose the outlet completely because that blog allowed me to share some interesting findings on the church in general. So, if you guys don't mind and think you might enjoy it, I thought I'd post cool things I find about the emerging ways of doing church right here on our very own Wellspring space!
Today I'm passing along a prayer request . . . and maybe a call to action? Shannon (our partner in London) shared this with me. Some of you know that she's part of an advocacy group trying to stop human trafficking. When I told her Kevin wanted to know about her sports interests she admitted that she hadn't learned the rules of London's football. Then she told me about the following. Don't know if you'll be shocked or just shake your head in that kind of knowing way we all do when there's little left to surprise us about how far humanity will go!
For the articl, click here.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Where is everyone?
Just kidding! I've been pretty absent too and I apologize for that. Now that Jean is gone for the next couple months I figure we all need to get going on this thing again! I'm hoping to start posting on my own page pretty soon too! I miss you guys!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
A New Kind of Christian - Chapter 13
Neo said that if he ever went back into the pastorate he would lose all his inhibitions about talking about money because he felt that generosity was one of the most important spiritual disciplines and that greed was one of the soul’s worst poisons.
He said that if the new kind of Christianity we had been dreaming about wasn’t radically generous, it was a waste of time. He said that we live in the most affluent culture in the most affluent period of human history. If we can’t discipline ourselves to learn the joys of generous living, we are an embarrassment to the gospel. The “Caesar” of our day is our economy of consumption, greed, and materialism.
Spiritual Formation: Postmodern is post-Protestant, I think that our forms of spirituality and spiritual formation will be more like the ancient and medieval church and less like the modern church. I think we will welcome back tradition and saints and liturgy and holy days.
How can we keep prayer and Bible reading as key to our spiritual lives without turning spirituality into spiritual techniques, duties, and legalisms- still more to feel guilty about? I feel that most preachers don’t preach good news about grace; they preach bad news about inadequacy and pressure.
How do we develop a more holistic, balanced spirituality in people without a boatload of guilt?
1. Future approaches to spiritual formation will be more akin to ancient ones. There will be more short-term monastic experiences. People will be together in simplicity and in community and practice spiritual disciplines together like prayer, Bible study, and solitude. Retreats are an example of this.
2. Short-term mission trips are modern examples of the missionary journeys of Paul or of the Celtic monks. In a way they are like pilgrimages – journeys undertaken for a spiritual purpose.
3. What are small groups and one-on-one mentoring relationships but echoes of ancient training method, before we slipped into the modern misconception that the best education takes place in sterile classrooms? Small groups and mentoring – filled with give-and-take, personal as well as intellectual interaction, formation as well as information – recall the old images of the apprentice training with his master or the disciples following Jesus.
4. What is getting people involved in ministry – but an echo of the many biblical stories where God taught people to swim by throwing them into the deep end? I think of Moses, feeling so inadequate, or even the disciples being sent out two by two, after only several months of training, to learn by success and failure the lessons that can only be learned by doing, not just listening or studying.
So my guess is that teachers of the future will spend less time giving out information and more time helping students learn how to find what they need when they need it.
I want to mention on other area of spirituality that I think we must rediscover: creation spirituality. Modern men and women have lost their connection with creation. If I could live another life, I think I would devote it to ecology, because I also believe that this is a truly spiritual and Christian work. Genesis begins with our mandate to take care of God’s creation, and never has our failure to do so been more acute than now. Learning to live as caretakers of creation and friends to our fellow creatures must be at the core of a new kind of Christianity.
He said that if the new kind of Christianity we had been dreaming about wasn’t radically generous, it was a waste of time. He said that we live in the most affluent culture in the most affluent period of human history. If we can’t discipline ourselves to learn the joys of generous living, we are an embarrassment to the gospel. The “Caesar” of our day is our economy of consumption, greed, and materialism.
Spiritual Formation: Postmodern is post-Protestant, I think that our forms of spirituality and spiritual formation will be more like the ancient and medieval church and less like the modern church. I think we will welcome back tradition and saints and liturgy and holy days.
How can we keep prayer and Bible reading as key to our spiritual lives without turning spirituality into spiritual techniques, duties, and legalisms- still more to feel guilty about? I feel that most preachers don’t preach good news about grace; they preach bad news about inadequacy and pressure.
How do we develop a more holistic, balanced spirituality in people without a boatload of guilt?
1. Future approaches to spiritual formation will be more akin to ancient ones. There will be more short-term monastic experiences. People will be together in simplicity and in community and practice spiritual disciplines together like prayer, Bible study, and solitude. Retreats are an example of this.
2. Short-term mission trips are modern examples of the missionary journeys of Paul or of the Celtic monks. In a way they are like pilgrimages – journeys undertaken for a spiritual purpose.
3. What are small groups and one-on-one mentoring relationships but echoes of ancient training method, before we slipped into the modern misconception that the best education takes place in sterile classrooms? Small groups and mentoring – filled with give-and-take, personal as well as intellectual interaction, formation as well as information – recall the old images of the apprentice training with his master or the disciples following Jesus.
4. What is getting people involved in ministry – but an echo of the many biblical stories where God taught people to swim by throwing them into the deep end? I think of Moses, feeling so inadequate, or even the disciples being sent out two by two, after only several months of training, to learn by success and failure the lessons that can only be learned by doing, not just listening or studying.
So my guess is that teachers of the future will spend less time giving out information and more time helping students learn how to find what they need when they need it.
I want to mention on other area of spirituality that I think we must rediscover: creation spirituality. Modern men and women have lost their connection with creation. If I could live another life, I think I would devote it to ecology, because I also believe that this is a truly spiritual and Christian work. Genesis begins with our mandate to take care of God’s creation, and never has our failure to do so been more acute than now. Learning to live as caretakers of creation and friends to our fellow creatures must be at the core of a new kind of Christianity.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Lessons from the West Coast
Have you ever noticed how other peoples experiences can lift you as if they were your own?
We've recieved a few letters that discribe the worship service at the MCRD in San Diego and to hear it is so incouraging. "You can't imagine what it sounds like when 300 recruits are worshipping and praising God unashamed." "It is an awesome sight" These are just a couple of things said about it. It was encouraging to hear that . But I have to share the most exciting thing out of the west and I know I won't tell it right so I'm going to quote from a letter we recieved from our recruit. (As many of you know he has had pnuemonia and was in MRP.)
"Oh, yesterday Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. ------- came in and pulled just a few of us aside and he talked about Christians and Christianity. He isn't supposed to (he could lose his job) but he said he felt God calling him to do it.
He talked about how christianity is supposed to be and how most Christians don't see it but religion is destroying the christian body. No matter what religion we should be challenging each other. 'How is your walk with God?' and 'What did you learn today?' That should be what Christians ask each other daily. 2 Corinthians 13:5-9
He also talked about praying. I don't remember what verse he used but it basically said 'Pray with your mouth. Confess your sins to God out loud. You have no reason to be embarrassed.'
It was a good talk. I told Ashley it's a good thing I got dropped because my relationship with God has strenthened."
He goes on to talk about all he has learned while in MRP and how it wasn't the waste of time he expected it to be.
Anyways it was a major lift for these parents of the recruit and a challenge. That we as Followers of Jesus should continually be challenging ourselves as well as our fellow believers to be growing and asking questions like "How is my walk with Christ?" and "What did I learn Today" Okay?
All of this was to say share your experiences with others. You never know when there might be someone who needs to hear your story.
By the way My recruit got RTFD and passed the PFT and is picking up with "Mighty Mike".
We've recieved a few letters that discribe the worship service at the MCRD in San Diego and to hear it is so incouraging. "You can't imagine what it sounds like when 300 recruits are worshipping and praising God unashamed." "It is an awesome sight" These are just a couple of things said about it. It was encouraging to hear that . But I have to share the most exciting thing out of the west and I know I won't tell it right so I'm going to quote from a letter we recieved from our recruit. (As many of you know he has had pnuemonia and was in MRP.)
"Oh, yesterday Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. ------- came in and pulled just a few of us aside and he talked about Christians and Christianity. He isn't supposed to (he could lose his job) but he said he felt God calling him to do it.
He talked about how christianity is supposed to be and how most Christians don't see it but religion is destroying the christian body. No matter what religion we should be challenging each other. 'How is your walk with God?' and 'What did you learn today?' That should be what Christians ask each other daily. 2 Corinthians 13:5-9
He also talked about praying. I don't remember what verse he used but it basically said 'Pray with your mouth. Confess your sins to God out loud. You have no reason to be embarrassed.'
It was a good talk. I told Ashley it's a good thing I got dropped because my relationship with God has strenthened."
He goes on to talk about all he has learned while in MRP and how it wasn't the waste of time he expected it to be.
Anyways it was a major lift for these parents of the recruit and a challenge. That we as Followers of Jesus should continually be challenging ourselves as well as our fellow believers to be growing and asking questions like "How is my walk with Christ?" and "What did I learn Today" Okay?
All of this was to say share your experiences with others. You never know when there might be someone who needs to hear your story.
By the way My recruit got RTFD and passed the PFT and is picking up with "Mighty Mike".
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