A year or so later we heard about a group of blacksmiths who had also started melting down donated guns to make tools, after being troubled by the fact that some of the metal from the Twin Towers was used to make a battleship. Inspired by the prophets’ vision of “beating swords into plows”, these Mennonite metal-workers started turning guns into garden tools. They call themselves RAW tools (turning “war” around and forging peace).
Fight: “Erasing Hell” co-author defends nonviolence in a new book!
One of the things that he repeatedly comes back to is that he became a pacifist not by some philosophical/political influence but because of what he actually began to see as clear in the bible. For him (and also for me), this conversation starts with honoring the Scriptures and the God they portray.
This morning I spoke at Ouachita Christian School, offering some devotional thoughts as they had a teacher’s in service day. I used this prayer to end my talk this morning, and thought I would share it here. I wish I had written it. In fact I do not know who wrote it. I found it HERE and thought I’d share it.
After giving it much consideration, I’ve decided that there is at least one very good reason why I need Church: I have a really bad memory.
It’s true. I have a terrible memory. Especially when it comes to remembering who I am as a child of God. Especially when it comes to remembering what God has done, and continues to do, in and through Jesus Christ.
I forget who I am. I forget who God is. I forget God’s Epic Story of Redemption and Liberation and Renewal and Beauty and Hope.
Seven Expectations of Every Church Member
I have a high view of church membership, and I hope I lead my church to have the same view. As we assimilate new people into the body of Christ, the goal is to maintain a culture of high expectations of every church member. I believe the best starting point for setting these expectations is a new member class. Whatever descriptor you use for the class, whatever timeslot you choose to teach the class, every new member class should communicate three key points about your church: information, doctrine, and expectations.
Further on Elders (Getting Rid of Bad Elders: Prevention)
I learned years ago (and have re-learned more than once since then, being a slow study and all) that if you hire someone you have doubts about, it’ll be a bad hire — and one you’ll regret. The same is true of elders. No one is ever 100% qualified for the job. No one but Jesus is Jesus. But when you have doubts about whether a man is suited for the calling, it’s likely a mistake to ordain him.
While the Bible never prescribes a particular model for discipling others, Jesus invested in groups of varying sizes. Larger groups learned from his teachings and miracles, while his closest followers benefited from personal discipleship and specific instruction. While one-on-one discipling is valid and has it purposes, I want you to consider five reasons to meet in a group of three to five instead of privately with one.
The Importance of Telling Your Story and the Importance of Listening to Others
Regardless of the ups and downs of missions, the successes and failures, when learning occurs, no one can be considered a failure. Missionaries gain wisdom when they make sense out of their experiences by examining their thoughts and feelings and by applying the principles they have discovered and sharing them with others. Telling their stories to someone who has is able to listen and who can help the missionary process the Why, What if, What and How encourage learning. Learning implies becoming more effective as a missionary and as a person. Sometimes it is exactly what some need to be made whole again.
Ministry Hack: BibleGateway.com + Alfred App
The trick is to use the (free) Alfred App along with BibleGateway.com to search for passages or words in the Bible quickly and easily, using only keyboard shortcuts.
Respect and Likeability: A Leader’s Balancing Act
If you are respected and not liked, then your influence will be limited and short-lived. People will not fully trust you and will only follow you at a distance. In fact, they will circle around like vultures, waiting for you to fail. Your team will also have a high rate of turnover because no one enjoys working for an unlikeable leader. Eventually, you will burnout since no one is close enough for you to be able to share their care.
The remedy? Let people see your heart. Convince them you care about their lives.
If you are liked and not respected, your influence will also be limited and short-lived. People will follow you closely, but with insecurity and lack of confidence. They will question you constantly and will soon grow restless under your leadership. In the long run, they will become apathetic and lose enthusiasm.
The remedy? Let people see your vision. Convince them you have a solid plan for the future.