We have had the debate before on this blog about Christian vs. secular when it comes to the arts. World Views has a post but the best thing is the debate going on the comment section. Go ahead! Dive in! Christian music vs. music by Christians
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Thoughts on Ministry
Today there was another excellent post from Perry Noble. I promise that one of these days I will quit regurgitating Perry’s post and come up with something original. Really! It seems that Perry Noble and I are dealing with the same issues right now.
Perry is speaking of his staff this morning and his first point is that they have a “whatever, whenever” attitude. They will do what they have to do to get the job done. I have to admit that many times I’m not that person but usually that is because someone has been lacking on point #2 of Perry’s post. Point #2 states that to Perry’s staff excellence is a consuming passion. They are not content with half way doing ministry. Unfortunately many times my attitude is adversely affected by someone’s laziness and lack of planning. It is as simple as that. I am absolutely thrilled that people want to reach people for Christ but wanting and doing are two different things. We are accumulating ministries faster than flies at a dinner on the grounds but are we doing these ministries with excellence. Are we giving the effort that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ expects and deserves from us in these ministries? I’m all for reaching out to our community to show Christ and tell of His love for them. Jesus also had this same compassion for the people around Him and He also knew that there would be few to go out reach these people. We must first plan and ask for workers before we can go into the harvest field. Read Matthew 9:35-38 and then also read Perry’s post Some Thoughts on Staffing.
Perry is speaking of his staff this morning and his first point is that they have a “whatever, whenever” attitude. They will do what they have to do to get the job done. I have to admit that many times I’m not that person but usually that is because someone has been lacking on point #2 of Perry’s post. Point #2 states that to Perry’s staff excellence is a consuming passion. They are not content with half way doing ministry. Unfortunately many times my attitude is adversely affected by someone’s laziness and lack of planning. It is as simple as that. I am absolutely thrilled that people want to reach people for Christ but wanting and doing are two different things. We are accumulating ministries faster than flies at a dinner on the grounds but are we doing these ministries with excellence. Are we giving the effort that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ expects and deserves from us in these ministries? I’m all for reaching out to our community to show Christ and tell of His love for them. Jesus also had this same compassion for the people around Him and He also knew that there would be few to go out reach these people. We must first plan and ask for workers before we can go into the harvest field. Read Matthew 9:35-38 and then also read Perry’s post Some Thoughts on Staffing.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
God is at work in Charlotte too!
It seems that God is at work in the region and not just upstate South Carolina. Thanks to Tony Morgan for reminding me of another church much closer to me than Newspring who is also getting it done in their back yard. That church is Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC
Seven families decided to pack up and move to Charlotte and plant a church. They started back in February with 98 people. This past weekend they had attendance of 735. That is phenomenal growth. Here is another example of a church who is investing in the people around them to reach them for Christ.
The need is great in Charlotte. I have worked in this city for ten years and I have witnessed as this city’s population has increased to nearly a million people the need for Christ has also risen. I rejoice with Elevation Church and hope to visit them soon.
Seven families decided to pack up and move to Charlotte and plant a church. They started back in February with 98 people. This past weekend they had attendance of 735. That is phenomenal growth. Here is another example of a church who is investing in the people around them to reach them for Christ.
The need is great in Charlotte. I have worked in this city for ten years and I have witnessed as this city’s population has increased to nearly a million people the need for Christ has also risen. I rejoice with Elevation Church and hope to visit them soon.
Excellence
“Excellence honors God”. That is a quote from Mark Batterson yesterday on his blog. I believe that it is absolutely true. It is a necessity when it comes to media and technology. People know excellence in media because they see and hear it everyday. When it doesn’t look right or sound right then people are turned off.
When we strive for excellence we are showing God that we want to do the very best with what He has given us. It also shows others that God deserves our very best. I’m disappointed in people that do not want to put forth an effort worthy of service to God. God wants our best because He wants what is best for us.
Check out Mark’s post, Eye for Excellence
When we strive for excellence we are showing God that we want to do the very best with what He has given us. It also shows others that God deserves our very best. I’m disappointed in people that do not want to put forth an effort worthy of service to God. God wants our best because He wants what is best for us.
Check out Mark’s post, Eye for Excellence
Saturday, October 07, 2006
God is at Work in SC!
Well, once again I write whereas I have not written in a while. Federal initiatives are still taking up my blogging time. Not only am I behind in writing but also in reading the many blogs that I enjoy reading. One of those blogs is the blog of Perry Noble.
Perry is the pastor of Newspring Church in Anderson, SC. Not too far from my own church. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I read his account of their service back on September 24th. That is what it is all about. I must say that God is working in the upstate of South Carolina. We have also seen a great influx of people attending our services. Nothing like Newspring though. I don’t think 8,000 people would fit in our church, all of it.
It has been awesome to see standing room only at one of our services for the last month or so. We have people sitting where ever than can find a place to sit down. We have had people come and take a chair in the tech area so they would have a place to sit. God is working in people’s lives in the upstate of South Carolina.
As I have been reading Perry’s blog for the past year or so I have learned a great deal about him and Newspring. Perry has a passion for reaching the lost for Christ right there in his back yard. I have learned that Newspring goes to great lengths to plan and prepare. I know that the entire leadership, staff and creative teams are of one accord and on the same page when it comes to their services. They all strive for excellence not for anyone but for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For all of this they are seeing the fruit of their labor now. What a blessing!
Newspring is only about 6 years old I believe. They are very innovative but it is not a show. The gospel and the scripture is not watered down at Newspring but is presented in more of a straightforward way than most churches have ever presented. They don’t worry about offending anyone but Jesus Christ Himself. What is your 20, 50, 100 year old church doing to reach people for Christ and to make them disciples? Are you still doing the things that were being done 20, 50, 100 years ago?
People are hurting. They are searching for answers to the problems that plague their lives. They are all around us. We know the source of the answers to their problems. Are we doing everything with the abilities, gifts and resources that God has given us to show them that source? I pray that we will if we are not doing so already. Newspring is a great example. Check out these posts from Perry Noble:
Words Can’t Come Close
A Fresh Perspective
Perry is the pastor of Newspring Church in Anderson, SC. Not too far from my own church. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I read his account of their service back on September 24th. That is what it is all about. I must say that God is working in the upstate of South Carolina. We have also seen a great influx of people attending our services. Nothing like Newspring though. I don’t think 8,000 people would fit in our church, all of it.
It has been awesome to see standing room only at one of our services for the last month or so. We have people sitting where ever than can find a place to sit down. We have had people come and take a chair in the tech area so they would have a place to sit. God is working in people’s lives in the upstate of South Carolina.
As I have been reading Perry’s blog for the past year or so I have learned a great deal about him and Newspring. Perry has a passion for reaching the lost for Christ right there in his back yard. I have learned that Newspring goes to great lengths to plan and prepare. I know that the entire leadership, staff and creative teams are of one accord and on the same page when it comes to their services. They all strive for excellence not for anyone but for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For all of this they are seeing the fruit of their labor now. What a blessing!
Newspring is only about 6 years old I believe. They are very innovative but it is not a show. The gospel and the scripture is not watered down at Newspring but is presented in more of a straightforward way than most churches have ever presented. They don’t worry about offending anyone but Jesus Christ Himself. What is your 20, 50, 100 year old church doing to reach people for Christ and to make them disciples? Are you still doing the things that were being done 20, 50, 100 years ago?
People are hurting. They are searching for answers to the problems that plague their lives. They are all around us. We know the source of the answers to their problems. Are we doing everything with the abilities, gifts and resources that God has given us to show them that source? I pray that we will if we are not doing so already. Newspring is a great example. Check out these posts from Perry Noble:
Words Can’t Come Close
A Fresh Perspective
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