ThoughtPaths is a combination Resource and Blog site. Discusson centers on Reformed Theology, Christian Life and Church Life, but spans Juggling, IT, Work, and more.
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Thoughts in Progress
I am convinced that one of the primary responsibilities of the local assembly is the pro-active, ongoing equipping of all believers for individual bible study, and further that this responsibility is not being addressed throughout the evangelical church. Numerous conversations with other believers, both new and more mature, indicates that I am not alone in these conclusions and that church leadership and programs are seriously off the rails, out of touch and in denial on this issue.
I have br...
A message that I heard recently started me ruminating (about foundational issues, as usual). This is good in that maybe there is some discussion merited here, but not so good in what I think I was hearing. It was a mixed bag so to speak, and I took a while to decide to write about it.
The message was an interpretation of Romans 14. It proposed that there was confusion within the church over what constituted essential and non-essential matters of faith and necessary practice, and that this res...
Light them up...
To see the complete Torch Gallery click HERE.
First a caveat. If you are committed to societal relevance in church programs, seeker sensitivity, the emerging church, or are easily upset or offended in this regard, you might want to skip this article...
How many times have you heard the mantra from Real Estate sales people? Location, location, location!
Well, for the assembly of believers it should be similar in a way. Foundation, foundation, foundation!
Summing up the discussion of church leadership models, and with The Cambridge D...
A very interesting (and decidedly encouraging) chat with a young Christian brother focused on a perspective many of us as believers needed to be reminded of. This fellow is serving with a missions organization in the Southern Hemisphere, and I thank the Lord for the Skype technology that makes our contact not only possible but amazingly easy and conversational.
In the course of our conversation he used an analogy that may be familiar to some (including as it turns out, my daughter), but which...
What a flash point worship music has become! On the other hand, it has apparently always been thus.
In writing about church focus, concerning theology and doctrine, I considered worship music to be a side issue simply involving preferences. However, the comments on "What is the cure, Doctor?" indicate it merits a separate thread. It is clearly both a dividing line and a divisive issue for many congregations. Congregation do, and have, split based solely on animosity over this issue.
Anecdo...
Almost the first phrase that people greet you with when they first meet you is "What do you do?". Your answer and vocation will in most cases slot you into a category for them, and yield a predefined level of respect and associated attitude toward you. Breaking out of that box once it is assigned to you is often not easy. As such, your initial presentation, irrespective of who you really are or your value, is important. That may be unfortunate and sound superficial, but it is often simple realit...
One evening about two months ago I was having coffee (tea, actually) with a couple of Christian brothers. Between us we represent several churches of different evangelical demoninations, all generally Reformed in flavour. We are on reasonably common ground in our basic expectations of congregational life and relationships, bearing in mind that our impressions still admittedly represent a tiny microcosm of anecdotal evidence. A draft of this post came from that meeting, but remained a draft. Then...
Does anyone read this? I know that some people do, but what part does it play in the process?
When thinking about people reading these articles, or not, I have to muse about what is to be accomplished here. It would be nice to think of these ramblings as read by lots of people, of value in some way to some, and even stimulating comment or thought in a few. Some of that is a genuine desire to help and collaborate, but it is also admittedly ego in desiring to be useful.
Beyond that, however,...
In examining the philosophy related to congregation size and growth, and in proposing a focus on the Lord rather than the numbers, questions will invariably arises concerning 'essential' programs. If size and growth are not to be an issue, aside from an after effect in which to rejoice with new believers, and if the numbers are not be a goal, then how does this affect our view of whatever programs we might hold near and dear?
Clearly, if the number considerations are off the front burner, the...
A few after thoughts arising from discussion and musing since I posted the Proposal.
It might come across that this proposal for congregation-wide proactive equiping should supplant inreach (other internal congregational support programs). That is not the intent. The local church continues to requiring tending through the usual activities - worship, youth group, Sunday School, fellowship, and so on. All this is foundational fuel, from which the energy for evangelism outreach can spring.
Ad...
This Post could also be called “Arm the Moose”, and I will no doubt offend some people, but you can’t please everyone…
I just don’t ‘get’ hunting. Actually I never have.
What is proven by taking high powered modern weapons, and using them to blow away animals in their natural habitat? How does this make a man more manly? How does this demonstrate any sort of ethical behaviour as a steward of the planet? In my complete biased view, it does exactly the opposite.
It certainly may d...
An acquaintance of mine, Peter (www.jurankaimages.com), was reading my California blog and came to the post about gun shops. He tells me that they in fact DO exist and he was in one outside LA. To hear it told, it was like a big Shopper's Drug Mart, except the walls were lined with glass cases of rifles, and the counter display cases were filled with hand guns and ammunition.
Rats, and I missed it!
