Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Elders and Deacons

It seems to me that the NT has a lot to say on the topic of leaders in the local church. This is one of the areas that we most need to develop here at our local fellowship. We are in the process of identifying people that would fit the biblical model for leadership.

Elders seem to be in charge of the more spiritual aspects of the church. Not that they are necessarily the most spiritual people (though it would certainly help), but that they are concerned with the spiritual well-being of the church. Things like prayer, fasting, decision-making in the will of God, spiritual direction, etc are all things that they should be looking at during the average week.

Deacons on the other hand are servant leaders. They are also very spiritual individuals, but they let that play out in acts of service within the local context. We are playing (use that term very loosely of course) with the idea of deacons and deaconesses (yes that's right, we are definitely considering women for this crucial area) for Crossroads. These would be the people that care for the daily needs of the body such as feeding the orphans and widows, taking care of the sick (hospital visitation etc), taking care of the facilities, etc. I know we would all agree that these important areas of ministry should not be neglected and would be better accomplished by those that are not only gifted, but ordained to do them.

So what think ye....who are some people that come to mind when you think of Elder or Deacon/Deaconess in the church?

Saturday, May 26, 2007

I have a GREAT idea!!!!!

You know how scripture teaches that the older ought to teach the younger and that the younger should respect and honor the older?

What would you guys think about starting with COOKING!!!!!! Seriously, I think we could have a weekend where we all got together and took turns teaching how to do certain things involving cooking. I mean we could bring our kids and make it really interactive, move over Rachel Ray!

So what do you guys think? Like someone could teach us how to make homemade tamales (yeah you Jenny), someone else could show us how to make real chicken wings, or grill brats that will set you free, or make REAL BBQ, or make a cake from scratch, or homemade bread, or any number of things.

Maybe Darrell could show us how to brew homemade beer! Well he is a scientist afterall :)

Cmon, chime in, let's do this. We can set up the house at the church (or go to someone's house with plenty of room), and just cook all day on a Saturday. Or we could do it once or twice a month during the summer. Let's get it going!

Turning 50.......Wow

Tonight we went to a good friend's 50th birthday party, pretty amazing really. I can't even believe that 50 is so close and that so many of our friends are edging up on that momentous occasion. Trust me, you won't be able to believe it either "next year" (for that is what it will seem like) when you are looking at the big 5-0!

Gary Dollarhide made it to 50 and in amazing fashion. He looks young and acts even younger. I really wish I could look half as good as he did tonight. He is really an amazing man and one of the best Christian witnesses I've had the privilege of knowing. He and LuAnn have been good friends to us over the years; it was really a blessing to be there tonight.

If you have a friend like Gary and would like to comment about them, please feel free to do so. Also, if any of you know Gary, it would be nice to hear your testimonies about what he means or has meant to you and yours.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Finally I get to do beach ministry!

We'll the Payne's have decided to become extremely missional! We are leaving the 48 to go to the Islands (Hawaii of course) to catch some rays and do our best to be missional to the natives and tourists we meet.

We will be leaving next Saturday and staying there the 3rd thru 9th. Seriously, pray that the Lord will only let us be in awe of the beach and weather and waves for a little while so we can focus on brightening someone's day!

Aloha!

Monday, May 21, 2007

Eager Expectation

I can't begin to say how excited I am to see so many people looking forward to the Summer of Love! Thanks Garry for turning me on to that. I looked it up and got lots of cool info about it and we have adopted it as our missional thrust for the summer.

Question: Preaching service once, or twice a month on Sunday? I'm hearing several say that they'd like to limit the traditional "instruction/exhortation" part of Sunday to only once a month and go and be the church the other three Sundays. I'd like to know what you guys think about that.

Also, Court brought up a good idea, worship/coffee/announcements early on every Sunday and then leave together to go into the MISSION field. I like it, maybe not everytime, but it would help with communication and direction related to that weekend's adventure.

Let me know what you guys are thinking........

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Can You Take Me Higher?

Well I just wanted to get some feedback on your thoughts about the lyrics from the Creed song Higher. We went over that song as part of our Missional discussion this morning, tying it in with Luke 4 and Luke 7 where Jesus was describing to those in the synagogue and some followers of John respectively, what it meant for Him to begin His public ministry. "The blind see, the deaf hear, . . . ." and primarily, "the gospel is preached to the poor." This is interestingly in the place of prominence in both accounts.

It sure makes me think that we have perhaps missed one of the greatest blessings of being the church in our generation; meeting the needs of the poor and the poor in spirit. As Creed puts it, "the only difference is to let love replace all of our hate." I know we would never admit to intentionally hating someone, but refusing anyone the chance to hear the good news of redemption and purpose and blessing, somehow that seems to add up to hate; not respecting them or the Lord enough to be salt and light in the culture that most needs it (and desires it).

Saturday, May 19, 2007

What do you think would happen . . .

What do you think would happen if people showed up "for church" on Sunday and there was a sign on the door announcing "We are being the church today at The XYZ Nursing Home. Come and join us as we go . . ." (John 20:21).

Okay, seriuosly, how many would actually go (what %) and how many would start looking for a new church? How many would just throw up their hands in disgust or disbelief? How low would the offering go that day?

But, how many smiles would we generate? How many hearts would jump at our sight? What would that 85 year old grandmother who hasn't seen any family for months think/do when we all lined up to give her a hug? And what if we brought REAL food with us? You know, that home-cooked church kind of food? That might make some old guy do a jig!

And what if we had no agenda but to just go and spend time there, making new friends and enjoying the company of those older and wiser than us? Sure, if someone requested, we could all sing/hum (in my case) an old hymn or whatever, but just going to be salt and light and to let someone's light shine on us!!! Tell me that wouldn't possibly be an outstanding morning!

I can hear someone say, "What of preaching and worship? How would our week go without them?" Well I have 2 thoughts: 1) This one is more positive than the other so i'll put it in first. How about we meet on a different day or maybe even at a different place for that; and 2) Like missing that stuff is really going to make a difference for one week? I mean most of us are hearers anyway, so it's not like the sermon and worship and coffee are going to change us and make us go and DO anything this weak (yes I know how I spelled it).

So, what do you think would happen?

Friday, May 18, 2007

Failure Doesn't Suck

Interesting title for sure, but what does it mean? Check out this great article to read about the guy who has made the most profittable vacuum cleaner in the world. It is about the Dyson guy and what all happened on his way to the top of his industry.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/115/open_next-design.html?partner=rss

This should serve as great proof that failure should never be final. If we are not willing to try and fail then we are not really trying at all and have virtually no faith. That is where I see the average church becoming, well average. It is the compromise of not getting out on the edge and the lack of willingness to take a chance.

What is the absolute worst thing that could happen to the church that attempts something great for the Kingdom and totally fails? Seriously, what is the worst thing that could happen?

It's Friday but Sunday's Coming

Anyone ever remember that song by Carman that talked about the terrible day (ironically we call it good friday) when Jesus died. It's called Sunday's on the Way and it details how the demons were partying after the death of Jesus, but how Satan wasn't so at ease.

He was restless because he knew that Jesus predicted that He would rise on the third day. Needless to say, Sunday was the third day and Jesus did what He said He would and that of course left Satan totally defeated. Good story..................great ending!

Well it's Friday again and Sunday is on the way. At the church where I serve, we are gearing up for an exciting Sunday morning, with a twist for Sunday night. We are meeting to determine the course for the future of our fledgling congregation. Do we continue doing what we're doing and keep getting the same results (about 1-2 committed families a year, committed to Jesus but mostly through our church), or do we chart a new course; a missional voyage that will leave the attractional model (at least for the most part) in the past.

The obvious question is "What will this church look like if we transition towards missional and away from attractional?" I wish I knew exactly, but I don't. For many that would appear as flakiness, but for some of you it will hit home. You know that we see through a glass dimly and that knowing the future isn't very common; yes even among us professional pastors (lol).

So it's Friday...........but Sunday's on the way! Are you looking forward to it?

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Add your MySpace

In the attempt to get to know you guys better, I am requesting that you add your blog or myspace address in the comments section of this post. I would love to link to you guys so this is not just my ramblings but our rumblings! POST!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

I Want a New Drug



In 1988 C. Everett Coop, the then renown Surgeon General, declared that nicotine was as addictive as heroin or cocaine ( http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/05/dayintech_0516). Looking back, I don't think anyone really thought that much about it as a drug, but when lumped in with the nasties, it made us take a harder look at tobacco. In fact, he was the one that forced the Surgeon General's label to be put on all tobacco products; probably a good thing, but likely not saving any lives.

A couple of days ago I was enjoying a blast from the past as I played a round of golf with my brother in Dallas. While driving to the course, I heard the song "I want a New Drug by Huey Lewis and the News. I loved that song back in the day and I think it is worthy of a remix, maybe even a church version. Remember the lyrics of the first verse:

I want a new drug
One that won't make me sick
One that won't make me crash my car
Or make me feel three feet thick
I want a new drug
One that won't hurt my head
One that won't make my mouth too dry
Or make my eyes too red
One that won't make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you
When I'm alone with you.

Man that's what I'm talking about! I want a new drug that makes me feel like I feel when I get alone with Jesus. One that gives me that energy, cleansing, assurance, and community. One that won't make me nervous in His presence, wondering what to do, but rather one that helps me see my place in the scheme of things; my insignificance in the universe, but my purpose in the Kingdom of God.

We have that drug, it's the Spirit, the pneuma, the breath of God, I think. We should OD as fast as possible.

Oh yeah, the last verse:

I want a new drug
One that does what it should
One that won't make me feel too bad
One that won't make me feel too good
I want a new drug One with no doubt
One that won't make me talk too much
Or make my face break out
One that won't make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you
When I'm alone with you

Quite appropriate in describing the Breath of God don't you think?

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Interesting in light of today's discussions:

Can the Traditional Church be Missional?

Thoughts??

DAY 2......Misssional Minds and Butts

Today being Tuesday, I was entertained by a group of philosophers from the region of East Texas. All in all there were 5 of us and we spent about 4 hours conversing about what it means to be truly missional and arguing (so to speak) about whether our fellowship is ready to seriously consider the gradual transformation from Attractional to Missional and what that would look like. Zorlofe made sure that we all knew that we could live communal lives if we really wanted to.

This conversation made me count the cost of being authentically missional, incarnational, contextual, and evolutional. Am I ready to become a MICE follower of Jesus? These are the questions that we all need to ask today....what is the cost and can I afford not to do this?


Alan Hirsch says in The Forgotten Ways, "So while maintaining its "groovy" and somewhat alternative vibe, South [the church he served in as lead pastor in South Melbourne] had inadvertently become safe and more self-consciously yuppie and, as a result, had lost something of its edge. Without anyone noticing, we had lost our original call and missional heart." (p. 33)

Crossroaders . . . does this sound at all familiar? After the 4 hour discussion with missional minds and missional butts, I think the philosophers and I decided that this very much sounds like us. BTW....... Zorlofe is a cool name for a philosopher!

Monday, May 14, 2007

Check out this Nooma video on Anger





So ask someone besides yourself how you're doing on your anger. Are your issues showing through your facade?

First Blog

Well this is my first real attempt at posting my rants on the web. I'm going to test it a little at first until I get a clue, then I'm really gonna rip it up! If you find this blog, please comment so I'll know you were here, thanks!