07.25.09
God of This City NYC 09 change
Ministry = adapting to changes, sometimes last minute and beyond my control – hard lesson that I’m still learning 
Because we didn’t have the response we’d hoped, we’re scaling back MCC’s short term mission trip to NYC to make it even shorter (Fri 31 July – Sat 1 Aug) – and less expensive. Details here. I regret missing the opportunity to work w/ Community Christian Church NYC & NYC Rescue Mission – but not my will but God’s will be done!
05.29.09
God of This City NYC 09 – two month countdown
I’ll be periodically blogging the next couple of months about a MCC short term mission team that will go to NYC Thursday 30 July – Monday 3 August to help six different churches and ministries:
Indian church planter C.T. Abraham and family
- Community Christian Church – NYC
- Orchard Group Indian Project
- Forefront Church
- Igreja de Cristo
- Church of the Incarnation
- NYC Rescue Mission
Here are some past posts about MCC trips to NYC: reflection on 2008 one-day trip, prep for 2008 trip, the 2007 day-trip I planned to go but missed.
Download the first draft promo flyer.
04.29.09
forecasting Christianity in America: cynical optimism
MCC’s exec pastor Rob Kastens forwarded our staff this recent Newsweek cover story and Albert Mohler’s follow-up blog post. Dr. Mohler posted another follow-up, commenting on Stephen Prothro’s crititque of Newsweek’s original analysis. One of my favorite bloggers Seldom Wrong Never In Doubt points to this Wall Street Journal critique, as well as adding his own “cynical optimist” opinion.
Earlier this week, I submitted a book review for my online church history course @ Cincinnati Christian University on Philip Jenkins’ The Next Christendom. In the spirit of SWNID-style cynicism, this Jenkins quote, “modern Western media generally do an awful job of reporting religious realities, even within their own societies.” Likewise, in the spirit of faith-and-historical-fact-based SWNID optimism, Jenkins concludes, “”Whether we look backward or forward in history, we can see that time and again, Christianity demonstrates a breath-taking ability to transform weakness into strength.”
07.18.08
I have enough!
Liz Ross invited me to speak Thursday night at Indian Lake Christian Service Camp for Junior II week. Even from just a few hours there that night, I could see how much she & her staff are loving those kids, and how much fun everyone is having – the best bunk / skunk bunk videos are YouTube worthy
Their theme is Mythbusters: Jesus busts myths that you cannot get to God. Liz gave me the theme “Jesus busts the myth that you need to get more stuff” (Matthew 6:18-24). I followed the guidelines Rod Ross (Liz’s hubby and partner in kid-focused large group creativity!) gave for re-telling the Bible story and focusing on 4th-6th grade suitable application. The catch phrase for the kids was “I have enough” and we can show we have enough by saying thank you for our stuff, by not whining for more stuff, and by sharing our stuff.
To prep me to speak, Rod included Helpful suggestions for preparing a message for kids. Even when communicating to adults (small group leader, etc.) the points on “Be Passionate – Be genuinely excited and passionate about what you say, have a sense of urgency about all your words. If you do not feel passionate about the message, then find something new to say.” AND “Stories, Stories, Stories – The simplest attention spiker in the world are these 6 words “let me tell you a story.” Tell personal stories that relate to the topic.
11.17.07
Everything Tastes Better Shared
I am blessed to have shared @ the Eastern Christian Convention today on a workshop about life-changing & disciple-making relationships and how small groups can provide the environment for them.
Here is the “Everything Tastes Better Shared” take-away sheet (answer key on the bottom). Some of my thoughts came from an article I wrote for The Lookout earlier this year.
10.18.07
Everything tastes better shared
I’m presenting a workshop @ the Eastern Christian Convention in Hershey PA Saturday, Nov 17. As it gets closer, I’ll try to remember to post some personal memories. I realized this year that I’ve been attending the ECC nearly 30 years (my mom & dad brought my sisters & I to our family’s first ECC in 1978.
The emphasis is how our relationships w/ fellow Christians can help us become better disciples (whether through “structured” small groups or less structured relationships w/ mentors or peers), NOT “this is how your church can start or manage a program.”
Though my formal title is Pastor of Adult Small Groups – I have to keep reminding myself my kingdom assignment is not managing a program, but nudging people into relationships (w/ the others in their small group) that the Spirit can use to grow them.
