One must consider the "Beginning of the day......." before he/she can declare the end of the day.
Psalms 26 states that "I have walked in mine integrity" If I start that way then the End of the day will be satisfying.
Let's start right so we can end right
Allen
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Swimming Pools, Beaches and Churches
Ephesians 4:11 states that God” gave to the church Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers.” Also are deacons and Elders. You have heard or possibility taught that there are not Apostles after the original 13, also prophets are suspect as well. I contend all these exist today and should be recognized as such. Most SBC teach that the Pastor is 3 in 1, i.e. Pastor, Bishop, Elder. I also contend that all these positions serve specific functions and you can not lump them under one or two leaders.
What does this have to do with swimming pools and beaches and churches?
Consider a membership pool for a moment….
You have an enclosure for the pool, a lifeguard, a maintaince staff, swimmers, etc.
The job of the lifeguard is to keep and eye on the swimmers and watch for dangers and maintain order. (Pastor)
The job of the maintaince staff is to make sure trash is up, things run orderly etc. (Deacons)
The job of Lifeguard instructors is to train the lifeguards to do the best job that they can (Apostles)
One job around the pool or beach is to beware of dangers lurking around. Sharks, Broken pipes, blind spots, currents, etc. Warning the lifeguard and swimmers is very important. (Prophets)
Every pool / beach needs someone to extol the virtues of their place. Someone must convince others to come to the Life and Life abundantly [water] at their place (Evangelist)
There are those that will be good swimmers that can go to the deep and will help those that can not swim a well get better and make good decision about how far they can go (Elders)
There are those that can give lessons on being a better swimmer (Teachers)
Some pools / beaches will double up some of these jobs, but all are specific and unique.
You see, our churches have Pastors that should be watching the members for dangers. What happens when he gets distracted by other things? The members are in danger.
All Pastors should be taught by Apostles to keep them up to date.
Deacons aught to be about making sure the members have a safe environment out of the water.
Prophets should be diligent to warn of dangers in the water and around the church.
Evangelist should invite others to come to Jesus and be with the church.
Elders should train those less mature to become more mature. Help them along.
Teachers should give good lessons of instruction.
Let us give everyone a chance to do what God has put in the church to be used by the church.
What does this have to do with swimming pools and beaches and churches?
Consider a membership pool for a moment….
You have an enclosure for the pool, a lifeguard, a maintaince staff, swimmers, etc.
The job of the lifeguard is to keep and eye on the swimmers and watch for dangers and maintain order. (Pastor)
The job of the maintaince staff is to make sure trash is up, things run orderly etc. (Deacons)
The job of Lifeguard instructors is to train the lifeguards to do the best job that they can (Apostles)
One job around the pool or beach is to beware of dangers lurking around. Sharks, Broken pipes, blind spots, currents, etc. Warning the lifeguard and swimmers is very important. (Prophets)
Every pool / beach needs someone to extol the virtues of their place. Someone must convince others to come to the Life and Life abundantly [water] at their place (Evangelist)
There are those that will be good swimmers that can go to the deep and will help those that can not swim a well get better and make good decision about how far they can go (Elders)
There are those that can give lessons on being a better swimmer (Teachers)
Some pools / beaches will double up some of these jobs, but all are specific and unique.
You see, our churches have Pastors that should be watching the members for dangers. What happens when he gets distracted by other things? The members are in danger.
All Pastors should be taught by Apostles to keep them up to date.
Deacons aught to be about making sure the members have a safe environment out of the water.
Prophets should be diligent to warn of dangers in the water and around the church.
Evangelist should invite others to come to Jesus and be with the church.
Elders should train those less mature to become more mature. Help them along.
Teachers should give good lessons of instruction.
Let us give everyone a chance to do what God has put in the church to be used by the church.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
LEADER OR DICTATOR
How would you define a leader or leadership? How would you compare a leader to a dictator?
Both a leader and a dictator could be said to have the same skill sets, however the greatest difference in the two is proximity. Great leaders are closer to the subjects than good leaders.
How can One lead from afar? Do they not then Dictate their wishes? I can lead you out of the forest better beside you than I can 300' ahead.
Do you wonder why members in mega-churches do not do a very good job of being involved? I contend that the Pastors have quit leading and began dictating. There seems to be the unapproachablility of Pastors today. This disconnect is what defines Leader from Dictator.
Psalm 23 declares that HE will lead me beside the still waters. It does not say HE will tell me how to walk beside the still waters!
As churches get larger and larger, we have fewer and fewer leading and more and more telling.
As Pastors you need to get back to being closer to those you "felt called" to lead.
Allen
Both a leader and a dictator could be said to have the same skill sets, however the greatest difference in the two is proximity. Great leaders are closer to the subjects than good leaders.
How can One lead from afar? Do they not then Dictate their wishes? I can lead you out of the forest better beside you than I can 300' ahead.
Do you wonder why members in mega-churches do not do a very good job of being involved? I contend that the Pastors have quit leading and began dictating. There seems to be the unapproachablility of Pastors today. This disconnect is what defines Leader from Dictator.
Psalm 23 declares that HE will lead me beside the still waters. It does not say HE will tell me how to walk beside the still waters!
As churches get larger and larger, we have fewer and fewer leading and more and more telling.
As Pastors you need to get back to being closer to those you "felt called" to lead.
Allen
Friday, August 14, 2009
Falling UP or Falling DOWN
So many times I think I am progressing just to find that it is not so. I have viewed progress as an upward path; that relevance is upward. Man am I wrong! I got blasted by my wife when she said that for the first 10 years things were great, then the last 7 have been down hill. What happened? I thought that I was progressing to a higher plane, that I have advanced in knowledge, technology, job status, Christian growth, husbandry, etc…
1 Peter 3:7:
7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Now this is strong stuff.
Revelation 2
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The progress that I thought I made upward was really downward. You do not Fall up!
Do we not realize that relevance is not upward, that we should do those things we did before that were on the higher plane. We have fallen from higher to lower even in our quest for Vision and progress.
We should use the KISS method. Keep It Simple Stupid.
1 Peter 3:7:
7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Now this is strong stuff.
Revelation 2
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The progress that I thought I made upward was really downward. You do not Fall up!
Do we not realize that relevance is not upward, that we should do those things we did before that were on the higher plane. We have fallen from higher to lower even in our quest for Vision and progress.
We should use the KISS method. Keep It Simple Stupid.
Monday, July 20, 2009
TO + TO does not equal FOR
In reading Ephesians 6: I noticed the phrase that Jesus gave Himself FOR the church. Now that is profound against giving TO the church. It is a mindset (attitude) to differentate between these two views.
You see, when you are TO something you are essentailly adding to the .....
When you do FOR then it is a selfless act, giving up for the betterment of ......
You see, when you are TO something you are essentailly adding to the .....
When you do FOR then it is a selfless act, giving up for the betterment of ......
When you do things for someone or something then the act will selfless; when you are asked to do TO something it tends to be prideful.
Are you a Pastor to the _________? or are you a Pastor for ____________?
The attitude one has will determine it's success.
Let's be For and not To.
Allen
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Salt Box
Matthew 5:13 (KJV)
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Consider the salt bag or salt box of the day Matthew wrote Jesus' teaching. The salt was confined to the container. Now how do you suppose that salt can loose it's SAVOUR?
If the church is salt, how can non salt stand to be in the same container with salt if it is not salt already? The salt would have a corrosive effect on non salt. Therefore, we as salt should be collective in the church "container" and seasoning outside of the "Container". But again I ask. How does salt in the container loose it's savour? By becoming CONTAMINATED. How you ask does it become contaminated? By allowing dirt and contaminates from outside the container to get inside the container. Once salt is contaminated it is good for nothing except to be cast out. You would not put salt as seasoning on food if it was contaminated.
The problem is who is in charge to secure that the container does not get contaminated. Those who have placed themselves in charge. (Pastors and ministerial staff)
It is no small wonder the church has little influence (savour) on the community it is in; we are contaminated by culture and relevance to the point we are more like the outside of the container than the original contents in the container. And who wants to be seasoned with contaminated salt? No one!
Something needs to change. Filter out the contaminates and be pure salt or quit pretending to be the seasoning people should be using to savour their lives.
Pastors, quit allowing contaminates from the outside of the container into the container or quit being the Pastor and let someone more qualified sit in the gates to protect the Pure Church.
Allen
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Consider the salt bag or salt box of the day Matthew wrote Jesus' teaching. The salt was confined to the container. Now how do you suppose that salt can loose it's SAVOUR?
If the church is salt, how can non salt stand to be in the same container with salt if it is not salt already? The salt would have a corrosive effect on non salt. Therefore, we as salt should be collective in the church "container" and seasoning outside of the "Container". But again I ask. How does salt in the container loose it's savour? By becoming CONTAMINATED. How you ask does it become contaminated? By allowing dirt and contaminates from outside the container to get inside the container. Once salt is contaminated it is good for nothing except to be cast out. You would not put salt as seasoning on food if it was contaminated.
The problem is who is in charge to secure that the container does not get contaminated. Those who have placed themselves in charge. (Pastors and ministerial staff)
It is no small wonder the church has little influence (savour) on the community it is in; we are contaminated by culture and relevance to the point we are more like the outside of the container than the original contents in the container. And who wants to be seasoned with contaminated salt? No one!
Something needs to change. Filter out the contaminates and be pure salt or quit pretending to be the seasoning people should be using to savour their lives.
Pastors, quit allowing contaminates from the outside of the container into the container or quit being the Pastor and let someone more qualified sit in the gates to protect the Pure Church.
Allen
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Swagger Christianity
Swagger: Prideful, arrogant walk or stride. ( Source Urban Dictionary #5 )
Have you noticed that Christian leaders today have a Swagger about them?
Pride just dripping from their mouth and walk.
It is no wonder the un-saved do not want any part of Christianity.
SAB
Have you noticed that Christian leaders today have a Swagger about them?
Pride just dripping from their mouth and walk.
It is no wonder the un-saved do not want any part of Christianity.
SAB
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