I received another free book last night - Shaped By God's Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches by Milfred Miatrea. It looks really good. The inside flap states:
"Shaped By God's Heart reveals that it's not the church's activity level that defines success but whether its activities accomplish God's mission for His church. This book helps ministers and church leaders move beyond mere survival and maintenance toward a thriving missional mode for their congregations. Missional congregations become fully relevant to today's society without losing what is distinctively Christian in their spiritual practices."
District Leaders Meeting
I received the book at a District Leadership Meeting. It's for the church leaders in the eastern disctrict of the Midwest Region of the Churches of God, General Conference, Findlay, OH. Of course there aren't usually too many leaders who show up. Which is a bummer, because I think it's a good time to get together and eat food and talk about Jesus. But... well, never mind.
Lowell Burress gave a talk based on the already-mentioned book. I like Lowell. An older guy who has pastored a rural church for 36 years or so. Great guy. I hope I have his fire when I'm his age. I wish I had his fire now! I also sat by Lloyd Harlan. He used to pastor the church I'm at. He retired maybe 10 years ago and has probably filled a pulpit almost every Sunday since then. Another great guy. And Jim Martin was on the other side of him. Another retired guy who doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit." What a great cloud of witnesses to be surrounded by. I felt honored.
Bachelors Weekend
Isaac and I are alone this weekend. Jane & Carrie went to Findlay for a Women's Retreat. Two other ladies went with them. I hope they enjoy it. Of course, Jane called last night to say that the 'engine light' came on in the car. I hope it's just a faulty light. Argh.
Post Script from yesterday
I feel bad now over what I wrote yesterday about Christian concerts. They're not all bad; and I don't "hate" them. Sometimes it is irritating though. But... I know why they do what they do. And I'm glad they do. I was just being a bit self-centered. When I go to a show, I would like for it to be all about me. But there are usually other people there too. So... please forgive me.
Well, gotta get some stuff done. Peace & Revolution, okay? Yes! Or, as Lowell said last night... sometimes "you gotta HIT somebody" (a reference to how his brother told him you become a good football player - I'm not referring to the physical sense, but... you know... make a stinkin' difference, okay!). Later.
d.
1 comment:
Dude - do not apologize for getting cranky about Xn concerts! Christian Rock really is an industry, in every sense of that word. Exceptions allowed for, of course - but how rare those exceptions are!
Tangentially, did you ever read this GQ piece about Creation Fest, by John Jeremiah Sullivan? Killer quote: "Christian rock is a musical genre, the only one I can think of, that has excellence-proofed itself." Refreshingly, his criticism of the industry is little more than a footnote in what turns out to be a very moving exploration of a faith he once embraced, but eventually rejected. Or did he? Dick Staub has the whole thing here, if you're curious.
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