Profanity in Church?

By Ken Row
I love this question Earl Creps asks in his article Among the Irish:

When was the last time someone used profanity during a church service because they were too new to the faith to know any better?

Reminds me of this conversation on the Navigational Pastor's Network.

Look Right

By Daniel Davis
My friend, Earl Creps, offers some provocative insight on contextual ministry while on a trip to Ireland:

On a cold, rainy Monday in Dublin, Janet and I were guided to the local shopping mall by our host, Wilma Davidson...

On the walk to the mall we came to an intersection where Wilma cautioned us to “look right” before crossing. This warning seems counter-intuitive to Americans conditioned for a lifetime to “look left.”

But when people drive on the left, you better look the other way at crosswalks, or the next one may be your last one.

This Irish traffic lesson reminded me of how context changes so much about how we do ministry. In one setting, the appropriate move is to look left, but in another it’s to look the opposite way. So ministry in Berkeley will depend on understanding the setting through relationship with those who live in it.

Click here for the rest of the article.

Earl is the author of Off-Road Disciplines: The Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders and Reverse Mentoring: How Young Leaders Can Transform the Church and Why We Should Let Them.

Earl blogs at www.EarlCreps.com

How to Make Good Decisions

By Charles Scott
When I assumed this position, I asked a mentor, “How do I learn to make good decisions?” He replied, “By making some bad ones.”

There is a lot of truth to the fact that leadership requires some on-the-job training. However, when it comes to sound judgment, leaders must be prepared to make quality decisions. Here are some guidelines to help us:

1. Biblically Sound – Our first standard is the Word of God. If the Bible opposes the concept or idea, then the leader has no business even taking a second consideration.
2. Is this well thought out? Has every possible conceivable outcome been considered? I often ask those I work with, “What are we missing?” It is better to go slow and think it through than rush and miss something vitally important.
3. Will it have wide- based support? I have learned that we all have tunnel vision. We are all influenced to a large degree by a certain paradigm or viewpoint. Good decisions do not just benefit a small group of people but are designed for the well-being of the whole. Decisions made for special interest groups are not ethical but in truth deceptive because they will use the resources of the whole to benefit a portion. Leaders must protect those who cannot speak or protect themselves.
4. Is it connected to the vision? How does it fit into the overall direction of the organization? I learned a valuable lesson years ago, “Not now does not mean never.” Timing is essential to good ideas. Leaders should be committed to never birth a vision without the resources to nurture and grow that vision into maturity.
5. How is the success measured? Every effort we undertake should have standards of measure and accountability. Jesus taught the principle of measurement in John 15. Leaders must make decisions that provide measures and quantifying assessment of the plan of action. If you do not know where you are going, any road will get you there.

How to Have Productive Board Meetings

By Charles Scott
Each of us is involved in some way of working with a board or committee. Ministry either soars higher or screeches to a halt due to what occurs in a board meeting. Board meetings either waste your time or enhance your vision.

The worst areas to deal with in a board:

• hidden agendas
• poor planning
• aimlessness
• temper tantrums

The best areas:

• showcase of grace
• vision
• planning
• enthusiasm
• hope

Here are some ideas and thoughts to make your board meetings more productive and efficient:

1. Inform and empower – Keep reports brief and concise. Celebrate victories and present challenges. Empower with vision, motivation, enthusiasm and hope.
2. Glean Ideas – Use your time more wisely to glean thoughts and ideas. Someone always leaves a board meeting with a good idea they will not mention because there is no avenue for presentation. Every board is challenged with groupthink and decision paralysis. Make a way for brainstorming, information gathering and idea sharing.
3. Action Items – Make sure you spend the proper amount of time where time is needed. Most boards will spend an hour hashing what should be a 10 minute item. Put action items on the front of the agenda and spend your energy where it matters most.

Questions:

• Where are we productive in board meetings?
• Where are we unproductive?

Charting the Course: Turn Nothing into Something

By Charles Scott
There are times that my job description can be summed up as, “Turn nothing into something.” It sounds and seems impossible but looking at the massive issues that challenge us in these first days of 2009, our collective task is to imagine the possibilities God has placed before the PCG. It can be a daunting task just to carry a dream inside your spirit. It can appear easier to refuse to dream, rebel to have a vision or resist the Holy Spirit’s call, but God is faithful and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Our first step to turn nothing into something is to have a definite vision from God, or rather God’s vision for God’s people. Only through the eyes of the Holy Spirit can we see what cannot be seen. Only through the mind of the Holy Spirit can we think beyond limitations into unlimited possibilities.

The second step is we must believe. We must believe that this is possible for us – for the PCG. I believe this year, 2009 will be challenging. The facts are clear that the economy is challenged, morale is challenged, the job market is challenged, the Church is challenged, families are challenged, and we will face challenging times in 2009. But I believe God has something special in store for the PCG in spite of the challenges! We must believe!

The last step is the hardest and where the breakdown occurs – we must work for it! Most people will offer a confession of faith, most people will get excited about a vision but few people want to pay the price and work for the prize - and not just work but hard work. Leadership is hard work; sacrificing is hard work; fasting is hard work. But if everyone could do it they wouldn’t need us!

Dr. McGee -- Never Settle. Never!

By Rhonda Davis
In December, a man I held very close to my heart passed away. Gary B. McGee was a beloved professor, mentor and friend. His class was the first of my graduate school experience. His classroom was full of challenging ideas, brilliant lectures, inspiring discussion and much love. He pushed me to think critically through every idea until I was sure of my thoughts. He challenged me in a way I had never been challenged before. He knew how to ask the right questions. During one of our discussions, he pushed my brain to the limit then said, “Never settle, Rhonda. Never!” I will never forget it.

Those words, and many more like it from the mouth and pen of Dr. McGee still echo in my mind and heart. He was someone who believed in me…someone who saw what could be…what should be. I loathed and loved him for those words.

It was several years later when I received the news of his passing. He had been sick for many months. I knew it was coming, but was still shocked at my very emotional response. This was my first experience of the loss of a mentor. After my panic subsided (Dr. McGee had always been a phone call or email away), I found God’s peace and presence. God came near to me on a day heaven seemed so far away. I realized Dr. McGee had been such an integral part of my spiritual formation. His mentorship had left such an impression on my life that I am sure I would not be the same without our relationship. The Christ he had helped to form in me remained. He had taught me, not to be dependant on his guidance, but to be dependant on the One who guides me eternally. It wasn’t just about my academic endeavor, or my personal ministry…Dr. McGee wanted me to never settle in the pursuit of my Creator.

Now, Dr. McGee’s death propels me, and many others like me in the pursuit of “not settling.” He leaves with me countless words that bring a hope that drives me to finish my race with goodness as he did. As heaven receives a great servant, I receive the grace only given by God to continue pursuing life with purpose. Though Dr. McGee had received many awards and recognition for his contributions to the Christian community, the legacy he leaves with me is a life that encourages me to view life through the eyes of Christ. As I learn to allow my spiritual formation to produce the right questions, I look to the same God to find answers.

Before each class, Dr. McGee sang these words: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning…new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness, Oh Lord. Great is thy faithfulness!”

It seems we sometimes get things backwards. We look for ideas, projects and structures we feel Christ would approve, and move forward. Rather, I propose that we seek Christ first, and allow those ideas, projects and structures to flow from our pursuit of Him. God is faithful. His love endures forever. I can trust Him to provide the answers. But, do I? On the flip side, am I the same secure Christ-filled mentor as Dr. McGee?

I leave you with Dr. McGee’s words to me, “Never settle. Never!”

The Trouble with Fishing

Many Christians rejoice as long as the catch looks like this:




But what if the catch looks like this:




Or this:




Or this:




In my experience, the people we most often invite to church are the ones that look the most like they would fit in. We tell them, "You should come visit our church -- you would really like it."

What about those of different ethnicity? If our church is entirely caucasian, do we dare invite orientals, hispanics, or african-americans? If our church is hispanic, do we dare invite gringos?

What about different religions? Are we ready for Muslims or athiests?

What about different societal viewpoints? Are our arms open to those confused about their gender or sexuality? Can we show love to someone who has aborted their baby?

Tony Campolo put it this way:

My question to pastors is not, “Who is coming to your church?” but rather “Who isn’t coming?”

Take a look at your congregation. What people groups are missing? What would it take to get them there?

Please note that I'm not talking about changing our message. I'm just asking what we'd have to do so other people groups would feel welcome enough to hear our message.