Ok, another link post. Seems like all I have been writing here lately, other than my weekly church article, is about other people’s posts. I’m going through a quite a transition right now in my own faith and ministry journey. I know many great things will come from my own mouth soon, but until then, another link post.

This blog post from Out of Ur hits the nail on the head, at least from my perspective. It’s called “Great Is Thy Effectiveness: There’s danger in rooting our identity in ministry rather than in Christ.” It is especially true when one realizes that it is more than church members expecting membership increases, but indeed entire denominational systems unconsciously bent on it. Especially striking in the article are the examples from Jesus’ ministry. Check it out.

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/08/great_is_thy_ef.html

This is why Kathleen Sebelius rocks.  Track down Stephen Colbert’s remarks on Canton, KS (sorry, no time to look up the link for you )  Then read this.

My grandpa was from Canton and I used to tease him endlessly about it.  I only wish he were here to see this.

Actually, it’s probably a wonderful little community.

I just stumbled on the very first article I’ve ever read from a United Methodist with “Reverend” in front of their name who actually “gets it” (found via the North Alabama Conference’s Young Clergy blog.) A good 95% of this article had me cheering and making me felt called to action. I recommend it to anyone to read:

Why we are losing ground with young adults…

I have to admit that when I saw the title of the article I almost didn’t read it simply because I’ve been hurt too many times by such articles. After it was over I could literally feel my spirits going from high to low– I still don’t see any way the United Methodist denomination can actually change its culture in any reasonable amount of time, if at all. But I have to say I really really needed those five seconds of hope.

As the Associate Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, KS, I write a weekly article for the newsletter article. I invite both members of the church and other visitors to my blog to share their thoughts!

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Let me add my “thanks” to the chorus for those who helped out with the Trinity Work Nights.  It never ceases to amaze me what is possible when enough hands are helping.  In what was really just a few short hours spread out over a month, we did a significant amount of work from weeding to painting several rooms.

It’s also a perfect example of how some people are living a generous life.  Not everyone has the same gifts to give.  There are some of you, I am sure, who would not be able to bend down to pull weeds on a hot summer evening.  But we also have folks who come in and prepare these Tower newsletters for mailing!  What about those who offer music in the choir, praise team, or in many other ways?  What about those who bring treats for Sunday School classes or who make food for funerals or for the sick?  The list could go on and on.

Christ calls us to a life of generosity.  It’s about so much more than giving money (though as one of the wealthiest nations in history, can we really be generous without giving money too?)  It’s about orienting yourself in such a way giving is of more value to you than having.

Let me add a little post script here about a different kind of giving opportunity that you’ll be hearing about in another week or two…  New Beginnings is preparing to open new transitional housing units and they are in need of used furniture in good condition.  This would be a great opportunity for anyone who is moving this summer or anyone who has been thinking about getting some new furniture.  There will be more details to come, but I thought I would give you a “head’s up.”

How do you give?  I hope you’ll share your thoughts on my blog, http://ministrygeek.net.

Ok, so I left the word “versus” out of the title…  I thought it would be more eye-catching this way.

Last Sunday and this Sunday my sermon is on the two creation stories in Genesis 1-3.  Specifically, both are true (in that we live them every day), but one has to be primary for us.  Just as you cannot serve two gods, one of the stories will always take prevalence in how you live your life.  Will you focus on your sin and “the fall?”  Or will you instead focus on the fact that when God created you he didn’t say you were “good,” but rather that you were “VERY good?”  My point is basically that sin is very real, but it’s not powerful enough to remove God’s image from you.  Sin isn’t the point; don’t focus on it.  Instead, focus on who you really are underneath it and let the sin fall away on its own.

Ok, I digress…  The sermon seemed to resonate with a lot of people, many saying that had a lot to think about as they were leaving.  I don’t know how many of you read my blog, but I ran across a blog post this morning that isn’t precisely on the same topic, but seemed to add something really interesting to the conversation.  So, I offer it here as fuel for whatever fires I have started.  Enjoy!

Here is the post.

As the Associate Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, KS, I write a weekly article for the newsletter article. I invite both members of the church and other visitors to my blog to share their thoughts!

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Ok, remember the days of closed book tests (some of you are in school now; I’m sure you remember them!)  Well I’ve got one for you: How would you tell the creation story without opening your Bible?  Not just the “seven days” part, but also the “Adam and Eve” part?

Now here’s the real kicker…  If you had to pick the most important part of the story, the part that has most affected human history and your life in particular, which part would you choose?  Would you choose the part where man is made caretaker of the earth?  Would you choose the part where man and woman were created for each other?  Would you choose the bit with the snake and the fruit as most pivotal for human history?

How you answer this question makes a tremendous difference in how you live and how you relate to God, to your fellow human beings, and to yourself.  Frankly, the parts you choose to focus on can change the meaning of the entire story.  Let me give you an example: if you don’t think much of the “caretaker” part, I’m guessing you’re also someone who doesn’t recycle.  I’m also guessing farmers and ranchers think of that section more often than the rest of us.

The biggest difference, though, comes with my last suggestion above.  If you think Adam and Eve eating the apple makes the most difference in your life, then it means you view the world entirely differently than if you instead focus on God creating us and saying “It is very good.”

This Sunday in Higher Ground and next Sunday in the traditional services I am going to tell several creation stories (or shades of creation stories) and ask which story you identify with.  I hope you’ll consider it between now and then, though.  What you think of our beginning makes a huge difference in who we are now and in who we will be in the future!

I also hope you’ll share your thoughts on my blog, http://ministrygeek.net.

It’s a bit of a (rare) lazy Saturday afternoon and I am catching up on my blog reading from the past week.  I just read this fantastic post about a Biblically inspired alternative to the typical, Modern “mission statement/vision statement” approach to church leadership.  It basically proposes a model based on Abraham, who was given a promise from God and sent forward without knowing where or even fully why he was going.  It’s not that visions and planning are bad, but this ambiguity of perception and trust in God’s leadership despite its inherent mystery (or perhaps because of it!) seems to resonate with postmodernity to me.

Of course there are other schools of thought…  I have come to the point where I cringe every time I hear the word “effectiveness” used in a United Methodist setting these days.  It’s not that I’m against pastoral/church effectiveness, of course, it’s that those who use such terms generally have a very narrow range of what they consider “effective.”  Have we really fallen so far that one of our most respected Bishops can talk so freely about numbers without even giving the standard, half-hearted, United Methodist disclaimer that, “Oh yeah, of course God can work in ways that aren’t numbers, too”?

With statements like the second link forming the very fabric of who we are as a system these days, is there any hope of minority voices like the first link dong any good at all beyond a localized setting (that might then be declared “ineffective” and duly punished)?

I love my tradition, not just the Wesley part, but specifically the United Methodist part.  But there are days I weap for it.  It’s a darn good thing church leadership isn’t up to us in the end.  Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.