Something to ponder...
http://tribalchurch.org/?p=1064
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Cool Quote
Fellas,
I was preparing a sermon on 1 Peter 4:7-11, and came across a sweet quote from Calvin:
“Scripture…warns that whatever benefits we obtain from the Lord have been entrusted to us on this condition: that they be applied to the common good of the church. And therefore the lawful use of all benefits consists in a liberal and kindly sharing of them with others. No surer rule and no more valid exhortation to keep it could be devised than when we are taught that all the gifts we possess have been bestowed by God and entrusted to us on condition that they be distributed for our neighbors’ benefit.” (Institutes 3.7.5)
Things are going well here. I'm getting ordained on September 20th in Madison, GA. Find a cheap plane ticket and c'mon down!
C.B.
I was preparing a sermon on 1 Peter 4:7-11, and came across a sweet quote from Calvin:
“Scripture…warns that whatever benefits we obtain from the Lord have been entrusted to us on this condition: that they be applied to the common good of the church. And therefore the lawful use of all benefits consists in a liberal and kindly sharing of them with others. No surer rule and no more valid exhortation to keep it could be devised than when we are taught that all the gifts we possess have been bestowed by God and entrusted to us on condition that they be distributed for our neighbors’ benefit.” (Institutes 3.7.5)
Things are going well here. I'm getting ordained on September 20th in Madison, GA. Find a cheap plane ticket and c'mon down!
C.B.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Interim Ministry
Greetings friends,
It appears just about everything is beginning well for us - 100 % of those named "Chris" have calls! Congrats guys; I know God will be using you in awesome ways in your respective locations. Also, I'm coming to "Hollywood"'s ordination service, so you better be ready for some "amen"s!
As I search for my own calling in the bay area, I feel called towards a particular side ministry during the interim period. My interest in national politics, social reform, socioeconomic injustice, racial tensions, etc. has been given some time to simmer and develop. Another passion you guys know I have is towards preaching the Word. I would love to begin writing sermons so that I am more prepared for a pastoral position, but I don't feel that I can faithfully craft a sermon for a generic audience. Preaching can never be objective, unless the preacher wishes to ignore each person of the Trinity! I feel the interim call to combine the two, in a series of sermons to be placed on either youtube or perhaps just on this blog, entitled "Sermons for America". The subject would not be particular individuals, but would be the structures, systems, cultures, ideas and constructs that help form (and perhaps de-form) this country.
So, got any ideas? :-) I obviously have a few, but would love to hear from you all about places where you see God speaking to some sort of systemic entity in the U.S. Or, give me general thoughts or stories of your experience regarding certain structures, movements, ideas in America.
RM
It appears just about everything is beginning well for us - 100 % of those named "Chris" have calls! Congrats guys; I know God will be using you in awesome ways in your respective locations. Also, I'm coming to "Hollywood"'s ordination service, so you better be ready for some "amen"s!
As I search for my own calling in the bay area, I feel called towards a particular side ministry during the interim period. My interest in national politics, social reform, socioeconomic injustice, racial tensions, etc. has been given some time to simmer and develop. Another passion you guys know I have is towards preaching the Word. I would love to begin writing sermons so that I am more prepared for a pastoral position, but I don't feel that I can faithfully craft a sermon for a generic audience. Preaching can never be objective, unless the preacher wishes to ignore each person of the Trinity! I feel the interim call to combine the two, in a series of sermons to be placed on either youtube or perhaps just on this blog, entitled "Sermons for America". The subject would not be particular individuals, but would be the structures, systems, cultures, ideas and constructs that help form (and perhaps de-form) this country.
So, got any ideas? :-) I obviously have a few, but would love to hear from you all about places where you see God speaking to some sort of systemic entity in the U.S. Or, give me general thoughts or stories of your experience regarding certain structures, movements, ideas in America.
RM
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
New Beginnings
Boys,
Yesterday was my first day at Grace Covenant. It consisted of meeting the staff, spending time talking with the pastor, Rusty, who's a great individual with a great vision for this congregation, and trying to get myself organized here. I have to admit, it doesn't feel real yet. Perhaps next week I will take a little more time and expound on my thoughts so far, but for now I just wanted to give a quick update.
Later,
Chris B.
Yesterday was my first day at Grace Covenant. It consisted of meeting the staff, spending time talking with the pastor, Rusty, who's a great individual with a great vision for this congregation, and trying to get myself organized here. I have to admit, it doesn't feel real yet. Perhaps next week I will take a little more time and expound on my thoughts so far, but for now I just wanted to give a quick update.
Later,
Chris B.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Here I Am Lord
What's up all?
Just a few thoughts about transitioning to ministry.
After three years of intense, engaging (for the most part), and enlightening study and field work, I felt prepared to begin doing that which I was called to do - ministry in a congregation. I am ready, I am excited, and I am called. I am also very, very frustrated. After following God's call for Jessica and I to be in Oakland, I have found nothing but dead-ends everywhere I go. Because of the choppy economic conditions here in CA jobs of all kinds are sparse...and "pastor" is no exception. Despite our lengthy education and preparation for ministry, it appears that I am unqualified for many of the positions in the area. Though I know God is absolutely faithful, there certainly are times when my perception of that fact is lost amidst loneliness, boredom, financial worries, etc. This is one of those times.
There is only so much cleaning, preparing, reading, organizing, and unpacking one can do. Eventually everything becomes tidy, prepared, read, organized, and in its proper place, and then there is no more fooling yourself into keeping yourself busy while God leads a needy congregation right to your front door. It doesn't work like that, nor should it. Despite reaching out and announcing my intentions to a number of churches and church ruling bodies, the response has been very intriguing: silence. In a time of such social and economic distress as today, one would think that free, extra ministry help from someone passionate about it would be welcomed. Despite all my frustrations, questions, confusion regarding this issue, however, I always come back to the fact that God is indeed faithful....
As I was writing the above comments, my mind was quieted and I felt God nudging me from the deepest parts of my heart that sometimes receive a lower priority than they should. "If you are called to be a pastor and spend your life serving Me by serving My people, what is more beneficial than being able to truly identify with the stresses of joblessness?" "Perhaps you are not looking in the right places." "Who told you that you must work through pre-existing entities?" And finally, "Patience...."
Goodbye friends, I will blog again soon. Join in the fun.
Just a few thoughts about transitioning to ministry.
After three years of intense, engaging (for the most part), and enlightening study and field work, I felt prepared to begin doing that which I was called to do - ministry in a congregation. I am ready, I am excited, and I am called. I am also very, very frustrated. After following God's call for Jessica and I to be in Oakland, I have found nothing but dead-ends everywhere I go. Because of the choppy economic conditions here in CA jobs of all kinds are sparse...and "pastor" is no exception. Despite our lengthy education and preparation for ministry, it appears that I am unqualified for many of the positions in the area. Though I know God is absolutely faithful, there certainly are times when my perception of that fact is lost amidst loneliness, boredom, financial worries, etc. This is one of those times.
There is only so much cleaning, preparing, reading, organizing, and unpacking one can do. Eventually everything becomes tidy, prepared, read, organized, and in its proper place, and then there is no more fooling yourself into keeping yourself busy while God leads a needy congregation right to your front door. It doesn't work like that, nor should it. Despite reaching out and announcing my intentions to a number of churches and church ruling bodies, the response has been very intriguing: silence. In a time of such social and economic distress as today, one would think that free, extra ministry help from someone passionate about it would be welcomed. Despite all my frustrations, questions, confusion regarding this issue, however, I always come back to the fact that God is indeed faithful....
As I was writing the above comments, my mind was quieted and I felt God nudging me from the deepest parts of my heart that sometimes receive a lower priority than they should. "If you are called to be a pastor and spend your life serving Me by serving My people, what is more beneficial than being able to truly identify with the stresses of joblessness?" "Perhaps you are not looking in the right places." "Who told you that you must work through pre-existing entities?" And finally, "Patience...."
Goodbye friends, I will blog again soon. Join in the fun.
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