Psalm 103
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
That's my thought for the day! Have a nice one!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
More About the Lord...
Hebrews 1
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God's angels worship him. 7 Of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.
Verse 9 of Hebrews 1 reminds me of a Chesterton quote, or was it a Lewis quote about God's mirth. A shiny new quarter to the one who knows the answer.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God's angels worship him. 7 Of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.
Verse 9 of Hebrews 1 reminds me of a Chesterton quote, or was it a Lewis quote about God's mirth. A shiny new quarter to the one who knows the answer.
Monday, April 24, 2006
What the Lord is Like...
13. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. 14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145
Psalm 145
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Get Busy...
We went to the Homeschooling convention this weekend. And, we learned a lot.
Mostly, we learned we had to stay on our toes and keep our eyes open.
Did you know that Dr. Shirley McCune, from the U.S. Department of Education in 1989 said, "What we're into is the total transformation of society...What it means for education is that we no longer see the teaching of facts and information as the primary outcome of education."
Facts and information are not the primary outcome of education?? What?? Guess what the outcome in education is...unity, and a one world government.
We saw the evidence through the major texts used in public schools today and, guess what, these same books are being used by thousands of Christian school students in the country, as well, because they are free!
Did you know that well over 60% of students (I think they were 9th graders and I think it was 85%) in the U.S. thought "From each according to their ablility, to each according to their need" was in the U.S. Constitution?
And, for all of you who thought the Revolutionary War was over "taxation without representation", read on, or just read the Declaration of Independence. History is taught with a bias and an agenda. So, get busy and learn history and teach it to others!
The following is from wallbuilders.com
It is a great site for learning about the true history of the United States. They buy and study original documents from the founding fathers.
This is from their site:
An obvious example of the secularization of history occurs each year around the Fourth of July. Americans are taught that “taxation without representation” was the reason America separated from Great Britain; yet “taxation without representation” was only reason number seventeen out of the twenty-seven reasons given in the Declaration of Independence - it was not even in the top half, yet it's all that most ever hear. Never mentioned today are the numerous grievances condemning judicial activism - or those addressing moral or religious or other issues.
What religious issues? In 1762, the king vetoed the charter for America's first missionary society; he also suppressed other religious freedoms and even prevented Americans from printing an English language Bible. How did Americans respond? They took action; and almost unknown today is the fact that Declaration signers such as Samuel Adams and Charles Carroll cited religious freedom as the reason they became involved in the American Revolution. And significantly, even though Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin (two of the least religious signers) are typically the only signers studied today, almost half of the signers of the Declaration (24 of 56) held what today would be considered seminary or Bible school degrees. Clearly, for many Founders, religious issues were an important motivation behind their separation from Great Britain; but that motivation is largely ignored today.
Moral issues are accorded the same silence. The greatest moral issue of that day was slavery; and after several of the American colonies moved toward abolishing slavery in 1773, the King, in 1774, vetoed those anti-slavery laws and continued slavery in America. Soon-to-be signers ofthe Declaration Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush promptly founded America's first abolition society as a direct response against the king's order. The desire to end slavery in America was a significant motivation not only for Franklin and Rush but also for a number of others; but the end of slavery in America could be achieved only if they separated from Great Britain - which they were willing to do (and six of the thirteen colonies began abolishing slavery following the separation).
There were many other significant issues that led to our original Fourth of July; so why aren't Americans familiar with the rest? Because in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, a group of secular-minded writers (including Charles and Mary Beard, W. E. Woodward, Fairfax Downey, and others) began penning works on American history that introduced a new paradigm. For this group, economics was the only issue of importance, so they began to write texts accordingly (their approach is now described as “the economic view of American history” and since the 1960s has been widely embraced throughout the education community). Consequently, since “taxation without representation” was the economic grievance in the Declaration, it became the sole clause that Americans studied.
More to come on this, but first I have to go and study history!
Mostly, we learned we had to stay on our toes and keep our eyes open.
Did you know that Dr. Shirley McCune, from the U.S. Department of Education in 1989 said, "What we're into is the total transformation of society...What it means for education is that we no longer see the teaching of facts and information as the primary outcome of education."
Facts and information are not the primary outcome of education?? What?? Guess what the outcome in education is...unity, and a one world government.
We saw the evidence through the major texts used in public schools today and, guess what, these same books are being used by thousands of Christian school students in the country, as well, because they are free!
Did you know that well over 60% of students (I think they were 9th graders and I think it was 85%) in the U.S. thought "From each according to their ablility, to each according to their need" was in the U.S. Constitution?
And, for all of you who thought the Revolutionary War was over "taxation without representation", read on, or just read the Declaration of Independence. History is taught with a bias and an agenda. So, get busy and learn history and teach it to others!
The following is from wallbuilders.com
It is a great site for learning about the true history of the United States. They buy and study original documents from the founding fathers.
This is from their site:
An obvious example of the secularization of history occurs each year around the Fourth of July. Americans are taught that “taxation without representation” was the reason America separated from Great Britain; yet “taxation without representation” was only reason number seventeen out of the twenty-seven reasons given in the Declaration of Independence - it was not even in the top half, yet it's all that most ever hear. Never mentioned today are the numerous grievances condemning judicial activism - or those addressing moral or religious or other issues.
What religious issues? In 1762, the king vetoed the charter for America's first missionary society; he also suppressed other religious freedoms and even prevented Americans from printing an English language Bible. How did Americans respond? They took action; and almost unknown today is the fact that Declaration signers such as Samuel Adams and Charles Carroll cited religious freedom as the reason they became involved in the American Revolution. And significantly, even though Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin (two of the least religious signers) are typically the only signers studied today, almost half of the signers of the Declaration (24 of 56) held what today would be considered seminary or Bible school degrees. Clearly, for many Founders, religious issues were an important motivation behind their separation from Great Britain; but that motivation is largely ignored today.
Moral issues are accorded the same silence. The greatest moral issue of that day was slavery; and after several of the American colonies moved toward abolishing slavery in 1773, the King, in 1774, vetoed those anti-slavery laws and continued slavery in America. Soon-to-be signers ofthe Declaration Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush promptly founded America's first abolition society as a direct response against the king's order. The desire to end slavery in America was a significant motivation not only for Franklin and Rush but also for a number of others; but the end of slavery in America could be achieved only if they separated from Great Britain - which they were willing to do (and six of the thirteen colonies began abolishing slavery following the separation).
There were many other significant issues that led to our original Fourth of July; so why aren't Americans familiar with the rest? Because in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, a group of secular-minded writers (including Charles and Mary Beard, W. E. Woodward, Fairfax Downey, and others) began penning works on American history that introduced a new paradigm. For this group, economics was the only issue of importance, so they began to write texts accordingly (their approach is now described as “the economic view of American history” and since the 1960s has been widely embraced throughout the education community). Consequently, since “taxation without representation” was the economic grievance in the Declaration, it became the sole clause that Americans studied.
More to come on this, but first I have to go and study history!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
No Little People
No Little People is a collection of sermons by Francis Schaeffer. Here's a passage from the title sermon:
"Every Christian without exception is called to the place where Jesus stood. To the extent that we are called to leadership, we are called to ministry, even costly ministry. The greater the leadership, the greater is to be the ministry. The word minister is not a title of power, but a designation of servanthood. There is to be no Christian guru. We must reject this constantly and carefully. A minister, a man who is a leader in the church of God (and never more needed than in a day like ours when the battle is so great), must make plain to the men, women, boys and girls who come to places of leadership that instead of lording their authority over others and allowing it to become an ego trip, they are to serve in humility.
Again, Jesus said, "But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren: (Matt. 23:8). This does not mean there is to be no order in the church. It does mean that the basic relationship between Christians is not that of elder and people, or pastor and people, but that of brothers and sisters in Christ. This denotes that there is one Father in the family and that his offspring are equal. There are different jobs to be done, different offices to be filled, but we as Christians are equal before one master. We are not to seek a great title; we are to have the places together as brethren.
When Jesus said, "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt. 23;11), He was not speaking in hyperbole or uttering a romantic idiom. Jesus Christ is the realist of all realists, and when He says this to us, He is telling us something specific we ought to do.
Our attitude toward all men should be that of equality because we are common creatures. We are of one blood and kind. As I look across all the world, I must see every man as a fellow-creature, and I must be careful to have a sense of equality on the basis of this common status. We must be careful in our thinking, not to try stand in the place of God to other men."
So, run right out and buy No Little People and read the rest of the sermon! Or, you can borrow my copy!
"Every Christian without exception is called to the place where Jesus stood. To the extent that we are called to leadership, we are called to ministry, even costly ministry. The greater the leadership, the greater is to be the ministry. The word minister is not a title of power, but a designation of servanthood. There is to be no Christian guru. We must reject this constantly and carefully. A minister, a man who is a leader in the church of God (and never more needed than in a day like ours when the battle is so great), must make plain to the men, women, boys and girls who come to places of leadership that instead of lording their authority over others and allowing it to become an ego trip, they are to serve in humility.
Again, Jesus said, "But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren: (Matt. 23:8). This does not mean there is to be no order in the church. It does mean that the basic relationship between Christians is not that of elder and people, or pastor and people, but that of brothers and sisters in Christ. This denotes that there is one Father in the family and that his offspring are equal. There are different jobs to be done, different offices to be filled, but we as Christians are equal before one master. We are not to seek a great title; we are to have the places together as brethren.
When Jesus said, "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt. 23;11), He was not speaking in hyperbole or uttering a romantic idiom. Jesus Christ is the realist of all realists, and when He says this to us, He is telling us something specific we ought to do.
Our attitude toward all men should be that of equality because we are common creatures. We are of one blood and kind. As I look across all the world, I must see every man as a fellow-creature, and I must be careful to have a sense of equality on the basis of this common status. We must be careful in our thinking, not to try stand in the place of God to other men."
So, run right out and buy No Little People and read the rest of the sermon! Or, you can borrow my copy!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Yahoo
That's it. I'm boycotting Google.
I just learned from Mike L.'s blog that if you do a Google search on the word "Failure" you get the White House, George W. web page as the first listing. This proves that Google can't be trusted.
So, from now on it's Yahoo for me!
I just learned from Mike L.'s blog that if you do a Google search on the word "Failure" you get the White House, George W. web page as the first listing. This proves that Google can't be trusted.
So, from now on it's Yahoo for me!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
I Belong in Dublin
***You Belong in Dublin***
Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.
You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.
Could someone tell me what a "pub crawl" is? I think I pass on that and go for the quiet bike ride.
What European City Do You Belong In?
http://www.blogthings.com/whateuropeancitydoyoubelonginquiz/
Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.
You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.
Could someone tell me what a "pub crawl" is? I think I pass on that and go for the quiet bike ride.
What European City Do You Belong In?
http://www.blogthings.com/whateuropeancitydoyoubelonginquiz/
Saturday, April 15, 2006
The Pope's Blog
Okay, I'm not sure I should be letting people know this, but, the Pope has a blog. Have you been there?
askthepope.blogspot.com
His latest post is entitled "It's Hard Out There for a Pope."
I discovered it while reading my niece Mindy's comments from her blog from last spring. She is in India at the moment and is apparantly too busy to blog, but I was reading her old posts.
Anyway, the Pope, even commented on Mindy's blog! I'm sure I won't be that lucky, but you can read about his life and such interesting things as visits with Peter Jackson to The Lord of the Rings set, and his Inside the Actor's Studio interview in which he is asked his least favorite word (which also happens to be his favorite curse word)...and that word, of course is "Luther."
askthepope.blogspot.com
His latest post is entitled "It's Hard Out There for a Pope."
I discovered it while reading my niece Mindy's comments from her blog from last spring. She is in India at the moment and is apparantly too busy to blog, but I was reading her old posts.
Anyway, the Pope, even commented on Mindy's blog! I'm sure I won't be that lucky, but you can read about his life and such interesting things as visits with Peter Jackson to The Lord of the Rings set, and his Inside the Actor's Studio interview in which he is asked his least favorite word (which also happens to be his favorite curse word)...and that word, of course is "Luther."
GRACE
This verse always gets me:
But go, tell his disciples
and Peter
that he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him, just as he told you.
Mark 16:7
Because it happens after this verse:
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?
Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow
till you have denied me three times."
John 13:38
But go, tell his disciples
and Peter
that he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him, just as he told you.
Mark 16:7
Because it happens after this verse:
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?
Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow
till you have denied me three times."
John 13:38
Friday, April 14, 2006
Old Linda
There is a new TV show called "Old" Christine, but I would like to tell a tale of "Old" Linda and "Old" Terry.
Thursday morning, on my way to Terry's office, I decided to stop by Caribou for a morning beverage. When I walked into our local coffee shop, I scanned the room, as I always do to see if I knew anyone.
Much to my surprise, I saw Terry. Or, did I?
Over by the fireplace, reading a newspaper was a man who resembled my husband...only he was about 15 years older...."Old" Terry. At first, I was mortified to think that my husband, who to me hasn't aged a bit since we were married, looked so old.
Then, I began to wonder whether or not it really was him. So, I did the only thing I could think to do. Turned my back to the fireplace and ordered a medium skim mocha and a medium latte.
Having done this, I realized that if it truly was Terry, I had just wasted 3 bucks on a latte. So, I positioned myself by the "PiCup" bar to wait for the tasty beverges to materialize and also to get a better, but hidden view of the man by the fireplace.
It didn't help a bit because he had Terry's exact profile. Same hair style and color, same glasses. He also had a black polar fleece jacket and jeans. My Terry has those. And, as he read, he had the paper in the same way my Terry holds books as he reads.
What was I to do?
Of course, I did the only rational thing. I grabbed my drinks and headed for the parking lot having perhaps just dissed my husband of 29 years. I decided that if our Sable was in the parking lot, I would go back in. If not, I would high tail it out of there.
Since there was no Sable in the lot, I took the beverages to the office where my real husband, "Young" Terry, was, busy at work.
Lookin' younger than ever.
And, that is the tale of Old Linda.
Thursday morning, on my way to Terry's office, I decided to stop by Caribou for a morning beverage. When I walked into our local coffee shop, I scanned the room, as I always do to see if I knew anyone.
Much to my surprise, I saw Terry. Or, did I?
Over by the fireplace, reading a newspaper was a man who resembled my husband...only he was about 15 years older...."Old" Terry. At first, I was mortified to think that my husband, who to me hasn't aged a bit since we were married, looked so old.
Then, I began to wonder whether or not it really was him. So, I did the only thing I could think to do. Turned my back to the fireplace and ordered a medium skim mocha and a medium latte.
Having done this, I realized that if it truly was Terry, I had just wasted 3 bucks on a latte. So, I positioned myself by the "PiCup" bar to wait for the tasty beverges to materialize and also to get a better, but hidden view of the man by the fireplace.
It didn't help a bit because he had Terry's exact profile. Same hair style and color, same glasses. He also had a black polar fleece jacket and jeans. My Terry has those. And, as he read, he had the paper in the same way my Terry holds books as he reads.
What was I to do?
Of course, I did the only rational thing. I grabbed my drinks and headed for the parking lot having perhaps just dissed my husband of 29 years. I decided that if our Sable was in the parking lot, I would go back in. If not, I would high tail it out of there.
Since there was no Sable in the lot, I took the beverages to the office where my real husband, "Young" Terry, was, busy at work.
Lookin' younger than ever.
And, that is the tale of Old Linda.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Now that I have your attention...
Now that I have your attention, I must explain...
Did the pastors call a meeting for the purpose of telling T & L Dugan to leave? NO.
Did a pastor tell the Dugans, in effect, to leave? YES.
Here's how.
Over the course of 2 years, we believed that some wrong decisions were made by ECC leadership. Decisions that put the church between parents and their children (like LUX) and teachings that put pastor's between church members and God (like Fanning the Flame and commitment for LIFE to your local church).
We spent many hours (all totaled, Terry took over a week of personal vacation to try to resolve our differences) meeting with pastors because loyalty mattered to us. In addition, we listened to countless messages from national and local GCAC pastors, read hundreds of pages of articles by GCM leaders and former GCM leaders (we were told they couldn't be trusted since they were part of a "conspiracy theory").
We really thought that the leaders were underinformed about the concept of the priesthood of the believer and that things could be set right through reason and careful explanation using Scripture.
We were wrong.
In the meantime, Terry found several books written about GCM, including a book on Leadership by founder Jim McCotter that presented us with some very sobering information.
As you can imagine, this process took much of our time and energy. It also revealed some very dark things.
We had thought that the problem was a lack of understanding on the part of the pastors of how to lead a church and that unwise decisions were made because of this. We came to realize that things were there by design.
So, in an effort to "get on the same page" with the leadership and make peace, one pastor suggested a final meeting with one of the founding pastors. This was to be a final meeting in the sense that it would put to rest all our fears and concerns. Interestingly enough, this pastor we were to meet with was not currently a pastor at Bloomington (although by GCAC standards, all ECC pastors are pastors to all ECC members). I barely knew the man...had spoken hello to him a handful of times over 10 years.
He listened attentively as we talked about the dark history of the movement, but more importantly to the current things that troubled us and how the leadership structure (heavy handed, top down)left no room for the concept of the priesthood of the believer and put the pastors as head of the Church instead of Christ. And, left zippo room for the body.
After hearing our concerns, he said, (and I didn't have a tape recorder going so I am paraphrasing) "I understand that you believe church members should have more of a say in how the church is run. We don't believe that is Biblical. We aren't going to change, so we would ask that if you can't agree with us, that you would not stay and try to change things here, but that you would go and find a church that believes what you believe and worship there."
So, the concept of unity is this. Agree with us. Or leave.
Now, of course, the bigger question for me is why do I care so much? Why do I still go to the web sites and read the articles?
I think it has to do with all the dear people who we have since heard of that have one by one, kindly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully gone to the leadership with their concerns and have been turned away who are now being viewed as traitors. Godly people who are being compared to Judas as they seek to put God first. (The article I mentioned in the previous post says, "We have lost a few and yes, it hurts and yes, there have been challenges. All movements of God have lost men. Even our Lord lost a few.")
And as I read things like this written by GCAC leaders, I just get kind of sick:
"If someone is going to “cross over” in their heart and join us, the steps are still the same. In our local church, in our region, in our movement.
1. They show up. And they keep showing up.
2. They begin to process and understand what our core beliefs are.
3. They hold to our beliefs, and begin to speak up for them.
4. They ‘roll up their sleeves’ and get involved in serving.
5. And they begin to be faithful in sharing their time, their money, their
home and resources - in our shared vision, our common cause.
This is how someone joins our ranks in a local church. This is how someone joins our region. This is how someone joins our movement. The steps are exactly the same. This process is what we are looking for in our local church and it is what we are looking for across this movement of churches."
What does that even mean? Cross over in their heart and join US! That's creepy.
I think I'm done now. And, will soon get back to posting recipes and fluff.
We remain on friendly terms (as far as I know) with all ECC leaders. They have told us in a letter signed by all Bloomington pastors that we missed the mark, were unfair, were inaccurate and borderline defamed them.
So, in essence, we think they are wrong and they think that we are wrong.
And, now you know the rest of the story....
Did the pastors call a meeting for the purpose of telling T & L Dugan to leave? NO.
Did a pastor tell the Dugans, in effect, to leave? YES.
Here's how.
Over the course of 2 years, we believed that some wrong decisions were made by ECC leadership. Decisions that put the church between parents and their children (like LUX) and teachings that put pastor's between church members and God (like Fanning the Flame and commitment for LIFE to your local church).
We spent many hours (all totaled, Terry took over a week of personal vacation to try to resolve our differences) meeting with pastors because loyalty mattered to us. In addition, we listened to countless messages from national and local GCAC pastors, read hundreds of pages of articles by GCM leaders and former GCM leaders (we were told they couldn't be trusted since they were part of a "conspiracy theory").
We really thought that the leaders were underinformed about the concept of the priesthood of the believer and that things could be set right through reason and careful explanation using Scripture.
We were wrong.
In the meantime, Terry found several books written about GCM, including a book on Leadership by founder Jim McCotter that presented us with some very sobering information.
As you can imagine, this process took much of our time and energy. It also revealed some very dark things.
We had thought that the problem was a lack of understanding on the part of the pastors of how to lead a church and that unwise decisions were made because of this. We came to realize that things were there by design.
So, in an effort to "get on the same page" with the leadership and make peace, one pastor suggested a final meeting with one of the founding pastors. This was to be a final meeting in the sense that it would put to rest all our fears and concerns. Interestingly enough, this pastor we were to meet with was not currently a pastor at Bloomington (although by GCAC standards, all ECC pastors are pastors to all ECC members). I barely knew the man...had spoken hello to him a handful of times over 10 years.
He listened attentively as we talked about the dark history of the movement, but more importantly to the current things that troubled us and how the leadership structure (heavy handed, top down)left no room for the concept of the priesthood of the believer and put the pastors as head of the Church instead of Christ. And, left zippo room for the body.
After hearing our concerns, he said, (and I didn't have a tape recorder going so I am paraphrasing) "I understand that you believe church members should have more of a say in how the church is run. We don't believe that is Biblical. We aren't going to change, so we would ask that if you can't agree with us, that you would not stay and try to change things here, but that you would go and find a church that believes what you believe and worship there."
So, the concept of unity is this. Agree with us. Or leave.
Now, of course, the bigger question for me is why do I care so much? Why do I still go to the web sites and read the articles?
I think it has to do with all the dear people who we have since heard of that have one by one, kindly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully gone to the leadership with their concerns and have been turned away who are now being viewed as traitors. Godly people who are being compared to Judas as they seek to put God first. (The article I mentioned in the previous post says, "We have lost a few and yes, it hurts and yes, there have been challenges. All movements of God have lost men. Even our Lord lost a few.")
And as I read things like this written by GCAC leaders, I just get kind of sick:
"If someone is going to “cross over” in their heart and join us, the steps are still the same. In our local church, in our region, in our movement.
1. They show up. And they keep showing up.
2. They begin to process and understand what our core beliefs are.
3. They hold to our beliefs, and begin to speak up for them.
4. They ‘roll up their sleeves’ and get involved in serving.
5. And they begin to be faithful in sharing their time, their money, their
home and resources - in our shared vision, our common cause.
This is how someone joins our ranks in a local church. This is how someone joins our region. This is how someone joins our movement. The steps are exactly the same. This process is what we are looking for in our local church and it is what we are looking for across this movement of churches."
What does that even mean? Cross over in their heart and join US! That's creepy.
I think I'm done now. And, will soon get back to posting recipes and fluff.
We remain on friendly terms (as far as I know) with all ECC leaders. They have told us in a letter signed by all Bloomington pastors that we missed the mark, were unfair, were inaccurate and borderline defamed them.
So, in essence, we think they are wrong and they think that we are wrong.
And, now you know the rest of the story....
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Why We Left
We left Evergreen in August.
Three Evergreen families (the ones in our small group) knew why. Oddly, since then, only one other Evergreen family has asked us why. So, we have been operating under the assumption that no one really wanted to know why.
But tonight, after reading yet another article by a Great Commission leader on "loyalty" (see Rick Whitney's latest offering at www.gcnwdads.com) and how those who leave the glorious Great Commission band of brothers are disloyal somehow to God, I cannot remain silent.
This was a sad time for us. Especially since we do tend to be loyal people. We have many good Christian friends who still attend Great Commission churches. Many of them are pastors and leaders.
We left Evergreen, ultimately, because we were asked to leave by one of the founding pastors. There, I said it. I'll elaborate on "why" he asked us to leave in another post sometime.
Suffice it to say for now, we believe in "loyalty" and "commitment" to God alone. And, to his body, his bride, the Church.
Have a nice day.
Three Evergreen families (the ones in our small group) knew why. Oddly, since then, only one other Evergreen family has asked us why. So, we have been operating under the assumption that no one really wanted to know why.
But tonight, after reading yet another article by a Great Commission leader on "loyalty" (see Rick Whitney's latest offering at www.gcnwdads.com) and how those who leave the glorious Great Commission band of brothers are disloyal somehow to God, I cannot remain silent.
This was a sad time for us. Especially since we do tend to be loyal people. We have many good Christian friends who still attend Great Commission churches. Many of them are pastors and leaders.
We left Evergreen, ultimately, because we were asked to leave by one of the founding pastors. There, I said it. I'll elaborate on "why" he asked us to leave in another post sometime.
Suffice it to say for now, we believe in "loyalty" and "commitment" to God alone. And, to his body, his bride, the Church.
Have a nice day.
Monday, April 10, 2006
PK and the Yes Lady
As some of you know, my least favorite part of any "Christian" concert in town is when the KTIS announcers come out and tell us how blessed we are going to be and then tell us we are not at a concert, but at a worship service. Excuse me, but I didn't just pay $50+ a ticket to worship at the X-cel, I paid it to hear a Michael W. Smith concert!
So, with that in mind, I have to tell you I am starting to like PK! She is quite witty, I must say!
On Saturday night, Terry, my mom, sister, and I went to hear the Brooklyn Tabernacle singers at Grace Church. PK, of course, did the introduction. This concert was sponsored in part by Grace, so the pastor of music and worship at Grace was to give a welcome. His name is Brian Vaughan.
Unfortunately, he was still being wired for sound when PK introduced him. She said, "Please, welcome Brian Vaughan," and turns to wait for him to come onstage. Nothing. After an awkward silence, she picked up on the Vaughan part and flashbacked to The Sound of Music and with a sweeping hand gesture said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Family Von Trapp...the Von Trapp family." It was pretty funny.
The second funny (to me, at least) thing was the "Yes" lady behind me. Starting probably with the second song the BT sang, she began loudly yelling "Yes, yes, yes" about every 3 seconds through EVERY song. I couldn't look at my mom for fear we would both get the giggles, but the icing on the cake was when Jim Cymbala was speaking and she was "yessing" everything he said. And I mean everything.
This was the best part:
Cymbala (paraphrasing): We came into this world naked.
Lady behind me: YES!
Cymbala: And, we will leave naked.
Lady behind me: YES, YES!
By the way, the BT was great.
So, with that in mind, I have to tell you I am starting to like PK! She is quite witty, I must say!
On Saturday night, Terry, my mom, sister, and I went to hear the Brooklyn Tabernacle singers at Grace Church. PK, of course, did the introduction. This concert was sponsored in part by Grace, so the pastor of music and worship at Grace was to give a welcome. His name is Brian Vaughan.
Unfortunately, he was still being wired for sound when PK introduced him. She said, "Please, welcome Brian Vaughan," and turns to wait for him to come onstage. Nothing. After an awkward silence, she picked up on the Vaughan part and flashbacked to The Sound of Music and with a sweeping hand gesture said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Family Von Trapp...the Von Trapp family." It was pretty funny.
The second funny (to me, at least) thing was the "Yes" lady behind me. Starting probably with the second song the BT sang, she began loudly yelling "Yes, yes, yes" about every 3 seconds through EVERY song. I couldn't look at my mom for fear we would both get the giggles, but the icing on the cake was when Jim Cymbala was speaking and she was "yessing" everything he said. And I mean everything.
This was the best part:
Cymbala (paraphrasing): We came into this world naked.
Lady behind me: YES!
Cymbala: And, we will leave naked.
Lady behind me: YES, YES!
By the way, the BT was great.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Kirk, not the Captain
"Kirk" means "church" in Scottish.
This means that Captain Kirk is really Captain "Church" (not to be confused with Captain Crunch). And Kirk Cameron is really "Church" Cameron, somehow that seems fitting.
In 1560, six guys (interestingly enough, all had the first name of John, the most famous one being John Knox...but I digress) in Scotland drew up the Scots' Confession to help the Scottish Parliament reform their religion.
They defined kirk (church) as having 3 things. Preaching of the Word, sacraments, and discipline.
Here's part of what they said:
The notes of the true Kirk, therefore, we believe, confess, and avow to be: first, the true preaching of the Word of God, in which God has revealed himself to us, as the writings of the prophets and apostles declare; secondly, the right administration of the sacraments of Christ Jesus, with which must be associated the Word and promise of God to seal and confirm them in our hearts; and lastly, ecclesiastical discipline uprightly ministered, as God's Word prescribes, whereby vice is repressed and virtue nourished. Then wherever these notes are seen and continue for any time, be the number complete or not, there, beyond any doubt, is the true Kirk of Christ, who, according to his promise, is in its midst.
For the complete Scots' Confession click here.
This means that Captain Kirk is really Captain "Church" (not to be confused with Captain Crunch). And Kirk Cameron is really "Church" Cameron, somehow that seems fitting.
In 1560, six guys (interestingly enough, all had the first name of John, the most famous one being John Knox...but I digress) in Scotland drew up the Scots' Confession to help the Scottish Parliament reform their religion.
They defined kirk (church) as having 3 things. Preaching of the Word, sacraments, and discipline.
Here's part of what they said:
The notes of the true Kirk, therefore, we believe, confess, and avow to be: first, the true preaching of the Word of God, in which God has revealed himself to us, as the writings of the prophets and apostles declare; secondly, the right administration of the sacraments of Christ Jesus, with which must be associated the Word and promise of God to seal and confirm them in our hearts; and lastly, ecclesiastical discipline uprightly ministered, as God's Word prescribes, whereby vice is repressed and virtue nourished. Then wherever these notes are seen and continue for any time, be the number complete or not, there, beyond any doubt, is the true Kirk of Christ, who, according to his promise, is in its midst.
For the complete Scots' Confession click here.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
FYI
You might want to stay up late tonight. Why, you ask? Because, tonight a little after 1:00 am (2 minutes and 3 seconds after, to be precise) it will be:
01:02:03 04-05-06
Did that just make your day, or what?
01:02:03 04-05-06
Did that just make your day, or what?
Monday, April 03, 2006
Cinderella
Here are three Cinderella movies I like:
Cinderella Man...WOW!
Cinderella (the Disney cartoon)....I remember when Terry and Nikki saw it at the theatre at Knollwood in the early 80's and Nikki came home singing the "Cinderellie" song...gotta love those mice.
A Cinderella Story...loved when the wicked step mom says to Hillary Duff, "You're not very pretty and you're not very bright."
Cinderella Man...WOW!
Cinderella (the Disney cartoon)....I remember when Terry and Nikki saw it at the theatre at Knollwood in the early 80's and Nikki came home singing the "Cinderellie" song...gotta love those mice.
A Cinderella Story...loved when the wicked step mom says to Hillary Duff, "You're not very pretty and you're not very bright."
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Some verses on my mind....
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Ephesians 5:23
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. Matthew 23:8
Observations:
"We, though many, are one body in Christ"....prophets, servers, teachers, exhorters, givers, AND LEADERS are all equals. None are closer to God, or hear more directly from God. None are separate from the body.
"Christ is the head of the church" AMEN!
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Ephesians 5:23
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. Matthew 23:8
Observations:
"We, though many, are one body in Christ"....prophets, servers, teachers, exhorters, givers, AND LEADERS are all equals. None are closer to God, or hear more directly from God. None are separate from the body.
"Christ is the head of the church" AMEN!
Clam Chowder
Here is some comfort food for the next rainy day. It originally came from the Tea Room at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and was printed in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune sometime in the 80's. It has been a family favorite ever since and tastes even better the second day.
Clam Chowder
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 Cup chopped celery
3 cups peeled, diced potatoes (about 1/2 inch dice is good)
3 - 6 oz. cans chopped clams (Gorton's is the brand of choice)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/8 teaspoon pepper (again, to taste)
1 teaspoon thyme (a must!)
1 teaspoon parsley
6 oz. fried bacon
3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
2 cups light cream
Chop up the bacon into small pieces and saute until crispy.
Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Leave a couple tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan and saute the onions and celery in the bacon grease. Yum!
In the meantime, drain the clams (SAVE THE CLAM JUICE, THOUGH!).
Add the potatoes to the onion/celery mixture and pour in the clam juice. Then, add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Boil the potatoes until tender (15 minutes or so).
While the potatoes are boiling, and in a separate saucepan, carefully melt the butter over low heat (you don't want it to burn). When the butter has melted, add the flour and stir and cook the butter flour mixture for about a minute. (This is a fancy mixture called a roux and you cook it for a minute or so to remove the "raw" flour taste)
After the potatoes are tender, add the salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley. Then, stir in the roux. This will thicken the soup.
Finally, stir in the cream and heat till warmed, but don't boil once the cream is added.
Now, you can either stir in the bacon bits, or use them to garnish the top of the soup after you ladel it in the bowl.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!
Clam Chowder
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 Cup chopped celery
3 cups peeled, diced potatoes (about 1/2 inch dice is good)
3 - 6 oz. cans chopped clams (Gorton's is the brand of choice)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/8 teaspoon pepper (again, to taste)
1 teaspoon thyme (a must!)
1 teaspoon parsley
6 oz. fried bacon
3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
2 cups light cream
Chop up the bacon into small pieces and saute until crispy.
Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Leave a couple tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan and saute the onions and celery in the bacon grease. Yum!
In the meantime, drain the clams (SAVE THE CLAM JUICE, THOUGH!).
Add the potatoes to the onion/celery mixture and pour in the clam juice. Then, add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Boil the potatoes until tender (15 minutes or so).
While the potatoes are boiling, and in a separate saucepan, carefully melt the butter over low heat (you don't want it to burn). When the butter has melted, add the flour and stir and cook the butter flour mixture for about a minute. (This is a fancy mixture called a roux and you cook it for a minute or so to remove the "raw" flour taste)
After the potatoes are tender, add the salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley. Then, stir in the roux. This will thicken the soup.
Finally, stir in the cream and heat till warmed, but don't boil once the cream is added.
Now, you can either stir in the bacon bits, or use them to garnish the top of the soup after you ladel it in the bowl.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!
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