words change us

"Here we are in the North American church-conservative or liberal, evangelical or mainline,..."

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:46:33 -0400

“

Here we are in the North American church-conservative or liberal, evangelical or mainline, Protestant or - Catholic, emergent or otherwise-cranking along just fine, thank you. So we’re busy downsizing, becoming culturally relevant, reaching out, drawing in, making disciples, managing the machinery, utilizing biblical principles, celebrating recovery, user-friendly, techno savvy, finding the purposeful life, practicing peace with justice, utilizing spiritual disciplines, growing in self-esteem, reinventing ourselves as effective ecclesiastical entrepreneurs, and, in general, feeling ever so much better about our achievements. Notice anything missing in this pretty picture?

Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ indeed. In Flannery O’Connor’s wild, wickedly funny novella, Wise Blood, her antipreacher preacher, Hazel Motes, preaches a “Church without Christ” where nobody sheds blood, and there’s no redemption “‘cause there ain’t no sin to redeem,” and “what’s dead stays that way”

”

- https://kindle.amazon.com/work/christless-christianity-alternative-american-ebook/B001IO5Y58/B001IDZ440

Prov 2- March Through Proverbs

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:03:05 -0500

It’s March 2… read proverbs 2

Today was some good news - that wisdom is possible and attainable. I think it’s easy to think sometimes that there’s there’s a kind of ability for making choices that doesn’t come to people. But Proverbs promises that is you look for Wisdom (capitalized because i think sometimes it’s another name for God), you can and will find it - namesly because God gives wisdom.

Proverbs 2:2–6 (NIV)

3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Today (Prov 2) was also the start of kinda a scary theme in Proverbs the seductive danger of wickedness. That wickedness - using the (possible) metaphor of a sexual temptress throws herself out there and somehow makes you want to give up on something that you’ve committed to. I think it’s a really good metaphor for the ease in which go down a path to sin - a path that goes to the grave. Wisdom keeps saves us from much suffering.

Proverbs 2:16–20 (NIV)
16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.

18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

March through Proverbs... 1 - How to be wise...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:24:07 -0500

Since mid-January I’ve been thinking and talking to a bunch of teens ideas for reading the Bible and next up I’ve wanted to read through the Proverbs - Proverbs has 31 Chapters - and March has 31 days - It’s a short easy-to-remember devotional plan that has some good short-term benefits. Each chapter is pretty short, and has some pretty easy to see directions that you can apply to your life. - I’m gonna try and post here each day - I want to see how many of you will read along with me… I think it could be pretty cool.

read proverbs 1

I think what really hit me first was how important friends are. “My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!” - It’s like advice a thousand years old, but still pretty worth follow for us today. How many of us would be so much better off if we had good friends who helped us avoid going down bad paths? I’ll bet a lot of students still battle with this on all fronts.

Proverbs… for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Melissa's Vegan Blog: My Top 10 Rules for Being Healthy

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:19:52 -0500

Melissa's Vegan Blog: My Top 10 Rules for Being Healthy:

littlevegansecrets:

1. IT’S NOT ABOUT NUMBERS (calories, or even your weight), it’s about being healthy & getting the nutrients you need.

2. LABEL’S, LABEL’S, LABEL’S (Everytime you head down to your local supermarket, don’t forget your glasses people. My rule of thumb is that if you cannot pronounce that…

God’s Funeral

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:22:00 -0500

re-Blogged from Justin Taylor

An exchange between Martin Luther and his wife Katharina:

“Once, when Martin was so depressed that none of Kate’s counsel would help, she put on a black dress.

Luther noticed it and asked, ‘Are you going to a funeral?’

‘No,’ Kate replied, ‘but since you act like God is dead, I wanted to join you in your mourning.’

Luther got the message and recovered.”

—Rudolf K. Markwald and Marilynn Morris Markwald, Katharina Von Bora: A Reformation Life (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2002), 139-140.

ONE FORTY PLUS: If you want to be truly intimidating,If you want to make an...

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:30:52 -0500

ONE FORTY PLUS: If you want to be truly intimidating,If you want to make an...:

jhnmyr:

If you want to be truly intimidating,

If you want to make an impact,

If you want to have strong connections with others

just be sincere.

Sarcasm is not an attitude, and it’s not a personality trait. It’s a style of rhetoric meant to be used occasionally to highlight a larger point. Saying…

Psalm 26 - http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps26

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:42:55 -0500

1 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.

5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord,

7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty,

10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps26

Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The...

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:46:10 -0500

Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and the servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all. (A.W. Tozer)

Pastor Stephen on the passing of Herman Orth

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:34:11 -0500

Pastor Stephen wrote a letter to be read at Herman’s funeral services - I thought it was a touching remembrance of a well-lived life.

Family and Friends,

I am very sorry to have been out of town during the events of this week as Herman went home to be with the Lord. I have been praying for the whole family as they mourn Hermann’s passing from this life into death, even as I remind us all that the scriptures point to this as a passing from death to life.

What first stuck out to me about Hermann was his deep love for Natalie. This was evident in the anniversary cards we received each year. A trend I see in the cards Lyn and I get is that typically, we get anniversary cards from people who have a high regard for marriage, and those who are deeply in love and want to encourage that among others. What was distinctive about Herman and Natalie’s card was that it also included $20. It was a fond way to say, keep up the romance, invest in marriage. We were deeply encouraged by this.

I remember the summer that passed by without a card. I asked if everything was ok, and Hermann shared about Natalie’s growing illness. We prayed together, and I grieved the situation. What amazed me was Hermann’s deep and abiding devotion for his wife. He told me story upon story about their early years. This was the beginning of many conversations about the difficult decisions about Natalie’s healthcare that lay ahead. I appreciated Hermann’s thoughtfulness and expressions of love and friendship.

I will miss Hermann, but I am thankful that he and Natalie are together again in the glory of the Lord. Youthful, with strong minds and bodies, worshipping the Lord they love and loving one another. My prayers are with the entire family, for comfort, understanding and peace.

Pastor Stephen Arters

true power and peace

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:39:30 -0500

True power—and peace—come through humility and obedience. That’s a price few are willing to pay.

—FRED SMITH

"“If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps..."

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:00:05 -0500

“

“If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps and sing songs together, there’s not much value in that. But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create – the people that are caring for the widows and orphans, that aren’t bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world – then that matters.”

Michael Gungor

”

Star Goalie!!! - Keep Praying for this guy!

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:03:22 -0500

This morning Jennie, Alicia and I went to visit Ilyia Wilson (aka “Star Goalie”) -who is battling stage two lymphoma this morning. Jennie got a custom wood goalie and a goalie jersey and the youth group kids have been signing it and committing to pray for Ilyia. I wanted to report to you that so far it looks like Ilyia’s treatment is working out well and ask you to keep praying furvently for his quick recovery. He has about four more weeks of treatment before the doctors evaluate again and look for cancer. - Pray that it is all gone. Also he has a very weak immune system - pray that he is protected from the flu and any other sickness.

www.

Concert This Friday!!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:29:05 -0500

They’re coming back! Friday at 7:30PM in the gym at. www.DHEFC.org

Heaven Shine.mp3 by Above Gray Skies [NEW SONG]

The Slippery Slope of Conflict

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:12:00 -0500

Good Thoughts from www.PeaceMaker.net

Conflict can make life very awkward. It often catches us off guard and leads us to say and do things we later regret. When someone offends us, we often react without thinking. Soon it is as if we are sliding down a slippery slope and things are going from bad to worse. As the illustration shows, this slippery slope can drop off in two directions.

Escape Responses

The three responses found on the left side of the slippery slope are commonly used by people who are more interested in avoiding or getting away from a conflict than resolving it.

Denial—One way to escape from a conflict is to pretend that no problem exists. Another way is to refuse to do what should be done to resolve a conflict properly. These responses bring only temporary relief and usually make matters worse (see 1 Sam. 2:22-25).

Flight—Another way to escape from a conflict is to run away. This may take the form of ending a friendship, quitting a job, filing for divorce, or leaving a church. Flight may be legitimate in extreme situations (see 1 Sam. 19:9-10), but in most cases it only postpones a proper solution to the problem (see Gen. 16:6-8).

Suicide—When people lose all hope of resolving a conflict, they may seek to escape the situation (or make a desperate cry for help) by attempting to take their own lives. Suicide is never a right way to deal with conflict (see Matt. 27:1-5).

Attack Responses

The three responses found on the right side of the slippery slope are often used by people who are more interested in winning a conflict than in preserving a relationship.

Assault—Some people try to overcome an opponent by using various forms of force or intimidation, such as verbal attacks (including gossip and slander), physical violence, or efforts to damage a person financially or professionally (see Acts 6:8-15). Such conduct usually escalates conflict.

Litigation—Although some conflicts may legitimately be taken before a civil judge (see Acts 24:1-26:32; Rom. 13:1-5), lawsuits usually damage relationships, diminish our Christian witness, and often fail to achieve complete justice. This is why Christians are commanded to make every effort to settle their differences within the church rather than the civil courts (see Matt. 5:25-26; 1 Cor. 6:1-8).

Murder—In extreme cases, people may be so desperate to win a dispute that they will try to kill those who oppose them (see Acts 7:54-58). While most people would not actually kill someone, we should never forget that we stand guilty of murder in God’s eyes when we harbor anger or contempt in our hearts toward others (see 1 John 3:15; Matt. 5:21-22).

Conciliation Responses

The Gospel Is the Key to Peace. A true peacemaker is guided, motivated, and empowered by the gospel, the good news that God has forgiven all our sins and made peace with us through the death and resurrection of his Son (Col. 1:19-20). Through Christ he has also enabled us to break the habit of escaping from conflict or attacking others, and he has empowered us to become peacemakers who can promote genuine justice and reconciliation (Col. 3:12-14).

The six responses found on the top portion of the slippery slope are directed at finding a just and mutually agreeable solution to a conflict. These responses may be divided into two categories: personal peacemaking responses and assisted responses:

Personal peacemaking responses are carried out in private between the parties themselves. Although it is appropriate for one or both parties to seek advice on how to implement these responses, they should normally try to resolve their differences one-on-one before asking others to intervene in the dispute.

Overlook an offense—Many disputes are so insignificant that they should be resolved by quietly and deliberately overlooking an offense. “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11). Overlooking an offense is a form of forgiveness, and involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it, or let it grow into pent-up bitterness or anger.

Reconciliation—If an offense is too serious to overlook or has damaged our relationship, we need to resolve personal or relational issues through confession, loving correction, and forgiveness. “[If] your brother has something against you … go and be reconciled” (Matt. 5:23-24). “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Gal. 6:1; see Matt. 18:15). “Forgive as the Lord forgave you”(Col. 3:13).

Negotiation—Even if we successfully resolve relational issues, we may still need to work through material issues related to money, property, or other rights. This should be done through a cooperative bargaining process in which you and the other person seek to reach a settlement that satisfies the legitimate needs of each side. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4).

If the parties cannot resolve a dispute through personal peacemaking, they should pursue one of the assisted responses. This will require that they seek help from other people in their church or community.

Mediation—If two people cannot reach an agreement in private, they should ask one or more objective outside people to meet with them to help them communicate more effectively and explore possible solutions. “If he will not listen [to you], take one or two others along” (Matt. 18:16). These mediators may ask questions and give advice, but they have no authority to force you to accept a particular solution.

Arbitration—When you and an opponent cannot come to a voluntary agreement on a material issue, you may appoint one or more arbitrators to listen to your arguments and render a binding decision to settle the issue. “If you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church” (1 Cor. 6:4).

Accountability—If a person who professes to be a Christian refuses to be reconciled and do what is right, Jesus commands his or her church leaders to formally intervene to hold him or her accountable to Scripture and to promote repentance, justice, and forgiveness: “If he refuses to listen [to others], tell it to the church” (Matt. 18:17).

As you can see, the escape responses only postpone a proper solution to a problem, and attack responses usually damage relationships and make conflicts worse. Therefore, you should generally try first to deal with conflict personally and privately by using one of the first three conciliation responses (overlooking, discussion, or negotiation). To learn how to carry out these steps in a biblically faithful manner, see The Four G’s.

If repeated efforts at personal peacemaking do not resolve a matter, then you may need to pursue one of the other conciliation responses (mediation, arbitration, or accountability), which will require the assistance of other people in your church or community. For more information on these assisted responses, see Resolving Conflict through Christian Conciliation.

For a more thorough explanation of the Slippery Slope,
download Chapter 1 of The Peacemaker for free!