Real Church: Does It Exist? Can I Find It? By Larry Crabb
Real Church is a great work. Larry Crabb accurately portrays the problems with western Christianity. He does not demean or tear down the “Church”, he just challenges the assumptions that many have about the church, but were afraid to share. Larry says what others are not brave enough to voice. He becomes very transparent sharing his feeling about and toward church. This work does more than just diagnose the issues and problems facing “the church”, it challenges the reader to do some deep soul searching and to evaluate church not from the perspective of how well does it make one feel, or if its meeting felt needs but to evaluate church in regards to what does church mean to God. Crabb writes: “Is it possible, is it conceivable, that going to church and pasturing a church might mean to God something very different from what they mean to us?” p. 6. As Larry Crabb continues to unpack this question through out the book, the reader will find himself or herself asking some very soul searching questions.
This book is not for the faint of heart, neither is it another book on church health. This book will leave you scratching your head, asking questions, and maybe even downright mad. This work is a call to all church leaders, pastors, that are tired of doing to church to look and realize that there is more to “church” than just going, doing, or acting like the church. Be ready to think, and pray as you read. This book will challenge you to see church like you never have before.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A Review Of Between Wyomings
Between Wyomings
My God And An Ipod On The Open Road
Between Wyomings is a work by Ken Mansfield in which he chronicles his life. His attention to detail gives the reader much to think about. Ken tells his story about leaving home at the young age of 17, and then gives the reader details of his life from then until now. The book is his life’s story about years working in the recording industry. He has worked with big names in that field and has acquaintances that many could only dream about. His story is interspersed with tales of the past, the situation he found himself in as he motored down the down in a van named Moses, along with his wife. His story is one of a pilgrimage and he brings his faith journey into the work.
I found the book to be a challenging read at times. Although Ken has a great testimony of the Grace of God, but it is kind of overshadowed by the “big” names from the music industry. I found myself thinking this would be a better book had there been more time spent on how Ken experienced God. Even though it was written in some order, I found it hard to follow at times as he journeyed down a sentimental road trip. The best chapter in the book for me was the chapter Going Up, Going Down. This was the best part of the book for me.
My God And An Ipod On The Open Road
Between Wyomings is a work by Ken Mansfield in which he chronicles his life. His attention to detail gives the reader much to think about. Ken tells his story about leaving home at the young age of 17, and then gives the reader details of his life from then until now. The book is his life’s story about years working in the recording industry. He has worked with big names in that field and has acquaintances that many could only dream about. His story is interspersed with tales of the past, the situation he found himself in as he motored down the down in a van named Moses, along with his wife. His story is one of a pilgrimage and he brings his faith journey into the work.
I found the book to be a challenging read at times. Although Ken has a great testimony of the Grace of God, but it is kind of overshadowed by the “big” names from the music industry. I found myself thinking this would be a better book had there been more time spent on how Ken experienced God. Even though it was written in some order, I found it hard to follow at times as he journeyed down a sentimental road trip. The best chapter in the book for me was the chapter Going Up, Going Down. This was the best part of the book for me.
What Made The Early Church Great!
What Made The Early Church Great!
Acts 2:42-47
July 5, 2009
Today begins a series of messages on the topic: What Made The Early Church Great!. I would like to challenge you to think about the concepts and principles that were in place in the early church, and why we need to recapture those principles and put them into place today. The early church had a force that catapulted them into the world and they made a difference in their culture. I will be presenting some principles from the early and church from this passage and I believe:
The Early Church was great because:
They Were Committed To A Cause
The apostles were committed to a cause greater than themselves. They were not committed to a building, or a place, a worship style, but committed to the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20 19")Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,) baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The apostles were committed to what Jesus had told them to do.
They Kept Things Simple
They did 4 things. Instruction in the word, fellowship, sharing together (eating together), and prayer. They did not do everything. They were not overburdened, their focus was not on doing everything, and their focus was on the essentials. When you try to do everything you do nothing well. It is better to do a few things with excellence than to do a lot of thing with mediocrity.
Look at the shelves of Wal Mart. Recently while looking for something in our local Wal Mart I asked an associate where something was located. (They have been redoing the whole store and every time we have been in there things have been moved around. It has been like the little plastic puzzle we had as kids. You know the square one that had 8 tiny squares and you had to put the numbers in order. You move one square to another slot; move this one over here, etc…). This associate mentioned to me that they have eliminated some things as they moved the store around. They have quit carrying quite a few things. Someone has figured out they are carrying too many things.
Look at what GM and Ford have done. They have eliminated brands, sold off or closed divisions so they could return to the core of their business.
What I would like to see the church do, is to focus on the things that made the early church great. The core values of Acts 2. What would happen if the church returned to do doing just the 4 things that the apostles were doing? What would that do for us and what would that do for the ministry of the local church?
Recently our family was in Dallas and we went to a place to eat after watching the stage production of Chitty Bang. We went to a burger place. Not any burger place, but at this place they only do one thing: Burgers. They do not do chicken, fish, or BBQ, they just do burgers. (The counter had a bumper sticker on it said: McDonalds is not real food!) The place is packed out during the supper hour, (supper is the evening meal in the south, and dinner is lunch.). Why, because they do what they are the best at, burgers! (BTW the buffalo burger is the best!)
They Had Power
The Holy Spirit worked through them. The NASB translates verse 43 like this:
“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” The apostles were the instruments of God. The Holy Spirit was flowing through them. They were not doing things in their own strength or power, but they Holy Spirit was working through them. The greatness of the apostles was not what they accomplished but what was working through them. They Had Power, power to change lives, to make an impact. They did not have money, they did not have a big or pretty building or talented musicians but they had power. Later in the book of Acts we read about Peter and John going up to the temple to pray. There was lame man who was there begging and evidently had asked for something from Peter and John. What happened shows to us that these two men had no great wealth, or resources, but they had power, the power that comes from God and flows though us. In Acts 3:6 we read: But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!" The man did walk. Wow. They had power. What the church needs today is the same power Peter and John had. We don’t need money; we need the power of God.
They Expected God to Do Something
They were living in expectation and hopes God would do something, and God did do something. They not only had to expect God to do something, they were dependent for God to do something. They lived each day expecting God to move. Someone once said: “We get what we expect.” Do we come to church expecting God to do something? Or do we come with the same expectation: We come to church, to hear some singing, to hear a prayer, to give an offering, and hear some scripture read, and maybe a sermon. Usually that’s what we get, because that’s what we expect. However God can, and will exceed our expectations if it’s our desire. Here the apostles were living and expecting God to do something. The rest of the book of Acts is full of incidents where God did something. Peter and John, not only healing a man, but receiving boldness to preach, an angel coming to let them out of prison, a dead man brought back to life. The book of Acts is full of this, because they were expecting God to do something.
What do you expect of God as you come to church each Sunday? Do you expect him to move? You need to, because God is not the god of the mundane. God specializes in doing the unexpected, and the impossible. Are you ready for Him to do that?
As we begin this series, I would like to challenge you to think: what do we need to do to be great like the early church?
Next week we will look at the subject: What made the early church great: They were unified!
Acts 2:42-47
July 5, 2009
Today begins a series of messages on the topic: What Made The Early Church Great!. I would like to challenge you to think about the concepts and principles that were in place in the early church, and why we need to recapture those principles and put them into place today. The early church had a force that catapulted them into the world and they made a difference in their culture. I will be presenting some principles from the early and church from this passage and I believe:
The Early Church was great because:
They Were Committed To A Cause
The apostles were committed to a cause greater than themselves. They were not committed to a building, or a place, a worship style, but committed to the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20 19")Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,) baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The apostles were committed to what Jesus had told them to do.
They Kept Things Simple
They did 4 things. Instruction in the word, fellowship, sharing together (eating together), and prayer. They did not do everything. They were not overburdened, their focus was not on doing everything, and their focus was on the essentials. When you try to do everything you do nothing well. It is better to do a few things with excellence than to do a lot of thing with mediocrity.
Look at the shelves of Wal Mart. Recently while looking for something in our local Wal Mart I asked an associate where something was located. (They have been redoing the whole store and every time we have been in there things have been moved around. It has been like the little plastic puzzle we had as kids. You know the square one that had 8 tiny squares and you had to put the numbers in order. You move one square to another slot; move this one over here, etc…). This associate mentioned to me that they have eliminated some things as they moved the store around. They have quit carrying quite a few things. Someone has figured out they are carrying too many things.
Look at what GM and Ford have done. They have eliminated brands, sold off or closed divisions so they could return to the core of their business.
What I would like to see the church do, is to focus on the things that made the early church great. The core values of Acts 2. What would happen if the church returned to do doing just the 4 things that the apostles were doing? What would that do for us and what would that do for the ministry of the local church?
Recently our family was in Dallas and we went to a place to eat after watching the stage production of Chitty Bang. We went to a burger place. Not any burger place, but at this place they only do one thing: Burgers. They do not do chicken, fish, or BBQ, they just do burgers. (The counter had a bumper sticker on it said: McDonalds is not real food!) The place is packed out during the supper hour, (supper is the evening meal in the south, and dinner is lunch.). Why, because they do what they are the best at, burgers! (BTW the buffalo burger is the best!)
They Had Power
The Holy Spirit worked through them. The NASB translates verse 43 like this:
“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” The apostles were the instruments of God. The Holy Spirit was flowing through them. They were not doing things in their own strength or power, but they Holy Spirit was working through them. The greatness of the apostles was not what they accomplished but what was working through them. They Had Power, power to change lives, to make an impact. They did not have money, they did not have a big or pretty building or talented musicians but they had power. Later in the book of Acts we read about Peter and John going up to the temple to pray. There was lame man who was there begging and evidently had asked for something from Peter and John. What happened shows to us that these two men had no great wealth, or resources, but they had power, the power that comes from God and flows though us. In Acts 3:6 we read: But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!" The man did walk. Wow. They had power. What the church needs today is the same power Peter and John had. We don’t need money; we need the power of God.
They Expected God to Do Something
They were living in expectation and hopes God would do something, and God did do something. They not only had to expect God to do something, they were dependent for God to do something. They lived each day expecting God to move. Someone once said: “We get what we expect.” Do we come to church expecting God to do something? Or do we come with the same expectation: We come to church, to hear some singing, to hear a prayer, to give an offering, and hear some scripture read, and maybe a sermon. Usually that’s what we get, because that’s what we expect. However God can, and will exceed our expectations if it’s our desire. Here the apostles were living and expecting God to do something. The rest of the book of Acts is full of incidents where God did something. Peter and John, not only healing a man, but receiving boldness to preach, an angel coming to let them out of prison, a dead man brought back to life. The book of Acts is full of this, because they were expecting God to do something.
What do you expect of God as you come to church each Sunday? Do you expect him to move? You need to, because God is not the god of the mundane. God specializes in doing the unexpected, and the impossible. Are you ready for Him to do that?
As we begin this series, I would like to challenge you to think: what do we need to do to be great like the early church?
Next week we will look at the subject: What made the early church great: They were unified!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Why the church is here!
I arrived home from the BGW seminar in Grand Prairie this evening, and really tired. Just as we finished dinner, one of the ladies cleaning the church called me and told me that someone wanted to see me at the church. The thoughts going through my head were: He wants money, he's hungry, he needs a place to stay, etc.... His vehicle was an old van. As I walked up to talk to the man, he introduced himself as Kerry. We began to talk and we sat down in my office, and he began to share that his life was a mess, homeless, unemployed, etc.. As we talked he said: "I am lost! and wondering if God had given up on him." I shared with him about the ABC's and gave him a pen, (unique that we heard Stan Toler talk about this today!), and he said he had done that. I shared some more scripture with him, and encouraged him to come to church. After some discussion about church, he wondered if the church was right for him, and I told him it was, and I expected him to come, and that church was not for the perfect person, it was for people like him and I. He smiled and indicated he would be here sunday. We prayed, and I asked from protection for him, a job, a place to live and God's peace. I was ready and offer him some assistance, gas, food, hotel, etc... but he said all he wanted was to talk and find God, and he left saying he found something tonight. Interesting he never asked for the usual things that you would expect someone in his shoes to request.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Review Of The Noticer
I have not been able to post to the blog in a long, long time. Life has its way of sapping energy, and stealing joy. However, I am back, and after many months darkeness, I am making the attempt to post regularly to the blog. This post is a review of the book The Noticer by Andy Andrews. Thomas Nelson Publishers has started giving books away to bloggers who will read them and post a review of the book. If you would like to know more about the program visit them http://brb.thomasnelson.com/ . So here is my first book review. Enjoy
The Noticer
Hope, wisdom and perspective are the three words that come to mind after reading The Noticer. This book blends a combination of spiritual insight and great fiction together. This could be called a modern parable that blends humor with spiritual insights that will lift your spirit and give you inspiration to evaluate life situations. An old man carrying a worn out suitcase, shows up unexpectedly bringing hope, wisdom and perspective to the people he comes in contact with. Everyone should be able to identify with at least one character or life story in this work. Andy Andrews does an excellent job at tying together life situations with spiritual principles, no matter if it is being homeless, failed marriage, shady ethical decisions, discouragement and disparagement with life, is addressed. Although Jones, the main character: The Noticer, Jones, is never compared to God, there is enough of that idea there that one could draw an analogy to what God does for people. One of the unique insights of “Jones” is that he appears to some as an old man, an oriental man, or a Hispanic man. No matter what the ethnicity of a person, they saw Jones in their particular ethnic background. After Jones work is completed he leaves the area of Orange Beach, but leaves behind his old suitcase filled with seeds, and a note to encourage the ones gathered around the table looking and listening to take the seeds and plant them in the lives of people around them. This is great book and will bring encouragement to any and all who read this book.
The Noticer
Hope, wisdom and perspective are the three words that come to mind after reading The Noticer. This book blends a combination of spiritual insight and great fiction together. This could be called a modern parable that blends humor with spiritual insights that will lift your spirit and give you inspiration to evaluate life situations. An old man carrying a worn out suitcase, shows up unexpectedly bringing hope, wisdom and perspective to the people he comes in contact with. Everyone should be able to identify with at least one character or life story in this work. Andy Andrews does an excellent job at tying together life situations with spiritual principles, no matter if it is being homeless, failed marriage, shady ethical decisions, discouragement and disparagement with life, is addressed. Although Jones, the main character: The Noticer, Jones, is never compared to God, there is enough of that idea there that one could draw an analogy to what God does for people. One of the unique insights of “Jones” is that he appears to some as an old man, an oriental man, or a Hispanic man. No matter what the ethnicity of a person, they saw Jones in their particular ethnic background. After Jones work is completed he leaves the area of Orange Beach, but leaves behind his old suitcase filled with seeds, and a note to encourage the ones gathered around the table looking and listening to take the seeds and plant them in the lives of people around them. This is great book and will bring encouragement to any and all who read this book.
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