Our church is taking a new focus on an old idea. The old idea is as old as Moses. In fact Moses was the one who communicated the idea to the Israelites just before their move into the Promised Land.
“ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
I’m slowly realizing that the church model I’ve known all my life may not be the tried and true method God had in mind when he established the church. The model of separating age groups on a Sunday into their respective ministries (children, students, young adults, singles, seniors, etc) is really pretty new in the scheme of things. It’s only been around for about 50 years.
God wasn’t silent on the method he had in mind for developing faith in future generations, and it didn’t center around a cutting edge youth ministry. It focused on Parents. Parents are the method God intended for spiritual development. I’m excited to continue explore how to bring our church back into equipping homes to be equippers. It’s a new perspective that is an old idea.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Why I'm excited about the 44th president
On the heels of a historic inauguration day, as the country welcomes a new administration, I’m looking forward to what the next four years will bring. Regardless of how much one agrees with his positions, Obama has impacted this country in a unique way. Here’s why I’m excited about the 44th president of the United States.
A country uniting
Obama’s inauguration is testament to the way our country is uniting where we once stood at odds. The historical precedent of the first African American president is something that marks the progression of unifying the once great racial divide. It’s also exciting to see a drastically polarized political world move a little closer together. I will be interested to see how Barack “reaches across the aisle” to unite a polarized government. Unity is at the heart of Christ. The Bible is pretty clear that nationalities, race, sex, or any other way we divide and assign value doesn’t have a place in the Kingdom of God. This presidency seems like a step in the right direction.
Hope
There is no doubt that Obama has brought a renewed hope to people in less than hopeful circumstances. Hope is a perhaps one of the most valuable tools for change that God provides. While I believe true hope is not found in a man or a country but in God alone, I do see how God can use influential people as agents of hope. If all truth is God’s truth, is all hope God’s hope?
New focus
I am excited to see how President Obama will help open a new focus on issues that have been in the background for evangelical Christians. Issues like poverty, social justice, and the environment are already beginning to receive more focus from the evangelical world.
A call to action
I also appreciate Obama’s candor in admonishing Americans to work together in facing these difficult times. A sense of ownership and responsibility for one’s neighbor, whether next door or across the world, is aligned with the type of life Christ called us to live.
I may not agree with all of Obama’s positions, but I can enthusiastically support much of the change he symbolizes. So as the excitement and celebration of this historic day tones down, I’ll be looking forward to seeing a nation step up to the challenges we face with unity, hope, and fresh awareness of the issues.
A country uniting
Obama’s inauguration is testament to the way our country is uniting where we once stood at odds. The historical precedent of the first African American president is something that marks the progression of unifying the once great racial divide. It’s also exciting to see a drastically polarized political world move a little closer together. I will be interested to see how Barack “reaches across the aisle” to unite a polarized government. Unity is at the heart of Christ. The Bible is pretty clear that nationalities, race, sex, or any other way we divide and assign value doesn’t have a place in the Kingdom of God. This presidency seems like a step in the right direction.
Hope
There is no doubt that Obama has brought a renewed hope to people in less than hopeful circumstances. Hope is a perhaps one of the most valuable tools for change that God provides. While I believe true hope is not found in a man or a country but in God alone, I do see how God can use influential people as agents of hope. If all truth is God’s truth, is all hope God’s hope?
New focus
I am excited to see how President Obama will help open a new focus on issues that have been in the background for evangelical Christians. Issues like poverty, social justice, and the environment are already beginning to receive more focus from the evangelical world.
A call to action
I also appreciate Obama’s candor in admonishing Americans to work together in facing these difficult times. A sense of ownership and responsibility for one’s neighbor, whether next door or across the world, is aligned with the type of life Christ called us to live.
I may not agree with all of Obama’s positions, but I can enthusiastically support much of the change he symbolizes. So as the excitement and celebration of this historic day tones down, I’ll be looking forward to seeing a nation step up to the challenges we face with unity, hope, and fresh awareness of the issues.
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