Going on to Greatness. . .

InThe United Methodist Church. . .

In Bishop Goodpaster's book: There's Power in the Connection he dedicates a whole chapter to Going on to. . .Greatness. He states: "We have thousands of good churches, filled with millions of good people who do countless good things and consider themselves good church members. The dilemma is that with all this goodness going around, the denomination continues its rapid downward spiral. We still consider ourselves a good denomination, with more members than most other Protestant denominations in the United States. But it is precisely that good assessment that prevents us from making the radical and necessary changes to reverse the trend and become a great denomination, serving an awesome God, whose great grace is extended to people of all nations, races, and generations."

If we are going on to greatness, we cannot simply settle for good! God is counting on us to coninutally strive for greatness, perfection in Christ Jesus. It is easy to settle for good, after all once we finally hit that zone of "goodness" we want to bask there for a while. However, God is calling us on to more than good. God is calling us to do great things. "Very, truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12 The message is pretty clear, no time for settling or basking, our work continues through the life and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in each and every one of us.

So, what are we waiting for. . .greatness is calling us!

You can find Bishop Goodpaster's book at the following website or Cokesbury bookstores. http://www.amazon.com/Theres-Power-Connection-Building-Congregations/dp/068764979X

Call and Response

What kind of lenses do you see the world with?

Our friend Ed Kilbourne has these wonderful rose colored glasses he uses for soaring. They make everything look really beautiful through these lenses. Once you have seen the world through his lenses, it makes everything else look dull without them.

It challenges me to think about the lenses to which I view the world.

• How do you see the world?
• Are you using kingdom lenses - eyes of God?

I quickly realized that once you begin to see with these new kingdom lenses, you do not want to go back to the old way of viewing the world. God is counting on us to help others to see all creation with kingdom lenses through the incarnational witness of our lives.

Come on church - let's be Christ to our world!

A Must Read

Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the CHURCH by Reggie McNeal

The subtitle to this book caught my attention while I was researching Leadership Materials on the internet. "Changing the Scorecard for the Church?" My husband Chris and I have this conversation quite often; in order for the church to be healthy,vital, and a transformation agent into the world, we must find new measurables. Looking at the statistical reports we are see a decline in Sunday school attendance while small group participation has grown and continues to grow. As a Christian Educator, this concerns me - sort of. I am hearing, reading, and witnessing that the traditional style of faith development is changing and the new styles of studying in smaller more intimate groups is on the rise. How then are we to measure the vitality of our church community?

Reggis McNeal's focus in this book is leading our churhes to become more missional. That may require us to make three major shilfts not only in our thinking but also in our behavior:

• From internal to external in terms of ministry focus


• From program development to people develpment in terms of core activity


• From church-based to kingdom-based in terms of leadership agenda

How would you complete the following sentence: "I know my church is a missional congregation because. . .?"

This book has done more than catch my attention, it has totally captivated me! I must confess, I have reread the Introduction and first chapter more than once. Being missional communities of faith goes back to the life and examples of Jesus - listening, praying, playing, teaching, eating, healing, and loving folks where they are.

Go! Be the church to the world!

Telling our Story. . .

When was the last time you shared your faith story?
I grew up in a home where faith wasn't really evey discussed, just assumed. It was assumed that you would attend "church" each week, youth group in the evening, and choir practice on Wednesday evenings but we just never talked about our faith journey. I suppose that is why my connection with the youth and its leaders was such a vital part of my life; it provided me a safe place to talk about my faith, to ask questions, and listen to others do the same. However, I began to realize that faith in God was such a constant part of my life, I began to take it for granted.

My dear friend Kathleen is big on sharing our faith stories. It is a part of her ministry to women as well as her ministry through Pfeiffer University. Being with her makes me reflect on my story on a pretty regular basis.
I found reflecting upon my story was important but God was counting on me to do more than reflect on my story. God needed me to share it as well.

• How could I share something I could not articulate?


• How could I encourage others to share their story when I was not prepared to share my own?


• How was I going to evangelize to the world if I cannot tell my story, much less tell God's story?

I encourage you to reflect on your faith story. Pray over it, write it down, and find a safe place where you can share your story with others. Listen to the stories of others and together you will meet and know God in ways you never imagined.

Blessings of discovery and joy, Gloria

Questions to Ponder. . .

If you were willing to move with the Spirit of God, where would it be calling you?

• As a disciple of Jesus Christ?
• Within our churches?
• Out into the world?

Psalm 143:9-11 (Today's New International Version)
9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

SPIRIT OF GOD

Spirit of God bright Flame, send us in your holy name,

the power to heal, to share your love everywhere.

We cannot fail or fall, or know defeat at all,

heal in your hands, borne on your wings.

Alleluia, Come Spirit come. Alleluia, Come Spirit come.

The Faith We Sing #2117

Splender in God's Glory

God's Glory in Creation
[1] The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
[2] Day to day pours forth speech;
and night to night declares knowledge.
[3] There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
[5] which comes out like a bridegroom
from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Psalms 19:1-5 NRSV

If we are paying attention to what is going on outside, we cannot help but be taken by the beauty of God's Glorious creation happening all around us. The psalmist declares that "Day to day pours forth speech" and this spring season it certainly has. Despite the hue of yellow pollen, we see colors so vibrant, so beautiful, so breathtaking that can often times leave us speechless.
I pray you can find time in your weekend to take a walk, ride a bike, or sit and breathe in the beauty of God's creation. Let your soul find peace and joy, taking in all that God's beauty has to speak to you.

Blessing:

May you see the glory of God in sun and sky;

may you hear the Creator's song in bird and breeze;
and may the grace of Christ's Spirit course through you,
blody and soul.
Sam Hamilton-Poore in Earth Gospel; A Guide to Prayer For God's Creation

The Three Questions

Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy

Written and illustrated by Jon J Muth

A young boy named Nikolai is in search of answers to his three very imporant questions:

When is the best time to do things?

Who is the most important one?

What is the right thing to do?

In the end, Nikolai learns the answer to his questions. . . I will let you see for yourself.
This beautiful story is inspirational and a wonderful book written for children of all ages, 3-adult.
Scholastic Press is the publisher and available on amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/
happy reading ~ gloria

50 Ways to Love your Neighbor

50 Ways to Love Your Neighbor by Shane Clairborne. . .
These 50 suggestions of ways we can love our neighbor by Shane Clairborn not only made me do some critical thinking but also made me squirm a little in my seat. As I read over the list, I found several suggestions I felt comfortable incorportating as part of my daily life, but the rest of the list made me uncomfortable in my own skin. Why is this. . .I see myself as a servant leader of sorts but discovered that I may be more of a "servant wanna be."

I encourage you to take a look at Shanes list and find one suggestion that challenges your current lifestyle. Know that I will be doing the same!

Blessings on the journey,
Gloria

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/04/14/50-ways-to-make-a-movement/

Check out the following sunday software site: http://www.sundaysoftware.com/

Sunday Software is a free teaching software ministry to help support teachers, pastors, Christian Educaion directors, and all working in the minstry of Christian Religous Education.

The following website tells you a little about the company, how they work, as well as their theology. See for yourself what you think: http://www.sundaysoftware.com/whoarewe.htm#tiptop

Let me know what you think. . .

So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church
Lecture by Leonard Sweet
Furman University
April 6, 2009

Leonard spoke with students, church leaders, and folks at Furman University about rebooting the church and reclaiming the original operating system designed in Acts 2 and Genesis. Below are notes I took, a few awwhaa moments that I would like to share with you:

Using the metaphor of a M.R.I., he says the church must be:
Missional – FOLLOW JESUS
We must move from being attractional to missional.
We must “come to church in order to go out into the world.” We are existing as places [churches] that are worn out instead of sent out.
Two thirds of the word is “Go”
We need to view all of life to be our mission field.
Our baptism is a passport to our missionary work! God made us for mission.

Relational – MAKING DISCIPLES
We must change our mode of operation from propositional to relational.
God did not send us a propositioning person in Jesus Christ
What is it means to follow truth means to follow the life of Christ

Incarnational – FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD
We are called to move from “colonial to incarnational”
God wants us to be the radical incarnation of Christ, an incarnational nature of change.

Follow this article; Jesus Wants to Eat with You By Eugene Cho. It is thought provoking and such a comformation that Jesus desires communion/relationship with us.
http://blog.sojo.net/2009/04/10/jesus-wants-to-eat-with-you/

I Dream a Church Where. . .

• "There is no fine print" Susannah Bales
• Where our lives speak of the gospel message of Christ in Matthew 25:31. . .when you have done this to the least of these my brethen, you have done it unto me.