This is, very definitely, putting the cart before the horse and describes something that I am convinced, more and more, will never happen. But, in the loss of our wonderful friend Maggie, our Golden Retriever, I have come to understand that people each have a unique style of grieving.
I've blogged about Maggie many times, during her prime, her decline and death and in the aftermath of losing her and I won't analyze why she affected me as profoundly as she did.
But, I will say that Evie and I both felt her loss intensely but that we have dealt with losing her in very different ways, ways that are natural to us. And, I'll add, ways that could have created conflict if we were both not as self-aware and as committed to each other as we are.
----------------
In recent years, I've made a serious study of repentance in the Word, in history and from practicing it and in calling others to repent. And, I have learned some things that I am confident are true.
A cornerstone truth about repentance is that the act of repenting is part of a process and that repentance is fruit of what must come before it. One thing that absolutely must come before repentance is, as Paul says it, godly grief, or as the NIV translates him, godly sorrow.
One reason I see no reason for hope for the CGGC at this moment is that I see no evidence of grief on any mountaintop that is visible to me. I see contentment there tinged, perhaps, with mild concern about the future if our fortunes don't change.
Trust me. Without repentance, our fortunes will not change.
---------------------
A serious problem for us now is that (mostly) men gifted to be shepherds dominate us. Shepherds resist repentance because they comfort the grieving. Prophets, on the other hand, pour gasoline on the fire that is godly grief.
If, someday, by an act of accepting the work of the Holy Spirit, we would give in to the godly grief He would create, we could repent.
Then shepherds could have one of the roles designed for them by the ruler of the Kingdom. They could channel the godly grief in its great variety of styles so that it could lead to a repentance that leads to salvation.
To do that, though, our shepherd mountaintoppers are going to have to step aside. They are going to have to allow the Spirit to lead us, as He did in our movement days.
In the history of God's people, though, when shepherds achieve dominance, they very rarely step aside.
They are normally either crushed or allowed to see their fiefdoms dwindle to nothing, as appears to be the case in our current decline, or they are gone around through the empowerment of a new movement, as is, really, how the Church of God came to be in the first place.
---------------
We all must repent but the shepherd mountaintoppers really must repent. And, step aside in favor of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Gathering 8-28-16: A Restaurant Retreat
Two of our worlds are colliding.
Mom and dad are downsizing from their Independent Living apartment into a much smaller, two room Assisted Living unit. And, we are preparing for that move.
Dad was less than a month short of his fourth birthday on Black Friday in 1929. His childhood was defined by the Great Depression. Mom was born during the Depression in a family that would have been poor even in good times.
They are not hoarders. Everything about them has always been tidy and well organized but they have always found it hard to throw possessions away. And, so, they have, literally, tons of stuff. Day by day, Evie brings more of it to our place where it is being stored until we and the rest of the family can decide what to do about it.
And our small condo is so overstuffed that we can't host a gathering.
So, the plan is to offer to take the core of the Sunday group for an early lunch at our expense. The people from the home are so glad to eat anything other than institutional food that they are always pleased on these days.
A few others may come to join us at their own expense.
We used to try to take the Bread and the Cup on these occasions but I, at least, have concluded that it's too hard to do in a way that is not unworthy, so we no longer even try.
Evie and I are both so tired that we'd be happy not to do even this.
We will do our best to fulfill the purpose of gatherings and attempt to spur one another on to love and good works, but it will be an effort.
Mom and dad are downsizing from their Independent Living apartment into a much smaller, two room Assisted Living unit. And, we are preparing for that move.
Dad was less than a month short of his fourth birthday on Black Friday in 1929. His childhood was defined by the Great Depression. Mom was born during the Depression in a family that would have been poor even in good times.
They are not hoarders. Everything about them has always been tidy and well organized but they have always found it hard to throw possessions away. And, so, they have, literally, tons of stuff. Day by day, Evie brings more of it to our place where it is being stored until we and the rest of the family can decide what to do about it.
And our small condo is so overstuffed that we can't host a gathering.
So, the plan is to offer to take the core of the Sunday group for an early lunch at our expense. The people from the home are so glad to eat anything other than institutional food that they are always pleased on these days.
A few others may come to join us at their own expense.
We used to try to take the Bread and the Cup on these occasions but I, at least, have concluded that it's too hard to do in a way that is not unworthy, so we no longer even try.
Evie and I are both so tired that we'd be happy not to do even this.
We will do our best to fulfill the purpose of gatherings and attempt to spur one another on to love and good works, but it will be an effort.
Friday, August 26, 2016
A Gift of the Movie, GOD'S NOT DEAD
A few days ago, a guy I work with, who is a Millennial, came into the store on his day off to present to me a copy of the movie, GOD IS NOT DEAD. He had just acquired a spare copy and knew I had never seen it.
Yesterday we watched it. I'm not going to review the movie here, apart from a brief observation later.
What I will do is comment on the tone of the movie in light of my recent post in which I describe what unchurched seekers consider to be a "true" Christian.
The movie has a number of story lines, most prominently one about a college freshman who stands up radically and without compromise for his faith in the face of a professor who asks all of his students to hand in a paper stating that God is dead, hence the title of the movie.
When my young friend and coworker ended up with an extra copy of the film, it occurred to him to gift it to me.
I asked myself why.
Honestly, my answer is that he sees me as a radical, uncompromising follower of Jesus, and that he wants to be that himself.
In that other post about what people think is a true Christian, I said that Evie and I aspire to be red letter Christians and that I fail to achieve that but am very intentional in that goal while, so often, the lives of church people are tepid and bland.
I strive to be an ambassador for the Kingdom in the world, not a representative of a church. And, I believe, someone noticed.
I have to say that I didn't really enjoy the movie but I will cherish my copy of it forever because it represents to me my young co-worker's recognition of my desire to be radical and uncompromising in my walk.
Yesterday we watched it. I'm not going to review the movie here, apart from a brief observation later.
What I will do is comment on the tone of the movie in light of my recent post in which I describe what unchurched seekers consider to be a "true" Christian.
The movie has a number of story lines, most prominently one about a college freshman who stands up radically and without compromise for his faith in the face of a professor who asks all of his students to hand in a paper stating that God is dead, hence the title of the movie.
When my young friend and coworker ended up with an extra copy of the film, it occurred to him to gift it to me.
I asked myself why.
Honestly, my answer is that he sees me as a radical, uncompromising follower of Jesus, and that he wants to be that himself.
In that other post about what people think is a true Christian, I said that Evie and I aspire to be red letter Christians and that I fail to achieve that but am very intentional in that goal while, so often, the lives of church people are tepid and bland.
I strive to be an ambassador for the Kingdom in the world, not a representative of a church. And, I believe, someone noticed.
I have to say that I didn't really enjoy the movie but I will cherish my copy of it forever because it represents to me my young co-worker's recognition of my desire to be radical and uncompromising in my walk.
Could I get into this much Trouble for Being Wrong?
Unsubstantiated rumors persist that the ERC defrocked me in session this past April and there is a question that has been going through mind since I got the first rumblings that I was being whacked on the orders of the ERC's Shepherd Mafia. And, this is that question:
Could I have gotten into this much trouble for being wrong?
Reports I've received from people who attended Conference say that when the desire of the mountaintoppers to defrock me was brought to the floor that it was clear that many of the delegates didn't even know who I am and far fewer had read or even heard of this blog.
So, why go to all the trouble to whack me?
What does the whacking say about the mountaintoppers?
And, what does it say about me?
I don't really know the answer to those questions but I will note that the predictions that I have made here about the continuing decline of our ministry have been accurate and that I have repeatedly said that, if the mountaintoppers are going to lead a change in our fortunes, they are going to have to repent and lead the body in repentance. They remain hard-hearted to both of those calls.
Many other people criticize Conference leaders, some even mock them, though, admittedly, not as straightforwardly as I do and those people often do it in a gossippy way, behind their backs.
I don't know, but I genuinely do wonder if the ERC mountaintoppers have whacked me for no other reason than that I have been hitting the nail on the head as far as they are concerned: That I, very simply, am in trouble because I have been right about them.
All of us must repent.
Could I have gotten into this much trouble for being wrong?
Reports I've received from people who attended Conference say that when the desire of the mountaintoppers to defrock me was brought to the floor that it was clear that many of the delegates didn't even know who I am and far fewer had read or even heard of this blog.
So, why go to all the trouble to whack me?
What does the whacking say about the mountaintoppers?
And, what does it say about me?
I don't really know the answer to those questions but I will note that the predictions that I have made here about the continuing decline of our ministry have been accurate and that I have repeatedly said that, if the mountaintoppers are going to lead a change in our fortunes, they are going to have to repent and lead the body in repentance. They remain hard-hearted to both of those calls.
Many other people criticize Conference leaders, some even mock them, though, admittedly, not as straightforwardly as I do and those people often do it in a gossippy way, behind their backs.
I don't know, but I genuinely do wonder if the ERC mountaintoppers have whacked me for no other reason than that I have been hitting the nail on the head as far as they are concerned: That I, very simply, am in trouble because I have been right about them.
All of us must repent.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
A Piece of Junk Mail?!?!? A Report to My Commission
There are times when I am so taken aback by circumstances that I have no words, even coherent thoughts. Something that happened a week ago still has me flummoxed.
I work late on Wednesdays and go straight to bed when I get home. When I hauled myself out of bed on Thursday morning, Evelyn showed me an envelope from the previous day's mail and said, "Do you want to see what was in the Certified Letter from the Conference that you didn't accept?"
I took it from her.
It was a plain, business size, white envelope with my name hand printed in blue ink. There was no return address but a Harrisburg post mark and, ironically--and I love this irony--a "Forever" stamp.
Most importantly to me, there was no return address.
I never, ever answer a phone call if I don't recognize the number of the caller. I figure that if the person really wants to talk to me they can leave a message and, if the message is important to me, I'll return it.
It's the same with junk mail. I never open it.
Any piece of mail with no return address on it is classified as junk, if it is addressed to me. It goes through the shredder.
(By the way, there has been no other contact from the Conference regarding the status of my credentials.)
Having said that, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to be sent a piece of junk mail which anyone with half a brain would strongly suspect was from the Conference concerning something as, uh, trivial? as my defrockment.
At this point, my brain is still frozen about this, but two basic questions do come to mind. One is the question of how stupid the ERC mountaintoppers think we are.
The other is: How far will the ERC go in disobeying Jesus in dealing with someone it believes has sinned? Jesus is crystal clear about that. And, isn't His goal forgiveness and reconciliation, not condemnation?
The answer for me, at this point, to the how far in disobedience they will go is that ERC leaders will go much farther than even I could have imagined.
Is it any wonder that the Lord is withholding His blessing from us?
YIKES, fellas!
I work late on Wednesdays and go straight to bed when I get home. When I hauled myself out of bed on Thursday morning, Evelyn showed me an envelope from the previous day's mail and said, "Do you want to see what was in the Certified Letter from the Conference that you didn't accept?"
I took it from her.
It was a plain, business size, white envelope with my name hand printed in blue ink. There was no return address but a Harrisburg post mark and, ironically--and I love this irony--a "Forever" stamp.
Most importantly to me, there was no return address.
I never, ever answer a phone call if I don't recognize the number of the caller. I figure that if the person really wants to talk to me they can leave a message and, if the message is important to me, I'll return it.
It's the same with junk mail. I never open it.
Any piece of mail with no return address on it is classified as junk, if it is addressed to me. It goes through the shredder.
(By the way, there has been no other contact from the Conference regarding the status of my credentials.)
Having said that, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to be sent a piece of junk mail which anyone with half a brain would strongly suspect was from the Conference concerning something as, uh, trivial? as my defrockment.
At this point, my brain is still frozen about this, but two basic questions do come to mind. One is the question of how stupid the ERC mountaintoppers think we are.
The other is: How far will the ERC go in disobeying Jesus in dealing with someone it believes has sinned? Jesus is crystal clear about that. And, isn't His goal forgiveness and reconciliation, not condemnation?
The answer for me, at this point, to the how far in disobedience they will go is that ERC leaders will go much farther than even I could have imagined.
Is it any wonder that the Lord is withholding His blessing from us?
YIKES, fellas!
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Sabbathing: 8-21-16
Today is a day we don't meet with our Sunday group. I've said before that, as much as I am blessed by our gatherings, none of them can compare with the weeks we don't gather.
And, I'm beginning to wonder if that's not God's way anyway. We know that the omnipotent Lord rested on the seventh day. Certainly, He didn't need the rest. And, we know that He commanded Israel to make rest on the seventh day the sign that it is keeping His covenant with it.
I find that I groove on a day committed to rest and that I thrive when I do it.
Last night, I worked the closing shift at the store. On Saturday, closing, in my department, ends with a grueling hour after the store actually closes and I woke up today hurting a little.
The rest is good physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is a genuine blessing.
Forget the Sunday morning show. I'll take this over that any day it's available to me.
And, I'm beginning to wonder if that's not God's way anyway. We know that the omnipotent Lord rested on the seventh day. Certainly, He didn't need the rest. And, we know that He commanded Israel to make rest on the seventh day the sign that it is keeping His covenant with it.
I find that I groove on a day committed to rest and that I thrive when I do it.
Last night, I worked the closing shift at the store. On Saturday, closing, in my department, ends with a grueling hour after the store actually closes and I woke up today hurting a little.
The rest is good physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is a genuine blessing.
Forget the Sunday morning show. I'll take this over that any day it's available to me.
On Being Known as a "True" Christian
Not long ago, I exchanged a few messages with someone who used to be a coworker and, for a time, a participant in our Sunday house gathering and she mentioned someone she knows whom she considers to be, using her word, a "true" Christian. And, based on things she's said to me in the past, implied in that comment she was implying "like Evie and you."
And, it occurred to me that, these days, I hear talk about who really is a "true " Christian, from nonchurch, God-seeking people, fairly frequently since I stopped trying to fit in the traditional, institutionalized church.
And, I've been trying to unpack the meaning of the term to those unchurched, God-seeking people.
Here's what I'm concluding:
True Christians are transparently Jesus-driven, not church-consumed, and they live that out uncompromisingly in the world, though they don't necessarily live it out vocally.
Rumor has it that I have been defrocked by my Conference of churches and people hint to me that a reason people oppose me, in that setting, is that I am too uncompromising. Ironically, it seems to me, that, in the nonchurch universe, I stand out, in a way that is attractive and compelling, for that very reason. And, the same seems to be true of Evie.
We are intentionally determined to live as what is sometime called "red letter" people and, in a world filled with church people, it strikes me that that is extremely unusual.
I will say about myself that I don't achieve red letter very well. It also seems to me that it is the sincere attempt, not the success that touches people who are seeking spiritual truth.
In our world the church is declining. And, it seems really to be true that people love Jesus but, more and more all the time, hate the church.
And, it occurred to me that, these days, I hear talk about who really is a "true " Christian, from nonchurch, God-seeking people, fairly frequently since I stopped trying to fit in the traditional, institutionalized church.
And, I've been trying to unpack the meaning of the term to those unchurched, God-seeking people.
Here's what I'm concluding:
True Christians are transparently Jesus-driven, not church-consumed, and they live that out uncompromisingly in the world, though they don't necessarily live it out vocally.
Rumor has it that I have been defrocked by my Conference of churches and people hint to me that a reason people oppose me, in that setting, is that I am too uncompromising. Ironically, it seems to me, that, in the nonchurch universe, I stand out, in a way that is attractive and compelling, for that very reason. And, the same seems to be true of Evie.
We are intentionally determined to live as what is sometime called "red letter" people and, in a world filled with church people, it strikes me that that is extremely unusual.
I will say about myself that I don't achieve red letter very well. It also seems to me that it is the sincere attempt, not the success that touches people who are seeking spiritual truth.
In our world the church is declining. And, it seems really to be true that people love Jesus but, more and more all the time, hate the church.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Mom and Dad are Moving to Assisted Living
Their dementia doctors have been stressing the importance of this since our first appointment with them and we've been pushing the home they are in even longer than that. And, an apartment is becoming available, so we are about to make the big move from independent living.
Most likely all will be accomplished by the end of September.
I, at least, was stunned to discover how expensive it is. Mom and dad are in a very nice facility but it is, by no means, high end. And, the cost for their spacious two room apartment, with all the services and amenities, will be somewhere in the range of $425-450. A DAY!
They worked hard and saved conservatively all of their lives and they have been guaranteed access to continuous care and, when the savings are gone, they will still be cared for. But, needless to say, the savings will burn up quickly.
Before we became involved in this, I would never have guessed how expensive this degree of care could be.
Fortunately, dad is now so far into vascular dementia that he can't appreciate the magnitude of the financial obligation being undertaken on his behalf and mom barely gets it.
Most likely all will be accomplished by the end of September.
I, at least, was stunned to discover how expensive it is. Mom and dad are in a very nice facility but it is, by no means, high end. And, the cost for their spacious two room apartment, with all the services and amenities, will be somewhere in the range of $425-450. A DAY!
They worked hard and saved conservatively all of their lives and they have been guaranteed access to continuous care and, when the savings are gone, they will still be cared for. But, needless to say, the savings will burn up quickly.
Before we became involved in this, I would never have guessed how expensive this degree of care could be.
Fortunately, dad is now so far into vascular dementia that he can't appreciate the magnitude of the financial obligation being undertaken on his behalf and mom barely gets it.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
eNews Wisdom: Here to There
I was fully engaged with Lance's last eNews blog which hit highlights of this year's Global Leadership Summit which he experienced at Winebrenner Theological Seminary.
Lance noted that Bill Hybels offered this as a definition of leadership: "...getting people from here to there."
Lance was impressed when Hybels said,
A leader knows it's not okay to stay here and that we need to be going somewhere.
To me, this statement defines the essence of what has driven the CGGC decline for at least the last generation.
CGGC leaders have been absolutely obsessed with "there."
Spiritual gift driven ministry
35,000 by 2000
Natural Church Development
Missional Leadership Initiative
ONe Mission
Hear the Call
Leadership Development
Making disciples...
...to hit only the highlights. All fervent attempts to, as Hybels says, be going somewhere.
All of which failed, or are failing,...
...miserably.
All of which intensify our spiritual and numerical decline.
Trying to be going somewhere has not been our problem for a long time.
---------------
Our problem is not with the yearning to be going somewhere. We have been doing that obsessively. The problem has been with leaving our "here."
Our leaders have always needed to hold on to what they have, hoping to graft on to the old something new that will give geniune spiritual life to our here. And, that has never worked in all of the history of the people of God. And, it will never work for us.
-------------------------
Two truths strike me in this Hybels stuff:
1. This leaving here/going there thing is nothing more than what Jesus and the apostles and the prophets called repentance. And, to this point CGGC leaders have resisted calling for repentance or practicing it. We are going to have to repent to do what Hybels is talking about.
2. My Characteristics of the CGGC Brand is my attempt to describe the CGGC "here." And, the more I think about it, the more I think it is very accurate.
---------------
The best place for the CGGC to start is for the Findlay crowd to call a gathering to define what the CGGC "here" is and to pledge to the Lord and to the whole Body that we will leave it, that is, we will repent of it and turn from it.
We must repent!
Lance noted that Bill Hybels offered this as a definition of leadership: "...getting people from here to there."
Lance was impressed when Hybels said,
A leader knows it's not okay to stay here and that we need to be going somewhere.
To me, this statement defines the essence of what has driven the CGGC decline for at least the last generation.
CGGC leaders have been absolutely obsessed with "there."
Spiritual gift driven ministry
35,000 by 2000
Natural Church Development
Missional Leadership Initiative
ONe Mission
Hear the Call
Leadership Development
Making disciples...
...to hit only the highlights. All fervent attempts to, as Hybels says, be going somewhere.
All of which failed, or are failing,...
...miserably.
All of which intensify our spiritual and numerical decline.
Trying to be going somewhere has not been our problem for a long time.
---------------
Our problem is not with the yearning to be going somewhere. We have been doing that obsessively. The problem has been with leaving our "here."
Our leaders have always needed to hold on to what they have, hoping to graft on to the old something new that will give geniune spiritual life to our here. And, that has never worked in all of the history of the people of God. And, it will never work for us.
-------------------------
Two truths strike me in this Hybels stuff:
1. This leaving here/going there thing is nothing more than what Jesus and the apostles and the prophets called repentance. And, to this point CGGC leaders have resisted calling for repentance or practicing it. We are going to have to repent to do what Hybels is talking about.
2. My Characteristics of the CGGC Brand is my attempt to describe the CGGC "here." And, the more I think about it, the more I think it is very accurate.
---------------
The best place for the CGGC to start is for the Findlay crowd to call a gathering to define what the CGGC "here" is and to pledge to the Lord and to the whole Body that we will leave it, that is, we will repent of it and turn from it.
We must repent!
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Gathering: 8-14-16. Canine Rooted Church Growth
Because of what we believe about following Jesus, we don't invite people to church, not that we think it's necessarily wrong to do it, we just don't.
We think that following Jesus is done in the world and that attending a gathering of disciples is not an act of righteousness but is intended to provoke in others righteous living.
We consider people to be a part of our community who never or rarely or, because they are separated by distance, can't physically be present in our meetings.
When a new person physically is present in our gathering, it is, most often, because they ask if they may attend. And, that happened today. A coworker, who had been a part of our Wednesday gathering, invited herself partly because she wasn't up to being in the throng of her congregation and, honestly, to be able to spend some time with Lizzy.
So, participation expanded because of the presence of our "missional mutt."
---------------
We had a nice time and achieved our purpose of spurring each other on to love and good works.
The theme during Word time and bread and cup time was on each disciple's participation in the ministry of reconciliation by being an ambassador of the Kingdom in the world. Powerful stuff.
The meal was healthy and awesome with gobs of fresh veggies and fresh fruit.
A very edifying time.
We think that following Jesus is done in the world and that attending a gathering of disciples is not an act of righteousness but is intended to provoke in others righteous living.
We consider people to be a part of our community who never or rarely or, because they are separated by distance, can't physically be present in our meetings.
When a new person physically is present in our gathering, it is, most often, because they ask if they may attend. And, that happened today. A coworker, who had been a part of our Wednesday gathering, invited herself partly because she wasn't up to being in the throng of her congregation and, honestly, to be able to spend some time with Lizzy.
So, participation expanded because of the presence of our "missional mutt."
---------------
We had a nice time and achieved our purpose of spurring each other on to love and good works.
The theme during Word time and bread and cup time was on each disciple's participation in the ministry of reconciliation by being an ambassador of the Kingdom in the world. Powerful stuff.
The meal was healthy and awesome with gobs of fresh veggies and fresh fruit.
A very edifying time.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
A Certified Letter: A Report to My Commission
One hundred and one days after, according to several people, the ERC in session voted to recall my ordination, I found a slip of paper among the pieces of my mail informing me that a Certified Letter was awaiting me at my local post office and that it had been sent from ERC located in Harrisburg.
I have not picked it up and don't plan to. I believe that it is scheduled to be returned on the 14th of this month.
Based on what I know to be true and on what I have heard from others, I consider the behavior of the ERC staff and Commissions and Committees in regard to me to have been underhanded, secretive, cowardly and unbiblical and, as far as I am concerned, when they want to communicate with me the content of what is in that letter, they are going to have to consult the teachings of Jesus and approach me in a way that is obedient to the Way.
The Doctrinal Statement of the CGGC says that the Bible is our only rule of Faith and Practice. Nothing that I know of in the Word justices the practice of communicating with a brother by means of a Certified Letter. I accepted one such letter at the beginning of this ungodly process, not knowing what the bureaucrats were doing. My error. I shall not enable their dysfunction and disobedience again.
-----------------------
BTW, the sending of the Certified Letter is a real-life example of Organized Hypocrisy. The people who wrote and voted to approve the only rule of Faith and Practice language in our Doctrinal Statement ONLY THREE YEARS AGO sent that letter.
I have not picked it up and don't plan to. I believe that it is scheduled to be returned on the 14th of this month.
Based on what I know to be true and on what I have heard from others, I consider the behavior of the ERC staff and Commissions and Committees in regard to me to have been underhanded, secretive, cowardly and unbiblical and, as far as I am concerned, when they want to communicate with me the content of what is in that letter, they are going to have to consult the teachings of Jesus and approach me in a way that is obedient to the Way.
The Doctrinal Statement of the CGGC says that the Bible is our only rule of Faith and Practice. Nothing that I know of in the Word justices the practice of communicating with a brother by means of a Certified Letter. I accepted one such letter at the beginning of this ungodly process, not knowing what the bureaucrats were doing. My error. I shall not enable their dysfunction and disobedience again.
-----------------------
BTW, the sending of the Certified Letter is a real-life example of Organized Hypocrisy. The people who wrote and voted to approve the only rule of Faith and Practice language in our Doctrinal Statement ONLY THREE YEARS AGO sent that letter.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
8-7-16: No Gathering, The Best Kind of Sunday
Jesus never talked about, designed or participated in anything like what you might call a worship service. In fact, when He talked about the church, He never talked about people getting together for singing or praying or listening to preaching or taking an offering.
In our community, we haven't had a worship service for years. And, we gave up gathering every week a long time ago.
Today is a no gathering Sunday. As much as I love our gatherings, I love the days we don't gather even more. No doubt this is because both Evie and I are introverts. We love being alone together in the Lord as much as anything.
This morning was wonderful! I spent time enjoying the beauty of God's creation by taking Lizzy for two walks on the golf course. I wrote a report for my Commission and put it on the blog, did a few chores around the house and listened to KEEP THE FAITH on the local WORD FM station.
I can all but guarantee you that, no matter professionally it was performed, your Sunday morning show didn't refresh you as much as my Sunday morning has refreshed me.
The Sabbath was made for man. My only regret is that it took me so long to submit to that teaching of Jesus.
In our community, we haven't had a worship service for years. And, we gave up gathering every week a long time ago.
Today is a no gathering Sunday. As much as I love our gatherings, I love the days we don't gather even more. No doubt this is because both Evie and I are introverts. We love being alone together in the Lord as much as anything.
This morning was wonderful! I spent time enjoying the beauty of God's creation by taking Lizzy for two walks on the golf course. I wrote a report for my Commission and put it on the blog, did a few chores around the house and listened to KEEP THE FAITH on the local WORD FM station.
I can all but guarantee you that, no matter professionally it was performed, your Sunday morning show didn't refresh you as much as my Sunday morning has refreshed me.
The Sabbath was made for man. My only regret is that it took me so long to submit to that teaching of Jesus.
Organized Hypocrisy: A Report to My Commission
One of my Characteristics of the CGGC Brand is Organized Hypocrisy. This is a truth about the CGGC that I recognized from the time I began to describe the CGGC brand, though I have always had trouble deciding how to describe this truth about us. I originally called this reality Incoherence but I abandoned that word because the word incoherence is so uncommon.
What I am saying about the CGGC is that there is conflict among the things we say about ourselves and between what we say about ourselves and what we do.
That truth about us has come to bite me in the derriere in the ERC's effort to defrock me and in the design of the Commission on Church Renewal that may depants Faith Community as an ERC congregation.
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The truth is that the CGGC talks an extremely radical talk but walks a tradition-bound walk.
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And, I, and the people who are a part of Faith Community, have been and are being brutalized by the hypocrisy.
We are fiercely loyal to living the official and radical CGGC talk and are suffering at the hands of denominational bureaucrats who lead the tradition-bound walk.
The email I received from the representative of the Commission says that they have designed their program through which they may depants Faith Community "to remain loyal to our polity." Apparently, our polity demands that Faith be led by a pastor. (Show me that in the Word, where the idea of a congregational pastor is absent.)
And this is where the Intentional Hypocrisy comes into play. It may well be that CGGC polity permits the Commission to depants Faith.
But, there is no congregation in the CGGC living out the CGGC doctrine that the Bible is our only rule of Faith and Practice carefully than we. And, there is no congregation living out the Mission to establish churches on the New Testament plan more passionately than we, nor is there a congregation more devoted to the CGGC Vision Statement than the people of Faith Community.
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And, that is where a very serious problem exists.
There is an absolute contradiction among the things the CGGC says about itself and, certainly, there is contradiction between its radical talk and the tradition-bound walk of the Commission on Church Renewal.
At this point, I believe that it is we who are being true to the CGGC and it is they who are in error. I am convinced that I am correct!
My guess, though, is that they will behave brutally in a way that defies CGGC doctrine and its Mission and Vision Statements and, through an act of ecclesiastical thuggery, depants us.
But, I will remain adamant.
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BTW, I have asked the Commission representative to describe to me the biblical basis for the Commission’s action. I have received no reply to this point.
What I am saying about the CGGC is that there is conflict among the things we say about ourselves and between what we say about ourselves and what we do.
That truth about us has come to bite me in the derriere in the ERC's effort to defrock me and in the design of the Commission on Church Renewal that may depants Faith Community as an ERC congregation.
--------------------
The truth is that the CGGC talks an extremely radical talk but walks a tradition-bound walk.
---------------------
And, I, and the people who are a part of Faith Community, have been and are being brutalized by the hypocrisy.
We are fiercely loyal to living the official and radical CGGC talk and are suffering at the hands of denominational bureaucrats who lead the tradition-bound walk.
The email I received from the representative of the Commission says that they have designed their program through which they may depants Faith Community "to remain loyal to our polity." Apparently, our polity demands that Faith be led by a pastor. (Show me that in the Word, where the idea of a congregational pastor is absent.)
And this is where the Intentional Hypocrisy comes into play. It may well be that CGGC polity permits the Commission to depants Faith.
But, there is no congregation in the CGGC living out the CGGC doctrine that the Bible is our only rule of Faith and Practice carefully than we. And, there is no congregation living out the Mission to establish churches on the New Testament plan more passionately than we, nor is there a congregation more devoted to the CGGC Vision Statement than the people of Faith Community.
----------------------
And, that is where a very serious problem exists.
There is an absolute contradiction among the things the CGGC says about itself and, certainly, there is contradiction between its radical talk and the tradition-bound walk of the Commission on Church Renewal.
At this point, I believe that it is we who are being true to the CGGC and it is they who are in error. I am convinced that I am correct!
My guess, though, is that they will behave brutally in a way that defies CGGC doctrine and its Mission and Vision Statements and, through an act of ecclesiastical thuggery, depants us.
But, I will remain adamant.
---------------------
BTW, I have asked the Commission representative to describe to me the biblical basis for the Commission’s action. I have received no reply to this point.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Lance's Take on General Conference
I've read and reread the eNews.
I appreciate the honesty. Lance is right. Among other assessments: Lance says that we are too old and too white and if we don't change our ways soon we will really have trouble.
Lance says that we need to get the clergy to step aside and to embrace the Priesthood of all Believers.
Lance is compassionate and gentle but he doesn't sugar coat our plight.
However, Lance doesn't call for repentance. How we can do what Lance describes without repenting of what we are doing wrong now is beyond me.
We must repent.
I appreciate the honesty. Lance is right. Among other assessments: Lance says that we are too old and too white and if we don't change our ways soon we will really have trouble.
Lance says that we need to get the clergy to step aside and to embrace the Priesthood of all Believers.
Lance is compassionate and gentle but he doesn't sugar coat our plight.
However, Lance doesn't call for repentance. How we can do what Lance describes without repenting of what we are doing wrong now is beyond me.
We must repent.
A Biblical Truth About Discipling
Did you know that no form of the Greek word disciple appears in the New Testament after the Book of Acts?
Check it out.
Paul never uses it. Nor does Peter, nor do the Epistles of John.
Clearly, we need to take the command of Jesus to make disciples seriously. But, how do you explain the fact that the word never even shows up in the last 22 books of the New Testament?
I believe that if we are going to understand discipling we are going to have to be account for this biblical reality.
Any thoughts? Replies on and off the blog are fine.
Check it out.
Paul never uses it. Nor does Peter, nor do the Epistles of John.
Clearly, we need to take the command of Jesus to make disciples seriously. But, how do you explain the fact that the word never even shows up in the last 22 books of the New Testament?
I believe that if we are going to understand discipling we are going to have to be account for this biblical reality.
Any thoughts? Replies on and off the blog are fine.
Friday, August 5, 2016
You, the Readers of This Blog, Are MY Commission
When a member of the ERC Commission on Church Renewal emailed me to explain that the Commission was initiating a process that had, as one of its intended possible ultimate outcomes, the depantsing of Faith Community, I asked if we could have an off the record, confidential exchange. My idea was that, if I knew what I was writing would not become fodder for the machinations of the same people who engaged in a secret scheme to defrock
me, I could feel free to speak transparently and, in that way, achieve an end that might advance the Kingdom, not harm it.
That Commission member flatly refused, demanding that our exchange be open to the examination of the Commission.
I was stunned and perplexed but, in the end, I realized that this is par for the CGGC course.
Kingdom growth, in the ERC, can not be permitted to interfere with the function of the machine.
So, he will feel free to report everything said and done to the Commission and, as I feel the need, I will report all of those things to you.
I do this for a number of reasons. First among them is that some who read this write to comfort, encourage and advise me and, reporting to those people opens those possibilities to me. Another reason is to bring the schemings of the Commission into the light of day. Every aspect of my defrocking was done in secret unless the Conference was forced to operate in the open.
So, you, in the international community of the readers of this blog, are now my Commission. I know that they will not like this, but what are they going to do? Defrocked me a second time?
More, in some cases, of what I think is audacious, to follow.
me, I could feel free to speak transparently and, in that way, achieve an end that might advance the Kingdom, not harm it.
That Commission member flatly refused, demanding that our exchange be open to the examination of the Commission.
I was stunned and perplexed but, in the end, I realized that this is par for the CGGC course.
Kingdom growth, in the ERC, can not be permitted to interfere with the function of the machine.
So, he will feel free to report everything said and done to the Commission and, as I feel the need, I will report all of those things to you.
I do this for a number of reasons. First among them is that some who read this write to comfort, encourage and advise me and, reporting to those people opens those possibilities to me. Another reason is to bring the schemings of the Commission into the light of day. Every aspect of my defrocking was done in secret unless the Conference was forced to operate in the open.
So, you, in the international community of the readers of this blog, are now my Commission. I know that they will not like this, but what are they going to do? Defrocked me a second time?
More, in some cases, of what I think is audacious, to follow.
Follow Up Visit to the Dementia Doctors
Both of my parents have been diagnosed as having dementia. There is a practice in Lancaster that specializes in, well, dementia. It's called the Alzheimer's and Memory Care Program. We got connected to it, had mom and dad assessed in February, met with the staff in March and had a follow up yesterday.
For the most part, at this point, this is all about the caregivers.
In terms of the standard Seven Stages, dad is nearing the end, at stage 6. He doesn't have Alzheimer's, which is a good thing for the rest of us. He has problems but is easy to live with, all things considered.
Mom does have Alzheimer's and can be a handful, more and more time goes on. She is stage 4 and can still provide limited care to dad, to whom she is devoted. She has extremely serious memory problems and is sometimes more harm than good with dad.
What seems to be unusual in our case is that the family is united in their care. There are many things to disagree about but we remain committed to not letting differences divide us.
What is daunting for me is my own future. Dementia is present on both sides of my family. There are times when I look at my parents and see my future.
Depressing. And, as I said, daunting.
For the most part, at this point, this is all about the caregivers.
In terms of the standard Seven Stages, dad is nearing the end, at stage 6. He doesn't have Alzheimer's, which is a good thing for the rest of us. He has problems but is easy to live with, all things considered.
Mom does have Alzheimer's and can be a handful, more and more time goes on. She is stage 4 and can still provide limited care to dad, to whom she is devoted. She has extremely serious memory problems and is sometimes more harm than good with dad.
What seems to be unusual in our case is that the family is united in their care. There are many things to disagree about but we remain committed to not letting differences divide us.
What is daunting for me is my own future. Dementia is present on both sides of my family. There are times when I look at my parents and see my future.
Depressing. And, as I said, daunting.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
A Question for People Who Attended General Conference Sessions
This is a genuine and serious question. It is not a rhetorical question.
How many General Conference speakers spoke the word repentance?
Please feel free to respond off of the blog. Blog replies are, of course, welcome, though, perhaps, unwise.
How many General Conference speakers spoke the word repentance?
Please feel free to respond off of the blog. Blog replies are, of course, welcome, though, perhaps, unwise.
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