Quite a while ago, I posted on one of blogs, perhaps not this one, some thoughts about the fact that the New Testament clearly does not define, as an act of righteousness, gathering for what most today call worship, pointing out that Hebrews 10 says that we should not forsake gathering together, as some early disciples actually did, but that we should gather to encourage each other. That, as far as I can see, is the strongest support in the New Testament for participation in a gathering. Certainly, Jesus didn't set up a church and command His followers to attend it.
Anyway, the Greek word translated forsaking in Hebrews 10 is "egkataleipo" which means to abandon. The most powerful call by the New Testament that we should gather is that we shouldn't abandon gathering.
Well, even with that low standard, I am beginning to think that Evie and I are treating the act of gathering too lightly.
We called off today's gathering again. There are two reasons for the cancellation. First, walking into our front door is still a bit precarious in the wake of last weekend's 30 inch snow. The daylight sun melts some of the snow which, then, freezes over night. The walk to our front door is, in fact, slightly ice covered even as I type this.
But, second, and more to the point, we are too tired and overwrought to prepare for and participate in a gathering.
Working full time jobs and dealing my parent's failing minds and increasingly bizarre behavior, and being introverts makes us both want to use this his day for hibernation purposes. And, so, the isolation of the day has a very good feeling for me.
I am aware, however, that a core purpose for gathering, according to the New Testament is for each of us to provoke each other to lives that bear fruit in love and good works. And, once again, we are not doing that.
Have we gone too far? Are we egkataleipo-ing gathering together? I don't know. But, at the very least, we are approaching that state.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Comments About the CGGC Ministry Review AKA Statistical Report...
Off the top, two thoughts come to mind:
1. The complicated, 99 word explanation of how to count worship attendance, which was included in last year's instructions, and which I noted last year as a mark of CGGC ridiculousness, is absent from this year's instructions.
2. As I recall was the case last year, the CGGC mission, which was adopted under the authority of the CGGC's highest earthly authority, the General Conference in session, has been altered by the Findlay church bureaucrats, something that they, of course, have no authority to do. This insubordinate act is barely worth noting, in my mind, because the bureaucrats do this sort of thing as easily as they draw breath. And, they never are made accountable for these actions.
We must yada yada yada.
1. The complicated, 99 word explanation of how to count worship attendance, which was included in last year's instructions, and which I noted last year as a mark of CGGC ridiculousness, is absent from this year's instructions.
2. As I recall was the case last year, the CGGC mission, which was adopted under the authority of the CGGC's highest earthly authority, the General Conference in session, has been altered by the Findlay church bureaucrats, something that they, of course, have no authority to do. This insubordinate act is barely worth noting, in my mind, because the bureaucrats do this sort of thing as easily as they draw breath. And, they never are made accountable for these actions.
We must yada yada yada.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Creeping High Church-ism
When I published my most recent list of the Characteristics of the CGGC Brand, I added a sixteenth characteristic: "Creeping High Church-ism."
I noted the increased number of CGGC clergy people who wear clerical collars and large, highly ornamented crosses and who promote elements of the high-church, such as the unbiblical, Church calendar and Advent and Lent and Holy Week. Epiphany? EASTERTIDE?!!
That faint rumble you hear is not a 2.0 earthquake, it's John Winebrenner rolling over in his grave. Did you know that in the day that the Church of God was a Spirit-empowered movement that what's now the ERC held Conference Sessions over December 25 at least one time? Because, to our founders, Christmas was merely one of many Catholic Holy Days which has no support in the New Testament?
Since then, I speculated that, while Ed Rosenberry practiced high church-ism, I didn't believe Lance, the new CEO, would. And, so far, I believe I hit that nail squarely.
I also wondered, in print, if, following Lance, high church-ism would fade away in the CGGC. Clearly, I was wrong there.
I have noted, however, that, for decades, East Penn, now the ERC, home office leaders have been theologically conservative Lutheran wannabes. And, as far as I can tell, that trend is expanding across the Conference. Here, at least, we are more high churchy than, perhaps, ever.
I won't say that it is theologically impossible for groups which emphasize the importance of tradition and the power of the clergy to make disciples out of everyone in the church, as 3DM attempts. I am tempted to say that.
But, what I will do is speak from my knowledge as a student of the history of revivalism, and say that vibrant movements which have had a prophetic voice in the world and which expanded the Kingdom have normally been extremely low church and that we are becoming less and less like those movements as time goes by. In fact, the tussle between the Harrisburg German Reformed Church and Winebrenner centered around the Vestry's wish that Winebrenner simply be a high church parish priest and Winebrenner's desire to abandon tradition, embrace the teachings of Jesus and the practice of the New Testament Chuch and to convert sinners and to disciple believers.
One of the things I am convinced we must repent of is this creep toward the high church.
I noted the increased number of CGGC clergy people who wear clerical collars and large, highly ornamented crosses and who promote elements of the high-church, such as the unbiblical, Church calendar and Advent and Lent and Holy Week. Epiphany? EASTERTIDE?!!
That faint rumble you hear is not a 2.0 earthquake, it's John Winebrenner rolling over in his grave. Did you know that in the day that the Church of God was a Spirit-empowered movement that what's now the ERC held Conference Sessions over December 25 at least one time? Because, to our founders, Christmas was merely one of many Catholic Holy Days which has no support in the New Testament?
Since then, I speculated that, while Ed Rosenberry practiced high church-ism, I didn't believe Lance, the new CEO, would. And, so far, I believe I hit that nail squarely.
I also wondered, in print, if, following Lance, high church-ism would fade away in the CGGC. Clearly, I was wrong there.
I have noted, however, that, for decades, East Penn, now the ERC, home office leaders have been theologically conservative Lutheran wannabes. And, as far as I can tell, that trend is expanding across the Conference. Here, at least, we are more high churchy than, perhaps, ever.
I won't say that it is theologically impossible for groups which emphasize the importance of tradition and the power of the clergy to make disciples out of everyone in the church, as 3DM attempts. I am tempted to say that.
But, what I will do is speak from my knowledge as a student of the history of revivalism, and say that vibrant movements which have had a prophetic voice in the world and which expanded the Kingdom have normally been extremely low church and that we are becoming less and less like those movements as time goes by. In fact, the tussle between the Harrisburg German Reformed Church and Winebrenner centered around the Vestry's wish that Winebrenner simply be a high church parish priest and Winebrenner's desire to abandon tradition, embrace the teachings of Jesus and the practice of the New Testament Chuch and to convert sinners and to disciple believers.
One of the things I am convinced we must repent of is this creep toward the high church.
No Fresh Expression in the Wake of Jonas
Harrisburg recorded 30.2" of snow in the recent storm, which ended about midnight last night. Our gathering meets in our home and we are nowhere close to being shoveled out. Few people are around here. Gathering was an impossibility.
Here are two reflections spinning on the surface of my mind in light of our non-gathering:
1. No kingdom monetary resources will be expended in the process of cleaning up from this storm.
2. We will not lose income because we didn't have the chance to take an offering today. The amount of money collected in today's offering will exactly match our average weekly income: Zip, zero, nada.
In this way, we are a New Testament plan group.
Here are two reflections spinning on the surface of my mind in light of our non-gathering:
1. No kingdom monetary resources will be expended in the process of cleaning up from this storm.
2. We will not lose income because we didn't have the chance to take an offering today. The amount of money collected in today's offering will exactly match our average weekly income: Zip, zero, nada.
In this way, we are a New Testament plan group.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Interesting Jasperism Blog Trend
Blogspot provides more services to me in managing my blogs than I could ever begin to use but one of them I do use is tracking which posts are being viewed.
I dug deeply into that data today and discovered some activity on my post, written last year, on the theological corruption and bankruptcy of the CGGC, well, Scorecard, aka, the statistical/ministry report.
Honestly, I had hoped that all of that was a Rosenberry thing and that the new gang would reconstruct the form once the regime changed. Clearly, that has not happened.
I'm guessing that is why there is interest in the old post.
I dug deeply into that data today and discovered some activity on my post, written last year, on the theological corruption and bankruptcy of the CGGC, well, Scorecard, aka, the statistical/ministry report.
Honestly, I had hoped that all of that was a Rosenberry thing and that the new gang would reconstruct the form once the regime changed. Clearly, that has not happened.
I'm guessing that is why there is interest in the old post.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Fresh Expression Update
We have regressed to lower rungs of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and are dealing with more basic life issues than people want to. As I have been saying, issues relating to the care of my parents are taking more and more time and emotion. At this point we have neither the time nor the energy to prepare our house for the Gatherings that take place here--at least on a weekly basis.
We didn't gather here last week but we did take five of the gatherers out for a late breakfast/early lunch at Gus', a local diner type place.
In the past, we've attempted to take the Bread and Cup in settings such as this but there has been too much distraction, for me anyway. There was a brief time of sharing of the joys of the Lord's salvation but even that was distracted.
I had multigrain pancakes. With eggs on the side. Tasty.
Certainly nontraditional.
And, we missed most of the points of our purpose.
We didn't gather here last week but we did take five of the gatherers out for a late breakfast/early lunch at Gus', a local diner type place.
In the past, we've attempted to take the Bread and Cup in settings such as this but there has been too much distraction, for me anyway. There was a brief time of sharing of the joys of the Lord's salvation but even that was distracted.
I had multigrain pancakes. With eggs on the side. Tasty.
Certainly nontraditional.
And, we missed most of the points of our purpose.
Why 3D Movements Discipleship will NOT Work in this Neck of the CGGC Woods
I am in the very eastern part of where CGGC congregations are in Pennsylvania. I've lived here most of my life and I've been connected with the CGGC in these parts for more than 40 years. What follows is specific to the CGGC in my area. Having said that, I strongly suspect that it fits nearly all of the CGGC, if not every last bit of it.
---------------------------
Many of the first CGGC congregations to be organized are in my area. Nearly all of these congregations are in decline in attendance of the Sunday morning show. From what I know, in most of these churches, if Evie and I attended a service as visitors on a typical Sunday we, both being 61 years old, would be among the youngest attenders. In some cases, we would be the Youth Group of the church present on that day.
If you read the eNews, you know that Mike Breen of 3 Dimensional Ministries will be a keynote speaker at the General Conference sessions.
On December 4 of last year, Lance wrote,
I have been saying for years that another of the core characteristics of the CGGC "Brand" is faddism, that is, we are always jumping on to a recent church-oriented hot idea, enthusiastically beating its drum, failing to make a success of it, then looking for a new hot idea to take its place, then beating the drum for that idea. If you've been in the CGGC for even a dozen years you can cite several examples.
I've been checking out the 3 Dimensional Ministries material. Here is what seems to be the main emphasis: The key thought is "Putting Discipleship and Mission Back into the Hands of Everyday People."
Here's why that emphasis will not take hold in my part of the CGGC:
Though the word righteousness is rarely if ever spoken except in the reading of a Scripture passage, the unspoken definition of righteousness for a church attender has been to:
In the churches around here, it may be considered optional for attenders to invite new people to church, but the task of discipleship, if it is done at all, is placed firmly into the hands of the pastor. And, honestly, if the pastor merely brings enough new people into the "worship service," s/he is deemed successful in that task.
This has been the gospel proclaimed by Conference leadership around here for many decades. And, that gospel have been reinforced many times in each church. by Conference mountaintoppers.
Since that understanding of what it means to be a Christian is so deeply-rooted in our people's thinking, and because in each of these churches, people have seen many fads come and go, what do you think will happen if the emphasis, "Putting Discipleship and Mission Back into the Hands of Everyday People," falls on their ears?
The people in these churches will do what they have always gotten away with doing in the past:
-----------------------------
....unless leadership repents in tears in each congregation and confesses that it has lived and reinforced in their very church a false truth built on an unbiblical definition of the Gospel.
This is, of course, the very act of repentance I have been calling for for a long time. Without it? We are merely seeing the embrace of the next failed fad.
Before anything new and obedient happens in our churches, our Mountaintoppers must repent.
---------------------------
Many of the first CGGC congregations to be organized are in my area. Nearly all of these congregations are in decline in attendance of the Sunday morning show. From what I know, in most of these churches, if Evie and I attended a service as visitors on a typical Sunday we, both being 61 years old, would be among the youngest attenders. In some cases, we would be the Youth Group of the church present on that day.
If you read the eNews, you know that Mike Breen of 3 Dimensional Ministries will be a keynote speaker at the General Conference sessions.
On December 4 of last year, Lance wrote,
One of our keynote speakers is Mike Breen, some of you may recognize his name. Our theme this year is "On One Mission—Discipleship," and I was in a meeting a few years ago with Al Hirsch, which some of you probably recognize Alan Hirsch's name. . And Al said, "Mike Breen and his folks at 3 Dimensional Ministries. They're probably ahead of most of the folks I know." And so we're going to have Mike Breen with us for three different keynote addresses, talking about the importance of discipleship and what that looks like in a post-Christian context. And I think you'll be really blessed just by the interaction with Mike and the time to hopefully hear some things that help us move forward and actually make disciples, not just talk about making disciples.(It is interesting that, at the end there, Lance seems to acknowledge our "To Talk is to Walk-ism. Does he want us to want to repent of it?)
I have been saying for years that another of the core characteristics of the CGGC "Brand" is faddism, that is, we are always jumping on to a recent church-oriented hot idea, enthusiastically beating its drum, failing to make a success of it, then looking for a new hot idea to take its place, then beating the drum for that idea. If you've been in the CGGC for even a dozen years you can cite several examples.
I've been checking out the 3 Dimensional Ministries material. Here is what seems to be the main emphasis: The key thought is "Putting Discipleship and Mission Back into the Hands of Everyday People."
Here's why that emphasis will not take hold in my part of the CGGC:
For at least the last 40 years, the people of our churches have had the exact opposite Gospel preached to them. And, the people of those churches have been wholeheartedly convinced.For many years, people around here have been taught that their role in their church is to attract a good pastor and to pay him/her a fair salary and, in exchange, their pastor will perform the tasks they hired him/her to perform. For the most part, long and peaceful pastorates here have been conducted, mostly by men, who placed their emphasis on taking care of the old people well. Many of them have been able to preach a reasonably interesting Sunday sermon, but many have not been good preachers.
Though the word righteousness is rarely if ever spoken except in the reading of a Scripture passage, the unspoken definition of righteousness for a church attender has been to:
- Attend worship. And, optionally, after that to,
- Put at least a little change in the offering plate.
- Go to Sunday school. Then, for the super-righteous,
- Teach Sunday School.
- Be a Youth Leader/Worker.
- Be an usher.
- Work in the nursery or Junior Church.
- Be in a small group.
- Invite the right sort of person to attend worship.
In the churches around here, it may be considered optional for attenders to invite new people to church, but the task of discipleship, if it is done at all, is placed firmly into the hands of the pastor. And, honestly, if the pastor merely brings enough new people into the "worship service," s/he is deemed successful in that task.
This has been the gospel proclaimed by Conference leadership around here for many decades. And, that gospel have been reinforced many times in each church. by Conference mountaintoppers.
Since that understanding of what it means to be a Christian is so deeply-rooted in our people's thinking, and because in each of these churches, people have seen many fads come and go, what do you think will happen if the emphasis, "Putting Discipleship and Mission Back into the Hands of Everyday People," falls on their ears?
The people in these churches will do what they have always gotten away with doing in the past:
- They will ignore it. And, if their pastor embraces it and preaches it and expects the people to live it,
- They will tell the Conference that they want a new pastor and the Conference will give them a new pastor who will not threaten the old, established Gospel--as it has done literally hundreds of times in recent decades.
-----------------------------
....unless leadership repents in tears in each congregation and confesses that it has lived and reinforced in their very church a false truth built on an unbiblical definition of the Gospel.
This is, of course, the very act of repentance I have been calling for for a long time. Without it? We are merely seeing the embrace of the next failed fad.
Before anything new and obedient happens in our churches, our Mountaintoppers must repent.
Monday, January 11, 2016
My Mom and Dad
Evie and I are walking on egg shells these days.
It was about five years ago that we first noticed that dad's mind was far short of what it had been. That reality became clear when he could no longer handle his check book. He used to be a perfectionist who kept track of every penny mom and dad had. Living in an independent living community, they had two or three checks he had to write in a typical month. For a while, it was taking him about an hour to write checks. Then he couldn't even do that. We were happy to help out but soon discovered that he had forgotten about large sums of money in savings and that he was hording large sums of cash in their condo which he had forgotten about. It was at that point, we realized how serious his issue was.
Mom, at that time, was able to understand the seriousness of his problem. We all love dad and, with mom on board, we were able to keep things safe for them and all of us in the whole family were still happy and content.
My parents' doctor is also on board, mom and dad respect him. He was clear that dad does suffer from dementia. And, he has been a resource to the whole family, not only to mom and dad.
It was about six months ago that we began to pick up from mom signs of what has the look of Alzheimer's. My brother's father-in-law died less than a year ago after years suffering from Alzheimer's so his wife and he are experienced. They tell us that the disease comes in plateaus. Apparently, mom has recently reached another plateau.
She has always been a sweet spirited person and had as good a sense of humor as I have ever known.
Suddenly, she is fearful and paranoid.
Watching this is scary and heartbreaking. Our entire family is walking ground we haven't walked before. All of us work demanding, full time jobs. Mom is on the phone to one or the other of us sometimes four times a day, often demanding an immediate visit. Her paranoia often makes it impossible for her to take her medications, some of which she desperately needs. Her moods swing radically. She often forgets things she's recently said or did.
Most tragically, mom and dad distrust what we are doing to care for them and protect them.
Add to this is the toll all of this is taking on Evie and me in our ministries on on our jobs and in community of gatherings. For the moment, we have actually suspended our involvement in the Wednesday and Thursday gatherings. That truly breaks our hearts.
Still, in all of this, we know the love, grace and mercy of God.
It was about five years ago that we first noticed that dad's mind was far short of what it had been. That reality became clear when he could no longer handle his check book. He used to be a perfectionist who kept track of every penny mom and dad had. Living in an independent living community, they had two or three checks he had to write in a typical month. For a while, it was taking him about an hour to write checks. Then he couldn't even do that. We were happy to help out but soon discovered that he had forgotten about large sums of money in savings and that he was hording large sums of cash in their condo which he had forgotten about. It was at that point, we realized how serious his issue was.
Mom, at that time, was able to understand the seriousness of his problem. We all love dad and, with mom on board, we were able to keep things safe for them and all of us in the whole family were still happy and content.
My parents' doctor is also on board, mom and dad respect him. He was clear that dad does suffer from dementia. And, he has been a resource to the whole family, not only to mom and dad.
It was about six months ago that we began to pick up from mom signs of what has the look of Alzheimer's. My brother's father-in-law died less than a year ago after years suffering from Alzheimer's so his wife and he are experienced. They tell us that the disease comes in plateaus. Apparently, mom has recently reached another plateau.
She has always been a sweet spirited person and had as good a sense of humor as I have ever known.
Suddenly, she is fearful and paranoid.
Watching this is scary and heartbreaking. Our entire family is walking ground we haven't walked before. All of us work demanding, full time jobs. Mom is on the phone to one or the other of us sometimes four times a day, often demanding an immediate visit. Her paranoia often makes it impossible for her to take her medications, some of which she desperately needs. Her moods swing radically. She often forgets things she's recently said or did.
Most tragically, mom and dad distrust what we are doing to care for them and protect them.
Add to this is the toll all of this is taking on Evie and me in our ministries on on our jobs and in community of gatherings. For the moment, we have actually suspended our involvement in the Wednesday and Thursday gatherings. That truly breaks our hearts.
Still, in all of this, we know the love, grace and mercy of God.
Fresh Expression: 1-10-16
This was a tough one and it was, in my opinion, why gathering is a part of life in the new covenant where one person does not have to say to another, "know the Lord."
Evelyn and I are, suddenly, at the place where both of my parents are well into the process of suffering from dementia and the cost in emotional and physical energy is extremely high.
We laid out some of the details of those struggles today and were supported and encouraged.
However, in doing so, we opened floodgates. Two others in the gathering shared very different stories which involve intense struggles with similar emotions. It was a very lengthy gathering which involved the sharing of pain and frustration and, honestly, all of the struggles are too monumental to suggest that they were resolved today even to a small degree.
What I am thankful in this is that I am connected to a community in which the sort of intimacy we shared today is possible and even flowed naturally in the gathering. I suspect few others have that in their Sunday gathering.
This was a valley of the shadow of death day. We all have them from time to time. We had ours today in community.
From another angle: There is a challenge in this intimacy itself and particularly in our community that includes intellectually and emotionally challenged people, people who are not always easy to live among.
This challenge is very real. In churches, people jump to another church simply because they don't like others who take in the Sunday morning show. And some who gather in our Sunday Fresh Expression are not easy to like.
In the midst of the challenges so many of us are experiencing, the challenge of the unlikable is a heavier burden than it is in a traditional Christendom church.
Evelyn and I are, suddenly, at the place where both of my parents are well into the process of suffering from dementia and the cost in emotional and physical energy is extremely high.
We laid out some of the details of those struggles today and were supported and encouraged.
However, in doing so, we opened floodgates. Two others in the gathering shared very different stories which involve intense struggles with similar emotions. It was a very lengthy gathering which involved the sharing of pain and frustration and, honestly, all of the struggles are too monumental to suggest that they were resolved today even to a small degree.
What I am thankful in this is that I am connected to a community in which the sort of intimacy we shared today is possible and even flowed naturally in the gathering. I suspect few others have that in their Sunday gathering.
This was a valley of the shadow of death day. We all have them from time to time. We had ours today in community.
From another angle: There is a challenge in this intimacy itself and particularly in our community that includes intellectually and emotionally challenged people, people who are not always easy to live among.
This challenge is very real. In churches, people jump to another church simply because they don't like others who take in the Sunday morning show. And some who gather in our Sunday Fresh Expression are not easy to like.
In the midst of the challenges so many of us are experiencing, the challenge of the unlikable is a heavier burden than it is in a traditional Christendom church.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
No Fresh Expression on January 3, 2016--And Bigger Thoughts about the State of Our Community of Gatherings
We will not meet today, as a part of the group's plan. But we probably wouldn't've anyway because Evie's not feeling well due, as much as anything, to the emotional burden of caring for my parents and of dealing with stresses on her job. We both are extremely tired but she carries a much heavier burden than do I and it is catching up with her. And, because she is what is called our "person of peace," the drain of the gathering at our home is also heavy on her.
So, today is a much needed day off for both of us.
On another thread, I'm considering big-picture issues relating to the denomination that we, in our community of gatherings, seem to be more committed to than the denomination is to us. Here, I will reflect on big-picture issues on the level of our community of gatherings. Doing this will be more difficult because it is closer to home both literally and metaphorically.
We are on a journey that seems to be far more purpose driven than the one the CGGC is mapping out for itself. Yet, at the same time, while the CGGC's is rooted in strategic planning, ours is, by purpose, unplanned. Success for us will be determined by continued faithfulness to our guiding purpose(s). Success for the CGGC will be determined, if I understand it, in a very important way, in an increase in nickels and noses and the number of Sunday Shows affiliated with the organization's brand.
It is true that Evelyn is our person of peace, particularly in the group that meets in our home on Sundays. I remain, however, the, well, visionary, of the community--the prophet. For the most part, the purpose or purposes that guide us have come to the community as a result of convictions I have as a result of my study of the Word and meditation and of my conviction that we should be imitating, as closely as possible in our time and place what Jesus and His first followers actually DID.
As I take stock of where we are and compare it to where we were, say, a year ago, it strikes me that the community-the church-means less to us than ever. We are less and less concerned with the gathering than we have ever been and more and more about being disciples and making disciples out of each other than we have ever been. Along with that conviction comes a yearning to live as Kingdom builders in our lives beyond the gathering.
Please understand. Our love for each other grows and our commitment to each other increases. But, our love for the Lord and His Kingdom and His righteousness seems to trump even the love one another aspect of our lives together.
As I read the Gospels, this way of life seems close to what Jesus modeled and taught on a disciple by disciple level.
He, of course, was almost never quoted as even mentioning the church in the Gospels.
Are we perfect? Of course not! We are not nearly as concerned as we should be with bringing people who have not repented and believed the gospel to Christ. What we lack there, I am convinced, is people with apostolic and evangelistic gifting.
Am I wrong to blame the denomination for that, at least in part?
So, today is a much needed day off for both of us.
On another thread, I'm considering big-picture issues relating to the denomination that we, in our community of gatherings, seem to be more committed to than the denomination is to us. Here, I will reflect on big-picture issues on the level of our community of gatherings. Doing this will be more difficult because it is closer to home both literally and metaphorically.
We are on a journey that seems to be far more purpose driven than the one the CGGC is mapping out for itself. Yet, at the same time, while the CGGC's is rooted in strategic planning, ours is, by purpose, unplanned. Success for us will be determined by continued faithfulness to our guiding purpose(s). Success for the CGGC will be determined, if I understand it, in a very important way, in an increase in nickels and noses and the number of Sunday Shows affiliated with the organization's brand.
It is true that Evelyn is our person of peace, particularly in the group that meets in our home on Sundays. I remain, however, the, well, visionary, of the community--the prophet. For the most part, the purpose or purposes that guide us have come to the community as a result of convictions I have as a result of my study of the Word and meditation and of my conviction that we should be imitating, as closely as possible in our time and place what Jesus and His first followers actually DID.
As I take stock of where we are and compare it to where we were, say, a year ago, it strikes me that the community-the church-means less to us than ever. We are less and less concerned with the gathering than we have ever been and more and more about being disciples and making disciples out of each other than we have ever been. Along with that conviction comes a yearning to live as Kingdom builders in our lives beyond the gathering.
Please understand. Our love for each other grows and our commitment to each other increases. But, our love for the Lord and His Kingdom and His righteousness seems to trump even the love one another aspect of our lives together.
As I read the Gospels, this way of life seems close to what Jesus modeled and taught on a disciple by disciple level.
He, of course, was almost never quoted as even mentioning the church in the Gospels.
Are we perfect? Of course not! We are not nearly as concerned as we should be with bringing people who have not repented and believed the gospel to Christ. What we lack there, I am convinced, is people with apostolic and evangelistic gifting.
Am I wrong to blame the denomination for that, at least in part?
Friday, January 1, 2016
The CGGC in 2015 from 40,000 Feet
I have many (what I believe to be) prophetic or, at least, big picture insights about the just-ended year.
One that is not earthshaking is that 2015 was extremely important to the way we will encounter the future.
ED ROSENBERRY RESIGNED AS CGGC CEO AND DAVE DRAPER STEPPED DOWN AS THE PRESIDENT OF WTS IN 2015.
Two thoughts about this strike me that I don't have to strain my brain to come up with.
1. The Baby Boomer generation has, through these resignations, passed the baton on to the next generation.
2. The CGGC Baby Boom Shepherd Mafia hasn't stepped aside graciously. In fact, they, and I will be forthright, Ed Rosenberry, did all they could do to control the future direction of the CGGC.
In resigning, Ed declared that his successor should be someone younger than he is. Though he never said it in so many words, he was declaring that there should not be another voice from his generation after him to offer significant direction to the denomination. He was to be the end all and be all to his generation's contribution to CGGC leadership. He went out in his own blaze of glory having created a new WE BELIEVE and a new Credentialing model very much after his own image. He did what he could to end up being the face of his generation, the John Winebrenner, of his day.
The Boomer Mafia led the selection of next generation with a vengeance, appointing former Mountaintopper-in-Chief, Bill Reist to lead the search for the new CEO and put Ed himself in control of the search for the new WTS President.
Please understand. I truly wish Lance and Brent well. But, let's be fully aware: They were carefully chosen by the most powerful people of the Boomer Mafia.
Considering how woefully the Boomer Mafia has led what Winebrenner began, from 40,000 feet, I am convinced that we would be in better shape to thrive in the future if the Mafia dons had allowed the CGGC to seek its future on its own without the strong arm of Mafia control.
Who knows? We very well may have chosen Lance and Brent for ourselves and on their own merit.
But, the reality is that they, and we, are saddled with the Boomer Mafia's decision to take control of how the denomination attacks the future.
Because cynicism is a characteristic of the CGGC brand, Lance, especially, starts out in a hole with many. Pray for Lance and Brent on that account.
I wish the new guys had been given a cleaner slate
More comments from 40,000 feet in the future, if God is willing.
One that is not earthshaking is that 2015 was extremely important to the way we will encounter the future.
ED ROSENBERRY RESIGNED AS CGGC CEO AND DAVE DRAPER STEPPED DOWN AS THE PRESIDENT OF WTS IN 2015.
Two thoughts about this strike me that I don't have to strain my brain to come up with.
1. The Baby Boomer generation has, through these resignations, passed the baton on to the next generation.
2. The CGGC Baby Boom Shepherd Mafia hasn't stepped aside graciously. In fact, they, and I will be forthright, Ed Rosenberry, did all they could do to control the future direction of the CGGC.
In resigning, Ed declared that his successor should be someone younger than he is. Though he never said it in so many words, he was declaring that there should not be another voice from his generation after him to offer significant direction to the denomination. He was to be the end all and be all to his generation's contribution to CGGC leadership. He went out in his own blaze of glory having created a new WE BELIEVE and a new Credentialing model very much after his own image. He did what he could to end up being the face of his generation, the John Winebrenner, of his day.
The Boomer Mafia led the selection of next generation with a vengeance, appointing former Mountaintopper-in-Chief, Bill Reist to lead the search for the new CEO and put Ed himself in control of the search for the new WTS President.
Please understand. I truly wish Lance and Brent well. But, let's be fully aware: They were carefully chosen by the most powerful people of the Boomer Mafia.
Considering how woefully the Boomer Mafia has led what Winebrenner began, from 40,000 feet, I am convinced that we would be in better shape to thrive in the future if the Mafia dons had allowed the CGGC to seek its future on its own without the strong arm of Mafia control.
Who knows? We very well may have chosen Lance and Brent for ourselves and on their own merit.
But, the reality is that they, and we, are saddled with the Boomer Mafia's decision to take control of how the denomination attacks the future.
Because cynicism is a characteristic of the CGGC brand, Lance, especially, starts out in a hole with many. Pray for Lance and Brent on that account.
I wish the new guys had been given a cleaner slate
More comments from 40,000 feet in the future, if God is willing.
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