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.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
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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