Change - Part 5

Moving from vision to change.

• People change slowly and so do leaders. Most congregations are static.
• Tradition inhibits change. We’ve never done that before! The more tradition prevents the church keeping with the times, when the time for change arrives, and it will, it becomes harder and harder.
• Weariness. Change requires energy, and when faced with it, many find it difficult physically and psychologically.
• Fear of stepping out of line. Perhaps more to do with leadership as it is difficult to do something new in the area.
• Loss of confidence. Knocked from all angles and from other leaders.
• Complacency. Some people are quite happy without change. It will be a nice idea, but only once they have left this earth for glory.
• Instant solutions. Planning and strategising are out the window! Results must be immediate!
• Recognising too many restraints. Cries of “Its too difficult” is easier to say than “OK. Lets try it at least this once”

There is always risk with vision. Don’t say “I don’t do change”. Where would we be if the risk takers in the bible and church history said “I don’t do…”

Change - Part 4

Correlation between vision and change?

A vision will generate the need for change without necessarily helping it to happen - Peter Brierley

Formula for change - C = (D + V + B + F) > £

C=Change
D=Dissatisfaction - Israel were comfortable in the land of Egypt. Then the order to kill male babies came through and then the people became discontented and only then, was Moses able to call them out of Egypt to go to the promised land
V=Vision - Without vision or an indication of what is going to happen, change is hard to effect. The Israelites were told of the promised land as ‘a land of milk and honey’. Moses didn’t mention problems such as crossing the Red Sea; travelling the desert; Sinai thundering; forty years wandering etc.
B=Belief - Is there somebody who can be trusted to see the change through? All the miracles were enough to make the Israelites trust Moses, and bind them to their leader.
F=First Step - This obviously needs to be taken. For the Israelites, it was killing a young lamb and painting their door frames with the resultant blood.. When they did that, the Egyptians begged them to go whilst giving them gold and silver!

Dissatisfaction, Vision, Belief and First Steps are the four inherent parts of change.
However….

£=Cost & Disadvantages - Change wont take place unless the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The Israelites saw the weeping Egyptians and decided not to stay, so they took their possessions, the Egyptian gold and silver and fled! We need to allow the Holy Spirit to make things happen more radically and quickly than we can anticipate or imagine. It only took 14 days for the Israelites’ final call.

Saying You Don't Do Change is not an option.

Change - Part 3

How do we treat and handle change as leaders?

As Leaders we need top :

• Identify motives
• Be humble
• Be prayerful
• Assess importance
• Seek opinions
• Be wise with words
• Be persuasive
• Be understanding
• Be specific
• Be persistent
• Be submissive

The Bible and change

• Jesus challenged existing society and thinking. The idea that the Messiah would suffer and serve and live in poverty and humility, was unthinkable to the Jewish people prior to His coming.
• We have a God who makes all things new! (Rev.21:5)
• All changes throughout history have been innovative on the part of God - the flood; call of Abraham; the Mosaic covenant; the Incarnation - all reflect God’s creation and innovative change.
• Jesus takes broken lives and changes them into new creations!! (2 Corinthians5:14-21)

Acts 10 to Acts 11:18 - Change in the embryonic church

• The church had to change to incorporate the Gentiles (Acts 10)
• God started where Peter was (vv9-16)
• God allowed Peter to challenge the idea (vv14-15)
• God gave Peter time to work through his resistance (vv16-17)
• God permitted Peter to observe change on a limited basis
• The change proposal was well prepared (vv1-7, 19-23, 30-33) and God anticipated Peter’s questions and provided the answers
• God didn’t ask Peter to change, but rather invited him to participate in improving what Peter already loved and the advantage of the new over the old (v34)
• God convinced a key leader and allowed that leader to champion the change to others (Acts 11:1-18). God recognized that it is easier to work with an individual, rather than an entire group of people. This principle is also seen in his dealing wit the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.

Change - Part 2

What hinders change in a local church

In order for a church to change, it needs to be able to cooperate.

• Firstly with the Holy Spirit, and with what God has planned.
• Secondly leadership and congregation need to cooperate and understand what is going on, and how to initiate the change.
• Lastly with newcomers as the change is taking place.

Blessings and peace,

Change - Part 1

Quote - Unquote

• Change is not an optional extra. It is necessary for survival - Peter Brierly
• At a time of substantial change, the Church Of England needs to learn from the Spirit to be more an anticipation of God’s future than a society for the preservation of the past. - Church House Publishing
• People facing change will either curl up like a hedgehog with its prickles outward or fight back with all the ferocity of instinct opposed to logic - Donald Bridge
• Change is important. But its also important to cling to core values. - Kenneth Boa
• A vision will generate the need for change without necessarily helping it to happen - Peter Brierley

Vision and change...

For a great article on the correlation of vision and change please do visit Christian Leadership World. Don't be put off by the word "leader", as all christians are leaders to some extent and purpose.

Remember: God works with individuals rather than groups, because individuals are easier to work with! Easily seen in the Old Testament and His dealings with Israel, In the New Testament with Peter and the acceptance of Gentiles into the church. Also in the New Testament with Paul and the spreading of the Gospel to the known world.

Blessing and peace

What

does a human consist of poll...

Body, Soul and Spirit

Should not be thought of as 3 distinct, separable parts of man. Scripture allows a separation between the body and the spirit, but body, spirit and soul are all necessary to make the ‘real’ you - they are the different aspects of a person.

Body Soma Gk.)

1. Essential part of the ‘real You’.
2. Created good (Genesis 1:31)
3. Body of death and decay because of sin (Romans 7:24)
4. God intends to give us a new immortal, spiritual body like Christ’s glorious body (Phil. 3:21)
5. Temple of the Holy Spirit
6. Used as a means whereby moral values in the soul may be expressed.

Soul (nep hesh, physce) Wind, breath, blowing - the manifestation of the immaterial part of man towards the earth.
Spirit (Ruach, pneuma). The manifestation of the immaterial part of man towards God.
Separate in thought but often used interchangeably within the Bible (Acts 2:27: 7:59) Soul & Spirit are like two sides of a coin.

Origin of the Soul - Spirit

1. Pre-existence (Plato, Origen) - no scriptural support.
2. Creation (most popular) - the soul is created be God and joined to the body at conception, or sometimes prior to birth - (Ecc 12:7; Is. 57:16; Zech. 12:1)

HOWEVER - Other Scriptures refer to God forming the body (Ps. 139:13-15), and this theory doesn’t explain why the human spirit is inherently sinful.

3. Traducian theory - The human race was created in Adam, and is propagated from him by natural regeneration - body and spirit. This helps us explain why we inherit a sinful nature.

So for this poll, you have three options of which to choose...

Is man body only;

body and soul/spirit where soul and spirit are the same thing;

or body, soul and spirit whereby each are separate essences of humanity...


This is for a paper I am writing on the Imago Dei (man as the image of God), and will help in my research...

Blessings and peace...

I Don't Do

I Don't Do by Leonard Sweet

One of our students received an appointment from a bishop, and the student did not feel the placement exactly suited his abilities. I overheard him complaining about it to another student, and then the other student said, "You know, the world's a better place because Michelangelo did not say, 'I don't do ceilings.' "

Her comment stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to admit she was right. If you and I are going to be faithful to the ministry God is calling us to, then we had better understand that. I reflected on the attitudes of key people throughout the Scriptures and the history of the church.

The world's a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther did not say, "I don't do doors."
The world's a better place because an Oxford don named John Wesley didn't say "I don't do preaching in fields."
The world's a better place because Moses didn't say, "I don't do Pharaohs or mass migrations."
The world's a better place because Noah didn't say, "I don't do arks and animals."
The world's a better place because Rahab didn't say, "I don't do enemy spies."

The world's a better place because Ruth didn't say, "I don't do Mothers-in-law."
The world's a better place because Samuel didn't say, "I don't do mornings."
The world's a better place because David didn't say, "I don't do giants."
The world's a better place because Peter didn't say "I don't do Gentiles."
The world's a better place because John didn't say, "I don't do deserts."

The world's a better place because Mary didn't say, "I don't do virgin births."
The world's a better Place because Paul didn't say "I don't do correspondence."
The world's a better place because Mary Magdalene didn't say, "I don't do feet."
The world's a better place because Jesus didn't sayl "I don't do crosses."
And the world will be a better place only if you and I don't Say, "I don't do ..."

Jesus Balloon

I have absolutely no idea the origin of this picture, but it is quite simply the work of a balloon-meister!!

wow....

Kyle Lake, the pastor of University Baptist Church of Waco, TX, died during Sunday morning services at his church. The following is the conclusion of the sermon that he wrote but wasn't able to give.

Live. And Live Well.
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now.
On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.
Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed.
If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.
If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift.

Copied from this blog. and a Link to a memorial for Kyle Lake

Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson

I fled Him down the nights and down the days
I fled Him down the arches of the years
I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind, and in the midst of tears
I hid from him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped and shot precipitated
Adown titanic glooms of chasmed years
From those strong feet that followed, followed after
But with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat, and a Voice beat,
More instant than the feet:
All things betray thee who betrayest me.

Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save me, save only me?
All which I took from thee, I did'st but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in my arms.
All which thy childs mistake fancies as lost,
I have stored for thee at Home.
Rise, clasp my hand, and come.
Halts by me that Footfall.
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
Ah, Fondest, Blindest, Weakest,
I am He whom thou seekest.
Thou dravest Love from thee who dravest Me.

For the full poem, please do click here

This last week...

has seen the reinstatement of my broadband connection - after 8 weeks! hurrah!!

Ergo, I have finally put some more pics of our Australian sojourn at flickr for you to see. Just click the picture below to go to that set of pics...

This last week at college, at one of the lectures/seminars we were asked about preparing our own funeral. I will post what I proposed later on this week. You might be surprised!!

2 more sites for your audio consideration. Both have great audio for both cogitation and enaction.

Be Thinking - UCCF Apologetics

Christ Church St Ives (Connected to Moore Theological College, Sydney Australia)

Blessings and peace...

Dave

My King - SR Lockridge...

You can download this powerful sermon/prayer by clicking here. A new window will open up, whereby please do proceed to the bottom of the page. Once you hear it spoken, it will change your perception of Jesus...

My King was born King.
The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King.
He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King.
He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King.
He’s the King of righteousness.
He’s the King of the ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of glory.
He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him.
Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King?
David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork.
My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
Well, well, He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
That’s my King.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s saviour.
He’s the centrepiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s honest.
He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.
Well, He’s the grandest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That’s my King.
He’s the miracle of the age.
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He’s strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway of glory.
He’s the master of the mighty.
He’s the captain of the conquerors.
He’s the head of the heroes.
He’s the leader of the legislatures.
He’s the overseer of the overcomers.
He’s the governor of governors.
He’s the prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
That’s my King.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That’s my King.
My King, yeah.
His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well.
I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable.
He’s indescribable.
Yes.
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him.
You can’t get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.
Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my King.
Yeah.
He always has been and He always will be.
I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.
There’s nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.
That’s my King! That’s my King! Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power.
Thine is the power.
Yeah.
And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.
Yes.
Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever.
How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you get through with all of the evers, then,

Amen.