pinakidion.*

Those of you that are reading from MN, if you’re finding out from this post, I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to call you yet.

I won’t be around for a few days as I am going to visit family and friends in Minnesota. I look forward to getting out of town and enjoying the time. There’s been a lot going on and I need a vacation. I also plan on taking next Saturday to be alone without a computer. I’m not sure where I’ll go, but I imagine I’ll end up driving for a long time. I enjoy that quite a bit.

I’ve been comparing quotes lately, and I have to say the entire thing makes me sad. So, here is my one and only time of saying this:

I Told You So.

I’m not saying this to everyone, but if you feel a bit offended by that expression - I am talking to you.

I asked in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, “What are we going to do about this guy?”. So far, there has been one couple leading a church that chose to speak out - they have now left the ICC. There has been one group of elders that went to Portland to talk to him. One person has personally visited churches all over in order to counter ‘old thinking’, and I applaud that. The world-wide “teachers” have written papers as is their perchant to do. I have written a bunch of things as I am want to do. Other than that, though, nothing has been done. The problem with want the so-called teachers and I have done is that we can look back on a huge volume of literature and convince ourselves that we actually did something, when in fact, we have not. We have basically spoken to an audience that is already predisposed to listen to us.

Meanwhile, there is no sadness or outrage at the folks who are going to Portland to “see why they’re so different”. Didn’t this happen back in 1979? Haven’t we seen the effects of this? Even icocinfo.org has pointed out from its membership analysis that issues with retention rates are much larger than the events of the past two years. I would say that the issues started after the effects of years of the works mentality treadmill in the early 80s. There is evidence that the retention rates were low as early as 1987.

Don’t get me wrong, I am pro-health and pro-grace. I am not anti-growth. The difference to me is similar to the differences between the Purpose Driven Church and the Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. I find that both stances are equally useful, especially having just been through 40 Days of Purpose.

However, the line has been drawn and it is called a doctrinal difference. Have we become so compliant that we do not take it seriously?

Maybe some feel like Stephen Crane when he said:

I keep wanting to throw stones at the temple. But there is no temple and there are no stones.

I can understand that feeling. However, I believe that there are things that can be done, the issue seems to be finding those willing to do them. Applying our current methodology to the Civil Rights Movement, we would still have “White Only” fountains, but we could look at decades of written material indirectly denouncing the practices of segregation, but pointing out positive change in that the military is desegregated. Meanwhile, the South would still have poll taxes, Jim Crow laws, racial purity laws, and the like. The voices clamoring for peace would inherently be tolerating these unjust and unrighteous actions, all in the name of attempting change “behind the scenes”. Change by doing what? Writing a letter to the President? It took brave men, with personal faults, to make peaceful demonstrations. It took the application of pressure on the powers that were. Why does anyone think that real change can be accomplished in less direct, unconfrontational manner? Again, the one side believes this is a matter of salvation and doctrine. If this were simply a difference of opinion, then all my previous rhetoric would be pointless exaggeration - freedom in Christ allows us to agree to disagree. This is more serious, though, it is false doctrine.

There’s more I want to say, but why bother? Some will write and say that I am taking things to an extreme. Others will write and say that this isn’t strong enough. A third group will be uncomfortable that there is no room to be in the middle and comment appropriately. Personally, I am tired of it. We missed our chance for real change. We sat around and did nothing. Solomon said, “Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. ” (Eccl 7:10). But this is what appears to be happening in some places, and they are flying to Portland to be a part of these old days. Don’t think so? Look for the phrases “back on track” or “back to the mission”: it betrays a mentality that considers the ‘old days’ better than our present circumstances.

As someone that faces the challenges of leading a group of people, I can certainly identify with a yearning for a time when things were better, I have done it myself. It was easier when we all believed the same thing. It was easier when we were all on the same mission to reach the world. It was easier when I could suggest a passage to someone and they didn’t ask for chapter, verse, and immediate context. It was easier when we had answers to so many issues, and it was definitely easier when we were studying the Bible with two or three people at a time.

But it didn’t make it right just because it was easier. All it did was make things easier.

So, as I said, I’m off to Minnesota. I need the rest and the encouragement.

It’s a longer one today. Read more…

Here is a recent excerpt from an Easter Sermon:

There are churches that try to sound noble, oh we’re not saying that discipling shouldn’t happen, but it’s optional in our church. My bible tells me, it’s not optional, it’s the command of God. It’s the way to win a city to Christ, it’s the way to win the world to Christ. It’s the same thing as if we say, hey you know, tell you what, as far as being pure with your girlfriend, it’s optional. NO IT’S NOT OPTIONAL. The word of God says we must be absolutely pure. The word of God says we MUST make disciples. And so, yes, there will be division between us and other churches. But in the end, what I believe is going to happen, is that the churches that really want to see the world evangelized, the churches that really want to make disciples, who make disciples, make disciples we’re going to link on up. Amen guys? And then I think, some like Paul said in Romans 11, out of jealousy, will join us, cause they don’t want to be left out, amen, not the highest motivation, but it works. But some people are going to be in churches that totally have drifted away because they are autonomous. And if you’re in that kind of a church, where your leaders do not embrace the fundamental truths of God’s word, and call the church to obey it, and to practice it, then you’ve gotta leave your church, and find a church where it’s happening, because it’s your soul that’s on the line. You cannot go up to heaven or judgment and say, well God, the reason I’m not on fire is because I was in a lukewarm church. God says, you could have moved. But you didn’t. You didn’t want to pay the price. My understanding of a true disciple is somebody that’s willing to do anything, go anywhere, and give up everything for Jesus Christ. That has not changed in all these years. Are you with me here church?”

So bottom line guys, it’s a desperate hour and there are going to be divisions between our churches. Don’t be shocked, Don’t be confused. But understand what’s going on is what Paul talked about, because the ones that have God’s approval will eventually join together, be together and we will by faith evangelize the world. Amen?

Here is a quote from the speaker in 1994:

Perhaps also unappreciated by the casual observer was the challenge to meet the needs and keep faithful the unprecedented number of new Christians - over 2,000 in the first six years in Boston! In the ’60s and ‘70 s in the denominational world, there had been much discussion and writing on the “body life” of the church and “shepherding” one another. Thus, in the Crossroads movement, one another Christianity was expressed in a buddy system called “prayer partners,” where each person chose their own “buddy.”

With so many new Christians in the Boston church, I felt this approach was not directive enough. Building upon this concept, I came up with “discipleship partners.” In these relationships, the evangelists, elders and women’s counselors, after discussion and prayer, arranged for an older, stronger Christian to give direction to each of the younger, weaker ones. They were to meet weekly, but have daily contact (Hebrews 10:24,25). (Obviously, the younger discipleship partner also gives input and advice to the stronger disciple, as in any healthy relationship.)

Is discipling through discipleship partners a command of God, or was it invented in the 1980s?

There is one distinct disadvantage to moving to this state: No Real College Basketball Fans. That is, no fans until the tournament. Oh, I miss the days of seeing the ACC Tournament in every store and talking to folks about Julius Hodge and what a punk Chris Paul is and all the associated conversation…

No, even though a team in town had a slim chance of being in the Sweet 16, I instead found the front page article of the Sports page declaring that the Huskers are retooling their defense.

Glad to know four months in advance.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, the Huskers need to retool their offense, defense, special teams, and Athletic Director. I should find the guys that ran FireRonZook.com and have them for our less than loved AD.

But I digress…

NC State is in the Sweet 16. Well, Gadzooks and Yea Verily!

1. Change of story
The same person that said this in 1999:

“When you preach who is really saved: that you gotta have faith, you gotta repent, you gotta become a true disciple of Jesus, and then you gotta be water immersed for the forgiveness of sins received through the Holy Spirit, that excludes all other denominations, . . . everybody else that’s out there.”

and said this in Restoration through Revolution I :

I have never believed or taught that anyone has to be baptized into the Boston Church of Christ to be saved. The Scriptures clearly teach you must be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and then, the Lord adds you to his church (Acts 2:36-47; Romans 6:3,4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41,42). However, I do not know of any other church, group or movement that teaches and practices what we teach as Jesus taught in Acts 2:41,42: one must make the decision to be a disciple, then be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins to be saved and receive the Holy Spirit. When one is born again at baptism (Titus 3:5), one must have Jesus’ heart and attitude to do anything, go anywhere and give up everything for God. After baptism each disciple is taught to obey all the commands of Jesus as one grows and goes making disciples. If this is what God teaches in the Bible, then we are God’s movement.

said this today:

Some have criticized the ICOC saying we believe that the “ICOC” are the only ones saved, that one must be baptized by the ICOC to be a Christian. This is emphatically wrong! (Though I have come to understand that some ministers taught this.) We do believe that to become a true Christian, one must hear the message, repent of sins (become a disciple) and then be baptized for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:36-41) This is a narrow path!

2. Change of Numbers

Today, the following numbers were used to discuss the success of Boston from 1979 - 1989:

In the next twelve months, the 30 uncommitted members left one by one but were replaced by 103 fired up committed baptized disciples, mostly off such campuses as Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Boston College and the University of Massachusetts!… In the ensuing years with this foundation of only disciples, unheard of multiplication occurred! In 1981, 170 were baptized; in 1982, 250 were baptized; 1983 - 322 baptisms; 1984 - 402 baptisms; 1985 - 594 baptisms; 1986 - 703 baptisms; 1987 - 818 baptisms; 1988 - 1227 baptisms; etc…

In Restoration through Revolution I on the same website:

God’s power was unleashed and he gave us 103 baptisms the first year… In our second year, we witnessed 200 baptisms; 256 our third; 368 in the fourth; 457 in the fifth; 679 in the sixth; 735 in the seventh; 947 in the eighth; 1424 in the ninth; and in our tenth year, l621 were baptized into Christ and our Sunday attendance was approaching 5000 as we were meeting in the Boston Garden.

All of this in an article entitled “Spiritual Amnesia”. Sadly ironic.

He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave.
Sir William Drummond

Today was a lot of fun. A lot of this comes from the insight of my wife, to whom I want to give tons of credit. I’ve been looking forward to this for two weeks. My intial reaction wasn’t so positive, but after some time of prayer and reflection, I saw this as the potentially good idea that it turned out to be.

I’ve been thinking about how to present the “Teaching Ministry” in a way that will engage people. My biggest concern was that folks would think that they didn’t want to stand up and teach the Bible to a large group. There’s a difference between something called a “Teaching Ministry” and an “Adult Education Ministry”. The issue I had was trying to make it accessible to as many as possible. Why? Because this ministry needs others that can edit and organize. It needs folks to manage the church website and the church library. It needs perspectives from members of the church that can serve many people. In short, it needs more than just the teachers. Read more…

Quoted from someone else, I do not remember whom.

Well, you’re right enough about most of that. Kip McKean has a way of making whatever he does seem like the cosmic center of the universe. All tools of media and current events are at his disposal. I still think it’s funny how the Internet used to be the “bad guy” but now he’s using it for his own ends.

There is this article on icocnews about Chicago’s largest service in 3 years or whatever it is. In the article, Roger Lamb makes a point of saying the hotel where the service was being held also was a polling place for the Iraqi elections. What the heck does the Iraqi election have to do with the Chicago ICC’s largest service? Nothing. But It’s the McKean way– which Lamb is well- schooled in– take anything that is dramatic or sensational or well-known and attach yourself to it. It makes people think you’re special.

It’s the time of year when everyone tries to find a bit of Irish blood in their genealogy. I have a complexion that demonstrates my Irish heritage, even if my lineage does not.

In thinking about what my wife and I would do tonight to ‘celebreate’ St. Patrick’s Day, I got to thinking about who this person is. Why did St. Patrick’s Day become a big deal? Although I don’t have time or space to answer why it is so important, I do have time to indulge a little investigation into the historical St. Patrick.
Read more…

I read an article on Thinklings about this illustration about the heart.

This is a great article well worth the read.

I recently heard a sermon from another church about the condition coined as Spiritual Amnesia. Reading Deut 8, the minister said that there were three ways to get Spiritual Amnesia:

1. Through time you age or mature. (Spiritual Alzheimer’s)
2. Get Hit on the head really hard.(Spiritual Concussion) This was explained as being hurt within the kingodm of God
3. Deut 11:1 - Our Children, or even young Christians, were never taught Spiritual History

Read more…

Okay, I did it. I said the word purpose four times today during the introduction. That’s what happens when you get frazzeled just before speaking I guess.

Note to self: The word purpose is now expunged from your vocabulary. Use any of the following words when it comes to mind - advantage, avail, benefit, duty, effect, function, gain, goal, good, mark, mission, object, objective, outcome, profit, result, return, target, utility.

Don’t get me wrong, this whole 40 Days thing has been good and I am excited about the Ministry Fair next week. It’s marketing, but I can’t be too cynical of a fun idea to get folks involved. It certainly isn’t high-pressure and it definitely isn’t the “do this or else” mentality I became accustomed to in my old church.

Today was a great day. The only bad thing that happened was Junior’s contiued car problems. At least this time, he caused his own problem by wrecking. Stay tuned Little E fans, he only has to finish tenth before the points reset.

Otherwise, today was a great message on spiritual maturity, good talks with folks, a plan for the dinner with my small group, all kinds of good things. I made kabobs for the first time with great success. I also found out that someone donated a computer to my church for use by the recording crew. Nifty.

There’s more news about the computer biz, but can’t talk about it now. Just pray. It’s been a dream of mine for a while to have a computer business.

Sounds ominous, right? Not really. I decided to post my original notes from the “Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth” class I taught in 2003 in the form of an online class. On a technical note, I am probably the only person in the US to use something OTHER than moodle, but I hope to get it up and running, soon.

The class will be a self-study course and your textbook is “Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth” by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. Don’t worry about which version you get. Mine is an older version and I avoid page references where I can. Besides, there is other source material besides the main book including The Bible Book by Book by G. Coleman Luck, selections from the Talmud, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Manners And Customs How The People Of The Bible Really Lived, an Introduction to the Old Testament class given by Gordon Fee, some material from bible.org and a few other odds and ends.

I hope to get this class done soon before my church’s ministry fair, but even if it’s later, I’ll be okay. I got good reviews from this course when it was taught, so I hope it will be useful to you.

On a side note, I took the wiki down. I never quite got the hang of it, it seemed like the method needed for creating a page lead to endless recursive editing. Bleh.

Nekorian translates to “the magical ones”
Namtemorian translates to “the mundane ones”

Not taken seriously by even the most superstitous of scholars, the magical ones are the subject of stories to scare children in civilized lands. Most tales involve the Nekorians terrorizing villages by causing people’s own furniture to attack them. As such, many in the Hesberian Empire, if they think of them at all, describe them inaccurately as ghosts.
Read more…

I gave some thought to it earlier this week.

One of the things I actually like about the 40 Days campaign is the ministry fair. All the ministries talk about what they do, or would like to do, and encourage folks to get involved.

As coordinator of the teaching ministry, I am putting together some information for the booth in two weeks. Fortunately, there are plenty of things to do to get ready. It has kept me busy.

So I started with a simple question: what is teaching? There are more things I’ll share later, but for now, the definition is pretty straightforward.

Teaching is giving knowledge, providing a skill, mentoring, and modeling. I truly believe that all of us have something we know, something we’re good at, someone we care about, and some set of principles that guide us.

What do you think?

Updated the Blacklist2 file as of 10am on March 4, 2005 (this morning).

Turns out that free and legal MP3s are becoming popular. So are podcasts, but that’s another story.

I found a site that I like, but beware, it’s techno music.

You just don’t find a good blues site with MP3s, but there is a song that comes close from a group named Keiretsu called Farenheit 451

http://www.knobtweakers.net/