Book: Organic Community by Joseph Myers

 

This is by far the best book I read on creating organic community. I highy recommend this book.

Moving from master plan to organic order changes our thinking to a more NT form of Church and community.

Buy it, read it!

Organic Church Planting-Neil Cole

Simple Church

Given a chance

We often encourage people to pursue their calling. We want young men and women to find their gifts, use their talents but to often these same people we encourage are suppressed if they are not perfect or politically correct.

They don’t get the chance to make mistakes, to mature in their calling because they do not show strong abilities in the beginning or they were a bit messy.

I believe we must give people a chance who feel God is leading them in a call to serve, teach, preach, start a ministry, etc.  One learns by doing.

Jesus taught his 12 disciples this way. He would send them out with a command they would come back failed and discouraged. Then he would teach them how to do it right. He allowed them to make mistakes.

I hear Church leaders say, “I would never let that person preach”, or ” he should not have started that ministry unless he has everyone backing him up”.

Why? Let them have their chance. If it is God will it will succeed if not he will have learned from it or do better next time.

Of course there should be training and guidance and we should be sure that people are moving in the truth. We know that the enemy can move in like the wolf in sheep clothing. There must be discernment.

But were there is trust there should be hope, encouragement and risk.

It might be messy but Jesus made Apostles out of fishermen, tax collectors, ordinary people. He gave them a chance. So should we.

Missional Roundtable in Sweden 1

Oh January 10th I co-hosted together with Fredrik Hellström and Mattias Neve a long awaited Missional Roundtable.

12 people from different parts of Sweden gathered in Stockholm at Betel Folkhögskola for  a conversation that for me was very inspirational and encouraging. I believe it sparked something, in all of us who attended. It brought some hope for the future of the community of faith in Sweden and inspiration for a missional thrust of the Church. If we came to any kind of conclusion it was that we need more of these conversations in Sweden that can encourage more missional lifestyles in our communities. Added: Check out blog  Mattias Neve’s blog for more information about our conversation.

I am looking forward to the next one!

Ed Stetzer & David Fitch – a missional conversation on Vimeo

more about "Ed Stetzer & David Fitch – a missiona…", posted with vodpod

Reflection

The end of the year is a time to reflect on the year that has gone by.

I reflect on my life and my relationships to others and to God.

I reflect on our mission, the church I am called to and see God’s plan blooming like a flower planted in the spring being watered and nourished though the love and giftings of those called to this community. I see the beauty of Gods presence in others and prayers being answered as if God is pleased with our worship.

I reflect on the world and see much change happening before us like a storm moving in on a sunny day. I see crisis that is changing our direction and leading the world into a sense of hopelessness and fear but in such despair I see hope for hearts to be turned back to God.

Now I believe it is time for the church of God to move out of its comfort zone, a time to wake up and live like never before. To live the colorful life that God intended for us to live. To think of others first, give to those in need, to love, forgive, except, to show that life in simplicity is better then excess. To enjoy life to the fullest in the least. To reflect… Jesus.

It is time for the Missio Dei

Merry Christmas 2008

From our family…

God Jul

My Results of the Spiritual Types Test

Spiritual Types Test

“You are a Mystic, known for your imaginative, intuitive spirituality. You value peace, harmony, and inner silence. Mystics are nurtured by walking alone in the woods or sitting quietly with a trusted friend. You may also enjoy poetry, meditation, wordless prayer, candles, art, books, and anything else that helps you connect with God.

Mystics experience God best through rich images and symbols. You are contemplative, introspective, intuitive, and focused on an inner world as real to you as the exterior one. Hearing from God is more important to you than speaking to God. Others may attribute human characteristics to God, but you see God as ineffable, unnamable, and more vast than any known category. You are intrigued by God’s mystery.

Mystics want to inspire and persuade others, and need to live lives of significance. At times you push the envelope of spirituality, helping the rest of us imagine who we might become if we followed your lead.

Sometimes you may feel a bit guilty about your need for solitude and silence. If so, you probably have bought into the American myth that says being alone and doing nothing is lazy, antisocial, and unproductive. Stop it — now. Give yourself permission to retreat and be alone. It’s essential for your well-being.

On the other hand, don’t get so carried away retreating that you become a recluse. That only deprives the world of your gifts and deprives you of the lessons that come from being with others. Some Mystics may have a true vocation for solitary prayer, but the rest of you need to alternate retreat time with involvement and interaction.”

Domesticated Jesus

Computer Crash

I just had a computer crash and lost everything on my computer. I have not done a back up for awhile so all my summer pictures and documents are gone. That is what you get for not backing up. All my email addresses are gone too so if you have my email address please send me an email so I can add you in my address list.

The Mission of Jesus, Luke 15

 

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them,’Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”‘

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants,’Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’“

NKJV

atheist

What’s your theological worldview?

Hmmm… This was very interesting but not surprising. I know this would have looked much different 10 years ago and may look much different in 10 months.

What’s your theological worldview?

Here are my results;

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern, You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don’t think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this.

Emergent/Postmodern		82%
Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan		79%
Neo orthodox		71%
Classical Liberal		54%
Charismatic/Pentecostal		54%
Fundamentalist		43%
Reformed Evangelical		36%
Modern Liberal		32%
Roman Catholic		14%

What’s your theological worldview?
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I like this one too;

You are neo-orthodox. You reject the human-centredness and scepticism of liberal theology, but neither do you go to the other extreme and make the Bible the central issue for faith. You believe that Christ is God’s most important revelation to humanity, and the Trinity is hugely important in your theology. The Bible is also important because it points us to the revelation of Christ. You are influenced by Karl Barth and P T Forsyth.