#a very nice study/look into background ministries of churches | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

baromtm-blog · 5 years

Text

⋆ ╰ another year at hollingsworth , another year of the big six rivalry . i hear that BAROM BANG is ensuring PHI GAMMA IOTA gets a solid pledge class and stays at the top of the ranks . oh , you’re not familiar with HIM ? ROMY is the KIM YUGYEOM look alike from CHARLESTON , SOUTH CAROLINA . apart of PC ‘16 , he is majoring in FINE / STUDIO ARTS and has plans to DEBUT HIS ARTWORK AT A RENOWNED MUSEUM after undergrad . it makes sense they pledged their house , their SAGACIOUS & CHIVALROUS attributes make them perfect matches . however , their PUERILE & CONCUPISCENT attributes keep their name alive on greek rank . if you don’t catch them dancing to PLAYING GAMES - SUMMER WALKER at a fraternity band party this year , you’ll be sure to catch them nursing their morning hangover at THE LOFT APARTMENTS . cheers to another wild semester !

hi babies , it’s ares again with another muse ! he is a slight mash of the chara i was originally gonna bring to the group , but decided that i like this version much better ! i won’t talk your ears off about myself or anything since i know this intro is about to be ... how do i say ... lengthy as it’s very background / family history heavy . but as always , i can’t wait to write with everyone ( again ! ) and i’m not ashamed to admit that j*stin b*eber’s ‘ journals ’ helped a lot with muse lmao . i’m also a complete IDIOT who reblogged the same gifset twice but i refuse to delete it because yugyeom is beautiful , don’t fight me on that .

trigger warnings : detailed talk of religion , minor mentions of death , poor writing , and sugaring .

korean name : bang ba-rom .

preferred spelling / arrangement : barom bang .

nicknames : romy / romey and romeo ( by his older sister only ) .

birthday / age : february 14th , 1998 / 21 .

zodiac : aquarius .

pronouns : he / him or they / them .

gender : genderfluid .

sexual orientation : bisexual .

romantic orientation : biromantic .

height : 6′0″ ( six foot , zero inches ) .

hometown : charleston , south carolina . ( click ! )

current location : savannah , georgia .

nationality : korean - american .

ethnicity : korean .

languages spoken : english , korean , japanese , elementary latin , and conversational mandarin .

bang family inspo : the greenleafs ( greenleaf ) , the gemstones ( the righteous gemstones ) , and the osteens .

𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖗 of 1958 when 𝑘𝑖𝑚 𝑗𝑖-𝑚𝑖𝑛 was born in sydney , australia to dong-wook and sook-ja , immigrants from seoul , south korea . the family was small , but loving as it was fueled with love , patience , and the parents’ love for the lord . ji-min grew up in a home that was religious , but not to the extreme , as she was expected to go to bible study on wednesdays and attend service on sundays . dong-wook and sook-ja were pillars of their community -- they hosted potlucks after service , always had small cookouts whenever they felt the need to , and they’d give the clothes off of their backs if someone needed clothes . overall , the kims were the neighbors that everyone wanted , so everyone around them was crushed when the kims decided to leave behind australia for the states -- specifically , south carolina .

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊 settled in the city of charleston , south carolina and during this time , dong-wook and sook-ja came up with the idea to open their own church . so , in the late 1960s , songbird church was born . of course , the congregation was small ( as was the church building itself ) and the kims paid their way through divinity school in order to become pastor and first lady respectively . through the years , the congregation at songbird began to grow to the point where they were able to purchase a bigger building , and the kims were once again pillars of their community . during this time , ji-min met a member of the congregation named 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑗𝑜𝑛𝑔-𝘩𝑦𝑢𝑛 who was only a year older than the then fourteen year old . the couple dated for four years before getting married in 1982 , about four months after ji-min turned eighteen .

𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖑𝖔𝖕𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝖔𝖋 technology , it was the start of 1986 when songbird was first televised and thus changed from songbird church to songbird ministries . dong-wook and sook-ja drew in a large amount of viewers through their channel , and it was soon that they were moving their church once again to a bigger building . ji-min and jong-hyun decided to head off to harvard’s divinity school to help run the church as co-pastors . soon, the televised services were being given in english , spanish , and korean , one of the first churches to do so . three years later , ji-min and jong-hyun welcomed their first child , 𝒏𝒂-𝒚𝒆𝒐𝒏 , in the winter of 1989 . after the birth of na-yeon , the bangs were soon having the second child , a son named 𝒋𝒊-𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒍 , in 1993 .

( death tw ) 𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖇𝖎𝖗𝖉 𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖍𝖆𝖉 𝖎𝖙𝖘 first tragedy when dong-wook passed unexpectedly from a heart attack in 1995 . considering that dong-wook and sook-ja never had any other children , the position of lead pastor was given to ji-min and jong-hyun was considered to be the ‘ first husband ’ of the church . sook-ja took on the role of co-pastor as she was getting older , and would often lead women’s retreats and things of the sort . three years after dong-wook’s unexpected death , jong-hyun and ji-min welcomed their third baby , another son named 𝒃𝒂-𝒓𝒐𝒎 . it was a year later when sook-ja decided to formally retire from songbird , leaving the church in the hands of jong-hyun and sook-ja . the two of them brought new ideas to the table and soon , the church grew even more than it had in its near 30 years that it had been open .

𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖔𝖋 2000 , the final bang baby was born , a healthy baby girl named yuna . the family continued to hold high positions within their community , and everyone knew their names wherever they went , and in the fall of 2008 the family opened the doors of the songbird ministries campus , where they were able to seat 16.9k congregates . by this time , na-yeon was attending duke’s divinity school with aspirations of becoming a co-pastor at songbird while ji-cheol was a youth pastor . so , where did that leave little ba-rom ?

𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖆 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖌𝖊 , barom knew that he didn’t want to be a part of songbird . while he did love the church and everything , he knew that being a pastor wasn’t in the cards for him . much like many middle children , barom felt like he was often overlooked or ignored , so his parents didn’t really pay much attention as he did what he wanted to . it didn’t help that na-yeon would often cover for him . barom was the child who only embraced his church boy image when it was necessary for him , and when he reached high school and would often find himself sitting across from the principal , his favorite phrase was ‘ don’t you know who my parents are ? ’ barom , even though he was often overlooked , was ridiculously spoiled by his parents . during his summers away from charleston , he was often spending time at the family’s summer house in the hamptons or when winter break rolled around he was jetting off to the aspen mountains for some snowboarding .

𝖉𝖚𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖙𝖍 , 𝖇𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖒 had an affinity for the arts , particularly fine arts . he liked going to museums , he enjoyed getting new art supplies for christmas or his birthday , and he often took home first place whenever he entered into his school’s art competitions . this explains why after he graduated from high school , he began to look into art programs at various schools . the summer before attending college ( ultimately at hollingsworth u. ) barom goes off to italy to take a summer long art course . he was staying in venice and spent most of his days sketching , painting , and making memories until he encountered a man a few years older than him . at only twenty six , the man was wealthy and liked to flaunt it , especially with a wide - eyed barom . they spent time on the man’s yacht , partying with other wealthy italian locals . funnily enough , at that time , barom only wanted one thing from the man -- his money .

𝖔𝖋 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊 , 𝖇𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 pay his own way and do whatever he wanted , but there was something about being able to bat his eyelashes and make someone weak in the knees that made him feel powerful . in essence , barom had become a sugar baby , and he was perfectly content with that . no one could tell him no , and boy was he bratty if they even attempted to . the summer comes to a close and he’s back stateside to attend his first year of college , and all goes well . during this time , barom decides to pledge phi gamma iota , the epitome of nice boy frats , but barom was nothing close to a nice boy . during his second semester , barom became involved with his second sugar daddy , a rolling in dough man in his forties who was bound to take over his father’s oil company in texas . the man was on vacation in savannah , ga ( with his wife , no less ) when he encountered barom at a lively nightclub in town . he may have only been eighteen , but barom soon had the man tipsy and wrapped around his finger , whispering sweet nothings into his ear while getting what he wanted .

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖕 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖚𝖊𝖉 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓 after the man returned to texas , but that didn’t stop barom from going to live his best life in new york over the summer . once again he spent time focusing on his art in a new city , but he also found himself playing the same tricks on a man in his thirties , who became trapped under barom’s thumb with only a few kisses on his neck and his skilled usage of his ‘ fuck me ’ eyes . out of the sugar daddies that he’s had , the one from new york was the only one that he had ever been intimate with . to barom , this one was a bit different for whatever reason and the two decided one night to go out to an upscale club in manhattan . the two sipped alcohol until the early morning hours , soon leaving the venue so wrapped up in one another that they missed the paparazzi lingering outside ( did i forget to mention that his man was ahem ... ~famous ? ) . so anyways , some risque photos of the couple get taken due in part of these fools not letting up the window to their car ( nothing bad , but let’s just say that barom looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself ) .

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖚𝖞 𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖘 𝖚𝖕 ending their relationship when he gets blackmailed for them , and maneater barom had his heart broken for the very first time . thus , when he returns to #hworth for his junior year , barom avoided getting another sugar daddy for an entire year . he focuses on his fraternity , schoolwork , and really buckles down on his art . his junior year goes well , but an old dog won’t learn new tricks , so the summer before his senior year , barom picks up his fourth ( and most current ) sugar daddy , a guy who lives in buckhead , atlanta and honestly don’t ask me why , but i picture him as a young matthew mcconaughey . again , DON’T ask me why .

𝖆𝖘 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖞 , barom is quite wise for his age , and he partly blames that on the fact that he grew up in the church . if you’re in need of some sound advice , he’s your man , but he’s gonna beg you not to ask as well . despite his sugaring ways , he is also very independent and likes to do things on his own . his family may have provided him with the best of things ranging from maids , butlers , and a slew of foreign cars , but he liked to do things on his own . he found doing his laundry or washing his dishes after dinner as quite therapeutic , and he’s still the same way to this day . negatively speaking , barom can be very childish , but i would say leaning more on the bratty side . as a man who’s used to getting his way , being told no will turn him into a pouty baby in no time and he’s the worst because i swear he’ll sit in the middle of the floor and pout until someone says yes . he can also be lewd in his speech and it mostly stems from the fact that he is extremely confident with his sexuality . it’s even worse when he’s had alcohol -- this is when he gets more relaxed and he’s more likely to start turning those sweet nothings to tender touches and soft kisses . also , you should know that he’s the biggest blackpink stan so if you hear him blasting their music , chances are , he’s wearing a face mask with his hair pulled back by a pikachu hair band and living his best life .

as for most wanted connections :

i would really love the drama of someone figuring out that he’s a sugar baby and holds it over his head all the time ? and barom always is whisper yelling at them to not tell anyone or his life would literally be ruined .

hmm , i think it would be interesting for him to have a crush because he wouldn’t know what to do with himself . he’d be a little awkward baby around them with blushed cheeks and probably stuttering all the time .... i need it !

i’m literally so desperate for an angsty friends with benefits or ex friends with benefits because i’m such trash for plots like these it’s not even funny .

um , i’m also down to brainstorm or work based on chemistry but i’m really excited to plot and interact with everyone again !

#rank:intro #can ya'll tell i gave up formatting the words w the fancy font #FNADKAFHDA #i'm late as always but what's new !!#can't wait to plot w everyone again !!

7 notes · View notes

intothenoise · 4 years

Text

(Almost New) Book - The Missiology behind the Story: Voices from the Arab World

Produced by IMES and edited by Jonathan Andrews, The Missiology behind the Story: Voices from the Arab World (published June 2019) is yet another volume into which a lot of blood, sweat, and tears has been poured. Within the chapter, “Peacebuilding in the Mission of God,” you can find my background contribution, titled, “What Does Religion Have to Do with Peace?” alongside case studies assiduously compiled by Samah Fakhreldein and a missiological reflection from none other than Salim Munayer of Musalaha: A Ministry of Reconciliation, titled, “Living as Citizens of the Kingdom of God.” The book also contains a very nice acknowledgement for my contributions in overseeing the development of most background sections, as well as working with Samah in the development of case studies (along with a significant amount of text and langauge editing.)

About the book:

In the twenty-first century the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has faced many challenges – conflict, changes of governments, terrorism, trauma – yet new opportunities have opened up for local churches to demonstrate the love of God and bless their communities.

This book provides a fresh look at the theology driving Christian mission and at emerging ministry models by addressing ten aspects of missio Dei in the Middle Eastern context. Subjects such as church planting, discipleship, media, and peace building are introduced with their historical background, and contemporary stories and case studies of transformative work in the MENA region. As the book examines these topics we see how mission in the Middle East is no longer “from the West to the rest” but is now characterized as “from everywhere to everywhere.” All Christians will find in these contributions important biblical principles for their own context to follow Jesus Christ and bear witness to him.

Readers are also reminded that hardship does not have to be an obstacle to the church living out the mission of God as salt and light, and there is much the global church can learn from the activities of Christians in MENA countries. While each chapter in this book focuses on a particular aspect of mission, churches must be holistic in transforming lives and to this end, societies, and this book is a gift from the MENA church to the rest of the body of Christ.

Get it today: Langham Literature | Amazon.com

0 notes

realrealguylin · 8 years

Text

3/7/17

January - early February

I started serving on the executive team of our church. Like many things in our church, there seems to be a lack of transparency as to the roles and responsibilities from an outsider’s perspective, but it made more sense the more dialogue and meetings I was exposed to. I’m thankful for the opportunity because the topics we talk about at the scale we look at it, affects the whole church. As someone who wants to plant a church in the future, this is invaluable experience. Plus I’m not dying from serving on this team so far, so that’s a plus.

For my devotions, I bought a Bible https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Cultural-Backgrounds-Study-Bible/dp/0310431581 which gives cultural background to passages. Sometimes Bible passages can be confusing because we aren’t the intended audience, so I sought to alleviate that. Along with that, I’m reading a reading plan called the Chronological Bible Reading Plan which seeks to read the Bible in one year in the chronological order of happenings (so Job comes after Genesis 8, weird!)

That being said, reading Job even with that study Bible was hard. Although I learned things, it didn’t feel connected to my life.

Our church had our congregational retreat and I had a really good time personally. I was able to have some one on one conversation with the speaker, Pastor James Cha. He’s basically lived the life that I want to live - Master’s in engineering, church planted in a “dark” country, and used his degree for the Gospel. The retreat inspired me to dream bigger for my career and invest into it because for many countries, missionaries are denied, but reputable engineers wouldn’t be. So even though I only just started my job and have a long way to go (Pastor James worked 10 years before he went overseas!) I know my goal and pray that God will develop me to the point that I’ll be able to go one day.

After that we started our One Desire Fast as a church. I prayed about applying to the Detroit church plant. I concluded that I should not be applying in this season, but when I told someone, they gave me some push back and to be honest, their points were very valid (leading me to question my life..). Most of my reasons for not applying could be addressed, and if God says “go,” then you just have to go. So, after more fasting and coincidentally preparing Life Group Bible studies that were relevant, I still resolved to not apply. I felt like God wanted me to build up the ministry here, especially how we as a church need to grow in our presence on campus and in the city. As I am going to start serving on the Outreach team, I think this is a perfect storm. Detroit is a great opportunity to pass up. It’s a city in need of the Gospel, it’s nearby and especially close to my Mom should I ever need to do anything, and I’m sure I could find a job. But it’s not the season I find myself in.

mid Feburary - now

Life Group has not been easy. It seems like almost every week I find out about another person’s reasons for coming out. It feels like I’m watching people fall away before my very eyes and I can do nothing to stop it. I think it’s easy to question why all this is happening and be discouraged, especially because I felt so strong about my convictions for the direction of this LG. But, as I’ve seen how my Core team faithfully serves and partners together with me, and the discouragement they go through, I have to be steadfast. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep better than I ever could. I’ll be faithful in being there for people, hearing them out, but if they don’t have to faith to choose God, then that’s God’s sovereignty. I’ll be faithful with the people who are here. And I’m thankful for those who are actually coming out, because after our spring break trip to a really nice cottage, I see how much growth and fruit God is actually producing in investing into these few. There’s still a lot of potential for us to grow in, and every little victory is a praise to Him.

Work has been actually very chill. I work as an Engineering Fellow for Michigan Medicine (the new name for UM Health System, there’s a lot of controversy about this name...). My specific project is to support my boss in Lean-led design for a new hospital tower that’s going to be built in connection to the current hospital and the plan is to be built in 5 years. Everyday looks different for me. Sometimes I go in at 9, sometimes it’s 6:30 am to meet surgeons. Many days I’m free to go home by 3 and that’s pretty awesome. I could’ve gone into many fields with my degree, but I think not only is healthcare a meaningful field, but there’s just a lot of complexity and room to for problem solving when it comes to processes. There’s a reason why hospital processes are so messy, and we aim to make sure the new tower doesn’t suffer these same problems. Plus, during retreat, I had a dream of building a hospital in a country overseas, wouldn’t that be a great way to get my foot in the door?? So we’ll see where God takes me with this job. There’s a lot of learning, especially medical terms, but at least my boss likes my work, so I just have to be faithful with this.

I finally got my first paycheck! Being paid monthly instead of bi-weekly is kind of long, though. But at least I can pay all the bills without having to rely on Mom. I hope to be able to pay off all my student loans by the end of the summer.

Health wise, I got food poisoning last week which wasn’t fun. It forced me to take a sick day and sleep all day. I asked the Lord for a restful week, but that is not what I intended... I may need an X-ray on my knee, it’s been bothering me since December, but I’m only getting checked now that I have health insurance. I’m also getting on my one (lucky me!) wisdom tooth taken out next month.

Daily devotionals, though, has been hard both because I have to wake up early in order to read first thing in the morning, and because we’re reading through Leviticus + Numbers, and that’s always a struggle for me.

I didn’t get to think about this until now. I left RT yesterday. I didn’t prepare a speech because I didn’t expect to give one. RT has been my only ministry team the entire time I’ve been in church. It feels bittersweet to leave because even though my direction in life is changing, it’s always hard to say good-bye to something you gave all that time and energy to. And the people as well, I’ve gotten to know most everyone on the team, plus there were new members, too. My flesh wants people to miss me being on the team. But I don’t think that’s right, because no team should be about one person. It’s definitely going to be weird to be on the other side of the refreshments table. RT isn’t the most time demanding or prayer demanding team, so it’s easy to take it for granted, but you do learn to be a real adult because of the commitment and there’s value in that. I won’t cry, because I just don’t do that, but someone else in my position probably would. Farewell RT, thanks for the memories.

Recently, a friend visited town and after hearing how it’s been for them, it made me pause for some perspective. We cannot take for granted the community and circumstances God has given us in this time. Because once people move away physically or life stage-wise, it’s never the same. You will most likely not recover what you lost. Why else does Apostle Paul long to see his disciples while he’s in prison? He wants to spend time with them, grow alongside them. So I’m resolving to intentionally make time for friends before they move on.

Circumstantially, life is pretty chill, actually. Working life is great because you can go to sleep peacefully at night knowing you don’t have exams/homework to work on. I’m in the middle of various transitions at church so I actually don’t have to serve much, yet. I’m trying to make the most of this time by continuing to get discipled, take on more work responsibility even if it takes more time, evangelize, read books, and staying healthy through sleep, working out, and eating right.

What am I learning?

We can make resolute decisions because of God’s faithful character. He doesn’t force us to make a decision where the outcome proves Him faithless.

In order to be a man of outreach and His hands and feet, I have to be jealous for His people but also jealous for his justice just like Caleb was jealous for God’s justice by killing rebellious Israelites that were causing everyone else to get plagued.

I am human, so very human. Whether it’s physically (I got food poisoning last week and I literally did not move that day), spiritually as I see that I can do nothing for my LG, or even emotionally, I just can’t do it all. I have to depend on God through prayer everyday.

3 notes · View notes

superjournalslibrary-blog · 5 years

Text

What Happens When There Are No Laymen and Volunteers

1. If you do not allow volunteers to work in the ministry you will kill the Christian principle of sacrifice in the church.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24

The symbol of Christianity is the cross. The cross speaks of suffering and dying. God spoke to Abraham and asked him to give up his most treasured possession - his son. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that the day of suffering, sacrificing, losing and dying is over. The day of suffering, sacrificing, losing and dying has come! God is requiring us to give up our treasured possessions so that we can serve Him. The church is being filled with people who are not aware that God is calling them to sacrifice. Christianity is a religion of sacrifice. Christianity is based on the cross. Christianity is based on losing your life so that you gain a new life.

Different Sacrifices for Different People

But some people have the mistaken view that God asks everyone to sacrifice their "Isaac". But God did not ask Joseph to sacrifice his sons. Neither did He ask Jacob or Isaac to sacrifice their sons. King David was a man after God's own heart, but God did not ask David to sacrifice his son.

God deals with everyone differently! What God requires of me may be different from what He requires of you. God has asked me for my profession. Perhaps God will not ask you for your profession. But He will ask you for something and you will have to give it up.

Christianity always involves sacrifice. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry, they will never learn to give up the smallest things for Christ. If they cannot give up their time, their evenings and their leisure for Christ what will happen if the Lord asks them for their “Isaac”? It is important to expose the lay people in your church to this basic principle of sacrifice.

2. If you do not allow laymen to work in the ministry you will remove the opportunity for people to demonstrate faithfulness.

The Bible teaches clearly that he that is faithful with little will be faithful with much.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Luke 16:10-12

If somebody is not faithful as a layperson, how will he be faithful when he is in full-time ministry?

Many people do not do well in full-time ministry because they did not do well as lay people.

Did you work for the Lord as a layperson who did not need supervision?

Did you need anybody to tell you to get up to pray?

Did you need anybody to tell you to study your Bible?

Were you faithful when you were in school?

I was a committed worker in the Scripture Union fellowship in my school.

I was heavily involved as an organist in a Christian singing group to which I belonged.

I was a drummer and pianist for Victory Church in London.

I was involved with the fellowships in the university. Yet it never once crossed my mind that I should be paid for these things.

This lay ministry is an important background for a future full-time ministry. He that is faithful with lay ministry will be faithful with full-time ministry. Many people who have worked as lay people work even better as full-timers.

3. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry you will employ people to do jobs that do not occupy them fully.

Not every ministry needs a full-time pastor. Many churches can be pastored by unpaid lay pastors.

If there are only twenty-five people in the church, it is obvious that it cannot sustain and does not need a full-time minister. Many of the church members secretly ask, "What does the full-time pastor do all day?"

Many people think that pastors sleep from morning to evening. The fact is that there isn't so much to do with a congregation of thirty. The ministry has to develop to the point where it needs a full-time worker. The other reality is that most of the members are at work during the day and only become available in the evenings.

Pastors are not bankers, accountants or pharmacists. They are shepherds who are supposed to look after sheep. Working hours are different for different professions! I do not work from nine to five every day because I am not an accountant. I am a pastor! When the sheep become available in the evenings I become very active. That is why I work late into the night.

Some pastors become idle and lazy as they wait for Sunday when they can deliver their next sermon.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, WORKING NOT AT ALL…

2 Thessalonians 3:11

Let us be honest! Let us be realistic! Does your church need so many full-time pastors? Does it need even one full-time pastor? Can the income of the church sustain the pastor and his family? Can the pastor not find a secular job to do? Pastors are frustrated and fearful because they are not sure whether they will be able to survive until the next month.

You can overcome that frustration today! Get a job and pastor the church on the side until it grows and demands your full attention!

The Swiss missionaries who were sent to Ghana many years ago were sent as self-sustaining ministers. They came equipped with skills that would enable them to work in Africa as they did their ministry work. That is a good example to follow. We need self-sustaining ministers today more than ever before. Most churches cannot bear the burden of maintaining so many full-time pastors.

You must keep your ministry staff as small as possible so that you can pay them properly. You must not have idle and discontented people around you. Idleness leads to laziness and laziness leads to discontentment and discontentment leads to disloyalty.

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

1 Timothy 5:13

4. If you do not allow volunteers to work in the ministry everything done in the church will be related to money.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The ministry is not an alternative source of employment for anyone. It was never intended to be! It is a special job that God gives to those whom He has called. As the church becomes larger, it often deteriorates into a source of employment for the unemployed. This attracts many people who have no better options. What happens to the church? It becomes full of seekers of wealth and lovers of silver. The church is filled with pastors who constantly fight for better salaries and conditions of service.

I started ministry as a layperson, so the idea of being paid in full-time ministry came up much later. I started my church as a medical student and found myself pastoring while at the same time practising medicine. Later on, I went into business and combined it with pastoral work.

At the end of 1990, the Lord told me to leave everything I was doing and enter into full-time ministry. It was not an easy decision for me. Since January 1st, 1991 I have been full-time in the ministry for the Lord Jesus.

There are many people who are in full-time ministry who should not really be there. There are many people who I believe should find secular jobs! How can a church with sixty members sustain eight full-time pastors and their families? Yet, this is the case in many ministries. Success in the ministry requires both power and wisdom.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:24

Many pastors see the ministry as a way to travel around the world and to drive nice cars. I did not enter the ministry in order to drive a nice car. I do drive a nice car now but I did not come into the ministry because I wanted to have the nice things of this world. In fact, coming into full-time ministry was, for me, the end of all hopes of ever having the nice things of this world.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Philippians 3:8

A minister who is going to serve God properly must have died to the love for silver and gold. Why is this? The Bible teaches that those that love silver are never satisfied with silver. The more you give them, the more they want. Why is it that the richest people in this world are often the biggest thieves?

Is it because they are poor? Is it because they are in need? Certainly not! It is because of the greed for more and more and more!

You cannot satisfy people who want more and more money. From experience, whenever I have felt under pressure to raise salaries, I have often discovered it does not solve the problem!

Senior pastors, if you feel under pressure to raise salaries and give more and more benefits, you will discover that the problem never goes away. Full-time ministers must be people who just want to serve the Lord at heart.

This does not mean that people will be poor but it means that the heart is not craving endlessly after more and more.

Soon the church becomes unionized with the workers against the management, and the management against the workers! The "management" are often the senior pastors who make decisions and the "workers" are the other pastors and workers who are not involved in the decision-making. You should see the bitterness, petty jealousies and bickering amongst the full-time staff of many churches and ministries. This often extends to their families and pastor's wives pick up quarrels with other pastor's wives.

I would rather have one or two workers with peace than to have a hundred unhappy and discontented full-time staff.

5. If you do not allow laymen to work in the ministry people will not learn obedience and submission.

As you enter into full-time ministry you must be open for whatever the future will bring. You may be rich or you may be poor. You may have abundance or you may live in the "want of all things". Are you ready for anything?

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

John 21:18-19

Jesus told Peter to be ready for anything. Be ready to be carried anywhere. It will no longer be your will, but God's will. You are not the commander, you are just one of God's workers. One of the reasons why I am in the ministry is because I have no choice.

...woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:16

There are detractors, faultfinders, analysts and commentators who talk about me all the time. I have no time for empty chatter. I prefer to hear my dogs barking in the morning than to listen to their hateful and sarcastic comments. I must continue doing what God has called me to do. Some people love me for what I do and others hate me. I thank God for them all. But I press on for the mark of the prize of the high calling.

I am totally surrendered to fulfilling the call of God upon my life, so help me God!

by Dag Heward-Mills

0 notes

ilovefunreading-blog · 5 years

Text

Five Evils That Evolve When Lay People Are Not Involved in the Ministry

1. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry you will kill the Christian principle of sacrifice in the church.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24

The symbol of Christianity is the cross. The cross speaks of suffering and dying. God spoke to Abraham and asked him to give up his most treasured possession––his son. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that the day of suffering, sacrificing, losing and dying is over. The day of sacrificing, losing and dying has come. God is requiring us to give up our treasured possessions so that we can serve Him. The church is being filled with people who are not aware that God is calling them to sacrifice. Christianity is a religion of sacrifice. Christianity is based on the cross. Christianity is based on losing your life so that you gain a new life.

Different Sacrifices for Different People

2. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry you will remove the opportunity for them to demonstrate faithfulness.

The Bible teaches clearly that he that is faithful with little will be faithful with much.

Luke 16:10-12

If somebody is not faithful as a layperson, how will he be faithful when he is in full-time ministry?

Many people are not doing well in full-time ministry because they did not do well as lay people.

Did you work for the Lord as a layperson who did not need supervision?

Did you need anybody to tell you to get up to pray?

Did you need anybody to tell you to study your Bible?

Were you faithful when you were in school?

My Lay History

I was a committed worker in the Scripture Union fellowship in my school.

I was heavily involved as an organist in a Christian singing group to which I belonged.

I was a drummer and pianist for Victory Church in London.

I was involved with the fellowships in the university. Yet it never once crossed my mind that I should be paid for these things.

This lay ministry is an important background for a future full-time ministry.

He that is faithful with lay ministry will be faithful with full-time ministry. Many people who have worked as lay people work even better as full timers.

3. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry you will employ people to do jobs that do not occupy them fully.

Not every ministry needs a full-time pastor. Many churches can be pastored by unpaid lay pastors.

Pastors are not bankers, accountants or pharmacists. They are shepherds who are supposed to look after sheep. Working hours are different for different professions! I do not work from nine to five everyday because I am not an accountant. I am a pastor! When the sheep become available in the evenings I become very active. That is why I work late into the night.

Some pastors become idle and lazy as they wait for Sunday when they can deliver their next sermon.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, WORKING NOT AT ALL…

2 Thessalonians 3:11

You can overcome that frustration today! Get a job and pastor the church on the side until it grows and demands your full attention!

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

1 Timothy 5:13

4. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry everything done in the church will be related to money.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

I Never Knew Anyone Earned Money for Preaching

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:24

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Philippians 3:8

Is it because they are poor? Is it because they are in need? Certainly not! It is because of the greed for more and more and more!

You cannot satisfy people with more and more money. From experience, whenever I have felt under pressure to raise salaries, I have often discovered it does not solve the problem!

This does not mean that people will be poor but it means that the heart is not craving endlessly after more and more.

I would rather have one or two workers with peace than to have a hundred unhappy and discontented full-time staff.

5. If you do not allow lay people to work in the ministry they will not learn the importance of obedience and submission.

John 21:18-19

...woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:16

I am totally surrendered to fulfilling the call of God upon my life, so help me God

by Dag Heward-Mills

0 notes

gyrlversion · 5 years

Text

Windsor hunk who survived bombing before winning army of society girls

Almost exactly a year to the day that Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, Windsor is gearing up for another royal wedding. Once again the ceremony will be held in St George’s Chapel, and the Queen will be among the smiling guests.

But that is where the similarity ends.

This time, there will be no horse-drawn carriage ride, no official range of commemorative china and no flag-waving members of the public straining to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom.

The wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Princess Michael of Kent, to banker Tom Kingston has no constitutional implications — she is, after all, 51st in line to the throne — and Ella, as she is known to friends, is not a working member of the Royal Family and performs no public duties.

Banker Tom Kingston, 40, is due to marry Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Princess Michael of Kent, in May this year

Gabriella, the 51st in line to the throne, is picturing with her parents the Princess and Prince Michael of Kent

Yet somehow after the glitz and glamour of Hollywood that descended on Windsor for former actress Meghan’s nuptials, the newest recruit to royal ranks will bring not just charm and good looks, but a whiff of derring-do. Fifteen years ago, Ella’s fiancé was working in Baghdad in the dangerous world of hostage negotiation, helping to free captives from the bloodthirsty militias spawned in the wake of the ill-fated war in Iraq.

He had countless narrow escapes in three action-packed years in the Iraqi capital, where he served in the diplomatic missions unit of the Foreign Office, including escaping a suicide-bombing that claimed 22 lives.

No one knew him better in those perilous times than the Reverend Canon Andrew White, who for more than ten years presided over the only Anglican church in Iraq, a role that led to him being dubbed the Vicar of Baghdad.

Yesterday, he recalled Kingston as ‘an exceptional young man’ who ‘makes things happen’. His great strength, he said, was to ‘see beyond the impossible’.

Like the priest with whom he shared a strong faith, Kingston was also an ‘adrenaline junkie’. He helped with his ministry, which built up a following of 6,500 worshippers.

The couple announced their engagement a few days before Christmas, four years after first going out. He proposed on Sark in the Channel Islands, where his parents Martin and Jill have a holiday home

Canon White added: ‘Tom is one of the most remarkable people I have ever worked with and I would have him back at my side tomorrow, if he would come.’

Godliness, however, was not his only quality.

For Kingston, who will be 41 in June, is someone who has always flitted discreetly in and around royal circles, a man about whom friends like to tell tales of amorous adventures.

Women are drawn to his languid confidence, while men have envied his effortless success with the opposite sex.

Indeed, he has attracted some of the prettiest young women around the Prince William and Prince Harry sets.

Among them were Pippa Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, now married to hedge fund executive James Matthews — although he denied they were romantically linked — financier Louisa Strutt and Natalie Hicks-Lobbecke, an old flame of Prince William whom he dated while working in Iraq.

He and ‘Nats’, who is now married to baronet’s son Ed Milbank, met when both were at Bristol University.

As one close friend said admiringly: ‘Tom’s great achievement is that none of his old girlfriends have anything but nice things to say about him. Even when it’s all over, they still like him.

‘In old-fashioned terms, he is a gentleman, just the kind of guy you want to introduce to your mother.’

A male friend adds this: ‘He’s one of those guys who can be quite enigmatic and doesn’t tell you what he is thinking. He’s careful. Perhaps it’s a legacy from the work he was doing in Iraq.’

Pointedly, his stag dinner at White’s, the St James’s club, was said to be ‘quiet’.

Kingston has attracted some of the prettiest young women around the Prince William and Prince Harry sets. Among them were Pippa Middleton (pictured), the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, now married to hedge fund executive James Matthews

All in all, these could be valuable qualities as he contemplates life as Princess Michael of Kent’s son-in-law. She is said to like him enormously and has remarked on his perfect manners.

In an observation many might think typical of the princess, she has also noted that Tom is ‘a bit short’. But then the lofty former secretary Marie Christine von Reibnitz speaks from a position of authority, having introduced height into the House of Windsor.

While friends say the princess may once have had hopes that her only daughter would be betrothed to a duke or, better still, European nobility — it’s said Ella studied Spanish at exclusive Downe House school because of her mother’s dreams that she might marry into Spain’s aristocracy — she is happy about the union.

(Ella went on to graduate from Ivy League Brown University in the U.S. and Oxford, with degrees in comparative literature and social anthropology, and is now a director at Knightsbridge-based Branding Latin America, which promotes that continent in Europe.)

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent leave St Mary’s Hospital in London with their new baby, Lady Gabriella, and son Lord Frederick in April 1981

One thing is certain: with Tom Kingston there is no question of Princess Michael experiencing again the touch of the vapours that followed an extraordinary article in the magazine Vanity Fair which raised the issue of racism and the royals last year.

The article was written by a former boyfriend of Lady Gabriella, Aatish Taseer, a young man with a Sikh mother and Muslim father who, a few years back, some thought might become the Michaels’ son-in-law.

He dated Ella, 38 next month, for three years between 2003 and 2006 and he is now married to a man.

In the article, he flippantly declared that ‘royals and Nazis go together like blini and caviar’ and claimed that Princess Michael owned two black sheep at her former country home, where he often stayed, which she named Venus and Serena after the African-American Williams tennis sisters.

Piquantly, he wrote that the princess, although ‘generally free of British colonial prejudices’, was nonetheless ‘of the firm belief that it was a bad idea for royalty to marry commoners’.

While Princess Michael was understandably deeply hurt by the betrayal, it was nothing compared with the great embarrassment Taseer dealt ex-girlfriend Ella.

For he boasted that they had swum naked in the Queen’s swimming pool at Buckingham Palace and, more worryingly, that they had taken the drug MDMA — Ecstasy — while guests at Windsor Castle.

At the time, a friend of Ella was reported as describing the allegation as ‘fiction’. ‘Aatish is a novelist. He has an active imagination,’ they said.

The Prince and Princess Michael Of Kent are pictured with their children Lady Gabriella Windsor and Lord Frederick Windsor at Eton School

All the same, the revelations left courtiers stunned, not least because Ella, who has never put a foot wrong, has always been a favourite of the Queen. Happily, there was no lasting damage.

‘Her Majesty agreed to attend her wedding at once,’ I am told. Interestingly, the Queen was not at the Hampton Court ceremony of Ella’s brother, Lord Frederick Windsor, to actress Sophie Winkleman in 2009. As a young man, Freddie found himself in a number of colourful scrapes when he was dubbed London’s ‘most louche lord’.

For Ella, the Taseer episode brought her and Kingston closer. They announced their engagement a few days before Christmas, four years after first going out.

He proposed on Sark in the Channel Islands, where his parents Martin and Jill have a holiday home.

Following other recent newcomers to the Royal Family — Kate Middleton, great-granddaughter of a coalminer, and Meghan Markle, descended from American cotton slaves — Kingston also solidly fits the new egalitarianism of the Windsors.

Kingston also dated (alongside Pippa Middleton, pictured) financier Louisa Strutt and Natalie Hicks-Lobbecke, an old flame of Prince William whom he dated while working in Iraq

His family’s background includes a former ambassador to Denmark and a great-grandfather who was thrice mayor of Walsall in the West Midlands. Tom, who has two sisters, was born in Evesham, Worcestershire. His QC father, a self-made man educated at a secondary modern school, has been a hugely successful barrister specialising in planning law.

Today, the family home is a Grade II-listed manor house in Kemble, Gloucestershire, close to Prince Charles’s Highgrove.

It is from his parents that he has drawn his strong faith — in 2015, his father was elected to the General Synod of the Church of England and his mother is a trustee of a Christian healing centre in Cirencester.

Unlike many young men drawn to Iraq for the business opportunities that followed the 2003 Gulf War, Kingston was on a different mission.

Sent to Baghdad, he was seconded as a project manager for the International Centre for Reconciliation, which is based at Coventry Cathedral, to mediate in disputes between political, religious and tribal leaders and to negotiate the release of hostages.

Baghdad was where Canon White and Tom met. ‘Tom is an individual with a very strong faith,’ recalls the Canon. ‘It was that faith and commitment which led to us working together in Iraq, where we survived some close scrapes. They were a daily occurrence.

‘Tom has a fierce determination to make things succeed and great insight into what makes humans tick, both good and bad. He uses those to see beyond the impossible and get through to the other side.’

His work with Canon White, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, helped maintain the Anglican Church in Baghdad, which was established in 1990. ‘We built up a huge following, hundreds of whom I baptised as children and who have relocated to Jordan. Tom helped me.’

The church was in a former palace of Saddam Hussein’s and the pulpit one of his thrones. ‘Those were good times,’ recalled the clergyman. ‘I think Tom would agree and we have stayed in touch by phone and email since.’

No one knew Kingston better while he was in Iraw than the Reverend Canon Andrew White (pictured), who for more than ten years presided over the only Anglican church in Iraq, a role that led to him being dubbed the Vicar of Baghdad

Both men were in the church when it was targeted in a suicide-bomb attack in 2004.

They had walked in just before the blast, which killed two of the congregation and 20 others.

Intriguingly, Kingston was also at the time working with Prince Michael of Kent, his future father-in-law, even though he had not at that stage met his daughter, Ella.

‘Prince Michael has a relative who is buried on the Mount of Olives. While we were working there, we located the grave for him and ensured it was properly tended,’ added Canon White.

Next week, the two friends are due to meet in London to talk through arrangements for Tom’s wedding in May. It will also be the first time Canon White meets Lady Gabriella.

‘I’m very excited — about seeing them both and about the marriage. I think both her cousins, William and Harry, who are very loyal, will be there with Kate and Meghan.’

Kingston left Baghdad to join Schroders, the private bank. He is currently a director of Devonport Capital, which helps find investment for ‘frontier’ economies and those undergoing postwar reconstruction.

Meanwhile, the couple have a wedding to plan. The ceremony will be followed by a reception for around 400 at Frogmore House, where Harry and Meghan had their evening party. It is being organised by the Queen’s party planner, Lady Elizabeth Anson. That evening, there will be a lively second party for the couple’s friends in London.

And Princess Michael? ‘She will be enormously proud,’ says a friend. ‘She’s been talking about being mother of the bride for more than ten years.’

Additional reporting: Simon Trump

The post Windsor hunk who survived bombing before winning army of society girls appeared first on Gyrlversion.

from WordPress https://www.gyrlversion.net/windsor-hunk-who-survived-bombing-before-winning-army-of-society-girls/

#Entertainment News

0 notes

canaryatlaw · 6 years

Text

alright, I should get typing because I’m getting tired. Today was pretty good. I got up nice and early to my alarm at 7:45 and refreshed the bus schedule app furiously until it was apparent I needed to get on the 8:21 bus since the next one wasn’t until 8:41 (which is the one I normally take when I don’t have to get their early for the babies). So I made it, and of course since it’s early everything took less time and I ended up getting to church super early. it was kinda awkward because we were doing like a mini-baby shower thing for two volunteers who are married and about to have a kid so people were bringing like diapers and wipes and I just kinda neglected to bring anything, so I was just kinda standing there awkwardly for most of it, but oh well. I also officially met the new staff member that’s doing something with the kids ministry I do not remember at all but I think she has some background in children studies so that should be good and she was very pleasant. Once we finished with all of that I went to the babies room to get ready for check-in. We generally check in all the babies and walkers from the babies room and then take the walkers next door (there’s a door between the two rooms) and then at the end of the service we move the babies in there for everyone to get picked up from there, I guess the idea is to streamline dropping off and picking up instead of splitting it up. Since this was the earlier service that’s the most heavily attended I was prepared for more babies than usual, but man, they just kept coming and coming. I didn’t get a full count between the two rooms but it had to have been about 25 or so, which is a lot of children under 2, lol, and unfortunately it was one of the Sundays where everyone was screaming and something was on fire (I always say in the babies it’s either completely calm and relaxed or everyone’s screaming and something’s on fire, and this week was the latter) (not literally on fire though). There was pretty much constant crying from at least one child at any given point, there were very few moments when everyone was content, and of course we know the phenomena of contagious crying, so when one of them starts if we don’t get them soothed right away another three kids will start crying. I kinda floated between the two rooms for most of the time just seeing who needed help, towards the end of the service I ended up holding a little boy about 5 months or so that was fine for most of the service but just started getting fussy so I knew it was most likely from him being tired, so I did the little bouncy alternating feet thing that generally gets babies to stop crying then once he did I started rocking him which took a while but eventually he did fall asleep, at which point there was probably about 10 minutes left in the service, so I just sat and held him until it was over and his parents came to pick him up. I was very pleased that I managed to stand up and actually hand him to his parents without waking him up, because that’s always somewhat of a feat lol. I’m not used to doing babies first then service so my mind was like time to leave! and I had to be like no, time for service now 😂 timing was working well for me, I had just enough time to get everything I needed done and get to the sanctuary right before the service started. We were starting a new series with both of our lead pastors preaching together, which I always appreciate (it was funny because the guy was like “I’m J___, one of your lead pastors” and the woman was like “and I”m J____, the other one” and everyone laughed) basically talking about how we relate to others tends to define how we relate to God, talking about the story of when Jesus went to see Mary and Martha and Martha was all like “uh Jesus tell Mary to stop being lazy and help me get everything ready” and Jesus was like “nah it’s chill she just wants to sit at my feet and be in my presence” (that’s more or less how they talk in my head) and then moved on to talking about the enneagram tests which is something they’ve used with the leadership a bunch of times before so I was familiar with it and already knew what I was (type 3 with balanced wings, but I definitely forgot what the part about the wings means) which is the achiever, which sounds about on point, and that’s gonna feed into next week’s message. So that was good. Once we ended I started my trek home, ended up having to wait twenty minutes for the bus to arrive after getting off the train, but at least it was much warmer today than the rest of this week. something did happen around this time though, facebook reminded me that the P!ATD Chicago concert is tomorrow night which we opted to go to Milwaukee instead because we didn’t think we could make it in time since Jess gets out of work kinda late, but I saw that and was like oh lol let me pull up tickets on stub hub that will be like $600 and make a joke so I went to do so and discovered the tickets were not in fact $600, they were actually significantly less than that, and now we knew that there are two openers and they don’t start the actual concert for at least an hour in so we wouldn’t have to worry about getting there right at 7.....so I texted Jess and was like ???? and she was like YESSS so now we’re seeing them again tomorrow night???? I’m super amped about it lol since I spent the last week wishing I could relive the concert and now I’m actually getting to do that, so that’s pretty damn awesome, really excited for that. Anyway, the bus eventually came and I got home, worked on some stuff for a bit before watching the final two episodes of The Final Table and then switching over to the super bowl purely for the commercials because I really could not give less of a fuck about the actual game so I was really only paying attention to the commercials and not the actual game. Around this time I was really craving bubble tea and when I went to look at it on ubereats I somehow had some credit that literally let me get it for free (it was probably something to do with the sushi order they messed up like two weeks back) so I got free bubble tea delivered to me which was pretty dang cool??? I still tipped the deliverer of course because I don’t stiff people on tips as a matter of principle. so I enjoyed that while watching the commercials. I was the slightest bit invested I suppose in that I didn’t really want the Patriots to win, which I realize it’s probably inconsistent for me to dislike them for winning all the time when I’m a Yankees fan, but I just don’t like them, so seeing them win was kind of an eyeroll. I just left it on the channel after the game was over which saw the premiere of some very weird talent tv show competition that had like, these insanely good karate people, three adorable little boy singers, an escape artist, and then this guy that was billed as “the space cowboy” and was basically a sword swallower but his act was so incredibly nauseating to watch I legit had to look away to avoid gagging. I don’t plan on watching the show, but I was still glad to see he didn’t make the cut, lol. after that there was the news for like 20 minutes or so which I kept on because they were talking about the chemical plant in the suburbs that’s potentially giving people cancer which I was working on with the firm for a while so I was curious about that. Then there was the late show with Stephen Colbert which I watched a few minutes of before deciding to start getting for bed and showering then of course procrastinating for a while because I didn’t want to go to sleep yet, then started writing this and now I’m here. It’s 2 am now and even though I don’t have anything to do tomorrow until night it’s still probably a good idea to get to bed now I think. Goodnight darlings. Hope your Monday doesn’t suck.

#daily journal #February 2019 #Jess tag

0 notes

2manniehats · 6 years

Text

The Hidden Life of a Pastor

Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) ordained another pastor. I was privileged to be in the congregation as another pastor took his vows of ordination and joined the ranks called to word and sacrament. While beautiful for many reasons, I’ll confess that I spent most of the service reflecting on the decade of ministry since my husband went through the same ordination service.10 years ago, pregnant and proud I had no idea what the life of a minister really meant or what that road would mean for Michael, me or our growing little family.

Today, the presiding Bishop in his message teased the new Pastor asking if his wife had forgiven the Bishop yet, explaining the demands of ministry were real. The Bishop went on to share that ministry would change a person, shape them and require them to carry and do more than anyone outside the ministry could possibly understand. The vows taken during the ordination remind the pastor of their call; that Holy Scripture is the word of God, that they must teach and preach in accordance with the Scriptures, that they will pray for God’s people and nourish them with the Word and Sacraments, and be diligent in their study of the Scripture and their use of the means of grace.

Again hearing it made me smile. It seems so simple. Honestly so much of what a congregation expects isn't listed. So much of the weight of what he does is glossed over. A decade, two congregations, three hospitals (serving as a chaplain) and more prayers than can be listed, I understand these vows very differently.

The Bishop is right. Ministry, Ordained Ministry, changes you. Your role, your responsibility, your charge looks different than the day before. 10 years ago I thought it was a nice thought, today I know it to be true. As a ring side observer of Michael’s years in ministry, I’ve watched my husband in this role and know these vows are a only the surface to what he does, sees and carries.

A lifetime ago, Michael worked for me in a college residence hall. We laugh about it now. As a supervisor I was acutely aware of his strengths and weaknesses. I used to be frustrated that Michael wouldn’t market a program they way I would (I have a background in marketing, Michael in theology), or that Michael wouldn’t follow all the steps I would want him too (yes I’ve been accused of being a control freak), but what I quickly learned is that Michael knew our residents, our people, better than anyone else. He managed to get the kid who wouldn’t talk to anyone to open up and share with him. The jocks, nerds, popular ones, emo kids, and even the druggies talked to him. Not just hi, but really opened up to him. He shared God’s universal love to all of them and made it relevant in their lives. He sucked at programing and he never completed his paperwork but gosh darn it - he was the best. You see the programing and the paperwork was just a means to get to the conversation, a means to serve and care for our residents. Michael didn’t the ‘to-dos’ to get the the ‘why” of what we did. Michael knew he had a residence hall full of people that didn’t need programing, he knew he had a hall full of people that needed to know he was there for them and bigger than that, God loved them. Honestly he taught me a great deal about supervision (don’t lose track of why you do what you do - and if tactics don’t work remember the goal).

Michael is amazing at being present in peoples best and worse moments. When you have news to celebrate, he’s your guy. Be it good news or life changing fantastic news, he’s there to celebrate. When the worst is at your door step, he’s there. He’s helped tell a spouse the other spouse is terminally ill, he’s worked with suicidal youth to see a different path, he’s prayed with families ready to collapse, he’s held someone’s hand as they passed so they wouldn’t be alone. I wish the celebrations equaled the challenges. But they don’t. It seems that Michael is the guy you call when you don’t know who else to call. In that sense, the tough news reaches him first.

I actually think that’s the reason God called Michael to Word and Sacrament service. He’s a minister. He ministers to people. Meets them where they are at and does so without pomp and circumstance. He takes confidentiality seriously and because of that much of his work is never reported, never broadly shared. He preaches delivering the Word all the while praying his words nourish someone who needs them, someone who needs encouragement, someone who needs to be reminded that He loves them.

In his quiet moments, he prays for those he’s sat with, listened to and cried with. He prays for their walk, their struggle and does so for years to come. I think, (maybe because I’m his wife) he carries their burdens far longer than he should, far longer than they even realize. I’ve watched him wrestle with faith, search for resources and ultimately decide to further his education so he could help even more. This August he’ll graduate with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Now he’ll be an ordained minister licensed to give therapy. He can confidently, with training, continue the conversation much further than he could previously.

As I write this, he’s at the hospital with a family that has faced an unthinkable tragedy. He’s praying, listening and living out his vows. I know he’s making an impact on that family but it isn’t something he’ll share broadly. Next week when someone teases that Pastors only work a half a day on a Sunday, he’ll smile and say he’s got the best job around. His praying wife will silently stand behind him know the real call this ordained pastor walks.

Please pray for those who minister to you. Real ministry isn’t public and often isn’t celebrated.

0 notes

johnhardinsawyer · 7 years

Text

The Politics of the Kingdom

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

3 / 25 / 18 – Palm/Passion Sunday

Mark 11:1-11

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Philippians 2:5-11

“The Politics of the Kingdom” (Using Jesus, and Other Mistakes)

A little over a week from now will mark the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in Memphis. Over the past five decades, Dr. King has achieved an almost saint-like status for some. In a 2011 poll that was taken by the Gallup organization, 94% of respondents had a favorable view of Dr. King.[1] I was surprised to learn, though, that Dr. King was not nearly this popular when he was alive.

In the years leading up to his assassination, the preacher and civil rights activist was less popular than ever. A 1966 Gallup poll found that almost two-thirds of Americans had an unfavorable opinion of Dr. King and a third had a positive opinion.[2]

If you learn about some of the things that Dr. King said and did that didn’t involve the beautiful phrase “I have a dream,” you might start to understand why he wasn’t all that popular. When he started talking about racism, segregation, and housing in the North, and poverty and economic justice, and the war in Vietnam, and “restructuring American society,”[3] it was clear that King’s dream of a different kind of Kingdom was ruffling the feathers of all kinds of people and his popularity dropped – both in the white community and the black community. “I Have a Dream is so nice,” people thought, “but all that other stuff is too political.”

Hmmmm. . . political. This is a word that really gets people going, isn’t it? I don’t know how many times in recent months I have heard one person or another talking about how they don’t want politics in their football or their food choices, their hobbies or their habits, their awards shows or their gun shows, the rhetoric they hear or the religion they espouse. If you take the word “politics” back to its root in the Greek, you get the word polis, which means city or state[4] or nation. Anyone who lives in a polis tends to have opinions about what would make that polis a better place to live. The only trouble is, all those who are seeking the well-being of their polis rarely agree on what would make that polis better. I guess this is where politics – the process of “making decisions that apply to members of a group”[5] – becomes partisan. People choose sides, thinking that that their opinions about the polis are the only ones that make sense to them. And they don’t want to recognize that what’s best for everyone in the polis might look different from how they feel things should be.

Jesus lived in politically divided times. Around the time of Jesus’ birth, the Romans moved in to stay and became the main governing and occupying force.[6] By the time Jesus was an adult, the Roman empire had been involved in the politics of Judea for decades. This was not the first time the descendants of Abraham had been conquered by one group or another. Empire after empire had invaded the land, laying waste and laying claim. The Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Greeks, had all left their mark over the centuries – and sometimes that mark was quite bloody. Now the Romans were in charge. They put puppet rulers on the throne – the Herodians – but it was clear that Rome held all the real power. And the people who lived in the land had to choose: would they go along with the empire who had conquered them, or would they resist?

In Jesus’ day, even though Rome held almost all of the power, there were different groups squabbling over whatever little power was left. This was especially true in the Jewish religion. As shocking as it may sound, there are times when the politics of power are mixed with religion, and vice-versa. As we learned in our Wednesday night Bible Study a few weeks ago, in the Jewish religion, the Pharisees were concerned with following the Law of Moses, the Sadducees were concerned with sacrificing things in the Temple, the Essenes thought that the Pharisees and Sadducees were impure, so they went out to the desert to get away from it all. To top it all off, there was a growing number of people who were thinking revolutionary thoughts of somehow rising up against the Romans. Things were quite complicated and volatile.

And then, Jesus came onto the scene. And everywhere he went, he was interacting with people of different religious backgrounds, and different political leanings, different levels of purity and different races. He didn’t make things easy for himself when he healed a Roman Centurion’s servant, and talked with women and men who were not Jewish, and mixed it up with the Pharisees and Sadducees.[7] Different groups tried to test him to see whose side he was on. The scribes and Pharisees were especially persistent, asking Jesus why he was eating with sinners, and tax collectors, and other undesirables. It seemed, that if Jesus sided with anyone at all, it was with the people who had no power at all – the poor, the outcast, the sick, the sinners, and the children. In the Kingdom of God, the lowest and the least and the last are the ones God prefers. Answers like these didn’t satisfy the Pharisees so they went out, pretty early on, and conspired with the Herodians – the Jews who were allied with the Romans – to destroy Jesus. This is just one example of how political things were for Jesus. But, when he rode into the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, things got really political.

In Mark’s version of the Palm Sunday story, the people use “cloaks” and “leafy branches” (Mark 11:8) instead of palm branches, but this scene of Jesus riding a colt into the city of Jerusalem with people laying down their cloaks and waving branches was a symbolic recreation of triumphant parades from the past. Symbols like this can carry a lot of emotional and historical weight.

There was this one time – a couple of hundred years before Jesus – when the city of Jerusalem had been conquered by the Greeks and was being held by the Seleucids – a group of people who had burned all of the copies of the Hebrew scriptures that they could find. Times were tough for the children of Israel. But then, the Maccabees, a Jewish family, led a revolt that made it all the way to Jerusalem. They took most of the city from the Seleucids and laid siege to a fortress where the last of their enemies were hiding. Finally, when the fortress fell, they went in “. . .with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.” (1 Maccabees 13:51) Years later, when people saw Jesus – someone from the household of King David, someone who had been talking about the “Kingdom of God,” someone who had enough of a following to actually do something dramatic – riding into the city, in full view of all of the parties and groups who wanted a piece of him, there were likely some in that crowd who knew their history, and thought about the “great enemy,” the Romans, and waved their palm branches with revolution on their minds. A palm branch is a symbol loaded with meaning. Perhaps, you might be able to think of other symbols like this – both positive and negative.

You see how political things were for Jesus? He had some influence with the people who followed him and could have claimed power with that influence. But he didn’t. . . at least not like everyone else wanted him to.

Many of the people who waved branches and cheered for Jesus could only guess what was on his mind as he rode down the steep slope of the Mount of Olives and up into the city of Jerusalem. Just so you know the road down the Mount of Olives is very steep and I don’t think we give Jesus enough credit on his colt-riding skills, especially since he was riding a “colt that [had] never been ridden.” (Mark 11:2) Reading Mark’s account, we don’t know if Jesus was happy about all of the cheering, we just know that he rode into the city, went into the temple, looked around at everything and went back out to Bethany (probably to return the colt that he borrowed). Nowhere do we read that Jesus met with this group or that group – that he tried to curry favor or play politics. There were those who had revolution, or the Law, or the Romans, or human political power on their minds, but Jesus had the Kingdom of God on his mind.

It should be noted that in the Bible, the word polis is used to talk about human cities and nations, but it is also used to talk about the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. At the end of the Book of Revelation, we see this Holy Polis[8] “coming down out of heaven from God.” (Revelation 21:2) The holy city of the Kingdom of God is a place where every tear will be wiped away, where death and mourning and pain will be no more, a place where wholeness and peace and praise will be known by all, and where everyone will dwell fully in the presence of God. In his earthly ministry – in the ways that he taught and preached and healed – with his very presence among all those who needed him, Jesus sought to create this Kingdom and bring it near. And in his dying and rising, Jesus brings this Kingdom into full view. This Kingdom is unlike any other. It is a Kingdom of grace, made perfect in weakness and vulnerability.[9]

The prophet Isaiah writes about a suffering servant who listens to God, is not rebellious, and doesn’t turn back. This servant is one who is struck on the face and is insulted and spat upon, and yet he keeps going. Isaiah uses the image of a “face like flint” (Isaiah 50:7), the face of someone who appears hard and determined. But if flint is struck in just the right place, the stone will chip, revealing just how vulnerable it can be. The same can be said of Jesus, who had warned his disciples that the “Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, [rejected by all of the parties and power-brokers in the polis] and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31)

Jesus Christ “humbled himself and become obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) The cross is a symbol full of meaning because it is the place where the life of God brings an end to death, where God’s love is shown in all of its fullness, where a vulnerable God – a crucified God – shows true and gracious power. It would seem that Jesus has an agenda all his own – one that so many did not understand, but one that applies to everyone in the human family. And throughout the gospels, Jesus calls his followers to take up their crosses and follow him.

To follow Jesus does not mean that we will always join a joyous parade. Sometimes, the march is full of hardship and tears. But if we are striving for the Kingdom of God, the way is blessed because we have One who goes before us – One who has shown us the way, the truth, and the life.

The way of Jesus is one of non-violence – putting down our swords – of humility and healing, of peace and wholeness. The truth of Jesus is that he came as a teacher and shows us – in his life and example – how to love and forgive. The life of Jesus is abundant and full and everlasting. It is a life that is always seeking, striving, and working for the Kingdom of God, both in the here-and-now and in the yet-to-come.

This is a Kingdom, that we see in the presence and person and humble power of Jesus Christ. May we seek this Kingdom above all others.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

------

[1] http://news.gallup.com/poll/149201/Americans-Divided-Whether-King-Dream-Realized.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=plaintextlink&utm_term=Politics.

[2] http://www.newsweek.com/martin-luther-king-jr-was-not-always-popular-back-day-780387.

[3] Trailer for King in the Wilderness, documentary – 0:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVGRg89DbyM.

[4] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979) 685.

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics.

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea_(Roman_province).

[7] Luke 7:1-10 (also Matthew 8:5-13), Mark 7:24-30, John 4, Mark 12:18.

[8] Nestle-Aland, ed. Novum Testamentum Graece (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellshaft, 1993) 675 – “hagian polin”.

[9] 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

0 notes

thegardensstory · 7 years

Text

12/9/17

I really don’t keep up much with this thing, and it may be a little pointless to start this now since I will be home in roughly 6 days, but whatever! Here goes the past 4 months of my life...

I am in my junior year at GCU (almost a senior) since I will be graduating early...woop woop! I will be walking that GCU grad stage December 15th of next year. So exciting! But junior year so far has been wild. I have to say that this semester has been one the roughest semesters of my college career. Why, you ask?...

School itself has actually been pretty great. My grades are still awesome (3.8 GPA) I am loving my classes, including my business minor, and I still know for sure that this is the plan and purpose God has for me. The rougher parts are actually aside from school.

This is my second year as an RA and man, have I had a rough semester with it. I had heard that many people start to feel burnt out by their second year, but I did not think it would be this bad. I have a huge lack of motivation with the curriculum and also the passive programming (bulletin boards, small goodie bags gifts, calendar, etc.) My ideas seem to be shot this year. Maybe because of all the other chaos that seems to be my life! I also came into this year with super high expectations from the amazing year I had prior. I had an awesome staff, a great floor of girls, and just a solid year. I loved being here and all the wonderful things that came along with it. Not to say I do not have that this year (to my staff, RD’s, or residents that may be reading this...you are all amazing). But it seems my heart is in different places this year and it has been a challenge to persevere and commit to where God has me right now. And to those whom this challenge in my life right now effects, I apologize with my whole heart.

I am also a continued intern at my church. As some of you know, I was an intern at my church this past summer. It was definitly an awesome internship, and I had the privilege to continue this PAYED internship throughout the school year under my worship pastor, Jay. My requirements for this internship are to help Jay out with the background work for worship like Ableton, as well as weekly meetings with the staff and also for our DWELL worship conference coming up...WOO! I also am the one who oversees scheduling worship leaders for our student ministries since we had a transition with that. This has been an absolute blessing, but also one of the challenges I have mentioned. I have seen and witnessed the under belly of ministry and it does throw you for a loop if you are not prepared. Luckily I was, but it is still something you need to work through in your own heart. But I have learned a ton, and I still 100% know that this is where God has me and where I belong.

Living Streams is also hosting our Dwell conference in February! This is a huge deal to me and Living Streams. We had a worship conference last year and we are really looking forward to hosting our next one in February! With this conference, I have the privilege of working with a team that has awesome connections, great innovative ideas, even greater skills, and amazing hearts for what they do. I am so excited to say that (I think) I am helping out with the worship, as well as being able to be a breakout speaker. EECK. All while big name church/worship people will be there as our featured artists. What a crazy crazy thing. God has really been faithful to open doors and continue to prove that I am on the right track.

Outside of Dwell stuff, I was able to lead our local women’s retreat in early October. I scheduled, put together, and lead a team of 5 for the weekend. It was super fun! I have learned that women are some of those most amazing people. I mean, we make up roughly 50% of the entire population, but if you ever get the chance to talk in depth about their story and where they come from, take that chance. They are powerful, mighty, and full of wisdom.

I also helped out with our winter camp that happened early November. This was up a camp called Tonto Rim up in Payson, AZ. It was nice and chilly and full of life! The kids were Jr. high and high school age, and they were so fun to lead in worship. I loved having the opportunity to travel and go somewhere to lead at a retreat. It is always a pleasure to also lead with the people that were in the band. They are some of the most amazing, talented, heartfelt people I know. I was also blessed to have my boyfriend tag along because he was in Phoenix for an interview that weekend. He was a great help with the sound and tech and just jumped right in and did whatever was asked of him. Which leads me to my last portion of this blog.

Tad Scritchfield. What a blessing he is. I have known Tad for roughly a year and a half now, and we have been dating 6 months as of yesterday. These past 6 months have been absolute bliss, but also very honestly, an absolute challenge. In a very short description, Tad is from central California, but he also currently lives in the mountains. So not only is it long distance, but it’s some seriously crappy wifi connection calling over Facetime audio. It’s extremely frustrating at times.

Anyways, our whole relationship has basically been him trying to move to Phoenix. Okay...that’s not the WHOLE relationship, as there is so much depth to what we have that I don’t need to go into, but it has been the biggest topic of prayer on our list of things we pray for. We had no idea the challenge and hardship we would face in this process. From over 100 applications, multiple trips to Phoenix for interviews, hearing roughly 4 “no’s”, many hard conversations and heartbreak...and we finally made it. We knew that the job God had for him would be awesome, it was just so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel of something we prayed SO hard for. If there was one thing that we learned from this experience, is that sometimes God protects you from even GOOD things to give you the BEST thing. There were many times we thought a certain job would be perfect, and then it would fall through.

But the biggest thing that stood out to me in that whole journey was a man who wanted to fight for me. What a picture of the love of Jesus. Of course, Tad is not perfect and neither is our relationship, but without getting too gross and mushy, this is a man that is truly pursuing me. He is willing to give up everything; his comfort, his childhood home, his friends, etc. to come and create something new and fun with me. I have never met a man who would do what he is doing for me. I am One. Lucky. Gal. Not to mention those trips to Phoenix for him were 9 hour drives one way, coming to stay in the freshman dorms, searching for the business where the interview was held, shaking off the long drive to look and feel presentable, trying to have quality time with me while I continued living my life out here in Phoenix, along with the normal shuffle of typical relationship talk and keeping close. These included long nights, rough talks, many tears (mostly on my end) and constant turning of our heads to the Lord. WHEW. a Whirlwind. But in the end, I wouldn't trade any portion of this process for anything. Tad and I are so close, and we are so excited to grow even closer in the SAME STATE! There is so much yet to learn, but we are learning now to be present, to just enjoy each other, not rush the things yet to come, and lavish in the blessings God is pouring over us. Thank you Jesus.

Even through all of the daily chaos and craziness of my life, there is something that is obvious and constant, is my calling. I have had many doubts in my years here at GCU and all the goodness that comes along with that, but one thing that has not changed is the unwavering gifting and will that God has placed on my life. It’s almost as if it gets clearer and clearer every step of my journey. Which I think is how it should be. As we draw closer to Him through our studies, quiet times, and even our struggles, he shows us more of who we are in him, and makes our path that much clearer. I hope and pray that whatever journey you are on in your life, that you continue to trust in him. Fight for that job you want, press on in that friendship that is suffering, pray for that impossible thing you want in your life. You never know the amazing, beautiful, crazy things God can do. And to those who feel like there is no excitement or adventure, ask Him for it. Ask God to show you that scary thing. Ask him to push you over the edge to the point where the only place you can be is naked and vulnerable in the presence of God. Get to the point when all you can hold onto is the Word. Do the thing that is most terrifying, and watch God bless you because of your obedience. What is that thing? Try it.

Love you Michiganders,

Eden

0 notes