We have called off our search for a Boston Terrier and are now trying to locate a troop of red ruffed lemurs.
This report also suggests more evidence that there appears to be no hope for the giant pandas as a species.
No Comments Scott Pagel on Aug 25th 2011
This morning on Google+ I linked to a different post on this blog. In a comment, a coworker mentioned this post about the journey people must take when transitioning to simple church.
The journey from legacy church to simple/organic/house church
There is a “Death Valley” that people often must pass through on the journey. In this part of the journey, some long held beliefs and habits must be left behind to die.
Some of the things that will need to die? Felicity Dale lists these 4, but each person making the journey will need to discover which of their own sacred cows must be butchered on the trip through Death Valley.
- Professionally led worship–in simple church you are lucky to have an out-of-tune guitar.
- Well prepared talks–there’s no pastor who can spend hours preparing a stimulating sermon. Everyone takes part in an interactive discussion.
- Children and teens ministry–you can’t just drop your kids off at Sunday School to have an hour free from distractions.
- Someone else to make all the decisions–in simple/organic church, everyone is involved.
I think that another thing to add would be something having to do with “identity”. I can’t quite find the words for it right now… but it would deal with the way that we take some measure of comfort by carrying out our faith in conventional ways according to our culture. We know that if we tell someone that we go to Community Church on 1st and Main that it answers any further questions about our faith. But if we meet in homes or in a coffee shop or on a day other than Sunday… well… now we’ll have to explain how we aren’t a cult, don’t hate the church, read the Bible, listen to Chris Tomlin, etc.
If I’m reading it correctly (and in light of other things I’ve read by her) the point Felicity makes by way of Wolf Simson’s “Death Valley” analogy is that this journey isn’t by teleporter or even an airplane… but it is through a desert and it is best to travel light, with only basic necessities. I’d suggest that you never make this journey alone… get with some friends and travel together!
H/T Jon R and Casey B for the original Google+ post and comment leading to this post
2 Comments Scott Pagel on Aug 16th 2011
After a week of camp with mostly non-Christian students… I’m more aware than usual of the fact that modern evangelical speech is for “insiders”.
My neighbor Andy always asks great questions… he’s a true learner. After his first week of camp a few years ago, he says to me:
What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Just believe he existed or is it something else?
He paid attention during the whole week and came away from it still unclear on what it meant to believe in Jesus. That isn’t his fault.
We talk funny if we aren’t careful and some of us are so used to certain phrases that it will take great effort to create new habits and ways of speaking. The challenge is compounded by the fact that evangelical-ese usually doesn’t make much sense in English… and then we bring a literal word-for-word rendering into Mandarin. ugh.
Lord… forgive us… and teach us…
H/T: FreeTyler
2 Comments Scott Pagel on Aug 8th 2011
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No Comments Scott Pagel on Aug 3rd 2011
More good reflections on John Stott’s influence on Christianity and Evangelical Christianity.
Nicholas D. Kristoff’s Evangelicals Without Blowhards
I want to identify myself as an Evangelical, but people like Falwell and Robertson make it hard – almost impossible – for me to do so. I believe that there are more people who identify with Stott’s message and methods than with those of the “blowhards”. If true, it is good news and we may be able to redeem the use of the word Evangelical. If limiting the scope of my statement to America, I’m probably incorrect… but I’m speaking in bigger terms and of the world-wide Church. Keep in mind that the “average Christian” is not white, American, Western, or English speaking.
Although it is unfortunate that such streams of thought exist at all, I take comfort in knowing that they are both relatively recent (in history) and localized (primarily in the US). Sadly, this combination of time and location makes it possible for these people to speak through the biggest and loudest megaphones in history. But their self-created megaphones are not the only way their message is communicated. The mainstream media is all too eager to amplify their message by placing microphones in front of the megaphones. There is a vicious cycle where the media has elevated these blowhards and given their message a bigger stage and then the media criticizes the church for following the blowhards. Rinse. Repeat.
Kristoff’s piece is a welcome change where the negative influence of the blowhards is clearly seen. I’m saddened by the loss of John Stott, but am I wrong in thinking that his passing has made us all more aware of his quiet influence and consistent message of hope and love and peace? His methods withstand the scrutiny of the magnifying glass and his message transcends any megaphone.
No Comments Scott Pagel on Aug 2nd 2011
Filed under current events,ministry,stuffilike
R.I.P. John Stott: Missional Before Missional Was Cool
A great man passed on July 27, 2011. My first exposure was his Acts commentary, The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church, and the World.
From Christianity Today’s obituary:
From his conversion at Rugby secondary school in 1938 to his death in 2011 at 90 years old, Stott exemplified how extraordinary plain, ordinary Christianity can be. He was not known as an original thinker, nor did he seek to be. He always turned to the Bible for understanding, and his unforgettable gift was to penetrate and explain the Scriptures. As editor Kenneth Kantzer wrote in CT’s pages in 1981, “When I hear him expound a text, invariably I exclaim to myself, ‘That’s exactly what it means! Why didn’t I see it before?’”
and this on Stott’s introversion:
“Naturally, by temperament, he was an introvert,” says Chris Wright. “He was very happy to be in his own company. Yet he gave himself to so many people, remembering names, knowing their families, knowing their children, writing letters, praying for them. He was constantly praying for people. His prayer list was so long. Whenever he would meet them again, he would remember them because he was praying for them.”
No Comments Scott Pagel on Jul 28th 2011
In a week, our family will be in the midst of helping and attending our mission’s annual Sports and English Camp.
It is… by far… my most dreaded week of the year. Just as church camp was when I was young. And almost any church activity actually… especially youth group.
I like that we have a camp like this, and as far as camps go, this is a good one! But it just isn’t how an introvert would choose to spend their time.
The camp lasts one week and it EASILY takes me 2 full weeks after camp before I want to talk to anyone.
On two occasions in the past, we have held the camp just before or after another week-long conference and on both occasions I have gotten shingles from the stress and suppressed immune system.
I usually help out quite a bit in the kitchen where I can be of great help to everyone (preparing their meals) and see everyone as they go through the line to get food where I can greet the campers and staff and pray for them. Sometimes these few seconds of contact can lead to deeper conversations later in the day. The kitchen is a really good place for me.
The food is all outsourced this year… so no kitchen help is needed…
I’m really not grumpy about this. My family loves it and so I love it just for that reason.
Clearly I need to find ways to continue to cope with this reality in my life, but I wouldn’t consider not going and helping out however I can for as long as I can with whatever strength I can find and all the extroversion I can muster.
I love a lot that comes out of camp. People hear about the love of Jesus and his teachings. I’m usually able to connect with a few students (usually other introverts) and keep in touch with them even outside of camp.
I’m just saying that camp is not made with introverts in mind.
But what if it were??
Aubry Smith has a post called Introvert Summer Camp in which she offers a “fairy-tale proposal for church camp geared toward introverts”.
I really enjoyed it. I think extroverts might gain some insight into what introverts prefer and might help people consider the real needs of introverts and not just call everything (thoughtfulness, quietness, etc) “shyness”.
Of course, Introvert Camp would be nearly as boring for extroverts as regular camp is a headache for introverts… so it will probably remain a fairy tale. However, her post highlights some of the issues that are most difficult for introverts at camp. She lists 7 things:
- Actual Quiet Time
- Low-key worship
- Processing time after the message
- Separate sleeping quarters
- Group time
- No guilt for introversion
- Excitement and volume don’t equal devotion
Aubry treats the topic with humor and honesty. Well done!
H/T Adam S. McHugh at Introverted Church
1 Comment Scott Pagel on Jul 18th 2011
Audio by Tim Keller – timothykeller.com/
Animation by Pete Artemenko – latentdesign.com/
True & Better from Peter Artemenko on Vimeo.
2 Comments Scott Pagel on Jul 15th 2011
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this, but I think I’d ‘like’ it if someone posted it as a Facebook status.
The acid test for any theology is this: Is the God presented one that can be loved, heart, soul, mind and strength? If the thoughtful, honest answer is; “Not really,” then we need to look elsewhere or deeper. It does not really matter how sophisticated intellectually or doctrinally our approach is. If it fails to set a loveable God — a radiant, happy, friendly, accessible, and totally competent being — before ordinary people, we have gone wrong. We should not keep going in the same direction, but turn around and take another road.
– Dallas Willard
Thoughts?
2 Comments Scott Pagel on Jul 14th 2011
Back on September 12, 2006, I was blogging at another site and posted this:
Mark Trotter – 9/10/2006
I know that many of you keep up with and pray for Mark Trotter over at Caring4Mark. I am sorry to bring you news that he passed away on the morning of September 10th.
The link to his family’s blog is the top outgoing link off of my blog so I know that many of you click through to get updates.
Although I didn’t know Mark or anyone in his family personally, I know many people who did know him. I believe him to be an amazing individual.
Mark and his family were to go to Cambodia when they found out Mark was sick.
Who will hear God’s voice to go to Cambodia now?
A recent post on this blog received the following comment. It seemed that it shouldn’t sit as a comment to an irrelevant post about Ted Nugent and should instead be a post all to its own.
Here’s the comment:
You asked a question on a blog post in 2006. You were speaking of Mark Trotter and his calling to Cambodia, cut short due to his death from cancer. You reported his death and then asked, “Who will go now and answer the call to go to Cambodia?”
I will.
My wife and I (and kids) are moving to Cambodia in January, 2012 and we’ll be serving with Team Expansion. I found your blog while searching Google to see if our blog pulled up.
I wanted to give you the rest of the story. Thanks for caring enough about my dad and my family to pray. And thanks for caring enough about missions to ask the important questions, like “Who will go?”
all for ONE,
Jonathan Mark Trotter
Thanks Jonathan Mark for taking time to report in and, most importantly, for answering the call. Blessings to you as you prepare and as you move to the land where your dad hoped to bring the message of grace and peace.
Jonathan Mark and Elizabeth’s blog is The Trotter Family Blog.
No Comments Scott Pagel on Sep 14th 2010
