Waiting...

I can remember when I sent my application into Union College in pursuit of a call into full-time ordained ministry (whatever that really means!).  It was worked out that from the moment of application it would be 7 years until I would eligible for my first charge.  That felt like forever.
But look how the time has flown.  Seven years has gone, and more.  But I am still without my first charge.  This is not for the want of trying!  I've applied and been interviewed for some already.  Just didn't get them.  Don't feel sorry, because I wasn't convinced about them for myself even if I would've been offered the posts.
So still I wait.
Now there are two churches that I feel drawn towards.  I'm not sure which one is right as they both could be.  It is all very confusing!  You go from waiting and looking, but nothing really biting and then there are 2.  Which one????
I'm waiting for an answer.  Waiting for a clear call.

But I hate waiting!  I'm quite an impatient person.  I can pray, "Lord give me patience ... now."  And he answers, "Sure thing, just wait a wee minute..."

What do you do when you are waiting?

I'm trying to remain focused on the church where I'm Assistant.  I take time to read and study.  I spend some terrific time with my amazing wife.  But I can't get that waiting feeling out of my head!

Waiting sucks!

Maybe if I can hold on long enough that feeling will pass...

So I wait.

Digital Community

 

How well do we, as  disciples of Jesus, use modern technology?  I ask this question as a person who has a number of gadgets, gizmos and things that go beeeep if not plugged in.

I ask this question as someone who has put together the church website for my current church - even to the heady extent of a Facebook group and page WOW!

With the release of Social Network - the movie based around Facebook, Napster etc (I haven't seen it yet, shame on me) - I was struck by the fact that only a couple of decades ago the majority of people here in Northern Ireland had a Social Network that revolved around their local church.  These days are gone in most parts of the Western World, let's be up front about that.  The church is no longer a hub of social activity.  But not only could it be again, but it should be again.

How do we use technology to do that?  we cannot go back to the good old days of yore.  But neither can we ignore them.  There must be some way of bringing these things together.  Think of the number of people whose only form of human interaction is a text, or a tweet, or a poke.  Are we reaching these people?  Are we making ourselves understood?

There are some brilliant scenes in the film Wall-E, but one that really jumps out to me is when the two fat people on their hover chairs fall out and see each other for eye to eye, rather than screen to screen, for the first time.  There is even a scene of two people hovering together yet talking through their screens. (I do see the irony here as I am in a way talking to you through a screen!)  Are we becoming like this?  A people who cannot or will not interact with others in a face to face manner?

I don't think so.  There is something built within us that yearns for human connection on a flash level.  We hunger after the company of others.  Call it a tribe mentality or whatever, I call it a desire for fellowship.  True fellowship is found in fellow believers in Christ.  And I mean that, even considering all those people we don't really get on with or don't agree with.  This is fellowship that helps us grow.  This cannot be found in a digital community, there has to be a flesh experience.

I'm not a Luddite, I love tech.  What I'm saying is that some people are forming their lives around their tech; no longer seeing it as a tool for communicating, but communication itself.  Can we use the tools correctly?  Use them for communication?  Whether that is communication of an issue, or an invite, or a point of opinion.

Ultimately, can we use the digital age to bring people back to true communities?  Bring people back to the Church?  People coming to Christ?

Come and Go

For some time I've been reading up on and researching and trying to practice the notions of "missional church".  I'm not going to explain what this means, or what I believe this means; I'm more interested in a question that has been running around my head.

If the Missional Church is the way to be, does that mean the Attractional Church has no place in today's world?

I'm seeking opinions on this because the church denomination that I'm in doesn't look like it will fully embrace 'missional' in my lifetime.  This is not say they are not missional, there is certainly a good movement toward church planting, urban mission, and even some rural mission; but there are so many 'traditional' congregations around I struggle to see them move enough to be totally missional.

However, I do see them being actively attractional.  Is this a dead horse being flogged?

I suppose I'm thinking about the balance of the two words.  If a church is being missional only is there a place to call home, a refuge, a house of learning?  If a church is attractional only is the risk of sitting back and doing nothing in the local community too large and therefore hampers growth?

Acts gives us the first missions of Paul, the going out of the people, the local community being reached; but Acts also gives us the line of "the Lord adds to their number daily".

Maybe I'm just stirring up for the purpose of discussion...

Back Blogging

I used to be a constant blogger, but then I wasn't.

Not sure what happened, maybe life caught up with me, maybe I didn't have anything to say.... But surely everyone has something to say?

 Anyway, due to a number of my colleagues blogging anew or for the first time I thought I'd jump back on this band wagon.

The fact that it's 4.30am and I'm awake may also be a reason for this.

I'm not sure what to blog about first... life?
...opinion?
...church?
...faith?
...patience?

This last one would be good for me to think about.  But then again, don't know if I could wait that long...

Any suggestion?  Well world, do you want to hear me?

Step into Christmas

Been up to my eyes with Christmas type stuff, funny that considering it is December.  But there is still time to reflect on the True Meaning of Christmas.  I'm not a big fan of Christmas; with all false merriment in families, the materialistic nature to gifts and one-up-manship, the drinking culture, etc.  So I always want to find something 'else' in this season.

I've been looking at Jesus pitching his tent in the midst of us, or as Peterson puts "moves into the neighbourhood".  I preached a sermon on Jesus: Born To Be Wild.  Looking at the birth into a stable, 40 days in the wilderness and how we have some how sanitized the life-death-resurrection into something that is so sterile it is no longer of supporting life and growth.

I was watching the Christmas episode of Bones and was really touched by how they addresses one character.  A man who had been raging on the radio turned his life around to realise that although God is a God of judgment he is ultimately a God of redemption and grace.

It is easy for many of us to rage out against the commercialized world of 'christmas' and climb upon our high horse of 'the true meaning of Christmas is that Jesus came'.  This is true, but let us not forget that Jesus came with a mission in mind, the redemption of mankind.  That is a message of joy to all people.

So I'm not sure if I like Christmas any more than I did before, but I know that Christmas certainly likes me.

Answering the call...?

Had an interesting conversation this some time ago, in fact it's been a conversation I've had with some people quite frequently recently.
Within a matter of months, about 7, I'll be able to stand for my very own charge to congregation - in English: I can be a proper minister in my own church.  So how does one decide where to go?  What things do you look for when seeking out a congregation?  What if 2 congregations come to me from different situation desiring me to be their minister??  What to do!?
Surely it's simple?  Listen to the call of the Lord...
How does that work?  Is it an audible voice?  Is it a voice in your head/heart?  Not sure, as I think it is all of those and none of those.  I think that if any one person says THIS is the way to hear the call they are deluding themselves and mis-guiding others.  The Call of the Lord is not a cut and dry, quick fix answer.
Is there a difference between someone applying for loads of congregations and someone applying for one?  Some may say that the single call person is a person of great faith... This may be true, however, what happens if that single church doesn't hear the same call as you do?  After all we do live in a fallen world and people make mistakes.
Maybe when it boils down to the essence of the matter, a call is when both parties are of the same belief that this is the place for you to be.  This does not take away from our own discernment, nor our own common sense.  It is to say that we must test the spirit to make it is right from both sides.
If a church you feel called into says no, then that is either your or their bad hearing.  You can only give thanks to God for that.  Why?  Due to the reason that either you have been saved from a disobedient congregation... or they have been saved from you.  There are other special cases in there as well; I am aware of one particular case that seemed a right fit until a third party came into play - it's not always me & you, sometimes there is a "them".

I suppose after all this ranting and raving I must say that if we really want to hear a call we should start to listen.  I'll stop now, need to hear a bit better.

Determine Your Ministry Age | LeadershipJournal.net

Determine Your Ministry Age | LeadershipJournal.net

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