Had a great discussion yesterday night at our leaders meeting. We talked about the five fold ministry and why we don't have or experience all of the offices operating. Alot of it has to do with our society and its emphasis on reason and knowledge versus experience and the supernatural. This makes the teacher the head honcho in church.



In this new day the prophet must shift from dollars and doom to destiny

The pastor must shift from programs and pulpits to people

The evangelists must shift from stadiums to sofas

The teachers must shift from classroom settings to the classroom of life

and the apostle must come out of hiding.......

Books to read:



The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Thrives in the West and Fails Everywhere Else by Hernando de Soto



The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip B. Jenkins

Here's some insight on churchplanting versus holistic ministry from a guy named Andrew Jones a churchplanting/apostle type kat in Prague, Czech Republic



"Still, when people today hear "planting", they often see it in insitutional terms. ie., "Theres a problem, lets PLANT an institution to deal with it"
It can also be a step away from holistic ministry that deals with the whole person towards a numbers oriented, strategy based, merciless missions strategy that says "new churches planted at any cost". Some mission organizations have recently been criticized for telling their medical doctors to start planting churches or return home."



Most people who have all their physical needs met usually think this way. How can you give someone the gospel and leave them sick or hungry? Especially coming from a country who's trade policies have been a factor in making this person hungry. Hmmmm.

The working conditions of a sheperd:



This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. Genesis 31:40



Job duties of a sheperd:



David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, 35I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. 1 Smuel 17:34-35



This is no job for wimps and cowards

Here is the definition of a sheperd from the true sheperd:



GOD, the Master, says: From now on, I myself am the shepherd. I'm going looking for them. 12As shepherds go after their flocks when they get scattered, I'm going after my sheep. I'll rescue them from all the places they've been scattered to in the storms. 13I'll bring them back from foreign peoples, gather them from foreign countries, and bring them back to their home country. I'll feed them on the mountains of Israel, along the streams, among their own people. 14I'll lead them into lush pasture so they can roam the mountain pastures of Israel, graze at leisure, feed in the rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. 15And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. 16I'll go after the lost, I'll collect the strays, I'll doctor the injured, I'll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they're not exploited.Ezekiel 34:11-16



The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.John 10:10-11



And God has called me to be a sheperd? What a responsibility.

What if we made the church a verb? What if it was something you do and not something you go to? Is it who you are and not something you belong to?

Zimbabwe's first lady blows $100,000 in four days
Here's the full story I could point the finger at her but this makes me examine my own wastefulness and mismanagement of resources.For more on Zimbabwe check out Operation World

The Celts had something going on in Ireland. Most of us miss out on this rich tradition that was more about relationship with God than religion

Christ beside me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,

Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me.

Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left,

Christ where I lie,
Christ where I sit,
Christ where I rise.

Read the whole thing here atSt. Patrick's breastplate

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us. It is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates others."
Nelson Mandela
1994 Inaugural Address

This is just some motivation for me at this particular time in life facing some difficult decisions on whether to step out in faith or conclude that I am a grasshopper compared to the giants that are in the land.I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me.

I have been so frustrated with getting the pictures uploaded on this blog. I got one up but that's about it. Technology is not my strong point.

On to other things.....I am thinking about writing more as far as articles and essays for the web and print and eventually a book. I think it is possible. My playing small does not serve the world.

Here is me and a couple of priests.
They are part of the religous system that influences Ethiopian life.