Future of your church

If you are wondering How to move forward as a church how about considering the following.:

Firstly I will not be advising whither you start a Mums or Toddlers group. I am thinking more about first steps in the process of gaining an insight in to the future work.

Need to Meet to find a "Corporate discernment"... moving forward inch by inch. Take time together to sift out ideas etc. Allow everyone their input. Have a facilitator as leader for the meeting. Also sometimes the quieter person has the answer or discernment.

Prayer and discussion on " How God, would you have us steer?"
This is realisation. and the need to go on or in other words you cannot go back...
Retreat a time of rest and reflection

An uncluttered time to reflect and breathe - away from it all - including the Sunday routine.
What does God want for us?
What might he be calling us to?

Often he wants you to stop something first. Is there activity continuing that has past is sell by date and is not producing...?

Show a high value in Missions home and away.

Community/City/region impact

Where is God currently working, look for opportunities something to get alongside?

Move from Doing....to... becoming
Rally to a cause seems easy. Rallying around God -more difficult.

How does one move forward?

Teach me to live my life the way he would if he were here. (physically)

Head off discouragement

Calm be the person you want to be!
When God reality is present and someone comes into the body.
Then God has brought them in.

Remember "Come follow me".
Too many in the full time ministry are in a "rat race".
The next step should be "a dance with the Trinity and others"

Living in love speeds the coming of Jesus.

1 Our Corporate lives as examples and patterns
2 our assumptions about ministry
3 Our ministry plan
4 Our life rhythms and ministry
rest periods
5 Our ministry results

Are the activities -one purpose?

Step back from the need to see immediate results.

Happy discerning in the way forward.

Church new or old...

I had a meeting with someone in Eastbourne last week regarding new churches.

Daniel is looking for leaders to encourage in new church activity. I am sure he will not mind the link as he needs to speak to lots of people.

My question to him was is this a "new style for an old church" or is it "new church" the conclusion was new church. So often we are loking to replicate with a modern feel the old systems of church. The emerging people have got it right - go back to first principles. Seek ye first the kingdom. Then how de we do that where we are in the community and how best will this be developed. It may result in a system or structure of leadership or activity but it needs to be born out of the "seek ye first" bit first.

We had a good conversation that crystalised some of my thinking as well as his.

He coped with the Robertson probe.

I am sure Daniel would be encouraged by your comments and e mails.

Strong enough to think?

If you are in a church that is rigid or controlling it may be a constraint to your personal expression. How do you vent your thoughts and concern. The house groups and indeed the House Group Movement sought to engage with one another in the comfort and less formal setting of home. There needs to be dialogue and in the appropriate place midweek business meeting etc. There is more than ever in the current churches a need to evaluate and seek the plan for the future. In 1970 if some one said the Boys Brigade will decline rapidly people would have laughed. Yet in the space a of a few years it did.

Now consider the church- ok more established, yet it, recognises the decline. What now?

Of course where there is dialogue there will be differing opinion!

This can be seen, by some as inconsistent with a rigid theology of black and white! Debate can only improve the understanding. This together with a more thoughtful process linked to solitude will surely provide a positive Christ centred practice rather than a regimental, all believe the same, untested theology of the “Victorian age”. Sure there will be mistakes but the distilling down will be a purifying process. Can you imagine Abraham trying to answer the question while he was in the desert ;
Where are you going? “Eh... Following God, he told me to follow this column of cloud... of smoke.” “and the end result?”...”eh the best land a promised land.” How will you know what its like? “ Sorry don't know... but when we get there we will know I simply have to trust in God to take me and lead the people to where ever that is.”
The conclusions from the discovery walk or the de-construction, I await rather than dismissing as out of hand. I am encouraged that the de-construction that many fear, from their so called established church, is questioning not purely for the sake of it but with a God fearing responsibility. While Emerging people will not simply set up Churches as we have known them, they will, seek to find a way of expressing the Kingdom in the community which has a more holistic approach.
So where in the say 70's and 80's indeed the 90's the church set up “alternative church” which took the flavour of a sub-culture we see the emerging people wanting to be the culture and shape the culture head on. (Like the Joshua story “tread the land” -possession). The difficulty comes from within the established church which is trying to keep doing what worked or did not work over the last 300 years. Status Quo (not the group) is seldom forward thinking. Where are the visionaries?

Great Omission

Just finished Dallas Willard's "The great... Omission".
It was refreshing and re encouraging that some of by thoughts back some years ago he concluded in some bits of his book. As a busy man who needed time to write a book I look forward to his next piece of print which will be written on allocated time so to speak.

I see why his thinking gels with emerging people. He thinks. Not many christians do!


Paul M Dubuc writes

Dallas Willard's latest book is a collection of previous writings and lectures surrounding the importance of discipleship for Christians. This book is a great introduction to Willard's other books and a stirring exposition of his chief concern: That becoming a disciple of Christ is seen as optional in most churches today. It is enough that a person accept Christ as saviour and affirm certain beliefs to be a Christian. While these things are absolutely essential, they are not enough and they only partially fulfill the teachings of scripture and the commands of Jesus.

When many people consider discipleship, or spiritual formation, they think of what it costs (a la Bonhoeffer). This is a valid perspective, but Willard asks us to take a look from the other side: The cost of nondiscipleship:

"Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith
that sees everything in the light of God's overriding governance for good, hopefulness
that stands firm in the most discouraging circumstances, power to do what is right
and withstand the forces of evil. In short, nondiscipleship costs you exactly the
abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10)."

Discipleship is essential for every Christian, not just for the "super Christians." There is nothing in the teaching of scripture that suggests that being forgiven and "saved" is all there is to being a Christian. To the contrary, Willard shows that Christians need to be undergoing a profound transformation in character becoming more like Christ from the heart. How does this happen? By the faithful acceptance of everyday problems, interaction with God's Spirit in and around us and spiritual disciplines. He recommends four spiritual disciplines as basic to discipleship: solitude, silence, fasting and scripture memorization. For those to whom spiritual disciplines sound like "works righteousness," Willard repeatedly emphasizes the difference: "Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action." The process of transformation isn't passive on our part. Its effectiveness is all due to God's grace. But our effort makes us receptive to this grace. God will not impose it upon us. Willard likens spiritual discipline to the physical discipline of an athlete (cp. 1 Cor. 9:24-27). The spiritual disciplines aren't meant to be burdens that we groan under. They are tools which we can help us make God's grace more effective in our lives. In fact, our bodies themselves are tools for spiritual growth.

The heart of the book is chapter 9, "Living in the Vision of God." Here Willard distinguishes between the substance of devotion to God and its effects. When we become too attached to the latter we are in danger of losing the former. Here there is a very good analysis of how this happens and what can be done about it. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength in Mark 12:30 and Willard assures us that, "It is something we are to do, something we /can/ do. We /will/ learn learn how to do it if we /intend/ to do it. God will help us, and we will find a way." Amen! Let it be so.

The book ends with a few short chapters about various books on spiritual living that have been a tremendous help to Willard and which he commends for our use. I've added a few of them to my reading list.

Dallas WIllard is a very wise, and practical teacher. He has deep and valuable insight into what it means, and what it takes, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today. He is a trustworthy guide for the efforts of any Christian who wants to break an addiction to mediocrity in their relationship to God. This book will never be the classic that _The Divine Conspiracy_ is bound to become, but it provides a a much needed impetus for modern evangelical Christianity to reclaim the great omission for its life and mission. I hope it gains a wide reading.

Happy Christmas advent

No smart comments no deep thoughts.
We are getting to the end of the week.
I want to wish you a happy Christmas.

The reason for the season will be more important as the years go on.

Happy Christmas.
Come back home soon!

More

MacRae spoke at one meeting of the Free Church Stornoway on the:

Unusual features of the present religious movement in Lewis.
He was convinced there was a revival in Lewis and a work of God. But he wanted people to consider some of the peculiar features of it.

In particular MacRae wished the meeting to consider that in Park... convulsive fits.
Grimshader ...Trembling or tremors...With crying.
At Point and Shader trances and women praying and exhorting ( ...and a good deal of disorder).
He noted further
Those or some could not give an explanation to what was happening. Rather than looking for the work of the Holy Spirit people were disappointed if there was no manifestations.
Secondly MacRae saw a sense of superior order of Christians taking hold with those who had experienced some of the manifestations.
He felt that matters might lead to unscriptural extravagances.
He also talked and reported on other happenings in the country, quoting Kilsyth and Cambuslang.
He concluded that the manifestations were neither good or evil but hysteria.

He quoted the medical observations for hysteria.

Highly strung people mainly young women
Infectious
Associated with convulsions tremors and trances
Attacks are always in an audience never alone.
Those effected say they could not help themselves.
If wanted to those effected could have controlled themselves.
Delusions and hallucinations
Consciousness not lost.

MacRae was concluding that mass hysteria was happening in Lewis and his concern was separating it from the work of the Holy Spirit.
Hi did specifically acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit at that time.
Quoting the action of McChenye from Dundee. He was supporting the need to have religious meetings closed by 11.00 pm. "Lest Good be evil spoken".

It is clear from MacRae there is a need to discern what is of God and a work of the Holy Spirit and what is not. While he saw the Lewis revival as of God, not all was his making. It is easy to be tricked in times of revival to assume all phenomena are in connection with the spirit of God, and to question it is to hinder that Revival. There is a more discerning Church today- but a good warning nevertheless.

Why is it?

Why is it..?
I have noticed some things over the years.
One is that people look for the easy route!
The path of least resistance is the one that many knowingly or without noticing take.
Now before you go off looking at the Bible and stories about the blessing of the smooth road and how God has blessed many with a trouble free journey, before you look at all the references quoted for prosperity theology- a doubtful theology until the late eighties- are we not to take our lot as it happens?
Has strict Calvinism got it right ?
Why is it?
Stay with it.
Are some, to find that their road is tougher than others.
So in our subconscious are we looking for the blessing sign be looking for the path of least resistance? It is easy to do this.When I read Michael Faraday's biography its not like that. Bruce and the spider story is not about that either! (No its not in the Bible).
Why is it?
Esther's road was not plain sailing and she spent a whole year preparing for one day with the King! Is it a wrong way to travel the broad road looking for the easy bit and collate that, as the narrow way fit for King servants?
The narrow way may be less broad by definition but it is more than likely a more troublesome way than the “broad way”.
Why is it then?
Because we are lazy be human nature?
Because we want all “nice” things to come our way!
Perhaps we need to redefine “Good things that come our way”-
As the things that God purposely puts our way to improve our relation with Him- Be it a new car or a broken leg!
The culture of today is about success measured by accumulation of wealth seen in goods and the ability to buy goods at any cost, modern or post modern.
Yet the real success is the ability to be in a strong relation with the Father and the ability to worship him...at what costs? Preparing for the oneday to be with the King.
Seeking the Kingdom first is becoming more obscure to the society we live in.
The behaviour of “pleasing” the neighbour at the expense of one self's destiny/Zoe life/walk/seeking God's will, is as strong as before.
So how are you going to be determined to walk the talk of the glorious journey set out before you ( and maybe made before you!) The choice is there in a strict Calvinistic way!
If nothing is going to separate you from God then that is a struggle worth winning.
So seek the narrow way whatever that means and be aware that it may mean struggle rather than the stream that seeks the easy path through the hard ground to the river, to the sea.

People are knotted.....

This tree is near Golspie and it has an interesting root system. All knotted.

When I read blogs about the Church, Emergent, Emerging Church, baptists, theology, reformed, Charismatic etc I see knotted people.

Now I dont mean" get knotted!"( British derogatory remark)

I mean the roots of the past help to support. Be it twisted or not. Think...If you untwisted the roots of this tree...If you straightened them out if you made them tidy. The tree woiuld fall down its perched on the bank. The root system helps to give the stability.

People need to know you are what you ARE (present tense) - roots of your life digging deep and supporting you. So stand good with the roots you have and reach to the sky heavenward!
Its about "being".

The now is about growing upward to the heavenly place. What are you doing to accomodate the growth? Do not ignore the past it supports you but in the now, live for God and the future will be nurished.

Hectic

Well getting files from one machine to another does take time. With all the upgrades from the internet on dial up I have lost a week nearly ten days.

Here I am after the walk, The Big Burn walk, Golspie - more relaxed.

The Forward Agenda for a Christian in the post-modern world

There is much written today about a new way of being a Christian in the post-modern era. If modernism has been bad for Christianity why are so many looking forward instead of back? Medieval monastics, Celtic missionaries, and reformers are all from a pre-modern world. We can learn a lot from all quarters of the historic church (although liberals would say watch you do not become too conservative and conservatives would probably say watch you do not become too liberal). As we step into the future do we always need to look back? We can reach back, look and listen, but we can then, in an escapism way look to an imaginary golden age – is this unfaithful to Christ (........ with you until the ends of the earth)?
Our world needs pointers/missionaries for those people of the modern world who are entering the post-modern era. Those pointers will need to be rooted and strong – more powerful than the modern or post-modern culture. They will need to be as passionate as those of the past, be it Eastern Orthodox, pre-Protestant, post Reformation, Liberal, Conservative or Pentecostal – a person who encapsulates all of Christ without loss to any of His theology! (It's more than being ecumenical). Can that person seek to have and use the combined best of the six traditions of the Christian faith, Contemplative, Holiness, Charismatic, Social Justice, Evangelical and Incarnational, without others looking for labels, and deal with the scepticism from within the current church make-up!?

Of course some will see it as pig-headed, eccentric, unbridled, even cavaliering but I suppose many can be misunderstood and have been, including Jesus. All the more reason that the pointer needs to be rooted in Christ. I await with expectancy for some to push their heads above the crowd and point to Jesus Christ and communicate Him to a culture – post-modern. Many are considering it!

Acknowledgement for a stalward...

Interesting grave stone in Golspie St Andrews church yard.
The pupils in memory of Thomas Ross - teacher at Doll and for his Christian witness to the pupils.

Engaging an alive Christian community

I am encouraged by the conversions, e mails and telephone calls regarding the need for an "alternative worship" for the Highlands.

Already Hi- land P-raise is having an impact on the people of the Highlands.

"Alternative praise" is a better phrase, actually, as worship you do all the time (or don't) praise is the focal point accompanied or not, corporate or not.


I want to see regular praise in a community no matter the size of that community. I also think I want to start collecting names of those interested in supporting and taking part. One does not need to be a musician for that!


If you have n't spoken to be in the last week and you are interested and you live between ....anywhere North of Inverness be in touch.

Thank you
b

3

3 How should a church call its workers?

from within?
or from where the skills gifts are found?

(workers being more than the minister etc.)


Emergent Church

The emerging church

Thanks for all the viewings and comments.

I will try and keep replying as soon as possible.

The Church emerging re-forming

Church emergent

emerging church


For the lazy.....

Christianity today article with lots of side pages and info

Oh, and not necessarily my views.

Music praise...

Psalm 150 says.

Praise God in the sanctuary...
with sounding of the trumpet...
with harp with tambourine and dancing...
the strings and the flute...
clash of cymbals...resounding cymbals...praise the lord



The Free Church of Scotland is know for its Psalm only singing, in Scottish churches.

John Macdonald ( The Apostle of the North) 1779-1849 Ferrintosh, was a Gaelic spiritual verse writer and Free Church minister. Interesting to have an hymn writer in a Psalm singing denomination.

Opposition to Hymns and instruments is not restricted to this arm of the Presbyterian Church. But James Begg was a promoter of the use of Psalms and no instruments.

In 1866 the Free Church voted 3 to 2 for the use of hymns. In 1869 Begg was unsuccessful in Curtailing hymns. In 1872 the Church accepted the New Hymn book 213 votes to 61. In 1877 Prof Bruce wished to have their Own Free Hymn Book with Begg supporting a defence of no change in the position.
Then in 1892 the assembly withdrew permission to use instruments for worship and uninspired Hymns in public worship- the current position- as far as I know!

Here are some dates of interest.
There are 350 currently used Hymnals in the UK

Moravian Hymns (8) 1501
Hymns and Spiritual Songs Sinclair- Caithness 1750
Glassite collection of songs 1749
Scotch Baptist Psalms and Spiritual Songs 1786
Psalms and Hymns 1866
Baptist Hymnal 1900
Scottish Psalter 1923
Methodist Hymnal 1933
Youth Praise 1966
Sing to God (S.U.) 1971
Mission Praise 1 1981
Songs of Fellowship 1991
Source 1 1999
Church of Scotland CH4 2005

There is a long heritage of Hymns and spiritual songs in Scotland. Unfortunately some denominations have put their heads and legal books in the sand. Scripture shows us and instructs us to sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs and to use various instruments.

Make a joyful noise!

Many years ago their was a compliant in a church about new types of instruments being used in worship. It was not felt right and proper to use instruments that synthesised the sound of proper musical Instraments. When was this 1980? 1990? 1966? No the 12 Century when the pipe organ was introduced!

Too busy...Still

Can you see the loch?

Just like it can be difficult to see, it can be difficult to hear.

I often heard people saying they were waiting for the Lord. It struck me that perhaps they had gone ahead or that they were just hanging around till God caught up!


I can see no place where Jesus was late. He may have not been where certain people wanted him to be at a certain time but he was never late. Yet even at the close of the day or early in the morning after a long previous day he had time to wait, to listen, to ponder, to meditate.

visionbyprayer is worth a look

Ann Lee ..who she? Shake, rattle, and roll...

Ann Lee

Ann Lee is one of interest to us in this quest, despite having no direct connection to Scotland or its Church.
Born 29 February 1736 in Toad Lane Manchester, to the blacksmith father John lee she lived with him until she embarked for America.
At the age of 23 she joined a group lead by James and Jane Wardley known as “"Shakers" ”an off shoot of the Quakers order.




Shakers... more than just kitchens and checked aprons.



This group was known for its moral discipline strictness blameless deportment and "“swiftness of their testimony against sin"”. From an early age she received visions and divine revelations.
In 1774 she moved to New York but before hand in 1770 she had been imprisoned with some of her followers for blasphemy, a charge that was far from the truth. Yes she had danced yes he had spoken in a strange tongue. She had confounded church scholars examining her, by speaking in 72 separate tongues.
One of her visions was of a burning tree , her call to a new church, and to take the church to America.
Her church growth was slow until 1789 when "“Charismatic"” new light Baptists appeared.
She was beaten several times and in 1784 as a result of beatings died.
There survives to this day groups of Shaker dissenters from the Quakers.
As a mother of spiritual things mother Ann was often testifying with a delivery of mighty power. Her conversation would quicken the hearers. She had suffered from those who were ignorant and one of the many stoning in which she was caught.
"“ While they throwing the stones I felt myself surrounded by the presence of god, and my soul was filled with love. I knew they would not kill me for my work was not done..."

The reason I make mention of her is that at the time society could not comprehend her or the Shakers and as a result turned to violence.

Today it would seem we are more tolerant and accept that her "“style"” was different, but of God.


Now think of this coming soon

Would your Church allow David to play the Harp!?

Are church services too busy?

Busy?
You have had a hard week at work, you have had a busy schedule of evening activity. You have rushed to Church because you slept in after watching the late film- just to chill out.

And it would be so good to have a quiet time in a corporate meeting. But...

There is that "Sandwich service" where it looks like those leading are afraid to have silence in case the congregation think they have lost the place!


Contemplative-
Quakers, brethren, Baptists, Assemblies of God, Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches have over the years recognised the depth of fellowship in having a time of silence together in the "Worship time" at Church. To take time to reflect is so important especially when life seems to be busier and busier.

Just like the public reading of the Bible has a different impact on our lives, so too, could a time of silence in the public worship.

There is a time for joyous worship, and loud! And there is a time form silence.

Thanks for the variety in praise in the Christian Church.

Highland Theological College

It's pleasing for the Highlands to note that the Church of Scotland General Assembly will be asked to confirm the Highland Theological College as an approved academic provider alongside Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews. This will be the first for 70 plus years. The distance learning facility will be made use of moreso if this approval is given at Assembly later this month.

I am looking for a list of Non-Presbyterian Evangelical Churches in the Highlands.

Does anyone have such a list or if started, would anyone be interested in submitting their Church to such a list?