The audio for the conference I attended at Union University is available to listen to here. Ed Stetzer’s talk is one that I highly recommend. Ed is the Missiologist for NAMB.
Tag Archive - Church
I.D. Conference
Yesterday was a long day of listening to people talk about the identity of baptist and what it might look like in the coming years. The day also held discussions about problems within the SBC, evangelism, cooperation, and problems within associations of churches, and state conventions. Each person had different topics to address and then the attenders could ask questions. The question and answer period was the best part of each address in my opinion.
Mike Day, an associational missionary from the Mid-South Baptist Assoc. spoke on the changing roles of associations and state conventions. He was probably the most provacative speaker of the day. He listed several “pridicaments” that associations, state, and national conventions face today and why they are dying. I will list them for you with a short explanation.
1) Duplicated Effort Syndrome (assoc./state/national)
2) The Institution First Syndrome (feed the beast)
3) The Autonomous Hierarchy Syndrome (churches are independent but many times act in submission to the national offices– the church is the top, but often is relegated to the bottom)
4) The Codified Cooperation Syndrome (continued defining of cooperation/drawing lines continue)
5) The Thinly Spread Mission Dollar Syndrome
6) The Lost Influence Syndrome (SBC Denom. and the church)
He went on the give what he saw as a coming trend in the next years;
Paradigm for the future of associations and conventions
1) Church Driven (starts with the church)
2) Priority Based (priorities from the church – Church plants, Missions, leadership development)
3) Resource focused (no programs to maintain, or organization to maintain)
4) Institution free (does not own anything, no camps, schools)
5) Strategically managed (missionary and staff are catalytic – demographics, help with staff resource)
6) Regionally located, not geographically bound –(counties and cities are not necessary – 100 largest cities or something like it)
7) Denominationally connected (may not rely on state conventions – combined entity – assoc and state conventions will morph into one)
It has been a pretty good day over all. There has been much to think about and evaluate in light of the topics that were covered.
Conference
I am leaving in a few hours for a conference in Jackson, TN. The sessions will be at Union University for the next two days.
As I look out the windows of my home it looks cold, but there is definitely no snow to be found. Which begs the question; “Why are my kids at home right now?” School has been delayed for two hours due to some crazy reason. Oh well, I get be with my wife and kids a little longer. I bet the people who are living in Smyrna from the “northern reaches” of our wonderful country are getting a good laugh at calling off school for these types of conditions.
I think I see sun peaking out and I hear birds singing, I need to just relax and enjoy it
The Great Divorce
A book was mentioned in one of Pat Hood’s sermons a couple of weeks ago that piqued my interest so I went and bought the book, The Great Divorce, by C. S. Lewis. I have not read a lot of what could be called the “classics” of literature. I struggle when I read fanatasy books because I get lost in the story and lose the line in the story. It is probably an undisicplined mind on my part. I nevertheless pushed through reading the book. It was very interesting and has caused me to think about several things in my life. There is a statement I want to post and let you ponder from the book, se what you think about it.
“I do not think that all who choose wrong roads perish; but their rescue consists in being put back on the right road. A sum can be put right; but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on. Evil can be undone, but it cannot ‘develop’ into good.” – C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, pg. VIII
I am interested to hear what you think.
Guarding Ourselves
My pastor spoke yesterday on the perils of porn. He talked about how our minds will eventually lack understanding and our hearts will become calloused by continual involvement. Our perception of reality will eventually be altered by continually viewing porn. He was not advocating “occasional” use of porn, but making a point that we must be diligent to put “filters” and “safeguards” in place to help us as followers of Christ exist in the world we live in each day. Soft porn is around us each day as we move about the workplace, grocery stores, television, and the web. Each of the little steps we take toward the “soft” could lead toward more extreme and overt porn outlets.
We were encouraged and challenged to make a covenant with our eyes (Job 31) and set up an accountability system with our spouse or someone of the same sex who can ask us hard questions about what we view and think about.
What are the “safeguards” you have in place to protect you and your family? Do you think you need to protect yourself and your family? Ladies, give some examples of how ”other” ladies struggle in this area, realizing that women are emotional and not visual.
No one will assume that anyone struggles with these issues because you weigh in on the topic. Though I can honestly say if I didn’t set up safeguards I would be in trouble.
