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Showing posts from September, 2017

Dear Church Thief:

The Following is my own thoughts ...after this past Sunday ...one of our biggest attendances and one of the best Homecomings we have had ....Monday came. Satan wanted to discourage. The Carevan of Bon Secour found our building was broken into. Both my elders were there and the damage and items missing were addressed and the police and detectives came. So here is my letter: Open Letter. Dear Church Thief: I forgive you. Our church forgives you. If you wanted to look and go into my office - all you had to do was ask. I do feel shaken knowing people have gone through my stuff. You are welcome to come and look any time I'm there. I'm sure the fake bill that my son gave me that said worth a Million dollars was amusing. I'm sure you were disappointed. If you needed a sound system - you should of came and listened to it on person on Sundays. I'm disappointed though because of your actions some of our neighbors couldn't use the building on Monday for the mobile medic

Top Ten Urban Legends in Ministry

Top 10 Urban Legends in Ministry You know there are urban legends in Christianity such as O'Hare and the FCC or the Touched by An Angel or even the Health and Wealth Gospel. With all the Fake news and hoaxes out there I'd thought to do urban legends for ministry. (I did one back similar to youth ministry. Here are some Urban Legends in Ministry and in Church in general that I've come across. 10. The tenure of a preacher is 3 years This one has been making the rounds for some time. I wonder who this preacher is and if he has invested in U-Haul. 9. Close relationships are the goal of ministry. (They aren't - they are a means, but not the end) It is about discipleship. Loving God and others. 8. The % Warnings. Barna. The Pew Report. Millennials. The Whole Cry Wolf. Are people leaving the church? Yes. Do we need to reach people? yes The stats or studies show this or that ...that 96% of stats are made up including this one. In fact to prove my point there is a fe

Fall Sermon Series starts Oct. 1

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Security for Places of Worship

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So a leader and I from Bonnie Brae went to this seminar on Church Security. The Speaker was very insightful. He suggested a few things like: 1. Aid in identifying potential risks. 2. Having a guide to prevention. 3. Smart use of your resources - best prevention - the greeter. 4. Leadership develop plans to respond to. Also suggested working with your local law enforcement to help with ant issues. He used the 3Rs 1. Recognize potential problems. (You know your church culture - if something out of the ordinary - say something) 2. Report it immediately. Know who to report to ...and implement policy. 3. Respond appropriately. Call police etc. Rick Arrington did a good job. He has a book out there that would be a good tool. He even left his email in case people wanted to contact or needed more information: Richard.arrington@dcjs.virginia.gov

Reasons People Got to Church

This from someone's grandmother about a poem that was taught her as a little girl (circa 1920) "Some go to church for observation. Some go to church for conversation. Some go to church to wink and nod. And a few may go to worship God." -Elizabeth (Grandma's name)

Currently Reading This Fall.

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What are you reading?

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Current Sermon Series.

Currently doing a sermon series based on Mark Dever's Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Had planned this for some time. Great series that asks the tough question of "Are we a healthy church?" and how we can improve. What are you currently preaching or learning on?

5 Ways God Uses Problems. (Sept Newsletter)

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you- depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately many people fail to see how God wants to use problems for the good in their lives. They react foolishly an resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might ring. Here are five ways God wants to us problems in your life: 1. God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6 2. God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags …if you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? “When you have many kind of troubles, you should b