Intelligence For The Mission

Finding Jesus In Your Garden of Gethesemane

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 01:39:00 +0000

Joni Eareckson Tada, a paraplegic for about fifty years, observed the following: “There is nothing more intimate than finding Jesus in your garden of Gethsemane.” Joni has experienced everything from depression to physical pain for all of these years. She has written a book about those experiences. In A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining Through Me Every Day, she noted that God’s light shines the brightest when we are at our weakest. Joni has experienced her own Gethsemane. She continues to live for His glory, as she lives in her own brokenness and weakness.

From A Spectacle of Glory: God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day (Zondervan, 2016).

Question

Have you found Jesus in your Garden of Gethsemane? Can you share what that was like?

Empty Promises: Part One

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 01:41:00 +0000

This is the first draft of the beginning of chapter one of my book. Thanks for reading and responding to the questions and statements that follow. Your responses will help as I continue to work on the first draft of this chapter that serves as background to Gethsemane.

-----------------------------

Empty Promises

Nothing significant happens without sacrifice. Be it the investment of time, resources or even self, sometimes the venture requires the commitment of everything one has to see it accomplished.

There is no greater picture of that commitment than Jesus on the cross. As Scripture says, “greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” To understand how Jesus arrived at the place where He willingly made that sacrifice, we look to the night before His death as He spent His final hours struggling in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Prior to entering the Garden, Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples. During dinner, he informed His disciples that the time of His death was getting closer, although they may not have understood what He was saying.

While they ate, Jesus told the disciples that one would betray Him. They became sad and each asked if it was him. Jesus also predicted that Peter would deny Him. Then Peter, along with others, declared the following: “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” Those words would be tested later in the Garden.

The disciples words were empty promises. Empty promises are not kept, and they each promised in a vacuum. Their promises were given with little if any thought. In other words, they were spoken as if they would never be tested.

Have you ever done that? Of course. We all have. We have all told friends that if they ever needed help to let us know. They did and we were caught off guard and had to keep our promises even though it cost us something.

Has anyone ever made an empty promise to you? How did it feel when they didn’t keep it? It hurt, didn’t it?

I believe that is how Jesus felt, especially after Peter’s denial. I think Jesus felt betrayed when that happened. In some small way, I find some comfort in knowing that Jesus also experienced betrayal.

Many relationships suffer from empty promises. When someone close to you fails to keep their promise, it hurts you deeply and feelings of betrayal are hard to handle.

--------------------------

Questions

1. Describe a time when you made an empty promise to someone. What happened? What was the result? What did it take for you to make it right?

2. Describe a time when you realized that someone made an empty promise to you. What happened? Were you able to forgive them? What did it take for you to be able to forgive?

3. Does it bring any comfort for you to realize that the disciples gave Jesus empty promises? Do you find any comfort in knowing that Jesus was also betrayed? If so, how does that bring comfort to you?

4. Respond to the following: Every day we make empty promises to God. Do you believe that to be true? Why or why not?

5. In contrast to our empty promises, what promises of God are especially meaningful to you? Why?

Email Subscription Button Repaired

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 13:27:00 +0000

I was informed by a friend that the email subscription button on the blog was not working. I deleted it and added a new one. I invite you to subscribe to receive new posts directly in your inbox. Thanks for following the updates, either by receiving them in your inbox or by visiting the blog.

A new post will be added Monday morning as I begin to research some of the background events that lay a foundation to understand what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I look forward to hearing from you and learning from you. Have a great weekend.

~ Jim

Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 10:30:00 +0000

Jesus arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples. He would visit here often, so stopping on this occasion was not out of the ordinary for them. But this was no ordinary visit. It was the night before His crucifixion and Jesus was deeply troubled.

Upon arriving He took three of his disciples, those closest to Him, and went farther in. The Gospel account informs us that Jesus was deeply sorrowful and troubled, and He told the disciples he felt like He was dying. Then he told them to stay awake with him. He went a little further and fell on his face and prayed.

Jesus knew His crucifixion was near and his prayer reflected his struggle about what would happen the next day. He was torn by the knowledge of His Father’s will and all that it involved.

Three of the Gospels recording the events in the Garden of Gethsemane provide further insights into His prayer. Two of the Gospels tell us He prayed three separate times. One Gospel tells us an Angel visited with and strengthened Him. One of the Gospels tells us he was in such agony that He sweat drops of blood.

Books are filled with explanations of what took place that night, and we know that if Gethsemane had not taken place, there would not have been His crucifixion.

Jesus’ struggle in the Garden was whether or not to accept His Father’s will for His life. His own words describe the depth of His struggle. “Yet not my will, but as you will.” “…your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39, 42 CSV)

These glimpses into His struggle bring comfort to us. For sure, there may never have been as much agony and we don’t usually sweat drops of blood. We do, however, struggle with yielding our will to that of our Heavenly Father.

This happens every day. Every single day people make significant decisions to yield their will to others and to do incredibly sacrificial things.

Think for a moment on the split second decisions Law Enforcement Officers must make, putting their lives on the line to protect and defend others. The same is true of members of the military who leave family and friends behind. They enter the battlefield and often make the ultimate sacrifice, dying in service to their country. And then there are the just as real and just as agonizing struggles that the rest of us make every day, torn by a crisis of faith to yield our wills to that of our Heavenly Father. It is during moments like these that we can need to reflect upon the time Jesus spent in the Garden in agonizing prayer with His Father.

There are moments in life when God brings you to a point of crisis, a moment in time so difficult and so painful that you are almost paralyzed. You don’t know what to do and you don’t know which way to turn. You have two choices before you. One leads to the death of something you love. The other leads to death to self. Choosing the latter, however, may ultimately lead to resurrection and something far better.

--------------

Questions for Reflection:

1. Have you ever faced a moment of crisis similar to what is described above? If so, what that was like for you?
2. What helped you through that moment? What resources did you call upon to help with your decision?
3. Have you ever witnessed someone who faced a similar moment of crisis and chose the hard decision even though it may have cost them everything?
4. Did that decision lead to some type of resurrection and something far better? If so, please describe it.
5. Feel free to comment on anything else about these opening thoughts that you think may be helpful.

Future Direction

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 16:10:00 +0000

The theme of the book that is churning in my mind relates to the Biblical account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus endured a struggle with yielding His will to that of His Father. In the end, He chooses His Father's will over His own. The crucifixion would not have happened without what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I have decided that this will be the direction of my writing efforts this year. I will flesh out various parts of this Gospel account and also research what other writers have written about Gethsemane.

I welcome any thoughts or suggestions you may have. Do you know of any writers who published works of value about the Garden of Gethsemane? If so, please share them with me. Have you shared a Bible study or sermon on Gethsemane that you would be willing to pass along to me? I promise to give credit where credit is due.

Are you interested in following along as I post thoughts on a weekly basis about this study? Are you interested in interacting with these posts and sharing your thoughts? Will you let me know if a post has merit or is totally off the wall and should be deleted?

By the way, the most effective way to share information with me is to add your comments to a post

Thanks for joining in this journey from a blog to a book.

Have a great weekend!

Jim

Changes

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 19:39:00 +0000

It has been awhile since I posted on this blog. With the advent of other social media, this kinda fell by the wayside. Since I am the owner of this blog, I have decided to change the direction. I will begin to post entries related to a book that is currently residing inside my brain. I look forward to sharing these things with you who find your way here and I welcome your thoughts and insights. I believe iron sharpens iron and look forward to a collaboration that is mutually encouraging to all who participate.

Jim

Turning Around

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:18:00 +0000

My brothers and I learned a lot about hard work growing up on the farm in West Virginia. We were also taught how to drive tractors and trucks on the farm long before we earned a driver’s license. We thought this was awesome, but because we were young we often broke things.

Since I was the oldest, I usually drove the tractor with a wagon hooked to the back. I did ok moving forward, but it became an adventure when I had to turn around and go in the other direction. I broke many drawbars learning to turn a wagon and quickly realized that turning is a tricky process. Turning a wagon takes skill, and so it also is with churches.

This is why we have chosen Turnaround Churches as the theme for this year’s Annual Meeting. We invite you to join us as we provide some practical information to help you and your church deal with issues related to turning around and becoming a more healthy and effective ministry.

Registration Link

Scenes from Nicaragua

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:52:00 +0000

I received an invitation to visit Nicaragua early in September. George Loring, from Missions Door, invited me to visit this beautiful country and spend some time among the church planters and missionaries who seek to spread the good news of the Gospel. I knew that going on trips like this are life changing. I came back renewed and inspired to see church planting take place here in the Mid - Atlantic region as well as abroad.

Below are a few pictures that I brought home from my trip. I hope you enjoy them and will pray for the work of the Gospel to continue to spread throughout Nicaragua and Central America.

I would like to thank George Loring, from Missions Door, for the invitation. I would like to also thank Juan Carlos Reyes for being our tour guide and showing us sights that few tourists ever see. Thanks also to Rigo Reyes for his vision to see the Gospel continue to grow throughout Central America.

Baptism Service

Praise During The Baptisms

With Some Pastors Of Nicaragua

Roadside Cattle Drive

Typical Home In Nicaragua

Pastor Derlin

Pastor Edwin and family in Tipitapa

Church In Tipitapa

Pastor Houstino and Juan Carlos Reyes

Boys at Welding School at Bethlehem Farm

Group Photo at Bethlehem Farm

Cow Vs Eighteen Wheeler

With Rigoberto Reyes, Ministry Director, Central America

Are you like Alice in Wonderland?

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:05:00 +0000

I attended a coaching session last night led by Ron Markloff with some of the leadership team at FBC Toms River. Art Norregaard, the church administrator, shared an insight from Alice in Wonderland that perfectly fit the moment. Here is the quote he shared from the book and a thought about the importance of a vision.

One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. His response was a question: “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.” - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Every leader without a vision is like Alice in Wonderland. We don't know where we want to go. However, once vision is defined, other questions become easier to answer.

~ Jim

Why I Love Missional Thinking (And You Should, Too!)

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 08 May 2014 14:58:00 +0000

I have read many books by missional thinkers during the last several years, and also have many friends that probably fit within the missional movement. I have really enjoyed reading and reflecting on how missional thinking and living can enrich my life and and also the church to which Lou Ann and I belong. I have learned many things that have challenged me to change the way I think and interact with my friends and neighbors. These are all positives and outcomes of "missional" thinking.

With that in mind, here are two reasons why I love missional thinking, and I think you should also.

Missional thinking has called me back to why the church exists. Simply put, the church exists to make disciples and this is a major theme of the missional movement. Since making disciples is not a fad, the missional movement has staying power as long as churches keep disciple-making as a central focus and practice. As a leader in a local church, I am looking for ways to disciple other men. I fail as a leader if I am not intentionally reproducing myself in others. Missional thinking has called me back to this fundamental purpose.

Missional thinking also challenges me to live outside of my little box. To be honest, the box I live in is pretty big, but like many I can pretty much live my day in my box without much interaction with neighbors and friends. This is why I have really appreciated some of Mike Breen's observations in his book Leading Missional Communities. Mike observes, "Essentially, his "big plan" is to hang out with people who like you and then answer their questions when God moves in their lives." Further on he urges us to "find the people around you in whom God is already working and join God there." As I read that, I was reminded that living missionally is not adding alot of other activities to an already totally crammed schedule. Instead, it is simply living with intentionality and taking the time to really care about and interact with people.

There is more I could write about how my life has been enriched by "missional" thinking, but these are two reasons why I love missional thinking (and you should, too!)

~ Jim

Mission Mid-Atlantic Identity Document Approved!

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:05:00 +0000

The Mission Mid-Atlantic Churches approved their new Identity Document during their Annual Meeting in Lancaster, PA on April 25, 2014.

The Identity Document is an association document that defines our raw and basic associational position. We identify a Conservative Baptist church in covenant community. We do not describe a person (Conservative Baptist).

Our Identity Document is written for our churches and not for our regional office. It is a covenant between churches, and a covenant equals a pledge to relationship which is supported by our understanding of the Trinity.

As we live in relational community in covenant with one another, it has a ripple effect of health. We desire to become an association of healthy churches that gives ourselves away and has a positive effect on the greater evangelical community. Our goal is health for the good of others, and not our own.

Healthy covenant relationships nurture organic reproduction. The regional office advances this process by identifying, developing and providing a set of tools that promote organic reproduction. We want our relationships to become so healthy in meeting one another's needs that our office will no longer be necessary.

To learn more about our Identity Document, or if you have questions, please email me at jim@missionmid-atlantic.org.

~ Jim

Intelligence Links: April 10, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:03:00 +0000

Intelligence links for the mission.

Moving Toward Church Multiplication Movements: 4 Steps for Developing Multiplication Leaders by Ed Stetzer

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/april/4-steps-for-developing-multiplication-leaders.html

Curing Congregational Low Self-Esteem by Bill Tenny - Brittian

http://effectivechurch.com/curing-congregational-low-self-esteem/

What's wrong with producing a "worship" experience? by Jared C Wilson

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/gospeldrivenchurch/2014/04/04/whats-wrong-with-producing-a-worship-experience/

7 Great Easter Videos for Easter Services by ProPreacher

http://www.propreacher.com/7-great-easter-videos-for-easter-services/

The String With An Idea At the End by Seth Godin

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/04/the-idea-with-a-string-at-the-end.html

You don't have to come back. You just have to go.

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 15:24:00 +0000

The following story is told by Nik Ripken in his book, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected. It is a compelling reminder of what it looks like to follow Christ without reservation. Nik writes:

Many of the stories that I heard in Russia celebrated God’s faithfulness and provision. One pastor was arrested and placed in prison, while his wife and children were sent to live (or die) in Siberia.

One wintry night in their remote, dilapidated wooden cabin which now served as their home, the three children divided their family’s last crust of bread, and drank the last cup of tea in the house before climbing into bed still hungry. Kneeling to say their prayers, they asked, “Where are we going to get some more food, Mama? We’re hungry! Do you think Papa even knows where we live now?” Their mother assured them their heavenly Father knew where they lived. For now, He was the one who would have to provide. They prayed and asked for God’s provision.

Thirty kilometers away, in the middle of the night, God woke up the deacon of a church and instructed him, “Get out of bed. Harness your horse, hitch the horse to the sled, load up all the extra vegetables that the church has harvested, the meat, and the other food that the congregation has collected, and take it to that pastor’s family living outside the village. They are hungry!”

The deacon said, “But, Lord, I can’t do that! It’s below zero outside. My horse might freeze and I might freeze!”

The Holy Spirit told him, “You must go! The pastor’s family is in trouble!”

The man argued, “Lord, you’ve got to know that there are wolves everywhere. They could eat my horse and if they do, they’ll then eat me! I’ll never make it back.”

But the deacon said that the Holy Spirit told him, “You don’t have to come back. You just have to go.”

So he did.

When he knocked loudly on the door of that rickety cabin in the pre-dawn darkness the next morning, the banging must have terrified the mother and her children. But imagine their joy and amazement when they fearfully, hesitantly opened the cabin door to find one very small, very cold member of the Body of Christ standing on their front step. His food-laden sleigh was behind him. He held a huge sack and announced, “Our church collected this food for you. Be fed. When this runs out, I’ll bring more.”

Long after I heard that story, I kept thinking about God’s final instruction to the deacon: “You just have to go.”

You don’t have to come back. You just have to go.

As it turns out, he did come back. Even so, the instruction is so clear. You just have to go. You just have to go. Even if there is no clarity about your return, you just have to go.

The memory of that deacon’s courageous obedience lives on in his story. The story has been told by his family for generations. And the story is also told by the extended family of those who were saved by his gift. The story celebrates one man’s obedience and God’s miraculous provision.

Ripken, Nik; Lewis, Gregg (2013-12-02). The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected (pp. 165-167). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Adapting To Conditions

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:57:00 +0000

I have faced some challenges as I prepare for the 2014 Run 4 Healthy Churches.

This has been a harsh winter in the Mid-Atlantic region. I have counted fifteen measureable snowfall events this winter and that makes training outside for a half marathon rather tricky business. I am doing most training indoors on a treadmill.

I also fell during a training run in Southern California in January. I injured a rib and that has also made running and other forms of training painful.

Tim Laniak, in his book While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, describes how shepherds adapt to their surroundings as they care for their flocks. He notes that the desert is an incubator for innovation. He further notes that adaptability becomes a way of life when shepherding is a way of life.

So, I continue to adapt while I train and encourage you to join me as I prepare to run 20K this Saturday, March 15, to benefit Mission Mid-Atlantic.

You can follow this link to make an online donation, or you can send a check to Mission Mid-Atlantic at PO Box 345, Clayton, NJ 08312.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support.

A Defining Moment

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:49:00 +0000

I witnessed a defining moment in the life of one particular church as a young assistant pastor.

The pastor presented a plan to take a visitation team to a predominately black neighborhood near our church. I thought his plan would make a positive statement in our racially divided community.

Instead of embracing the pastors plan, the oldest deacon pounded his fist on the board room table and declared, "This church is for middle class white people."

All who were present sat in stunned silence.

We moved away from that church to a new ministry within a year and never witnessed the fulfillment of that vision.

That incident, however, has had a profound effect upon my life and ministry. Racism nor prejudice should ever be tolerated within the local church.

I listen to Beautiful Eulogy.

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 16:58:00 +0000

Those who know me well are aware that my preferred musical style leans more toward country music than anything else.

However, I recently stumbled upon Beautiful Eulogy on Noisetrade. What a breath of fresh air to my soul!

Beautiful Eulogy is a Christian Hip Hop group. I have rarely heard Christian musicians who so clearly and distinctly declared God's truth in such a fresh and bold manner.

Beautiful Eulogy reaches their culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Vital Lens, from their second album Instruments of Mercy, declares what they are all about.

Give them a listen.

Vital Lens

Beautiful Eulogy on Noisetrade

Goal for 2014: To know God and experience His faithfulness.

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 15:19:00 +0000

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 15:28:00 +0000

Wishing you every blessing this Christmas Season and in the New Year. Thank you for allowing us to serve alongside of you in 2013. We look forward to continuing our relationship in the coming year.

All the best to you and your family,

Dr. Jim Leary

Regional Executive Director

Gospel Fluency

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 21:03:00 +0000

Caesar Kalinowski, in The Gospel Primer, makes the following observation:

In order to effectively equip our missional community to be "fluent" in the gospel, we will need to create a culture where it is normal to speak the gospel to each other regularly, naturally.

Is there a difference in teaching gospel fluency with a new believer and in the context of an already established church? I would say no. It all comes down to discipleship. Are we teaching and modeling within our churches how to speak the gospel into each others lives in simple, practical ways? Are the members of our churches learning how the gospel relates to all of life? In marriage? Family? Work? Ministry?

Conflict is a normal part of everyday life and it is very easy to misunderstand one another. If we are not applying the gospel to our everyday relationships, it is inevitable that we will at some point disagree with one another and these conflicts have the potential to become even greater issues than they need to be. Gospel fluency allows us to apply biblical principles that give us the ability to resolve misunderstandings in a way that glorify God, instead of creating greater division.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, who is the Incarnation of the Gospel, let's renew our effort to be gospel fluent with one another.

Stop Worrying About Being Right

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 15:06:00 +0000

We are very thankful for the opportunity to work with churches through Mission Mid-Atlantic. Because of the nature of our ministry, we have many opportunities to learn lessons that apply to all of life, not just to work within our churches.

For example, we are often called into situations where members feel the need to argue their point of view. They have a strong desire to be right and in the process create conflict that often divides the body.

I was reminded recently of times when I have felt the need to be right and how that is not a good thing. This sin-driven trait appears at the most inconvenient of moments, and then I have to reconcile by apologizing for something said or done while seeking to prove my point.

Pathak & Runyon, in The Art Of Neighboring, observed the following about a man who struggled in his relationship with his neighbor. He stopped worrying about being right and decided to try to be like Jesus.

That got my attention. I hate hurting those I love just to be right. I want to be like Jesus.

Nowhere in the Bible are we told to be concerned about being right. Arguing about things gets us nowhere. Instead, we are told to view conflict as an opportunity to glorify God and serve others.

Let's stop worrying about being right and decide to try to be like Jesus.

Jim

Four Indispensable Qualities For A Successful Turnaround

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:40:00 +0000

My good friend Ron Markloff observes that four qualities are needed for a successful turnaround. They are humility, submission, teachability and flexibility. Why are these preferred qualities in a turnaround process? They position us to be open to innovations needed for a successful turnaround. Without humility we tend to be arrogant and lack the patience needed to endure a turnaround effort. Without submission we are not willing to listen to the input of others. Without teachability we stop learning. Without flexibility we remain rigid and stuck in unhealthy patterns.

A Dangerous Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:20:00 +0000

I was sitting in a restaurant recently reading Paul David Tripp's book, Dangerous Calling, when I became aware of a conversation taking place in the booth behind me. A women was telling her friend that her husband of over 35 years had committed adultery and wanted a divorce.

The context of this discussion amazed me. While I was reading Tripp's warning to pastors to guard their hearts, I could not avoid the on-going discussion between these two friends about a marriage disintegrating due to marital infidelity.

My heart ached as I overheard this woman agonize over the sale of their home and the financial issues surrounding their imminent divorce.

What should she tell their adult children? What about family events during the Christmas season? What about her anger towards her husband and the other woman? Should she go for counseling?

I left the restaurant feeling a mixture of sorrow and an upset stomach. When you are in your late fifties you should be enjoying your grandchildren, not preparing for the demise of your marriage.

How does a couple married for over thirty five years get to that place? How does a man in his sixties get off track and enter into an adulterous relationship with a woman other than his wife?

As Paul David Tripp reminds us in Dangerous Calling, it is always possible when we don't guard our hearts.

I am thankful for that dinner because even we who are in ministry need that dangerous reminder.

Changes

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Lou Ann and I just returned from a trip to Florida. I wish I could say that it was for an extended vacation. It was nothing of the sort. Instead, we helped our daughter, her husband and two grandchildren move to Jupiter, Florida. We have been blessed to have them live within three miles of us for the last several years. They now live over a thousand miles away from us.

We have been reminded throughout this experience that life is full of changes, and we don't always handle them well. There have been moments when our emotions overtake us and the tears flow.

Churches also struggle with change. Often, when needed change is difficult, church leaders avoid it altogether. Mission Mid-Atlantic realizes that change is often difficult for both leaders and members. We are often called to assist churches to figure out what type of change is most needed, and also to see that appropriate change is implemented in the best way possible.

I spoke on the phone recently with a pastor whose church went through the Ministry Mapping process. He expressed his appreciation for how Mission Mid-Atlantic helped to lead their church through some significant changes, and also reported that those changes had resulted in increased ministry effectiveness.

As Lou Ann and I are learning, even though navigating the turbulent waters of change is difficult, it is possible to embrace it and move on.

New Title and New Direction

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 15:33:00 +0000

Hardly anyone will argue that there have been tremendous shifts in our culture. Our churches are struggling to figure out what happened. We are retitling this blog Intelligence For The Mission in response to the significant shifts we are seeing as a means of encouragement in the task of making disciples.

By intelligence we mean the ability to understand our culture so that we can share the Gospel wisely and effectively. We will share intelligence (blogposts) on a regular basis to help our pastors and church leaders understand the times and engage in the mission to penetrate our culture with the Good News of the Gospel.

We look forward to interacting with you as we journey in this great work together.

~ Jim

FBC Toms River Ministry Mapping

noreply@blogger.com (James E. Leary) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Our Mission Mid-Atlantic team (Ron, Rickie and myself) will be spending the next three days at FBC Toms River as we lead a Ministry Mapping process. The church is currently looking for a new pastor due to the retirement of Pastor John Strain. John faithfully pastored the church for 21 years. We believe the Ministry Mapping process will provide them with valuable information they will be able to use to find a new pastor who fits their current needs. We ask you to pray for us as a team as well as the church as we go through this process. We also ask you to pray that we will be able to communicate our concerns, significant findings and prescriptions so that they will be received and embraced. We have found that the Ministry Mapping process can be used to lead a church to greater health and effectiveness if the process is embraced in a positive manner. You can learn more about the Ministry Mapping process here:

http://www.missionmid-atlantic.org/component/content/article?id=23

~ Jim