The MethoBlog aggregator

John Meunier: Neighborhood 1, Church 0

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:10:23 -0600

A story to give a warm glow of affirmation to all those who say the culture and the mission of the church are at odds.

Phoenix, Arizona, says a United Methodist Church is violating zoning laws by providing meals to homeless and hungry people. The neighbors are gleeful.

agentorange (Greg Milinovich): happy halloween (i'm a bit behind)

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0600

ARRGGHHHHH!!!! i feel like everything is a week behind in my life right now. so, sorry about the delay, but here are a few pics from halloween. hope you're all enjoying the week. steelers joy all around.

The Fat Pastor (Robb McCoy): Happy 40th Birthday, Big Bird and friends!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:33:50 -0600

: Today was the beginning of the 40th season of Sesame Street.

My daughter and I were watching Sesame Street together today. This show, after 40 years, remains far and away my favorite kids show. I loved it when I was a kid, and I actually enjoy watching it with my daughter now.

My strongest memory from the Street as a kid was when the grownups finally saw Snuffy. I felt so bad for Big Bird for years as no one took him seriously. He knew that snuffleupagus was real. I knew he was real, and I felt Big Bird’s pain when no one believed him.

Today my daughter and I watched as Big Bird decided he was going to migrate to the rain forest. As he was walking down the street, he started saying goodbye to everyone. All of his friends were shocked that he was leaving, but he decided that the rain forest would be the perfect place for him to live. As the “goodbyes” continued, I felt myself getting a little sad. Saying goodbye to Big Bird is like saying goodbye to a longtime friend.

Wondering if this was effecting Ellie like it was effecting me, I called her name. She turned around, and the tears were streaked down her face. I called her to me, and she crawled up on my lap. “Are you sad?” I asked her.

“No,” she said through her tears. “It will be okay,” she said and forced out a chuckle that sounded a lot like a sob.

In the end Big Bird decided to stay. He decided that the rain forest would be a neat place to visit, but he hadn’t realized that moving there would mean he couldn’t have playdates with Elmo, or have Cream of Birdseed soup at Hoopers whenever he wanted. When he announced that he would stay, Ellie burried her head in my chest and gave me a huge hug. Her hug left a wet spot on my shirt.

I doubt that episode will be Ellie’s lasting memory of Sesame Street, but so many have one (the death of Mr. Hooper, the marriage of Luis and Maria are a couple – I’d love to hear yours). For forty years Sesame Street has educated kids about numbers, letters, friendship, vocabulary, shapes, and many other things while never talking down to them. It has been entertaining and, with the possible exception of Elmo’s World, never annoying. It is a show I loved when I was little, and a show I continue to love as an adult.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street.

Share with me your memories – favorite characters – favorite sketches – favorite songs.

A Man Called Preach (Will Deuel): Me used to be angry young man

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:37:30 -0600

Me hiding me head in the sand. You gave me the word. I finally heard. I’m doing the best that I can.

Why is it that the Beatles so often relate to my life so closely? I find my experiences, feelings, and even my spirituality reflected in their lyrics and music. At various times in my own life I could have shouted, “Help me if you can, I’m feeling down; and I do appreciate you being ’round.” ”Say the Word and you’ll be free … Have you heard, the word is LOVE?” ”You don’t realize how much I need you.” Even in my practice of meditation, “turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream.”

I tend to be a big fan of Paul’s music, of John’s raw emotion, and of George’s spirituality. Today it’s the classic “Getting Better,” one of Paul’s gems. Well, except for the whole “I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved.” That’s nothing like my relationship with Katy.

But I did used to be an angry young man. More accurately, I have a tendency to be a depressed man, and that depression can manifest itself as anger. If I let myself, I can be a downright bitter, cynical, jaded and angry person. But as I’ve gotten older I came to the realization that my Angry Young Man shtick got old. Real old. And not just to those around me. To me too. If I’m going to burn my energy on emotion, anger is just not one that’s ever going to do me any good. Living with regrets caused by angry actions requires a lot of mental and emotional energy that I’m not willing to expend anymore.

I wish I could say that it was easy, but in the words of Steve Earle, transcendence is never easy. Insight – while essential to healing – is never enough. It’s taken a lot of prayer, a lot of time, some counseling and antidepressant medication to get me where I am today. It’s taken behavioral intervention and work. I’ve had to learn to recognize my patterns of bitterness before they turn even unhealthier. I’ve learned to trust my wife who sees those patterns before I can. I’ve learned that anger might get my way in the short term but always messes things up in the long term. The reinforcement of the short-term benefits makes it difficult to let go of anger because in the heat of the moment I can only see the short term. I have to be intentional in reminding myself that I am not the center of the universe or even of my own little world, and that what I want right now may not be what’s good for me or anyone around me.

There’s a famous photograph of John Lennon at his desk, and you can see a postcard he wrote to his son Julian. It reads, “Every day, in every way I’m getting better and better.” John later used that line (changing I’m to it’s) in his song Beautiful Boy. And that’s very much how I feel these days. I sincerely believe that God’s healing in my own life has come in the form of excellent counselors, a patient and loving family, and even antidepressants. I simply cannot deny that the power of love is transforming me. I am becoming a better man, a better person, because I am loved.

John Wesley's Journal: Letter to Mr. Verelst, November 10, 1736

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:09:00 -0600

SAVANNAH, November 10, 1736.

SIR,--I return you thanks for your favor. The good I have found here has, indeed, been beyond my expectations: the contrary behavior of many was no more than 1 looked for; being convinced, several years before I left England, that in every city or country under heaven the majority of the people are not the wisest or the best part. But we have an advantage here, which is not frequent in other places--that is, a Magis tracy not only regular in their own conduct, but desirous and watchful to suppress as far as in them lies whatever is openly ill in the conduct of others. I am obliged to you for the hint you give as to the regulating that too-prevailing neglect in the case of administering public oaths. Without doubt it should be done with all possible solemnity. For surely no hurry of business can excuse any want of reverence towards the God to whom all our business should be consecrated: since it is for His sake that we ought to undertake everything as wen as perform everything as in His sight.

Pray, when you send me any books, send a letter of advice. I have received no books from you since I came hither. --I am, dear sir,

Your most humble servant.

Step By Step (Joseph Yoo): Prayers That Lead to… Nothing?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:43:31 -0600

Sometimes, I feel like prayer is an excuse that allows us to be safe from where we are and really get involved. I’m not saying that we do this all the time… but I know from my own experience, that it’s easier to say “Man, we need to pray for the homeless” rather than praying for them AND going out to help them.
Or praying about something and waiting around wondering when God will answer our prayers.
I think prayer needs to be accompanied by actions. We pray and we act.
When we pray for a job… we pray, then we go look for a job, right? We don’t pray and just wait for the phone to ring with a job offer (and praise to be God when God chooses to work that way some times).
We pray and we act upon our prayers.

I’m sure you can find holes in that theory… and this post.
But prayer is not an excuse to stay inactive or stay within a comfortable distance from the community and the world. I believe that prayer gives us strength to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty with love within the community. We pray, and we act.

And when we say “I’ll pray for you” by golly, we should really pray for that person!

ReEmergent Church (Matt Horan & Kristy Hardin): Learning to Speak: Connecting as Central to the Christian Faith

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:42:28 -0600

Interesting read from Duke Divinity School: Connecting to others is key, whether live or on Twitter? See this article by Amey Victoria Adkins

Learning to speak | Faith & Leadership.

octomusings (Olive Morgan): Pressure to drop court case against Fiji Church leaders

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:14:00 -0600

British Church leaders to meet with Foreign Office

At a court hearing today, a lawyer representing nine Fijian Church leaders appealed for the case against them to be dropped.

The leaders of the Fijian Methodist Church, including the Church’s President, General Secretary, Accountant and Trust Secretary, have pleaded not guilty to charges of breaching Public Emergency Regulations. Their solicitor met today with the Director of Public Prosecutions, opposing counsel and magistrate to argue that there is no case to be answered.

Tomorrow afternoon, Revd David Gamble, President of the British Methodist Conference and Dr Richard Vautrey, Vice President of the Conference, will meet with Meg Munn MP and Chris Bryant MP, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

David said; “We are very concerned for our sister Church in Fiji. This situation threatens to consume so much of their time, energy and finance. Strict bail conditions have robbed the Church of its leaders and we hope to seek a way forward that will enable the Church to continue to worship and serve its communities.”

The Fijian Church leaders are appealing against their bail conditions, which prohibit them from public speaking, preaching or taking part in church meetings.

The Church represents around a third of Fiji’s population and has challenged Fiji’s military government, which is lead by Commodore Bainimarama. Earlier in the year the Church was forced to cancel its annual Conference and choir festivals.

5 Practices Blog (Bishop Robert Schnase): Free downloads: Local churches Five Practices images

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0600

Dustin Nimmo of Bethel UMC in Bethel, Ohio, submitted this image that they are using to promote Five Practices with their youth and young adult ministry. In addition to being featured on their youth and young adultwebsite, the image serves as thedefault logoused during their modern worship service. And Shelley Haley, a graphic designer and memberof Chandler UMC in Chandler, Oklahoma, designed this poster to promote the churchs series on Five Practices. You can download both images by clicki

Life. Leadership. God's Mission (Randy and Joleen Willis): Stay on Track

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:35:38 -0600

I have noticed a number of commercials from Fidelity Investments lately. They’re the commercials with the green line on the ground that offers guidance and direction. Last week, one especially caught my attention.

In the commercial, the financial advisor encourages the client that the plan they worked out for his retirement “makes sense” and that he should “just stay on track.” Shortly after leaving the Fidelity office, the client stops to look at some expensive cars. Back down the street, the financial advisor from Fidelity calls out, “Stay on the line!” The client smiles, gets back on the line, and moves along.

The commercial caught my attention because that’s not the message we’re accustomed to hearing in commercials. Granted, it was a commercial from an investment firm, not an advertiser for a product they’re trying to convince us we need.

But the message is a good one — have a goal, a purpose, stay on track, and don’t get distracted along the way.

You can see the commercial on YouTube.

Thoughts of Resurrection (Andrew Conard): The End of the TNIV

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:58 -0600

There are myriad translations of the Bible.

The one that I have used most frequently throughout my time at Resurrection has been Today’s New International Version (TNIV).

On September 1, 2009 it was announced that TNIV would be discontinued. In its place the NIV will be updated by 2011. You can find more information at http://www.nivbible2011.com.

In addition, I recently ran across this website announcing a new translation to be produced the Common English Bible. You can find more information at http://www.commonenglish.com.

Considering that the TNIV will no longer be published, I will begin to phase it out of my regular usage. I will likely return to the NRSV which I used most frequently during seminary. However, I am open to suggestions or insights on the above to versions.

What are your thoughts, feelings or opinions about the 2011 NIV, TNIV or Common English Bible?

Commonplace Holiness (Craig Adams): The Whole of Christian Perfection

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:09 -0600

“What is then the perfection of which man is capable while he dwells in a corruptible body? It is the complying with that kind command, ‘My son, give me thy heart.’ It is he ‘loving the Lord; his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind.’ This is the sum of Christian perfection: It is all comprised in that one word, Love. The first branch of it is the love of God: And as he that loves God loves his brother also, it is inseparably connected with the second: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself:’ Thou shalt love every man as thy own soul, as Christ loved us. ‘On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets: These contain the whole of Christian perfection.

— John Wesley, Sermon # 76 "On Perfection."

Many more Wesley quotes on the topic of Christian Perfection can be found here: THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.

Commonplace Holiness (Craig Adams): Atonement and Communication

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:50:16 -0600

“Rather than the traditional view of the atonement which sees it primarily as a transaction between the Father and the Son apart from humanity, from which completed action we then draw benefits, Wesley turns the whole drama into an event of communication in which humanity is the intended recipient of divine love which in Christ comes to expression. This means that the atonement is a trinitarian event, one which is not simply a transaction between the Father and the Son, but equally involves the Spirit as the agent of communication between God and the intended object of reconciliation, humanity.”

— Theodore Runyan, The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today (Abingdon, Nashville 1998). p. 53.

Avent View (Taylor Mills): Advent Conspiracy

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:39:00 -0600

My Brother, The Thief (Brian Vinson):
What Would I Want From My Pastor?

I have written several posts about pastor expectations - what people expect from (me) as their pastor - sometimes positive, often unrealistic expectations. As I was thinking about this, it got me to thinking, "what would I want from my pastor?"

To be fair, I haven't "had" a pastor since 2001, when I left Kentucky. I worked for two pastors, but they did not pastor me (and there is a big difference). I was in several churches before I was a full-time pastor, some with fantastic pastors, and all with positive aspects I'd like to emulate.

I grew up at Macedonia Christian Church, and I don't really remember much about anything that went on from the pulpit - most likely reflecting more on me than on our pastor. I do remember that he had a good sense of humor, though. And that's important. It's important to me that my pastor not take himself too seriously. True, the pastor's work is serious work, not merely life and death work, but eternity work. But when a pastor takes himself too seriously, well, it's tough to relate to him.

Which brings me to the next church I was in: Chapel Hill Christian Church. I wasn't there long (and was usually gone off to college), but I witnessed a change in John, the pastor who was there then. His wife went through an illness and death, and John transformed. Some people get bitter and angry; John became much more focused. I remember (as a high schooler) when he would rant at/about those of us who were sitting in the back. But I also remember (as a college student) when he led our college group on Wednesday evening. Part of what happened was he became someone who we could relate to. But more than that, he could relate to God, and the way he related to us was God relating to us through him.

In college, one church I attended was my friend David's home church, and the pastor there (also named John) had passion for the lost. Real passion to see people saved. Passion to worship God in spirit and Truth. I want my pastor to have this passion. It's not about doing a job, it's not even about growing the church, but about seeing lives/eternities changed.

Post-college, I joined First Presbyterian Church in Evanston, where I was impressed by Rev. Dave Handley's commitment to cross-cultural mission and ministry and his care for the marginalized and oppressed.

While in seminary, I found Southland Christian Church, where Mike Breaux was the Senior Minister. I loved how I saw him treating his family and that he had boundaries and included self-care and regular play and exercise in his routine, all the while working really hard. He was a fantastic teacher and preacher who brought a relevant word, no matter how far along on your spiritual journey you were. He also shared glory - if something went well, he was the first to give praise to someone else, including his fellow ministry staffers as well as lay people. I attribute this all to the power of the Holy Spirit - he was allowing the Spirit to inform him and to shape his messages. This is the most important thing I want from my pastor: to be Holy Spirit led. All of the other stuff isn't important if this isn't true.

So, what would you want from your pastor?