The Unpredictable Plant was one of the first books on pastoral ministry I read while in seminary. It’s been refreshing and convicting to reread again. Eugene Peterson’s writing always provides a well timed “zing” for overly ambitious pastors like myself. This particular quote isn’t a “zinger”, but it’s a helpful perspective to have during these unstable and tumultuous times.
Archive for November, 2008
Peterson on Human Limits
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Procrastination
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008
I really shouldn’t be posting at this hour on a Saturday evening when I have a stuff to finish for tomorrow. Even though I’m almost done, for whatever reason, I can’t seem to finish the job. I’m subscribed C.J. Mahaney, who is doing a series on busyness. This week, there was a post on procrastination with a quote by Alexander MacLaren. Here’s a quote that I need to heed myself at this very moment…
Best places to eat and get gas in NOVA
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008
Get it? Haha. I rarely do this, but I’m a nice guy and I want to save you a few bucks. There are two gas stations that I go to consistently. It’s a little out of the way for me, but it’s worth it. There’s an old Exxon gas station on the corner of Lee Highway and Cedar Lane in Vienna. The gas is always ten to fifteen cents cheaper than anywhere else. But if that wasn’t enough, they sell milk for $2.99 (limit 4 per person) which is great for my growing family. But it gets better. They even sell korean instant noodle kimchi bowls!
How community can impede mission
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
“Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?‘” – John 4:27
This past week in our home groups, we discussed through this passage how the Christian community often impedes mission rather than advancing mission.
Avoiding Community
Monday, November 17th, 2008
In both our home group and youth group, we explored our need for community, yet how we often avoid it because requires self disclosure which maybe too threatening. We talked about the book and movie, “Into the Wild”. It’s a young man’s search for meaning apart from community. He cuts off ties with family and heads west in hopes of a life untainted by the “corruption of community”. Interestingly along the way, he encounters some folks who are more than willing to take him in, yet he is resolved that life is best independently from people. After a long journey, he reaches his goal. He is alone in the Alaska’s Denali National Park. But the initial rush of the breathtaking scenery began to fade as the reality of the harsh winters set in. The freedom he sought from the restraints of society was not going to be found. His attempts to take care of himself are frustrated by the harsh elements to the point he is on the verge of starvation. Before his death, he scribbles a profound truth.
It’s too bad he found out too late.
Ministry Spotlight: Little Lights
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Everyone once in a while, I’ll highlight a particular ministry or cause. If you’ve been around for a while, then Little Lights Urban Ministries needs no introduction. Our church has been involved with LL on and off even before I arrived at CTPC. Steve and Mary have been a wonderful friends to us and the church and I hope we can continue to be a part of what they are doing in D.C. They’ve overhauled their website with a new blog featuring Steve and the staff. In my previous post, I suggested different ways we can live in community with each other, specifically serving with one another. In the new LL website, you’ll find various ways of getting involved whether I’d be weekly tutoring, teaching kids music, or sponsoring a day trip with some kids. In a few weeks, the youth group will be organizing a bake sale to raise money for the upcoming Christmas Party on December 13th. So grab a few folks you’d like to get to know more and head out to the city and serve together!
Communities of Grace
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
For the past few home groups on Wednesdays, we’ve been using Tim Chester’s writings as a springboard for further discussions on what it means to be a community. Here’s a chart where he contrasts communities of performance versus communities of grace.
| Communities of Performance | Communities of Grace |
| the leaders appear sorted (aka “put together”) | the leaders are vulnerable |
| the community appears respectable | the community is messy |
| meetings must be a polished performance | meetings are just one part of community life |
| identity is found in ministry | identity is found in Christ |
| failure is devastating | failure is disappointing, but not devastating |
| actions are driven by duty | actions are driven by joy |
| conflict is suppressed or ignored | conflict is addressed in the open |
| the focus is on orthodoxy and behaviour (allowing people to think they’re sorted) | the focus is on the affections of the heart (with a strong view of sin and grace) |
We talked about the church always has a particular culture that exists, but they are often never challenged, because we are often blind to it. Primarily we talked about “churchy” culture in general, but Asian culture also adds another layer to the discussion. I wouldn’t be stretch to say that the left columns are distinctly Asian values. As a shame based culture, a community of grace seems very threatening rather than freeing. The inclination is to be presentable, controlled, and competent before others. There’s a low tolerance for messiness because it’s “awkward”. Earlier in my Christian life, it would be fair to say that everything listed on the left column describes the way I approached my Christian life. I can’t say that presently that I am completely free from the performance trap. It’s a tendency I have to fight daily. But I have tasted the goodness of the gospel of grace, and although it’s uncharted waters in many respects, I am committed to teaching grace and living it out in community. My prayer for us is that we would know in our hearts that we belong to Him and to each other so that we could become more like Him.
Hope for the Hopeless
Monday, November 10th, 2008
This week’ sermon is entitled, “Hope for the Hopeless” based on Ephesians 2:1-10. Here are the main points:
- We are dead in sin
- We were made alive in Christ
- We will be with Jesus in eternity
