Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox:

Scripture is filled with stories of captivating characters whose lives help us better understand God's truth. What must it have been like to be Joseph, alone and abandoned in an Egyptian jail, yet still clinging to faith? What was it about Joshua and Caleb that allowed them to stand against the majority when they returned from spying in the Promised Land? What would it have been like to be Hosea, with an unfaithful wife and a call from God to take her back again and again? Those are the images that will stay with our congregations long after they have forgotten the points of our homiletical outlines.
Don?t be afraid to take time to tell their stories, and allow your listeners to be pulled into their lives.

If preaching has a future in our culture it is the telling of the great stories in scripture.

Great storytellers have always used detail to make their tales come to life. Why shouldn't those of us who proclaim the greatest story ever told take advantage of every tool available? The great African-American preachers are masters of this art; they use words to paint a picture that grabs our attention and makes us see.

Doubting the Doomsayers - Christianity Today Magazine:

I have learned not to believe everything I read on the Internet, and not to believe everything I hear from doomsayers.

Great article from Yancey. Very encouraging news.

[Listening to: Like It, Love It, Need It - dc Talk - Jesus Freak (5:23)]

PC(USA) - Evangelism and Church Development -
From the PCUSA.

[Listening to: Missin' You - Chris Rice - Past The Edges (9:57)]

Regional Congregations Network
Another article about rural churches.

[Listening to: Missin' You - Chris Rice - Past The Edges (9:57)]

The Rural Church: Its Future Challenges by Lance R. Barker
I am starting to list articles that deal with rural churches. Here's one that is interesting.

[Listening to: The Last Of The True Believers - Nanci Griffith - The Last Of The True Believers (2:53)]

eBay item 4146756343 (Ends Apr-28-04 15:37:01 PDT) - SIZE 12 WEDDING DRESS/GOWN NO RESERVE
This guy has gotten a lot of attention lately. This is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time! He needs to be a blogger!

[Listening to: Jesus Is For Losers - Steve Taylor - Squint (4:18)]

Leadership Network - Archives:

The New Sunbelt

Beyond the old north to south migration, Frey calls the New Sunbelt ?the American suburbs.? It has 13 states and while it contains only about 20% of the population, it includes the states growing the fastest by domestic migration. These areas are particularly growing in young adults and retiree populations. Also in this region, the fastest growing areas are suburbs, exurbs and smaller metro areas. States in the New Sunbelt include AZ, CO, DE, GA, ID, NC, NV, OR, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA...

Each region has different predominant characteristics. Don’t assume that an approach that works well in one region will work equally well in another.

New Sunbelt States
As Frey suggests, these states are the most “suburban” in mindset. Churches using the strategies pioneered over the last 20 years in suburbs could do well.


Additionally there is opportunity to plant churches targeting seekers, gen-x adults, and retirees.


An opportunity may exist to plant new churches in smaller metro areas. In many cases, the largest churches in smaller metro areas are relatively new churches.

Very interesting article. Find your region and think through the implications for you and your church.

[Listening to: Who Needs Sleep? - Barenaked Ladies - Stunt (3:44)]

The New York Times > Opinion > The President's Testimony:

The strangest of the president's conditions is that he will testify only in concert with Vice President Dick Cheney.

I don't understand what Bush is thinking on this one!

I am an independent. In many ways, like many postmoderns, my politics feel like they transcend the traditional categories of republican/democrate and liberal/conservative. One of my elders said he couldn't figure me out whether I am liberal or conservative. Cool. Keep 'em guessing and keep challenging them in the process.

[Listening to: The Finish Line - Steve Taylor - Squint (5:28)]

The New York Times > Technology > Circuits > Playing Catch-Up on the Console:

To topple Sony from its No. 1 position any time soon would be a 'titanic event, up there with the fishes and loaves on the all-time miracle list,' he said.

From the random biblical allusions file.

[Listening to: When I Believe It - Dogs of Peace - Speak (5:00)]

Found some fun plug-ins for posting what I am listening to on my blog. I'll play with it a few days and see how I like it.

[Listening to: Apple A Day - David Wilcox - Into The Mystery (3:40)]

From Final Gifts

Respond to anything you don't understand with gentle inquiries. "Can you tell me what's happening?" is sometimes a helpful way to initiate this kind of conversation. You might also try saying, "You seem different today. Can you tell me why?"

Pose questions in open-ended, encouraging terms. For example, if a dying person whose mother is long dead says, "My mother's waiting for me," turn that comment into a question: "Mother's waiting for you?" or "I'm so glad she's close to you. Can you tell me about it?"

Accept and validate what the dying person tells you. If he says, "I see a beautiful place!" say, "I'm so pleased. I can see that it makes you happy," or "I'm glad you're telling me this. I really want to understand what's happening to you. Can you tell me more?"

Don't argue or challenge. By saying something like, "You couldn't possibly have seen Mother, she's been dead for ten years," you could increase the dying person's frustration and isolation, and run the risk of putting an end to further attempts at communicating.

Remember that a dying person may employ images from life experiences like work or hobbies. A pilot may talk about getting ready to go for a flight; carry the metaphor forward: "Do you know when it leaves?" or "Is there anyone on the plane you know?" or "Is there anything I can do to help you get ready for takeoff?"

Be honest about having trouble understanding. One way is to say, "I think you're trying to tell me something important and I'm trying very hard, but I'm just not getting it. I'll keep on trying. Please don't give up on me."

Don't push. Let the dying control the breadth and depth of the conversation-they may not be able to put their experiences into words; insisting on more talk may frustrate or overwhelm them.

Avoid instilling a sense of failure in the dying person. If the information is garbled or the delivery impossibly vague, show that you appreciate the effort by saying, "I can see that this is hard for you; I can see you're getting tired/angry/frustrated. Would it be easier if we talked about this later?" or "Don't worry. We'll keep trying and maybe it will come."

If you don't know what to say, don't say anything. Sometimes the best response is simply to touch the dying person's hand, or smile and stroke his or her forehead. Touching gives the very important message, "I'm with you." Or you could say, "That's interesting, let me think about it."

Remember that sometimes the one dying picks an unlikely confidant. Dying people often try to communicate important information to someone who makes them feel safe-who won't get upset or be taken aback by such confidences. If you're an outsider chosen for this role, share the information as gently and completely as possible with the appropriate family members or friends. They may be more familiar with innuendos in a message because they know the person well.

This is a great book for anyone who works with dying people or if you have someone you love suffering from a terminal illness.

Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox:

How does God want us to deal with intimidating people?
2 Timothy 1:7 (Good News) gives us the answer: 'For the spirit that God has given us does not make us timid. Instead his spirit fills us with power, love, and self control.'
That's the way God wants you to deal with people. He wants you to deal with them in power (confidence), in love (focusing on their needs), and in self-control. God's Spirit doesn't make us timid. It doesn't turn us into weaklings.
The Phillips translation of this verse says, 'God has not given us the spirit of cowardice.' The Living Bible version says, 'God doesn't want you to be afraid of people.'
Yet, I know Christians all the time who unconsciously think, 'I have to be afraid of people in order to be spiritual. I just have to let people have their own way.' If you'll look at the Bible, you'll see that's not the case.
You won't please everyone. That's a fact. So stop trying! When those difficult people come along, hold your ground, pray for those who persecute you, and leave the rest to God.

In light of some difficult things going on recently in my ministry and our town, this is a very helpful article for me today!

In many ways, I wish I could be more open and transparent in this blog. Yet I am fearful. I am fearful of people. I pastor in a small town (pop. 2000) and word gets around quickly. Plus it is a very old school, modern mindset that doesn't welcome openness, struggle, journeying. Everyone would rather be seen as having it all together. So what if everyone discovered that the pastor doesn't have it all together? In fact you could read the same statement this way: So what if everyone discovered that the pastor doesn't have it all together!

The funny thing is, I seek to debunk this idea each week. Most Sunday's in my sermons, I put myself in my place. I think this is important in all communication and especially for church leaders. We need to be put in our place; fellow strugglers, fellow sinners, fellow humans. After all the church is the only organization that our membership is dependent upon our failure and our admission of that failure.

I think the emerging church understands this better than many modern churches. As the associate pastor at the church I grew up at used to say: "we're all bozos on this bus."

The New York Times > Opinion > Those Illegal Farm Subsidies
This is not going to be popular out here!

Yet the practice of farm subsidies is a huge problem and a very disturbing practice.

However, even with huge subsidies, farmers are regularly "going out of business" here in our county. We are in the midst of a severe drought and many farmers are unable to make a go any more. Here in Wray, there used to be a family farmer on every section. Now, most of those families are gone. The population of our town is aging and the entire town is in a slow decline.

So far we have been unable to bring some light manufacturing jobs to the area. Something is going to have to give.

The latest works
Cool optical illusions! Check it out.

Pointed to by Marc's Productivity Blog.

Our county has 25 churches in it. Our county's population is around 9700. Therefore, each of our churches in our county would need to have nearly 400 people attending for everyone in our county to go to church. Yet the largest church in our county can seat about 250-300.

I know church attendance isn't THE measurement for spiritual growth or spirituality. Yet I can't help but to feel a little discouraged by these statistics.

Especially sad is the amount of young people attending church. I recently read a statistic that 4% of those born after 1982 attend church. WOW! The writing is on the wall. Are we bothering to read it?

Tomorrow we will be going to Denver for a couple of days. I haven't had to put gas in my car since March 9! This small town living has its advantages!

The Executive Presbyter came out last week and met with me. We had a good visit. Yet it was discouraging in some ways. Our Presbyterian Church has 58 active members. We aren't experiencing many new faces either. Apparently, statistics show that churches like this will decline by 40% every decade.

My math is horrible but I think that means that in 10 years the membership will be down to 35 and in 20 years the membership will be down to 21! Ouch!

Maybe we aren't doing something right. Maybe our culture is changing. Maybe it's both!

4.20 We remember. God give us peace.

The New York Times > Science > Vast and Deadly Fleets May Yield Secrets at Last:

The Persian Wars may be famed in history, but few artifacts and material remains have emerged

The opening line from this article caught my eye this morning because I am currently working on a seminar discussing The DaVinci Code. One comment that always fascinates me is that the Bible is not a historically accurate document.

Now I know postmodern apologists (is there such a thing?) are not terribly concerned with the historicity of the Bible. This concern smacks of foundationalism. Yet at some point we must argue that there is some historical integerity to the Bible.

And the evidence for the historical reliability far out paces the evidence for the Persian Wars. Yet who would doubt the reality of the Persian Wars?

Rhythms of Contemplative Prayer
Great post and thoughts on contemplative prayer.

The New York Times > National > A Memorial for Columbine Hits a Snag:

Columbine will not hold classes on Tuesday, but parents who lost children will be allowed into the building as they have been on past anniversaries

Five years ago on Tuesday, I was a youth pastor at Centennial Community Church just a few miles from Columbine. Our youth program had 20 or so students who attended Columbine. I was attending Denver Seminary finishing my last semester on my MDiv. program when it happened.

The scene that day was surreal. And the impact of that dreadful day is unfathomable.

Fortunately, our church did not lose a single kid that day. But two churches on the same corner did. West Bowles Community Church is where Cassie Bernall went to church. Foothills Bible Church also lost a student in the massacre.

I am thankful that we didn't loose any kids that day. But I also know that many of them will be haunted by the memories from that day. One young girl from our youth group was in the room were Dave Sanders bled to death. Several others hid in the choir room until the SWAT team came in and rescued them several hours later.

At summer camp that year, several of the kids were running and playing, doing what high school kids do. I was outside talking to a girl who had survived Columbine hiding in the choir room. Then a group of kids came running out of the building chasing one another yelling and having a good time. The girl I was speaking to, fell to the ground. She was terrified. Kids running from a building screaming had triggered her memories of that day.

There are so many more stories I could tell. Waiting for kids at Leawood Elementary. The sheriff's announcement to the waiting parents that there are fatalities. The coroner asking parents to give a description of their child and to give them dental records. The feeling of leaving the school knowing that so many parents were going home knowing that their child lay dead in a high school building. So many stories from that day...

My prayers are with all of the survivors, their families, and the victim's families this week. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may he turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.