Definition of Church Culture

Missional Thoughts and Encouragement

Missional: we are sent into the world to be a blessing by pointing people to Jesus.

A key to being missional as a community is to evaluate how our church culture reflects Jesus. Alan J. Roxburgh says in his book The Missional Leader, "The culture of a congregation is how it views itself in relationship to the community, the values that shape how it does things, expectations of one another and of its leaders, unspoken codes about why it exists and whom it serves, how it reads Scripture, and how it forms a community".

These are worthy thoughts to ponder about your particular local church community; especially since we all need to be praying (not just the leaders) for Jesus' direction and will for His body (Ephesians 4).

A question about keeping an eternal perspective

If we lived in the assurance that life eternal was already our's, would it make a difference in our daily existence?

Good to be Back

OK with the Earhart’s listing this blog on their website (www.theearharts.com) as a favorite link I had better get off my but(ler) and post something!

So here’s a thought…this Sunday I’m going to start a quick summer sermon series on 1 John. Inspired by conversations with Bob, Dottie and Deedra Bingham about encountering Jesus we’ll settle into all the great Christology in 1 John and how that theology (and the applications of loving one another) can only be experienced in the PERSON of Jesus.

That focus will be seen in each passage, as the theme verse sets the tone for the whole book, 1.3 “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

So start reading and posting, I will if you will!

Also, our church’s initial web page is up at www.windborn.org. We are hoping to have a supped up version soon with lots of good cyber community stuff.

Vote 2006

It is far to easy to get sucked into politics! There is something to the pull of possible institutional change to protect the lives of the unborn, promote social justice, stand up for marriage and taking care of the “least of these”. But our hope is not in government or governance.

When I read the papers today there are several back page articles about the religious right and how church people voted. One gets the idea that influencing government is the main focus of religious voters—and I hear no Christians correcting the line of thinking.

Jesus is our focus. Jesus is what is most important. Jesus is our hope. Jesus is our joy. Jesus is our main priority, the key thought on our minds, that main point of our conversation, the receiver of our devotion. Jesus is the direction of our energy because only Jesus can truly influence people—not government.

Why is this such a novel concept? Why is the religious right know by being anti-gay marriage and pro-life and not known by JESUS?!?

Aim At Christ

I stole this right off Gary Friesen’s blog…but thought it had some good thoughts.

Friesen Fortnightly

Sunday July 9 2006

Paul's Bullseye

Dear Family & Friends,
It is always a privilege to speak at Imago Dei Community and today was no exception. We are going through Romans and my portion was 13:8-14. The Big Idea: We owe a debt of love right now to be the hands of feet of Jesus in Portland. Paul says to owe nobody nothin, but to love your neighbor. Such love fulfills all the commands toward our neighbor (8-10). It is urgent. For Paul says the night of this present age is well-spent and the day of Christ's coming gets nearer every day. So now is the time to wake up, and put on the armor of light. This eye on eternity will prepare us for today. (11-12). Finally, he urges us to act like the future day has broken into the present and put away drunkenness and sexual immorality. This process can best be described as putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14). We get things backwards. Aim at Law and get guilt. Aim at today and it will pass away. Aim at purity and fall short. Paul gets the order right. Aim at Love and get the Law thrown in. Aim at Eternity and get the present thrown in. Aim at Christ and get purity thrown in.

Garry