New Blog Space
I’ve joined the Myspace revolution!
I’ve shifted my blog writing/posting to http://blog.myspace.com/jeff_strong.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Should we babysit the unfruitful?
From resonate.ca’s weblog:
One of the more interesting and potentially controversial sections in Cole’s “Organic Church” occurs in chapter 5, “Kingdom 101: What you sow you will reap.”
Neil talks relates Jesus parable of the seed and the sower, noting the four types of soil. He focuses on the fourth type of soil, the good soil. Neil relates that “I have now come to expect two thirds of those who accept the message to fizzle out and not bear fruit.. This has given me hope. Why? Because ..If only two bear fruit, I no longer babysit the unfruitful eight. Instead, I invest my life in the two. These two will bear much fruit.” (69)
It sounds harsh. But what have been the impact on churches full of unfruitful “disciples?” We are forced to spend much of our energy and resources on trying to keep these people happy. By and large they are not there to contribute but to be served. In other words, they think ministry is for them instead of by them to the world. Jesus and religion are just another spoke on the busy wheel of their lives, and not the transforming center. Neil continues,
“Because we think that the number of people is a sure sign of fruitfulness and success, we do everything we can to keep people. We try to woo them to keep coming. What we end up with is an audience of consumers.. we compromise and keep the bad soil in our membership..”
Of course, this is even more convoluted when our jobs depend on the crowds.. and the mortgage has to be paid.. Neil recommends we rehear Jesus on this issue.. and rehear his call to “shake the dust from our feet” when the good news does not take root in soil and produce fruit.
Monday, April 3, 2006
CrossCulture
Last Saturday over 100 high school and university students came together for the first CrossCulture event. It was an event designed to link worship with service and vice versa. Beginning at the FRWY cafe in Hamilton Saturday morning, individuals were broken up into work teams and assigned different service tasks for the day ranging from food preparation for mission services Hamilton to garbage pick-up in city parks.
It was a pretty phenomenal event and even drew the CH camera crews out (they even interview some Grindstone students!).
Another CrossCulture will definitely be happneing, but probably not until the fall of 2006.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
A New Kind of Christian
I spent some time over lunch with a friend who is about half-way through A NEW KIND OF CHRISTIAN by Brian MacLaren.
It was nostalgic and inspiring as his relief/excitement/confusion/anxiety upon “discovering” the post-modern shift brought me back to my first year of Redeemer when it was introduced to me in a worldview class.
He had a lot of questions (most of them were ones I still have…) and over lunch it was clear that God had started something unique in this person’s life.
My concluding counsel at the close of our time together was: “you’re now falling down the rabbit hole…it’s exciting and scary at the same time; disturbing and comforting at once. Enjoy the free-fall.”
Thank you God for moments that come to us as gifts, reminding us of our calling.
ENCARNA CD
I am in the process of listening (start to finish) to the CD Andrew and I put together for December’s ENCARNA event.
It is still powerful and haunting and gives me chills with each track.
For anyone who attended ENCARNA, I’d be willing to burn you a copy. Just email me at jstrong@grindstonechurch.com.
Jeff
Thursday, March 9, 2006
The irony is thick and rich…
BHAHAHAHA.
Amazing.
Check out who will be speaking at Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit 2006: http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/speakers.asp
Maybe if “postmodern” leaders like Pernell (see blog entry below) weren’t so intent on ridiculing “modern” church leaders like Hybels they could gain the influence that he has to engage the people they only wish they could.
Now…anyone want to take guess how many dyed-in-the-whool emergents will make an “exception” to their anti-modern church commitment and attend LS 2006 this year? I can think of one person who might…
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Is Gravity in Jeopardy?
Evangelical scientists refute gravity with new “Intelligent Falling” theory:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512
:) Amazing
Monday, February 20, 2006
Holy Ghost Enema?
Wow…I didn’t think this was possible! Those charismatics have the most fascinating metaphors….
Check out Benny Hinn’s wife’s moment of “spiritual clarity” at http://www.beliefnet.com/story/3/story_317_1.html
Monday, February 13, 2006
Bono and the National Prayer Breakfast
Here is a link to the full mp3 audio of Bono’s address at the recent White House prayer breakfast in Washington. I heard some of the speech on CBC radio, but it was nice to hear the whole thing (and interesting to note what soundbytes the CBC decided to edit out of their modified presentation of Bono’s address).
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/bononationalprayerbreakfast.htm
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Staff Retreat
Went off to Crieff Hills Resort and spent two days with our team as part of our yearly staff retreat. What an amazing time: discussion, prayer, planning, monopoly (I won!). I am certainly blessed to work with the people I do and am so grateful to Dave and our elders board who make Grindstone so great!
