Category Archives: Theology Thoughts

I’m Being Interviewed by Sojourners Magazine!

It’s a miracle!! Someone ACTUALLY wants to hear my views!!!  I mean, come on, lets be real – most of you all read this blog out of guilt placed upon you by the editor (which is not me..really….I’m being serious here…the editor is a non-partisan, non-bias individual who’s main job is to get people to read this blog. Nothing more – well, except to apologize to those people the writer offends time to time…wait…I’m the writer and I’m offended!Surprised

Hmm – back to the main story folks…

Sojourners Magazine contact me for an interview – granted they tried to reach my pastor first…BUT he DID recommend me for the interview!! (which makes me wonder if he really knows me?)  NOdelete that remark.  Ok – truth be told, I’m in a really nutty mood and my fingers keep taking control of the keyboard. Undecided

If you are like me, the first thing you must be thinking is who in the world is “Sojourners Magazine”? and what kind of material do they publish? Well, according to my recently research, Sojourners Magazine is “a progressive Christian commentary on faith, politics and culture.”[@more@]
 
The magazine started in 1971 from a Christian commune under the name “The Post-American”. A few years later, both the magazine and commune changed it’s name to “Sojourners” as a connection back to the biblical metaphor identifying “God’s people as pilgrims-fully present in the world but committed to a different order-and reflects their broadening vision.” Anyone can get a magazine printed by using a company like Printivity. But for it to be successful for over 35 years, it’s got to be a very, very good one. Evidently this is the case with Sojourners Magazine.

As for my connection (notice that my mind has regained control?) to the magazine, they are looking to interview people with a passion for or involved with different types of social issues – and who are willing to talk about them. Maybe my pastor knew me too well after all?

In case you’re wondering, here are the interview questions I will answering this afternoon via phone:  

In the recent past, some evangelical Christians have focused primarily on two issues as singularly important in deciding how to vote in presidential elections: abortion and marriage. Recent polls indicate that many evangelicals are also concerned – and deeply involved – in other issues, including care for God’s creation, Darfur, the movement against human trafficking, poverty, and others.
 
What are the most important issues for you in the upcoming election? Are these different than the issues you might have named four or eight years ago? Why, as a Christian, do you consider each of these issues important?

Can you say: “How much trouble can Ardell get into?”  Tongue out

Meeting the Eastern Orthodox Church

On our journey to South America we stopped at a L.A. hotel for breakfast. As we sat there chatting I began to notice a whole bunch of long bearded, black robed guys wondering around… being a sharp minded genius, I picked up on the huge crosses dangling from their necks and figured out that they were members of a Christian church.  A mind like a steel trap – that’s what I have…Innocent

In my studies of Church history, one group has contentedly eluded me – yet they have also intrigued me. That group is none other then the Eastern Orthodox Church.

And as you might have guessed, the men at the L.A. hotel were priests in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Lord had given me an opportunity to learn more about this ancient church body – so I walked over to one of their tables and asked them if I could chat a bit. (no, really, I’m a very shy person!)

The conversation that followed was amazing! I found out that all three of the priests at the table I walked up to had converted to Orthodox Church from Prostantism. This background really helped me as we begin to discuss various theological points – mainly in that they understood where I was coming from and what I meant by certain words or comments. Overall we jumped right in and talked about salvation, the global church, church history, the Trinity, the Apocrypha, the way church services are preformed and the natures of Jesus. [@more@]

It was a fascinating morning!!  I learned a ton about the Orthodox Church – for example, they are the only “main stream” Christian church that has continued from the Apostles to today without breaking off from some other group. This is huge… and it makes me what to know more about them and their theology.

Think about it – Rome was the one who broke relationships with them, not the other way… there may be some other churches started by the Apostles that fall into the category, but I can’t think of any…

I remember reading some of the Nicene Fathers in VLI and enjoying their writings… they seemed to be more focused on the love of God and relationships then logic and justification (as Augustine, Rome, and the Western church was and is).  Maybe this was why I allowed the priests to give me five different books about the Orthodox Church’s practices and theology. Laughing

A Black Coffee Day

coffeeIf you look, you can tell my mood by what I drink or what shoes I have on. For example, when I’m feeling tired, wore out or otherwise miserable, I drink my coffee black. If I’m doing great or if I want to relax, then I drink some tea or coffee with cream and sugar.

Today was a black coffee day.

It begin with my truck not starting (dead battery) and continued through out the day. Not because it was a “bad” so to speak – it’s just that I’m tired. I kept waking up last night coughing up crap and basically not sleeping. Sigh. It seems that our entire team (well, the US team at least) is still having health issues. If you think of us, please drop a line upwards for the Man to heal our bodies.

On the good side, I had a wonderful Bible study last night with the men from Sweet. We just started reading through the book of Galatians – talk about returning at the right moment (last night was chapter one). Our “usual” M.O. is to read a chapter out loud and then discuss it. Sometimes (like last night) this discussion takes off into other areas as there are a few of us who enjoy a lively “discussion”.

[@more@]In the past we have only studied ‘historical’ books (parts of Samuel and Kings as well as Acts). This time we are studying Paul – which I think will prove to be interesting.

One of the guys had a commentary by Martin Luther… which was “interesting” to say the least. In case you don’t know, I’m not a fan of Luther (or Calvin for that matter). Yeah, Luther did some great things for God, but he also had some strange and, in my view, incorrect views (but that’s another topic).

The main point of this is that the guy who had the commentary made the comment that I better bring a commentary on Galatians next week – someone to balance out Luther’s views. Rising to the challenge, I ordered N.T. Wrights commentary today (it should be in on Thursday). I’m looking forward to seeing what Wright has to say as he is one of the best Kingdom Theologians out there today.

I also have a New Testament Theology book by George Ladd that I’m going to look at…. And I may have another commentary on Galatians from my Paul’s Letters class at LU. Hmm… I wonder were it would be?

The Pew Forum: U.S. Religious Landscape Survey

The Pew Forum just released their survey of the U.S. Religious Landscape today. It is a huge survey with over 35,000 Americans participating in the survey. The results are quite interesting…

A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. And almost the same number believes that there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion.

66% of Protestants, 79% of Catholics and 72% of Orthodox Christian believers in the U.S.A. believe the statement: “Many religions can lead to eternal life”. To drill down a little more, 57% of Evangelicals and 83% of Mainline Protestant churches agree to that statement. WOW!

Do you realize the significant of these numbers? A majority of people affiliated with the three major branches of Christianity do not agree with one of the foundational doctrines of the Church.

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

I understand that this is a hard saying. I mean, what happens to all the “good” folks down the street who do not believe in Jesus / God? Well, first off, I didn’t say it – Jesus did. So it’s He problem. Secondly, I do not think that being a following of Jesus Christ means being a “good Christian” according to the U.S. Bible belt view of “Christianity”. Shoot – I don’t even like the word “Christian” as it has a TON of baggage (but that’s another post). Tongue out

[@more@]What I mean is that in order to come to the Father (have eternal life, salvation, or whatever you want to call it) you must do so through the grace given to us by Jesus’ death on the cross. That’s it. Now, you may receive this grace in different ways – maybe through a dream, a vision, in the desert while tripping out on drugs, in a church building or at a seminary somewhere.

Where and how isn’t important – what’s important is WHO you know. If you know Jesus Christ as Lord and King, then your part of the global church. Period. No other religion is going to protect your soul.

The Pew Forum: U.S. Religious Landscape Survey

With that said, I guess I would have to agree with the second question asked by the Pew Forum “There is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion.” Yeah – there are certain teachings or truths that are foundational (like John 14:6), but then there are a lot of other teachers that are open to interpretation. Like the drinking of alcohol, baptizing by immersion or sprinkling, church government, or whether or not women can be pastors. These things do not affect one’s relationship with the Father and, actually, can be used to help people enjoy the relationship better.

On this point, I find myself with the majority of the Church in America (“Church” referring to all followers of Jesus/God as stated in the Apostles Creed) – 77% of Catholics, 68% of Orthodox and 64% of Protestants.

However, it is interesting to not that only 53% of Evangelical Churches agree with the statement that “There is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion.” This may reflex the growing trend of Dispensational Theology among Evangelicals as well as the “my church is better then your church” attitude of many Bible belt believers.

Tis a sad thing as I believe the different views or expressions of the Faith reflex different parts or views of the Father. I mean, come on – He's HUGE! He is not to be put into a small box and told He can only do certain things.. if you are upset about this view… well, get over it.

Speaking of interpreting the Bible literally:

Nearly two-thirds of the public (63%) takes the view that their faith’s sacred texts are the word of God. But those who believe Scripture represents the word of God are roughly evenly divided between those who say it should be interpreted literally, word for word (33%), and those who say it should not be taken literally (27%).

I would have to say that at this time, I fall into the 27% who say that it should not be taken literally. Now before you start branding me as a heretic, hear me out. There is a significant portion of the Bible that should be interpreted literally. However, I also think that there are parts that we have to sit back and say “what did this passage MEAN to it’s original audience”. God does not just make rules or does things with out meaning – as such, sometimes we need to look beyond the ‘black on the page’ and look for the ‘white on the page’.

Wow… this post turned out a lot different then when I started… and there’s so much more to share!!! Sigh

Maybe I will try to pick out some other tid bits from the survey and post them later on this week… we shall see what happens. Smile Either way, I would encourage you all to take a look at the Pew Forum and check out the new U.S. Religious Landscape Survey

The Apocrypha – Why did we get rid of them?

I’ve been confused lately… why, after 1,500 years, did we all of a sudden decided to drop the inter-testamental books from the Bible? It doesn’t make sense… at least not to me…

I’m confused. Undecided

Here’s what I know so far:

  • The Christian Bible included the inter-testamental books up until the Protestant Reformation in the 1500’s.
  • Martin Luther was the first person to move the inter-testamental books from the Old Testament into a separate selection called the “Apocrypha”.
  • Protestant Bibles included them in a “Apocrypha” section until around the 1820’s, when they stop appearing.

So why did Martin Luther decided that the inter-testamental books where no longer valid? I mean, the church used them for over 1,500 hundred years!!! Shoot, some of the books were used by True Believers longer then the writing of Paul.[@more@]

One of the arguments about the validity of the Bible is that God has kept it around despite plans to destroy all copies. As such, if God allows the inter-testamental books to survive as part of the Bible for over 1,800 years, what makes the last 200 years so important that we can thrown the inter-testamental books away?

I guess I should mention that I’ve heard it said that when St. Jerome translated the Vulgate he used the Masoretic or Hebrew text of the OT instead of the Septuagint or Greek text. Apparently the Masoretic text did not have the inter-testamental books listed why the Septuagint did. Still, St. Jerome included the inter-testamental books in the Vulgate…

I don’t know…

I just think that it is very, very strange that why the rest of Christendom uses the inter-testamental books, we Protestant don’t.  Why is that?

Currently the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox (Russian, Greek, Georgian, etc), and Oriental Orthodox Churches (Coptic Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Armenian Apostolic churches) all use the inter-testamental books as part of their canon. In addition, while the Anglican Church does not recognize the Apocryphal books as canon, they do use them liturgically.

Baptists Are Not Protestants

Did these get your attention? Well, it got mine as I was browsing the church history forums on The Puritan Board. The thread was started after a forum member read a similarly titled paper posted on the “Bibel Baptisten Gemeinde” (Bible Baptist Church) website in Darmstadt, Germany. It is from this German paper that I quote – not from the forum. (just so ya’ll know my sources…) Smile

The main argument against placing the Baptists among the Protestant movement is a historical one:

Protestants date from the sixteenth century. They are the Lutherans, the Reformed and others who were once Roman Catholics and left the Roman Catholic faith to start denominations of their own. The Baptists never left the Roman Catholic Church as did Luther, Calvin and Zwingli. They never left because they were never in. They did not begin their existence at the time of the Reformation but hundreds of years prior to the Reformation.

As you can tell, the author of this paper is defining the term “Protestants” as churches that came from the Roman Catholics during the Reformation. Under that definition, I would have to agree that the majority of the Baptist churches are not “Protestants” as they did not protest anything. [@more@]

This also brings up a good point that tends to get forgotten – mainly that there were other churches around besides the Roman Catholic Church. There was the Eastern Orthodox Church, which most folks remember, as well as the:

  • Coptic Church of Egypt
  • Armenia Church of Armenia
  • Georgian Church of Georgia
  • Church in Persia (Christianity reached India and China within the first two centuries)
  • African church (north-central Africa was home to a huge Christian population for several hundred years before tribal wars and drought destroyed the nations that housed the church)

Note: these churches trace their roots back the first century – some of which where started by members of the 12 Apostles.

In addition, there were several smaller churches that held as similar views as the Baptist (as listed in the German article):

  • Montanists (150 A.D.)
  • Novatians (240 A.D.)
  • Donatists (305 A.D.)
  • Paulicians (650 A.D.)
  • Albigenses (1022 A.D.)
  • Waldensians (1170 A.D.)

The article goes on to state that while Baptists share some common theological grounds with Protestants, there are six big differences:

  1. Baptists believe with all their hearts that God´s Word alone is sufficient for faith and practice. Various Protestant denomination have creeds, catechisms and assorted doctrinal standards. Baptists hold to the Bible alone.
    • [Ardell: I believe the author is talking about high churches as I know soem of them have creeds, catechisms and such. Honestly, I think some of them are good and should be used in the low churches – not has a means to salvation, but as a means to understand the work of the Lord through out the centuries. It is to our disgrace that we have thrown away the traditions and history of Christianity.]

  2. Baptists believe that Christ and only Christ is the head of the Church… There is no man who has the oversight of Baptist Churches. Baptists have no denomination in the sense of an organization that controls local congregations. Each local church is autonomous and accountable only to Christ, who is its Head.
    • [Ardell: Granted this is changing a bit among the lower churches since the beginning of the 1900’s – mostly notably among churches that came out of the Pentecostal, Charismatic and Jesus People movements.]


  3. Baptists believe in their hearts in a free church in a free state… Baptists are vigoriously opposed to union of state and church and believe that a state controlled church is a wretched excuse for Christianity and a plain departure from Scripture. All of the Protestant Reformers fastened state churches upon their followers!
    • [Ardell: The author does have a point… in fact, there are still parts of Europe that hold to state back Protestant churches. Ie. Germany – Lutheran; England – Anglican; Scotland – Presbyterian]


  4. Baptists believe strongly in the individual accountability to God… A priest cannot answer for you, a church cannot answer for you to God. God-parents cannot answer for you…No one is saved because of his identification with any religion….Protestants generally do not hold this Scriptural doctrine.
    • [Ardell: Again I believe the author is thinking mostly of the high churches. Most low churches tend to hold to this view of individual salvation.]


  5. Baptist people furthermore have always held to believer´s baptism. None of the Protestant Reformers held this Bible teaching…This obviously means that there is no infant baptism. since infants are incapable of repenting. No unbelievers are to be baptized. The Reformers followed Rome in their teaching of baptism.
    • [Ardell: It is interesting that most “Protestant” churches today hold to adult baptism….I guess the Anabaptist had a huge impact on the churches in the USA.]


  6. Baptists on the basis of Scripture have always held to a regenerate church membership, that is a membership that is made up only of people who give a credible profession of faith in Christ. In the Apostolic church only those who became believers, those who received the Word of God and who had repented of their sins, were baptized and received as church members (Acts 2:41). There was no automatic or formalistic membership in apostolic churches nor in Baptist churches today.
    • [Ardell: Vote with your feet. That was the moto of the 1960’s movement as folks rejected the stuffy membership based system in many high churches. This would be why most independent churches and/or movements that came out of the Jesus Movement don’t have formal memberships. Granted that is beginning to change a bit as those pastors find it hard to shepherd an unknown flock…]

All this makes you rethink your definition of Protestant doesn’t it?  Shoot – I used to define it as simply as churches who believed in salvation via faith not works. Yet, it looks like the formal definition is a lot different. Undecided

As such, I checked a few sources to see how they defined the term “Protestant”:

  • Wikipedia – encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation.
  • Dictionary.com – any Western Christian who is not an adherent of a Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Church; an adherent of any of those Christian bodies that separated from the Church of Rome during the Reformation, or of any group descended from them; (originally) any of the German princes who protested against the decision of the Diet of Speyer in 1529, which had denounced the Reformation.
  • About.com – The term Protestant is used to refer to any Christian group which developed from the Reformation.

It looks like everyone agrees that a true “Protestant” is one that developed out of the Reformation or from churches that developed then. Interesting… I’m going to have to rethink some of the ways I use that word. Shoot, I’m going to have to rethink the terms I use to describe myself!!  Tongue out

By the way, in writing this post, I discovered a thread on the Baptist Board discussing this same question (Are Baptist Protestants or not?). It seems that there is a disagreement about the Baptist as to their roots…  Undecided

Some folks on the forum hold to the view that they are not Protestants; others say they are; and still others say they are a mixture of Protestant and non-Protestant (ie. the Baptist church has mixed roots).

So, what’s your thoughts? Are Baptist Protestants?

How about your church? Is it Protestant or does it have roots from before the Reformation?

Tarshish or Caesarea?

Last night I gave my second sermon at the Sweet Vineyard church. This time we had quite the crowd – around 40 or so people. (and none of them walked out during the sermon!!!!)

The Pastor had asked me to talk a bit about world missions while giving the church an update on our upcoming trip to South America. As I prayed about the message, God gave me an interesting Biblical world mission’s connection that I normally don’t talk about… (normally when I talk about world missions, I do the whole “top line, bottom line” deal from Genesis to Revelation) Undecided

This time, I went straight for Jonah.

Note: the last “real” sermon before this one was about Acts 10 where Peter visits Cornelius’ home. It is interesting that both Peter and Jonah went to Joppa before going to the Gentiles…

Yelp – that little bitty book between Obadiah and Micah. I posted most of my sermon’s outline below just because. It’s missing some pieces as it is only there to “jog” my memory (and keep me on track).

West or North? When God comes calling we have two choices:

  1. Head West towards Tarshish and away from God
  2. Go North to Caesarea following the direction He gave you.

The choice is your. But know that if you go to Tarshish, there may be a storm or two in your path to force you back on track.

As far as the sermon it self, it went really good. I did get off track a time or two – the really interesting thing was that the sermon turned into quite the ‘turn or burn’ message as that’s what Jonah told the Ninevites. Undecided[@more@]

If you’re not a believer, you too have two choices:

  1. Repent and follow Him
  2. Keep doing what your doing

Neither one is easy. But if you follow Him, He will be there with you to ends of the world. He delights in setting free the captive, comforting those who morn, healing those who are hurt, and loving the unlovable – and you get to hand with Him for a long time!

Ok – maybe not a “real” ‘turn or burn’ message as I didn’t thump my Bible or jump up and down yelling. But I did give a clear gospel presentation and told the folks they had a choice. It fit – even though it wasn’t in my notes – it fix perfectly. Go God!! Laughing


Tarshish or Caesarea?

  1. Peter and Cornelius: revisited

1. Acts 10

1. Cornelius receives a vision from God and sends some servants to find Peter at Joppa

2. At the same time, God gives Petter a vision

3. When Cornelius’ servants showed up, Peter had a choice

1. Reject God’s word and go back home to Jerusalem

2. Accept God’s word and go to Caesarea

4. We know that Peter went to Caesarea and God moved

2. Acts 11

1. Peter had to explain his actions to the believers in Jerusalem

2. He told them that the Holy Spirit came and there was nothing he could do

  1. World Missions

1. These two passages are recognized as the beginning of Christianities movement from a mostly Jewish sect to a faith full of all types and kinds of people

1. ie. the Gentiles

2. Another familiar “missions” passage is Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

3. For lot of folks, these are the only two ‘world missions’ passages in the Bible

1. or at least main ones…

  1. Jonah

1. Let me tell you a story about another man of God who went to Joppa

2. We don’t know a lot about Jonah except that he lived around 800 BC

3. What we do know is told in the book of Jonah

1. it’s a small book between Obadiah and Micah

2. Only 4 chapters long

4. Let me give you a quick overview of the book

1. Jonah hears God

2. Runs to Joppa and catches a ship to Tarshish

1. Tarshish was the furthest know city in the Mediterranean Sea at that time

3. Along the way, a storm comes up

1. They are almost drowned

2. The sailors throw Jonah overboard

4. God sends a big fish to shallow him

5. Jonah repents

6. The fish spits him up on the beach

7. Jonah goes to Nineveh

1. A several day journey inland

2. He had plenty of time to think about what he was doing…

8. Jonah tells the people of Nineveh to repent

9. They do and God forgives them

5. Ok – now that we have an overview, lets look a little closer

  1. Why going to Nineveh was dumb:

1. Nineveh was the most feared country at the time (the city walls were covered with human skin)

1. You will be killed!

2. There where no temples or synagogues in Nineveh

1. In fact, there were no Jews in the city

3. According to the Mosaic convent, you had to

1. be Jewish or a convert thereof

2. be circumcised

3. bring a sacrifice to The Temple

1. There was only one, and it was in Jerusalem

  1. According to all the rules and thoughts of the time, no one in Nineveh could be saved

1. Jonah even thought God would destroy the city

2. Jonah 4

  1. Why going to Caesarea was dumb?

1. Cornelius was a gentile

2. According to the Mosaic convent, you had to

1. be Jewish or a convert thereof

2. be circumcised

3. bring a sacrifice to The Temple

1. There was only one, and it was in Jerusalem

  1. Sound familiar?

1. God likes to break our pre-connived notions about what Him can or cannot do

2. He forgave the people of Nineveh because they turned to Him and repented

1. It was a heart change

2. Just like Abraham

3. Both Jonah and Peter went to Joppa

1. the difference is that one of them ran west towards Tarshish

2. The other obeyed God and went North towards Caesarea

3. Both heard words from God that sounded dumb and stupid

1. The question is not if we will hear similar words

2. The questions is what we will do when we hear them?

  1. Modern Missions

1. Why going to Paraguay is dumb?

1. Cost too much

1. $10K to send four people for 3 weeks?

2. You could support a local pastor for years on that amount!!!

2. Can’t do anything in three weeks

3. language barrier

4. Your sucking the Paraguaian church dry!

1. They have to spend all their time on you instead of ministry

5. No long term change

2. Why we should go?

1. God said too

1. This is not a ‘cop-out’

2. Both Jonah and Peter knew they heard from God – they had no doubts..

2. Jonah

1. He changed a nation in three days!

2. The change lasted for years

3. Brother Andrew

1. He smuggled Bibles behind the Iron Curtain

2. Said: the biggest gift I gave the people was not the Bibles I carried, but the simply fact that I, a brother in Christ, carried enough to come and visit them.

3. Just showing up

  1. Vineyard Missions

1. Local Church Based Missions (LCBM)

2. Partnerships as a Key Strategy

3. Establishment of Church Planting Movements

4. Development and Release of National Leadership

5. Contextualization of Vineyard Values in Each Culture

  1. The Sweet Vineyard

1. Part of the Paraguay Partnership

2. We are joining with

1. the Vineyard Boise

2. Chilean churches

3. to support and encourage the pastor in Paraguay

30-40% of Churches Die per Year?

I just finished the third part of a three part sermon series from the Duluth Vineyard entitled The Three Marks of the Vineyard Church. I listened to it as part of my personal plan to branch out and hear more about what is happening around the country, especially with the Vineyard Movement.

Why the Vineyard Movement? Mainly because that is the movement God has placed me in at the moment and so I figured I should learn as much about them as possible. While I have been apart of a Vineyard church here in Idaho, it has been really cool to hear some of the other pastors and folks teach. Smile

So far I have been able to listen to sermons from South Africa; Duluth, MN; Wales, UK, Yorba Linda, CA; and Seattle, WA. I've downloaded some other from Canada and other states across the Union. (You got to love the internet!!)

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. [@more@]

During the Brenda Gatlin's third sermon, she mentioned that churches are dieing in the US at a rate of 30 to 40% a year!! That is huge!

While I was unable to find any reports online to back that up, I would lean towards that being a correct number. I know from past studies that most church plants fail within 3 years; pastors usually quite within 8 years and most churches have under a 100 attendees…

Seems like a doom and gloom paragraph… Undecided

All this makes me wonder if there is a better way to do "church" beyond the standard Sunday morning deal…

Of course, maybe it's because the Church as forgotten that it's suppose to be taking care of the poor, healing the sick, free the captives, giving hope to the hopeless, preaching the Kingdom of God and basically loving everyone – especially those who don't look or act like you do.

Praise the Lord for those churches who are doing the stuff. May they continue.

Review: Idaho Green Expo

Downtown Boise was a mess this weekend!!  Not only was the Idaho Green Expo going on, but next door (literally) Beth Moore was hosting an event.  Not to be left out, the area between the two events was hosting it's own function – ie. a farmers market.

This led to a shortage of parking spaces, tons of exhaust flumes and a multitude of people. The later was welcome while the former items were despised…

Overall, this was the BEST conference or expo we've ever attended! News reports have stated that over 15,000 people went through the Expo – many of whom we got to talk too.  In fact, I believe we talked to more people and sold more items then ever before!  Shoot, we had to print more Re:From brochures Sunday morning as we ran out!

Here are few stories from the Expo:[@more@]

1) The Love Justice & LTTG combo worked great! I talked to one presenter who kinda understood the environment side of our ministry, but could understand how the human injustice part fit in. This opened the door for me to share the heart of God. It was a God moment!

2) The t-shirts were a great conversation starter – one guy even chased down M and asked him where he got the shirt. That led into a wonderful opportunity for M to share a bit about about God and what the church is doing.

3) We had a lot of people come up to the booth who had heard of the Vineyard, but didn't know anything about it. As such, we were able to answer their questions about the church and put them at ease about visiting. Lord knows how many coffee cards we gave out!!! Laughing

Coffee cards = small brochures about the Vineyard Boise with a free espresso coupon. Yeah – we have an espresso bar in the church. It is the Northwest after all! Laughing

The Kingdom of Heaven was advanced this weekend! 

Thanks for all your prayers!!!

The Kingdom of God

In a previous post I mentioned that God has been taking me on a journey concerning the Kingdom of God. While I’m not quite ready to write down everything I’m learning (ie. I’m still sorting things out), I did want to highlight an amazing five part lecture series by Derek Morphew about the Kingdom of God

  1. The Prophetic Promise of the Kingdom (Part 1 & 2 combined)
  2. New Testament Coming of the Kingdom
  3. Sons of The Kingdom
  4. Bringing in The Kingdom

Morphew, as you may remember, is the author of the book Breakthrough as well as a theologian and director of the Vineyard Bible Institute in South Africa. In these lectures, he lays out the basics for Kingdom Theology in a very simple but in depth way.

I STRONGY recommend all five of these lectures
– you can download them now and listen to them later if you want. In fact, you can also download the Morphew’s Power Point presentation for each of the lectures.