Good day

Lots of good stuff happened today. The day started badly: the dog stepped in my coffee. She's old and blind, so it's not her fault, but she ruined a perfectly good cup of coffee. I preached okay, but not as well as I had hoped. After the service, I met all sorts of people I'd never met before. They've been coming out for two years and up. There are all kinds of people who are connected to others but who have never met me. I was excited to hear some of their stories. Then, today, I came home and read this from Brian:

I'm at the point where the church either needs to "die" or be reborn into what God had in mind. "This" can't be it.

I'm excited to read this. He blames me, but I just passed on what someone else passed on to me. Now we're both infectious. (Brian, if you haven't read The Present Future, you really should!) My brother called me contumacious today - someone who stubbornly refuses to conform or obey. (He should know. We both come from the same stock. Hello, Grandad!) Somebody should start a blog by that name. Not a bad badge to wear, if only for the right reasons. Update: I had a better day than this pastor.

Comments

[ed]

Eh buddy - as someone who has known you for a long time, 9.5 years short of a decade, worked with you for almost half of that time. I've really enjoyed sitting under your preaching the last while (not that it wasn't good, it was way beyond average before -however, it's just gone up a huge notch though) Yesterday was great - simply because it was honest and from the heart and spoke God's heart for his church - I think your disappointment probably comes from the fact that some of this stuff is stuff you're working through, what that does is it gives you less absolutes to work with, and when we don't have as many absolutes, somehow it makes us feel like the ground is less solid. Of course I can be off here - but I sat there, thanking God that you're having the guts to speak your heart - not always knowing where the chips may fall. This is dangerous stuff, press on in your contumacious way. I see this is giving you lots to talk about with Dave. Finally, I'd like to say I disagree with you on church planting. Here's what I mean, just because Paul did it one way, that doesn't make the only way, or even best way forever. Actually, I do think it's the best way, however, I think God is pleased any time a group of people say, let's do something and seek to reflect Jesus' heart for this community. I agree with Stanley, we don't need any more churches, but if we could get some churches out there with God's heart - then who cares how they start, for me it just matters that they do. Paul also went to the market place and just spoke to anyone who would listen. I'm not sure going to Bloor and Yonge and standing on a box and sharing the Gospel is the most effective way to reach people today. But what do I know? Anyway bud, Press on, if all people walked away with yesterday was that they've been called to follow Jesus and that our call is no greater than theirs - I think that's cool! Press on!

[ed]

that was 1.5 years short of a decade.

[Darryl]

I just posted at http://www.DyingChurch.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.DyingChurch.com/ with a quote from McNeal on church planting - he says it better than I can.