It's funny how many ways there are to skin a cat, or in my case, to do ministry. Take "Kingdom Growth" A church can build bigger facilities and maintain a fairly traditional format (i.e. Sunday School, Worship at 11am Sunday). A church can expand but change things up like implementing small groups that meet in homes. A church can multiply itself, taking the growth and letting it spill over into new church plants. Etc. Even within these models, there are various styles of evangelism, preaching, missions, worship, fellowship, discipleship, etc. What if your church gives an invitation and mine doesn't? What if you're a Calvinist but I'm Arminian? Ooooh, here's a good one: What if you're Methodist, he's Presbyterian, I'm Nondenominational, and little Timmy is Baptist?

Throughout life I've always had a tendency to categorize things into "this is right and this is wrong." Don't get me wrong, I believe in absolute moral truths, but I think this is one area where I can say (and yes I think the southerner in my is starting to show), "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Yes, we can always be evaluating what we're doing to make sure we are doing God's will effectively, but small groups may work in one setting and not in another. A rock band on stage may be a really great idea at one church, but a really, really bad idea for another church. As long as we make disciples, I am content.

Your thoughts? How far can this be taken? How far is to far? If I could tell stories and give wonderful examples like Ed Stetzer would maybe this would be more profound or at least interesting. :)

In Trouble?

Budget cuts. That’s what I think about nowadays when I think of the mission entities in the SBC. The economic situation in our country has left nothing untouched. As I was listening to the report of a mission trip to Uganda by one family in the church we visited today, they reported a decrease in health care benefits for our missionaries and their families. Our missionaries are receiving less money to hire local help and less for ministry opportunities in their assigned areas. These concerns strike me even more so when I remember the optimism of the IMB a few years back. Their desire was to reach every people group on Earth.

The sermon that followed immediately though was on a passage of Scripture that speaks of God’s blessings on those who are faithful to Him. I personally have not been able to give as much beyond our regular tithe as I’d like to. While we as Christians must continually make sacrifices and give to support these causes, what God’s Spirit through this sermon showed me today was that we must continue to trust that He will continue to bless our efforts. Prayer is much more powerful and effective than any financial gifts we can give. God is still in control, and He provides so that His people can do His work. Prayer can accomplish much and, unlike money, our access to the throne of God is unlimited. Please continue to pray for the missionary efforts of the IMB, NAMB, and other missionaries around the world.

One Month

Yesterday was one month since we moved to New Orleans (Metairie), LA. So I thought I’d give a quick recap of the past month. It does seem like we’ve been here for a lot longer than we have, and it already feels like home. God has truly blessed Rachel and I in many different ways.

Since moving we’ve made a jillion u-turns, I’ve read 150-200 pages, we’ve made tons of friends, I’ve picked up my guitar again quite a few times, Rachel’s been interviewed 6 times and offered the job each time, I’ve started blogging pretty regularly and have become a more active tweeter, we’ve ate at Short Stop thrice, Rachel’s read 3 books!, we’ve ate at Café du Monde twice, I’ve lead worship two times, we’ve been to one professional football game, we’ve signed a church leadership covenant, and I’ve been hired.

As always, let us know how you’re all doing! God bless.

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Quote from John Ortberg's The Life You've Always Wanted:

"I suspect that if someone had asked the apostle Paul or the apostle John about his spiritual life, his first question would have been, 'Am I growing in love for God and people?' The real issue is what kind of people we are becoming. Practices such as reading Scripture and praying are important-not because they prove how spiritual we are-but because God can use them to lead us into life."

Status Update

Seminary is going well. Rachel and I have gotten pretty involved with a new church plant here called Crescent City Rock. We’re really excited about the opportunities there. They currently have two cell groups and we will be helping out with the newest one on Tuesday nights. Rachel will help with the kids and I will be leading the adults every now and then. Please pray for Crescent City Rock (CCR, lol). We are hoping to start preview services soon with our official launch date being Easter, 2010.

In pondering about church planting, I am starting to see church planters as modern day Pauls who start churches in one place, local mature Christians become the leaders of the church, and the Pauls go onto the next city. So, right now, I’m not planning to stay with this church forever, but I’m not the church planter. I’m helping a new church start. Am I a modern day Barnabas?  Perhaps that comparison goes even better for Jim’s (church planter) family who move around with him and help out, or even a girl named Trish at the seminary. She was saved at Jim’s church plant in Oregon and is now helping Jim start this church. (Maybe a Timothy? Or was it Titus who was saved through Paul’s missionary journey and then joined up for awhile? Of course, Timothy later became the pastor of the church at Ephesus.)

Rachel is still looking for a full-time job so please pray for her. She has a job interview tomorrow!

To all my GA folks (and in TX), know you are terribly missed! Please let us know how you all are doing by commenting, calling, or emailing us.

(Post entirely written during Encountering the Biblical World, aka Archeology.)

Update

Status Update

We have afternoon showers like we did at good ol' BPC here. They're short but using occur mid-afternoon which makes traffic horrible to drive in, especially on the roads near us. There is always some traffic on Causeway and Veterans. Check out the section below!

Rachel and I are pretty settled in at this point. Some boxes still need to be unpacked, but a lot of other things that needed to fall into place when we got here have, and God has blessed us more than we can imagine! In the past ten days (since our arrival), Rachel has found 2 temporary places to work at while trying to find a full-time job and has two interviews at the school on Monday! As for me, well, God has truly been amazing! I got accepted to the school, went through an all day orientation, registered for classes, interviewed for a part-time job less than five minutes from where I work, and was hired on the spot! Not to mention that we have had so much help from our friend Don McClelon and his whole family moving into our apartment. Financial Aid is actually friendly and helpful here.

Thank you so much for all of you who have prayed for us. Your prayers have definitely been heard! Tell anyone you know that God will take care of those who step out on faith in order to follow His will.

Classes I’m taking: Systematic Theology 1, Baptist Heritage, History of Christianity in America, Encountering the Biblical World, Spiritual Formations 1, and The Cooperative Program. Classes start Monday!