This is in relation to email.
I can’t remember whose idea it was, but I like it. The idea is that you deal with every email as you hit it rather than reading and then coming back to it.
I have adopted this policy courtesy of my friend Jeff in Thailand and it is certainly a great way of dealing with the daily flood.
I used to let stuff sit in the Inbox. Now its dealt with and outa there!
For the last three weeks we have been discussing James chapter 1 & 2 as well as listening to Mark Sayers give his talk on hyper-reality / consumerism. Over the three weeks some themes have emerged and we have taken a bit of time to delve into them.
Next week we are scheduled for James 3.
Problem.
I don’t believe we have really come to grips with what we have been thinking on over the last three weeks. It stirred us, but I am not sure if we have acted on it, or if it has moved from our heads to our hearts and subsequently to some kind of implementation.
To move on now will only serve to make the last 3 weeks an academic exercise where we feel like we have lived as disciples because we have talked about issues of discipleship. I think this is what happened many time when I was preaching. Because I had said it, I assumed people would act on it. Most often I reckon people heard it, considered it, but maybe didn’t tussle with it enough to evoke heartfelt action. I reckon we rarely move from thought to action on difficult issues unless we have had time to really grapple with them and engage with others who will support us along the way.
So until we really come to grips with the questions we have been chewing around I reckon its time to pitch camp and challenge one another to ask what our action will look like. That can happen in a number of ways of course and I might reflect on what we do at some point.
One thing’s for sure. I am tired of allowing academic discipleship to exist in the church. I reckon its one downfall of the weekly Sunday sermon. New info every week eventually means that a whole heap of stuff goes thru to the keeper because we just can’t live out all that we hear. It is an information overload rather than a genuine learning experience.
Maybe we need one sermon a month and 3 weeks of deciding how we will live it out?
That works easily with a smaller group like us, but it might be hard on guys who have 150 people coming each week some of whom don’t actually want to live it out.
It could be a good way to sort the sheep from the goats? You can’t come and hide in the back row. You must engage with others and decide how you are going to live this stuff we are talking about.black cauldron the movie watch confetti in divx
Had dinner again tonight with my mate Owen. We try to catch up every Wednesday. We spent a lot of time tonight talking about what makes a true follower of Jesus.
This came in on the ‘reframe’ list just a few minutes back. What do you think?
After thinking and chatting with mates, here’s my question; you reckon if we basically facilitate mediocrity (makes Him puke) in the church, and don’t emphatically bring attention to what Jesus says in Mat25 (feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit those in jail”) that we are basically facilitating a road to hell? I know it’s pretty scary, but you think it’s true? I know most pastors probably love God, are great guys, and would be devastated to get to judgment day to have Jesus say, sorry, but you didn’t complete the actual assignment (even though the singing was nice).
I wonder whether God would like things to become really uncomfortable for those of us who like to dwell in mediocrity – if we leave, then there’ll be room for new people who are desperate for God’s love” we could go bury the dead, while others actively follow Him!
Hmm” It’s a tough call” but then, I don’t reckon Jesus would be invited back to too many churches for a second preach…
Owen
Hmmm… what’s your point O?…