The Three Strand Cord

prodigal

2009-01-06T08:33:00.001-05:00

Why did the prodigal's father let him leave?
Why did he not go after him?

Election in a Christian Family

2009-01-03T10:10:00.002-05:00

A recent incident in my own family has got me thinking about this idea of how Christian families automatically assume that their entire family will be part of the elect. Many of them "make a decision" at a very young age (4 or 5) and then grow up in the bubble of christianity. They go to church, sunday school, youth group, have all christian friends. So what happens when they get older and decide to reject everything they have been taught? How much effort should be given towards winning them back? For how long? Until they are 18 years old? Is it worse to have them consider/call themselves a christian and yet live with obvious sin in their lives or would it be better for them to forgo the label of christian? Are we wasting our time if she is not one of the elect?

Why Santa is an antiChrist

2008-12-25T08:30:00.002-05:00

Christmas is not a christian holiday. Or more accurately Christmas was not origionally a christian holiday. There are many historical theories as to the origions of the celebration that has come to be known as Christmas, none of which are christian. One of the oldschool popes created a special mass on Dec. 25th to celebrate Christ's birth (probably because the pagans seemed to be having to much fun in their celebrations during a dreary time of year). So should we not celebrate Christ's birth at this time of year? God forbid! The danger is the same for us today as it was for the church in Corinth where Paul warned the believers to beware of mixing their religious celebrations with the pagan festivals 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 and by doing that they created a distraction from Christ.

Santa Claus is a prime example. Think about him right now. Think about what he claims to be. I will help you, sing the song "Santa Claus is coming to town" in your head (or outloud if you prefer). Santa claims to be all-knowing --only God is that. Santa claims to be everywhere at the same time --only God can do that.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Just think about it. Do you think it is a coincidence that santa and satan are spelled with the same letters rearranged?

What happens when your child finds out that santa is only a fairy tale? They also assume that Jesus Christ is also a fairy tale because like santa, you must believe that He exists even though you can't see Him.

OK I said that I wouldn't go on.

Lets not waste our efforts trying to "take back" a holiday that wasn't ours to begin with. Let's focus our efforts on clebrating the fact that God loved us so much that He gave us the biggest, best, most expensive, most wonderful gift in the universe, Himself! Merry Christmas!

The Church Model

2008-10-07T10:33:00.003-04:00

Guys, what model should the church follow:

a. armory/fortress
b. hospital/triage
c. school/classroom
d. clubhouse
e. other (your choice)

Please explain which one you picked and why. Then I will ask another follow-up question with regard to our interaction with people (specifically divorced people).

Ayn Rand --Objectivism

2008-04-28T11:10:00.005-04:00

I have a young man in my youth group who is intersted in this 20th century philosopher and her work. Anybody have any feedback regarding Ayn Rand and her way of thinking?

video of an interview with Phil Donahue

An Ayn Rand Lexicon

free will

2008-02-24T16:16:00.001-05:00

Did Jesus have a free will? a sin nature? please use scripture to support your answers.

Is Fasting for today?

2008-02-22T08:52:00.000-05:00

Should the new testament church be fasting?

Meet the Parises

2008-01-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

Have you guys seen "meet the Robinson's"? We saw it last night and all I could think of the whole time was-- Scott Paris.

What do you do with this?

2008-01-08T23:08:00.000-05:00

Just had a conversation with a friend who is trying to minister to a man in his church. As the man has expressed interest in joining the church, he asks my friend "do you know my story"? When the "story" comes out, this man who has been saved and baptized had an operation to change her anatomical construction into that of a man. What would you do as a leader of this church as you discover these details of the past?

BTW- this man has exressed sorrow and repentance over having this operation, is not pro-transgender or pro-homosexuality. He has said that his counsel to other people and his own worldview is now squarely on the basis of the Scripture.

PS -- I believe that this situation is in the same "family" of situations as ministry to a convicted sex offender in your congregation.

What Does God Want from Me?

2008-01-03T16:21:00.000-05:00

"Could it be that for an hour, a day, a week, or even a year, God might have something more important for us to accomplish than just ticking off more steps towards the fulfillment of our goals?"

Life's Ultimate To Be List, p. 23

Worship

2007-12-29T10:05:00.000-05:00

NSFW in a GARBC church

Do you think I need tolerance training?

2007-12-29T09:11:00.000-05:00

Guys,

I have been posting to a conversation that went on with a postmodernist non-religious or at least non-churched person. The conversation was very flat with very little response to the arguments given in response to the rants against the church. Unfortunately, this is often the case with people who are angry at "church/religion/God"--they have stopped listening.

One posted response though was especially good. It was never responded to in its original context, but I wonder if you might field some of this guys questions or even go and post some conversation with Paul and his friend Patrick.

Patrick was railing against the fact that the church seemed to him to be exclusionistic. Here is Jeff's response:

What exactly is the definition of exclusion? Is exclusion the opposite of inclusion? Is inclusion universal because of the work of Christ? Do we sometimes try to interpret the teachings of Christ through our own definition of “righteousness?” Does God draw lines that demarcate inclusion and/or exclusion? Just how serious is God’s command to live without sin, and what defines sin? Can sin be quantified and qualified through tangible-visible manifestations? How do we respond to the answers to these questions…and what does the response look like?

I would love to be able to generate some discussion along these lines here. And maybe even send them along to Patrick. Or better yet, you could do that yourself!!

Thou shall not kill

2007-12-28T06:52:00.000-05:00

How can God command His people to not kill in the 10 commandments and yet require them to wipe out entire populations? Seems like a contridiction.

The sovereignty of God

2007-12-19T07:55:00.000-05:00

http://www.slide.com/r/nDVj7oqYxD-1P7b5V7ZVitBf-w0sQms6

Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

What are you thankful for and why?

The Results Are In....

2007-10-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

What a day.... Up before the day started (James had to be at school to catch the bus at 5:45), two hour drive to ROC, 10.5 minutes of excitement, 2 hour drive home. James finished 128th. That doesn't sound very exciting until you know how many kids ran in his class. The field looked like the great land rush or something.

The Field - yes, those are all runners (each team only has one starting lane so some teams are 6 or 8 runners deep)

128th - Nice Job James!

Why Does James Run XC? - He says it's because he likes to run.... I'd say Madison and Faith talked him into it!

Run James, Run!

2007-09-26T09:19:00.000-04:00

OK. Since I've got about ten e-mail addresses for both of you and I can't remember which ones you check regularly, I'm posting this informational message here in hopes that you'll read it here quicker than if I sent via e-mail....

What: James running modified Cross Country
When: Saturday Sept 29th (his race begins @9:35)
Where: 43rd Annual McQuaid Invitational (Genesee Valley Park)
Why: I have no idea why he likes to run.....

Come on out and support the fam. Maybe we could have lunch and visit the Strong Museum afterwards? Let me know if you're interested.

P.S. Todd, I'm still thinking on your questions...i'll answer soon.

Directions

New topics (controversial)

2007-09-24T09:12:00.000-04:00

Ok actually there are two. I get to experience them first, but you guys aren't far behind. Please respond with a biblical reference where applicable.

1. Rachel came home with a permission slip to watch the movie Gladiator (R) in her SS class. How would you respond and why?

2. Would you allow your child go to school dances? What about the prom/formal? Are there any difference? Why or why not?

3. ok there are three-- What about cheerleading? Would you allow your daughter to be a cheerleader? (Thad, why?)

4. Ok, Ok this is the last one I swear. Would you allow your child ride to school with a new driver? why or why not?

Now for a limited time 0% interest, no $ down, low monthly payments of $325

2007-08-29T07:24:00.000-04:00

What is wrong with people? Why are people so unwilling to commit to give $ on a monthly basis? They seem eager to give to one-time causes ala building fund or emergency needs etc. but seem hesitant to commit to be a regular monthly supporter. The commit to make monthly payments for a cell phone, a car payment, a mortgage, dish network etc. Why not for the LORD's work?

Spiritual Gifts (ala Gangel)

2007-07-12T11:36:00.000-04:00

I am not sure if the issue of spiritual gifts is on Todd's list of controversial conversation starters or not. If we throw the sign gifts, or Da Gifts as the boys over at PyroManiacs like to refer to them as, they might be. If you are interested, ask about the tongues issue that we discussed at two Sunday nights ago at our evening service. It made me check for my nitroglycerin patch! :) These probably will not have the same effect, but interact with these definitions. [Note: all quotes come from K.Gangel's book, Coaching Ministry Teams]

"Spiritual gifts are probably not ready-made abilities to perform, but rather capacities for service that must be developed." p.17

"All gifts represent supernatural levels of more common ministries." p.19

"Edification is the purpose, unity is the context, and love is the controlling principle or attitude for the proper exercise of spiritual gifts." p. 17

Remember, 1/2 of theology is defining your terms, the other 1/2 is defending your definitions (thx Dr. Stallard)!

Copied from Shaun's Blog

2007-06-18T08:35:00.000-04:00

Spin (Softening Words)

Is it a favor if you remind me you did it?
Is it free if you want something from me in exchange?
Is it mercy if you want attention for it?
Is it less honest and hurtful if I’m “just teasing?”
Is it less hot if we call it climate change?
Is it less vulgar if we call it mature?
Is it healthy because you call it “fortified” or “enriched?”
Is it less of a religion if we call it a relationship?

We play with words don’t we? Marketing permeates everything. Spin has seeped into every aspect of our lives. Is this such a bad thing if we all know to look behind the words for the real truth? Or is it dishonest even if those we communicate with know our words aren’t telling the whole story? Does the perception of the listener/reader determine whether our language, our twist on the truth, is moral?

Check out Shaun's Blog

Happy Birthday THAD!

2007-06-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

Today is the day! Celebrate by sending Thad an emerging birthday card! :)
Happy Birthday Bro! You must be breaking into the 3's by now!

with much love,
Mike

Happy Belated Birthday...

2007-06-08T09:21:00.001-04:00

Mike,
I just realized that today is June 8th.....which means that your birthday was three days ago.... Sorry I missed it....again. I hope that you had a great almost 40th b-day!

Book review- not really

2007-06-05T14:47:00.000-04:00

I have been reading the book Stories of Emergence compilled by Yoconelli. Last nights chapter was interesting. It was written by Brad Cecil. That may not be significant to you, but it is for me. I had Brad's daughter Bethany, as an AWA camper back in 98. Bethany is the grandaughter of Harry Bollback. Brad left Word of Life while at Dallas theological cemetary and started Axxess, an emerging church.

A good quote from Brad's chapter: "We have turned God into a consumer comodity, and religious leaders are the vendors. My sincere prayer is that the postmodern transition will cause a reformation in North American Christianity and that we will learn a new expression of Christianity to present to the world--a simple, humble, relational expression, people sharing life together, rocognizing our limitations, and living in faith."

Masturbation-- Sin? or normal?

2007-05-29T08:20:00.000-04:00

A recent article on John Piper's site re: masturbation and missions got me thinking about my stand on it. Do you agree with Piper or James Dobson? What does the Bible say regarding it? Is it normal?

It's Not All About You

2007-05-22T10:55:00.000-04:00

How do we train a ministry team to be self-sacrificial or service oriented? I am working on a lesson for the teen ministry team for tomorrow. I am really trying to get over the hump of "I want to go to camp and hang out with my friends".

What key texts would you go to?
What learning initiatives would you use?
What images or illustrations would teach these truths best?
What homework practical applications would you like to send them home with?

Objectives:
K: Ministry requires ministers to seek the good of others, considering others better than themselves -- like Christ did.
F: Selfless in ministry opportunities; Content to allow God to meet the needs/desires of their hearts.
D: Minister with a Christocentricity that causes incarnational ministry to happen.

Help a brother out here! :)
Mike

the emergent church

2007-05-16T14:27:00.000-04:00

What exactly is this "emergent church" thing all about? I think that I might be a part of it with out even knowing it?

I have always been a christian

2007-05-14T08:10:00.001-04:00

How important is it that one remembers a specific date/time of conversion? Is it possible to be born in a christian family, be in church from day one and slowly come to an understanding and never reject Christ?

Bodies The Exhibition

2007-04-30T15:34:00.000-04:00

What are your impressions about using human cadaevers for educational purposes?

Justified by works?

2007-04-30T13:26:00.000-04:00

James 2:24 NASB You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

? Is this a contradiction of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:9 ...not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.??

How can this be?

Back to Basic - Christian Boot Camp

2007-04-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

A discussion was started over on the intellectually stimulating, mind blowing, best blog in the universe regarding spiritual basic training. Getting back to the basics of the Christian life....

Dad mentions his ideas of the Christian basics as well as a series that may or may not have existed several years (OK, decades) ago... We have been on a similar focus throughout this year in our Club 678 group.

If you were a drill instructor at Camp Fishers of Men, what disciplines, skills, knowledge, etc... would you instill in your young recruits? What are the "essentials" of being a Christian? Why do we believe what we believe?

A storefront youth room!??

2007-04-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

I just read about a church that has their youth group meetings in a storefront in a mall! I think that is the best idea that I have heard in a long time. Expensive, I'm sure, but good. Now how can I adapt that type of creativity to Small-town USA, low/no budget youth group?? How do we increase our local "presence"??

Community is Proportinal to Communication

2007-04-11T10:36:00.000-04:00

Forgive the higher mathematics/engineering jargon here. But as I considered the issues of community, I found that the level of community seems to be proportional to the level of communication.

Verbal communication -- sometimes encouraging, sometimes firm, sometimes rebuking; always truth spoken in love; VC may take the form of email, phone calls, face-to-faces, blog posts w/ comment, letters
Presence communication -- spending quality time together; always important to walk a mile in the other person's shoes in the same location; PC does not have to include VC to be effective and could include sporting events, camp-outs, watching a movie together, retreats, meals, Tim Horton's coffee (I take mine large black)
Ministry communication -- ministering to the needs of the others, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial; MC may also be silent and may include, fixing a car, remodeling a bathroom, caring for kids so a couple can "date", paying for Tim Horton's coffee (I take mine black), praying for one another

All of these forms of community transfer (ie communication) must be bound by the Word of God for it to occur in the church. But community is not just a church concept. There are communities of hikers/mountain climbers (Todd is trying to reach these communities), and local hamlets/burgs/villagescommunities (like Willseyville) and even online communities (social networks). It is happening with or without us (the church). Why not use something that people want to build bridges with them? Communication is really the key to community!

Thanks for listening to this communication,

Mike

OK, Forgive the facilitator/shepherd jargon here, but I have an excersise for you all to participate in.

List for me the number of people in your local body of believers(church) that you have had contact with in:

1. verbal communication

2.your presence

3.ministered to or by in the past week.

How are we doing in living out the one anothers in scripture?

-Todd

What Would They Say About Your Church?

2007-04-06T14:10:00.000-04:00

http://churchhop.blogspot.com/

How to spot a healthy Church

Or, what would you wish they'd say about your church?

Doing Church the Old Fashioned Way

2007-04-05T08:26:00.000-04:00

Remember the old Smith Barney investment broker's commercials? The old codger spoke to the young fellow, "They make money the old fashioned way.... they earn it."

Well, we here at 3Strand have been discussing the issues surrounding the current operations of church. Is it possible that our interest and the interest of the emergent church folks are indeed a right (correct, appropriate, commendable) evaluative step to refocus our energies on the most important stuff. Are we simply attempting to Simplify Church or "keep the first things first"? That's a Biblical principle right? What is the kernel? What are the non-negotiables of church activity?

Where does commitment come into the picture? When push comes to shove, we will choose the thing that is most important to us. A refusal to give God the first place is seldom to replace him with a disgusting vice or horrendous idol. It is more often than not a slight deviation; we replace God with a falsely inflated or deflated facsimile of who we really are supposed to be worshipping. I do not believe that we always miss "it" (worship and practical theology) by miles -- at least not at first. I believe that we have bought into the ecstatic worship culture and the buzz for so long that we are hooked on the hard stuff. Maybe we need a little church detox.

That is why communal living seems so foreign to us. We have bought into the rugged individualistic mindset too long. We have seen the ravages of self-centered abuse of such systems to the community. We are better left alone to our own stuff. Religion is after all a personal matter -- you dare not ask me about mine, and I will not ask you about yours.

We might have to start small and rebuild the essential of community again. We might have to re-learn how to trust one another with the confessions and prayer of/for each other. That's not natural!! Community is not natural for guys especially. But just because it is hard work to earn that kind of living, let's not give up. Good things, valuable things will cost us something. Are you willing to invest?

Investing for the future,
Mike

What is community?

2007-04-02T08:58:00.000-04:00

Todd asks: What is community? OK webster, now how does it relate to a local group of believers?

Thad says: I've been in this passage quite a bit lately.... While browsing through some different versions (no offense to the KJV only crowd), I came across the NLT which uses the word community right in the heading:

Act2:42-47

The Believers Form a Community

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

So can the church in todays society still accomplish that type of community? How or why not?

Pastor Mike writes: The Acts 2 passage is the quintessential passage about church community. It totally nails the issues that are important to the Biblical function of church.

a. teaching/education
b. prayer (I assume for each other)
c. caring for physical needs
d. fellowship
e. eating meals together
f. communion (?)
g. signs and wonders by the apostles
h. praising God in a sense of awe

This list is highly descriptive but is not exhaustive. There are some things, like structure of leadership, that emerge later, that are not a-Biblical. The dispersion of the church into all the world is not a bad thing. We probably could discuss (in another post) the issues of cessationalism here too, but I don't think that the sign gifts are the only way to be in a true community.

Certainly all of these activities, which describe community activity, CAN be accomplished today. However, the practice of selling all things and having them in common doesn't seem to be carried on in the later development of the church. Nor does the apostleship with its signs and wonders. Remember when trying to emulate a Biblical model to consider the transitional, descriptive (not prescriptive) quality of the book of Acts. For example, does the daily meeting in homes have to happen in order to be Biblical? I'm not sure that it does. I am also not sure that house churches are the better answer. So we can conclude that the church community today might look a little different than the Acts 2 community (if nothing else, we have Starbuck's and Timmy Ho's).

Check out those def's again on the hotlink. Many of them can be applied directly to what we are doing. We call it "church". We ought to be a group of people joined together around a common purpose or calling/vocation (professional, full-time testifiers). We may want to wander over to the book of 1 John to talk about "fellowship". I believe that fellowship is the bosom friend of community.

Should the church be run like a business?

2007-04-01T21:17:00.000-04:00

Pastor Mike writes: A statement from one of the books that I am teaching in SS right now.

"Businesses, if they’re going to be successful
for the long haul, must pull their attention off of themselves and refocus their energies on their only reason for existence – to serve their customers.”

Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg. Becoming a Contagious Christian

Can we substitute "churches" for "businesses"? Is the marketing model appropriate to apply to the church? Why or why not?

Todd responds: What is the biblical purpose of "church" is it to serve the members? Mike what is the name of the book/author? I have been reading a book by Piper called "Brother we are not professionals" (have you seen it?" I'll bring it next weekend if you want to borrow it.) I'm sure There will be some good insight to add to this discussion from that.

Mike says: The church must reach outside of its own four walls if it is to thrive. The whole point of the church is that it serves its customers. BUT we must define that customer base. Are the oldie moldy believers (lots of yrs being a believer) the customers or the employees?
Yes. They are both. They must demonstrate a freshness though in their approach to taking the message out, else be marginalized by those in the outside world. If it doesn't make sense to people they can't respond. [pls engage this from an arminian viewpoint or at least a tempered calvinistic viewpoint]
These believers also can't think that they have nothing more to learn.
Are the newbie baby believers part of the customers or the employees?
The answer again is YES.
Newbies have the freshness and enthusiasm without the directional guidance/training. Remember that the Acts 2 passage suggests that the thing they continued in was the apostles' teaching. They didn't stop with their initial purchase!
Are the seeking neighbors part of the customer base?
Yes definitely. They cannot be salespeople because they do not know the product. they have no relationship yet. These are the easy ones to serve, because they are hungry! They will handle alot of junk mixed in b/c they really want to know.
Are the screwed up skeptics in the customers? Should we cater to their questions and arguments? YES again, we need to be able to handle the objections and give them truth. Thus we must study for ourselves. We must know this stuff forwards and backwards!
What about the cranky pagans? YES they are still part of the service that we need to be bringing. Remember the challenge to believing wives with unbeliveing spouses in 1 Peter? Serve the unbeliever so that he might come to know. But even if he doesn't, serve him as if you were serving Christ. B/c you are!So, the original author continues, if lost people matter to God, shouldn't they matter to us?
YES YES YES YES
Lost people are only people who haven't responded to the good news yet! :) Let's go find the responders!

A Voice from the Left

2007-04-01T19:25:00.000-04:00

Men and Brothers,

I am a bit frustrated by the left moniker that I have gained through Todd's blogmastering. I trust that it is only b/c of my geographical loaction and not the theological bent. I trust that this site will indeed cause all of us to focus on the full-time occupation of Christ-following.
I assure you that it was just greographical in bent, but a good-natured jab none-the-less. The header is totally open for revamping /modification. We can drop the view from Paris and just call it "the three strand cord" and put the verse in the description. I'm cool with that.

May I suggest topics 1. and 2.?

1. The name. I like the "three strand cord" motif. Even better if we could ever figure out how to get some rope border along the edge. Could our header include a translation of the three cord Ecclesiastes statement? And not the brother bio? By the way, if Dad adds to the group as a regular contributor, maybe we should be called "four-squares" [allusion to the interplay of the playground game, not the social standing of any of the contributors]

2. A statement from one of the left wing books that I am teaching in SS right now.
"Businesses, if they’re going to be successful for the long haul, must pull their attention off of themselves and refocus their energies on their only reason for existence – to serve their customers.” Can we substitute "churches" for "businesses"? Is the marketing model appropriate to apply to the church? Why or why not? Yes this will do for starters. I wil copy it and make it a new post.

Thanks for the invite Todd,
Mike
Thanks for joining the discussion, I figure if we can't live the dream of ministering together in person yet, at least we can blog together. -Todd