It All Starts with One

Today, conversion doesn't seem to be understood. With huge parts of the evangelical church declaring they are Jesus followers, which is very vague as to conversion, and postmoderns like Jones saying "you are doing violence to the text" when traditional Bible interpretations are put forth, we seem to be in chaos. The Christian Right (and now the New Christian Left) thought it could change society through laws and rules, thereby reosrting back to Cartesian Modernism. The emergents think they can change society through doing nice things for the poor and getting them "social justice," thus hearkening back to the liberal Protestants of the '60's.

But here is the real truth. You change society through conversion to Jesus the Savior (as opposed to Rabbi Jesus), one at a time. Of course we know not everyone will convert, but those that do will be changing society because they are changing themselves through the power of the Holy Spirit. I attended a church where one summer they had speical speakers come in. I will never forget one of the speakers and what he said. This was the gist of his teaching,

When an individual gets converted a whole family can change. And if families get converted and change, cities and communities change. If cities change then states change. And if states change then nations change.

Quote of the Week

"He [Jesus] did not start a movement of latte-drinking disciples who excelled in spiritual conversations. He founded the church (Matt. 16:18) and commissioned the apostles to proclaim the good news that Israel's Messiah had come and the sins of the world could be forgiven through his death on the cross (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:14-36)."

I just love it!

Source: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/07/church_love_it_dont_leave_it.html

What Does a Pastor Do?

Have you ever wondered what you pastor does all day? I mean, his or her day is usually not regulated like the days of most workers.

Our interim pastor gave us an accounting a few months ago and I thought it was interesting. So, here is what one pastor does during the work day (+ Sundays too, of course).


Six Weeks in the Life of the Pastor


Activity
Sunday morning (Education, worship, fellowship).....27 hours
Worship/sermon preparation.....59 hours
Elder conferences.....14 hours
Staff meetings.....13 hours
Staff conferences.....46 hours
Associates.....18 hours
Worship/Music planning.....9 hours
Program staff.....8 hours
Administrative staff.....12 hours

Committee meetings.....17 hours
General/administration.....37 hours
Pastoral.....24 hours
New member preparation/filming lessons.....18 hours
Bible study group.....16 hours
Long range planning (includes meetings.....9 hours
Children's ministry.....8 hours
Youth ministry.....6 hours
Stewardship.....4 hours
Finance.....6 hours
Mission.....5 hours
Communication.....12 hours
Human Resources.....8 hours
Other ethnic church relations (meets in our church).....4 hours
Church special events.....6 hours
Community Relations.....15 hours
Presbytry related.....6 hours
Study.....14 hours
Social time with church members.....19 hours

It makes me happy to see that finally!----many Christians are seeing the emptiness of the Christian Right movement and how it has not followed the Holy Spirit or even Biblical passages in the New Testament as to how to change people and thus, a nation. Now, sadly, we have the mirror image - the New Christian Left which will do the same type of DUMB things the Christian Right did. Here is a blog post which puts it better than most I've read,


Let's Take America Back

How to Really Preach the Gospel

When I find someone who presents clearly when and how the Holy Spirit brings people to Christ, in contrast to when and how men's fleshly ways "try" to bring people to Christ, I always want to present it to you. Here is the latest one I've read in this genre,

The Gospel.

But Moral Decisions Do Matter

I am in an interesting class for senior adults paid for by the state of California and given throughout my city by our junior college. They are free and very stimulating. They last two hours and are mostly discussion with some lecture if they are that type of class. One of my classes is Contemporary World Issues where we discuss the news of the day, whether it be international, national, state or local. I am surprised by the mostly very liberal people in the class. There are also some atheists who are veyr angry with God. Oops, I forgot. THBey don't believe in God....:) Remember, these people are almost all over 65. But then I do live in S. California. There is one woman in my class in her early 90's who constantly says that a person's "personal life" (read that - morality) has nothing to do with how they govern or legislate if they are in politics. I beg to differ.

You've probably heard about the governor of South Carolina and his high jinks. Of course his political decisions can be qustioned because of his moral and personal ones. Are you telling me he is two people? That he makes one type of decision in his personal life and another in his professional life? It may look that way at first for these types of people, but it does catch up with them later in their professional decisions IMO. I feel he should resign from being governor and I hope the people of S.C. make sure he does. This is the guy who ASKED his wife if he could go see his mistress. She told him to leave for a while and think about their marriage. He left all right,and then went to see his mistress in Argentina. So, I don't think this is a person who should be in a decision-making job, do you?

Women Are Not As Happy as They Should Be?

The National Bureau of Economic Research released a study that shows women's happiness has measurably declined since 1970. Added to this, in one of the best books I've read, Generation Me by Dr. Jean Twenge, she says that studies show that despite the BIG self-esteem movement in schools in the 1970's and beyond, high school girls in the 1950's seemed to have more self-esteem than college-aged girls do today. As a feminist, this alarms and saddens Dr. Twenge.

Why do you think women are having so many happiness-image problems today?


Sources:
1. http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-5069/Brannon-Howse/Phyllis-Schlafly
2. Generation Me by Dr. Jean Twenge