Leadership (Carol Stream, IL) articles from September 2008

Leadership (Carol Stream, IL) archives from September 2008

Nothing to declare: (but the gospel).(From the Editors)(Editorial)
September 22, 2008... As a child I recall shuffling with my parents through the torturously long immigration line at London's Heathrow Airport. We gazed enviously at those travelers unfettered by baggage breezing through the "Nothing to Declare" line. At least we...

Rebranding sin.(WHERE FAITH MEETS CULTURE)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... Adultery and racism are today's big sins, but many other traditionally condemnable vices have fallen off the list in recent years. In fact, some theologians fear the concept of personal sin is almost lost. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Who says the bible is holy?(WHERE FAITH MEETS CULTURE)
September 22, 2008... 84% of U.S. adults 90% of women 78% of men 96% of Blacks 83% of Whites and Hispanics 54% of Asians 90% of those over 40 77% of those under 40 67% of those 18 to 23 38% of self-identified...

Better vision.(NEWS YOU CAN USE)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... The church is not meant to be commandeered by the agendas of man or to be a place of manipulation, control, or greed.... It should be alive, active, and committed to connecting unbelievers with Jesus. As a pastor, I am not here to build a...

Election seasoning.(NEWS YOU CAN USE)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... A Christian should get very nervous when the Cross and the flag start holding hands. This is not a romance we want to encourage. --Rob Bell and Don Golden in Jesus Wants to Save Christians (Zondervan, 2008) [Rick] Warren...

What drives the mainline?(NEWS YOU CAN USE)
September 22, 2008... Believers from different denominations want different things out of life, according to a new poll, Attenders of mainline Protestant churches have less Interest in God and less time for church compared to non-mainline Protestants...

Vision the back of a napkin.(NEWS YOU CAN USE)
September 22, 2008... "Visual thinking is an extraordinarily powerful way to solve problems, and though it may appear to be something new, the fact is that we already know how to do it," says Dan Roam. And he's used it with Google, eBay, Wells Fargo, and Peet's...

It's about time.(NEWS YOU CAN USE)(Chronological Study Bible)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... One of the mysteries for newcomers to the Bible is this: Why isn't it in the order it happened? Now it is. The Chronological Study Bible will be released this fall by publisher Thomas Nelson. In it, all the books, and even some...

Your new Amish neighbors.(NEWS YOU CAN USE)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... The Amish population in the U.S. nearly doubled in the past 16 years, and they're moving (at about 4 mph) into seven new states: Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia. That makes 28 states with Amish...

Effects of this Amish influx?(NEWS YOU CAN USE)
September 22, 2008... * Eco-friendly transportation in your community now requires a shovel. * The ecumenical Sunrise service is in German (at least we think it's German). * Your new building campaign is called a barnraising, * Family night movie:...

Small wonders.(CURRENTS)(Tom Sine)(Interview)
September 22, 2008... For nearly 30 years, Tom Sine has kept an eye on "the lively edge" of ministry in the ever-changing culture. In his latest book, The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time (TVP, 2008), Sine identifies "mustard seed"...

Defining missional: the word is everywhere, but where did it come from and what does it really mean?
September 22, 2008... It has become increasingly difficult to open a ministry book or attend a church conference and not be accosted by the word missional. A quick search on Google uncovers the presence of "missional communities," "missional leaders," "missional...

Missiosal shift or drift? Research shows that pastors' views of the gospel and mission are changing. But should we celebrate or repent? A Leadership survey report by Helen Lee.
September 22, 2008... In the summer of 2000, Mike Lueken had every reason to be proud as a pastor of Oak Hills Church in Folsom, California. Every Sunday, thousands of people flocked to Oak Hill's sixteen acre campus with its 35,000-square-foot facility, and the...

You're right ...(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "You're right... virtual church takes all the fun out of being a disgruntled parishioner." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Missional to the max: three traditional churches change course by putting their money (as well as their buildings and people) where their mission is.
September 22, 2008... Indigenous ministries, grassroots leader-ship, and financial generosity are all trends commonly part of international missions. But what do those same commitments look like when applied in traditional churches in the United States? Leadership...

Trust me, Jenna.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "Trust me, Jenna... you wouldn't like the adult service... . no toys, no cookies, and juice only one Sunday a month. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Today's sermon "dealine with failure".(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... TODAY'S SERMON "DEALING WITH FAILURE" "We love it when you preach from your own experience." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A cast of thousands: the mission of the church is not efficiency, but developing all its people.
September 22, 2008... At my daughter's elementary school musical, the printed program noted: "This musical was originally written for 15 actors, but it hay been adapted to accommodate our cast of 206." You know what kind of show this was. No-cut auditions, no...

Coming and going: two leaders. One mission. Two very different strategies. A leadership interview.(BAGGAGE CHECK)(Interview)
September 22, 2008... Observing Neil Cole and Ed Young Jr. is a study in contrasts. The soft-spoken Cole quietly entered the vacant sanctuary where we were meeting. He lingered in the back for a while before anyone realized he had arrived. By contrast, Young burst...

"Showtime!" No more: could our church shift from performance to mission?(BAGGAGE CHECK)
September 22, 2008... My first Sunday back from some time way, I sat in the worship service and wept. It struck me as such a production, so performance driven. In a word, it was shallow. I couldn't believe this had happened on my watch. On the surface, all...

Don't look at it as gaining weight.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... DON'T LOOK AT IT AS GAINING WEIGHT, LOOK AT IT AS OUTGROWING YOUR FACILITY. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Midtown fellowship.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... Midtown Fellowship JOINS US! (AND GAIN, EASILY, 75-100 FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Giving is for everyone: how to teach generosity across the economic spectrum.
September 22, 2008... On a dry, sun-baked morning, Pastor Miller could feel the temperature rising as he drove through his drought-ridden Phoenix neighborhood. He couldn't help but notice the foreclosure signs and neglected shrubs in the yards on every block. He...

Football season.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "And here we have the end of football season." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Full service facilities: these churches are using their buildings to make an impact way beyond the weekend.
September 22, 2008... Driving to work one morning, Pastor Mark Acuff was surprised to find the parking lot almost full. "I had a panicky feeling that perhaps I was supposed to be doing someone's memorial service or something," Acuff recalled. [ILLUSTRATION...

What you said about heaven.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "What you said about heaven was interesting. I'm going to see If it checks out with Oprah." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

PowerPoint presentation.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "He spends 20 hours on each sermon; an hour on biblical research, and nineteen hours on his PowerPoint presentation." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Hit me with your best shot.(IN THE PULPIT)(sermons)
September 22, 2008... I'm not real sure which was more nerve wracking, giving my first sermon in preaching class in seminary, or reading the critiques turned in by my classmates. Some of my classmates intuitively understood that they needed to balance positive...

The twilight series.(THE RELEVANT)(New Moon, Eclipse and Braking Dawn)(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 22, 2008... Written for young adults (ages 12 +), the four-volume set chronicles the romantic life of three teenagers, one your average girl, the other a vampire, and the third a werewolf. An odd love triangle, to be sure. Meyer, the author, is Mormon...

The dark knight.(REDEMPTIVE)(Movie review)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... The second highest grossing film in history, The Dark Knight is the sequel to the 2005 Batman Begins. The movie explores the irrational and destructive power of evil through the anarchist villain, the Joker. It also presents Batman as an...

The shack.(BEST OF BOTH WORLDS)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 22, 2008... Still at number one on USA Today's bestseller list, The Shack continues to be a source of comfort and controversy among Christians. The novel follows Mack Philips'' conversations with the Godhead about life, theology, and (most poignantly)...

A little less conversation.(WORSHIP)
September 22, 2008... Q Some worship leaders speak very the preacher. How much should a worship leader talk? A Like a family, every church has a distinct personality. Your church's personality will depend on its size, leadership, culture, and strategy. But...

Rediscovering apologetics.(OUTREACH)
September 22, 2008... Once, while giving a Muslim friend a ride, I asked him, "Tamir, why should I become a Muslim?" "To have a community," he said, and "to enjoy a sense of purpose." I replied, "I can find these in Christ." "Well, why should I...

Nothing beats bible reflection.(SPIRITUAL FORMATION)(Excerpt)(Reprint)
September 22, 2008... The Willow Creek Association recently published a second book based on its REVEAL research, Follow Me by Greg Hawkins and Catty Parkinson (WCA, 2008). The following excerpt is reprinted with permission [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In our...

Text appeal.(THE OFFICE)
September 22, 2008... If you haven't heard, e-mail is so 2006. Text messages sent via cell phones are quickly becoming the communication method of choice, especially among young adults. And churches are now finding ways to integrate the medium into their...

Bedside manner.(PASTORAL CARE)
September 22, 2008... The machine was breathing for him. His chest rose and fell with clockwork regularity as one son spoke: "So, chaplain, where is he now-spiritually I mean? He's still breathing; his heart's still beating. Maybe his spirit is still inside of...

Get out of Jerusalem: what it takes for the gospel to reach the ends of the earth.
September 22, 2008... Throughout 2008, Leadership and sister publications Christianity Today and Books & Culture are exploring the question: "Is Our Gospel Too Small?" This is part of the Christian Vision Project, an initiative that aims to bring clarity to some...

Jesus.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "Do we know the same Jesus?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The golden canon: 2008 leadership book awards.
September 22, 2008... Charles Spurgeon counseled his students to be discriminating about what they read, and to bathe in good books "until they saturate you." He said, "A student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly...

Holding out hope: the secret of enduring and effective ministry.
September 22, 2008... Several years ago I spent a couple of hours with a newly minted seminarian our church was thinking about hiring. We talked about he wanted to do church ministry, about the dreams he cherished about how he might serve God. Toward the end of...

My congregation is becoming more Christ-like ... the same.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... My congregation is becoming more Christ-like... the same, yesterday, today and forever. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Attachment disorder churches: if your people won't follow, it may be the result of past abandonment.
September 22, 2008... Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, several families I know have adopted children from Eastern Europe. As they grow, some of these children exhibit a set of extremely troubling symptoms: hostility, inability to form close relationships, and...

"Due to our crowded calendars.(Cartoon)
September 22, 2008... "Due to our crowded calendars, the staff would like to schedule our weekly meetings for Sunday mornings at 10:45. Is that okay with you?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Resource directory.(Directory)
September 22, 2008... EDUCATION Crown College Learn it. Live it. In Crown's online Adult & Graduate Studies program, get a great educational experience while still keeping your focus on life and responsibilities. Crown professors offer a...

Leading in white-water: what Jesus said about ministry in turbulent times.
September 22, 2008... My wife, Gail, and I own two 14-foot kayaks. They are sleek, colorful, and comfortable--as kayaks go. The manufacturer--Wilderness Systems--designed them for paddling on lakes and gentle rivers, sometimes known as flat-water. ...

Preacher, heal thyself! Insomnia, pornography, and learning to live the gospell I preach.
September 22, 2008... It's 3 a.m. and I'm wide awake. I'm thinking about what I'm always thinking about; ministry; people; and, as always, my sermon--what I wish I'd said and how I wish I'd said it. How many times have I woken from fitful sleep and wasted the...

This is my (multi-ethnic) body ...(Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church)(Book review)
September 22, 2008... Following a sermon about institutional racism, a young white woman stood and addressed our multi-ethnic congregation. With tears she told us that following the service she had intended to enjoy a leisurely afternoon at one of Chicago's...

Missional misgivings.(COMMENTARY)
September 22, 2008... I hope I am wrong. For the past few years, I have been observing, listening, and asking questions about the raissional movement. I have a suspicion that the missional model has not yet proven itself beyond the level of theory. Again, I hope I...

Trasures old and new.(COMMENTARY)
September 22, 2008... Our family custom is to fetch out Christmas tree from a local tree far. It makes me feel hearty and my role is confined to watching a man with a chain saw lop it down, and then vacuuming spruce needles out of the van's carpet afterward. ...