Midweek Encouragement: "Hymns vs Choruses" (Barry Liesch)

Many of us have heard this time and again. Should we sing more hymns or contemporary music? Take time to read the excerpt from Barry Liesch's "The New Worship," which gives an interesting take on worship below.

---

Dianne Bowker, a scholar who is interested in how worship, theology, and the arts interface, cautions against falling into the trap of musical chauvinism, and her concern intersects with the spirit of these verses. "Musical chauvinism," she maintains, "consists of thinking of one's preferred style more highly than what we ought to. (See Rom 12:3).

Since I've spent so much time talking about hymns in this chapter, you may think I'm saying that hymns are better. Not really. I'm arguing for diversity, musically and textually. Hymns do some things better, and choruses do some things better, as the chart below suggests.

(Barry Liesch, The New Worship, Baker Books, 2001, p29)

Calvary - Harvest

This is one of my favourite songs many years ago. It's from the Harvest group.

c

---

CALVARY


 



Calvary, that's the place where Jesus bled and died.
And it's there that sin has lost its power,
At Calvary.
Calvary, there my Jesus won the victory.
There He gave Himself for you and me.
On Calvary.

Brother, give no thought 

For what tomorrow, it may bring. 

Your Father, He knows your heart, 

He knows your every need. 

Just seek Him in His truth, 

and rest upon His Word. 

Share His love to everyone. 

Let's all just praise the Lord. 

Let the stars fall from the skies, 

Let the sun refuse to shine. 

In darkness I know there will be

A light for all mankind.

It doesn't matter who you are, 

Or whatever things you've done. 

 'Cause Jesus, He still loves you, 

and calls for you to come, 

To Calvary . . . 

That's the place where Jesus bled and died. 

And it's there that sin has lost it's power, 

At Calvary. 

Calvary, that's the place where Jesus bled and died. 

And it's there that sin has lost it's power, 

At Calvary. 

Calvary, there my Jesus won the victory. 

There He gave Himself for you and me. 

On Calvary. Calvary. Calvary.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uu__ttXRts&index=7&list=PLAA683E5FF624A60D

Midweek Encouragement: "What Will Matter" (Michael Josephson)

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

BookPastor >> "Dr Karyn's Guide to the Teen Years" (Karyn Gordon)

TITLE: Dr Karyns Guide To The Teen Years
AUTHOR: Karyn Gordon
PUBLISHER: Toronto, ON: HarperCollins, 2008, (320 pages).

This is a parenting guide for all interested in connecting with teenagers. Based on her experience with talking to over 200 thousand high school students across Canada, Dr Karyn Gordon has summarized her "inside-out" parenting approach to help us along. She lists the six keys to parenting teens as:

1. Keeping the Big Picture in mind at all times
2. Acknowledging and adjusting our parenting attitudes
3. Understanding and communicating emotions
4. Building our child's self-esteem
5. Communicating effectively
6. Establishing boundaries and providing structure.

First off is the big picture understanding. Key to all of these is the awareness of "inside-out" versus "outside-in" parenting. The latter basically focuses on what is developing inside the teens rather than what they teens are doing outside. This includes observing the reasons why they are doing what they are doing; the motivation; the sensitivity to their feelings; and the readiness to talk. Character development is more important than mere achievements. This means learning to identify positive traits and helping their self-esteem. Communications are important but right communications are even more important. Between authority and influence, teens respect the latter. Learn about the importance of their peers and friends. Choose to connect more than to control. Check to see which of the three kinds of learning they do best. Are they visual or are they more kinesthetic (learning by doing)? Or are they more auditory? Learn to focus more on learning styles and understanding their relationships.

Midweek Meditation: "Our Deepest Fear"

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are  powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (Marianne Williamson)

BookPastor >> "Growing God's Church" (Gary McIntosh)

This review was first published on March 3rd, 2016 at Panorama of a Book Saint.

conrade

---

TITLE: Growing God's Church: How People Are Actually Coming to Faith Today
AUTHOR: Gary L. McIntosh
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2016, (192 pages).

This is a book about evangelism. It is not just another strategy or a how-to book on how to do evangelism. It is an honest survey of the past methods, a sensitivity to present contexts, and a hopeful outlook toward the future. While the gospel is the same, people and culture change rapidly. The methods of yesterday do not necessarily apply to the contexts of today. If we do not adapt accordingly, not only will the church at large continue to see outflow of young people, she will have trouble attracting new ones. In this very important book, Gary McIntosh, President of the Church Growth Network and Professor of Christian ministry and leadership at Talbot School of Theology shares from his experience about the need for leaders to adapt. It is not simply adapting for the sake of adapting. Neither is it for the sake of preserving an old institution that is perceived to be increasingly irrelevant. It is for the sake of the Kingdom of God, for souls, and for the flourishing of a world that God has created to be cared for and to be loved. Just to be fair, there are churches already trying to change. Unfortunately, McIntosh observes that their actions are not only ineffective, they unwittingly dilute the gospel. For example, the missional movement. In wanting to become relevant to the social needs of the neighbourhood, some churches have become another charitable organization that are becoming less evangelistic in their practices, rendering them no different from non-Christian charities. Others throw away the historical past and along with is a core identity of the Church. In this book, McIntosh seeks to bring back the essentials to a Church that is increasingly struggling with being relevant and being faithful to the gospel. He begins by modifying Win Arn's extensive 1979 study on church evangelistic strategies. By the late 90s, he starts to notice that many of the conclusions are no longer true. He then conducted a small study of 11 churches; surveyed people's reasons for coming to church; and reported on the findings. This book is a result of that work.

Midweek Meditation: "By-Products of Ministry"

This excerpt is taken from Philip Yancey's book, "Church, Why Bother?"

*****

For a long time Dr Trogisch could not answer the question of meaning. He went ahead and performed his medical tasks, but he had no answer. Then he conducted an introductory course to train new helpers for the center. At the end of the one-year training period, he asked these young helpers to fill out a survey. Among the questions was this one, "What changes have taken place in your life since you became totally involved with disabled people?" Here is a selection of their answers:

• For the first time in my life I feel I am doing something really significant.
• I feel I can now do things I wouldn't have thought myself capable of before.
• During my time here I have won the affection of Sabine. Having had the opportunity to involve myself with a disabled person, I no longer think of her as disabled at all.
• I am now more responsive now to human suffering and it arouses in me the desire to help.
• It's made me question what is really important in life.
• Work has assumed a new meaning and purpose. I feel I'm needed now.
• I've learned to be patient and to appreciate even the slightest sign of progress.
• In observing the disabled, I've discovered myself.
• I've become more tolerant. My own little problems don't seem so important any longer, and I've learned to accept myself with all my inadequacies. Above all I've learned to appreciate the little pleasures in life, and especially I thank God that he has shown me that love can achieve more than hate or force.

As Dr Trogisch read their responses, he realized with a start the answer to his question. The meaning of the suffering of these children was being worked out in the lives of others, his helpers, who were learning lessons that no sophisticated educational system could teach. Where else could teenagers and college students learn such inestimable lessons as these?

Dr Trogisch has put his finger on a by-product of the church's mission that often gets overlooked. We tend to focus on the objects of ministry: the souls led to Christ, the marriages rescued, the poor fed and housed, the homebound elderly visited, the teenagers challenged. Yet as I read the New Testament, Jesus seems equally interested in what effect ministry is having on the people who are doing the work of ministry themselves.

(Philip Yancey, Church: Why Bother?, Zondervan, 1998, p79-90)

Inspirational of Parental Love - Taylor Storch

This is a moving story of how one death brings life to many others. Have your tissue box nearby.


c

Midweek Meditation: "Dare to Believe"

You can't be all things to all people. 
You can't do all things at once. 
You can't do all things equally well. 
You can't do all things better than everyone else. 
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

 
So:

You have to find out who you are, and be that. 
You have to decide what comes first, and do that. 
You have to discover your strengths, and use them. 
You have to learn not to compete with others, 
Because no one else is in the contest of 'being you'.


 
Then:

You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness. 
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions. 
You will have learned to live with your limitations. 
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due. 
And you'll be a most vital mortal.



 
Dare To Believe:

That you are a wonderful, unique person. 

That you are a once-in-all-history event. 
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are. 
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish. 
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

(Unknown)

Midweek Meditation: "Caring Friendship"

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996)

"Real care is not ambiguous. Real care excludes indifference and is the opposite of apathy. The word 'care' finds its roots in the Gothic 'Kara' which means lament. The basic meaning of care is: to grieve, to experience sorrow, to cry out with. 

I am very much struck by this background of the word care because we tend to look at caring as an attitude of the strong toward the weak, of the powerful toward the powerless, of the ‘haves’ toward the ‘have-nots.' And, in fact, we feel quite uncomfortable with an invitation to enter into someone’s pain before doing something about it. Still, when we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares." (Henri Nouwen)

BookPastor >> "IF" (Mark Batterson)

This review was first published at Panorama of a Book Saint on Nov 24th, 2015.

conrade

---

TITLE: If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities
AUTHOR: Mark Batterson
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015, (304 pages).

If a word can launch a thousand thoughts, a book can surely create boundless imaginations. Using one word, author and pastor Mark Batterson helps bring us away from the "if only" of past regrets toward the "what if" of future possibilities. Believing on the need to renew the mind and to be filled with good thoughts, Batterson believes that this one word "if" can change our perspective of life. Basing this book on the eight chapter of Romans, which he calls the "Great Eight," he distills ten "ifs" that add up to limitless possibilities. Central to it all is Romans 8:31 which says: "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

It is very much Batterson's positive thinking equivalent for his followers. Loosely based on Romans 8, the author distributes 30 chapters of stories, narratives, anecdotes, and tips over four major parts. The first part is about past regrets often denoted by the "if only." If only things were better. If only I had done that. These two words "if only" can usually be mind-crippling. It makes us forget the grace and mercy of God. It makes us feel guilty with self-condemnation. Very quickly, the second part of the book is a defying voice against the impossible circumstances. Instead of being fixated on the things of the flesh, we can choose to focus on the things of the Spirit. We can pledge to dig deeper into God's Word rather than to become distracted by anxieties and cares of the world. We can make a beeline for the Cross. We can choose not to let fears dictate our lives. We can choose to live as children of hope. Part Three tighten the screws of optimism by helping us turn outward to blessing others; to look beyond our self-needs; to bear fruit for Christ; etc. Some of the "what ifs" in this section is particularly powerful. Like:

Video: Simple Reconnecting

This video clip reminds me once again that we do not need to fly our family to far away places or to travel to expensive locations in order to spend time as family. Neither do we need sophisticated equipment or digital gadgets to just remain in touch. The truth is, vacations, equipment, technology, and all that social media jazz are often distractions from the real need: Connection.

Watch this video and see how the initial moments of discomfort and weirdness give way to hugs, kisses, and most importantly, expressing our truest feelings for one another. Family is closer than we think. It is also most economical and effective.



It's a nice video, albeit made by an insurance company.

There's some behind the scenes video here.

conrade

BookPastor >> "Just Show Up" (Kara Tippetts)

This review was first published at Panorama of a Book Saint on November 4th, 2015.

conrade

---

TITLE: Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking through Suffering Together
AUTHOR: Kara Tippetts
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishers, 2015, (192 pages).

This book begins with a somber greeting: "Hi. My name is Kara Tippetts, and I may not be alive when you read this book. I hope so, but I don’t know. That decision is in the hands of the Author of my life—His name is Jesus. I trust Him with every ounce of who I am."

With these words, Tippetts begins this book with hope, that even when she does not know what to do, what to say, or what to answer, just showing up is already a blessing in itself. It is also a step of humility to come as we are to say: "I'm here. I may not have the answers, but I'm here." With "Just Show Up" as her principle of perseverance through the ups and downs, and especially the suffering moments of life, cancer patient Tippetts shows us what perseverance means amid the pains and sorrows of life. Tippetts died on March 22, 2015, but not without touching the lives of many. Through this book, her life continues to influence many even after her death. Written with Jill Lynn Buteyn, author of inspirational novel, Falling for Texas, this book is an honest down to earth retelling of the struggles through the tough times of life by simply walking together and being present for each other.

What's Your Christmas Bucket List?

As many people embark on the annual shopping craze, it is timely to check out what the true Christmas bucket list is. 

What will be your "grown up Christmas list?"

c

BookPastor >> "Organic Mentoring" (Sue Edwards and Barbara Neumann)

Mentoring is a popular word in Christian circles nowadays. While many people use it freely and liberally, not many really understand what it mean. That is also why many mentoring ventures begin with a heightened wow only to fall hard down to earth with a thud. This book helps us appreciate what mentoring is and offers great examples and how-tos for women. Men need not be left out, as there are many lessons to take home too. After all, learning is gender neutral.

conrade

---

TITLE: Organic Mentoring: A Mentor's Guide to Relationships with Next Generation Women
AUTHOR: Sue Edwards and Barbara Neumann
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2014, (224 pages).

Imagine a community without women. Society would be impoverished. From non-profits to charitable organizations; from churches to various religious institutions; women form a sizeable portion of the community of care and help. Imagine further what an empowered community of women can do to change the world. That would be awesome indeed. Since the days of Jesus and the Early Church, women have played a critical role in society, both at home as well as in society. They have created an immense impact in many places. Yet, like so many things, past successes are no guarantee of the future. If women of the next generation can be mentored and discipled, society gains as a whole. This book is an effort to mentor and cultivate mentoring culture for the next generation.

The authors have a mentor-mentee relationship via a supervisor-student relationship where Barbara was a doctoral student and Sue her supervisor. Both had similar passions: to help bridge the modern and postmodern women through appropriate mentoring. Before introducing new ways, they point out the differences and the reasons why the outdated models and paradigms need to be changed. Based on their research about women and mentoring in a postmodern era, Edwards an Neumann make a compelling case for change, for adaptation, and for hope.

Regent College Pastors Conference 2014

This is a publicity for the annual Regent College Pastor's Conference. The theme this year is "Transformation the Gospel Way." As usual, there are lots of marketing about the topics, the speakers this year, and the attractions of just coming away to a place called "under the green roof." That said, I ponder again why anyone ought to consider attending the conference. After all, is it just another conference?

Admittedly, sometimes I feel that there are way too many conferences. Maybe I have attended one too many myself. I remember going for every pastors conference during my four years at Regent. That said, there are three reasons why leaders and pastors in particular ought to consider going.

First, there is the opportunity to network and to know other pastors and workers in the ministry. Many pastors minister alone in different ways. It is an opportunity to take a break from the routine and to mingle with like-minded people working the field, on the same cause. I find this very life giving just to hear stories of different pastors in their ups and downs of ministry work. While there are complaints, there is also gratitude, showing us the reality of working among God's imperfect people. Pastors need friends and spiritual colleagues to be encouraged too. At the same time, they can learn from one another, and to go back to an environment in which they are able to reach out to each other and form new friendship networks.

Second, pastors need encouragement. The single biggest barrier to joy in the ministry is discouragement. It is only a matter of time for any one pastor to face this monster drainer of joy and zest for ministry. Self-care is critical for any healthy minister. The pastor's conference is one such opportunity where pastors will find out that they are not alone in their struggles.

Third, pastors come together in like-minded worship. Personally, I feel that is the highlight of the whole conference. While the conference markets the popular speakers, the interesting topics, and the gospel focus, it is the worship that humbles all of us to acknowledge that it is God's ministry and God will certainly provide and take care of His Church. I remember how the group of pastors and leaders pack the chapel and to bring the whole house down with unison in singing, in praying, and in loud praising. The very participation in this atmosphere is worth the price of the entire conference.

Dates: May 6th to 9th, 2014 (Tuesday to Friday)
Schedule: Details available here
Place: Regent College, Vancouver, BC
Cost: $340 until Friday March 14th. (After which it will be $380 per person).
Speakers: Mark Buchanan, Mariam Kamell, Rikk Watts, Ross Hastings, Rod Wilson, Jonathan Wilson, Soohwan Park, and Kevin Boonstra.


Go if you can. Bring a friend too.

conrade

Midweek Meditation: "Footprints in the Sand"

These days, I have been thinking of the Footprints poem, which remains one of the most popular writings on walking with God even when we are not aware. There is even a Youtube video here.

---

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord 
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. 

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, 
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. 

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.

 
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. 

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints. 

"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me." 

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, 

I love you and I would never, 

never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. 

"When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Origin: Unknown (Sources disputed)

conrade

An Encouragement for the Day - 12 July 2012

Here is an encouragement for today.

May your day be filled with joy and purpose, and hope. Let Christ shines from within you.

 conrade