Friday, February 7, 2014
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Simplicity
I'm finding myself wanting a simpler life. It could be that the amount of kids, activities, relationships, ministry opportunities, and stuff is immense just because of how many people are living in my house, the ages of said tenants, the numbers of people connected with our ministry, and the stuff required to live in America. But I keep feeling that there must be a simpler way.
I've always been drawn to books and blogs about simplicity, as if it's a virtue that eludes me but appeals to me.
I would benefit from a simplified lifestyle, but I also would fight against it with discontent and comparison. I need to identify one or two areas to simplify life and start there. I have no ideas what those areas are but will be looking for opportunities to make life less chaotic and full of clutter.
Here's a picture from our time in upper state NY a couple of weeks ago. No internet, no phone service, no video games, No A/C (i prefer not to live like that). We actually all sat down and played cards one night. The kids were more willing to hang out with us the first night because the place we stayed looked like something out of The Evil Dead. It was fun and a great opportunity to spend the week there!
I've always been drawn to books and blogs about simplicity, as if it's a virtue that eludes me but appeals to me.
I would benefit from a simplified lifestyle, but I also would fight against it with discontent and comparison. I need to identify one or two areas to simplify life and start there. I have no ideas what those areas are but will be looking for opportunities to make life less chaotic and full of clutter.
Here's a picture from our time in upper state NY a couple of weeks ago. No internet, no phone service, no video games, No A/C (i prefer not to live like that). We actually all sat down and played cards one night. The kids were more willing to hang out with us the first night because the place we stayed looked like something out of The Evil Dead. It was fun and a great opportunity to spend the week there!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Rocky Mountains
Enjoying time this week in the Rocky Mountains. Its great to be with some good friends out here. There are tons of other staff families with our ministry out here, so our kids have been roaming the camp with old friends and new. Here is a view from the balcony of the lodge where we're staying.
Needless to say, we're living the life.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The True Size of Africa
This is amazing. Guess I missed this in geography class: true size of Africa.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
What should change about seminary ...
i liked these thoughts from Richard Pratt, when asked what should change about seminaries these days ...
"If I were king and could wave my magical scepter, I would radically change the basic agenda of seminary.
After 22 years of teaching in a seminary, I slowly began to realize something. We were not preparing the kinds of leaders that evangelical churches in North America need. Let’s face it; evangelicalism has seen better days. God is at work in many places and in many ways, but on the whole, the news is not good. Our numbers are dwindling; our theology is unraveling; our zeal for Christ is dissipating. Now more than ever, we need seminaries to give the church leaders who are empowered by the Spirit for radical, sacrificial devotion to Christ and his kingdom. And they’d better do it quickly.
I was recently in China, talking with the president of a house church network of more than 1 million people. He asked me for advice on preparing the next generation of pastors. I looked at him and said, “The only thing I know is what you should not do.” He smiled and asked, “What’s that?” My reply surprised him. “You should not do what we have done in the West. The results of that approach have become clear.”
The agenda of evangelical seminaries is set primarily by scholars. Professors decide how students will spend their time; they determine students’ priorities; they set the pace. And guess what. Scholars’ agenda seldom match the needs of the church.
Can you imagine what kind of soldiers our nation would have if basic training amounted to reading books, listening to lectures, writing papers, and taking exams? We’d have dead soldiers. The first time a bullet wizzed past their heads on the battlefield, they’d panic. The first explosion they saw would send them running. So, what is basic training for the military? Recruits learn the information they need to know, but this is a relatively small part of their preparation. Most of basic training is devoted to supervised battle simulation. Recruits are put through harrowing emotional and physical stress. They crawl under live bullet fire. They practice hand to hand combat.
If I could wave a magic scepter and change seminary today, I’d turn it into a grueling physical and spiritual experience. I’d find ways to reach academic goals more quickly and effectively and then devote most of the curriculum to supervised battle simulation. I’d put students through endless hours of hands-on service to the sick and dying, physically dangerous evangelism, frequent preaching and teaching the Scriptures, and days on end of fasting and prayer. Seminary would either make them or break them.
Do you know what would happen? Very few young men would want to attend. Only those who had been called by God would subject themselves to this kind of seminary. Yet they would be recruits for kingdom service, not mere students. They would be ready for the battle of gospel ministry."
Richard Pratt, founder and president, Third Millennium Ministries; former chair of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary:
"If I were king and could wave my magical scepter, I would radically change the basic agenda of seminary.
After 22 years of teaching in a seminary, I slowly began to realize something. We were not preparing the kinds of leaders that evangelical churches in North America need. Let’s face it; evangelicalism has seen better days. God is at work in many places and in many ways, but on the whole, the news is not good. Our numbers are dwindling; our theology is unraveling; our zeal for Christ is dissipating. Now more than ever, we need seminaries to give the church leaders who are empowered by the Spirit for radical, sacrificial devotion to Christ and his kingdom. And they’d better do it quickly.
I was recently in China, talking with the president of a house church network of more than 1 million people. He asked me for advice on preparing the next generation of pastors. I looked at him and said, “The only thing I know is what you should not do.” He smiled and asked, “What’s that?” My reply surprised him. “You should not do what we have done in the West. The results of that approach have become clear.”
The agenda of evangelical seminaries is set primarily by scholars. Professors decide how students will spend their time; they determine students’ priorities; they set the pace. And guess what. Scholars’ agenda seldom match the needs of the church.
Can you imagine what kind of soldiers our nation would have if basic training amounted to reading books, listening to lectures, writing papers, and taking exams? We’d have dead soldiers. The first time a bullet wizzed past their heads on the battlefield, they’d panic. The first explosion they saw would send them running. So, what is basic training for the military? Recruits learn the information they need to know, but this is a relatively small part of their preparation. Most of basic training is devoted to supervised battle simulation. Recruits are put through harrowing emotional and physical stress. They crawl under live bullet fire. They practice hand to hand combat.
If I could wave a magic scepter and change seminary today, I’d turn it into a grueling physical and spiritual experience. I’d find ways to reach academic goals more quickly and effectively and then devote most of the curriculum to supervised battle simulation. I’d put students through endless hours of hands-on service to the sick and dying, physically dangerous evangelism, frequent preaching and teaching the Scriptures, and days on end of fasting and prayer. Seminary would either make them or break them.
Do you know what would happen? Very few young men would want to attend. Only those who had been called by God would subject themselves to this kind of seminary. Yet they would be recruits for kingdom service, not mere students. They would be ready for the battle of gospel ministry."
Richard Pratt, founder and president, Third Millennium Ministries; former chair of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary:
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
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