Beginning this coming Sunday, Daybreak will begin to gather Operation Christmas Child boxes to send to needy children all over the world. So please begin to gather your materials and share in the joy of giving. You can click on the graphic in this posting and it will give you all the information you need. Remember this is an activity that you can do with your family, as a Sunday school class, small group, etc…
Oil and Vinegar — Tradition and Modernity
There are some churches that have “discovered†the best way for them to “do church,†and they continue to do this same method, practice, style, etc.. until today. The problem with this inflexibility is that this way of doing church may stretch back fifty or more years. Many look to the church and a worship service to be a place that changes very little over time, and this gives them a sense of comfort.
I have talked with many people over the years who may go to church a half dozen times a year, and they expect it to be exactly the same every time, or it’s not really “church.†I even talked with one gentleman who literally argued with me about how churches should have a cross in their logo, or they were “sell outs.†After more discussion with this I guy I learned that he did not even go to church and had not, nor would not, for some time.
The world has some whacked out views about what a church experience should be like. They also have some healthy and fair expectations of what a church experience should be like. We know that bad experiences with less than credulous Christians greatly impacts a persons desire to attend a local congregation.
So in an effort to show the world how relevant and “real†we are we try to different things to seek to bridge this cultural gap. Change is a healthy and natural part of relating to the world around us – but it has to be within the bounds of what the Bible teaches. In many ways appearance and perception is foundational, and of extreme importance. If people think you are crazy, unapproachable, judgmental, or irrelevant then why would they ever want to set foot in your church services.
Which brings us to this video – they are seeking to blend some things in which you just need to make a choice (dance or no dance, dress or casual, modern music or 80’s, etc…) I believe that when the world sees this mixed up mess (or other things like it), they laugh and are reassured that their choice to sleep in on Sunday has been the right choice. The main problem that I see with this fandango group is that they aren’t willing to let go of tradition but are trying to add modernity to what they have already been doing. Churches have to be willing to learn from the past, treasure tradition, but let go of it in order to move into the future. When you try to do both at the same time it just comes across as comical. Remember culture changes (who still has a 8-track in their car?) but the Bible and it’s truths never change. We are to tell the never changing story in ever changing new ways.
The Spiritual Discipline of Silence and Solitude
As of late, there is within me a strong desire to be alone in the wilderness. To just have time to clear my head and to seek the face of God. I am reminded in Scripture that Moses’ and Paul’s time in the wilderness transformed them into great leaders, but my times away are stolen fading moments. These men were both transformed by their isolation in a remote wilderness.
Donald Whitney in his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, says “When we think with balance we realize that it would be neither right nor desirable to be cloistered from our God given responsibilities involving other people. Biblically reality call us to family, fellowship, evangelism, and ministry for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. And yet through the Holy Spirit, “deep calls to deep” (Psalm 42:7) in such a way that there is a part that craves silence and solitude.”
So one has to find balance in these dual pulls in life. In order to have power and strength, wisdom and direction in service to the multitudes, you have to spend time away from them and with the Father. This is the spiritual discipline of silence and solitude. So I go to the mountain (or Gathland State Park), which is only a couple of miles from my home. I carry a Gideon New Testament and hike. I’ll stop and read, pray and mediate — then hike some more. Some times I’ll go for miles, other times less than a mile.
There are several biblical examples of this practice. Elijah went to Mt. Horeb to hear the whisper of God (1 Kings 19:11-13), Habakkuk stood guard alone to see what God would say to him, and Paul went to Arabia after his conversion so he could be alone with God (Galatians 1:17).
It is sometimes stressing to be alone with your own thoughts. How many times do we drown them out with noise so that we won’t have to listen? So not only do I go to the mountain to converse and listen for God’s voice but I also try to put my own thoughts in order. For a guy, this is easier if you are physically doing something — I know the Bible says “be still and know I am God,” but sometimes I just need to move (in silence) in order to be still later. I just need to get some things out of my system.
Whitney gives several reasons why a Christian should practice solitude and silence:
to follow Jesus’ example,
to hear the voice of God better,
to express worship to God,
to express faith in God,
to seek the salvation of the Lord,
to be physically and spiritually restored
to regain a spiritual perspective,
to seek the will of God, to learn to control the tongue
For me it’s to be physically and spiritually restored, and even though I haven’t been doing it for very long, I can feel the difference. Why don’t you try it, and let me know how it went?
Cub Scout "Go See It"
Today was our Tiger Scouts first “Go See It” — this is where the boys get to experience something and experience something new. We went to Daybreak’s Respite ministry held at Grace Community Church in Adamstown, MD. The boys did a great job helping where they could. They pushed kids in wheelchairs, swept up hair, and served lunch. They served for about an hour and afterwards had some pizza and hung out. There was a video game room where most of the guys stayed.
We had a member of our church coordinate letting us borrow several new video game programs (playstation, x-box, etc..) — if I had more time I would have been all over that.
So at the end of the day I believe it was good to get them exposed to kids who may be a little different than they are, to serve the community, and to have a great time. Way to go Tiger Cubs!
Rookie
This is Hannah, she’s a rookie. She worked very hard today and without new people like her willing to give it a try we can’t reach and help new families. We had several community groups today that enable us to expand — so thanks for all of you volunteers!
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