Why do pastors so often treat congregations with the impatience and violence of developers building a shopping mall instead of the patient devotion of a farmer cultivating a field? The shopping mall will be abandoned in disrepair in fifty years; the field will be healthy and productive for another thousand if its mysteries are respected by …
One of the things I’ve grown passionate about with our church is to really spell out and communicate our church practices. As it is these types of practices form us into certain kinds of people. So when we pray together, participate in Eucharist together, camp together, sing songs, give our money, include our children and …
Does Church Shape Us, Or Do we Shape The Church? Read More »
As theStory transitions away from having anyone at the reigns it allows us to practice and experiment with different ways of allowing the church to take on a life of its own. I’ve only ever really known church in a few limited fashions, mostly being operated and led by specific leaders (usually a very specific …
Within the larger churches of North America there is the insistent need for people to feel like they are ‘doing something.’ So much that goes on in larger churches is organized and executed by a small fraction of people. If you aren’t on a worship team, preaching, greeting or counting money there doesn’t seem to …
We are starting a series in Ephesians which is always fun as I get to work my way through the commentaries of brilliant folks. I’m excited to get back into some Witherington, Fowl and Wright as we jump into this letter. I’m already falling in love with this process all over again. In the Witherington …
The Church is Representative of the Non-Violent and yet Powerful Rule of Christ Read More »
I don’t think we take the church nearly serious enough. Not even close. Church is still just a place we go to on Sundays to fulfill some sort of empty void that we only really know exists because we were born with that routine implanted in us as kids. Church is still just a room …
This week at theStory we spent some time talking about children and the role that they have in our community. It’s been something that lays heavily on our hearts because we don’t think that the church in general has been doing a very good job with them and we don’t think we are doing a …
We’ve been having a lot of struggles with children and how they fit into the overall picture of theStory. We value our children and we have made it the point publicly many times that we want to make sure children are treated and given attention just as much as the adults. I don’t think our …
I’m starting to have doubts about the ‘evangelical church.’ Despite all the quotes we’ve all heard like “the church is a whore but she is my mother” and other likewise, I’m growing more skeptical as my experiences start to find themselves enveloped by its large wings. I have a feeling that when Jesus comes back, …
I am reading the Great Giveaway right now by David Fitch, and I am loving this book. He is a very articulate writer and through his book explains how the evangelical church has given away itself, its practices and its way of showing itself to consumerism and culture surrounding them. He raises numerous great points …
Dr Phil… *** NOTE *** I never thought I would ever start a blog with those words, but here we are a few days before the turn of the year and I’m starting it with those words. Brace yourself. Melissa, this post will be dedicated to you. was on TV today and he was doing …
It’s been a while since my last post, there is still some discussion going on about biblical inerrancy on the post two before this one, so check it out and participate if you want, its taking some interesting directions. I’m home for Christmas so I’m not in front of my computer (with my beautiful new …
Growing up with Christian parents you go to church. Fortunately and unfortunately I was blessed and cursed with this habit engrained into my weekly schedule. To wake up on a Sunday morning without going to church never ceased to leave you a little bit empty and needy inside. Even when my parents stopped going to …
Darryl brought this point up last night and it struck me interesting and worthy enough to be posted. Since Darryl doesn’t have his own blog I’ll just get the ideas across. If you think Darryl should get his own blog (because he’s way more insightful and creative than me) e-mail him, [email protected]. After I had …
My dad has been going to this new church in Sarnia for the past few weeks. It’s a church plant and they have only been together for the two weeks that my dad has been there. The church planter of this church was the assistant pastor of a successful Baptist church in Sarnia. He decided …
The longer I sit through services, especially worship services, the more frustrated with myself and the concept of these services I get. The idea of singing songs to our God is amazing; I love that we can use our skills and talents to do this. The idea of teaching is important cause if we are …
trans•sex•u•al (tr ns-s k sh – l) n. 1. One who wishes to be considered by society as a member of the opposite sex. 2. One who has undergone a sex change. The church throughout the bible is considered and called the bride of Christ. Christ is the groom. In this allegory we are Christ’s …
Lately I’ve been thinking about the whole idea of church, as you can tell because the last four entries have been about that. One of the key things one needs to do in attempting to change is first deconstruct what they are coming from then work on constructing something that learns from its history. The …
After writing three points about what I have noticed church has become I knew that there were a bunch more I could point out. I was talking with my friends tonight (something think that is happening a lot this break about this subject) and I started to understand something that put a lot of things …
One of my favourite sermons I have ever heard is by Erwin McManus. If you are interested, you can download it here. It’s not necessarily theologically without holes, nor is it a message that will send you running to the altar with tears filling your eyes. At the time I listened to it for the …