tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.comments2023-03-23T06:37:25.039-04:00scituatedrevscituatedrevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12558412920882066184noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-65103006535489547342017-03-07T18:13:57.574-05:002017-03-07T18:13:57.574-05:00That is helpful. I like your suggestion about some...That is helpful. I like your suggestion about something they enjoy. It is definitely important to be sensitive to the guest - to be paying attention to the social cues you are getting. Thanks for commenting!<br />scituatedrevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12558412920882066184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-71593735690260844782017-03-07T11:56:26.387-05:002017-03-07T11:56:26.387-05:00This is very helpful. I would like to add a sugge...This is very helpful. I would like to add a suggestion: Please do not ask "What do you do?" For people who are unemployed, underemployed or ill-employed, this is very sensitive. It is also considered a bad-manners question in many communities of color, where people have often been underemployed as a result of discrimination and then defined by these substandard jobs. Instead, find a way to find out about something they enjoy. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-80516564512360921362016-09-28T18:09:56.689-04:002016-09-28T18:09:56.689-04:00so "offering free meals, running food pantrie...so "offering free meals, running food pantries, etc. are not incarnational representations of Jesus" ? I seem to remember Jesus feeding 5000, and saying "when I was hungry you fed me." <br />Tony Jarek-GliddenTony Jarek-Gliddennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-86920043829404373252016-09-21T08:39:48.881-04:002016-09-21T08:39:48.881-04:00Inspiring work, and true devotion to the mission! ...Inspiring work, and true devotion to the mission! Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01300149480950927759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-4420077049294926022016-02-18T09:49:52.672-05:002016-02-18T09:49:52.672-05:00Rick,
I googled turn around church methodist and ...Rick, <br />I googled turn around church methodist and this blog article popped up. It is an interesting read about a New England church turn-around. I'm interested because I pastor a church in a town of about 17,000 in northwest Ohio. In the last 20 years this once relevant and highly regarded congregation has gone from 325 to 185 average weekly attendance. In my 1 1/2 years as pastor the drop has continued. At our current rate of decline we will reach zero attendance in 30 years. In perhaps 15 years it will be forced to close its doors if a turn-around does not happen soon. Its endowment of $1.6 million will do nothing but slow its painful death. <br /><br />I need to share this reality with the leadership, but I need to do so in such a way as to wake them up to the reality of the present condition, and inspire them to make major changes without discouraging them to feel defeated. <br /><br />What is the name of this church? I am interested in learning how they are doing today, and perhaps dialogue with the pastor to learn from her/him. <br /><br />Thank you for writing these encouraging words that death is not necessarily inevitable. <br /><br />Joe PayneAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02918020569184843805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-76741893203085456602015-06-21T18:40:05.749-04:002015-06-21T18:40:05.749-04:00Rick, thank you for sharing these thoughtful insig...Rick, thank you for sharing these thoughtful insights! As I've been reflecting on Annual Conference, I also wonder how much the shootings in Charleston affected our work together. I wonder how much anxiety, frustration, anger and grief we brought with us to Conference and, with no other outlet for those intense emotions, directed them into our work together. I've read and heard comments on the chaos in which Conference seemed to end. I trust that just as in the beginning, out of the chaos God will create new things, and they will be good!Kristin Whitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-54912329882753834572014-11-05T15:32:41.290-05:002014-11-05T15:32:41.290-05:00Rick, thanks for highlighting this book. I also r...Rick, thanks for highlighting this book. I also read it recent. A quick read with some great insights. His estimation of the number of churches in the US that are either sick or dying was sobering, but I suspect not far from the truth. Worth the read.Steve Murrayhttp://www.achurch4all.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-58229146739761140992014-11-05T14:57:01.562-05:002014-11-05T14:57:01.562-05:00Thanks Rick! Will check into it...Thanks Rick! Will check into it...Steve S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07783903665048833519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-14275574974379642222014-10-04T08:00:54.125-04:002014-10-04T08:00:54.125-04:00Thank you Rick for sharing this. What an ironical ...Thank you Rick for sharing this. What an ironical yet amazing grace of God through Jesus and Hai uerwas...<br />I am glad that you and our delegation were able to experience some aspects of Korean Christianity, especially their prayer life. I think that the largest hole in most Korean churches' teaching and practice of prayer is that they lack this very purpose of prayer. Rather many churches and their leaders in Korea have prayed and still pray for the sake of powers of this world, whether that be oppressive regimes or the materialistic culture. Prayer has become utterly private, moralistic, and exclusionary practice. I hoped that our delegation would have opportunities to see and experience those places and churches that still practice praying with Jesus whether they are on prayer of fasting for the victims and their families of the ferry accident, opening churches for foreign migrant workers, or working with sexual minorities. I will get to hear more about this visit and hope that there were such opportunities. <br />Thanks again for sharing your thought and struggle!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359553944020079686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-30130969027944404562014-10-01T12:24:38.825-04:002014-10-01T12:24:38.825-04:00I also believe relationship skills are essential ...I also believe relationship skills are essential - pastors must live out a ministry of empathy and understanding <br />, embodying what they teach. A cold lecture, no matter how skillfully crafted just doesn't cut it. Must connect with people's hearts, where they live!JaneIvesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-44363259166045642632014-09-25T10:53:49.599-04:002014-09-25T10:53:49.599-04:00Well said, Rick! The amount of time the pastor sp...Well said, Rick! The amount of time the pastor spends in sermon preparation was the expected minimum norm in every preaching class I took 50 years ago. As for discipling new converts/members, we need to ask ourselves this question: "is my church community a place where a new born Christian will be nurtured and grow?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-64873929628797806762014-09-24T21:38:42.932-04:002014-09-24T21:38:42.932-04:00Well said!Well said!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10156828063407834504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-3563957419578017312014-01-08T19:58:51.992-05:002014-01-08T19:58:51.992-05:00Thank you for this Rick! I am thrilled to have som...Thank you for this Rick! I am thrilled to have some words and a framework to help understand my own experiences over the past few years and my evolving relationship with the church, the people there, and my other volunteer activities. Although I have never been a "wealthy" person, the hardships that came my way put me in the position of being a receiver instead of a giver. (although I have tried to do my best to continue giving in some way or another if only at a minimal level) I have learned much and am eager to share that to hopefully "enlighten" others. Patiently awaiting what God has in store for me next...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11406783729753833914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-61281058815663953542013-08-28T15:45:36.852-04:002013-08-28T15:45:36.852-04:00Very exciting! Very exciting! Melissa Yosua-Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12989017327801549423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-61335176349304784192011-04-15T14:42:16.138-04:002011-04-15T14:42:16.138-04:00I agree with your assessment Rick. These may not ...I agree with your assessment Rick. These may not be new ideas for some but they are for others, which is why he needed to write it. I suggested the book for a relative who has been struggling after his mother's recent death because she was not a church-goer at the end of her life. And the response I got from long-time Methodists who study Scripture and are leaders in their church: "How could you recommend a book like that? Rob Bell could be a false prophet. How do you know Rob Bell is right?" To which I responded, "Because of what Jesus taught about the confidently religious who were so sure of their own worthiness and others' unworthiness. "No one's going to take away what I've believed all my life," was the final response I got. It made me sad.rev. mommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530417846946289656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-83695261990337100512010-11-13T12:49:02.068-05:002010-11-13T12:49:02.068-05:00perhaps some of their folks are simply tired of th...perhaps some of their folks are simply tired of this the latest "new idea" to "turn around" the church (or as one of my friends refers to the phenomenon, "twelve keys to ten doors to five windows to three steps to a new church.")circus writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553613454379689412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-82053243545453808682010-06-23T11:23:24.178-04:002010-06-23T11:23:24.178-04:00Amen! God in Jesus reveals a deep love that, like...Amen! God in Jesus reveals a deep love that, like the prodigal father, gives freedom to accept, growing, and reciprocate God's initiating love. I needed to read this and praise our God for the grace offered us. I have been exposed too frequently to messages of God's plan, which presents my beloved savior as manipulative or a harsh judge. I can not stand by and allow my Lord to be so poorly represented. I am called to represent my God through my holiness. My holiness in Christ is known by the fruit I yield, and the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Are these not also the marks of our Lord? Furthermore, since God is love, we can learn of God's nature through reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Verse 5 speaks of how love, among other actions, does not insist on its own way. Thank you, Rick for reminding us that the suffering throughout the world are neither God's desire, nor are they God's closely followed plan. I find comfort in the presence of our God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who each call us to be a new creation rather than impose the Father's will as cruel taskmasters. Praise our Lord and savior. Alleluia! Amen!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-30165931138434149032010-04-02T18:36:29.536-04:002010-04-02T18:36:29.536-04:00Thanks for this suggestion. I will try it. Hope...Thanks for this suggestion. I will try it. Hope all is going well with you.<br /><br />DeColores, Dan DemersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-85180936974927398072010-02-26T15:26:29.494-05:002010-02-26T15:26:29.494-05:00And some people wonder whether or not the good new...And some people wonder whether or not the good news of Jesus Christ is counter to the culture of whatever power currently rules.<br /><br />I imagine the Romans surrounded the Christians in the first century singing their own version of "God bless Rome."<br /><br />If we could only learn....scituatedrevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12558412920882066184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-44523775220656791122010-01-01T19:36:47.649-05:002010-01-01T19:36:47.649-05:00Amen. Thanks for issuing these challenges, and tha...Amen. Thanks for issuing these challenges, and thanks for your faithfulness, Rick.<br /><br />Happy New Year to you and Lori!Allen Ewing-Merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15667063005282050490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-73476294040478946402009-11-25T08:14:53.341-05:002009-11-25T08:14:53.341-05:00My life was changed forever in unexpected ways whe...My life was changed forever in unexpected ways when the implied promise of a parent being there for me was broken. For a long time I blamed God for this loss but over many years, looking back, I see that this loss was part of God's plan. Although I will never agree with God...I just can't get there...I accept God's plan for my life and the other lives this "broken" promise affected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-32969331335878536702009-11-03T17:44:13.822-05:002009-11-03T17:44:13.822-05:00Rick - I really like this post and I think I most ...Rick - I really like this post and I think I most appreciate your choice of the term worship gatherings. If we don't make church so formal, we can more readily meet people where they are, not where we would want them to be.Poetry Where You Livehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301588707001889995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-4681889873364237252009-10-29T01:03:32.972-04:002009-10-29T01:03:32.972-04:00Wonderful!! We also wrote on how to participate i...Wonderful!! We also wrote on how to participate in a fair trade halloween this year: http://fashionableearth.org/blog/2009/10/28/fair-trade-halloween/Fashionable Earthhttp://www.fashionableearth.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-91151272270890880672009-07-09T18:16:44.995-04:002009-07-09T18:16:44.995-04:00wow, I like your blogwow, I like your blogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9026838038575759215.post-67141302567587906332009-06-05T09:30:11.715-04:002009-06-05T09:30:11.715-04:00The figure of the wars are very horrific. Its very...The figure of the wars are very horrific. Its very sad that some peoples ambitions to rule the world has killed so many human lives. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_war_2" rel="nofollow">World War II</a> was one of the worst wars in the history of man kind as so many soldiers died, but the worst was that the weapons of mass destruction were brought in use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com