Money and Sex

Yesterday's service went well. Recently it hit me that while couples may fight about sex and money those are two topics we hear so little about at church. I know we tend to address these things in the contexts of other "broader" issues like stewardship, relationships, or something else. However, the question in my head lately is "why". Why not hit these topics head on? What does the B-I-B-L-E say about sex and money? Yesterday we tackled money head on. We not only hit the well known passages like "give to Caesar what is Caesar's...etc" but also passages where Jesus tells the pharisees what He thinks about their tithing but forgetting things like justice and faithfulness. Now I think I've started something with this "head's on" approach. I guess I better get to work on the "sex" sermon next.

Leadership revisited

I want to thank everyone for their responses to my leadership question. Some left comments here on the blog while other called to discuss the question. Either way some productive conversations have spun off this. I want to encourage everyone to continue exploring this issue.
Here are a few bullet points that have crossed my mind lately in this discussion.

• What is the difference between church leadership and ministry leadership?
• Can a ministry leader learn certain techniques and people skills from a business leader? (and vice versa)
• Can a business actually be a ministry? If so, what is the goal of the business?

I hope these things do not muddy the waters any but rather help spur on more thinking.

On a completely different note. Natalie's pictures that were taken at daycare a few weeks ago will be in today and tomorrow. I have not seen them yet but I'm sure one will find its way onto the blog somehow. She's talking more and more every day and recently she has discovered that shrill scream that little kids can project. Isn't life grand. :-)

leadership

Here is a question that has come up recently. What, if any, is the difference between business leadership and ministry leadership? I don't want to influence anyone's response with my own comments at this point. I know what my opinion is but I really would like some feedback from others. Feel free to make a comment here, e-mail me (theodude@juno.com) or just give me a call. I'm looking forward to your responses.

Starbucks Jesus

Do you believe in him? Do you put your life behind your belief? Those are the two questions going through my mind lately. If I say I truly believe in Jesus do my choices reflect that belief? Am I satisfied with simply believing in comfort or am I comfortably uncomfortable following Jesus whereever He is going? Afterall, Jesus is limitless in His creativity. Just when we think He can't surprise us anymore He does. So what does that look like in every day life? I believe it begins with a willingness to ask "what if" type questions. (check out Allison's "what if " entry)http://www.sidestreet-allison.blogspot.com/

As we ask what if questions we begin to see the places where the only thing we have to hold on to is Jesus Himself and we really the discover the work that He is doing in, around, and through you. The work that is performed to impact others.

This Sunday we will explore this a little further in the sermon "Starbucks Jesus".

C3

Yesterday I had the chance to attend the Creative Church Conference led by Ed Young Jr. here in Jacksonville. It was AWESOME! Ed is a great communicator and has really inspired me over the past several years to think more creatively about church, preaching, and ministry as a whole. Here are a few bullet points I took from the day.

• God is all about creativity-He is the Creator.


• Church should be comfortably uncomfortable.


• Leaders take people where they need to be not always where they want to be.


• Don't be afraid to ask hard questions and be ready to listen, listen, listen.


• Surround yourself with the right "T.H.E.Y"-Tough, Honest, Encouraging, Yielded to God.


• My favorite line was....be consistently inconsistent. (As far as methodology...in other words don't be predictable...the gospel never changes)

It was a great experience and I highly recommend the C3 conference for anyone who is considering it.