Received this story (or something close to it) a couple of different times in the past couple of weeks. Thought I'd check the story out and pass it along if it turned out to be true. It is, and the message is worth it, so is the song - "Before You Go".
My father-in-law was a pilot during WWII. He died almost 5 years ago. I'm sure he would have appreciated this story and song, whether he would have said anything to anyone about it or not. I still miss him....... and will until we are reunited again. Thank you Dean.
26 January 2006
25 January 2006
5 Year Checkup
1999 marks the year that the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention took a major hit. That is the year that the Baptist Foundation of AZ declared bankruptcy. One of the results of that explosion was that the structure of the ASBC was radically changed.
At the Convention in 1999, 17 people (pastors, laymen, a church secretary, and retired Navy Chaplain) from different parts of Az were appointed "to emerge a vision map strategy for our convention." The two-fold mission of the vision task force was: (1) To develop a convention wide vision. (2) To propose any structural or constitutional changes needed to support the vision. They were to report back to the 2000 ASB Convention with their vision and recommendations for its implementation.
They returned with a Mission statement: "The purpose of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention is to assist the Arizona Southern Baptist Churches in fulfilling the Great Commission."
They also returned 12 different recommendations. These recommendations drastically changed the structure and focus of the Convention at that point. One of those recommendations was for the new structure to be evaluated in 5 years. This structure has been in place for 5 years now.
At our Convention last November, 9 of us were approved as members of an Evaluation Team (eTeam for short). The makeup of the eTeam includes 3 Directors of Missions, a BCM Assistant Director, a lady who works in one of the Associations in the state, and 4 pastors - including a former President of our Convention. Our current President, Dan Coker, attends the meetings as a consultant, along with our State Missionary, Steve Bass, and the lady who makes sure it all happens - Mary.
We met last week to decide how we are going to go about doing our 5 year checkup. We need to report back to the Convention in November, so that is our main deadline. No one does much of anything outside in the summer here in Az, so we are trying to have most of the hard stuff done before it gets kinda warm.
I'm looking forward to finding the perceptions of how the current structure is working in the eyes of others in our state. It is going to be a bit of work (Ok, probably a lot of work), but I think it will be worth it in the long run.
I have the pleasure of designing a survey instrument (Thanks Julie.....) to help us determine the perceptions of leaders in the churches of our state.
I hope to bring updates fairly regularly on what we are doing (as much as possible), and the progress of the evaluation.
At the Convention in 1999, 17 people (pastors, laymen, a church secretary, and retired Navy Chaplain) from different parts of Az were appointed "to emerge a vision map strategy for our convention." The two-fold mission of the vision task force was: (1) To develop a convention wide vision. (2) To propose any structural or constitutional changes needed to support the vision. They were to report back to the 2000 ASB Convention with their vision and recommendations for its implementation.
They returned with a Mission statement: "The purpose of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention is to assist the Arizona Southern Baptist Churches in fulfilling the Great Commission."
They also returned 12 different recommendations. These recommendations drastically changed the structure and focus of the Convention at that point. One of those recommendations was for the new structure to be evaluated in 5 years. This structure has been in place for 5 years now.
At our Convention last November, 9 of us were approved as members of an Evaluation Team (eTeam for short). The makeup of the eTeam includes 3 Directors of Missions, a BCM Assistant Director, a lady who works in one of the Associations in the state, and 4 pastors - including a former President of our Convention. Our current President, Dan Coker, attends the meetings as a consultant, along with our State Missionary, Steve Bass, and the lady who makes sure it all happens - Mary.
We met last week to decide how we are going to go about doing our 5 year checkup. We need to report back to the Convention in November, so that is our main deadline. No one does much of anything outside in the summer here in Az, so we are trying to have most of the hard stuff done before it gets kinda warm.
I'm looking forward to finding the perceptions of how the current structure is working in the eyes of others in our state. It is going to be a bit of work (Ok, probably a lot of work), but I think it will be worth it in the long run.
I have the pleasure of designing a survey instrument (Thanks Julie.....) to help us determine the perceptions of leaders in the churches of our state.
I hope to bring updates fairly regularly on what we are doing (as much as possible), and the progress of the evaluation.
17 January 2006
My Shoulder hurts
Spent the last couple of days working at the Food Bank. Had some construction that needed to happen when people weren't around. Worked with some people who I am getting to know. I found out that just cuz you are older means that you know what to do or how to do it. I also learned that sometimes a younger person knows how to do something better than an older person. Sometimes there can be too much instruction going on. Other times, there is not enough to do to keep everyone busy.
Anyway, my shoulder hurts now. But the job is done, and the folks using it will be in a safer environment, and we have the satisfaction of a job well done.
Anyway, my shoulder hurts now. But the job is done, and the folks using it will be in a safer environment, and we have the satisfaction of a job well done.
12 January 2006
IMB Trustee Actions Summarized
Joel Rainey summarizes what has been happening with the IMB Trustees on his blog. His summary is concise and too the point. He does a much better job of it than I would if I tried.
If you want to catch up on what has happened, spend some time snooping around SBC Outpost. Marty is in the trenches in this one - not surprising since he likes to wear camo to the convention.
If you want to catch up on what has happened, spend some time snooping around SBC Outpost. Marty is in the trenches in this one - not surprising since he likes to wear camo to the convention.
10 January 2006
The More things Change, the More they stay the Same
Lately, the trustees of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention have made some changes to their policies concerning baptism and tongues. It has cause a bit of an uproar in many places and with many people to say the least.
I spoke with a pastor friend of mine yesterday concerning his involvement in denominational life. He had been heavily involved in his local association, state convention, and also on the national level (Sunday School Board, etc). By his count, he was serving on 13 different committees / boards at the time. I didn't recognize it then, but looking back, I noticed that all of a sudden, he quit being involved with anything and anyone other than on the local level. He was very clear about his reasons for quitting and very open with me about them. He got fed up with the politics - plain and simple. Sick and tired of putting up with them, being on a rubber stamp committee and not being able to change anything that needed to be changed.
It would appear that although time has continued to march on, politics is still politics, not much has changed.
I spoke with a pastor friend of mine yesterday concerning his involvement in denominational life. He had been heavily involved in his local association, state convention, and also on the national level (Sunday School Board, etc). By his count, he was serving on 13 different committees / boards at the time. I didn't recognize it then, but looking back, I noticed that all of a sudden, he quit being involved with anything and anyone other than on the local level. He was very clear about his reasons for quitting and very open with me about them. He got fed up with the politics - plain and simple. Sick and tired of putting up with them, being on a rubber stamp committee and not being able to change anything that needed to be changed.
It would appear that although time has continued to march on, politics is still politics, not much has changed.
09 January 2006
A Friend has moved on......
I've been a pastor for the grand total of 2 years now. There have been several things that have surprised me in that time. One of them has been a friendship that developed between a fellow pastor and myself. Carl is a pastor in the Assembly of God denomination. He served as pastor in Morenci for about 6 1/2 years before moving recently to Prescott, AZ. He is now serving as chief cook and bottle washer I think - he said something about being Pastoral Care Pastor before heading out.
I never expected a friendship to blossom between us. I don't know what I was expecting from other pastors in town, but I didn't expect friendship - guess that might show more about my presuppostions than anything else......
Carl taught me many things. How to get involved in a small community by serving in different capacities - Rotary Club (Club Treasurer, Scholarship Committee, plus more), AYSO Soccer, Substitute teaching in the High School, etc. Much of my understanding of the community and its background came from Carl.
We discussed theology - translating about half way through Mark from Greek with Steve - another pastor from our community. We agree on the fundamentals of the faith. Others issues we knew we would not agree on, but would challenge each other on them - not to tear down, but to remind ourselves that we don't have all the answers.
I hope the next pastor in that congregation will be willing to attempt to develop a friendship. I plan on reaching out to him much the same way Carl did to me whenever the body there decides who he is.....
I'm gonna miss you Carl.
I never expected a friendship to blossom between us. I don't know what I was expecting from other pastors in town, but I didn't expect friendship - guess that might show more about my presuppostions than anything else......
Carl taught me many things. How to get involved in a small community by serving in different capacities - Rotary Club (Club Treasurer, Scholarship Committee, plus more), AYSO Soccer, Substitute teaching in the High School, etc. Much of my understanding of the community and its background came from Carl.
We discussed theology - translating about half way through Mark from Greek with Steve - another pastor from our community. We agree on the fundamentals of the faith. Others issues we knew we would not agree on, but would challenge each other on them - not to tear down, but to remind ourselves that we don't have all the answers.
I hope the next pastor in that congregation will be willing to attempt to develop a friendship. I plan on reaching out to him much the same way Carl did to me whenever the body there decides who he is.....
I'm gonna miss you Carl.
The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' Numbers 6:24-26 NASB
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