"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Northview Church of the Brethren is small, the kind of place where a good half of the members are volunteers. This week, still reeling from last week's terrible news, they've been particularly busy, borrowing folding chairs from Mennonites, setting them up in the church basement, baking casseroles and pies by the score, and lining up a eulogist.
Their co-pastors, Phil and Louise Rieman, died Friday when their car slid on a patch of ice and struck an oncoming truck. They had been on their way to North Manchester to visit relatives.
"It's an event where your head hears one thing, but your heart says, 'No, it can't be,' " said Sally Schrock, a longtime member.
Phil was 64, Louise 63. Their funeral, at 11 a.m. today, is expected to draw about 400 mourners, which is far more than the 90-member church can comfortably accommodate.
The Church of the Brethren is similar to the Quaker church, with its emphasis on...
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father,and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willingmind, for the LORD searches every heart and understandsevery motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he willbe found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject youforever.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Just get a gadget for Christmas, and anxious to learn more about it's GPS capabilities?
Or get your church or ministry 'on the map'?
Or perhaps you'd like to brainstorm with others about how we can best utilize these new capabilities to accelerate 'The Church @ Indianapolis' in 2009?
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
We've set up a Twitter NewsTips group for ICTV and are now looking for those of you on Twitter who would like to follow... or even POST great links, news tips and even 140-ch commentary on the news. Just 'follow' http://Twitter.com/ICTV.
-- We'll select a number of you to then be able to direct-message (dm) your twitter posts to this group.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
December Book Review: William Cavanaugh's BEING CONSUMED
“Rooted in Economic Discernment?”
A Review of Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire. by William Cavanaugh.
By Chris Smith.
Being Consumed:Economics and Christian Desire.William Cavanaugh. Paperback. Eerdmans, 2008.
When William Cavanaugh’s little book Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire was published earlier this year, no one could have guessed how relevant it would become with the recent economic turmoil. This little book of four essays is a tool for helping us reflect in our churches on why we got into this economic mess. The book’s essays are structured around the contrast between pairs of key ideas related to contemporary capitalist economics: “Freedom and Unfreedom,” “Detachment and Attachment,” “The Global and the Local” and “Scarcity and Abundance.”
In the first essay “Freedom and Unfreedom,” Cavanaugh uses Augustine’s concept of freedom as the basis for a Christian critique of the modern capitalist notion of “free markets.” The thrust of his critique lies in the distinction that the capitalist concept of freedom is a “freedom from” that has no clear end, whereas Augustine views freedom as a “freedom for” which has a specific end in mind (i.e., reconciliation with God). Cavanaugh also emphasizes that in contrast to the stark individualistic autonomy of capitalism, the Augustinian view of freedom maintains that others are “crucial to one’s freedom” (9). Our desires, he observes, do not merely bubble up from within us, but rather our desires are formed in a social crucible, being shaped both from within and without (i.e., from our relationships with others). Finally, Cavanaugh highlights Augustine’s notion that everything that exists is good, but only to the extent that they participate in the telos of creation – reconciliation with God. Thus, when we desire things for their own sake, they become nothing to us. Cavanaugh sagely observes that this provides a striking explanation for the addictiveness of consumer behavior:
A person buys something – anything – trying to fill the hole that is the empty shrine. And once the shopper purchases the thing, it turns into a nothing, and she has to head back to the mall to continue the search. With no objective ends to guide the search, her search is literally endless(15).
What are you reading these days? I'd love to feature your review of a recent book here next month! Email the review to me by December 1: e n g l e w o o d r e v i e w [ a.t ] g m a i l [ d.o.t] c o m
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
TechMission, the Christian nonprofit I lead, was founded out of black and Latino churches and ministries that often found themselves on the wrong side of the “digital divide.” They lacked Web sites and computers, and church members were finding it increasingly difficult to get jobs without computer skills. So Bruce Wall Ministries, a community organization in Dorchester, Massachusetts, began a training program that provided computer classes to thousands of at-risk youth and unemployed adults.
But as more people get online, they are encountering another type of digital divide: the online segregation of Christians...
"This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
"For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God."
We just launched an Indianapolis OYB Facebook 'group'... well not a 'group' per se, but a collection of Hoosiers (with a few honorary Hoosiers *wink* sprinkled in) who are making it a goal to read through the Bible... or at least the New Testament... during 2009.
At the very least, we'll be encouraging one another as we go.
At the very most... who knows just what God might do in our communities?
We're already up to 20 leaders taking the challenge. Know any of them? Btw, how about you -- might YOU take up the challenge? Maybe invite someone else you know?
"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Charities Give $3.2 Million To Food Banks And Others
[from the Indianapolis Star...]
Five local philanthropies will unveil a $3.2 million fund today in an unprecedented effort to shore up food banks, homeless shelters and other charities buckling under the demands of a worsening economic crisis.
The money would help provide groceries for the hungry, rental assistance for those on the verge of eviction and other basic human needs.
"Dire times call for drastic measures," said Robert A. MacPherson...
The 12/18/2008 planning luncheon has been canceled.
However, the ongoing ability to pray, plan and pursue the Great Commission together... continues.
Your key collaborative events for 2009 (and beyond) may be posted to the Indy Timeline at any time.
Btw... you may want to specially mark your calendars to be with us in early 2009... for the 1/24/2009 city-mapping activity at the cafe... 10am. We'll be training together and then actively mapping key neighborhoods, prayer groups, churches and ministries involved collaboratively in the Great Commission here in our city's communities.
Here's an interesting challenge from Shepherd Community...
For about the price of your lunch today ($6.50), you could effectively buy a whole day's worth of meals & ministry for one child. The Mary E. Ober Foundation is matching each $6.50 between now and Christmas, to help you accomplish that.
And of course, if you'd like, you can always give more than one day's worth. That's up to you.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
"Colts’ Chaplain, Ken Johnson, will be speaking at Lakeview Church this Sunday, December 7. Ken is also the founder of Emerging Eagles, an organization dedicated to help inspire kids and adults alike."...
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Yesterday's luncheon focused on the Apostle Paul's letter to Titus (chapter 3). Presenters Joe Bartemus, Dave Parry and Rich Johnston each brought their unique insights as they parsed the Greek and shared how they would approach the passage. All three pastors noted a common refrain: Transformation of hearts leads to changed lives... and actions.
"And I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works."
"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful."
This lesson was perhaps punctuated by its illustrative setting.
The luncheon rotated to Christ Covenant Church (OPC) -- a country church outside of Sheridan. Pastor Mark Melton shared the interesting history of the church having (truly) gone through the proverbial fire... and now able to purchase this former school building.
As I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see (and remember) that this church is also the new host of Walnut Grove Preparatory School (K-12)... a Christian academy founded by our friends Chuck and Karen Horn.
Karen Horn (left) and Angie Smith (right)
"Students are taught God's plan for us here on earth and through discipleship and modeling of servant leadership, learn a Biblical model of success. Walnut Grove is a school appropriate for many ability types because classical education meets the student where he is and elevates him to higher levels of learning. Students develop logic skills, spiritual and intellectual discernment, and a strong work ethic. Walnut Grove graduates complete school well prepared to make a positive, powerful impact on the world."(Walnut Grove History)
See all the recent Reformation photos.
As always, it was good to be with these pastors and other friends... and to see the Bible not only studied, but lived out.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Heb 10)
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." And now the LORD says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength-- he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
"The movie is based on a script written by church member Gary Varvel, editorial cartoonist for The Indianapolis Star and a syndicated cartoonist. His son, Brett, a graduate of the telecommunications department at Ball State University, is the director of the movie.
He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
We will have lunch together and a presentation and discussion of Titus 3:8, 12-15 by Joe Bartemus, Dave Parry, and Richard Johnston.
Please join us at Christ Covenant OPC, 6070 N. 900 E., Sheridan, IN 46069 (see www.cc-opc.org for directions) on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at noon for a time of fellowship around the study of God’s Word!
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the church office at 255-7557 or email 'office' (at) SecondRPC.org.
[If you'd like to be on their email list for advance notice of all activities, mention that in your email.]
Barack Obama’s historic and successful campaign for the presidency provided a sweet victory for many voters across the country, and James Mathis of Indianapolis has been adding something else sweet to all the excitement.
Mathis, the owner of Ministry Cookies Inc. has been selling special edition cookies that feature several images of Obama, including him posing alone, with his wife Michelle, with daughters Malia and Sasha, and with Vice president-elect Joe Biden.
During a recent Sunday Mathis brought in dozens of the cookies for members of First Baptist Church North of Indianapolis, his home congregation, to enjoy.
“Man, they ate those cookies up,” Mathis said, laughing. “Everyone tried them and some people even said they wouldn’t eat the cookies, just freeze them and hold on to them as souvenirs. I told them they didn’t have to do that; we can always make more.”
Fun and excitement over Mathis’ products is nothing new...
and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
...and a girl named Tabby who has a dog named Bruce. ...and a guy named Bruce who has a cat named Tabby. Go figure.
We discussed how Twitter, Facebook and other social-networking sites can help missions and global awareness in general.... eg. the recent Mumbai story... being reported minute by minute among tweeters onsite at the hotels under seige.
We also met a number of cafe friends & neighbors... and got to know Betty, a longtime friend of Sister Elease. By the time we were done, not only had Betty learned to get online and surf... but she also was able to make a purchase at an online printing store.
And this is what 'Ask Anything Saturday' is all about -- multicultural HOSPITALITY... pancakes & wifi -- meeting new people and helping each other learn more via the information highway and how we can all help change lives & communities.
"A
centralized media site for Greater Indianapolis Christians. We connect & communicate among 'Driven-Christians in the Racing Capital of
the World' to accelerate the Great Commission!"
"If
you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from
his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one
in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but
in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." (Philippians
2)
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