Went to K2 Today

This was a fifth Sunday, which meant that our service centers around the Lord's Supper. We always say "as we gather around the table" - well, we actually do - we sit in the round. No preaching - sometimes faith stories; a lot of old fashioned scripture reading; taking a longer period of time to celebrate the Supper. I love 5th Sundays! It gives me an opportunity to visit local churches.
I fellowship with about 20 "pastors" every month in various meetings during each month; so, I pick one of their churches and surprise them.
Today, I went to a church plant called "K2 The Church". They've been meeting for ten months, and average about 600! They really are geared to the non-churched Gen Xers. They meet in a old warehouse, where they share the building with another church plant that meets there on Saturday night (The Salt City Rock Church, led by my good friend Bill Young). Imagine - churches sharing a building! Love that team work!
Saw some things that we can learn from and do better on (some of the reason I visit these growing churches!) - but also came away for an appreciation of Southside in many ways.
I would encourage you to go and visit another church every now and then. 1) It keeps you fresh with how a visitor feels; 2) You learn something you can do better; 3) You encourage a fellow minister; 4) You grow unity in the body of Christ; 5) You will always learn something about yourself!
When you go and visit them; they will come and visit you! Bridges are always a good thing to build.

Theological Pagans

Keith has been my neighbor for the last 12 years. When you saw him he was always sipping a beer. He couldn't say good morning without taking the Lord's name in vain. He didn't care if my four year old was standing there with me, his language was as colorful as the land of Oz. He smoked liked a chimney. Took me four years to realize his house didn't have a fireplace.

He was religious. When I asked him about if he had faith, "Hell, yea. I'm Greek Orthodox. Great church," then add, "glad your a Christian, hate to live by a *%#@ " Oooookay. He was religious- but without a walk with God.

Keith passed away Sunday night. I will miss him. He was my "Wilson" - we had many talks between the backyard fence.

Keith reminds me of what I see in a lot of people. Theological pagans. You know them too - they have a church affliation, may even go most of the time - yet they do not have a relationship with God. Ritual without righteousness.
A person whose language, thoughts, activities, speech, schedule - have no bent toward the kingdom of God - much less being involved in the kingdom beyond Sunday assembly. Although they "know" God - His values do not penetrate their lives.

May our lives be relfective of a relationship with God. May our faith be a lifestyle - not a "religion".

Won't you be my neighbor?

An Easier Question

Now, for an easier question - the worst remake of all time? Maybe here you could very easily come up with a top ten list with no trouble at all. (I know these aren't deep wells from which to drink; but it is summer - time to kick back and relax!). After your responses, I'll give my list

best remake of all time?

In looking over the movies offered this summer I am disappointed to see so many remakes of old movies. Today, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" continues the trend. (The "Bad News Bears" screening is tomorrow).
What, in your opinion, is the best remake of all time?

One Sign for Christian Churches?

Here in Salt Lake we are beginning a new thing - well, actually, its not new, one of our pastors saw this idea in England and told a few of us about it. So, a few of us decided that it would be great for Salt Lake.
Here's the idea: We would all have the same sign on the outside of our buildings. It will say something like (not the exact wording) - One Church. One Lord. One Gospel. Come here and learn more!
I love that! We hope it will be a witness to the LDS community (who were founded on the idea that the Christian church does not get along with each other) and others that we, as churches who proclaim Christ as Lord, are on the same team!
There have been several lunches to pitch the idea - so far 15 have signed up! 2 more lunches are planned. ( I am to go to the one in August). We hope to have 30 churches signed up as a starting point by September 1st. We're hoping for a lot of press coverage - to be a witness of unity!
Our church hasn't signed up yet - I want to learn all the ins and outs before talking with our leadership about it.
Any thoughts? Positive? Negative?

reflectin'

Ah, to sit under a shade tree sipping an ice cold DP. Good time to do some reflectin'. I was thinking that our preteens are going to camp tomorrow. A minister from the Christian church wanted to be a counselor at camp. The camping board, comprised of several churches of Christ in Idaho, said that he couldn't come. Another young man is going - he was accepted as a counselor - beside the fact that he hasn't been to assembly for the last 6 months. But - he does belong to a "church of Christ" - he goes to the "right" church, so he is automatically qualified. Go figure.
Goodness. I think we need a 12 step program. PA. Pharisees Anonymous. We need some serious intervention. Lets kidnap 'em - blindfolded - and get them to treatment.
I still remember a sermon by Jimmy Allen when I was a sophomore at Harding. It was on undenominational Christianity. Dr. Allen - 30 years later - we still need to hear that sermon!
I also remember the prophetic voice of Landon Saunders in some preaching tapes that Jerry Jones made us listen to make this bold statement "In thirty years a new restoration movement will arise . . . and we (the churches of Christ) will be the first group to oppose it." H-o-l-y cow.
Well, I'm out of D.P. I'll be back soon.

Steps of Salvation?

I believed for a long time of a formula for salvation - you heard, you believed, you repented, you confessed, you were baptized - your sins were washed away, then you recieved the Holy Spirit, you were in a "saved" relationship with Christ. But - it had to be in that order. I find myself rethinking the formula in light of a careful study of the book of Acts. Edward Fudge addresses this very issue in this timely post in his "gracEmail" of a few days ago. I wanted to share it with you.


gracEmail (BAPTISM BEFORE SALVATION?)
Edward FudgeJul 4, 2005
A gracEmail subscriber asks whether there are any examples after Acts chapter 2 of people being saved before they were baptized in water.
* * *I believe you will find a clear example of this in the case of Cornelius and his family and friends. Notice the order of events as described by both Peter and Luke. Peter tells the listeners at Cornelius' house about Jesus and promises them that whoever believes in Jesus has remission of sins (10:43). Those present do believe in Jesus (11:17; 15:9). God sees their faith and purifies their hearts (15:8-9). God then baptizes them in the Spirit and gives them the Holy Spirit as a witness of his acceptance of them (11:15-18). They speak in tongues (10:44-46). When Peter sees that God has accepted these people, he commands them to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ (10:47-48).
Is this the exclusive pattern for every situation? Not at all. Nor can it be explained away as an exception to some otherwise-exclusive rule. Conversion involves a personal encounter with Christ and a relationship with the living God. Conversions throughout the Book of Acts regularly involve a cluster of realities -- repentance and faith, water baptism, the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins -- but these realities unfold in a nvariety of sequences depending on the people involved and their particular circumstances.
On Pentecost the people are told to repent and be baptized for remission of sins and reception of the Spirit (Acts 2). However, the Samaritans receive water baptism but not the Holy Spirit until Peter and John lay hands on them (Acts 8). Nor do all saved persons speak in tongues -- even those who are Spirit-filled -- though some certainly do. God is not bound by any fixed order nor plan -- although he is always faithful to do whatever he promises in any situation. Let us be content to fulfill the Great Commission -- sharing the good news of Jesus, making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to follow Jesus. God will do the forgiving, Jesus Christ will do the baptizing in the Spirit. Together they will give whatever gifts they see fit to all God's people. We can keep busy enough doing what God has told us to do. We do not need to try and take on God's job as well. ___________________ © 2005 by Edward Fudge. Unlimited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. For encouragement and spiritual food any time, visit our multimedia website at www.EdwardFudge.com

New Definition of Freedom

By the way - anyone notice the new picture? It had been 18 years since I had a studio picture made - since ACU and Pepperdine wanted an updated picture for their lecturship booklets, I decided to breakdown and "get-er-done". Man, I hate to do that!
Over the 4th of July I kept thinking about freedom. I wonder how Elizabeth Smart would now define freedom; I thought of that little girl found in Denny's in northern Idaho after being held captive for six weeks. Do they have a new perspective on what it means to be free?
For me, this fourth of July, was more than just watching a fireworks show. I had a new appreciation for my freedom. Not just my freedom to be in America; but my freedom being in Christ!
I wonder how Legion or Mary Magdalene described being free in Christ? You see, a former captive always has a better definition and appreciation of freedom.
Remember today - we who were formerly captive to sin - have been set free! Let us go "fourth" and set the world on "fire" (not based on our "works") with our message of freedom!!!

walking around the walls

Several pastors here in Salt Lake have formed a prayer accountability group. We meet each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to pray together. Once a year we gather in downtown SLC - the heart of the city - to pray for the city and the people that work and gather in the downtown area. We prayed for each other for about 20 minutes, then we split into teams of two or three and walked around praying for people. My group was assigned to walk around temple square (the city block that hosts the temple, the tablernacle, the assembly hall of the LDS and of course, the temple). In our group there were three of us. As Greg Johnson and I were walking and praying we noticed that Travis was not with us! We turned around to see him annointing a corner of the temple square wall with oil. He had put the sign of the cross on the plaque - blessing the wall - and all the people within those walls to know the truth of the gospel.
So, we each took turns annointing each corner, each plaque, with the sign of the cross. We then annointed the building where the 12 LDS apostles and president Hickley have their offices. (We went on around later and the cross was very visible on each sign!)
Did we feel a little foolish? Yes. Did it seem a little silly? Maybe. We talked about how foolish Gideon and his men felt taking on the Midianites with just vases and trumpets. Yet, the great army was defeated! Or how the Israelites must have felt to march around Jericho with trumpets and shouts, yet the walls feel down!
It felt good to do something a little out of the box - maybe even a little "foolish". Remember, the waters only dried up after the priest's sandals touched the water!
God will get out of His box when we get out of ours.