Comments for iMissional.org http://imissional.org Initiatives Missional Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:22:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Vol 3: 7 A Church in Which the Spirit Dwells: Organizing Around the Moving of the Holy Spirit by Roland http://imissional.org/2012/02/14/vol-3-7-a-church-in-which-the-spirit-dwells-organizing-around-the-moving-of-the-holy-spirit/#comment-342 Roland Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:22:38 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=475#comment-342 <p>Thanks Linda - I will look into doing that.</p> Thanks Linda – I will look into doing that.

]]> Comment on Vol 3: 7 A Church in Which the Spirit Dwells: Organizing Around the Moving of the Holy Spirit by Roland http://imissional.org/2012/02/14/vol-3-7-a-church-in-which-the-spirit-dwells-organizing-around-the-moving-of-the-holy-spirit/#comment-341 Roland Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:22:16 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=475#comment-341 <p>I agree, but too often as human pastors we forget that we are at most undershepherds to Jesus who is indeed the shepherd. In fact it is the Spirit of God who truly is the one who leads a community - therefore requiring us to discern the moving and gifting of the Spirit in our midst. If pastors do not take their cues from the Spirit in an attitude of servantship - then we are dancing with lions.</p> I agree, but too often as human pastors we forget that we are at most undershepherds to Jesus who is indeed the shepherd. In fact it is the Spirit of God who truly is the one who leads a community – therefore requiring us to discern the moving and gifting of the Spirit in our midst. If pastors do not take their cues from the Spirit in an attitude of servantship – then we are dancing with lions.

]]> Comment on Vol 2:30 Mission and Evangelism: Being Intentional and Deliberate by Roland http://imissional.org/2011/09/23/vol-230-mission-and-evangelism-being-intentional-and-deliberate/#comment-340 Roland Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:20:10 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=315#comment-340 <p>Yes, God in our conversations ought not to created stilted conversations, but conversations that open people to the possibility of their being made whole with God and with others.</p> Yes, God in our conversations ought not to created stilted conversations, but conversations that open people to the possibility of their being made whole with God and with others.

]]> Comment on Vol 2:30 Mission and Evangelism: Being Intentional and Deliberate by Cari Gibbons http://imissional.org/2011/09/23/vol-230-mission-and-evangelism-being-intentional-and-deliberate/#comment-331 Cari Gibbons Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:33:17 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=315#comment-331 <p>Wow this is so good and how true. I am wondering if you can recall who said the words, "I resolve not to have any conversation from here on to the end of my life without the mention of God." (this is paraphrased) I am thinking along the lines of Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield?</p> Wow this is so good and how true. I am wondering if you can recall who said the words, “I resolve not to have any conversation from here on to the end of my life without the mention of God.” (this is paraphrased) I am thinking along the lines of Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield?

]]> Comment on Vol 3: 7 A Church in Which the Spirit Dwells: Organizing Around the Moving of the Holy Spirit by Paul Scott http://imissional.org/2012/02/14/vol-3-7-a-church-in-which-the-spirit-dwells-organizing-around-the-moving-of-the-holy-spirit/#comment-330 Paul Scott Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:00:20 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=475#comment-330 <p>Sheep have always needed a shepherd to look to. Without a guide they stray and may die for lack of food and water. Without the protection of the rod and staff, many will find themselves dancing with lions.</p> Sheep have always needed a shepherd to look to. Without a guide they stray and may die for lack of food and water. Without the protection of the rod and staff, many will find themselves dancing with lions.

]]> Comment on Vol 3: 7 A Church in Which the Spirit Dwells: Organizing Around the Moving of the Holy Spirit by Linda Wiens http://imissional.org/2012/02/14/vol-3-7-a-church-in-which-the-spirit-dwells-organizing-around-the-moving-of-the-holy-spirit/#comment-327 Linda Wiens Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:54:16 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=475#comment-327 <p>I think this article is beautifully written, and I have indeed experienced our church community in this way over the last year or so.</p> <p>I think this article should be submitted to and printed by The Mennonite. For that purpose, you might consider changing one expression: "rhythmic dance" in line 2 of point 4. That expression suggests a set pattern, maybe even stilted. I think what you mean is a "dance of varying rhythms".</p> <p>I feel confident that if we continue as the article describes we will increasingly develop eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to do where and what the Spirit leads. And it won't really matter whether the congregation grows, but it probably will.</p> I think this article is beautifully written, and I have indeed experienced our church community in this way over the last year or so.

I think this article should be submitted to and printed by The Mennonite. For that purpose, you might consider changing one expression: “rhythmic dance” in line 2 of point 4. That expression suggests a set pattern, maybe even stilted. I think what you mean is a “dance of varying rhythms”.

I feel confident that if we continue as the article describes we will increasingly develop eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to do where and what the Spirit leads. And it won’t really matter whether the congregation grows, but it probably will.

]]> Comment on Vol 3:6 Let’s Get Rid of Leadership: The Need for a New Vocabulary to Reframe Our Concepts of Leading by Linda Wiens http://imissional.org/2012/02/07/vol-36-lets-get-rid-of-leadership-the-need-for-a-new-vocabulary-to-reframe-our-concepts-of-leading/#comment-286 Linda Wiens Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:50:23 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=470#comment-286 <p>I think these are excellent points. I have read and taught a lot about "leadership", and yes, it does mean "taking charge", "taking control" to people. There are different views about HOW it can and should be exercised. It's also true that the word means a state of being or a position. It is a noun, not a verb.</p> <p>Your comparison to Jesus' temptation by Satan is very apt and instructive. "... required him to empty himself of his divinity" is like "empty myself of my preconceived outcome and my belief that I have to bring it about" in any task, project or mission. If I see myself as God's servant I will always be checking what He wants me to do, what part He has for me.</p> I think these are excellent points. I have read and taught a lot about “leadership”, and yes, it does mean “taking charge”, “taking control” to people. There are different views about HOW it can and should be exercised. It’s also true that the word means a state of being or a position. It is a noun, not a verb.

Your comparison to Jesus’ temptation by Satan is very apt and instructive. “… required him to empty himself of his divinity” is like “empty myself of my preconceived outcome and my belief that I have to bring it about” in any task, project or mission. If I see myself as God’s servant I will always be checking what He wants me to do, what part He has for me.

]]> Comment on Vol 3:4 Can Jesus be our Starting Point for Engaging in God’s Mission? by Linda Wiens http://imissional.org/2012/01/24/vol-34-can-jesus-be-our-starting-point-for-engaging-in-gods-mission/#comment-261 Linda Wiens Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:15:37 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=461#comment-261 <p>I agree with you, Roland. After reflecting on the three objections by the authors I disagree with them, though I would say that any human approach to Christian living can go off the rails.</p> <p>Jesus WAS sent to SHOW us the way AND to BE the way. So he should surely be our start point. And He left the Holy Spirit with us, to connect us with Him and the Father. That provides us with a way to know in our hearts what God has for us to do and how to do it, to participate in His mission here on earth.</p> I agree with you, Roland. After reflecting on the three objections by the authors I disagree with them, though I would say that any human approach to Christian living can go off the rails.

Jesus WAS sent to SHOW us the way AND to BE the way. So he should surely be our start point. And He left the Holy Spirit with us, to connect us with Him and the Father. That provides us with a way to know in our hearts what God has for us to do and how to do it, to participate in His mission here on earth.

]]> Comment on Vol 3:3 Competing Fictions and the Mission of God by Roland http://imissional.org/2012/01/17/vol-33-competing-fictions-and-the-mission-of-god/#comment-251 Roland Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:48:08 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=457#comment-251 <p>Yes, Linda, you are correct - confession is the first step. Yet, we need to act on our confession - otherwise we will quickly diminish the intent of our confession - living by a different narrative, than the narrative of accumulation, is what we are called to do - with the help of our communities rooted in Jesus Christ.</p> Yes, Linda, you are correct – confession is the first step. Yet, we need to act on our confession – otherwise we will quickly diminish the intent of our confession – living by a different narrative, than the narrative of accumulation, is what we are called to do – with the help of our communities rooted in Jesus Christ.

]]> Comment on Vol 3:3 Competing Fictions and the Mission of God by Linda Wiens http://imissional.org/2012/01/17/vol-33-competing-fictions-and-the-mission-of-god/#comment-249 Linda Wiens Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:27:55 +0000 http://imissional.org/?p=457#comment-249 <p>I strongly agree. But we must get beyond that first step of confession.</p> <p>For that, we might challenge ourselves to do some of these: * Turn off the TV and radio that blares so much advertising at us. * Invite friends in and make dinner together for a birthday party, instead of out to a fancy eatery. * Decide NOT to buy a desirable new gadget, or delay a home renovation even though a "sale is on". * Admit it when violating your own "green" intentions, and keep that an exception. * Get books, CDs, DVDs from the library instead of the store and give the savings to your preferred charity. * Examine all the things you could do without, and actually do without a few.</p> <p>The "Empire" invites us to do ever more "virtual living" - through our possessions. through "luxury" experiences (condos, cruises, restaurants) and through our computers/Ipods etc. It's very enticing, but "real, practical living" gives us the joy of experiencing and appreciating all of God's beautiful creation.</p> I strongly agree. But we must get beyond that first step of confession.

For that, we might challenge ourselves to do some of these: * Turn off the TV and radio that blares so much advertising at us. * Invite friends in and make dinner together for a birthday party, instead of out to a fancy eatery. * Decide NOT to buy a desirable new gadget, or delay a home renovation even though a “sale is on”. * Admit it when violating your own “green” intentions, and keep that an exception. * Get books, CDs, DVDs from the library instead of the store and give the savings to your preferred charity. * Examine all the things you could do without, and actually do without a few.

The “Empire” invites us to do ever more “virtual living” – through our possessions. through “luxury” experiences (condos, cruises, restaurants) and through our computers/Ipods etc. It’s very enticing, but “real, practical living” gives us the joy of experiencing and appreciating all of God’s beautiful creation.

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