No Perfect People Allowed
I thorougly enjoyed John Burkes ministry yesterday at the ‘No Perfect People Allowed’ conference. John knows his stuff, he is a smart guy and he has a unique perspective on extending God’s grace to the most irreligious people especially the skeptics and the cynicals.
John inspired me last year to look at how Jesus confronts the Pharisees and religiosity that stops people from encountering God in personal authentic way.
I have never been to a conference before where a speaker asks so many questions. I like it. I think most conference speakers spoon feed peopel rather than getting them to think, because most of the time we know it but don’t think.
Here are some of the Johns questions:
Do I have non chrsitian friends who are becoming the church?
How well do we equip leaders to bridge to the culture?
Do we publicly tell stories of messy people finding faith, growth or healing?
How much do I priortize life-on-life community for myself?
How do we equip our leaders to live in authentic community?
Who are we investing into?
How can I better value developing multiplying leaders?
What systems, processes, or structures are needed to see life-on-life development multiply for years?
These are just afew of the many questions asked at the conference.
My mission this week, is to try and answer each of these questions with all honesty and action to follow.
Pastor Ronnie Fynn, 
Pastor Ronnie Fynn 12:22 pm on August 24, 2008 Permalink |
To Mike Guglumuchi, eversince we became aware of your sitauation we becan to do what is expected of us by the head of the church, Jesus Christ. We are to remove the plank accross our own eyes so as to be able to remove the spec out of your eye. We do this by immediately examining our own lives and then praying for you. This is how we remove the the spec from your eyes without engaging in further damage by trying to do this with the blindfold of the plank accross our own eyes. Jesus did not encourage condoning the sin. He simply said, the damage has been done, now engage yourself in the repair work and not further damage. My wife, my family, the church and I love you and are praying for you.
Planetshakers Insider 5:57 pm on August 23, 2008 Permalink |
Tough question…
Often, part of the problem is that the thin line between faking it and getting it is blurry.
Let’s take prophecy as an example…
More than a few people felt convicted that they were told (by the Holy Spirit) that Mike Guglielmucci would be healed of cancer – obviously not in the way that was described though.
The Holy Spirit is quiet – so quiet that it’s essentially silent. How can we help but fake it sometimes – even when we think we get it?
Joseph Branchflower 3:52 pm on August 23, 2008 Permalink |
Great post! I know as a pastor myself, I am always challenging myself. I can’t go the “got it all together” route. I have had so many pastors tell me that is a fatal flaw, but if I can’t build a church with transparency, then what am I doing? I believe we are in an epidemic of the lack of fearing God. All we hear about is His love, but Jesus told us to fear him, (tremble at his word). No matter how professional we are, how great of a communicator, we all have to realize that our flesh is always waiting to sabotage what grace has given us. I pray that God would wake up any other ministries that are living in the shadows instead of the light, and that He would restore in private and save the destruction that the enemy wants to reap.