| Sunday, April 24, 2005 |
| Silversands Church |
Future home of Silversands Church (SBC).
Starting the church plant was difficult (like the time I took a job washing dishes). It really hurt my pride. I mean, come on, I have master's degree (prideful, huh?). Anyways, the price of land is outrageous. Nevertheless, after 5 or was it 10 years of meeting in homes and renting gym space from the school district our building is complete. We still have a long ways to go, but future generations will benefit from our sacrifices. People thought I was insane for wanting to start a church in a community like Silversands (they are snobby, rude, self centered I was told). Besides we are only suppose to carry the gospel into places like the ghetto and the trailer parks of the south, right? The average salary is 150,000, the people are well educated and will not settle for off the cuff religious cliches and bumper sticker theology (keeps me studying). In this community a Chrisitan has to be willing to reason with them (think Paul in the market place and on Mars Hill). Eventually, we will house a first rate library and center for Christian studies (Apologetics, Christian History, Missions, etc). It will be open to the community. One of the church's purposes will be to train Christians to be thinkers, so they can engage the culture both in the market place (e.g., at work) and in the political arena (e.g., at School board meetings, etc). Evangelize the middle and you will eventually capture the top and reach the bottom as well . I call it trickle down evangelism.
We want all kinds Head, Heart and Hand people. Head people are the intellectually geared. Heart people are your artistically ept. Hands are doers (e.g., wood workers, craftsmen). It is a holistic approach to congregational ministry and outreach. Dr. Reynolds of Biola University, eluded this summer, and I was in total agreement, that to often we are lacking in the types of people we reach out to (e.g., we reach only to the jocks). Most family life centers are little more than gymnasiums. Why not build a family life center that has an Arts Center, Computer Lab, Library and a weight room. Maybe, one Sunday the message can be in the form of a play, musical, or some other form of artistic expression that "church folk" are unfamiliar with. The church should be our cultural hub not our Sunday stepchild. We are going to reach them all (Our heriatage is not one of Southern Gospel music only. At one time Christianity dominated the intelligentsia and Arts). Look at the Sistine Chapel, listen to Bach, or read a Classic Christian author and you will see what I mean.
Okay, it is all a vision, but what if? What if I had the courage to step out in faith and obediently follow where I believe God is leading. What if I would swallow my pride and wash dishes...what if I would make tents while planting a church? What if?  |
posted by Rickie @ 10:38 PM   |
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| Wednesday, April 13, 2005 |
| Preterism Gets Its Due |
In a recent storm of denounciation over the Revelations miniseries, Tim Lahaye has also criticized Tyndale for endorsing a preterist novel. How dare another Christian have an eschatology different from the mighty Lahaye? Maybe, he is worried that The Last Disciple will push his work of FICTION off the New York Times Bestseller's List. |
| posted by Rickie @ 10:01 PM |
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| Remember When |
No, you're not looking at a scene from the Matrix. In this world of advance dial, voice activation, push button paging, mobiles, cells and not to mention home cordless phones with gazzilion mghz range, I've decided to keep it real (atleast in my office).
Everything is so easy nowadays. There was a time when dialing a friend meant you had to remember his/her phone number. There was no speed dial, and if you messed up the number you had to hang up and start over.
It was great to hear the sound of the dial swish and then chi chi chi back around. Oh yes boys and girls, this is the real deal, not some look-alike push button wannabe retro phony.
RING RING RING! |
| posted by Rickie @ 8:59 PM |
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| Announcement |
| A friend of mine has started blogging. I think most of you will know him. So check out his site in progress. Lets give him some encouragement. |
| posted by Rickie @ 4:15 PM |
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| About Me |
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Name: Rickie
Home: United States
About Me: I am currently working on a Master of Arts in Apologetics. This site is intended to stimulate discussion, as well as, inform. I welcome differing opinions, especially opposing views that engage me intellectually and challenge me to think in new ways. I may continue to disagree with you, but I welcome the dialogue. The beautiful woman in the picture with me is my wife. I personally think I married one of the most giving and beautiful women in all the world, an opinion that is not open for debate.
See my complete profile
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Jesus wants a child's heart and a grown-up's head. ~C.S. Lewis |
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