https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:07:58 +0000 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:20:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/one-faith-many-answers If we are to attract those in our community who do not attend church, we need to know why they do not attend church.  Over the years I have heard many answers to the question.  One of the complaints is that the church is too restrictive in what they demand of their members. Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/one-faith-many-answers Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:20:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/using-mediation-resolve-conflicts-church As I discussed in my last blog, disagreements happen.  The question I would ask us to consider is, as Christians how should we process disagreements?  Certain at times litigation may be the only alternat Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/using-mediation-resolve-conflicts-church Mon, 13 May 2013 19:57:19 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/how-helpful-are-disagreements Some years ago at a board meeting of community organization another board member said, “O no I just agreed with Lindemulder, I better reconsider”.  He was a good friend of mine, but despite our friendship we had a number of disagreements on a number of issues.  Having served on numerous Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/how-helpful-are-disagreements Mon, 06 May 2013 17:14:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-we-ignoring-elders-synod Two things occurred that are signs summer is almost here.  I received my “Agenda for Synod” and the newspaper reported that Phoenix had its first one hundred degree day.  (I live at an elevation of 3,000 feet so my thermometer did not register the degrees that high.) Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-we-ignoring-elders-synod Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:44:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/one-size-does-not-fit-all One size does not fit all.  That is true for many things in life and it is also true for churches.  I was convinced prior to planting a church in Chandler, Arizona that we would be able to meet the spiritual needs of any person walking through our doors.  Whether they are mature Ch Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/one-size-does-not-fit-all Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:07:51 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/defining-roles-offices-church Is there a difference between being a member of the Finance Committee or a Deacon at your church?  Recently, I was in a Bible Study in which one individual mentioned the fact that raising money for the church budget was the task of the deacons. Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/defining-roles-offices-church Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:36:29 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-we-promoting-individualism-or-community Is it important for the church to be connected with church history and tradition?  In a recent article in the newspaper (may have been the Wall Street Journal, if not then our local Arizona Republic) documented how the present generation of twenty and thirty year olds were spiritual but not Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-we-promoting-individualism-or-community Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:04:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/elders-mind-guns A debate that has been ongoing for years is the question, “Are we able to legislate morality?”  That question may have some relevance in the latest debate concerning the second amendment and gun control.   New laws on background checks, size of guns, and bullets contained in a maga Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/elders-mind-guns Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:53:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/church-check When I arrived in Arizona to “plant” a church, my assignment for the first five months was to visit area churches each Sunday.  I found myself comparing each church as to the facilities, the greeting system, the order of worship and what was my impression in the first five minutes that I was Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/church-check Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:33:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/where-there-will-there-way “Where there is a will there is a way.”  Frequently I hear parents make the comment that the church does not have enough programs for their children.  As council members we sometimes seem to agree and fail to find solutions.  Smaller churches many times experience frustration becau Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/where-there-will-there-way Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:57:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/where-have-all-tulips-gone Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Perseverance of the saints, when is the last time you heard any of those mentioned in a sermon?  How many of your children and young people know what the word, “Tulip” represents in the doctrines of the church? Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/where-have-all-tulips-gone Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:44:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/church-boring Recently, I was listening to the Radio talk show host interviewing a person who had just written a book about spirituality.  The premise of the book was that the church was declining in membership but that individuals were still into “spirituality”.  She said that the church was boring. Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/church-boring Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:16:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/how-important-thanksgiving-day Every year a public proclamation is made by our president to declare a day for “giving thanks”.  I believe that the church should celebrate that proclamation.  In the past, I believed it was important to emphasis that celebration in each community that I was in.  In my last charge Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/how-important-thanksgiving-day Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:25:18 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/church-leadership-and-prayer “This then, is how you should pray” (Matthew 6:9) are the words of Jesus prior to giving us the Lord’s Prayer.  A petition that I have always found difficult to include in my prayers is, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.  Or perhaps in even stronger terms when we find Jes Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/church-leadership-and-prayer Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:09:28 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/leading-behind A phrase we hear during the present political campaign is, “Leading from behind”.  I wonder if that applies to our church government structure as well.  The local congregation delegates representatives to Classis that in turn delegates representatives to Synod.  Synod makes decisio Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/leading-behind Sat, 29 Sep 2012 17:04:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-we-all-equal A recent advertisement for College Football has a player make the following statement, “As individuals we are all equal, however that is not true for teams”.  The implication being that some teams are better than other teams.  However, I would suggest that as individuals we are not all Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-we-all-equal Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:36:38 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/what-your-bottom-line What is the bottom line?  My wife and I just purchased a new car and that was the question that we asked ourselves as well as the dealer who sold us the car.  With that question fresh on my mind, I thought about it in a larger context; namely life.  What is my bottom line as I thin Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/what-your-bottom-line Sat, 25 Aug 2012 15:16:05 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/how-do-we-know-which-story-true The Christian Reformed Church Order Article 63 b reads: “Each Church shall instruct the youth in the Scriptures and in the creeds and the confessions of the church, especially the Heidelberg Catechism.  This instruction shall be supervised by the consistory.” How well are we following t Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/how-do-we-know-which-story-true Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:37:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-you-prejudiced-and-chick-fil-controversy The “Chick-fil-A controversy” has caused many comments that have accused individuals of being biased/prejudiced.  The Christian Church is one of the primary targets.  How should we respond?  I believe it important to make statements that demonstrate a distinction between what we sa Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/are-you-prejudiced-and-chick-fil-controversy Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:53:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/whatever-happened-church-discipline Christian Reformed Church Order, Article 81 a reads, “Members who have sinned in life or doctrine shall be faithfully disciple by the consistory and, if they persist in their sin, shall be excluded from membership in the church of Christ.”  Preceding and following that statement are more ins Al Lindemulder https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/elders/whatever-happened-church-discipline Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:30:32 +0000