Thank you, Melissa! I have said before that we confuse hospitality with hosting, thinking that we must be the perfect host (in a perfect house with a perfect meal attended by perfect children...) when what's needed is welcoming hospitality. We'll bless people more with an open door than a perfect home. ("...Perfect home" just struck me as an oxymoran as I typed it.) Blessings! Stan
Thank you, Chelsea, for this insightful post. I, too, want to see ongoing transformation in my life because that's what the Holy Spirit does and in order to encourage the congregation... Yet I don't want it to be too obvious! What if I let them (and myself!) down? What if it's perceived as showing off? And what about those areas I'd prefer not to see transformed because I'm comfortable with the status quo? May God bless us as we appropriately display and share how He's at work in us! ~Stan
I often feel that labels do more harm than good: They are limiting, create stereotypes, and cannot account for nuances or differences that individuals may have from the label that has been put on them. The only label I'm comfortable trying to apply to myself is "biblical." ~Stan
You mow the lawn. I vacuum. I'll try to remember your words the next time I start vacuuming because of my job and not because the floor needs it. ~Stanley
I, too, push back against the notion of elders being more important than deacons (or vice versa, though that doesn't usually happen). According to CRC Church Order, "no officebearer shall lord it over another officebearer" (Art. 85). I also think of how deacons were needed in the early church BEFORE elders (Ac 6)!
Rebecca's comment above is apt and something for which to strive – being "intentional about identifying our gifts and then making a connection between giftedness and where we serve" when it comes to lots of things, including deacon nominations.
That's an interesting observation, Mavis. I myself haven't used the expression "Facebook friend" probably because I know all my "friends" irl, whether they're bio family, church family, colleagues, acquaintances, "real friends," etc. So perhaps Facebook isn't redefining friendship so much as it is creating a new type of friendship that didn't exist prior to social media. ...Although pen pals do come to mind as something similar. ~Stanley
I think the Network is a good idea, too. I've read and saved a fair bit of helpful material from the insightful and gifted people who populate this corner of the internet. I am thankful for Michael and his time and talents!
For me, the "something missing" is how the Network doesn't integrate into my existing communication and social media tools. I almost wish it were something like "crcnetwork.facebook [or twitter or whatever].com" – a unique area in something I'm already using. The Network would not regularly be on my radar without the reminder emails or the "headlines" in the CRC weekly newsletter, which feel more old-school than I think the Network is trying to be.
I look forward to seeing how the Network continues to develop and bless our church(es)!
This is great! Now I'm more eager to recommend we use this hymn when we ordain our new deacons and elders in a couple weeks. The allusion to Frederick Buechner is cool now that you've explained it to me, but I imagine it would leave a lot of people unfamiliar with his writing scratching their heads. Thank you, Joy, for your reply!
Posted in: 3 Web Design Elements You Should Know
Parallax scrolling. Now I finally know what that's called! Thanks.
S.
Posted in: Good Bye Martha Stewart! Rethinking Hospitality.
Thank you, Melissa! I have said before that we confuse hospitality with hosting, thinking that we must be the perfect host (in a perfect house with a perfect meal attended by perfect children...) when what's needed is welcoming hospitality. We'll bless people more with an open door than a perfect home. ("...Perfect home" just struck me as an oxymoran as I typed it.)
Blessings!
Stan
Posted in: Weight Loss is a Lot Like Sanctification
Thank you, Chelsea, for this insightful post. I, too, want to see ongoing transformation in my life because that's what the Holy Spirit does and in order to encourage the congregation... Yet I don't want it to be too obvious! What if I let them (and myself!) down? What if it's perceived as showing off? And what about those areas I'd prefer not to see transformed because I'm comfortable with the status quo? May God bless us as we appropriately display and share how He's at work in us! ~Stan
Posted in: I Am Exceptional
Thank you, Mark, for making Rod's article (which I read in CC) even more readily available. It's an "exceptional" piece! ~ Stan
Posted in: Neo Liberal Conservatism
I often feel that labels do more harm than good: They are limiting, create stereotypes, and cannot account for nuances or differences that individuals may have from the label that has been put on them. The only label I'm comfortable trying to apply to myself is "biblical." ~Stan
Posted in: Hi. I Am a Pastor
You mow the lawn. I vacuum. I'll try to remember your words the next time I start vacuuming because of my job and not because the floor needs it. ~Stanley
Posted in: Deacons: An Elder Training Ground
Hi Melissa,
I, too, push back against the notion of elders being more important than deacons (or vice versa, though that doesn't usually happen). According to CRC Church Order, "no officebearer shall lord it over another officebearer" (Art. 85). I also think of how deacons were needed in the early church BEFORE elders (Ac 6)!
Rebecca's comment above is apt and something for which to strive – being "intentional about identifying our gifts and then making a connection between giftedness and where we serve" when it comes to lots of things, including deacon nominations.
Thanks for the reflections!
Stan
Posted in: Psalms, Elders and Pastoral Care
No contest: Psalm 42.
~Stan
Posted in: Redefining Friendship
That's an interesting observation, Mavis. I myself haven't used the expression "Facebook friend" probably because I know all my "friends" irl, whether they're bio family, church family, colleagues, acquaintances, "real friends," etc. So perhaps Facebook isn't redefining friendship so much as it is creating a new type of friendship that didn't exist prior to social media. ...Although pen pals do come to mind as something similar. ~Stanley
Posted in: Next Steps for Me...and for The Network
I think the Network is a good idea, too. I've read and saved a fair bit of helpful material from the insightful and gifted people who populate this corner of the internet. I am thankful for Michael and his time and talents!
For me, the "something missing" is how the Network doesn't integrate into my existing communication and social media tools. I almost wish it were something like "crcnetwork.facebook [or twitter or whatever].com" – a unique area in something I'm already using. The Network would not regularly be on my radar without the reminder emails or the "headlines" in the CRC weekly newsletter, which feel more old-school than I think the Network is trying to be.
I look forward to seeing how the Network continues to develop and bless our church(es)!
Stan
Posted in: After the Tornado: A Pastor Reflects
Thank you for these poignant and encouraging reflections! ~Stan
Posted in: Ordination and Installation Services
This is great! Now I'm more eager to recommend we use this hymn when we ordain our new deacons and elders in a couple weeks. The allusion to Frederick Buechner is cool now that you've explained it to me, but I imagine it would leave a lot of people unfamiliar with his writing scratching their heads. Thank you, Joy, for your reply!
=) Stan