Al Lindemulder
Retired pastor living in Arizona. Besides being a pastor, I also worked in mediation for businesses, divorce and custody cases. I am the former Deputy Director of Maricopa County Family Court Conciliation Services. During my ministry in CHandler, AZ ( a church plant) I belonged to many community boards including hospitals, schools, social service agencies, etc. I am a past president of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
Posted in: How Do We Know Which Story is True?
When do the cows come home? But there is something like historical research so we can distinquish between a fairy tale anda story from a historical perspective.
Posted in: Order of Worship: How was It Created?
I agree, Howard, there are perimeters. But as a confessional church "what we believe" does come first. As I mentioned in my illustration with the Social Justice Office of the denomination, we disagree how we should carry out what we believe to a certain extent, but both of our solutions are based on what we believe in common. I will be doing further posts on the elements of worship and question why some churches have abandon them all together. I think we would agree that churches in our denomination have taking liberties with "how we worship". Recently I was in three different churches with three completely different styles of worship. The question have is if we believe the same thing, how do those "differences in worship style" reflect that same belief?
Posted in: Church is Boring!
Maybe I did not make it very "clear" but my point is that the church is more than worship - it is about "communion of the saints". It is about serving as well as being served. It is about interaction. I think the person who critiqued the church as boring in her book only looked at worship because as a former attendee of a church see was part of a mega church here in Scottsdale, AZ which I am familiar with and she only attended worship services with no emphasis on the interaction of "communion of the saints". Church was boring because she lacked participation in the church. Having been a past president of a Chamber of Commerce, I encountered people with the same complaint about the Chamber but much had to do with it being their fault for lack of interaction and serving.
Posted in: Order of Worship: How was It Created?
Thanks for the constructive comments and a good idea to supply training materials for the elders that would include a history of Reformed liturgy.
Posted in: Where Have All the Tulips Gone?
Thanks for the response. I agree with your comments about "Tulip" but my real point is, "Are we teaching our confessions to our members both young and old?" Glad to hear that you are preaching it!
Posted in: So How Good are the Sermons in the CRC?
Thank you - I think that is a great idea and a way to know how the congregation is responding to your sermons.
al
Posted in: Are We Promoting Individualism or Community?
Steve, you make a valid point(s), but I think we need to strike a balance. The Bible is filled with the concept of "fellowship, community". It is also reminds us to seek sound doctrine, to remember history, and recounts the ones who were faithful in the past. I believe knowing what the reformation is all about enriches my personal faith, reading the Catechism question and answer 1 enriches my faith, reading the past theologians, and authors such as C.S. Lewis enriches my faith. If your past was one in which you lacked the ability to spread the Gospel in Word and Deed then you ought to find ways to build up what you consider a shortcoming of the past but not at the expense of sound theology and community building.
My point is that today spirituality is nebulous and undefined with no knowledge of the past.
Al
Posted in: Check Out the Music
I really do not think that is the best word. It has implications of being out of control like a wild horse. Lack of concern for anyone else. God listens to our prayers and answers our prayers with our best interest in mind. It is a relationship so I find it to be a questionable way to discribe God. But that is just my opinion as to how I interrupt the word.
Posted in: Church: Institute, Organism, or Something Else?
They are all part of the church as Institute. When they go out and do things like welfare programs, education, etc. they are the organism. Good article appreciate the subject.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
Good points - I guess my overview point is, are we as consistories monitoring the music in our churches as mentioned in the church order? It just struck me as a bit odd when we were singing it but really I did not object as much as the blog may have indicated.
Posted in: Are We ignoring Elders at Synod?
Many of the elders that served on the Councils of the churches I served kept well informed by reading such publications as "The Banner" etc. Also, unless things have changed seminary did very little to help students prepare for administration tasks such as chairing meeting. I have been a past chairmen (president) of organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Catholic Social Services as a member who had a term limit. Running a meeting and knowing everything about the organization are two different things that are necessarily related.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
Appreciate all of the comments and clarification. Good dialogue.
al