Mark 10:45 (NIV)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

How do we turn members into missionaries?

Do I really see myself as a missionary? This is what I learned in chapter three of The Present Future:

"North America is the largest English-speaking mission field in the world. It is the fifth or sixth largest mission field on any stripe. If we are not focusing on missiology, we are being disobedient to the the Great Commission." (pg. 51)

Missiology, or mission science, is to distinguish between practices that are essential to Christianity and therefore must be practiced by Christians in all cultures, and other strictly cultural expressions of Christianity that can be changed and adapted to a different culture. (wikipedia)

"Don't plan on taking a vote on whether your church will release members to become missionaries. What you must do is two things: create a culture informed by missiology and create venues where people can practice being missionaries. Creating an informed missiological culture can be done in a number of ways. Here are a few suggestions."(pg. 61)

+ Discuss generational cultures: values, heart language, work preferences.
+ Discuss the emerging culture: have a non-church person come in and explain what people outside the church bubble need and what people think.
+ Explore community needs: demographics, improving your community
+ Expose yourself to a missionary church: pick up ideas, share them, and create venues for missionary service.
+ Build for the community: buy land, or build, for the community.
+ Adopt a school: tutor at the school.
+ Pay it back: help people with job placement, car repairs, furniture distribution, food, financial help, and financial planning.
+ Get out there: local mission projects and community projects, not church activities.
+ Go first: others will follow.

"A missionary church culture will need to begin keeping score on things different from what we measure now. These may include how many ministry initiatives we are establishing in the streets, how many conversations we are having with pre-Christians, how many volunteers we are releasing into local and global mission projects aimed at community transformation, how many congregations are starting to reach different populations, how many congregations use our facilities, how many languages (ethnic and generational) we worship in, how many activities target people who aren't here yet, how many church activities target people who aren't here yet, how many hours per week members spend in ministry where they work, go to school, and get mail.

Until we start making heroes of people who decide to be and act like missionaries, we will fail to turn club members into missionaries. Until we bless people who "go out" from us to reach people who may not come to us, we will continue to have a kingdom vision that is shrink-wrapped to church programs and church real estate. Until we start adopting schools and hosting community food banks and teaching parenting seminars and holding financial planning seminars for the people who come to us for food, we will keep fostering club member mentality...

Who is this for? may be a good way for you to begin your own journey from member to missionary. Think about your life, your money, your time, your talent, and your commitments. Who is this for? Is the answer club members or people who do not yet know Jesus?

God help you to be a missionary. God help you to release missionaries into the world with the gospel." (pg. 67-68)

Horray

God, we thank you for totally healing Mac. And not only did you completely get rid of the RSV, you did it really quick. Thank you for friends and family that brought encouragement and supported us in prayer. You are so great! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Mocha Frappuccino

Hyper and driven, you'll take your caffeine any way you can get it. Frappuccinos are good, but you'd probably chew coffee beans in a crunch!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

The Giver

You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

What's Your Personality Type?

Dad's Obituary

I found this online and wanted to save it here in case it disappears some day...

COLCORD, Okla. – Thomas Wesley Morgan, 62-year-old resident of Colcord, died Thursday, December 29, at his home in Colcord. Born March 16, 1943, in Delaware County, Okla., he was the son of A. Wesley Morgan and Amy McKinley Morgan. Tom farmed in the Centerpoint Community, near Colcord. He was affiliated with the Colcord Church of Christ.

Survivors include: his wife, Ruth, of the home; four sons, Wayne Edwards and wife, Sherry, of Colcord, Thomas Teafatiller and wife, Diann of Siloam Springs, Ark., Rod Edwards and wife, Marty, of Fayetteville, Ark., and Tim Morgan and wife, Jennie, of Tulsa, Okla.; three daughters, Cindy Teafatiller of Siloam Springs, Ark., Cathey Ivey and husband, Scott, of Siloam Springs, and Tracey Morgan, of the home; 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; his mother, Amy Morgan, of Colcord; two brothers, Keith Morgan of Colcord and Kyle Morgan and wife Betsy of Siloam Springs; and one sister, Cora Lue Huie and husband, Roland, of Golden, Colo.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, January 3, at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, Ark., with Pastor Larry Ellis officiating.

Cremation arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 2084 S. Main Street, Grove, OK 74344.

To sign the online guestbook, go to www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

Mac's Legs

Mac is starting to push with her legs a lot now. Mostly, I think she's
happy to feel better after her week of sickness. Yesterday, I put her
against my chest and shoulder, and she pushed herself up almost over
my shoulder. It was very cool. Also, we put her on a little "tummy
time" mat and she was pulling her legs up underneath her and pushing
out -- a tiny step on her way to crawling. Though, she is yet to
attempt to roll over on her own. We attribute it to laziness. :-)

The Present Future

I am currently reading The Present Future by Reggie McNeal. The book came recommended by Craig Casey and borrowed from Anthony & Amber Sherrell. Wow! What a book! It is very challenging and encouraging. May God give me the Grace I need to really live like a Christian instead of just a Church member.

The first chapter was about Churchianity vs. Christianity... "That's the church's mission: to join God in his redemptive efforts to save the world. People all around us are in darkness. They are going to die unless someone finds a way to save them. Trouble is, the church is sleeping on the job. Too many of us have forgotten why we showed up for work. Even worse, many of us never have known." [pg. 19]

I just finished the second chapter about shifting from Church growth to Kingdom growth. "Bottom line: we've got to take the gospel to the streets. This is the only appropriate missional response to the collapse of the church culture... I am speaking of an intentional 24/7 church presence in the community, not tied to church real estate: office buildings, malls, school campuses, sports complexes, storefronts, homes, apartment buildings, and community centers... We need to go where people are already hanging out and be prepared to have conversations with them about the great love of our lives. They are not coming to us. We've got to go to them." [pg. 42]

I need to truly be and act live a servant. And when people ask why my answer shouldn't be: "oh, I just want to help." My answer should be: "I am a disciple of Jesus. I am serving him by serving you, because that's what he came to do." [pg. 38]

Peter

Since Mac is sick, I've had a lot of time to play around on my laptop. I've spent time cleaning up my email, updating the church website, updating my facebook account, cleaning up my computer desktop, and a little bit of study also. Today I read about Peter. He was a really cool guy in the Bible.

More on RSV

From Wikipedia:

RSV causes respiratory tract infections in patients of all ages. ... In the United States, 60% of infants are infected during their first RSV season, and nearly all children will have been infected with the virus by 2-3 years of age.

Mac and RSV

From an email Jennie sent...

Will you please pray for Mackenzie. She has RSV. It's a virus, so no antibiotics. And because she has this, she couldn't get her 4 month shots.

Here's what babycenter said about RSV:
"Because it's transmitted by physical contact, RSV spreads like wildfire. RSV is transmitted through the air and on surfaces — all your baby has to do is to breathe in the air after an infected person coughs, or touch a contaminated toy. The virus can live on hands and surfaces for up to six hours."

Because it's so contagious, I won't be leaving the house until next Thursday for her 9 day checkup with the doctor. So we won't be at church on Sunday, have our small group on Sunday afternoon, or be at staff meeting on Monday.

The good news: the doctor called her a happy weeser. She weeses and then smiles real big. She does NOT have to do breathing treatments. She is also eating well.

As Jennie said, please pray for our little one. Thanks!