Author: Wick

Recently, The Friendly Atheist posted a blog from a blog including 10 tips for Christian Evangelists. I figured it’d be worth posting to my 5 avid readers. You can get a more complete explanation of each of these here. What do you think?

1. Don’t start using the person’s name, as if you are a close personal friend, unless you actually are a close personal friend.

2. Don’t start quoting from the Bible.

3. Don’t bring up a topic, or try to find out what the person is interested in, just so you can bring it back around to how it’s all a metaphor for Jesus or Christianity.

4. Don’t use the phrase “Good News.” (kinda ironic here…telling people who’s identity is “bringing good news” not to use these words)

5. Don’t talk about Jesus like he’s part of the conversation.

6. Don’t plant literature.

7. Don’t hide behind a fake front.

8. Don’t assume that we have “God-shaped holes in our hearts” and try to get us to admit it.

9. Don’t compare your past experiences to our present.

10. Don’t talk down to us, as if we’re just not understanding something perfectly obvious.

So let’s say you wanted to give ten tips to atheism evangelists (definition of “evangel” notwithstanding), that go beyond bus marketing campaigns…what would you tell them?

This past Sunday, I praught on 1 Corinthians 12:29-13:3. The fact that the “love chapter” is all about how to do/be the church together, and not simply about how to date each other or even how God Loves us. If we truly base everything we do as Church from “Love”, what would change?

Here are some excerpts of stolen ideas I presented in the message:

From The Work of the People:

And from Mark Yaconelli: (although I probably messed up his message a bit)

It’s no longer about products, about who can produce what and a worth based on that. It’s about people, seeing and affirming them.

It’s no longer about control, about who has it and how they use it. It’s about contemplation, spending time in the temple of God’s reality and letting Him reveal his authority/desire.

It’s no longer about the “professional”, relying on the one to get it done. It’s about the processes, all the gifts of the body and what we do together.

It’s no longer about results, and “success” based ministry. It’s about relationships, and being driven by the good of all creation and the community as a whole.

It’s no longer about conformity, about copying what has worked in other situations without regard for the new. It’s about creativity, and openness to being the icon of a creative God in this cosmos.

It’s no longer about answers, knowing the right ones or at least pretending we do. It’s about awareness, knowing what we don’t know and being genuine about it to a world who needs genuine models of humanity in need of God’s mystery.

It’s no longer about being faster, and the “get mine now” hurried approach to life. It’s about savoring the moments, walking slower, taking our time and making space for God’s refreshing our minute by minute experience of life together.

It’s no longer about simply being reactive to life, anxious about fixing things. It’s about being responsible, committing to being faithful above successful – whatever that looks like – crowds or the cross.

These things are not inherently bad, but they are not the foundation…they come only as they are based in the new life provided/enabled/sourced in Jesus Christ, Lord of All.

So today I get to chill at home with the girls. Princesses, ponies, and potty. Looking forward to a great time tonight with a Junior High lock-in with teens from all over our conference. We’re renting out KICKS in Springfield, IL. The place is pretty cool, but to go on your own doesn’t seem worth the money (many of the games and activities are pretty pricey). The only way to truly enjoy it seems to rent it out for an entire night. But in order to do that, you need 100 people. So Junior High Lock-In it is. 🙂

Meanwhile, the first games of the 2009 NHL Playoffs have all been played. Detroit has come through our first game with expected outcomes. Defense seems to have tightened up, and Osgood was in true playoff form. They could totally get the cup again this year.

As for upsets, there were a couple. San Jose (#1 in the West, and over the entire league this year) was shut out by Anaheim (#8 in the West) last night, 2-0. I’m slightly worried here, as Detroit could beat San Jose a lot easier than Anaheim – and Anaheim has a recent Stanley Cup win in 2007 that could fuel a hunger/ability for that team to make it through. So here’s hoping San Jose comes back to win the series…..but I wouldn’t count on it.

In the East, only one minor upset. The #2 Washington Capitals lost to the #7 New York Rangers. But in the East, it’s a toss up with any match up anyway. They’re all decent, yet mediocre teams. 🙂

For continued updates throughout the NHL Playoffs, I totally recommend NHL.COM this year. They’ve revamped their homepage for the playoffs, and include continuous updates, blog posts, stats and more. Everything you need, all on one page….so check it.

Building a wooden swing set with Uncle Larry tomorrow (after getting home from an all-night Junior High Lock-In), and then preaching Sunday morning (you should TOTALLY come – 8:30am and 10:30am at Moundford Free Methodist). So I doubt I’ll post much of anything until Monday. Have a great Easter Saturday, and weekend….