Wolfhowler

My friend Becky Garrison recently discusses the issues around church and transgender people who hunger for God. http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/3071/beyond_adam_and_eve/

Verona Summer

All of last week we have been waiting in anticipation. My oldest daughter Danilee (29) went 4 times to the hospital but returned home very heavy but empty handed. The tension was high...

However, last night, Danilee and her husband Jon went to the hospital around 2100, all signs were pointing that the time had come. I was there around 2300.

As we watched the time in anticipation, tiredness began to be felt by all but by 0130 the action began and at 0224 a healthy baby girl was born, the first one of the 17th of August at Pentrose St. Francis Medical Center.

She was named Verona Summer and weighs 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) at 20 inches (50.8 cm.) of length.

We thank our Creator for new life and we bless Verona Summer! Here with Dad and Mom.

The Wall Street Journal published an article by Brett McCracken on The Perils of "Wannabe Cool" Christianity worth reading. FInd it here http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111704575355311122648100.html

At St. James Church... my friend said, "I'm not sure what to think of the fact that I left this church service with more money than what I came in with". The tithes today: $675 for a family member in need and $1,945 to a 77 year old who lives alone

A GPS unit mimics God's ways

Last Sunday I visited St. James church in Colorado Springs, CO. The speaker said; “God works like a GPS, every time we miss a turn, He redraws a plan and give us a new path”.

I had just driven 2,700 kms, dependent on a GPS and I could totally relate. Several times, I decided to deviate from the path the unit gave me and after a couple of attempts to get me back to the original direction, the unit would find another way. It was always right!

The parallels with my own life clearly confirmed the statement.

The speaker was Ted Haggard, the “super-star” pastor who’s life crashed in November 2006. I had attended New Life Church, the church Ted pastored. I knew Pastor Ted, I worked with him in a relief project during the Kosovo war.

To me he was a man of compassion and great vision who tended to be overly buoyant for my personality. His “fall” was a very sad event for me and I prayed that he would recover and one day become part of the generation of men (like me) who walk with a limp. I had no idea I would meet him again!

The atmosphere at St. James was refreshing. Pastor Ted was no longer wearing a suit and tie (which I shed long ago). The people there were relaxed and friendly. My first impression was most positive.

After singing a few songs led by a young man, Pastor Ted invited people to give their offerings, as it is normal in any church. However, surprisingly this time, he asked us to give the offering to anyone we felt led to give it to. This was totally new yet they do it this way every Sunday!

People joyfully mingled and talked and hugged and gave their money to others. It was an amazing sight!

The crowd was asked to return to their seats and then Pastor Ted explained that now a collection for the tithes would be taken. Next the money was divided into an equally interesting mode: $300 is given to Pastor Ted, another amount is for the rent of the venue and the rest is given away, right then and there!

This time, a 13 year old boy, had thought about this before hand and suggested that $375 be given to his family to help pay bills and $952 be given to a woman in Bulgaria who was planning to attend a training program. 

Ted explained that in St. James you can see what is being done with your money immediately. Read about their approach here.

Beyond this contemporary example of the way of Jesus and His early followers. Pastor Ted taught about “Responsibility for one’s sins” from James 1:12-15 and transparently used his own life’s experience to make his point.

He said “the issue is ME” and encouraged us to differentiate between an explanation and an excuse.

I’m exited with St. James! I experienced a different man and a different message.

A few days ago, I read that in the US more than 1,500 pastors in U.S. churches resign every month and nearly 20% suffer from stress or burnout. And it’s estimated that 50 percent of pastors get divorced.

There is no question that a new type of church is needed in America. I propose that St. James is one of those models.