Yvonne Wilken

Why

It's been some time since I have posted here - but feel the need today. I have been working in ministry for about 10 years now and am wondering why good people stand in the way of doing good things? I currently work in campus ministry out of an old house that has three rooms that we rent to students. This year we have more students applying to live in our house than we have room for. Sounds like a good problem right? However, there are people who are standing in the way of allowing us to provide housing for these students. These are students who want to be involved in our ministry program - who want to explore their faith in community; a safe and welcoming community. This Sunday I am preaching at one of the local churches and the texts are John 10:1-10 and Acts 2:42-47 - the sheep are at the gate longing for community but the gatekeepers won't open the gate and let them in - in todays world people are longing for community for a place to belong for a place where they are known by name - why then are the gatekeepers keeping the gate locked?

voting

Trying to figure out who to vote for? Here's a link that could possible be of some help. http://votehelp.org/

seeker vs emergent

I just read an article by Justin Heap from Relevant Leaders - he says that Bill Hybels, leader of Willow Creek, did an intensive study of their congregation based on their programs and philosophy and found that they have not taught their people how to be disciples, no surprise there if you ask me, anyhow Hybels has written a book about this called, Reveal:Where are You?, now I haven't read the book just the article. Anyhow my question is more about something in the article it says,

A few years ago, I had the privilege of being a part of a local community church in west Michigan and I believe they did, and are doing, a great job at giving people the stuff they "are crying out for." From my perspective, they had no problem in being seeker sensitive while carefully avoiding becoming consumed as seeker driven, as was/is the apparent philosophy behind Willow & many other like-minded churches. However, they pointed out that the question that needs answering the most in this philosophy is, "Are you willing to allow some people to walk away?" (Matthew 19.16-22). And this is exactly the opposite of the seeker-driven, and sometimes emergent, mindset.

That is to say we cannot fathom allowing someone to walk away. Often we sacrifice discipleship to obtain evangelism and fellowship. When in reality, discipleship includes both.

Something of new concern to me, and on the heels of said philosophy, is the attraction to the "fastest growing churches.” It scares me really. Not so much the specific church itself but the attraction of it all. Have we really become that obsessed with the American culture that we think fast, easy, and mega (referring to Spurlock’s Super Size Me) are appropriate words to describe growth? That's McDonalds deal! And have we already forgotten the words and images of Spurlock that this approach to life would leave us unhealthy, obese and immobile? Whatever happened to quality, depth and maturity?. . .

There is nothing particularly wrong about the larger churches, or any church for that matter, so long as they have not abandoned the way, or cost, of discipleship. What good does it do America to have millions of Christians if most of us remain babies for the entirety of our lives? We need to stand once again on the platform of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis; walk again the path blazed by Jesus of Nazareth. The path of following. It is a verb, not an event. Salvation is glorious and immediate—but it is also upward and ongoing.

I have never been interested in or really behind the whole seeker movement the whole Saddle Back Sam idea makes me sick to my stomach and I don't see the seeker movement and the emergent church as one in the same. I always saw the emergent church as a movement away from seeker churches to a more dischipleship model what do you think?

Saints

Today is All Saints day - saints aren't just those who have gone before us but also those who are with us. Who are the Saints in your life?

moral question in Gone Baby Gone

Have you seen the movie Gone Baby Gone? I saw it Saturday night and have been thinking about it since - do multiple wrongs ever make a right? I don't want to give the plot or ending away but am curious what others think about the ending - did he make the right decision why or why not?

God

Do you think it matters how you think about God - what your images or ideas are and why? For instance do you think of God as all powerful, all knowing and everywhere at once? Do you see God as distant or near? How do your images of God affect your daily life or do they?

Do you like Jesus but not the church?

I am reading this book by Dan Kimball about how people in their late teens to late thirties like and believe in Jesus but do not participate in or have a desire to belong to a church - If this applies to you what are your thoughts or reasons for thinking so - I know why I often feel that way but would like to hear from you.

dying churches

Do you think that mainline protestant churches are dying because they preach and practice cheap Grace?

Lutheran Confession

What is the heart of the Lutheran Confessional witness?

church and money

Sunday I went to one of the local churches to worship - it was a special service to say goodbye to one of the Pastors. Jenny who had been a faithful servant to this church for 7 or 8 years was being let go. Why because of the almighty dollar. As I sat through this service I became overwhelmed by sadness and anger - what is wrong with people?

The whole congregation put on a moving tear filled goodbye as if they had nothing to do with it, as if somehow this was all Gods will and not their doing. Last year at pledge time they did not pledge enough money to keep two Pastors. The way I see it it would have boiled down to about $65 per household per year to keep Jenny on. That's less than one month’s cable bill or cell phone bill and definitely less than daily double mocha whatever.

When did God's ministry and work in the world become so tied to the almighty dollar? This was not God's doing but each and every member of that churches doing, come on people take responsibility for your actions don't dump it on God. God will make do with these changes and Jenny will go on to do good ministry in a new place but let’s not pretend that it wasn't your choice.