This is not a pick on the Catholic Church post. However this article sparked my interest.

“Not even prayer will save Holy Innocents, in south St. Louis, and 18 other churches – one built in 1860 – that have been put on the sale block by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis. The sale involves 80 parcels of property – schools, rectories, convents and churches.”

Personally speaking I dont think God necesarily cares two hoots if 1st Baptist Church nowherville stays open or not. I just think he cares if people are becoming Christians or not. I do think He chooses to use the church as His first option for that. If some churches that are dying had half a conscience, they would sell up and give the proceeds to a group of people, or another church, who are being effective in reaching people for Christ. This makes a powerful argument for buying. You cant give away what you dont own.

In my view we may be guilty of confusing the purposes of God with our own sentimentality.

From Bill Hybels comes this quote,

In Kingdom work, you really do not have the luxury of not taking risks
because we have a world we are trying to win. In a business situation, you can
say, ‘Let’s cut risks this year. We’ve got a million in the bank. All we want to
do is maintain.’ But those of us who are building churches are under a mandate
to move ahead. We are told by our ultimate leader Jesus Christ that we have to
get out there and try to reach people. Which then forces you to be in a
risk-taking mode a good portion of the time. And so I am proud of pastors who,
in the spirit of trying to take new ground, the spirit of trying to reach new
people – who bump their nose once in a while, and who learn a lesson, and who
bump against a guard rail and learn a little bit. At least they’re out there
trying to fulfill the mandate. At least they are in motion trying to do
something great for God. What irks me is when someone gets to the end of a
twelve month period of time and they have clean hands and a clean desk and
nobody can accuse them of anything and they didn’t take any ground. Show me
dirty hands and a messy desk and a few bumps and bruises and a baptism tank
filled with 35 people in it and I’ll take that every time.”

Fremantle v West Coast Subiaco Oval Sunday 26th February4.10pm (Freo Time)

Does anyone else sense the omen that is on the 26th?
Yes, it is Clive’s old number, he who only needs to be known by his first name.

The night will be ours, the serial chokers will be shown up for who they are.
If we win, they will blame their injury list, and the media will kick into gear.
“Dockers lucky again as brave Eagles fight on”

If the Eagles win, I will be trotting out that old line, “the pre season cup is just like dancing with your sister, it does not count”.
That and drowning my sorrows and avoiding the email rush as my hundreds of fairweather eagle supporting ‘friends’ pile it on me.

A further reflection on this gem from Psalm 20.

4 May he grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.

All too often I find myself being criticial of other churches and ministers, when instead I should be shouting for joy at their victories.

It seems to be a paradox or hypocritical or something, but what makes me the most critical, is when I see others being critical! Over at Phil Bakers blog there is a thread on mega churches. The vitriole and bitterness has to be read to be seen. If you dont like Phil or his church, dont go there. And if you dont like what he is on about, dont read his blog! No one is forcing you. Now I do believe in healthy debate, accountability and openness. But I shout for joy when I see Riverviews ad on TV, I shout for joy when I hear about their programs to help the disinfranchised.

All the other stuff people get so upset about, well thats between them and God, its not my problem! I am going to have enough to answer to God for myself, without having to worry about their issues.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again…who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”. –Theodore Roosevelt

A friend alerted me to this Church’s website.

Anyone dare to guess what is wrong with the quote they are using?

Apart from the obvious, there are some other reasons to avoid this church!

My first ever deacons meeting at my present church occured about 10 years ago.
We have come a long way since then.

The then pastor and one of the deacons had a stand up red faced screaming match. I am not going into details, but there were serious issues.

We had our combined Ministry Team Leaders and Leadership team meeting this morning. Now we are facing our issues. Mostly issues to do with growth. We dont have enough money to do all the things God is calling us to. We have to take steps of faith. It is risky and confrontational.
However we have seen God do some amazing things, and we believe together that He will continue to.
My reflection is though that the spirit within our leadership teams is wonderful.
I led them in a devotion from Psalm 20.

4 May he grant your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy when we
hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the LORD answer all your prayers.

This is what we did this morning, cheer each other on and shout for joy at the victories we see happening. What a transformation. But it has come at a cost. Some good people have left, some others have not been able to see the battle through to the end. The personal cost to my wife and I, and others, has not been inconsiderable. But God chooses to work through Churches. I dont know why, and there are plenty of people who can tell you what is wrong with Churches, and delight to do so. But I am glad to be a part of a church which is doing something about our community. And our focus is on that. I am also glad that I am not in stand up, red faced over the table fights with my church leaders!

Off to pray, meditate, be refreshed and renewed. Few Pastors and myself heading down to Binningup to share and pray together. Draw deep on the water talked about in Psalm One.

Might get some fishing in at night, who knows!