Finally finished with school for the semester... I am so excited.. and relieved
now I will have more time for my own reading... (which seminary seems to get in the way of my learning (ha!!))

More blogging on the way.

Here is the continuing series on principles of 21st century mission.

Principle #2 Ask questions - Do not hurry to the answers

In today's postmodern world a premium is put on asking questions (which is good)
Question this - question that.

Questions shape where a church will go.

" If you are a leader, you and your team should always be asking searching questions. If you are not a leader, don't be afraid to ask your leaders the important questions." p. 25

"One popular writer on leadership in the business world said that a great leader doesn't have to produce all the answers and then try to motivate others to follow his(or her) vision. However it does mean they must have the humility to see that they do not yet understand enough to have the answers, but be willing to ask questions that will then lead on to the best insights." p.26

A study was done in the past few years and it was determined that leaders that were humble and did not have all the answers - were the leaders of some of the biggest companies (Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and others.) Arrogance and answers at the top do not always mean success.

Here is an excerpt of an interesting article that Pastor Rod got from Credenda Agenda. Culture is not always sinful - but the human heart is sinful... (that does not mean that the sinful human heart does not create sinful culture I might add as a caveat)

Got to be Good Looking Cause He's so Hard to See

Douglas Wilson

A Marine general during the Korean War at one point found himself and his troops surrounded by massive amounts of Chinese soldiers. He looked at the situation, rubbed his hands, and said, "Well, they can’t get away now."
We too are entirely surrounded—by the minions of pop culture—and we need to cultivate a more optimistic view of our opportunities. At least there should be no difficulty figuring out which direction to shoot.
At the beginning, we need to agree on some key principles to guide us through the particulars. First, unless we are talking about a violation of the Ten Commandments, we must not rush to judge any particular manifestation of pop culture as malum in se, as "a sin," as evil in itself. Literacy in pop culture, and enjoyment of various features of it, are no sin.
Secondly, when sin is laid at the doorstep of pop culture, we must not locate it in the wrong place. Sin has to do with the human will and the law of God—obedience or disobedience. It is not found in paint, alcohol, syncopation, or baggy trousers. All of these things can be used in sinful ways, some more easily than others, but sin, when it exists, must always be located in the human heart. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.