tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post4264731236239040294..comments2023-11-03T04:50:42.128-05:00Comments on Confessional Gadfly: Plans and Projects vs. HabitsRev. Eric J Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-36708380099342871392008-01-20T08:12:00.000-06:002008-01-20T08:12:00.000-06:00"the mission of someone else". That ends up being..."the mission of someone else". That ends up being the key to way so often people can be disappointed with the lack of "growth" in their congregation. It can be based off of envy and desire - wouldn't it be great if we were like them, or if we had ______. It's not based on what is good and God pleasing for us here. It's based on our desire, our conception of what we would like to be rather than on whom God has called us to be.<BR/><BR/>Always have to ask, why do you want something. If its for the wrong reasons, it shouldn't be done. If it's something that is good, it still doesn't mean that you are the one to do it. David didn't build the temple - and that's okay.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-36477428397163399092008-01-18T13:39:00.000-06:002008-01-18T13:39:00.000-06:00i;m finding in my church, raise your dreams and pl...i;m finding in my church, raise your dreams and plans to God so that he may bless you and steer you in His direction. <BR/><BR/>I have an example of this from the senior pastor of my own church. On a trip to Hawaii, he was able to envision a retreat center for Christians. As he discussed details with God and people, he was given the realization that this was to be the mission of someone else and not his family.<BR/><BR/>Everything always works out in the end when we rely on Him.Terri Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843377322433134394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-35446908933226207172008-01-18T12:25:00.000-06:002008-01-18T12:25:00.000-06:00True, it is a cop out - but it's also something th...True, it is a cop out - but it's also something that needs to be remembered when you have people wondering why we haven't doubled in size since I've been here like ______ church has. <BR/><BR/>I find that a lot of times we set hopes and expectations for growth based on the high statistical outliers.<BR/><BR/>I also find that all too often we think of growth as numbers - and really, growth may have very little at all to do with numbers - actual growth in a God pleasing way.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-1905845301248342012008-01-17T17:48:00.000-06:002008-01-17T17:48:00.000-06:00Churches that grow are in towns that grow...sounds...Churches that grow are in towns that grow...sounds like a cop out to me. Of course, it tends to be true, nearly 100% of the time. There are and have been exceptions, of course. <BR/><BR/>There is a place for the so-called sanctified common sense. There is definitely a place for faithfulness, for proclaiming the Gospel clearly and everywhere you can, but you know...it's really not our Church, our Gospel, our growth or not. It's His, and we all have a problem with that on some level, being sinners and all.Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.com