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July 16, 2008

 

 

 



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Best Practices Sermon
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Best Practices Video
To the Point:

Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life: violence and committee meetings.
  - George F. Will

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.
- Hermann Hesse

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction.
  - Blaise Pascal

The Church used to be a lifeboat rescuing the perishing. Now she is a cruise ship recruiting the promising."
 - Leonard Ravenhill

Books to the ceiling,/ Books to the sky,/ My pile of books is a mile high./ How I love them! How I need them!/ I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
  - Arnold Lobel

4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions.
 - Anonymous

There are three kinds of people, those who are good at math and those who aren't.
 - Anonymous

Got a favorite quote? Send it to [email protected]
Bob MasonMinistry Challenges:
A Tale of Two Cities
Bob Mason: on the road between Modesto and McKinleyville, CA

It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. Elation and frustration are bedfellows in my crazy world. I am exhilarated by the fresh winds of my new pastorate, and frustrated because I am anchored in my old town by a house whose value has sunk incredibly. In my new parish, almost seven hours' voyage away, a house that accommodates my family eludes me.

The signs of God's leading were evident: the congregation's unanimous vote calling us, the shared vision for caring ministry, even a "fleece" or two. Since my inauguration, the momentum for expanding our church's impact has been incredible! In five months I've already had the pleasure of several baptisms resulting from God's work through the church family.

My family is experiencing this with me: the joy, the frustration - much frustration. My wife and I have been dreaming ministry ideas for this university town, even while rehashing whether this is God's will or just my personal fantasy of going back to the beautiful area of my upbringing.
Our children love the people, the excitement, and the new area, but also exhibit signs of the stress of our unsettled lives.

New church friends affirm God's leading and pile on prayer support. Old friends pray too, and provide words for thoughts that lurk in our minds: "Don't you think God's trying to show you something with this housing problem?" "Do you think this might be a huge mistake?" "You didn't have to go."

What keeps me centered and peaceful (most of the time)?

  • God's promises-"He shall direct thy paths," "you shall hear a voice behind you," "all these things will be added unto you."
  • God's grace and wisdom - He has a track record of faithfulness with people, doing great things, even when we do misunderstand His leading or even rebel. 
  • The history of people who trusted God in crazy times - stepping into a river at flood stage, fighting armies with choirs - acts that don't make sense by any human measure.
  • God has provided despite the price of gas.

I don't know how much longer ours will be a tale of two cities, but I do know that with trust in God, these elements of comedy, tragedy, drama, and farce, will blend into one triumphant epic.

Have you experienced a similar ministry challenge? Write Bob some encouragement at [email protected].
Reading for Pastors
by Best Practices Editor, Loren Seibold


Resources, Ideas and Events
by Best Practices Editor, Loren Seibold

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  • Events coming up fast!
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NAD Church RESOURCE Center
Best Practices is an e-publication of Vervent
NAD CHURCH RESOURCE CENTER
Editor: Loren Seibold
Senior Pastor, Worthington Ohio Seventh-day Adventist Church