Fruitful Words

Writing this week’s menu has been inspired by I’m an Organizing Junkie.

1. Spaghetti and meatballs in the crockpot
   Can you cook the noodles in the pot with the rest of the ingredients? It sure would save time and make sure that I actually eat the sauce with pasta instead of as a soup.
2. Corn pancakes with bacon strips
   Every once in a while I get into my head that I need a certain item and I buy it for many weeks in a row, even if it isn’t on the list. Like right now I have 6 cans of whole kernel corn and 8 cans of evaporated milk. NOTE: I do not buy in bulk! So the idea is to use up some of what’s overstocked in my pantry. This week it is corn and milk.
3. BBQ chicken and rice: I really like brown rice but don’t always like to wait for it to cook the 45 minutes. I’ve found the instant brown rice to be inexpensive and ok tasting, especially when mixed with something else like, oh say, kernel corn.  
4. Sunday dinner (I’ll have it on Thursday though.)
   When the kiddos were growing up, we had this every Sunday.Throw the following in a crockpot before leaving for church and it’s already to eat when dinner rolls around. Some meat, veggies, can of creamed soup, 1/2 packet of Lipton’s onion soup mix and one can of some kind of liquid (bear, wine, apple juice). Cook until tender, about 6 hours.
5. Crockpot chili over rice and cornbread
6. Corn chowder with cornbread
7. Leftovers

 Oh yeah, we did well on Tuesday night and My Thinking Theologically about Ministry class is now finished.

Our “pastor” Matt did a great job explaining our vision.His PowerPoint show creatively backed up our eclectic ideas for this new (imaginary) church.

Bruce was so helpful in managing the legal side of our proposal.

I am relieved to be done with my (speaking) part, although I was more than ready with our proposal plan and brochure for all those who attended. Thanks to HR for all her genius and help with those vital documents.

Three other groups also presented their church plant proposals. I must say, these men and women have skills, enthusiasm and much talent. Their love for God is evident. I’d go to their churches.

It was also evident that the Prof, Pastor Greg Krieger, wanted to stretch us, guide us, and if need be, force us to really think about ministry. The many helpful books pointed out many different models of ministry. 

Two things sum up what I learned. . .

• Is my heart breaking for the lost? If not, pray and ask God for that. For that is ministry!
• Am I ministering out of the overflow of my relationship with God? If not, make sure a relationship with God is of daily prime importance. And don’t leave His Presence until I have heard from Him.

Of course, every church, imaginary and real, has to have an annual meeting. Read on for Plant City’s proposed agenda.

Annually we will meet together to pray and discuss our last year’s successes and failures.

• We’ll discern (through fasting and prayer) where we need to focus the coming year.
• Finally, we will end this time with a period of thanksgiving to our faithful God who worked in and through us, His Body, a bunch of branches.

Finally, Plant City Church (like all churches) has something to say about how services are conducted. We call our services worship gatherings.

Worship gatherings

• Sunday morning worship is a corporate expression of our passion for God.
• Our desire is to reflect the diversity of our congregation and our metropolitan culture in an interactive, participation time of singing, prayer, teaching, communion and discussion.
• Our gatherings aim to touch the heart, mind, soul and strength of each participant.
  (Psalm 86:9; John 4:24).

What to expect:

• Come to the gathering (a.k.a. service) and participate as you feel led and/or comfortable.
• Attend the post-meal event. Everyone is welcome to this pot-luck style lunch. Indoor and outdoor activities will be offered. Grab a few people to talk. Bring your instrument to join those who will be having a free-style jam session.

At hypothetical Plant City Church outreach is a must. In fact it’s a must for all churches, don’t you think?

Outreach into the schools, workplace, neighborhoods and relationships around us.

• The demographic of our community is as follows: 31% Caucasian, 22% African American, 32% Hispanic, and 15% Asian.
• As we grow (spiritually, relationally and corporately) we need to spread our roots in order to reach a lost world for Christ.
• Let’s expose them to a healthy Vine (church) and the Vinedresser (God).        (I John 3: 17-18)

Ways to get involved . . .

• Training in the types of evangelism (there’s at least 4 types)
• Engage the world around us by providing church-wide, small group and individual service project opportunities
• Annual Cultural Festival – provide fun, educational opportunities and activities about a culture. Find a way(s) to thoughtfully and in a non-threatening manner to present the gospel –even just a “toe-hold idea.
• Pray for what we are to do, if anything, with the needs in our community. Don’t be need driven but prayer driven.
• Annual Retreat – great way to build relationships and to go deeper in Christ. This would be appropriate event to invite the un-saved, too.

Here at imaginary Plant City Church relationships are key. In fact, I think they are key to most church growth.

Relationships through small groups . . .

New members are trained and established Believers are encouraged to mature.

• We started this church as a small group.
• We all have first hand knowledge of how effective it is in keeping us connected and free from sin.
• We want to retain this effectiveness by making it an integral part of our body life.
• It will help all us branches to remain in the One True Vine.

“I do not think it is an exaggeration, says Brian Hathaway,  ”to say that small groups, Christian family or fellowship groups are indispensable for our growth into spiritual maturity…After all, the original small group was Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”   (Hebrews 3:13)

Small Groups to get involved in . . .

• Pastor’s Sermons - Small groups will track pastor’s sermons. In these groups Christian applications of principles will be explored (and not merely ethnic).
• Leadership Development - It is our intention that everyone in the church body go through this since everyone is a leader somewhere.
• Discipleship - Discipleship in basic doctrine, spiritual disciplines, spiritual warfare, and hospitality - a majority of our present congregation is new to Christ and we have four distinct ethnicities in our congregation. Again, there will be an emphasis on application that is Christian and not culturally-based.
• Cultural Education - Small groups will study a different culture one time year and culminate in mission trip to that area and festival.
• Apologetics - Evolution, abortion and other topics that would help our congregation engage thoughtfully with their culture on campus, at work, with family and in the neighborhood.

Although this is a made up church, I can see how churches in general encourage such a message.

Get involved in church ministries . . .

• We each need to give of our time, talents, and money, to the body here at Plant City.
• These are the things that have lasting value.
• These are the fruit of spiritual growth.
• As we appropriately and cheerfully give our time, talents, and money we are pleasing God and storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven (Mt. 6:19-21).

How you can get involved . . .

• College ministry
• Cultural ministry
• Prayer

My Thinking Theologically about Ministry Class required that each group plant a church. My group worked on a plan for Plant City, CA about 10 miles east of Los Angeles.

Our mission statement is …. Inviting all to grow in Christ.

Every good church needs an acronym so ours is G.R.O.W.

• Get involved in church ministries
• Relationships through small groups
• Outreach
• Worship Gatherings

I am off to bed. I’ll share more later!

Read Luke 8:43-48. What do you notice about the girl and the woman? One thing is this woman had been bleeding for the same amount of years the little girl had been alive. That’s a long time to be ill. Rewrite this story from the point of view of the woman.

I think this could be classified as a meditation exercise. I certainly came away with a deeper understanding of what the woman went through, who Jesus is and how much He cares for us.

What follows is my attempt… (more…)

Don’t you love it when an event comes together well?

When the Holy Spirit attends and ministers grace, truth and peace to those attending?That’s what happened at today’s Mug & Muffin.

26 ladies gathered to hear Jenny share with us about God’s compassion, power and involvement in the real lives of some real New Testament people.

• The woman who bled for 12 years
• The leper
• The man with the demon-possessed son (who kept injuring the boy with fire and water)
• The widow from Nain - She received her young son back from the dead!
• The woman caught in adultery

Here are some comments from today’s event . . .

1. I got some new things to think about and am touched that God cares so much for me that He personalized Jenny’s presentation for “me”!
2. Jenny always touches me in a very deep place and so it was today, on a day I needed touching.  God is soooo intuitive!   How does He do that?  I wish every woman in church could  have been there.
3. It was a truly lovely morning. What a great attendance and Jenny was, as always, her phenomenal self.
4. I had a wonderful morning with you all! I think it was a lovely time of fellowship and a time of growing with each other. We had an opportunity to get to know others better, and MOST OF ALL, Jenny’s talk really ministered to me and touched right where I am at this time. I really felt like God spoke to me there. I don’t think I’m alone.