Wanna'be Writer

So I wrote an article a few months back and submitted it to a magazine for publication. This is the first time I ever submitted anything to a hard copy publisher. However, I have heard nothing from them! Not a peep. Nothing that says, "Your article is amazing! Would you like to write for us all time?" And nothing that says, "Get an education you illiterate troglodyte." So, I sit waiting....

I could have it posted on a few websites (I have an "in" with a friend). But I don't want to blow the chance of having it published. I know people would read it. I am sure some people would get it. Others might not get past the title, though. Some would even argue with me about it. That's ok, even expected. But, if no one gets to read what I wrote, was there a point in writing it in the first place(that is another good blog topic)?

I'm not really sure the article is the same speed as magazine I sent it to. Oh well, I will hang on a little longer and see what happens.

By the way the article is entitled, "Is Christianity A Cult?"

God's Wheel

I can across this while reading Shel Silverstein to my boys at night. Now, I don't normally "get" poetry, but I love Silverstein's work.

God says to me with a kind of smile,
"Hey how would you like to be God awhile
And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.
Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"
"Gimme back that wheel," says God.
"I don't think you're quite ready yet."


I think there is a lot in there.

Ugh!

Man, I have to write more!

Oh what will those silly Baptists think of next?

I don't want to hear any more about women not being allowed to be educated!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/081107dnmetseminaryhomeec.1e08bb7c.html

Sigh!

Church Names

Here is a good church name from a church in Northern California. I used to know the pastor. It was called Ubet-Red Dog Baptist Church. I think they changed the name at some point.

Anyone have any other good ones?

How about:

Church of Saviour on Spilled Blood
No Hope Baptist Church in No Hope, Kentucky
Horse Shoe Christian Reformed Church
Section 8 Baptist Church in Wisconsin
Druid Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta
St. James-Bond United Church in Toronto

You are pre-qualified

Here is what one church planting "group" needs to know about you up front in order to even have a chance to work with them. Pay attention this is important stuff they are asking. (The italic sections are where I altered the question for the sake of anonymity.)

1. Are you a member of "x" church denomination? You need to be for at least 2 years to qualify for funding.

2. Do you agree with our statement of faith and practice?

3. Do you practice Glossalalia (speaking in tongues) in public or private?

4. Do you use alcoholic beverages?

5. Are you involved in giving to our missions operations?

6. Do you or have you used illegal drugs?

7. Have you ever been arrested or indicted for a felony?

8. Are there physical, mental, and/or spiritual issues that might hinder your effectiveness or otherwise be of embarrasement to the mission cause? (Funny they spelled "embarrassment" wrong. How embarrrassing!)

9. Are you divorced?


I bet you can guess the answers they are looking for.

I am surprised there is no question asking if you are male or female.

Am I out in left field or are these questions missing the point? OK #6 is important, I'll give you that. But, I am not sure even the Apostle Paul would make it through their pre-qualifications. He strikes out on 7 maybe 8 of the 9!

Just for fun I took they "quick" and easy church planter assessment test. I answered twenty questions like:

"Have you personally led at least one person to faith in Christ in the past year through the venue of one-on-one evangelism?"

and

"In the past three years have you actively participated in an on-going peer support/accountability or Bible study group?"

Here are the results of my test: "Out of 20 possible points, you scored 14."

I'm not sure what this means, but that is what my test showed. I got 6 wrong. That is only a C-. I guess I would not make a good church planter.

The Inauthentic Church part 2

Anyone need help naming a church, click here.

The Inauthentic Church

One of my weird past times is checking out church websites. You can learn a lot from a church website, not only by what they say, but by what they don't say too.

Take for instance a site I visited today. The opening picture is of a beach with a peer stretching out into a storm tossed surf. The waves crashed against the peer, the sky looks ominous, but the peer stood firm.

It is easy to see what they were trying to achieve with the picture, especially when coupled the church name. "In the storms of life, this church is a safe harbor. Here you will find peace and shelter from the relentless pounding of everyday living. Within this church you will find the strength needed to face all catastrophes."

OK, I get it. But would you wonder about this churches authenticity if you knew it was in Modesto, California! The closest beach or peer is over a hundred miles away!

This would be like naming a church, "Rainforest Christian Fellowship of Death Valley."

Something is not right here.

The Evangelist

What you would call a person who...

-Befriends his neighbor.
-Ask for help from his neighbor.
-Helps his neighbor.
-Knows his neighbor and his family by their names.
-Speaks to his neighbor about his faith.
-Invites their whole family over for dinner.
-Shares in the joys (the birth of a child) and the woes (death of a family member) of his neighbor.
-Invites them tactfully to go to "church" with him to celebrate religious holidays.
-Makes sure he provides opportunities for his neighbor to see the real side of his faith by providing him with books, magazines and invitations to informational meetings.
-Greets his neighbor and his family regularly when getting the mail.
-Brings food over to his neighbor for no apparent reason (good stuff too, like cherry pie)

...and is an all around genuinely nice person who cares?

This infusion of everyday life and the commitment to sharing ones faith with those around him may get someone like this labeled as a practitioner of "Lifestyle Evangelism." An such a label would be correct.

The interesting thing about this true scenario is the "evangelist" is a Muslim and I am his "neighbor."

I think there is a lesson to learn here!