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Words to Start Your Week

April 26, 2009 By 1 Comment

My brother reminded me of this thought and included a photo to drive home the point — remember how pictures are worth a thousand words — this one might be worth 10,000 words.

Words to Start Your Week
Two of the greatest assets to have in life are patience and wisdom.  Make sure you have and exercise both this week in the marketplace.

This dog shows a lot of patience and wisdom

Patience and Wisdom

Filed Under: Faith at Work, Free in Chicago, Powerful Passages, The City, The Cultural Conversation

5 Christians: What Type are You?

April 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

With the changing church landscape in America, Christianity Today (CT) conducted attitudinal and behavioral research of U.S. Christians. More than 1,000 self-identified Christians 18 years of age and older were surveyed on their religious beliefs and practices. The results reveal a number of significant differences. In fact, portraits of five distinct segments emerged from the study. CT calls them Active, Professing, Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians.

Each group represents about one-fifth of those identifying themselves as Christian, with Active Christians most likely to have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that affects their beliefs and inspires an active church life, while Cultural Christians are least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings, or attend church. Between the two is a range of beliefs, commitment levels, and public practice of the faith.

The survey shows that for nearly half of Christians, involvement in a local church body is a minimal part of their daily lives.

 

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CT discussed the survey results with leading pastors and religious experts to ascertain the ramifications for church leaders. Three critical issues emerged:

  1. The local church is no longer considered the only outlet for spiritual growth.
  2. Churches must develop relational- and community-oriented outreach.
  3. Lay people have to be better equipped to be God’s ambassadors.

What kind of Christian are you?  Check out the article here.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Church, Culture and Faith, Faith at Work, Leader Zone, Methods & Strategies, Missional, The Cultural Conversation

Resurrection Sunday

April 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

easter-tomb.jpgWhat a  great day it is in Chicago and around the world!  Today as we attend Park Community Church with lots of friends, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is not a day to celebrate Easter bunnies, nor Peeps, candy, hard-boiled Paas-dyed eggs,  not even Easter, but Resurrection Sunday.  Here is what the Bible says:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John 1:1-15) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them,

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

(Luke 1:1-3)

Did you know that the timing of the crucifixion and resurrection is significant and  meaningful? The resurrection of Jesus is the culmination of all things meaningful, in both faith and fact, in establishing a relationship with God.  God used the timing, which occurred just after the “Passover” and during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, to illustrate the ultimate sacrifice He made for sinners. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture and Faith, Faith at Work, Powerful Passages, Urban Church

Spiritual Help In Hard Times

February 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The Sun Times just published an article where they asked some Chicago-area faith leaders what they have to say to people who have lost their jobs, homes, tuition and sense of security.   What do they say to congregants who feel as if God hasn’t provided and isn’t going to?  Check out what our own J.R. Kerr had to say in the article:

“We weep, laugh or offer sarcastic commentary on the Wall Street bums who got us into this mess. (We are keenly aware that we have culpability, too, but blaming someone else can be a decent numbing agent.) … The Gospel transforms more than just our hearts — it actually cares about all our ‘wobbly parts,’ to quote Bridget Jones. The Gospel transcends our current struggles and promises something called shalom — a promise that the world will one day be as it was intended.”

Many folks are struggling now and this is part of the reason that Park Community Church is bursting at the seams with more than 2,200 people each Sunday –people are having their core foundations shaken (job, money, financial security, relationships, etc) and they are seeking answers to what is life REALLY about.

Filed Under: Chicago, Culture and Faith, Faith at Work, Government, Sunday Services, Urban Church

What a Downer Week…..

October 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Stock market ….DOWN

Michigan throttled by Illinois  45-20

Cubs Lose in first round of playoffs

White Sox Bounced from playoffs

At least we got Jesus and the Promises of God below in our corner…..

The Promises of God

WHEN

 REFERENCE
Seeking the best investment… Matthew 7
Starting a new job… Psalm 1; Proverbs 16; Philippians 3:7-21
You have been placed in a position of responsibility… Joshua 1:1-9; Proverbs 2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Making a new home… Psalm 127; Proverbs 17; Ephesians 5; Colossians 3; 1 Peter 3:1-17; John 4
Wanting to live successfully with your fellow man… Romans 12
Anxious for dear ones… Psalm 121; Luke 17
Business is poor… Psalm 37; 92; Ecclesiastes 5
Discouraged… Psalm 23; 42; 43
Everything seems to go from bad to worse… 2 Timothy 3;
Friends seem to go back on you… Matthew 5; 1 Corinthians 13
Sorrow overtakes you… Psalm 46; Matthew 28
Things look “blue”… Psalm 34; 71; Isaiah 40
You seem too busy… Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
You cannot go to sleep… Psalm 4; 56; 130
You have quarreled… Matthew 18; Ephesians 4; James 4
You are weary… Psalm 95:1-7; Matthew 11
Worries oppose you… Psalm 46; Matthew 6

Filed Under: Breaking News, Chicago, Church, Culture and Faith, Entrepreneuring, Faith at Work, Powerful Passages, The City, The Cultural Conversation

Burma Disaster Relief: Park To Send a 10,000 gallon/day Water Purifier

May 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

As many of you are already aware, last weekend Tropical cyclone Nargis claimed thousands of lives in Myanmar early Saturday morning 2:30am. By daylight, the full effect of the storm was obvious. Homes were destroyed, giant trees crashed through buildings, and were lying uprooted, blocking roads. Blackouts, water shortages and rapidly rising prices were reported in Rangoon, a city of 5 million people. The cost of gasoline has tripled since Saturday.

International news organizations are not allowed to report from Myanmar, but the news that is trickling out is horrifying. The death toll is estimated to be at least 100,000 and another 41,000 are missing.

Jackson and the elders would like to invite you to pray right now for the people of Myanmar, especially those who have lost husbands, wives and children – and those whose loved ones are still missing. And as you sit down for your lunches and dinners this week, continue to pray for this country which is in terrific need.

We will be taking a special offering during our services the next two weeks which will go directly to relief efforts in this devastated country. Hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar are suffering in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. They need your help, and quickly.We will provide envelopes for you to put your donations in, so please come prepared to give.

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Here is a quick update to all our readers about where Park will be redirecting its special offerings this week for relief efforts in Myanmar. There have been many questions about how relief is going to get there with the military junta not allowing aid relief workers in and seizing aid shipments. We have been working to find a relief agency that is onsite and able to get our donations and use them in a way that will get aid to the people in Myanmar as quickly as possible.

We will be collecting donations for Water Missions International based in South Carolina. They are working with World Vision, which has had a national office in Myanmar for 40 years,and Samaritan’s Purse to provide water purification units.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 to buy a water purification unit which will provide at minimum 10,000 gallons of fresh water daily to help meet immediate needs in this devastated area. Also, this unit will be part of an ongoing community development program which will continue to help provide clean water for years to come.

Water Mission International has already deployed 12 units to Myanmar as of this morning (details here) that they knew would get through. They want to be good stewards of the donated resources and ensure that needs are being met, so units will not be sent until it is confirmed that the resources will reach the people in need. World Vision is aware of the situation and will let Water Missions know when shipments can begin.

Volunteer help will be needed upon assurance that the resources will be received, so Park will be sending a team to South Carolina to help assemble the unit we provide before it is shipped to Myanmar. Details will follow.

Continue to pray for this horrific situation, for those affected, and those working to provide aid. And please come prepared to give this weekend.

If you have additional questions about Park’s response, please email Scott Clifton.

Filed Under: Church, DifferenceMakers, Entrepreneuring, Faith at Work, The Cultural Conversation, Urban Church, Volunteers

Are you part of an Expeditionary Force?

April 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Missional Challenge has an excellent article about the local church becoming a Expeditionary Force in the city — take a read…..

Dr. Ray Bakke describes the church as an expeditionary force in The Urban Christian (1987). He views Christians as ministers to their worlds of relationships. For example, a banker who is a Christian doesn’t simply serve at his church by teaching Sunday School or being on the Finance Committee. Instead, he would “identify a mission within the bank, perhaps running a Bible Study with his colleagues or even planning resources to help build up neglected neighborhoods.” (p 132)

Bakke sees several advantages to an urban church which sees itself as an Expeditionary Force, emphasizing its role to “go” on mission into the city:

  1. It legitimizes the call to lay mission
  2. It reaches more widely and follows the urban twenty-four-hour clock
  3. It fulfills the need of specialized urban people to affirm their personal vocations as their ministry

“In this model the pastoral task is to help these members identify, plan for and equip themselves for their diverse ministry opportunities.” (p 132)

Where are you in your vocation as a missionary force?

Can you imagine the missionary force that could be released in every town and neighborhood in America if local churches would begin to see themselves as an expeditionary force? <MORE>

Filed Under: Breaking News, Church, Culture and Faith, DifferenceMakers, Faith at Work, Methods & Strategies, Missional, The City, The Cultural Conversation, Urban Church

5 Rules with a Mentor

March 24, 2008 By 2 Comments

As a serial entrepreneur, I love to spend time with folks who are getting their own company going. I remember the days when I was getting started and I was searching for people who knew more than me that would take time to meet with me and impart some wisdom into my situation. I tell everyone who asks — get a mentor…get someone who will help you as you grow as an entrepreneur.

I recently came across a great post by Perry Noble about the “5 Rules with a Mentor”. Here is what he said:

I have had the privilege of being mentored by some incredible leaders, some you would know, others you might not–but nonetheless, God has used them to teach me SO MUCH about life and ministry. Over the years I have developed five rules for meeting with a mentor that I would love to share here today…you may agree or disagree, all I know is that they have worked for me.

#1 – I Always Adjust To Their Schedule–ALWAYS!

When I am attempting to set up an appointment with someone I want to meet with–I always ask them (or their assistant) to throw two or three dates at me that is most convenient for them…and then I adjust my schedule to make the meeting happen. I NEVER send them the times I want and then ask them to adjust their schedules. I am the one who wants the meeting…and if they are available to me I will bend over backwards to hang out with them.

#2 – I Am Always Early For The Appointment

If I am driving from out of town I always make sure I arrive around [Read more...]

Filed Under: DifferenceMakers, Entrepreneuring, Faith at Work, Leader Zone, Methods & Strategies

Faith at Work

March 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment

As I get ready to transition out of Park with the soon-to-open new ministry center, I am reflecting a lot on my new role as the CEO of a new company FanFuego.com, the leading multi-sport social network for sports fans, and my leadership style and faith at work. I came across a great article in the New York Times from a while back that looks at the issue of faith in the marketplace, including an interesting inside look at Christians working at Intel.

The article talks about many examples of faith in the marketplace and has a seciton on the reporter’s visit where sixteen engineers and programmers sat around a table during lunch hour, eating pizza and sandwiches from the company cafeteria and discussing the Book of Ruth. William McSpadden, a 43-year-old design engineer, father of five and hardcore weekend soccer coach, led the Bible study. He describes the 200 or so local participants in the Intel Bible-Based Christian Network as ”about half conservative Christians, even fundamentalists, with the rest being Presbyterians, Methodists, Catholics and the like.”

Intel has been in the forefront of public corporations that brought religion into the mix of their employee groups, thanks in part to the fact that one of its corporate heads, Patrick Gelsinger, its chief technology officer, is an evangelical Christian who has written a book on faith and work. The Bible network became an authorized company affinity group in 1997. There are four Bible-study sessions per week at the Intel – Jones Farm campus, where 4,700 of the company’s 15,000 employees work, plus special events and a monthly faith-at-work community-outreach gathering at a local Borders. ”When I started at Intel in 1983, we had an informal Bible-study group,” McSpadden says after the Bible-study meeting as he erases the whiteboard and his colleagues head back to work. ”The company probably didn’t even know it was going on. Its being formalized basically makes life easier. It means I can book a conference room without feeling I’m going against company wishes.”

Take a read here.

Filed Under: DifferenceMakers, Entrepreneuring, Faith at Work, Fanfuego.com, Internet Resources