God loves you...

The Missional Church...simple

This is a good brief summary of 21st century missional reality.

Most United Methodists & United Methodist congregations are (in my humble opinion) "trapped" in the model that begins around 0:07.

Annual Conference & denominational leadership tend to be (in my humble opinion) somewhere around 0:40.

Those models have both been effective, but both are dated (they're SO 20th century).

21st century "missional ministry", which actually refers back to an earlier time, begins around 1:15.

Definitely worth some prayerful reflection...

Our Changing Times...

Arminianism vs. Calvinism

Here is a link to an admittedly simplistic but effective analogy of the Atonement presented by the Wesleyan Arminian blog.

Thanks to Craig L. Adams.

F A C T S

Here's a great acronymn take-off on the famous (and incorrect) TULIP of Calvinism:

F reed to believe by God's grace
A tonement for All
C onditional Election
T otal Depravity
S ecurity in Christ

Thanks to A.M. Mallett over at Introspectives of an Arminian Christian

The Dreamer

INFP - The "Dreamer"

INFPs are introspective, private, creative and highly idealistic individuals that have a constant desire to be on a meaningful path. They are driven by their values and seek peace. Empathetic and compassionate, they want to help others and humanity as a whole. INFPs are imaginative, artistic and often have a talent for language and writing. They can also be described as easygoing, selfless, guarded, adaptable, patient and loyal.

Temperament: NF (Visionary)
INFP Population Total: 2%

"...the King's Champion or Defender of the Faith..." - The Portrait of a Healer Idealist (Keirsey)

"...on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP's value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life." - Portrait of an INFP (The Personality Page)

"Highly creative, artistic and spiritual, they can produce wonderful works of art, music and literature. INFPs are natural artists. They will find great satisfaction if they encourage and develop their artistic abilities. That doesn't mean that an INFP has to be a famous writer or painter in order to be content. Simply the act of "creating" will be a fulfilling source of renewal and refreshment to the INFP. An INFP should allow himself or herself some artistic outlet, because it will add enrichment and positive energy to their life." - INFP Personal Growth (The Personality Page)

"Their job must be fun, although not racous, and it must be meaningful to them. They need a strong purpose in their work." - INFP - The Dreamer (Lifexplore)

Good quote

"The late, great Mennonite theologian, John Howard Yoder, distinguished his historic pacifism from liberal pacifism precisely in respect to differing views of human nature. Liberal pacifism is a tool for achieving peace believing that it can be realized through discussion, negotiation, and increased appreciation of human and societal differences. Historic pacifism, on the other hand, is not a tool, but a way of life for followers of Jesus who understand that they live in a world at war, and that there are those who, no matter how nicely and kindly they are treated, and no matter how much they are helped, will kill whether the enemy is armed or not."

- Allan R. Bevere, from a fine blog post

Spiritual Living & Significance

I read this quote over the weekend (quoted in Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul by Dave Goetz), and it's been running around in my mind ever since. Heschel was a twentieth century Jewish process theologian who wrote, among other things, a highly regarded commentary on The Prophets (which I received in seminary as a gift from classmate Bob Zilhaver).

"The higher goal of spiritual living is not to amass a wealth of information, but to face sacred moments...it is not a thing that lends significance to a moment; it is a moment that lends significance to things."

- Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath

Which Methoblogger are you?

You scored as Keith McIlwain. You are Keith McIlwain! You abhor all violence, except the savagery of the gridiron. Keith McIlwain 92% Lorna Koskela 58% Abi Carlisle-Wilke 42% Theresa Coleman 33% Jonathon Norman 33% Art Ruch 25% Allan Bevere 17% John the Methodist 17% Gavin Richardson 0% Which Methoblogger Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Gracious, laughing thanks to John at Locusts & Honey.

Which Church Father are You?

You’re St. Melito of Sardis! You have a great love of history and liturgy. You’re attached to the traditions of the ancients, yet you recognize that the old world — great as it was — is passing away. You are loyal to the customs of your family, though you do not hesitate to call family members to account for their sins. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!

Thanks to Rick Mansfield of THIS LAMP...and that's all I need.

My "Theological worldview" 2007

(Thanks to Bruce Alderman, who took this quiz two years in a row and inspired me to do the same...interesting exercise.)

I took this quiz last February. My results can be viewed here. A year ago, I still scored highest as "Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan"...and, actually, at the same percentage as this year upon taking the quiz again.

A difference is that I scored higher percentages this year as "Roman Catholic" and (especially) "Emergent/Postmodern"; not sure why unless it's the books I've read since last year. The five at the bottom remained there, although my "Classical Liberal" score is significantly higher than last year.

So what does this all prove? Very little, but it's fun. It does confirm to me that I am very, very Wesleyan (a fact of which I am well aware), very ancient / traditionally minded (Roman Catholic), very much influenced by my age and my culture (Emergent/Postmodern), very wary of Calvinism (Reformed), and that far left liberals and far right fundamentalists frighten me. __________________________________________

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan.

You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavily by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan		86%
Roman Catholic		68%
Emergent/Postmodern		64%
Neo orthodox		64%
Classical Liberal		46%
Reformed Evangelical		29%
Fundamentalist		25%
Charismatic/Pentecostal		25%
Modern Liberal		25%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

Am I a heretic?

Another quiz. Thanks to Chris Kindle.

You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451. Chalcedon compliant 100% Pelagianism 50% Apollanarian 33% Adoptionist 33% Monophysitism 33% Nestorianism 17% Modalism 17% Monarchianism 8% Socinianism 0% Arianism 0% Donatism 0% Albigensianism 0% Gnosticism 0% Docetism 0% Are you a heretic? created with QuizFarm.com

My "Eschatological worldview"

I took another online quiz, found here; again, I can't say that I'm surprised at the results.

You scored as Amillenialist. Amillenialism believes that the 1000 year reign is not literal but figurative, and that Christ began to reign at his ascension. People take some prophetic scripture far too literally in your view. Amillenialist 100% Moltmannian Eschatology 85% Preterist 55% Premillenialist 30% Postmillenialist 20% Dispensationalist 10% Left Behind 0%

My "Theological worldview"

I took an online quiz found here; I can't say that I'm surprised at the results.

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan.You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan		86%
Neo orthodox		79%
Roman Catholic		61%
Emergent/Postmodern		43%
Reformed Evangelical		39%
Charismatic/Pentecostal		32%
Fundamentalist		29%
Classical Liberal		29%
Modern Liberal		18%