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James Nored's Posts - Missional Outreach Network for the Missional Church 2015-11-29T11:45:48Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored http://api.ning.com:80/files/D*jRkBJZGXUIJLFhTdiRuv40atsAV7S0xTRbj4iT-MsQQk*MNrTWs*x*f0THVRjqlq592*eSh-DNKpmGD5urOIDSOkrXwqSO/1124683615.jpeg?xgip=0%3A0%3A741%3A741%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1 http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=22wh655o6hjoq&xn_auth=no Let's Start Talking was Missional Before Missional was Cool - Thank you, Mark and Sherrylee Woodward! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-11-20:2422312:BlogPost:103676 2015-11-20T14:00:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

With the announcement that Mark and Sherrylee Woodward are stepping down from the executive director role at Let's Start Talking, I wanted to republish this article I wrote a few years back about how LST was a pioneering, missional ministry before we even had missional language. I also wanted to say thank you…

With the announcement that Mark and Sherrylee Woodward are stepping down from the executive director role at Let's Start Talking, I wanted to republish this article I wrote a few years back about how LST was a pioneering, missional ministry before we even had missional language. I also wanted to say thank you to Mark and Sherrylee for their tireless work in this ministry over the years, their personal friendship of our family, and their role in the shaping of my own ministry and life. God has used this ministry to reach thousands of people with the gospel.

Please note the original article below.

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Let's Start Talking was Missional Before Missional was Cool -
 Thank you, Mark and Sherrylee Woodward!

 Note: This article was originally published on July 22, 2011, under the title: "Let's Start Talking - The Importance of Short Term Missions in Making Disciples."

 Whenever I tell my story of how I got into ministry, I always include Let's Start Talking as part of this story. My dad left a very profitable career in industry when I was 14 years old to go to Oklahoma Christian University and help start the electrical engineering program there. It was a sacrifice, but one which my parents willingly made. They wanted to serve God in this way, and it allowed us to go in the summers on Let's Start Talking mission trips.

Let's Start Talking was started by some good friends of our family, Mark and Sherrlee Woodward. While there was no "language" for this at the time, Let's Start Talking was and is a very "missional" approach to outreach. In Let's Start Talking, short term mission teams go overseas to work with local churches. The church advertises "free English lessons" to the community, and these short term mission teams help people who respond from the community with their English by going through the gospel of Luke in 24 lessons.

How is this missional? I advocate a missional outreach strategy that is based upon Jesus' life and mission and some of his own statements of mission: seeking the lost (Lk. 19:10), serving the community (Mk. 10:45), sharing the good news (Lk. 4:43). Here is how LST fits into this strategy:

Seeking the lost - Jesus said that he came to seek and save the lost. Seeking involves an active looking for lost people, a going out, being a "sent" (missional) people. Intentionally going overseas and looking for unchurched people in these locales definitely fits a missional approach and understanding. The church is not just waiting for people to seek them out, but instead, is seeking them.

Serving the community - Jesus said that he did not come to be served, but to serve others by offering up his life as a ransom for many. Jesus served people by filling a need, helping to heal an area of brokenness in their lives through loving acts of hope and healing. For so many people around the world, speaking English is the gateway to a better life. By serving the community in this way, the church follows the life and mission of Jesus, who continually served people.

Sharing the good news - Jesus said that he came to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. This is why he was sent. The reason that people go on LST trips is not primarily to see the world--though that is incredible and thoroughly enjoyable--but to share the good news with their English readers. The LST approach is to let the word be the teacher in people's lives. This assumes that the Spirit has been and will be working on the reader's heart--which fits the missional idea that the Spirit of God has already been sent out into the world to do this very thing.

There is another great missional approach to LST that I have realized. LST has always emphasized the importance of "parties" to invite the reader to go to. Missional practitioners have realized the importance of these social groups in reaching out to people. (see Launching Missional Communities.) A small group may be intimidating for people. Many people are not ready to go to a worship service. But a fun party where one can come or go as they please, meet people, and make connections--people hunger for this, and it opens them up to Christian friendships. And because they have been served by these strange people that are there for no other purpose than to show them love and help them in their lives, this opens them up to the gospel message and to the larger life of the church.

LST mission trips create what Alan Hirsch and others call a communitas experience--a profound sense of community that is caused by people getting out of their comfort zone (and into a "liminal state") and having out of the ordinary experiences together. Hirsch puts forth in his book The Forgotten Ways that these communitas experiences of people going out on mission together is one of the essential keys in creating disciples--not only the people that are reached, put the "missionaries" themselves. That is, people are transformed into the likeness of Christ and grow in discipleship by going out on mission together, where they must depend upon God and one another (ala the "Limited Commission" in Luke 10). And through this mission, true community is formed--a much stronger form of community than could be formed merely by people sitting around and drinking coffee (although I love coffee). Anyone who has been on a short term mission trip knows that there is a bond formed with the group that transcends any ordinary church experience.

Studies are confirming these missional theories, showing that both teens and adults that go on short-term mission trips stay much more faithful to God and the church (see Transformission for recent research) They become more devoted followers of Jesus. (Watch the video above of one of the High Pointe teens who was transformed through his LST experience). So if we want to save the world--and our own children and ourselves--we will uphold mission in the church.

Let's Start Talking (LST) is a fabulous example of how mission creates disciples. I would encourage everyone to go on a LST mission trip if they can. The challenge is to make mission a normal, consistent expression in the daily and weekly life rhythm of the church, but together and as we live our indidivual, daily lives. If we can see our places of work, our neighborhoods, etc. as a mission field, will not be pray more, study more, and grow in our daily awareness of God? If we go out together in our small groups and adopt and serve in daycare centers, schools, neighborhoods, etc., will we not grow closer as a group and impact more people for Christ? We will surely encounter non-Christians in these locales, whom we will need to pray for and serve. And we will go back to Scripture, look at the life of Christ, and see how to be Jesus to those around us.

 Yes, LST and other experiences like this (church camp, studying the Bible at the local jail with inmates, etc.) had a profound impact on me becoming a minister and becoming hopefully a "missional leader." So to Mark and Sherrylee, my parents, my camp directors and counselors, Chuck Monan who took me to the local jail, and so many others--thanks for taking me out on mission. Because of this, not only was I changed, but many others have been led to Christ and are leading others to Christ.

Have you gone on a short-term mission trip? How did it change you? How can we make mission more a part of our daily lives?

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Most recently, we have used the domestic version of LST, FriendSpeak, run by Ben Woodward, in Fairfax, Virginia to reach the international community here in Washington, D.C. We have a fantastic FriendSpeak and ESL ministry leader at Fairfax named Jerri Harrington, with a great set of workers. It Jerri's obvious heart and love for God and others, along with others in this ministry, that has impacted so many international students who have come in. We added or filled out this ministry through:

Social Parties - Some social parties to help the students connect with members and one another (which I learned through LST trips)

Inviting to Serve - Inviting those in FriendSpeak to serve with us as a church, such as going with us to feed the homeless or serving at our clothing giveaway, which helps them learn the way of Jesus through doing (a very postmodern element in coming to faith for people today)

Facebook - Advertising FriendSpeak on Facebook--which had a phenomenal response, allowing us to add 25 new readers

Domestic FriendSpeak Trip - Having a family from Texas, Hector and Melissa Hinojosa, come to DC for two weeks to kickstart the new studies from Facebook advertising as a type of domestic mission trip. (Check out a video of this here.)

Evangelistic Bible Study - An invitation to go through the Story of Redemption--the evangelistic Bible study that I have written for today's unchurched, postmodern culture (www.StoryofRedemption.com). Over the last couple of years, we have had many baptisms through this ministry and combination. Overall, our international outreach has included the baptisms of six Muslims, with more in study and prayerfully close to making this decision for Jesus.

Praise God for all that he has done and is doing! And thank you, Mark and Sherrylee, for your incredible service and legacy for sharing the gospel!

How has LST / FriendSpeak / the Woodwards impacted your life?

 Our three year old, Kaylee, said, "I made God sad." - The Kingdom of God and Children tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-09-08:2422312:BlogPost:103413 2015-09-08T16:39:12.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Our three year old daughter Kaylee said something not nice this morning and my wife, Becki, corrected her. Then Kaylee…

Our three year old daughter Kaylee said something not nice this morning and my wife, Becki, corrected her. Then Kaylee said, "I made God sad. Jesus doesn't want me to talk like that."

Wow--either we have laid on the guilt, or she is just very tender and cute. I am hoping the latter! :) Wouldn't it be great if we all thought about every "not nice" thing that we said or were tempted to say--every gossip, slander, or harsh word--and realized that this makes God sad--and did not say it?

Would that not be a good church to be a part of? A good community? A good company? A good family? A good country?

I think that is what the kingdom of God looks like. Jesus said, "Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:17).

This kind of makes up for Kaylee saying during our Sunday night devotional on this passage that she would "have a picnic and eat the baby." Almost!

How do you think that children demonstrate to us how to "receive" the kingdom of God? What kinds of things do we say that make God sad?

 Cheating with a Fantasy? - Almost None of the "Women" in the Hacked Ashley Madison Site May Have Ever Been Real tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-09-03:2422312:BlogPost:103316 2015-09-03T19:45:47.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Wow. One data analyst indicates that the VAST majority of women accounts on the cheating website Ashley Madison were fake. Only about 12,000 accounts out of millions could be positively identified as being actual accounts, though likely that is a low number.

It appears that most men were…

Wow. One data analyst indicates that the VAST majority of women accounts on the cheating website Ashley Madison were fake. Only about 12,000 accounts out of millions could be positively identified as being actual accounts, though likely that is a low number.

It appears that most men were not cheating with a person, but with a mere fantasy. I'm not sure if this makes this more or less tragic. Note the article link and excerpt below.

Almost None of the Women in the Ashley Madison Database Ever Used the Site [Updated]

http://gizmodo.com/almost-none-of-the-women-in-the-ashley-madison-database-1725558944

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When hacker group Impact Team released the Ashley Madison data, they asserted that "thousands" of the women's profiles were fake. Later, this number got blown up in news stories that asserted "90-95%" of them were fake, though nobody put forth any evidence for such an enormous number. So I downloaded the data and analyzed it to find out how many actual women were using Ashley Madison, and who they were.

Editor's Note: The number of female users reported in this article are based in part on a misinterpretation of the data. We've done a thorough analysis of the source code and offered a new interpretation here.

What I discovered was that the world of Ashley Madison was a far more dystopian place than anyone had realized. This isn't a debauched wonderland of men cheating on their wives. It isn't even a sadscape of 31 million men competing to attract those 5.5 million women in the database. Instead, it's like a science fictional future where every woman on Earth is dead, and some Dilbert-like engineer has replaced them with badly-designed robots.

Those millions of Ashley Madison men were paying to hook up with women who appeared to have created profiles and then simply disappeared. Were they cobbled together by bots and bored admins, or just user debris? Whatever the answer, the more I examined those 5.5 million female profiles, the more obvious it became that none of them had ever talked to men on the site, or even used the site at all after creating a profile.Actually, scratch that. As I'll explain below, there's a good chance that about 12,000 of the profiles out of millions belonged to actual, real women who were active users of Ashley Madison.

When you look at the evidence, it's hard to deny that the overwhelming majority of men using Ashley Madison weren't having affairs. They were paying for a fantasy . . . .
 Trash Your Marriage in Eight Easy Steps - Part 1: Be Selfish & Pick at Each Other tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-09-03:2422312:BlogPost:103623 2015-09-03T17:56:03.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Below are the first two points in the article "Trash Your Marriage in Eight Easy Steps."

The divorce rate is at an all-time high, and marriages are falling apart everywhere…

Below are the first two points in the article "Trash Your Marriage in Eight Easy Steps."

The divorce rate is at an all-time high, and marriages are falling apart everywhere you look. Marriages of church-going people are crashing and burning especially fast. There are forces in our culture that contribute to marriage stresses such as pornography, the prevalence of drivenness, two-career families, and the dynamics of the blended family. But people also make foolish choices to destroy their marriages from within.

Talking about the family, Proverbs 14:1 says, "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands." Ephesians 5:28 exhorts husbands to love their wives as their own bodies, nourishing and cherishing them. God's plan is that we treasure and cultivate our marriages, but it's very easy to trash them instead. Let's take a tongue-in-cheek look at eight ways that people trash their marriages.

Be Selfish

The first step is to be selfish. My pastor once said that the AIDS of marriage is justified self-centeredness. Everything needs to revolve around you because, let's face it, you are at the center of the universe, right? If you find something you like to do that ignores your spouses' feelings and interests, go ahead and do it! Too bad if they don't like it! You only go around once in life, so grab for all the gusto you can get!

Always insist on having things your own way. If you don't get your own way, throw a tantrum. Or freeze your spouse out. Get your kids involved in this game by saying things like, "Would you please ask your father to pass the salt?" Don't be afraid to withhold sex if your spouse isn't letting you have things your own way. There's a lot of power in that, so don't waste it!

If there's only enough money in your budget for what one of you wants, make sure you get what you want. Especially if you're the wage earner, or if you make more than the other. Money is power, and don't be afraid to use it against your spouse!

Make demands instead of requests. Wives, let your husband know that he will do things your way, or you'll make his life miserable. Husbands, when you want your wife to do something, just tell her to do it. "Please" and "thank you" are for the kids. This is your spouse you're talking about–they don't need it. Save all your courtesy for strangers; don't waste it on the person you said you'd spend the rest of your life with.

What we really mean to say:

Selfishness is guaranteed to hurt marriages, so ask for God's help in putting your husband or wife ahead of yourself so you don't trash your marriage.

Pick at Each Other

The second step is to pick at each other. If you know that something you do annoys your spouse, be sure to do it often. And intentionally. When she complains about it, tell her to buzz off, it's not as annoying as the stupid things she does to bug you. The more childish the annoying habit, the better.

Be critical of the smallest thing the other one says and does. Don't let your spouse get away with anything! Stay vigilant for every little offense. Be sure to address these small details with an air of superiority . . . unless it works better for you to act like a martyr, as if you deserve the Nobel Prize for putting up with someone who doesn't squeeze the toothpaste from the end.

Always get the last word when you're arguing. Dr. Phil McGraw has said that the most accurate predictor of divorce is when people don't allow their partners to retreat with dignity. So make your spouse feel whipped and defeated at the end of a fight. As long as you win, that's what matters.

What do you think of these behaviors--destructive?
 God's Wrath is Being Poured Out - On Those Who Pass Judgment on the World? - Read Romans 1 AND 2 tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-08-29:2422312:BlogPost:103297 2015-08-29T20:37:48.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

What would happen if all of the longtime Christians, church leaders, elders, etc., in a church left, leaving the church made up of new converts, younger generations (Millennials, Gen Xers), and seekers?

New converts, younger generations, and seekers often have…

What would happen if all of the longtime Christians, church leaders, elders, etc., in a church left, leaving the church made up of new converts, younger generations (Millennials, Gen Xers), and seekers?

New converts, younger generations, and seekers often have different value systems, points of emphasis, and preferences on any number of things. What if . . .

There were scrolling twitter feeds during the assembly? "Please pray for me--it's been a tough week" #SundayWorship

There were dimmed lights, lighted stages, multiple video screens, prayer stations around the gathering space?

Bible class time each week were replaced with serving in the community each week?

Pews had been replaced with couches and coffee tables and there was a small meal during the Lord's Supper?

The church was partnering with homosexual groups to prevent bullying in schools?

The church was partnering with Mormons on promoting family values, EarthDay groups on caring for the environment, and Muslims on advocating for religious freedoms?

Decisions were made through social media discussions, rather than face to face?

And then what would happen when those same longtime Christians, church leaders, and elders, came back to that same church? What would happen?

For some, some or all of these would be welcome. For others, none of these changes would be welcome and would cause people to say, what in the world has happened to (my) church??

Believe it or not, much the same phenomenon was going on in the church in Rome when Paul wrote to them. The early church was initially made up of all Jewish Christians, as it took some time for people to realize God's plan to include the Gentiles in salvation. So the church in Rome was initially made up on Jewish Christians who had grown up reading, studying, and following the Bible (the Old Testament) with all of its moral laws and religious duties.

But in AD 49, the emperor Claudius kicked all of the Jews out of Rome. All that would have been left were new Gentile converts--former pagans, most of whom definitely did not grow up reading Bible stories and practicing the Law. For five years they would have controlled all of the local church membership, leadership, worship, practices, etc. Do you think that they would have done things differently? Of course.

Then five years later, in AD 54, Claudius died. At the death of an emperor, his decrees were made null and void, which allowed the Jews to return to Rome and Jewish Christians to return to the church in Rome--setting up massive conflict between the Jewish Christians who had grown up following God and the Law and the Gentile Christians who were former pagans. This conflict is played out throughout the book of Romans, and it is into this context that Paul speaks of the gospel, which is for both Jews and Gentiles, and how both groups of Christians should act and behave towards one another.

Now, to the point of this article. In Romans 1:18f, Paul has a famous diatribe against all of sorts of sinful behaviors--worshiping nature/created things, homosexuality, lust, gossip, the breakdown of the family and family roles (disobedience to parents), violence, invention of evil and approval of those who do evil. Now, who would have been most concerned about these things in the church in Rome? The Jewish Christians, of course, and he taps into the fear, angst, and anger that they had against these behaviors.

And just as Paul works up the righteous anger of the Jewish Christians in Romans 1--he would have been receiving "Amens" and "Preach it" left and right by this group--he lowers the boom in chapter 2, turns the tables, and says,

"1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God 'will repay each person according to what they have done.' 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism . . .

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-- 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Romans 2:1f).

Wow. Talk about a surprising turn in a sermon! Just as they are getting worked up about the sins of others and the wrath of God against all of those bad people out there, he tells them that they are storing up wrath against themselves! Why? Because they are looking at the sins of others instead of themselves. Because they are showing contempt for God's mercy rather than thankfulness. Because they are hypocritical, condemning the sins of others while engaging in the same immoral activity.

Does this not have application for us. Could not this vice list and these feelings in Romans 1 very well describe how so many Christians feel about our changing culture? I, like so many others, worry about the culture in which my children are growing up in. And it is easy to judge the culture. But Paul says in other places as well--God will judge those outside the church; we should concentrate on making sure that our own lives are in line with God (1 Cor. 5:1f).

So in the week in which users of Ashley Madison, a cheating website, have had their information hacked and this story has been highlighted in the news--should we really be concentrating on all of those adulterers out there who are not Christian--or should we be making sure that our own lives are good and pure and in line with the gospel?
 The Three Column Bible Study Method for Small Groups - No Teacher Required! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-08-18:2422312:BlogPost:103487 2015-08-18T00:00:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Many times churches and/or church planters find themselves short on small group leaders that can lead/teach a small group Bible study, or that what they are teaching is not being applied and lived out.

For those facing these challenges, here is a Bible study method that you might…

Many times churches and/or church planters find themselves short on small group leaders that can lead/teach a small group Bible study, or that what they are teaching is not being applied and lived out.

For those facing these challenges, here is a Bible study method that you might consider. It is called the "Three Column Method," taught in the this video by David Watson (start at the 33:10 mark or so). Watson is one of the key figures in Church Planting Movements (CPM), and CPM uses this methodology in their church plants.

Here is the simple method:

Have each person take an 8 1/2x11 piece of paper and turn it horizontally. Divide the paper into three columns

Fill the three columns in the following way: 1) 1st Column - write down a Bible verse of Bible passage that you would like to study; 2) 2nd Column - paraphrase the Bible verse/passage and writing it down in your own words; 3) 3rd Column - write down what you learn about God and people in this column, as well as "I will" statements for how you will live out/apply this verse/passage this week in your life

Have each person go around and share their paraphases and I will statements.

The thought is that writing the passage down and paraphrasing it puts the verse at least eight times more firmly in one's mind, and the last column leads to life change. As you can see, no Bible "teacher" is really needed here--just a facilitator. The Holy Spirit teaches through the Word and through each person sharing their thoughts and convicting others.

After the first meeting, a group can open with the following questions:

Where did you see God at work as you lived out your "I will" statements the past week?

Who do you know that is in need that this group might be able to help in some way?

Who or waht do we need to pray for (including prayers for the lost)?

It should be noted that while Watson has used this method to successfully reach many people, the bulk of the converts through this methodology have come in third world or first generation immigrant populations, where community is very strong and the gospel can very quickly spread along network lines. In the US, community is much more fragmented, people are highly individualistic, and many want/expect to have a clear, gifted teacher. Therefore, this methodology may not be the incredible evangelistic tool that it is in other countries.

However, it can still be a useful tool for multiplying small groups and cutting down on the number of official teachers needed, as well as increasing the amount of application that people seek to do each week. Certainly, the above methodology can and should be adapted to one's particular culture--such as pershaps using this method orally, for instance, or making other adaptations as needed

What are your thoughts on the three column Bible study method?

 GET YOUR GOSPEL BLIMP NOW! - A Satirical Look at Impersonal Evangelism tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-08-16:2422312:BlogPost:103468 2015-08-16T00:38:40.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

In this day of impersonal communication, the story of "The Gospel Blimp"--a satirical look at a church that substitutes using a blimp and mass media for relational evangelism--might be good for us…

In this day of impersonal communication, the story of "The Gospel Blimp"--a satirical look at a church that substitutes using a blimp and mass media for relational evangelism--might be good for us to remember.

And as to social media, well, let's remember that it is supposed to be SOCIAL, with interaction, not mere blasting platforms. Agreed?

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Does Your Church Have A Gospel Blimp? by Joe McKeever

In 1960, Joe Bayly wrote an entertaining little volume of 85 pages about a group of well-meaning church members who decide the way to reach their unsaved neighbors would be to float a Scripture-carrying blimp above the city and bombard the citizens with gospel tracts.

My copy of "The Gospel Blimp," which I have kept all these years, was produced in the book's 7th printing. I seem to remember a gospel film (the inexpensive kind made to be shown in churches back in the day) was made on the book.

I've not heard a thing of the book or the story in decades, but Dr. Bayly's point was so timeless, it still applies today. The story (sort of a parable, I suppose) needs to be dusted off and retold.

See what you think.

The blimp idea got started when this little cluster of friends from a conservative evangelical church were enjoying a barbecue in George and Ethel's back yard and began discussing their next-door neighbors. It was obvious they were unsaved because they were drinking beer and playing cards. Someone pointed out that they attend a liberal church, and this just a few times a year. As a plane went overhead, a fellow named Herm remarked that if that aircraft had been carrying a message such as "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," the lost neighbors would have received a witness since they also had glanced in its direction.

One thing led to another and the idea was birthed to buy a blimp and have it trail Scripture messages across the sky for citizens to read. They formed a non-profit, got themselves chartered, organized a board with officers, and made Herm, the fellow with the idea, its executive. Soon, Herm resigned his job and went full-time with International Gospel Blimps, Inc.

Someone had the idea of tying gospel tracts with colored cellophane tape and bombarding the neighborhoods with "fire bombs" from Heaven.

A project like this naturally would require a great deal of money for maintenance, a hangar for the blimp, and salaries for the pilots and the executive. Fund-raising quickly took a great deal of time and energy from the organizers.

Within weeks, the board members began devoting all their spare hours to this project. In order to keep the blimp running, to tape the fire bombs, and to raise money, they missed their kids' little league ball games, had to turn down invitations from friends to go out for pizza, and gave up all their evenings at home.

Soon, they added a loudspeaker to the blimp so Herm could preach short messages across the city while dropping firebombs and dragging the Scripture du jour through the sky. When the sermons began invading their homes, citizens rose up in protest. The police chief came close to arresting them for disturbing the peace, but backed off when they agreed to dismantle the speakers.

Meanwhile, Herm, the executive, began devoting less and less time to the actual day-to-day running of the Gospel Blimp ministry. He roamed far and wide to raise money and make public appearances. Gone from home so much, his wife eventually filed for divorce, particularly when she learned the primary reason for his long absences. The board, however, decided that Herm was so valuable to the ministry they could not dismiss him. After all, it was only her word against his. So, they went forward.

And what about the unsaved neighbors who were the impetus for all this blimpness in the first place? A few times, when they knocked on George and Ethel's door to see if they wanted to come over or accompany them on a little fishing trip, they found them away from home or too occupied with the blimp business.

George and Ethel were the first couple to drop out of the Blimp ministry, feeling that it had somehow gotten off course and was taking too much of their time with only miniscule results.

Some of the high-powered executives with whom Herm played golf (a lot of golf!) talked him into added commercial messages to the blimp in order to increase its acceptance and generate more funds. Soon, the blimp sports religious messages saying "I am the way" and others saying, "The American way is the best way."

On the third anniversary of the original cookout where the blimp idea had surfaced, George and Ethel invited over their friends who were still heavily involved in the work of the IGBI. In their back yard, they introduced their neighbors, the ones whose salvation had been the original impetus for the blimp business. They had come to know Christ and George and Ethel thought the blimp board needed to know how that had happened.

The board members were ecstatic. "Which firebomb did God use to reach you?" "Was it one of the Scriptures we trailed?" "Was it one of Herm's sermons?"

None of that. In fact, they said, that infernal blimp had driven them batty.

What had happened was that after George and Ethel had pulled out of the blimp ministry, they had time to get to know the neighbors. When the wife went into the hospital, Ethel would visit her, take flowers from the garden and sit with her. She would read to the woman and they would talk about Jesus.

Meanwhile, they invited the husband over for evening meals. He sat in on family devotionals when George read the Bible and prayed. Neither the man nor his wife had ever met anyone to whom Jesus Christ was real.

The husband told the backyard group, "There's something else. Any of you guys ever spend two weeks keeping house with the wife away?" His house had been filthy.

"Ethel came in the day before my wife came home and gave that house the going-over of its life."

The wife added, "Yes, and for a month after I got home she wouldn't let me do a stitch of washing or ironing. Took all our dirty clothes home and did them."

In the silence that followed this testimony, one of the board members ventured that now that the neighbors were saved, they would surely be interested in joining the blimp ministry.

"Sorry," the new believer said. "George and I are going bowling with the guy across the street."

Joe Bayly gives his interpretation of this modern-day parable in the final chapter. "The little city where the Gospel Blimp was conceived is the world, our latter twentieth century American world, in which Christians work and play, raise children, buy automobiles and face the devil."

Our next door neighbors, Bayly said, may be down the road or across town. They may drink beer and play cards but they may just as well attend the symphony and lead the local civic club. "Some of them may even sit near us on Sunday morning."

The Blimp? Bayly says, "Why the wonderful Gospel Blimp is every impersonal, external means by which we try to fulfil our responsibility to witness to our neighbors. Gospel programs over the radio, messages on billboards or in tracts; these are some of our blimps."

"These are poor substitutes for personal communication of the gospel, the sort of witnessing we glimpse from afar in the New Testament."

What do you think of "THE GOSPEL BLIMP" story?
 Ten Little Christians - A Call Back to Mission tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-08-15:2422312:BlogPost:103263 2015-08-15T15:56:02.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Ten Little Christians - A Call Back to Mission

Satan wants us to get distracted from our mission of reaching out to the world, with petty squables, fractions, selfishness, and apathy. This little poem, Ten Little Christians,…

Ten Little Christians - A Call Back to Mission

Satan wants us to get distracted from our mission of reaching out to the world, with petty squables, fractions, selfishness, and apathy. This little poem, Ten Little Christians, reminds us of needing to guard against these distractions--and of what can happen if we instead committed to Christ and his mission and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Ten little Christians, standing in a line, one disliked the preacher, then there were nine.
• Nine little Christians stayed up very late, one slept in on Sunday, then there were eight.
• Eight little Christians on their way to heaven, one took his own road, then there were seven.
• Seven little Christians chirping like some chicks, one disliked the song leader, then there were six.
• Six little Christians seemed very much alive, but one lost his interest then there were five.
• Five little Christians pulling for heaven's shore, but one stopped to rest, then there were four.
• Four little Christians, busy as a bee, one got her feelings hurt, then there were three.
• Three little Christians knew not what to do, one couldn't forgive another, then there were two.
• Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done, quarreled over petty stuff, then there was only one.
• One little Christian, can't do much 'tis true; brought his friend to Bible study – then there were two.
• Two earnest Christians, each won one more, that doubled the number, then there were four.
• Four sincere Christians worked early and worked late, each won another, then there were eight.
• Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before, in just a few short weeks, we'd have 1,024.

What do you think of this poem and the issues that it raises?
 Love God, Love Your Neighbor - Christian Missionary Carl Wilkens Shares How This Love Both Failed & Saved in the Rwanda Genocide tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-25:2422312:BlogPost:103003 2015-07-25T12:13:26.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. No long list of rules. No pages upon pages to memorize, prayers to recite or tasks to complete. Love God, love your neighbor--it is so…

Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. No long list of rules. No pages upon pages to memorize, prayers to recite or tasks to complete. Love God, love your neighbor--it is so simple.

One of the worst massacres and violation of love of God and neighbor happened in Rwanda in 1994. If you have seen the movie Hotel Rwanda, it tells this story about ethnic cleansing. The Belgiums had ruled over this African nation for decades, and they set into place some of the things that would lead to this massacre. They arbitrarily divided the Rwandans up into Hutus and Tutsis, based on slight differences in skin color and other physical characteristics.

In 1990, when Billy Joel was singing We Didn't Start the Fire, Rwanda was in the midst of a Civil War between Hutus and Tutsis. But the moderate Hutu president of Rwanda negotiated a peace treaty which included power sharing between the groups. Radical Hutus warned the President that they would kill him if he signed this agreement, and they did. On a Thursday night in April, the president's plane was shot down--it was only later leaned that this was by the radical Hutu rebels. And that was the signal that would set off plans for one of the worst ethnic cleanings ever, where some 600,000 to a million Tutsis were killed by the Hutus.

Now the thing that is so disturbing about this, besides the act itself, is that these were not communists or fascists or secularists. This was an overwhelmingly Christian nation. Where was their devotion? What happened? How could they claim to be Christians, and then systematically go about killing their neighbors?

This week I was invited down by one of our church members to the Pentagon to the chaplain's luncheon to hear Carl and Teresa Wilkens talk about their experience in Rwanda. They came to Rwanda four years prior to the genocide, serving as Christian missionaries and humanitarian workers. Carl stayed there throughout the war and wrote a book called, I'm Not Leaving.

On that Thursday, the Wilkens hid in their house as gunfire went off everywhere. They were lying on the ground, telling their children that they were playing a game. Meanwhile every one of their neighbors who did not have "Hutu" on their ID card were being slaughtered with machetes. The next morning they found out from their neighbors who were Hutu that the militia and men with machetes had come during the night and had planned to kill them. They thought they were Belgiums, and believed that Belgiums had shot down the president's plane.

The only thing standing between the Wilkens family and that death squad literally was their neighbors. They told them that they had lived there with them in their neighborhood for years. They knew them. They recited small acts of kindness that they had done for them, such as taking them to the hospital in the middle of the night.

But of all of the things that they told the killers that night, one thing stood out. They said, "This family's children plays with our children."

Their children--Mindy, Lisa, and Shaun--had spent four years laughing, playing, and building bonds together. And it was this love of neighbor--of truly loving them and living among them, and the stories of this love--that saved their lives.

In his presentation, Carl Wilkins said that what led to the Rwandan genocide was the failure of love of God and neighbor.

But that one instance of love on that murderous night allowed this one Christian family to live--and that allowed Carl to stay on through the genocide and save hundreds of men, women, children, and orphans. All because of small acts of love and kindness and the friendship of children playing together.

What do you think that we can learn from this story about loving God and neighbor?
 Spotify Changed Its Logo Color--and the Internet is Freaking Out! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-21:2422312:BlogPost:102749 2015-07-21T01:42:36.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Spotify changed its logo color from one shade of green to another--and the Internet is freaking out. People hate the new green (bottom, lighter green color), someone sent out a negative tweet, and the complaint went…

Spotify changed its logo color from one shade of green to another--and the Internet is freaking out. People hate the new green (bottom, lighter green color), someone sent out a negative tweet, and the complaint went viral.

Check out these news stories on the topic from Daily Mail and TheNEXTWeb. Some are noting that this change was done without any notice. And those in the company had been unanimous about the change, and had though that it was not a big deal.

Change in a company--or church--is necessary. And change is hard to bring about without making someone upset. But this is probably a good example of needing to do a bit better in change management, and realizing that what might not be a big deal to us might be a big deal to someone else!

Which color of green do you like?!
 Early Christianity - Christians' Sexual Ethic, not Laws, Set Christians Apart tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-20:2422312:BlogPost:102351 2015-07-20T19:58:17.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

In his article, One Trait that Set Apart the Earliest Christians, Michael J. Kruger points out that the sexual ethic of the early Christians was something…

In his article, One Trait that Set Apart the Earliest Christians, Michael J. Kruger points out that the sexual ethic of the early Christians was something that set these Christians apart from the culture. Note the following quoted section below:

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Tertullian went to great lengths to defend the legitimacy of Christianity by pointing out that Christians are generous and share their resources with all those in need. But then he said, "One in mind and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods with one another. All things are common among us but our wives" (Apol. 39). Why did he say this? Because, in the Greco-Roman world, people sometimes shared their spouses with each other.

In the second-century Epistle to Diognetus, the author went out of his way to declare that Christians are normal in regard to what they wear, what they eat, and how they participate in society. However, he then said, "[Christians] share their meals, but not their sexual partners" (Diogn. 5.7). Again, this trait made Christians different.

We see this dictinction play out again in the second-century Apology of Aristides. Aristides defended the legitimacy of the Christian faith to the emperor Hadrian by pointing out how Christians "do not commit adultery nor fornication" and "their men keep themselves from every unlawful union."

A final example comes from the second-century apology of Minucius Felix. In his defense to Octavius, he contrasted the sexual ethic of the pagan world with that of Christians:

Among the Persians, a promiscuous association between sons and mothers is allowed. Marriages with sisters are legitimate among the Egyptians and in Athens. Your records and your tragedies, which you both read and hear with pleasure, glory in incests: thus also you worship incestuous gods, who have intercourse with mothers, with daughters, with sisters. With reason, therefore, is incest frequently detected among you, and is continually permitted. Miserable men, you may even, without knowing it, rush into what is unlawful: since you scatter your lusts promiscuously, since you everywhere beget children, since you frequently expose even those who are born at home to the mercy of others, it is inevitable that you must come back to your own children, and stray to your own offspring. Thus you continue the story of incest, even although you have no consciousness of your crime. But we maintain our modesty not in appearance, but in our heart we gladly abide by the bond of a single marriage; in the desire of procreating, we know either one wife, or none at all.

This sampling of texts from the second century demonstrates that one of the main ways that Christians stood out from their surrounding culture was their distinctive sexual behavior. Of course, this doesn't mean Christians were perfect in this regard. No doubt, many Christians committed sexual sins. But Christianity as a whole was still committed to striving towards the sexual ethic laid out in Scripture–and the world took notice.

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I know that there are numerous Christians who are tremendously bothered by the change in laws regarding marriage and sexuality in the US. And certainly, this reflects a troubling moving away from Judeo-Christian ethics in our culture. However, it may be that with these changes in laws, Christian may stand out much more--hopefully in a positive way for what we stand for, more than a negative what we stand against.

How do these quotations from early Christianity affect your view of what is happening in our culture in regards to morality? How should we respond to the changing morality that we see and face today?
 "And God Said If . . . " - A Poem on Why God Allows Suffering & Trials tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-18:2422312:BlogPost:102346 2015-07-18T23:59:36.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Why does God allow us to go through trials and suffering? Here is a poem called, "And God Said If . . ." that helps explain this. It is anonymous.

If you never felt pain, Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?

If you never went through…

Why does God allow us to go through trials and suffering? Here is a poem called, "And God Said If . . ." that helps explain this. It is anonymous.

If you never felt pain, Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?

If you never went through difficulty,
How would you know that I'm a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial,
How could you call yourself an over comer?

If you never felt sadness,
How would you know that I'm a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake,
How would you know that I'm forgiving?

If you never were in trouble,
How would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken,
Then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem,
How would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering,
Then how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire,
Then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things,
How would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you,
How would you know that I love you?

If you had all power,
Then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect,
Then what would you need Me for?

Which of the above impacted you?

 Missionary died thinking that he was a failure - but he was not! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-17:2422312:BlogPost:102338 2015-07-17T13:52:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Dr. William Leslie went as a missionary in 1912 to a remote part of the Congo. There he shared Christ for 17 years, but felt as though he had little impact. He had a dispute with tribal leaders, and they asked him to leave and to not come back. He left a…

Dr. William Leslie went as a missionary in 1912 to a remote part of the Congo. There he shared Christ for 17 years, but felt as though he had little impact. He had a dispute with tribal leaders, and they asked him to leave and to not come back. He left a defeated man, thinking that he was a failure.

Fast forward one hundred years to the shocking events of 2010. Mark Ellis writes, "A team led by Eric Ramsey with Tom Cox World Ministries made a shocking and sensational discovery. They found a network of reproducing churches hidden like glittering diamonds in the dense jungle across the Kwilu River from Vanga, where Dr. Leslie was stationed."

Ramsey reports, "When we got in there, we found a network of reproducing churches throughout the jungle," Ramsey reports. 'Each village had its own gospel choir, although they wouldn't call it that,' he notes. ;They wrote their own songs and would have sing-offs from village to village.'"

In each village that Ramsey and his team visited, they found a church. And there was even a thousand set stone cathedral!

This just shows that God can take our "failures" and make incredible things come out of them. And is that not the essence of the cross? Praise God!
 Fasting in a SuperSize Me World tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-08:2422312:BlogPost:102716 2015-07-08T03:02:41.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Fasting--what is that? And why should we do anything so seemingly ridiculous? What does going without food have to do with one's spiritual life? Why is it considered to be a spiritual discipline? And how do we preach on this subject in today's…

Fasting--what is that? And why should we do anything so seemingly ridiculous? What does going without food have to do with one's spiritual life? Why is it considered to be a spiritual discipline? And how do we preach on this subject in today's culture?

Well, when in American culture do we EVER practice self-denial, self-control like this? We are in a Super Size me culture. The microwave culture. The instant gratification culture. And as the above SuperSize Me video shows, the results are not pretty, either physically or spiritually.

Think--why is Apple now the largest company in the world? Yes, they have great products and fabulous designs. But they are also the largest company in the world because they have tapped into impulsive desires. Apple knew that if they could make it where people could buy a song or album that they just heard for $1/$10--or put out a new phone each year that people had to have--they would make a lot of money. And they have.

Fasting and self-denial is counter-cultural. And for that reason, we need it even more. Our focus upon ourselves and instant gratification shows up in our credit card debt, affairs, and what we eat. Fasting teaches us that we can wait, that our cravings do not control us, that God is above all.

There are numerous passages on fasting, and fasting is almost always linked to PRAYER. Jesus himself fasted before facing temptation (Luke 4:2). And while physically weak, if fasting draws us closer to God, he may have been spiritually strong THEN--maybe even fasting so as to be able to face Satan's temptations. Jesus also says, "when you fast..." (Mt. 6:16f).

I think that what Dallas Willard said about the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence--you practice these, so that when you need to be silent you can be--can be applied to fasting. Fasting is a form of self-denial, and we practice this in fasting so that when we are called to self-denial, we have practiced this and have asked God's help in this.

Finally, I think that 1 Corinthians 9:24f is a good passage/approach to this subject when preaching: "24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

Fasting is a type of training of our body, mind, and spirit, not as an end goal, but as a way to help us in drawing closer to God and for our sanctification as we seek the prize of eternal life.

What are your thoughts on fasting?
 20 Things About the Unchurched People Who Visit Your Church tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-06:2422312:BlogPost:102298 2015-07-06T22:33:09.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Here are 20…

Here are 20 Facts About the Unchurched People Who Visit Your Church by Brian Dodd:

Unchurched People were often deeply affected as children by the actions of their parents and their view of God.

Unchurched People were often judged harshly by those in roles of spiritual authority.

Unchurched People often watched Christians treat each other harshly. Why would they want to be part of that?

Unchurched People are unclear on what is needed to go to Heaven.

Unchurched People have seen poor Christian leadership modeled for them. Thankfully, God sent Beth to a church led by a man like Mike Linch.

Unchurched People think Christianity is religion and rules rather than a relationship.

Unchurched People raise children in light of how they were raised.

Unchurched People are impressed with excellence in worship even if they do not understand it or believe everything being communicated.

Unchurched People have no idea how much God truly loves them.

Unchurched People believe in God. They just do not know how to gain His favor.

Unchurched People have legitimate faith questions.

Unchurched People often experience tremendous amounts of guilt.

Like everyone, Unchurched People have also faced many challenges as adults.

Unchurched People questioned God when tragedy struck.

Unchurched People are most likely to come to church because they are invited by a friend.

Unchurched People often do not sing.

Unchurched People will return the next Sunday if they like the pastor.

Unchurched People enjoy messages that "demystify" the Bible.

Unchurched People will slowly get involved through small groups and places where they can serve.

Unchurched People's hearts melt when they see their children loving church and singing, even if they do not. So invest heavily in your worship services and children's programming.

Which of these have you experienced? Which of these surprises you?
 Christ-Followers Show Up at Grocery Store and Pay for People's Groceries--Watch as They Experience God's Grace! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-06:2422312:BlogPost:102964 2015-07-06T14:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

OUTREACH/VIDEO IDEA - CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO! - Check out people's incredible reactions when someone shows up and freely pays for their groceries. When we show people grace, we point people towards God's ultimate gracious gift--Jesus Christ! I wonder if this would not be a better…

OUTREACH/VIDEO IDEA - CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO! - Check out people's incredible reactions when someone shows up and freely pays for their groceries. When we show people grace, we point people towards God's ultimate gracious gift--Jesus Christ! I wonder if this would not be a better use of "advertising dollars" than a lot of other things in today's post-Christian world.

Imagine doing this in your church! It would make for a great outreach, part of a great giving series, a great thing to share with donors--and also a great way to share with others about the grace found in Christ, exhibited by a local church.

Thoughts?

 How Hitler's Radio Transmitter, Intended for Nazi Propaganda, Is Being Used to Transmit the Gospel to Millions tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-06:2422312:BlogPost:102704 2015-07-06T05:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

During World War II, Adolf Hitler ordered the building of a 100,000 Watt radiotransmitter in Monte Carlo, Monaco, that he planned on using to broadcast venomous Nazi propaganda throughout the world.

 It was never…

During World War II, Adolf Hitler ordered the building of a 100,000 Watt radiotransmitter in Monte Carlo, Monaco, that he planned on using to broadcast venomous Nazi propaganda throughout the world.

 It was never used.

 But today, the transmitter is used by TrasWorld Radio (TWR) to broadcast the gospel in numerous languages to millions of people all around the world, including Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. What Hitler intended for evil, God used for good. Is that not the essence of the gospel?

 Note the following from the article, "Celebrating 50 Years Broadcasting from Monaco":

 "Sometimes God turns the efforts of evil men into vehicles for His work in the world," says TWR President Lauren Libby. "God provided TWR a huge voice to speak in Jesus' name at a strategic time in history. Today, TWR's programs from Monte Carlo still bring hope and encouragement to millions."

 Here is an excerpt from prisoner in Poland whose life was eternally touched by TWR's broadcasts from Monte Carlo:

 "One night, after everyone else had gone to sleep, I flipped through the radio stations and came across one that would soon change my life forever! Someone was talking about the love of God that cleanses sin, forgives, heals, restores, and gives joy and peace.

 I became addicted to listening to Trans World Radio. One day, I bowed my head and cried out: 'Lord have mercy on me, forgive me, save me, come and renew my broken spirit, I want to be a new person and I want to live for you.' Suddenly, the gloom and fretfulness were gone. Instead, joy and peace filled my heart. I started witnessing to my fellow inmates. As many as 10 gathered around the radio to listen to TWR. For five more years in prison, God used me to witness to the broken hearts."

 What an amazing story, that God could "redeem" this work of man for the salvation of people's souls and the spread of the gospel. Praise God!

 Isn't this an amazing story!
 More Muslims Have Converted to Christianity in Last 14 Years than All of 14 Centuries of Islamic History! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-06:2422312:BlogPost:102147 2015-07-06T00:17:37.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Sometimes as Christians, we can get down and defeated. It seems that everywhere, Satan is winning. Fear. Terrorism. ISIS.

But what we see on the news is not the full story.

Note the following quote from a …

Sometimes as Christians, we can get down and defeated. It seems that everywhere, Satan is winning. Fear. Terrorism. ISIS.

But what we see on the news is not the full story.

Note the following quote from a Christianity Today article on ISIS Undermining Islamic Faith.

"Muslims frightened by the inhumane acts by the ISIS, which the militants claim they are doing in the name of their god Allah, are now questioning their very own faith, and presumably considering to leave it, CBS News reported on Friday.

This is backed by testimonies from missionaries working in the Islamic world who noted that more Muslims have converted to Christianity in the last 14 years since the devastating Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. The number of converts in the recent period, they said, is greater than during the entire 14 centuries of Islamic history."

So do not despair! God is at work in the world, and he has already won the victory through Jesus Christ. Could it be God's plan to use the horrors of ISIS to bring Muslims into the fold of Christ? That is the essence of the gospel--God taking the worst that sin has to offer in death and the cross, and creating resurrection and new life from it. Praise God for what he is doing in the Muslim world!

How do you see God at work in the Muslim world?
 How do we live under (American) Empire and its changing laws and morals? - Lessons from Daniel tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-07-02:2422312:BlogPost:102692 2015-07-02T18:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

As Christians in America, we have long benefited from being under "Christendom"—the protection of and goodwill towards Christianity by the State and society at…

As Christians in America, we have long benefited from being under "Christendom"—the protection of and goodwill towards Christianity by the State and society at large. Today, however, those protections and this goodwill is breaking down. From changing poll numbers to changing laws to recent Supreme Court rulings, it is clear that we are living in a society that increasingly is moving away from Christian values and a Christian worldview.

 We all probably feel the angst and loss from this change in society. We worry about the world in which our children are growing up in. We fear for our future, our jobs, our security, and we mourn for our nation. While all of this is new and difficult for us, this state of being was the norm for God's people at various times throughout their history—from being slaves in Egypt to exiles in Babylon to Christians under the Roman Empire.

 The book of Daniel is a great book of the Bible from which to learn how to deal with the changing culture in which we find ourselves today. It is a book which chronicles some of God's people while they lived as exiles under the Babylonian Empire. Daniel and his friends faced unjust laws, ungodly politicians, proud and unreasonable kings, and overt persecution. What lessons can we learn from this?

 Let's look at the different major stories of the book of Daniel.

The King's Men, King's Table, and King's Dream (Daniel 1-2).
 Daniel and his three friends, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego are some of the choice Israelites that were taken into Babylonian captivity and trained to become "king's men." This kind of service to one's enemies and an evil empire must have right away created emotional difficulties and moral dilemmas. Then, they are faced with having to eat from the King's table. While it is unclear what dietary laws this would have violated, in their minds, to eat of this table would have been to compromise their faith.

 So they ate only vegetables and water--and God blessed them both physically and mentally (1:15f) above everyone else, and they entered into the king's service.

 Then the king has a dream, and he unreasonably asks his wise men to not just interpret the dream, but to tell them what the dream is. They, of course, cannot do this, and so the king orders ALL of the wise men to be killed. Daniel and his friends pray to God, and he reveals the dream and its meaning to Daniel, who tells the king. The king is so impressed that he elevates Daniel to be in charge of all of Babylon, and rewards his friends with administrative positions as well (2:1f).

The King's Idol and King's Fiery Torture Chamber (Daniel 3).
 So now Daniel and his friends are higher up administrators in the Empire. But they serve Darth Vader and a megalomaniac! And when the king puts up a giant statue of himself--a golden idol--for everyone to bow down to, the Jews refuse. And one of their "co-workers" who has it out for them, turns them in.

 The king summons Daniel's friends, and when they say that they will not bow down, the king gets furious. And he commands that they be through in a fiery furnace/torture chamber. But God saves them from this, and they are miraculously not harmed in this. This amazes the king, and he praises God for this--and gives them another promotion (3:28-30)!

The Kings' Bad Dreams/Visions (Daniel 4-5).
 In chapter 4, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a huge tree that grows--and then gets cut down by God's messenger. It was a dream that spoke of God raising up this king, but due to his pride, striking him down. Twleve months later after getting this warning, the king walks around in his palace and thinks boastful and prideful thoughts--and God makes him think that he is an animal. Finally, his sanity is restored, and the king praises God and acknowledges that God can humble those who are proud (4:36-37).

 Then the story shifts to King Nebuchadnezzar's son, Beltshazzar, who literally sees the writing on the wall. God has judged him for his pride as well. Daniel intreprets the dream--and that very night, the Babylonian Empire ends as the Medes and Persians (modern day Iran) take over.

The King's Bad Law (Daniel 6).
 Daniel 6 is, of course, the story of Daniel in the lions' den. One of Daniels' enemies sees that Daniel prays to God, so he convinces King Darius to make a law that no one can pray to any god except him for 30 days. Daniel, of course, continues to pray, and though the king does not want this, he is thrown into the lions' den. But God shuts the lions' mouth, keeps Daniel safe, and praises God--and passes a law requiring people to praise God:

 26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
 "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian (6:26f).

 What lessons can we learn from Daniel in dealing with Empire issues?

It is possible to serve within the Empire and still be faithful to God. Daniel, after all, was an administrator in the Empire. He probably had to paper push all kinds of laws and decrees he did not agree with. And God did not seem to judge him for this, but understood his circumstance.

Sometimes we must take stands against the Empire. Whether the dietary requirements, worshiping idols, or worshiping a king, there are some things which the Empire demands that we do--usually motivated by evil, pride, and greed--that we just cannot do. Balancing these first two points are difficult, and each person has to decide according to his or her conscience.

No matter what the Empire does, God will be faithful, his name will be proclaimed, and his people will prosper. This is seen time and time again throughout the book, with God continually blessing and saving his people--and having them promoted! Laws which directed no worship of God, then directed people instead that they must worship the God of heaven. Now that is truly a miracle! So we need not fear. God's ways will triumph, in this life or the next.

 What issues/themes do you see in the book of Daniel which are helpful in dealing with "Empire" issues today? What lessons can we learn from these?
 Why Would a Family from Texas Come to Washington, D.C. to Help People Learn English? - Let's Start Talking/FriendSpeak Mission Trip tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-05-23:2422312:BlogPost:100704 2015-05-23T19:27:40.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Excited to have Hector and Meliss Hinojosa, along with their sons Joshua and Caleb, here for two weeks at the Fairfax Church of Christ on a FriendSpeak mission trip. Hector is on the missions committee at The Hills in Fort Worth, Texas. They wanted to go on a personal, family mission trip through FriendSpeak/ Let's Start Talking--and chose to come here to the Washington, D.C. area! FriendSpeak/Let's Start Talking is an outreach ministry that helps…

Excited to have Hector and Meliss Hinojosa, along with their sons Joshua and Caleb, here for two weeks at the Fairfax Church of Christ on a FriendSpeak mission trip. Hector is on the missions committee at The Hills in Fort Worth, Texas. They wanted to go on a personal, family mission trip through FriendSpeak/ Let's Start Talking--and chose to come here to the Washington, D.C. area! FriendSpeak/Let's Start Talking is an outreach ministry that helps people practice their English by reading through the gospel of Luke.

This morning the Hinojosa family helped our ESL/FriendSpeak ministry leader, Jerri Harrington, pass out fliers inviting people to a sign-up meeting tonight at 7 pm at the church building for those who want to schedule times to practice their English through the FriendSpeak ministry. With all of the immigrants in the DC area, this is a great outreach, as so many of them want to improve their lives by improving their English skills. I was proud of my girls for joining in this effort and helping to pass out fliers.

We began handing out fliers in the neighborhoods around the church. It was a good day to do this, not only because of the nice weather, but because a number of people were outside due to a yard sale. So we got to talk with several people, especially in the neighborhood behind the church. One of our members, Pam, is the head of the neighborhood association behind the church. And one of the people at the yard sale suggested the church hosting the yard sale sometime. When you get out into the community, a lot of great things can happen!

Please pray that God will send people our way for the sign-up meeting tonight, and that God blesses these two weeks with the Hinojosa family here. Also, FriendSpeak training with Mark Woodward is coming up the weekend of June 6-8--if you are interested in being trained, you won't want to miss this!

Finally, I am excited about how a local mission trip like this can not only help our ministry here, but the impact that it can have upon the kids who go on these trips. I grew up going on Let's Start Talking mission trips, and it was very instrumental in shaping my heart for mission and becoming a minister. This reason alone would be enough for a family from Texas to travel to DC for a mission trip!

What do you see is the value of ministries like FriendSpeak and short term mission trips?

 A Labor of Love - Ulfilas, Missionary, Spent 30 Years CREATING the Gothic Alphabet and Translating the Bible for the Gothic People tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-05-22:2422312:BlogPost:101001 2015-05-22T04:00:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Before Jesus went to the cross, John's gospel tells us that Jesus washed his disciples' feet. While his disciples initially objected to this, Jesus did this to teach them about service. He said, "14 Now that I, your Lord and…

Before Jesus went to the cross, John's gospel tells us that Jesus washed his disciples' feet. While his disciples initially objected to this, Jesus did this to teach them about service. He said, "14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 1:1, 14-15).

 While it is implied in the passage, the opening verse of John 14 makes it clear why Jesus washes his disciples; feet--because of his love for them. In setting the scene for the foot washing, john says, "1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end . . . . " His washing of the disciples' feet was an act of love--that pointed to the larger act of love that he would show through through his death on the cross--which he was calling them to imitate.

 Love and service go together. Without love, we are unlikely to serve very long or with a very good attitude. And love without service is hollow sentimentalism at best, or at worse, simply non-existent. Jacob served 7 years for Rachel--was fulled into marrying Leah instead--and served another 7 years to be able to marry Rachel. And yet, the time passed for him as if it was nothing.

 One of the great stories of love and service in Christian history is found in the story of Ulfilas. Ulfilas' parents were apparently captured by the Goths--East Germans--and he was raised among the Goths. After moving away once he had grown up, Ulfilas was appointed as a missionary bishop to the barbarian and warlike Goths. And in his missionary efforts, Ulfilas spent THIRTY YEARS creating an alphabet for the Goths (a previously illiterate people) and translating most all of the Bible into that language so that he might share Christ with them. It was said that he translated the whole Bible from Greek into the Gothic language that he had created except the book of Kings, due to its violent narratives which he did not want to encourage in the warlike Goths.

 What could motivate someone to serve a people by actually sitting down and INVENTING an alphabet and translating nearly the whole Bible for a people who once apparently captured/enslaved his parents? Only love. The kind of love that Christ showed for us. As Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20:28).

 And if we are to reach people for Christ, we too must have love in our hearts for them. True love. If it is not a labor of love, then we likely will not last seven years. Probably not seven months. Maybe not even seven minutes! But if we love those we are reaching out to? Well, like Jacob and Ulfilas and Christ--the time will pass quickly!

 What do you think of Ulfilas' love and sacrifice? What other stories like this do you know?
 10 Ideas for Getting to Know and Love Your Neighbors and Neighborhood! tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-05-18:2422312:BlogPost:100686 2015-05-18T21:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored
 Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. And yet, most Christians do not know their neighbors--including their actual neighbors in their neighborhood--very well at all. There are many reasons for this, including the changed structural nature of neighborhoods, the inventions…

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. And yet, most Christians do not know their neighbors--including their actual neighbors in their neighborhood--very well at all. There are many reasons for this, including the changed structural nature of neighborhoods, the inventions of television and air conditioning, which encourage us to stay inside, busyness, and many other factors.

But this is a post about actually getting to know our neighbors, not all of the causes. So how do we do this? Try these ten things:

Get to know your neighbors' names. We all like to be known, and it has been said that there is nothing sweeter to a person than his or her name. So what do you do if you have met your neighbors, forgotten their names, and are now in that awkward stage?

 Well, one solution is to go and confess, apologize, and then ask them their names. But there are also other ways. For instance, there is usually someone in the neighborhood who is really nice and knows everyone. Ask that person for help, and when they tell you people's names, WRITE THEM DOWN! You can also google addresses, ask your kids to ask the neighbor kids their parents names, etc.

Show an interest in your neighbors, their lives, and their families! When you meet your neighbors, introduce yourself, ask them where they live, what they do, and where they moved here from. Ask about their kids--every parent loves to talk about their children--and write down their names and something about them. Look for common interests. Find out what they like to do for fun. And ask about these things each time you see them.

Go on walks and prayer walks in the neighborhood. It is amazing the number of people that you can meet and run into when you walk in the neighborhood. If you have a kid in a stroller or a cute dog, people will often stop and chat. That is a great opportunity to meet people. And on this walk, try praying for the different families in each house as you go along.

Throw neighborhood parties--especially at holidays and birthday parties. Many people really don't always have a place to go for holiday weekends like the Fouth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc., and would enjoy a little party or get together on these holidays. And unfortunately, Christians often just invite other Christians to their holiday parties. Most everyone will go to a Christmas party if invited and they don't have a conflict.

 If you want the party to be a success, don't do it alone. Ask one or two other families in the neighborhood--who may have stronger neighborhood connections than you--to help you throw the party and invite people. It is a fantastic way to have a good time and invite others.

Start a neighborhood Facebook group and invite/put your neighbors into it. This is a great way to stay connected in the group, share pictures, tell about upcoming neighborhood parties, stay connected, etc. It also is another great way to help remember names and faces.

Have Friday or Saturday night barbeque/pizza, game, or movie nights. Going out can be expensive and a hassle. But doing inexpensive things in the neighborhood or at a neighbor's house can appealing. Invite over in advance, or try spontaneous invitations for those whom you have gotten to know. Hint: if the kids have something to do that excites them, the parents will often go along.

Go to your neighbor's soccer games and kid events and support them. Sometimes people are reluctant to interrupt their schedules to go and be with you. But going and supporting and watching their kids? Most parents are glad to do this. They are proud of their kids, and will think that you are great for showing their kids this kind of support (and that you have really good judgment of talent! :)

Find things to do outside of the neighborhood together. Doing events outside of the neighborhood can be tough to do initially. In some ways, a neighborhood is like a third place, and doing things outside of the neighborhood can be a big barrier to cross. It is the sign of a closer friendship and commitment.

 But look for things to do together and invite to. Invite to some kind of community event, movie, or to go out for coffee. Try going to a new restaurant as a couple together. Or, as you get to know them, something you both really love doing--going to the beach, a weekend get away, a big game, etc.

Look for and welcome new neighbors--and throw going away parties for those who are leaving. Put together a care basket for new neighbors with food, contact information, places to go, doctors or chiropractors, spas, etc. You can put a welcome packet from your church in this basket too. Gather this up from other neighbors on behalf of the neighborhood. And when someone moves away, invite people over to your house for a going away party. Saying good-bye is nice, and it is a way to also draw the remaining group together.

Find ways to bless your neighbors with prayer, free babysitting, thoughtful cards, thoughtful gifts, etc. Pay attention to when there is job loss, surgery, cancer, things to celebrate. In a world that is self-centered, self-absorbed, and selfish, these kind gestures can stand out. Pray for your neighbors by name at the dinner table with the kids. And ask God for opportunities to bless, share your faith, and invite into Christian community.

Which ideas from above do you like? What other suggestions do you have?

 Have We Lost Our Collection Minds on Sexuality in America?? - Get Wisdom, Share Christ! - Lessons from Proverbs tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-05-14:2422312:BlogPost:100429 2015-05-14T13:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

In reading and studying the book of Proverbs this week, I was reminded how God created the world in his Wisdom to work a certain way, and that it is foolish to go against this created order.

One of the topics covered in Proverbs is sexuality. I could not help think that on this…

In reading and studying the book of Proverbs this week, I was reminded how God created the world in his Wisdom to work a certain way, and that it is foolish to go against this created order.

One of the topics covered in Proverbs is sexuality. I could not help think that on this issue, our country has lost its collective mind.

LOSS OF GENDER DISTINCTIONS - Facebook now has FIFTY-ONE! gender options to choose from.

TRIAL MARRIAGES - Trial marriages of two years with no obligation to continue are now being advocated.

UNIVERSAL GAY MARRIAGE and DEATH OF FREE SPEECH - The Supreme Court is likely to rule that gay marriage is a constitutional right--something which no state in the history of humanity legally recognized before the Netherlands around the year 2000; Canada's chilling death of free speech and state control on this issue should be a warning to us of what may soon come

OPEN MARRIAGES - I have read article after article saying that the only way to "save" the antiquated institution of marriage today is to have open marriages.

MANIPULATION OF SOCIAL DATA - Clear data that indicates that children from gay marriages suffer in such arrangements and that these marriages are vastly more promiscuous and unstable and "controlled out" to only look at "stable" gay marriages--which are a very low percentage"--to fit pre-determined politically correct conclusions.

ATTACKS AND CRIES OF BIGOTRY for TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE ADVOCATES - And anyone who says that God and nature teaches us that marriage was intended for a man and a woman--virtually unquestioned in this country for hundreds of years--is now decried as a homophobic bigot--even children of gay marriages who argue for this position and gay rights advocates like Kirsten Powers.

The book of Proverbs repeatedly says "there is a way to a man that seems right, but it leads to death" (14:12). The Father in Proverbs repeatedly entreats his Son to reject the illicit call of lady Folly and instead to follow God's way of Wisdom. Here is one of the many passages on sexuality from Proverbs:

 Drink water from your own cistern,
 running water from your own well.
 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
 your streams of water in the public squares?
 Let them be yours alone,
 never to be shared with strangers.
 May your fountain be blessed,
 and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
 A loving doe, a graceful deer—
 may her breasts satisfy you always,
 may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man's wife?
 Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
 For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
 and he examines all your paths. (Proverbs 5:15-21 TNIV).

 Such a teaching today on sexuality, if discussed in the public square, would be decried as bigoted (why only a man and a woman), antiquated (stay with the wife of your youth--who does that?), boring (what, no sex with strangers or another's man's wife?), and naive (what does love have to do with sexuality?).

But Proverbs and the rest of the Bible teaches us that it takes a transformation of the heart to hear the call of Wisdom. And that is only possible through an encounter with Jesus Christ and the giving of a new heart and new spirit through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Ezek. 36:26f).

 So, to our fellow Christ-followers, while we rightly mourn the ungodliness of the world and the ungodliness that can be found in our own hearts, we cannot preach moralism to the world. The world will only accept God's Wisdom by encountering "Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). (For more on how Jesus Christ leads us to accept Wisdom from God, click here.)

If we want to change the sexual condition of our country, we must change hearts. We must share Christ. Let us do so for Christ's sake, for the world's sake, for our country's sake, for our children's sake, for our sake.

What do you think of the current trend in sexuality in America? As Christians, what should be our response?

 US MISSION ALERT! - A Record 56 Million Americans Report No Religious Affiliation tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-05-12:2422312:BlogPost:100323 2015-05-12T16:00:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored
 New analysis of data from the 2014 General Social Survey came out recently, and according reports, there are a record…

New analysis of data from the 2014 General Social Survey came out recently, and according reports, there are a record 56 MILLION people who do not affiliate with any religion in the US falling into the "none" category for religious affiliation. This data confirms the data from the 2012 Pew Forum Report, which the book "The Rise of the Nones": Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated seeks to respond to, which I will have a review of soon.

Religion Dispatches draws this data from the report 2014 General Social Survey report:

Nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population (19.6%) is religiously unaffiliated—the highest percentage tracked in Pew polling;

While Nones are most likely to be found among Millennials (32%), GenXers (21%) and Baby Boomers (15%) have likewise grown among the population of Nones;

Fewer than half (48%) of American adults say they are Protestant—the first time self-identified Protestants have fallen below 50% in Pew surveys;

More than two-thirds of Nones (68%) believe in God, with more than half (51%) praying on a regular basis;

Two-thirds of those surveyed (66%) say religion is losing its influence in American life, with more than half citing an excessive focus on rules (51%) and an inappropriate concern with money and power (51%).

While secularists celebrate this and conservatives like David Brooks are alarmed, for Christians, this is not about politics. This should be about the gospel, and should serve as a a wake up call for Christ followers. The US has for many years been ranked the 5th largest mission field in the world well before this report came out. Will this report--and the accelerating trend of secularism in particular among young adults (our kids and grandkids)--spur us out of complacency?

What implications does this report have for Christians and churches? Note these three things:

A higher percentage of church budgets needs to be allocated towards local evangelism that goes beyond just meeting physical needs.

 Most local outreach budgets are woefully underfunded, and just increasing these budgets would be a great step in most churches. But in those church that with outreach budgets that are well, the dollars tend to go almost all oversea, and for local outreach, tend to go primarily towards meeting physcial needs. Meeting physical needs is a part of our call as a church and is viewed as a sign of authenticity by seekers--particularly Millennials--and I have long called for the church to have this as part of their witness. However, priority needs to be given towards ministries that are holistic and go beyond just meeting physical needs and actually result in sharing the gospel and converting people to Christ. (Note the Seek, Serve, Share strategy on this site)

 While churches who are serving their community are to be commended, unfortunately, the "serve" part of an outreach strategy often continues to just get ramped up (feed more, cloth more, etc.), while the "seek" and "share (the good news)" often get neglected. Taken to the extreme, the church becomes little more than the Red Cross in this scenario--doing good deeds, but not telling people about Christ. And the reality is that if a church only serves those who are distant from them socio-economically and does not serve in a way that builds relationships with people, sharing the gospel is extremely difficult. However, one can often call seekers to serve the poor alongside Christians, and then share the gospel with those seekers who are serving.

 If we are to reach people for Christ, we must do more than meet physical needs, as important as this is.

More church resources (time, money, effort) must be devoted to relational outreach/community presence, evangelism training, social media and video outreach, and prayer for the lost.
 Churches need to build an ongoing presence in the community that helps members relationally connect to people. That is a different approach than just a once or twice a year event. What might this look like?

 "Missional communities" that have a weekly presence serving at a day care center or a soccer community each weekend? How about regular training on how to share one's faith? How about a $30,000-50,000 per year social media strategy that engages people where they are, builds relationships, and helps share the gospel?

 What about ministers, elders, and ministry leaders all working together to put people in groups of 3-4 people who seek to live out the life of Jesus each week with weekly missional practices? How about a lifting up prayer for the lost BY NAME in small groups each week, in each staff meeting and elders' meeting?

 If we are to reverse the current trend in the US, then we cannot do evangelism on the side--one of many ministries. We MUST be a people who are fundamentally on mission, reorienting EVERYTHING that we do!

US Churches need to engage in more local church planting. Church planting is one of the most effective evangelistic "methods" that there is, and newer churches have shown themselves to be far more effective in reaching people for Christ. And yet, in my fellowship, there are precious little resources allocated to church planting.

 There are many reasons that this great evangelistic "method" is not used and supported as it should be, including a lack of central planning/coordination, fear of losing any members or resources, shrinking budgets, lack of awareness, fear of partnering with other organizations/fellowships in any way, and fear of a new plant being "different" than the partnering church.

 These fears must be done away with in order to use what is one of the most effective evangelistic methods that there currently is. Churches need to draw upon the help of and support church planting groups (in our fellowship, Kairos Church Planting, Mission Alive, and Genesis Alliance Latino Church Planting).

What do you think of these startling statistics on the rise of the "nones" in the US? What do you think we should do in response to this?

 A Powerful Story of a Mother's Sacrifice - Joel Rosenburg's Wife in a WWII Concentration Camp tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-05-08:2422312:BlogPost:100401 2015-05-08T17:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

I am convinced more and more that the essence of preaching is the proclamation of the redemptive story--God reaching out to humanity out of his love, sending Christ to live and sacrificially die for us, and raising Jesus Christ from the dead. It is a…

I am convinced more and more that the essence of preaching is the proclamation of the redemptive story--God reaching out to humanity out of his love, sending Christ to live and sacrificially die for us, and raising Jesus Christ from the dead. It is a story about God taking the blackest of life and bringing light into the world. It is about the restoration of hope through the cross.

 We are not primarily preaching about morality or better behavior or better marriages--though following God can lead to these things, and they are important. Like Paul, we preach Christ and him crucified--the only story which has the power to truly change and transform our lives, our morals, our marriages, and our family relations.

So for me, no topical preaching lesson will have more impact than if it is connected to this redemptive story. That includes lessons like Mother's Day sermons. The story below tells of a mother's love for her child, which causes her to sacrifice everything for him.

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Solomon Rosenberg, his wife, his two sons, and his mother and father were arrested and placed in a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust of WWII. It was a labor camp and the rules were simple: As long as you can do your work, you are permitted to live. When you become too weak to do your work, then you will be exterminated.

Rosenberg watched his mother and father being marched off to their deaths when they became too weak to work. He knew that his youngest son, David, would be next because David had always been a frail child. Every evening when Rosenberg came back into the barracks after his hours of labor, he would search for the faces of his family. When he found them, they would huddle together, embrace one another, and thank God for another day of life.

One day Rosenberg came back, but he didn't see those familiar faces. He finally discovered his oldest son, Joshua, in a corner, huddled, weeping, and praying. He said, "Josh, tell me it's not true." Joshua turned and said, "It is true, Poppa. Today David was not strong enough to do his work, so they came for him."

"But where is your mother?" asked Mr. Rosenberg.

"Oh Poppa," he exclaimed. "When they came for David, he was afraid and he was crying. Momma said, 'There is nothing to be afraid of, David,' and then she took his hand and went with him."

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That, my friends, is powerful. That, my friends, is redemptive. That, my friends, illustrates the kind of love that Christ has for us--a love so strong that he gave himself up for us.

I would propose that what we find so good in mothers is that sacrificial, selfless love. It touches us because it points to that incredible sacrifice of Christ and the great redemptive story. Mothers have played an incredible part in this redemptive story, from Eve to Sarah to Tamar to Ruth to Bathsheba to Mary. And they continue to play an incredible part in this story in their lives of daily sacrifice. Mothers, we honor you for who you are and for who you so powerfully remind us of--Jesus Christ!

What stories in the Bible do you see that point to the role that mothers have in the redemptive story?
 Velvety, Sun-Drenched, Indian Blue, Foot-Long - Use Vivid, Descriptive Words in Speaking and Watch People's Brains Light Up tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-04-24:2422312:BlogPost:100465 2015-04-24T18:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored
Dr. James Cail was a popular psychology teacher at Oklahoma Christian University who often filled in and preached at one of the local churches there in Oklahoma City. Dr. Cail had quite a sense of humor, which is helpful in preaching. And besides his folksy style, he had a memorable way of speaking, using descriptive words.

 For instance, for some reason I remember him talking about a "foot long" barrel in a message,…

Dr. James Cail was a popular psychology teacher at Oklahoma Christian University who often filled in and preached at one of the local churches there in Oklahoma City. Dr. Cail had quite a sense of humor, which is helpful in preaching. And besides his folksy style, he had a memorable way of speaking, using descriptive words.

 For instance, for some reason I remember him talking about a "foot long" barrel in a message, some twenty years later. Twenty years!

 The infographic below explains why descriptive language helps engage and persuade people in storytelling. As it shows, our brains are "hard-wired" for storytelling, and when vivid, descriptive words are used in speaking/story-telling, the brain literally lights up.

 Now if familiar, overly used words engage less of the brain (and they do), and vivid words cause it to light up and move towards greater engagement and persuasion, what are the implications of this?

Well, using vivid words that are non over-used or overly familiar may come easily to some folk. But for most, it does not. That means that we might need to think through and write out some of these words and phrases to use in preaching beforehand to make sure that they are incorporated and used.

How do you use or find vivid words/descriptions in speaking?

You can also find more infographics at Visualistan

 Nehemiah: Step #2 in Rebuilding Our Lives, Families & Communities - Take Action and Initiative tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-04-10:2422312:BlogPost:99953 2015-04-10T14:13:33.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Nehemiah-Rebuilding the Walls from James Nored on Vimeo.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerses, a Persian, when the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. When he heard that his home city of Jerusalem was a black,…

Nehemiah-Rebuilding the Walls from James Nored on Vimeo.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerses, a Persian, when the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. When he heard that his home city of Jerusalem was a black, smoldering mess, he was filled with godly sorrow for his sins and that of his people, and he prayed to God. This is the first step in rebuilding our lives, families and/or communities.

The second step is taking action and initiative to change the situation. After his prayer and confession, Nehemiah asked the king to let him go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls there that had been torn down. He did not just sit around and bemoan the situation. He took action.

Having our lives torn down is not fun. It stinks, actually. And we need to mourn, confess, and pray. But we also need to take action to change the situation. Psychologists will tell us that taking action changes us from being victims to gaining back control of our lives.

If this action and initiative is done with prayer, we will be much better off emotionally. And the reality of our situation has a chance to change as well. So, whatever your life situation, ask, What can I DO in this situation that works towards a better future?

Because Nehemiah took action, Jerusalem was dramatically changed, and thousands of people's lives improved. What can you do to take action and initiative?

 If Your Sermon Does Not Contain These TWO things, It Will Fall Flat tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-04-10:2422312:BlogPost:100127 2015-04-10T13:49:01.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored
"Preaching was established by Jesus because God had a job to do.

To get the job done, preaching must be committed to two goals: first it should be passionate and second, fascinating.

Passion makes preaching seem imperative and urgent. Narrative is a force that postmodern preachers must use and listeners must reckon with.…

"Preaching was established by Jesus because God had a job to do.
To get the job done, preaching must be committed to two goals: first it should be passionate and second, fascinating.
Passion makes preaching seem imperative and urgent. Narrative is a force that postmodern preachers must use and listeners must reckon with. Narrative handcuffs intrigue to the ancient text. So, the homily gains relational force when the sermon is passionate enough to be visceral and story-driven enough to be visual."
 --Preaching: the Art of Narrative Exposition by Calvin Miller

In the shift from the modern worldview to the postmodern worldview, preaching--once the crown jewel of the church's messaging--has fallen in many ways out of vogue. There are several reasons for this, some of which are legitimate criticisms, some of which are not.

But Calvin Miller, quoted above, rightly, points to two things which can help redeem the sermon as a communication medium. First, preaching must be passionate. In a world of advertisements and in authenticity, passion cuts through and impacts people. This passion can cause people to listen. Passion can move people to take action and change their lives. Passion is contagious, and can lead to the moving of a whole church. Passion evokes a "visceral" reaction, which moves people in their gut or heart.

If a preacher cannot be passionate about his message, he ought to rethink the message. If the preacher is not passionate about the message, he can rest assured that no one else will be either. Without passion, a message falls flat.

Second, preaching must be "fascinating." with powerful, "visual" stories. Even better, the effective sermon for postmoderns today ought to be shaped overall in a story format. That is, there is a narrative arch to the sermon, with all of the elements that make a good story--"characters" that you care about and that progress and develop. A beginning, conflict, a climax, and a resolution. A good story is memorable and can be shared with others. The story form itself helps people "visualize" things, as do pictures and video.

How can we have more passion in our preaching and sharing of the gospel? What are you passionate about in your preaching? How has someone else's passion moved you to take action? How can we make our sermons more storylike?
 Why No One Listens to Your Sermons Online - and 3 Ways How to Change This tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-04-09:2422312:BlogPost:99943 2015-04-09T04:30:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

We Need to Change the Stories We Tell Ourselves (from Ruth) from James Nored on Vimeo.

Churches, ministers, pastors, and church administrators go to the time and trouble of posting sermons online each week on websites and social…

We Need to Change the Stories We Tell Ourselves (from Ruth) from James Nored on Vimeo.

Churches, ministers, pastors, and church administrators go to the time and trouble of posting sermons online each week on websites and social media sites. And almost no one watches.

 Why is this? Quite simply, because online Attention Spans are Incredibly Short. Most people simply will not watch a 30 minute sermon online. Or a 25 minute sermon. Or a 22 minute sermon. Or even a 10 minute sermon.

 So how do you change this? Here are three simple ways.

Create a 1-2 minute sermon highlight clip. The above clip is an example of a sermon highlight clip. It actually would be better if it were closer to 1 minute, but a good clip can go a couple of minutes. (But the longer it is, the less likely people will click on it.)

Make the sermon highlight clips have an emotional appeal that appeals to the right brain with passion, music, b roll. This means, high a sermon highlight where you are really getting into it. Nothing impacts people today like passion.

 Adding background music with some b roll, like this clip does, automatically draws people in and draws upon the natural right brain strength of the video medium. Remember, today, it is a right-brained world!

Embed the sermon highlight clip natively into Facebook and make it autoplay on blogs or websites. Research has shown that when a video clip is uploaded natively to Facebook, rather than just posted as a Youtube or Vimeo link, there is a far higher play rate, as the clip automatically plays. As more and Facebook traffic moves to mobile, this bias towards native Facebook videos will grow even more.

 A similar kind of effect can be created by embedding the video with "autoplay" on websites and blog posts.

Because of the short online attention span, on our church website, many of the "sermons" that are highlighted and embedded on our sermon/video page are of these short highlight videos, with links to the full sermon messages. When someone is "trying out" a church/preacher, these clips are enough for them to get a taste, plus they can have a bit more of a culturally typical experience with background music (and b roll, when it is available)--and they can watch the full sermons if they like.

 What do you think of the sermon highlight clip concept? What additional information or tools do you need to do this? What are the benefits? What are the barriers? How else could the short online attention span be solved?
 Nehemiah: Step #1 in Rebuilding Our Lives and Our Families - Prayer and Godly Sorrow tag:www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com,2015-04-06:2422312:BlogPost:99937 2015-04-06T06:00:00.000Z James Nored http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profile/JamesNored

Nehemiah-Rebuilding the Walls from James Nored on Vimeo.

What do you do when your life or your family is a smoldering mess? One of the books of the Bible, Nehemiah, has much insight into…

Nehemiah-Rebuilding the Walls from James Nored on Vimeo.

What do you do when your life or your family is a smoldering mess? One of the books of the Bible, Nehemiah, has much insight into this.

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King of Persia during the time that Israel was in exile in Babylon due to their stubborn sin against God. Nehemiah asked some of his kinsman about those Jews who had returned to Judah. Nehemiah was told:

3b . . . "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire" (Neh. 1:3b).

Trouble. Disgrace. Broken and burned ruins The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down. Walls that represented safety and security. It had all been stripped away, leaving the city--and the families there--in ruins.

 When Nehemiah hears this, note his response:

"4b . . . I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:

'Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you."

In response to the trouble, disgrace, and ruins of the city and the people/families of God, Nehemiah weeps. He mourns. He has godly sorrow. And he confesses the sins of his people--including himself and his family.

Later the king asks Nehemiah,

"2b . . . 'Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.'

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?'"

Nehemiah is sad about what has happened to his city and his people. This would lead him to take action to help his people. But note that first, he is sad about his sin and his family's sin. He had what is called "godly sorrow."

Like Nehemiah, I confess my own sinfulness. This has led me to make plenty of mistakes in my life. Mistakes that have affected my life. Mistakes that have affected my family. Choices that I wish that I could take back. Things that have at times left my hopes and dreams and, at times, relationships that are dear to me, at least temporarily in "ruins." Perhaps you have at times done the same.

Nehemiah is a great comeback story and a great triumph, and there is much that we can learn from this story that is incredibly positive. But before we can join with that triumphant story, we must have godly sorrow for our sin and whatever part we have played in bringing about "trouble," "disgrace," and ruin to our lives and our families.

If we acknowledge this, then the God of Israel, who keeps his "covenant of love," like Nehemiah will reach out to lift us up. This begins with godly sorrow for our sins and prayer.

What do you think of Nehemiah's prayer? What can sin do to our lives and our relationships? How does God respond to our confession of sin and godly sorrow?