Teaching People How to Handle Money

Our congregation is still teaching Crown Financial material, but others are using Dave Ramsey's stuff.

Here's a great article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about one of our Catalyst leaders, Bill Ellis, and his congregation's classes on financial management.

Has anyone used both Crown and Ramsey? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Church Governance

I have to admit that I do not get all that inspired about thinking in terms of church governance. But I have learned the hard way that if you don't pay attention to the values of healthy church function, you often reap a whirlwind of unnecessary conflict.

My church is in the process of evaluating our By-Laws. But even more than that, we are looking at the values behind the document.

Recently, I wrote a paper for my Board and my Catalyst Group about Church Family Governance. Here is the link to my personal blog were you can find the document.

The over-riding theme of the approach, and what I am trying to teach my church is this: WE SEEK RELATIONAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AND NOT POLITICAL ONES.

I would love your feedback.

"Bar Chaplains Will Offer Hope"

This item was published last Friday by the AG-News service.

An excerpt: Pastor Chuck Kish is looking forward to the day when members of his church will be bar regulars. Beginning February 1, chaplains commissioned by Bethel Assembly in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, will minister to patrons at a local bar.

What do you think? You can be anonymous if you wish, but you must be kind.

Yeah, Right

Many of you have probably heard on the news that Omar Osama bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, wants to begin a campaign for peace.

Yeah, right. We, in the Penn-Del District, know that this is just Doug Sayers, our District Youth Director, in dreadlocks and up to one of his elaborate practical jokes.

You don't fool me, Doug!

Jerusalem, The Website

If you haven't seen this yet, it's truly incredible. It's a comprehensive, Jewish website for Jerusalem, in all of its historic glory.

The evangelical vote

Once again, the evangelical vote seems to have won the day.

I have been voting since the late 70's. In that time (especially since the Clinton years) it seems like every election reporting cadre is surprised by the groundswell of the 'evangelical vote'. Rush Limbaugh said last night that the spectre of these passionate voters makes the politicos very nervous. He said they are no longer able to sniff about us being 'one issue voters', but need to start taking us seriously.

There is something interesting going on here. Something is happening in America. Yes, 'evil men and seducers are waxing worse' in certain circles, and there is much to be done to be redemptive in this society. May God help us reach the 6-8 million people in Penn-Del who do not attend church currently.

But one of my weaknesses in the past, has been to not celebrate the good things enough. As a goal driven, type-A person, I charge from goal to goal, not taking enough time to thank God for what he has done (usually in spite of me) already. I'd like to repent by taking time today to celebrate that the 'evangelical vote' in Iowa flexed it's conscience yesterday and caused the nation to notice for about 30 seconds.

No wonder church shootings are on the rise! (ever Google 'church shootings'? It will make you want a gun permit) The devil better stop these people one way or another, or this nation has potential to actually become affected (infected?) by them!

Fasting + Prayer

We have a tradition at APC that I am sure many of you share. We begin our year in January with a week of Prayer and Fasting. For us, the fast begins on a Sunday after lunch and continues through until a Friday night.

During the week of prayer we do several things to engage people:

1. Daily Noon Prayer Gatherings.
2. Evening Services with a guest speaker. In the past, we would follow our week of prayer with a week of spiritual emphasis services. But we have changed that now. The evening meetings give people something to focus on as they fast and pray.
3. I provide a Prayer Guide for people to use during the week.
4. We pass out Bill Bright's 7 STEPS TO FASTING booklet to help equip people as to how to fast properly.
5. Since my staff is out every night of that week, I give them the mornings off and ask them to suspend their normal activities as much as is possible.
6. Currently, we have a Prayer Chapel that we try to man with 24/7 Prayer all year round. But we started this plan by filling a week with 24/7 Prayer. So people sign up to fill a one-hour time slot. We pass the baton in prayer from person to person throughout the week.
7. We conclude the week on a Friday night with a CELEBRATION and COMMISSIONING service. So we pray over our leaders. Then we break the fast together with some soup and bread which the church provides for free.

We have seen so much fruit from this practice. I am curious to learn what you might do during your week of prayer? I am always looking for fresh ideas for the future.