Teresa feeding Ripley.

Ripley with her Granddaddy and Grandmomma.

Culture of Mediocrity

Since December of 2005, Teresa and I have been members of Common Ground Community Church. For most of this time I’ve worked with the Elders of Common Ground to get small groups started (we have 4 with a 5th one on the way), developed a Men’s Ministry, and general church ministry stuff (i.e. preaching, teaching, and general leadership). Since January of 2010, I have been the Executive Pastor of our church. The founding pastor and the other Elders asked me to help get Common Ground more organized. God has been working since then and we have made some progress. We’ve redeveloped the Women’s Ministry, called a young man to lead the young people of our church, developed a Leadership Training program for men who will be part of the leadership of CG, and are making progress in completing the construction project. It’s a team effort with the other Elders working with me and of course God is the One Who does it all. There is one thing that is troubling to not only me but it has been seen by the other Elders. The culture of mediocrity has affected the church; not just CG, but I think in the church as a whole.

The definition of mediocrity is the quality or state of being of moderate or low quality, value, ability: ordinary, so-so. We have stopped asking our people to step up and use their giftedness for the sake of the church body. We have not educated the new Christian to think of others before they think of themselves. Our churches have been so consumer oriented that the average member will just sit and be served instead of serving others. It’s amazing to me that God’s people can be alright just sitting and allowing a few to do all the work. It blows my mind and I try to think how this has happened. I think one word can be given for the rise of the culture of mediocrity in the church; Accountability.

We do not hold our people accountable any more. We fear that they will get mad and leave the church. The statement is thrown out “We aren’t to judge our brothers or sisters but to love them.” We are to love them but what better way to show love but by holding a brother or sister in Christ accountable for their actions. James 5:19 and 20 says;

“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

The average church attendee has the wrong idea of what faithfulness is all about. Their view of faithfulness is a lower quality version of what faithfulness truly is all about. They see going to church as being good but if they get to bed too late on Saturday, they are alright with blowing off church and sleeping in. If junior or little girl has a function (sports, club activity, etc) on Sunday, that function is attended and church is blown off. I know people may miss church from time to time, but church should be something you set your Sunday to or whenever your church meets. Parents you are teaching your children on how important or unimportant church is by what your priority is. Do you miss church because of a sporting tournament season or because NASCAR is on or the NBA game is on? Church attendance has become of low value.

If you attend your church weekly, then I’m sure you are not part of the culture I am writing about. Or are you? Are you giving your all in your service; not just church attendance but are you serving the God Who gave His life for you?

The culture of mediocrity can and does affect church leadership. After hitting your head against the wall of lackadaisicalness enough times, it can affect the enthusiasm of the most faithful of God’s people. If you are leader of a church and you are reading this, keep your eyes on God and follow His lead. He is the One who does; we are called to follow Him. He will make sure to send you workers when you need them. As leaders, we are called to hold our people accountable for what they are and what they are not doing.

I do want to make it a point to say that at Common Ground, we have some great workers. We have people doing multiple jobs. We are a church of 75-80 people so we do have holes in some ministries but we trust God to send us workers. With the culture of mediocrity, it makes it challenging. Especially if you have workers who don’t show up to serve (not calling to say they won’t make it). Or when they are not scheduled to serve in their ministry, they miss church regularly. It can get frustrating but you know as you educate the body on what the Bible says about faithfulness and holding the body accountable this culture can be undone in time. It’s all about staying true to “What does the Bible say.”

I just want to say that Common Ground has some great people and I’m so thankful that Teresa and I have been able to use our giftedness to serve them since 2005. They are a hard working group who are other people focused. When I see their true faithfulness, I can see our little church do something great for the cause of Christ.

Reactions

There is an old middle-eastern proverb I once read; “When you throw a stone in the middle of a pack of dogs; the one who yells the loudest is the one the stone hit.” I didn’t think preaching on Mother’s Day would get a strong verbal reaction but one point did.

Yesterday was my first Mother’s Day sermon. I know that not all moms look forward to this day for different reasons so I wanted the sermon to be an encouragement. The title was “A Mother’s Day Card From God” where I read Proverbs 31:10-31 because to me this is an ideal Mother’s Day card. For those women who struggle with this day, I brought up the point that the Bible is God’s Mother’s Day card to all mothers. In this card, there is a message for everything they face and feel. I highlighted just six points. They were Discouragement, Needing Help, Loneliness, Tiredness, Worrying, and the final point was on Anger.

Anger was actually the second point I bought up. I used Ephesians 4:26; 31-32 and Proverbs 15:1. I used an illustration from Billy Sunday;

“Billy Sunday tells a story about a lady once came to him and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper," she said. "I blow up, and then it's all over."
"So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves behind!’”

I thought that all was just like the first point until I said that words can destroy so we all need to use anger as a tool and not as a weapon. I heard something in the crowd; almost like someone being elbowed. After the service, a man came up to me and said that his wife needed the sermon because she struggles with anger. He said with a smile.

You never know who needs what but the Holy Spirit does. I pray that this lady will do some self-examining and try to work on this.

More Ripley Photos and Video

Below is a video of me feeding Ripley green beans and some photos from Mother's Day.

Good greenbeans, Mommy!

Feeding Ripley greenbeans.

Daddy and Ripley on Mother's Day.

A photo of a cute coat that Ripley will never to able to wear now that it's spring and she has outgrown it.

Teresa was putting too small item to the side to sale and came across this coat that Ripley will be too big to waer next winter. Too bad.

Jumpin' Ripley

Ripley loves her Jumperoo. She has so much energy!

Ripley and Apples

We fed Ripley apples sauce for the first time today and she loved it. Below is a video of the eating plus some photos. Teresa found a great bouncing seat at a yard sale and Ripley enjoys that, too.

Ripley Photos

Teresa has taken some great photos the last two weeks and I have finally found the time to put them on the blog. Special on the photos with the head bans; Ripley doesn't not wear them out of the house. We find them gay ; - ). There is a video of Ripley on her newest yard sale find. You have to love the yard sales.

I Saw the Sign



The Apostle John recorded several of Jesus’ signs in order to develop the faith of his readers (John 20:30-31; Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.).

There are a total 7 signs that John recorded in his gospel. They are:

1. The changing the water into wine 2:1-11
2. The temple cleansing 2:13-22
3. The healing of the nobleman’s son 4:46-54
4. The healing of the lame man 5:1-15
5. The feeding of the multitude 6:1-15
6. The healing of the blind man 9:1-41
7. The raising of Lazarus from the dead 11:1-44

John does not use the word miracle to describe what Jesus does as the other gospels do. John’s purpose is different than the other gospels. John consistently refers to Jesus’ mighty works as “signs;” the Greek word semeion (say-mi'-on). A miracle underscores power and is generally received with awe. A sign reveals something from God; something that was once hidden.

The signs are not merely acts of power and might, they reveal that God is at work in Jesus and is present in Him. All of Jesus’ signs were done in the first half of the Gospel of John which we refer to as “Jesus’ public ministry.” While Jesus’ disciples see in Jesus’ signs a reflection of the glory of God, the very same signs reveal the hardening of the Jewish leadership in its rejection of Israel’s Messiah.

The two events showed in John chapter 2 shows Jesus as the restorer of Israel. Jesus is shown to fill up the depleted resources of Judaism when He turned the water into wine. And in cleansing the temple, Jesus is shown as being the restorer of the true worship of Israel and the replacement of the temple in the life of God's people.

Jesus just didn't come to the festivals; He came to fulfill their true meaning. He came to end them and replace them with Himself. In each episode, similar themes challenge us, and we are invited to contrast them. Cana offered stone jars (for purification) and now Jesus has challenged a stone temple (for sacrifice). Cana was out of wine and the temple was filled with the wrong thing. Jesus' solution in each case is to provide an alternative: He will be the giver of new wine and will become the new temple. Galilee and Jerusalem offer different responses to Jesus' work: In Galilee Jesus finds willing hearts and faith; but in Judea, while some believe, Jesus is suspicious. Throughout John's gospel, Galilee and Jerusalem play out as virtual metaphors of responses. Through them we are challenged to reflect on how we will respond too, should Jesus visit a wedding or a temple today.

Our Little Pterodactyl



It’s been awhile since my last posting; it’s been somewhat busy with my duties at Common Ground and working but I wanted to share a cute little thing about Ripley. She has discovered her voice. She is starting to shriek and the happier she is the higher the pitch. We are starting to say we have a pterodactyl in the house.

This morning Teresa called me and told me that we have an invasion of pterodactyls in the house. Ripley has just been shriek for almost 5 minutes straight trying to talk with her Mommy. When Teresa called me, Ripley stopped. Ripley really wants to talk about she moves her little lip when we talk with her and nothing is coming out other then her inner pterodactyl.

I’m starting to think that since she is part Irish, she has a banshee inside trying to get out. It’s all part of her learning and it is very neat to watch. We will remember these things late very fondly; even when it means hearing her shriek at 3 o’clock in the morning. It’s all good.

Easter 2010

Below are some photos from our Easter 2010 collection. To see all of them, go to my FaceBook account.

Ripley and Carrots

Ripley tries carrots. She loves them!

Ripley Photos

When you have a cure child; you have to show her off. See below for more videos and photos.

Daddy loving on Ripley.

Ripley loves her friend "Bear."

Ripley and her friend "Bear."

Ripley's dress for Sunday. A gift from her grandaunt Chris.

Ripley

Teresa took some photos of Ripley today and a video or two.

April 1st



It’s hard to believe it’s April already. When I think of April, green grass, flowers, and little children running around playing comes to my mind. Another thing that comes to me is that today’s Teresa’s spiritual birthday. Today 14 years ago, Teresa accepted Christ as her Savior.

For other people, they see today as “April Fool’s Day.” Some time ago, I looked into the history of today because I wanted to know why April 1st has this on it. Below is a brief history of April 1st.

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1.

Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1.

These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.

This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.

In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April 'Gowk', another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.

In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of a joke is called a 'noodle.' It was considered bad luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.