Do We Really Treat People the Way We Should?

While at the church planting conference last week i was listening to an innovative church planter (who denies being a church planter at all) say the following:

"We treat our people (visitors, guests, friends, neighbors, strangers) like they are Christians until they realize they are not."

Help me unpack the wisdom (or folly) in this statement, will you?

to break the silence

So because not much is going on with this blog, I thought I would come in and add some deep thoughts for you all. All I'm going to do is pose a question.

With the weather getting warmer each and every day, ( thank goodness) what's something that you enjoy doing outside in the warm weather?

I told you it was deep.

I know that this has nothing to do with worship, but I wanted to post something on here and I really didn't have any deep thoughts at the moment. The deepest thought I have right now is, 'what am I going to have for lunch'

But anyway, I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful day outside.
alexis

do you hear crickets...

hey everyone. not much action is going on here. so go check out www.Remedy.FM it'll keep you young:)

hello

hey yall iam so sorry i dont talk on here as much i like blogging to get my thoughts out but i do this stuff better one on oneo r w/e but iam trying to get better but if u read this tonight or tomorrow monring just please pray for me cause tomorrrow mornin i have the privllage to speak at keystone highschools chapel and ya iam talkin bout worship as well but just pray my words will be Gods words and that it will all ocme out understable sweet
GOD IS LOVE
nate

Advice needed please

So I've been thinking. I believe people can really change, but how do we tell that they have? And is it up to us? I have a friend that has come back into my life after a few months of not speaking to me, and she's with the same boyfriend who kicked her front door down and held her against her will. But she says he's going to counseling now and that he really has done some growing up. But I have a very uneasy feeling about it. How do you know that he really has pure motives, and that he's not really trying to control her like he has the last 25 women who have reported public disturbances on him. Also, she seems to want to change and slowly start coming to church, though she can't commit to every weekend. What do I do? I'm not very good at these kind of things because I trust too easily, or I become too judgemental...a little help with what I should do, please? She's asking for my advice, and asking how you can tell if a person has really changed. And how do you?

Also, if a relationship starts out bad and unpleasing to God, is it possible to turn it around to a relationship that glorifies God, or do the two need to find separate people to help them glorify God? They have dated off and on for 2 years, but have never married.

...a little behind...

okay,  so first of all i would like to apologize for not contributing to this blog much....er...at all.  i'm going to go back and read through the posts and try and comment on most.  not that anything i have to say is particularly important, i just want you to know i have read your post and value your insight.

    i have always had an issue with writing/journaling.  i hate it. (why is it every time i say "hate" i hear my mom say "hate is a very strong word". )  strike my previous statement.  i strongly dislike it.  there is something very vulnerable about your words being in print.  (shrug)

laura

False Danger Number Six

the final post on "false dangers" - from The Dangerous Act of Worship, by mark labberton

6) worship that's unfamiliar

The unfamiliar spells danger. It might mean reexamining our faith. It might takes us into areas of feeling that can be awkward, or it might disrupt the statis of our community. The unfamiliar might mean having to cope with a more complex reality than we really want. It might cause us to be critical of where we have been and what we have believed or experienced. It is a danger, because it can be alluring, yet it can realign things in ways that that may be painful or disorienting."

"...we often leave our services with what we came for, which sadly and ironically means we have little more than when we arrived."

"...worshiper mostly already know what they want to know - they just want to hear it again. Many don't venture into unexplored or untested territory.

what would be considered "unfamiliar" in our context?

i think we might all agree that our services our pretty familiar. what "unfamiliar" revelations should we be giving consideration?

i'd be interested in hearing about any experience you've had when some "unfamiliar" revelation or event has enabled a unique worship experience...