http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com The Path to Midlife Ministry in the real world. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:22:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This Sunday started with a very special gifting to some special people.  Back in July, Jessica, Dana, and Fuzzy were baptized.  Well, this week they were presented with proper baptism certificates and gifts.  The gists were small leather versions of The Message version of the New Testament.  After that we ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/22/swonderful-smarvelous/ I’m not really sure how to describe what has happened this last week as the community takes control and ownership of LifeBridge.  We now have had two meetings on that ownership.  The first one was at my home on Thursday and the last one was a scant few hours ago ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/22/something-wonderful/ So here we are as a community a year later.  Almost none of the core that we started with are there save two people, but what we do have is more lovely and amazing than I can begin to describe to you.  After service I asked everyone to stick around ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/16/lifebirdge-marches-on-as-a-community/ This last Saturday we had a YASO gathering.  It was a time of wonderful discussion.  We based it on Laura who is in the hospital after her liver failed and she had to get a new one.  The ups and downs of this tumultuous attempt at recovery that now includes ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/15/yaso-marches-forward/ I am going through a strange transition.  I have been in a process of change and that change has been a hard process.  One of my coping mechanisms for that change has been to be angry.  The transition has been two fold and it has had ramifications on my life ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/12/reconstruction-or-putting-my-money-where-my-big-mouth-is/ In reference to my last post, what would an honest Christ like web site look like?  How do we break the bad habits of making a website for the church that consumeristically outline all age group ministries, how to become a member, staff and pastor bios, and all that attractional ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/11/breaking-bad-habits/ Recently I was having an online discussion with another pastor about technology.  He feels there is something inherently immoral about some of the tools rapidly coming into the world and I feel these are amoral things.  The debate raged on and I doubt either of us will budge in our ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/10/humility-on-the-web-where-is-it-and-shall-i-repent/ When I read books or blogs about church growth, I hear two common themes.  The first is more people coming to that church (growth in numbers), and the other thing I hear about is multiplication (growth by planting).  Now, as a planter nearing the first year of our plant, I ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/11/01/church-growth-redefined/ I know marketing and how to get the word out.  I just do not see the tools used in the business world as always appropriate for the church.  Maybe for some churches, but not all.  Anyway, before some of you think I am just some hippie idealist who hates corporate ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/10/30/the-anti-marketing-marketing-campaign-of-irony-and-truth-in-advertising/ As I share my personal experiences about the planting process I am not suggesting that I am angry about my experiences nor am I casting judgments on those who helped us plant.  As critical as I am of current planting trends, I am not even saying that they are wrong.  ... http://piratetopastor.blogsome.com/2009/10/26/clarifying-soething-important/