A Veritable Smorgasbord of Blogging Possibilities - Jason Brown

A Veritable Smorgasbord of Blogging Possibilities - Jason Brown

Each week there are so many things to blog about.  The problem is never a lack of ideas – it’s choosing one and running with it.  Instead of choosing one idea to explore this week, I’d like to look at several  . . . and invite your input on any of them.  It’s a different tack, but I think it might work.  Anyway, here it goes.

  • Yesterday, Ken laid out a potential future for Emmanuel.  A Christian Community College, a School of the Arts, a church in Compton and more housing for seminarians, interns, and Civigenic’s graduates.  What do you think?  Should we go for it?
  • Yesterday, Ken also said that each of us needs to do four things: disciple other people, tithe, pray, and play our part in the area of service.  How are you personally doing in these areas?  Where do you need to change?  In which of these areas are you experiencing growth?
  • We’re still doing DJ08.  By that I mean we’re reading books, reading Luke, hearing sermons, participating in discipleship groups, talking with our kids, blogging, watching video teaching – is there anything I missed.  How is DJ08 impacting you?  How is your understanding of Jesus and the Christian life changing? If you’ve been discipling others, do you have any stories to share?
  • Spiritually speaking, what do you find yourself thinking a lot about – maybe even dreaming about – and what questions are you wrestling with?  Take a risk and let the ERC blogging community know what’s been going on in your head and heart.
  • Jesus continues to focus our attention on the Kingdom of God.  His core prayer is, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Jesus says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God.”  What does it mean to pursue the Kingdom of God first?  Does your heart long for heaven to come to earth? What questions do you have about the Kingdom of God?

 There it is.  Lots of options.  Pick one (or two) and post.  We look forwarad to hearing from you.

Posted on Mon, April 28, 2008 by Jason Brown

7 comments (Add your own)

1. Bill White wrote:
As one who is living in a house bought by the church - which used to be a burned out drug house - I am super thankful for a risk-embracing church that did the crazy thing of buying this place and refurbishing it, even though it wasn't in the budget. May we keep getting out on a limb with him!

Mon, April 28, 2008 @ 8:53 AM

2. Sharon Morrison wrote:
Yesterday, Ken also said that each of us needs to do four things: disciple other people, ( definately and putting this decipling into practice, however imperfect it may be I am putting my best foot forward and even-more-so PRACTICING WHAT I PREACH!!!) tithe ( I do tithe every week, feels real good and have no doubts my budger will not faulter, however NOT RICH i am I AM RICH IN KNOWING GODS LOVE FOR ME AND ME FOR HIM), pray ( I pray everyday, just as if Jesus is in the room with me, feels so awesome to KNOW my faith in Jesus makes live soooo worth living, breathing and giving), and play our part in the area of service (I have yet to play the part in service, but just you all wait, you all just may get tired of having me around : ) ). Where do you need to change? ( need to change in the area of Reading the Bible more often, I need to get super-serious and make it happen!!!) In which of these areas are you experiencing growth? ( I am experiencing growth withing the church, just completing Alpha and now in Journey, and am loving it! I don't want it to ever end, but 1 phase to the next is the growth I will endeavor, with Jesus, People and Mission!!!

I hope what I wrote made a little sence

With Love and Faith in God Above,

Sharon Morrison

Mon, April 28, 2008 @ 11:10 AM

3. Lauri wrote:
I remember some years back I interviewed Pastor Harold for the Emmanuelight..I asked him, how on earth were we, as a church, able to optain those properties that now double as ministry resources...he leaned back in his chair...smiled and said, "well, honey, it all started with a Car Wash".

Because of the "forward thinking" of Emmanuelites back in the day, my family has been richly blessed. It started with my brother who joined a group called DADS and started helping in something called Looking Good...all the way to my brother in law, an ex-druggie, who found a place to grow his faith, ministry...and of course, the best part, his family. Should we go for it, you ask? With God leading us, and the evidence of blessing received by my family and countless others....how can we say no?

Tue, April 29, 2008 @ 4:17 PM

4. Greg Wallace Dolmage wrote:
I am in full support of a school for the arts. I believe Martin Luther once said that art is meant for the poor upon reflecting on the many art pieces found in the homes of the wealthy. He argued that the poor need art because it may be the only beautiful thing they encounter that day. If I may expound upon this idea, I believe this art is not only meant to be observed by the poor, but must be created by the poor. There is a sense of empowerment and dignity that is formed when creating something beautiful out of something that is not. This is redemption formed by dirty hands. This is what God does. So, in some strange way, I believe that art, while incapable of saving anyone, models the work of a loving and saving God.

So, yeah. I think it is a good idea.

Thu, May 1, 2008 @ 8:05 AM

5. Amanda wrote:
I love the future vision of Emmanuel. One thing GREAT about Emmanuel is that they see a need and then find ways to help meet it. I believe that is what Jesus did during His time on Earth. Jesus met needs and helped restore people, not just physically, and emotionally BUT also spiritually. I believe this vision of Emmanuel can do the same!!!

Many people I talked with after church were excited about having a Christian Community College because it would be a way for them to futher their education and have success. I know that my family would benefit from it and many others.

The School of Arts, what a GREAT way of showing the community that you care for the WHOLE person. It can give a positive outlet to kids who need or desire to learn; dance, music, art, etc... They may not get it in schools, but they can find it in a local church. I LOVE IT!!!! Another way for God to get people (outside of church or who have been hurt by a church) TO KNOW HIM!!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (I can't say it strongly enough in type) the idea of providing low-cost housing for people who desire to serve the Lord with their lives. (don't get me wrong, we ALL need to serve with our lives) But, what a great way to minister to people who are furthering their pastoral education or getting back on their feet. To help them save money, so that after 2 years (or however long it is) they have money saved to go where ever God leads them. TALK ABOUT MEETING A NEED AND FREEING PEOPLE UP TO DO THE WILL OF GOD!!!!

Don't get me started on a church in Compton!!!! I'll have you reading 'til the cows come home. (that's the farm girl in me, and NO I'm not from Iowa....not that there is anything wrong with that, I'm from Cali) I really appreciated what Pastor Ken said on Sunday (which I don't think I'd ever heard said from the pulpit) that ERC would plant 100 churches in partnership with existing churches in Compton. I think that would continue to give ERC more and more clout in the Compton communities that we feel God called us to serve for the next 40 years. We heard from Pastor Owens on Super Soul Sunday that the Compton Church (as a whole or all the churches that exist) wants to transform their community, but got lost in how to do it. As a church, we've seen God do amazing things through the Compton Clean-Up Days and now more and more suburban churches want to get involved.

I see a snowball being built up, ERC got involved when the ball was small and easy to roll, and now the snowball is getting bigger and Bigger and continue to get BIGGER. Pretty soon, we are going to see SNOW all over the City of Compton. A cleansing snow that purifies ALL from unrighteousness. What a beautiful day that will be!!!!! (Wouldn't it be great if God literally provided snow to show us of his work? Has it ever snowed in Compton? I can't imagine, but if God did and He is BIG ENOUGH, I'd be on my knees praising Him. Although even if this is just a figurative picture, I am still going to PRAISE GOD!!!)

If you havn't already figured it out, I AM SOOOO DOWN WITH ERC'S VISION!!!! I believe it is right and we should do it, but even more, I THINK IT IS GOD'S VISION OF REDEMPTION FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND ONLY WITH GOD, CAN IT GET DONE!!!

Thu, May 1, 2008 @ 1:56 PM

6. Almita wrote:
Absolutely every single one of your suggested blogs is encompassed in the very last one, "Seek first the Kingdom of God". If I, in some way, participate in each of these visions and activities - wouldn't that be seeking first the Kingdom of God? Jesus Christ is our intimate connection to the Kingdom of God and our (and others') relationship to Him will always be the ultimate goal of all of the blog ideas that you have suggested. I will participate through prayer and in every way possible to work with my church family to see His Kingdom come right here where we are.

Thu, May 1, 2008 @ 3:06 PM

7. JEFF HOGAN wrote:
TO BLOG ON THE QUESTION "SHOULD GO FOR IT? HOW CAN WE NOT. GOD IS NOT CALLING EMMANUEL TO SIT IDLY BY. WE NEED TO BE IN PRAYER TO GOD FOR PRACTICAL AND SPRIT LED OPIONS FOR HOUSING AND THE LIKE. WE MUST CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD WHENEVER POSSIBLE SO THAT WE DO NOT BECOME MAMBY PAMBY, NAVAL GAZING, THUMBSUCKING, THEOLOGICAL FAT CATS.

Wed, May 14, 2008 @ 7:52 PM

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