GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

No Starbucks, Krispy Kreme or Dandee Donuts!!!!! What do you mean?

Watch this video  shown this week at all Oasis Church Services, to find out why???

Oasis Weekly Newsletter/July 4, 2008

For those who are not on our Email list at Oasis, I am posting this so our Extended Oasis Family from around the Globe will know what is happening at Oasis Church, South Florida. I hope for those of you who reside outside South Florida have a wonderful July 4th . (The links on the Original email, do not work on this, but you can always go to our Visitoasis.org website or my blog site to find them.  (Unfortunately when I place my Email on the blog, it cuts a few words off the end of the sentence. Sorry) 

Pastor's Email
Dear Guy,   Are you experiencing the Dog Days of Summer yet?  The doldrums?  I hope not. But if you are, I want to share some exciting things happening at Oasis Church. We don't have time to experience the doldrums…too much work to do!!!! If you’re going on vacation or having some extra days off during the 4th of July Weekend, that is awesome!  I hope you will celebrate, relax and be safe. Please remember our soldiers who are stationed around the world, and especially in the war zones, during this Holiday Weekend. Just last night Tonia found out her nephew, Phil Gilmore arrived safely home from Iraq this week after his 3rd tour of duty there in 4 years. His two little girls had this big banner celebrating his return. I pray for the men and women who are there, that they will experience the same honor as they defend the Freedom of America and continue to protect our Independence that we will celebrate this weekend.   I want to share some exciting things with you about our church. Did you know?   Our long-awaited Baptistry Fountainis being gunited (blown concrete) as you read this.  If you are on the Pines Campus tonight or this weekend, you will see the new Baptistry with the roughed out concrete form!  PTL!  Pray for an August completion.  I hope we can baptize more on that first Sunday than ever before.  If you haven’t been baptized, you need to be!!   What an awesome time to do it. KidsWorld Director, Suzie McCord reported this week that their 140 volunteers serve 375 children every week in our services on 3 campuses and during 7NOW…you guys are awesome!!  You are doing a GREAT JOB!! Oasis Church baptized 207 new believers in 2007, who were obedient in following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This past week, the day before breaking ground for the new Fountain and Baptistry at our Pines Campus, I received a letter from our denominational office which congratulated Oasis Church for being the 19th ranked church out of almost 3000 churches in Florida, in total Baptisms in 2007.  God has been so good to us. As of this month the faithful givers to Oasis Church have given 2 million dollars toward the ministry of Oasis Church, for the Budget Year that ends on August 31.  I thank God for those who Tithe 10% to the Lord’s work here at Oasis.  You are a major reason God has used Oasis in such incredible ways this past year in North Miami, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and around the world. We do not count attendance very often, but in April the last count that was taken, there were 2,099 who attended our weekly services that week – 200 more than last year.  We will normally have between 2,100-2,300 on any given week worshiping at Oasis Church.  That is remarkable when you consider our limited parking and buildings at our Pines Campus.  Approx. 600-700 of those attending, attend our 7 Nights of Worship Services (7NOW).  Approx. 250 attend our Oasis NoMi and Oasis Hollywood Campuses. Joel Collins, our Tech Director, reported this week that 650 persons have listened to Podcaston our visitoasis.org website.  That is up from 480 last month, which was up almost 200 from the month prior.  There is an increasing thirst to hear God’s word taught in our church, and also, an awareness that it is as easy as clicking on our website and listening to any sermon we preach here at Oasis Church. Oasis Hollywood has a Picnic in the Arts Park scheduled for next Saturday…you’re invited! Oasis North Miamiis planning a BIG Vacation Bible School at the Campus in NoMi July 20-24  -- Sun through Thur evening from 6-9 p.m.   So many more things, but I don’t have time here.  You can go to my blog to check out the most popular Blog Post of the last month, and also to get an update on 3 Staff Members who have said, “So Longggg” to us this past week.  There is also information on lots of other things in my first-ever, Wednesday Dumpon my blog – guymelton.com.   See you this week, and have a happy, safe 4th of July!!  God bless you.  It is a privilege to serve you.   Guy Melton, Pastor Oasis Church
Hollywood Campus Pines Campus N. Miami Campus Prayer Requests www.visitoasis.org

tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | info@visitoasis.org

Are you This Person?????????

Well I'm back, and after only one Post last week while on Vacation, I am loaded and ready to dump a lot this week. So as I get time, plan to hear from me lots!!! You're forewarned!!!!!

This morning as I was reading in Proverbs as I do every day, I came across a verse I have read a million times...OK, only 500,000 times(!), but it stood out today. Isn't it funny as you read God's word, sometimes the same passage over and over, how God shows you something different that day?

Proverbs 25:14 in the Message (Paraphrase) says, "Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces."

How many folks do you know like this??? Probably many. As a Pastor I see them all the time. They come in, they talk big, they tell everyone what they should be doing, and try to impose their will and ideas on everyone else. But then they walk away and leave you to do it for them!!! This verse usually summarizes a person like that!!!!!!

James 1:22 (New International Version) 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says  

The King James Version puts it this way, "Doers of the Word and not Hearers only"  

Look in the mirror!!! Are you one who does this? We can all be guilty of it!! I love the story of a new family who just joined our church last week. Pastor James Brown told me this morning they showed up at our  weekly, Tuesday night Christmas Decorating night to begin to prepare Christmas light figures for the fall. Brand new folks, the whole family!! No fan fare, no "We are here to tell you guys how to do church, or Christmas". They just showed up and SERVED!!!! What a beautiful example of being "Doers " of the Word. I am so glad to know we have a church full of Oasis Family who are like that.

While we are talking "Abiding" this month!!! A little reminder!! A person who truly Abides, will have the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives!! They will be Doers of His Word!!! But that is next week's sermon, so I better stop now!!! 

Leaders Development Dinner

 Tonight was one of those nights that are just special. I spent about 3 1/2 hours with our Leaders who lead our ministries. 90 Leaders and spouses met to have a great meal prepared by John Adams who leads our Kona Cafe on the Pines Campus.  All 3 Campuses were represented. We don't get to be together very often.

Following the Meal Rev. Bud McCord our Missionary to Brazil gave us an overview of his new book , "The Satisfying Life" which is what our new Series at Oasis Church is based on. Actually it is based on John 15. If your going to be at church this coming weekend or one   of our nightly services , you might want to read this passage. Speaking to our Staff, Deacons/Lay pastors, Church Council, Children's Directors , Worship leaders , Host Pastors , Womens ministry ,First Impressions Captains and Community group leaders Bud challenged us all to live the Abiding Life.  To realize Jesus is in me and I have all I need in life to be satisfied is within me , Jesus Christ. It was refreshing. It was  a time our Leaders who constantly give out , and serve others had a chance to be fed, spiritually as well as physically.

 What a privilege to serve with these great men and women. As I looked around the room, I was just awestruck at the wonderful servant leaders our church is blessed with . I am so blessed to serve as servant leader to this incredible church. I love Oasis Church. Cant wait to see you this coming weekend and week.

XXX For Men Only Please!!! Part 2

If you did not read the first Post, please do so first or this one will not make sense.

After I Posted the first Post on this subject I received several comments and emails. This email from one of our members is the reason that Sexual addiction, or sex outside the bounds of a Marriage is so dangerous. This is the result!!

"I'm not sure I should say anything but I would like for men and women to know how porn destroys souls and relationships.  My 20 year marriage ended because of such addiction and it destroyed our marriage and hurt so many people around us.  As you know, I mourned for my ex-husband when he died , but what I think I mourned more than anything was our marriage that seemed to be second because porn was first (as any addiction).  I think many men think that it's personal and harmless but nothing could be farther from the truth.  As a wife, I felt degraded, helpless, and hopeless."

Now if that is not enough, Read the scripture below!!! For those who choose to fulfill the flesh, First   Corinthians 6 tells us it actually is sinning against his own body.

 12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial.

 "Everything is permissible for me"—but   I will not be mastered by anything.

 13..... The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?

 Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."^[b] 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Nothing in  the Bible prohibits a man from enjoying sex within marriage to our spouse. Actually God gives us an amazing picture of Pure Romance  between a man and woman in the book, Song of Solomon.   Within Marriage there are no boundaries.. . But catch what Hebrews 13:4 says , Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex. (The Message)

I made a commitment 33 years ago June 26, 1975 to love and cherish my wife until death do us part!! I plan to keep that vow. I am proud to say that Tonia is the only woman I have ever had sex with and plan to keep it that way until I die. But there is no guarantee. I have to continue to Guard my heart and think on the right things.  I have to continue to stoke the the fires of love. I have to continue to see my wife as the beautiful person that God made her to be. I cant compare her with the Spray Painted , touched up pictures of models and those who are put out in front of us as men on a daily basis hundreds of times. I am  as passionate about my wife as when I dated her 33 years ago and married that beautiful 19 year old. I desire her, I tell her often how beautiful she is and how much I desire her more today than ever. She is Hotter today than ever, and I want her to know it. Yes, it makes her uncomfortable, she gets a little embarrassed and tries to brush it off. But I mean it and I make sure she knows it!!! Guys , how can we expect our wife to respond to us when we treat them like trash, and they know we are getting our kicks with the Madame Whore, Proverbs talks about.  

Ok, I have lots more to say, but what if your already like the man in Proverbs who is already caught up in the Madame whore of the Internet, magazine, or the prostitute on the street or screen. There is a way out. But you probably cant do it on your own. There are many things offered today for us to maneuver through this death trap. By the way, I have addressed mainly married men, but if your single, this applies just as much. You are not exempt to live as you will if you don't have a wife. Check out the verses I shared, most are for married or single.  

Here is a comment by a single guy, who left a comment on my blog today: "beyond the Internet I know (as a Christian male in the church) it's awfully difficult when our sisters in Christ wear some of the same clothing we'd come to expect the '1 tracked-minded' women of the world.
I go to church to worship & I'm blindsided by body parts & flesh on women that take my mind to places it shouldn't be. It only doubles how difficult it is to stay pure as a Godly man.
I love a challenge, but sometimes I find myself crying out, God...u gotta be kidding me??? (you can read the comment in its entirety on my former post, I linked to above)

So Ladies!!! You ladies who are reading this even though , Its for men only!!! Take it from this guy, you have a duty also to watch you aren't the Madame Whore in the Proverbs, who calls out to the guy on the street, office or even church. I agree with the guy who comments here. As a Pastor it is unbelievable what I have to look at sometimes during my sermon. Some ladies dress like they are trying out for some sleazy magazine. I am not exaggerating, sometimes when our pastoral teaching team is teaching, and you can ask any of them, there are women sitting in the rows just in front of us with 3/4 of their chest exposed and little to the imagination. There is no cultural excuse like some say, or any other excuse. They are selling themselves!!!! Yes, in church!!! Ladies, please help us!!!

So ladies that is one way you can help us. Dress modestly, like scripture teaches. If your married give your husband the same respect and love you gave him when you dated him. Keep yourself the best you can physically. Stroke his ego, encourage him, build him up. (Go to our website and listen to the message on "Keeping the Sizzle in Marriage") While this doesn't guarantee your husband wont go chasing the Madame Whore on the Internet or else where , I believe he will be far less inclined to. NOW LADIES AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU KEPT READING THIS POST!!!! GOTCHA!!

Here are some tips that will  help :

• Focus on the Family Website, has anonymous  telephone counselors and lots of materials that will help.
• There are  Christian counselors, at Sheridan House Ministries.
• Find an accountability partner.
• Covenant Eyes software that holds you accountable for sites you go to.
• Have at least one person who can check your computer at anytime. I have several , and one is my wife who has my passwords and can check my acct at anytime. Any man with a wife should share his passwords with her and hers should be shared by you.  Im glad to know that God isn't the only one who can look over my shoulder at where im going on the computer.
• Cut out the Movie channels that don't have family movies, I found you save lots of money also. Ladies encourage your husband to do this.
• Keep your computer in a public place and not in a private room where you are alone
• These are practical things, but honestly, they aren't fool proof and we cant do these things without making sure we are Abiding in Christ and He in Us!!! Good Timing , we begin the Satisfying Life this week at Oasis Church. This alone will be a BIG Step!!!

BUSTED AND THE SECRET IS OUT!!! Email Newsletter

For those who follow our Blog but are not in our Oasis Church Family here in South Florida, below is our newsletter I Sent out today . I get so many who like to keep up with Oasis, this is my way of keeping you in the loop. Just a reminder, the typepad format cuts off the end of the line, so you complete the sentence. The links on the email letter will not work from here. Sorry!!!

Pastor's Email
Dear Extended Oasis Family;   Happy Father’s Day out there to all the guys who are Dads!!! We salute you, and thank God for those Dads seeking to lead their families in a Godly Way. Father’s Day Weekend is the perfect time to kick off a new Series "The Satisfying life".Our Guest Speaker this weekend, the following weekend and in our 7NOW Services is Rev. Bud McCord our Missionary from Brazil. He has a newly released book on this subject and we are the first ones to have an opportunity to get it. Much more about Bud and the new Series on our Website!!    I love having a great church website and also a personal blog.  I could never get all the great things out about what's going on at Oasis without our website. And I would never be able to share from the pulpit with such limited time all that is going on in my life and in my MIND!!!! Hence, What Were You Thinking? Whether you want to know all I am thinking or not, it’s on my blog!!!! Some I could never mention from the pulpit, or should I say, would choose not to.  Here are just some of What I Have Been Thinking this week: The Secret is Out  I've been BUSTED!!!!!!!!!! The Satisfying Life!! XXX For Men ONLY!!!!! Waxing Nostalgic I am a Pack Rat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   So I invite you to go to www.guymelton.com and find out what I am thinking. You might like it, you might not…but it is what I am Thinking!! Oasis Church has some pretty phenomenal things happening you don’t want to miss, so check them out: Need to Cool off this Summer?  Check out Kona Father’s Day Fun and More at NoMi!!!  Revolution Summer Theater Camp for kids…3 Choices All the Way from Brazil Surge Youth are on the Road this summer KidsWorld Update and Mr. Eric!!!!! 7 Nights of Worship, and Free Pizza, Free Cappucinos and Lattes, only certain nights!!! Check it out!!! A story of Community Oasis Shirts for men and women still available online And so much more..................................... I am so excited about this weekend as we kick off The Satisfying Lifewith Rev. Bud McCord!! Come prepared to be blessed and challenged and get your Study Workbook at Kona while you’re here. For 7NOW services you will have the books available also. This week in preparation, I have been reading the key text for our Series every day. Let me encourage you to Read John 15 before coming this week to service. God bless you and have a great weekend, and once again to the Dads, Happy Father’s Day!!! I love you guys. It is a blast to do life with you at Oasis Church.  Guy Melton, Pastor Oasis Church
Hollywood Campus Pines Campus N. Miami Campus Prayer Requests www.visitoasis.org

tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | info@visitoasis.org

XXX For Men Only, Please!!!!!!!!!!!!

This blog post is only for the Men. I want to have a heart to heart about something I realized a few days ago, that I had not addressed on my blog. "What Were You Thinking ?" is  the name. I try to be true to this in sharing what I am thinking. In my role as Pastor of Oasis Church I cannot always say the things I can on my personal blog. Or many times I choose not to.

The subject I am discussing is Sexuality. While reading another Christian blog this week the guy mentioned several sensitive subjects he has only addressed a few times, just because he is uncomfortable discussing them. Well it hit me, I don't think I have touched the subject of Male Sexuality even once this past year. It needs to be discussed. Why? Well we have an epidemic in the Church among mainly men in the way of unhealthy sexuality. It is sexual addiction. I do believe it is epidemic from all the signs I see and observe. I can give countless examples of good men who have been caught up in Immoral Sexual Addiction. Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe Sex is bad. That goes without saying it was actually invented by God himself, for our enjoyment. And most of us, as men, Enjoy it.

Where it concerns me is when it goes outside the bounds of marriage. As I was reading the Proverbs recently, which I do every day, I was reminded of the danger of letting sexual immorality creep into my life. In Proverbs Chapter 9 the Message calls her Madame Whore. She  sits on the porch on Main Street and calls out to the passer by and lures him in.  Proverbs 5 warns against the Seductive Woman, her words are smooth, soft and sweet!!! It also reminds those of us who are married to continue to enjoy the wife of our youth. 

Now most of us don't identify with this ancient proverb even when its written in a contemporary paraphrase, but let me break it down to what it could mean today. While the day of the prostitute waving most men down on US 1, or as the Proverb says, Main street doesn't seem to relate to most of us, (most men I know probably would never step into an adult bookstore/video shop) there are still the prostitutes sitting on the porches and the madame whores that are just as dangerous today. They are in our homes...the cable movie channels that most excuse as entertainment. We actually bring the Whore into our homes. The Internet!!! Never has Satan had a better way to grab us with the Prostitute and Whore the Bible speaks about than on the Internet.  It is so easy. It can happen before we know it. It can happen even if we don't look for it.

Just recently I was doing some googling of a very benign subject. I came across a church website in the list and was curious why it showed up. Well, when I clicked  it!! I t had some of the most pornographic pictures you can imagine. It was sickening. Under a church website. I had to make a very quick decision. Did I want to do a little research or move on?!!! It was an eye opener in more than one way. It reminded me how dangerous my computer is. How easily I can be sucked in to the Madame Whore that Proverbs is talking about. I do a lot of reading of Christian blogs and some secular ones. I visit a lot of church sites and ministry sites. But at anytime this can happen.

Now you say, "Pastor but you wouldn't be tempted"!! You've got to be kidding. I don't know of any healthy man who is not tempted at some point. The only men I have known who are not tempted and attracted sexually to a beautiful woman at times are those who are attracted to men. Pretty straight forward but guys, it can happen to any one of us. We are all tempted, let's be honest. We must put ourselves in the position not to fall. This is not easy when the Prostitute has moved into our offices, homes and computers. We must be Abiding in the fullness of God's Spirit to have a chance. It can be done but it isn't easy.

Now honestly, as a young man of 18 madly in love with my beautiful young girlfriend, who has now been my wife for 33 years this month, it was hard to not be tempted. But if you would have told me at 52 years of age I can still be tempted I would have said you're crazy!! I have the same desires and drive now as then. Age hasn't made a difference. The point I make is don't think with age you'll just get over it. No, as men God made us to be aroused by a beautiful woman with our eyes. That is the way it is. So we must constantly be on guard. I'm very concerned that many men are on the verge of losing it all because they have been caught by the Prostitute of Porn or Adultery. By the way, I have never met a man who was caught up in Adultery who did not have a Pornography addiction. Mark it down, you are in grave danger, if you're there.

There are no good excuses. We can always find an excuse and justify our actions. I have heard them all. She is a nagger, she is cold, won't have sex enough for me. She doesn't keep care of herself.  She has gained so much weight. She just isn't affectionate anymore. We can make all the excuses, guys. The simple fact is that God calls on us to live a pure life. It is not about her. It's about me and God. Are we abiding in Him? Is His spirit in control of my thoughts, eyes and actions?  Psalms 101:3 (Message) says "I refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things." When I live by this I honor God and I honor my wife. 

(Ok, I will come back tomorrow and finish my thoughts, and also give some links that might help some who are dealing with these issues. I'll also share some very practical things that will help each of us to avoid the temptation, or when it comes how we can escape giving in)  

 Ok, Ladies, I knew you couldn't stand it and would peek. You are so nosy!!! So if you did, make sure you read tomorrow's blog post because you can be a help to your mate in this area.

NOW FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT WANT TO CRITICIZE ME FOR MY TITLE XXX. I FIGURE IF I COULD GET TRAPPED BY A PORNO SITE  on a Google Search WITH The NAME OF A CHURCH MAYBE A MAN THAT IS TRAPPED BY PORNOGRAPHY MIGHT GOOGLE XXX AND GET THIS POST AND IT MIGHT HELP ONE MAN. WHO KNOWS!!!!!!   GOT YOUR ATTENTION !!!!!.

Bud McCord to Speak This Week at Oasis

This weekend and next week we have two very special guests with us. They are Bud and Pam McCord. The McCords are missionaries to the country of Brazil, and one of the missionaries our church supports each month. If you are a faithful giver to our missions budget then you have a part in their ministry in Brazil. Bud will be speaking for our services the next two weekends and weeknights in our 7 Nights of Worship. He is a gifted teacher and preacher. You will be inspired and also challenged to take your Christian life to another level. As a church we will be studying the new book Bud has written based on the principles of John 15. I hope you will pick up the Study Book, The Satisfying Life. For those who want to go even deeper, you can pick up his brand new book just off the presses on the same topic. For more info. on the McCords and Bud's new book, go to our Church Website. There is also a link to their ministry site at www.visitoasis.org

 

Bud and Pam returned to Brazil in July of 2005. From 1987-2005 Bud led a team of over 130 staff as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, Florida and President of Hollywood Christian School. Bud assumed the pastorate of F.B.C. after serving from 1979-1987 as a church planter in Brazil with Pam and their four children. Abide Ministries is a new and exciting ministry for Bud and Pam.

 

The church Bud led while in the United states, is my home church and the one I served at for 13 1/2 years prior to starting Oasis Church in September of 1991. Bud and that church  were  the ones who sponsored us to begin Oasis. Our debt of gratitude and love run deep.

.

 

KONA!!! Free Drinks and Worship!!

I love our new Kona at our Pines Campus. Our Leadership Team has decided to do something different, as we do most summers with certain services. In the past when our Saturday Night service was much smaller we would be able to do some special things at that service. This year we are doing some special things with our Monday and Tuesday Night 7 p.m. Worship Services. Since they are our two smallest services we are moving them into the Community Cafe. This provides several opportunities.

It allows us to partner with the new Kona and provide free Specialty Drinks and also food. It also gives more of a Coffee House, initimate feel to the service. The same great music and message, but with a much more intimate feel. We will even serve Free Pizza this coming week and maybe for a few weeks. On Saturday Night during the summers past that was always popular. So now come from work on Monday or Tuesday night and enjoy some pizza and Kona!!!!

For more info, including extended hours those two nights and free wifi check out the special story on this at our Oasis Website.

If you attend one of our Sunday Morning Services at Pines, come out and try the Monday or Tuesday night. Jimmy Purchase, our Host Pastor, and the group would love to have you.It is right next to the Auditorium.

Shut Up!! Leave my Institutional Church Alone (Part One)

Now for those in Oasis Church, this blog is about you. You may not understand all I am about to say. But in reality it is a tribute to you. There is a lot of talk today about the church as we know it, being broken.   There are many buzz words out there being thrown around. One of them is the Institutional Church. This can be described in any number of ways, and is, by different folks depending on their background and bias. For me I will mention it in the most simple way I know. The church in America as 99% of us know it.

I get so sick and tired of hearing people criticize the church and all its shortcomings. They discuss adnausiam all the problems of the church. Why they don't attend, why they want to build a different kind of church, etc.  I'm weary with all the talk! It's like discussing Calvinism. It is pointless and a waste of everyone's time. The devil, I think, delights in all the discussions about the broken church. The more we debate our differences, the less time there is to do what God has called the church to be.

Most complainers about the Institutional Church whine, by writing books, blogs and magazine articles. If they don't have a platform, then they just go around and spread doom and gloom to those who will listen.  My question is what are you doing constructively to be the Church yourself. In almost all cases they are doing NOTHING!!! No answers!!! Just criticism. I want to just kick them in the BUTT and tell them, when you are doing something, then you earn the right to criticize. But until that time, just SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, don't get me wrong, the church has its warts. Most are doing far less than they are capable. Many have lost their way. We know that. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that.

I do know some who see the warts and are constructively doing something not to break the institutional church or to kill it but to do church the way they see it can be done. See, the church is so flexible, it can be the church in thousands of applications and ways. You name it. The commission that Jesus gave is simple.  Now, go do it the way God has gifted you to do it. Others I know are working alongside the institutional church and at the same time trying new ways to do church. Ken McCord, my friend, is a good example of that. I respect him in that while he wants to see the church be more than it is, he isn't willing to trash it and leave it. But he isn't content to just be a part of the present. That is why he moved his family to San Francisco some 7 years ago. There are plenty others like him.

Just this week there was a lady criticizing our downtown Church for not doing more in the community. She said she was leaving because she can't get us to do what God has called her to do. I told her if God called you, then go do it. Why wait on us?!!! Too many want the church to do what God has called and gifted them to do. Then I asked, "So, what are you doing?"  Asked a few more probing questions. Well, that ended the conversation pretty fast!!! Easy to cast stones! But my question is, "What are you doing?" Aren't we the Church??????? Yesssssssssssssss!!!!

Now that I have ranted some, I want to share a few stories in a few subsequent blogs of what is right about the Church, and challenge each of us to continue to be the Church!!!! Institutional or otherwise!!!!!!  I don't care how you do it!!! Do it!!!! But quit criticizing those giving their lives to change other lives through the healing love of Jesus Christ. (Now, what motivated this post is not a naysayer, but some who are doing some incredible things in our church to be the church.  I'll post about them later.)