September 10,2007 Another terms is setting in the
west...
You are the King of Glory
You are the Forever Great I
am
All things unfold according to Your plan
You have placed your image in each man
You are the King of Glory
You are the King of Glory.
In Sovereign majesty You reign
You are the One who turns our loss to gain
You have the Name above all Names
You are the King of Glory
You are the King of Glory.
 |
You rule in Righteousness |
To our Lord and Saviour on
high
We wait for you and keep a watchful eye
Your redemption ever draweth nigh…
You are the King of Glory
You are the King of Glory
You are the King of Glory
You are the King of Glory
Anthony Foster
September 12, 2007
04:51pm Sep 9, 2007 EST - People tend to part company,
I think over theological differences- as in denominations, but some
of the biggest brew-ha-ha's I have witnessed have been over that great
theological debate of pews versus chairs and deciding between puce or
sage carpeting. I'll bet we all have such stories... in such occasions
a reality check is in order. There are plenty of "professional
weaker brothers" out there wanting their way. Paul said it best:
in such cases we should "grow up".
Daniel had a question as follows:
"... does our postmodern, seeker sensitive church, (with its) politically correct tendencies influence us to disregard authority for (in deference to) community? Does synergy take higher priority than the best decision? Is reaching the vision or goal a negative if done through the loan wolf leadership (implying one person acting with authority apart from the community and influence of a team)?
My response:
DISCUSSIONS - 10:45am Sep 8, 2007 EST -As you can tell from my other
post (from last week's blog), I believe authority is THE great leadership
issue. I also believe an authentically New Testament approach to authority
may resonate better with the postmodern mind than it has in recent church
history which is so image driven. I think if one teaches and lives out
in front of a postmodern the NT biblical view of authority, they will
very possibly resonate with it and respond. I have found it to be so
in my own experience.
A guiding principle from Paul that I see as undergirding my negative
view of what I call authoritarian leadership derives from 1 Corinthians
1:28: “God has chosen the things that are not, that he might nullify
the things that are.” God does this in ways that take us in through
the back door. He moves circumstances and even heaven and earth to form
the leaders He chooses to use. True leaders cannot manipulate themselves
into that role. In Paul’s life it took almost thirty years before
he clearly became a leader of leaders (Hoehner 1965, 381-2). It took
time and suffering. Paul’s commission in Acts 9:15-16 says “I
will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
When defending his qualifications, Paul most consistently eschewed his
accomplishments in favor of his sufferings as a source of authority.
His catalogues of hardship (1 Cor 4:9-13; 2 Cor 6:3-5; 11:23-30) demonstrated
his authority and influence were not tied to position or office. His
favorite designation of himself was “fellow worker”, an uniquely
Pauline term.
The Postmoderns I have been involved in mentoring are more intuitive
in seeking genuineness and authenticity than the average churchgoer
of the past- that can lead them down a false path but can be leveraged
as a strength in following a compelling Godly leader. Paul led by example.
Secular writers recognize that leaders lead by examples set forth in
daily acts that demonstrate their vision (Kouzes and Posner 2002, 43-108).
In God’s economy, respect, power, and influence are not based on
education, accomplishments, or position, but most often upon persevering
in work that often has no earthly privilege or accolades. Every time
Paul told people to “imitate me”, it was in terms of suffering,
humility, and hardship. Don Carson believes that the “best Christian
leadership cannot simply be appointed. It is forged by God himself in
the fires of suffering, taught in the school of tears. There are no
shortcuts” (Carson 1990, 90). Therefore, I believe suffering is
not to be sought after, but is also not to be avoided out of fear. Fear
is the opposite of faith, and a holy boldness is required of godly leadership.
Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, further ascertains the
qualifications of leadership in 2 Timothy 2 by referencing the leadership
metaphors of a teacher (2:2) who is also a diligent student and faithful
equipper of others; a soldier (2:3-4) who is aligned with God’s
plans, willing to accept hardship and hopeful to gain Christ’s
approval; an athlete (2:5) who is self-disciplined and who is motivated
by the hope of future reward; a farmer (2:6) who toils diligently and
yet nurtures his own spirit; a workman (2:15) who is accountable to
God and who seeks God’s approval on his work, and accordingly handles
God’s Word carefully; a vessel (2:21) who purifies himself from
error and contamination; and a slave (2:24-25a) who is in submission
to the Master’s will and who displays a compelling disposition
and conduct. This composite view may not be exhaustive, but it is indeed
compelling in regard to leadership qualities required for effective
service (Hiebert 1976, 213-229).
I don't know many true postmodern seekers who would not readily embrace
such an authentic, humility driven leader. God is the one seeking them
and he often does it through His Word so incarnated in such a leader.
Song of the Day- just arrived, hot off the brain cells...
Another Story
Lord for all the games we play
Here on this earth
There is a blessing that we miss
Cause we miss it for what it's worth.
A better way, a better place,
A better choice to make
No better time to fall on Grace
No better chance to take
And the things I fill my mind up with
Keep me from seeing glory
I live beneath my privilege
An old familiar story
But it all can change so quickly
All those days the locusts ate
Can be restored here on my knees
It's an opportunity Grace creates
The time is now, you know its not too late!
All the missing pieces
You restore
All our broken promises
You exchange for so much more
For we can't cut our losses
And we can't count the cost you've known
We can't bear the crosses that
We took up on our own.
And the things I fill my mind up with
Keep me from seeing glory
I live beneath my privilege
An old familiar story
But it all can change so quickly
All those days the locusts ate
Can be restored here on my knees
It's an opportunity Grace creates
The time is now, you know its not too late!
We can't retrieve one broken rhyme
We can't justify one wrong
We can't redeem a moment's time
We waste it and its gone.
How long will take to learn
How long, How
long?
It's the same old tune
An old familiar song!
For the things I fill my mind up with
Keep me from seeing glory
I live beneath my privilege
An old familiar story
But it all can change so quickly
All those days the locusts ate
Can be restored here on my knees
It's an opportunity Grace creates
The time is now, you know its not too late!
Anthony Foster
September 13, 2007