Carrots are life's answer to everything.

I was working on a book report this afternoon when my friend from Debrecen, Hungary, got online. We haven't chatted in a while, so it was nice to catch up with her and hear how things were going. She is working on her Ph.D in Medical Research, and just finished an article on her research on B-caroten and it's effects on skin diseases such as Eczema. We then engaged in a long conversation about extracting DNA from biopsy samples from Germany and whether it is possible to find one's future spouse while reconstructing DNA patterns or if one should wait to find one's spouse in the cute guy at Bible study. (okay so we are interested in science but still girls. Give us a break)
She had to go and I had to go get lunch. I bumped into my other friend who is a fellow Missions Major and who is trying to figure out her life - or rather the next year of her life, as am I.
We decided that Carrots are the answer to everything.
Now this makes sense, because carrots have B-caroten in them. B-caroten helps your skin not suffer from diseases like eczema, and if one's skin is looking great, then one feels better about things, and if one feels better about things, then life is much easier. And we all know that the American dream is having an easy life with lots of money. Therefore, carrots are half the answer to living the American dream, and if the glass is always half-full, then you're pretty much there.
Thus carrots are life's answer to everything.
I'm sure that to any guys who are reading this it makes no sense whatsoever. That's okay, to be honest I really don't care.
I've been in my room all day working on a book report for the book Psychobabble by Richard Ganz, it's a cloudy day, and I've just been generally out of it for the last few days. I have a group project due on Monday that I will be mostly winging it on, and therefore I should not be expected to make any sense on anything right now.
Just accept the fact that Carrots are life's answer to everything. Between me, a brilliant Hungarian almost-Ph.D, my room mate, and fellow missions major have jointly come to that conclusion.
Although I don't think the other three girls realized they were helping me come to that conclusion when we were having those conversations...

So yeah. If you don't like carrots, you can substitue red Papaya instead, as it has B-caroten in it also.

Cheers,

~Princess Ouch~

Eastern Europe thoughts and pictures

The Church planting praxis that I am a part of is getting ready to start our outreach in a community that has a large Bosnian and Ukrainian population.

Since I believe God is leading me to work long-term in Eastern Europe anyway, this is pretty cool. Although we may decide to 'target' (I don't like that word) the Hispanic or Iranian people groups in that area as well. But I think we might go with the Bosnians, as there's about three times more of them than anyone else, and we know where to find them in that community.

I feel the need to post something on my blog, but am too tired to put a lot of words together that will make sense, and I have to go study for a mid-term. So I thought I would just share some cool pictures of Eastern Europe that missionaries with the IMB have taken overseas. Hope you enjoy.

Anthropological Insights for Missionaries

I am currently reading a really good book for my "Cross Cultural Evangelism" class called "Anthropological Insignts for Missionaries" by Paul G. Hiebert. Thought I would share two articles from the book I found particularly thought provoking and helpful. They are actually quotes from Missiological magazines, so that's why there's the little blurb at the end about the copyright etc.

The Viable Miossionary: Learner, Trader, Story Teller

by Donald N. Larson

As I see it, there are three roles that the missionary can develop in order to establish viability in the eyes of the national non-Christian: Learner, trader and story teller. I would first become a learner. After three months I would add another: trader. After three more months, I would add a third: story teller. After three more months, while continuing to be learner, trader and story teller, I would begin to develop other roles specified in my job description.

Let me elaborate. From his position as an outsider, the missionary must find a way to move toward the center if he hopes to influence people. Some roles will help him make this move. Others will not. His first task is to identify those which are most appropriate and effective. Then he can begin to develop ways and means of communicating his Christian experience through these roles in which he has found acceptance.

Learner

More specifically, as learner, my major emphasis is on language, the primary symbol of identification in my host community. When I try to learn it, they know that I mean business - that they are worth something to me because I make an effort to communicate on their terms. I learn a little each day and put it to use. I talk to a new person every day. I say something new every day. I gradually reach the point where I understand and am understood a little. I can learn much in three months.

I spend my mornings with a language helper (in a structured program or one that I design on my own) from which I elicit the kinds of materials that I need to talk to people in the afternoons. I show him how to drill me on these materials and then spend a good portion of the morning in practice. Then in the afternoon I go out into public places and make whatever contacts are natural with local residents, talking to them as best I can with my limited proficiency - starting the very first day. I initiate one conversation after antoher, each of which says both verbally and non-verbally, "I am a learner. Please talk with me and help me." With each conversation partner, I get a little more practice and a little more proficiency, from the first day on.

At the end of my first three months, I have established myself with potentially dozens of people and reached the point where I can make simple statements, ask and answer simple questions, find my way around, learning the meaning of new words on the spot, and most importantly, experience some measure of "at-homeness" in my adopted community. I cannot learn the "whole language'' in three months, but I can learn to initiate conversations, control them in a limited way and learn a litle more about the language from everyone whom I meet.

Trader

When my fourth month begins,
I add a role - that of trader,
trading experience and insight
with people of my adopted
community - seeing ourselves
more clearly as part of mankind,

not just members of different
communities or nations. I prepare for this role by periods of residence in as many other places as I can, or vicariously, through course work in anthropology and related fields. I also come equipped with a set of 8 x 10 photos illustrating a wide range of ways to be human.

During the second three months I spend mornings with my language helper learning to talk about the photos in my collection. thus I build on the language proficiency developed in the first month. I practice my description of these pictures and prepare myself as best I can to answer questions about them. Then in the afternoon I visit casually in the community, using the photos as part of my "show and tell" demonstration. I tell as much as I can about the way others live, how they make their livings, what they do for enjoyment, how they hurt, and how they struggle for survival and satisfaction.

At the end of this second phase, I establish myself not only as a learner but as one who is interested in other people and seeks to trade one bit of information for another. My language proficiency is still developing. I meet many people. Depending upon the size and complexity of the community, I establish myself as a well-known figure by this time. I become a bridge between the people of the local community and a larger world - at least symbolically.

Story Teller

When I begin my seventh month, I shift emphasis again to a new role. Now I become a story teller. I spend mornings with my language helper. Now it is to learn to tella very simple story to the people whom I meet and respond to their inquiries as best I can. The stories that I tell are based on the wanderings of the people of Israel, the coming of Christ, the formation of God's new people, the movement of the Church into all the world and ultimately, into this very community, and finally, my own story of my encounter with Christ and my walk as a Christian. During the mornings I develop these stories and practice them intensively. Then in the afternoon I go into the community, as I have been doing for months, but now to encounter a people as story teller. I am still language learner and trader, but I have added the role of story teller. I share as much of the story with as many people as I can each day.

At the end of this third phase, I have made acquaintances and friends. I have had countless experiences that I will never forget. I have left positive impressions as learner, trader and story teller. I am ready for another role, and another and another.

~From Missiology 6 (April 1978): 158-161~

Omodo

By Walter A. Trobisch

On one of my trips I worshipped in an African church where nobody knew me. After the service i talked to two boys who had also attended.

"How many brothers and sisters do you have?" I asked the first one.

"Three."

"Are they all from the same stomach?"

"Yes, my father is a Christian."

"How about you?" I addressed the other boy.

He hesitated. In his mind he was adding up. I knew immediately that he came from a polygamous family.

"We are nine," he finally said.

"Is your father a Christian?"

"No," was the typical answer, "he is a polygamist."

"Are you baptised?"

"Yes, and my brothers and sister too," He added proudly.

"And their mothers?"

"They are all three baptised, but only the first wife takes communion."

"Take me to your father."

The boy led me to a compound with many individual houses. It breathed an atmosphere of cleanliness, order and wealth. Each wife had her own house and her own kitchen. The father, a middle-aged, good-looking man, tall, fat and impressive, received me without embarrassment and with apparent joy. I found Omodo, as we shall call him, a well-educated person, wide awake and intelligent, with a sharp wit and a rare sense of humor. From the outset he made no apologies for being a polygamist, he was proud of it. Let me try to put down here the essential content of our conversation that day which lasted for several hours.

"Welcome to the hut of a poor sinner!" The words were accompanied by good-hearted laughter.

"It looks like a rich sinner," I retorted.

"The saints come very seldom to this place," he said, "they don't want to be contaminated with sin."

"But they are not afraid to receive your wives and children. I just met them in church."

"I know. I give everyone a coin for the collection plate. I guess I finance half of the church's budget. They are glad to take my money, but they don't want me."

I sat in thoughtful silence. After a while he continued, "I feel sorry for the pastor. By refusing to accept all the polygamous men in town as church members he has made his flock poor and they shall always be dependent upon subsidies from America. he has created a church of women whom he tells every Sunday that polygamy is wrong."

"Wasn't your wife heart-broken when you took a second one?"

Omodo looked at me almost with pity. "It was her happiest day," he said finally.

"Tell me how it happened."

"Well, one day after she had come home from the garden and had fetched wood and water, she was preparing the evening meal, while I sat in front of my house and watched her. Suddenly she turned to me and mocked me. She called me a 'poor man,' because I had only one wife. She pointed to our neighbor's wife who could care for her children while the other wife prepard the food."

"Poor man," Omodo repeated. "I can take much, but not that. I had to admit that she was right. She needed help. She had already picked out a second wife for me and they get along fine."

I glanced around the courtyard and saw a beautiful young woman, about 19 or 20, come out of one of the huts.

"It was a sacrifice for me," Omodo commented. "Her father demanded a very high bride price."

"Do you mean that the wife, who caused you to become a polygamist is the only one of your family who recieves communion?"

"Yes, she told the missionary how hard it was for her to share her love for me with another woman. According to the church my wives are considered sinless because each of them only has one husband. I, the father, am the only sinner in our family. Since the Lord's supper is not given to sinners, I am excluded from it. Do you understand that, pastor?"

I was entirely confused.

"And you see," Omodo continued, "they are all praying for me that I might be saved from sin, but they don't agree from which sin I must be saved."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the pastor prays that I may not continue to commit the sin of polygamy. My wives pray that I may not commit the sin of divorce. I wonder whose prayers are heard first."

"So your wives are afraid that you become a Christian?"

"They are afraid that I become a church member. Let's put it that way. For me there is a difference. You see they can only have intimate relations with me as long as I do not belong to the church. In the moment I would become a Church member their mariage relations with me would become sinful."

"Wouldn't you like to become a church member?"

"Pastor, don't lead me into temptation! How can I become a church member, if it means to disobey Christ? Christ forbade divorce, but not polygamy. The church forbids polygamy but demands divorce. How can I become a church member, if I want to be a Christian? For me there is only one way, to be a Christian without the church."

"Have you ever talked to your pastor about that?"

"He does not dare to talk to me, because he knows as well as I do that some of his elders have a second wife secretely. The only difference between them and me is that I am honest and they are hypocrites."

"Did a missionary ever talk to you?"

"Yes, once. I told him that with the high divorce rate in Europe, they have only a successive form of polygamy while we have a simultaneous polygamy. That did it. He never came back."

I was speechless. Omodo accompanied me back to the village. He evidently enjoyed to be seen with a pastor.

"But tell me, why did you take a third wife?" I asked him.

"I did not take her. I inherited her from my late brother, including her children. Actually my olderbrother would have been next in line. But he is an elder. He is not allowed to sin by giving security to a widow."

I looked in his eyes. "Do you want to become a Christian?"

"I am a Christian." Omodo said without smiling.

As I walked down the path, the verse came to my mind: "You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel."

What does it mean to take responsibility as a congregation for Omodo? I am sorry that I was not able to see Omodo again, because I had met him while I was on a trip. I just report to you the essence of our conversation because it contains in a nutshell the main attitudes of polygamists toward the church. It is always healthy to see ourseves with the eyes of an outsider.

I asked myself: What would I have done if I were pastor in Omodo's town?

~From Walter A. trobisch, "Congregational Responsibility for the Christian Individual," in Readings in a Missionary Anthropology II, ed. William A. Smalley (South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1978), pp. 223-235.~

Theological Foundations

What are the theological foundations for critical contextualization? First, it affirms the priesthood of all believers. With critical contextualization, decisions are made not by the leaders for the people, but by all of the believers.

Leaders and missionaries throughout history have often felt threatened by this approach to biblical hermeneutics. Since they believe themselves better trained, they claim for themselves the exclusive right to make theological decisions. They are afriad things might get out of hand if the laity were involved in interpreting the Bible and in applying its message to their everyday lives.

What does keep matters from going astray when all are involved in the application of Scripture to the problems of life? Does not the process open the door for wild interpretations of the Bible and Christian practices? There are three checks on such excessiveness.

First, the Bible is taken as the final and difinitive authority for Christian beliefs and practices. Everyone, therefore, must begin at the same place.

Second, the priesthood of believers assumes that all the faithful have the Holy Spirit to guide them in the understanding and application of the Scriptures to their own lives. It is all too easy for leaders to accept this belief in theory, but to shy away from it in practice. To deny young believers the right to be involved in bliblical interpretation and decision making is to deny that the same Holy Spirit we know to be within us and guiding us into the truth is also within them.

Third, there is the constant check of the Church. C. Norman Kraus (1979) points out that the contextualization of the gospel is ultimately the task not of individuals and leaders, but of the church as a "discerning community." Within that community, individuals contribute according to their gifts and abilities. The pastor and missionary have a greater knowledge of the Bible and therefore should provide the exegesis of the appropriate texts within their biblical context. The people, however, understand their own culture and problems and should play an important part in determining the hermeneutical application of the Scripture to their own lives. But they must be subject to the church as a whole.

The church is not an aggregate of individuals, each seeking his or her own interpretation of the Bible. It is to be a true community of people seeking to follow Christ and serve one another. Only then will it become what Kraus calls an "authentic Christian community," a hermeneutical community that strives to understand God's message to it and bears witness to the world of what it means to be a Christian, not only in beliefs but also in life. The church as a body is a "new order." "

~Paul G. Hiebert, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 1985) pp. 191-192~

Poetry, Hungarians, and Dark Chocolate.

My professor read this cool poem in class today. I thought

I would share, as it was kind of funny. Apparently it's written

contrasting a Western European/British family to an African

family during the 1800's, but a lot of it could possibly be

applied to cross-cultural experiences today.

We And They

Rudyard Kipling

Father and Mother, and Me,
  Sister and Auntie say
All the people like us are We,
  And every one else is They.
And They live over the sea,
  While We live over the way,
But-would you believe it?—They look upon We
  As only a sort of They!

We eat pork and beef
  With cow-horn-handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf,
  Are horrified out of Their lives;
While they who live up a tree,
  And feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn’t it scandalous? ) look upon We
  As a simply disgusting They!

We shoot birds with a gun.
  They stick lions with spears.
Their full-dress is un-.
  We dress up to Our ears.
They like Their friends for tea.
  We like Our friends to stay;
And, after all that, They look upon We
  As an utterly ignorant They!

We eat kitcheny food.
  We have doors that latch.
They drink milk or blood,
  Under an open thatch.
We have Doctors to fee.
  They have Wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!) They look upon We
  As a quite impossible They!

All good people agree,
  And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
  And every one else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
  Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!) looking on We
  As only a sort of They!


Speaking of cross-cultural experiences, I went to the
Hungarian fellowship last night. It was pretty fun! I
met a guy who went to Seminary with my pastor in
Transylvania, and the pastor is the cousin of my
neighbor when I stay at the Orphanage. Small world
:-) A lot of them knew OF my host family, but didn't
know them personally. About half the group was older
couples who immigrated to America in 1957, and the
others were second-generation Hungarians. Although
there was one couple who didn't have an accent when
they spoke English but I heard speaking Hungarian
pretty well, so I don't know if they just spoke
English so well that theydidn't have an accent,
or if they were second-generation Hungarians, or what.
Oh, and the pastor and his wife were in their 30's
but had immigrated recently also.
Anyway, it was fun. The pastor asked me to speak,
which was funny I thought, asI am usually asked
to speak when I visit a church in Transylvania,
as I'm new anda missionary and that's the custom
there. But I wasn't expecting that to happen here.
 :-D They found out I had spent 8 to 9 months
collectively in Romania andwanted to know WHY on
earth I would go to Romania THREE TIMES and
learn Hungarian etc. So I explained to them about
the mission trips and my desire to be a missionary
and work with Gypsies. I got the usual reaction:
 "Wow... cool. Hunh. Yer wierd. Butwe love you anyway."
Then as it was Valentines a few of the older
Hungarian men sang old love songs from the 1950's
and earlier in Hungarian, and that was pretty
awesome. Man, that guy looked like he was from
the Old World too. He had that little
fuzz-shadow mustache...
OKay the only example I can think of was the kind
that Hitler had... sorry Mr. Hungarian singer,
but that's what it looked like. And anyway
the guy wore a three-piece suit and had a thick
accent. And he sang really really good. But definitely
OLD WORLD. Kewl though.
:-D
Okay must go study for my Ancient and Near Eastern
History test that is on Thursday.
Urgh... I have just NOT wanted to study the last
three days... I need to get out of
this no study mood!!!
Maybe I'll go eat some dark chocolate..
that always helps. A friend gave me some
Geridelli (sp?) dark chocolate. One bar is
 60% cocoa, the other is 76% cocoa,
and the third kind was like 82% cocoa.
SOOOOOOO good. And when the percentage
rate of cocoa is that high, it's actually
very healthy for you and rich in
antioxidants. Of course, it's also rich in
caffeine, so I had two squares last night
and my room-mate said,
*in a texan accent*
"Girl, you are bouncing all over the place,
and you aren't even leaving your chair!"
Florence Nightengale explained that I was
a homeschooler who had never been
'under the influence' of dark chocolate,
WHAT was my roommate thinking letting me
'overdose' and prescribed Jurassic Park 2
and a knitting party in Martha Stewart's
room.

Yeah. That's life here at college.  Woot woot.
Okay really going to go study now. And have a
piece of dark chocolate. But just one.
I learned my lesson last night. Just one. :-)

~Princess Ouch~

Happy Single's Awareness Day

Yeah I know. It's actually Valentine's day, but I like that nick-name better. Single's awareness day. :-) At a college that promotes matrimony and re-populating the world with conservative Southern Baptist Children like there's no tomorrow, Valentine's day is a rather interesting day. I'm a little scared to venture out of my dorm. ;-) Just kidding.
The girls on my floor have nick-named me "Lottie Moon". We've nick-named another girl Martha Stewart as she's so craft-talented and always making fun little thingy's to make people feel better. We nicknamed another girl Florence Nightengale, (sp?) as if there's any ailment - physical, emotional, mental, or otherwise - she knows what to do. Or at least she presents herself as cool calm and collected and as if she knows what to do, which a lot of times is all that's needed. Funny thing is that she complained that her character was too 'feminist' and 'out there'. We asked her what she would describe Martha and Lottie as.
Lottie is probably the most conservative out of the three, although in her time and church setting she was seen as very feminist, liberal, post-modern, and slightly heretical on a few issues. She was courting a fine gentleman who felt called to the mission field (during the 1800's I believe) but he became very interested in Evolution. She felt she could not submit herself or work on the mission field with a man who believed such 'an unbiblical doctorine.'
She ended up going to China as a single woman working as a missionary, but as she was a single woman, the man in charge of Southern Baptist missions in China restricted her ministry to simply teaching children in an already well-reached area. Frustrated, she sent a rather opinionated letter to the officials of the SBC Missions and moved herself into a more unreached interior area of China that was far more dangerous and began teaching and training others to teach.
I can't remember if she eventually resigned from the SBC or if they threatened to 'fire' her if she didn't move back to where they stationed her - orders which she refused and sent long replies of apologetics on her viewpoint to. She did not understand why if the men did not 'step up to the plate' in missions -which was often the case - why women who were willing and able to fill those needs couldn't do it. Of course the women couldn't always do it as well as the men could, and Biblically shouldn't have to of filled those needs. However the men were not responding to the call to missions and the women were.
Lottie was also passionate in her work towards raising money for missions. She spent many hours writing letters and traveling back and forth between the States asking for more workers and more money.
The Southern Baptists now have a Lottie Moon missions offering every Christmas in memory of her, and all the proceeds go towards supporting missions.
I don't know if I got all the details of Mz. Moon correct, but anyway there's my reader's digest version of Lottie Moon history.
I personally would prefer to be an Ann Judson instead of Lottie Moon, but Ann Judson isn't nearly as well known as Lottie Moon apparently, hence their first thought was to nickname me 'lottie' instead of "ann." Now if Ann spelt her name with an 'e', then we could kill two birds with one stone and I could be nick-named after BOTH Ann(e) Judson AND Anne Shirley. :-)

Anyway. Yesterday was kind of wierd. I overslept and didn't get hardly any studying done. Maitenence came unexpectedly to mess with the bunk-beds in my room-mate's and my room. She ordered lofting kits so we could experiment with rearranging our room, but apparently by "lofting kits'' they meant "Three burly men with tools and a tight schedual who had no intention spending the day playing around with different room scenario's to see where stuff would fit for the pleasure of college girls". So... that was adventuresome. Then I had to work. That was uneventful but long, although we were able to get all the closing stuff done a half-hour earlier than we usually do. (10:30 instead of 11 pm. Wootwoot!) Before we closed Florence Nightengale stopped by with her fiance and then when his back was turned, Flo asked if I could help her with assembling her fiance's valentine present. As I wasn't doing anything fun for Valentine's day I figured if I helped her my holiday spirit would feel repleat and I could then go to bed.
Well, when I got back to the dorms, she was in the middle of one of those CSI-type murder-science-psychological tv shows. I needed some down-time of just not going 90 miles per hour so watched it with her. It was interesting although I don't think I'll watch it on a regular basis.
So we then went to go assemble her valentine's present. Apparently she just really needed me to sit there and tell her the chocolate-dipped strawberries she made tasted good and looked nice the way she was arranging them. Then I helped her cut out pink hearts to put on the top of the plastic bucket. Well, the next step was to drive over to her fiance's apartment, have his one room-mate let us in quickly before their other Japanese room-mate discovered us (he doesn't like girls visiting the apartment, fiance and platonic friend or otherwise) sneak downstairs, and stick dark chocolate squares all over his bed and tape Ninja-turtle's all over the walls next to his bed - which is a bunk-bed stuck in a closet. Cool set up but you have to do gymnastics to get up into it, under the ceiling-duct, and around the fan, textbooks, and pictures of his fiance all over the place. I also watched and oohed and ahhhed as she dry-earased all over his bathroom mirror gushy valentines messages. We then heard the Japanese guy upstairs and booked it out of there, and by that time it was 12:45 am.
So I figured I had got my "college life spree'' of the month in, and can go back to being responsible and trying to get to bed by 11:30 on days I work and 10:30 on days I don't work. Not that I ever MAKE those bed-times, but I try to anyway. :-)
Okay now I have to go catch up on reading for my Ancient-Near-Eastern-History, Spiritual-Warfare, Cross-Cultural-Evangelism, and Psychology classes. And make it to a suprise party, and possibly talk to a 'friend' I've had problems with since last semester, but we'll see if all that makes it into the mix with homework.

Happy Singles Awareness/Valentines day!!

~Princess Ouch~

True Pastoral Care

Reading an interesting book for "Introduction to Psychology". Written by a New Yorkian Jewish Psychoanalyst who became a Christian at a L'abri outreach in Austria.  Thought this chapter he wrote was especially good:

"The Healing Power in the Church"

For five years I had the privilege of working with Dr. Jay Adams at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF). Dr. Adam's goal was to train pastors to take congregational care out of the hands of the professional psychological community and put it back into the hands of the church. First, he had to convince church leaders they could do it. His book Competent to Counsel launched a revolution in Christian circles. While not everyone agreed with Dr. Adams, at least the church began to rethink the passive, submissive role it had assumed in these vital areas.

In my counseling ministry at the CCEF, I typically saw a counselee for one hour a week and only in a counseling setting. I did not see him at church or at home or work. Often these people attended unbiblical churches that effectively minimized, if not outright negated, the help they received. Although I worked diligently to extricate people from liberal churches, the pressures of time and unfamiliarity with their affiliations made this aspect very difficult. 

I began to see the way I could best help people would be to counsel from within a church. I knew that the regular expository preaching of God's Word is the most therapeutic confrontation the people of God receive. But the thought of pastoral ministry terrified me, and I fought it! I would have preferred to do anything else, but God had other plans. It was only a matter of time before He had me serving in a pastoral capacity. 

In 1980 I accepted a call to plant a church in Ottawa, Ontario, the capital city of Canada. During the course of that work my view of the pastorate began to change. Previously, I had seen it as the position from which healing and restoration was to come. But I began to understand that as Jesus Christ blesses His Church, the body (not a solitary pastor) is the source of blessing to countless hurting individuals.

This understanding came when the Holy Spirit impressed upon me some verses from Ephesians: "He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping fo the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Eph: 4:11-12). In short, these verses teach that the job of the pastor is not to do the work of the ministry, but to equip the flock to do this work. Christ assigns His ministry to the Church, not to one person in a church, no matter how gifted that individual may be. This understanding is not something new or radical. The work of the ministry is, and always has been, the work of the Church. Pastors are guides or trainers to help people identify and implement their gifts for the Lord.

When we fully understand this principle, however, the entire life and direction of a church changes. Members are not simply individuals drawn into the church to receive something, but are a body drawn together to strengthen one another and the church. Through this process lives are restored, and the Kingdom of God is advanced.

Everyone who comes to Christ and into the Church has real needs, concerns, fears, hurts, scars, and sins which must be faced. Counseling is part of this process. It involves dealing with the batterings of a former life and bringing the healing balm of the new life in Christ. But counseling is not the whole picture. The work of healing and restoration requires a more inclusive view of the local church. 

Building up an entire congregation is a challenge, especially for someone like me who has always thrived on my own resourcefulness. The difficulty is not in backing off to let others work, but in setting up procedures necessary to adequately disciple, not just a few individuals, but a whole congregation. I have to build a team, not a group of super heroes. We see in Ephesians that the way to accomplish this goal is through church officers. As the leaders are equipped, they are able to equip others; lives are restored and the kingdom advanced. This is one of the cardinal principles of nouthetic counseling. "Nouthetic activity is the work in which all of God's people may participate." (Jay E. Adams, Competent to Counsel (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1970), p. 4-5)

Most pastors view their work as the doing of the ministry. Yet Paul says in Ephesians that the primary work of the pastor (within the context of consistent Biblical preaching) is for the equipping of the saints, that they may do the work of ministry. Generally, Christians expect the pastor to do pastoral things to them. The pastor, for his part, agrees. He then wonders why he cannot get help, especially for the things he is unable to do. The reason - often he has failed to communicate to his congregation that they have, not only the ability, but also the responsibility to minister to one another.

Matthew Henry, the great Puritan preacher and commentator, wrote, "[The pastor] is to bring into an orderly spiritual state and frame, those who had been as it were dislocated and disjointed by sin, and then to strengthen, confirm, and advance them therein so each in his proper place and function contributes to the good of the whole." (Matthew Henry, Commentary on Ephesians, Vol. 6 (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming Revell, n.d.), pp. 704, 974) 

In other words, the church is the place where broken people are put back together again, to the good of the church. 

Let me illustrate. One time my wife took our youngest child to the physician's office, for a simple immunization shot. We had spent much time reading about immunization. When she arrived, she asked the doctor several questions. He responded tersely, "I'll do the doctoring around here." 

My wife did not return to that doctor. You see, she believed she had a responsibility at least to know what was going on in the care of our children. Christians have even more responsibility for the living of their Christian lives. No one, not even the best pastor, is responsible for your behavior and work. Unfortunately, many pastors act like that pediatrician. They convey the attitude: "I'll do the ministry around here." Instead they need to prepare, expect, and encourage the saints to be responsible for the work of ministry.

Many people view the church as they would view the secular service industry. You pay your money and get your service. They do not realize that for the church to function well, each member must function to the limits of his/her capabilities. The church can not accomplish the ministry entrusted to it if only pastors do the work. We must rid ourselves of our inherent and radical individualism. 

In addition to pastoring a church, I own a sheep farm. Watching the behavior of sheep has taught me some lessons that apply to people as well. Sheep are rather defenseless. When they are attacked by wolves, there is only one way they can protect themselves. They draw together into a gigantic white mound during an attack. The wolf won't attack this white mound, but will go after other prey - often the sheep on its own outside the flock. For my sheep to be safe they must stay together as one and work together as one. Similarly, in the church safety and strength come when the congregation works together as one body. Such unity does not come naturally to any of us. Perhaps that is why Paul repeats his concern for oneness seven times in the fourth chapter in Ephesians. The saints can't be equipped for works of service if they are bickering among themselves. 

The pastor equips the church, as Paul says in Ephesians 4:12, "For the work of service." THis is further defined as the "Building up of the body of Christ." The phrase "Building up" comes from a term that means "house" or "household." From its earliest usage it had a heavenly sense to it. The apostle says that the one who came from Heaven (Christ) wants the church equipped so that it can make it to Heaven (verse 12). In 2 Corinthians 10:8, Paul speaks of his apostolic authority which he received for "building you up." The same word is used in both Ephesians and 2 Corinthians. Paul wants the church to be the heavenly house of God. He wants the church established so that it makes it to Heaven. It must be willing to receive from the apostle, or it will never possess the obedient nature necessary to fulfill its heavenly mandate. 

The church in Corinth battled authoritative apostolic teaching. We see this in several places in 2 Corinthians. Notice 2 Corinthians 13:10: "For this reason I am writing these things while absent, in order that when present I may not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down." Today we continue to fight against authority. When we resist, we miss being established, strengthened, and built up. Congregations that submit to God's instruction will "be of one mind" and will "live in peace" (2 Cor. 13:11). What wonderful blessedness results from being "built up." 

Everyone who is called into union with Christ is also called to minister to the body so that strongholds of sin are torn down and the body of Christ is strengthened. The Church may be strong even when there are weak members in it, but the principal Biblical teaching is to "strengthen the hands that are weak" (Hebrews 12:12). "

~Richard Ganz, PsychoBabble, the failure of modern psychology and the Biblical alternative. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993) pp 83-89.~

College students don't need sleep

I wrote this the other day after going to four classes, working a five-hour shift, and then somehow staying up until 12:30 with my RL and two other girls from my hall watching Muppet clips on Youtube. Still needs revising, but don't have time for that at the moment. It's not all entirely accurate to me personally, but I think it captures the general gist of my college experience, or what I've observed in others.  Anyway hope you enjoy. 

~Princess Ouch~

College students don't need sleep. 

In College I be

and I don't need sleep.

with studying you'd think

sleep would be my dream.

But no, not me,

I'm a freshman and 18,

and we don't need sleep.

Too busy socializing,

procrastinating studying

caffeine we're drinking, 

karaoke singing

no time for sleeping.

We came to learn

but then we heard

night shift was worth

all the money we'd burnt.

Studying's back burner

and sleeping un-heard-of

no play but work

but tho social life's hurt

my tuition I've earned 

this sophomore's no jerk

tho done nothing but work.

Still sleeping seems futile

good grades up there while

we stay up late and smile

a job is worthwhile

to be a junior with style

finals week is a trial

stress fills mouths with bile

homework's endless miles

has sleep tucked away in a file

for a life more reliable. 

An end finally in sight

with graduation night!

But until it comes by

for us seniors we might

not sleep all right

until classes and life

give us some respite.

Studying pages so white

and straining our eyes

oh such is the life

of seniors all night!

Yes, no sleep for us

it's tragic because

with sleep I'm in love

yet not till I"m done

with college in sum

will sleep ever come

a full night without stop 

I like sleeping a lot.

How unpopular my thoughts!

Yet crazy it's not,

says the book that I bought.

Yet it all comes to naught,

though because I'm caught

with dorm-mates who've thought

cool sleeping is not.

Yes in college we be,

and we don't need sleep.

In class catch some Z's,

when professor gets boring.

Night's filled with reading,

or perhaps gossiping,

rooms filled with laughing

when should be resting.

But in college I be,

where people don't sleep!!!

Copyright 2009 by Rachel Nehring 

Campus quotes

I have about 15 minutes before I have to be at work, so I thought I'd take that time to drink my rooibos tea and share some quotes collected from this semester. 

Student: Well, you DO know what the saying on campus is about guys and girls, right? THe girls say, "The odds are good (3:1 ratio) but the goods are ODD." and the guys say, "The girls here are like parking spots: The good ones are taken, and the ones available are either handicapped or way out there." '

Professor: I expect you to be in class every session unless you are nearly dead or in a car accident.

Professor: I need you to be engaged in class. Not just blood flowing through your veins, breathing, etc. NO! Drink a red bull, coffee, do jumping jacks; guys, hit each other... be engaged in class!!

Professor: If you have any schedual conflicts with other classes or work and this choir, let me know. And of course I'll press pretty hard for you to lean towards... reschedualing.. for OUR event...

Student: It was snowing outside, and we were like, 'oooh man... it'd be SO nice to have a boyfriend right now, and then HE could do all this dirty work!" But then I said, "NO! We are INDEPENDANT WOMEN!! ... We're not HAPPY about that, BUT we must live into that and maintain our reputation!!!" 

Professor tripping over someone's laptop cable in class: Sorry, I just.. dislogged... someone's .... technical situation. 

Professor: Did you hear the one about the pastor who was dreaming that he was preaching... and then he woke up and found out that he was?

Professor: Argumentation is having a slight edge that answers that little creature sitting on your shoulder saying, "So what" to what you are writing. 

Professor: You al know that I like grammar and punctuation. DO NOT WRITE THE WAY YOU TALK!! There's a little thing on your computers called 'Spell Check' too..." 

Professor: No one's gonna laugh at you when you interact appropriately in class. If they do laugh at you, we'll burn them at the stake..." 

Professor of Christian Education: So, did you get engaged over Christmas break?

Student: No sir, I'm a missions major. We hold out longer than the rest when it comes to MRS degrees. 

Professor of Missions: Don't say that!! You are giving me a bad name!! 

Student: (before the storm hit) Oh look! Kentucky's trying to snow! We've got our 'frozen cloud spit' for the week!

Student: (after storm hit) I thought we moved south for a reason!

Student from the Deep South: THIS is NOT the SOUTH! If it's not a LAW that you serve Iced Sweet Tea in all your resturaunts, it is NOT the south, ya'll!!

Religious Reformer

"The Aim, the Reproach, and the Triumph of the Religious Reformer.

1. The aim of the Religious Reformer. A Reformer is one who seeks to remove abuses which have crept into an organization or community, or one who boldly enters a field where error has held undisputed sway, and fearlessly wields amid giant powers of opposition, the weapons of truth. He aims to entirely revolutionize the minds of the community in which he labors, on that particular subject where he believes reform to be needed. A compromise between truth and error is not what he seeks, and will not satisfy him. 'The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth' is his motto. Old systems of error, however sacred on account of their antiquity, he boldly attacks. Though massive darkness has long brooded over the people, he aims to dissipate the gloom, and shed upon them brilliant rays of light. His work is a mighty one; the ond for which he labors is noble and sublime. He holds a position in advance of the community in which he resides, and the age in which he lives - hence he possesses traits of character that are peculiar, which fit him to toil and suffer for the accomplishment of his designs. 

A spirit of noble daring is his. He fears not to grapple with error, though sanctioned by age, and supported by popular favor. He scruples not, if need be, to stand alone, as the champion of truth. With undaunted intrepidy he braves the "World's dread laugh" or meets it's frown. With a  spirit of indomitable perseverance, he steadily adheres to his purpose and determinedly pursues his single object. Every obstacle thrown across his path affords a new incentive to increased activity. Every difficulty he meets, only gives new strength and inspires fresh courage. He is not to be turned aside. Having put his hand to the plough, he looks not back. 

Self sacrificing effort and benevolent labor are his. His time, talents, property, are all laid upon the alter of truth. He toils, not to achieve a name, to amass wealth, or to advance a sect. He labors for the good of others, while often he recieves only their hatred, reproach and persecution. If there is one picture on earth that reminds us, more than any other, of the meek and lowly savior, it is the spirit and conduct of the reformer, patiently suffering at the hands of those whose moral elevation he labors to effect. And here is the test by which the true and false reformer may be tried and discovered. Infidelity boasts of seeking a reform. But when did Infidelity ever inspire it's advocates with a spirit of self-denial for the good of others? Where are it's sacrifices made to benefit and elevate the human race? Did infidelity ever suffer to benefit man? Does it today go forth, as an angel of mercy, to labor, to suffer, and to bless? No, no. But the true reformer has a high purpose, a benevolent aim; he occupies holy ground, and he can suffer, unjustly suffer, to benefit his fellow-men."

~John Quincy Adams~ 

(not the president, the Baptist pastor)