14th May, 2008
Listening And Learning
The best way to learn is to listen. You can learn also by interaction with adamant objects or with other human beings. Sometimes the other human can act like an adamant object and not even realize it. Come to think about it, they may realize it, and then the definition would be just plain stubborn. In the process of mentoring there is always give and take or if you will, give and receive. Jesus spent His life on this earth giving to men He chose. These disciples, many times did not receive what He was trying to implant in their hearts and minds. They were trying not to listen with spiritual ears and listen only with carnal ears. Ears that desire to be first and sit close! They saw with eyes that lacked the appropriate faith to embrace the supernatural when the miraculous made its case. Similar to the case of the women who had an issue of blood for those many years (Matthew 9:20). When she broke through the crowd, no one noticed but Jesus. When asked who was the one who touched Him, the response was no one touched you! Jesus knew that some one did because of the issue that left His body. The anointing which proceeded into the woman whose issue was blood not anointing. Instead of listening and learning or watching and seeing the disciples were absolutely dumbfounded over this case of healing. Everyone that wants to learn must be able to hear and see just what the Lord is teaching. More to come….
Best
Dennis
Posted at 11:06 pm | Comment (0)
12th May, 2008
Where Are The Mentors?
Where are all the young ministers that have scope and gumption to work in the harvest fields of the 21st Century? I suppose one could say that they are out to pasture and not very interested in what they see or hear today. Maybe though, there are not any mentors willing to teach them the “steps” of ministry. Could it be that the mentors today have no idea on how to approach this modern society with its complexities and social injustices? Is the Church going through “mentor” withdrawals? Could this be the reason so many blogs are seeking the response to questions that center around what the Church should be and is not today?
It seems to me that when I look across the horizon of Church growth there is not the established line of growth that has been written down in the rolls. There is quite the opposite. A mass shrinkage of “pearls” and “jewels” that could be polished and cut into gems fro the King!
The vertical scope is not changed. It is the Church looking up to Him and Him looking down to us. The Church is worshiping in the manner of “performance” and “pleasure” and the Lord is seeking truth and spirit. Somehow the horizontal has been pitted with competitive approaches and attitudes which has blinded the scope of evangelism in America and her Churches.
That is why we need mentors to return to simply mentoring! Learning and teaching how to reach this complex society. The “human” being today has the basic physiological make up and psychological attributes as always but now with added intricacies. More emotion and certainly wanting more than a shallow answer to life’s myths and uncertainties. For example, they want to know who Jesus is not who started this “Church” building program or denomination. They could care less about that! It getting to know who He is and what He is all about. You know what? That takes mentoring and nurturing to bring someone along that path. There are so many choices in society today that it is like churches can be compared to restaurants! Which style and which decoration could be inviting the next guest?
Good Bible truths and some rockin’ acoustical music with a little added salsa just may be the flavor for you! However, do not forget that mentoring is not about anything else but teaching the truth about who Jesus is and designing an attitude with gratitude that Christ does care. More to come….
Just a thought
Dennis
Posted at 9:22 pm | Comment (0)