There is a story, told by Nachman of Bratslav, about a prince who became mad and imagined he was a turkey. The prince took off his clothes, sat under the royal table and refused to eat anything except oats and crumbs. His father, the king, bought all the doctors of the land to him, but none could cure his son. At last a wise man came and undertook to cure the prince. Immediately the wise man took off his clothes an sat naked under the royal table next to the prince, and them began to scratch among the oats and crumbs.
The Prince watched for a while, then asked: "Who are you?" Silence. Then: "What are you doing here?" More silence. Eventually the wise man asked: "And who are your and what are you doing here?" "I am a turkey," said the prince. "and I am a turkey too," replied the wise man. So the two turkeys sat there together till they grew accustomed to one another.
One day the wise man asked the king to had him a vest. He put it on and, shocked, the prince said: "What do you think you're doing?" "Do you imagine that a turkey is not allowed to wear a vest?" replied the wise man. "He is, and it doesn't make him less of a turkey." The prince took his word to heart and decided to wear a vest also. After some days the wise man called for a pair of trousers and said: "Do you think that just because one wearing trousers, a person cannot be a turkey?" The prince agreed, and it went on like this until they were both fully dressed.
Some days later the wise man asked for some human food to be brought from the table: "Do you think that just because one eats food one cannot be a turkey?"
After the prince began to eat like a human being, the wise man asked: "Do you imagine that there is a law that a turkey and is only to sit under the table? It is possible to be a turkey and to sit at the table itself." The prince accepted this, stood up, and walked about thereafter like a human being, behaving like one in every respect.
In this way, concluded Rabbi Nachman, the wise man healed him.
Relationships are complex: for the Christian it is begins with encounter with God and then with other people in a real way.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thoughts on Worship
Definition from The New International Dictionary of The Bible:
“Worship (Heb. shahah, bow down, prostrate, Gr. proskyneo, to prostrate, do obeisance to).The honor, reverence, and homage paid to superior beings or powers, whether men, angels, or God. The English word means “worthship” and denotes the worthiness of the individual receiving the special honor due to his worth. While the world is used of men, it is especially used of the divine honors paid to a deity, whether of the heathen religions or the true and living God.
When given to God, worship involves an acknowledgment of divine perfections. It may express itself in the form of direct address, as in adoration or thanksgiving, or in service to God; it may be private, or it may be public, involving a cultus. Worship presupposes that God is, that he can be known by man, and that his perfections set him far above men…”
Questions and Response:
What is your theology of worship?
My theology of worship centers on a holy God that has provided redemptive grace through Jesus Christ, His Son, to humankind. Worship is a response to God which is holistic in nature conjoined with practices involving mind, body and spirit to live lives in submission to, adoration of, and commitment to pleasing and honoring God.
What are the elements of worship service that honors God?
There are both public and private elements of worship service that honors God.
I think that public worship which consist of preaching, reading of scripture, prayer, singing, service of Word and Table, and Baptism are the elements of worship that honor God in the corporate domain. I think also that active discipleship, being or making disciples is worship that honors God. In this venue it’s engaging spiritual disciplines for personal spiritual growth encountering the holy to equip, sustain, lead, guide and direct enabling us to re-present the kingdom of God in the present and to fulfill God’s purposes for one’s life that honor Him (“thy will be done”).
What role does corporate worship play in the life of the church you pastor?
Corporate worship is the weekly gathering of Christ followers in public testimony and demonstration of faith as well as a venue to extend the right hand of fellowship to those who may be new to, as well as those within, the gathered community. It’s also a time for invitation to discipleship, corporate prayer and celebration.
“Worship (Heb. shahah, bow down, prostrate, Gr. proskyneo, to prostrate, do obeisance to).The honor, reverence, and homage paid to superior beings or powers, whether men, angels, or God. The English word means “worthship” and denotes the worthiness of the individual receiving the special honor due to his worth. While the world is used of men, it is especially used of the divine honors paid to a deity, whether of the heathen religions or the true and living God.
When given to God, worship involves an acknowledgment of divine perfections. It may express itself in the form of direct address, as in adoration or thanksgiving, or in service to God; it may be private, or it may be public, involving a cultus. Worship presupposes that God is, that he can be known by man, and that his perfections set him far above men…”
Questions and Response:
What is your theology of worship?
My theology of worship centers on a holy God that has provided redemptive grace through Jesus Christ, His Son, to humankind. Worship is a response to God which is holistic in nature conjoined with practices involving mind, body and spirit to live lives in submission to, adoration of, and commitment to pleasing and honoring God.
What are the elements of worship service that honors God?
There are both public and private elements of worship service that honors God.
I think that public worship which consist of preaching, reading of scripture, prayer, singing, service of Word and Table, and Baptism are the elements of worship that honor God in the corporate domain. I think also that active discipleship, being or making disciples is worship that honors God. In this venue it’s engaging spiritual disciplines for personal spiritual growth encountering the holy to equip, sustain, lead, guide and direct enabling us to re-present the kingdom of God in the present and to fulfill God’s purposes for one’s life that honor Him (“thy will be done”).
What role does corporate worship play in the life of the church you pastor?
Corporate worship is the weekly gathering of Christ followers in public testimony and demonstration of faith as well as a venue to extend the right hand of fellowship to those who may be new to, as well as those within, the gathered community. It’s also a time for invitation to discipleship, corporate prayer and celebration.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Lead Daily
When Philip asked Jesus to show him and the other disciples the Father as the final requirement that would anchor them in their faith that indeed Jesus as he spoke is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus responded: "Don't you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me? What I say isn't said on my own. The Father who lives in me does these things" (John 14:10 CEV)
Understanding the wisdom of Jesus' words, George Campbell Morgan said "No man can do the work of God until he has the Holy Spirit and is endued with power." While unique in the sense that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, he is our example to follow. For us to reach our full human potential and live in relationship with God and our neighbor as God intends means a dying to self and surrender to His working within us.
This has been a great week. I attended the Leadership Summit and received much re-enforcement to the understanding of the Summit tag line "Leading where you are". The example of all the talks heard over the past two days culminated this morning in their practical application when I served as a volunteer at the YMCA sponsored Sports Kids Triathlon at UTS. Courtney an overall winner in her class having completed the events runs out on the course and accompanies her friend to the finish line...Lead where you are...God intends to use us as Leaders to re-present His kingdom on earth...the only way we can is to know that it is not I but He that is living in me, who is doing His work. Question what do we need today...the world's winds or the Lord's word? Where does God say follow me? ... am I afraid to go?
Understanding the wisdom of Jesus' words, George Campbell Morgan said "No man can do the work of God until he has the Holy Spirit and is endued with power." While unique in the sense that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, he is our example to follow. For us to reach our full human potential and live in relationship with God and our neighbor as God intends means a dying to self and surrender to His working within us.
This has been a great week. I attended the Leadership Summit and received much re-enforcement to the understanding of the Summit tag line "Leading where you are". The example of all the talks heard over the past two days culminated this morning in their practical application when I served as a volunteer at the YMCA sponsored Sports Kids Triathlon at UTS. Courtney an overall winner in her class having completed the events runs out on the course and accompanies her friend to the finish line...Lead where you are...God intends to use us as Leaders to re-present His kingdom on earth...the only way we can is to know that it is not I but He that is living in me, who is doing His work. Question what do we need today...the world's winds or the Lord's word? Where does God say follow me? ... am I afraid to go?
Saturday, August 2, 2008
From our local newspaper
In the ever-inviting and charming northern area of the Miami Valley, Englewood is home to families and individuals who cherish a pleasant, open and un-crowded atmosphere. The intersection of Hoke and National Roads in Englewood has evolved over the past decade into one of the more popular gathering points with the Kleptz YMCA as a nucleus for neighborhood development. Folks in Englewood and surrounding areas consider the Kleptz YMCA as not only a safe-haven, but also a destination for recreation, community activities, education, medical and physical attention and spiritual enrichment – all in one facility. The Kleptz YMCA structure, built in 2002, celebrates six years this summer; and Stillwater Church @ the Kleptz YMCA also hold claim to that celebration.
Since 2002, each Sunday at 10am, Stillwater Church @ the Y transforms the Y gym area into a sanctuary. And many of the church’s attendees treat the Y as one of their mainstay on Sunday morning as well as during the week. The Y church’s pastor, Leroy Chambliss, can be seen regularly Sunday mornings as well as throughout the week, in his YMCA office, manning the front desk on Monday evenings or interacting with Y members in the workout areas.
Ordained this past June as an Elder in the United Methodist West Ohio Conference, Pastor Leroy knows the excitement borne in accepting and living a challenging path. Pastor Leroy states, “Worship in this non-traditional context is both challenging as well as exciting affording the opportunity for the church to be where the community gathers rather than a building where the church gathers.”
The Kleptz YMCA agreed seven years ago that the YMCA – Body, Mind & Spirit – could strongly impact the community by actually having a place and time of worship within the building. Stillwater Church at the YMCA, one of three campuses – the Kleptz Y, Frederick Pike, and the upcoming Miller Lane campus – is part of a growing United Methodist faith community eager to help strengthen and nurture the Miami Valley. The Y church celebrate six years at the Englewood Kleptz YMCA the 2nd Sunday of August. Pastor Leroy describes the Y Church as a growing community of faith that embodies the nurture of mind, body, and spirit as foundational to a holistic life which re-presents the kingdom of Heaven in our world today.
Since 2002, each Sunday at 10am, Stillwater Church @ the Y transforms the Y gym area into a sanctuary. And many of the church’s attendees treat the Y as one of their mainstay on Sunday morning as well as during the week. The Y church’s pastor, Leroy Chambliss, can be seen regularly Sunday mornings as well as throughout the week, in his YMCA office, manning the front desk on Monday evenings or interacting with Y members in the workout areas.
Ordained this past June as an Elder in the United Methodist West Ohio Conference, Pastor Leroy knows the excitement borne in accepting and living a challenging path. Pastor Leroy states, “Worship in this non-traditional context is both challenging as well as exciting affording the opportunity for the church to be where the community gathers rather than a building where the church gathers.”
The Kleptz YMCA agreed seven years ago that the YMCA – Body, Mind & Spirit – could strongly impact the community by actually having a place and time of worship within the building. Stillwater Church at the YMCA, one of three campuses – the Kleptz Y, Frederick Pike, and the upcoming Miller Lane campus – is part of a growing United Methodist faith community eager to help strengthen and nurture the Miami Valley. The Y church celebrate six years at the Englewood Kleptz YMCA the 2nd Sunday of August. Pastor Leroy describes the Y Church as a growing community of faith that embodies the nurture of mind, body, and spirit as foundational to a holistic life which re-presents the kingdom of Heaven in our world today.
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