AUTHOR: Robin Dugall DATE: 4:39:00 PM ----- BODY:

Here I am...looking at my computer screen wondering what about my day in school I should share. I've been taking some doctoral classes as I move closer and closer to having an educational background that way exceeds my level of intelligence. Anyway, George Barna has been the Professor de jour...making his way through his research and opinions concerning church renewal. More to come on that later...for now, let me suffice to say that there was a moment where I lost it. One of the members of the class, a very conservative and southern gentleman with a very predictable, modernistic view of ministry, went off on how 60 to 80 hours of ministry work was the only way to be able to effectively be in the trenches for God when a church was faltering. He did this song and dance about how his wife was just a "gem" for understanding and supporting him as he "laid it all out for Jesus". The longer he shared, the more irrate I became. I finally had to offer a "different story"...my story...one of pain, personal destruction and spiritual meltdown because of the abuse of the fast-paced, chaotic, out-of-control lifestyle that I have led that walked me right up to the precipice of total annihilation in the 80's. Parenthetically, you remember the 80's don't you? Back to the story...I went on to explain my history and then make my comment very clear about the fact that it is precisely the mentality that he was espousing that was keeping many, many students and younger Christ-followers out of the "thrill" of front-line Kingdom work. If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, "wazzup with that?"...you know exactly what I mean. Now, I don't want to go with a tirade on hours worked and time that is due to God...that's for another blog entry some other time. Let me just say right here and now that when the Spirit nudges you to share a feeling or a vision of how "church" should be done, you better put it on the table. Join me in a revolution of seeking God in a new way in our world of ministry. The Lord is speaking to many, many, many people now about how He wants to move in ministry. The problem is - many, many, many people are just playing dumb when it comes to the voice of God. We want to fit in, or get paid, or make people happy, or not question the assumptions that have screwed up the church and many good-hearted servants lives...so we don't say anything or stiffle or shut down the refreshing wind of the Spirit. Oh, I spoke up in the situation and shared another perspective. I don't really know or even care that much how many people in my class agreed with my perspective...all I know is that something had to be said. It is time for a new vision. Barna said that the church as we know it now is DEAD in America. God's speaking...are you listening and talking about what He's telling you?

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