To Monetize or Not to Monetize?

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Readers,

I’m thinking about the relative merits of accepting advertising for One In Jesus. Hit counts are up for 2009 and I could actually generate some cash. I’ve already decided that my share will go to some worthy cause. I started the blog with no commercial designs, and if God blesses my writing with an audience, God should get the increase.

But I see pros and cons. Continue reading →

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Renewing Our Worship: The Lord’s Prayer, Part 3

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Forgiving debtors

(Mat 6:12)  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

This is tough one. We all know that we’re suppose to forgive others and not hold grudges. We just aren’t that good at it. In fact, we’re we often particularly struggle at the institutional level. I may more easily forgive the friend that insults me than the church down the road that insults my congregation or the nation that insults my nation. You see, we sometimes think that forgiveness is a personal duty, not a community duty. But Jesus makes clear that we are to forgive our debtors.

Now there’s more to it. Jesus’ choice of language is a reference to the Mosaic command to forgive debts every seventh year. Continue reading →

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Renewing Our Worship: The Lord’s Prayer, Part 2

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Jay F Guin

The Lord’s Prayer is rich with meaning, and if we’re going to start actually reciting it, we need to delve deeply into its meaning. I mean, the problem with any fixed form of prayer is the tendency to recite it as rote, as an incantation, without the understanding. It’s just the way our minds work. Do anything often enough, and your brain disengages. To prevent that, we need to frequently look into the depths of Jesus’ teaching.

Mission

(Mat 6:9-10)  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

This language is, of course, a prayer. But consider what we are asking for — we want the world to be a place where God’s will is done utterly, without hesitance or reservation, by everyone here. This means, of course, that the Kingdom has to come first in our own hearts.  Until we’re willing to submit to God’s will utterly, there’s no point in praying for others to do the same. Continue reading →

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Renewing Our Worship: The Lord’s Prayer, Part 1

Posted on February 14, 2009 by Jay F Guin


Where to begin? Let’s see. Maybe elementary school.

When I was in the fourth grade, I was obnoxious. (No, I haven’t changed that much.) You see, I had this annoying habit of correcting my teachers. I really can’t blame my Church of Christ indoctrination. I was obnoxious quite on my own — but my Church of Christ indoctrination gave me plenty of ammunition. If a teacher mentioned “three wise men,” well, I was the first the point out her ignorance of the scriptures. If she mentioned “going to church,” I assured her that the people are the church and she was really going to the “church building.”

And if she had the audacity to lead us in the Lord’s Prayer, I was loaded for bear. It’s not the “Lord’s Prayer” because Jesus prayed lots of prayers — all of which were a Lord’s prayer. She should call it the “Model Prayer.” And she certainly shouldn’t say “Thy Kingdom come,” because the Kingdom came on Pentecost, when the Churches of Christ were founded by Peter. Saying “Thy Kingdom come” is premillennial — which leads to universalism — which denies the gospel. Continue reading →

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Renewing Our Worship: Leading Public Prayer

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin

We struggle in the area of public prayer. There are several reasons, but the biggest reason is a lack of preparation. We’re bad to ask someone to word a prayer 3 minutes before service.

The second biggest reason for our struggle is our failure to equip anyone for this task. We expect people to be able to word a prayer extemporaneously before a crowd of hundreds, with no practice and no training. It’s not fair to the poor guy leading the prayer and not fair to the church. Worse yet, our slovenliness in leading prayer means the rest of us tend to get pretty sloppy in praying with the guy leading the prayer. Continue reading →

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Wedding Wetting

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin
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Barbie’s Dream Church

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin

dreamchurch_ad

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Renewing Our Worship: Scripture Reading

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Many churches precede the sermon with a scripture reading from the pulpit. It’s usually done badly. I didn’t used to think so — until I’d heard it done well, and then I knew.

Good reading requires practice and an understanding of what’s being said. And an emotional attachment, not only to the fact that God is speaking, but the fact that this passage matters to this church right now.

Sadly, it’s done well so rarely that few of us have any concept of how well it could be done. Continue reading →

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Faith Lesson by Ray Vander Laan: City of the Great King, Parts 1 and 2

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Jay F Guin

[For new readers, my church is studying a series of DVDs by Ray Vander Laan, called “Faith Lessons,” published by Zondervan. As I prepare my notes each week, I post them here.]

The lesson is taught in Jerusalem. David made Jerusalem the political and spiritual capital of Israel. Continue reading →

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Renewing Our Worship: Better A Cappella Music

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Under the guidance of our present worship minister, our worship services have gotten pretty good. I know this is true because —

* No one is complaining much about the worship,

* The numbers are up, and

* Some people wish the service was longer!

Anyway, since we’re on the subject of worship, and since I really think churches can do a lot better with their a cappella singing, I thought I’d address the topic of how to make things better– without buying a guitar. Continue reading →

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