Become a Missionary to Your Culture

"Study the culture that God has placed you in so you can learn how to communicate the Gospel message in the way that people in your time and place will best understand. Stay current on what messages the media (the Internet, movies, music, TV shows, etc.) is presenting, and think critically about how those messages reflect attitudes in your culture. Consider what questions people are asking about life and faith through the culture, and how you can point them toward biblical truth in ways they can relate to well. Remember to approach people as they actually are right now, not as you wish they were. Keep in mind that many people today aren't familiar with what the Bible says and don't view it as an authoritative source. You may need to help them notice how God is showing up in popular culture before encouraging them to read the Bible. When you do present the Gospel message, communicate it in a context suited for the time and place in which you minister to people."

Brilliant I say! From We Are the Body: How to Become a Practicing Church by Whitney Hopler at Crosswalk.com

The Barbarian Pastor

"Ed, Angie and I still to this day get the waiter or waitress's name when at a restaurant! I have found that you get better service when you address them by their name and more importantly it shows them respect and I believe when some are having a bad day, makes it a little brighter!"

That's what an anonymous commenter posted on Pastor Ed's blog (Barbarian Pastor). He's on "sabbatical to get radical." And he'll be blogging through it at: http://pastoredunc.blogspot.com/

I know Pastor Ed. I use to work with him. And, when we'd hit a restaurant for staff meetings Ed would get the server's name. Ed's got a southern twang thing going and he's apt to call the waitress honey. "What's your name honey?" he might ask. Then he'll use the name right away and later thanking her/him upon leaving...

Of course he'll leave a decent tip.

Ed has also been known to use tattoos as a springboard for conversation. Not that he has any I know of, but if he see's one on someone else, he'll engage the person with: "Tell me the story behind that tattoo."

If you met Ed, you'd like him. He's one of those clergy-type that are real: half pastor and half person.

Relational Community

The following is s brief quote from an article by Susanne Kilew on Ezine @rticles.com. While the piece states the obvious it is still a reminder of our need to be relational. Community is relational; we were made for this.

"The Church has to go from isolation and start impacting the community positively. Instead of deciding what the community needs, we need to ask the community what they need. Then decide what God would have us do."

Read the full piece at:

Church in the Community

By Susanne Kirlew