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omdalf
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Gender: Male
Interests: my interests include reading and studying theology and philosophy (such as C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer), history (especially time period between 1880-1920 and anything about Russia), and politics; enjoying music (anything between hard rock and opera, especially the blues); watching movies; collecting movie soundtracks; photography; roller blading,
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
1/5/2004
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| Leaving Xanga is not as easy as just no longer posting, as least for me is isn’t. I have enjoyed and treasure the unique relationships that came out of this my first blogging experience. Ok, bottom line, many of the ones I met and have grown to know more closely than I ever imagined are now on FB; and more importantly, so are the ones I know that live in my immediate area. Discipleship and encouraging younger men especially the artist is still my passion and the direction God has lead. This is happening in this rural area in Michigan; it’s exciting and challenging and has left me with less time online than I had when I first got on Xanga. Man, even writing this is hard b/c I know I’m turning a page and will greatly miss all of you.
For those that will be reading this, what do I want to say..
Well, knowing that most of you are in your 20’s and 30’s, I want to encourage you…
to be the leaders God has called you to be…
to be willing to open up “the can of worms” in others just as you have in your own life…
to help bring about healing among so many wounded men and women…
to be community for the community…
to get involved in the tough stuff it will take to change the local fellowship (church)…
to not be tied to old methods in reaching this godless hurting world…
Goodbye
om
om@t-one.net
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| Overwhelmed by GOD'S Grace and Healing... a year ago I was riding in a car on the way to the emergency room after having a heart attack... I kept asking God if this was it... looking back I realize HE told me in the hospital I was going to be ok... it just took me a couple days to believe it. HIS healing hand was only the beginning. So much has happened... so much has changed. I cannot thank HIM enough for the opportunities HE has given me to see HIS hand working and changing life's. If this next year has as many blessings as the last, I'm not sure I can contain it all. A special thanks to all who lifted me up in your prayers.
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| Loved it... want to see it again... the interaction or lack of interaction with Aslan gives much to think on.
Also have seen the newest Indiana Jones movie since last blog... classic... pure adventure.
Yep, it's been a while... some of you may have given up on this crazy old man...  still very much alive... been as active as my body would permit in discipleship relationship with 4 young men in the area. Spending time with these men has just caused me to continue to ask the question I shared in my last blog.
Looking forward to Cornerstone Music Festival.
So, who out there will be going this year?
Continuing to share from the book, No Perfect People Allowed... Hey, I realize some may have lost interest in it b/c it has been so long. On with finishing chapter two, "...Results of the Post-modern Experiment,"
"Nothing poses a greater challenge and opportunity to the church than the overwhelming emotional pains that drive our generation into so many addictive behaviors. If Christian leaders do not prepare and organize and pray so that healing can occur from the wounds caused by the Postmodern Experiment, we will lose a generation. Trust issues may make them cynical, tolerance issues may make them unwilling to listen, truth issues may confuse them, but acting out of brokenness will destroy them."
"Broken people are woundeed people. Like abused puppies, they often run from those attempting to help them. Leaders must create a safe climate, so the healing work of God can begin in their lives. It will take patience and time. People will come and go, walking toward the light of freedom, then plunging back into the darkness. But they must see the church as a lighthouse; always there to lead them into the safe harbor of God's grace."
"The waves of change that have swept through this generation have created a culture of aloneness, of people longing for cummunity, but afriad to get close - surrounded by friends, feeling ever more alone."
"...the challenge for the church of the twenty-first century has very little to do with the type of music or weekly service or drama or art or candles or coffee we serve. These things are important and may attract people initially, but they will never keep people connected and growing in a faith community. The challenge ahead of us has to do with culture creation: creating a come-as-you-are culture that reflects biblical priorities for the church, functioning as Christ re-presented in community."
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| Watching C-span... history and politics has always been an exciting passion... and currently, it's become even more interesting... I know, some of you may think me crazy... hey, that's ok... maybe I am...
Ok, maybe I'm screaming inside or just harping on an old theme...
Christian men desire to be in a growing relationship with other Christian men. When are we going to make it a priority over other "good" things the organized church is doing?
Continuing to share a few quotes from No Perfect People Allowed...
"...Results of the Post-modern Experiment" (chapter two)
However, first a word about comment from last post. Rick, I appreciate your thoughts and am working on a response which I believe I owe you.
"...increasing rates of adultery and a national epidemic of failed families and disappearing dads. Consider the impact on emerging generations' trust level... When we create a culture to deal with these painful issues of trust openly, with sincerity and honesty, you begin to see two things. First, you will hear more and more stories of wounds like this that once remained hidden and festering. But you will also hear increasing numbers of stories of God's healing work as people are brought into the light."
"Generally, emerging generations do not ask, 'What is true?' They are primarily asking, 'Do I want to be like you?' In other words, they see truth as relational, 'If I want to be like you, then I want to consider what you believe. If I don't see anything real or attractive in you or your friends as Christ-followers, I don't care how 'true' you think it is, I'm not interested.'"
"...much of postmodern thought presents a potentially greater opportunity than threat for the church. Why? First, because postmodern thought has made spiritual pursuit culturally acceptable. ...Second, we can return to the Lord's plan for presenting truth. How can postmodern people best experience Christ, the Truth, re-presented in the flesh? Through his Body! The church is the Body of Christ..."
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| getting out on the road bike and loving it...
being challenged into discipleship relationships...
putting Sound Track CD collection on computer...
Question which has come up this last week...
How can we better teach Biblical principles
without getting caught in the "quote a verse" trap?
Some who read these next quotes from No Perfect People Allowed... will not see the relevance. However, I say we need to understand some of the history involved in any topic.
"Cynical and Jaded: Results of the Post-modern Experiment"
"In our postmodern world you can't separate the message from the messenger."
"If the church is to have an impact on society, the first task for leaders is to understand the broader cultural context. When you study the church within the context of a culture, anthropology and missiology have both demonstrated that the most effective efforts do not try to change the culture but rather contextualize the message of Christ for each unique culture."
"What I define as the Postmodern Experiment began with a generation deciding to test what life would be like living out the philosophy, 'If it feels good, do it.' This experiment encompassed the sum total of behaviors produced by this way of thinking, and society is just now getting the results. Postmodern thought formed the epicenter of a cultural quake that has rippled out since the sixties in a pervasive way that extends far beyond a mental construct of truth or morality."
"...From the 1960's to the 1980's in America, radical cultural shifts took place to an earth-shattering magnitude, and global communication exported it worldwide."
"...most born post-1960, I find myself asking, 'What happened to this generation to produce so much chaos?' I hear story after story of neglect, physical abuse, sexual molestation, drug abuse, porn addictions, eating disorders, anger issues, serious crime, abortion, STD's, AIDS, and sexual addictions passing from one generation to the next. Issues once prevalent only in inner-city churches now live on Main Street."
"After studying the confluence of shifts and trends, I'm convinced something radical did happen. Americans went out for a three-decade binge on self, and now our country is vomiting up the consequences uncontrollably."
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