An Evangelical Manifesto Let the Dialog Begin

“Manifesto aims to make ‘evangelical’ less political” - USA Today

“‘An Evangelical Manifesto’ criticizes politics of faith” - CNN

“Christian Clerics Circulate ‘Evangelical Manifesto’ Urging Faithful to Avoid Single issue Politics” - Fox News

‘Evangelical Manifesto’ Aims to Depoliticize Religion - NPR

“‘Manifesto’ vexes evangelicals” - The Washington Times

“Evangelical leaders say their faith is too politicized” AP

These are the headlines reporting on a new document published and signed by various evangelicals entitled “An Evangelical Manifesto”. The purpose of the manifesto is stated as: “…. first to address the confusions and corruptions that attend the term Evangelical in the United States and much of the Western world today, and second to clarify where we stand on issues that have caused consternation over Evangelicals in public life.”

In the executive summary, it is stated: “First, we reaffirm our identity. Evangelicals are Christians who define themselves, their faith, and their lives according to the Good News of Jesus of Nazareth.”

The core of the Evangelical faith is stated with these basic beliefs:

1. Jesus, fully divine and fully human, as the only full and complete revelation of God and therefore the only Savior.
2. The death of Jesus on the cross, in which he took the penalty for our sins and reconciled us to God.
3. Salvation as God’s gift grasped through faith. We contribute nothing to our salvation.
4. New life in the Holy Spirit, who brings us spiritual rebirth and power to live as Jesus did, reaching out to the poor, sick, and oppressed.
5. The Bible as God’s Word written, fully trustworthy as our final guide to faith and practice.
6. The future personal return of Jesus to establish the reign of God.
7. The importance of sharing these beliefs so that others may experience God’s salvation and may walk in Jesus’ way.

With this core theological understanding in place, they state that: “Second, we wish to reposition ourselves in public life. To be Evangelical is to be faithful to the freedom, justice, peace, and well-being that are at the heart of the good news of Jesus.”

I love this statement from the Evangelical Manifesto web site:

“As an open declaration, An Evangelical Manifesto addresses not only Evangelicals and other Christians but other American citizens and people of all other faiths in America, including those who say they have no faith. It therefore stands as an example of how different faith communities may address each other in public life, without any compromise of their own faith but with a clear commitment to the common good of the societies in which we all live together.”

This seems to be pretty solid and an important statement to be made to the culture. Those who have signed it are making a statement that the way the world sees Evangelicals is not necessarily a clear representation of ALL Evangelicals. It recognizes that the Evangelical movement has lost it’s way in some ways and needs to be redirected and redefined.

I look forward to reading the complete 20 page document. To do the same, and to see who has and has not signed the manifesto, check out their web site here.

Downtown in Memphis

What a great opportunity Laurie and I had this weekend. We were able to get away to downtown Memphis and play the tourist. It was a blast. We ate some delicious food — Sauces, The Majestic Grill, Cafe’ 61, Bluff City Bakery. We listened to some music on Beale — Beale Street on a Saturday night? We have NEVER done that. It was packed because of the Music Fest.

Check out some of our pics.

Riding the Tolley Down South Main —- Beale Street Music Festival - Note Mighty Mississippi River

W.C. Handy Statue on Beale —- E & H - Great Burger — Top Floor=Former Brothel - Walls Can’t Talk Thank God!

National Civil Rights Museum Saturday Night on Beale Street

Ted & Matt - Hope Musicians - Playing in Beale

Cool Trolley Shot by Laurie Downtown Memphis Reflection

Atop the Residents Inn

Very Special Arts Festival

                 

I wish I had a video of this, but if you listen to the beautiful version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by the late Hawaiian artist Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwoʻole, you will experience some of the sweetness of watching these special kids perform a hula dance this morning at Hope. 

We have the great privilege of hosting the annual Very Special Arts Festival put on the Memphis City Schools.   There will be over 1000 special needs kids who come through our doors to experience the music, the fun and the arts and crafts.  What a great opportunity for us to serve these children and the dedicated educators who love them every day. 

We are completely committed to serving our community with the facility that God has given us.  Later this spring we will be hosting the AP exams for Cordova High School, will have five high school graduations in our sanctuary and we will host the Memphis City School’s Principals Academy.

With all the bad press that the school system gets, I hope someone is out here reporting on this great event for these exceptional students.

Volunteers —- Show Me The Money!!

I just read this from Leadership Network:

“In 2007, volunteers from churches in Leadership Network’s Externally Focused Churches Leadership Community gave more than 1.8 million hours to kingdom-building service—from tutoring school children to supporting single parents to feeding hungry neighbors to innumerable other acts of charity.

The real value of this volunteer labor becomes clear when you crunch the numbers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average value of a volunteer hour in 2007 was approximately $19.00. That means these externally focused churches donated $34,416,923 worth of volunteer labor in 2007 alone.”

Simple Church

In my post yesterday, I mentioned the book Simple Church. Well, Tony Morgan reflected a little on it today,

“I finally had a chance to read the book Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger. It’s been on my list for the last year or more, but I didn’t prioritize it. I wish I had. Honestly, I think it’s one of the top five books I’ve read on church ministry. This is one of those every-church-leader-should-read books. Great, great insights. I wish I would have written this book, because it certainly captures my heart for the local church.”

Click here to read some more of Tony’s post.

The Power of Simplicity

We are starting to think about focus and being strategically simple around here at Hope. One resource that is helping us work through this process is the book “Simple Church” by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger. They set out a philosophy of focusing your church to develop a simple disciple making process. There are four elements that they see as crucial in helping churches rethink and retool their ministry process.

1. Clarity - The ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people.
2. Movement - The sequential steps in the process that cause people to move to greater areas of commitment.
3. Alignment - The arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process.
4. Focus - The commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process.

It is a good read with some powerful implications for ministry. One thing they point to is the power of simplicity being seen in web design today. Look at Google. Incredibly simple design. Incredibly successful. Look at the simplicity the web site of Mars Hill in Grand Rapids. Look at Starbucks. Look at the clarity seen in Calvary Church near St. Louis.

Also, give a look to this quick video that Kem Meyer posted on her blog.  It deals with simple vs. complex solutions in problem solving.

Tigers Fall in National Final

Driving home tonight past the University of Memphis, what should have been a long line of cars honking and celebrating a Tiger national championship was like a funeral procession. People slowly passing by the campus in mourning over the loss.

I know someone has to lose.

And in the grand scheme of things this was just a basketball game. And the Tigers had a wonderful year — the best year of Memphis basketball ever. And they provided much joy and a tremendous amount of unity for a fractured city. And CDR was fantistic all year and gained first team All-America status. And Derrek Rose is the most phenominal athelete to put on a Tiger uniform. And Joey Dorsy was such a beast all year. And Calaperi has done a wonderful job leading these young men.

But when you invest your heart into something, you risk the pain. I have not invested as much heart energy toward a team since —- ever. The only thing that rivals it was watching my step-son who was a passionate and phenomenally skilled wrestler. I have never expended as much heart wrenching love as when he was battling it out on the mat in a close match.

Love is like that. It is a dangerous endeavor. That takes me to a favorite C. S. Lewis quote,

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

I love my step-son dearly — that is why his struggle on the mat impacted me so much. And yes, I love this Tiger team and with that love comes the pain of loss at their loss.

I guess I better end this cathartic post.  I do feel a little better getting this off my chest.

I am grateful for a great Tiger season and look forward to next year.

GO TIGERS!!!!

Go Tigers!!!!!

JUST ONE MORE WIN!!!!!

Hope Devos

      

We began a new series at Hope called “Love Defined”. Craig will be leading us through 1 Corinthians 13 and keying in on different characteristics of love and applying them to our lives.  The pic above is from a devotional series we are doing at our web site called Love Defined Daily.  Various staff members are writing these devotionals based on one of the verses in 1 Corinthinans 13.  Here is my entry — Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs. 

I was told if I wrote another devo that they would actually post a picture of my whole face!!! 

Wow!!! Tigers Win Big Over Texas in Texas

(Photo by AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki )

Yes, this picture looks like Tiger coach John Calipari is praying for a miracle. My take is that he is giving thanks to God for the man standing next to him —Derrick Rose. Rose was voted MVP of the south regional in the NCAA tournament after his Tigers dominated against number 2 seed Texas 85-67. What a big win for Calipari and his talented squad.

Many of The pundits have shown no respect for Memphis. (Exception is Digger Phelps)

Here is an example posted by ESPN on March 27th —- ALL of the experts picked Memphis to lose:

Will Memphis be tripped up sooner or later (or not at all)?

Bilas: Memphis (will lose), to Michigan State in Sweet 16

Davis: Memphis (will lose), to Texas in the Elite Eight

Fraschilla: Memphis (will lose), to Texas in the Elite Eight

Gottlieb: Memphis (will lose), to Texas in the Elite Eight

Rankin: Memphis (will lose), to Michigan State in the Sweet 16

Vitale: Memphis (will lose), to Michigan State in the Sweet 16

Well, well, well, look what has happened. The truth of the Tiger’s talent surfacing to the top.

It is great to be heading to San Antonio.