Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding. -Proverbs 3:13
A few books I’m currently working my way through (or recently finished):
As our church planting movement looks to one day impact French-speaking countries radically different than ours (like Haiti or the Congo), we’re seeking wisdom
In a sexually confused world like ours, there are a plethora Christians struggling homosexuality. How do we be honest with this reality, and love and walk beside them?
A couple of later chapters explain the roots of Christianity’s explosion in East-Africa. We pray for la francophonie as well!
Why don’t modern Jews believe the O.T. points to Christ? Rydelnik explains the monumental shifts in Jewish theology a thousand years ago that continue to inform Jewish thought today.
Seeking to solidify my comprehension of Jesus throughout the O.T…. a truly eye-opening book; but simple to read.
The Pentateuch can be rather complex and, for many christians, arid. My desire is to understand it from a 1500BC Jewish point of view… which is anything but arid.
Okay Richie, you bombastically extol the “wonders” of macro-evolution. But really, is this the best defense you can muster? I’m halfway through the book and even less convinced (fascinating read though).
A magnificent walk through the main themes of the Bible. I read it with my Bible open on one side, and a pen and pad on the other (and Don was born and raised in Québec!)
Mark walks through biblical text after text after text on spiritual warfare. This year I plan to teach a short series on the subject and desire to deepen my understanding on all that the Bible has to say about it.
I’ve heard that this is a heart-exposing book… honest and transparent to become a best-seller. As a missionary, I constantly need God to expose my heart.
I’d really like to last… wouldn’t you? Dave is a 70+ year-old guy who has lasted.
Seeking to understand why Christianity was originally an urban movement, and how to apply what I learn to our small movement here in Québec.
Everybody around me is reading it. So yeah, I’m succumbing to peer pressure… want to understand what is affecting them.
Incredible sections on communicating cross-culturally. Just because I taught a subject 5 times doesn’t mean I communicated it. Communication requires comprehension of the listener… and that is a difficult thing to attain.
Today, Jacob and I were invited to teach a couple of modules of a week-long church planter’s boot camp. It was a privilege and a blessing to participate in what God is doing in this province… and He’s doing some pretty incredible things in regards to church planting!
I (Rob), taught two, one-hour sessions:
The necessity and practice of intentional discipleship.
Different approaches and potential dangers when launching a new Sunday morning service.
Jacob taught one, one-hour session:
The relationship of a church to its community. Mainly talking about being active as a blessing as we love our city sacrificially.
Here are a couple of photos:
Jacob teaching the responsability of the church toward the city
Once a month groups meet together Saturday morning and evening at Café-Prêsse to pray and interact with leadership-related subjects. We’ve begun by reading through the books “Disciplines of a Godly Man” and “Disciplines of a Godly Woman“.
We have our times of prayer and discussion right in the middle of the comings and goings of one of the largest and busiest coffee shops in the St Jérôme area.
Rather than isolate ourselves, we desire to be surrounded by those we are called to love and serve.
French Title: "Homme de Dieu, Exerce-Toi à La piété"
Last Saturday we talked through the Disciplines of the Soul:
The discipline of Mind
The discipline of Devotion
The discipline of Prayer
The discipline of Worship
Though we don’t always agree with everything in the book, Kent Hughes pushes us to reflect on a deeper level than we are often used to.
Healthy, long-term leadership cannot happen but through a soul overflowing into those around us. It flows directly from what God is doing in the innermost parts of our being.
Without that hidden work, in the long run, leadership will crash and burn.
Francis Chan wrote the crazy book entitled “Crazy Love“. He also challenged the socks off of Martine and I with his sermon entitled “Lukewarm and Lovin’ it“.
Now here he is, living it out:
After 16 years of serving as senior pastor for Cornerstone Church Francis is sensing the Lord leading him in a different direction. Despite not having complete clarity on what this means or exactly what is next Francis is stepping out in faith, something he has done for so much of his life. He announced this decision to the church yesterday no doubt solidifying the start of a huge transition for both the Chan family AND the Cornerstone Church family. The beauty of this announcement is that it comes in unified peace and hopeful harmony.
This is not a joke. It is an actual street sign in a shopping center in Littleton, CO. Talk about precise!
In January I had the privilege of sitting in with the big cahuna’s at World Venture. It wasn’t a conference, but a gathering of the various International and National directors (Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, NW, NE, etc.).
We spent quite a bit of time in prayer, discussing present and upcoming challenges, and World Venture’s role in the dramatically shifting global landscape. A few subjects we addressed:
Humility
What are underlying causes of missionary burnout?
Missions and sexual temptation
A theology of partnerships
How innovation-friendly is World Venture?
Core DNA
The greatest weakness of the N. American church concerning cross-cultural missions.
Here are a few photos:
As a pro took a photo of the entire leadership team, I snapped a quick pic of nose hairs
Andy and Nancy Spohrer had a retirement ceremony while I was there. To continue loving Martine and Jesus until I'm 65+... that would be enough.
Jeff Denlinger is a great leader who walked us through incredible times of reflection and humility
Last Friday and Saturday we got all of the committed leaders in the church together and hung out for 24 hours… dreaming about 2009, 2012, and 2019. (At an incredibly low cost as one of our leaders is a good friend of the owner of a local auberge (lodge). We’re excited to see who will join our group next year!
Here are a few photos:
Goofing off at the end of the day
Playing a Quebecker version of Cranium
Jacob & Stephane Friday night
Jacob getting ready to lead some singing
The church's vision for 2009 and beyond
For those interested, I’ll translate and explain the vision soon.
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