3
Sep
Posted by Andrew Conard in communications, faith, life. Tagged: politics, Christianity, God, united methodist church, education, religion, calling, health, United Methodist, Religion and Spirituality, Rainer Maria Rilke, Huffington Post, Law. Leave a Comment
The article, Does a Calling Have to Be Religious?, from the Huffington Post addresses something that has shaped my life – calling. For me it has primarily been God‘s call in my life and a call. Here is an excerpt from the article, that I just couldn’t break into pieces.
“In 1904, Rainer Maria Rilke, writing to a younger man who’d sought his advice, suggested that the authenticity of one’s calling can be found only inside oneself. “[A]sk yourself this: Must I write? Dig deep into yourself for a true answer. And … if you can confidently meet this serious question with a simple, ‘I must,’ then build your life upon it. It has become your necessity.” Substitute work with the poor, forestry, law enforcement, the stage, the military, religion, painting, banking, coaching, law, politics, teaching, or another pursuit, and the answer remains the same: If you can live a full, satisfying life without doing it, it’s not “your necessity,” it’s not your calling. Not even if you’re really good at it. Not even if your parents, their friends, your friends, teachers and religious leaders all want you to do it and think you ought to do it and would be nuts not to do it, would it be wrong not to do it — not even if you think you should want to do it but in fact don’t. Rilke might agree that the presence of any language of obligation would be all the evidence you would need to differentiate the true calling from the false. To say I must because I shouldimplies an obligation, not a calling. I must because, if I don’t, I’ll die inside is quite another matter.”
This is a powerful description of calling. I believe that each one of us may be called by God in multiple ways throughout our life. It may be a career, relationship, an ethnic group, rural life or any number of things that can significantly shape one’s life.
At this time in my life, I feel called to serve as an ordained elder in a local United Methodist church. I pray that I will be attentive to God’s continued call.
2
Sep
Posted by Andrew Conard in church, leadership. Tagged: business, Christian, Craig Groeschel, Jesus Christ, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Resurrection Online, United States, website. 3 Comments
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I was inspired by Craig Groeschel‘s post, The Death of the Five-Year Plan.
“Instead of planning for specific buildings, campuses, staff roles, and outreach, I’m planning to be prepared for opportunities that I can’t name today. We are creating margin and planning to respond quickly to ideas that we don’t yet have.
Speed, agility, flexibility, and financial margin are far better than a detailed road map.”
This is a great articulation of what I believe will be most helpful both at Resurrection Online and at any of the churches that I will serve in the future. It is not helpful to become captive to a vision of the future that includes tangible specifics more than five away. So are you ready for it?
Here is Resurrection’s Online five year plan:
1
Sep
Posted by Andrew Conard in annual conference, kansas, leadership, ministry. Tagged: Christianity, united methodist church, ordination, Methodist, denominations, United Methodist, Religion and Spirituality, Local Churches. 1 Comment
31
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in church. Tagged: Christianity, Christianity for Seekers, evangelism, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Opposing Views, Religion and Spirituality, Wall Street Journal. 7 Comments
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I appreciated some of the concepts presented by The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christianity in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago. Here is a sample from the article:
“As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don’t want cool as much as we want real. If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it’s easy or trendy or popular. It’s because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It’s because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It’s not because we want more of the same.”
I resonate with the desire to experience a faith community that is real and not cool. It doesn’t even have to be cool, if it is real. A local church should strive to be real and authentic. Represent who the community actually is in any communications, remind people of who you want to become in every gathering of the people and always seek to become like Jesus.
30
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in faith, renewing the church, united methodist church. Tagged: Christianity, Methodism, community, online, Methodist, denominations, pastor, Resurrection Online, class meeting, Religion and Spirituality. 7 Comments
Image by Ben Ramsey via Flickr
I have been inspired by Kevin Watson’s series of posts about the Methodist Class Meeting. It was part of what made the Methodist movement powerful. I have hoped to use the following series of posts as a guide for leading class meetings when I am the lead pastor at a church one day.
Then I thought, what about now? I am leading Resurrection Online and hoping to create opportunities for people to worship, grow, give and serve. Isn’t this one of the powerful ways that the Methodist movement grew in faith and size? Would a class meeting work online? What are your thoughts, feelings or opinions about this possibility
27
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in blog. Tagged: travel, prayer, blog, education, innovation, trip, campus, pray, college, university, college ministry, Toy Story, falling with style, Vietnam, Mayo Clinic, Medicine. Leave a Comment
Image by StefPress via Flickr
26
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in faith, question and response. Tagged: Bible, Christianity, faith, God, healing, Jesus, Jesus Christ, miracles, Religion and Spirituality, Word of God. 5 Comments
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It seems that this question has most to do with how one interprets the Bible. Scripture is inspired by God and paints a picture of God’s character, God’s action and God’s people.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17, TNIV.
Scripture is the written Word of God that reveals the personal Word of God, Jesus Christ. The good news and truth of scripture can be a source of faith. As such, scripture becomes authoritative and normative for the Christian life.
So what does this mean when it comes to Jesus’ miracles? I believe that Jesus miracles are true and historical fact. They point to the reality that Jesus is God in the flesh and that He has control over all creation. However, my faith does not rest on the historicity of Jesus’ miracles.
25
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in faith, question and response. Tagged: Adam Hamilton, belief, Christianity, death, faith, God, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, Resurrection, Resurrection of Jesus. 3 Comments
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Jesus, the one who died, lives! Belief in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is one of the central beliefs of Christianity. Jesus resurrection is true and historical fact. Paul addresses this question in 1 Corinthians 15:12:
“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a human being. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
I agree with what my current senior pastor, Adam Hamilton says in response to a question about whether he really believes in the resurrection, I don’t just believe it. I’m counting on it.
24
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in faith, question and response. Tagged: Jesus, Christianity, Holy Spirit, belief, Religion and Spirituality, Apostles' Creed, Father Almighty, creed. 6 Comments
There are some things which one needs to believe to be a Christian. They are what makes Christianity distinct from other religions, systems of belief or unbelief. One of the most basic guides to the Christian faith is the Apostles’ Creed. This is a statement of faith that helps to set the guidelines or the boundaries of what it means to be a Christian. While one may not understand the entire text, belief as outlined in the Apostles’ creed is necessary to be a Christian. The text of the creed as found in The United Methodist Hymnal:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
23
Aug
Posted by Andrew Conard in question and response, united methodist church. Tagged: Christianity, united methodist church, Methodism, Methodist, denominations, United Methodist, United States, Religion and Spirituality. 8 Comments
You do not have to agree with all of the
beliefs and positions of The United Methodist Church to be a United Methodist. However, you do need to agree upon some of the central issues of Christian
faith. The founder of
Methodist movement, John Wesley, preached a
sermon titled, Catholic Spirit, in which he addresses this question. He asserts that if believers are of one mind about a few things, there is room for disagreement in others. Beliefs that are to be held in common include:
- Belief in God
- Belief in Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection.
- Love of God with heart, soul, mind and strength
- Desire to do God’s will
- Service to others out as a result of one’s love of God.
- Love of one’s neighbor as oneself.
One of the hallmarks of being a United Methodist is that we seek the good on both sides of any number of issues that face the
church and world today. United Methodists are of one mind about the above list and hold in tension those more trivial idea about which there are disagreement.
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