This is the cover proof of my first book. The key word there is the "first" aspect. Though it is a small 120 page work and is not much more that an outline of my teaching notes for Western Civilization I; I have been teaching this course for 20 years. This book was prepared to help my student have a framework for their studies and to guide others through the growth of Western Civ.

But since this is the first: I have others in the pipeline.
The projects that are lined up:

A Bible study on Hebrews.

A Devotion geared toward missions.

A Biblical theology of missions.

and finishing my disseration on Third Culture Kids and Evangelism.

I am now writing, which is something that I have always wanted to do; just never put the time in before. When published I will let everyone know.... so that you can buy it!!

orality

70% of the World are Oral People
The great commission commands us to make disciples of every nation, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything that Jesus commanded his disciples to do. It is clear that for one to become a disciple, he must know and live according to the God’s word. God’s word transforms those who know and live it out. No ministry, whether evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, or church planting will be successful unless the Word of God is communicated effectively.
An overwhelming two thirds (2/3) of the world’s population are oral people. An oral person is someone who prefers to learn and communicate through oral means, such as story, song, dance, drama and proverbs. He is also someone who cannot or chooses not to learn through reading. For example a study done by the National Endowment for the Arts found that in the US 77% of High School graduates do not read after graduation. They also found that 43% of College and Graduate school graduates do not read after graduation. They can read but chose not to read.
Over 70% of the Bible’s content is made up of stories. Not only that, but Jesus throughout his ministry told stories. “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable.” Mark 4:33-34 Since the Bible is largely stories and Jesus used stories, it only makes sense to communicate the Word of God as stories.

Are we learning the Story well enough to tell a story? Do we limit our ability to reach out and/or grow disciples to material that can be written and read? Is our form of education and discipleship (based on the written word) limiting our scope to a mere 30% of the world?

Mission Minded Congregation?

Recently, the Branchville Cumberland Presbyterian Church changed it's website around and added the phrase a "mission-minded congregation" to its homepage. I thought it would be a good idea to explain this change of title and focus.

In working on my dissertation on Missions, Third-Culture Kids, and Evangelism I have been doing a LOT of reading -- and a great deal of it disturbs me greatly. I have come to the conclusion that a christian congregation which is unconcerned about the Mission of God - it not even a good social club. This does not mean that we all have to get our passports and go overseas - it does mean that we all have to get our focus on the will of God and go about fulfilling God's Mission for each of us -- some are focused on outreach, some on caring for others, some on going to foreign lands and some on teaching -- - but we are to be always focused on bringing Glory to the Name of God in whatever we do.

By changing the look of the website - this is a reminder that the church is established and created to bring Glory to God through its work for people who do not yet know Christ as Lord and Savior. It is my hope that we all becoming mission minded for when we are focused on a purpose and a goal we tend to lead better lives and serve as a better witness.

prayer meetings

I have been struggling all week with a sermon topic - which occurs at times but it is finally coming together. I have been a pastor for 17 years in one form or another and, in general, prayer meetings have the lowest attendence of any meeting concerning church. That should not be. I have read materials to learn how to change this, used music, adjusted lighting, etc. in an effort to build it and .... well attendence never changed. THEN IT HIT ME!

IF -- and that is a big word -- we are radically committed to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission we will pray intently and radically and with enthusiam because we will be in the middle of a spiritual conflict and we will need the direction and guidence of the Lord. The lack of attendence at prayer functions is actually a good indicator of the spiritual condition of the church. Most often prayer meetings become organ recititals and those do get to drag on (pray for J. 's kidney, lung etc)

Pray is a direct communication from our King, Lord and commander in this conflict we are in when we are acting and living as disciples -- we would and do seek it when we are following the Commandment and the Commission for we then NEED the presence and comfort of the Lord.

Prayer meetings are a good way to judge the spiritual status of the congregation.

The Heart of God

The triune God is a missionary God and His people are to be a missionary people. The totality of the witness of the Bible indicates that. Our lives are no longer our own once we come to Christ but we are now a part of the Lord's grand mission to redeem the earth. This is the purpose of our existence -- to know Christ and Make Him Known!

Recently, I have been speaking about the Mission's effort I will be involved in to Madrid, Spain in several churches. The vibrant growing congregations have jumped on board, are praying for the effort and seeking to find funding to support it. The decling congregations see the effort as a waste of time, a vacation or a misuse of resources to reach them over there instead of those here. This shows a misunderstanding of the entire efforts - if missions is the heartbeat of God, participating in it brings a blessing from the Lord onto the church.

It is sad that so many American's believe that they are committed Christians when they distance themselves from the very thing that makes us a part of God's mission. Very Sad.

I have included a video from the Christian Missionary Alliance about Europe in this post so the few readers can see the great need of Europe.

Makes you want to help doesn't it? Specific prayer needs for the Madrid effort will be posted this week under the Madrid Missions tab on the Branchville Church website. If you are considering becoming a prayer partner please let me know so that I can begin to send you private updates for prayer needs.

why?

Why is it that families act the obsolute worst at funerals. Yesterday I was as bothered as I have ever been at a service - not only was the family headed up by a drama queen - the pastor was a jerk! The deceased had been an addict for all of this life until he developed brain cancer and three weeks he gave his life to Christ! I baptized him the day before he died.

The baptist pastor lied about the date of salvation, stated he was not baptized and named only his mother and girlfriend as survivors - deliberately ignoring th man's daughter and grandchildren.

When I went to speak with him about it he lied to me about knowing her since his conversation was contradictory -- so I held on to his lapels and explained that he would correct his error at the graveside. That was something new for me....

The daughter is a member of the Branchville Church and when one of the church members explained how sorry he was about this she stated, looking at the church members who were there, that she didn't know what he was talking about - she was with her family and they drove 30 miles to support her.

How did that goofball get a large church? Dis-honest and false and his congregation grows.... I wonder if that is a new church growth method?

things are changing

we are experiencing a move of God at the Branchville Church and it is exciting to see what the Lord will be doing next! In September alone we have seen five people come to Christ and from there who knows what will occur. Yesterday we were scheduled to baptize 2 adult women and the husband of one of them came and presented himself for baptism also.

Next week we will focus on the Mission of God - which is the mission of the church.