WARNING! Slow Posting Period

by | Jun 17, 2006 | Personal

As if I had to say anything.  I’m in the throes of finishing work for a DMin class I will attend beginning next week.  So, I’m buried in book reviews, project writing, and a bit more reading to do.  I’m also trying to begin a series on the book of Romans this Sunday evening.  What a book – what a slow process of inductively studying the whole thing at once, which is my aim this week.  I would appreciate any prayers you could...

Deacons – Part 5

by | Jun 17, 2006 | Deacons, Ecclesiology

The Diaconal Ministry in Acts 6:1-6 Acts 6:1-6 provides the church with an originating account for the office of deacon.  Its description is invaluable to see several aspects of diaconal ministry, especially in the issues of roles between pastors and deacons (the Twelve and the Seven), pastors and congregation (Twelve and the multitude), and deacons and congregation (the Seven and the multitude). The passage begins with the setting of an ever growing group of disciples and the emergence of a complaint arising from one segment of the burgeoning church, namely the Greek speaking Jews.[1]  The language barrier between the Hellenistic Jews and the Hebrew Jews seems to have been causing an oversight to occur in meeting the needs of the Greek speaking widows in the Christian community.  Luke expresses that the complaint was that an ongoing oversight was being felt by the Hellenistic widows and that the complaint was no mere contentless murmuring.[2]  The widows were being neglected in the daily “service,” which may indicate that there was more involved than the mere handing out of food.  It is possible that the term used here (diakonia) refers to a very broad sense of service and might have included monetary as well as food assistance.[3]  This oversight may have been also related to the inability of the Twelve to be able to adequately administrate the daily service of the widows as well as their need to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word (6:2, 4).  The church at this time may have numbered close to 20,000 people in Jerusalem, thus making the leadership and administrative needs enormous...

Presidential News

by | Jun 17, 2006 | Politics, Presidential History

I love to follow the organization and structure of the White House.  Management styles, philosophy of leadership, staff arrangements all intrigue me – its a hobby. Here’s some interesting articles on recent staff changes. Michael Gerson – the voice of President Bush since 1999, Wheaton College grad, and openly conservative evangelical Christian is stepping down.  Bush has had some magnificent speeches in his presidency – Gerson was the architect. The new chief of staff, Josh Bolton, says he has finished the shake-up of the West Wing staff.  No more high profile staff changes around the bend.  Let’s see if they can get the public back on their message. Thrilling,...