How Much Of A Perfectionist Are You?

Here's mine:

You Are 56% Perfectionist

No one would call you a perfectionist, but you definitely have a side of you that strives to be perfect. Try to see your mistakes as learning experiences, and don't be so hard on yourself when you screw up!

Are You a Perfectionist?

Trends In The Modern American Church

I posted a link to a news article about "cults of personality" in big evangelical churches a couple weeks ago and asked for responses. No one had any comments, until this weekend when Jason Ramage spoke up. He raises some interesting points so I thought, since the original post is buried beneath more recent topics and thus few of you would have seen his comment, that I'd reprint it here and give another try to having a serious discussion about some of these issues:

I'm surprised nobody commented about this. I had to jump in the Wayback Machine to find it, thanks to Bobby's incessant posting activity... he puts me to shame :)

I was thinking about this while reading the thread on the Sojourn site about peoples' memories of the old building. A lot of people are very passionate about Sojourn and something about that has never sat right with me. When I hear people talk about Sojourn, they talk about the music, art, their friends, community groups, Daniel's sermons... but I rarely hear about how those things helped them grow in Christ. I'm sure it has, but after every testimony I'm left with the impression that Sojourn is a great church where you don't have to sacrifice coolness.

Maybe that's not a bad thing. Without a doubt, Daniel Montgomery is the reason Sojourn is growing. I know God is using him, and God uses many other servants to preach the Gospel, but it's almost like the elephant in the room... the day Daniel hands the head pastor position to someone else will be the day Sojourn jumps the shark.

But maybe I'm wrong... this is simply the way I've felt about it and I've never bothered to express it before. But since you were asking the question, it seemed like a good opportunity to find out if other agree/disagree and why.

So Jason raises some good points here. I've been going to Sojourn for two years. And, admittedly, I checked out its online site and listened to five sermons before ever setting foot in the place. Bottom line, if I hadn't liked the preaching, I wouldn't have ever visited. Now, I honestly think that MOST of what I mean by that is, "If the preaching wasn't correct, Christ-focused, gospel-centered, then I wouldn't have visited." But there is no doubt that Daniel speaks well, he sounds good, and he makes it interesting.

Is this bad? No. And I want to issue a disclaimer here and say that, in no way, does Daniel or Sojourn Community do anything to cultivate a cult of personality -- you won't find any billboards with our pastor's face smiling down on you, nor any other such thing. In fact, he's told me personally and he's mentioned from the pulpit that he doesn't want to be the focus -- that he isn't even comfortable when people praise his sermons. He's trying to point people to Christ. So none of this should be seen as a shot at him or the church.

Human nature being what it is, though, whenever you have a good preacher, the possibility stands that people, even good, intelligent, sincere people, will make an idol of him. Or an idol of the hot band, the cool worship leader (we've talked about that in this blog before -- worship leaders are the new sex symbols of the modern American church) the fancy programs and top-notch children's play facilities, etc.

In fact, HERE is a link to the front page story of Sunday's Louisville Courier Journal, a story about the growth of mega churches in this region.

Is it bad that evangelical churches are growing? No. Of course, statistics do tell us that most new members to churches are not new converts, but rather transfers from other churches. Indeed, what seems to be fueling much of the growth is a Christian "Walmart" effect, where Christians have allowed themselves to become consumers, searching out those churches that have the coolest facilities, best worship music, most programs -- the little local church family thus has become analogous to a mom-n-pop store that simply can't compete with the big national chain that sells everything from groceries to haircuts to stereos under one roof.

Indeed, sometimes I wonder if the only thing left for modern cool churches to do is to have servers with trays walking around the sanctuary while the service is going on, shouting "Peanuts! Popcorn! Crackerjacks!"

The story I have linked to is not the full version that was available in the local paper -- that version went in greater depth to explore some of the problems and concerns that people have with cool, "relevant" churches, and even with the latest trend: satellites. It seems that rather than do "church planting," churches now want to simply start up different campuses under the authority of the original church.

This is part of a larger trend that sees churches seeking to become more self-sufficient, less accountable to anyone else, less willing to work with an ecumenical spirit of cooperation

I am not speaking against autonomy. I believe local churches should be autonomous. But does this mean we develop a "we can do everything in-house" attitude that, despite our original intentions, does have the effect of creating a mindset that sees Christ's universal body, the Church, as one small church family and it's official, immediate satellites and officially sponsored missionaries.

This is why I salute Jay Eubanks, a Sojourn deacon in charge of our mercy ministries. His work to partner Sojourn with the Jefferson Street Baptist Center, a homeless shelter in the heart of Louisville, is a model we should all follow. Jay isn't a Lone Ranger -- he's all to aware of the dangers inherent with that thinking.

But we aren't all leaders, and we aren't all in a position to decide the position and direction of our local churches. Here is a checklist for each of us:

Do all of your ministerial, charitable actions take place in or under the auspices of one particular church?

Is your first and only thought, when you have a good idea for how to advance the kingdom of God, "I need to convince my church to get behind this idea of mine and start up a new program for it"?

Do you fellowship with believers from other churches?

Do you have friends who don't go to your church, and are these friends a part of your life -- do you eat with them, go to movies with them, play board games or go hiking with them? Or is your every thought, come time for the weekend, "I wonder what cool parties, activities, etc. are going on with my church friends"?

Do you make time for your family -- the ones that God, in his sovereignty, ordained that you should be linked with from your infancy?

If your answer to every question proves that, apart from very rare occasions, all of your fun time, social activities, services to God and mankind, and life-sharing takes place within the context of your immediate church family, then I would suggest that you examine that. Is it really what Jesus wants? Is that really a New Testament model?

Is the Church of the Living God a building?
Is the fellowship of believers confined to a local assembly?
Does God call us all to work for Him only within the context of our local church?
Are we putting church ministries ahead of our significant others and children?
Can we only worship or learn when a certain person preaches or a certain kind of music is played?
On the occasions when we DO fellowship with friends and family outside of our local church, are we thinking, "I'd really rather be hanging with my church clique, but I have to go through the motions here"?

Now, of course the pendulum can swing too far in the other direction. We ARE all called to a local asssembly. We SHOULD model, to the world, real community. Within the context of my local church, I definitely want Louisvillians to say, "Wow, those Sojourners really have a wonderful sense of community." Still, these questions I have proposed should be examined and should weigh heavily on our hearts. Particularly those of us who aren't called to the pastorate of a particular church -- the vast majority of us -- no matter how many evangelistic techniques we learn, no matter how much we pray "for the city", no matter how much we ostensibly say that our goal is to advance the cause of Christ everywhere, when all of our actions, the actual, real things we do, suggest that we only want to work with certain people, we only want to fellowship with certain people ... God, forgive us.

So here it is, Mr. Ramage -- another try at this topic. If no one else is interested, perhaps you and I will discuss things somewhere. Maybe even invite someone from outside of Sojourn to go out and talk shop with us, too. 8-)

Call To Worship Response Hymn

I wrote this last night:

Boundless, Timeless, Ever-faithful God

66.66.88 w/ unmetered chorus

Creator God, my Light
Made water, sky and land,
Set day apart from night
And holds it all in hand.
What wonder, this -- how great the grace
You show when You receive my praise.

Jehovah-healer, Refuge-Rock, Provider
Always before me.
Holy, just and merciful.
Boundless, timeless, ever-faithful God.

Redeemer God, my Hope
Who liberated me,
Who suffered, died and rose,
Who is my purity,
What wonder, this -- how great the grace
You show as You perfect my praise.

Anointed One, Cornerstone, Bread of Life
Always beside me.
Holy, just and merciful.
Boundless, timeless, ever-faithful God.

Indwelling God, my Peace,
In You, I have a prayer.
You give me eyes to see;
You give me ears to hear.
What wonder, this -- how great the grace
You show when You inspire my praise.

Comforter, Counselor, Mighty Wind
Always inside me.
Holy, just and merciful.
Boundless, timeless, ever-faithful God.

Modern Times

Here is a review of the new Bob Dylan record that I wrote for "Travelogue," the news journal of Sojourn Community Church:

The More Things Change …
Dylan Reinvents The Wheel And Rides To The Apocalypse In “Modern Times”
by Bobby Gilles

In 1936, nine years after the advent of “talkies,” Charlie Chaplin released a mostly-silent film. Wrote it, produced it, starred in it. The film marked his defiance against synchronized sound movies even as its subject matter depicted, in often hilarious terms, one man’s struggle against apathy, ignorance and betrayal, while hoping for a love that will endure.

In 2006, Bob Dylan has released a mostly old-school record. Wrote it, produced it, sang on it. The record marks his defiance against modern music industry practices even as its subject matter depicts, in often hilarious terms, one man’s struggle against apathy, ignorance and betrayal, while hoping for a love that will endure.

Both titled their projects “Modern Times.”

Dylan’s “Modern Times,” inspired by his hero Chaplin’s film, continues his late-career renaissance by creating a mesmerizing universe of thunder on the mountain, fire on the moon, alley brawls, Alicia Keys, pistol poppin’, downed power lines, St. Herman’s Church, a thousand cows, pork chops, pie, wicked schemes, a twister, ladies in Washington scrambling to get out of town, a hammer and a pitchfork … a universe where a man vows to “walk the hard road down,” recruit an army of orphans, go “up north” to plant and harvest, all the while dreaming, “Some sweet day I’ll stand beside my King.” And that’s just in the first song.

Dylan told Kurt Loder in 1984, “… when you go to see a folk singer now, you hear somebody singin’ his own songs … I never would have written a song if I didn’t play all them old songs first…. There’s no dedication to folk music now, no appreciation of the art form.”

“Modern Times” puts into practice what Dylan has preached, delivering something old, something new, something borrowed, and lots of blues … along with swingtime jazz, rockabilly, country folk and dance hall ballads. Yes, Dylan = danceable ditties, as in swing, foxtrot, two-step and waltz, to name a few.

He performs an ambitious remake of Muddy Waters’ 1950 hit “Rollin’ and Tumblin’,” with new lyrics that leave the former looking threadbare in wordplay, story development, metaphor, consonance and other poetic devices. Then he takes the title, partial melody and first line of the chorus from the 19th century ballad “Netty Moore” and fleshes out a non-linear tale of longing. Next he throws in songs that borrow, pay homage, or sequel Slim Harpo, Chuck Berry, Memphis Minnie, Merle Haggard, Nina Simone and others.

Apocalyptic images and scriptural allusions are, as usual, more abundant with Dylan than with any textual artist since Flannery O’Connor. In “Spirit On The Water,” watching his lady-love is like witnessing the Creation: “Spirit on the water / darkness on the face of the deep / I keep thinking about you baby / I can’t hardly sleep.” In other songs he is Fallen Man cast out of Paradise, Moses coming down the mountain, Ezekiel witnessing the shiny wheels in heaven and Solomon living through Ecclesiastes. In “Ain’t Talkin’,” a Cain-like figure hopes to stumble across his enemies while they sleep, as David found Saul. Unlike David, this narrator will “slaughter them where they lie.”

Recorded with Dylan’s touring band and self-produced so that it “wouldn’t sound overproduced,” “Modern Times” plays like a “whoppin’ good time” record from yesteryear, with expert but loose-playing musicians and Dylan’s gravel voice, imbued with the authority and limitations of age. Aside from a doomed attempt to make “proletariat” sound like a non-clunker of a word, and the usual fact that his five-to-eight minute songs have no more melodic development than the average three-minute tune, there’s nothing to complain about.

It’s the work of a master -- not one of his shape-shifting, revolutionary albums, but certainly a piece that will settle into the upper fourth of his canon and keep the old troubadour relevant in these modern times.

Creationcare.org

In Laura's comment to my last post, she referenced a website that I have been perusing lately. CLICK HERE to read about the work this group is doing in promoting Biblical care and stewardship of God's creation. Here is an excerpt from their FAQ page:

What about nature worship?

As a biblically orthodox Christian organization EEN totally rejects nature worship and pantheism. Nothing is clearer in Scripture: we are to worship only the Creator - never His creation. There is only one God in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - to whom all praise, glory, and honor are to be given. EEN's Evangelical Declaration puts it well: "Our creating God is prior to and other than creation, yet intimately involved with it, upholding each thing in its freedom, and all things in relationships of intricate complexity. God is transcendent, while lovingly sustaining each creature; and immanent, while wholly other than creation and not to be confused with it."

At the same time that we condemn nature worship, we must not let our zeal to avoid idolatry prevent us from our biblical call to care for all of creation. Indeed, one cannot fully worship the Creator and at the same time destroy His creation, which was brought into being to glorify him. Worshiping the Creator and caring for creation is all part of loving God. They are mutually reinforcing activities. It is actually unbiblical to set one against the other.



How are we to treat non-human creation? Are not people more important?

Our relationship to the rest of creation is to be based on God's relationship to it and how God wants us to behave towards it. The Bible proclaims that in the beginning God blessed the rest of creation and called it good (Gen. 1:20-25; 31). It exists to praise and glorify Him (e.g. Ps. 19:1-6). Christ sustains all of creation and died to reconcile all of creation to God (Heb. 1:3; Col 1:16, 20). In Christ's future Kingdom the rest of creation will be transformed into a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Thus, the Bible clearly teaches that God values the rest of creation tremendously.

At the same time the Bible also proclaims that human beings have a special role and a special responsibility in God's creation since they are created in God's image and have free will. Human beings are called to care for the rest of God's creation, not abuse or destroy it.

It is clear from Scripture that God does not want situations where humanity is seriously pitted against the rest of creation (e.g. extinction of a species; cf. Ps. 104). This works against the reconciliation wrought by Christ's blood. Indeed, we are hard pressed to think of a situation where our call to image Christ would result in such a situation. The power of God's grace, combined with human creativity and intelligence and our responsibility to fulfill the task of creation-care, provides us with the capability to find peaceful resolutions to what appear to be serious unavoidable conflicts with the rest of creation. Furthermore, environmental problems that harm the rest of creation usually harm human beings as well (e.g. air pollution). Thus, the task of creation-care is part of loving one's neighbor, i.e., loving what God loves and therefore loving God.

Christ and the environment

What is your take on THIS ARTICLE, "Evangelical Spreads Green Message"? from the front page of today's Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, KY).

Do evangelicals do enough to fulfill our role as wise stewards over God's creation? Do we risk compromising our morals or beliefs by "participating in the environmental movement?"

All I Have Is Yours

What do you think of this? It's a rough draft hymn I wrote Saturday based on the part of a worship service known as the offering:

All I Have Is Yours
(85.85.88.85 meter w/ refrain)

Creator, giver of all things:
All I have is Yours.
Accept my humble offering:
All I have is Yours.
When I was chained to greed and pride,
Tight-fisted, destined just to die,
You paid my debt and bought my life --
All I have is Yours.

refrain
All I have. All I have. All I have is yours.

This offering is a means of grace.
All I have is Yours.
You show me this to grow my faith:
All I have is Yours.
The more I give, the less I need.
I learn that You’ll provide for me.
‘twas blind to this but now I see --
All I have is Yours.

refrain

Your kingdom come, Your will be done.
All I have is Yours.
You’ll finish all that You’ve begun.
All I have is Yours.
That You would use the gifts I bring
In service of the coming King
Is reason now to praise and sing:
All I have is Yours.

refrain

What part of the Thanksgiving dinner are you?

I scored the same as ol' California Emily:

You Are The Stuffing

You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together. People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Daily Nugget O' Wisdom

"It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a bad example."

Reality

The kids and I were doing our devotions last night and I was reading to them the story of David and Goliath, which of course I haven't read in awhile because I'm grown up, and smart, and deep, and experienced in the faith and, naturally, more blind than I think I am. And I came to this familiar part, read and memorized so many times in my childhood:

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Isn't that amazing? It's so simple -- it doesn't matter what we're up against, because if we are in Christ, then whatever comes against us is not really against us, but against Christ. And who can stand against Christ? If God is for us, then who can be against us? What situation is not under His control? What can possibly happen that will not ultimately work for our good?

Blogwatch: Pastor Garry Weaver

Click HERE to read a great story of what happened during a case of demonic attack, and how the author of this blog, Pastor Garry Weaver, was able to speak truth into the situation.

We Are One

Here is a new hymn I just finished:

We Are One

(88.88.88 meter w/ 8.7 refrain)



Now by the sacrifice of Christ

Who prayed that all would be made one,

And through the gift of Spirit-life

All enmity is overcome.

Our Father, grantor of such peace,

We give it just as we've received.





refrain

Praise Father, Spirit and the Son.

In and through You, we are one.



United only in disgrace

Until we heard the Spirit's call;

Now gender, culture, tongue and race,

No more divided by our Fall.

Effect of Babel now undone,

Praise Father, Spirit and the Son.





refrain

Praise Father, Spirit and the Son.

In and through You, we are one.



Tradition, class, philosophy,

Economy and pride of place --

All barriers to unity,

Transcended by relentless grace.

Now reconciled, redeemed, restored:

The body of the risen Lord.



refrain

Praise Father, Spirit and the Son.

In and through You, we are one.

Remember you can now listen to the song I printed here a few weeks ago, that several of you helped me out on when I was stuck on one line. It's called "Forgiveness Divine! Like No Other One" and you can hear it on my main page by clicking HERE.

New Song

A few weeks ago I showed lyrics here to a new hymn I'd written called "Forgiveness Divine! Like No Other One." You can now hear the demo online -- it's in the built-in media player on my homepage at soundclick.com/bobbygilles so it should start right up when you click on the link. If it doesn't, you can hit "Music MP3's" and it will take you to a list of all the songs I've got online, from which you can either stream or download the individual songs.

Sometime later today I'm going to post a rough draft of a hymn text I've been working on the past couple of days.

Reading Selection

From "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis:

"An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if a Christian, he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God -- that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying -- the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on -- the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole three-fold life of the three-personal being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary Christian is saying his prayers."

This news article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061110/ap_on_re_us/superstar_pastors talks about the "cult of personality" in many American churches, specifically in mega churches. It specifically talks about the recent Ted Haggard scandal, which was all the more difficult for his church because so much of it was built around him.

We've talked a little here before about how worship leaders have become "superstars" of the American Church within the last ten years -- what about pastors? Where do you draw the line, in terms of how closely you identify or "market" a church with a specific figure, such as a pastor?

What kind of accent do you have?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
Boston
The Inland North
The Northeast
Philadelphia
North Central
The South
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

This is me to a "T". I'm from southern Indiana. But I will say that I was in radion a decade ago, during which time I took a Voice and Diction class in college. Before then, I had a more "country" accent. It still comes out when I'm really nervous, really comfortable, or when I'm hanging out with others who have that accent.

A True Friend

A "TRUE FRIEND" does this...

(A)ccepts you as you are

(B)elieves in "you"

(C)alls you just to say "HI"

(D)oesn't give up on you

(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)

(F)orgives your mistakes

(G)ives unconditionally

(H)elps you

(I)nvites you over

(J)ust likes to "be" with you

(K)eeps you close at heart

(L)oves you for who you are

(M)akes a difference in your life

(N)ever Judges

(O)ffers support

(P)icks you up

(Q)uiets your fears

(R)aises your spirits

(S)ays nice things about you

(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it

(U)nderstands you

(V)alues you

(W)alks beside you

(X)-plains things you don't understand

(Y)ells when you won't listen and

(Z)aps you back to reality

Daily Wisdom

"If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?"

New Hymn

This is a hymn I just wrote last night, in a meter I haven't used before. It's fairly uncommon but Wesley used it effectively.

This hymn deals with work theology. My pastor always says that work is not, as many Christians seem to believe, a curse brought on by the fall. Work was made more difficult and less productive as a result of the fall, but we were put on this earth to fill and subdue it, we were told to name the animals, and we were created imago dei -- in the image of God. We do (on a limited scale) what He does because we bear his image (Laura, did I use the right "bear?"). He is the creator, and we are creative. Anyway, here it is. Since I just wrote it last night, this may not be the final draft:

GOD OF SHOP AND MARKETPLACE

(7.6.7.6.7.8.7.6 meter)





God of shop and marketplace,

Of farm and studio,

Factory and shipping lane,

Of school and busy home:

Bless the produce of our hands.

Redeem our work for Kingdom-use.

By Your grace, our efforts stand,

All offered up to You.



There in Eden, You proclaimed

That we should work the earth --

Stewards over all we named,

Delighting in their worth.

Through our fall we brought decay,

Lost access to Jehovah's rest.

Through the cross, we rest in faith

And all our labor's blessed.



In Your image we are made:

Creative like You are,

Forming goods for use and trade

Just like You formed the stars.

Send us out in power and skill

To worship through each task assigned.

By Your Spirit we fulfill

The holy, grand design.

Movie Quote Of The Day

From "The Barnyard:"

Ben the Cow: Otis, a strong man stands up for himself. A stronger man stands up for others.

What do people envy about you?

Well, I can see some aspects of this, but I definitely don't think I have such a "who cares/ throw caution to the wind" attitude as this test reveals -- I can be pretty cautionary and methodical. And I don't see people as feeling plain or ordinary around me. But anyway:

People Envy Your Ingenuity

You're a person with unique ideas, big plans, and a zany outlook on life. Many people look to you for inspiration. People envy your creativity and "who cares?" attitude. They feel very ordinary next to you - and they usually are!

What Do People Envy About You?

Those Wild And Crazy Colts

Once again my Indianapolis Colts have shot out of the gate with a perfect start. Now, at 8-0, they are the last unbeaten team in the NFL this season. Let's hope they don't fizzle out this year. As the saying goes, "He who laughs last, laughs best."

Movie Quote Of The Day

From Napoleon Dynamite. Isn't this a sign of the times?

Uncle Rico: What about your girlfriend?
Kip: Well, things are getting pretty serious right now. I mean, we chat online for, like, two hours every day so I guess you could say things are gettin' pretty serious.

Which Celebrity Do I Look Like?

I found the link to this from Lorie's blog, which was from Rosie-boo's blog. Go to the site, upload one of your photos, and it will tell you which celebrities look like you:

Point to Ponder

"Change is inevitable. Except from vending machines."

Lead Us Back

Here is a hymn text I've written. A friend of mine is writing music for it:

Falling down upon our knees,
Sharing now in common shame,
We have sought security,
Not the cross that bares Your name.
Fences guard our hearts and homes --
Comfort sings a siren tune.
We’re a valley of dry bones;
Lead us back to life in You.

Lord we fall upon our knees,
We have shunned the weak and poor,
Worshipped beauty, courted kings
And the things their gold affords,
Prayed for those we’d like to know --
Favor sings a siren tune.
We’ve become a talent show;
Lead us back to life in You.

You have caused the blind to see,
We have blinded him again.
With our man-made laws and creeds;
Eager, ready to condemn.
Now we plead before Your throne --
Power sings a siren tune.
We’ve been throwing heavy stones;
Lead us back to life in You.

c. 2006