Comments for Heartland Church // Muscoda, Wisconsin http://heartlandchurch.name Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:03:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Misconceptions and Evangelism by Paul http://heartlandchurch.name/misconceptions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Paul Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:03:29 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=15#comment-21 Thank each of you for your comments. One of the questions, in my opinion, that we have to ask of those who have made a "decision" for Christ, "Has it made a difference in your life?" On page 47 of unchristian is the following paragraph: "In virtually every study we conduct, representing thousands of interviews every year, born-again Christians fail to display much attitudinal or behavioral evidence of transformed lives. For instance, based on a study released in 2007, we found that most of the lifestyle activities of born-again Christians were statistically equivalent to those of non-born-agains. When asked to identify their activities over the last thirty days, born-again believers were just as likely to bet or gamble, to visit a pornographic website, to take something that did not belong to them, to consult a medium or psychic, to physically fight or abuse someone, to have consumed enough alcohol to be considered legally drunk, to have used an illegal, nonprescription drug, to have said something to someone that was not true, to have gotten back at someone for something he or she did, and to have said mean things behind another person's back. No difference" (unchristian, p. 47) If the decision results in no change was it a valid decision? Are we being honest, in our presentation, with those who we asking to make a decision? Is this a soil problem (Matt 13)? Can you/are you an authentic Christ follower if no transformation takes place in your life? Do we celebrate 60 "decisions" if nothing changes for the people making the decision? Is the problem adequate followup? I know, more questions than answers... Thank each of you for your comments.

One of the questions, in my opinion, that we have to ask of those who have made a “decision” for Christ, “Has it made a difference in your life?” On page 47 of unchristian is the following paragraph:

“In virtually every study we conduct, representing thousands of interviews every year, born-again Christians fail to display much attitudinal or behavioral evidence of transformed lives. For instance, based on a study released in 2007, we found that most of the lifestyle activities of born-again Christians were statistically equivalent to those of non-born-agains. When asked to identify their activities over the last thirty days, born-again believers were just as likely to bet or gamble, to visit a pornographic website, to take something that did not belong to them, to consult a medium or psychic, to physically fight or abuse someone, to have consumed enough alcohol to be considered legally drunk, to have used an illegal, nonprescription drug, to have said something to someone that was not true, to have gotten back at someone for something he or she did, and to have said mean things behind another person’s back. No difference” (unchristian, p. 47)

If the decision results in no change was it a valid decision? Are we being honest, in our presentation, with those who we asking to make a decision? Is this a soil problem (Matt 13)? Can you/are you an authentic Christ follower if no transformation takes place in your life? Do we celebrate 60 “decisions” if nothing changes for the people making the decision? Is the problem adequate followup?

I know, more questions than answers…

]]> Comment on Misconceptions and Evangelism by Charlie Newman http://heartlandchurch.name/misconceptions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Charlie Newman Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:19:06 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=15#comment-20 Paul, Speaking from a Bible Belt perspective, I will agree with most of what is said with a few exceptions. As your successor as president of our county ministerial association, I have continued to witness a harvest of seeds that you and others planted many years ago. Our mass evangelism events (SoulJam, etc.) continue to reap decisions for Christ. I'll agree that the numbers are declining but I'll never forget last years 60+ decisions with an attendance of only 800 or so youth. It is VERY costly to reach these young persons and I wonder if there is a better, more cost effective way to reach them. Until someone can show me a better way, I'll continue to support this outreach method. It may not work everywhere, but it seems to still work here in the Bible Belt. Based on what I 've read in this blog, I'm putting "unchristian" on my buy list. I'll also reccommend one of my current reads; "Leading Beyond the Walls: Developing Congregations With a Heart for the Unchurched" by Adam Hamilton. This guy presents some of the simplest methods of church leadership & evangelism that gave me the "duh" moment many times while reading the book. Link below... http://www.amazon.com/Leading-Beyond-Walls-Developing-Congregations/dp/0687064155 Blessings my good friend! Paul,

Speaking from a Bible Belt perspective, I will agree with most of what is said with a few exceptions. As your successor as president of our county ministerial association, I have continued to witness a harvest of seeds that you and others planted many years ago.

Our mass evangelism events (SoulJam, etc.) continue to reap decisions for Christ. I’ll agree that the numbers are declining but I’ll never forget last years 60+ decisions with an attendance of only 800 or so youth. It is VERY costly to reach these young persons and I wonder if there is a better, more cost effective way to reach them. Until someone can show me a better way, I’ll continue to support this outreach method. It may not work everywhere, but it seems to still work here in the Bible Belt.

Based on what I ‘ve read in this blog, I’m putting “unchristian” on my buy list. I’ll also reccommend one of my current reads; “Leading Beyond the Walls: Developing Congregations With a Heart for the Unchurched” by Adam Hamilton. This guy presents some of the simplest methods of church leadership & evangelism that gave me the “duh” moment many times while reading the book. Link below…

http://www.amazon.com/Leading-Beyond-Walls-Developing-Congregations/dp/0687064155

Blessings my good friend!

]]> Comment on Misconceptions and Evangelism by Mark Millman http://heartlandchurch.name/misconceptions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Mark Millman Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:55:01 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=15#comment-22 Paul, These realities would have helped me about 20 years ago. I would agree that these realities explain why the work is slow. The mass evangelism methods of the past are slipping away. People want to have a personal relationship to validate authenticity. Thanks for sharing these insights on your blog. Mark Paul,

These realities would have helped me about 20 years ago. I would agree that these realities explain why the work is slow. The mass evangelism methods of the past are slipping away. People want to have a personal relationship to validate authenticity.

Thanks for sharing these insights on your blog.

Mark

]]> Comment on Misconceptions and Evangelism by Barrett M. Lampp http://heartlandchurch.name/misconceptions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Barrett M. Lampp Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:26:07 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=15#comment-23 Paul, The points that are mentioned are well taken and certainly are reflected in my personal experience of 50+ years of ministry. I'm still convinced that the most effective method is time spent in dealing with world views through practical demonstrations of daily activities and simply sharing the Gospel message of what Jesus Christ is wanting our individual friends and contacts to understand has happened to us and HE wants it to become reality with them as well! But, I'm also convinced that we need to share the claims of Christ and included HIS invitation to the person we're talking or sharing with, and I've been able to do that in the first contact and then I've also had to leave some one in the mode of having heard the Gospel claims and realizing that they were really not convicted at all by what had been seen and shared. BTW one of my favorite processes for determining openness are the questions sequenced by Bill Fay in his "Sharing Jesus Without Fear". Blessings... and I'm off to bed..... barrett Paul,
The points that are mentioned are well taken and certainly are reflected in my personal experience of 50+ years of ministry.
I’m still convinced that the most effective method is time spent in dealing with world views through practical demonstrations of daily activities and simply sharing the Gospel message of what Jesus Christ is wanting our individual friends and contacts to understand has happened to us and HE wants it to become reality with them as well! But, I’m also convinced that we need to share the claims of Christ and included HIS invitation to the person we’re talking or sharing with, and I’ve been able to do that in the first contact and then I’ve also had to leave some one in the mode of having heard the Gospel claims and realizing that they were really not convicted at all by what had been seen and shared. BTW one of my favorite processes for determining openness are the questions sequenced by Bill Fay in his “Sharing Jesus Without Fear”. Blessings… and I’m off to bed….. barrett

]]> Comment on Presidential Politics and the Southern Baptist Convention by Barrett M. Lampp http://heartlandchurch.name/presidential-politics-and-the-southern-baptist-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Barrett M. Lampp Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:09:06 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=14#comment-18 Paul, Looks like you haven't read the last comment.... but, I'll make another..... We do continue to pray for you.... hope things are O.K., anyway, let me hear from you..... I know you're a committed servant.... but, take a break and give me some fuel or focus for my prayer ministry! :) Blessings...barrett Paul,
Looks like you haven’t read the last comment…. but, I’ll make another….. We do continue to pray for you…. hope things are O.K., anyway, let me hear from you….. I know you’re a committed servant…. but, take a break and give me some fuel or focus for my prayer ministry! :) Blessings…barrett

]]> Comment on Presidential Politics and the Southern Baptist Convention by Barrett M. Lampp http://heartlandchurch.name/presidential-politics-and-the-southern-baptist-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Barrett M. Lampp Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:16:31 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=14#comment-17 Hey, I didn't see you at the Convention..... and I was there..... and voted..... for Bill Wagner..... as you know he lost handily. probably would have voted for Johnny Hunt had I not already committed myself to vote for Bill. The reason I voted was his systematic approach to solutions. I Love Avery Willis and I taught Master Life for years..... but several indicated they wanted to call us to repentance..... and frankly, that has been a resounding theme for several years as we have recorded a continued plateau and decline of SBC functions. I believe we need to reorganize our method of Leadership Selection and made an effort to do that in 2006 when I moved to change the term to 7 years and place term limits of one term on the Trustees of our entities.... in 2007 the EC brought back a "not well taken" and it was dropped..... I resubmitted the same motion again this year (2008)...... I believe it would force us to broaden our "selection pool" for an organization that continues to claim 16 Million adherents.... for the life of me, I cannot understand the logic of allowing multiple terms, and the obvious frozen mindset that has historically followed? Since all of the EC is selected by our current method and several continue to serve multiple terms.... I expect a similar response again this time.... Mine will be different when it goes to the floor in 2009, if the Lord sustains my life and allows me to be there for the next SBC Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY. I've assumed that you folks have had flooding similar to what we witnessed in Indiana. We continue to support you in our prayers...... Blessings...... barrett & Connie Hey,
I didn’t see you at the Convention….. and I was there….. and voted….. for Bill Wagner….. as you know he lost handily. probably would have voted for Johnny Hunt had I not already committed myself to vote for Bill. The reason I voted was his systematic approach to solutions. I Love Avery Willis and I taught Master Life for years….. but several indicated they wanted to call us to repentance….. and frankly, that has been a resounding theme for several years as we have recorded a continued plateau and decline of SBC functions. I believe we need to reorganize our method of Leadership Selection and made an effort to do that in 2006 when I moved to change the term to 7 years and place term limits of one term on the Trustees of our entities…. in 2007 the EC brought back a “not well taken” and it was dropped….. I resubmitted the same motion again this year (2008)…… I believe it would force us to broaden our “selection pool” for an organization that continues to claim 16 Million adherents…. for the life of me, I cannot understand the logic of allowing multiple terms, and the obvious frozen mindset that has historically followed? Since all of the EC is selected by our current method and several continue to serve multiple terms…. I expect a similar response again this time…. Mine will be different when it goes to the floor in 2009, if the Lord sustains my life and allows me to be there for the next SBC Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY.
I’ve assumed that you folks have had flooding similar to what we witnessed in Indiana. We continue to support you in our prayers…… Blessings…… barrett & Connie

]]> Comment on Do We Need to Pray? by Brian http://heartlandchurch.name/do-we-need-to-pray/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Brian Wed, 21 May 2008 20:27:18 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=9#comment-16 He very directly tells them why He is asking them to pray. He tells them to ask the FATHER to send workers, so that the Will of the FATHER may be accomplished. One Louv He very directly tells them why He is asking them to pray.
He tells them to ask the FATHER to send workers, so that the Will of the FATHER may be accomplished.

One Louv

]]> Comment on Happy Birthday Cheryl by Cheryl http://heartlandchurch.name/happy-birthday-cheryl/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Cheryl Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:24:49 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=5#comment-5 Thanks Babe! I love you! Thanks Babe! I love you!

]]> Comment on Just getting started by Barrett M. Lampp http://heartlandchurch.name/just-getting-started/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Barrett M. Lampp Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:07:02 +0000 http://heartlandchurch.name/blog/?p=3#comment-4 Paul and Cheryl, Just stopped by to say HI! Want you to know that we still think and pray for you! Hope things are going well in your "startup" efforts...... Things are fine here and we manage to stay busy..... though, I must admit, that doesn't include shoveling snow! :) I was able to make the IMB/Westside B.C. meeting in Gainesville and participated in the New Missionarie's (36 of them) Appointment Service. I was also saddened by Wade Burleson's resignation after his apology was refused. I personally have started praying that the Lord would allow restrictions imposed by the IMB to be moderated in subsequent Sessions and maybe altered even before the SBC in indianapolis. I honestly don't think that's likely..... but..... Just know that we are praying for our "missionaries" in the "frozen" North! Blessings..... In Christ, barrett Paul and Cheryl,
Just stopped by to say HI! Want you to know that we still think and pray for you! Hope things are going well in your “startup” efforts…… Things are fine here and we manage to stay busy….. though, I must admit, that doesn’t include shoveling snow! :) I was able to make the IMB/Westside B.C. meeting in Gainesville and participated in the New Missionarie’s (36 of them) Appointment Service. I was also saddened by Wade Burleson’s resignation after his apology was refused.
I personally have started praying that the Lord would allow restrictions imposed by the IMB to be moderated in subsequent Sessions and maybe altered even before the SBC in indianapolis.
I honestly don’t think that’s likely….. but….. Just know that we are praying for our “missionaries” in the “frozen” North! Blessings…..

In Christ, barrett

]]>