Tag Archives: Missional Discipleship

into the margins

I seek to inhabit the margins of my city because obedience to Christ’s mission demands it of me. I do not go as a rescuer or self-appointed sole arbiter of truth or instructor on preferred ways of doing life. No, … Continue reading

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Five Ways to Learn the Culture of Your Neighborhood

Outreach without a foundation of relationships invariably leads to misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this is too often the norm for churches attempting to impact the neighborhoods in which their campuses are located. Good intentions are derailed by a failure to become a contributing part of … Continue reading

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the beauty of simplicity

Beauty is what happens when a smile and a kind word are given, even though you don’t feel like it. You lift someone else up and they respond. Despite your weariness, your heart recognizes the importance of the moment. So … Continue reading

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Ministry is Local

My pastor occasionally states that ministry is local. That is, ministry happens best at the local level, where there is face-to-face contact on a regular basis. Although there is nothing wrong with having a broader reach through whatever means God … Continue reading

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the way of the Cross

The Cross of Jesus Christ demands my life. All that I am, all that I say, all that I do. By yielding to the Cross, taking up my own to follow Jesus, I lay aside all that hinders. This is … Continue reading

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who?

I dutifully walked to the apartments this morning. Rubbish lay strewn about the parking lot and sidewalks. Satellite dishes– four in all which feed their signals into an army of ubiquitous flat screen tv in most of the apartments– betrayed … Continue reading

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Basketball Camp 2010

We recently concluded our 2010 Basketball Camp at Portland Open Bible Church. In all, 13 children participated for two or more evenings. Three additional children made one time appearances. All but two of the children were from the Lents neighborhood, specifically the … Continue reading

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when a child believes: a case study in missional discipleship

Yesterday my church offered a family service in our gymnasium where our children’s ministry normally meets. Because we knew numbers would be down due to the holiday, we decided to bring those that remain together to celebrate the Lord and … Continue reading

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missional social trails

Photo by Glen Alan Woods The sign depicted in this photograph is located near the trailhead at Devil’s Backbone in Colorado. Those who maintain the park clearly want to retain the natural beauty of its environment. When hikers attempt to … Continue reading

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rooted or uprooted?

Photo by Glen Alan Woods The roots in this tree have been exposed. It is a scene which evokes conflicting emotions in me. On one hand, it suggests that the tree may topple over in the future since its support … Continue reading

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