This post is part of a series of essays examining how the #Four Foolish Rules we’ve considered over the last several weeks would apply to specific situations. You may want to go back and read this series, including the introduction, and especially Part 1 of this essay, before you read on. Continuing where we left off last week in applying the #FourFoolishRules to the Scenario that began in last week's post, we'll consider Rules #3 and 4 with this post. Rule #3: Good Boundaries. Remember that there are two aspects to the boundaries question. We'll take them in turn. First, we ask … [Read more...] about Working the Rules: The Beggar Who’s One of Us, Part 2
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Working the Rules: The Beggar Who’s One of Us
This post is the second in a series of essays examining how the #Four Foolish Rules we’ve considered over the last several weeks would apply to specific situations. You may want to go back and read this series, including the introduction, before you consider this post. The Scenario Pat has been coming to your church for several months. He attends worship most weeks, and often joins in the fellowship and adult learning time that follows. He doesn't share a lot about himself, but you've heard him mention that he has a rough past. From context you can guess that includes things like … [Read more...] about Working the Rules: The Beggar Who’s One of Us
Rule #4: Clean Up Our Messes
True or false: "Conflict is a good thing in marriage." It's a question I almost always discuss with a couple before I'll perform their wedding. How would you answer it? How we answer a question like this says something important about whether we'll avoid conflict or address it. You could ask the same question about your workplace, or your church. True or false: "Conflict is a good thing." What's your answer? How we answer this question will prove to have a profound impact on how we manage the Life Together that has been the focus of all these weeks of our #FourFoolishRules series. … [Read more...] about Rule #4: Clean Up Our Messes
Rule #3: Good Boundaries
Do you know that old saying, "Good fences make good neighbors"? Today's Rule #3 is connected to the truth of that saying. We'll live more peacefully alongside other people when we keep our fences in good repair. It's a basic truth of Life Together. Good fences might look like actual fence posts and woven wire that separates your cattle on one side from the neighbor's on the other. Adjoining farmers are wise to pay attention to such things. It prevents angry exchanges and confusion and the extra, inconvenient work of sorting animals that have scrambled from one side to the other. Good … [Read more...] about Rule #3: Good Boundaries
#FourFoolishRules
I can give you lots of angles that illustrate what I mean by #FoolishChurch. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know a lot of them. (Scroll, baby!) Many of you have read my book, Foolish Church where I make the case for a church that's more messy, raw, and real than we have generally known. Over time, though, I've sensed that we need some specific, simple rules that'll help us implement this foolishness. Guidelines that will help us navigate specific, living situations, to guide our thinking and help us decide what to do next. I'm getting ready to share these rules in the … [Read more...] about #FourFoolishRules
Change Not Change
When someone new shows up, do things change? You could think of that new family in the neighborhood, that new in-law in the family, or that stranger that started joining in worship a few weeks ago. Does their presence change things? Or are they expected to fit into how things were before they got there? These questions feel particularly relevant to me right now because I'm switching to a new clergy appointment; I'll be serving as pastor to a different church. As I move my work and, in a few months, my residence to a new community, will things change because I'm there? I titled this post … [Read more...] about Change Not Change