Comments on: The Wild-Man Ezekiel http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:32:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: David http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14836 David Thu, 14 Sep 2006 23:52:52 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14836 Steve -- I hear what you are saying, and agree with you that church attendance does not necessarily confirm or deny that someone is a Christ-follower. However, there are many college students who are not even a part of the crowd, much less the committed. Being at a school like ACU, they usually have some type of history as far as the church goes and may have even been baptized. But they have yet to cross the line. So something different may be the spark that gets the fire going. Steve — I hear what you are saying, and agree with you that church attendance does not necessarily confirm or deny that someone is a Christ-follower. However, there are many college students who are not even a part of the crowd, much less the committed. Being at a school like ACU, they usually have some type of history as far as the church goes and may have even been baptized. But they have yet to cross the line. So something different may be the spark that gets the fire going.

]]> By: Susan http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14821 Susan Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:12:10 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14821 Wow, so many people with so many opinions. I think ACU is great and the church atmosphere is great. Many kids are shopping around for a church, and many will go wherever there particular group of friend want to go. Some will no go at all. I say hooray for any church that is willing to try something new so that college students feel welcome. Props to Hilcrest. Wow, so many people with so many opinions. I think ACU is great and the church atmosphere is great. Many kids are shopping around for a church, and many will go wherever there particular group of friend want to go. Some will no go at all. I say hooray for any church that is willing to try something new so that college students feel welcome. Props to Hilcrest.

]]> By: Tina http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14817 Tina Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:10:11 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14817 I can back up Sarah's statement with another YES!! I can back up Sarah’s statement with another YES!!

]]> By: Sarah (Pace) Chaffin http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14815 Sarah (Pace) Chaffin Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:23:29 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14815 Mike - the answer to your question is a resounding YES. Mike - the answer to your question is a resounding YES.

]]> By: Ike http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14813 Ike Thu, 14 Sep 2006 05:29:40 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14813 Woah, somebody get Steve a brown paper bag. He just went "Ezekiel" on us. ;) All kidding aside, I feel you brother. I think the brutal fact is that the nature of our discipleship bears witness to our understanding of just how good the good news is. It's not a race; it's more like a tour of the Chocolate Factory. Enjoy the tour my brothers and sisters. Woah, somebody get Steve a brown paper bag. He just went “Ezekiel” on us.

;)

All kidding aside, I feel you brother. I think the brutal fact is that the nature of our discipleship bears witness to our understanding of just how good the good news is. It’s not a race; it’s more like a tour of the Chocolate Factory.

Enjoy the tour my brothers and sisters.

]]> By: Steve http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14812 Steve Thu, 14 Sep 2006 05:01:19 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14812 I'm sorry...I just have to chime in one more time. Gettin' a little peaved here. At which point did we start believing that college student being in church means that they are following Jesus? When did we start believing that about everyone else? For too long we have perpetuated the thought that attendance at a meeting once a week (twice or three times if you're really pious) equals righteousness, and I find this to be a shame. Doesn't Jesus speak sharply to those in his day (and ours, if we're listening) who believe that a rote "going though the motions" will purchase their salvation? Jesus presents a new way of <i>living</i>, of <i>"one another" life together</i> as Ike aptly put it. This means 24-7-365, not just an hour on Sunday. For many of the college students I know, church attendance often impeded their following Jesus. I know that sounds strange -- or even sacreligious -- but it's true. They became so furious at the disconnect between what they were reading in Acts and what they saw the church becoming (regarding justice in the world, finances, hierarchies, racial and gender injustices within, lack of mission, greed, and the list goes on...), that they knew what they had to do. They left. Some of these folks found alternative expressions of community, and others did not. We must not assume that everyone that is not in church is not following Jesus, as we must also not assume that everyone that is in church is following Jesus. We must begin to call each other to a different standard of discipleship, one that centers not on meetings and buildings and budgets, but on self-sacrifice, service, centerdness on and listening to our Master, Jesus. I’m sorry…I just have to chime in one more time. Gettin’ a little peaved here.

At which point did we start believing that college student being in church means that they are following Jesus? When did we start believing that about everyone else?

For too long we have perpetuated the thought that attendance at a meeting once a week (twice or three times if you’re really pious) equals righteousness, and I find this to be a shame. Doesn’t Jesus speak sharply to those in his day (and ours, if we’re listening) who believe that a rote “going though the motions” will purchase their salvation?

Jesus presents a new way of living, of “one another” life together as Ike aptly put it. This means 24-7-365, not just an hour on Sunday.

For many of the college students I know, church attendance often impeded their following Jesus. I know that sounds strange — or even sacreligious — but it’s true. They became so furious at the disconnect between what they were reading in Acts and what they saw the church becoming (regarding justice in the world, finances, hierarchies, racial and gender injustices within, lack of mission, greed, and the list goes on…), that they knew what they had to do. They left. Some of these folks found alternative expressions of community, and others did not.

We must not assume that everyone that is not in church is not following Jesus, as we must also not assume that everyone that is in church is following Jesus. We must begin to call each other to a different standard of discipleship, one that centers not on meetings and buildings and budgets, but on self-sacrifice, service, centerdness on and listening to our Master, Jesus.

]]> By: David http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14811 David Thu, 14 Sep 2006 04:39:35 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14811 Terry, I was thinking that exact same thing! Terry,

I was thinking that exact same thing!

]]> By: Terry http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14810 Terry Thu, 14 Sep 2006 03:05:51 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14810 I would be happy if my 21 and 25 year old were going to church...period! I would be happy if my 21 and 25 year old were going to church…period!

]]> By: Weldon http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14809 Weldon Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:45:27 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14809 We had a couple want to start a childrens church at our congregation. We met tremendous resistance. One member stated that we say we are happy to have babies and young in church and now you want to ship them out. The biggest resistance came from the parents of those young children. We do not have children's church now. We had a couple want to start a childrens church at our congregation. We met tremendous resistance. One member stated that we say we are happy to have babies and young in church and now you want to ship them out. The biggest resistance came from the parents of those young children. We do not have children’s church now.

]]> By: Vonnie http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14808 Vonnie Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:47:51 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14808 Did that smily face after your statement about Don (I also call him Donnie) mean you were kidding? The part about him trying out for associate associate preacher. I'm very gullible but I don't believe that one. My husband and I will be at Highland Sunday. We've known Donnie since he was in 9th grade at Columbia Christian High School in Portland, Oregon. My husband was his 9th grade Bible class teacher and brags (jokes) that he taught him everything he knows. I was very surprized when I found out that he had become a preacher. He was quite a character in high school. We have heard him preach in Atlanta - and yes he has a lot of energy and did when he was in high school. Did that smily face after your statement about Don (I also call him Donnie) mean you were kidding? The part about him trying out for associate associate preacher. I’m very gullible but I don’t believe that one. My husband and I will be at Highland Sunday. We’ve known Donnie since he was in 9th grade at Columbia Christian High School in Portland, Oregon. My husband was his 9th grade Bible class teacher and brags (jokes) that he taught him everything he knows. I was very surprized when I found out that he had become a preacher. He was quite a character in high school. We have heard him preach in Atlanta - and yes he has a lot of energy and did when he was in high school.

]]> By: Lee http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14807 Lee Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:28:58 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14807 By the way..... There were many other members from Hillcrest in the University service on Sunday......One of the mistakes in the Optimist article was the headline "University-only"....... By the way….. There were many other members from Hillcrest in the University service on Sunday……One of the mistakes in the Optimist article was the headline “University-only”…….

]]> By: Lee http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14806 Lee Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:12:48 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14806 Have any of you attended the "Hillcrest" University service? It is amazing. C'mon admit it~~ how many of you attended Hamby in college because it started at 11am? (and that you absolutely loved Willard Tate!) By the way~~he was the first speaker at the Hillcrest University Service. Stephen Moore spoke last Sunday and was great! Hillcrest has it's service at 9am and the 10:30 university worship is awesome for college students. The optimist article had several mistakes in it and the editor said they would be corrected. After last Sunday's service they were treated to a meal with a young married class and a class composed of older members in the multi purpose room. I feel students need to be in church on Sunday~~wherever they choose to attend~~Hillcrest, Highland, Hamby, University Southern Hills, Oldham Lane~~just be in church!! By the way I have seen statistics of those at ACU who don't attend anywhere and it shocked me!!!!!!!!!!!! In Christ!! Have any of you attended the “Hillcrest” University service? It is amazing. C’mon admit it~~ how many of you attended Hamby in college because it started at 11am? (and that you absolutely loved Willard Tate!) By the way~~he was the first speaker at the Hillcrest University Service. Stephen Moore spoke last Sunday and was great!
Hillcrest has it’s service at 9am and the 10:30 university worship is awesome for college students. The optimist article had several mistakes in it and the editor said they would be corrected. After last Sunday’s service they were treated to a meal with a young married class and a class composed of older members in the multi purpose room. I feel students need to be in church on Sunday~~wherever they choose to attend~~Hillcrest, Highland, Hamby, University Southern Hills, Oldham Lane~~just be in church!! By the way I have seen statistics of those at ACU who don’t attend anywhere and it shocked me!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Christ!!

]]> By: J. Pierpont http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14803 J. Pierpont Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:07:25 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14803 I remember Don from his Byesville, OH days... He was just starting out and I was lucky to have had the opportunity to hear him preach in the Ohio Valley a few times. He was a dynamo then... it doesn't sound as if he has slowed any. I remember Don from his Byesville, OH days… He was just starting out and I was lucky to have had the opportunity to hear him preach in the Ohio Valley a few times. He was a dynamo then… it doesn’t sound as if he has slowed any.

]]> By: David http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14802 David Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:18:58 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14802 Ezekiel was intense. I usually feel uncomfortable when I meet someone that intense and passionate for God. That says more about my own lack of commitment, than the person who is "crazy" for God. Ezekiel was intense. I usually feel uncomfortable when I meet someone that intense and passionate for God. That says more about my own lack of commitment, than the person who is “crazy” for God.

]]> By: Preacherman http://preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14800 Preacherman Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:01:42 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/13/the-wild-man-ezekiel#comment-14800 Beaner. I your lucky! The church I am at now is to small for childrens worship. My kids have to sit and hear me preach. They really enjoy childrens worship when they get the chance to go to churches that have it. The interaction with peers really builds them up. As it does with Adults. Excellent thoughts. Beaner.
I your lucky! The church I am at now is to small for childrens worship. My kids have to sit and hear me preach. They really enjoy childrens worship when they get the chance to go to churches that have it. The interaction with peers really builds them up. As it does with Adults. Excellent thoughts.

]]>