Imagebearer’s Weblog

UMC “The Call To Action” Vital Congregations

I am really excited about the United Methodist Church “Call To Action.” Over the next several weeks and months we will be setting goals for our congregations at First Hillsville and Out of the Box. I am asking that our members begin to pray about what God will have us set as goals and how God wants us to IMPACT out community for Jesus Christ.

Here is our First step that will culminate with a plan that will be developed by the end of November 2011.

Prayer filled approach:

Begin praying for the health and vitality of the congregation.  Prayerfully consider where you have been over the past five years and where God is leading you to be effective in the community over the next five years.

Please let us know that you are praying.

Pastor Ronnie

August 5, 2011 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

The Joy of Being a Pastor

The greatest joy of being a pastor is seeing people experience a changed life.

Luke 4:18 NLT

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
¹⁹ and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

The Bible teaches that as Christians we have been anointed to bring Good News to the poor, proclaim release to the Captives, give sight to the blind, and to set the oppressed free. It is my joy to see that happening through the churches that I serve, First Hillsville UMC/Out of the Box Worship Center.

I have witnessed growth in peoples lives like never before. God is doing a work in and through the lives of the people that I only imagined until this time.

I am witnessing people step out of their comfort zone and into the lives of hurting people to make a life changing difference.

I am witnessing people who are tired of life as usual and they are speaking up for God and the difference He has made in their lives. Because of this, people are coming in bunches to see who this God is that we serve.

I am seeing people hold each other accountable.

I am seeing people lift each other up when they have a bad day or a bad week.

I am seeing a group of encouragers who refuse to let their brothers and sisters in Christ lose focus.

I am seeing people take up the mantle of Jesus and Change The World.

I love being a pastor.

Pastor Ronnie

August 5, 2011 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

iPad 2, I finally have one

I have been patient and finally purchased an iPad 2. I wanted one when the first ones came out but I have learned to be patient and not buy on first impulse. I am glad that I waited. I knew right off that I liked the iPad but then became frustrated with it when I went to St. Simons Island Ga. The internet service there was not good at all and even worse on the ipad than the laptop.

However, with time I have started to see the plethora of benefits that far outweigh the negatives.

The following are ways the iPad has begun to benefit me in my life and ministry.

Kindle Reader with the screen back-lit – it is great for reading at night, early morning, in low light without turning on the lights.

WordPress – I am now able to take great pictures and put them directly into blog posts – major time saver.

Bible – Youversion app – I am able to download various versions of the Bible for use when there is no internet connection.

USA Today – I have been paying $11.99 per month for this news paper on Kindle – on iPad it is FREE

Battery Life – 10 hours

Bible Study – I have access to my Logos Bible Study Software

Money savings – many of the things I printed before will not be printed now. There will be a huge savings in ink cartridges alone.

These are just a few of the benefits, I continue to find more every day. The ipad, like the Kindle is one of those tools that will pay for itself in just a short time. Take the plunge.

Ronnie

August 5, 2011 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

My New Running Buddy – Dakota Carico – Tuesday August 16th – 7am

I love to run and even more than that, I love to see other people take up running. Dakota was talking to me at the Worship Center on Thursday night and he wants to run a Marathon with me, 26.2 miles. AWESOME!

So, my friend Dakota is taking the 8 mile challenge on Tuesday morning August 16th at 7am and he has invited Evan Nester to join us??? We haven’t heard from Evan yet???

I know that Dakota will pass this test, if he can endure the needle of this tattoo, then he can endure 8 miles.

Can’t wait.

Ronnie

August 5, 2011 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Book Review: Change The World

Mike Slaughter is not only one of the voices calling out to the church to change, Mike has demonstrated that change in his own congregation. Sounding the alarm that the church is dying is not popular but Mike is doing so and he rightfully says if the church doesn’t change it will just continue to dwindle.

Mike Slaughter is a United Methodist pastor on a mission to Change the World.

“Moses had two careers during his first eighty years. For the first forty he was a prince of Egypt. Pretty impressive career! His next forty years were given to the management of his father-in-law’s business. Then at eighty years of age, Moses had his burning bush moment and discovered his life purpose. This is the first work of discipleship, Church. We are to assist people in the discovery of their burning bush and then throw gasoline on their life passion!”

“We must find ways as individuals and faith communities to live more simply so that others may simply live. Simplicity means fully embracing and celebrating God’s gifts today. In times of uncertainty and crisis it can be easy to postpone today waiting for a better tomorrow.”

“Returning to basics-aiming for micro, rather than macro-means reallocating resources so that life transformation and mission are prioritized over expensive and exhausting programming and expansive building projects. We have to ask hard questions about the resources poured into facilities that are used a few hours each week. Our questions must be relentless concerning the programs and meetings that consume thousands of hours of staff and servant time but fail in producing measurable results in discipleship and mission. Often the microgroups bear the most fruit.”

In the church where I serve, First Hillsville UMC/Out of the Box Worship Center we are going through the learning process of starting a new place for new people to worship. We are putting into practice the Call to Action in this book. We are looking at ways to serve the people who are not inside the church and ways to spend money on mission and not on bricks and mortar. I can speak first hand and say that people are excited.

It is time for the church to change.

Ronnie

“You and I are called to be part of a world-changing, Spirit-empowered “hell can’t prevail” community of action. The outcome will not be determined by the size of your congregation or the abundance of your resources-only your willingness to leave the safety of your life raft and the compliance of those who choose to remain on it. Have courage, Saints-for God is in this place and the gates of hell cannot prevail against us!”

August 5, 2011 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

How to drop the Luggage of Life and Enjoy The Ride | Guest Speaker this Sunday, Jerry King

August 5, 2011 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment