Thursday, May 30, 2013
Monday, March 2, 2009
A Great Decision...
In less than 2 days - on Wednesday - the NHL trade deadline will happen. It is a time when teams either decide to be buyers and pick up players whom they think will help them in the playoffs, or will decide to be sellers and trade away players for future draft picks and prospects.
Usually, it is the weaker teams who decide to be sellers and in a sense, give up. It is the buyers who see what could be and make the necessary changes to improve their position.
It has been suggested that 90%+ of churches have either plateaued (stopped growing) or are in decline. There can be many reasons for this - declining population base; changing demographics between the church and the community, ie: old church, young community, or vice-versa; or even churches that have turned inward focused rather than remaining focused on their reason for existing - sharing the Good News with the unchurched.
To go back to my hockey analogy, I'm not suggesting that churches in decline are giving up, but instead may not be realizing what could be and are therefore failing to try something new (different than what they're doing) in an effort to grow the Kingdom of God, and therefore make new disciples (believers).
As I think of our own church - Central Nova Wesleyan - we are currently considering how we can take those next steps to make inroads into our community and reach new people. It is a daunting task and it will not always be easy. However, if we allow God's vision to guide us and we are intentional and committed to what could be...then we can find ourselves in the 10% of churches who are growing.
Truro offers so much potential...will we do what it takes to make a difference? "Without a Vision, the people perish" - Proverbs 29:18
Have a great week - Ken
Usually, it is the weaker teams who decide to be sellers and in a sense, give up. It is the buyers who see what could be and make the necessary changes to improve their position.
It has been suggested that 90%+ of churches have either plateaued (stopped growing) or are in decline. There can be many reasons for this - declining population base; changing demographics between the church and the community, ie: old church, young community, or vice-versa; or even churches that have turned inward focused rather than remaining focused on their reason for existing - sharing the Good News with the unchurched.
To go back to my hockey analogy, I'm not suggesting that churches in decline are giving up, but instead may not be realizing what could be and are therefore failing to try something new (different than what they're doing) in an effort to grow the Kingdom of God, and therefore make new disciples (believers).
As I think of our own church - Central Nova Wesleyan - we are currently considering how we can take those next steps to make inroads into our community and reach new people. It is a daunting task and it will not always be easy. However, if we allow God's vision to guide us and we are intentional and committed to what could be...then we can find ourselves in the 10% of churches who are growing.
Truro offers so much potential...will we do what it takes to make a difference? "Without a Vision, the people perish" - Proverbs 29:18
Have a great week - Ken
Friday, December 21, 2007
New addition
Hi all,
Our new family addition, Adasa Helene, came into the world at 9:04 am this morning. She weighed in at 7.4 lbs and was 19 inches long. Both her and April are doing fine. She already has daddy wrapped around her finger. Colby gave her a kiss, but wasn't too sure of her at 1st. I'm sure that he'll be a great big brother.
Talk to you later - love Ken, April, Colby and Adasa.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Dad, where's Christmas?
Well, tomorrow is the big day. Child #2 will arrive. It will kick-start an eventful week in the Banks household. Colby's 3rd birthday is on Monday, as is Christmas Eve - a fun day for sure; and then Tuesday is Christmas - the day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus. This time of year will never be the same for us - not that it wasn't important before...but now we'll also have 2 kids with birthdays during Christmas week. Oh, I can hear the complaints about parties and presents already.
Getting used to a new born again will probably take a few minutes, but I truly am looking forward to the new addition...but I ask myself, now that Colby is sleeping through the night; potty trained and doesn't need constant attention, why are we going to put ourself through all of that again? More on that later...
Now that Colby is virtually 3, he is into asking many questions. We can take the 10 minute ride from home into town, and do nothing but answer questions from his inquiring mind. Many of them begin with 'WHY?' "Patience, Lord", is a frequent thought in my mind. But I'm sure that my parents endured it, as do all parents, and if we (I) are careful to answer and not blow up, then we're teaching our kids something right there - that they matter.
Many of his questions in recent weeks have revolved around Christmas. Why are things decorated?, Why a tree?, Why buy presents?, etc. Of course, we share a Bible story each night before bed, and that stirs a lot of questions too. The other day, he asked why Jonah made the world. Still some work to do, I see...
One question that caught my attention, was when he asked, "Dad, where's Christmas?" I don't think that Colby was looking for an in depth answer or even a theological one - it was just a question that popped into his head. So, of course, I talk to him about the idea of Christmas - both the spiritual side and the Santa side...and his response is, "Oh". Then, another question comes roaring out. But that funny, little question has stuck with me...
So, I ask myself - where is Christmas for me? Is it in the gifts (both giving and receiving)? Is it in the busyness (church life and private)? Is it in family? Or, is Christmas - now catch this - found in my response to what happened in a manger. Am I living like God is among us...
Thankfully, Christmas is not in the North Pole; under a tree or at the mall...it's in the heart of those who worship Jesus - the one who fulfilled, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." So, where's Christmas for you?
Merry Christmas!!
Send revival, Start with me.
Pastor Ken
Getting used to a new born again will probably take a few minutes, but I truly am looking forward to the new addition...but I ask myself, now that Colby is sleeping through the night; potty trained and doesn't need constant attention, why are we going to put ourself through all of that again? More on that later...
Now that Colby is virtually 3, he is into asking many questions. We can take the 10 minute ride from home into town, and do nothing but answer questions from his inquiring mind. Many of them begin with 'WHY?' "Patience, Lord", is a frequent thought in my mind. But I'm sure that my parents endured it, as do all parents, and if we (I) are careful to answer and not blow up, then we're teaching our kids something right there - that they matter.
Many of his questions in recent weeks have revolved around Christmas. Why are things decorated?, Why a tree?, Why buy presents?, etc. Of course, we share a Bible story each night before bed, and that stirs a lot of questions too. The other day, he asked why Jonah made the world. Still some work to do, I see...
One question that caught my attention, was when he asked, "Dad, where's Christmas?" I don't think that Colby was looking for an in depth answer or even a theological one - it was just a question that popped into his head. So, of course, I talk to him about the idea of Christmas - both the spiritual side and the Santa side...and his response is, "Oh". Then, another question comes roaring out. But that funny, little question has stuck with me...
So, I ask myself - where is Christmas for me? Is it in the gifts (both giving and receiving)? Is it in the busyness (church life and private)? Is it in family? Or, is Christmas - now catch this - found in my response to what happened in a manger. Am I living like God is among us...
Thankfully, Christmas is not in the North Pole; under a tree or at the mall...it's in the heart of those who worship Jesus - the one who fulfilled, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." So, where's Christmas for you?
Merry Christmas!!
Send revival, Start with me.
Pastor Ken
Monday, November 26, 2007
A baby, 2 homes and 3 French hens...
Wow...a lot has happened in my life since my last posting. As you may have guessed, I am blog-challenged when it comes to a weekly blog. However, I'll do my best to keep it up; especially over the event filled Christmas season.
As I write this, my wife could be having a baby...not quite, but the day is fast approaching. She will find out tomorrow just how close we are - I may have some news for you in next weeks blog. I am sure excited about another addition to the family...but I can feel my hair greying as I type.
Well, we finally moved into our new home - 2 days before Halloween. It is exciting and helpful for us to think that we now have a place to call our own. It seems like a perfect fit for us and we have all kinds of plans and dreams for what it could be in the future. Of course, moving is always (at least to me) stressful...but I have to give a BIG shout out of thanks to many in my church who helped move us out of the old parsonage and into our new home. Without their 'many hands' it would have been a much more trying experience. But not only did they help us move - many others also helped us clean out the old home and set up the new. A great group of people they are for sure!
I also want to thank the church for having the vision to sell the parsonage and allow us to buy our own place. This will give us a running head start for the future years - but it also frees them up from the need to keep up an aging parsonage.
But, as many of you would know, now that we own our home, the bills are flying in...a reality of life.
Christmas...Are you ready for it? I haven't been in the 'mood' yet, but I did catch myself singing some carols the other day. The church is looking very festive (thanks Linda), as is our home (thanks April) - so that is helping to speed up the process. However, Christmas isn't about the mood, or a tree or even 3 French hens...but more on that next week.
As Christmas approaches, I want to be able to enjoy the season - even though life's busy (I did two family weddings this past weekend) with lots of Christmas events / a baby arriving and who knows what else. I'll be pondering how to do just that in the coming weeks...stay tuned.
If you check back next week, I'll be considering the thought - "Dad, where's Christmas?"
Have a great week!
Send Revival, Start with Me!
Pastor Ken
As I write this, my wife could be having a baby...not quite, but the day is fast approaching. She will find out tomorrow just how close we are - I may have some news for you in next weeks blog. I am sure excited about another addition to the family...but I can feel my hair greying as I type.
Well, we finally moved into our new home - 2 days before Halloween. It is exciting and helpful for us to think that we now have a place to call our own. It seems like a perfect fit for us and we have all kinds of plans and dreams for what it could be in the future. Of course, moving is always (at least to me) stressful...but I have to give a BIG shout out of thanks to many in my church who helped move us out of the old parsonage and into our new home. Without their 'many hands' it would have been a much more trying experience. But not only did they help us move - many others also helped us clean out the old home and set up the new. A great group of people they are for sure!
I also want to thank the church for having the vision to sell the parsonage and allow us to buy our own place. This will give us a running head start for the future years - but it also frees them up from the need to keep up an aging parsonage.
But, as many of you would know, now that we own our home, the bills are flying in...a reality of life.
Christmas...Are you ready for it? I haven't been in the 'mood' yet, but I did catch myself singing some carols the other day. The church is looking very festive (thanks Linda), as is our home (thanks April) - so that is helping to speed up the process. However, Christmas isn't about the mood, or a tree or even 3 French hens...but more on that next week.
As Christmas approaches, I want to be able to enjoy the season - even though life's busy (I did two family weddings this past weekend) with lots of Christmas events / a baby arriving and who knows what else. I'll be pondering how to do just that in the coming weeks...stay tuned.
If you check back next week, I'll be considering the thought - "Dad, where's Christmas?"
Have a great week!
Send Revival, Start with Me!
Pastor Ken
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