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Nov 15, 09:33 AM by Mike Mitrovich
Mad Church Disease | A book review
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Let me start by saying this: I am tired. I am exhausted. I am burned out. One place I would expect to find hope and rest and peace is in God’s holy church.
Instead, I am finding stress, worry, lethargy, self indulgence, turmoil, heartbreak.
Just as I’m starting to define this and what it means to me, I come across a blog: flowerdust.net. I read on that blog that the author, Anne Jackson, has written a book called Mad Church Disease – a book about what I’m experiencing. And she’s giving away 10 advance copies.
255 people hoped to win. I was one of ten who actually did.
Because of the way I read this type of book and the way I choose books off the shelf, I would probably NOT have chosen Mad Church Disease at a store.
I would have chosen poorly…
Nov 14, 07:28 AM by Mike Mitrovich
Bear good fruit
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The grapes of wrath, spitting raspberries, people going bananas, sour lemon faces. So often, this is the “fruit” I see growing on pews Sunday morning, going out in emails, being expressed on committees, reflected in the driving of cars with “my boss is a jewish carpenter” bumper stickers, and all too often in my own heart.
Something tells me this isn’t what Christ meant when he said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.”
A never ending fruit loop
There has been a lot of preaching at my church lately about “fruit” and “vines”. However, this preaching has not really defined what this “fruit” is. And I think it needs to. I think the fruit Jesus appointed Christians to bear and the fruit they talk about on Sunday may not be the same fruit.
Oct 17, 10:03 AM by Mike Mitrovich
Round Man, Square Church - Part 3
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Welcome to the final post of 3. If you haven’t already, please catch up with the first 2 posts, starting with PART 1.
First, let me say that I am not ending the series due to running out of things to complain about. As I sit to write this entry, I realize I will NEVER run out of things to complain about.
I am ending the series here because in writing it, I realize that all I’m doing is trying to justify my lack of patience… my lack of mercy… my lack of forgiveness and my inability to solve the problems on my own.
Oct 14, 08:55 AM by Mike Mitrovich
If all seek to be poor, none will be
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With the United States in the middle of an economic downturn, it seems only fitting that this year, Blog Action Day would focus on the topic of poverty.
Looking around at a great need and the efforts of so many to combat that need, I have to wonder what my voice can lend to the conversation. What do I know about poverty?
Oct 10, 04:33 PM by Mike Mitrovich
Round Man, Square Church - Part 2
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Welcome to the second post in my Round Man, Square Church series. or “Mike’s pity party” as I sometimes call it in my head.
If you haven’t already, please read part 1 of the series to get the context for this post.
Us VS Them
Today I want to share my struggle with an “Us Vs. Them” mentality that seems to have taken root in my church. Now, I would not be surprised if this manifested itself as Christian Vs. Non-Christian, just because that is so cliche. Sadly, however, it is focused on our internal church “groups” and ministries.
Oct 8, 12:26 PM by Mike Mitrovich
Round Man, Square Church - Part 1
4 comments
I have been struggling a lot lately with my role at my current church and with the question of whether I want to look for a different church.
In an effort to get your feedback on my struggle and to hopefully prove to myself that I’m not just being selfish and petty, I plan to write a series of posts addressing some of the things that are bugging me.
Round Hole
If you read my previous entry, you’re aware of my attempt at not becoming any rounder than I already am.
Square Peg
In many regards, I think my church is pretty square. As in, “Gee, Wally, if we don’t learn to use email and the internet, people will think we’re square!”
Aug 29, 06:00 AM by Mike Mitrovich
And I ask this in Christ's name...
2 comments
For some reason lately, there are certain habits I’ve picked up from present day Christianity that are really starting to grate on me. For example, why is it that we feel the need to end every prayer with something along the lines of, “… and we ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.” What do we really mean by that?
