Glen's Quotes Db (3173 total)

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."

SYNCHRONIZE SWIMMING . . . BUT NOT DISCIPLESHIP This edition of e.quipper focuses on equipping the saints through a look at some of the principles presented in Greg Ogden's book, DISCIPLESHIP ESSENTIALS. In conversation this last week, Greg identified three core principles that form the foundation for disciple making. First, disciple making is a relational investment NOT a synchronized program. Classes don't make disciples; only personal investment will. Discipleship is more of a discovery process than a program. If it were illustrated, it would look more like a mosaic than a flowchart. WHAT'S ESSENTIAL? Second, disciple making is about transformation and transformation is the product of three essential ingredients: 1. Vulnerable, open confessional relationships 2. Exposure to truth content 3. Accountability SPREADING THE VIRUS Third, disciple making is fundamentally about reproduction, about spreading the discipleship virus so to speak. This involves training people to disciple others to maturity. The principle is what Greg calls "transferability" and the model he recommends is a peer mentoring model rather than a hierarchical model. This model focuses on discipleship in triads moving strongly away from one-to-one, to individuals inviting two others into a side-by-side relationship as they together walk toward maturity in Christ. For more on discipleship see Greg's DISCIPLESHIP ESSENTIALS: A GUIDE TO BUILDING YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST go to www.gospelcom.net/ivpress/title/toc/1169.html.

Wealthy retired Italian law professor Giacinto Auriti began in July to circulate a private currency, called the "simec," among citizens (and about 40 shopkeepers) in the town of Guardiagrele (about 125 miles from Rome), to "prove" his longstanding theory that any currency, if put in the hands of consumers instead of banks, yields more purchasing power. Auriti prints the simecs, sells them at par with the lira, and then guarantees to merchants that he will redeem them at double their value (by paying out from his family fortune), thereby encouraging merchants to lower their prices. The simec has caused an explosion of consumer sales, but the government believes the whole idea is ridiculous and will collapse as soon as Auriti stops guaranteeing simecs' value.

A dead ministry will always make a dead people, whereas if ministers are warmed with the love of God themselves, they cannot but be instruments of diffusing that love among others. This, this is the best preparation for the work whereunto you are to be called. Learning without piety will only make you more capable of promoting the kingdom of Satan. Henceforward, therefore, I hope you will enter into your studies not to get a parish, nor to be polite preachers, but to be great saints. -- George Whitefield

If the people lead, the leaders will follow.