
Carolyn and I enjoyed being in worship with you last weekend for a frank discussion about love and marriage, sharing about our own marriage and the difficulties we have had to overcome to create the relationship we have today. If you missed it, it would be well worth your time to catch it on video.
This week we are going to continue our dialogue on marriage while also moving on to God’s view on divorce and remarriage. Please post here or on Facebook any questions, issues or marriage topics you would like for us to tackle this week.
See you in worship!
God bless…
WOW, you guys are great. Just want Carolyn to know that Craig & Tammie Bruntz celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary in January. She counseled us before we were married and David Hood married us in the old church. Carolyn was stern with us and we battled with her. I believe if Carolyn had counseled us ( my first marriage that is) it would not have ended in divorce as we would not have married to begin with. I know our marriage this time around is stronger because you gave us tools to help us. I would strongly recommend anyone contemplating marriage to talk with Carolyn and do what she asks.
Thank you so much Carolyn.
Posted By: Craig on Feb 02, 2012 04:19PM
Greeting people at a book signing | I have just returned from a ten-day road trip that began in Central Pennsylvania, from there to Tampa and finished yesterday in Dallas. I am always encouraged by the stories I hear about God’s work moving beyond the walls of local congregations into their communities and throughout the world in relevant missional ways.
A woman from New Orleans introduced herself to me in Tampa and expressed her thanks for all of the Ginghamsburg mission teams that have been part of the rebuilding movement in her area. “Your church’s work in New Orleans made the front page of our paper,” she told me. “I have never seen the Methodist Church on the front page as the cover story,” she went on to say.
An African pastor who was in the U.S. for a pre-United Methodist General Conference briefing meeting came over to me and clasped both my hands: “We want to thank your church for your work in Darfur. God is being praised!”
More...
I was blessed by many of you who shared with me how your churches are actively participating in “Christmas Is Not Your Birthday,” and the God-honoring results with the alternative investments in the least and the lost.
Jesus has given the world only one commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:14).
C.S. Lewis’ mentor, George MacDonald, brought clarity to this command for Jesus’ followers when he wrote: “To let their light shine, not to force on them their interpretations of God’s designs, is the duty of Christians toward their fellows. If you who set yourselves to explain the theory of Christianity, had set yourselves instead to do the will of the Master, the one object for which the Gospel was preached to you, how different would now be the condition of that portion of the world with which you came into contact!”
God bless…

Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Jan 26, 2012 02:00PM
Add Comment
My friend Chuck Gutenson and I have written a book together called Hijacked: Responding to the Partisan Church Divide. I have personally witnessed a growing partisan political influence in the church, which has created an unholy alliance of political ideology and biblical theology.
Political powers have long sought to harness the church's influence for partisan advantage. Christians dare not let the terse partisan spirit hijack the inclusive message and mission of Jesus for the world that God loves. Difficult as it may seem in this heated political environment, Christians are called to be actively involved in the political systems of the world without becoming one with them.
It took me somewhat as a surprise when well-known Christian researcher George Barna endorsed Newt Gingrich's bid for the GOP presidential nomination this past week. More...
In a statement, Barna says he is "honored to announce that I have accepted the position of co-chairman of the national Faith Leaders Coalition for Newt Gingrich." Barna says that after "a lot of study, soul searching, and prayer," he feels the former House speaker is the "best man for the job" and would like to help him get the Republican nomination.
Barna admits that he realizes Gingrich is in a tough battle for the nomination, but he believes the former congressman from Georgia is the person "best poised" to lead the nation as it faces a "difficult and uncertain future."
Other influential Christian leaders including Don Wildmon of the American Family Association and Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church in Southern California have also publically endorsed Gingrich. Two of my pastor friends, Brian McLaren and Kirbyjon Caldwell, endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
This is not a judgment for or against Gingrich or President Obama, or condemnation toward these Christian leaders for having political convictions. As Christian leaders, however, we need to remember that we have a responsibility to lead people who hold diverse political perspectives and represent a kingdom that is in redemptive tension with all the kingdoms of the world. The Psalmist might have been experiencing a similar heated political climate when he wrote, "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save" (146:3).
As Christians we have too often allowed worldly political ideologies to become determining factors for our theology rather than grounding ourselves in sound biblical theology for determining our politic. Some well-meaning believers have become more passionate about engaging in the heat of partisan political debate than they have been in sharing the good news about Jesus. Left and right, blue and red are but imperfect systems that are passing away. These systems, by their very nature, create barriers of division. The way of the cross is eternal and tears down the dividing walls that stand between us. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28).
As followers of Jesus we must not allow this political polarization of extremes to pollute the message and mission of Jesus. As Jesus' disciples, we must daily submit to the way of the cross in our attitudes, words and actions. Jesus taught that social transformation occurs when his followers seek the common good. The people who make up Jesus' new community are to be the leaven that permeates and transforms the world (Matt. 13:33).
God bless…

I'm so looking forward to this book!
Posted By: A.C. on Jan 12, 2012 07:09PM
I can hardly wait to read this book, and I am looking forward to meeting Dr. Gutenson when he comes to Ginghamsburg this spring.
Concerned Christian Citizen
Posted By: William E. Snyder on Jan 13, 2012 11:12AM
Why would a pollster endorse a political candidate?! Disappointing!
Posted By: Jerry Wolgemuth on Jan 13, 2012 11:26AM
You are absolutely right Pastor Mike. It reminds me of a time, about 2 decades ago, when I attended a small church in Celina, Ohio. After the building of a shiney, larger church, and the pastor there won a modest sum of money in a lottery, I watched a transformation. Suddenly it seemed that the pastor was spending more time bad mouthing the sinners who didn't attend church than preaching God's word to those of us present. Sadly I stopped attending any church until I moved to Vandalia in 1996. By God's grace I found my way to Ginghamsburg and regained my love of praise and worship among God loving brothers and sisters. Why more people don't pay attention to the teachings of Jesus is beyond me. I'm glad I found your blog :)
Posted By: Debra Savage on Jan 15, 2012 08:34AM
We, as Christians, do need to know the tenants of the American Declaration of Independance and the Constitution of the United States. We also need to know the people who developed these documents and their beliefs. Nearly all were Christian believers and found the basis for the tenants of both in the Bible. A large number of them were theologians. We need to know that American was established on Biblical beliefs and be able to defend ourselves and our rights under those documents. Spending time with God and the Word are essential but we need to know how and why these documents contain the things they do. We were designed to be a Christian nation and we need to strive to become that nation again. We have drifted far from our founders intentions.
Posted By: Brenda Weller on Jan 19, 2012 09:49AM
Practicing the discipline of "exercise for life" at the cabin on January 2, 2012 | January comes from "Janus," which in Roman mythology is the god of beginnings and transitions, also known as the god of open gates and open doors. Jesus also said "I am the door," and January is an excellent time to follow Jesus into new beginnings. Perhaps that is why so many of us this time of year make, and then often break, New Year's resolutions. I talk about this in my book Momentum for Life.
"Instead of climbing to new heights, too many people plateau when they meet resistance. It doesn't have to be that way. God wants to win the battle for the souls of the world, and it begins for each of us with the management of the world inside. I've learned this the hard way through several conversionlike crises:
On marriage. On June 1, 1992, my wife, Carolyn, and I made the disciplined commitment to start marriage over. After almost 20 years together we were headed toward divorce. Instead, I had a conversion about investing in that key relationship.
My devotion. On August 17, 1994, I traveled to Korea with a doctorate of ministry class from a nearby seminary. As we learned firsthand about the amazing revival sweeping that country, I saw that the real power was in the Korean church's commitment to prayer. I made the disciplined commitment to begin every day with a time of devotional meditation and prayer.
My body. On August 18, 2000, I was at a restaurant and started to feel sick.> More...
Seconds later I collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. In the days that followed, a cardiologist said I hadn't taken good care of my heart and body. My body fat content was in the 30s-a ridiculously high level-so in October 2000 I started working with a personal trainer. I was converted in the way I eat and exercise.
In the wake of these potentially catastrophic events and my accompanying mini-conversions, I had a breakthrough. I discovered a group of practices that helped me achieve a self-discipline I had not experienced before. These practices cover every key area of my life-spiritual, intellectual, interpersonal, physical and missional-so that when I follow them faithfully I am a more complete human being. The opposite is also true-when I neglect any one of them, I begin to plateau and lose momentum. Worse, I begin to downsize God's dream.
These practices enable me to build momentum for life They keep me on an upward climb. I am convinced that every follower of Christ needs to find self-management practices that create momentum for life. Mine are based on the acronym D-R-I-V-E. They are the elements that keep me moving with momentum toward God's promised future, and I believe they can be effective tools for you as well. - Devotion: Begin each day with the practice of Bible study, meditation, journaling and prayer.
- Readiness for lifelong learning: Live like a child in school, no matter what your chronological age. Take some time each day for the purpose of growing in "life science." Become a student of the culture, so that you can continue to make a meaningful contribution in God's world.
- Investing in key relationships: Many leaders have fallen here. This is the everyday practice of keeping your heart in the home first and then investing in those people who are most strategic to the mission that God has called you to.
- Vision for the future: Look forward through the eyes of faith. Articulate with clarity God's preferred future; make daily strategic corrections to your life picture.
- Eating and exercise: Take small steps and then bigger ones, exercising your "push back" muscle at the next meal (pushing yourself back from the table) to go take a vigorous walk. Take care of your body for the long haul and find more energy for today.
"These five activities are designed to reach God's purpose in your life and mine."
To delve into these life-disciplines in more detail for 2012, pick up Momentum for Life.
God bless…
>

On Sunday morning Pastor Mike mentioned how the Trinity works--the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When he told us that the three work together as one and yet they are separate. When he said that I remembered that someone once explained to me that understanding how the Trinity works is sort of like understanding how an egg works. The egg has three parts: the shell, the yolk and the egg white. Each serves a different function and can be used in different ways. Yet together, they are the egg. The example of the egg did help me understand the Trinity. For whatever its worth, I thought I would share the example of the egg.
Posted By: Missy D. on Jan 10, 2012 08:27AM
Stockings that Carolyn made for our granddaughters | Carolyn and I want to wish each of you a wonderful Christmas. If you are in the area this week, we would love to have you worship with us. At our Tipp City Campus, we have our first of ten candlelight celebrations at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 22; two on Friday, December 23, at 7 and 8:30 p.m.; and seven on Christmas Eve at 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m. You can also join us at the Fort McKinley Campus at 4, 5:30 or 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Both campuses will hold acoustic worship with communion at 9 a.m. on Christmas morning.
We are thankful that our daughter, son-in-law and two of our granddaughters are in from Boston this week to celebrate with us and that both of our mothers will also be joining us. Of course, we also can’t help but be thinking of those who are suffering, both in our own community and across the globe, and pray for Christ’s peace in places of tension around the world from Darfur to Afghanistan to North Korea and beyond. Please join us in praying that the world may truly come to know the Prince of Peace this Christmas...
God bless…
Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Dec 22, 2011 11:00AM
Add Comment
|