Membership Matters

I’m currently leading a two session “Membership Matters” class at our church.  I’ve done this before and think it is a needed way to help folks understand the need for church membership, what it means, and who we are as a church.

I’ve written often about the struggles in American church life.  I believe this is a positive approach (not because I’m doing it) that can help churches with church health.

Some traditions have organized new membership classes that integrate folks into the church.  Baptists have done this poorly. Often in Baptist churches folks would walk an aisle, pray, be baptized and that’s it.  Then they would be asked to serve in jobs and little attention was given to membership.

This approach is a step that comes even before the decision to join happens.  This is a time for folks to explore what and who we are before they do join.  It’s a time to see what this is about.  Then if they join they better understand their decision.

Somebody’s daughter

OPINION: Somebody’s daughter (Originally in the Religious Herald)

By Derik Hamby

Friday, January 20, 2012

0digg I was at my daughter’s school when her teacher asked, “Did you see what your daughter wrote? All the teachers are coming down to read it.” My daughter is 7 years old and in the first grade and anything she writes is a work of art, but this time I was very curious. I immediately walked out into the hallway outside her classroom. On the wall a sign read, “I have a dream.” Children had created artwork describing their dreams. Here is what my daughter wrote: “I have a dream that I will be a preacher and I will preach about God. And I will preach about Jesus. I will work at a church. I will preach on a stage. I hope my dream will come true.”I realize she loves her daddy and if I were a cowboy she’d probably want to be one, too. I realize her career ideas will change a million times. A few years ago she wanted to be a butterfly and then it was a mermaid. I know all this, but I still cried. And yet I also know it is at this age that kids really are thinking about what they want and desire from life. It’s obvious to me that my kids are blessed to be in a loving church environment that is nurturing them to be the person God has made them to be.

Hamby Musings in Texas

Visit the Fort Worth Star and check out the story on Ed Young’s Bed in and you will find my quotes!

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/13/3659090/dfw-pastor-and-wife-spend-day.html

I was glad that my comments came out without making me sound too weird.  I’m always nervous when I’m quoted in a news article.

Enough on this topic-on to something new!

Sex Talk and the Pulpit

My recent blog article that was posted on ABP recently led to a phone call from a Texas newspaper doing a story on Ed Young Jr’s sermon series and book “Sexperiment.”  I am not sure if they will use my article/blog or quotes in their story and honestly I really will not mind if they don’t!  I’m always nervous talking to media because you answer questions and wonder how it sounds.  I prefer writing my thoughts out!  But I’ll keep you posted if that article runs regardless whether I’m in it at all!!

This Sermon is X Rated

Below is an article I recently posted on Associated Baptist Press (ABP):

Opinion: Warning, this sermon may be X-rated

By Derik Hamby

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

0digg Derik Hamby (ABP) – Mega-church preacher Ed Young Jr. is challenging married couples in his church and beyond to conduct a “sexperiment” – to have sex for seven straight days as a way to improve their marriage. Videos promoting Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy with Your Spouse look more like commercials for a TV reality show than an inspirational book and sermon series and would raise eyebrows in most churches. One video shows seven different rooms in a house from kitchen to garage and declares, “Think outside the bedroom.” Young and his wife and co-author, Lisa, are planning a 24-hour “bed in ” to promote their new book on the roof of their Dallas-areaFellowship

From the Pastor’s Book Shelf- Some Winter Reading

I just got back from a week visiting my wife’s family and as usual I took a stack of books with me.  I read fiction as well as non-fiction.  Some of my reading was just for fun but some books I chose for my own growth.  Two books I have finished I submit to you as books you should read this winter.

2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 14,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 5 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.