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Wayne Cordeiro, Another List for Pastors, Ted Haggard Leaves Colorado, and the Marijuana Church…

Orginally published on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 6:54 AM
by Todd Rhoades

In today's random thoughts and links... Ted Haggard leaves Dodge, another list for pastors, and Wayne Cordeiro. Oh... and the Marijuana Church...

Ted Haggard Leaves Colorado
The Rev. Ted Haggard moved last week from his longtime home in Colorado Springs to Phoenix, where the disgraced minister will join the same church that helped fallen televangelist Jim Bakker.  As part of his severance package from New Life Church, a 14,000-member congregation he started in his basement, Haggard agreed to leave Colorado Springs, a city he helped make an evangelical center. In Phoenix, Haggard plans to pursue a graduate degree in counseling at an area university.  Read more here... QUESTION: I mean no disrespect to Ted, and he continues in my prayers… but do you think a career in counseling will serve him well?  Will people go to a counselor that has fallen as quickly and severely as Ted did (and over the sin Ted fell over?) I’m just thinking that if Ted is going into counseling as a income-producer, he might want to re-think that one.  What do you think?

Another List for Pastors <>
Outreach magazine announces the winners and finalists of its Fourth Annual Best Outreach Resources of the Year Awards.  “Just Walk Across the Room was our clear winner,” says Outreach magazine Editor Lindy Lowry. “Our editors continue to hear stories of how thousands of churches across the country have used this book and accompanying DVDs and small group curriculum to equip their congregations to share their faith.” If you’re interested, you can see the whole list of winners here.  What’s up with all the lists lately?  I think ‘lists’ are the new ‘seeker sensitive’ or something.  Confession:  I do like the lists that include MMI (We’ve made one or two), so I guess lists are ALWAYS bad.  QUESTION: What list would you most like or most unlike seeing?  Maybe we’ll come up with our own list to create a little buzz.

Wayne Cordeiro at The National New Church Conference
I had a chance to hear Wayne Cordeiro yesterday at the National New Church Conference in Orlando.  Wayne is the Pastor at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii.  What a great leader and phenominal speaker.  Actually, I had the opportunity to have dinner with Wayne last evening.  What a great experience.  Interesting takeaways:  Last Sunday, they baptized 181 people; and each weekend, they need 1500 volunteers to pull off their five weekend services.  1500.  Wow.  And even with five services and multiple locations and venues, they are turning people away who can’t get in.  Amazing.  You can read some great notes on Wayne’s message at NNCC over at Dave Ferguson’s blogQUESTION: Can you imagine mobilizing 1500 volunteers each weekend?  (Bear in mind this is only WEEKEND volunteers… they have hundreds more throughout the week.)

Marijuana Church?
In April of 2006, Rev. CraigX Rubin founded Temple 420 as a refuge for the spiritual growth of the 420 Nation. A Judeo-Christian Fellowship with the belief that the Ten Commandments are the moral and spiritual guide that God has given us. The Fellowship holds Cannabis as a sacrament, as mentioned in both the Old and New Testament, and most specifically in Revelation 22:2 as a plant for the healing of all nations. (I bet the carry-in dinners that they sponsor are interesting!) You can check out their website here…

Have a great day!

Todd


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  There are 10 Comments:

  • Posted by

    If Ted is doing it for money (I doubt it) then yes, bad idea. But I think someone who’s been through what he’s been through (by his own action and fault) may be a great candidate for this!

  • Posted by

    I guess Temple 420 gives new meaning to be “high and lifted up.” Sorry, someone had to say it.
    What is the significance of “420 Nation”? What does the 420 refer to?

    Lists--I’m kind of tired of “Most Influential” lists of churches and people, cause I find a lot of those people don’t influence me. I would maybe like to see a thread on 10 books that have influenced you (the MMI community), I sometimes pick up great recommendations from those things. Maybe a top 10 leadership books, top 10 theology/Bible study, top 10 personal growth resource, top 10 by non-Christian (or secular books that have influenced, like 7 Habits of Highly effective people).

    Haggard--he does need to think about the future. Unemployed pastors have it rough in the secular workplace.  Will we see a Ted Haggard confessional book like the Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker put out? I think we will.

  • Posted by Leonard

    I wonder if temple 420 greets people with Hey everyone, whats the latest buzz around here?
    how big is their snack table?
    do they say whoa or dude instead of amen?
    do they sell drugs instead of take an offering?

    I forgive you Dave. 

    I honestly don’t think of haggard that much, more of a capacity issue than a compassion issue.

  • Posted by

    The 420 refers to Luke 4:20.

    “Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him”

  • Posted by

    Wayne Cordeiro - is a true man of God and a wonderful pastor!

  • Posted by

    Actually, I think their vision statement is “Temple 420—where the grass is always greener.”

  • Posted by Bill

    My concern is not that Ted would go into counseling.  Some of the best counselors that I know are men and women who have gone through their own “stuff”, and can counsel out of their own brokenness and healing.

    But that has been my biggest concern for Ted and his family, is the manner and degree of his brokenness and restoration.  Has Ted gone through the process of restoration and healing?  It seems like the whole process has been too fast, and so ultimately that would be my concern that he doesn’t fast track getting back in healing others, when he hasn’t finished the process of helping and healing himself.

  • Posted by

    From Wikipedia:

    4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a term used in North America as a discreet way to refer to the consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis culture. Phrases such as “420 friendly” sometimes appear in roommate advertisements, indicating that the current occupants are tolerant of cannabis users.  Although many diverse theories exist to explain the origin of the term, it is widely accepted that in 1971, a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California, calling themselves “The Waldos”, used to meet every day after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke marijuana at the Louis Pasteur statue. The term became part of their group’s salute, “420 Louis!”, and it eventually caught on more widely. Many cannabis users continue to observe 4:20 as a time to smoke communally. By extension April 20 ("4/20" in U.S. dating shorthand) has evolved into a counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.

    I remember hearing about this in high school and college, although Jason H.’s explanation was hilarious.

  • Posted by Linda

    The marijuana comments are funny, thanks!

    I’ve been waiting to ask a serious question though.  What do you think about the use of medical marijuana?  I know a Christian who uses it by prescription because he has hepatitis c.  Now, what if that were the case for your pastor or church leaders?

  • Posted by

    Ted Haggard - A counselor?

    Personally, I think that God gets more glory when we minister out our weaknesses than when we minister from our strengths.  Didn’t Jesus tell Paul that His power was made perfect in weakness?  When we minister from our strengths, we get the glory; when we allow God use our weaknesses, He gets the glory.

    “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Cor. 12:9

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