Memo to Protestant Liberals (and Moderates): the Rapture did come and This is What's Left!

The other day as I left after two maddening hours at the Apple Store, running very late to fight the DC rush hour to pick up a friend for a baseball game, I got onto I-395 only to discover no traffic.   Whole lanes empty. I called my friend to joke, "The rapture came and it's wonderful - you can finally drive in this town!" Turns out it was just the Friday before a long weekend, and the legions had left town early.

THE BEST ACTION ON THE MINISTRY FEILD IS AT SHORT STOP!!

This past summer, at the height of baseball season, Bener Agtarap and I created a metaphor for church multiplication using a baseball diamond. Bener had sent me to Manila earlier in the year to study the habits and patterns of ministry by which United Methodist churches had multiplied so rapidly.   In the Philippines, new congregations begin as mission stations (first base), then the become faith communities with Bible study (second base), then they become worshiping communities (third base), then fully established churches who are fully invested in the mission of the denomination (home base). 

CHURCH AS AN ACQUIRED TASTE

I have just about given up trying to fly out of Washington DC due to thunderstorm delays and cancelations.  My flight was cancelled and United Airlines was unable to get me to Chicago in time to speak to the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.  So I emailed my notes to the Rev. Trey Hall, who spoke for me.  Here are a few excerpts from this speech I never gave, but sort of did...