Temptation poster

Posted on February 18, 2007 by Israel Galindo

A new poster based on Matthew 4:8-10 is available on the Educational Consultants Art Gallery section, under Posters. See a sample here:
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Ascension poster

Posted on February 18, 2007 by Israel Galindo

A new poster, “Ascension” is available on the Educational Consultants website Art Gallery. See sample here:
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A communion poster

Posted on February 17, 2007 by Israel Galindo

A new communion poster is available at the Educational Consultants Art Gallery site. Click on “[Read more]” to see a sample.
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Psalm poster

Posted on February 17, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I’ve created a new poster. It’s available in the Art Gallery at Educational Consultants
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Handouts

Posted on February 17, 2007 by Israel Galindo

Previously I’d posted some educational handouts on the blog. I’ve decided that this is not the right platform for that. I think our intent for the blog is to foster discussion and dialogue (currently an unqualified failure). I’ve posted additional educational handouts on the Educational Consultants web site. Check under /Resources/FREE Resources for the handouts. You’ll also find copies of the Church Teaching Today newsletter under the /Resources/Church Teaching Today menu.

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What is an Authentic Community of Faith?

Posted on February 17, 2007 by mcanaday

In order for a local congregation to be an authentic community of faith, its practice must be congruent with its functional purpose, that is, its Christian mission. The underlying question is “What is the mission of the church?” and “To what are the people of God being called?” If the church is only serving itself (meaning only its own church members) and not loving and serving others beyond the local congregation as a priority of its life of pratice, can it be considered an authentic Christian community of faith? Is the local congregation just one form of “church” among many forms, and it so, can other forms be considered authentic Christian communities of faith?”

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Proper praise

Posted on February 17, 2007 by Israel Galindo

A good article on the proper use of praise. (Click here for article).
No, not that “contemporary worship” kind of “praise” (which isn’t much of praise at all, but that’s a different rant…). The article re-iterates what we’ve know from previous research: unconditional praise is less effective than conditional praise.

This one centers around the current propensity among teacher and parents to “praise” their kids unconditionally about “being smart.” Often a poorly disguised attempt at creating a self-fulfilling prophecy if not a poorly disguised symptom of parental anxiety. Previous research around the same phenomenon had to do with praise about children’s behavior (“You’re such a good girl.” “You’re such a well-behaved boy.”).

One can wonder how this phenomenon translates into the realm of faith formation. Is unconditional praise in areas focused on spirituality as detrimental to faith as are unconditional praise focused on traits like “intelligence” or behavior?
<%image(20070217-IGMatrix100.jpg|100|131|From inside the Matrix)%>

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“Why I’m not in the Emergent Church Movement”

Posted on February 16, 2007 by Israel Galindo

O.k., I thought this was pretty funny. Why I am not emergent.

Despite the playful poke in the eye attitude, I still am not much impressed by any of the “new movements” on the cafeteria of the current American religious landscape. Hype? Style? Adolescent? All of the above? When I compare the thinking and writing of more orthodox saints of the faith (past and present, but more and more, those of the past), the voices of the current movements sound hollow, shrill, and whinney. At a certain point, faith requires intellectual and spiritual gravitas if it is to be relevant and transformative. Running barefoot in the fields of the Lord can feel liberating, and thumbing one’s nose at the perceived hubris of Tradition makes for satisfying adolescent rebellion, but at the end of the day it is the obedient embrace to the spirit and mind of Christ that matters, not how “cool” you look.

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Deut. 26:5

Posted on February 14, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I’ve been asked to provide some art for Lenten worship bulletins at my church. They follow the Lectionary, which contains OT passages they’ll use. I’m not into “pre-Christian literature” myself, but this phrase in the passage caught my imagination.

This image is available as a 12×18 poster. Go to the Educational Consultants website, then go to Links/Art Gallery/Posters to order. The poster is in higher resolution than this image. Click on “[Read more]” to see the image.
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Systems sermons

Posted on February 14, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I had a conversation recently with someone about “how to teach systems theory,” a question that comes up more frequently with the growing interest in systems theory related to clergy and congregaional leadership. I’m convinced that most people go about this the wrong way, tending to focus on teaching the content and concepts of the theory. They wind up teaching “about” systems theory (academically) but making little headway into actually “teaching” systems theory (if-you-know-what-I-mean).

I’ve heard one misguided attempt at this in a preaching-worship context. A pastor of a congregation, convinced of the value of the theory to congregational life and enthusiastic in teaching it to the congregation attempted to do so in the sermon. It was dismal and painful to watch. A misunderstanding of both sermon-craft and the theory.

Attached is an attempt to describe the intersection between BFST and the pastoral function of preaching. I’ve pitched the piece as an article to a couple of periodicals, but here’s an advanced look. What do you think<%media(20070214-GalindoSystemsSermon1.pdf|Galindo, Systems Sermons)%>?

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