Bald Boucher Blogging

The Kingdom of God & Christian Education--a longer opinion

2009-07-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, we were challenged to revision how to teach Bible at CSCS. In that process, I became convinced that it was not that we need a completely new and regenerate Bible Department, but that we need a new and regenerate view of “why Christian education”, “why Bible” and “why we emphasize Spiritual Life” (or Student Ministries as we call it at our school).I believe that a revolution needs

Outreach to the Poor in the Book of Acts

2009-07-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

One of the things the Lord is working into the new church we are a part of is a heart for the needy and broken in Colorado Springs. As a result, I’ve been thinking about church outreach to the poor and needy and wondering what the early church in Acts did regarding the poor and needy in the community. The Book of Acts is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I’ve taught parts of it from the

The Kingdom of God and Christian Schools--brief

2009-07-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, that Christian schools would be focused and intentional as such (see “democracy as a tool for evangelism”), rather than seeking to be popular and touchy feely. Rather than striving for more students, a larger empire, more state championships and an increase of news reports on us, we need to be focused on the Kingdom of God coming on this earth as it is in heaven in our day, in each student’s

My Historical Faith

2009-03-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

Recently I’ve been doing a word search through the Bible on the phrases “…the God of…” and “…the Lord of…” so far, I’ve been struck with the significance of three connected phrases:the God of my fathersyour Godthe God of your descendantsIn considering all this, there seems to be something different and even sacred about following the God of our fathers.This isn’t the idea that our adolescents

My Educational Theology 9: Tying Things Together

2009-03-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

In wrapping up my theology, I think that it is important to keep in mind the setting of my ministry—education. My ministry takes place in a school. Because of this, I need to specifically keep in mind that our primary and distinctive role as a Christian institution is to educate and train mid-adolescents. All mentoring, training, releasing and cultural relevance needs to be done in the context

My Educational Theology 8: Culturally Relevant Ministry

2009-03-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

Finally, in regards to my theology of youth ministry in a Christian school, I believe that we must do all we can to be culturally knowledgeable and relevant as we work with the mid-adolescents at our school. To do so, I believe that it is important for those who teach the Scriptures to our students and those who are involved in the practical application side of ministry to be well studied and

My Educational Theology 7: The Value of Youth

2009-03-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

In Job 32 and 33, Job’s young friend Elihu waited for their older three friends to speak wisdom to Job regarding his situation. However, their words were not wise. They spouted knowledge and platitudes and “conventional wisdom”, but not necessarily the wisdom of God. As a respectful young person, Elihu waited for the older three to talk and then said this: Surely it is God's Spirit within

What I've Found: Signs & Wonders 4 (the rest of it...)

2009-03-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

Unusual Signs & WondersAs the narrative of Acts unfolds we see the believers performing signs and wonders. However, on occasion some of them are given “unusual ability” to perform signs and wonders. These unusual signs and wonders are seen specifically as being given to Peter and Paul.Only twice to we see a reference to “unusual abilities” in Acts. Once is where Peter’s shadow falls on the sick

What I've Found: Signs & Wonders 3 (in the church)

2009-03-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

In the ChurchThough the Scriptures specifically describe signs and wonders as part of evangelism, we see some of the same events that we would describe as signs and wonders taking place within the church. If one has to be bound by the number of supports that Scripture gives an activity, signs and wonders in the church would be at the shorter end of the support, though I believe that a strong case

What I've Found: Signs & Wonders 2 (evangelism)

2009-03-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

EvangelismIn the study of Scripture, it becomes apparent that the activities that we frequently refer to as “signs and wonders” is generally reserved to go along with the preaching of the Gospel as an accompanying signature of God’s approval on the preacher and the veracity of the message of the preacher.According to the Gospel of Mark, while Jesus was concluding the Great Commission, He spoke of

What I've Found: Signs & Wonders 1 (defining)

2009-03-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

The Scriptural phrase “signs and wonders” brings with it a sense of excitement and concern. The church at the beginning of Acts was described as being in awe and in fear at the signs and wonders worked among them. Today there is a mixture of awe at the possibility of God at work and fear at the mysterious nature of these events—are they of God or of man. The purpose of this paper is to first

My Educational Theology 6: Mentoring

2009-03-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

I believe that it is consistent with the biblical-historical model that our ministry to students in a Christian high school needs to stress the mentoring of students. The Bible provides many examples of mentoring in the training of young people to do God’s work[1]. Some notable examples of this include Moses and Joshua; Elijah & Elisha; Barnabas and John Mark; and Paul and Timothy & Titus. In

Lent: Day 4

2009-02-28T12:03:00.000-08:00

Reading: Psalm 101: A Psalm of David (I will walk with integrity)Reflections:Yahweh, how I craved Your awful presence—a terrifying and holy place—a place in which I should be consumed!My flesh cries out—don’t consume me, O awesome and terrifying God—my sin is so terrible, I can’t stand Your presence!My soul finds rest in the fact that Jesus carried my sin on the cross so that I will not be

Lent Day 1: Ash Wednesday Reflections

2009-02-28T11:31:00.000-08:00

On Ash Wednesday, a group of student interns from school and I attended an Ash Wednesday service at St. Peter of the Rock Church. I then took the rest of the day off school to take a break from the school routine. These are some of my reflections throughout that day:Wow! There is such a depth and reverence I felt while attending the Ash Wednesday service this morning. What community with the

The Christian Response to Illegal Immigration & other things

2009-02-22T20:38:00.001-08:00

While reading Isaiah 56 this morning, an old political philosophic thought ran though my head with new relevance. Isaiah 56 begins with the words: “Thus says the Lord: “keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed” (ESV). The passage continues to talk about God’s perspective on various populations in the land—one of them being the

My Educational Theology 5: Summary & Conclusion

2009-02-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

In summary, if the role of the parents has historically been to socialize and train their children vocationally; and if part of the historic role of the church is to train their children in their religious beliefs; and if western society and specifically American society has historically created a separate institution to assist in accomplishing these things, then a role of Christian education is

My Educational Theology 4: Education in America

2009-02-18T17:11:00.000-08:00

As today’s western cultures and societies have evolved in the last 200 years, education has become a hybrid of the families’ vocational training and the religious communities’ religious training. Particularly in America, both early American families and the church founded a fourth institution—community education of children—to be a social benefit. The first public schools in America were

Christian Education & the Kingdom of God

2009-02-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

My Educational Theology 3: The Government & the Church

2009-02-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

The second institution that we see God establishing is that of the civil government. The civil government is God’s agent on earth designed and delegated by God to keep order on the earth. Human government is designed by God to protect and defend the rights and freedoms that He gave to mankind. It is not important to spend a great deal of time discussing the civil government in this paper, but

My Educational Theology 2: the Family & Education

2009-01-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

I believe that any education or ministry of children and adolescents begins with the parents and church flow from our belief that the Bible sets up the family and the church as the primary institutions of influence on children.The family was the first human institution ordained by God and God very specifically has given parents the responsibilities for the upbringing and education of their

My Educational Theology 1: Introduction

2009-01-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

Introduction: A year ago, I had to write my theology of youth ministry for a class I was taking in seminary. The paper was the result of a years work in gathering information and processing a variety of books, lectures, and discussions with my class mentor and my colleagues at CSCS and youth pastor friends in town. My supervising professor at Fuller must have liked it because I got an A on it,

Paul, The Runt Apostle

2008-11-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

A paraphrase of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15 captured my attention today: 8 “And finally, at the very end of His appearances, Christ appeared to me and showed Himself to me as well—as if I was a forgotten child, a runt, or a baby who was thought to be aborted, but survived. 9 I exist as the very least—the smallest in size, amount and dignity—of the apostles who have been chosen by God as His

Other schools don't do it this way....

2008-11-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

“Other schools don’t do it this way….”I get so tired of the phrase “the way other schools do it”. I’ve heard this phrase used by many of our students, but also by our teachers, administrators. To me that means that we haven’t articulated what we mean by Christian education very well. When were we called to be just like other schools? If Christian schools are to be just like other schools,

Thoughts on Communion

2008-11-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

It seems that there is something unique and holy about communion or as it is referred to in the New Testament, “the Lord’s Table”, the “Lord’s Supper” or “the Breaking of Bread”. Yet so few Christian churches regularly participate in this unique and holy Christian ritual. If Christianity is divided into three general categories (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant), then a whole 1/3 of those

We The People Are the Ultimate Authority

2008-11-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

Romans 13:2For there is no authority except form God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.I firmly believe that we the people are the ultimate human authority in the United States of America because we are a republic or a Jeffersonian Democracy (if you prefer). Therefore we the people are accountable to God for those we put in office. Think about it…re-read The Declaration of

The Edna Calling

2008-10-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

The other day in our Student Leadership Council meeting the theme was “super heroes”. The student leaders were supposed to say who their superhero was and tell why—some actually dressed up as their superhero. Paige, our council president, challenged us to think about superheroes and how they embody characteristics that we as leaders have.As I was thinking about superheroes, two things came to

2008-10-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Jeffersonian representative democracy is as much a tool to the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as medicine or aviation are tools in this same end. It is just that: a tool, an instrument, a means—not an ultimate goal!Recent statistics report that only 4% of this younger generation will end up being genuine believers in Jesus Christ, which leaves 96% who aren’t. If that remains the case

Teaching Advice to My Wife

2008-09-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

Teaching isn't just about buildings or bulletin boards or cool manipulatives. Teaching is mostly about a relationship with your students that enables you to give them the skills that you have that they need in order to move onto the next stage in life.

Justice: intended chapel message on September 2

2008-09-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

After watching a video reading of Isaiah 58...Maybe it’s that the true issue of fasting is seeking justice. instead of seeking what you think that you deserve; instead of speaking up for yourself; instead of seeking what’s best for you, speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves, seek what is best for someone else, call out the masterpiece that is hidden in the mud of someone else’s

My hero Paul is bald!

2008-09-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

You know, for years I’ve been saying that the Apostle Paul was my hero. I have studied his writings for various reasons under various circumstances. I have preached sermons on some of his epistles (Ephesians and 1 Timothy). I have studied what he says about leadership (both civic and ecclesiastical). I have struggled through some of his hard sayings like “I do not understand my own actions. For I

What if people said..."they've been with Jesus"?

2006-04-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

Oh that we, and therefore our youth, were motivated at the beginning of the 3rd Millennium as our spiritual ancestors were at the beginning of the 1st Millennium. These men and women were the eyewitnesses of the life, words, powerful deeds and teachings of Jesus Christ. These experiences were those which changed their lives forever and a fact they could not hide because they were so passionate

Fasting

2006-01-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

Why fast? Why all the hype about fasting?Today there is a renewal of fasting in the Christian world—especially among those who are seeking revival. As we prepare to fast, let me guide you with some thoughts and give you some resources regarding fasting.In Random Ministries it has been strongly suggested that the leadership and staff fast and pray in preparation for this upcoming Prayse™ Rally and

Dying to Self

2005-12-24T09:10:00.000-08:00

Donald Miller's chapter on Community in Blue Like Jazz struck me as something I really need, but the quote of impact came at the end of the chapter when he wrote (quoting a bed and breakfast owner he was talking to):If we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus.Holy crap! That really hit home.