Month: March 2007

Bragging on My Children

/ Dale Argot / Leave a comment
Here’s a little break from the usual as I share some family things. The picture above and the one below were created by my son James. I was quite impressed by his drawing and he loves to draw. James just brought the creation below home this afternoon. It is a beautiful picture made from tissue paper. I think it’s pretty good.

Here are my two girls just after their performance this evening. You both did a wonderful job. You represented us well.
As you can tell, I am a proud father this evening. I have wonderful children who love the Lord and want to make a difference in their world. I am proud of them. Keep up the good work.

Beauty and the Beast

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Tonight, my family attended our high school’s production of Beauty and the Beast. My daughters both attend the school and were both involved in the production in the ensemble cast. The cast and crew did a great job. I was impressed by the young cast. Quite a few of our congregation came to see the musical as well.
Several months ago, I posted on the movie “Cars” and the transformation that happens to young Lightning McQueen. As I see it Beauty and the Beast is also a story of transformation. I remember the first time we saw the movie version with Rebecca when she was 4 years old.
I loved the way the illustrators depicted the transformation after the beast died and the prince received new life. It’s one of my favorite parts of the movie. This seems to be a common thought in my thinking over the Lenten season. It is Christ who transforms us. We move from the old life to the new. As the song from Mercy Me goes, “So Long Self.” There isn’t room for two. Christ desires for us to be transformed into His image. This is my prayer for myself and for the congregation I shepherd.

Missional

/ Dale Argot / 1 Comment

What does it mean to be missional? A friend of mine, nominated my blog as “missional.” I was reading through a recent issue of our offical church publication Wesleyan Life. Jeffrey Mansell, District Superintendent wrote this in an article that asked that question.

Being missional is more than having great programs and nifty acronyms, although those can be integrated into a missional organization. The term missional implies a systemic approach to fulfilling the Great Commission in which evangelism becomes a lifestyle that weaves itself into the very fabric of our being.

Missional living means:

  • Seeking opportunities to engage in spiritual conversations with the unsaved.
  • Practicing intercessory prayer for those person who have not personally received Christ.
  • Prioritizing available resources for the purpose of Great Commission ministry.
  • Demonstrating unbridled excitement over the announcement of a new birth into God’s Kingdom.

A New Record

/ Dale Argot / Leave a comment

Over the last two days, I’ve received 25 visits. Normally I get 5 or 6. Part of that was probably due to that “under appreciated, under valued, missional” blogger thing. See the post below for more. Thanks to everyone who has visited lately.

Mosaic Student Ministries

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Tonight was our regular student ministries night. We call it Mosaic, because God has brought us together from many different backgrounds and yet He is making us into one beautiful picture. Like mosaics when you look at it too close it doesn’t always make sense and yet when you back up you see the picture appear before you.

We experienced God’s provision tonight, helping us get our students to and from church despite some heavy weather (thunderstorms w/heavy rain and hail.) God is continuing to work with our students. They have great potential to change their world as they allow God to change and transform them. Continue to pray for this ministry to the students of Martinsville and Henry County.

Must Have Worship Hits?

/ Dale Argot / Leave a comment

From Bob Kauflin’s WorshipMatters blog. Bob Kauflin was keyboardist, songwriter, and background vocalist for the band Glad. Some of the first contemporary Christian music I was exposed to was Glad. He has a great post on Must Have Worship Hits!

Here’s a teaser:

If you’re a worship leader or music minister there’s a good chance you’ve heard another leader talking about the new song they just introduced. They describe it as the most “incredible, life-changing, awesome, heaven-releasing, God-calling-down, what-you-haven’t-heard-it-yet” song they’ve ever done. You heart sinks as you realize that not only have you not heard the song, you didn’t even know the CD was out. When you think of the 80 CD’s on your desk you still haven’t listened to, you really feel like a loser. “How can anyone in my church even worship?” [MORE]

Under Appreciated Missional Bloggers

/ Dale Argot / 3 Comments

Imagine my surprise this evening when I went to my friend Mark Wilson’s blog Revitalize Your Church and I found my name at the bottom (at the time) of this list. I’ve added a few of my own to the list that you can’t get at other blogs.

Here’s a quote from Mark’s blog:

Brother Maynard started a list of “under valued, and under appreciated” missional blogs.I was surprised to see that I was listed in the early going.

It feels kind of like being on the ground floor of some Amway pyramid scheme. I’m honored to be on the list — but not sure I’m crazy about the idea of being “under valued” and “under appreciated.”

It looks like I’m in good company.

Emerging Grace
Robbymac
Lily
Nathan Colquhoun
John Smulo
Todd Hiestand
Theopraxis
Chuck Warnock
John Lunt
Webb Kline
Mark O. Wilson
Rick Meigs
Brother Maynard
MakDaddy
Glenn Hager
Paul Mayers
Jamie Swann
Paul Walker
Jerry Frear
Phil Wyman
Rainer Halonen
Shannon
Matt Stone
Erika Haub
John Santic
Colin Lamm
Julie Clawson
Duncan McFadzean
Adam Gonnerman
Les Chatwin
Matt Wiebe
Rupert Ward
John Lynch et al
Ra’Ah Australian Bloggers
Mayberry Driven Church
Dale Argot
David Rutler
Rod Pickett
Joel Gorveatte

I’ve edited my own post to add one more. Dean Brown

To participate, copy this list into a new post on your own blog, and add the names you have to the bottom of the list, and encourage others to do the same. It could get fairly long, but that’s part of the point — helping us all discover those undervalued blog’s profile. Include these instructions with your post. When you’ve done that, leave a comment at Brother Maynard’s blog so he can keep track of who ends up participating.