tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63546086734955449062011-07-08T07:07:26.083-04:00Rehoboth Presbyterian Church, of Decatur GA, is on a mission with and for God; GROWING in number and spirit... DISCIPLES who believe, confess, follow and serve... of JESUS CHRIST who is the way, truth and life... THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS with God, each other, and our neighbors. This blog is an open opportunity to discuss how we can best fulfill God's mission. Join the conversation, and help us all hear and follow and grow even better!Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-64700496054812548192010-08-03T09:34:00.005-04:002010-08-03T11:37:22.201-04:00

A very odd title, yes? Well, what if I suggested to you that that conglomeration of numbers, letters, and characters is the symbol of your faith journey at Rehoboth Presbyterian...W = Worship. Are you spending time in worship of God? Do you spend time regularly worshipping God together with others? In other words, do you push other distractions or desires aside in order to prioritize worship

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-56208807549970435582008-09-05T11:37:00.004-04:002008-09-05T12:02:04.197-04:00

For seven weeks, the congregation of Rehoboth Presbyterian has been deep in discernment and discussion. We became intentional about recognizing and identifying God’s mission in this world and this community, and more aware of our role in assisting God on this mission. Together, we imagined the future of Christian worship, education, fellowship, service, and outreach through Rehoboth Presbyterian.

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-2539042568637216772008-06-27T14:28:00.003-04:002008-06-27T15:40:56.120-04:00

There was a time when people sat on the front porch and talked about stuff with each other. I'm in that strange middle age. I am old enough to remember seeing grown-ups sitting there, rocking, swinging, laughing, crying, occasionally whispering. I am also young enough to seldom have had opportunities to sit on front porches, and seldom had peers who would know what to do if we sat there...In some

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-91288090154357613982008-04-01T23:42:00.005-04:002009-09-17T11:52:07.445-04:00

The other night, in that little steel fire pit thingy we have sitting on our back deck, we lit a fire. It was cold enough to need one, but not so cold that having on in that little saucer didn't help. Shadow and I scrounged around the backyard for small sticks to build the tee pee, and pine cones to make hot embers quickly. After some significant blowing, relighting, and eventually some newspaper

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-45403513127615861382008-03-19T09:37:00.013-04:002008-03-24T21:27:37.677-04:00

There's something else we are learning, here at Rehoboth. The "Good News", as in Gospel, as in euanggelion (or evangelism), is not our private property. In fact, when we treat the "Good News" as if it is a benefit of membership, we are doing disservice to the one who called us to be of service to God, to each other, and the community around us... This realization is turning our attention beyond

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-57276391728364297892008-03-03T20:12:00.009-05:002009-09-17T11:38:04.706-04:00

Money is a interesting topic at church, yes? I'm not just referring to whether or not the church has any either. I mean the great diversity of money-centered discussions that church leaders can undertake. For example, what is a pledge or tithe? Is a tithe in the Scriptures the same then as it is for us now? How should we give to church, as a pledge or promise or tithe with no strings attached,

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-66162965089192776302008-02-12T16:35:00.005-05:002009-09-17T11:33:25.680-04:00

In Jim Collin's book, "Good to Great," he describes the unexpected patterns and steps some corporations went through on their drastic shift from "good" companies to "great" ones. I've been using this book as a lens on the church world, lately. After all, the church is the corpus, the body, the corporation of Christ...One really awesome image and analogy for the process of moving an organization

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-87537169563549295912008-01-29T08:04:00.003-05:002009-09-17T11:30:24.428-04:00

Due to AJ's prompting this morning, here I go, posting the cud that I've been chewing on ever since Christmas. My only hesitation is that I am still chewing, and not sure if I'm ready. But as AJ noted, "It's been over a month!" And this place is not one of decisions, but discussions. So here I go, dumping my brain work, not fully committed to it, and welcoming your feedback...From scripture,

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-30238140937115108032007-12-20T22:15:00.004-05:002008-03-24T21:49:55.748-04:00

Over the last two years, the feel and flow of worship have changed a bit... I say a bit... I imagine others might use a different word there... Anyway, here are a few ways I can imagine, off the top of my head, in which Rehoboth worship is different than, say, 3 years or 30 years ago:...We've added the whole confessional liturgy (call to, prayer of, silent, sung, declaration of pardon, gloria

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-61751283261627900362007-12-09T01:30:00.001-05:002008-03-24T21:40:05.464-04:00

I remember the collective gasp in the room, when in a seminary class on "Congregational Leadership & Church Administration," the presenter suggested that Pastors should know the giving patterns of every member... Yep, you heard me right. This person, brought in the by the professor to help teach seminary students how to be involved in the financial aspect of the church, suggest we, as pastors,

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-80851757681572808952007-10-05T09:11:00.001-04:002008-03-24T21:41:03.403-04:00

People seem to think power in the church falls into one of three places.There are many church-folk who think that "majority rules." I'm not sure if this is a Congregational church culture of the South, or if its a National culture because people still think the United States is a Democracy where "majority rules." (We're not, by the way, and never have been a Democracy.) So, some members in some

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-61870668325359950842007-09-29T04:11:00.001-04:002008-03-24T22:04:04.244-04:00

Did you see it? Did you even notice? Over the last 2 months, our website has been down... kaput... nada... It was my fault, as I totally misunderstood the service we let expire. Anyway, the website is in the process of coming back now. And we of course need your feedback. See any errors? Wish it had something? Any aesthetic comments? Not that I'm promising 100% satisfaction or your money back.

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-30610659302837519942007-09-29T03:53:00.002-04:002008-03-24T21:41:49.960-04:00

I'm not really sure what a "young adult" is anymore. I still feel quite young, and dig out an infield hit just as hard as any 24 year old. But, there is a clear difference between ages and stages of life. Anyway, after Session last month, there is some energy to discuss what kind of ministry should Rehoboth enter in order to best serve the "young adults" of the church...It's an interesting

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-27879657849782851222007-09-29T03:47:00.000-04:002007-09-29T04:15:52.018-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again. I see the Finance committee busily preparing pledge cards, and scheduling Minutes for Mission where we hear about Tithes, Offerings, Time, Talents, Gifts, Resources, etc... in other words... Stewardship. Here's my real question, to anyone out there listening. What is our Christian obligation in Stewardship? Just how big a responsibility is it? How do we filter

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-45706180073695873022007-07-09T15:56:00.001-04:002008-03-24T21:43:51.738-04:00

I don't like war, as a general rule. I'm opposed to it for several reasons... like "thou shalt not kill," and "love your neighbor as yourself," just to name a few. But I suppose I have always been able to recognize the hypocrite in me that out of one side of my mouth opposes war, and out of the other side of my mouth can almost justify and understand it in some situations.Now you might think I'm

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354608673495544906.post-68171033050474370732007-05-01T12:01:00.001-04:002008-03-24T21:45:05.168-04:00

Dearest Elders of Rehoboth,As I enter the Pastor's Study this morning, I cannot help but feel the hum of the whirlwind in my brain accelerate to break-neck speed. It's been like this for weeks, ever since we said GO to a few key components of God's vision for us. I've tried morning prayers and daily scripture readings, but they are not helping me focus like they usually do, and the winds continue

Rev. Joel L. Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09652799904507006952noreply@blogger.com2