Check out the OA Blog
OAs are Ordinary Attempts- the small doable connections we make every day with people.
God can use these small attempts to make very interesting connections for us with the people Jesus misses most
Here is the latest post on the OA Blog
The Corporate Pastor Wine OA
I’m working in LA (painting) for my friend Joe Myers ( he wrote The Search to Belong) Joe owns a business and has offices in LA. Joe recently hired a “pastor” for his business.
I asked John (the corporate pastor) how it went over when he was introduced to the employees ( a number of whom are not Christians) as their new “pastor”
He said once we had a few glasses of wine together my schedule filled up 
Sounds like he’s following faithfully in the footsteps of the founder of our movement – The original OAer himself
May 31st, 2006 · 16 Comments
Categories: Doable Evangelism
NCxian said
am June 1 2006 @ 5:09 am
Jim: Joe Myers’ book has really gotten me thinking about relationships/community/Church over the last few years. I understand he has a sequel out. Do you think he would be interested in hanging with us a few days and talking about it? Right now on the DB, there is a discussion going on about whether Christians need church (actually, now that I think about it, you started it!). And our Atheists occasionally suggest that they miss or envy the community aspect of church. I think Joe would add a whole new dimension to that issue( I am thinking at the moment of his notion that intimacy is not the goal of every relationship. But I am sure there’s lots more).
Jim Henderson said
am June 1 2006 @ 10:04 am
NcXian
I’ll ask him to check out the DB and tell him you asked-
NCxian said
am June 1 2006 @ 11:45 am
Thanks!
Jim Henderson said
am June 1 2006 @ 2:14 pm
NcXian
Where do I send Joe on the DB to find the relevant discussion?
NCxian said
am June 1 2006 @ 4:29 pm
http://www.off-the-map.org/ebayatheist/viewtopic.php?t=269
I don’t know how to make that link hot, sorry.
That is a link to “The Distinction between Church and Spirituality” in the Debate and Discussion Forum. That is the discussion I referenced above, but it has actually moved on to issues related to old vs. new pastors at this point (I reckon we have talked about everything now!).
I am thinking more in terms of many of the discussions being relevant. The idea of the “church = relationships” (or not) theme runs throughout a lot of our discussion. I think Joe has a good analytical framework for that kind of exploration with the group. It would be great if we could post a link to an excerpt from his new book and start a discussion, then he could chime in. Or he could send me a copy and I could review it!
(I know, that was shameless soliciting).
By the way, if he wants to observe the DB, he’ll probably have to get some instruction on what to do when he gets that “you’re too far off the map” screen. Unless you’ve figured out another way on, which I will be glad to know about too!
Jim Henderson said
am June 1 2006 @ 9:39 pm
Thanks
Ill get this to Joe
Helen M. said
am June 2 2006 @ 12:18 pm
I’m cautiously optimistic that as of today, that problem getting onto the db is fixed.
And the link is live, by the way, NCxian.
Peter Walker said
am June 2 2006 @ 3:34 pm
I asked John (the corporate pastor) how it went over when he was introduced to the employees ( a number of whom are not Christians) as their new “pastor”
He said once we had a few glasses of wine together my schedule filled up
==================
Really interesting! I’d be terrified if my employer brought in a pastor to my workplace (a credit union). And I want to BE a pastor someday!
I think it’s great that he drank wine with the workers – just like Jesus
But I’m still uncomfortable with the union of “Church and Business.” These days, business (economics) IS the state. The World State. It’s not about nations, it’s about business. And if we let our guard down and allow businesses to…
…well, perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself.
This is probably all very harmless, and in fact positive in many ways.
I just think we need to be careful where we bring “official” ministry into play. I think I would be much more comfortable having a “Christian Counselor” on staff than a “Pastor.”
Peter Walker said
am June 2 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Oh, to follow up – that indeed means that as a radical Christian, I am still very much IN FAVOR of Separation of Church and State. God save us from civil religion.
NCxian said
am June 2 2006 @ 5:40 pm
“I’m cautiously optimistic that as of today, that problem getting onto the db is fixed.”
It’s working like a dream for me! Thanks!
NCxian said
am June 4 2006 @ 11:13 am
“I just think we need to be careful where we bring “official” ministry into play. I think I would be much more comfortable having a “Christian Counselor” on staff than a “Pastor.””
Peter, I think this topic would get a lot of play at the Discussion Board (some of it quite heated, I bet) if you’re interested in taking it there.
Helen, how did you get the block quotes to work in this section? My screen doesn’t show any buttons except “submit comment”.
Helen M. said
am June 4 2006 @ 3:55 pm
NCxian – those buttons aren’t on here. I hope they can be added.
For now you can type your post in the CatE or eBay atheist reply box using the blockquote button. Then instead of submitting it there, cut and paste your whole reply back into this box and submit it here.
I didn’t do that – I typed in the blockquote command by hand because I know what it looks like. But if you don’t know what it looks like, setting up your reply in a box with buttons then copying it back here is easier.
NCxian said
am June 5 2006 @ 5:36 pm
Why, before I even got to thank you for the tip about setting the comment up in another reply box, the buttons got on here. Thanks!
Helen M. said
am June 5 2006 @ 6:44 pm
By the way, it was Dr Winn who fixed the discussion board log-in and added the buttons to the reply box.
NCxian said
am June 6 2006 @ 1:56 pm
Thanks, Dr. Winn!
Hiepripadsert said
am December 19 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Thak you for the news