Bob Creson

Almost A Christian

“…if you lack a missional imagination, [mission calls the church into being] then you’re not really a church…it’s very common for people to sit around saying, ‘We’re a church, now what’s our mission?’ It should be the other way around…If you don’t have a mission, you’re probably not a church, you’re…a club!” With all the talk recently about reclaiming things, this is refreshing. There is no questions that as believers we need to reclaim the mission/purpose of the Church for the sake of our kids and grand kids.  But what is it really?  I love what Joel Hunter says, “God has place us here for the sake of those not yet included in the Kingdom.”  This interview with Kenda Creasy Dean makes a lot of sense.  While it’s focused on reclaiming historical Christianity for the sake of future generations, it’s really about reclaiming the missional nature of the Church.  She makes a good case for refocusing the Church on its early distinctive and what set is apart from the culture around it.  It was very much focused on the needs of others locally as well as around the known world.

Isaac Hunter (Summit Church, Orlando) spoke on “choose joy” yesterday, using James Chapter 1 as his text.

Isaac had spoken from this text before but this was different and personal.  The whole family, but mainly his brother, Josh, and sister-in-law, Lisa, watched their beloved, Ava, go from a frolicking five-year old on family vacation a week ago to brain surgery.  Grandfather, Joel, said it best last Sunday evening during worship at Northland Church, “What a difference a day makes.” Continue reading →

It always seems to hit me about this time of year: remembering our men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces.

My dad served.  He was proud of his service in the U.S. Marine Corp in the 1st Marine Division.  Awarded a Purple heart for wounds he received in action on Okinawa in 1945, he went to North China at the end of the war.

His nickname was “Rapid Robert” which was given him by his fellow Marines because dad, who apparently was a messenger, could run faster than anyone in his platoon.  He was assigned the task of moving messages around on the front lines of Okinawa.

But dad’s life was more than just military service.  He came home, married, found a satisfying career, and started a family.  He was a part of the “Greatest Generation” that shaped our country from the end of World War II through the end of the 20th Century.

I went back and re-read his obituary today.  Writing just prior to his death on December 14, 2002, he highlighted the things that were important to him:  his birth date, his parents, his military service, his immediate family, his church, his profession/work, he was a pilot (in his early years), and the Lions Club.  He mentioned that he was a founder of the Foothill Little League!  I had forgotten that.

Dad did what he believed he needed to do and contributed.  He was a part of the just put your head down, work hard, don’t complain, and do it generation.

I admire that and was shaped by his example.  While he’s gone now, I’ll say it anyway, “Thanks, dad, for your example, including your military service.”

And thanks to all who are currently serving and sacrificing (including their families).

My wife, Dallas, and I read (OK, listened to them on tape) three books over the holidays:

• My Grandfather’s Son (Clarence Thomas)
• Big Russ and Me (the late, Tim Russert)
• Quiet Strength (Tony Dungy)

We almost ‘stumbled’ on to each one stopping by Cracker Barrel to look through the racks of books on tape hoping to fill the long hours of a drive from Orlando to Boston and back. Continue reading →

Jim Collins in his book, How the Mighty Fall summarizes the path of decline for great companies: Hubris born of success; overreaching and the undisciplined pursuit of more; denial of risk and peril; ignoring or minimizing critical information refusing to listen to things we do not want to hear; grasping for salvation by lurching for solutions; capitulation to irrelevance or death.

These five stages feel right to me, particularly number one!  When you’re on top it’s so easy to think you’ll never fall! Continue reading →

Veteran’s Day is long past but, as I do each year, I stop to remember my Dad, Robert D. Creson, a veteran of WWII. Dad was a proud Marine, who fought in the Pacific with the First Marine Division, and ended the war in China before coming home.

I honor our men and women serving our country who distinguish themselves on behalf of all of us.

I was just catching up on some past recorded TV shows watching CBS Sunday Morning and a segment done by James Gordon Meek, Honoring Those Amidst Gardens of Stone. Meeks was present when President Obama and his wife, Michelle, visited Arlington National Cemetery this past Veteran’s Day.  Meeks says, “I saw the President embrace grieving widows, mothers and battle buddies tending to the graves of loved ones. He asked about each one. And then the President suddenly extended his hand as he strolled over to Dave Sharrett’s grave.”  This is where Meeks was honoring the fallen son of one of his former teachers.

Worth a quick read if you have the time…some things are a-political.

MUSOMA, Tanzania – During this Christmas season, almost 2 million Africans will read the story of the birth of Jesus in their own language for the first time. It’s all part of an ambitious project to translate the Bible into nine African languages.

“This is historic for this region, the translation of the Word of God has brought us together,” said Bishop Daniel Ouma, who heads the Mara Anglican Church. “Now we feel as one team, working together and that’s what Jesus wanted, a united church, moving forward with the Gospel.”

It was an emotional day in Bundibugyo, Uganda, as 60 Bwisi people from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda graduated from an HIV/AIDS training seminar using “Kande’s Story.” All of the participants were HIV positive— many shared how the training had helped them see their illness in terms of God’s perspective, and how best to help others avoid the disease. Continue reading →

Kathleen Parker wrote a good editorial yesterday in the Washington Post.  My propose in blogging here is NOT to pick on or pick a fight with anyone.  I’m just perplexed, as she seems to be, as we move into a day where we’ve lost the ability to disagree with civility. Continue reading →

Don Hewitt, the creator of 60 Minutes is asked, what is the secret of your success?  “Tell me a story.  Every child knows this…the writers of the Bible were smart enough to know this.  There was evil in the world, the story is Noah.”  Almost right…God is the story…Noah gets to tell it.