tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138262612024-03-13T20:11:06.007-07:00Koke Mushke i VogelWhat is Koke Mushke i Vogel? It is my Albanian nickname. It means little mule head. Guess I'm stubborn.KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-25002873347670630292011-07-23T21:43:00.000-07:002011-07-23T21:49:55.836-07:00Thoughts on the John Next Door and Am I Sleeping With the EnemyI have had people ask me if I have read the Newsweek article The John Next Door. I have the article at home and really enjoyed what it had to say. I thought about my book Am I Sleeping With the Enemy and some of the thoughts both writings had for me as a Christian man, father, husband, and Christian leader. First, the article sadly suggests that the researchers had a difficult time finding men KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-34643158138860181202010-07-31T11:48:00.001-07:002010-07-31T11:48:54.410-07:00Man In A Grocery StoreKMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-33299106666052689382010-01-16T22:49:00.000-08:002010-01-16T22:53:42.987-08:00A Cry Instead of Justice "Within a book widely touted as the path to peace, violence has incongruously been central to the Bible and how it is used. This collection book examines the manifestations of violence in Scripture, and the ways that Scripture itself – whether violent in content or not – can be used to justify violence and aggression in specific social circumstances."From the IntroductionFinally released--A CryKMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-8558449784021389982009-12-22T12:54:00.000-08:002009-12-22T13:14:11.581-08:00Two Down One To GoThe Better Way: The Church of Agape in Emerging CorinthWhen Paul came to Corinth he found a culture emerging from the ashes of Roman power. As Julius Cesar rebuilt the fallen city he brought Roman culture to this Greek community. Likewise, Paul's message of salvation in Jesus rebuilt the fallen lives of people dominated by a culture of power. This power was displayed in violence, discrimination, KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-10578103408776027732009-12-20T16:33:00.000-08:002009-12-20T16:50:49.687-08:00NetworkingIn April 2007, the Saturday before we launched I met Maria. She was spanging at Pioneer square. Caleb and I bought her some juice. Over time and meetings with her she eventually showed up at Agape. She got a place to live, had two babies, and was in treatment center for heroin. She came to Agape for 1 1/2 years--more regular than people we saw who were "brought up in church." 8 weeks ago she KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-4898236529902730922009-11-06T15:28:00.000-08:002009-11-06T15:31:47.255-08:00Am I Sleeping With the Enemy Section 1The next few posts are for those reading the manuscript Am I Sleeping With the Enemy? This spot will be open for you to comment, offer criticisms, or suggest changes to section 1 of the work.Thanks,Ron ClarkKMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-89890516613209479422009-09-28T20:16:00.001-07:002009-09-28T20:32:02.259-07:00Diversity Diversity I always thougth diversity just happened. I always thought that diversity was easy. I always thought that diversity was someone else's job. I knew that diversity is beautiful.I knew that diversity is a sign of Christ.I knew that diveristy fires us up. I didn't know that diversity is intentional.I didn't know that diversity is easiest when we start over.I didn't know that diveristy KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-70104287590472116422009-09-26T14:38:00.001-07:002009-09-26T14:44:01.605-07:00One Down Two to Go This month Freeing the Oppressed was released as I put the finishing touches on my second manuscript and began editing my third. While I actually hate writing I have found that it seems to be the best way to communicate with a larger audience concerning God’s will and work in this world (that is why we do a newsletter). I signed three contracts with a publisher in January to publish these books KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-34619874555286465292009-08-30T15:46:00.000-07:002009-08-30T16:14:44.949-07:00Who Should a New Church Target?This morning we met at Agape and had a service/worship.What is service/worship? Lincoln High School has given us a plot to care for. We chose to worship by working together to clean the school. It was a lot of hard work. We had communion afterward and talked about how we saw God working.I was surprised at who showed up. I was also amazed at who chose not to show up. Actually, now that I think KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-12353960790997537892009-08-10T06:24:00.000-07:002009-08-10T06:40:34.397-07:00Blown Away by the Church Where I ServeSunday morning was a very powerful Sunday. Elsie came with her boyfriend and mother as we greeted them with hugs. You see, the Monday before her 7 month old baby, Christopher, had died due to SIDS. Elsie had been homeless, moved to Dignity Village, and finally was able to leave and get her own apartment. She had never done drugs, and loved her new baby. She had been a regular at Agape and we all KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-72101421211553630232009-08-07T10:33:00.000-07:002009-08-07T11:03:12.489-07:00Reflections on Being A DadToday is my son's 17th birthday. What a joy it has been to see him grow in our home. However, this post is probably more about me than him, and I guess I should begin by stating that. You can read on if you want, however as parents we do self reflection on our kids' important days at times.I had a dad who was emotionally distant and didn't connect well with me or my brother. He was an atheist andKMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-26886188423677541082009-07-30T18:16:00.000-07:002009-07-30T18:23:18.159-07:00A Day In Ministry With a Shadow Interesting day of ministry. I had a 16 yr old shadowing. It was my son, he was being punished and had to go with me today. His experience of ministry:1. A no show--so we visited and looked around Powell's Bookstore.2. Some street kids who visited Sunday. Had lunch with them. Two went in the bathroom to shoot up because they had a bad heroin addiction. We talked to the females about boundaries,KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-59002896092860244472009-07-26T17:31:00.000-07:002009-07-26T17:50:48.059-07:00New Life at Agape: Empowering WomenMy wife, Lori, our Women’s Minister has been studying with Alena Starns for a while. Alena has come out of years of abuse and addiction and has worked hard to grow closer to God. Alena is also responsible for bringing many to church with her. Lori says that the Thursday study has turned into a small group.She was baptized into Jesus this morning by Lori. Our philosophy at Agape is if you study KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-68961515519589702942009-06-21T20:59:00.000-07:002009-06-21T21:27:11.234-07:00New Intern Welcome to Danna Neito. Danna is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University who has raised support to come to Agape and work with Lori as a Women's Ministry intern. She is fully supported by our supporting church, the Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa. She has already hit the ground running and is going with Lori on studies and meetings. She will also be part of our human trafficking KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-85847599194236248832009-05-15T22:21:00.001-07:002009-05-15T22:38:04.763-07:00Two YearsThis past Easter was our second year as a new church. We moved to the Lincoln high school auditorium because the cafeteria was full last year.We did a practice in the auditorium the week before Easter and had over 100. Four people came in response to the 20,000 post cards we sent out with this picture, inviting them to church.On Easter we had 145+ in attendance with over 40 first or second time KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-59026624504184097692009-05-01T11:27:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:29:59.816-07:00As many of you know today is our monthly Friday prayer and fast day. I am cramming a handful of Lays potato chips in my mouth in preparation.The Vice Principle at Reynolds High School has recently challenged me to be praying about our work to develop boys groups in the high school. She has also been leading a committee to do a Human Trafficking conference in May at the school. She asked me point KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-58719960414465565192009-02-22T21:06:00.000-08:002009-02-22T21:36:28.657-08:00Church Planter LessonsMore lessons from church planting.Today was another good day of worship. It came at the end of a great week of ministry, or begins another great week of ministry.1. I have talked with a lot of church planters about their worship ministry. Typically, lead church planters/ministers/pastors claim that they have to go through quite a few worship leaders to find one that sticks. Nelson Searcy with KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-35815412467220052892009-02-10T16:42:00.000-08:002009-02-10T17:07:14.190-08:00Finally Over the 100 Barrier In church growth studies the 100 attendance barrier is a big hurdle in growth. Typically, churches hang out at these various barriers and either crash through them, or stay below and eventually begin to decline. In the past I have always watched the church where I preached struggle at two barriers: 100 and 500. It is pretty intimidating but one that causes you to step back and wonder if the KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-22253450394319214862009-01-15T20:51:00.001-08:002009-01-16T14:40:28.661-08:00Prayer Stations On Sunday January 11 Lori Clark and Kathy Zumwalt put together our second prayer stations worship. Prayer stations are tables with activities which involve writing, praying, reflecting, discussion, or other forms of creating as a form of worship. It involves the various senses in worship. I have always been the logical, rational, experience God through preaching and the written word. Therefore, KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-41890920463219230882009-01-07T21:58:00.000-08:002009-01-08T06:22:31.893-08:00How Has God Been Good To YouHere is a great video clip of one of our members at Agape, Thomas, who is getting married in a couple weeks.KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-48217865148343844142008-12-21T14:08:00.001-08:002008-12-21T14:18:19.774-08:00Snow What Fun Last weekend I traveled to Crescent Lake resort to marry a couple whom Lori and I love deeply. last March I baptized Brandon. Brandon and I referee wrestling for years and he has been with Agape from day 1. That Sunday Brandon baptized Whitney. They work with our youth group now and are a great blessing to us at Agape. Brandon and I rode out on snowmobiles with a group of guys to the wedding. ItKMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-45975737397407415832008-12-19T09:45:00.000-08:002008-12-19T09:57:47.175-08:00Twenty OneTwenty-one years ago I woke up to a cold snowy Missouri morning.Twenty-one years ago I took a brisk five mile run in the snow.Twenty-one years ago I roused the guys from sleep in my house and went out to door knock for the JOY bus. I was a youth minister.Twenty-one years ago I signed up 3 or 4 families to ride the bus to church the next day.Twenty-one years ago I smiled as the snow covered the KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-51560403233717501392008-12-17T07:52:00.000-08:002008-12-17T08:21:05.552-08:00Humans Treated Like Objects A couple of months ago I listened to the FBI and Sheriff's dept. do a presentation on human trafficking and underaged prostitution. I was at the regular Attny Gen. Sexual Assault Task Force meeting where we had been discussing "sex industries" and prostitution. Interesting conversation that most ministers don't have on a regular basis. I would have to say that the team I work with (about 15) KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-45491058989220232392008-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:002008-12-05T13:32:23.664-08:00I Live In America?The UN has designated this year as a focus on human rights in communities. I was asked to participate on a panel at City Hall concerning domestic violence. I sat with 5 other professionals to talk and then participate in Q and A.One of the panelists, who was Vietnamese, shared her story about being at a store purchasing a tent. The store was out and the sales associate called the manager over to KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13826261.post-78830738957679641112008-12-04T15:36:00.000-08:002008-12-05T13:31:37.573-08:00Can We Save One More?How hard it must be to walk away knowing there are more in slavery.Can we help?KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0