The French vote "NON"!

The big news in France today is about the 54.87% who voted "non" yesterday about ratifying the European Union constitution.

It has been interesting hearing the different analyses regarding why the French voted this way and why. It's amazing how people from different political parties can draw so many different conclusions regarding the same vote. A lot of politicians seem to be trying to best position themselves for the upcoming presidential elections in 2007.

One effect of the French vote is that the euro currency fell to a seven-month low against the dollar today.

Speaking of "no," I had to take our son out of the pool this morning for a tantrum he threw. It wasn't fun for any of us. In some ways, it would be have been easier and more convenient to just stay in the pool and let him rant. However, in the long run, for his own good, this type of behavior could not be accepted or tolerated. If we let him get away with it now, it will be to his detriment when he's older, as he needs to learn to control his temper.

Earlier today I read an article titled "Seeking Initiation and Consolidation Among All Nations" (in Mission Frontiers, May-June 2005, pp 9-10) by George Miley, International Director of Antioch Network and author of Loving the Church, Blessing the Nations (Gabriel Publishing, 2003). He writes:

The process of blessing all nations must be led by leaders called by God to birth new kingdom works--to pioneer. These leaders, like all of us, are gifted by God to do what He has called them to do. These leaders, to begin with, are for most part found in churches. Their apostolic gifting must be discerned early, then carefully and skillfully developed by older leaders who understand them. A key component to this is their character development, for gifting will dysfunction if godly character is unformed. (p. 9)

I have worked with some extremely gifted leaders like described here. However, I have recently seen how the lack of character development will hamstring them. God is more concerned about who we are than what we do. For who we are will determine the ultimate value of what we do. This is why I needed to correct my son, rather than just let his behavior go. I believe this is also why our Heavenly Father disciplines us when we are disobedient, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Miley continues:

Church leaders can play a wonderful and crucial role in this. But so often they find this a challenge. Leaders who are gifted pastorally, or as teachers, or as administrators, can easily shut down younger leaders who are apostolic in their gifting. They don't mean to--they aren't "the bad guys"--they just don't understand what is going on. Younger apostolic leaders scare them, or they don't "fit in." Of course they don't! They are called and gifted of God to pioneer. They don't fit in with our program--they have their own program.

There are two mega-trends in Kingdom extension among all nations--initiation and consolidation. Both have their New Testament form or structure. Initiation is done in the context of the apostolic team. Consolidation is done in the context of the local church. They both, together, make up the Church.

Of course, New Testament apostolic teams were one with the local church in koinonia--in fellowship, community, and family. In our day and context we so often get these things confused. Apostolic ministry, and therefore apostolic structures, is one with the local church in koinonia, but different in purpose, and therefore in structure.