Sunday, July 22, 2007

New blogsite launched today...here's the first post...

(This new blog will live at http://how-why.today.com/ or http://dalejenkins3.blogspot.com/):

I know - some of you are why’ers, some how’ers and some just what’ers.. So? Are you a "what" person, a "why" person? or maybe just a "how" person. This blog spot will be for "why, how and what " people. (I know you think I've lost it so I better 'plain myself).
A lot of folks don't want to know "why" something is as it is they just want to know what. “What” people: You don’t really care why, “Just tell me what must be done and I'll do it." That's my Melanie. I'm more of a "why" guy. Some of you, like me, delve deeply into the “why” question - you want to know, almost must know “why” before you will invest time or talent, much less treasure into an activity. ("Why'd you do it that way? Why do you want to do this? Why don't you do it this way? etc.). And then there are the "how" folks - "How'd you do that?" You want to be told plainly how it’s all done. Well, this is a blog for all of you, the How'ers, Who'ers and Why'ers, this is your source. As God continues to bless the Spring Meadows Church of Christ I get a lot of questions. We'll try to answer those here. Why are you doing this and why this way? How'd you do that? What all are you up to and what's next?
As most who would be reading this site know we (Melanie and I) began working with the infant Spring Meadows church about a year ago. It’s been a wild ride. We have been so blessed and the work has gone so well. I thank all of you for your prayers.
Some of you want to know why: why did a new congregation start in Spring Hill? Why did you decide to leave Granny White and go to a place where the auditorium was smaller than most of the classrooms at GW? Why are you all doing what you are doing how you are doing it? Why do you all do a mid-week prayer service?
Others want to know how: how’d you all outgrow two buildings and are struggling to get into your third? how do you do your Bible classes? how are things different there?
One of our cornerstones at Spring Meadows is that we strive to be totally open. So we'll try to practice that on this blog too. That means we’ll answer any question and that we’ll share any method. God has been good to us and that is why the work has prospered. All glory and credit go to Him alone. This is a practical site in which we will give some of the logistics, thought process behind and methods that have been incorporated at the Spring Meadows Church of Christ. Yes, I'll entertain questions on this spot. Just post them or e-mail me privately (
dale@smcoc.net) and I'll give it my most honest and best shot.
I'll walk you through various processes - what’s, how's and why's of them - what we learned and what we might do differently if we had a chance to do it again. And you can post your ideas, thoughts or how you might suggest it all could be improved on.
One of the first meetings I was in at Spring Meadows one of the men spoke up on a matter and said: "people are watching what we are doing." And we've found they are - most have been very, very gracious. We know of at least one other congregation that is trying to get a jump start that has contacted us on a number of matters when it comes to starting a new congregation.
With as much humility as we can muster we say God has really watched over, had His hand on, BLESSED the Spring Meadows church. I suppose with all the "righteous" people who have continually let us know that they are praying for us all the time, it's not surprising. We'd have to work hard to mess up all those prayers. We are humbled and thankful. Please keep 'em coming.
Ask anything. Make your own suggestions. Share it with others. Welcome to Straight from the Spring - the Spring Meadows Story.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the option to be anonymous when I want to. If I have something to say that could be misunderstood, It gives me a safety net. If you want true comments-honest comments from whomever, to allow for good discussion, you might want to consider this on your new site. Some of us are too uncomfortable to raise our hand in class, fill our names in on a comment card or dissent in a way that can be pointed back to us and be labeled or criticized. We are in too small of a church community to not consider the wishes of anonymity. You may get lots of email on how great things are, but what about the things that really need our attention, that some are too shy to say out loud. Just something to ponder.

Jeremiah said...

This is going to be very interesting. I appreciate the candor of this spot.

Matthew said...

Thank you for your wisdom and help in these matters. Also, love to know what you are reading recently. Is there any way that you can post the books that you are currently reading?

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