John Ortberg, Willow Creek, Presbyterian
Neighboring St. Mark, Depere (WELS)
but no more - Ichabod effect?
Rap fans - ask someone in detox to help you click on the link.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Freedom from St. Peter, Freedom":
http://www.stpetercares.com/home/2440/2440/docs/Church%20Newsletter%20-%20December%202009.doc?sec_id=2440
St. Peter WELS, Church and School, Freedom, Wisconsin
December, 2009 Newsletter, page 2:
BIBLE CLASSES –
The following Bible classes are being held in various places and are open to anyone that would like to attend. Please call the person listed by the study with any questions.
“If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” Bible Study held every other Tuesday
http://www.johnortberg.com/bio.php
At a Glance:
John Ortberg, is passionate about "spiritual formation," which is how people become more like Jesus. His teaching brings Scripture alive and invariably includes practical applications and warm humor. John is the author of many books, including "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" and "The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Growth for Ordinary People", and his latest book, "Faith & Doubt". He has also contributed to many other books and periodicals.
Present:
•Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Menlo Park, California, 2003 to present
Previous:
•Teaching Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Illinois, 1994-2003
•Senior Pastor, Horizons Community Church, Diamond Bar, California, 1990-1994
•Senior Pastor, Simi Valley Community Church, Simi Valley, California, 1985-1990
Ordained:
•Baptist General Conference, 1986
Education:
•BS, Wheaton College in Psychology
•Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Seminary
•Post graduate studies at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
•John has served as an adjunct faculty member in homiletics at Fuller where he is also a member of the Board of Trustees.
Personal:
John was born in Rockford, Illinois. His wife Nancy is also a seminary graduate and also served as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. They have been married for over 20 years and have enjoyed watching their own family grow. They are parents of three children, Laura, Mallory and Johnny. They also have a dog and a cat, though they are ambivalent about the cat.
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John Ortberg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Ortberg, Jr. (born May 5, 1957, Rockford, Illinois) is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church[1] in Menlo Park, California, an evangelical church with over 4,000 members. Ortberg has published many books including the 2008 ECPA Christian Book Award winner When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box,[2] and the 2002 Christianity Today Book Award winner If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.[3] Another of his publications, The Life You've Always Wanted, has sold more than 500,000 copies as of 2008.[4]
Background
Ortberg earned his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, and his M.Div. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has also studied at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. From 1985 to 1990 he served as senior pastor at Simi Valley Community Church, and then from 1990 to 1994 at Horizons Community Church. He then moved from California to Illinois to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church until 2003, when he assumed his current role at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.[5]Teachings
A central theme of his teaching and books is spiritual formation, the transforming of human character through authentic experiences with God. Ortberg argues that the desire for comfort and security often stands in the way of an authentic relationship with God — when people place too high a value on being secure and comfortable they may be reluctant to make the sacrifices God asks of them.[6]Ortberg has warned against the societal pressures which tell people that bigger is always better, saying "I think for all of us, whatever your ministry or job, bigness will never satisfy the call."[7] In his books he has described his own desire for importance and success, and how achieving them did not ultimately bring him happines.[8] "Your cravings," according to Orberg, "if you could get to the bottom of them, are for the eternal."[9]
Speaking
Ortberg has been a featured speaker at many events, including- Promise Keepers 2006 Conferences[10]
- Westmont College (2007 commencement speaker)[11]
- 2008 Global Leadership Summit[12]
Bibliography
- Grace: An Invitation to a Way of Life. (Zondervan, September 2000) (with Laurie Pederson and Judson Poling) ISBN 9780310220749
- If You Want To Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. Zondervan, 2001 ISBN 9780310228639
- Love Beyond Reason. Zondervan, 2001 ISBN 9780310234494
- The Life You've Always Wanted. Zondervan, 2002 ISBN 9780310246954
- Everybody's Normal Till You Get To Know Them. Zondervan, 2003 ISBN 9780310228646
- Living the God Life: Finding God's Extraordinary Love in Your Ordinary Life. Inspirio, 2004, ISBN 9780310801955
- God Is Closer Than You Think: If God is Always with Us, why is He So Hard to Find? Zondervan, 2005 ISBN 9780310253495
- Now What? God's Guide to Life for Graduates: God's Guide to Life for Graduates. Zondervan, 2005 ISBN 9780310802822
- When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box. Zondervan, 2007 ISBN 9780310253501
See also
References
- ^ "Pastors and Ministers". Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. http://www.mppc.org/about-mppc/leadership-team. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "2008 Christian Book Awards Winners - Christian Life category". http://www.ecpa.org/christianbookawards/cba2008.php. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ "The Dick Staub Interview: John Ortberg's Freak Show". Christianity Today. May 1, 2003. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/mayweb-only/21.0b.html?start=1. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "Gold / Platinum / Diamond Book Awards Winners". http://www.ecpa.org/gold_past.php. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ "JohnOrtberg.com: John's Bio". http://www.johnortberg.com/bio.php. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ Duduit, Michael. "Preaching Through Their Defenses: An Interview with John Ortberg". Preaching. http://www.preaching.com/resources/features/11581043/page4/ortberg/. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "Good Drive, Bad Drive". Ministry Mentor. November, 2005. http://www.ministrymentor.com/archives/details.asp?issue=11/1/2005. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ Creel, Colin (2005). Perspectives: A Spiritual Life Guide for Twentysomethings. Relevant Media Group. pp. 137–138. ISBN 9780976035787.
- ^ Trueheart, Charles (August, 1996). "Welcome to the Next Church". The Atlantic: pp. 37–58. http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/96aug/nxtchrch/nxtchrch.htm. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ Lee, Courtney (March 8, 2006). "Promise Keepers Announces Keynote Speaker for 2006 Conferences". Christian Today. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/promise.keepers.announces.keynote.speaker.for.2006.conferences./5586.htm. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ Doane, Guillaume (May 3, 2007). "Westmont Graduation to Honor Students, Mark Departure of Outgoing President". Montecito Journal. http://www.montecitojournal.net/archive/13/18/991/. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "GLS Speakers". The Global Leadership Summit India. http://www.glsindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=37. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
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+Diet O. Worms has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek-Presbyterian Bible Study at St. Peter...":
Congratulations to the Freedom From St. Peter congregation. They must have already successfully and throughly discipled [ahem] all their members and neighbors using all the books of the Bible, the Confessions, and the good commentaries, and so now they have no choice but to use this garbage.
Who pays the DPs?
***
GJ - WELS members pay the DPs through various synod subsidies. Those trips to Milwaukee and Willow Creek are not free.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek-Presbyterian Bible Study at St. Peter...":
Your wrong about church discipline not being applied at St. Peter's and the CORE. All members who complained about the pastors were disciplined, and when applicable, bounced out of church, plus CORE--not sure you can call CORE a church.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek-Presbyterian Bible Study at St. Peter...":
Which of the seven churches of Revelation does CORE remind you of most? I think Pergamum, or maybe
Thyatira:
Pergamum
Rev 02:14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Thyatira
Rev 02:20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
