Colemine Extractions

Lace Em' Up

2012-01-04T01:42:00.002-06:00

This sermon, Lace Em Up (click here), was focused on living not for self, but for God in 2012. I am excited about the three challenges we gave to our church this year. The challenges are to:

1. Read through the Bible in a year & memorize 1 verse a month
2. Serve regularly in our church
3. Be involved in a mission/outreach effort.

Let's lace em up, as we Run the Race this year!

2011 in Review

2012-01-02T13:12:00.001-06:00

1. Clay: Half-Baby, Half-Amazing Joins the Family
• Technically he was born in 2010, but he didn’t get home until 2012. He has been our easiest baby, a total joy, and an awesome addition to our family!

2. Coleman is Potty-trained
• My goal was for this to happen before Clay was born, instead it happened before summer arrived. More than just this, Coleman was all-sports, all-go, all the time! I love that he always wants to play, and that he always wants me to play with him!
3. Family Vacation to the Beach
• We went to Galveston for our family vacation this year and had a great time. Everyone enjoyed it, and Galveston proved to be a perfect destination for our 3 kids under 5. In addition to this, we got to see Christy’s cousin get married and Chloe got to be the flower girl!

4. Dallas Mavericks win the title
• As a lifelong Maverick fan, I cannot believe this is true, but the Dallas Mavericks are the champions and the greatest team on the planet in 2011! If you are curious, I am good with whatever they do for the rest of my life!

5. Chloe starts Kindergarten
• This was harder than we thought, starting with the worst first day of school ever. In her first day of school ever, she had a substitute (an old man at that), a lockdown (there was a robbery down the road), and her parents were a mess (she only saw strong parents). Kindergarten has been a struggle, but it is getting better!

6. Texting is embraced
• I am not a fan of texting, nevertheless, we text now.

7. Rangers win the AL again, blow the World Series
• When we won the pennant in 2010, I honestly thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment. So much so, that I paid $150 to go see game 5 with my grandfather, father, & brother – money well spent. Then, in 2011, the Rangers go and win the AL again… only to have Nelson Cruz fall asleep in the bottom of the 9th with 2 strikes and 2 outs, as a fly ball flies over his head and we choke off the Series in 7.

8. Parenting Class is a Success
• Part of my doctor of ministry program is to address an issue in our church; my parenting class was the project. For me personally, it was great. The participants agreed too. This was awesome!

9. Chloe’s Team goes 8-0
• Our team was awesome. We went 8-0 and outscored our opponents 180-46, including a game 8 score of 54-10… having the best 1st grader on the planet was the secret to our team’s success! The funny thing about this is that it was a Kindergarten-1st grade team. Chloe played awesome defense. No they don't keep score, but this parent sure did!

10. Dissertation is complete… many revisions await, I’m sure!
• Around 10:54AM, December 25, 2011, I completed my dissertation. Granted there will be several rounds of reviews, the initial draft is complete. One way or the other, I will be out of the doctoral program May 19, 2012!

Texting, Because We Don't Care to Talk to People Anymore

2011-12-09T12:54:00.000-06:00

Have you ever really thought about texting? Have you thought about what you are communicating when you text? At its best a text means that I have something to say to you, just not the time to talk to you. At its worst, texting means I have something to say to you, I just don’t want to talk to you. If it is not obvious, I am not a fan of texting. Granted it has its place, I just don’t like it. Regardless, we are texting now and instead of fighting it as some fad, I’ll try to get over my feelings and embrace it.

How The BCS Got It Wrong… 2011 Edition!

2011-12-07T00:07:00.000-06:00

Last year, the BCS delivered on phenomenal bowl games, this year they reverted to their normal ways. One might naturally think this is going to go towards the OSU/Alabama debate, but that is not their fault. The 40 year old “man” named Mike Gundy gets to bear all the burden for that one! The problem is the games themselves will not be fun to watch. Currently, the games are just boring and they should not have been.

Here is a list of what they are verse what they should be:
ROSE – Is: Wisconsin vs. Oregon, should be: Wisconsin vs. Stanford.
This game poses two contrasting styles that will simply be boring to watch. Spread verse the run. New school verse old school… this has the makings of a terrible game for the viewers.

FIESTA – Is: OSU vs. Oregon, should be: OSU vs. Oregon
See Rose bowl notes. In all fairness, 3 vs. 4 sounds good on paper, but this game does not matter at all… none of the BCS games do this year. Can you imagine watching the ball flung throughout the stadium as these two offenses battle for who will have the ball last and go for the win?

SUGAR – Is: Michigan vs. VT, should be: Michigan vs. Baylor
VT deserves this bowl as much as Oklahoma does… not at all! However, if you put a resurgent historic Wolverine team against a team that has no history in Baylor, it would be awesome. In addition to this, football fans would come from all over to see RG3 battle Denard Robinson – call it the battle of the 2 most electrifying players in college football. This game would have been awesome. Some will point to KSU having a better ranking and beating Baylor, but remember that this game does not matter and KSU isn’t fun to watch!

ORANGE – Is: Clemson vs. WVU, should be: Bama vs. Boise
Let a legitimate team beat the dog out of Boise. It would shut them up for years and Bama’s Nick Saban would relish the opportunity to unleash all of his fury on a team he does not think deserve to be in the BCS, much less ranked in the top 25. I would love this game!

BCS TITLE: Is: LSU vs. Bama, should be: Highlights of LSU’s season.
LSU has nothing left to prove. Their season was as close to a playoff that we have seen in the history of the BCS. The fact that they have to play a team they beat on the road is stupid. Just give them the title… they already earned it. If you want to fill seats, put Nebraska in here, they corn faithful travel well and are no threat to ruining what LSU has already accomplished.

Gundy, the Pokes, and the BCS

2011-12-05T23:05:00.001-06:00

So many people are lamenting “the rematch” as a travesty. They want to blame the humans, ignorant coaches like the one from Air Force that apparently does not own a TV or have common sense. However, all of those people are not the problem, it is not their fault, and ultimately this is not on the BCS… it is all on the 40+ year old “man” named Mike Gundy.

Having never been in that situation before, he said Bama deserved to be #2 on November 28. Instead of thinking they could actually beat OU and have a case for the BCS title game, he sheepishly submitted to Alabama being a better team. As a lifelong Dallas Maverick/Texas Ranger fan, I understand his thinking that they wouldn’t actually do it… but keep it to yourself Gundy!

That being said, he should have harped on the fact that his team lost in double OT to a team on the road the same day his school has the worst tragedy of any school all year. He should not have made excuses, but played the media in such a way to say something like, "today was an extremely tough day for OSU. The plane crash and deaths were a huge distraction, we played with heavy hearts, and I am glad we were able to play at all with such a tragedy." That is the truth everyone in the country knew, believed, and would’ve sympathized with. 18-22 year old kids played a competitive game on the road under the worst of circumstances…

Gundy should have also, in the same breath, harped on the fact that Bama lost at home, after a bye week. Bama had their shot, at home, and lost. Bama had their shot after an off week, and lost. Bama had their chance, and lost. OSU did loose to Iowa State, but on the road under the worst of circumstances, Bama lost at home after a bye week.

Les Miles has proven that there is no room for a high road when it comes to the BCS. You plead your case non-stop, and let everyone know why they would be idiots to put any other team ahead of yours. Gundy cost OSU a shot at the title; it is his fault and no one else’s. The BCS media and coaches should have had the common sense to see the situation for what it was, but ultimately Gundy is to blame for not wanting to “politic.”

Although the BCS blew the title game, the real question is why wouldn’t they after what Gundy said.

The One You Need by Shane and Shane

2011-10-04T16:11:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Cody Brumley for sharing.

Rules of Dinner

2011-09-26T21:26:00.001-05:00

1. Everyone Eats Together
2. The Dinner Table is a Safe Place
3. No Distractions
4. Say Please and Thank You
5. Sit Facing the Table (her rule is All Four on the Floor, one I always break)
6. Try a Bit of Everything
7. Use an Inside Voice
8. Play High and Low (points of the day)
9. Only Compliments to the Chef
10. Everyone Helps Clean Up

Rules of Dinner can be found here by a lady named Jenny.

JibJab Family Baseball Game: Go Rangers!

2011-09-08T01:08:00.000-05:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Book Review: Church Is a Team Sport By Jim Putman

2011-09-07T22:49:00.002-05:00

This book starts off with a lengthy introduction to tell the reader how the author got where he is and the motivation behind the book. Putman is a wrestler and former wrestling coach who views the world and church through the lens of sports. He views himself as a new kind of coach, most call his role a pastor though, but he has several other coaches on his staff as well. He sees his church as a team, which should be a natural link. As a sports fan this is something I rather enjoyed.

Throughout the book he also talks about winning, something he majored on before Charlie Sheen broke on the scene with his drug-inspired freak show! One of the things I really enjoyed was how he made clear that churches should seek to win. He also defined winning by stating, “Winning is making disciples – converts who are disciple onto God’s team and taught to take part in Christ mission” (70). He showed how pathetic the state of the North American church is too through the Barna Groups research/ Of the 360,000 church in America, only 2-5% are experiencing conversion growth. Also, 50% of all evangelical churches in America did not have a single convert last year – pathetic! There are more stats, but that is enough to get a Christian fired up!

He also talked about the need for churches to win, because we belong to God and God has given us the keys to prevail over the world – in short, every church should be seeing people coming to faith in Christ and developed into disciples. Putman makes it clear that winning starts with coaches. Coaches need to move beyond their comfort zone and discover God’s purpose for the church. He views relationship, real, authentic, vulnerable relationships where you really know people and they really know you as the key for this to take place.

In his 3rd portion of the book he outlines what his church does and why. Everything is connected to the main purpose of the church. There are no independent programs or ministries, everything is interdependent and fruitful to the primary purpose of the church – in short they are a focused church. The primary method or means to make this happens is through small groups. Small groups are the fuel for making disciples and everything they do points towards getting people in small groups, so they can be involved, serve, and eventually start leading their own small group. Their goal is to develop players and them set them loose to play.

The fourth section has to do with making sure everyone is on the same page. They are all aligned for reaching the victory they have in mind. He encourages unity and the church values unity above most everything else when it comes to having everyone on the same page. It is refreshing to see the value he places on this necessity. From coaches to players, his church makes sure everyone is able to read from the same playbook. While he views theology as highly important, he is intentional to avoid useless disagreements about minor aspects of the Christian faith.

His final part of the book summarized the book and provides useful information for leaders. He speaks to hiring and recruiting new leaders. He also places a high value on constructive criticism. One of the things many pastors do not talk about is their inability to handle criticism. Putman encourages pastors/coaches to create an environment where staff and members can offer suggestions for how a pastor can improve (he really includes everyone). He says, “A coach must allow others to evaluate him; there must be a culture of accurate assement in an organization. A coach must become vulnerable and positive when he received honest feedback, or the process ends right there… An accurate and honest assessment encourages better leadership” (208). He ends the book with a challenging pep talk.

Overall, this was a very good book. He sticks to his personality and is true to himself. It was easy to read and beneficial for any church leader. The most insightful thing I read from the book was his outline of the discipleship process. He lists it as 4 Phases of Discipleship:

1. Share-Phase: knowing Christ or hearing of Him (no real difference between praying a prayer or hearing the message – I know my explanation is not what he means, but I am not elaborating here!)
2. Connect-Level: Being involved in a small group, sharing life in a Christian community
3. Ministry-Level: Serving others, moving from the consumer level (connect-level) to being a contributor
4. Disciple-Level: Training others to do what you do.

Developing a Multi-Generational Vision

2011-08-26T14:45:00.003-05:00

Recently, I have been thinking about how to bring different generations together for the purpose of sharing insight and life together. This afternoon, this article spoke to me in such a way I wanted to share part of it with you. If you are a member of my church, begin thinking about having a Mulch-Generational Home Group this year!

We Must Think Long-Term

Having a multi-generational outlook means thinking long-term. Thinking long-term is difficult in a society that worships speed and efficiency. Many parents cannot wait until retirement to hop in the Winnebago and drive down to sunny Florida. Many of our nation's senior citizens have already done this, proudly displaying the bumpersticker, "I'm retired and spending my children's inheritance." In Deuteronomy 6:2, we read that God specifically tells parents that their responsibility extends to the third generation. God wants parents to see their responsibility as a long-term commitment that does not end when the children leave home or retirement.

Having a long-term perspective is crucial to raising children for at least two reasons. First, without it, many parents surely give up. Second, to produce faithful generations requires us to be oriented to the future, eagerly anticipating how our lives can contribute to God's work in the future. It will be difficult to expect our children to have a hopeful vision for the future if we are reluctant, passive and without hope ourselves. Short-term thinking is a perfect setup for failure. God continually reminds us to have our eyes on the future.

To help keep our thinking future-oriented, the Bible uses the following words: "remember," "testimony," "covenant," "generations," "inheritance," and "heritage". A long-term focus is crucial to persevere through the trials that we all encounter (Philippians 3:13-14; Romans 5:1-5). By thinking long-term, we can have hope. Our children can succeed where we have failed! But for this to happen, we must not let a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year distract us and lead us into a detour of despondency.

One of the hallmarks of a great leader is his ability to offer hope to those who have no hope. Hope is an increasingly scarce commodity. But our God is a God of hope! As God's children and as leaders, we must share this sense of hope with generations.

� Copyright 2002 Institute for Uniting Church and Home, all rights reserved. The Institute for Uniting Church and Home is a trans-denominational ministry.

Blogging Hiatus

2011-08-26T08:26:00.000-05:00

Recently, I have taken an unintentional blogging hiatus. Although I share this blog with whomever wants to look at what I'm thinking about, my purpose is to use it as an online journal. The reason for the hiatus is that I simply did not have anything I've wanted to share or remember lately... today that ended.

Michael Whitehead, Tiger Woods, and the 2011 US OPEN

2011-06-16T06:16:00.001-05:00

Today I will be rooting for Michael Whitehead, the young man who replaced Tiger Woods when he withdrew from the US Open due to being damaged goods. Michael, is also the young man who will have the honor of having my daughter be the flower girl in his wedding this July - he is marrying Christy's cousin! He has been dubbed the polar opposite of Tiger, which I hope consist solely of character - here is to hoping he surpasses Tiger's former winning ways! Here are a couple articles on his character, humility, and strong Christian beliefs:

Michael Whitehead Relishes Role as Golfer Who Replaced Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods Made Michael Whiteheads Day

Dallas Mavericks: 2011 NBA Champions

2011-06-14T03:02:00.001-05:00

The Dalla Mavericks are you 2011 NBA Champions! It sounds almost too good to be true, but alas it is true. There is no other team in the league that can lay claim to What Dirk, Kidd, Terry, Cuban, JJ, Chandler, Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks can, the title of Champions!

In my opinion, this image with the team of misfits and don't have a rings is part of the reason the Mavs became the NBA version of America's Team, the title truly fitting of Dallas' other team... how odd is that! There are not many teams who hate the Mavs (the San Antonio Spurs are the only losers that do), and if they don't like them, still respect Jason Kidd and Dirk. The story of the underdog is also applicable to the Mavs. Years of pain, from 2006 to the 80's and 90's are another reason it is so sweet and why America got on board. It was as though not only Dallas won, but everyone who has ever underachieved won too!

The main reason that Dallas became the NBA's America's Team is credited to the entitled, obscenely proud, arrogant, ignorant, childish, Hated Heat. You know, the team comprised of 3 players who decided to join forces instead of proving they were the best. The group that wanted to join the best, not beat the best. There is more that could be said about this team, but I would like to just say thank you. Thank You for making my team the most celebrated team in sports with your arrogance, ignorance, and entitlement. Go Mavs.

Now here are some pictures for all the heat haters:

My Baptist Lent

2011-04-28T04:28:00.000-05:00

This year I participated in lent for the first time, albeit a Baptist version (meaning no Ash Wednesday or palm leaves from the year before… or the other stuff I am not sure about). The challenge to myself was delivered to my church, “Give up or fast from something (that is a distraction to my relationship with Jesus) and replace it with a spiritual discipline.” Although I do not desire to delve into the specifics of what that looked like for me, I would like to pose a question: why would I take up something I laid down as a distraction?

If I resume my activities (yes there were more multiple things I laid down) that were a distraction, are they not just going to regain their former position in my life? Am I being too serious about my commitment? Is it really that big of a deal? For me personally, I am not really sure where the balance lies, but there is a conflict in picking up what I clearly saw as something that got in the way of my walk with God.

The principle of replacement was the key to actually growing spiritually during this time. In former fasts, I found myself thinking about how hungry I was, and “showing God I was serious about my specific prayer” – something that is valuable and important. This was different though, this was personal, it was about drawing closer to He who loves me, made me, died for me, and prays for me – the same God who rose from the grave and is my ferocious Fighter, victorious Savior, and adamant Advocate. It was about refocusing my heart and life towards God and the things of God. It brought about a renewed understanding of living on mission, having a meaningful time with God everyday (not struggling to stay out of a rut or get a quiet time done), and making the most of every opportunity.

God blessed me with the opportunity to lead two people into a relationship with Him and share His love with multiple others. I saw my patience lengthened… at least a time or two! Joy replaced tired living, He led me to thrive instead of just survive (this is a reference to my life-stage of having a 5 year old, 3 year old, and almost 4 month old). I believe that God has anointed me in specific ways, and I feel that was renewed during this time. Major problems in key relationships in my life were resolved. God was great to me during this time.

Also, there were hard times that challenged me greatly. There were times of frustration and confusion in regards to decision-making and struggles. My weaknesses and ability to sin is still present. Distractions abound. And it is very true that “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be…”

All that being said, I have an intense desire to grow more intimately with God and to let His light and love shine through me. There are areas in my life I would like to develop spiritually, so again I am left with the thought, of why would I pickup that which I laid down that I saw as a distraction to my walk with God? For me personally, I do not think I will. Presumably I will get to the point where the said distractions are just hobbies or time fillers, and then I will most likely use them as entertainment. My prayer though is for God to grant me the wisdom to know the difference and the strength to lay whatever down for Him.

What Is The Gospel?

2011-04-11T09:58:00.001-05:00

This is a very well done Gospel presentation by SBTS.

What is the Gospel? from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

Coleman Playing Basketball!

2011-04-07T16:47:00.002-05:00

Coleman turns 3 tomorrow. This is him doing one of his favorite things... playing some hoops!

10 Places Every Kid Should See by Nicole Frehsee

2011-03-28T23:28:00.001-05:00

I saw this article here on the top 10 places every kid should see, and wanted to share and remember, so here is a repost:

1. Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
During the day, stroll the 4-year-old Skywalk, a U-shaped, glass-bottom observation deck that juts 70 feet over the canyon's West Rim and sits 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Come sunset, hit Grand Canyon Apache Stables, where, for $25.50 per person, you can hitch a one-hour ride on a horse-drawn wagon that ends around a campfire. Tip: BYO marshmallows and hot dogs so you can cook up a nighttime snack. Skywalk Package including mandatory Legacy pass.

2. The National Mall (D.C.)
Riding the streets of Washington, D.C., in a boat on wheels might sound cheesy, but cruising the Potomac River in one is pretty sweet. Set in a WWII-era amphibious vehicle, the 90-minute D.C. duck tour covers both land and sea. The first leg hits the history-packed National Mall—look for the 19-foot-tall Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol building, and the Smithsonian museums—and then switches to a scenic river trip. Highlight: The boat pauses at Gravelly Point, a park located just a few hundred feet from the runway at D.C.'s Reagan National Airport, so you can watch roaring planes take off and land.

3. Redwood National Park (Calif.)
Ancient, sky-high sequoias aren't the only attraction in this lush California locale—there's cool aquatic life, too. Take a guided tide pool tour, where budding biologists can scramble between the coastal forest's rocks while hunting for underwater creatures such as orange and purple ochre sea stars and sprawling, green anemones. Free tide pool tours are offered during the summer through Redwood National Park.

4. Ellis Island (N.Y.)
Between 1892 and 1924, more than 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island; today, their descendants account for 40 percent of Americans. Go on a hunt for your ancestors at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, where for $5 you can search through millions of records to find the exact date your relatives sailed into the Port of New York, as well as which ship they were on and whether they traveled with other family members. (Bonus: copies of the documents are yours to keep.) And don't miss the construction of the Peopling of America Center, which cost $20 million to build and is slated to open in 2012. The new space focuses on U.S. immigration from 1955 (when Ellis Island closed) to the present, and houses interactive multimedia exhibits, like a touch screen that reflects demographic changes in American cities over time.

5. Niagara Falls (N.Y.)
Sure, your grandparents honeymooned there, but the majestic waterfalls straddling the U.S.-Canada border are worth a 21st-century trip. Ever wonder what it's like to be a rubber ducky in a massive bathtub? Sign up for the Cave of the Winds tour, which begins after you change into a complimentary yellow poncho and sandals (trust us, you'll need 'em). After riding an elevator 175 feet down into the Niagara Gorge, you'll stand on the Hurricane Deck, where you'll be drenched by the tropical-storm-like spray from the 181-foot Bridal Veil Falls, where the water falls at a rate of up to 68 mph. Cave of the Winds operates May 1–Oct. 25.

6. Yellowstone National Park (Wyo., Mont., and Idaho)
Snag a Young Scientist Toolkit stocked with magnifying glasses, rock samples, and stopwatches to time geyser eruptions at the Old Faithful Visitor Center and hit the great outdoors for some investigating. The coolest toy: an infrared -thermometer gun that takes readings of thermal pools when pointed at the water. And there's lots of H20: The 3,472-square-mile park is home to more geothermal features (geysers, hot springs, mud spots) than any place on earth. The Young Scientist activity booklet and toolkit costs $5 (toolkit must be returned after use).

7. Colonial Williamsburg (Va.)
Everyone in this living-history site likes to play dress-up, and visitors are no exception. At the Great Hopes Plantation—a re-creation of the town's original 1700s farm—a stash of old-timey accessories await, from tricorne (three- pointed) hats for boys and shifts and mop caps (bonnets) for girls. The costumes come in handy in the field, where kids can perform 18th-century household chores, such as picking bugs off potato crops, fetching water from the well, or hoeing the soil, that are likely to make clearing the dinner dishes seem like a breeze by comparison. Great Hopes Plantation can be accessed through regular admission tickets.

8. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve (Idaho)
The National Park Service calls this Idaho preserve "the only officially weird park" in the country. And for good reason: The jagged, black landscape—formed by volcanic eruptions up to 15,000 years ago—boasts a 618-square-mile lava field, the biggest in the U.S. (The rocky surface is so moonlike that Apollo 14 astronauts trained at the site in 1969.) The park's most awe-inspiring feature is its lava tubes, underground passageways created by hardened molten rock. Grab a flashlight and head to Indian Tunnel, which, at 30 feet high and 50 feet wide, allows for comfortable exploring. Craving an even more intense experience? Exit the cave at the far end, a feat that requires mounting a big rock pile and squeezing through a small opening.

9. Independence Hall (Penn.)
Acquaint yourself with the spirits of America's founding fathers on Philadelphia's Ghost Tour, a 90-minute, candle-lit stroll that winds past landmarks like Independence Hall, where the Constitution was adopted; the Powel House, which hosted George and Martha Washington's 20th wedding anniversary celebration; and the 238-year-old City Tavern, John Adams's former watering hole. A cape-wearing, lantern-carrying guide points out "haunted" graveyards (St. Peter's Cemetery) and reports sightings of Benjamin Franklin, who's said to roam the city's streets. The best part: All the ghost stories are based on documented accounts, which makes them all the more spooky.

10. Alcatraz Island (Calif.)
Shiv collections and cramped jail cells don't exactly sound kid-friendly, but they offer a glimpse into America's most notorious island prison—and the National Park Service is all for bringing younger ones for a visit. Hop a ferry from San Francisco's Pier 33 and stroll the damp, gray halls of the maximum-security pen, which housed criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly from 1934 to 1963. (You can even get behind bars in one of the cells, if you dare.) Don't miss the audio tour, which was updated in 2007 when former inmates and guards recorded their memories of doing time at "the Rock." If you're feeling brave, take the night tour, which lets you roam the prison after dark. Alcatraz Cruises is the official carrier for tours to Alcatraz Island.

Hell Is the Wrath of God in Effect by Mark Driscoll

2011-03-27T15:41:00.001-05:00

Do We Really Believe What We're Saying? by David Platt

2011-03-23T14:03:00.001-05:00

Do We Really Believe What We're Saying? from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.

Unreal video of the Tsunami in Japan

2011-03-17T19:11:00.000-05:00

If your heart does not go out to the people of Japan, check your pulse. This is raw video of the destruction. Personally, I thought I knew but in reality had no clue how bad it really is over there. Pray for Japan!

Rob Bell on MSNBC: Caution he makes no sense.

2011-03-16T15:16:00.001-05:00

Rob Bell's "Love Wins" = a Loss for Truth

2011-03-15T15:09:00.007-05:00

This is a link to an in-depth review of Rob Bell's new book, Love Wins. If you are unaware of the book or the author, you need to know who he is and what he is teaching. His popularity sets mainly with the younger crowds who tend to label themselves in the emergent church. In my opinion, this book is heretical in all it's forms and resembles anything but the truth of Christ, the truth of the Cross, and the way to salvation. Here is what an excerpt from Kevin DeYoung's review that I perceive to be the key thought: "If Rob Bell is right, then historic orthodoxy is toxic and terrible. But if the traditional view of heaven and hell are right, Rob Bell is blaspheming."

Click this link for the full review of God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School Is Still True: A Review of “Love Wins” by Kevin DeYoung.

I believe his teachings are heretical blasphemy, and I do not enjoy even writing those words. If you are unconvinced about your stance, read the Bible in proper context for yourself and let it speak to your heart. This book just makes me sad.

Al Mohler's Take.

SNL Weekend Update (3/5/11)

2011-03-06T20:11:00.001-06:00

I rarely watch SNL and just happened to see this last night, but thought the Charlie Sheen portion was worth sharing. Enjoy:

5'11 Jacob Tucker

2011-03-04T16:22:00.001-06:00

Jacob Tucker (a senior guard for the (DIII) Illinois College Blueboys) = 5'11 + 50 inch verticle = Awesome.

Staying In Love - Promo

2011-02-09T19:53:00.004-06:00

This Sunday we are starting Staying In Love at First Baptist Jenks. I am really excited to see how this goes and what God does through the marriages in our church. In my opinion, there is not a better communicator than Andy Stanley and I am sure this will be great! Here is a promo video about the series:

John 3:16 - Rejected Super Bowl Ad

2011-02-06T23:10:00.001-06:00

This has been floating around for a few days, and I just cannot seem to understand why it was rejected as a Super Bowl Ad. It is non-offensive, non-evasive, fully-appropriate, fully-clean, and let's people decide to follow-up or not. My guess is this was rejected due to left-wing political correctness, which is ridiculous considering the message. Here is what was rejected:

Accountability Groups by Ed Stetzer

2011-02-03T00:11:00.002-06:00

This is one of the greatest resources I have come across in regards to accountability groups. The one thing that must be understood is that accountability only works if you are honest! These is research from Ed Stetzer on the right questions to ask and can be found on his blog:

Typically, these questions are asked in groups of 2-3, are specific to men or women, meets regularly, and hold each other accountable.

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John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work , or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone about my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?
20. Do I grumble and complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?

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Wesley's Band Meeting Questions:

1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
2. What temptations have you met with?
3. How were you delivered?
4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
5. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?

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Chuck Swindoll's Pastoral Accountability Questions:

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?

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Neil Cole's Questions:

1. What is the condition of your soul?
2. What sin do you need to confess?
3. What have you held back from God that you need to surrender?
4. Is there anything that has dampened your zeal for Christ?
5. Who have you talked with about Christ this week?

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The questions I use are from these cards from Church Multiplication Associates. I keep one in my Bible.

The ten questions are as follows:
1. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?
2. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate thoughts about someone who is not your spouse this week?
3. Have you lacked any integrity in your financial dealings this week, or coveted something that does not belong to you?
4. Have you been honoring, understanding and generous in your important relationships this past week?
5. Have you damaged another person by your words, either behind their back or face-to-face?
6. Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week? Explain.
7. Have you continued to remain angry toward another?
8. Have you secretly wished for another's misfortune so that you might excel?
9. Did you finish your reading this week and hear from the Lord? What are you going to do about it?
10. Have you been completely honest with me?

The Group at Westboro by Thomas White

2011-02-01T23:16:00.000-06:00

I came across this a few days ago and thought it was worth sharing. It irks me that "The Group at Westboro" identifies themselves as (1). Christians; (2); a Church; and (3) Baptist. Although it is not up to me to judge the validity of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, I can without question say that what they proclaim is not of God, the Bible, the Gospel, or the words, message, example, or truth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here is what Thomas White had to say about the group on his blog:

The Group at Westboro

If I told you that I was a bird, you might have your doubts. After all, I don’t look anything like a bird. I can’t fly. I don’t have wings. In fact, I have very little resemblance to a bird unless you want to count my bird legs as evidence.

Well, as a third generation Southern Baptist preacher and a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where I teach about the church, I think know what makes a Baptist church. According to the Bible, a church is a gathering, but a gathering with a purpose…an ecclesia. This Greek word is a compound word from ek and kaleo meaning the “called” “out” ones. The church is made up of those called out for God’s purposes. There are other assemblies in the New Testament. People called out and gathered for political reasons which may form assemblies but not churches. You see, a church has a special mission, which is the mission of Christ. Christ came to offer love and hope, and saving grace to those who were hopeless, unloved, and sinners.

So it really upsets me when a group calls themselves a Baptist church and then conducts themselves disgracefully. As a member of a Baptist church, I want to go on record as saying that the group calling themselves “Westboro” is neither Baptist nor a church. They do not follow the New Testament or the commands of Christ. They act nothing like a church should and do not demonstrate the characteristics of a true church. They should do everyone a favor and change their name to reflect reality. They appear to me as nothing more than a hate group with a extreme agenda. God will set things right on judgment day, and I would not want to be in their shoes.

So why do they call themselves a Baptist church? Well, of course I cannot know for sure, but I suspect that it is because the Devil would love for the public to think all Baptist churches act like Westboro. In reality, nothing could be farther from truth. So when you hear about the group at Westboro that spews hatred across the land, recognize them for what they are–not what they call themselves. And please don’t mistake them for a Baptist church no matter what the sign may say.

10 Tidbits of Advice Related to Raising Pastor's Kids by Tiffany Cooper

2011-01-25T05:17:00.000-06:00

10 tidbits of advice gathered over the years related to raising kids in the ministry (By Tiffany Cooper) via Leading and Loving It.

1. Allow your children to do things other kids aren’t allowed to do, it’s a perk as a PK. Examples: Let them run around the church, play with the toys or play the drums when no one else is there. Let them enjoy special privileges.
2. Accentuate the positives of ministry; the positive should overshadow the negative. Guard your attitudes and words.
3. Celebrate events and holidays on days when we are “ministering/working”. Don’t forgo the fun!
4. Don’t force your kids to do something just because people expect it... You know your kids, they don’t.
5. Be Authentic. Your kids will know if you’re one person at church and one person at home. Whenever I have the chance, I quiz PK women. One question is, “Why do you love God and live for God today?” Over and over again they say it’s because their parents were the same person at home and church, they were the real deal.
6. Offer your kids the same grace you offer to others (Kay Warren).
7. Your kids need to know that they are the priority before the ministry. Be diligent to tell them often and show it always. Ministry is our high calling but our family is our highest calling.
8. Use ministry as a teaching tool. Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church, brings home appropriate ministry topics to discuss with his children. He uses these topics to teach his children about ministry and life.
9. Family Time. Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv, blogged, I rarely work evenings. The evenings are family time. I also try not to compromise my day off with church needs. My husband and I also protect our evenings and day off. Of course, there are occasional meetings or events that need to be scheduled.
10. Have Fun! Find ways to add fun in your family. Many times it’s the small things throughout the day that make a huge impact.

Your Turn: Do you have a tip or advice to pass on to the rest of us?

Francis Chan's Tremendous Example

2010-12-27T00:27:00.000-06:00

“Christian famous” pastor quits his church, moves to Asia
By, Eric Marrapodi, CNN

He pastored a 4,000-member church in California. He was a sought-after speaker at major conferences, wrote two best-sellers and launched a DVD teaching series.

Then he abruptly resigned and left the country.

But in Francis Chan’s unexpected journey there apparently is no hidden scandal, no money trail, and no ‘other’ woman.

“I just want to disappear for a while,” he said in late September as he prepared to leave Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California for an undisclosed location in Asia.

Before selling his house and packing up his wife and three children, Chan was becoming “Christian famous” in Evangelical circles.

“Even in my own church I heard the words, ‘Francis Chan’ more than I heard the words, ‘Holy Spirit’,” he said.

That was a big part of the reason he walked away at the peak of his professional career.

“I think there has been too much emphasis on me. I want to be used by God, but I think we have this desire to make heroes out of people rather than following God and the Holy Spirit.” For the rest of the article, click here.

Later on in the article it says, "His fame was straining his work as a pastor." Note that his church was continuing to grow, he did not have a problem delegating, or caught in some scandal. He simply viewed his image as detracting from God, so he walked away for a season. It is my hope and desire to make Jesus famous, and now there is an example to make sure He is always more important than me!

Is December 25 Really Jesus' Birthday?

2010-12-23T00:23:00.000-06:00

The reality of Jesus’ birth – Jesus was not born of December 25, in fact the true date is not known (most think it is April or August). It is clear from the scriptures and history that it was not in December. Shepherds did not spend the chilly December nights on the hills in that part of the world, they took their sheep inside to shelter overnight and out again in the morning.

During the 4th century the Church of Rome decided to celebrate Christ’s birth during the winter solstice in an attempt to Christianize these popular pagan celebrations. These popular Roman pagan festivals of celebration, drunkenness and making merry ran from December 17-24. Gifts were exchanged and on the 25th they would celebrate “The Birth of Unconquerable Sun.”

We celebrate the marvelous story of the birth of Jesus Christ at this time to point the eyes of men on the true birth of the Conquering Son Jesus! Our goal is to turn the eyes of all men upon the true Creator and Son of God, Son of Man, Jesus. As you think of December 25, do so with joy in your heart as we realize that Jesus came to change that which is evil into good… Christmas on the 25th of December screams of His mission, which is our mission as well!

For me, this makes December 25 even more special than before.

Other Articles on the Topic:
Biblical Archaeology.
Grace To You.
Just Ask.

Discover Hope Sermon Series

2010-12-21T04:04:00.000-06:00

This Christmas we had a series called, "Discover Hope." The first sermon contrasted the difference between Jesus' home in heaven, on earth, and in our hearts. The second message dealt with Hope in Hardships and how we as believers can rejoice in sufferings... as backwards as that may sound. Last Sunday, we took at look at Revelation 5 and how we need to Stop, Drop, & Roll more often than we might think! It was fun to have the opportunity to preach this series.

My Top 10

2010-12-14T18:14:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine recently created an app call My Top 10. It is a Facebook, iPhone, iPad, iPod app that will allow you to like and share your favorite things with others. In addition to that, you also get a visual of the product and an easy link to purchase or find more information out about that product. Here are a couple of videos about how it works. Try Top 10 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mytopten

My Top 10 Bad Santa from My Top 10 on Vimeo.

My Top 10 How To Video from My Top 10 on Vimeo.

Relocation Highlight

2010-12-11T00:11:00.001-06:00

Recently, our church underwent a complete relocation. My favorite part of the new building is the entrance. When you walk in, you see a picture of "Jesus Loves You!" in the form of Him embracing children. It demonstrates our focus on families, children, and the mission of Jesus at First Baptist Jenks. Recently, the company that we used for our artwork focused on the work. Here is a highlight of it:

Mall Musical

2010-12-02T12:55:00.001-06:00

A buddy shared this with me and I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy!

Apologizing Well

2010-11-15T07:15:00.000-06:00

This is an old post from Scott Hodge worth reading. I thinking admitting when you're wrong is a key aspect of leadership. Although we all want to avoid mistakes, they are bound to happen, and when they do we need to own them! Here is the article:

Apologizing has become somewhat of a lost art, don't you think? And to a large degree it's understandable because no one likes to admit failure - it's humiliating and when done well, there's no room for pride to stick around. Which is why it's so hard to do! Yet.....you know this as well as I do...apologizing well is one of the most powerful gestures we could ever show another human being.

So here's five quick thoughts on how to do it well.

1. Acknowledge your failure.

"I have failed you. I've let you down. I have done wrong."

2. Acknowledge the impact of the failure.

"I have failed you....and as a result, I know I've caused you a lot of pain....I've put you in a very precarious position.....I have hurt you."

What NOT to say: "I'm sorry you were offended by what I did." NO. That sucks. Take responsibility.

3. Tell them you're sorry.

"I've failed you....and I know it has caused you a lot of pain....and I just want you to know that I am truly sorry."

4. Commit to change.

"....and I'll do whatever I can to make sure that never happens again."

5. Be Quiet.

This is where we get into trouble. Because the tendency is to add on:

"I'm sorry....it's just that..."

"I'm sorry....but I didn't mean it!"

"I'm sorry...it's just that you..."

No. Don't make excuses. Don't complicate it. Don't qualify it.

LeBron James Response

2010-11-08T19:54:00.000-06:00

In my opinion, the new LeBron commercial is one of the worst attempts to regain credibility that I have ever seen. The city responded in a fair way, especially concerning the pathetic manner he left the team and city he gave up on. Here is Cleveland's response:

iPhone, Germs, and Public Toilets

2010-10-26T22:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a distrubing article on the iPhone and germs.

It’s flu season again and it seems like the biggest carrier of germs could be that sleek little smartphone you just can’t live without.

That’s right. Personal touch-screen devices like iPhones, iPads, Droids and BlackBerrys carry more germs than a toilet in a subway bathroom, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

And that’s not even the half of it. The study also found that these devices are so good at spreading viruses, that sharing them may be as bad as sneezing in someone’s face.

"If you're sharing the device, then you're sharing your influenza with someone else who touches it," Timothy Julian, a Stanford University doctoral student who co-authored the study, told the Sacramento Bee.

"If you put virus on a surface, like an iPhone, about 30 percent of it will get on your fingertips," Julian said.

And if you’re really worried about getting the flu – stop by your local drug store or call your doctor to get the seasonal flu shot.

This was taken from here.

East Asian Food

2010-10-08T10:18:00.007-05:00

Recently, I was in East Asia and here are some pictures of the food I was served:

Octopus, Broccoli, & Egg Plate = Just wrong!

Hot Pot = One of my favorite meals, really good stuff!

Whole fish: bones, head, everything else = Not so much!

Sweet & Sour Prok = Maybe the best I've ever had.

Sushi with Mint Tea = Not bad.

"American Chicken" = Not American, but pretty good.

Seafood Fried Rice = Seafood-y.

Hand Pan Noodles = Not my favorite, thick noodles are gross!

Some sort of Tofu soup = disgusting!

Spicy bloody noodles = had peanuts, I had a taste of the noodles, not good.

Fugnus, not mushroom = No one should ever be forced to eat this under any circumstance!

Ramen Noodles with beef (I think) = Very good.

Fried Chicken with Pepper Sauce = Very good.

McDonald's (gross), KFC (okay), Burger King (eeh), & Dairy Queen = Blizzard!

Why Kids Get Sicker at Night

2010-09-13T06:43:00.000-05:00

I saw this article from parenting magazine and wanted to remember it, so I put it on here:

Why Kids Get Sicker at Night
Sickness never comes at a convenient time, but when your child awakens in the middle of the night with distressing symptoms, chaos often follows.

Everyone is half asleep and not thinking clearly. The doctor's office is closed, and you don't know whether you should call and wake him or try to deal with the ailment yourself.

Let's relieve some of the stress of that decision right now: Anytime you think your child's health may be in serious danger -- for instance, he has a high fever and is acting poorly, has trouble breathing, has a strange rash, or is having a seizure -- call your doctor (or 911) immediately. And almost any symptom in a baby under 4 months old merits an immediate call to the doctor, no matter the time.

9 Pediatric Emergency Essentials
So what are you supposed to do the other 97 percent of the time when your child wakes up at 2 A.M. worse off than when he went to bed?

Symptoms of many children's illnesses routinely worsen at night, and though there's nothing life-threatening about them, they can make your child miserable.

Fortunately, with a little planning and the help of our middle-of-the-night health guide, you'll have what you need to get your kid (and you!) feeling better by morning.

Asthma and allergies
Why they're worse at night: If your child has asthma or certain allergies, you're probably all too familiar with the challenges of helping her through the wee hours.

There are many factors at play: "The body's level of cortisol drops at night, and cortisol has some preventive effects on asthma," says Santiago Martinez, M.D., pediatric allergist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Florida State University Medical School in Tallahassee. Plus, the levels of histamine rise, aggravating many allergy and asthma symptoms. And finally, some allergens, such as dust mites and pet dander, may be more prevalent in a child's room, increasing her exposure while she sleeps.

What to do: If your child has an allergy attack at night, an antihistamine should quell her symptoms (ask your doctor for the best one to have on hand for your child). Should you find that her attacks are frequent and occur year-round, you may want to consider immunotherapy shots, which introduce tiny amounts of the allergen into the body, slowly allowing immunity to build. You can also consider using HEPA filters in your vacuum and a HEPA air filter -- these are designed to trap the minuscule particles that can aggravate symptoms.

Croup
Why it's worse at night: This barking-seal cough is usually the result of a viral infection that has settled in the upper airway and voice box, and typically strikes while the child has a cold. Because it causes swelling of the vocal cords, the cough also may be accompanied by noisy, rapid breathing.

Croup is almost always at its worst at night, partly because blood flow to the respiratory tract changes when a child lies down. Plus, dry air can aggravate it.

Earache
Why it's worse at night: Whether the infection is in the middle ear or in the ear canal (also called swimmer's ear), these puppies can hurt. Lying down increases the collection of fluid and puts extra pressure on the inflamed tissue.

What to do: Ibuprofen (for kids older than 12 months) or acetaminophen can help relieve the ache, but you can also try this remedy for severe pain from middle ear infections: "Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in the microwave so it's warm -- but not hot -- to your touch," says Leeds. "Put two to three drops of the warm oil in your child's affected ear. It relaxes the membranes and brings almost instant relief." Applying a warm, damp washcloth to your child's ear also can help.

Fever
Why it's worse at night: Body temperature rises naturally in the evening, so a fever that was slight during the day can easily spike during sleep.

What to do: First, take your child's temperature (do it rectally if she's under 6 months old -- and, ideally, for as long as she'll allow this method). Any fever above 100.4°F in an infant under 3 months warrants an immediate call to the doctor. Same goes for an elevated temp in any child that's accompanied by lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, stiff neck, or an unusual rash.Otherwise, try a dose of acetaminophen, wait half an hour, and check the temperature again. In the meantime -- and if you're not too delirious -- you can give your child a room-temperature bath to help cool her down. And definitely help her stay hydrated by offering some water (or formula or breast milk if she's a baby) before she goes back to sleep.

Itchy skin
Why it's worse at night: When your child is lying still, it's a whole lot easier to focus on the itchiness, whether it's due to poison ivy, bug bites, eczema, or even sunburn. And if the itchy skin is rooted in some kind of allergy, you've got the higher nighttime levels of histamines to thank.

Dealing with an allergic rash or lots of bites? An antihistamine can bring relief. A topical cortisone cream can help as well, but again, avoid using this type of product before you have specific instructions from your ped.

Stuffy nose

Why it's worse at night: Too bad kids can't sleep standing up like horses -- then their nasal passages wouldn't swell more when they sleep!

What to do: For immediate relief, use saline nose drops or spray. Both will moisten the membranes and loosen the secretions, making it easier for your child to blow out the mucus, or for you to remove it with a bulb syringe if you have a baby.

You may be tempted to offer your child a decongestant, but they're no longer recommended for kids under 2, and many doctors advise against giving them to older kids.

Vomiting

Why it's worse at night: It's not that kids are necessarily more likely to throw up at night; it's more that it feels about ten times worse because you usually end up having to change bedsheets, clean up rugs, change and wash pajamas -- all when you're bone tired. Then you have to worry that it could happen again. (Oh, and it's pretty awful for your kid.)

What to do: First, make sure your child isn't throwing up anything green or bloody; if he is, call the doctor, as this could indicate a more serious condition. Same goes for vomiting accompanied by pain in the lower right side of the abdomen. If he's still awake an hour later but hasn't vomited again, try giving him small sips of flat cola or ginger ale, if you have it.

The middle-of-the-night survival kit: A little preparation can go a long way toward making those 2 A.M. sick calls easier. Some things to have on hand:

In the medicine chest:
• Pain and fever relievers. Stock both children's ibuprofen and children's acetaminophen (or the infant formulations for kids under 2) and jot down the correct dose for each approved by your doctor.
• A children's antihistamine and cortisone cream (with doctor-approved instructions)
• Saline nose drops or spray
• Nasal aspirator
• Medicine dropper
• Prescription pain-relief eardrops (if your child is prone to infections)
• Petroleum jelly
• Digital thermometer

In the kitchen:
• Olive oil
• Canned peaches or pears in syrup
• Ice pops
• Flat cola or ginger ale

In his room:
• Cool-mist humidifier
• Facial tissues

Original post can be found here.

Be Our Guest

2010-08-19T07:59:00.002-05:00

When I opened up this email, it struck a nerve with me immediately. It told me that although I was not a part of what was going on with Direct Buy, I could participate… but only for a short while. The main take away for me what how I do not belong, probably the opposite of what was intended to be communicated, but nonetheless it was the message received.

From the start of my time at First Baptist Jenks I have communicated that we have guests, not visitors. The term visitor represents someone that does not really belong. “Visitor” screams of a disconnect between us and them, and is an unfriendly word we need to avoid. When a visitor comes to your house, you stand at the door and listen to what they have to say until you deem the conversation to be over. When a guest visits, you welcome them in, offer them your choice seat, and offer a beverage or even food.

To give credit where credit is due, Disney taught me this through one of my first first employers and their coined phrase, “Be our Guest, Be our Guest…” In church life (and business), we should all strive to make those who grace us with their presence feel like welcome guests, not visitors.

In short, the language we use matters… may we use the right words!

FASTING AND PRAYER By Pastor Rick Warren

2010-08-05T05:10:00.000-05:00

WHAT IS FASTING?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Bible. Jesus expected His followers to fast, and He said that God rewards fasting. Fasting, according to the Bible, means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose.
"When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18 (NCV)

WHY FAST?
There are many good reasons, and even health benefits, for fasting. However, our the 40 Days is for three primary reasons:
1. Fasting gives you more time for prayer. You can use the time you'd normally spend eating as time in prayer for what God wants to do among us during this Campaign.
In the Bible, fasting is always connected with prayer.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." Acts 13:2-3 (NIV)
2. Fasting demonstrates the depth of your desire when praying for something. It shows you that you are serious enough about your prayer request to pay a personal price. God honors deep desire and praying in faith.
"Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14 (NIV) "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Joel 2:12 (NASB)
3. Fasting releases God's supernatural power. It is a tool we can use when there is opposition to God's will. Satan would like nothing better than to cause division, discouragement, defeat, depression, and doubt among us. United prayer and fasting has always been used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy!
"So we fasted and prayed about these concerns. And he listened." Ezra 8:23 (Msg) "God says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)

THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
Often in the Bible, God's people fasted immediately before a major victory, miracle, or answer to prayer. It prepared them for a blessing!
• Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments.
"Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant--the Ten Commandments." Exodus 34:28 (NIV)
• The Israelites fasted before a miraculous victory.
"Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah." 2 Chronicles 20:2-3 (NIV)
• Daniel fasted in order to receive guidance from God.
"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3 (NIV)
"While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came tome in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.'" Daniel 9:21-22 (NIV)
• Nehemiah fasted before beginning a major building project.
"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
• Jesus fasted during His victory over temptation.
"For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry." Luke 4:2 (Msg)
• The first Christians fasted during-decision making times.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." Acts 13:2-3 (NIV)

TWO CAUTIONS
1. Remember that fasting is not "earning" an answer to prayer. God cannot be blackmailed by human effort. God wants to answer our prayers and He answers out of grace. Fasting simply prepares us for God's answer.
2. Fast only if your health allows it at this time. If you are able to do only a partial fast - do it in faith and God will honor your intentions.

Spider-Man Baseball Catch

2010-08-04T18:20:00.001-05:00

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

2010-08-03T16:15:00.003-05:00

Our (First Baptist Jenks) 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting Begins tomorrow, here is an online copy of the guide:

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting (For our Relocation)
Wednesday, August 4 – Pray for Dependence (John 15:5)
Thursday, August 5 – Pray & Fast for Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Friday, August 6 – Pray for Love (1 Corinthians 13)
Saturday, August 7 – Pray for our Community (Matthew 25:31-46)
Sunday, August 8 – Pray for Church (Mark 8:27-30)
Monday, August 9 – Pray for Boldness (John 14:12-15)
Tuesday, August 10 – Pray for Kindness (Romans 2:4)
Wednesday, August 11 – Pray for Sanctification (John 17:17)
Thursday, August 12 – Pray & Fast for Greater Things (John 14:12)
Friday, August 13 – Pray for our Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Saturday, August 14 – Pray for Preparation (1 John 5:14-15)
Sunday, August 15 – Pray for Blessing (Isaiah 43:19)
Monday, August 16 – Pray for Protection (Luke 10:3)
Tuesday, August 17 – Pray for Action (Matthew 7:24-27)
Wednesday, August 18 – Pray for Fruit (Galatians 5:22-24)
Thursday, August 19 – Pray & Fast for Repentance (Titus 2:11-14)
Friday, August 20 – Pray for Proof (James 1:22)
Saturday, August 21 – Pray for Perseverance (James 1:12)
Sunday, August 22 – Pray for Baptisms (Matt. 16:18-19)
Monday, August 23 – Pray for Effectiveness (1 John 4:9)
Tuesday, August 24 – Pray for Finances (1 Corinthians 16:1-4)
Wednesday, August 25 – Pray for Marriages (1Corinthians 7:1-5)
Thursday, August 26 – Pray & Fast for Freedom (Romans 8:1)
Friday, August 27 – Pray for Resolve (Matthew 18:19)
Saturday, August 28 – Pray for Wisdom (Proverbs 1:7)
Sunday, August 29 – Pray for Salvations (Matt. 16:18-19)
Monday, August 30 – Pray for Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Tuesday, August 31 – Pray for Giving (2 Corinthians 8:3-5)
Wednesday, September 1 – Pray for Endurance (Matthew 11:28-30)
Thursday, September 2 – Pray & Fast for Life-Changes (Ephesians 2:8)
Friday, September 3 – Pray for Graciousness (Romans 8:32)
Saturday, September 4 – Pray for Offering of Self (I John 4:10-12)
Sunday, September 5 – Pray for Strength (Joshua 1:9)
Monday, September 6 – Pray for Prayerfulness (Philippians 4:4-7)
Tuesday, September 7 – Pray for Holiness (Romans 12:1-2)
Wednesday, September 8 – Pray for Evangelism & Discipleship (Matthew 28: 19-20)
Thursday, September 9 – Pray & Fast for Service (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Friday, September 10 – Pray for Peace (John 14:27)
Saturday, September 11 – Pray for Power (Matt. 16:18-19)
Sunday, September 12 – Pray for Impact (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

No Such Thing as "the Gift of Evangelism" by Ed Stetzer

2010-07-19T12:15:00.000-05:00

This is from Ed Stetzer's blog: Recently, I spoke at the Church of God Triennial meeting in Decatur, IL. One of the things I talked about was my belief that there is no such thing as "the gift of evangelism." Part of my concern is that I hear many people saying they don't have the "gift of evangelism" and thus believing it is not their responsibility to do evangelism (since they don't have the "gift"). And, since evangelism can be a challenge at times, that seems to be a "gift" that people don't want.

In the mid-90s, a well-known leader who created a "spiritual gifts test," told me that about 10% of people have the gift of evangelism. Yet, that number seems to be on decline. Barna recently released research saying, "Among the interesting facets of the research was that just 1% of believers claim to have the gift of evangelism (down from 4% five years ago)."

Hmmmmm.

I don't think this means there is a widespread growing realization that no one has the gift of evangelism. My best guess is that it is because people are talking themselves out of their obligation to do evangelism.

I think that the current challenge of evangelism is why an increasing number of people do not think they have the gift.

Here are four proposals I made at that meeting.

1. All believers are given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). That is, their role is to be agents of reconciliation and share how men and women are to be redeemed and changed by the power of the gospel.

2. Timothy was called to do his work in evangelistic ways (2 Timothy 4:5) but based on the fact that all are called to present the gospel of reconciliation, it makes sense that we can heed that admonition in all our lives. Thus, I encourage pastors to do ministry in evangelistic ways, but particularly church leaders (since Timothy was a church leader). Like in 1 Timothy 3, leaders are almost always commanded to do the things believers do-- just more so.

3. The church is gifted with evangelists (Eph. 4:11) who help us be faithful doing evangelism. We should talk more about the gifted people called evangelists.

4. It is unhelpful to refer to evangelism as a gift because it removes the responsibility of all believers. In other words, many think that if they don't have the gift, it is not their job. Evangelism is not a gift, it is a call to all believers.

What do you think?

Keys to the Kingdom

2010-07-15T23:55:00.001-05:00

I've decided to start posting the sermons I preach on my blog. They will be listed on the right side bar (-->) from now on, and perhaps as a main post as well. Click on the Keys to the Kingdom for Sundays Message from Matthew 16:13-20.

Epcot for Preschoolers: My Suggested Preschool Tour (2 of 2)

2010-07-14T19:14:00.000-05:00

This is my Epcot Preschool Touring Guide. If you are not spending multiple days at Disney World, do not waste your time here, stay at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. If you have 4 days or more, Epcot will be well worth your time! Here is my Epcot Preschool Touring Guide:

1. Test Track (if you child is 40” or taller)
2. Epcot Character Spot
3. The Seas with Nemo & Friends
4. Turtle Talk With Crush
5. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros (Mexico)
6. Stop in the Mayan Ruins to make a mask for your child – this will give them something to do and keep them entertained… and it’s free! You can get this stamped at each country if you so choose, but you will have to decide if that is worth it to you or not, we got 2 stamps and were more than satisfied.
7. Character Meet & Greets
8. Stop in Japan for Kaki Gore (snow cone) at a kiosk as you enter
9. Finish your Character Meet & Greets and head back to your hotel!
10. After your rest & relaxation, head to a different theme park.

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Stop for a Kaki Gore (snow cone) at a kiosk as you enter Japan, probably the most reasonably priced item in all of Disney World.
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
• If you do not get a park hopper pass, do not go to Epcot, no way it is worth it. If you do get a park hopper pass, only spend a morning here.

Related Articles:
Magic Kingdom for Preschoolers: Best and Worst
Disney World for Preschoolers

Epcot for Preschoolers: Best and Worst (1 of 2)

2010-07-14T07:14:00.000-05:00

Epcot is hard to judge for preschoolers. While the rides are not very friendly, we found this to be the best place for our kids to meet the Disney characters. In fact, they met everyone they cared to meet here: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofey, Mulan, Jasmine, Snow White, and more. So I would agree with the majority who say this park is not toddler friendly, but I think Disney has as countered that by creating an environment where children can meet all the characters without waiting in long line (aside from Epcot Character Spot).

Please keep in mind that this is based upon the Preschooler’s (birth-5) experience and not older kids. There were no rides worthwhile for our children. Our 4 year old did enjoy Test Track, but our 2 year old was not tall enough to ride it, thus it was an overall fail. Neither child road Soarin. The other rides were blah at best.

Even with the fact that Epcot is not really kid friendly, I would recommend for you to bring your preschooler here for a morning. You can meet the beloved Disney characters, head back to your hotel for rest and relaxation, then spend you evening at a fun park (I would suggest going to Magic Kingdom in the evening for some attractions, the parade and fireworks display). Here is my best and worst preschooler’s guide for Epcot:

Best Rides
1. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros (Mexico)
2. The Seas with Nemo & Friends
3. Test Track (40’ minimum height)

Best Shows/Attractions
1. Epcot Character Spot
2. Character Meet & Greets (each country has a different character – i.e. meet Snow White in Germany. A list of character meeting times is available upon arrival to the park, along with a map)
3. Turtle Talk with Crush

Worst Rides
1. Maelstrom – as boring as Norway
2. Soarin – Great for children, not preschoolers
3. All the other shows and rides toddlers find boring or are too little for

Worst Shows
• Take you pick of those not listed on the best shows!

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Stop for a Kaki Gore (snow cone) at a kiosk as you enter Japan, probably the most reasonably priced item in all of Disney World.
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
• If you are there for more than one day, leave the park for a few hours in the afternoon to rest, eat, swim, relax, and head back… you will still have plenty of time to do everything in 2 days at Magic Kingdom with your preschoolers.

Related Articles:
Magic Kingdom for Preschoolers: Best and Worst
Disney World for Preschoolers

Animal Kingdom for Preschoolers: My Suggested Preschool Tour (2 of 2)

2010-07-13T18:44:00.004-05:00

If there was a park where I wished we had spent more time, it would be Animal Kingdom. We made some poor decisions with our time, but still thoroughly enjoyed this theme park because our kids loved it so much.

Here is my Animal Kingdom Preschool Touring Guide:
1. Kilimanjaro Safaris – Go early for your best chance to see the animals
2. Camp Minnie-Mickey – let your kids dance and play with the characters, and participate in story time with Pocchohantas
3. Festival of the Lion King – Best show at Disney World
4. Kali River Rapids
5. TriceraTop Spin
6. The Boneyard
7. Finding Nemo-The Musical
* To be fair, this is a half-day touring plan based on our experience.

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
•Take your time and enjoy Camp Minnie-Mickey. Your kids will love dancing and playing with the characters, as well as story time with Pocahontas.

Related Articles:
Magic Kingdom for Preschoolers: Best and Worst
Disney World for Preschoolers

Animal Kingdom for Preschoolers: Best and Worst (1 of 2)

2010-07-13T06:26:00.002-05:00

When we were preparing to go to Disney World we were told to avoid Animal Kingdom. The consensus told us that there was too much walking and that it simply was not worth the time… they were TOTALLY WRONG! Animal Kingdom was fantastic.

Their unique approach to theme parks and the real life animals made this one of our favorite spots of the entire trip. The only problem with Animal Kingdom is that it has probably ruined our Tulsa Zoo experience, which wouldn’t take much to do anyways.

As with any of the Disney theme parks, it is important to get their early to beat long lines at the premier attractions. Also, the fast passes are inactive here for some reason, which was annoying to me! Finally, be prepared to have a great time. While you will have to walk from place to place, it was not overwhelming for us or our preschoolers. Here is the Best and Worst list for Preschoolers at Animal Kingdom:

Best Rides:
1. Kilimanjaro Safaris
2. Kali River Rapids
3. TriceraTop Spin

Best Attractions:
1. Camp Minnie-Mickey – there is a stage on the left as you enter the park where you preschooler can dance, sing, and have story time Pocahontas
2. Festival of the Lion King
3. Finding Nemo-The Musical – know this show was a little long, still worth seeing though

Worst Rides:
1. Rafiki’s Planet Watch = waste of time

Worst Attractions:
1. All walking trails – our kids did not care to search for animals, plus this is the part that can tire everyone out.
2. It’s Tough to Be a Bug – Great for older children, too much for preschoolers

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
•Take your time and enjoy Camp Minnie-Mickey. Your kids will love dancing and playing with the characters, as well as story time with Pocahontas.

Related Articles:
Magic Kingdom for Preschoolers: Best and Worst
Disney World for Preschoolers

Magic Kingdom for Preschoolers: My Suggested Preschool Tour (2 of 2)

2010-07-12T19:12:00.003-05:00

This is my Magic Kingdom Preschool Touring Guide. If you are planning on spending multiple days at Magic Kingdom, do what you can the first day and do the rest the second day. Whatever you do, stay late one night to catch "Summer Nightastic Fireworks," you will be glad you did!

My Suggested Preschool Tour:
1. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
2. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Indoor)
3. “It’s a Small World” (Indoor)
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
5. Fairytale Garden – Storytime with Belle
6. Jungle Cruise
7. The magic Carpets of Aladdin
8. Lunch at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café
9. Country Bear Jamboree
10. Take Walt Disney World Railroad from Frontierland to Mickey’s Toontown Fair
11. Toontown Hall of Fame Tent (Meet the Princesses)
12. The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre
13. Tour Mickey & Minnie’s house
14. Mad Tea Party
15. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
16. Tomorrowland Speedway
17. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Indoor)
18. Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
19. Nighttime Electrical Parade
20. Summer Nightastic Fireworks

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café – reasonably priced, roomy, good selection = best place in the park to eat!
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
• If you are there for more than one day, leave the park for a few hours in the afternoon to rest, eat, swim, relax, and head back… you will still have plenty of time to do everything in 2 days at Magic Kingdom with your preschoolers.
• Stay for the Nighttime Electrical Parade and Fireworks.

Magic Kingdom for Preschoolers: Best and Worst with Tips (1 of 2)

2010-07-12T07:12:00.008-05:00

Best Rides for Preschoolers:
1. The magic Carpets of Aladdin
2. Mad Tea Party
3. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
4. “It’s a Small World” (Indoor)
5. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
6. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Indoor)
7. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Indoor)
8. Tomorrowland Speedway
9. Jungle Cruise
10. The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre
11. Walt Disney World Railroad – not exciting, but gives you rest

Best Shows for Preschoolers:
1. Summer Nightastic Fireworks
2. Country Bear Jamboree
3. Fairytale Garden – Storytime with Belle
4. Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
5. Nighttime Electrical Parade

Worst Rides for Preschoolers:
1. Snow White’s Scary Adventure – title says it all
2. Tom Sawyer Island – a total waste for little ones
3. Pirates of the Caribbean – too much for preschoolers

Worst Shows for Preschoolers
1. Mickey's PhilharMagic – the 3D freaked out my kids
2. The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management – inappropriate and uninspired

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café – reasonably priced, roomy, good selection = best place in the park to eat!
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
• If you are there for more than one day, leave the park for a few hours in the afternoon to rest, eat, swim, relax, and head back… you will still have plenty of time to do everything in 2 days at Magic Kingdom with your preschoolers.
• Stay for the Nighttime Electrical Parade and Fireworks.

Disney World for Preschoolers

2010-07-11T15:05:00.010-05:00

Last month my family had the opportunity to go to Disneyworld. When we told our kids that they would be able to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and the Princesses (for my daughter), they were elated (as were we)! My wife did her due diligence in researching the parks, finding out all the helpful information, and even finding “touring plans.” My first thought was that she was doing way too much work for what was supposed to be a relaxing time, but I was WAY WRONG!

We read through some online websites and the Unofficial Guide To Disneyworld. Through this we found some very helpful advice, but there was much to be learned by experience. This series of blog posts is intended to help parents with preschoolers plan for a fun trip to Disneyworld.

Throughout this series, it is of the utmost importance to remember a few things:
• This is for preschoolers (2-5 not older kids)
• Keep it Fun
• Understand you will sweat, a bunch
• You, your kids, and others are all going to get warn out
• Keep your cool when others don’t
• Don’t be a jerk – like pushing your way past others
• Disneyworld should be experienced by every child!

Helpful tips:
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Arrive at the park by 8:15AM or 45 minutes before it opens.
• Purchase your tickets before your get to the park.
• Take advantage of the Disney photographers. Even if you do not purchase their photos, they will also take pictures for you, so do not be afraid to ask them to do so!
• Bring your own snacks – Disney allows you to brings food and dinks (at least plastic bottles) into the parks
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café – reasonably priced, roomy, good selection = best place in the park to eat!
• Purchase most of your souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, but know Target has cheaper items just down the road.
• If you are there for more than one day, leave the park for a few hours in the afternoon to rest, eat, swim, relax, and head back… you will still have plenty of time to do everything in 2 days at Magic Kingdom with your preschoolers.
• Stay for the Nighttime Electrical Parade and Fireworks.

47 Best Church Practices

2010-07-02T19:10:00.000-05:00

My Condition: Alopecia Areata

2010-06-30T22:35:00.002-05:00

2 or 3 months ago I noticed that a spot of hair on my chin had turned white. At the time I simply thought I was getting older and did not pay it much attention at all. Then one day, I noticed the white hairs were gone and I had an odd bald spot on my face.

My initial thought was that my kidneys were failing (or had some sort of cancer) and was dying – while that may seem humorous, it was my legitimate fear/thought. Fortunately, I already had a dermatologist appointment scheduled and saw my doctor a few days later. The good news is that I am not dying and this is not a life-threatening diesease.

He looked at it, examined me, and diagnosed me with a disease called Alopecia Areata. It is a condition that causes round patched of hair loss. While only my chin is affected now, it can lead to loss of all scalp and body hair! Anyway, I bring this about to let the world know that I am aware of the bald spot on my chin. According to my doctor is it brought about by stress (thank you very much and I stressing out about trying to relax now ) and he thinks it will be a temporary thing. Anyway, if you have any more questions, here are some highlights and links about Alopecia Areata:

• No fully effective treatments are available.
• Irritating drugs may be applied to hairless areas to cause the hair to regrow (my treatment)
• The cause of alopecia areata is unknown (1/5 of people with this condition have a family history)
• Full recovery of hair is common.
• Google Health’s Breakdown.
• Miss Delaware has it.
• Alopecia Areata according Wikipedia
• eMedicine’s Breakdown

21 Things You Should Never Buy New

2010-06-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting article taken from Yahoo finance: If you're looking to get the most value for your dollar, it would do your wallet good to check out secondhand options. Many used goods still have plenty of life left in them even years after the original purchase, and they're usually resold at a fraction of the retail price, to boot.

Here's a list of 21 things that make for a better deal when you buy them used:
1. DVDs and CDs
2. Books
3. Video Games
4. Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing - odd to me.
5. Jewelry - another odd thing... here is your used wedding ring?
6. Ikea Furniture - Can find on Craigslist already assembled.
7. Games and Toys
8. Maternity and Baby Clothes
9. Musical Instruments
10. Pets - I agree, adopt!
12. Craft Supplies
13. Houses
14. Office Furniture - seems like an odd thing to be on the list.
15. Cars
16. Hand Tools
17. Sports Equipment - and I am thinking about buying a New Putter.
18. Consumer Electronics - I would only buy new, so I disagree with this.
19. Gardening Supplies
20. Timeshares
21. Recreational Items

SBC 2010: Award Winners

2010-06-25T06:01:00.007-05:00

Here are my award winners for the 2010 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando:

• Best Sermon – Tony Evans, if people would have listened to him they would have listened to Evans they would not have made the asinine comments about Stanley

• Worst "Message" - Joshua Shank, Acts 29 Rap... on the path to being the next Wiley Drake!

• Most Popular – David Platt, the twitter trends for him were ridiculous!

• Least Popular/Most Helpful – Andy Stanley, if people would get off their high-horses and listen to his wisdom, their churches would be better for it.

• Best speech – James Merritt for the GCR, it was fantastic!

• Worst speech – The recent grad from one of our SBC seminaries against the GCR… whatever seminary that was should still thanking God he did not claim them!

• Best Dressed – Anyone wearing shorts in the humid hundred degree weather

• Worst Dressed – Ronnie Floyd, don't get me wrong, Floyd did a great job with the GCR, but this Miami Vice suit is TERRIBLE!

• Worst Logo Ever – Love Loud, this logo is embarrassing for so many reasons... absolutely horrendous - even worse than Floyd's suit!

SBC 2010: Great Commission Resurgence (GCR)

2010-06-24T06:24:00.003-05:00

The biggest thing about this year’s convention was the passage of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report (GCR). When I first heard about it, I personally felt like it was an indictment against Southern Baptist that we had strayed so far from what we (The Church) were created to do that we needed to push for the Great Commission to be our focus again, after all, what else is there for the church! Now, a little part of me still feels that way, but more of me is excited that we as a convention noticed the need to change our course and move in God’s direction for us.

There are 7 main parts of the GCR that can be read here, but basically it can be summed up by saying our goal as Southern Baptists is to penetrate the lostness in our world for the cause of Jesus Christ (fulfilling that which He called us to do). The main point of contention came with component three, “Celebrating and Empowering Great Commission Giving.” The reason this was controversial is that some thought it would take away from the CP (Cooperative Giving as established by the SBC in 1925). This point was minimized many times by Ronnie Floyd, NAMB, and the GCR task force as it only really includes giving to SBC causes and not rogues efforts – something I find silly since the Great Commission is not centered on the CP, the CP should be centered on the Great Commission.

Danny Akin addressed this at the B21 lunch when he said, “The CP has not become a golden calf, it’s worse than that.” (I am pretty sure I quoted that correctly, and I am pretty sure Danny Akin was the one who said it) Anyway, this component was changed a little bit to make some feel better about the sanctity of the CP, but I found the change unnecessary.

Some called this the most historic moment in SBC life ever, some called it he most historic sin the Conservative Resurgence, I call it getting focused on what we should be focused on. I am glad it passed, was happy to vote for it, and pray that we as church whom make up the SBC will be Kingdom minded Great Commission churches!

Here are some articles on the GCR:
The GCR
The GCR Campaign Page
SBC messengers approve GCRTF report
Hunt, Floyd discuss their increased CP commitment
GCR passage won't change SBC

Another important Resolution passed was on the Centrality of the Gospel, click here to follow (on Timmy Brister's blog).

SBC 2010: The Dumbest Moment

2010-06-23T06:24:00.000-05:00

During the SBC 2010 convention, immediately following the discussion and passage of the GCR, some dude stepped to the microphone and began to introduce a motion via rap. The group of friends I was sitting with came to some conclusions about it. We thought he lost a bet, took a dare, or was in desperate need to attention… I think the third guess fits the best, but I’m still not sure.

In the aftermath of the "rap-motion" Timmy Brister has come out of one of the brains behind the motion. Apparently, he, Charlie Mitchell, & Josh Shank (the rapper) decided to either punk the SBC or make a "contribution" to the business meeting. The motion was "expressing appreciation and affirmation for the investment of the Acts 29 Network for their work in planting gospel-centered churches in the SBC."

Timmy Brister now claims the rap was history making... my hope is that history does not repeat itself (See Wiley Drake for reference). Here is Joshua Shank presenting his motion affirming the work of Acts 29 church planting network in a rap/rhyme.

For the record, I have nothing against Acts 29, Joshua Shank, Timmy Brister or Charlie Mitchell.

SBC 2010: B21 Lunch

2010-06-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

For the first time I went to something called the B21 lunch. It was a collection of younger minds (honestly there were 3 younger minds and the establishment there) to discuss topics going on in Southern Baptist life. It was phenomenal to hear what the younger minds said. According to their literature, "Baptist21 is a group of young Southern Baptists pursuing Gospel-Centrality through the Local Church among the Nations to the glory of King Jesus in the 21st Century: We believe this is best stated: Gospel. Church. Mission."

Dr. David Platt (Pastor, Brookhill Church)represented the changing of the guard for what the long-lived establishment wants the new guard to look like (conservative, thoughtful, expository, biblically minded, great example). With one exception – Platt challenges the lifestyles of those living the American Dream and calls them to live sacrificially for the cause of Christ. His message is that God has called us to sacrifice everything for the Great Commission, therefore we must follow Jesus in Radical fashion to live out the Great Commission. My favorite part of his emphasis was not what he said, but how Johnny Hunt responded to it, saying that he had been challenged by Platt to give up some of his own comfort already having accomplished the American dream… Dr. Johnny Hunt (Pastor, FBC Woodstock) is phenomenal leader and his genuine heart/transparency is what makes him truly great!

Matt Chandler (Pastor, The Village Church), was also on stage. He is on the board of directors for Acts 29, and is also a Southern Baptist, thus his church is dually aligned. He was quizzed about why he is dually aligned. To summarize his message, he is Acts 29 because he loves and has a heart for church planting. He is Southern Baptist because he is conservative in his theology and loves our seminaries. He was also quick to point out that the GCR had a major role in bringing him back into the SBC fold. It is my hope that the denominational leadership will listen to his critique of SBC church planting efforts so we can properly resource, train, coach and equip church plants (something Acts 29 does exponentially better than SBC).

Dr. Jimmy Scroggins (Pastor, FBC West Palm Beach) was the last guy who caught my attention. Although he is the pastor of a very influential church, I really had never heard anything about him or the work he had accomplished. He is the pastor of FBC West Palm Beach, Fl. What I appreciated about his comments is that he expressed concern over many of the things many of us have been thinking. He said that although he likes the idea of the Cooperative Program, there are many things he dislikes about it. For instance, he does not agree with the way all the dollars are spent. There are concerns over the structure, overhead and such as well that bother him. It was an honest, fair, and much appreciated expression of concern.

With all this being stated, the best part of the B21 lunch was the free books that came with the affordable $7 lunch price tag. Everyone received 4-6 books, which was awesome. The one book I wanted (Radical by David Platt), was one of 5 I received. All in all, it was a great event to attend and I’ll look forward to attending in the future.

* I did not take any of these photos myself, I found them online.

SBC 2010: Pastor's Conference

2010-06-21T06:21:00.001-05:00

This was my second Southern Baptist Convention to attend, and just like the first, the highlight was the Pastor’s Conference preceding the annual business meeting. When I saw the speakers list my first thought was, “Wow, this is going to be great!” Tony Evans, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley and others would be speaking… those were the ones that caught my attention first.

In my humble opinion, Tony Evans is the greatest preacher on the planet and he did not disappoint. He spoke about the need for pastors to take the side of Kingdom and not the side of individuals or the church, something that needs to be heeded by all pastors in attendance. He stated that, “the church does not exist for the church, the church exists for the Kingdom… the authority is in the Kingdom not the church.” He was exegetical, direct, practical and challenging. He ended with a paraphrase of Jesus and why he came, “I did not come to take sides, I came to take over!” It was an awesome message.

The other speaker I’d like to discuss is Andy Stanley. His message was the most helpful for churches, and the one that received the most hostility. He did not preach a 3 point sermon with a poem or song from the Bible, in fact some said it was not a sermon at all… right or wrong, I will say that it was the most helpful for churches on an everyday practical level. Throughout the message he repeated that he believes that every person will spend eternity somewhere, so they strive to win people to Jesus. He also says he (his church) believes that heaven rejoices more over one lost person accepting Jesus than 99 righteous people being righteous – both points taken directly from Scripture.

His message had 3 main points: Evaluate Everything (you do as a church), Acknowledge what your replacement might do, and own up to why you are unwilling to do it yourself, and Identify and remove unnecessary obstacles to people coming to faith (his most quoted line on twitter was, “The Gospel is offensive, your parking lot does not need to be.”) In his first point, he quoted Howard Hendrix, “Experience does not make you better, experience only puts you in a rut… only evaluated experience makes you better.” In his second point he stated, “Some of you are married to Southern Baptist life and you flirt with the Great Commission. Your organization should be organized around the Great Commission. What would it look like to organize your organization around the Great Commission. If it is not about bringing people to faith, don’t do it.” In his final point he focused on Acts 15 and stated, “The gravitational pool of the local church is always towards the insider, not the outsider… You cannot afford to babysit things that are unimportant and ineffective. Embrace the value of reaching people, not just keeping people.”

To me, this spoke to the nature of many pastors to coddle their members at the expense of effectiveness for the Kingdom. For instance, many pastors are far to concerned with whether or not Baptist Bob or Deacon Dave will be offended by doing something out of the ordinary, that they stay within their rut and are thus ineffective as pastors/churches to reach people for the Gospel. The point was to challenge those in attendance to focus on that which Jesus commissioned us to do instead of catering to the self-centered church members. Some took this as Andy saying not to worry at all about those who are members of your church – this is ridiculous and all you have to do is research his church to find out that is not what he believes or practices.

All in all, there was nothing unbiblical about his message, although some harbor on how he took Acts 15 out of context. Andy Stanley also said nothing immoral or illegal. His talk was focused on trying to get pastors to look at how they “do church” and focus on how they could improve their effectiveness for the Kingdom. He even said, “If you are not on a relentless pursuit to make your church better, you will be critical of those that are”… which is exactly what many pastors did to him and his message.

I was blown away by the response some had towards his talk. I am not sure if they were upset that they would not have an extra sermon to claim as their own – yes, many pastors are elated to head home with a handful of someone else’s sermons claiming them as a word they heard from the Lord, taking them as their own. I find this practice disgusting, immoral, and offensive. It is uninspired and represents a heart far from God, disconnected from personal spiritual growth, having a genuine walk with God or hearing from Him. To be fair, there are things to be gleaned and shared with your church family that come from others, but give credit where credit is due and do not claim it as your own.

Back to Stanley, a common theme was that he was just talking about “me, me, me and you, you, you,” which is inaccurate and unfair; those who said it did not pay attention to his message. Many pastors have a negative predisposition towards him because his church runs over 25,000 weekly, thus "Northpoint Community must be doing something wrong" – which is one of the most ignorant criticisms I have ever heard. Anyway, it is true that his message was not a biblical exegetical sermon, it was a practical message that would make pastors and their churches more effective if applied.

I know this was my own tangent on the bashing of someone I respect and admire (Andy also has one of, if not the, best children’s ministry and discipleship programs in the world). The Pastor’s Conference was fantastic, some said they best they have ever attended – I agree, but can only compare it to Indianapolis 2004. It would be great for the sermons to be made public online, but they are extremely difficult to obtain.

SBC 2010: Official Wrapup

2010-06-20T22:29:00.001-05:00

SBC WRAPUP: Taken from sbcannualmeeting.net
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010

By Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--After months of debate, Southern Baptist Convention messengers meeting June 15-16 easily adopted an amended version of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report and also elected a new president, Bryant Wright.

It was the first time Southern Baptists had gathered in Orlando since 2000, the same year they debated and passed another significant document, the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.

The 23-member GCR Task Force, formed during the 2009 meeting by then-SBC President Johnny Hunt, released a preliminary report in February and a lengthy final report in May. Discussion on the report in newspapers, Internet blogs and social media led to the largest messenger total at an annual meeting -- just over 11,000 -- since 2006.

In other top annual meeting news:

-- messengers passed a resolution calling divorce a "scandal that has become all too commonplace in our own churches" and an oil spill resolution asserting that "our God-given dominion over the creation is not unlimited, as though we were gods and not creatures."

-- the convention voted in its first presidential runoff since 1982.

-- the Executive Committee elected Frank Page its next president.

But the GCR report dominated messengers' attention. It had seven components, none of which drew more floor discussion during the Tuesday afternoon session than the third component's call for a new category, "Great Commission Giving," that would encompass not only Cooperative Program giving but also designated giving to all SBC causes.

Critics argued the new category would de-emphasize CP giving, and when messenger John Waters (Ga.) offered an amendment striking the new category from the report, a vote via a show of ballots appeared too close to call. Rather than putting the amendment to a ballot vote that possibly would push discussion of the report into the evening, task force members offered two compromise amendments that strengthened the report's CP language. Both were amendments to Component No. 3 and both passed overwhelmingly.

The first amendment said Southern Baptists "continue to honor and affirm the Cooperative Program as the most effective means of mobilizing our churches and extending our outreach." The second amendment -- which was written during a discussion on stage between task force members and Waters -- said Southern Baptists affirm "that designated giving to special causes is to be given as a supplement to the Cooperative Program and not as a substitute for Cooperative Program giving."

Waters, pastor of First Baptist Church in Statesboro, Ga., spoke from the podium and said the compromise amendment was offered by him and task force members "in the spirit of unity and togetherness" so as "to find some common ground on which we can stand for the sake of" the Great Commission.

After the final amendment passed, the report itself passed via a show of ballots by an estimated 3-to-1 margin.

Following the historic vote, task force chairman Ronnie Floyd recalled the statement issued by northern and southern Baptists after the 1845 founding of the Southern Baptist Convention. He told messengers: "Following the pattern of our leaders of old, we also would say to the watching world that the differences between those who support the Great Commission Resurgence report and recommendations and those who do not should not be exaggerated. We are still brothers and sisters in Christ. We differ on no article of faith.

"We are guided by our shared commitment to the Gospel itself and to the articles of faith identified in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000," he added. "The Southern Baptist Convention is a convention of churches that is committed to a missional vision of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations. We are a Great Commission people."

Task force members said the amendments strengthened the report.

"The bottom line is that in an inelegant way we have a superior recommendation," task force member R. Albert Mohler Jr. said of the amendment process. "I think it's, in one sense, Southern Baptists at their very best -- sometimes a bit clumsy but determined to get to the same place together. And I appreciated the spirit of the messengers."

Said Floyd: "We just thank all of Southern Baptists for believing in the Great Commission. And now we move forward."

Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., was elected in a runoff for SBC president, winning 55 percent to 44 percent for Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla. Speaking to reporters shortly after he was elected, Wright emphasized his church's spotlight on missions and said he would like to see more churches and pastors take mission trips.

"The pastor needs to experience what it's like to be out there in another culture, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ," Wright said.

Wright supported the task force's report.

"The task force leadership has led the convention in taking a very courageous step, but it is really just a beginning," Wright said. "If we're going to be radically serious about reaching this world for Christ, we as individuals and we as churches are going to have to really be prayerfully committed to fulfilling what God has called us to do with the Great Commission."

Wright also talked about how he and his church, frustrated with the amount of Cooperative Program dollars that remain in the United States, lowered their CP giving in order to raise contributions to the International Mission Board.

"We would very much prefer that all those funds go straight through CP," Wright said, "but there needs to be a radical reprioritization of that money."

Asked about a column he wrote urging state conventions to retain only 25 percent to 30 percent of undesignated CP gifts from churches, Wright said, "I'd love to see states move in that direction, knowing it will be a long, long process." Even a goal of splitting receipts 50/50 between state and SBC causes would allow funding for many more missionaries, he said.

Wright said state convention leaders "can be the real heroes in carrying out the Great Commission" since they control budgets and decide how much goes out of state for distribution to Southern Baptist causes.

RESOLUTIONS

The divorce resolution, which passed with what appeared to be a unanimous vote, says the "acceleration in rates of divorce in Southern Baptist churches has not come through a shift in theological conviction about scriptural teaching on divorce but rather through cultural accommodation." It urges churches to "to proclaim the Word of God on the permanence of marriage" and for "Southern Baptists in troubled or faltering marriages to seek godly assistance and, where possible, reconciliation." It further calls on churches "to proclaim God's mercy and grace to all people -- including those who have been divorced without biblical grounds." Resolutions Committee Chairman Russell Moore said it was the convention's first resolution since 1904 directly to address divorce.

The resolution on the Gulf oil spill, which passed nearly unanimously, calls on Southern Baptists to help those in the region who are hurting and to pray for an end to the tragedy. It also acknowledges that "this tragedy should remind us to testify to the love of God in His creation and to the hope through the blood of Christ, of a fully restored creation in which the reign of God is seen 'on earth as it is in heaven' (Matthew 6:10)."

Messengers also passed resolutions:
-- calling for reaffirmation of the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus.

-- supporting family worship.

-- opposing the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the overturning of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

PAGE ELECTED

Frank Page, vice president of evangelization for the North American Mission Board, was elected the next Executive Committee president during a closed executive session of the EC meeting June 14, the day prior to the annual meeting. He said he hopes to be a unifying voice in the convention.

"There's great division amongst the brethren and to pull us together is going to be a God-ordained task that I shall deal with as best I can," he said. "One of my goals is to be a unifier. We've got to, based on John 17:21. It is imperative for our evangelistic efforts that we be unified."

In other matters:

-- More than 1,500 people accepted Christ during the pre-convention Crossover evangelism emphasis, which had 1,900-plus volunteers.

-- International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin delivered his final report to messengers, applauding Southern Baptists for giving nearly $149 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering but saying it still was not enough to send all the Southern Baptists waiting for missionary appointment. "What will we sacrifice?" he asked. "What will we be willing to change in order for the missionaries that God is calling from our churches to go and touch the lost nations and peoples who are dying without Christ? I pray that that question will be implanted in our minds and stir our conscience with conviction."

-- Richard Harris, interim president of the North American Mission Board, told messengers that three out of every four people in North America have no personal relationship with Christ. Yet Harris recounted several reasons for optimism, including a church in Painter, Ala., that saw its Easter attendance double by using the God's Plan for Sharing (GPS) evangelism strategy. Harris also said that 85,000 Haitians have accepted Christ since the earthquake. "I have never been more excited than this day to move forward to penetrate lostness in North America, and the North American Mission Board is going to help you do it," he said.

-- Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman delivered his final report to messengers. "As you may know, I do differ with the last five recommendations that shall be recommended by the Great Commission Task Force," Chapman said minutes prior to debate on the report. "My heart is heavy because these recommendations do not challenge us spiritually and shall never bring us to our knees, much less take us to the ends of the earth. We can accomplish all of these recommendations without the power of God and the moving of God's Holy Spirit." A resurgence, Chapman said, "must be ignited by the Holy Spirit of God and stoked by faithful people in the pulpits and pews of this land."

-- Messengers elected Tennessee evangelist Ron Herrod as first vice president and Eric Moffett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sparkman, Ark., as second vice president. Earlier in the convention Moffett's church received the Executive Committee's M.E. Dodd Award for its commitment to the Cooperative Program. Over the past 30 years the 100-member church has given an average of 32 percent to CP. By acclamation, messengers elected John Yeats, director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, as SBC recording secretary, and Jim Wells, director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association in Nixa, Mo., as registration secretary. Messengers also elected David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., to preach the convention sermon at the 2011 annual meeting in Phoenix.

-- The SBC Pastors' Conference spotlighted adoption and used the surplus from the conference offerings to fund a series of $2,000 scholarships for adopting couples. (Information is available at SBCAdoption.com). "Adoption is not God's Plan B ever. Adoption is always God's Plan A, if that's what He's called the family to," Cissy McNickle said during a short video that told her family's adoption story. She and her husband, Buff, received the first scholarship.
--30--

Story based on reporting by Tammi Reed Ledbetter, news editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN; Michael Foust, an assistant editor of Baptist Press; Mark Kelly, an assistant editor of Baptist Press; Erin Roach, staff writer for Baptist Press; Tom Strode, Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press; and Norm Miller, a freelance writer based in Richmond, Va.

Think Ahead

2010-06-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on Swerve by Bobby Gruenewald on June 17th, 2010.

Successful people are often great at anticipating.

•If you want to be promoted as an assistant, anticipate how you can better serve your boss.
•If you want to be successful in business, anticipate what the market will do.
•If you want to be successful in church, prayerfully anticipate. What new thing is God going to bless?
I try to think ahead by asking questions like these:

•How are people relating differently? What will relationships and community look like in two years?
•How are people going to communicate in the future?
•What future technology/innovation can help spread the gospel?
•What trends (business, entertainment, philanthropy, etc.) will affect the church?
Think ahead.

Book Review: The Prodigal God by Keller

2010-06-12T07:58:00.002-05:00

Timothy Keller’s work, The Prodigal God, focuses on The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Although it is not the most exciting or entertaining book I have ever read, it is very though provoking and stirs one’s mind to think about the life you live – whether or not you live it for God or to get something from Him.

He introduces his ideas in a way I have never heard the story framed, by those hearing it. It seems funny for me to say that as I like to be one who follows proper hermeneutics, but in reality it is true. The primary focus is always on the lost son, and I have never heard any preacher talk about the perspective of the hearers of the story. In reality, that is what makes this book great as it opens up the heart of what Jesus was getting at.

Keller intentionally labels the brothers the younger brother and the older brother… eventually adding another brother to the story – no this is not heresy, it simply is an addition to illuminate what could have or should have been. He concludes his book with a Gospel presentation and challenge. This is a book I would recommend to anyone preaching, teaching, or wanting to get to the heart of The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

(here is a link to the parable)

MENTORING MINISTRY STRATEGY

2010-06-03T06:03:00.002-05:00

1. Define success by relational connection

2. Help older believers embrace their responsibility

3. Invest in families (partner with entire families)

4. Value differences in a healthy way

5. Allow younger people to have a voice (we have to listen to what they are saying)

8 THINGS A MENOTR SHOULD DO

2010-06-02T06:02:00.002-05:00

1. Start with someone you know (if you are not approached by someone and you desire to mentor)

2. The mentor should be further along in life and the Christian walk

3. Ask Questions

4. Share experience

5. Learn Together (books, resources, Bible study)

6. Look for “real life issue” to capitalize on

7. Keep Growing

8. Connect the mentoree with your family

6 ROLES OF A MENTOR

2010-06-01T06:01:00.002-05:00

1. Treat the mentoree like a person, not a project
• Projects, not people, require agendas
• God is working in that person, our job is not to force them in a direction we think we should go
• Think relationship, not and end goal

2. Ask, “What is God already doing here?”

3. Understand the difference between beliefs (biblical) and opinions (personal)

4. Understand the difference between spiritual maturity and maturing
• A person is moving closer to God or further away – relationship with God

5. Trust God to carry the mentoree to completion

6. Participate in experiences together (with your mentoree)

WHY MENTOR?

2010-05-27T12:25:00.005-05:00

Starting next Tuesday, I will have 3 posts concentrating on mentoring. My ideas have been generated and/or taken from The Slow Fade by Joiner, Bomar & Smith. For today, the focus will be on getting you to think about the topic and why you should be mentored and/or mentor someone else.

WHY MENTOR?

• To join God in the work He is already doing in someone’s life.
• When we discover who we are in God, we discover our purpose and find meaning.
• Teach them they can never outrun the arm of grace!
• Mutual transformation; God transforms you, not just the mentoree!

My Thoughts on LOST

2010-05-24T07:44:00.002-05:00

Lost ended in a way that was characteristic of every other ending the show had ever had in its 6 year history, unanswered questions. These questions though were not specific to the island, the man in black, or who won – those were clearly answered. The island remained, everything you saw was real, Jack killed the man in black, the light (although out briefly out) persevered. Good beat evil, evil was contained, and free will wins out (Hurley chose to protect the island, Jack chose to die, Kate chose to leave).

But… there are lingering questions, 2 main ones to be exact. Were they dead all along? This was one of the main theories throughout the show. That the island was some sort of purgatory mean to hold them and there was a battle (good verse evil) that needed to be fought. In the closing scene Jack sees and embraces his dead father, his father reveals that Jack is like him, dead. The question comes in his father’s answer, “we all die at some point, some before and some long after.” So, when did Jack die? Was he dead from the final scene on the island or was this some sort of Sixth Sense existence we have been watching?

The other main question has to do with how they all ended up in the church. On one of the closing island scenes with Hurley and Benjamin, Ben indicates that Hurley can change the rules from what Jacob had done, adding that the new rules could be “better.” The closing moments heading into the church indicated that Hurley and Ben had been working together for quite some time, as they complemented each other’s work. Thus, the question presents itself; did the two of them orchestrate this reunion in order to help the survivors of the Oceanic flight in order to “help” them? It is an odd question for a great yet odd show.

Whatever the answers are, I don’t care, it does not matter, it was all make belief anyway. I am glad the show is over and that it is an hour of my week I no longer feel compelled to watch Lost. I though, am admittedly not a diehard fan of the show, so it makes it easier for me. I was one who saw the pilot, loved the show and for the first two years barely missed an episode or even part of an episode. Then it just got stupid. Time travel was lost on me, and I hardly watched any of seasons 3-5. I did catch the season 5 finale, and watched all of season 6.

Anyway, the reason for this post is to give it my 5 minutes of thought (compared to jack’s 5 seconds of fear), and then be done with it. The irony for me personally is found in reading a book about the show, a terrible book where my thought was, “this guy (the author) watches way too much television, I hope I never watch this much TV…” My fear is that I watch too much TV!

My Favorite Household Tools

2010-05-22T22:36:00.003-05:00

This post is all about my favorite things I use around the house. To my surprise, they are all Black & Decker products. Surprise, because I was not really aware my favorite things were even that brand.

I was responsible for taking care of my family’s yard, and I HATED having to use the electric plug in edgers/weed eaters. When we purchased our home, I immediately bought a gas weed eater too (to show my father) and was excited to use it… but that excitement did not last long.

Getting it started was a pain, maintenance was not enjoyable, and the line/string was also a pain. Once the starter line tore I purchased the Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Grasshog Trimmer/Edger, and it changed my yard working life. It’s a great product, easy to use, easy to maintain, NO GAS or CORDS, and did I mention it was easy to use.

It comes with 2 batteries that you simple swap out when one goes dead. The reason I trusted this product is because I originally took a chance on the cordless broom, which in reality is more like a blower (Black & Decker 18 Volt Cordless Broom Hard Surface Sweeper). Keep in mind that my yard is not that big and I am able to get the job done with the batteries I have – 2 per each product (4 total).

I also love my dustbuster (Black & Decker Energy Star 18-V. Cordless Pivoting Hand Vacuum), but this is not like any other dustbuster I have ever used – it holds a charge and last well beyond the typical 15 seconds every other one I used has. My in-laws introduced me to it as I had to clean up a mess from a road trip to visit them last year. Not only did it clean up the snack, it held a charge and had significant power to vacuum up the whole vehicle, with time to spare. Last Christmas it was the only thing I asked for from them (they got me a new one, not theirs), and it has been awesome to use ever since.

Anyway, these are 3 products I love and 3 things you should consider buying!

Book Review: The Slow Fade by Joiner, Bomar & Smith

2010-05-19T01:15:00.000-05:00

This is another book I picked up at Drive Conference 2010. My initial thought was that The Slow Fade by Joiner, Bomar & Smith would serve as a good resource in connecting with college students for our Ignite Worship Service geared at reaching young adults. Instead, I discovered that I picked up a guide to mentoring. Although not explicitly stated, this book provided all the resources necessary to starting a mentoring ministry.

Chapter 4, “Mentoring Redefined,” presented a detailed description of the role of a mentor – again there is no list, but I did come up with 6 key roles from this chapter. Chapter 5, “A New Bread of Leader,” described 8 things a mentor should be intentional about doing. Appendix A “A Note To Ministry Leaders,” gave Chuck Bomar’s mentoring ministry strategy.

Overall, this is by far the best book I have read on “How To” mentor. While the premise for this book deals with this subject, the title and subtitle do not, which is the only knock on it. If you work with college students (the intended target of this book) or young adults, you really need to read through this book. I am already excited to equip some of our mentors with the tools learned from reading this book… and not being able to sleep (tonight) finally paid dividends!

iPulpit

2010-05-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

Today I had the opportunity to meet with Richard Carver, Owner and Senior Art Director for Little Mountain Productions. While we meeting to discuss design and themes for our new children and preschool areas, he introduced me to something new, something awesome, something I have to have… the iPulpit! Basically, you insert your iPad into the pulpit and preach from it directly. The good news for all the tree huggers is that it will eliminate the need to print on paper. For those who are easily distracted by the flipping of notes, that is gone too. For those who love technology, it allows us to maximize what is out there while having a crystal clear screen to read from.

Book Review: Choosing To Cheat by Andy Stanley

2010-05-12T20:00:00.003-05:00

Choosing To Cheat is not what it sounds like initially, it is about “who wins when family and work collide.” Throughout the book, Andy Stanley tackles the number one challenge in my life, which is also the greatest challenge in most men’s life: balancing our work-life and home-life, career and family, professional verse parental/spousal. The beauty of this book is that he does not merely address the issue, he gives easy to follow advice for how to deal with these steps.

While there are many helpful points, some are found is addressing the balance between work and family before it spirals out of control. Chapter Four (Picking Up The Pieces) provides a healthy barometer along with quality questions to ask your children to gauge how you are truly doing with your family.

Section 2 is the practical part of the book that provides a roadmap for how to make family your family your top priority. Through the life and dedication of Daniel, Stanley provides 3 simple steps to follow: Make up your mind, come up with a plan, and set up a trial. For me, chapter seven was the most helpful chapter. One of my favorite quotes came from that chapter on page 86, “Reprioritizing your world around your family is not just a good idea. It is a God idea. As a Christian, I don’t think I have any option when it comes to establishing my priorities.”

My reason for purchasing this book and reading it is a direct result of listening to Andy Stanley give the Pastors’ Q & A at his Drive 2010 Conference last week. He said this book was the most important one he has ever written. After completing it, I think he is correct. The only real critique I have of it is what he addresses as the book’s main problem in the introduction, the book’s title. Once he sets up the idea it does make sense, because every man is going to cheat on his job (for his family) or cheat on his family (for his job).

To be clear, I would recommend every father and husband take a couple hours to read this book, then spend your life altering it to do be the man at home only you can be!

Related Post: Family-Ministry Balance

How To Burnout In 5 Easy Steps

2010-05-10T10:01:00.003-05:00

From Serving Strong:

Staying strong is overrated. All this talk about avoiding the wall? Hooey. You were born to burnout. You were meant for serving weak. Want a quick way to burnout in ministry leadership? Here are 5 easy steps:

1. Seek Unforgiveness. Someone hurt you lately? Cool. Here's what you do: Hold a grudge. That's right. Don't give in to the temptation to be the weaker one. Keep steady. Better yet, give them the silent treatment. Yeah! It will teach them a lesson and you'll be well on your way to burning out.

2. Pursue Passionlessness. Ask yourself this question: "What ministry fuels my passion?" Got your answer? Good. Now do something (anything) that is the opposite of your answer. Do the thing that is a total drag for you. Give it your all. Seek the boredom. Revel in the difficulty. It will annoy those around you and you'll be well on your way to burning out.

3. Engage In Prayerlessness. Got prayer concerns? Want to touch the heart of God? Want to seek and sense His will for your life? Forget it. You're looking to burnout, right? Good. Then cut ALL prayer from your routine. Don't pray in the morning. Don't pray when you're stressed or sad. And don't pray when things are going well. Think of the time you'll save. It will grieve the Holy Spirit and you'll be well on your way to burning out.

4. Be An Impostor. Are you introverted by nature? Be extroverted. Are you methodical? Be spontaneous. Are you a people person? Then be a recluse. You have to understand that being yourself is simply going to keep you from burning out. So don't be yourself. Better yet, try to be just like someone else. It will irritate your loved ones and you'll be well on your way to burning out.

5. Over-identify. In your work with others, you will feel their pain. This is good. Dwell on it. Identify it so deeply that you begin to feel responsible for it. This will give you ownership of their pain, as though you were the cause. You will sink in the quicksand of their misery. You won't be able to help them because you'll be so depressed yourself. This will help others become co-dependent and you'll be well on your way to burning out.

So you see, if you are interested in burning out, it's quite simple really. Just follow these 5 easy steps and we'll see you in rehab!

How To Have An Awesome Worship Service

2010-05-07T13:10:00.000-05:00

This is from the Drive 2010 Conference I attended this week, which was awesome:

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Book Review: You Were Made For More by Cymbala

2010-05-06T18:10:00.000-05:00

You Were Made For More is classic Cymbala. It is not enough for him to tell you a spiritual truth, he uses real stories of the power of God he is describing to illustrate that truth. As I read through this book, I felt as though it was the sequel to “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” The main reason for that assumption is that he referenced that book and stories from it throughout this work. My two favorite stories in the book were of Fernie (page 56) and Vanessa (page 69).

While it is difficult for me to narrow down one particular best part, I found his Chapter 8, “What’s Up With This,” to be very helpful. The gist of this chapter was that God uses our problems to develop us into what He wants us to be. For those who buy into the “name it claim” or “prosperity gospel” or “word of faith movement,” this chapter will serve as an awakening to how God has worked throughout time in order to draw us closer to Him while making us more like Jesus.

I would advise that people who doubt if God wants to use them to read this book. If you know of someone who sits on the sidelines and fails to serve in their local church family, give them this book. If you have a friend who doubts if God could shine through them to reveal His love and salvation to others, this is the book for them… because You Were Made For More.

Book Review: The Gospel According to Lost

2010-05-02T22:52:00.002-05:00

The whole time I read this book (The Gospel According to Lost by Chris Seay) I kept thinking, "this dude watches way too much TV, I hope I never watch this much TV." I blame my accountability partner for picking this book and will not allow him to do so again for quite some time. The whole book is a reach for me personally.

That being said, my guess is that Pastor Chris Seay is quite good at using modern interest to influence people for the cause of Christ... I am just not sure this book was as successful as I have heard he is as a pastor. It was not all bad though, chapter 16 was good (albeit 1 of 17 chapters).

The 2 best quotes of the book were on page 168, "God deserves better that what we have to offer, but he chooses us. And he gladly accepts us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God holds us," and on page 174, "Nothing can stand between us and the love of the living God: not our fear or reluctance, not the disapproval of others, nothing. And even then, for as long as it takes for us to accept it, his love will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. Love never fails."

Albert Pujols' Testimony

2010-05-01T23:10:00.000-05:00

I do not like the St. Louis Cardinals, but I do like Albert Pujols. Here is his testimony:

6 Best Coaching Questions

2010-04-28T22:28:00.000-05:00

This is from EXPONENTIAL (Book Excerpt)

Got a coach? Need a coach? Here are six great coaching questions from my friend Dave Ferguson...

There are from his new book: Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement (Co-Authored with Dave's brother, Jon!)

1) “How are you?”

Remember at the heart of effecting coaching is a relational investment. It may sound cliché, but it’s still true: “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” We begin every coaching conversation by checking in to see how the person we are coaching is really doing.

2) “What are you celebrating?”

Every meeting at Community begins with some form of this question. Often it’s stated like this: “Where are you/we winning?” Whether it’s a one-on-one meeting, a group meeting, a staff meeting, or a temporary task force, we begin by celebrating how God is at work in our life, ministry, and church. Moving from “How are you?” to “What are you celebrating?” keeps the tone of the meeting very relational and positive. It’s tempting to quickly focus on what’s not working or what is broken. This question keeps the conversation focused on where the leader is feeling successful.

3) "What challenges are you facing?"

You might be thinking, “Finally we get to something productive.” Yes, the previous questions are very relational, but if it helps any, remember that when it comes to coaching the relationship really is the task. This question gives your leader an opportunity to talk openly about the things that aren’t going very well in his group or team.

4) "How will you do about those challenges?"

Once a leader has disclosed some areas where he or she may be experiencing some challenges with his life, group, or team it is tempting to quickly move into “fix-it” mode and tries to solve the problem for him. There are times when a leader will need your insight and wisdom. However, the best way you can serve a leader is to help them tap into the wisdom and insight God has already given them to deal with whatever situation they are facing. It is the coach’s role to draw those answers or solutions out of the leader.

5) "How can I help you?"

Finally, the question we’ve wanted to ask. This is an important question, but if you never get to this question because the leader has already come up with an action plan as you walked through the previous questions, considers yourself an extremely effective coach. There are times when a coach needs to step in and offer whatever assistance is necessary to help a leader in need. One of the three tasks that flow out of the relational investment is “serving”, and one of the ways you can best serve a leader is to help them through a tough situation.

6) "How can I pray for you?"

The best way to wrap up a coaching conversation is to ask the leader how you can be praying for him. It is also a great opportunity for the coach to ask the leader to be praying for her. This is one way a coach can help the leader know that this relationship is mutually beneficial. After the leader has had a chance to express some areas where he is in need of prayer, take a few moments to pray for the leader and reassure him that you will be praying for him regularly.

The dream of God is not for the church to be led by a one-man show, but that it would be a great team led by great coaches. Our role is to equip and empower the people of the church to do the work of ministry. When the game is on the line and the final point needs to be scored, the ball will be in the hands of our leaders and those leaders need to be coached to take the winning shot.

To give full credit, you can also find this article here.

Ed Young's Lifestyle Debacle

2010-04-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

Ed Young is in more trouble about his lifestyle and company… ahem, church expenses. WFAA in DFW is reporting about his lavish lifestyle and company expenses. He has issued a response through his public relations firm – no, not a joke – denying any wrongdoing and shifting the blame and focus from himself to WFAA.

If Ed cared about transparency, he would disclose everything. Instead, he is playing the PR game to transfer attention from himself to WFAA. In his public response during a Saturday night church service, he talked about his salary and home as if it was all proper. He never disclosed his salaries (church + $ generated from work for the church + royalties + etc.). His lifestyle is ridiculous and he could/should learn a bunch from Francis Chan about giving to the need. Instead, he lives a lifestyle of extravagance (7,820 sq. ft. home, 1.1 million dollar condo, 8 million dollar leased jet).

Many argue the point, but I agree that his lifestyle is a detrimental issue to his legacy and immediate influence. The problem is that money is a root of all kinds of evil. This situation is sad for The Church, and can undo so much good Fellowship Church has accomplished.

If he is innocent of any wrong doing and is truly above reproach, transparency is his option. If he is guilty, repentance and transparency are his options. Either way, he should man-up and let the truth of the situation set him free… after all, what should a role model for such a huge church have to hide?

The natural response is to ask me if I do the same thing as an associate pastor of a much smaller church; which I do not. However, my family still lives in a starter home, we drive Hondas, and thus avoid question generated from a lifestyle of extravagance. Also, the information about my salary (and any other staff member at my church) is fully and readily available to any church member who requests it.

Here is another post on the subject.

Cole's 2010 Mock Draft

2010-04-22T17:22:00.001-05:00

1. Rams – Sam Bradford
2. Lions – Suh
3. Bucs –Gerald McCoy
4. Redskins – Trent Williams
5. Russell Okung
6. Seahawks – CJ Spiller
7. Browns – Eric Berry (if he falls here, it keeps them from making a stupid pick)
8. Raiders – Derrick Morgan (it wouldn’t surprise me if they take Classen, Tebow, or Bryant, I’m hoping reason wins out for this albatross of a franchise)
9. Bills – Bryan Bulaga
10. Jaguars – Rolando McClain (my guess is a TRADE here, if they can get a taker – Cowboys, PLEASE! – if so, Earl Thomas wears a star)
11. Broncos – Earl Thomas (if they draft Dez Bryant after trading Marshall, everyone in the organization should get fired)
12. Dolphins – Dan Williams
13. 49ers – Joe Haden
14. Seahawks – Anthony Davis
15. Giants – Jason Pierre-Paul
16. Titans – Kyle Wilson
17. 49ers – Maurice Pouncey
18. Steelers – Dez Bryant (really? After Holmes and Big Ben? I hope they take Tebow…)
19. Hawks – Brandon Graham
20. Texans – Taylor Mays
21. Bengals – Jermaine Gresham
22. Patriots – Sergio Kindle
23. Packers – Charles Brown
24. Eagles – Everson Griffen
25. Ravens – Terrance Cody
26. Cardinals – Devin McCourty
27. Cowboys – Bryan Bulaga (if they can trade up and get rid of Bennett or Carpenter, it’s a great night!)
28. Chargers – Ryan Matthews
29. Jets – Jerry Hughes
30. Vikings – Jimmy Clausen (my guess is he will be taken about 8-12 picks higher via a trade)
31. Colts – Jared Odrick
32. Saints – Brian Price

• I spent 15 minutes tops on my mock draft, but looked at other mocks more than once (before and during my mock)

• Although I am not a professional, I am sure I will be just as bad as Mel Kiper when the real results come in.

• During the Facebook/MySpace NFL Pro Football Picks challenge I was ranked #2 out of 112,274… which will mean nothing here, but at least I am finally letting the world know how awesome my picks were this year!

4 Constants in Family Bible Study by Mark Driscoll

2010-04-20T19:26:00.000-05:00

From Mark Driscoll: I’m not a hugely formal student. I study a lot, read all the time, and in our family, things flex from week to week, season to season, and as the kids age. Upon reflection, though, four things are constant:

1.Lots of Bibles
We have tons of Bibles all over the house. We have Bibles for every age, lots of translations, and lots of formats. To be honest, if a member of my family finds a Bible they like that is faithful, I am not at all legalistic about which one they prefer. Most days, every room of the house has a Bible of some kind in it, ready to read.

2.A love of Bible reading
I love to read the Bible and want my family to love reading in general, and Bible reading in particular. It’s not a forced rule, but a fun part of life. Everyone in our family likes to read the Bible and does so daily. I’ve never made a rule about daily Bible reading, but we all do as a habit that we enjoy by God’s grace. We all read Scripture and pray at night before bed as a sort of wind-down wrap-up to the day and the kids like it a lot.

3.Life integration
Throughout the daily moments of life, the window of opportunity opens up to sit down with Grace and the kids, either one on one or as a group, to open the Bible and apply a particular portion to something happening in their life. As a parent and a spouse, it is a great honor to be on watch, appointed by God to capture these sacred moments of bringing Scripture to bear on a teachable moment.

4.Age-appropriate discussion We eat dinner together and have a Bible at the table that I use to lead discussions. We also keep a notebook of prayers for people and the kids really like seeing prayers answered and checked off. Some nights the family gets down some rabbit trail of conversation that is not overtly theological, and as a dad I don’t force a big theological discussion upon them, but rather follow the Holy Spirit as we just enjoy one another. Other nights we have some big theological discussions that I lead out of the Bible. After church on Sundays, since I’m still working, Grace is faithful to ask the kids what they learned in the service or their class and draw out of them what God revealed to them from Scripture. Anyone wanting to grow in this skill can read Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware, in which he shows how to teach theology to kids in an age-appropriate fashion.
With our children (ages four to twelve), Bible reading really varies, but here is what is going on presently in our home:

Gideon (4) gets read a lot of Bible stories (especially at night) and asked fun Bible questions that I probably need to compile as a free e-book. I’ve done this with all the kids over the years as a sort of Bible Jeopardy for kids. He likes The Jesus Storybook Bible, The Beginner’s Bible, and The First Step Bible.

Alexie (6) is reading well so she reads to her mom and me from an age-appropriate Bible every day. No matter what, this includes snuggle time before bed, which is a big deal to her. She likes The Jesus Storybook Bible, as well as reading on her own from The Beginner’s Bible, and The First Step Bible.

Calvin (8) is reading well and has a good Bible for his age that he reads each day, and we discuss with him what he’s learning. He is enjoying Mighty Acts of God by Starr Meade, which is an age-appropriate book for him to read. Previously he read through The Jesus Storybook Bible on his own multiple times, and now he needs something a bit more suited for his reading level, so we’re trying other additional Bibles to give him some variety.

Zac (10) is reading through the New Testament right now in the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), an age-appropriate version for him. He also is reading for fun from The Picture Bible, which is set up like a comic book. He also enjoys books such as Ten Boys Who Changed the World and Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In, which are short biographies.

Ashley (12) read through the entire English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible last year and is reading through the entire ESV Study Bible, including the notes, this year and so far has finished up the Pentateuch (first five books). She is an avid reader who reads a lot of fiction for fun, loves Christian biographies, and also has chosen to read through my new book Doctrine and write a report on it for school, which means the world to me. She keeps joking that one day she will be my research assistant and copy editor, as she’s a very gifted writer and we may have her start blogging for teenage girls and are praying it through.

Momma Grace and I are constantly reading and, it seems nearly every day, discussing what we are learning. Date nights and other extended times together are usually spent talking about people we are ministering to, the kids, and what we are reading and learning. This is pretty much a lifestyle for us that has been in effect for many years. We study very differently and so it works best for us each to study individually and then share together what we’re learning and discuss it. The Bible studies that had the biggest impact on Grace personally were on repentance and regeneration. She also loves the biblical counseling that comes from www.ccef.org, enjoys Carolyn Mahaney and has particularly enjoyed doing her Girl Talk study with Ashley, which is great for moms and daughters.

Lastly, I highly value reading. When I was a little boy, my mom took me to the library very often and helped birth in me a great love of books and learning. So, in our home we each have our own library. Every bedroom has a bookshelf with a small library for each family member. We have a small family reference library downstairs off the reading room, where there is good lighting, comfy seating, and a fireplace, and no technology resides (e.g., TV, computer, stereo). That family reference library has commentaries, Bible dictionaries, concordances, Bible background information, and so on to help anyone get basic Bible study done. My rule about books is that if it’s decent and you’ll read it, I will buy it. My personal library is pushing five thousand volumes in print and many more than that in Logos Software and other digital formats. The other members of my family have maybe a combined thousand or more books. It has taken years to collect them all, and many come from friends who donated them or used book stores, but, bit by bit, you can build a decent library and continue to encourage reading by making it interesting with lots of options and fun

Redefining Dumb: Rep. Hank Johnson on Guam

2010-04-03T23:10:00.000-05:00

Georgia's Fourth Congressional District, Congressman Hank Johnson, "My fear is that the island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize." In recent days he said that he was making a joke, the only reality is that his intelligence is a joke. Georgia, congratulations on your congressman representing you so well!

Born To Die

2010-04-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

March Madness and Jesus' Mission

2010-03-25T19:45:00.001-05:00

March Madness is my favorite sports event all year. I love how NCAA basketball is on television from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep (well, for the most part anyway). I love the purity of those who are playing, as exhibited by Cornell University and Northern Iowa this year. I love how the tournament through filling out brackets gets my wife into interested, as well as creating an avenue for my friends and family to reconnect. I also love how exciting the games are with the buzzer beaters, strategies, competition, and amazing athletes. When thinking through this, I was brought to a point where the greatness of March Madness is parallel to the greatness of our faith.

Jesus’ Mission is All-day, Everyday. He says that we are to be in the world not of it, and he prays for our protection from the evil one, that we would be protected when faced with temptation, opposition, persecution, etc. While far too many of us have adapted to the world instead of transforming it (In our language, entertainment, attitude, reactions), we must remember that we no more belong to the world than Jesus himself does.

Another similarity is that Jesus’ Mission is Pure. We all need to be sanctified. Sanctified comes from the Greek word hagios, which means holy or different or separate with 2 meanings: To set apart for a special task and to equip with the qualities of mind and heart and character which are necessary for that task. Simply put, we need to trade the rubbish of the world for something better God has for us! Here is the irony of the world we live in: the world is the enemy of our purity, yet in Jesus’ prayer it is the object of a living purpose expressed in mission.

Jesus’ Mission is also All-Inclusive. The directive to proclaim Christ to others is to the calling of every believer. Many think to live on mission equals us going on a mission trip (to Nicaragua, Alabama, Dallas, Nicaragua, etc), but the reality is going is as central to Christianity as love is. It is part of his nature, and you cannot spell God without GO! It is not special for the pastors or those on mission trips – its for every Christ follower. Evangelizing, sharing Jesus with others is the call of everyone who calls themselves Christian. To take the pressure off we need to understand 2 things: Our job is to share Jesus with others, not save them and we cannot save anyone, only Jesus can do that.

The problem is that we tend to see ourselves as business people trying to earn a paycheck when Jesus sends us out as His representatives or His missionaries. Thus, we need to think like missionaries. This occurs by being constantly aware of the lostness around you; constantly prayerful of those outside of a relationship with Christ; constantly looking for opportunities to share Christ; and constantly living as a person in a relationship with Christ. God’s mission is fulfilled through you and me and everyone else who identifies with Him

The final parallel is that Jesus’ Mission is Exciting. Jesus told us, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” The same mission Jesus came to earth to fulfill is the same we are to fulfill. We are to bear witness to God (and produce followers of God), just as Jesus has done. God equips you for His work – the Holy Spirit is constantly moving, working through and around you.

Recently, I had the opportunity to lead a person to Christ. It was exhilarating to listen to this man I had not seen in 9 months refer to our previous conversation where I shared Christ with him by saying when asked if he had thought about our conversation, “I think about it very much, many times.” Although I was not around to share with him and although no one had spoken to him about Jesus, the Holy Spirit was speaking to him “very much, many times!” There is nothing as exciting as leading a person to Christ and it is my hope we will all join in the excitement our Lord and Savior calls us to engage in!

Book Review: Forgotten God by Chan

2010-03-24T20:54:00.000-05:00

I thought Crazy Love was crazy good, so my expectation was high for Forgotten God… it did not live up to that expectation for me. While I think Chan is a great man with admirable passion, this book simply did not do it for me.

With that being said, there were some good points in the book. Starting off he throws down intense exegesis (letting the text speak for itself) verse eisegesis (making the text say what you want it to say) explanation which is not only relevant, it is needed. He is dead on accurate with his statements that we tend to leave out the Holy Spirit and rely on what we can do as well. His work has some great thought provoking points as well.

Chapter 6 was my favorite chapter, although the title is a bit abrasive for some in my opinion. So in short, if you want a contemporary view of the Holy Spirit, read this book… Just enter into the pages with a different mindset than that of Crazy Love.

Book Review: Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions by Barna

2010-03-23T23:20:00.002-05:00

As a minister, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions is the best parenting book I have ever read. Not only would I recommend it for anyone who works in a church, I would strongly recommend it to parents as well. We have a tendency to pawn off the responsibility of our children’s spiritual formation onto the church, when that is in fact anti-biblical and anti-productive.

Barna lays the groundwork for this work by establishing clear facts through research. From there, he lays down a Scriptural mandate for how God instructs us to raise our children. Then he provides solutions to the problem areas.

Not only that, the book also points out of failure to measure the effectiveness of our children’s spiritual development and just assume church’s are doing a good job, while giving quantifiable means by which to measure that process. Herein lies the true nugget of this book, it constantly provides solutions to real problems that come with raising Spiritual Champions.

For me, this is a book that will affect the way I do ministry in the future. It will cause me to think through the biblical role of the church and the biblical role of the family. While reading this book, I kept thinking I had read parts of this before. It would appear that Family Driven Faith (by Baucham) mirrored this book (written 4 years prior to his) in regards to philosophy and practice, although never specifically cited (Baucham did cite other Barna works).

Anyway, if you liked Family Driven Faith, you will love Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions.

Athens Trip – March 2010, Day 7

2010-03-17T16:10:00.004-05:00

Today we started off in Monastiraki, which is the major tourist spot in Athens, to grab a quick lunch and a couple of things for our family. After a short period there, we hiked up to Mars Hills to a time of Bible study, prayer, and reflection. It was fantastic to have such great reason to praise God and to talk through our trip. For me personally, I also enjoyed working on my sermon for Sunday from that key place in Greek Christian history… hopefully, the message will be as inspiring as Paul’s unknown God message!

Anyway, once we finished our time at Mars Hill, we made our way to Holargos. Today was different at our main campus because the students were receiving their marks or grades. Due to “report card day” they did not have the usual sports programs, but we were able to talk to the kids and say our goodbyes for now.

At 5:00, Sophia (the primary basketball director) drove us to a school we had never been at before to allow us to lead basketball with those children. The kids in this program were in 2nd and 3rd grade (7-8 years old – younger than our normal group). Unlike the other school, all of the parents came with them and we had a brief time to meet all of them. It was fun playing with the younger kids, and being able to lead the entirety of the session. We were not expecting to be given the reigns in this school, but we were elated to do so – we will definitely have to think through some age appropriate drills for next time!

Another cool thing about today was that our friend from America that has recently moved here joined us today; his name is Ryan. He has a very good heart and great mind for how to Shine in this country. We are excited to see how God uses him here and what will come of our newfound friendship. Fortunately, we were able to introduce him to Sophia, and he might even be able to enroll his own children in the sports academy of Holargos! It would be incredible for them to have an ongoing relationship with the workers and municipality – please pray this works out!

Ryan was also able to meet Bill. We stopped by Bill’s restaurant and introduced them to one another. Bill has a very busy schedule, but we are hoping he makes time to study the Word with Ryan and develop a friendship with him as well – please pray for this too! Our time with Ryan today, playing with children, introducing him to our friends, and dialoging about our work here encouraged our hearts greatly. It is our hope to continue this partnership and watch what happens!

Whenever I return home, I will do a summary of our trip. As a final prayer request, please pray that God would bless us with a safe and uneventful trip home. God is good, and He is definitely moving here!

Bill Accepted Christ!

2010-03-17T04:30:00.002-05:00

Today we had what we have been praying for, a person accepted Christ. Although it happened today, this story is months in the making. Last May we all decided to try an American restaurant. The food was the same, but different… meaning not exactly as it is back home, but close.

Anyway, when we left the restaurant last May, we left a copy of God’s Word as well. The next day, a couple of us stopped by to say hello again and noticed that he kept it and put it on his desk. He told me I left it and asked if I wanted it back, I responded with “no thanks, I don’t speak Greek, you keep it.” That led to an opportunity to talk about faith, God, and the plan of salvation. He was very close to accepting, but hesitated and said he wanted to think about it a little more.

Yesterday we stopped by, to see if he still worked there. When we saw him, we told him we planned on coming back the next day to eat lunch. Once we finished our lunch today, I asked him if he remembered our conversation and if he had thought about it any since the last time I was there, he said he had thought about it many times – the power of the HS at work! I went through the Roman Road and asked him what he thought. I asked him if he wanted Jesus to be his Lord and to save him his sins. He said he every much wanted to do so, but in private… then another customer interrupted to pay his bill.

A few minutes later, as Jamie and I were praying, I told Jamie that I was going to give him the “Share Jesus Without Fear” final question, “why wait?” I approached him and asked if I could ask him for permission to ask a question, which he replied yes to. My question was from our previous conversation, “if you knew that you could have peace with God and he would save you from your sins for all time, for eternity, why would you wait?” His response was awesome. He said, “I did not wait. I asked God to save me just now, here (in his office). I know I do not need a priest to talk to God, and He has forgiven me of my sins.”

I was totally blown away with his incredible response! Everything we had talked about, he acknowledged in his own words and his own way. He said that he would continue to read his Bible (which he said he had done a few times since he received it) and pray. Our friends from America who live here will also continue to follow up with him as well. Our hope and prayer is that he will grow in his knowledge, understanding, and relationship with Jesus. Pray for our new brother in Christ!

Athens Trip – March 2010, Day 6

2010-03-16T17:06:00.009-05:00

Today we started by going to my favorite place in Holargos, the local tennis club. For whatever reason, I find it to be extremely relaxing and enjoyable. The main worker there, Helen, remembered me when I came in and even asked if Christy was with me – pretty cool that she remembers her too! We visited for a little bit, but had limited conversation as the club was extremely busy. (Whenever we walk from one place to another in town, we have been trained to constantly pray for those we come in contact with, Raymond taught us that!)

Next we went to visit another friend over lunch, someone we had the opportunity to share with last May. As we came in, he was excited to see us (he knew we were coming). We spoke briefly before we ate, but spoke for a good amount of time afterwards. Long story short, he not only remembered our previous conversation, he had been thinking about it and reading his Bible. After going through the plan of salvation and what it means for Jesus to be Lord of your life, he thought about it and asked Jesus to be his Savior and Lord! This was so exciting!!!

Something else of note today happened on our way to the municipality, we saw a group of teenagers reading and passing around a Bible. We had no clue what they were saying, but we do know it was a Bible and we also know they were reading and talking about it. In the same way that God worked in the man’s heart in the restaurant, he can work in these teenagers lives as well! He is so faithful and so able to break through anywhere at any time through anyone for anyone! God is so much better and capable than we can imagine. The Holy Spirit is always at work in the hearts and lives of people, we just need to instrument who declare His glory and exalt Jesus.

After our incredible experience, we went to the school we work at and played basketball with the kids. Usually we will run drills or participate with them, but due to cold weather they typically cancel… However, today there were about 14 or so kids who showed up, “because they knew we would be there.” HOW AWESOME IS THAT!

Anyway, we played with them for a little over 2 hours and then had to leave… because Jamie got his lip all busted up! One of the kids accidently hit Jamie’s lip with his head going to a ball. Fortunately, we were able to get some ice from a local music café and stop the bleeding. The poor kid who messed Jamie’s face up felt terrible and profusely apologized. Jamie kept trying to reassure him it was not big deal and not to worry about it, but the guy still felt bad.

For dinner, we returned to the restaurant we ate at the other day with our friends Kostas & Catalina. Believe it or not, we order the goat again, with some pork as well. It was a good dinner and a fantastic day. God is good!!!

There are 3 other things you need to know about this day that are quite funny:
1. Jamie wore shorts today. He has been bound and determined to do so since we first decided to come, and today he did. Never mind that it was below 50* all day (except for 15 minutes, maybe). It was so cold, the sports academy in our municipality cancelled the programs… but Jamie wore his shorts. To his credit though, we did see 2 other people in shorts, in a city that has more that 5 million people! (Notice the heavy coats and scarves the people are wearing next to Jamie... who is in his shorts)

2. We saw a dude with a man purse or as Jerry Seinfeld calls it, a European carry-all!

3. Jamie got his tail whopped by a 10 year old… (ahem, suffering for Jesus) then proceeded to eat an orange in a quite humorous way.

(Goat, it's what's for dinner)
(A health club with an interesting name, Gym N' Tonic)
(The tennic club)

Athens Trip – March 2010, Day 5

2010-03-16T03:23:00.006-05:00

Our time in Athens keeps getting better and better. Monday we had an opportunity to spend the entire day in our neighborhood. We started off with prayer walking. Going through the municipality, and asking God for opportunities for His light to shine and for favor in developing relationships. We even had the opportunity to hike up a small mountain that overlooks Holargos for pray for the entire community.

We were surprised to find that a market was going on, and had the opportunity to walk through that as well. Since it is in the end of the winter season here, I was not expecting it, but it is always interesting to see the various people selling fruit, flowers, fish, clothing, and random supplies. By the way, non-brand name sweat pants will cost you 5 Euros, but knock Puma sweat pants will cost you 8, which really amused me for some reason.

The funniest part of the day was visiting Kostas’ office to mess with a lady named Effi. She is the person in the office who said she thought we were some sort of s-p-i-e-s. Kostas had given me some personal information about her to mess with her a little, and it was quite effective. We went into the office and I sat down at her desk. Immediately I asked her specific questions about her family and told her I had been watching her. She and her coworker (our friend Nikki) looked completely stunned!

I went on and told her, “I don’t think we have officially met, I am Jason Bourne and this is my friend Bond, James Bond” (referring to Jamie). Immediately they knew Kostas had let us in on her conspiracy theory and we all had a good laugh. This might seem like a small thing, but to me, it is huge in deepening our friendship and relationship with the people in Holargos.

Later on, we made it to the schools where we played basketball and participated in the drills with the kids. Sophia, the basketball instructor, was happy to see us and had us play games that would involve us with the children. It was really cool to see some of them who recognized us and were happy we made it over again. Not only did we interact during the scheduled academy time (5:00-6:00), we played for about 45 minutes before and 90 minutes afterwards. We had a great time and are ready to return tomorrow!

Athens Trip – March 2010, Day 4

2010-03-14T17:35:00.004-05:00

Today was a great day. After breakfast, we headed to Holargos to watch their semi-professional teams play basketball. The women’s game started at noon, and they scored an easy win. We enjoyed watching the elbows fly and some of the players get intense, but we were concerned when our friend Kostas did not show up.

At the conclusion of the game, I called him on his cell, but he did not answer. We were quite disappointed and decided to grab lunch before the men’s game. On our way to a local restaurant, Kostas called and asked if we could meet him at 3:00, which we were more than happy to do. He took us to a Cretan place called Biftekaaatsi. Amazingly enough, he gave us the name of the place and the street and we managed to find our way there – keep in mind we do not speak the language, had no idea where the street was, and I thought the place was called Vistacatsi!

Anyway, Kostas showed up with his wife Catalina. We had been told that most Greeks will eat dinner for at least 2 hours, so we were expecting that the meal would last until the men’s game started at 5:00. Somewhere around 6:40, we figured that we would not be able to make the game at all, which was fine by us.

Our time with Kostas and his wife was awesome. There are many interesting things about the dinner. First of all, we asked them to order for us, which they did. They started off with several appetizers: a huge bruschetta-like bread thing (almost like a bagel with tomato and goat cheese), goat cheese wrapped in a crescent and covered with honey, sausage, cabbage rolls, and a salad with honey mustard. Then we had our main courses: chicken, meat patties, and goat with pasta. Ironically enough, the goat had the best flavor (I would have taken pictures of it all, but I did not want to look too goofy).

We talked about lots for different things as well, from family to politics to culture. They have a 15 year old boy and a 10 year old girl, and we face the same basic issues with our kids – wanting them to be respectful, caring for their future, desiring to protect them from the rubbish on TV, etc. Due to the Greek economic crisis, they have many concerns about what is going on in their county, but maintained a relatively positive attitude. They said the biggest problem within their culture is that the people do not follow simple laws.

The dinner ended with them driving us to our bus stop and inviting us to their house the next time we are in town. We plan on seeing Kostas and his staff tomorrow. As is the case with most of the people we are in contact with over here, they do not understand why we are here. In fact, one of the women in his office is convinced that we are some sort of s-p-i-e-s, which is absurd and hilarious, especially since we are involved with sports - I told them we want to learn how to better play soccer... Anyway, he gave us some information on her to rattle her cage a little tomorrow, which we are really looking forward to doing.

Athens Trip – March 2010, Day 3

2010-03-13T17:04:00.005-06:00

Today was the only day where we did not have plans this trip. We took it easy and slept in, then tried to figure out what exactly we wanted to do. We decided to go to Piraeus, the main port city in Athens that we had ran through on our last trip, but did not have time to walk through. A couple of stops before we arrived on the Metro, we learned that the green line did not make it all the way to Piraeus due to construction. However, we were able to find our way there on the bus.

Once we arrived, we found that the city was dead, probably due to the Metro not running into town. Having seen a futbol (soccer) stadium, we asked an information desk worker if there was a game there this evening. She said there was so we decided to go there and check it out.

The stadium is home of the Olympiacos Futbol Club. The game started at 7:00PM, which was less than 2 hours. We decided it was a unique opportunity worth capitalizing on, so we purchased tickets for 15 Euros and went to the game.

The fans chanted during most of the game, but it was primarily limited to one rowdy section or quarter of the stadium. They sang, jumped, threw stuff onto the field, and even started fires with flames. It was pretty cool to watch… from the other side of the stadium! Olympiacos tied 2-2, which was disappointing for them because they dropped out of first place to a team that was near the bottom of the league.

This is a picture of Jamie & me and their mascot... He was friendlier with Jamie than me, which I was grateful for!

Athens Trip – March 2010, Day 1 & 2

2010-03-13T08:20:00.001-06:00

We had a really good trip from Tulsa to Athens, with the exception of the ungodly start time, 4:15AM! Our first flight departed Tulsa at 6:00AM for Detroit. We had the perfect visit there too, only 35 minutes. We raced from one side of the airport to the other, leaving enough time to grab coffee and jumped on the plane headed to JFK (New York).

Once we landed at JFK, Jamie turned on his phone to receive about a dozen text messages informing us that the Greek public transportation was on strike, including the airport, meaning we would not be able to land or enter Greece. The major thing that was forgotten is that although we left on Thursday, we would not arrive into Athens until Friday, thus the trip was still on. We departed NY at 4:10PM and landed in Athens (ATH) around 9:30AM on Friday.

We were meet by our American friend Jonathan, and took the metro train from the airport to Syntagma Square, the location of our airport. We checked in, dropped off our luggage, and headed straight to Holargos to visit with our friend Kostas. Kostas is the director of athletics for his municipality and has become a good friend. We set up events for Sunday through Thursday, including eating lunch with him (and maybe his family) on Sunday.

Later that Friday evening, we had the opportunity to go to a refugee center. There are some people who have started a work there reaching out to Muslims. They feed them, provide food for them, and share with them. Last year alone 70 people were born again. On Friday night we were able to see a group of men receive certificates and share their stories, it was awesome.

We ended the night having dinner with a group of 20 world changers from Oklahoma (Nowata) and Alabama. They will have 80 people total once they all arrive, which will give the local team here much support. Although we had been told that they would be largely working with us in our neighborhood, they will now be doing something different. All in all, it was a good day and we are excited to see what will come of our trip!

The Romance Factor

2010-03-07T14:08:00.000-06:00

The Romance Factor
Use all five senses to connect with your spouse.

Remember when you and your spouse were dating? When dinner was consumed to the strains of soft music instead of to Sponge Bob? In the day-to-day busyness of married life, romance is often the first thing to go. Yet the “Romance Factor” can have a high impact on the success of your marriage.

The Romance Factor encompasses much more than just sex. It invokes the five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. It’s the emotional, spiritual, and physical connection between a husband and wife.

In my work as a romantic events planner and consultant, I discuss romantic preferences with a lot of husbands and wives. You might be surprised to hear that many men enjoy romance just as much as women!

Yet, many marriages neglect the Romance Factor. We’re so busy with our children, houses, jobs, and church obligations, that we forget to reserve time just for our spouse. After a long day, we collapse into bed, exhausted. No time—or energy—for romance.

But with a little effort, romance can become second nature. While planning ahead is great, so is a spontaneous romantic evening. Try the following techniques, and see if you don’t find yourself spending an unforgettable evening with the one you love.

The Sight of Romance
Start by making your bedroom a romantic sanctuary, where you can shut out the world and enter a paradise created for two. Sight plays a significant part in everyday life, so just imagine how important it is to romance. Many are attracted by the sight of their intended before they actually speak to them. So make your sanctuary a sight to behold.

You can do this by making just a few minor adjustments to the room. First, clear the clutter. If your bedroom is like most, it may have become a catchall for clothes, papers, books, and toys. Once you’ve achieved a clean room, change the lighting by adding candles—the more, the better. Choosing lower wattage light bulbs will give you a similar effect. The soft glow of candlelight will enhance the appearance of even the most ordinary room.

Next, spruce up the room with flowers and rose petals. Don’t worry about creating a mess; concentrate on creating an oasis. Be careful not to overdo the flowers, though, since their fragrance can be overpowering. You may opt for artificial or silk flowers as a resourceful substitute.

You may even consider a few decorating tricks to enhance the bed. Drape sheer, richly colored fabrics across your headboard, over your window treatments, or hang them from the ceiling (with hooks from your local hardware store). You’re going for exotic here, so the sky’s the limit. Imagination plays a large part in how appealing your romantic oasis will be.

The Smell of Romance
Scent is an important component in the art of romance. Smell can be an excellent inlet to passion; it stimulates areas in the brain that affect the way we feel and react. Just think of the way you respond when you smell fresh bread baking. The aroma causes your taste buds to swell, your mouth to water, and your mind to wonder. Scent is a powerful instrument.

Aromatherapy is making quite an impact these days. Experiment with different fragrances to find which ones work best with you and your mate.

Some I’ve found to be particularly effective are vanilla, coconut, chocolate, lavender, and jasmine. Scented candles are excellent for stimulating two senses instead of one: sight and smell. Check out some of the aromatherapy stores in your area.

The Sound of Romance
Sound can mean music playing softly or the way you whisper your spouse’s name. Speaking in low sexy tones is a definite turn-on for many men. The soft sound of a woman’s voice in its natural God-given state can melt the strongest man’s heart.

The music you choose is just as important. Whether it’s soothing jazz or your favorite oldies but goodies, make it something you both enjoy. Music melts away the day’s stresses and struggles. And music can also be the catalyst to another technique, touch. Music sets the stage for dancing, if your sanctuary is large enough. If not, just listening with your love can be stimulating.

The Taste of Romance
My grandmother used to say the best way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Boy, is that true. Sometimes nothing inspires a man more than a mouthwatering meal and sweet treats. Prepare a simple yet elegant meal for two or a tray of delectable mini desserts. Experiment with tropical, exotic tastes and don’t forget the dark chocolate, which is said to be an effective aphrodisiac.

You don’t have to be Betty Crocker in the kitchen. Many grocery stores have freshly prepared meals in the deli section. Even those chocolate-covered strawberries are readily available in the produce section. Your favorite restaurant is also a good place to provide meals on the go.

The Touch of Romance
This is the last and definitely the most powerful element in the Romance Factor. The bond of physical contact is one of God’s most enduring senses. In the beginning of life, the touch of a mother to her newborn begins the human need for touch. We’re created to crave this on a daily basis. A hug, a caress, or a kiss arouse the tiny blood vessels located just beneath the skin in our bodies. In a marriage, touch forms a connection between husband and wife. One way to use touch is through the art of massage. Try taking a massage class together or get a book on proper massage techniques. This will teach you about pressure points and areas of concentration for a romantic, relaxing evening.

Caution!There’s one important prerequisite to using the Romance Factor techniques: communication. Communicate honestly with your spouse to learn his or her wants and needs. Just ask. Sometimes, too, a little experimentation will reveal what each of you likes or dislikes. Then let the Romance Factor take your breath away.

By Twanda R. Smith, for the study, “What’s Romance Got to Do With It?”

Your Words of Encouragement Matter

2010-03-01T07:15:00.000-06:00

This is from Craig Groschel, he posted this today. It is a powerful example of the affirmation we all need from time to time. As a pastor, it is much more important to hear how God has used you than "good job on that message." Here is his post:
Dear Church,

Thank you so much for taking time to share how God is working in your life. Knowing that our ministry is making a difference is often all I need to keep going when I’d rather give up.

As your pastor, I’m way more “human” than I’d like to be. In my best moments, I’m fully convinced of God’s calling and presence. In my worst moments, I feel weak, insecure and totally ineffective as a Christian, much less the shepherd of a flock.

Just last week, one of you took the time to tell me how God has used our church to change your life for the better. I didn’t tell you, but on the inside I was wondering if my efforts mattered. God used your words to minister to me in a deep way.

Thanks so much for telling me how God is working in your life!

How has God used your church to minister to you?

NBC + Olympic Coverage = Fail

2010-02-17T17:17:00.000-06:00

The Olympic coverage has been horrid. Today I was reading a sports blog I follow and saw this picture. While it is fitting for NBC to be horrible, why can they not make adjustments and show live coverage and spare us the 2 minutes of commercials for every 1 minute of live coverage of actual events!