30 Sep
Notes taken from a very good read – Rob Bell’s “Jesus Wants to Save Christians”.
The first book of the Bible – Exodus? No, but many scholars see the second book of the Bible as the book in which the central story of redemption begins – liberation from Egypt.
God always hears the cry of the oppressed.
The [...]
29 Sep
Was talking to a friend of mine a few days ago. She was in full Christmas stress mode some 3 months out. And with good reason.
According to the American Consumer Credit Council, the average American spends $935 on Christmas each year. In my large family, I’m personally responsible for skewing that number high.
Money is tight [...]
26 Sep
Knew it was a must Amazon 1 Click purchase.
The name alone….intriguing. Mix in that it was penned by one of my favorite orators, Rob Bell, and it immediately moves to the top of my “to be read” book pile.
From the Back Cover: There is a church not too far from us that recently added [...]
25 Sep
Imagine…
“Ding” – yet another text to your cell phone. But this one is different…
“My child. I, and my people, expect much from u today because u have within u My supreme gift – the spirit of Jesus.”
Would you respond? Could you?
24 Sep
I love lists.
Men’s Health ran one in their recent publication that inspired me.
Man-to-man, we should not fear the following:
7 – Video Games – There is something to be said about keeping certain childhood enthusiasms alive. Why is it ok to play Yahtzee or Monopoly but not Madden 09? Staying in touch with your younger self [...]
20 Sep
Better hope you are not featured on the cover of a prominent Christian periodical, or you will cause a major Christian Book Store – Lifeway – to pull the magazine.
Please say it ain’t so….
Agree or not with women serving as pastors, but pulling the magazine??? Did we not learn anything from the Disney boycott?
19 Sep
Real learning happens for me in the exchange of life experiences. Here are some of my favorite highlights from this past week:
1. My church requires a three year commitment to serve on a Committee. Many people are reluctant to commit to that many years of their life. In a perfect situation, each year the same [...]
18 Sep
My email I just sent to my First Impression team of volunteers – somewhere over 150 people. Imagine if each one reached one…
Hi Awesome GFC Volunteers!
Check out this insightful list from a presentation by Don Simmons about why volunteers serve:
1. Someone asked them (93%)
2. Compelling need
3. Personal connection
4. Gratitude for being served
5. Spiritual/ religious beliefs
6. [...]
17 Sep
Daily I fight this gravitational pull to do things like I’ve always done them. It’s easy. It works.
But it’s lazy.
Seth Godin reminded me today that “The bar keeps being raised.
That _________
(church service, men’s group leadership style, flashy youth building, cool hi tech lights, sales technique, relational strategy, business practice, etc)
you thought was so remarkable [...]
16 Sep
Word Association – Disciple:
robes, sandals, beards, followers, long time ago, Jesus.
Challenge:
How do we bridge this critical faith commandment from Biblical times to today?
Perhaps we need to rethink what discipleship looks like for us in the 21st Century. We know that the “lets-get-everybody-to-be-friends” strategy may build a mile wide/inch deep people group. But we want more. [...]
12 Sep
Disclaimer – The following does not represent anyone or any organization – past, present, or future church that I attend and am crazy in love with, just me asking ME a few (thanks Brian Jones) tough questions…..
Like:
1. Do Small Groups create disciples?
2. Do Small Groups trick us into believing we’re serious about making disciples?
Unofficial Stat [...]
11 Sep
Read an article today in USA Today about mega-churches.
Suggested that the big boys may be trending down in attendance and giving. While the number of mega-churches has grown from 600 in the year 2000 to more than 1,250 in 2005, recent data indicates a troubling issue.
Why the flat line or decline? I firmly believe it [...]
9 Sep
Why I’m Glad Some at Grace Family Church Don’t Believe in the Bible
Tim Stevens is a pastor at Granger Community Church. A journal entry of his caused me to evaluate some things near and dear to my heart.
A recent survey in a church very similar to the one I attend revealed that 57% of those [...]
8 Sep
Began facilitating a new study at church this week called Alpha.
It’s designed for the seeker, atheisit, agnostic, and new believer.
Refreshing.
We should all go back to this point in our Faith Journey…asking “Who are you God?”
Raw, real, uncluttered with years of “Christiandom”.
….and challenging.
As I closed the class and was packing up, a young man approached me [...]
6 Sep
“The devil doesn’t care how big your church is – he cares how influential it is.”
- Brian Houston, Pastor, Hillsong Church, Sydney, Australia
5 Sep
The Republican VP candidate – Sarah Palin – is, above every well deserved accolade, inspirational.
As a daddy to 4 young ladies, I look at things through a pink-tinted lens. My heart and desire is to enable my girls to become everything God has gifted and called them to be. And anytime a female can break [...]
4 Sep
Quick – off the top of your head tell me what you believe to be the role of your pastor????…
As I trace back the history of “the church” from today to the book of Acts, there are a few modern tenants that exist within our “Christianity” that have actually morphed, over time, into an expected [...]
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