wanting the familiar even if it hurts

Here are two interesting items that I ran across and emailed to a few folks toward the end of June. The first is a series of youtube videos with Adrian Warnock interviewing Ed Stetzer about missional church planting etc that I got from this Timmy Brister post. If you don’t have time to watch them [...]

blaming others

Ben at Desiring God blog posted 12 sins we blame on others. Here are the first few: 1) Anger I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate. 2) Impatience I would be a very patient person [...]

acceptable words

I have long tried to use Ephesians 4:29 to guide my speech, written and verbal. Sometimes with more success than others. I have tried to explain to my kids why we use certain words and not others in our communication based on this verse. So I can identify with the family discussion described by Paul [...]

a musical interlude

Thanks to the Justin Cofield Band I am obsessing over this song. I just can’t get enough of it. I haven’t obsessed over a song like this since this one and this one. I can’t link to the other song I have been obsessing over because it isn’t for sale anymore, but you folks who [...]

change the world?

Brad Abare has an article on Catalyst about why changing the world disturbs him. It is titled, reasonably enough, “Changing the World Disturbs Me”. In the article he makes this statement, “Lately, I’m beginning to think that this inclination for world changing is not only unhealthy, it’s also counter-productive. Perhaps the idea of “changing the [...]

teaching

Instapundit gave a link to an article about Randy Pausch and his last lecture. In the article, Charles Lipson talks about the fact that professor Pausch’s lecture was also a lesson in great teaching. Lipson makes the point that good teaching must impart the necessary substantive material. In addition: The best teachers also serve as [...]

I’m trying to save the planet

No room for small ambitions with Nancy Pelosi. She is justified in shutting down House debate, because she is trying to save the planet. Gives her the leeway to do some stuff doesn’t it? With fewer than 20 legislative days before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, the entire appropriations process has largely ground [...]

what he said II

what he said. I just finished Ed’s book, Planting Missional Churches. Very good indeed.

regulative principle of worship

Before yesterday, I had heard of the regulative principle of worship, but I hadn’t paid any attention to it. I knew that Timmy Brister had made it the number one question on the ask Mark Driscoll anything contest, but I had just casually read through the comments without paying attention. It was like somebody was [...]

should I/you be a church planter?

20 questions to ask yourself from Acts 29 via Adrian Warnock

creepy

A fellow has posted a list of the top ten things that creep him out about Barack Obama. number 8 on the list is the one that has just been amazing to me watching this campaign, it seriously creeps me out: 8. It creeps me out that the press seems hypnotized by this guy. Grown [...]

happiness

I added a page that I wrote a while back about Happiness in a marriage. The tab is to the left of this.

Deacon stuff

I added the narrative explanation of deacon qualifications and role below the outline on the Deacon Outline page. Yes, that’s right, even more words.

the boys are at camp

Joseph and Benjamin started two weeks at Camp Peniel yesterday. They and their friend Daniel will be doing “work camp”. That means they will serve meals, clean up afterward and help out in the barn. They will also get to do fun things as well and they will have their own group Bible time in [...]

more on church, since its Sunday

Late last year or early this year (time flies) I read a book called The Unity Factor by Larry Osborne. The book was very good and I recommend it to anyone who is in ministry leadership as a staff or lay person. Larry had a section in the book where he talked about the differences [...]

new page/rock of offense

I just put up a longer piece on a new page that I wrote back in 2005 about Jesus and the woman at the well. The tab is above.

what are essential elements of a church?

John MacArthur has a post up about ties that bind; things that local churches must have in common. His list is good and includes: A high view of God The absolute authority of scripture Sound doctrine Personal holiness Spiritual authority I don’t think this list, while good, (and the explanations under each topic are outstanding) [...]

friday is for photos

what is our hope?

I Peter 1:13 says that we need to prepare our minds for action (the KJV word picture is to “gird up the loins of your mind” I love that!) be sober minded and set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. If we are going to [...]

one of the things I like about Austin

The pagans are pagans and proud of it. I saw this bumper sticker in traffic earlier this year and took a picture of it with my iPhone (great little phone and minicomputer, not such a great camera) so the quality isn’t that great. what it says is “Pagan and Proud.”

Read your Bible

Thanks to Todd Bumgarner who pointed me to this long quote by Bishop J.C. Ryle about the importance of reading your Bible. Here is a piece: You live in a world where your soul is in constant danger. Enemies are round you on every side. Your own heart is deceitful. Bad examples are numerous. Satan [...]

Did Jesus Claim to be Messiah (the Christ)?

Some of you have seen John Hagee’s video advertising one of his books. In it he makes the startling claim that the Jews can’t be responsible for rejecting Jesus as Messiah, because He never claimed to be Messiah. This video is just amazing because surely John Hagee should know better, but he is blind. See [...]

Vista Church podcasts

I am trying an experiment to see if I can link to the Apple Store. If I am doing this right, this link ought to take you to the Vista Church podcasts in the iTunes store. If you get there, download and listen to the Nehemiah series, they are great.

Test from the iPhone

Walking with Julie right now and testing the wordpress application for iPhone blogging. Beautiful day so far.

Hospitality

In our bible study this morning we talked a little bit about hospitality.  We are studying Hebrews and we have arrived at chapter 13 verse 2. This passage seems to echo the instruction of I Peter 4:7-9 that we keep our love for one another at full strength and don’t neglect to show hospitality. One [...]