When you’re texting on a cell phone, one response to a friend’s joke is “LOL”—which means, “laughing out loud.” (Any teenager will tell you that “ROFL” is also an option to let them know you’re “rolling on the floor laughing”!)
When was the last time you “laughed out loud” in wonder over God’s goodness?
The Canadian musician, Carolyn Arends, recalled a conversation with her three-year-old about a Sunday School craft the child had brought home. Her daughter, Bethany, had cut out and colored pictures of children engaged in different acts of worship, and glued them onto a sheet. As Arends pointed to each picture, she asked Bethany what the people were doing. “Praying! Giving! Reading the Bible!” the girl shouted as Arends pointed to each scene.
Then she pointed to a boy with his mouth open wide in song and asked Bethany to explain what he was doing. “Singing is my favorite form of worship,” Arends wrote, “so I knew it would be Bethany’s too, what with her mother being a singer and all.”
“Laughing!” explained Bethany.
Arends wrote, “I stood corrected. Laughing is my favorite form of worship.”
Laughter isn’t always an act of praise, of course. In Genesis 18, in the guise of a traveling stranger, God announced that the son he had promised Abraham 13 years earlier would finally be born before the next year. Sarah overheard this and laughed to herself. She had given up on God long ago, and her laughter was a sign of her cynicism.
But in Genesis 21, Sarah held her little boy in her arms and laughed again. This time, though, she laughed with God, not at him. She named her son “Isaac” and exclaimed, “God has brought me laughter!”
You see, Isaac is a Hebrew word that means . . . well . . . “LOL”!
We shouldn’t laugh at God’s promises in despair, but be sure to laugh with God when he keeps his promises. Has God answered a prayer? LOL! Has he surprised you with blessing? LOL! Has he set you free from a destructive addiction? LOL! Has he come through for you when you were at your wits end? LOL! Has he rescued a marriage on the brink? LOL! Has he given you the hope of eternal joy? LOL!
Singing, praying, giving—they’re all good acts of worship. But don’t forget that laughing in wonder is worship, too!
_______________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 900 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Links to Your World, Tuesday April 29
Here are 14 things you can do right now that could save you as much as $5,116 a year.
“Couples who live together are gambling and losing in 85 percent of the cases. Many believe the myth that they are in a "trial marriage." Actually it is more like a "trial divorce," in which more than eight out of ten couples will break up either before the wedding or afterwards in divorce.” (Michael McManus, coauthor of Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers, on cohabitation; HT: The Evangelical Outpost)
Test Your Religious IQ. I got 8 of 10 (I missed the question on Catholic sacraments and the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism).
The Oldest Americans are the Happiest, Research Finds
My brother-in-law has posted his reaction to the first night of "Carrier," a PBS series on life aboard a Navy aircraft carrier. Kevin is a vet from the first Persian Gulf war.
12 Spiritual Lessons from 'Prince Caspian.' Click through this gallery of photos from the new movie, and find out more about the world of "Prince Caspian" and the spiritual wisdom we can gain as we revisit the land of Narnia. The film opens May 16.
“I won't argue that critics of [Intelligent Design] are always wrong or that ID is always--or even mostly--right in its claims. But I do think a compelling case can be made that the anti-IDers are losing the rhetorical battle--their frothing at the mouth reaction to Expelled is a symptom--and that they have only themselves to blame.” Joe Carter, in his three-part must-read article, “10 Ways Darwinists Help Intelligent Design.” His 10 points are exactly what I would have written. Some publisher should pick up this article for a print magazine. Read it here: Part I, Part II, Part III.
“For now, Southern Baptists are a denomination in decline. Some of you were born into an SBC church; others of us chose it of our own accord. Either way, it is dear to us all. Our responsibility before God is, then, to urgently consider how we should respond. Yes, most of our response should be personal and lived out in our local churches—this is a local church issue. But if we are choosing to partner in this network of churches, and the network is faltering, it will also take some joint action. As such, I offer a few suggestions. We’ve heard unfamiliar rumblings the last few years. Concerned voices have warned of a day which has now arrived. Three issues rise to the top.” Read Ed Stetzer’s call-to-arms over the news that the SBC is officially in decline.
“How can I reconcile my belief in the inerrancy of Scripture with comments in Bible translations that state that a particular verse is not 'in better manuscripts'?” J.I. Packer answers this good question.
“Rather than C.S. Lewis’ 'mere' Christianity, we are growing increasingly fragmented and divided by an ever-narrowing explosion of sub-orthodoxies built on divides such as traditional vs. contemporary, Calvin vs. Arminius, emergent vs. seeker-targeted--and then elevating such conversations to the level of the Nicene Creed. We can, and should, have robust conversations about such matters, but with a sense of humility that within orthodox Christianity there can be authentic disagreements of opinion. As Augustine notes, in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity. And much more falls into the “non-essential” camp than many would seem willing to attest.” (“A Fractured Shibboleth,” James Emery White)
The form for an official apology. Keep this on hand.
“A passionate discussion is unfolding in public and in private among Evangelical leaders and communities. Should Christians be involved in politics and if so, how? What has gone wrong, and what has been learned from the Moral Majority up until now. In this live public conversation, Krista [Tippett] probes these ideas with three formative Evangelicals.” Listen to Tippett’s interview with Charles Colson, Greg Boyd, and Shane Claiborne.
“According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is now the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. As many as 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually; the United States is a popular destination, with as many as 17,500 people brought in each year and exploited for sex or labor.” Read about one 17-year-old girl’s rescue and new life in the Reader’s Digest article, “The Slave in the Garage.”
I just finished Gordon Macdonald’s book Who Stole My Church? It’s an all-too-true novel about a group of Christians in their fifties and sixties struggling to come to terms with all the changes to their church. The only real characters in the book are Gordon and his wife, Gail, but you'll recognize others. Read an excerpt here.
Jesus told us to “count the cost” before following him. Muslims who become Christians often pay a high price, according to this BBC article.
In the Boundless webzine, Austin pastor Jonathan Dodson explains six ways to redemptively engage culture: prayerfully, carefully, biblically-theologically, redemptively, humbly and selectively.
Dick Staub interviews Japanese painter and Christian, Makoto Fujimura.
At Dear God you can read notes that people would like to send to God. Read at your own risk because this is one messed-up world.
“Couples who live together are gambling and losing in 85 percent of the cases. Many believe the myth that they are in a "trial marriage." Actually it is more like a "trial divorce," in which more than eight out of ten couples will break up either before the wedding or afterwards in divorce.” (Michael McManus, coauthor of Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers, on cohabitation; HT: The Evangelical Outpost)
Test Your Religious IQ. I got 8 of 10 (I missed the question on Catholic sacraments and the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism).
The Oldest Americans are the Happiest, Research Finds
My brother-in-law has posted his reaction to the first night of "Carrier," a PBS series on life aboard a Navy aircraft carrier. Kevin is a vet from the first Persian Gulf war.
12 Spiritual Lessons from 'Prince Caspian.' Click through this gallery of photos from the new movie, and find out more about the world of "Prince Caspian" and the spiritual wisdom we can gain as we revisit the land of Narnia. The film opens May 16.
“I won't argue that critics of [Intelligent Design] are always wrong or that ID is always--or even mostly--right in its claims. But I do think a compelling case can be made that the anti-IDers are losing the rhetorical battle--their frothing at the mouth reaction to Expelled is a symptom--and that they have only themselves to blame.” Joe Carter, in his three-part must-read article, “10 Ways Darwinists Help Intelligent Design.” His 10 points are exactly what I would have written. Some publisher should pick up this article for a print magazine. Read it here: Part I, Part II, Part III.
“For now, Southern Baptists are a denomination in decline. Some of you were born into an SBC church; others of us chose it of our own accord. Either way, it is dear to us all. Our responsibility before God is, then, to urgently consider how we should respond. Yes, most of our response should be personal and lived out in our local churches—this is a local church issue. But if we are choosing to partner in this network of churches, and the network is faltering, it will also take some joint action. As such, I offer a few suggestions. We’ve heard unfamiliar rumblings the last few years. Concerned voices have warned of a day which has now arrived. Three issues rise to the top.” Read Ed Stetzer’s call-to-arms over the news that the SBC is officially in decline.
“How can I reconcile my belief in the inerrancy of Scripture with comments in Bible translations that state that a particular verse is not 'in better manuscripts'?” J.I. Packer answers this good question.
“Rather than C.S. Lewis’ 'mere' Christianity, we are growing increasingly fragmented and divided by an ever-narrowing explosion of sub-orthodoxies built on divides such as traditional vs. contemporary, Calvin vs. Arminius, emergent vs. seeker-targeted--and then elevating such conversations to the level of the Nicene Creed. We can, and should, have robust conversations about such matters, but with a sense of humility that within orthodox Christianity there can be authentic disagreements of opinion. As Augustine notes, in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity. And much more falls into the “non-essential” camp than many would seem willing to attest.” (“A Fractured Shibboleth,” James Emery White)
The form for an official apology. Keep this on hand.
“A passionate discussion is unfolding in public and in private among Evangelical leaders and communities. Should Christians be involved in politics and if so, how? What has gone wrong, and what has been learned from the Moral Majority up until now. In this live public conversation, Krista [Tippett] probes these ideas with three formative Evangelicals.” Listen to Tippett’s interview with Charles Colson, Greg Boyd, and Shane Claiborne.
“According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is now the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. As many as 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually; the United States is a popular destination, with as many as 17,500 people brought in each year and exploited for sex or labor.” Read about one 17-year-old girl’s rescue and new life in the Reader’s Digest article, “The Slave in the Garage.”
I just finished Gordon Macdonald’s book Who Stole My Church? It’s an all-too-true novel about a group of Christians in their fifties and sixties struggling to come to terms with all the changes to their church. The only real characters in the book are Gordon and his wife, Gail, but you'll recognize others. Read an excerpt here.
Jesus told us to “count the cost” before following him. Muslims who become Christians often pay a high price, according to this BBC article.
In the Boundless webzine, Austin pastor Jonathan Dodson explains six ways to redemptively engage culture: prayerfully, carefully, biblically-theologically, redemptively, humbly and selectively.
Dick Staub interviews Japanese painter and Christian, Makoto Fujimura.
At Dear God you can read notes that people would like to send to God. Read at your own risk because this is one messed-up world.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Song of the Week: The Weepies' "Keep It There"
Another one from Deb Talan and Steve Tannen, the husband-wife team known as The Weepies. I posted about them a few weeks ago. In this song, Tannen sings about money in his pocket, a past regret in his closet, the love in his wife's eyes, the troubles he put behind him--and the fact that he has to keep it all there. Good stuff. From the 2002 project, Happiness--
Keep It There
Got three dollars burning in my pocket, I know I know
Got three dollars burning in my pocket, I know I know
I got, I got, I got to keep it there.
Got an old ghost locked in my closet, I know I know
Got an old ghost locked in my closet, I know I know
I got, I got, I got to keep it there.
Came down on a bottle rocket
Found my heart right where I locked it
Last night like rain on chalk
It's gone like money in my pocket.
See those stars shining in your eyes and I know I know
See those stars shining in your eyes and I know I know
I got, I got, I got to keep it there.
Came down on a bottle rocket
Found my heart right where I locked it
Last night like rain on chalk
It's gone like money in my pocket.
All my troubles in the rear view mirror, I know I know
All my troubles in the rear view mirror, I know I know
I got, I got, I got to keep them there.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
LeaderLines: “Fellowship and Partnership”
You know we’re living in strange times when atheists feel they need a church and Christians can’t see a reason to connect with one. As church leaders, what can we do about that?
Last week, New York magazine ran a story about some atheists who feel the need to organize in church-like ways:
As church leaders, how can we communicate the value of believers connecting to a church? Last night, in Week Five of the Anchor Course, we discussed this very topic. (By the way, half of the participants have been active in our church since being reached by the telephone campaign last Fall! Isn’t that great!)
In the class, I got a chance to share with seekers and believers about Christ’s vision for his church. When we become believers, Christ expects us to join other disciples in pursuit of that vision of what “church” is supposed to be.
When I think of God’s hopes for our congregation, I know he wants us to be a fellowship and a partnership. The first word looks inward; the second word looks outward. The first word speaks of sharing life together; the second word speaks of pursuing goals together.
First, we are a fellowship. The first gathering of believers was described with these words: “They devoted themselves . . . to the fellowship” (Acts 2:42). They met regularly together, they prayed for each other, worshipped together, and shared possessions with those who had needs. The warm fellowship impressed and attracted others so much that new people were joining daily.
The Christian life was not meant to be a solitary life. The Bible says that our fellowship with God is proven valid by our fellowship with his people: “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12). Verses like this remind us we cannot really say we’re connected to God unless we’re also connected to other believers--with all the patience and forgiveness and sensitivity that such a connection requires.
Second, we are a partnership. Paul wrote to one church with deep fondness because they understood the importance of working together and not just assembling together. He reminded them: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:4-5). He often expressed by name his appreciation for the men and women who shared the ministry with him. Their names show up in his letters: Timothy, John Mark, Luke, and little-known personalities such as Phoebe, Epaphras, Euodia, and Syntyche (E.g. Romans 16:1; Colossians 1:6-7; Philippians 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:11).
As we put our faith in Jesus and start spending time with a congregation of fellow believers, we need to identify the ways we can be useful to that gathering. We partner together through financially supporting the work, through praying for God’s blessing on the work, through offering suggestions to improve the work, and through volunteering in the work. The church isn’t an institution that does things for us; the church is a community of believers who have partnered together to make a difference in the world.
We need both fellowship and partnership with others who have drawn the same conclusions that we have about Jesus.
The fact that Hillcrest is a fellowship reminds me to look inward at the life we should share together. The fact that Hillcrest is a partnership reminds me to look outward at the work we should do together.
We need both! Without a sense of fellowship, all we would do is tackle our projects, complete our assignments, and finish our work. In such settings a person’s moral choices would never be challenged, his beliefs would never be refined, and his needs would never be addressed.
On the other hand, without a sense of partnership, a congregation quickly becomes introverted. Soon, the only factor that is addressed in deciding what to do is simply that which pleases the current participants.
So, we are supposed to be a fellowship that meets each other’s needs and a partnership that mobilizes people for meaningful action. Work with me to communicate this vital truth to seekers and believers alike!
______________________________________
Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
Last week, New York magazine ran a story about some atheists who feel the need to organize in church-like ways:
Many [atheists] are experimenting with building new, human-centered quasi-religious organizations . . . . They aim to remove God from the church, while leaving the church, at least large parts of it, standing. . . .In the same week, I read a report about Christians who feel no need to connect with a church. The Barna research organization labels them “the Unattached,” and most of them self-identify as believers:
Churches fill needs, goes the argument--they inculcate ethics, give meaning, build communities. “Science and reason are important,” says Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain of Harvard University. “But science and reason won’t visit you in the hospital.”
Six out of 10 adults in the unattached category (59 percent) consider themselves to be Christian. Moreover, 17 percent of the unattached are born again Christians – defined as people who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they consider to be very important in their life, and who believe that they will experience Heaven after they die because they have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.So, some nonbelievers recognize a need to gather in church-like organizations, while some believers don’t see a need for church.
One-fifth (19 percent) of the unattached read the Bible and three out of every five (62 percent) pray to God during a typical week.
As church leaders, how can we communicate the value of believers connecting to a church? Last night, in Week Five of the Anchor Course, we discussed this very topic. (By the way, half of the participants have been active in our church since being reached by the telephone campaign last Fall! Isn’t that great!)
In the class, I got a chance to share with seekers and believers about Christ’s vision for his church. When we become believers, Christ expects us to join other disciples in pursuit of that vision of what “church” is supposed to be.
When I think of God’s hopes for our congregation, I know he wants us to be a fellowship and a partnership. The first word looks inward; the second word looks outward. The first word speaks of sharing life together; the second word speaks of pursuing goals together.
First, we are a fellowship. The first gathering of believers was described with these words: “They devoted themselves . . . to the fellowship” (Acts 2:42). They met regularly together, they prayed for each other, worshipped together, and shared possessions with those who had needs. The warm fellowship impressed and attracted others so much that new people were joining daily.
The Christian life was not meant to be a solitary life. The Bible says that our fellowship with God is proven valid by our fellowship with his people: “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12). Verses like this remind us we cannot really say we’re connected to God unless we’re also connected to other believers--with all the patience and forgiveness and sensitivity that such a connection requires.
Second, we are a partnership. Paul wrote to one church with deep fondness because they understood the importance of working together and not just assembling together. He reminded them: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:4-5). He often expressed by name his appreciation for the men and women who shared the ministry with him. Their names show up in his letters: Timothy, John Mark, Luke, and little-known personalities such as Phoebe, Epaphras, Euodia, and Syntyche (E.g. Romans 16:1; Colossians 1:6-7; Philippians 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:11).
As we put our faith in Jesus and start spending time with a congregation of fellow believers, we need to identify the ways we can be useful to that gathering. We partner together through financially supporting the work, through praying for God’s blessing on the work, through offering suggestions to improve the work, and through volunteering in the work. The church isn’t an institution that does things for us; the church is a community of believers who have partnered together to make a difference in the world.
We need both fellowship and partnership with others who have drawn the same conclusions that we have about Jesus.
The fact that Hillcrest is a fellowship reminds me to look inward at the life we should share together. The fact that Hillcrest is a partnership reminds me to look outward at the work we should do together.
We need both! Without a sense of fellowship, all we would do is tackle our projects, complete our assignments, and finish our work. In such settings a person’s moral choices would never be challenged, his beliefs would never be refined, and his needs would never be addressed.
On the other hand, without a sense of partnership, a congregation quickly becomes introverted. Soon, the only factor that is addressed in deciding what to do is simply that which pleases the current participants.
So, we are supposed to be a fellowship that meets each other’s needs and a partnership that mobilizes people for meaningful action. Work with me to communicate this vital truth to seekers and believers alike!
______________________________________
Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Winning Ways: “Got to be Grateful”
Does “counting your blessings” really help? According to recent research, it does.
Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough asked 201 students in a health psychology class to respond to a weekly questionnaire. They were rated their well-being, tested on a measure of gratefulness, and then reported on their physical health and level of exercise.
The students were divided into three groups. The first group listed five things they were grateful for each week--things like simply "waking up this morning," or "for wonderful parents," or "the Lord for just another day." The second group listed five hassles or irritants from the past week--such as "hard to find parking," "messy kitchen," or "having a horrible test in health psychology." The final group simply wrote down five random events or circumstances from the past week.
After ten weeks, guess what the researchers discovered. It’s no surprise that the students in the gratefulness group scored significantly higher than the hassles group on the gratefulness measure. But as they thought about the upcoming week--and life in general--they also were more positive. They were even healthier than both the “hassles” and “random events” groups, and they reported significantly more hours of exercise.
When Emmons and McCullough adjusted the experiment from a weekly assignment to a daily one, the results were even more remarkable. The researchers found that when people took time to make a daily review of what they were grateful for, the respondents reported a better overall emotional outlook, significantly more sleep and feeling more refreshed when they woke up in the morning.
Of course, another benefit of gratitude is that it can lead you to the Giver of all good gifts. I vividly remember one young woman who joined one of my “seeker classes.” She said, “Here’s why I’m a part of this study: I just had a baby and my life is filled with so much joy. I want to know who to thank.”
What a profound statement! This young woman recognized that much of the wonder and joy in her life could not be attributed to anything she had earned. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she felt an overwhelming sense of what could only be described as gratitude, and for her that implied a Giver. It led her on a search for Someone to thank.
Whether you are a believer or someone who needs to start a spiritual search, review the many reasons to be grateful today. As the research shows, it does a body good!
___________________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 900 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough asked 201 students in a health psychology class to respond to a weekly questionnaire. They were rated their well-being, tested on a measure of gratefulness, and then reported on their physical health and level of exercise.
The students were divided into three groups. The first group listed five things they were grateful for each week--things like simply "waking up this morning," or "for wonderful parents," or "the Lord for just another day." The second group listed five hassles or irritants from the past week--such as "hard to find parking," "messy kitchen," or "having a horrible test in health psychology." The final group simply wrote down five random events or circumstances from the past week.
After ten weeks, guess what the researchers discovered. It’s no surprise that the students in the gratefulness group scored significantly higher than the hassles group on the gratefulness measure. But as they thought about the upcoming week--and life in general--they also were more positive. They were even healthier than both the “hassles” and “random events” groups, and they reported significantly more hours of exercise.
When Emmons and McCullough adjusted the experiment from a weekly assignment to a daily one, the results were even more remarkable. The researchers found that when people took time to make a daily review of what they were grateful for, the respondents reported a better overall emotional outlook, significantly more sleep and feeling more refreshed when they woke up in the morning.
Of course, another benefit of gratitude is that it can lead you to the Giver of all good gifts. I vividly remember one young woman who joined one of my “seeker classes.” She said, “Here’s why I’m a part of this study: I just had a baby and my life is filled with so much joy. I want to know who to thank.”
What a profound statement! This young woman recognized that much of the wonder and joy in her life could not be attributed to anything she had earned. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she felt an overwhelming sense of what could only be described as gratitude, and for her that implied a Giver. It led her on a search for Someone to thank.
Whether you are a believer or someone who needs to start a spiritual search, review the many reasons to be grateful today. As the research shows, it does a body good!
___________________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 900 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Links to Your World, Tuesday April 22
As promised, here are some Earth Day links:
Check out the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative at BaptistCreationCare, launched by PK and seminary student Jonathan Merritt and supported by several key SBC leaders.Other links to your world:
The Evangelical Environmental Network has some good material, especially their scripture page.
Listen to Krista Tippett’s interview with Calvin DeWitt, an evangelical Christian and professor at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
DeWitt outlines seven of God's magnificent provisions in creation and seven of man's degradations of those provisions in an important Christianity Today piece here.
“Our Worst Critics Prefer to Stay”: the winning 6-word motto for the United States at the Freakonomics website (via: Neatorama). Thabiti Anyabwile brought an excellent message on race at last week's "Together for the Gospel" conference. Listen to "Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church" (Play). Thabiti now serves as pastor at my former church, the First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman.From the "That-Headline-Could-Use-More-Editing" Department:
Favorable opinion of Oprah Winfrey has slipped from 74 percent to 55 percent since she announced her endorsement of Barack Obama for President a year ago. (story)
"Surveying the big picture, [the pastor of one of the largest and most influential evangelical conregations in the Middle East] believes a religious earthquake is shaking the Middle East, leading to many new conversions from Islam. ‘For years, there were only hundreds converting from Islam to Christianity. Very confidential, very low key,’ he said. ‘Now [converts] are writing their stories. They are in chatrooms. The voice of converts for the first time is being heard. The numbers are beyond estimation. It's an iceberg. If you hear a thousand, then there are 100,000 beneath the surface.” (in Christianity Today magazine)
From the Statesman: We owe Tipper Gore an apology. Good article, and it's interesting how opinions of popular culture change once you have a kid to raise.
“I Grew Up in a Polygamist Family.”
"Sect Mothers Appeal to Texas Governor” And I bet Mrs. Perry is none too pleased.
Should Alamo survivor be moved to Texas State Cemetery?" Do we bury survivors?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Song of the Week: Phil Keaggy's "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God"
I needed the reminder, so here's a song Van Morrison wrote in 1989. This cover is by guitar extraordinaire Phil Keaggy, from his 1993 project Crimson and Blue:
When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God
The sun was setting over Avalon
The last time we stood in the West
Suffering long-time angels enraptured like Blake
Burn out the dross
Innocence captured again
Standing on the beach at sunset
And all the boats keep moving slow
In the glory of the flashing light
In the evenings glow
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
You brought it to my attention
That everything that was made in God
Down through centuries of great writings and paintings
Everything was in God
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals
Down through the history of time
Is and was in the beginning and evermore shall be
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
Whatever it takes to fulfill his mission
That is the way we must go
But you’ve got to do it your own way
Tear down the old, bring up the new
And up on the hillside its quiet
Where the shepherd is tending his sheep
And over the mountains and the valleys
The countryside is so green
Standing on the highest hill with a sense of wonder
You can see everything is made in God
Head back down the roadside and give thanks for it all
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
LeaderLines: “Four Doors of Change”
One of the toughest challenges of leadership is making changes. When you have to make changes in your area of church leadership, I think you’ll find the following article helpful.
Tom
Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
Tom
4 Doors of Change________________________________________
by Sam Williams
When you propose a new program or shut down an outdated ministry, you're asking people to change on four different levels: mind, heart, lifestyle, and culture. Each level of change requires a different kind of response:
The key to a change of mind is information. Facts that support the reasons for change need to be gathered and shared. They are more persuasive than opinions. Facts alone, though, don't bring about change. In fact, they can precipitate conflict because everyone will not agree on what needs to be done or be ready to do it.
The key to a change of attitude is relationship. When conflict begins, the natural tendency is to react against it and gather counter-information. The problem at this level, however, is more emotional than intellectual. The leader's role is to intensify relationships, not conflict, with the people who are struggling. This is difficult because the emotional reaction is often directed personally at the leader. Stay close. Express understanding. Help people through the fear, loss, and grief that inevitably accompany change.
The key to a change of lifestyle is experiences. Leaders need to give followers the opportunity to have the same kind of experiences they have had, that have helped bring about their own change. Experiences can be the reading of books, visiting other churches that have successfully made changes, and especially having the opportunity to visit with others like themselves who have been involved in a change process. And, finally, to explore and experiment with small changes that have a high likelihood of success, in order to build good experiences and become comfortable with the desired change.
The key to a change of culture is commitment. Note that commitment is the cumulative result of good information, intensified relationships, and explorative experiences. A leader's common mistake is to push too quickly for commitment, and to believe they have it when they have simply won a vote or approval of a new plan. Culture is "the way things are done around here." Cultures change slowly, with much difficulty, as the individuals who make up the culture change their minds, attitudes, and lifestyles.
Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Winning Ways: “Creation Care”
We have no need to protect natural resources in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ--did you know that evangelical Christians believe that?
Except that we don’t.
Upon receiving the Global Environment Citizen Award from Harvard Medical School in 2004, Bill Moyers claimed that James Watt expressed this view to the U.S. Congress. Watt was President Reagan's first Secretary of the Interior and a conservative Christian.
Moyers later apologized for passing along this falsehood, but it’s just a recent incarnation of a persistent myth that can be traced back to 1967 when Lynn White, Jr. wrote an article in Science magazine called "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis." In it, he argued that Christians have to shoulder the blame for environmental problems because our theology is hostile toward the natural order.
Hooey.
As Austin celebrates Earth Day 2008 this weekend, it’s a good time for believers to emphasize “creation care,” as we call it. Oh, evangelicals will differ with certain environmental groups that deify the environment or elevate other species above human beings who are made in the image of God. We even differ with each other on the contentious issue of climate change. But, as Charles Colson urged the press, don’t miss the bigger story: “Evangelicals of all stripes agree that caring for the environment is our Christian duty. And articulating this care is an important part of a Christian worldview.”
I love how the 2007 “Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility” puts it: “Just as we show our love for the Savior by reaching out to the lost, we believe that we show our love for the Creator by caring for his creation.” The statement declared “God-given dominion” is a “sacred responsibility” that rejects “depletion” and “destruction” of creation. Instead, “our uses of the Earth must be designed to conserve and renew the Earth.”
True, this hasn’t been an issue on the front burner, but that’s changing. As evangelical environmentalist Calvin DeWitt said, “There's been about three decades of a creation theology and a creation-care theology that is really coming into its fruition.” He added, “The biblical theology comes from re-examining texts that are very well known but haven't been applied in recent years. These include things like the expectation that people will serve the garden and keep it [Genesis 2:15].”
So, learn how to be good stewards of this earth God has entrusted to us. It’s part of our life’s calling!
Note: Drop by the weblog on Earth Day next Tuesday for some links to articles and websites that can help you be a better steward of creation!
___________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 900 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Except that we don’t.
Upon receiving the Global Environment Citizen Award from Harvard Medical School in 2004, Bill Moyers claimed that James Watt expressed this view to the U.S. Congress. Watt was President Reagan's first Secretary of the Interior and a conservative Christian.
Moyers later apologized for passing along this falsehood, but it’s just a recent incarnation of a persistent myth that can be traced back to 1967 when Lynn White, Jr. wrote an article in Science magazine called "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis." In it, he argued that Christians have to shoulder the blame for environmental problems because our theology is hostile toward the natural order.
Hooey.
As Austin celebrates Earth Day 2008 this weekend, it’s a good time for believers to emphasize “creation care,” as we call it. Oh, evangelicals will differ with certain environmental groups that deify the environment or elevate other species above human beings who are made in the image of God. We even differ with each other on the contentious issue of climate change. But, as Charles Colson urged the press, don’t miss the bigger story: “Evangelicals of all stripes agree that caring for the environment is our Christian duty. And articulating this care is an important part of a Christian worldview.”
I love how the 2007 “Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility” puts it: “Just as we show our love for the Savior by reaching out to the lost, we believe that we show our love for the Creator by caring for his creation.” The statement declared “God-given dominion” is a “sacred responsibility” that rejects “depletion” and “destruction” of creation. Instead, “our uses of the Earth must be designed to conserve and renew the Earth.”
True, this hasn’t been an issue on the front burner, but that’s changing. As evangelical environmentalist Calvin DeWitt said, “There's been about three decades of a creation theology and a creation-care theology that is really coming into its fruition.” He added, “The biblical theology comes from re-examining texts that are very well known but haven't been applied in recent years. These include things like the expectation that people will serve the garden and keep it [Genesis 2:15].”
So, learn how to be good stewards of this earth God has entrusted to us. It’s part of our life’s calling!
Note: Drop by the weblog on Earth Day next Tuesday for some links to articles and websites that can help you be a better steward of creation!
___________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 900 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Links to Your World, Tuesday April 15
10 Red Flags of an Emotional Affair
Eileen Flynn’s take on the recent Transforming Culture Symposium in Austin. *Sigh* I planned to go but got too far behind in church work to get away.
“Grant High School's class of '82 were raised on 'The Brady Bunch'—while their own families were falling apart. These are their stories—in their words.” Read “The Divorce Generation Grows Up,” this week’s Newsweek cover story. Albert Mohler has a post on the article here.
High School Seniors Get 'F' in Finance
Way Cool: I just read that the Q Conference will be in Austin in 2009. (HT: Chris Marlow)
Seven career lessons you can learn from “The Office” (seriously).
Doug Grouthius has something to say about Oprah’s New Age gospel.
What are America’s favorite books? The Bible tops the list, but it’s interesting to see what made the remaining 9 spots. (HT: World on the Web)
Do some spiritual spring cleaning with a “Soul Sweep.”
Muslims are leaving Islam “in droves.”
Some Advice for Expectant Parents Thinking About Baby Names: “We have a winner in the Worst Bad Name Contest. It wasn’t easy picking a winner from more than 1,000 entries. Besides Charman Toilette, an early favorite of the judges, there was Chastity Beltz, Wrigley Fields, Justin Credible, Tiny Bimbo, and a girl whose father was an auto mechanic but somehow didn’t realize he was effectively giving her the name of a tire: Michele Lynn. There were girls named Chaos and Tutu, and boys named Clever, Cowboy, Crash, Felony, Furious and Zero. There was Unnamed Jones (pronounced you-NAH-med). There was Brook Traut and his daughter, Rainbow. There were more names involving genitalia than the judges cared to count. (Memo to parents: Carefully consider your surname before naming a boy Harry or Richard.)” A name worse than any of these? Click here to find the winner of the Worst Bad Name Contest.
Check out Forgotten Voices, designed to “demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ by equipping local churches in southern Africa to meet the physical & spiritual needs of AIDS orphans in their communities. We are focused on locally developed, locally run orphan care to protect the voices of pastors, community leaders, and the children they serve.”
In “Hope in the Movies,” read one reviewer’s take on “how the films of 2007 showed the error of hopelessness and the source of all hope.” If you haven’t seen the films, the article gives away the plot on all the films reviewed. But there’s some good insight into the real message of films like Sweeney Todd, Juno, No Country for Old Men, Into the Wild, and Lars and the Real Girl (among a few others).
"Hey! I can see my church from here!" “I live in a place called middleurbia. Middleurbia is ten miles north of urban Austin, ten miles south of suburban Austin. My middleurban neighborhood is a mix of young, hip professionals and octogenarians who settled the once-dairy farm back in the 1950s. Pecan groves shade our homes. A public park and a swimming pool hold us together in the center. Two miles to the northwest, plans are being laid for a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a hulking 192,000-square-foot mothership. Two miles to the northeast, the city is installing a shiny new train station and surrounding it with apartments, commercial stores, and a spot of green. I can walk 12 minutes south to a coffee shop, three minutes west to a small Baptist church, 17 minutes north to a mini-mart, barber shop, deli, and acting studio. This is my middleurbian neighborhood.” (Hope Chapel’s David Taylor in Books and Culture’s “The Good City”)
Wow, this woman’s got fears! (And I bet you can identify)
Because "to be a rock and not to roll" is a bummer (HT: The Thinklings):
Eileen Flynn’s take on the recent Transforming Culture Symposium in Austin. *Sigh* I planned to go but got too far behind in church work to get away.
“Grant High School's class of '82 were raised on 'The Brady Bunch'—while their own families were falling apart. These are their stories—in their words.” Read “The Divorce Generation Grows Up,” this week’s Newsweek cover story. Albert Mohler has a post on the article here.
High School Seniors Get 'F' in Finance
Way Cool: I just read that the Q Conference will be in Austin in 2009. (HT: Chris Marlow)
Seven career lessons you can learn from “The Office” (seriously).
Doug Grouthius has something to say about Oprah’s New Age gospel.
What are America’s favorite books? The Bible tops the list, but it’s interesting to see what made the remaining 9 spots. (HT: World on the Web)
Do some spiritual spring cleaning with a “Soul Sweep.”
Muslims are leaving Islam “in droves.”
Some Advice for Expectant Parents Thinking About Baby Names: “We have a winner in the Worst Bad Name Contest. It wasn’t easy picking a winner from more than 1,000 entries. Besides Charman Toilette, an early favorite of the judges, there was Chastity Beltz, Wrigley Fields, Justin Credible, Tiny Bimbo, and a girl whose father was an auto mechanic but somehow didn’t realize he was effectively giving her the name of a tire: Michele Lynn. There were girls named Chaos and Tutu, and boys named Clever, Cowboy, Crash, Felony, Furious and Zero. There was Unnamed Jones (pronounced you-NAH-med). There was Brook Traut and his daughter, Rainbow. There were more names involving genitalia than the judges cared to count. (Memo to parents: Carefully consider your surname before naming a boy Harry or Richard.)” A name worse than any of these? Click here to find the winner of the Worst Bad Name Contest.
Check out Forgotten Voices, designed to “demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ by equipping local churches in southern Africa to meet the physical & spiritual needs of AIDS orphans in their communities. We are focused on locally developed, locally run orphan care to protect the voices of pastors, community leaders, and the children they serve.”
In “Hope in the Movies,” read one reviewer’s take on “how the films of 2007 showed the error of hopelessness and the source of all hope.” If you haven’t seen the films, the article gives away the plot on all the films reviewed. But there’s some good insight into the real message of films like Sweeney Todd, Juno, No Country for Old Men, Into the Wild, and Lars and the Real Girl (among a few others).
"Hey! I can see my church from here!" “I live in a place called middleurbia. Middleurbia is ten miles north of urban Austin, ten miles south of suburban Austin. My middleurban neighborhood is a mix of young, hip professionals and octogenarians who settled the once-dairy farm back in the 1950s. Pecan groves shade our homes. A public park and a swimming pool hold us together in the center. Two miles to the northwest, plans are being laid for a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a hulking 192,000-square-foot mothership. Two miles to the northeast, the city is installing a shiny new train station and surrounding it with apartments, commercial stores, and a spot of green. I can walk 12 minutes south to a coffee shop, three minutes west to a small Baptist church, 17 minutes north to a mini-mart, barber shop, deli, and acting studio. This is my middleurbian neighborhood.” (Hope Chapel’s David Taylor in Books and Culture’s “The Good City”)
Wow, this woman’s got fears! (And I bet you can identify)
Because "to be a rock and not to roll" is a bummer (HT: The Thinklings):
Monday, April 14, 2008
Changes to the Song of the Week Feature
You'll notice that the audio player for the "Song of the Week" is no longer at the upper right corner of the blog. Instead, there's a spot called "Weekly Features." You can now play the Song of the Week within the post that discusses it. This will allow me to keep the song in the blog for longer than one week. To listen, click on the little arrow that will appear next to the song, or just click directly on the hyperlink for the song.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Song of the Week: Eric Clapton's "Running on Faith"
I was reading about the spiritual dimension to the ups and downs of Eric Clapton's life in Christianity Today's article "Eric Clapton, In the Presence of the Lord," and I decided to post an old Clapton song to GetAnchored. From his project, Unplugged, the best thing MTV ever did, listen to "Running on Faith" (yes, I know it's not a reference to his religious faith; I just like the song).
Eric Clapton's "Running on Faith"
Lately I’ve been running on faith
What else can a poor boy do?
But my world will be right
When love comes over you
Lately I’ve been talking in my sleep
I can’t imagine what I’d have to say
Except my world will be right
When love comes back your way
I’ve always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I’d find a love who cares just for me
Then we’d go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Chorus
Then we’d go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
When love comes over you
Thursday, April 10, 2008
LeaderLines: “The IPI Principle”
It’s amazing what happens when you set your expectations high!
A man named Norm Whan used to teach pastors to use the telephone to launch new churches. He contended that 20,000 phone calls would yield 2,000 people who would express interest in getting more information on a new church start, and a mailing list of 2,000 would yield 200 people at the first service. It worked over and over again.
Think of that. Two hundred people who had never met each other became a congregation in a single day. How did the church planter make that happen?
It happened because of the high expectations placed on the folks coming in. The two thousand people who had expressed interest in getting more information about the new church would receive a mailing every week for three weeks and then, one week before the new start, all two thousand would be called and reminded about the start date. Now, here’s the interesting part: If anyone said, “I’ll be there,” the church planter would then say, “Great! Say, we need some help setting up chairs an hour before. Can you make it?” Or he would say, “Listen, we’re asking 20 people to bring a plate of cookies so we can have a fellowship after the service. Can you bring a plate?”
Even before they had come to the first service, they were being put to work! The question of whether they were Christians had not even been raised, let alone the question of whether they planned to join the church. But scores of people would gladly sign up to work for a church they hadn’t even attended — flattered to be asked for help.
Now, what can a long-established church like Hillcrest learn from these new church starts?
Too often we don’t ask newcomers to do much of anything in our churches. Oh, we mean well. We think, “It’s not polite to ask guests to do anything.” But think about what that really means. What we’re unintentionally saying is, “You’re not one of us yet.”
Instead, we need to put people to work as soon as they’re willing. I call this “The IPI Principle” — Involve People Immediately.
Obviously, positions involving leadership and teaching should be tied to membership, but a lot of church work falls outside these roles. As soon as we sense that someone feels “at home” at Hillcrest, invite them to join you in your work! Give them a stack of bulletins and ask them to help you serve as a greeter . . . invite them to come help you paint the classroom . . . ask them if they have the time to help you volunteer in the church office. IPI — Involve People Immediately.
This principle extends even to those who haven’t made a profession of faith! Throughout my ministry I’ve had a lot of “near-believers” attend church because they liked what they were experiencing, and I’ve put them to work as soon as I could (in appropriate places of service). A lot of these folks eventually become believers.
There’s a saying that’s spreading in church work: “Belonging precedes believing.” This doesn’t mean letting people become members before they become believers, but it does point out how important it is to make people feel “at home” at Hillcrest. And there’s nothing that makes a person feel like he belongs like asking him to contribute to the work of the group!
I hope you’ll look for ways to Involve People Immediately at Hillcrest! Treat them like they belong — and they will!
Thanks for your leadership-partnership with me!
__________________________________
Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
A man named Norm Whan used to teach pastors to use the telephone to launch new churches. He contended that 20,000 phone calls would yield 2,000 people who would express interest in getting more information on a new church start, and a mailing list of 2,000 would yield 200 people at the first service. It worked over and over again.
Think of that. Two hundred people who had never met each other became a congregation in a single day. How did the church planter make that happen?
It happened because of the high expectations placed on the folks coming in. The two thousand people who had expressed interest in getting more information about the new church would receive a mailing every week for three weeks and then, one week before the new start, all two thousand would be called and reminded about the start date. Now, here’s the interesting part: If anyone said, “I’ll be there,” the church planter would then say, “Great! Say, we need some help setting up chairs an hour before. Can you make it?” Or he would say, “Listen, we’re asking 20 people to bring a plate of cookies so we can have a fellowship after the service. Can you bring a plate?”
Even before they had come to the first service, they were being put to work! The question of whether they were Christians had not even been raised, let alone the question of whether they planned to join the church. But scores of people would gladly sign up to work for a church they hadn’t even attended — flattered to be asked for help.
Now, what can a long-established church like Hillcrest learn from these new church starts?
Too often we don’t ask newcomers to do much of anything in our churches. Oh, we mean well. We think, “It’s not polite to ask guests to do anything.” But think about what that really means. What we’re unintentionally saying is, “You’re not one of us yet.”
Instead, we need to put people to work as soon as they’re willing. I call this “The IPI Principle” — Involve People Immediately.
Obviously, positions involving leadership and teaching should be tied to membership, but a lot of church work falls outside these roles. As soon as we sense that someone feels “at home” at Hillcrest, invite them to join you in your work! Give them a stack of bulletins and ask them to help you serve as a greeter . . . invite them to come help you paint the classroom . . . ask them if they have the time to help you volunteer in the church office. IPI — Involve People Immediately.
This principle extends even to those who haven’t made a profession of faith! Throughout my ministry I’ve had a lot of “near-believers” attend church because they liked what they were experiencing, and I’ve put them to work as soon as I could (in appropriate places of service). A lot of these folks eventually become believers.
There’s a saying that’s spreading in church work: “Belonging precedes believing.” This doesn’t mean letting people become members before they become believers, but it does point out how important it is to make people feel “at home” at Hillcrest. And there’s nothing that makes a person feel like he belongs like asking him to contribute to the work of the group!
I hope you’ll look for ways to Involve People Immediately at Hillcrest! Treat them like they belong — and they will!
Thanks for your leadership-partnership with me!
__________________________________
Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Advice from the Dying
You need to know about Randy Pausch if you haven't already. He's a computer sciences professor at Carnegie Mellon University who prepared a "life lecture" that more than 10 million people have tuned into.
Dr. Pausch is my age (47), and dying of pancreatic cancer, a disease that kills 95 percent of its victims, usually within months of diagnosis.
The NY Times describes the lecture as "a whimsical and poignant talk about Captain Kirk, zero gravity and achieving childhood dreams. . . . The lecture was not about cancer. Instead, he says, it was simply a father’s effort to digest a lifetime of advice for his children into one talk — a talk that Dr. Pausch knew he would not be around long enough to deliver in person. The children are Dylan, 6; Logan, 4; and Chloe, almost 2."
“I’m speaking only to them,” he told the Times. “I didn’t set out to tell the world about how to live life."
But that's exactly what the lecture has turned into. As I said, more than 10 million have already listened to the 70-minute talk, and it's been translated into seven languages. A book is being prepared on the dying man's advice for a happy and fulfilling life.
You can listen to the lecture here and think about what you would say if given his circumstances and chances.
Dr. Pausch is my age (47), and dying of pancreatic cancer, a disease that kills 95 percent of its victims, usually within months of diagnosis.
The NY Times describes the lecture as "a whimsical and poignant talk about Captain Kirk, zero gravity and achieving childhood dreams. . . . The lecture was not about cancer. Instead, he says, it was simply a father’s effort to digest a lifetime of advice for his children into one talk — a talk that Dr. Pausch knew he would not be around long enough to deliver in person. The children are Dylan, 6; Logan, 4; and Chloe, almost 2."
“I’m speaking only to them,” he told the Times. “I didn’t set out to tell the world about how to live life."
But that's exactly what the lecture has turned into. As I said, more than 10 million have already listened to the 70-minute talk, and it's been translated into seven languages. A book is being prepared on the dying man's advice for a happy and fulfilling life.
You can listen to the lecture here and think about what you would say if given his circumstances and chances.
Winning Ways: “What Are Your Bible’s Most Important Fifteen Pages?”
If you could only give someone 15 pages from your Bible, which would you choose?
Gordon MacDonald raised that question a recent article. He spoke of a visit to China 25 years ago shortly after it had opened its doors to American travelers:
Let’s see: I'd probably tear out the Parable of the Prodigal Son for her, or the pages where the Sermon on the Mount is found (Matthew 5-7). Romans 8 is a beautiful chapter. I'd definitely include the story of the cross and the resurrection from one of the Gospels. And I would think she could benefit from 1 Corinthians 15 about the hope of our own resurrection.
What about you? If you were faced with MacDonald’s opportunity and had just minutes to decide, what pages from your Bible would you give someone?
Here’s a suggestion: share this newsletter column with someone and come up with a quick list. It would make a great conversation starter for your Bible study class or PraiseHill gathering, or just for a handful of people over a lunch table.
Maybe the exchange would make us all appreciate the free access we have to our Bible. Maybe the exchange would renew our commitment to reading it!
See you and your Bible this Sunday, 9:30am or 10:45am!
_______________________________________
Note: If you're a regular reader to this blog, you've already seen this comment from Gordon MacDonald. I adapted it this week for my weekly e-newsletter. Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 880 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Gordon MacDonald raised that question a recent article. He spoke of a visit to China 25 years ago shortly after it had opened its doors to American travelers:
My travel partner and I met a Christian woman who had not seen a copy of the Scriptures for two decades. When she spoke to us of the Scriptures, her recollection of certain stories was faulty or distorted. What could you expect from someone who hadn't seen a Bible for that many years?Then MacDonald added, “By the way, if you could only give someone 15 pages of your Bible, what sections would you choose?”
Since all Bibles in the possession of travelers entering China at that time had to be registered at the border, and since we did not sense a calling to be Bible smugglers, my traveling companion and I could not pass on the Bibles that each of us had with us. But, on the other hand, it occurred to us that we could tear out certain pages from our Bibles and offer them to her. At least we were brave enough to feel certain that Chinese officials would not check our Bibles closely enough to see if every page was there.
Let’s see: I'd probably tear out the Parable of the Prodigal Son for her, or the pages where the Sermon on the Mount is found (Matthew 5-7). Romans 8 is a beautiful chapter. I'd definitely include the story of the cross and the resurrection from one of the Gospels. And I would think she could benefit from 1 Corinthians 15 about the hope of our own resurrection.
What about you? If you were faced with MacDonald’s opportunity and had just minutes to decide, what pages from your Bible would you give someone?
Here’s a suggestion: share this newsletter column with someone and come up with a quick list. It would make a great conversation starter for your Bible study class or PraiseHill gathering, or just for a handful of people over a lunch table.
Maybe the exchange would make us all appreciate the free access we have to our Bible. Maybe the exchange would renew our commitment to reading it!
See you and your Bible this Sunday, 9:30am or 10:45am!
_______________________________________
Note: If you're a regular reader to this blog, you've already seen this comment from Gordon MacDonald. I adapted it this week for my weekly e-newsletter. Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 880 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Links to Your World, Tuesday April 8
Small group members decide to stop feigning interest in each other.
So Say We All: Joe Carter explains why Battlestar Galactica is the best show on television. I agree, though it took some convincing that a show based on the cheesy Seventies predecessor could be so good.
Baptist Immigration Services of Brownwood started taking appointments last week, and organizers are hoping to help solve the problems of many immigrants who cannot afford the cost of an immigration attorney. (story)
Slate posted an article on the growing practice of using abortion for sex selection in the United States. Feminists have argued that access to abortion is a feminist cause, so it’s ironic that it’s mostly female babies that are terminated in sex-selection procedures.
It looks like a gene has been found for ruthlessness. So can we please stop discriminating against tyrants and trying to change them now that we’ve found they are attracted to this behavior simply because it’s the way God made them?
According to this report, having a husband creates an extra seven hours a week of housework for women. (HT: The Evangelical Outpost)
Four Baylor alums are on Major League Baseball teams this year, including Jason Jennings and David Murphy of the Texas Rangers. (story) Now if this year’s team can pick up more wins . . .
Despite what you hear and read about evangelical realignment at the voting booth, Frank Newport, USA Today’s “Gallup Guru,” says there is little evidence that the traditional pattern of religious voting is fragmenting.
So Say We All: Joe Carter explains why Battlestar Galactica is the best show on television. I agree, though it took some convincing that a show based on the cheesy Seventies predecessor could be so good.
Baptist Immigration Services of Brownwood started taking appointments last week, and organizers are hoping to help solve the problems of many immigrants who cannot afford the cost of an immigration attorney. (story)
Slate posted an article on the growing practice of using abortion for sex selection in the United States. Feminists have argued that access to abortion is a feminist cause, so it’s ironic that it’s mostly female babies that are terminated in sex-selection procedures.
It looks like a gene has been found for ruthlessness. So can we please stop discriminating against tyrants and trying to change them now that we’ve found they are attracted to this behavior simply because it’s the way God made them?
According to this report, having a husband creates an extra seven hours a week of housework for women. (HT: The Evangelical Outpost)
Four Baylor alums are on Major League Baseball teams this year, including Jason Jennings and David Murphy of the Texas Rangers. (story) Now if this year’s team can pick up more wins . . .
Despite what you hear and read about evangelical realignment at the voting booth, Frank Newport, USA Today’s “Gallup Guru,” says there is little evidence that the traditional pattern of religious voting is fragmenting.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Song of the Week: Bob Dylan's "When He Returns"
Listen to Bob Dylan singing "When He Returns" from his 1979 album, Slow Train Coming:
The entire album was written from the perspective of his conversion to Christ (which I mentioned in an earlier post). It was electrifying, and controversial. He received a Grammy for the project. Catherine Kanner, the cover art designer for Slow Train Coming, recalls, "He [Dylan] described the image he wanted: He wanted a train and a pick axe with a symbol of the cross. I was Jewish and he was, so it was a little weird, but how often do you get an opportunity like that?"
The iron hand it ain't no match
For the iron rod
The strongest wall
Will crumble and fall
To a mighty God
For all those who have eyes
And all those who have ears
It is only He
Who can reduce me to tears
Don't you cry
And don't you die
And don't you burn
Like a thief in the night,
He'll replace wrong with right
When he returns.
Truth is an arrow
And the gate is narrow
That is passes through
He unreleased His power
At an unknown hour
That no one knew
How long can I listen to
The lies of prejudice?
How long can I stay drunk on fear
Out in the wilderness?
Can I cast it aside,
All this loyalty and this pride?
Will I ever learn
That there'll be no peace,
That the war won't cease
Until He returns?
Surrender your crown
On this blood-stained ground,
Take off your mask
He sees your deeds,
He knows your needs
Even before you ask
How long can you falsily and deny
What is real?
How long can you hate yourself
For the weakness you conceal?
Of every earthly plan
That be known to man,
He is unconcerned
He's got plans of his own
To set up His throne
When He returns.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Into the Wild
Just saw Sean Penn's directorial debut, Into the Wild. Oh man.
So what are you waiting for?
"Happiness is only real when shared."Astonishing. And, no, I know none of those lines make sense unless you've seen it.
"To call each thing by its right name . . . by its right name."
So what are you waiting for?
Thursday, April 03, 2008
LeaderLines: “Status Update on our Facility Update”
The neighborhoods immediately around our church facility have the highest home values in northwest Austin. We need to keep that in mind as we think about our church buildings.
The most recent edition of the Community Impact for Northwest Austin ran a story on real estate in our neck of the woods. You can find it online here. Be sure to take a look at the illustrations that accompany the report:
According to the piece, Austin is the tenth hottest buyer’s market in the U.S. for 2008. And our part of Austin has some of the highest values. Across the last five years, home values in the 78759 ZIP code have increased over 21 percent, standing at about $350K on average.
We need to make sure that the look of our church’s home matches the look of our community’s homes. To accomplish this, it’s time to do some updating and upgrading. Our facility matched its neighborhood when it was first built in the early 70s, and we need to do what it takes to match the improved value of the neighborhood today.
That’s the third phase of a renovation project I believe God led me here to accomplish. I believe God called me here to lead the renovation of our heart, our program, and our space.
I’ve been speaking and writing about this for the last 5 years. The word “renovation” comes from the Latin word renovare, which means “to make new again.”
The renovation of our heart means that we need to renew how we think. Across the last 5 years, we’ve recommitted to fulfilling God’s mission across the street as well as supporting God’s mission across the sea.
The renovation of our program means that we need to renew what we do. Missionaries in a foreign place try to connect with the culture of the people they’re called to reach, and we have to do the same thing in the mission field God has called us to reach. Trying to think as missionaries to Austin has resulted in changes to our schedule and our worship services and to the way I try to communicate the gospel each Sunday. Theology never changes but methodology has to.
The renovation of our space means that we need to renew how we look. Across the last several years, our focus has been on the first two renovations. Now we’re ready to make some updating and upgrading to our facilities. I have a 15-member “First Impressions Team” meeting with me to suggest improvements to our campus. We hope to have a report to the church in June.
As a partner in leadership at our church, please be in prayer as our church family moves into this important third phase of Hillcrest renewal!
___________________
I’ve written about the need to improve our facilities before: here, here, and here. Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
The most recent edition of the Community Impact for Northwest Austin ran a story on real estate in our neck of the woods. You can find it online here. Be sure to take a look at the illustrations that accompany the report:
According to the piece, Austin is the tenth hottest buyer’s market in the U.S. for 2008. And our part of Austin has some of the highest values. Across the last five years, home values in the 78759 ZIP code have increased over 21 percent, standing at about $350K on average.
We need to make sure that the look of our church’s home matches the look of our community’s homes. To accomplish this, it’s time to do some updating and upgrading. Our facility matched its neighborhood when it was first built in the early 70s, and we need to do what it takes to match the improved value of the neighborhood today.
That’s the third phase of a renovation project I believe God led me here to accomplish. I believe God called me here to lead the renovation of our heart, our program, and our space.
I’ve been speaking and writing about this for the last 5 years. The word “renovation” comes from the Latin word renovare, which means “to make new again.”
The renovation of our heart means that we need to renew how we think. Across the last 5 years, we’ve recommitted to fulfilling God’s mission across the street as well as supporting God’s mission across the sea.
The renovation of our program means that we need to renew what we do. Missionaries in a foreign place try to connect with the culture of the people they’re called to reach, and we have to do the same thing in the mission field God has called us to reach. Trying to think as missionaries to Austin has resulted in changes to our schedule and our worship services and to the way I try to communicate the gospel each Sunday. Theology never changes but methodology has to.
The renovation of our space means that we need to renew how we look. Across the last several years, our focus has been on the first two renovations. Now we’re ready to make some updating and upgrading to our facilities. I have a 15-member “First Impressions Team” meeting with me to suggest improvements to our campus. We hope to have a report to the church in June.
As a partner in leadership at our church, please be in prayer as our church family moves into this important third phase of Hillcrest renewal!
___________________
I’ve written about the need to improve our facilities before: here, here, and here. Each Thursday I post my article from "LeaderLines," an e-newsletter for church leaders read by over 300 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "LeaderLines," sign up here.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Winning Ways: “Just Walk Across the Room”
Ten thousand steps.
On average, you walk ten thousand steps each day of your life. That’s about 115,000 miles in a lifetime, which adds up to over 4 trips around the globe!
What if just ten of those steps could impact someone’s eternity?
That’s how Pastor Bill Hybels opens his book, Just Walk Across the Room. Ten steps will get you about 20 feet, the average distance across most rooms. And getting across a room may get you into a conversation with someone that could change her or his eternity.
Starting this Sunday evening in the Parlor, I’m going to lead a 4-week study on how to do that. We’ll look at some video teaching from Hybels and then learn how to apply the lessons to life. You won’t need to buy a book or do homework, but our time together will spark a new conviction in you that we need to build relationships with folks in our world. Helping someone cross the line of faith often starts with us crossing a room in faith!
This study dovetails well with the I.N.V.I.T.E. Strategy we promote in our church:
“Order my steps!” cried the Old Testament poet (Psalm 119:133 KJV). Are you using wisely the ten thousand steps you’re walking today? Join us for this study and discover the life-changing impact of just walking across a room! We meet the next four Sunday evenings in the Parlor at 5:30pm.
Also, this Sunday morning we conclude our series entitled The Final Four. It’s a study through Matthew 11 where we’re learning how to beat the obstacles to real faith. This week, we’ll see what Jesus says about trusting him instead of our own self-salvation project. Bring a friend and join us at 9:30am or 10:45am!
_____________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 880 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
On average, you walk ten thousand steps each day of your life. That’s about 115,000 miles in a lifetime, which adds up to over 4 trips around the globe!
What if just ten of those steps could impact someone’s eternity?
That’s how Pastor Bill Hybels opens his book, Just Walk Across the Room. Ten steps will get you about 20 feet, the average distance across most rooms. And getting across a room may get you into a conversation with someone that could change her or his eternity.
Starting this Sunday evening in the Parlor, I’m going to lead a 4-week study on how to do that. We’ll look at some video teaching from Hybels and then learn how to apply the lessons to life. You won’t need to buy a book or do homework, but our time together will spark a new conviction in you that we need to build relationships with folks in our world. Helping someone cross the line of faith often starts with us crossing a room in faith!
This study dovetails well with the I.N.V.I.T.E. Strategy we promote in our church:
I: IDENTIFY your THEMsYou can listen to my sermon about the I.N.V.I.T.E. Strategy at the “Sermons” page of our website.
N: NURTURE a real relationship with THEM
V: VERIFY the spiritual condition of your THEMs
I: INTRODUCE THEM to your church family
T: TELL THEM your story
E: ENCOURAGE THEM to cross the line of faith
“Order my steps!” cried the Old Testament poet (Psalm 119:133 KJV). Are you using wisely the ten thousand steps you’re walking today? Join us for this study and discover the life-changing impact of just walking across a room! We meet the next four Sunday evenings in the Parlor at 5:30pm.
Also, this Sunday morning we conclude our series entitled The Final Four. It’s a study through Matthew 11 where we’re learning how to beat the obstacles to real faith. This week, we’ll see what Jesus says about trusting him instead of our own self-salvation project. Bring a friend and join us at 9:30am or 10:45am!_____________________________
Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to over 880 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Links to Your World, Tuesday April 1
For your April Fool’s Day:
No Joke: The Economist is reporting on a 3 million Euro grant to a collaborative scientific effort to explain “the biological reasons why so many people believe in God, gods and religion in general.” This article is already generating buzz, and maybe I’ll have time to post on it later this week.
Why Evangelize the Jews? Especially in our church’s neighborhood, we need to remember that God's chosen people need Jesus as much as we do.
Paying attention to your kids’ faith contributes to their happiness and well-being, according to this USA Today report.
“Students open to a conversation about Christianity, even on a campus with an ultrasecular reputation? Such is the state of affairs at the nation's colleges and universities, where religion is experiencing something of a renaissance, although not necessarily in the shapes and forms older generations are used to seeing.” (from a USA Today opinion column)
If your adolescents skip breakfast, they’ll pack on the pounds.
“Fredell began to understand she was in 'a culture that says sex is totally O.K.' When a new boyfriend came to her, expressing desire, she managed to 'stick to my guns,' she said, but there were 'uncouth and socially inept' men, as she considered them, all around, and observing the rituals of her new classmates, Fredell couldn’t help being alarmed. 'The hookup culture is so absolutely all-encompassing,' she said. 'It’s shocking! It’s everywhere!’” (Students of Virginity, a NY Times piece about Harvard students who choose abstinence)
You talk to yourself when under stress.
Yum: Cat Litter Cake is both clumpy AND delicious.
Get free music and lead sheets from the new release, Everybody Worship: Your Majesty is Everywhere, We Are Amazed, Thankful for Your Love, At Your Mercy Seat, and Hallelujah for the Cross.
“Whether you are a Mac person or a PC person, even the briefest exposure to the Apple logo may make you behave more creatively, according to recent research from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and the University of Waterloo, Canada....” (“Apple Logo Can Help You ‘Think Different’”; HT: The Evangelical Outpost)
‘Living together’ before marriage is a statistical risk.
Oprah’s New Age Gospel.
Have you read the previous posts since last Tuesday? They include the “Song of the Week“ (this week, Julie Miller's "All My Tears"), a beautiful reading of part of the Massai Christian Creed, the Baylor scandal of jeans half-off, and the conclusion of my LeaderLines series called "unChristian Christianity."
Step aboard the Ship of Fools, where you’ll learn that the current chance of Rapture is 74.4%, among other snarky things. Their caption contests are always fun to visit.
Top 10 April Fool’s Pranks for Nerds
10 Best April Fools Gags
No Joke: The Economist is reporting on a 3 million Euro grant to a collaborative scientific effort to explain “the biological reasons why so many people believe in God, gods and religion in general.” This article is already generating buzz, and maybe I’ll have time to post on it later this week.
Why Evangelize the Jews? Especially in our church’s neighborhood, we need to remember that God's chosen people need Jesus as much as we do.
Paying attention to your kids’ faith contributes to their happiness and well-being, according to this USA Today report.
“Students open to a conversation about Christianity, even on a campus with an ultrasecular reputation? Such is the state of affairs at the nation's colleges and universities, where religion is experiencing something of a renaissance, although not necessarily in the shapes and forms older generations are used to seeing.” (from a USA Today opinion column)
If your adolescents skip breakfast, they’ll pack on the pounds.
“Fredell began to understand she was in 'a culture that says sex is totally O.K.' When a new boyfriend came to her, expressing desire, she managed to 'stick to my guns,' she said, but there were 'uncouth and socially inept' men, as she considered them, all around, and observing the rituals of her new classmates, Fredell couldn’t help being alarmed. 'The hookup culture is so absolutely all-encompassing,' she said. 'It’s shocking! It’s everywhere!’” (Students of Virginity, a NY Times piece about Harvard students who choose abstinence)
You talk to yourself when under stress.
Yum: Cat Litter Cake is both clumpy AND delicious.
Get free music and lead sheets from the new release, Everybody Worship: Your Majesty is Everywhere, We Are Amazed, Thankful for Your Love, At Your Mercy Seat, and Hallelujah for the Cross.
“Whether you are a Mac person or a PC person, even the briefest exposure to the Apple logo may make you behave more creatively, according to recent research from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and the University of Waterloo, Canada....” (“Apple Logo Can Help You ‘Think Different’”; HT: The Evangelical Outpost)
‘Living together’ before marriage is a statistical risk.
Oprah’s New Age Gospel.
Have you read the previous posts since last Tuesday? They include the “Song of the Week“ (this week, Julie Miller's "All My Tears"), a beautiful reading of part of the Massai Christian Creed, the Baylor scandal of jeans half-off, and the conclusion of my LeaderLines series called "unChristian Christianity."
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