QUIET TIME IS WORSHIP
Do you experience quiet times of devotion outside of Sunday morning worship? If so, based off of the descriptions below, can you identify which type of quiet time you are currently experiencing? Avoid shallowness of faith; respond to the Holy Spirit - be drawn into deep worship of Jesus. May the below descriptions of quiet times, paraphrased from Drawing Close To God (InterVarsity Press) encourage you into more worship. 1] OCCASIONAL QUIET TIME is not disciplined. It’s like picking up the Bible whenever you feel the need and reading wherever it falls open. Prayer tends to be haphazard and task-oriented. We ...
THE BIBLE & INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
This morning, my daily devotional took me into a passage in The Book of Philemon. The scripture brought to mind relationships, specifically, how we deal with others. The study took me to a few other passages. Below, you will find a few questions, along with those passages, that lead us to consider our interpersonal skills. I found it helpful, maybe you will too. When someone’s name comes to mind, or when you run into someone, what comes to mind? Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and ...
Be Like Gump – Swim Recklessly
SCRIPTURE: Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer ...
Jesus Prayed
The prayer below is called The Shema. It is an ancient prayer recited by Jews and consists of, what many consider at the least, a very basic affirmation of faith. Jesus, as a Jew, would have undoubtedly recited this prayer alongside his contemporaries. The Shema consisted of three parts: Dt 6:4–9 (‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only God …’), Dt 11:13–21 (‘So then, obey all the commands I have given you today …’) and lastly Nm 15:37–41 (‘The Lord commanded Moses …’). PRAY WITH ME Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One. Blessed be the name ...
Pure Worship
Picture: Elijah worshipping PURE WORSHIP After 400+ yrs of Hebrew enslavement in Egypt, a nation dedicated to the self-declared man-god, Pharaoh, an inspired Hebrew named Moses authored a book dedicated to explaining the life of worship; Deuteronomy. This ancient book goes into great detail explaining how the recently freed peoples, whom God had chosen to declare His wonders, should live their days. There is no doubting the message the one true God was conveying; “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do.” (Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV) God wanted true worship unto Himself ...
The Wisdom-Filled Life of Worship
THE WISDOM-FILLED LIFE OF WORSHIP After Paul encouraged the church at ancient Ephesus to walk in the light of their new lives available through the work of Jesus, he went on to encourage them to "be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1. After giving a list of what God-imitators don't do (unmarried sex, dirty mindedness, crude joking, etc.), Paul went on to point out the wisdom-filled life of worship. The points he made then are still applicable to Christians today. BEING CHRIST-LIKE Ephesians 5 goes on to say that God worshippers are full of wisdom. Christians know better than to become ...
BOOK REVIEW – How To Read The Bible
Book: How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart. Zondervan, 2003. INTRODUCTION Gordon Fee, professor of New Testament at Regent College, and Douglas Stuart, professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell, have tried hard to not write “just another book” on the issue of hermeneutics (a method of interpreting scripture for personal or corporate application) and exegesis (the principles of studying scripture to arrive at its original meaning). This newly revised book (my pastor Doug Clark used it in seminary over 25 years ago) is meant to help all audiences grasp the intended meaning of ...
Among The World’s Most Hopeless & Destitute
Social Justice Opened Doors "They're not trained for leadership and they're not business savvy, but they've got tender hearts that have made them available to serve the impoverished souls of Sierra Leone, West Africa." Danny Loeffelholz, University Blvd Campus Pastor, Grace Community Church. According to the Human Development Index, Sierra Leone is the third lowest ranked country when assessing the life expectancy, education, and gross domestic product of it citizens. The Human Poverty Index measures its people as the seventh poorest among the nations of the world. Couple those factors with prolific corruption following a decade long civil war that decimated ...
World Religions & Imperialism
This post is for all my nerd friends who would like to see 1) the effects of the expansion of various religions and 2) the effects of conquest and military expansion. The following two presentations will create a ton of questions and answer very little; they'll make you think though. Can't see video one? Click here. Can't see video two? Click here.
State of American Christianity – We’re Really Destitute
Many of us American Christians are comfortable in our middle class bubble while inside our spirits are in decay. We attend endless Bible studies and church services and fellowships with other believers while missing a key part of what our Christianity was meant to be. We must go love others not in the church & share the Gospel. We must go get mud on our hands and heal the eyes of those blinded to the love of God with the message of the Cross of Jesus (John 9:11). These lyrics from an old song really drive home the point. Read on. Another ...
QUIET TIME IS WORSHIP
Do you experience quiet times of devotion outside of Sunday morning worship? If so, based off of the descriptions below, can you identify which type of quiet time you are currently experiencing? Avoid shallowness of faith; respond to the Holy Spirit – be drawn into deep worship of Jesus. May the below descriptions of quiet times, paraphrased from Drawing Close To God (InterVarsity Press) encourage... [Read more]
THE BIBLE & INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
This morning, my daily devotional took me into a passage in The Book of Philemon. The scripture brought to mind relationships, specifically, how we deal with others. The study took me to a few other passages. Below, you will find a few questions, along with those passages, that lead us to consider our interpersonal skills. I found it helpful, maybe you will too. When someone’s name comes to mind,... [Read more]
Be Like Gump – Swim Recklessly
SCRIPTURE: Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom... [Read more]
Jesus Prayed
The prayer below is called The Shema. It is an ancient prayer recited by Jews and consists of, what many consider at the least, a very basic affirmation of faith. Jesus, as a Jew, would have undoubtedly recited this prayer alongside his contemporaries. The Shema consisted of three parts: Dt 6:4–9 (‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only God …’), Dt 11:13–21 (‘So then, obey all... [Read more]
Pure Worship
Picture: Elijah worshipping PURE WORSHIP After 400+ yrs of Hebrew enslavement in Egypt, a nation dedicated to the self-declared man-god, Pharaoh, an inspired Hebrew named Moses authored a book dedicated to explaining the life of worship; Deuteronomy. This ancient book goes into great detail explaining how the recently freed peoples, whom God had chosen to declare His wonders, should live their... [Read more]
The Wisdom-Filled Life of Worship
THE WISDOM-FILLED LIFE OF WORSHIP After Paul encouraged the church at ancient Ephesus to walk in the light of their new lives available through the work of Jesus, he went on to encourage them to “be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1. After giving a list of what God-imitators don’t do (unmarried sex, dirty mindedness, crude joking, etc.), Paul went on to point... [Read more]
BOOK REVIEW – How To Read The Bible
Book: How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart. Zondervan, 2003. INTRODUCTION Gordon Fee, professor of New Testament at Regent College, and Douglas Stuart, professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell, have tried hard to not write “just another book” on the issue of hermeneutics (a method of interpreting scripture for personal or corporate application) and... [Read more]
Among The World’s Most Hopeless & Destitute
Social Justice Opened Doors “They’re not trained for leadership and they’re not business savvy, but they’ve got tender hearts that have made them available to serve the impoverished souls of Sierra Leone, West Africa.” Danny Loeffelholz, University Blvd Campus Pastor, Grace Community Church. According to the Human Development Index, Sierra Leone is the third lowest ranked... [Read more]
World Religions & Imperialism
This post is for all my nerd friends who would like to see 1) the effects of the expansion of various religions and 2) the effects of conquest and military expansion. The following two presentations will create a ton of questions and answer very little; they’ll make you think though. Can’t see video one? Click here. Can’t see video two? Click here. SHARETHIS.addEntry({... [Read more]
Need A Ministry Website On A Tight Budget?
As a communications director for a large 4 campus church, I am always looking for ways to streamline work processes while serving the senior pastor’s goals. Recently, I came across a tool called Square Space. http://www.squarespace.com/tour/ What I love about Square Space is the ability to cheap “build” a high quality website that can also be customized; all of it done online. No... [Read more]
State of American Christianity – We’re Really Destitute
Many of us American Christians are comfortable in our middle class bubble while inside our spirits are in decay. We attend endless Bible studies and church services and fellowships with other believers while missing a key part of what our Christianity was meant to be. We must go love others not in the church & share the Gospel. We must go get mud on our hands and heal the eyes of those blinded... [Read more]
How Many Texas Churches Have Burned Down?
WE’RE GETTING THE MESSAGE “Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. They said to themselves, We... [Read more]
What Hope Do Christians Have For The Local Church?
The beginning of the new year witnessed a streak of church arson that culminated with the Body of Christ in East Texas gathering together for corporate prayer at Bergfeld Park in Tyler, Texas at 1pm on January 24th, 2010. Below you will find a few highlights from the prayer rally that should both bless you and inspire you to unity of hope & purpose. HIGHLIGHTS Toward the end of the service,... [Read more]
DIG A GOOD DEVO? TRY FAITHBOOK OF JESUS
Are you feeling wrong? Foul? Do you struggle with the same old junk everyday and can’t seem to dig your way out? Got a habitual favorite sin you’ve been nursing but want to dump? You know that maybe prayer and Bible reading are just what the Dr. ordered but you either fall asleep or it doesn’t make any sense? Well, you’re not alone. You and I know that daily spending time... [Read more]
Hope & Faith During Troubled Times
As seen in the picture above, the devastation in Haiti seems nearly incalculable. While watching the almost endless news coverage of the Haitian earthquake, I caught a stunning moment on live television that shocked even Anderson Cooper, a seasoned reporter. In the midst of overbearing human suffering and unrelenting emotional pain, Haitians spontaneously gathered together to march in unison while... [Read more]
In addition to being a friend of God, I'm also a problem solver & general ministry partner @Grace_Community Church where I serve as the Director of Communications. Some also think I have ninja design skillz! I'm also learning & being mentored at Fuller Theological Seminary. If you are familiar with the DISC Assessment, I'm a lion, adaptive persuading conductor (11), and core implementing conductor (10). Grrrr!
