Some of us from New Season went on Saturday to the Hylton Memorial Chapel to take in the Indescribable Tour featuring Chris Tomlin with Matt Redman and Louie Giglio.
I have to say that it was a great experience though I had to sit next to this guy who was off key the whole night and throwing me off. I think his name was Steve and he leads some band for one of those off the wall churches. You know the kind I am talking about.
What was so great about the evening? It was great to see so many Christ followers excited about their God and Savior and their faith. Their was a great energy in the room and the Holy Spirit was moving through the music in powerful ways. Both Christ Tomlin and Matt Redman were great worship leaders. And it was worship! That is what was also so great about it. It was a worshipful atmosphere. It wasn't "hey look at me I am Mr. Christian Rock Star Man." Instead the music was interspersed with prayer, scripture and a whole sense of "this is not about us." That made the music event that much more wonderful.
They did have the words to the song projected which was really great and the background images were phenomenal. We at New Season use moving backgrounds but these guys not only used moving backgrounds but the moving backgrounds switched in the midst of a song instead of just having one background per song.
Beside the guy who couldn't sing next to me there were a couple of other downers. While the Hylton Memorial Chapel is pretty great the lack of restrooms and water fountains was noticeable. Also, the seating was such that it was level so for a vertically challenged person like me it was hard to see the song lyrics if someone's oversized melon was in your way. All that was minor stuff. I would have liked to have seen more Matt Redman but it was after all a Chris Tomlin WITH Matt Redman concert.
Overall, a great experience. Great worship! Great concert! Very glad I went!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Grace
Some of you may have heard Grace's story. At nineteen months old, Grace Oughton was diagnosed with a rapidly progressing cancer called Neuroblastoma. Grace’s rare form of cancer requires her to travel to a specialty center where she is currently undergoing chemotherapy and other aggressive treatments at Children’s Hospital – Boston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jimmy Fund Clinic.
A group of friends and family members established the Grace Oughton Cancer Foundation to support the family and health care needs of Grace. This foundation is a charity under the umbrella of the National Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization.
Grace is the young daughter of Alec and Crystal Oughton, a loving couple who are dedicated to their community. Alec is a career firefighter and paramedic. Crystal is a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, St Mary’s Hospital in Richmond. Grace also has a 3 year old brother, Landon.
To make a donation to the Grace Oughton Foundation click here. To visit Grace's site and learn more click here.
New Season Church will be holding a Benefit Concert/ Prayer Service for Grace and family on Sunday February 12th at 6:00 p.m. at the Massaponax High School. Admission is free and a special love offering to benefit the Grace Oughton Foundation will be received. Please spread the word.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
What Women Wish Men Knew About Women
Here is the podcast for the first message in the series "Making Love Last a Life Time".
To listen now, click on the podcast icon below.
What Women Wish Men Knew About Women (Length 19:14)
Message
Women in a survey were asked what they needed to feel loved by their husbands. They responded with answers that can be grouped into the four A's. Affection, Attentiveness, Active involvement in the Home, and Appreciation. When husbands carry out the four A's that help women feel loved they put deposits into the accounts of their wife's love banks.
Series
This message is from the series "Making Love Last a Lifetime." The series is based on a series first done by the Rev. Adam Hamilton at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. The series examines issues that help to strengthen marriages and relationships.
To listen now, click on the podcast icon below.
What Women Wish Men Knew About Women (Length 19:14)
Message
Women in a survey were asked what they needed to feel loved by their husbands. They responded with answers that can be grouped into the four A's. Affection, Attentiveness, Active involvement in the Home, and Appreciation. When husbands carry out the four A's that help women feel loved they put deposits into the accounts of their wife's love banks.
Series
This message is from the series "Making Love Last a Lifetime." The series is based on a series first done by the Rev. Adam Hamilton at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. The series examines issues that help to strengthen marriages and relationships.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Raising Ebenezer
Gary Parret, associate professor of educational ministries and worship at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, has an article over at Christianity Today bemoaning the changing of hymns for the sake of making them understandable for the vast majority of church goers. Read the article here. Parret adds an interesting voice to the debate and forces those of us who do "update" language in hymns to give an account.
Using the hymn "Come Thou Fount" as an example Parret writes, "I seize every opportunity to publicly lament modern revisions of that beloved hymn, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," written by Robert Robinson in 1758. The revisions all seem to agree on deleting "Ebenezer" from the hymn's second verse, which begins, "Here I raise mine Ebenezer." Some of the "improvements" offered through the years include: "Hitherto thy love has blest me," "Here by grace your love has brought me," and "Here I raise to thee an altar."
Parret makes three points about changing the wording of hymns.
1. He protests first on artistic grounds. The hymn writer knew what he/she wanted to write who are we to change it.
2. Second, the revisions are, at best, inconsistent attempts to be culturally relevant. He suggests that the revisions are done haphazardly and inconsistently.
3. Third, he protests on biblical grounds. By changing a word like "ebenezer" we are robbing people of biblical literacy.
Let me react in turn.
1. As to the protest on artistic grounds I would suggest that the hymn writer's intent was not to once and forever have an indelible hymn. I would think the hymn writer's intent was to help people experience God. If that means changing a word or two to make in more understandable for persons and thus help them to be transformed by the grace of God I think they could probably give a rat's you know what. We will have to ask them in the "sweet bye and bye" (notice I didn't change the words of that wonderful hymn)- translation- we will have to ask them in heaven.
2. As to inconsistency I do not think an argument that generalizes like this has much power. Has a study been done that shows churches that change words have done so inconsistently?
3. Professor Parret's third protest is kind of funny. I am sorry. But I am willing to bet in the churches that have sung "Come Thou Fount" over the last twenty years and among the parishioners that have sung the hymn, that I can count with all nine of my toes the number that know what in the world ebenezer means (even among people who have been in the church all their life). I am sure they ran home and got their concordance. Now I think an argument can be made that the worship leader might explain what it means for persons and therefore bring more meaning out of the hymn. I must confess that I went to seminary for three years, took two Old Testament courses and until a couple of years ago had no idea what was meant by "I raise my ebenezer." Then again, I didn't go to Gordon-Conwell.
Using the hymn "Come Thou Fount" as an example Parret writes, "I seize every opportunity to publicly lament modern revisions of that beloved hymn, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," written by Robert Robinson in 1758. The revisions all seem to agree on deleting "Ebenezer" from the hymn's second verse, which begins, "Here I raise mine Ebenezer." Some of the "improvements" offered through the years include: "Hitherto thy love has blest me," "Here by grace your love has brought me," and "Here I raise to thee an altar."
Parret makes three points about changing the wording of hymns.
1. He protests first on artistic grounds. The hymn writer knew what he/she wanted to write who are we to change it.
2. Second, the revisions are, at best, inconsistent attempts to be culturally relevant. He suggests that the revisions are done haphazardly and inconsistently.
3. Third, he protests on biblical grounds. By changing a word like "ebenezer" we are robbing people of biblical literacy.
Let me react in turn.
1. As to the protest on artistic grounds I would suggest that the hymn writer's intent was not to once and forever have an indelible hymn. I would think the hymn writer's intent was to help people experience God. If that means changing a word or two to make in more understandable for persons and thus help them to be transformed by the grace of God I think they could probably give a rat's you know what. We will have to ask them in the "sweet bye and bye" (notice I didn't change the words of that wonderful hymn)- translation- we will have to ask them in heaven.
2. As to inconsistency I do not think an argument that generalizes like this has much power. Has a study been done that shows churches that change words have done so inconsistently?
3. Professor Parret's third protest is kind of funny. I am sorry. But I am willing to bet in the churches that have sung "Come Thou Fount" over the last twenty years and among the parishioners that have sung the hymn, that I can count with all nine of my toes the number that know what in the world ebenezer means (even among people who have been in the church all their life). I am sure they ran home and got their concordance. Now I think an argument can be made that the worship leader might explain what it means for persons and therefore bring more meaning out of the hymn. I must confess that I went to seminary for three years, took two Old Testament courses and until a couple of years ago had no idea what was meant by "I raise my ebenezer." Then again, I didn't go to Gordon-Conwell.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Prayer of Confession
I like to teach the ACTS method for ordering prayer.
A- Adoration
C- Confession
T- Thanksgiving
S- Supplication
In order to keep my prayer life fresh I use different methods to offer my adoration of God or to confess my own, our church, and our communities sins. I came across this prayer of confession from Preaching Now. I found it in there email newsletter.
to subscribe go here.
From the words of a Puritan prayer:
I am deeply convinced of the evil and misery of a sinful state,of the vanity of creatures, but also of the sufficiency of Christ.
When thou wouldst guide me I control myself,
When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself.
When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself.
When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself,
When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will,
When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;
I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself,
Instead of thee I look to man's approbation,and am by nature an idolater.
Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee.
Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy,nor my own Christ to restore my joy,nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, and rule me . . . Then take me to the cross and leave me there. (from The Valley of Vision)
A- Adoration
C- Confession
T- Thanksgiving
S- Supplication
In order to keep my prayer life fresh I use different methods to offer my adoration of God or to confess my own, our church, and our communities sins. I came across this prayer of confession from Preaching Now. I found it in there email newsletter.
to subscribe go here.
From the words of a Puritan prayer:
I am deeply convinced of the evil and misery of a sinful state,of the vanity of creatures, but also of the sufficiency of Christ.
When thou wouldst guide me I control myself,
When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself.
When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself.
When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself,
When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will,
When I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself;
I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself,
Instead of thee I look to man's approbation,and am by nature an idolater.
Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee.
Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy,nor my own Christ to restore my joy,nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, and rule me . . . Then take me to the cross and leave me there. (from The Valley of Vision)
UnLearning Church
I just got through with Mike Slaughter's book UnLearning Church and it was as to be expected being from Mike Slaughter just great. Mike is the "Chief Dreamer" from Ginghamsburg church in Tipp City, Ohio. I recommend the book. Here are some quotes I thought were especially good.
"Peter did the impossible because he responded to the voice of Jesus instead of listening to the storms and the fears of others. Peter did not begin to experience problems until he began to pay attention to the raging water through his physical eyes." p. 25
"My wife and best friend, Carolyn, often reminds me that if God could speak through Balaam's ass (see Numbers 22:28-35), God can also speak through me." p. 27
"Christianity is anything but nice. It is extreme. There are no middles. Everywhere these people went, either revolutions or riots occurred. It was radical." p. 75
"Don't spend your life on something so small that you accomplish it out of your "can do"- and that you do it without God." p. 132
"Does your image or identity come from what you have? from what you do? or from Christ who you follow?" p. 189
"Peter did the impossible because he responded to the voice of Jesus instead of listening to the storms and the fears of others. Peter did not begin to experience problems until he began to pay attention to the raging water through his physical eyes." p. 25
"My wife and best friend, Carolyn, often reminds me that if God could speak through Balaam's ass (see Numbers 22:28-35), God can also speak through me." p. 27
"Christianity is anything but nice. It is extreme. There are no middles. Everywhere these people went, either revolutions or riots occurred. It was radical." p. 75
"Don't spend your life on something so small that you accomplish it out of your "can do"- and that you do it without God." p. 132
"Does your image or identity come from what you have? from what you do? or from Christ who you follow?" p. 189
Friday, January 06, 2006
Book of Daniel Controversy
Perhaps you have heard some rumblings about the new NBC sitcom Book of Daniel. Here is an article from our buddies at newsmax.com about the controversy. I must admit that seeing some of the preview caused me to raise an eyebrow. The show apparently will center on an Episcopalian priest who struggles with a little self-medication problem, and has a 23-year-old son who's gay, and a 16-year-old daughter who's caught dealing pot, and another son who's jumping on every high school girl he sees, and a wife who's very loving but also likes her martinis. Jesus makes occasional appearances to talk with Priest Daniel and usually flippantly dismisses the sin dramatized in the good priest's life and the life of his family.
Of course the AFA and others are up in arms. I have received a few emails from people about writing to NBC. There was a time when I too would be up in arms. But not anymore. I take the "plunder the Egyptians" track now. Lets use this putrid Hollywood show to start a dialogue with people about how Jesus would respond to such issues as those faced by Priest Daniel. Whether we like it or not, the Jesus portrayed in this show will be the view of Jesus that many people have. It will be the only one they get. Are we so inadequate as the church that we have to worry about a show that will more than likely be cancelled after one season? Are we as a church that impotent? Does the church have a responsibility to be spreading the Gospel instead of opposing t.v. shows? I am speaking of the church universal here.
It's kind of like the wonderful embrace of the Narnia movie by most Christians. It is said "oh we must take advantage of the popularity of the Narnia movie to bring people to Christ." Really? Do we really think that unbelievers are going to go see the Narnia movie and make the connection between a talking lion and Christ and all of the other wonderfully woven images and metaphors of the master C.S. Lewis and all of a sudden want to know more about Christ. Just like the Passion of the Christ was supposed to mark the revival of the church. Erhnt- survey says- wrong answer. I am with Dan Kimball on this and think that we have a better opportunity to reach unbelievers through the release in May of the Davinchi Code movie.
In the end we as the church must spend more time plundering the Egyptians instead of whining about the Egyptians!
Of course the AFA and others are up in arms. I have received a few emails from people about writing to NBC. There was a time when I too would be up in arms. But not anymore. I take the "plunder the Egyptians" track now. Lets use this putrid Hollywood show to start a dialogue with people about how Jesus would respond to such issues as those faced by Priest Daniel. Whether we like it or not, the Jesus portrayed in this show will be the view of Jesus that many people have. It will be the only one they get. Are we so inadequate as the church that we have to worry about a show that will more than likely be cancelled after one season? Are we as a church that impotent? Does the church have a responsibility to be spreading the Gospel instead of opposing t.v. shows? I am speaking of the church universal here.
It's kind of like the wonderful embrace of the Narnia movie by most Christians. It is said "oh we must take advantage of the popularity of the Narnia movie to bring people to Christ." Really? Do we really think that unbelievers are going to go see the Narnia movie and make the connection between a talking lion and Christ and all of the other wonderfully woven images and metaphors of the master C.S. Lewis and all of a sudden want to know more about Christ. Just like the Passion of the Christ was supposed to mark the revival of the church. Erhnt- survey says- wrong answer. I am with Dan Kimball on this and think that we have a better opportunity to reach unbelievers through the release in May of the Davinchi Code movie.
In the end we as the church must spend more time plundering the Egyptians instead of whining about the Egyptians!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
It Is Still Christmas
Though in most cases the tress have been taken down, the lights put away and the bad gifts returned it is still Christmas.
Christmas officially starts on Christmas Eve and continues for twelve days until January 6th and ends in what is known as Epiphany. Epiphany marks the time when the wisemen came to see the baby Jesus. But for most of us, including Christians, Christmas ended a couple of days after December 25th. Why?
The answer has more to do with economics. As we all know Christmas used to start right after Thanksgiving. Now it starts right after Halloween. In the shopping world it ends a few days after Christmas after all the stores seek to woo you back in with after Christmas discounts.
If you are like me, by the time the real twelve days of Christmas rolls around you are pretty much sick of it all. We took our tree down around the first of the year. There is an old tradition whereby people didn't put there tree up until Christmas Eve and left it up until Epiphany. This might be one action we might take to remember to worship Christ the babe born in Bethlehem instead of Madison Avenue. That is something worth thinking about.
Christmas officially starts on Christmas Eve and continues for twelve days until January 6th and ends in what is known as Epiphany. Epiphany marks the time when the wisemen came to see the baby Jesus. But for most of us, including Christians, Christmas ended a couple of days after December 25th. Why?
The answer has more to do with economics. As we all know Christmas used to start right after Thanksgiving. Now it starts right after Halloween. In the shopping world it ends a few days after Christmas after all the stores seek to woo you back in with after Christmas discounts.
If you are like me, by the time the real twelve days of Christmas rolls around you are pretty much sick of it all. We took our tree down around the first of the year. There is an old tradition whereby people didn't put there tree up until Christmas Eve and left it up until Epiphany. This might be one action we might take to remember to worship Christ the babe born in Bethlehem instead of Madison Avenue. That is something worth thinking about.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Shepherds- No More Same Old, Same Old
Here is the podcast from the second message in the Pardon the Interruption: Life Lessons from the Characters of the Chrhristmas Story series.
To listen now, click on the podcast icon below.
Shepherds- No More Same Old, Same Old (Length 17:56)
Message
Often times Christmas can become the same old, same old with the parties, the gift buying and the family traditions. This is O.K. except when when the same old, same old prevents us from seeing Christ in the season. This message shows that like the shepherds who were divinely interrupted and shook out of their same old, same old we too need to listen for God this Christmas season, do what God says, and worship Christ.
Series
This message is from the series "Pardon the Interruption: Life Lessons from the Characters of the Christmas Story." The characters in the Christmas story experience divine interruptions like the ones represented in the lives of Zechariah, the shepherds, Mary and Jesus. Are we open to God's interruptions in our lives or will it be Christmas as usual? During Christmas and at all times, God stands ready to interrupt our lives and fill them with his love as he did the characters of the Christmas story.
To listen now, click on the podcast icon below.
Shepherds- No More Same Old, Same Old (Length 17:56)
Message
Often times Christmas can become the same old, same old with the parties, the gift buying and the family traditions. This is O.K. except when when the same old, same old prevents us from seeing Christ in the season. This message shows that like the shepherds who were divinely interrupted and shook out of their same old, same old we too need to listen for God this Christmas season, do what God says, and worship Christ.
Series
This message is from the series "Pardon the Interruption: Life Lessons from the Characters of the Christmas Story." The characters in the Christmas story experience divine interruptions like the ones represented in the lives of Zechariah, the shepherds, Mary and Jesus. Are we open to God's interruptions in our lives or will it be Christmas as usual? During Christmas and at all times, God stands ready to interrupt our lives and fill them with his love as he did the characters of the Christmas story.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Fizzit Mama
One of the things I get in my inbox on a regular basis are writings and collections from the sermonfodderguy- Keith Todd. According to his signature "The Sermon Fodder list shares a daily dose of Christian humor and modern-day parables for personal enjoyment. Our material is often used as sermon illustration material by pastors and Sunday School Teachers."
You can check it out more thoroughly by visiting sermonfodder.com. The little vignette below was too good not to share. It is wonderful how a story or illustration like this can say in two minutes what some of us talking heads seek to convey in twenty minutes. I hope you take something away from what is below like I did.
Fizzit Mama
A friend of mine recently shared a little "parable in real life"that God sent her several years ago. When her son was quite small, he had a small stuffed gorilla that he wagged around with him everywhere -- and I do mean EVERYWHERE -- he went. She could sometimes sneak it away for a quick laundering during nap time, but Heaven help her if her son awoke before his friend "Rilla" was out of the dryer! As such '"loveys" will do, Rilla's seams gradually began to weaken and his stuffing began to leak. As she tells it, "Poor old Rilla was in desperate need of some corrective surgery, not to mention a stuffing transplant. One day, John waddled up to me and held up his battered, beloved Rilla and said, 'Mommy, Rilla's broked.' I explained that I would be happy to fix Rilla up -- a little new stuffing, some seam reinforcement, and he would be 'all better' again. John held Rilla out toward me, and said 'Fizzit, Mommy!' But, when I reached down to take the little gorilla in my hands, I found that it had a two-year-old firmly attached to it. As all parents know, a tug-of-war with a two-year-old is frequently a losing proposition, and is ALWAYS accompanied by loud cries and copious tears. Finally, in exasperation, I said, 'I can't fix it until you let go of it!!!' And just at that moment,the Spirit of God tapped me on the shoulder, as it were -- and I realized that God was waiting for me to let go of several things, too.
"This is one aspect of Christianity that I suspect will always be astruggle for many of us-- "tis not I, but Christ liveth in me". It's so hard for us to get out of his way and let him "fizzit" in his own good time, because we're living in the present moment and He is living in eternity. Waiting on the Lord, whether it is for healing, for understanding, or a much needed job, is not an easy task. But, I truly believe it is essential for all of us to be as patient with Him as He is with us.
You can check it out more thoroughly by visiting sermonfodder.com. The little vignette below was too good not to share. It is wonderful how a story or illustration like this can say in two minutes what some of us talking heads seek to convey in twenty minutes. I hope you take something away from what is below like I did.
Fizzit Mama
A friend of mine recently shared a little "parable in real life"that God sent her several years ago. When her son was quite small, he had a small stuffed gorilla that he wagged around with him everywhere -- and I do mean EVERYWHERE -- he went. She could sometimes sneak it away for a quick laundering during nap time, but Heaven help her if her son awoke before his friend "Rilla" was out of the dryer! As such '"loveys" will do, Rilla's seams gradually began to weaken and his stuffing began to leak. As she tells it, "Poor old Rilla was in desperate need of some corrective surgery, not to mention a stuffing transplant. One day, John waddled up to me and held up his battered, beloved Rilla and said, 'Mommy, Rilla's broked.' I explained that I would be happy to fix Rilla up -- a little new stuffing, some seam reinforcement, and he would be 'all better' again. John held Rilla out toward me, and said 'Fizzit, Mommy!' But, when I reached down to take the little gorilla in my hands, I found that it had a two-year-old firmly attached to it. As all parents know, a tug-of-war with a two-year-old is frequently a losing proposition, and is ALWAYS accompanied by loud cries and copious tears. Finally, in exasperation, I said, 'I can't fix it until you let go of it!!!' And just at that moment,the Spirit of God tapped me on the shoulder, as it were -- and I realized that God was waiting for me to let go of several things, too.
"This is one aspect of Christianity that I suspect will always be astruggle for many of us-- "tis not I, but Christ liveth in me". It's so hard for us to get out of his way and let him "fizzit" in his own good time, because we're living in the present moment and He is living in eternity. Waiting on the Lord, whether it is for healing, for understanding, or a much needed job, is not an easy task. But, I truly believe it is essential for all of us to be as patient with Him as He is with us.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Redeeming Technology
Mark Batterson over at evotional.com has shared the seven keys to kicking it up a notch that he presented a at a church planting conference recently. Here they are:
1) Create Culture
2) Cast Vision
3) Redeem Technology
4) Study Culture
5) Do Ministry out of Imagination
6) Be Yourself
7) Enjoy the Journey
I really like number three- redeeming technology. I think redeeming technology is so crucial for the church today. The church is charged with sharing the greatest message ever told- the good news of Jesus Christ. It makes sense that we would avail ourselves of every tool at our disposal to share that good news. This includes technology. Using technology to present the age old message of Jesus crucified, dead and risen is redeeming technology. It is like the cliche goes "the message stays the same, how we present the message changes." If we truly want to make and empower radical followers of Jesus Christ we must do so in a way that will connect with those we are trying to reach. I think Paul did that with the Athenian philosophers in Acts. Leonard Sweet once said something to the effect that in our churches we ask children to come for 45 minutes to an hour of Sunday school and we expect to hold their attention and capture their hearts with the greatest story ever told by using flannel graph characters when these kids know how to navigate the Internet and use interactive Cd-Roms by the time they are five. Hmm?
We always must remember why technology is used in the church. It is not because it is cool, or because the megachurch across the country is using it. We use technology in order to draw people closer to God so that they can experience the love of Christ in their hearts, be changed on the inside and go out to serve Christ. That is what redeeming technology is about.
1) Create Culture
2) Cast Vision
3) Redeem Technology
4) Study Culture
5) Do Ministry out of Imagination
6) Be Yourself
7) Enjoy the Journey
I really like number three- redeeming technology. I think redeeming technology is so crucial for the church today. The church is charged with sharing the greatest message ever told- the good news of Jesus Christ. It makes sense that we would avail ourselves of every tool at our disposal to share that good news. This includes technology. Using technology to present the age old message of Jesus crucified, dead and risen is redeeming technology. It is like the cliche goes "the message stays the same, how we present the message changes." If we truly want to make and empower radical followers of Jesus Christ we must do so in a way that will connect with those we are trying to reach. I think Paul did that with the Athenian philosophers in Acts. Leonard Sweet once said something to the effect that in our churches we ask children to come for 45 minutes to an hour of Sunday school and we expect to hold their attention and capture their hearts with the greatest story ever told by using flannel graph characters when these kids know how to navigate the Internet and use interactive Cd-Roms by the time they are five. Hmm?
We always must remember why technology is used in the church. It is not because it is cool, or because the megachurch across the country is using it. We use technology in order to draw people closer to God so that they can experience the love of Christ in their hearts, be changed on the inside and go out to serve Christ. That is what redeeming technology is about.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Snow Rant
Caution you are about to enter a rant zone.
People- clean off your cars. I mean really!! With the snow this past week in Virginia the "I am to lazy" to clean the snow off my car monster has reared its ugly head. In case you couldn't tell this infuriates me. Clean the snow off your car!! What is so hard about that??
Oh, I know- you are in a rush to get to work. I know you left your brush in the garage right underneath the box of beach stuff you take every summer to the Outer Banks. No, I am sorry, you thought the heat in your car would melt it off before it turned into ice after being on there for three nights in a row of 20 degree temperatures. You thought it would be gone before it flew off the top of your Camry into someone else's windshield.
Unless you drive a tractor trailer, a big van (not an SUV) or are physically unable, there is just no excuse for leaving snow on your car. It's just lazy.
You see there is a theological issue here. If you are leaving snow on your car because you have to get to work earlier, because you are just too lazy to dig out the scraper or you just don't care then you are making yourself the center of the universe. Guess what? The Bible says time and time again it is not about you!! It is about having enough consideration (i.e. love thy neighbor) for other drivers out there doing their best to avoid black ice, other cars careening into them, and snowplows. They don't need snow from someone else's car blowing in their face or huge ice chunks flying off to hit their windshield. Enough.
Peace.
People- clean off your cars. I mean really!! With the snow this past week in Virginia the "I am to lazy" to clean the snow off my car monster has reared its ugly head. In case you couldn't tell this infuriates me. Clean the snow off your car!! What is so hard about that??
Oh, I know- you are in a rush to get to work. I know you left your brush in the garage right underneath the box of beach stuff you take every summer to the Outer Banks. No, I am sorry, you thought the heat in your car would melt it off before it turned into ice after being on there for three nights in a row of 20 degree temperatures. You thought it would be gone before it flew off the top of your Camry into someone else's windshield.
Unless you drive a tractor trailer, a big van (not an SUV) or are physically unable, there is just no excuse for leaving snow on your car. It's just lazy.
You see there is a theological issue here. If you are leaving snow on your car because you have to get to work earlier, because you are just too lazy to dig out the scraper or you just don't care then you are making yourself the center of the universe. Guess what? The Bible says time and time again it is not about you!! It is about having enough consideration (i.e. love thy neighbor) for other drivers out there doing their best to avoid black ice, other cars careening into them, and snowplows. They don't need snow from someone else's car blowing in their face or huge ice chunks flying off to hit their windshield. Enough.
Peace.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Zechariah- Guess What I Am in Charge
Here is the podcast from the first message in the Pardon the Interruption series. To listen now, click on the podcast icon below.
Zechariah- Guess What I Am in Charge (Length 17:38)
Message
This message introduces the theme of the series- how God interrupts our lives to demonstrate his love, power and majesty. This week we looked at how God interrupted the life of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, to show Zechariah who was really in charge and in the midst of doing so demonstrates His love to Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. So too God interrupts our lives and teaches us that he is in control. When we learn that lesson it is a comfort.
Series
This message is from the series "Pardon the Interruption: Life Lessons from the Characters of the Christmas Story." The characters in the Christmas story experience divine interruptions like the ones represented in the lives of Zechariah, the shepherds, Mary and Jesus. Are we open to God's interruptions in our lives or will it be Christmas as usual? During Christmas and at all times, God stands ready to interrupt our lives and fill them with his love as he did the characters of the Christmas story.
Zechariah- Guess What I Am in Charge (Length 17:38)
Message
This message introduces the theme of the series- how God interrupts our lives to demonstrate his love, power and majesty. This week we looked at how God interrupted the life of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, to show Zechariah who was really in charge and in the midst of doing so demonstrates His love to Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. So too God interrupts our lives and teaches us that he is in control. When we learn that lesson it is a comfort.
Series
This message is from the series "Pardon the Interruption: Life Lessons from the Characters of the Christmas Story." The characters in the Christmas story experience divine interruptions like the ones represented in the lives of Zechariah, the shepherds, Mary and Jesus. Are we open to God's interruptions in our lives or will it be Christmas as usual? During Christmas and at all times, God stands ready to interrupt our lives and fill them with his love as he did the characters of the Christmas story.
Christmas Lights
As it gets ready to snow here in Virginia and as we hurtle to Christmas I wanted to share with you this video that has been circulating on the blogosphere. You do well to have high speed for this one (does anyone but us who live in the country and are doomed with no cable/ dsl not have high speed anymore- go to high speed you will never go back!). Turn up your speakers. I thought I was doing well to get up a few lights this year but this is pretty amazing. Click here to see it.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Think and Let Think
It amazes me how much time we waste in the church over matters of opinion and not the core of the Christian faith. What if we spent more time trying to make disciples of Jesus Christ instead of arguing about what color the carpet should be in the worship space, whether to have a Christmas Eve Service and a Christmas Service when Christmas falls on Sunday, whether gay people should be pastors or even members of the church, whether megachurches are the best form for doing church or whether we should have house churches, whether we refer to God as he, she or it. Just imagine if all the energy spent on these types of issues was spent feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and helping persons to have a heart changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Praise God that He still uses us to do great things!! He is an awesome God!!!
I like what John Wesley had to say about controversies like the ones above. Wesley said quoting Augustine, "In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love." This doesn't mean an "accept every thought" type of thinking. Instead, it displays a willingness to be open to ,and to work closely with, those whom differ on such matters as worship and teaching that don't affect the essence of Christian belief. The essence of Christian belief would include such things as doctrines about the Trinity, who Christ was and what he did, the human need for God's grace and more. The non-essentials are things like those listed above.
Wesley was responding in his time, at the earliest stages of the Enlightenment, to the bloodshed caused by the wars of religion. I think we do well to hear these words again ourselves in Christianity. While we are not killing each other on the battlefield over opinions, we continue to wage bloody wars of words (on all sides!) that do advance the cause of Christ while people are perishing. Lord, have mercy.
I like what John Wesley had to say about controversies like the ones above. Wesley said quoting Augustine, "In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love." This doesn't mean an "accept every thought" type of thinking. Instead, it displays a willingness to be open to ,and to work closely with, those whom differ on such matters as worship and teaching that don't affect the essence of Christian belief. The essence of Christian belief would include such things as doctrines about the Trinity, who Christ was and what he did, the human need for God's grace and more. The non-essentials are things like those listed above.
Wesley was responding in his time, at the earliest stages of the Enlightenment, to the bloodshed caused by the wars of religion. I think we do well to hear these words again ourselves in Christianity. While we are not killing each other on the battlefield over opinions, we continue to wage bloody wars of words (on all sides!) that do advance the cause of Christ while people are perishing. Lord, have mercy.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Reaching Up: To Become a More Radical Difference Maker
Here is last week's message.
This is the last message in the series Reach: How Radical Followers of Jesus Make a Difference. This Sunday we begin Pardon the Interruption: Life Lessons from the Characters of the Christmas Story. Enjoy.
If Only...
Well, here it is Black Friday and the hordes of people are frantically living out the consumeristic values of a culture that has lost its way (I know that sounds cynical and anti-capitalist but I am actually a strident defender of capitalism as the imperfect economic system that brings the most good for the most people).
Even before Black Friday though, you may have seen on the news the scenes that played out with the release of the new XBox 360 video gaming device. Persons camped outside stores in order to get the coveted $400 video game system. Persons endured hanging out at the McDonalds in a Wal-Mart and played Uno for hours on hours. And, unfortunately, some shoved and pushed and even robbed others when the eschaton arrived and the games were put on the shelf and sold. Just amazing!
One thing you have to admire here- the passion. As misguided as it is, there is no doubting the strength of the passion among these people. Why isn't there that same passion for Jesus in our world? Why aren't people waiting to get inside to worship Christ? Once people do get inside our places of worship why does it seem more like a mortuary than a glimpse of heaven (at one church I served I used to walk in the worship space with the choir and one day it was so quiet when we walked in I asked "Who died?")?
Is there something to be learned from the makers and marketers of XBox? We in the church have the greatest offering of all time- Jesus Christ- yet we rarely see the passion like with the release of XBox, Tickle Me Elmo or the Cabbage Patch Kids. These people are going to go home and play their XBoxes for hours on hours into the wee hours of the morning. Imagine if people were having a life changing encounter with Christ in our churches where they returned home and spent hours reading the scriptures, praying, and soaking in Jesus.
While I know this passion is out there and on display in different parts of our world, if only it was a worldwide phenomenon. If only this passion (sans the robbing, beating and pillaging) was a common occurrence instead of the exception in Christendom.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
The Perils of the Occupation
This poor guy. He was giving an altar call when all of a sudden shazam he was punched in the face. He continued to preach even after being hit. If there had not been so much blood I would have said they were trying to follow Seth Godin's advice and were being "remarkable". Here is the full story.
Top Ten for Church Planters
Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington D.C., over at evotional.com has listed his 10 Tips for Church Planters. Mark and NCC are the doing some really great things doing multi-site church in theaters. There is a lot of truth in this list and it is a good reminder to those who are planting and their teams.
Also check out their upcoming Buzz Conference in 2006!
Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington D.C., over at evotional.com has listed his 10 Tips for Church Planters. Mark and NCC are the doing some really great things doing multi-site church in theaters. There is a lot of truth in this list and it is a good reminder to those who are planting and their teams.
Also check out their upcoming Buzz Conference in 2006!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Godcasting
What is godcasting. Godcasting is the same as podcasting but is named differently to reflect the content of the material available for download to your mp3 player or other software. Godcasting usually includes messages, devotions, and even worship music. At New Season Church we are still perfecting the art of recording and editing the messages and we have our good weeks and bad weeks. We are currently using Steve Kropp's Hp laptop and a program called Audacity to record. Below are two godcasts from two messages from our latest series "Reach: How Radical Followers of Jesus Make a Difference".
Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up
Reaching in To Radically Help Each Other
For more information about podcasting here is a link to a good description of the steps to take in order to be able to download these messages to your mp3 player or other software from our friends at Ginghmasburg Church. Enjoy.
What is godcasting. Godcasting is the same as podcasting but is named differently to reflect the content of the material available for download to your mp3 player or other software. Godcasting usually includes messages, devotions, and even worship music. At New Season Church we are still perfecting the art of recording and editing the messages and we have our good weeks and bad weeks. We are currently using Steve Kropp's Hp laptop and a program called Audacity to record. Below are two godcasts from two messages from our latest series "Reach: How Radical Followers of Jesus Make a Difference".
Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up
Reaching in To Radically Help Each OtherFor more information about podcasting here is a link to a good description of the steps to take in order to be able to download these messages to your mp3 player or other software from our friends at Ginghmasburg Church. Enjoy.
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