A priest went to give ashes to a middle school student with the words "You are but dust and to dust you shall return"
the student cracked up and said back...
"No way, i don't want any butt dust on my face!"
The last blog post was about family, this one's about ministry. Tonight kicks off a series we are doing in the small group i lead called "Make me a better student". As part of the prep for this i came across an article that really hit the necessity that every follower of Jesus needs to be a student. A person devoted to studying people, studying the mission field around them, and most importantly a student of scripture.
"In following Jesus’ command to love God with “all our mind,” the Christian life is supposed to include regular times of study and learning. The goal of such study is to have what Paul called “the mind of Christ” so that we can live the life of Christ by the power of the Spirit of Christ. ..."For the rest of the article click here.
Apologize for the quiet blog these last few days. Lisa and I are still adjusting to our duet being a trio. Abbie is doing well still getting on a sleep schedule. Some days are harder than others but it pales in comparison to coming home to her after work. This fatherhood thing is beyond words.
How do we think outside the box to bring others to Jesus?
http://tinyurl.com/crzlxu
Came across this post on the Art of Manliness blog. Completely agree that we need young men to see older Christian believers that are not going to deliver platitudes but lead them on mission with Jesus. Anyone interested? We're looking for you.
"Volunteer with your church’s youth group. Lucky is the young man can find a man who is both an older friend and a spiritual mentor."
Man upWith the new Kindle out the question has sparked in my brain how do we use technology in ministry. More specifically what are the latest advances/gadgets that make a difference in the way we communicate, receive, and digest information?
Here are my top 5...
While preparing a talk for our high school ministry on love I thought I'd throw in a glimpse of my past.
Oh how my views on love have changed from then to now. I wonder if the continued understanding of love will continue to grow as more of my life is lived? How greater will it be when I'm 50, 70...
Enjoy the pic of freshman Dave!
One of the things that Abbie has brought to our family is a testing of rhythms that we had taken for granted. I would say that people in general (myself included) are people of habit. Routines offer us a sense of security, an ability to exert control over our lives, and an understanding of predictability. All of these hedge us in give us comfort. Abbie (my 2 week old daughter) had inadvertently taken just about ever rhythm in my life and threw it out the window.
Big rhythms like sleep! Several nights ago Abbie informs us at 4AM that she needs her diaper changed. My wife in a big move says she'll get it and heads out with Abbie to the living room. Several moments later as i'm about to fall back into dream land i hear a noticeably loud farting sound immediately followed by a call from reinforcements. Abbie decided to projectile poo all over my wife and couch. Funny yes at 4AM no. The story gets better. As I arrive in the living room and survey the damage the transformer across the street from our house EXPLODES. Huge boom flash of light and then total darkness, poo drenched i stumble over our dogs to find my flashlight. Our sleep rhythms are in shambles.
Even little rhythms like listening to my ipod on the way into work have been upset because i haven't had the mind to download the latest podcasts to listen to on my commute. Even my ability to pray, and read scripture has been turned on it's head. Mornings have been vital times for me in the last 15 years to inwardly digest scripture and seek the lord for guidance. Now mornings are like a marathon and met with much frustration. (my quiet times have been moved to the afternoons. Friends vigilantly defend these times for from them great strength is derived)
What I'm getting at is that so often we put or faith in routines and schedules when they should be placed in Christ. Abbie all 6lbs of her points me to Jesus by throwing a wrench in all that i thought i had a handle on. Assuring me once again that it is by faith only that salvation comes.
Romans 9:31-33
31but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33as it is written,
"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
Interesting little article on the communal effects of evangelism over at The Resurgence.
"My friend gets to see us hang out, laugh and cry, forgive and serve. He sees the gospel in action and he hears the gospel as we apply it to one another. Evangelism is going on all the time..."
How do we do evangelism in the context of our life groups? Are they a place that "joyful pagans" want to be?
So here's my weekend.
