On the blogs for 3/28/2010

A manual on prayer (looks to be a good resource)

Gospel Obedience

Hunter's "To Change the World" (another section summary)

Approved (great reminder, especially if you are feeling a little down today)

Bookmark for Reading

To Change Churches (interesting)

Good Summary on Free Will

Free Chapter from Mark Driscoll's Book on Doctrine

What to say in Worship

Enjoy reading this afternoon and evening...

Word and Deed

This was a good article on the relationship between words and deeds in the missional mindset. Enjoy.

Word and Deed

On the blogs for 3/26/2010

10 Things Children Need that Money Can't Buy (good reminder to me as a parent b/c life gets too busy)

Wrestling with an Angel (get your tissues out--awesome!)

The Electronic App world & the Bible at Church (interesting)

What has Nashville to do with Jerusalem (interesting)

Roommates in College (this will blow your mind)

Another post about Hunter's "To Change the World"

What to say in Worship (good ideas)

Saving Faith (this was good)

Questions about the church (some good thoughts here)

On the blogs for 3/25/2010

10 Signs a Leader is Losing it (these are good signs for us all to look out for)

God is Simple (this was good)

A Preacher and His God (I needed this reminder)

Another Summer from Hunter's "To Change the World"

Real Ministry (this is a great reminder to us)

Emergent Church (excellent short critique)

On the blogs for 3/24/2010

An accountability partner's job

Culture Change (interesting conversation)

Christless Christianity (this was though-provoking)

Should I tell my child he was conceived in a rape? (wow, what a question!)

Mindful Eating (interesting)

We can't sing? (this was good)

Afternoon blogs 3/23/2010

Husbands Interceding for their wives

Preaching (guys, listen up and repent--yes, me too)

Creating an Experience (this was thought-provoking, take the good, leave the bad)

The Yellow Prison Bus (if you have a weak heart, don't read this--he pulls no punches)

On the blogs for 3/23/2010

Prosperity Theology - this hits the nail on the head

Don't be afraid by Russell Moore (this is a great reminder)

I thought this was interesting (still simplifying)

More to come later...

Edification

Edification (well, that's part of the post, but the first part is probably more enlightening, at least in the bigger picture of things)

Single Most Significant Event in Human History

We are just days away from celebrating the most significant event in all of human history. Obviously, it is the death & resurrection of Jesus. There is no event that compares to its significance and importance as it relates to the plight of fallen humanity in a fallen world. The significance of the cross of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection cannot be overstated. As I read last week, we cannot overemphasize the gospel or the implications of the gospel as we journey through this world.

In fact, the significance of this historical event prompted the Apostle Paul inspired by the Spirit to write in several places regarding this significance.

1 Corinthians 2:2 – “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”

Galatians 6:14 – “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world”

1 Corinthians 15:12-20a – Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…

With all the traditions that surround this time of year, where will our focus be? On what will we give the attention of our heart? What will be the gaze of our spiritual eyes? Dads, how will we lead our families in celebrating this most holy and sacred event? How will we as parents instruct the next generation with regard to the truth about Easter? What will they remember most—our emphasis on the beauty of the cross and the power of the resurrection or on something less important?

All of these are significant questions for us to contemplate because of the magnitude of the event we are celebrating.

Let us encourage one another in the days ahead to turn our eyes upon Jesus so that the things of this earth will grow strangely dim as we gaze upon the wonderful cross of our Savior and Lord and His glorious resurrection!

On the blogs for 3/22/2010

Here are a couple of good reads this morning. Enjoy!

Revival in Maine (very encouraging to see what God is doing)

Moralism (I'm guilty of this and even preaching this, time to repent)

A couple of more good reads...

Avoiding Distractions for major projects (I need to implement this--three times a week for sermon/bible study prep)

FAITH, the new TULIP? (interesting, no matter which side you are on)

On the blogs for 3/19/2010

Here are some good reads for today. Enjoy.

One more thing not to say to those who are suffering (good reminder)

Leading a congregation in praying (this was really good)

The next three are on "multi-tasking". I thought they were helpful, especially for those of us who pride ourselves in being able to do several things at once. Yes, I am very guilty of this.

The mental price of multi-tasking

Working Smarter

What's at stake in multi-tasking?

For those who are interested in writing, this will be helpful, especially for book reviews.

How to stop letting advertising control our lives (this was extremely insightful & encouraging)

King James Only? (interesting)

The Gathered Worship Experience

The following article was written for our church's weekly newsletter:

One of the most, if not the most important truth to establish in the life of the church is the reality of the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all of life.

Colossians 1:15-18 says: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Our primary responsibility is to hold up Jesus Christ in all his glory and majesty and power and love and grace and mercy and authority and preeminence as we focus our attention upon his triumphant work on the cross of Calvary in our place and for our sins. Then, to celebrate the power of his resurrection as the “living hope” that sustains us in the midst of the trials and struggles we face in this life as we seek to fulfill our role in the Great Commission in the city of Thomasville and beyond to the ends of the earth.

One of the primary venues where we seek to hold up Jesus in this manner as a church body is during our Sunday morning gatherings (i.e., worship service). We gather as one body under one Lord. In that gathering, we desire to express our love and adoration for Jesus in a variety of ways—singing, giving, praying, preaching, etc. Our desire is to create an atmosphere and cultivate a corporate worship experience as the gathered church where all those present are encouraged to express their love for Jesus in Jesus-exalting and Jesus-honoring ways.

We desire for all those present to engage in the worship experience in a meaningful and significant manner. For some, that means a more meditative approach; for others, it means something more celebratory. This is a matter of preference; for, both are encouraged and demonstrated in scripture. Consider the Psalms—both meditative and celebratory Psalms are present in scripture. In both expressions, Jesus is exalted and magnified.

Preferences, then, become a matter of loving and serving my brother or sister in Christ giving up my preference for the sake of my brother or sister in such a way that we can mutually encourage one another in our expressions of love for Jesus even if my preference is not the same as someone else’s. This is an opportunity to present a unified body of Christ to a watching world whom Jesus has called us to love and serve.

May we unify under Jesus as Lord of all and Head over the church.

On the blogs for 3/18/2010

Here are some good reads for today. Enjoy.

Attractional AND missional

Virtual vs. Reality (this is absolutely nuts! God save me from my computer)

Tithing (haven't read the whole thing yet, but should be an interesting discussion starter)

How to become missional (interesting)

Success (dads, we need to read this--and then repent)

Intimacy with God (good reminder for our personal devotions)

God is God, the church is the church (thought this was good)

On the blogs for 3/17/2010

Some reading from today:

What do you think? (a good reminder for me)

Pastor as equipper instead of professional (may I serve this way)

Doctrine (thought this was good)

Music in the Church (this was excellent)

The Dechurched, part 1 (interesting)

Leadership is Tough, part 3

A couple of more good reads for today...

Counterfeit Gospels (these are good descriptions)

Union with Christ (deep, but great)

Enjoy!

On the blogs for 3/15/2010

Today's reading and from the weekend:

Leadership is tough, part 2 (another good reminder for me)

Paying Attention (good stuff)

What is the gospel meant to be?

Stunting Worship

Crucifying the American Dream (not for the faint of heart)

Movements need clarity

Becoming a Worshiper of God

Truthless love, Loveless truth (great quote)

Good stuff, more to come later. I might even write something on my own (ha, ha!)

On the blogs for 3/13/2010

Some good reads from yesterday:

You Can't Play around w/ Sin

Fuel, Fire, Furnace, and Heat of Worship (this is good stuff)

Parenting for the Glory of God (this was good counsel)

Community (discipleship w/ one another)

Leadership? (this was interesting)

The GCR in the SBC (good reminder from Nathan Finn)

Idols on Sunday Morning (these would be worth our time to read)

Starbucks and the Church

Emphasize the Gospel, emphatically...

More to come later...

On the blogs for 3/11/2010

Some excellent thought-provoking articles: (some will make you mad, some will make you sad, and some will make you cheer)...Enjoy....

Leadership is tough

Gendercide (this will blow your mind--especially if you have a daughter--you might even get a little righteously indignant)

Swagger Jackers (cool words--I needed this today)

Great Commission Resurgence (good reminder)

I don't want my children to be happy (very interesting article--parents, listen up)

Sin

This article about sin was excellent--so much for our excuses.

Church Decline

This was a good news report...may we take heed.

On the blogs for 3/10/2010

A few readings this morning:

Jesus and leadership (good reminder to all those who lead)

Driscoll on Ministry Idolatry (good stuff)

Biblical Manhood with CJ Mahaney

"TigerTxt" (are you serious--I'm with the author--throw up!)

Enjoy!

On the blogs for 3/9/2010

 Here are some things I've read this morning:

Who is God calling us to reach? (thought this was interesting for my generation of preachers)

The Country Parson by Tim Keller (good reminder & encouragement, again)

Helpful thoughts for Pastoral Assistants

What questions are you asking your prospective pastor?

On Discipleship (this was a thoughtful post)

Pastor's Worst Day (this was encouraging to me)

Decisions or Disciples? (good article)

God bless you as you read today.

Passion

I went to a new coffee shop this morning. In conversing with the sales associate behind the counter, she made the statement, "coffee is my passion."

It got me thinking. What is the passion of our heart and life? The "passion" of Jesus was to do the will of His Father. The will of His Father was to go to a cross and die in the place of sinners to appease the wrath that we deserve. Luke tells us that Jesus "steadfastly set his face" toward Jerusalem. He knew what awaited him there, he knew what pain & suffering he would experience there...yet, it was still his passion...to do the will of the Father..."for the joy set before Him, he endured the cross despising the shame and has now sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high."

What is our passion...are we passionate about the will of the Father?

What is that thing that holds sway over our heart's desires? What is that thing that drives us & motivates us?

Maybe a better question this morning is not "what", but "who" holds sway over our heart's desires?

"In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song..."

God bless you today as you serve Jesus, the supreme & ultimate treasure...

On the blogs for 3/6/2010

Here are some good reads for the weekend: (I warn you, some are very challenging today)

Are you a fundamentalist? (in the bad sense)

Are SBC leaders in denial about the health of our convention?

Particular Redemption (even if you don't believe this, it is interesting)

Getting out of a spiritual funk (thought these were good encouragement)

Don't Waste Your Pulpit (great reminder)

Leadership and Solitude (something I need to listen to)

Protecting Your Pastor (if you are a lay person reading this, please read carefully)

How to smoke out a Calvinist Pastor (this was very interesting and telling)

Enjoy!

This is ridiculous

The Holy Ghost Hokey Pokey??????? What????????!!!!!!!!