My heart has been broken for a certain people group in this area. 20 somethings.
What are we doing to help them find the God that loves them? I fear they seek, don't recognize anyone seeking with them, and then simply give up the search.
That should not be.
What does a 30 something do to bring the light of Jesus to a generation that is not mine?
My prayer is this: God, send Your light to these people and use me if you want.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Now what?
We are in the New Chapel building. I think we all love it.
The building is a work of art in so many ways. In fact, I am amazed at the way God draws people to Himself - with the building. It is a simple structure, but God is using it to point to Himself. Amazing!
So what happens next? How do we do the same? How can I draw people toward my God? Is that what it means to be the temple of God? The LIVING temple of God?
For we are works of the Artist as well. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. What is it about our character, because we all must admit that we are flawed in one way or another, that points to Christ?
I am on the journey toward this discovery.
The building is a work of art in so many ways. In fact, I am amazed at the way God draws people to Himself - with the building. It is a simple structure, but God is using it to point to Himself. Amazing!
So what happens next? How do we do the same? How can I draw people toward my God? Is that what it means to be the temple of God? The LIVING temple of God?
For we are works of the Artist as well. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. What is it about our character, because we all must admit that we are flawed in one way or another, that points to Christ?
I am on the journey toward this discovery.
Monday, September 21, 2009
"The Calvary Road" Book Review
The Book is, "The Calvary Road" by Roy Hession. I give this book 3 out of four stars.
This is a very simple book in style and premise. The Author hopes to instill a desire for revival in his reader. To be honest, I feel like I gleaned more information from the interview printed at the end. One problem I found with this book was its lack of broad scope. Hession speaks of what revival means to him without allowing for other people's take. In other words: what works for me is this..., and it should work for you too. That is simply not the case.
There are a few bright spots in the book, making it worth a read. I found chapter 5 to be great informatively. I did like the thought of being gentle like the Lamb, though I felt like Hession might have overdone the thought a little.
I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the power of the blood of the Lamb, chapter 9. I could have read an entire book on Hession's thoughts on the blood.
So, a good read - but I could have used more meat!
This is a very simple book in style and premise. The Author hopes to instill a desire for revival in his reader. To be honest, I feel like I gleaned more information from the interview printed at the end. One problem I found with this book was its lack of broad scope. Hession speaks of what revival means to him without allowing for other people's take. In other words: what works for me is this..., and it should work for you too. That is simply not the case.
There are a few bright spots in the book, making it worth a read. I found chapter 5 to be great informatively. I did like the thought of being gentle like the Lamb, though I felt like Hession might have overdone the thought a little.
I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the power of the blood of the Lamb, chapter 9. I could have read an entire book on Hession's thoughts on the blood.
So, a good read - but I could have used more meat!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Book review: "The Five Love Languages"
The book is titled, "The Five Love Languages; Men's Edition" by Gary Chapman. I give this book 2 1/2 out of four stars.
If you are reading this book to learn how to love your wife better - good for you! ...And you probably don't need this book. If, on the other hand, someone handed you this book in a vacuum and said, "You might need this to figure out how to love you wife," then yes, it might come in handy.
The book is really designed for the husband who has no idea how to love his wife, but is still willing to give it a chance. Oh, and he must realize he needs help too. This, to me, is a small audience, but I know it exists.
My ultimate philosophy about this book is found in some notes I wrote on page 159 of my copy: All of this book could have been shortened to the phrase: "How can I love you more, wife?" If we would take the time to ask what we can do better, I believe we would find out faster.
Not to say this is a poorly written book - it is well written. Great stories and examples to support all Chapman writes convince me that he is an excellent author. But the book was not for me.
If you are reading this book to learn how to love your wife better - good for you! ...And you probably don't need this book. If, on the other hand, someone handed you this book in a vacuum and said, "You might need this to figure out how to love you wife," then yes, it might come in handy.
The book is really designed for the husband who has no idea how to love his wife, but is still willing to give it a chance. Oh, and he must realize he needs help too. This, to me, is a small audience, but I know it exists.
My ultimate philosophy about this book is found in some notes I wrote on page 159 of my copy: All of this book could have been shortened to the phrase: "How can I love you more, wife?" If we would take the time to ask what we can do better, I believe we would find out faster.
Not to say this is a poorly written book - it is well written. Great stories and examples to support all Chapman writes convince me that he is an excellent author. But the book was not for me.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
"Grace Rules" Book Review
The book is titled, "Grace Rules" by Steve McVey. I give this book 3 out of four stars.
"Grace Rules" attempts to show a side of God that often we forget to look at. The over-riding premise throughout the book is the idea that we are free to love God instead of run toward the law that we as Christians so often cling to. McVey insists that we are under the rule of grace. McVey uses great analogies like the family/ tea bags in the chapter titled, "The Nectar of Heaven".
Throughout the book, I found myself challenging every traditional thought and placing it in alignment under the New Covenant that Jesus came to bring. Very thought provoking, if you let it be. "Grace Rules" is written with study questions at the close of each chapter, but I did not find these very helpful.
As a pastor, I would suggest this book to help you remember the main objective of doling out grace to those who we see every day.
"Grace Rules" attempts to show a side of God that often we forget to look at. The over-riding premise throughout the book is the idea that we are free to love God instead of run toward the law that we as Christians so often cling to. McVey insists that we are under the rule of grace. McVey uses great analogies like the family/ tea bags in the chapter titled, "The Nectar of Heaven".
Throughout the book, I found myself challenging every traditional thought and placing it in alignment under the New Covenant that Jesus came to bring. Very thought provoking, if you let it be. "Grace Rules" is written with study questions at the close of each chapter, but I did not find these very helpful.
As a pastor, I would suggest this book to help you remember the main objective of doling out grace to those who we see every day.
"God's Blogs" Book Review
The book is "God's Blogs" by Lanny Donoho and I give this book 3 out of four stars.
This is a fun book to read in that its purpose is to make you smile. All the while, you will learn the author's opinions about what makes God smile. Donoho is an excellent aesthetic writer. He puts the words on the page in a way that helps lead you to his purpose for writing. This reminds me a little of Ferlinghetti's earlier work.
I suppose my favorite section of the book is "Gotoyourroom". It is somewhere in the mid section of the book that Donoho vamps up his "thought-provokedness" and gives the reader little gems like telling us to spend time in silence if we expect to hear from God. In another chapter, He suggests that while we ask, "Where is God in the midst of tragedy," that God would be asking, "Where are you?"
A great read for any coffee table or waiting room. Simple and easy.
This is a fun book to read in that its purpose is to make you smile. All the while, you will learn the author's opinions about what makes God smile. Donoho is an excellent aesthetic writer. He puts the words on the page in a way that helps lead you to his purpose for writing. This reminds me a little of Ferlinghetti's earlier work.
I suppose my favorite section of the book is "Gotoyourroom". It is somewhere in the mid section of the book that Donoho vamps up his "thought-provokedness" and gives the reader little gems like telling us to spend time in silence if we expect to hear from God. In another chapter, He suggests that while we ask, "Where is God in the midst of tragedy," that God would be asking, "Where are you?"
A great read for any coffee table or waiting room. Simple and easy.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Starfish and the Spider - Book Review
The book is "The Starfish and the Spider" by Ori Brafman and Rod A Beckstrom.
I give this book 3 1/2 out of four stars. Fantastic book, with just a little bit missing.
As a pastor, I truly loved this book. though it was not geared toward ministry per se, it presents a great anthropological look at the systems of business that help form groups within the church. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations that helped form this book, though at times I believe the authors overused them. The shining quality of this book is its ability to make you reconsider what you know. It is obvious that "starfish" systems are ruling supreme in the business world, but it is great to have a well studied book to help see HOW they are doing that.
The one aspect that I felt was lacking about this book was in its practical application. The book was focused more on ideology then helping me discover how to use the ideals.
All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to stay on top of the culture. Very enjoyable and, at times, very comical.
I give this book 3 1/2 out of four stars. Fantastic book, with just a little bit missing.
As a pastor, I truly loved this book. though it was not geared toward ministry per se, it presents a great anthropological look at the systems of business that help form groups within the church. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations that helped form this book, though at times I believe the authors overused them. The shining quality of this book is its ability to make you reconsider what you know. It is obvious that "starfish" systems are ruling supreme in the business world, but it is great to have a well studied book to help see HOW they are doing that.
The one aspect that I felt was lacking about this book was in its practical application. The book was focused more on ideology then helping me discover how to use the ideals.
All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to stay on top of the culture. Very enjoyable and, at times, very comical.
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