Friday Favorites

Bob says it often - that we should try to sanitize the scripture - and yet we do, in our readings, and interpretation of events. But how about in the realism of Christ, upon His shoulders, taking all our sin, and God's wrath/anger.If you read through the Old Testament - you're barraged by the rules and laws that God setup for His people to follow. A friend of mine recently asked - "What in the world with all the laws . . . " and the reality is that the punishment for breaking the laws and rules was severe -…

I love the blind carbon copy (not really). We've all done it, or had it done to us . . . it's the practice of sending an email and blind copying someone else - so your original recipient doesn't see that you've also sent the message to a friend, a boss, a co-worker . .. It's deceitful. It's lying . . . It's bad practice.But here's the thought - don't we do the same thing on Sunday morning with the Savior? We put on our "sunday best" - whether that be a face, or clothes, or expectations for our kids,…

I was relating some information to a good friend and accountability partner - and was talking about some of the emails and comments that I get (music ministers can get some interesting comments, emails, etc)His comment - "rejoice, in that you still have work to do. You never know what spiritual condition that person is in - and whether or not they're even walking in faith. They're still in the process of coming to know Christ, and the freedom from ridiculousness that His grace offers. It's a sign that the church still has work to do."Such a good point. So…

I grew up Catholic . . . left that church when I was 16 and started attending the Southern Baptist church across town. I had conscientious objections to what they [the church] was teaching regarding the sacrament of the lord's supper, and confession, and found those teachings contrary to what I read and believe that Scripture teaches.Having said that - i would, almost every year, participate in the season of Lent by "giving up something" for the 40 day-season.Lent - started in the early church (3rd or 4th century) was a common practice up to the protestant reformation. It's now…

I think you can pick these up right next to the "testamints" in your favorite local christian bookstore.Good grief.

I was leading and speaking at a conference for church planters this past week.One night - at about 3:30AM, I woke up, and flipped and flopped for the rest of the night, not getting a wink of sleep before the busiest day of the week. I was thinking about what I will now refer to as the ridiculousness of Twitter . . . My job - one that I was actually teaching others to do - is to lead God's people in worship, and to lead a ministry full of people into a relationship with their Father and each other…