10 good minutes
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
OH BOY...... I can hear it now.... THE END IS NEAR!
In Obama's defense... (wait, did I just type that?) I'm certain he had nothing personally to do with this person painting this picture. At least as far as we know he didn't... (cue conspiratorial theme music)
So before we get on the phone to Tim LaHaye about what comes next at the end of time and whether or not we've all been 'Left Behind', that the scripture says that the Anti-Christ (big A) will set himself up as God, and declare himself to be so (2 Thess 2:3-4). You can decide whether that is a literal declaration, or the implicit declaration we all make whenever we sin and set ourselves upon God's throne and against His authority, claiming ourselves to be God...
So, while personally disgusted and angry that this painting exists, and all of the implications for the one who painted it (can't bring myself to say 'the artist'), I will hold all the dispensationalists (and sensationalists) at bay from overreacting. At least for now... (cue dramatic suspense effect)
Thanks to Aron for bringing this to my attention, and worldnet daily for bringing it to everyone's.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
My Sister Stephanie's Senior Recital
These will eventually be updated with the names and composers of the pieces, but I don't have them handy. Most of them are in other languages. If you can only listen to English, the last one in is the mother tongue.
We are very proud of Stephanie and are praising God for the gifts He's given her. Enjoy them with us.
We are very proud of Stephanie and are praising God for the gifts He's given her. Enjoy them with us.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Lecrae's Video - Don't Waste Your Life
Great Song. Desiring God Ministries actually produced this video. Enjoy.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hide and Seek
I posted these on facebook, but not everyone who reads this is on facebook, so I wanted to post them here as well. Abby has begun a love affair with the game of Hide and Seek. Big Fun!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10!
READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!!
Where could Daddy be?
There He is!
I FOUND YOU DADDA!
I Got You!
She's got me...
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10!
READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!!
Where could Daddy be?
There He is!
I FOUND YOU DADDA!
I Got You!
She's got me...
Monday, April 06, 2009
How Can We Create Communities of Grace?
I Appreciated this post by Tim Chester over at the Mars Hill Blog today:
How can we create communities of grace? Let me suggest seven ideas:
1. Make the connections
We need to teach, speak, sing, and pray grace. But we also need to make connections for people. We can believe in justification by faith for the final day, but doubt justification by faith for the next day. On a Monday morning in the workplace we are still trying to prove ourselves, to find identity in our achievements.
2. Welcome the mess
Welcome messy people. Don’t suppress conflict. Don’t hide problems.
3. Stop pretending
Don’t hide your own problems. You’ll need to exercise some discretion: let everyone know you struggle and let some people know what you struggle with.
4. Stop performing
Don’t put on a show. Don’t push people to perform, to produce results, to get it right all the time. Give people permission to fail. We’ve realized, for example, that polished Bible studies and articulate prayers disenfranchise semi-literate people.
5. Eat and drink with broken people
Jesus eats and drinks with sinners. It’s a powerful expression of community. We think we’re enacting grace if we run projects for the poor, but we’re only halfway there. We still act from a position of superiority, proclaiming that we are able and they are unable. The dynamic is totally different when we eat together. We meet as equals, share together, affirm one another, enjoy one another.
6. Give people time to change
How long did it take for you to become perfectly like Jesus? Of course, you’re still changing. There seem to be some sins we’re prepared to work on over a lifetime, but others where we demand instant change. Why is this? The answer, of course, is that we want people to be respectable. We don’t want a messy community.
7. Focus on the heart
All too often we focus on the behaviors we would like someone to stop or start. But Jesus says our behavior comes from the heart (Mark 7:20-23). Our focus needs to be on the heart. Our job is help people find joy in Christ.
How can we create communities of grace? Let me suggest seven ideas:
1. Make the connections
We need to teach, speak, sing, and pray grace. But we also need to make connections for people. We can believe in justification by faith for the final day, but doubt justification by faith for the next day. On a Monday morning in the workplace we are still trying to prove ourselves, to find identity in our achievements.
2. Welcome the mess
Welcome messy people. Don’t suppress conflict. Don’t hide problems.
3. Stop pretending
Don’t hide your own problems. You’ll need to exercise some discretion: let everyone know you struggle and let some people know what you struggle with.
4. Stop performing
Don’t put on a show. Don’t push people to perform, to produce results, to get it right all the time. Give people permission to fail. We’ve realized, for example, that polished Bible studies and articulate prayers disenfranchise semi-literate people.
5. Eat and drink with broken people
Jesus eats and drinks with sinners. It’s a powerful expression of community. We think we’re enacting grace if we run projects for the poor, but we’re only halfway there. We still act from a position of superiority, proclaiming that we are able and they are unable. The dynamic is totally different when we eat together. We meet as equals, share together, affirm one another, enjoy one another.
6. Give people time to change
How long did it take for you to become perfectly like Jesus? Of course, you’re still changing. There seem to be some sins we’re prepared to work on over a lifetime, but others where we demand instant change. Why is this? The answer, of course, is that we want people to be respectable. We don’t want a messy community.
7. Focus on the heart
All too often we focus on the behaviors we would like someone to stop or start. But Jesus says our behavior comes from the heart (Mark 7:20-23). Our focus needs to be on the heart. Our job is help people find joy in Christ.
No commentary from me... Let's get to it!
:-)
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