Connections

What do you think?

Rick Warren asked to pray the invocation at the Inauguration.  Read more here.

What are your thoughts on this?

Jesus and Politics

What are your thoughts about Don Miller (Blue Like Jazz) taking Cameron Strang's (founder and CEO of Relevant Magazine) place to pray at the Democratic National Convention? 

Read about Strang's acceptance and decline of the invitation to pray. Watch Miller's prayer here!

Pray Big for Catalyst

Pray Big today for Catalyst here in Greenville.

It's up to us to pray and support these guys. We need them to advance the Kingdom with us in this city.

Politics, Branding Gimmicks and Plumblines

I'm no political guru or obnoxious party defender, but I do have a few opinions about politics.

NEWSFLASH: Righteousness is not popular and Jesus didn't get the Roman or Jewish majority vote.

This is how unpredictable politics are:

This article left me scratching my head. Robertson promoting Guliani? That's a new one.

It's all politics.

Al Gore, once framed as America's laughing stock, has now rebranded himself and become the world's coolest Eco-Friendly Politician. What?

Fast Company Magazine states this about Gore:
"Not long ago, he was the brunt of jokes--lockbox, earth tones, a postelection beard. Then he dusted off an old slide show and jumped with both feet into the private sector. The untold story of how an epic loser engineered what may be the greatest brand makeover of our time."

If American culture defines political popularity, Jesus is not going to get America's vote.

It'a all about apeasment. If you can push the hot buttons....the popular buttons.....the tolerance buttons....the politically correct buttons....you can get the vote.

NEWSFLASH: We need a standard of righteousness in this Election.

Folks it's confusing. We need to pray. We need a plumbline of righteousness dropped over America by the hand of God. That's my take and it may not be popular.

Did I just really post about politics? That's taboo isn't it?

6 Years ago....

I was reminded this morning through Jake's post that today marks 6 years since the 9-11 attacks.

It's easy to get busy with life and forget the pain and sorrow that these families have endured. I am grateful (I would have used Proud, but I didn't want to sound too Lee Greenwoodish) to be an American.

Let's remember the price that was paid and is continually being paid for our freedom. Pray for our troops today! Pray that God would visit America again in the Greatest Awakening that this world has ever seen.

Thanks Bob!

Longevity is something to be admired. I have thought a ton about this lately, mainly because my generation has experienced many church leaders and leaders in general getting out of the race. There's just something about "sticking it" out that inpsires me. You know..... as much as I have laughed at Bob Barker and Chuck Norris jokes, it is undeniable that these two men have been around for a while....I mean a long while....still going strong...still being faithful to what got them there.

It inspires me that Bob has finished well. Now I am not trying to spiritualize The Price is Right, but you know what I mean.

What if we lead with the next generation in mind?

Wrote music with the next generation in mind?

Pastored with the next generation in mind?

I think we would see a trend of longevity instead of it being some Time Life Memoir. Just some thoughts.

Thanks Bob for facilitating the spinning of the wheel so faithfully for so long!

Bono, Baldwin and the Gospel

I read this article yesterday while trying to concentrate on staying balanced on the elyptical machine. Take time to read it before moving on...it may help put the post into perspective. This article fleshed out some questions and thoughts I have had for a while concerning Servant Evangelism and Anthropology and the fine line between the two.

In a nut shell, Strobel says...and I quote:

"When we reach out to help others but DON'T tell them about their need for a Savior, we're cheating them out of an opportunity for the spiritual healing that they may not even know they need."

and

"It's often easier to motivate church members to serve the poor in Mexico than to share the Gospel with their colleagues at work."

and

"We must share the Good News! Otherwise, we're merely humanitarians who are no different than the Kiwanis Club. And our mission is infinitely more important than that."

I'm sure Bono would disagree. We do have a duty as the Church to be interested in social justice, poverty, and the AIDS crisis, as well as, making disciples of ALL NATIONS. Where's the line? Is there one?

I would love to get some comments on this issue. What do you think?

Change is a good thing

Just because it's been done for years doesn't mean it's right. Sometimes God's Kingdom advances even when that is not, necessarily the goal. Check this story out.

Some strongholds were broken, some reconciliation took place, and the Kingdom was manifested.

Change is not easy, but it's necessary.

When we choose to turn a blind eye to injustice, we agree with it. When we stand for what is right, we bring the Kingdom.

Why is right? Who knows, but God. I have been SHOCKED watching today's events unfold on the news.

Questions like these have plagued me today.
Why would this happen?

Who would do this?

How will people respond?

Will people respond to the kindness of the Lord?

I found this and this comforting today in light of the tragic events.

We are not required as believers to know all the answers. Thank goodness that we have a God who does!

Back to the Future?

The way in which we do church has changed over the years as much as Sanjaya changes hairstyles, which by the way is the only reason he is still on American Idol. We have seen Mega-churches, church planting movements, satelite campuses, Multi-site, organic churches, cell churches and the list goes on and on......

What will church ministry look like in 10 years? Should we change the way we DO church to fit the culture?

Why do you think AT&T bought Cingular? Nobody's buying AT&T, but they are buying Cingular? AT&T just changed their look, but kept their values and services. Cingular's new slogan is, "The new AT&T." The reality is AT&T should say, "AT&T, the new Cingular." Cingular markets, they have cool products and have a reputation....AT&T hasn't, until now.

Why do you think we see more "So easy a caveman could do it" instead of the little English Gecko? I don't know about you, but the stupid Gecko was getting on my last nerve. Maybe Geico realized they needed to market a bit differently. They have a great product, but people weren't buying. They were also rated #1 in customer service....they just realized that they had to reinvent the way that they communicated their product.

Just some quick thoughts that have been churning in the inner courts of my brain today. What started it all was the post made by this guy. Check his post out about the future trends that he believes we are going to see. His thoughts are pretty interesting and provoking...I like it.

My mom recently informed me that the traditional church we grew up in was now very contemporary and cutting edge. My response was, "What are they doing differently?" Her response was, "We did away with the hymnals, the preacher hasn't worn a tie in 3 weeks and we use a screen and projector."

Observations from our conversation:
1. That is cutting edge for that North MS community.
2. Every city's culture is different.
3. Find out what methods draw the largest audience without compromising vision and the Gospel and run with it. There's nothing sacred in small or poorly done ministry, regardless of how many years you've done it.

Tha landscape of the church has and will continue to change. As long as the message is preserved and men and women remain faithful to the ABSOLUTE Truth of the Gospel, people will continue to buy what we're selling.

Don't know what I think yet. I just like to think. It's my main source of exercise.