During the summer, our church asks people to volunteer to teach the kids classes while the "regular" teachers that handled the classes during the school year get a break. I signed up for one class of Jacob's and one class of Jaden's. I may do more...but, started there.
I had Jacob's class yesterday and it is always fun, entertaining and challenging to teach a bunch of 4 year-olds a bible story. We learned about sharing by using the story of Joseph interpreting the Pharaoh's dream and ultimately collecting grain and sharing it during the 7 years of drought that came about just as the dream had described.
If you repeat things enough, ultimately they started remembering that sharing was the theme of the day and hopefully they will remember more than it seemed that they listened to :)
For me, and one of the great reasons why teaching is so awesome, I always enjoy reading the way the the publishers simplify the stories that are in the Bible so that the kids get A point for each one. We tend to make things so complex sometimes that it is nice to see the simple truths that are there and that we can focus on when we read these stories.
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Ephraim Hills 90210
As promised, here is the video I ended up making for my class...
"Homework project for a Bethel class at church. This is a partially fictional, partially accurate retelling of Judges Chapter 4 and 5. I got the family to participate as the actors. The sound is a bit off, and of course, I borrowed some material from the History Channel, 90210, etc...you might notice a change in production quality at those points :) With our bad acting, it is almost like the real 90210 :)
Credit to 90210, History Channel and the Bible for source material used in this video. "
"Homework project for a Bethel class at church. This is a partially fictional, partially accurate retelling of Judges Chapter 4 and 5. I got the family to participate as the actors. The sound is a bit off, and of course, I borrowed some material from the History Channel, 90210, etc...you might notice a change in production quality at those points :) With our bad acting, it is almost like the real 90210 :)
Credit to 90210, History Channel and the Bible for source material used in this video. "
Monday, March 9, 2009
Working on a video
The class I take on Wednesday nights can keep me busy, if I do the work and keep up...That being said, I decided to add a little twist to it this week. We were required to do some homework on the various judges from the book of Judges in the Bible. We drew randomly, and I, of course, managed to grab Deborah...the only female judge! So, the homework assignment included an oral report that was to answer a number of questions...most people in the past have done props and costumes...since we are supposed to be that judge. Well, I am NOT going to be Deborah...so, I got my entire family involved and created a video instead that would answer the questions, tell a story, hopefully entertain and most importantly...let my wife play the role of Deborah :)
It is due on Wednesday, so stay tuned for the post in the next couple of days.
PS due to the size of it, I think I will have to post it to YouTube and then embed it...but I have to figure that out first :)
It is due on Wednesday, so stay tuned for the post in the next couple of days.
PS due to the size of it, I think I will have to post it to YouTube and then embed it...but I have to figure that out first :)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Interesting thought...
From Mark Batterson's blog...
"I recently read a fascinating story about a musical trainer who worked with Opera singers who could not hit certain notes within an Octave, even though the notes fell within their vocal range. It was a mystery. The trainer did extensive testing on their vocal chords, but he couldn’t find any reason why they couldn’t hit those notes. On a whim, he tested their hearing. And what he discovered is that these Opera singers could not sing a note they could not hear. The problem wasn’t singing. The problem was hearing.
Made me think of that phrase that is repeated throughout the New Testament: he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says. I think many of us are trapped in negative cycles or sinful habits or destructive addictions because we haven't heard the loving voice of our Heavenly Father say, "This is my child in whom I am well pleased."
When you start to hear the voice of God--His loving voice, His graceful voice, His assuring voice, His powerful voice--you begin to sing what you're heard. By the way, this is why it's so important to read the Word. When you open the Bible God opens His mouth.
"I recently read a fascinating story about a musical trainer who worked with Opera singers who could not hit certain notes within an Octave, even though the notes fell within their vocal range. It was a mystery. The trainer did extensive testing on their vocal chords, but he couldn’t find any reason why they couldn’t hit those notes. On a whim, he tested their hearing. And what he discovered is that these Opera singers could not sing a note they could not hear. The problem wasn’t singing. The problem was hearing.
Made me think of that phrase that is repeated throughout the New Testament: he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says. I think many of us are trapped in negative cycles or sinful habits or destructive addictions because we haven't heard the loving voice of our Heavenly Father say, "This is my child in whom I am well pleased."
When you start to hear the voice of God--His loving voice, His graceful voice, His assuring voice, His powerful voice--you begin to sing what you're heard. By the way, this is why it's so important to read the Word. When you open the Bible God opens His mouth.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Marketing of Evil - pt 1
As I had posted about, I spent the last two weeks speaking on a book by David Kupelian called, "The Marketing of Evil". Thought I would share a few excerpts from my talk. Since the book is called the "Marketing of Evil", I thought I would frame up my comments, as I did in my talk around the 4 P's of marketing
1. Product:
In Genesis 3 is the following passage:
Genesis 3
The Fall of Man
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
What was the serpent selling? He certainly wasn't selling them on the "fruit"...the apple. Adam and Eve had more than enough to eat, plenty of variety....no...the serpent was selling them on "choice"....on "freedom"...on living outside of the restrictions God had placed on them.
What I think is even more interesting about the passage, when you look at it is this. Adam and Eve knew God, so they knew "good" already. So, like most of us, even while the serpent was slick and not entirely honest, the serpent still told them exactly what they were going to get...they were going to "buy" into "knowing...evil".
So, Adam and Eve bought that, and ultimately they bought death as well. For even though they did not die immediately, just as the serpent said, they did kill their perfect obedience to God and thus their intimate relationship that they had with Him
Death. That is what is being packaged and sold to us in each case where evil is marketed to us. It might sound too extreme, but when you get down to the reality of whether or not what you are buying into is taking you closer to God, or moving you further away from Him, then the declaration of it being death is not inaccurate.
This post doesn't even talk to the topics in the book actually, but I do think it frames up the topics in the book in the right light. The specific topics of the book and some of the scary ways that evil is marketed to us will come in the other 3 P's of the marketing of evil.
1. Product:
In Genesis 3 is the following passage:
Genesis 3
The Fall of Man
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
What was the serpent selling? He certainly wasn't selling them on the "fruit"...the apple. Adam and Eve had more than enough to eat, plenty of variety....no...the serpent was selling them on "choice"....on "freedom"...on living outside of the restrictions God had placed on them.
What I think is even more interesting about the passage, when you look at it is this. Adam and Eve knew God, so they knew "good" already. So, like most of us, even while the serpent was slick and not entirely honest, the serpent still told them exactly what they were going to get...they were going to "buy" into "knowing...evil".
So, Adam and Eve bought that, and ultimately they bought death as well. For even though they did not die immediately, just as the serpent said, they did kill their perfect obedience to God and thus their intimate relationship that they had with Him
Death. That is what is being packaged and sold to us in each case where evil is marketed to us. It might sound too extreme, but when you get down to the reality of whether or not what you are buying into is taking you closer to God, or moving you further away from Him, then the declaration of it being death is not inaccurate.
This post doesn't even talk to the topics in the book actually, but I do think it frames up the topics in the book in the right light. The specific topics of the book and some of the scary ways that evil is marketed to us will come in the other 3 P's of the marketing of evil.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Believe vs believe in
I had bible study tonight with a few guys and as we are between studies, we simply caught up from the holidays and then we spoke about the sermon from Sunday. The sermon on Sunday talked about the difference between believing God and believing in God. How it is easy to believe in God and still do your own thing, but if you believe God and believe the things that He has said about Himself and about you, then it changes your decision patterns in your daily life. I think it was a good discussion as we walked through some of the scripture references that tied into this line of thinking. Hopefully, we will find a good study that we will all get into over the next couple of weeks.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Biblical cross-references
Thought this was too amazing not to share....from Christianity Today at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/novemberweb-only/147-41.0.html
Reference Rainbow
When Christoph Römhild, a Lutheran pastor in Hamburg, Germany, sent Carnegie Mellon Ph.D. student Chris Harrison a list of 63,779 cross-references between the Bible's 1,189 chapters, the two became enthralled with elegantly showing the interconnected nature of Scripture. Each bar along the horizontal axis represents a chapter, with the length determined by the number of verses. (Books alternate in color between white and light gray.) Colors represent the distance between references. Graphic by Chris Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/novemberweb-only/147-41.0.html
Reference Rainbow
When Christoph Römhild, a Lutheran pastor in Hamburg, Germany, sent Carnegie Mellon Ph.D. student Chris Harrison a list of 63,779 cross-references between the Bible's 1,189 chapters, the two became enthralled with elegantly showing the interconnected nature of Scripture. Each bar along the horizontal axis represents a chapter, with the length determined by the number of verses. (Books alternate in color between white and light gray.) Colors represent the distance between references. Graphic by Chris Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Money, Money, Money, Money.......Money!
Money is one of the most frequent topics in the Bible and it was the subject of this week's Bible study with my Thursday night group. We stayed strictly in Proverbs and only on the verses outlined from the study sheet from our pastor and had a lively discussion that was quite engaging.
(The thing I love about this group is that, thus far anyway, everyone feels free to speak up and talk about their opinion and even ask questions. I think it sets a great tone for everyone to be able to learn from each other and hopefully learn more about the Bible and the truths therein.)
The main take-aways were:
1. How we perceive others due to money or the lack thereof based upon the culture and generally our own first take vs how we should perceive others based on how God values them
2. If we put ourselves in a place where money can control our lives, it will.
3. Money is so intertwined in all parts of our lives the it is probably one of the strongest reflections of our true selves that we have. The way we live our life with our money, how we use it and value it is one of the strongest "tells" of who we really are as a Christian.
(The thing I love about this group is that, thus far anyway, everyone feels free to speak up and talk about their opinion and even ask questions. I think it sets a great tone for everyone to be able to learn from each other and hopefully learn more about the Bible and the truths therein.)
The main take-aways were:
1. How we perceive others due to money or the lack thereof based upon the culture and generally our own first take vs how we should perceive others based on how God values them
2. If we put ourselves in a place where money can control our lives, it will.
3. Money is so intertwined in all parts of our lives the it is probably one of the strongest reflections of our true selves that we have. The way we live our life with our money, how we use it and value it is one of the strongest "tells" of who we really are as a Christian.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Bethel Class
So Wednesday starts my 2 year class at our church on in-depth Bible training. The website for Bethel training says:
'This unique format uses the Bible as textbook, with the basic concept of an overview that ties Old Testament concepts to New Testament themes. It is in-depth Bible study that gives the Scriptures relevancy and equips students for mission and ministry, as they are able to apply the Word to their daily lives.'
I am excited to get started and to have a schedule that I need to work through to get all the work done. We will get all the way through the Bible in the 2 years, meeting 3 out of every 5 weeks during the 2 years. It will be interesting!
'This unique format uses the Bible as textbook, with the basic concept of an overview that ties Old Testament concepts to New Testament themes. It is in-depth Bible study that gives the Scriptures relevancy and equips students for mission and ministry, as they are able to apply the Word to their daily lives.'
I am excited to get started and to have a schedule that I need to work through to get all the work done. We will get all the way through the Bible in the 2 years, meeting 3 out of every 5 weeks during the 2 years. It will be interesting!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Filters
My bible study tonight talked a little about filters. We were talking about how things, people, media, etc influence our views on life and how we need to control that influence with filters. Philippians 4:8 was our source topic and we went through many other verses as well. I am amazed at how easily we can fall prey to these influences and how attentive we really should be...Jaden's favorite restaurant in the whole world in 'the 99' cause he can recite the song he learned from commercials...he doesn't really remember what food he ate, or if he even liked it...but he loves to sing the song and it makes him excited to go eat there...Jacob is already self-conscious about the clothes he wears and is concerned about what others will think about it...it really is amazing. It makes me almost want to home school them like my cousin is doing with her kids and turn off the Internet, radio and TV at our house. I certainly cannot control all the content they get, even when I am trying to be vigilant. But, I guess that was a good reason for the study. If I can help instill some filters that my kids will know and use as they hear and are exposed to all of this stuff, at least they will be able to discern some truth and know what is not truth. Pray for us to teach them well and pray for the kids to learn about the filters and how to use them.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Finished the New Testament today...
Was pretty excited to get this done. I am looking forward to the dinner that the men's group is going to have for everyone who finished this up in the timing out lined. It looks like it will be around 10 people. Really, it was nice to hit a goal and be able to put an X next to something. Hoping it will be a springboard to some continued successes for awhile.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Looking back
I was looking back at my first Bible. I had gotten it from my Dad back in the mid 80's. It was neat to look at it for 2 reasons.
1. Look at the attached page that was written on the inside. I remember this day pretty well, but I never would have known when it actually happened if not for this being written in there....
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
I think it is interesting that the only passage that I had underlined in the entire Bible was about money and not to make it a singular focus. Umpteen years ago I underlined this passage and left it at that as my focus in life was not the Bible or its application to my life...so, the last umpteen years I have spent an awful lot of time and energy..."wearing myself out" trying to make money and put me and my family in a secure place in life. I hope I am starting to get a little better at applying the Bible and its truths to my life at this point.
1. Look at the attached page that was written on the inside. I remember this day pretty well, but I never would have known when it actually happened if not for this being written in there....
2. The second thing that I found in the Bible was what seemed to be the only underlined passage in the whole book....
Proverbs 23...
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
I think it is interesting that the only passage that I had underlined in the entire Bible was about money and not to make it a singular focus. Umpteen years ago I underlined this passage and left it at that as my focus in life was not the Bible or its application to my life...so, the last umpteen years I have spent an awful lot of time and energy..."wearing myself out" trying to make money and put me and my family in a secure place in life. I hope I am starting to get a little better at applying the Bible and its truths to my life at this point.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Nearly finished with New Testament
My men's group took on a project of having as many of us as were interested to read through the New Testament in 90 days and finish by Labor Day. I am basically down to the book of Revelation. It has been good to do it and many of the other men have done so as well. We kept track of each other by putting all of our progress online for each other to review. Accountability definately seemed to help me and competition always makes me get engaged...even if it is friendly competition. I am not sure that I will finish first, but, it wasn't really my goal...I didn't want to read it just to read it...but hopefully to help myself maintain a regular time in the word and even spend some time reflecting on it and the implications to my life. I think I may just continue and move forward into the OT as well and see if I can not get through the OT similarly so that I can start reading through the Bible every year. I think that is a goal that I am going to set for myself now and make sure I follow through on it.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
90 Day Challenge
The men's group that meets each Friday morning at church put a challenge out there to read the New Testament in 90 days. For accountability and to add a little incentive for each person to sign up and keep up, I set up a google spreadsheet to track how each person is doing that everyone can go in and update. I know that for me, I need that incentive and that accountability. As of today, I have read 57 of the 90 segments. I started on June 3rd, which means I am 53 days into the reading...slightly ahead of schedule :) Overall, I am enjoying it and think that I may just tack on an Old Testament challenge onto the back end of this thru the Bible this year.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Reaching for the Invisible God
Jesus is the Rosetta stone of God...I love this thought.
Indulge me with a somewhat lengthy passage...
"I cannot learn from Jesus why bad things occur-why an avalanche or flood decimates one town and not its neighbor, why leukemia strikes one child and not another-but I can surely learn how God feels about such tragedies. I simply look at how Jesus responds to the sisters of his good friend Lazarus, to a widow who has just lost her son, or a leprosy victim banned outside the town gates. Jesus gives God a face, and that face is streaked with tears.
In a fine analogy, H.Richard Niebuhr likened the revelation of God in Christ to the Rosetta stone. Before its discovery Egyptologists could only guess at the meaning of hieroglyphics. One unforgettable day they uncovered a dark stone that rendered the same text in Greek, ordinary Egyptian script, and previously undecipherable hieroglyphics. By comparing the translations side by side, they mastered hieroglyphics and could now see clearly into a world they had known only in a fog. Niebuhr goes on to say that Jesus allows us to "reconstruct out faith" We can trust God because we can trust Jesus If we doubt God, or find him incomprehensible, unknowable, the very best cure is to gaze steadily at Jesus, the Rosetta stone of faith."
Good advice....gaze steadily at Jesus. That always changes my perspective too.
Indulge me with a somewhat lengthy passage...
"I cannot learn from Jesus why bad things occur-why an avalanche or flood decimates one town and not its neighbor, why leukemia strikes one child and not another-but I can surely learn how God feels about such tragedies. I simply look at how Jesus responds to the sisters of his good friend Lazarus, to a widow who has just lost her son, or a leprosy victim banned outside the town gates. Jesus gives God a face, and that face is streaked with tears.
In a fine analogy, H.Richard Niebuhr likened the revelation of God in Christ to the Rosetta stone. Before its discovery Egyptologists could only guess at the meaning of hieroglyphics. One unforgettable day they uncovered a dark stone that rendered the same text in Greek, ordinary Egyptian script, and previously undecipherable hieroglyphics. By comparing the translations side by side, they mastered hieroglyphics and could now see clearly into a world they had known only in a fog. Niebuhr goes on to say that Jesus allows us to "reconstruct out faith" We can trust God because we can trust Jesus If we doubt God, or find him incomprehensible, unknowable, the very best cure is to gaze steadily at Jesus, the Rosetta stone of faith."
Good advice....gaze steadily at Jesus. That always changes my perspective too.
Reaching for the Invisible God
"Love tend to decrease as power increases...The same power that repeatedly overwhelmed the Israelites made it difficult for them to perceive God's love."
Does that stop you in your tracks as a parent? As a boss? Does it resonate at all?
I certainly see some truth to that statement. I know that if I stand over my kids that they have to look WAY up to see me and that I am WAY bigger than they are. I intimidate them from that stance. Are they really seeing my love at that point?
I also pull back though and think of this from a different perspective that tells me that God knew that the Israelites would have this difficulty. And yet He still chose to engage them in this manner.
1. It is effective. How many times directly after God showing himself, His wrath, etc do the Israelites repent and turn towards God?
2. God needed to show us all of His character...the tough side and the loving side
Think about it...just like with two parents at home, kids know that one is easier than the other and gravitate towards the easy one to get out of the punishment. If the parents are not united in their efforts, the kids will divide and conquer.
If God just showed us forgiveness through Jesus Christ without the just anger and the consequences that are exhibited in the Old Testament would it mean as much? Or would we take it for granted? We really need to see both sides to understand and God was gracious enough to give us both views in His Word.
Does that stop you in your tracks as a parent? As a boss? Does it resonate at all?
I certainly see some truth to that statement. I know that if I stand over my kids that they have to look WAY up to see me and that I am WAY bigger than they are. I intimidate them from that stance. Are they really seeing my love at that point?
I also pull back though and think of this from a different perspective that tells me that God knew that the Israelites would have this difficulty. And yet He still chose to engage them in this manner.
1. It is effective. How many times directly after God showing himself, His wrath, etc do the Israelites repent and turn towards God?
2. God needed to show us all of His character...the tough side and the loving side
Think about it...just like with two parents at home, kids know that one is easier than the other and gravitate towards the easy one to get out of the punishment. If the parents are not united in their efforts, the kids will divide and conquer.
If God just showed us forgiveness through Jesus Christ without the just anger and the consequences that are exhibited in the Old Testament would it mean as much? Or would we take it for granted? We really need to see both sides to understand and God was gracious enough to give us both views in His Word.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Walking with God
Enoch was the first man in the Bible who walked with God:
After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:22–24).
This is pretty interesting. Considering how often our relationship with God is talked in metaphor as a walk, it makes me wonder what this means that Enoch is the first man who is specifically referenced as 'walking with God'.
What should we learn from this reference?
How close was Enoch's relationship after 300 years of walking with God?
I know I will be thinking on this a little bit over the next
After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:22–24).
This is pretty interesting. Considering how often our relationship with God is talked in metaphor as a walk, it makes me wonder what this means that Enoch is the first man who is specifically referenced as 'walking with God'.
What should we learn from this reference?
How close was Enoch's relationship after 300 years of walking with God?
I know I will be thinking on this a little bit over the next
Friday, June 13, 2008
Interesting Blog Posting...
Pastor Lee McFarland says...
"One of my pastor friends is Mark Batterson (evotional.com). I love reading his blog because he always challenges me, gives me new ideas, and introduces me to fun new phrases. He recently used a phrase while we were panelists at Saddleback - he said something had spread by "word of mouse." Well, Mark, maybe I can return the favor. I got a phrase for ya.
Several months ago, he took a "lion chaser" step, and his church opened a coffee shop, "Ebenezers." It has quickly become "the place" in the D.C. area. Most of us would be happy about a coffee shop slash ministry outlet that was a hoppin' place. But Mark is now taking it another step, and hopes to franchise the coffee shop across the country. I love it. Maybe Surprise, AZ should be a new location.
It reminds me of an old article I read some time ago in Inc.Com by Rod Kurtz about the expansion of Aaron Kennedy's restaurant, "Noodles and Company." He explores the decision process related to franchising, and talks about ways to make a franchise successful. My favorite was their approach to assign any new franchisee a "Noodles Buddy" - a seasoned corporate manager who serves as a mentor. "They won't be successful if we just mail them a binder," Kennedy says.
We have come to the same conclusion when it comes to discipleship in our church. It doesn't happen with just a notebook, a class, or a binder. For a Christian to grow, you need a "Noodles Buddy." Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (NLT)
Who is your "Noodle Buddy?" "
Do you have a Noodle Buddy? I know I struggle with an accountability partner. I don't really have anyone keeping me honest with respect to my spiritual growth and my practices on a regular basis.
"One of my pastor friends is Mark Batterson (evotional.com). I love reading his blog because he always challenges me, gives me new ideas, and introduces me to fun new phrases. He recently used a phrase while we were panelists at Saddleback - he said something had spread by "word of mouse." Well, Mark, maybe I can return the favor. I got a phrase for ya.
Several months ago, he took a "lion chaser" step, and his church opened a coffee shop, "Ebenezers." It has quickly become "the place" in the D.C. area. Most of us would be happy about a coffee shop slash ministry outlet that was a hoppin' place. But Mark is now taking it another step, and hopes to franchise the coffee shop across the country. I love it. Maybe Surprise, AZ should be a new location.
It reminds me of an old article I read some time ago in Inc.Com by Rod Kurtz about the expansion of Aaron Kennedy's restaurant, "Noodles and Company." He explores the decision process related to franchising, and talks about ways to make a franchise successful. My favorite was their approach to assign any new franchisee a "Noodles Buddy" - a seasoned corporate manager who serves as a mentor. "They won't be successful if we just mail them a binder," Kennedy says.
We have come to the same conclusion when it comes to discipleship in our church. It doesn't happen with just a notebook, a class, or a binder. For a Christian to grow, you need a "Noodles Buddy." Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (NLT)
Who is your "Noodle Buddy?" "
Do you have a Noodle Buddy? I know I struggle with an accountability partner. I don't really have anyone keeping me honest with respect to my spiritual growth and my practices on a regular basis.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Quote
From pastor to pastor to me, originally from Jerry Falwell...
"You do not measure the strength of a man by his education, wealth or power but by what it takes to discourage him."
I know that at times I have been discouraged by the littlest things...other times, I have been quite the bulldog. What is different in me that allows that to happen? Is it the conviction of the particular thing I am after? Is it a view into the opposition I face? If it is something I am spending time on, then hopefully it is worthwhile. And if it worthwhile, then I should be steadfast and endure.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
"You do not measure the strength of a man by his education, wealth or power but by what it takes to discourage him."
I know that at times I have been discouraged by the littlest things...other times, I have been quite the bulldog. What is different in me that allows that to happen? Is it the conviction of the particular thing I am after? Is it a view into the opposition I face? If it is something I am spending time on, then hopefully it is worthwhile. And if it worthwhile, then I should be steadfast and endure.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Proverbs 8
The only thing that caught my attention today as I read through Proberbs 8 was that it was yet another place that talked about God's design of the universe. Verses 22 through 36 are all about wisdom being there at the beginning of creation as God put things into motion. I guess I just find it interesting in light of the continued debate on creationism versus evolution.
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