Currently Reading

It has been over a month since I have posted. Most of that has been intentional in needing to focus on other more important things. With this being my first post, I figured I would share some of the books I am currently reading. The way I read books may not be the best for you, as I am a wide reader, in other words, I read many books at once. I read various subject matters which helps to keep me reading and enjoying it.

So here it goes (each book has a link for Amazon if you would like to buy the book)

"Pleasures of God" by John Piper.

"Counterfeit Gods" by Tim Keller.

"The Mission of God" by Christopher Wright

"Deep Church" by Jim Belcher



"Augustus" by Anthony Everitt



"Luther the Reformer" by James Kittelson




"Good to Great" by Jim Collins

Why Ethiopia?

That is the question some have asked when I tell them about our family's prayer to adopt from Ethiopia, watch this video and see the answer...

Ethiopian Orphans from Simon Scionka on Vimeo.

Props: Z

When Trying to Convert a Non-Christian Advice

Jonathan McIntosh over at Rethink posted a video of a friend of his who is not a Christian, but gives valuable advice in how we should approach people when wanting them to meet and trust in Jesus.

I remember what it was like to be a non-believer and also what it was like for some to try to convert me in very unloving and unhelpful ways so I could not agree more with much of this wisdom as someone who has been on both sides of the fence.

Rethink is a great site dealing with what living in a missional way really looks like today.
Click Here to Check It out.

True Heart-Religion Humbles

“Heart-religion is too humbling to be popular. It leaves natural man no room to boast. It tells him that he is a guilty, lost, hell-deserving sinner, and that he must flee to Christ for salvation. It tells him that he is dead, and must be made alive again, and born of the Spirit. The pride of man rebels against such tidings as these. He hates to be told that his case is so bad.”

~ J.C. Ryle

Practical Religion, “Formality”, 277

Props: J.C. Ryle Quotes

DeYoung Reviews "Deep Church"

The buzz about "Deep Church" by Jim Belcher is growing through the Twitterverse. Like any new book now a days, it is claimed as a "must read".

Kevin DeYoung gives a good, balanced review of this book here.

Here is an excerpt:

Ah yes, another book on the emergent church. I admit I both really wanted to read this book and really didn’t. The wanting is because, as you may know, I too wrote a book on the emerging church. So naturally I was curious what another author–one with blurbs from the likes of Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, Rob Bell, Scot McKnight, and Tony Jones–had to say about the movement.

But a big part of me didn’t want to read the book. Believe it or not, I don’t live for controversy and I don’t wake up in the morning hoping to jump back into emergenty thoughts. I spent a year of my life researching and writing about the emergent church and then another year teaching and doing interviews about it. That was enough for me. Besides, perhaps I’m naive, but I think most people can now see the emergent movement for what it is. There are enough resources out there now for people to make up their minds and decide whether this is a healthy reform movement or a conversation pushing the boundaries of evangelical faith and sometimes jumping the bounds of orthodoxy itself.

Click here to read the rest of the review

Josh Harris on Self Control

As I scrolled through my Google Reader, after checking my Facebook and Tweeting, I found this video from Josh Harris...conviction.

Miracle in Franklin

What a beautiful story of how God works through His people for His Glory and the spread of His name and love.


Props: Z

The Fight Against Lust

By Faith magazine has a great article called, Lust: A Life and Death Matter. I highly recommend that you check it out.

Here is a great excerpt on one of the outcomes lust has:

Second, lust distorts our vision and leads us to see people as objects instead of what they are—unique masterpieces created in God’s image

Read The Rest Here

A Filthy Sponge

What a picture of the love of Jesus on the Cross and new look at an overlooked moment during Jesus' crucifixtion.

From The Resurgence:

Here’s a video clip of Pastor Mark from the first sermon of Mars Hill’s new series, Luke's Gospel: Investigating the Man Who Is God: