Already and Not Yet

Time for a Change

2010-01-16T13:58:00.004-07:00

My blogging endeavors will be moving to www.losgriego.blogspot.com. The name of my blog will also no longer be "Already and Not Yet" but simply "Los.".

See you there!

Haiti-How To Help

2010-01-15T08:54:00.002-07:00

A good way to help and donate money to the people and relief efforts in Haiti is to click the link on the right side of this screen. It is from Compassion International a great organization that helps children by getting them sponsors who through $38 a month help educate, provide medicine and above all hear about the love of Jesus.

They also help when natural disasters strike. Even $10 will go a long way to help these people. Maybe while you are there you can also think about sponsoring a kid, and changing a life forever.

Runway or Top-Down Matters for Production

2010-01-15T08:42:00.002-07:00

Matt Perman, again offers some valuable lessons in how we should operate in business and yes in how we do ministry, practically speaking.

By the way, his blog, What's Best Next, is one well worth reading and subscribing to.

There are two main ways to put in place an approach for staying on top of things. First, you can start with the “runway” level — all the actions and stuff that lies right before you. Second, you can start at the top levels of mission, values, and goals.

The difficulty with the top down approach is that all of the things at the runway can easily keep bugging you and make it hard for you to see at that level.

But starting at the bottom is worse. If you tell yourself that getting all of your runway actions in order will allow you to work on up to the level of roles, goals, values, and mission, you’ll never make it.

It’s like a few months ago when I was jogging through a field of grasshoppers. When I went faster, there were just more grasshoppers to jump out.

That’s what happens if you focus on the runway level of actions and the stuff you need to process and try to work on up from there. The runway-level stuff will just multiply, and you’ll never rise much above it.

The best solution is to take a both/and approach. You have to deal with the stuff right before you, of course, and that will in turn provide good illumination on the nature of your roles and goals. But if you start there, don’t stay there too long. Go up to the higher levels and work down so that you will have your priorities defined, which will enable you to cut out a bunch of that stuff that’s been cluttering the runway anyway.

How Much To Tip the Delivery Guy

2010-01-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

This post from Matt Perman seemed appropriate as we get closer to the Super Bowl.

Via What's Best Next

I’ve never been clear on this — until now. Turns out there’s a whole website devoted to this issue.

My favorite page is what the tip is not. It is not:

One dollar.
Leftover coins.
Saying how much you appreciate the pizza and the driver, but not giving a tip.
Included in the bill.
Included in the delivery charge.
Included in free delivery.
What do you tip? The answer is here

He Was Born In a Manger...Died on a Cross...Upholds and Rules This

2009-12-24T14:14:00.002-07:00

Joy To The World, To the Universe, to All Creation!

Props: Z

Karate Kid-Remake

2009-12-23T13:10:00.002-07:00

What do you think? Worth watching or should leave the masterpiece of Daniel-Son and Mr. Miyagi alone?

Currently Reading

2009-11-19T13:32:00.011-07:00

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?

2009-10-09T20:05:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-08T08:24:00.002-07:00

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

2009-10-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

“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"

2009-10-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-01T08:16:00.003-07:00

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

Miracle in Franklin

2009-10-01T06:49:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-30T12:59:00.003-07:00

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

2009-09-25T08:31:00.002-07:00

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:

Drawn Into The Gospel Includes Suffering

2009-09-18T14:58:00.002-07:00

Zach posted this quote, and the more I hear about A Praying Life, the more I desire to read it.

Doug Wolter:
Paul Miller’s book, A Praying Life, has affected me deeply. I cannot recommend it to you highly enough. Here’s one section that grabbed a hold of me and hasn’t let go for days. Next to this quote in the side margin of my book I wrote, “need to meditate on this.”
Whenever you love, you reenact Jesus’ death. Consequently, gospel stories always have suffering in them. American Christianity has an allergic reaction to this part of the gospel. We’d love to hear about God’s love for us, but suffering doesn’t mesh with our right to “the pursuit of happiness.” So we pray to escape a gospel story, when that is the best gift the Father can give us.

The Father wants to draw us into the story of his Son. He doesn’t have a better story to tell, so he keeps retelling it in our lives. As we reenact the gospel, we are drawn into a strange kind of fellowship. The taste of Christ is so good that the apostle Paul told the Philippians that he wanted to know “the fellowship of sharing in [Jesus'] sufferings” (Phil. 3:10).

Christianity Is Against Individualism

2009-09-17T08:04:00.003-07:00

This quote is good prep for this coming Tuesday at The Well as we will look at the community that came from Acts 2.

From A Brick In The Valley

Cornelius Plantinga:

Christianity is against individualism. In the Old Testament God made his covenant with Abraham and his descendents, with a whole people. We now baptize persons not because they are individual believers or even because they belong to a family of believers, but because they belong to the extended family of believers – - the people of God. We are all baptized into this community, into a body that existed long before we did. We did not join this body. We are called into it.

When God’s people are called out of the world, they called into fellowship, into what the New Testament calls koinonia. Good words are associated with koinonia: “common,” “commune,” “commonwealth,” “community,” and “communion. We were called into koinonia, which means we have something in common with other believers.

Rather we have someone in common. . . . But, always it is Jesus Christ who is the fount of blessing, the broken bread, the life-giving vine, the head of the body. We belong to him – - and thus to each other. (Beyond Doubt, pages 116-117, emphasis his).

J.C. Ryle: Hold The Here and Now Loosely

2009-09-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

“Are you prosperous in the world? Have death, sickness, disappointment, poverty, and family troubles passed over your door up to this time and not come in? Are you secretly saying to yourself, ‘Nothing can hurt me much. I shall die quietly in my bed and see no sorrow.’ Take care.”
“You are not yet in harbor. A sudden storm of unexpected trouble may make you change your note. Set not your affection on things below. Hold them with a very loose hand and be ready to surrender them at a moment’s notice. Use your prosperity well while you have it; but lean not all your weight on it, lest it break suddenly and pierce your hand.”

~ J.C. Ryle

Practical Religion, “Our Home”, 396.

This quote reminds me of what Pastor Ryan Kelly preached about this past Sunday at Desert Springs on worrying over what others think and over possessions.

Click here for that message

Props on Quote: J.C. Ryle Quotes

Religion vs Gospel

2009-09-16T09:17:00.003-07:00

Last night at The Well I mentioned the distinctions between religion and The Gospel. I read from a list that comes from Tim Keller of what marks religion and what marks The Gospel. Below is some of the distinctions that comes from Tim Keller that has been compiled by The Journey Church in St. Louis.

Click here for the pdf. version.

Here is a few of the distinctions:

Religion
“I obey-therefore I’m accepted.”

Gospel
“I’m accepted-therefore I obey.”

Religion
Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.

Gospel
Motivation is based on grateful joy.

Religion
I obey God in order to get things from God

Gospel
I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.

Religion
When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or my self, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.

Gospel
When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

Religion
When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a ‘good person’. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.

Gospel
When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a ‘good person.’ My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism. That’s how I became a Christian.

Click Here for the Rest

Props: Reformissionary

David Brooks on Our Self Congratulavie Culture

2009-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

David Brooks is a columnist from the N.Y. Times. He is very insightful and witty as well. The excerpt below is from a column he wrote pertaining to how our country has gone from a humble and modest country to one full of ego driven, me-centric self worshipers.

I agree that the rise of the self-esteem "savior" has led to a generation and culture full of self lovers that are very vocal about it. However, I do not want to have a "good ole days" mentality. Brooks talks about the humble that came out of WWII, we also must remember that this humble nation had seperate schools for whites and blacks. We need to learn from the past, good and bad, that means taking of the rose colored glasses of our current era and past eras as well.

Here is an excerpt from the Column:

Today, immodesty is as ubiquitous as advertising, and for the same reasons. To scoop up just a few examples of self-indulgent expression from the past few days, there is Joe Wilson using the House floor as his own private “Crossfire”; there is Kanye West grabbing the microphone from Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards to give us his opinion that the wrong person won; there is Michael Jordan’s egomaniacal and self-indulgent Hall of Fame speech. Baseball and football games are now so routinely interrupted by self-celebration, you don’t even notice it anymore.
This isn’t the death of civilization. It’s just the culture in which we live. And from this vantage point, a display of mass modesty, like the kind represented on the V-J Day “Command Performance,” comes as something of a refreshing shock, a glimpse into another world. It’s funny how the nation’s mood was at its most humble when its actual achievements were at their most extraordinary.

Click Here to Read the Rest

Reason Enough To Add HBO

2009-09-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

6 Essentials of College Ministry

2009-09-15T07:45:00.003-07:00

Working in college ministry for over 2 years now, I could not agree more with these 6 essentials. Especially with #1, Jesus cannot be overlooked or understated in college ministry. He is our source of life, redemption and eternal joy, we cannot act like He is just a means to an end or that Christianity is about moralism and duty.

From The Resurgence:

1. Don't confuse the gospel with religion
To prevent doing this, talk about Jesus (who he is and what he has done) all the time. If you don't, students will think Christianity is really about something else, like morality, philosophy, piety, social justice, or a religious experience. If you start talking more about what they should do instead of what Jesus has done, you're preaching another gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), which is to put heavy burdens on them (Matt. 23:2-4).

2. Learn about sexual assault
The prevalence of sexual assault is staggering. At least 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. And the numbers are much worse for college students. These young women and men feel crippling shame, deep guilt, and painfully alone because of what has been done to them.

3. Teach students how to read and interpret the Bible for themselves
This means being clear on the relationship between the law and the gospel. The law is "perfect, true, and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:7-9) and "holy, just, and good" (Rom. 7:12), but it does not effect what it demands (Gal. 3:21). The good news is that on the cross Jesus took our penalty of law-breaking and fulfilled the law, so he could give us his righteousness. God then works in us to will and to do his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). The very law that condemns us becomes the very thing that God fulfills in us through the power of his Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:18-23), not through our effort (Gal. 3:1-3).

4. Be prepared to comfort students because of divorce and death
College students are at a phase in life where their parents seem to get divorced, if they aren't already, now that their children are leaving home. This is also the age when grandparents begin to die.

5. Study apologetics
Many students still have brain cells left, and they've been reading and thinking about their world. They have legitimate questions about who Jesus is and what he did and why he isn't just a good example. They want to know why they should trust the Bible as reliable. The immense suffering in the world makes them doubt either the goodness or power of God or both. They think Christians are hypocrites and bigots, so why should they become one?

6. Be prepared to counsel students about what they're really facing
You must be prepared to counsel about eating disorders, pornography, cutting, abusive relationships, and the lingering damage of sexual sin. College students tend to be the shock-absorbers of the myths our cultural sells. Idols are brutal slave masters.

Has Conservatism Become An Idol?

2009-09-14T15:24:00.002-07:00

Before I get any deeper, I want to say I am not political, I do not talk about my political views or leanings. I do not watch C-Span, Fox News, MSNBC and consider myself neither to be a red state or a blue state person. I love Jesus, He is my King and He is my message,hope and life. So to quote Mark Driscoll, "I vote for Jesus!"

With that said, Jon McIntosh, has started a new website and ministry called ReThink Mission. In it he talks about cultural engagement, church planting and gospel centric living. Recently he blogged about how Conservative politics has in many circles (especially the Bible Belt) become synonymous with the Gospel.

I could not agree more with Jon's cautions and exhortation to not confuse a political position with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So often today Jesus is not a stumbling block, because the "moral majority" has already tripped up and angered people.

If you have ever used the words "Jesus" and "Republican" in the same sentence please read Jon's cautions, as well as a 2nd clarification post he offers.

Below is a excerpt of his post:

When political conservatism is confused for Christianity:
1. It creates false assurance: many who are not Christians wrongly assume that they are simply because of their conservative vote.

2. It makes enemies out of friends: Christians forget that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood” and make enemies out of anyone who disagrees with their political ideology.

3. It becomes a barrier to mission: political liberals who are not Christians are given the idea that to embrace the gospel of Jesus means to become a conservative. Naturally they pass on this. But the wrong “gospel” has been presented to them – thus many haven’t even rejected the gospel at all, only a highly politicized version of it.

4. The wrong gospel is passed to the next generation: In training our children to be good conservatives instead of grace-filled believers, we help harden their hearts to the gospel. I grew up in a church that did a better job teaching me to be a political conservative than a lover of Jesus Christ. That was a church that was easy to leave.

Read the rest here..

Also read his clarification to some of his original points here.

Creativity and Joy All Point Somewhere

2009-09-14T10:16:00.003-07:00

...why is this so cool?

...why do we get excited when there is something creative and full of energy and joy, like this video?

It is because we are made in the image of a creative God who even in our sin we have traits and pointers in how we create and express ourselves that showcase Him.

Don't fool yourself by thinking this is just a cool "routine" or this is for the church of Oprah, God's common grace is being seen in His creation and He receives all glory for this. We may surpress the Truth of this, but there has to be a higher reason why there is something that finds beauty, joy and excitement in displays of creativity. Random chance and molecules cannot explain it away...

Props: LosWhit

Welcome to Macintosh Trailer

2009-09-07T18:41:00.003-07:00

This looks interesting, and yes I am a big fan of the Mac.

Props: Matt Carlson via Twitter

Preview of Luke Series for Mars HIll

2009-09-03T13:28:00.002-07:00

Mark Driscoll, pastor at Mars Hill Church, will be starting a series on the Gospel According to Luke. Part of the series has been filmed in the region of Israel and Palestine that Jesus actually walked and did ministry.

If you are interested in check this coming sermon out check out Mars Hill Albuquerque, where this series will be seen via video.

Truth On Campus

2009-09-03T06:28:00.001-07:00

From Think Christianly:

“There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative.”—Allan Bloom

“To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is, and of what it is not that it is not, is true.”—Aristotle

“…You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”—Jesus

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth—only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair”—C.S. Lewis

Serving Is Not An End

2009-08-25T09:40:00.003-07:00

At times we can get caught up with how serving and doing this or that for the cause of Christ is the end. John Piper shares how it is not the end, it is a means to grow deeper in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, and the dangers that exist if we make it an end.

Props: Desiring God

The Motions

2009-08-24T13:02:00.004-07:00

I am praying that this song, The Motions by Matthew West, is our anthem for The Well. As we fight just going through the motions of ministry this year. That our all-consuming passion is Jesus, to love, follow, obey and make His name known to the city and campus. That our lives would be lived in such a way that He is all people see with how we risk and love.

That's my prayer for 2009-2010, I don't want to look back in May and say, "I wasted it."

Listen to this song, the story of Matthew West is a story of God's grace and love.

I was so stoked on this song that I bought his album, Something to Say, which is really good and worth a purchase. My buddy Zach also used to play with Matthew so that helped me like it even more.

Click here to purchase via Amazon

Also Check Out Matthew's Myspace

Matt Chandler on The Gap of Eternity

2009-08-23T12:12:00.002-07:00

Matt Chandler, Pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, talks about our yearning and falling short of the eternal. Sports, money and fame all fall short and leave us thinking, "there's gotta be more".

For full message from Resurgence's Text and Context conference, click here.

This Tuesday At The Well

2009-08-21T21:18:00.001-07:00

Preview for The Well Aug. 25 2009 from Carlos Griego on Vimeo.

Listen to The New Imogen Heap Album Here

2009-08-18T13:24:00.001-07:00

Imogen Heap is for sure one of my favorite artists and her new album will be coming out August 25th, but you can listen to it today right here:

Props: Zach

Pics From 4th Anniversary Trip

2009-08-17T13:42:00.003-07:00

On July 30th Lauren and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary. It has been an amazing ride and I am so blessed to be married to such a woman. Below are some pics from our overnight trip we took to Santa Fe. We stayed in a really cool, historic hotel right on the plaza and had an awesome view from our balcony

Also there is a pic of 2 little blessings that have come from our marriage, and yes there is a 3rd one on the way :)

New "Where The Wild Things Are" Trailer

2009-08-07T15:52:00.002-07:00

Yes, I am stoked for this movie!

Props:Collide

Learning To Be Still...

2009-08-06T19:14:00.002-07:00

I am not a fan of being sick, who is? It is not the feeling of being sick that makes me dislike it so. It is not even having to go to the doctor. What I hate most about it, if I am honest with myself, is that it slows me down.

I am a worker, I am task driven person, I like to be doing projects, I like to work. Being sick impairs that. Being sick gives me days like today where the day consisted of a doctor’s visit and time in bed. This is not good for a busy, important guy like myself. I am supposed to speak at the DSC’s men’s retreat on Saturday morning and staying in bed all day does not help me prepare.

Then I read a tweet from John Piper:

“God will be up all night tonight keeping watch. And he never gets tired. Not even a little bit. (Psalm 121:3).”

Conviction.

I don’t like being sick cause it reminds me I am not God. I am a creature who is fully dependent on God. I am a weak, broken creature who is more broken on the inside from sin than any illness that medicine can fix. I need to learn to “be still” and know He is God, and that I am not. And because God loves me, and is near in times of joy and pain, He helps me at times, by bringing sickness so that I stop, listen and rest in the love and care of Him. In those times He reminds me who He is, and who I'm not. As Piper said, He stays up, doesn't get tired, not even a bit. He is sufficient, He is my rock, He is my redeemer, He is sure!

So do I like being sick, nope. Do I see God in the sickness, yep. Can I praise God for this time to be quiet and trust in Him and Him alone, by His grace, yes!!

Piper: What should a married couple do after a spouse has cheated?

2009-08-05T16:54:00.001-07:00

John Piper answers a question that is becoming sadly more and more common today, what to do after an affair? Notice how Piper does not talk about divorce, but instead emphasizes reconciliation and restoration. Plus I really appreciate Piper's description of the difference between forgiveness and regaining trust. It is realistic and not sugar coated, in other words healing will be hard, but the gospel redeems and restores us from even this dark sin.

For more John Piper resources click here

A Guest of Vitamin Z

2009-08-04T16:17:00.002-07:00

This week Zach Nielsen (Vitamin Z) will be at Worship 09, a conference for music ministers and pastors. He has asked me along with several other more qualified people to be guest bloggers for his blog. I would encourage you to check out his blog, Take Your Vitamin Z.

Summer Camp for Atheists

2009-08-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

From Jonathan Morrow:

Atheistic summer camps? Yep. Check out this short 2 minute video clip. One thing stuck out to me that I whole heartily agree with: "students should be taught how to think not just what to think." How do you think the students in your youth group would fare in a conversation with the next generation of atheists? Are they being prepared?

Unlikely Disciple, Unlikely Experience

2009-08-04T07:56:00.003-07:00

What is it like to be a liberally minded, ivy league student in the middle of one of America’s most conservative, evangelical colleges? That is the question Kevin Roose took on in his book “The Unlikely Disciple”. In the book Roose describes his semester attending Liberty University and posing as an evangelical Christian. It is a story of someone from the “outside” invading the right-wing, Fox News watching, purity ring wearing, alcohol abstaining world of Jerry Falwell and the so called “Moral Majority”.

Kevin Roose is not an evangelical, in fact he attends Brown University, which is a liberal, ivy league school, where even talks of Liberty and Falwell bring about cringes and talk of in-toleration. Roose described his expectations of attending Liberty with thoughts of the stereotypical conservative Christian personas. What he found was unexpected.

Roose did find those who were very much against gay marriage and abortion. That much he expected. What he did not expect was to find a community of people who had struggles with faith and with living a life that was pursuing purity and was God honoring. Nor was he expecting to find a community who loved and cared for each other, who shared each others burdens and faced persecution and mocking on the beaches of Daytona as they talked to people about The Gospel.

Kevin Roose is a very talented writer and this book was very compelling and hard to put down. As an evangelical Christian who came from much of the same background as Kevin, minus the ivy league status, I understood a lot of what Kevin was experiencing. The Christian community at times is confusing, it is hard to understand why people would live like they do, struggle like they do, and even face mockers like they do, unless you see what it has as its’ foundation, Jesus Christ. At the end of the book Kevin does not become a Christian, he is not now on tour with Mercy Me, but he is praying, albeit to an unknown god. He did go back and confess his deceiving ways to his dorm-mates, only to find love and forgiveness... hmm they must have some sort of role model who is good at that.

I would recommend this book to Christians and urge the reader to try to put themselves in Kevin’s shoes. It is at times easy to get defensive about some of the things that Kevin writes, but overall this book is not a slam on Christianity at all. Kevin even talks about some of the unease he experienced when being questioned by his lesbian aunts, who were worried about him being brainwashed.

Kevin also shares a side of Jerry Falwell that many who only know him as a bigoted, intolerant man would be shocked at. Kevin actually got one of the last interviews before Falwell’s death. In the interview, Kevin saw a loving, caring and calmer side of Jerry that seemed to shock him and help tear down some stereotyping. That seemed to be the biggest theme throughout the book, tearing down stereotypes.

All in all the book is a great eye opening view of how the world views Christians, especially fundamental, conservative ones. I found myself praying for God to change Kevin’s heart and that Kevin would see that Christianity is not about morals, or intolerance, but about Jesus. About a God who does not demand sacrifices, but became one for us, took our punishment and died as a criminal the way we should have. Sadly I think that was what seemed to be missing most from his experience, a good explanation of some of the depths and beauty of the Gospel.

Below is a video excerpt to help further explain:
What is it like to be a liberally minded, ivy league student in the middle of one of America’s most conservative, evangelical colleges? That is the question Kevin Roose took on in his book “The Unlikely Disciple”. In the book Roose describes his semester attending Liberty University and posing as an evangelical Christian. It is a story of someone from the “outside” invading the right-wing, Fox News watching, purity ring wearing, alcohol abstaining world of Jerry Falwell and the so called “Moral Majority”.

Kevin Roose is not an evangelical, in fact he attends Brown University, which is a liberal, ivy league school, where even talks of Liberty and Falwell bring about cringes and talk of in-toleration. Roose described his expectations of attending Liberty with thoughts of the stereotypical conservative Christian personas. What he found was unexpected.

Roose did find those who were very much against gay marriage and abortion. That much he expected. What he did not expect was to find a community of people who had struggles with faith and with living a life that was pursuing purity and was God honoring. Nor was he expecting to find a community who loved and cared for each other, who shared each others burdens and faced persecution and mocking on the beaches of Daytona as they talked to people about The Gospel.

Kevin Roose is a very talented writer and this book was very compelling and hard to put down. As an evangelical Christian who came from much of the same background as Kevin, minus the ivy league status, I understood a lot of what Kevin was experiencing. The Christian community at times is confusing, it is hard to understand why people would live like they do, struggle like they do, and even face mockers like they do, unless you see what it has as its’ foundation, Jesus Christ. At the end of the book Kevin does not become a Christian, he is not now on tour with Mercy Me, but he is praying, albeit to an unknown god. He did go back and confess his deceiving ways to his dorm-mates, only to find love and forgiveness... hmm they must have some sort of role model who is good at that.

I would recommend this book to Christians and urge the reader to try to put themselves in Kevin’s shoes. It is at times easy to get defensive about some of the things that Kevin writes, but overall this book is not a slam on Christianity at all. Kevin even talks about some of the unease he experienced when being questioned by his lesbian aunts, who were worried about him being brainwashed.

Kevin also shares a side of Jerry Falwell that many who only know him as a bigoted, intolerant man would be shocked at. Kevin actually got one of the last interviews before Falwell’s death. In the interview, Kevin saw a loving, caring and calmer side of Jerry that seemed to shock him and help tear down some stereotyping. That seemed to be the biggest theme throughout the book, tearing down stereotypes.

All in all the book is a great eye opening view of how the world views Christians, especially fundamental, conservative ones. I found myself praying for God to change Kevin’s heart and that Kevin would see that Christianity is not about morals, or intolerance, but about Jesus. About a God who does not demand sacrifices, but became one for us, took our punishment and died as a criminal the way we should have. Sadly I think that was what seemed to be missing most from his experience, a good explanation of some of the depths and beauty of the Gospel.

Click Here to order book.

Below is a video excerpt to help further explain:

Piper Gives Advice for Back to School

2009-08-03T19:35:00.002-07:00

Heading to college can be an overwhelming and challenging experience for a Christian. How do you answer the tough questions? How do you think through philosophies that seem to compete for attention with God's Word?

John Piper offers some great advice here:

4 Years Of Blessing and Marriage to Lauren

2009-07-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

Lauren Icenogle was in 1st and 2nd grade with me. I can truly say that I did not notice her all that much those days. I was more concerned with soccer and running away from the ladies then looking for a girlfriend.

After elementary we lost contact. Ok we did not really have contact in elementary, but still. We went to different middle schools, high schools and colleges.

It would not be until Aug.15th, 2003 when we would meet again. I was a new Christian that had just ended a very bad relationship with another girl that day, in search of Christian friends. She was a Christian raised in the church who was back from college also looking for friends. We both arrived as first time visitors to Calvary’s college group, called G.A.P.P. (or something similar). She had a Reliant K t-shirt on which for me signified that she was probably someone who knew her way around the church, so I could just follow her to figure out how to get to the room the group was meeting in. I was wrong. Lauren being new too, wandered all over the church looking for this group with me following her, thankfully she did not pull out the pepper spray.

It would not be for a couple more weeks until we really got to talk and meet.

And the rest...you know, is history.

There is a lot more to the story of how we got to where we are today, but I will always treasure that night, Lauren and I call it ‘the night I followed that girl in the Reliant K t-shirt.”

6 years later we celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary.

I love her today more than I could have thought possible on the day we married, and more then even a year ago.

Lauren is a gentle, loving woman who I am so blessed to have as a wife.

She is a beautiful and Godly woman who loves Jesus more than me.

She is a patient and caring mother to Jordyn and Brayden, and I have no doubt will be the same with the new Griego due in November.

She is trusting and encouraging as she follows my lead at home and in our future prayers and plans to plant a church in downtown Albuquerque.

In short, Lauren is an evident sign of God’s Blessing and Grace in my life, and today I praise the Lord for 4 years together and if He wills many, many more!!

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10

I married her 4 years ago, and she is far, far more precious!

Francis Chan Has New Book Coming Out

2009-07-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Pastor of Cornerstone Simi Valley Church, Francis Chan has a new book coming out about the role and authority of the Holy Spirit called, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.

If you have followed this blog or been to The Well you know how much I have endorsed Chan's first book "Crazy Love". So I am very much looking forward to this next book, especially since we will be studying the book of Acts this coming year at The Well.

Here is a video preview:

And further explanation

A follow up to the profound message of Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan offers a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and … the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two? As Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Helper—so that we could be true and living witnesses for Christ. Unfortunately, today’s church has admired the gift but neglected to open it.

Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church’s power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough ural support and compelling narrative form Chan’s invitation to stop and remember the One we’ve forgotten, the Spirit of the living God.

Props: Vitamin Z

Peyton Manning Has Big Influence

2009-07-29T07:18:00.001-07:00

I mean big influence...

Props: M. Kelley

Hospitality Is Not Optional

2009-07-28T10:09:00.001-07:00

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12: 9-13, ESV)

I can remember walking into Desert Springs Church as an “outsider” as a former Catholic who had not wanted anything to do with church or “organized religion” for the past 5 years or so. I was a college student. I was new to this whole Christian church thing. I was overwhelmed and really confused.

“Why is there screens?”
“Does the priest here wear a robe?”
“Why are we singing so much?”

More than that I was petrified about what people would think. From an outsiders’ perspective Christianity is full of really moral, uptight and right wing people, well at least from this outsider’s perspective. I was petrified about what people would think about my life style. I was not pure. I was not home schooled. I was not Republican. I was not a straight edge kid, I had tattoos, tattoos that represented other religions, tattoos that did not in someway tell a Biblical story or have scripture included. I was usually hungover on Sundays, not singing or listening to a preacher.

What would people think...would I be welcomed or looked down on?

I think it was a kind of in between feeling after that first Sunday. I had a couple people come up to shake my hand, but I sat alone. I am naturally a shy guy, especially in new situations, so this was a totally overwhelming experience. I left the church, a bit confused by all that happened and still felt like an outsider. That feeling would remain for the next year.

It was not until someone at The Well, the new college ministry DSC had started, remembered my name did I begin to feel welcomed. That took a year. A year of Sunday attendance, a year of feeling like a round peg in a square hole.

Why did I keep coming back? Because I kept feeling this is what God wanted me to do, no other reason really.

My whole world changed though when someone remembered my name, when someone took the time to get to know me and my story. I felt part of the church. I felt welcomed. I felt love.

Could I have done more to get involved on my own? Yeah, probably, but honestly as a newcomer it was not my job to do that, nor to be honest did I know how to. It was the community of God who I was surrounded by every Sunday who needed to be the ones who reached out to me. And when that happened I felt love, the kinda love that the church is supposed to be. I just wish it had been faster than a year.

It is 6 years later. I am now on staff at Desert Springs. I am in fact the director of The Well. It is 6 years later and I often have forgotten what it is like to be a visitor, to be someone who does not know lots of people. I have forgotten what it is like to enter the building and be overwhelmed and feel unwelcomed and ignored.

I need to remember what that is like. I need to realize that it is on me as a Desert Springs member to seek out to show love and honor to guests and to all people in the church. This is not an option. This is not a “thing” to put on my to do list, this is a gospel implication type of thing.

We love, we show honor, we abhor evil because that is how we are to respond to the grace we have been given and love that has overwhelmed us from Jesus Christ. Jesus loves the unlovely (us), Jesus died to bring us into the family of God. None of us have any merit to stand on, no pedigree to flaunt over each other. We all have only the blood of Jesus to claim as our means to coming into the family to forever be with Jesus.

We are called to love like we have been loved, we are called to seek to love, to intentionally seek it out. To fail to do this is a fail of understanding the gospel.

If you are one of those who have felt unwelcomed, and unloved, take this as an apology. We are imperfect, we are messy, we will fail at this again. We forget about our mission and our calling to love others. We are in process. We are sinners saved by grace in the daily need of the blood of Jesus too.

For those of us who are members, who are “connected” and part of the family of God. May we repent of our self centered times when we seek comfort and ease over meeting someone new that may be a bit awkward. May we repent of our neglect of loving others and connecting them with the rest of our family cause we are too lazy or ignorant to do so. May we repent of our lack of love and honor to others.

Acting and Waiting On The Lord

2009-07-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

John Piper talks about the tension between what it means to "wait on the Lord" and when it is time to take action.

For more John Piper media go to DesiringGod.Org

Resurgence: Masculinity Reclaimed

2009-07-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Over at Resurgence.Com they have just finished a great series about redeeming Biblical masculinity. Here is a good quote from the series.

Ladies in our churches, young and old, are not as horrified by an emphasis on reaching men as one might expect. Ultimately our women don't want to be surrounded by a crowd of wusses or a bunch of bullies. Biblical masculinity is such a rare commodity that women are usually attracted to it rather than repulsed (though this may surprise them at first).

Click Picture to see the whole series (Fellas, DO IT!!)

The Restoration of So Much More

2009-07-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

This quote goes well with yesterday's post:

“The object of the work of redemption is not limited to the salvation of individual sinners, but extends itself to the redemption of the world, and to the organic reunion of all things in heaven and on earth under Christ as their original head.

The final outcome of the future, foreshadowed in the Holy Scriptures, is not the merely spiritual existence of saved souls, but the restoration of the entire cosmos, when God will be all in all under the renewed heaven on the renewed earth.”
—Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson 2008), 105-106

Props: Of First Importance

Something Really Worth Getting Excited About

2009-07-23T14:55:00.003-07:00

Wolverine, Star Trek, Up!, Transformers 2 and Harry Potter are all this summer’s “blockbusters”. The question is now that all of these have come out is, how has life changed?

I remember a few years ago “Superman Returns” came out, and I was counting down the days before its release. I would watch the previews over and over again just getting more and more stoked. The movie was good, I enjoyed it, but honestly I can say even though I have it on DVD I have not watched it in a quite a few months.

I think the same can and will be said of these past summer’s movies. We don’t think about that though when they come out, do we? We are stoked, we will count the days down, we will re-watch the other movies in the series if it is a sequel, we may even read the books the movies are based on. Fast food stores will load us down with toys and commemorative glasses in high anticipation of the upcoming flick. On opening day we may even stand in line or save seats for hours on end, we will wait 12 hours to see a 2 hour movie.

I think if we are honest with ourselves we end with a bit of disappointment. Nothing is truly gained by all this anticipation and waiting, we are just left being amused for a couple hours by robots, wizards, aliens or mutants. Soon enough in fact we are thirsting and counting down for the next big movie.

We are addicts. We are in constant search for our next entertainment high. We act if not flat out think that this movie will be “awesome”, “life changing”, or at least by our actions worth spending a huge amount of time waiting for or thinking about.

In the end we are left wanting and wandering...

There is a bigger story though, that does give us reason to wait with excitement. Although this coming, does not have a countdown on it, or at least a countdown that we know. This coming will be unlike any movie, for when it comes everyone will notice and everyone will be eternally changed.

I am referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ, our great King. When He comes all of life will be transformed, wrongs will be made right. Pain will be wiped off the earth. Tears will be no more. Disease? Gone. Sin, banished. Satan, fully defeated.

The sad reality is, is that for one group, those who have put their hope in Jesus and his atoning work on the cross that day will be joyful. For the group that hasn’t it will be the day of judgment where they will be declared guilty, and because they do not have Jesus as their wrath-bearing savior, they will take on God’s full wrath for their sin.

So for those who have trusted in Jesus, movies are good to watch, but we wait for something better. For those who don’t movies really are in some ways as good as it gets.

There is still time for all who are reading this to turn and trust in Jesus. To see their sin and rebellion before a Holy God and see that Jesus took on that punishment if we would just believe and trust. To see, love and follow King Jesus!

Click Here for a Big Picture of what Awaits...truly worth waiting and anticipating!!!

Should You Talk About The Gospel In Every Sermon?

2009-07-23T08:16:00.001-07:00

From John Piper and Matt Chandler:

N.T. Wright Discusses Blogging

2009-07-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

N.T. Wright offers some very good and convicting comments concerning blogging and its' power to suck you in and isolate you.

I have been thinking about this recently and am still praying about what limits or fasts I need to take for my own soul's sake, I submit you do likewise.

NT Wright on Blogging/Social Media from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

This is NT Wright's response to my question on his opinion of blogging during Imbi Medri-Kinnon's interview shoot with the Bishop of Durham in 2007. Portions of this interview appear in her documentary, Mind the Gap - where she looks at the challenge for church leadership in the 21st Century.

Intellectual Property/Copyright: This video may be embedded on blog posts where this particular topic is being discussed. Permission is NOT given to re-edit this or use it in any other context other than as a standalone video with the MKPL bug, opening and closing.

Props: Thinklings

Remember The Heart

2009-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Very well done video, very convicting..

Props: Holiday @ The Sea

Messy Heroes Lifting Up a Great God: George Whitefield

2009-07-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

As fallen human beings we at times can get caught up in allowing our heroes to become larger than life and better than reality. This can especially be true of our Christian heroes. We can get caught up in putting people on pedestals and ignoring sin and flaws in them.

One of the “heroes” of the faith in Church history is George Whitefield (1714-1770). Whitefield lived during the Great Awakening in North America and preached as well in his home country England. He preached before Jonathan Edwards another of the “heroes” of the faith.

Whitefield preached before thousands of people. He did this without a mic or jumbotron. He did it outside while people openly mocked him and at times worked to distract his listeners.

Whitefield was used by God in might ways in brining many people to salvation. He was a powerfully gifted teacher. Even people who did not believe what he was preaching would even stop to listen such as Benjamin Franklin, who found it delightful to listen to him preach even though he was not a Christian in the least bit.

Whitefield refused to sugarcoat messages, he refused to hold back passion. He was so expressive that often he has been accused of acting and being fake about his emotions. Whitefield’s answer to that was to say that when he looked at actors who were passionate about fake stuff, how much more should he be passionate about real stuff, and eternally and infinetly more important things.

Whitefield though was flawed. Whitefield supported the slavery movement in America. Whitefield was a sinner saved by grace. Whitefield was messy.

Our “heroes” no matter who you name are imperfect to one degree to another. We need to take off the rose colored glasses when we approach history. We need to see that while these men are in many ways worthy of imitation, we only imitate and follow them as they follow Christ.

Ultimately we only follow Jesus. He was not messy. He had no imperfections according to God’s standards.

Let’s be real about our “heroes” so that as the book of Hebrews says we can look at the ultimate, perfect one, Jesus.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (emphasis mine)

For an amazing biography sketch of George Whitefield check out John Piper’s talk about him that he delivered at this past year’s Desiring God’s Pastor Conference. It is well worth the 90 minutes to watch or listen to.

Click Here to Watch

Click Here to Listen

For more biographies given by John Piper click here

Fear

2009-07-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

If someone were to ask me what I believe to be one of the biggest sins that we face as young adults I think the fear of man would top the list. I have found that many people live a life that is marked by an evident fear of how they are perceived or how their reputation is affected.

A good example of what I am talking about is this past Tuesday night at The Well. We spent the night at a local park where we had volleyball, soccer and basketball along with other various activities. We were all having a great time, then we gathered for a time of singing and listening to God’s Word. Here is where the atmosphere of the night changed. Instead of energy and smiles all around, now there was a sense of awkwardness that seemed to take over. We were scared to sing in public!

“What if someone heard how tone deaf I am? What if the neighbors over at the playground areas laughed at me? I better not be too loud or too expressive, that would be embarrassing.”

I am sure that went through peoples’ minds, I know it did mine. Why is that? Simple, we are afraid of what others think more than we are of what God thinks.

I mean we had the beautiful Sandia Mountains in front of us, an amazing sunset to the left of us. The Heavens were screaming “Glory!!! Glory!!!” and yet we were afraid for our friend to hear our voice. We were overcome by what others think more than what He thought and heard.

Our lives and culture are marked by this fear.

Why do we buy $40 T-Shirts with the name of the store we got it at on it?

Why do we shop at The Buckle for $100 jeans and not Wal-Mart?

Why are we afraid to tell our friends about a Holy God who they have offended, and how the ONLY way to salvation is through Jesus Christ??

We are petrified of others’ perception of us.

It is the same reason that the people of Israel wanted a king. They wanted to be like the nations around them, they wanted to fit in. They had a King, the King of Kings leading them and loving them, but they wanted something that made them blend in, something that made them fit in.

We do too.

By nature we are man-fearing creatures. This changes though in a beautiful way when we are saved. No longer are we enslaved to the views of this world or of those around us. We have had our eyes open to the beauty, Holiness and majesty of our Great God, the One, whose opinion of us really does matter. We begin to see how He sees. We see our sin and unworthiness and are brought low only to be lifted up by the news of His Son who has come.

We learn of a God who demands perfection from us, who demands us to fear Him above all else. We learn that we have failed at this miserably and deserve full punishment for this. We learn that God has taken our punishment on the cross in the person of Jesus Christ. That He rose 3 days after death and now to those who trust in His name and His work, He freely gives us His perfection and status. He puts His life on us because He took on our life and guilt on Himself.

This is grace that changes everything.

We are not perfect yet though. Like the night at The Park we will find moments that we fear man over God. Here we are called to repent (turn from that way of living and thinking) and trust in Jesus once again. We are called to fear God, love God and love each other in a way that is reckless, radical and sometimes embarrassing by the world’s standards.

I wish I could say that I have this fear of man thing whipped, I don’t. I do know though that “...he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6). And I look forward to that day when my fear, my love, my mind and my life will be captivated fully and completely by Jesus and only Jesus, forever!

Do You Suffer from I.O.S.??

2009-07-20T07:47:00.002-07:00

If you are reading this on Google Reader, I.O.S. may have overtaken you already...

Props: K.DeYoung

He Hears Our Pleas, Because Of Who He Is

2009-07-19T06:20:00.001-07:00

“For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.” Daniel 9:18b

How often do I approach the throne of Grace in prayer with a heart that does not understand the weight of what I am doing. I am going before the King of the Universe, not a bank teller, not a Santa Claus at the mall, but how I so treat it that way. I often flippantly throw up some prayers that suggest I am talking to another man, maybe a respected man so I show some level of reverence, but not the level that should go to the King of Kings!

Just thinking through what Daniel is saying here. The reason we can come to God and not only do we not get destroyed, but he listens to us as a Father listens to a child is because of His mercy. And with our New Testament lenses on we can see that this great mercy ultimately was showcased in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fully man and fully God, God in flesh.

We can come to our Father in Heaven and know he hears because he forsook his Son in our place. We come and do not face wrath because his Son took it for us. For Daniel it was the sacrifices of animals that shadowed a Greater Sacrifice to come.

Put simply we can come before our God, and He hears our pleas because of Jesus. We come because of His great mercy and love that shine brightly from the cross. His Mercy. His Love. His Grace.

That has to change how we think about how we pray and why we can pray and know that our pleas are heard!!

Graph Pertaining to Christian Music

2009-07-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yep this sums it up...

Props:K. Roose via Twitter

Creative Stop Motion Video

2009-07-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

Being part of the Imago Dei is the creative aspect of who we are that reflects the ultimate creator.

The PEN Story from PENStory on Vimeo.

Props: Holiday at the Sea

Man Up!

2009-07-17T15:33:00.004-07:00

That is what Jared Wilson is saying, and I totally agree with an AMEN!!

We live in a sick culture that allows people to cheat on their wife, not just cheat, but actually had devised software to help!?!

Then turns it around so they are the victims when all the consequences come down..disgusting!

This post from Jared was so needed and I strongly encourage you fellas to listen up!!

Here is an Excerpt:

Mark Driscoll yells at men and some Christians wring their hands about it. I say "Keep it up."

According to this Time article, traffic tripled to AshleyMadison.com (no, I won't hyperlink it) -- a website that helps men and women commit affairs -- the Monday after Father's Day.

What the heck?

The whiners in the article talk about things being tough in marriage.
Welcome to real life.

Click Here for the Rest, Including a Driscoll Video That Needs Watching By All Men

Kyle Joins Ives

2009-07-17T12:55:00.003-07:00

Kyle Moore is one of our leaders at The Well as well as a good friend and brother in Christ. Kyle recently joined the band Ives. This band is a young crew of fellas who are pretty legit. Kyle is a very, very talented musician and more importantly a Godly young man.

I recommend you check these dudes out, they will be opening for “The Glorious Unseen” on August 7th at New Covenant Church here in ABQ.

You can check out Ives on Facebook Here
Or Follow them on Twitter Here
They even are on MySpace, yes Myspace is still around

For now check out this video of their practice. (Kyle is the guitarist on the far right)

Also Check out Kyle's Blog..he has great taste in music too!

Top 3 Characteristics of a Church Planter

2009-07-17T12:29:00.001-07:00

From Acts 29:

Acts 29 church planters were surveyed on 10 qualifications of a church planter and 60 microskills. I wrote a blog that detailed these characteristics more fully.

The top three characteristics are (in order):

Spiritual Vitality
Strong Marriage & Family Life
Theological Clarity

The top three microskills from those surveyed:

He gives evidence of a personal relationship with Jesus and a transformed life. (Spiritual Vitality)
He models a lifestyle of following Jesus. (Spiritual Vitality)
He professes healthy sexual relationship and purity in his marriage. (Strong Marriage & Family Life)

What do you think, would you add any others?

David Brooks on Sonia Sotomayor

2009-07-14T07:58:00.002-07:00

New York Times Columnist has an interesting piece on what it took Sonia Sotomayor to now be on the verge of Supreme Court Confirmation.

It is also a look at her story while unique and inspiring is becoming more of a way of life for us all.

Here is an excerpt:

This isn’t the old story of a career woman trying to balance work and family. This is the story of pressures that affect men as well as women (men are just more likely to make fools of themselves in response, as the news of the last few years indicates). It’s the story of people in a meritocracy that gets more purified and competitive by the year, with the time demands growing more and more insistent.
These profiles give an authentic glimpse of a style of life that hasn’t yet been captured by a novel or a movie — the subtle blend of high-achiever successes, trade-offs and deep commitments to others. In the profiles, you see the intoxicating lure of work, which provides an organizing purpose and identity. You see the web of mentor-mentee relationships — the courtship between the young and the middle-aged, and then the tensions as the mentees break off on their own. You see the strains of a multicultural establishment, in which people try to preserve their ethnic heritage as they ascend into the ranks of the elite. You see the way people not only choose a profession, it chooses them. It changes them in a way they probably didn’t anticipate at first.

Click Here for Rest from New York Times

Amazing... Life Without Limbs but With Jesus

2009-07-13T09:33:00.003-07:00

Want to see how the Gospel transforms people, even when circumstances never change..
Watch This:

Props: The Institute

Also Check out Rob Bell's newest Nooma video that is a good companion to this video. (All Rob Bell stuff is not good, and I do not recommend all his materiel, but this one video is legit!)

Click Here for "Whirlwind" by Rob Bell

What If I Have Tried To Believe In Jesus, But Can't??

2009-07-13T09:08:00.001-07:00

John Piper Answers:

Grace Interrupting Karma

2009-07-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

"[Grace is] my favourite word in the lexicon of the English language. It's a word I'm depending on. The universe operates by Karma, we all know that. For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. There is some atonement built in: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Then enters Grace and turns that upside down. I love it. I'm not talking about people being graceful in their actions but just covering over the cracks. Christ's ministry really was a lot to do with pointing out how everybody is a screw-up in some shape or form, there's no way around it. But then He was to say, well, I am going to deal with those sins for you. I will take on Myself all the consequences of sin. Even if you're not religious I think you'd accept that there are consequences to all the mistakes we make. And so Grace enters the picture to say, I'll take the blame, I'll carry the cross. It is a powerful idea. Grace interrupting Karma."

Bono, in U2 by U2, page 300.

Props: Ray Ortlund Jr.

Saturday Sabbath

2009-07-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are my sabbath, my day of rest. I spend the day with this crazy crew who God has blessed me to lead and love....and it is awesome!!

How NOT to be Missional

2009-07-10T15:57:00.002-07:00

Do I believe that ONLY through Jesus Christ can salvation come, yes! Do I believe that we must tell people the good news about Jesus Christ? Yes!

Is this the way to do it? Is this serving and dying for others so that they may taste and see how good the Lord is? NOPE!

From Cnn.Com

Being a Missional Young Family

2009-07-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Working at DSC that is full of young familes and having 2 (soon to be 3) kids under the age of 4 of my own, made this post good and convicting to read.

Being a young family with jobs, and kids to juggle does not mean we can hold off spreading the gospel until the kids are out of the house. The truth is if we do that, other things will become priority and we will never come back to that missional lifestyle.

Redeemer Lubbock is a great Acts 29 church in Lubbock and is wrestling with some of the same issues, here is an excerpt:
However, I must admit that there seems something that is a bit off with our cadence. That is whether or not we are really caring about the lost that are around us here in Lubbock. Without a question, we are witnessing pockets of people who are determined to be the salt and light that Jesus asks of us to be. This is most evident in some of the care being given to various international students. As well as ministry that is happening by people engaging their neighbors. Yet nearly across the board when I look at these bright spots of people living missonaly it is being done disproportionately by college students and singles. Our families, which are one of the fastest growing segments of our church, are really struggling when it comes to missional living.

I have recently read some discouraging things about young families. In “Getting Things Done” by David Allen, he lists professionals with kids under the age of ten at home as the segment that are under the highest levels of stress and the group that struggles most to get things done. Second in Patrick Lai’s book “Tentmaking” he states that families with young children make some of the least effective missionaries. These two books are saying that a huge segment of our church is likely to be more stressed and less effective than any other demographic. This is where the lazy complacent side of me says lets just hold on and be happy with our success’. I refuse to accept this. I refuse to accept that when Christ commanded us to make disciples Matthew 28:17 and to be his witness in Acts 1:8 that it was actually a qualified statement depending on stage of life. Is it harder for the young families? No question, for a ton of different reasons, it is really difficult. However, young families are quickly becoming the core of this church and patterns we set now will shape who Redeemer is 20 years from now.
Now, a person without kids, or even someone who has grown kids and doesn’t remember the craziness of having little ones around might read this article with a resounding “Amen!” and think it’s about time, but a mom or dad that just put the kids to bed and is just sitting down for a minute of quite, will read this and their heart will sink. When, in the day is there time to add more stuff? My plea is not that you add more, but that you be more intentional with your time. I ask that you don’t give up sharing the gospel. Our culture will say that our kids are our ministry. Consider ministering to your kids by showing them your love for Christ by sharing Him with those that do not know him. Some simple ways to do this would be to talk to other parents at the park, invite a non-believing neighbor to a playgroup, make a playdate with some neighbors, eat dinner with a colleague and their family. Use the things you do everyday as tools to share and include people into your families life and share Christ’s love with them. Let’s not just tell our kids to share the gospel, but by God’s grace, let us live it out before them.

Click Here to Read the Whole Thing

John Calvin is 500, And Totally Relevant For Young Adults Today!

2009-07-10T10:09:00.005-07:00

Old dead dudes are important to read. John Calvin, Augustine, Francis Schaffer and Martin Luther are probably the 4 old dead dudes I like to read most. The reason I like to read these men so much is that after reading them I love Jesus more and am usually overwhelmed by the Glory of God.

Calvin turns 500 today. The name John Calvin make some cringe, and others gloat. For me I can at times sadly find myself doing both. I am a Calvinist, I do hold to the 5 points of Calvinism (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Irresistible Grace, Limited Atonement and Perseverance of the Saints), but that is not what I enjoy most about John Calvin (who did not come up with the 5 points). I also believe that the more understanding one has of the 5 points, the more humility will come.

I enjoy talking about Calvin's vision of God, a BIG, HUGE vision that I want to have. No other commentaries I have read bring me to my knees in worship like Calvin's.

Young Adults need to read John Calvin. He is hard to read. You will wrestle with the text, he will challenge your worldview and philosophies, especially if you have grown up in American Christianity. Calvin will make you think less about your story and more about God's. Calvin will challenge you to do things that require risk for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Calvin will challenge your view of what it means to be missional (yes Calvinists do missions, we in fact love missions, e.g. William Carey).

I encourage you to dive into the Institutes of Christian Religion, yes they sound boring, but they are far, far from it!

Calvin and Luther more than anyone else are men who THOUGHT deeply in order to FEEL deeply.

Some do say that too much is made of John Calvin, to that I will let the fellas of Desiring God Answer that:

As we've begun talking about John Calvin more over the last months, we've gotten several responses from folks who are concerned that we're focusing on a man at the expense of focusing on God. We appreciate this sentiment and want to be careful to not let that be the case.

Yes, we're focusing on Calvin a lot this year in commemoration of his 500th birthday, but it's not for the sake of Calvin. Being a Christian doesn't mean ignoring everything but God; it means celebrating God and each of his good gifts—whether it's a meal, a family, or a 500-year-old reformer.
If we tried to listen to God or admire God at the expense of listening to or admiring what he's given us, then we would miss out on much of what God has for us. We should be deeply thankful for what God has given us, and that means we're going to think about these gifts and talk about them.

Today the same fellas over at DG are offering the biography of Calvin for $2, reading about Calvin could be a good first step too!

Generation Me In Full Effect

2009-07-10T07:37:00.003-07:00

Jessica Wakeman is honest. Jessica Wakeman is selfish. Jessica Wakeman is honest about being selfish.

This article is not shocking cause of its' content, it is shocking cause of the fact that it is just so blunt. This mindset of me, me, me, is what many of us in our 20's have been fed with sense kindergarten. We are the best, we are the most important, and as long as we love ourselves that is all that matters. We have been told that we are our top priority.

This mindset has led to a generation that is obsessed with individuality and consumerism "Have it my way-ism". We are spoiled and don't like to share. Sacrifice and service??? Only on our terms when we can fit it between going to the gym, level 18 of World of Warcraft and March Madness. Obviously when we do this it is not really sacrifice and service, but don't tell me that, cause I need to feel good about myself for serving and sacrificing!

Ok, rant over, kinda...

Jessica Wakeman is at least blunt about her me, me, me attitude:

Let me be clear: I respect whatever other women choose to do because I'd want them to respect what I choose to do. Kids, no kids, puppies, iguanas, I don't care what your choice is. But I do care about the kind of judgments us women make against one another. But there's something about this particular judgment that has me puzzled -- really, what's so wrong with being selfish?
1. Women should be allowed to care about pleasing ourselves-- and only ourselves -- without being judged. What is wrong with a woman being selfish? Really. Think about it for a second. Why shouldn't we be selfish if it means we're meeting our own needs and taking care of ourselves? What's wrong with caring more about bringing pleasure to your own life than anything else?
It should not be as controversial as it apparently is for women to think of themselves first if they are not hurting anyone. Reasonable people agree a woman should make herself happy, but why do these people suddenly because so unreasonable when those women say it would make her happy to just focus on herself?

Read the Rest at CNN.COM

Justin Taylor responds well here:

The battle against selfishness is difficult, and a constant need. Marriage reveals a new level of it in our hearts, and having kids ups the ante significantly. But by God's grace we can battle the sin of selfishness.

Props: JT

False Dicotomies-Christopher J.H. Wright

2009-07-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

Over at the Zondervan blog, Koinonia, Chris Wright shares an answer he had at a conference to this question:

In what way have we as evangelical Christians failed to grasp or live out the fullness of God’s missional intent? How (if at all) has our theology of evangelism been weak?

His multi-part answer shows that Christianity if full of false dichotomies.

Click here to Check It Out. Part 1 and Part 2.

Carl Trueman on Hurt and Pain

2009-07-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Has someone hurt you? Are you involved in a conflict with another? Do you feel wronged and have a strong sense that you need to be proven right?

Read Reformation 21's brilliant and convicting piece from Carl Truman, if there is no repentance that comes from this, re-read it!!

Here is an Excerpt:

Expressions of hurt are too often really something else: cowardly attempts by representatives of a cosseted and self-obsessed culture to make themselves uniquely important or, worse still, to bully and cajole somebody they dislike to stop saying things they don't want to hear or which they find distasteful. My advice to such is akin to that of the counselor in the Bob Newhart sketch: Stop it! If somebody's writing or speaking hurts you, ask yourself "Why?", don't whine about the discomfort. Get a grip, get yourself some trousers, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and please, please, please, don't hide behind the aesthetic pietisms of the tiresome and clichéd `feel my pain while I process my hurt' posse. Have the backbone, have the decency - nay, have the honesty - to take your licks and move on, either to addressing the substance of the argument or to some area of endeavour that is, well, perhaps less painful and hurtful for you.

Jehoshaphat and the Fear of Man

2009-07-09T06:43:00.002-07:00

Growing up we were told the dangers of peer pressure. We will end up in jail, hooked on cocaine or worse. The reality is though it is not all peer pressure we were to avoid, breaking the law, yes that is bad. Getting a good job, pursuing the American Dream, well that kind of peer pressure is ok and helpful.

Scripture does not give us that wiggle room. We either listen to man or we listen to God. Either we follow our LORD or we follow the whims of man who are depraved and enemies of God. This does not mean that we never listen to others, but that we are aware of the lure of fearing the opinion of man is more dangerous than maybe we realize.

Over at Shepherd Press's Blog they have done a 2 part series on Jehoshaphat and how the fear of man can lead us down a deceptively dangerous road.

Here is an excerpt:

One of the more remarkable examples of peer pressure or fear of man found in the Bible is the story of Jehoshaphat and King Ahab in 2 Chronicles 18. The Spirit is God was gracious to provide such a clear and vivid account of the dynamics of peer pressure. There is much you can use in the chapter to teach your children about this all too common tendency of making the opinion of others more important than the opinion of God.

I encourage you to check these 2 parts out, and then search yourself for where this sin is present right now and repent. Trust in the One who perfectly trusted and followed God, Jesus Christ.

Click Here for Part One

and

Here for Part Two.

They Saw A Need-And Met It

2009-07-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of summer at The Well we discussed the need to not waste our lives on things of this world. We talked about how a wasted life is one that is spent chasing after comfort and safety, after the white picket fence, after the safe home and 401k plan. Through God's word we saw that life is meant to be "wasted" on glorifying God in all things, by making him look Glorious like He is in our words, actions and money.

Students from The Well have taken that call literally and are doing something they call Job 29 Ministries. It is a simple crew that takes food to the homeless and shares the gospel and love of Jesus. They did not need a committee to gather and plan or brainstorm, they just did it, cause Scripture said to do it. They did not wait for people to get behind it or others to see the need, they saw the need and they went. And God is being glorified and spread throughout Albuquerque.

Below is an excerpt on what they do and look forward to in the summer and fall:

We want this ministry to grow! Due to the irregularity of the summer, it is hard to set a specific and regular time to go out and help the poor and homeless of Albuquerque, NM. Many will be out of town frequently this summer, but our hope is to begin going on outreach trips to feed the homeless once a week when school starts. Kelsey and I (Leah) normally take care of all the preparations and then let everyone know where to be and when. However, Kelsey will be moving to Boston come fall and I will gladly accept any help. I will be having a sign-up sheet at The Well (Desert Springs Church) for those who are interested in coming on our outings, to put days and times that are regularly good for you. I will do my best to pick a day and time that will accommodate as many people as possible. Our outings take at the most 3 or 4 hours, but if you take your own transportation you are not required to stay the whole time. I can guarantee you that even though it is hard, it is definitely rewarding. We also want to expand this ministry come fall and winter. We not only want to feed those who are hungry, but we also want to provide blankets, jackets/coats/scarfs, and socks for the cold seasons. We are anticipating great things from our God who is mighty to save!

Click here to check out more from what they are calling Job 29 Ministries

If you are interested in helping email me at carlos@desertspringschurch.org

Job 29:12 "I delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper."

Today's Philosophers-Musicians

2009-07-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

From Minds 2 Mentes:

For thousands of years philosophy has been shaped as people’s ideas have been articulated into language and expression. Be it through myths and stories, epics poems and plays or deeper thoughts written about the meaning of life and the universe as a whole, philosophy has been a huge definer of culture.

Where are today’s philosophers? Today’s philosophers are our musicians. No longer is philosophy confined to the ivory towers of the world. No one seems to have the will to embark on that high climb anymore. Instead it has taken a new shape, or perhaps an old shape rediscovered, in the arts. Music in particular is the mode of the today’s culture’s thoughts about life and meaning. If you want to know what people hold as valuable, look to the songs. If you want to observe someone’s deepest fears and anxieties, look to the music they listen to. If you want to view a soul bared, look to the words they put to melody. Even the way people use their bodies to perform their lyrics express their philosophies.

The question is, is today’s philosophy productive in its quest for meaning? Are any answers being found? Are any theories being formulated? Or instead of the quest for knowledge has today’s philosophy become simply the culture of the status quo. Has philosophy lost it’s love of knowledge, the very thing the word means? Has philosophy become more about what’s “normal” and “acceptable” and “what everybody’s doing” than the quest for truth?
It seems only natural that philosophy has taken this route. After all, we live in a postmodern society. Today’s postmodern philosophers are our musicians.

John Piper: What Is God's Glory??

2009-07-07T10:14:00.003-07:00

God's Glory, a phrase that we use endlessly, a phrase we put on bumper stickers, but do we know what we are saying???

John Piper offers a explanation of what he means by God's Glory:

Yes 2 John Piper Videos in 1 day, but they are both worth immediate viewing!

Jesus Jr.

2009-07-07T10:09:00.002-07:00

From Ray Ortlund Jr.:

Our local deity is not Jesus. He goes by the name Jesus. But in reality, our local deity is Jesus Jr.

Our little Jesus is popular because he is useful. He makes us feel better while conveniently fitting into the margins of our busy lives. But he is not terrifying or compelling or thrilling. When we hear the gospel of Jesus Jr., our casual response is “Yeah, that’s what I believe.” Jesus Jr. does not confront us, surprise us, stun us. He looks down on us with a benign, all-approving grin. He tells us how wonderful we really are, how entitled we really are, how wounded we really are, and it feels good.

Jesus Jr. appeals to the flesh. He does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him. He is not able to understand them, much less impart them, because Jesus Jr. is the magnification of Self, the idealization of Self, the absolutization of Self turning around and validating Self, flattering Self, reinforcing Self. Jesus Jr. does not change us, because he is a projection of us.

It is time to tear down Jesus Jr. It is time to rediscover the real Jesus. Still today, even to us, his invitation stands: “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28).

John Piper on Financial Preperation

2009-07-07T06:01:00.001-07:00

Click Here for More Resources from John Piper

Hispanics and Christianity

2009-07-06T11:52:00.001-07:00

Very interesting report from Ed Stetzer, especially for a Hispanic in New Mexico as I am.

Barna found many similarities with the general American public, but also points out the differences in the faith of American Hispanics. From the Barna report:

How did the two populations differ spiritually? Based on the questions asked, gaps were discovered in just a handful of areas, including:
Hispanics remained somewhat more likely to believe that a good person can earn his or her way into Heaven
Americans, overall, were significantly more likely to claim that they are "absolutely committed" to Christianity (58% vs. 46%, respectively)
Hispanics are twice as likely as the aggregate adult base to be aligned with the Catholic church (44% vs. 22%, respectively)
Americans at-large were slightly more likely to be born again Christians (46% vs. 40%), based on their theological views

There is much more at the Barna site. Read the full story here.

A Great Visual of Christian Safety From Francis Chan

2009-07-06T08:41:00.002-07:00

What an amazing video from Francis Chan, of the look of those in the church that live for safe, comfortable lives. May this be humorous and embarrassing to watch, it was for me.

Chan's book "Crazy Love" is available on mp3 at Christian Audio for free this month. It is such a good book and well worth the price to go get it (it is well worth full price at Borders too if you want to read it).

Props: Holiday At The Sea

Mark Driscoll on The Facets of The Gospel

2009-07-03T11:43:00.003-07:00

Mark Driscoll on the complexities and scope of the Gospel, from his phenomenal book “Death By Love”:

“Perhaps the most succinct summary of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4:

'Now I would remind you, brothers of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the world I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.'

Here we see that the gospel is continual, in that we must continually be reminded of it; proclamational, in that it must be preached to us often, including preaching it to ourselves; personal, in that we must personally receive it in faith; essential, in that we must continually cling to it alone for the assurance of our salvation; central, in that it is the most important truth in all the world; eternal, in that it is passed on from one generation to the next without modification by religion; Christological, in that it is about the person and work of Jesus Christ alone; penal, in that the wage for sin-death-was paid; substitutional, in that Jesus’ death on the cross was literally in our place for our sins; biblical, in that it is in agreement with and the fulfillment of all Scripture; and eschatological, in that the resurrection of Jesus reveals to us our future hope of resurrected eternal life with him.” (Mark Driscoll, “Death by Love”, pg. 91-92)

Death is Not Dying

2009-07-03T08:22:00.003-07:00

Cancer has been on the radar in my family for over a decade as my mother has had many rounds with the disease. I can tell you from personal experience how amazing the Truth and Love of Jesus gives hope and comfort in the face of illness and even when thinking of death.

Rachel Barkey is another whose testimony is amazing and so God glorifying. If you are dealing with cancer or any type of terminal sickness (which we all are in some way or another when it comes to death) I encourage you to read this link from "Girl Talk" and then check out the site Death is Not Dying, and listen to Rachel's story.

From Girl Talk:

A friend of the family let us know that Rachel Barkey passed away yesterday morning. Please pray for her husband, Neil, and their two children and their extended families. If you have not yet watched Rachel’s video testimony of her battle with terminal cancer, we would strongly urge you to do so today.

We rejoice that Rachel is now in glory, free from pain and worshipping our Savior. For us here at girltalk, and we know, for many of you as well, she will always be a profound example of steadfast faith in Jesus Christ.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

Click Here for Video Testimony

A Word Against Bubble Christianity by Martin Luther

2009-07-02T12:31:00.001-07:00

I love this quote, it strikes right at the heart of safe, comfortable, fellowship-only Christianity. It is a quote from Martin Luther which is quoted by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his brilliant book "Life Together".

"The Kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared?" (Martin Luther)

Greater Risk, Greater Reward

2009-07-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

Zach shares some insights from Seth Godin about the relationship between risk and reward. He also offers a great way this does impact being a Christian and how we above all else can live reckless risky lives.

Marketing guru Seth Godin has an interesting post about what he calls risk/reward confusion. He writes:
It's easy to to adopt the policy of avoiding risk at all costs, that whenever possible, the products you launch or the engagements you have should be flawless and without downside.
Here's the problem: in most endeavors, a small increase in risk can double the reward. It's the second doubling of reward that brings serious risk with it. But the first leap is relatively painless.
In the chart above, notice that going from point A to point B brings almost no incremental risk. It might feel scary, but rationally, it's not. Doubling reward again from B to C, though, brings significant incremental risk. It's this second doubling that gets you through the Dip, that leads to a breakthrough, that makes you remarkable.
But I'm not even talking about that. I'm just hoping you'll warm up by making the tiny leap of avoiding all risk. Riskless is hardly worth your effort.

Though we probably don't need to take our cues from the business world, I think this all the more should be true of Christians who should be able to take huge risks for God because we believe in a sovereign God who doesn't.

Sobering Reflection by John Piper

2009-07-01T13:16:00.003-07:00

Hell is a reality. Hell is eternal. Hell is conscious torment and punishment. Hell is a reality.

May John Piper's reflections make us see eternity as longer than we think, and Hell as worse than we can imagine.

Crazy Love Audiobook for Free

2009-07-01T08:48:00.002-07:00

One of the best books I have read is Francis Chan's "Crazy Love". It is one of the first books I recommend to people who want to understand more about the Gospel and its' implications on a believer's life.

Christianaudio.com is for the month of July offering the Audiobook version for free. I cannot tell you how highly I recommend downloading this and listening to it.

Click Here to go download this Audiobook and also sign up for thier newsletter, as they offer a free audiobook every month and usually the books are really legit.

Click Here for more on "Crazy Love".

The Distinctiveness of God's Love

2009-07-01T08:40:00.002-07:00

Here is a quote from D.A. Carson that I read last night at The Well. Carson is talking about the "love" found in Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, a passage that is being used a lot right now in the midst of wedding season.

“If I must say in few words what is distinctive about God’s love for us, it is that it is self-originating. When a young man reveals his heart with a passionate declaration, “I love you!” at least in part he means that he finds the woman he loves lovely. At least some of his love is elicited by the object of that love. But God loves what is unlovely. If as John 3:16 tells us, God loves the world, it is not because the world is so lovely God cannot help himself: judging by John’s use of the term world, God loves the world only because of what he is. And derivatively, that is how Christians learn to love: they learn to love with love that is, like God’s, self-originating. Of course, unlike God’s love, ours is not absolutely self-originating; but it is self-originating in the sense that God’s grace so transforms the believer that his or her responses of love emerge out of the matrix of Christian character, and are correspondingly less dependent on the loveliness of the object.” (D.A. Carson, “Showing The Spirit”, pg. 65)

Confessions

2009-06-30T06:19:00.003-07:00

If you are a church planter or ministry leader I highly recommend watching or listening to this sermon from Darrin Patrick Teaching Pastor at The Journey Church in St. Louis, MO. Lauren and I watched it last night and it was convicting and eye opening to me as I lead out The Well and look towards one day church planting.

Click Here to Watch or Listen

Click Here to Learn More about The Journey Church in STL, I have been there it is a great church.

Jesus will Provide

2009-06-29T06:44:00.003-07:00

In times of economic worries it is so easy to want to cling to our money. Often we come to see how idolatrous and trusting in money we are in these moments. Take this reflection from John Piper on how we are so like the disciples and lose focus on how Jesus will meet our needs (actual needs, not wants).

From The Desiring God Blog:

After Jesus had fed both the 5,000 and the 4,000 with only a few loaves and fish, the disciples got in a boat without enough bread for themselves.
When they began to discuss their plight, Jesus said, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand?" (Mark 8:17). What didn't they understand?
They did not understand the meaning of the leftovers, namely, that Jesus will take care of them when they take care of others. Jesus said:
"When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
Understand what? The leftovers.
The leftovers were for the servers. In fact the first time there were twelve servers and twelve basketfuls left over (Mark 6:43). The second time there seven basketfuls left over—the number of abundant completeness.
What didn't they understand? That Jesus would take care of them. You can't outgive Jesus. When you spend your life for others, your needs will be met.

Men We Are In A War!

2009-06-17T10:44:00.002-07:00

One of the ladies from The Well passed this along...fellas watch this...fellas LIVE this!

Zach Morris on Jimmy Fallon

2009-06-12T07:55:00.002-07:00

Yes this ages me, but this was pretty funny and brought back some memories...

This Sums Up What The Well Is About!

2009-06-10T09:10:00.002-07:00

Over the past 5 weeks we have been discussing how to live a life that matters eternally at The Well. A lot of this has come from books like Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.

This Video basically encapsulates it all in 3 1/2 minutes...

Props: Tim Chester

Revitalizing a Church

2009-06-09T10:43:00.003-07:00

J.D. Greer over at Resurgence has posted some great points and thoughts about how to revitalize your church. And I think what he means by revitalize is good and needed, it has less to do with how to pack people in rather more to do with how to make disciples. You know, making disciples, kinda the main mission of the church this side of heaven.

Click Here to see all 4 parts

How Tim Keller Prepares A Sermon

2009-06-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Props: Unashamed Workman

No Flash, Just Fight!

2009-06-05T08:17:00.001-07:00

Um, yeah do you think that this dude learned the importance of remembering the main thing...to fight.

Props: JT

DO you Realize?

2009-06-05T08:03:00.002-07:00

May this quote that Ray Ortlund posted be an encouragement to you this weekend!

"Were you a likely candidate for salvation? Yet didn't God save you? And while he may have used some human instrument, don't you see that he would have saved you with or without any instrument? And haven't you seen other 'impossible' brothers and sisters delivered likewise by the incredible power of the invisible God?

Do you realize from whence you came? You were in the grip of hell. Demons had wrapped their chains about you. The god of this world had blinded your understanding. Yet God struck off your chains and the face of Christ illumined your soul. The damned around you are no more damned than you were, their chains no thicker, their darkness no deeper. Nor is the power of Christ to save them one whit less."

John White, The Golden Cow, pages 151-152.

Keeping The End In Mind

2009-06-04T07:51:00.003-07:00

This was incredibly refreshing to my soul today.

From The Redemption Blog:

My wife and I ran a half marathon a couple of years ago. Among many things, it was extremely difficult. About half way through the race I became separated from most of the other runners and for about 7 miles I ran alone.
With every step the desire to quit and keel over became stronger and thought of sitting down sounded heavenly. But the thing that kept me going was thinking about the moment of crossing the finish line.

This same thought does great good for my faith.

We (human beings) are all headed to the same end. Death. After we die, we will stand before Jesus and we will give an account for the life we lived on earth and nothing gets me more excited than thinking of hearing "Well done good and faithful servant," from my Savior.
Imagine this with me. All of our lives we live (hopefully) to worship Jesus and to please and honor him, then finally we see him face to face and he says "well done". Friends, there is nothing sweeter to live for!

This is what I think of when life is difficult or when I feel pride creeping up or when I have a chance to share the gospel. This is the thought that carries me through and motivates me to stay humble, keep the faith, and finish well.
I hope that it does the same for you and I hope we can spend eternity together enjoying God.

John Piper on Doubting His Devotion to Christ

2009-06-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

John Piper is one of the most respected leaders in the church today. He is loved by many young adults, and I believe this video is one of the big reasons, he is authentic about doubts and pains.

The Million Dollar Man's Testimony

2009-06-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

I grew up watching WWF (the wrestling organization now known as WWE). I was a Hulkamaniac and was a fierce opponent of Hulk's arch-nemesis "The Million Dollar Man". I am older and not so much into professional wrestling, but still have fond memories. Below is an interview with Ted DiBiase (aka The Million Dollar Man) about his spiritual journey. It really is an amazing testimony and is also very telling about the need for strong men in the church who are men, not boys, no matter how physcialy strong or rich you are.

Here is a very telling quote that I don't doubt ismore common in the church today:

Everything was going according to plan, and then [when I was ] 15 my dad died from a heart attack in the ring. My whole life flipped upside down. I had to move to a small town. I had to watch my mother dive into full-blown alcoholism and sink into self-pity. But I gained strength from the lessons my dad taught me, and I stayed out of trouble, worked hard, and became the first person from my little school to graduate and get a football scholarship.
But then, in college, pride crept into my life, and I started doing things I wouldn't have done previously—having a beer with the boys, and then parties on the weekends—and that's a slippery slope. I quit going to church altogether. There was no longer a male role model in my life to convict me, and I drifted away from God. I didn't graduate from college, I didn't make it to the NFL, and my first marriage ended in divorce after six years. My oldest son is from that marriage.

Ted then goes on to describe his wanderings away from the church and his marital infidelity and a wife who loved Jesus more than him and because of that love stayed with him through it.

I knew I had failed as a man. Afterward my wife came to me and said: "I don't have the strength to forgive you. But God is a God of restoration and not divorce. Because I want to be obedient to Him and for no other reason, I'm going to give you a chance you don't deserve."

Stories of Jesus' transforming power like this need to be celebrated more, and not just because he is a celebrity, but because stories of restoration and hope in broken lives especially marriages need to be shared! After all, our God is in the business of restoring what was once broken and making all things new.

Click below to read the whole interview and testimony from New Man Magazine.

John Piper: Prayer is Not a Butler Bell

2009-06-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

I love this analogy and it has revolutionized the way I pray and think about prayer. Seriously, John Piper is the coolest uncool guy I know of!

The More You Know

2009-06-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

Props. Micheal K.