I watched Nacho Libre for the first time just a few nights ago. It was one of those totally stupid movies that you couldn’t help but laugh at. There were a few scenes that I really got a kick out of. One of them was a scene about baptism and I actually found a church that was using that scene to promote their Baptismal Sundays. Check it out…
Here is another scene that I found hilarious. Someone doctored this scene up.
Alright, I’m looking for input from all of you. What is working on Wednesday nights at the churches you attend? Our Wednesday night program seems to be hanging by a thread. We do the traditional Bible classes from 7-8pm. Fewer and fewer are showing up, and the ones that do show up complain. So, what is working in your churches?
Two Sundays ago I was able to attend one of my favorite churches to visit, White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ. One of the Sr. Ministers, Alan Roberston, is a dear friend and mentor. It is always exciting to be at WFR and spend time with Alan. This particular Sunday was no exception.
There is a video going around called Cardboard Testimonies. It is a great video that you should check out. WFR decided to do their own version of Cardboard Testimonies. If any church has the right people to testify to the amazing transformational power of God it is WFR. The only way I can describe this church is real.
Anyway, Kate cried throughout the lesson. I have to admit that I had to wrestle some tears back too, but I’m a manly man so I won the wrestling match, ha! The cardboard testimony that touched my heart the most was one given by an elderly black man that walked with a cane. He slowly made his way up to the stage and held up a sign that said, “Satan said I was garbage.” Then he flipped the sign over and the other side said, “Jesus said he recycles garbage!”
There were many people who testified to overcoming drug addictions, porn addictions, loss of spouses and children, etc… They were all so powerful, but for some odd reason the testimony of that elderly black man touched me the most.
I read an awesome book while on vacation last week. You should definitely pick up a copy and read it ASAP. The book is Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I do not think you will be disappointed at all.
Scripture is meant to be lived, not just learned. I often feel like a broken record because I talk about this a lot. But I feel like this is an important reminder, especially in the land of academia where I live (Purdue University). This is a reminder for me, as much as it is for anyone reading this. Scripture is meant to be lived, not just learned! James gives us this much needed reminder in his letter when he writes, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are just fooling yourselves.” ~ James 1:22
I ran across an article the other day that was discussing the difference between the methodology of Greek education and Hebrew education. In this article the author writes, “Greek education focused on content. Hebrew education focused on relationship. Greek teachers tried to shape students’ minds. Hebrew teachers tried to shape students’ hearts. Greek students were to learn what their teacher knew. Hebrew students were to become what their teacher was.”
I found this quote interesting. Our schools are built upon this Greek methodology of education. They are designed to dispense knowledge; to fill heads with information. That makes sense because that is what schools are all about - shaping minds. But is this what our churches should be focused on? Are we to be in the business of merely shaping minds? I don’t think so. I believe that scripture is more concerned with what we do than with what we know (although WHO we know is vitally important!). Again, scripture is meant to be lived, not just learned.
The author of that article also wrote, “In the Greek model the goal is for the students to LEARN what their teachers KNOW. In the Hebrew model the goal is for the disciple to BECOME what his teacher IS.” My opinion is that most churches have adopted this Greek methodology in our churches. Churches have become dispensers of information. It is easier because it is less personal. It doesn’t take much investment in each other’s lives. You show up, hear a bunch of information, and go home. But I don’t believe it is biblical. With this in mind, here is my prayer:
Dear God, may I always put before me the goal of BECOMING, not just LEARNING. May I focus on shaping lives, not just shaping minds. I pray that I will always remember that scripture is meant to be lived so that everyday I look more and more like your Son. Amen.
Over on Josh’s blog he writes, “Churches are a direct reflection of their leadership. If you don’t like the spirituality of your church, you’d better first change the spirituality of your leaders.”
What a challenging quote. I’m going to forget I ever read this, ha!
I am constantly amazed by disciples who can suffer so much loss, yet remain as faithful and as committed as ever. In the past couple of months I know of a preacher who lost his 18 year old son, a good friend who had to give a baby back to some parents who suddenly changed their minds about giving the baby up for adoption, grandparents who had to watch their granddaughter lose a baby early in pregnancy, and another family who had to watch their mother die in a hospital room at an early age. It is almost as if there is tragedy around every corner. But in all those cases a renewed faith and commitment were the response. It truly amazes me.
I took a class at Lipscomb on the book of Lamentations. In this class the professor described a lament as a time when faith and reality clash, and faith wins. Our faith calls us to believe in the good of all situations. Faith gives us hope and optimism. But reality is not always good. Reality often makes it difficult to be optimistic. Reality can be ugly. Often times faith and reality clash. It is in these moments when we need a renewed faith and commitment.
A song we, and many other churches, sing on Sunday mornings comes from time like this. We sing the words, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness (Lam. 3:21-23).” Such beautiful faith-filled words in the midst of such darkness. They are words that provide an amazing witness to the power of faith. These words served to lift God’s children when they needed it most.
All of the people above who have been a part of such dark times have uttered words like those found in Lamentations. When their faith and their reality clashed, they stood on the side of faith and cried out in a loud voice, “Great is thy faithfulness!” When their hearts were broken they sang aloud, “His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning.” They decided a long time ago that faith would always win. Again, I find that amazing.
I look at the lives of these people, and their responses to these situation, and I pause to ask, “Have I decided that faith would always win?”
First, I want to apologize for not having any new post on here in a while. I’ve been consumed by all the sports going on lately. My Cubs are playing extremely well. I find myself drawn to watching UEFA Euro 2008 (that Turkey vs. Czech game was amazing). The Celtics/Lakers series is going longer than I expected. I was sure hoping Boston would sweep L.A., but the Lakers are sticking in there. And yesterday, for some odd reason, I was glued to the Tigers Woods/Rocco Mediate match (I say odd because I like to play golf, but watching it is so boring).
I’ll try to do better.
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A lot of preachers are blogging. Almost all of the names on the side panel are of blogging preachers. I have built some friendships through blogging. Many of these men I consider friends I have never met in person. I call them my blogging friends. Anyway, I had a crazy thought the other day. What if I and all my blogging friends could do a pulpit swap for just one day (we could all just mix it up… maybe pull names out of a hat for each church)? I thought that would be awesome… not realistic, but awesome. But then another thought hit me: What would be my one-time message at another church? If I wasn’t given a topic, what would I choose to talk about?
If one of my blogging friends was to come here and preach what would be your message?
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This Sunday I will start a new sermon series that is focused totally on Romans 12. I’ve broken the chapter up into a couple of different sermons. One of my main points for this Sunday is that a good theology that does not lead to good living is actually bad theology.
