New Year - a new blog?

2005 is drawing to a rapid close. It has been a year of milestones for me and my family. My oldest daugther went off to college. (That was harder than I thought is was going to be). My youngest daughter needed hearing aids. (A real answer to prayer - the insurance reversed its original stance and paid all but $500 of the bill!! Praise God!) My wife, Kathy, went to work part time to help pay for college. My step father is currently undergoing his second round of chemo therapy.
And yet, through all of this - God is good. I remember the story of a minister who almost drowned. He was rescued and given mouth to mouth. As the minister came back to life he looked in the eyes of his spiritual mentor and said, "Boy, God is good!" to which to old mentor replied, "If you would have drowned; God would still be good!"
I don't know what you've faced this past year or what you will face next year. But what I do know is this: God is good. ALL the time!

A Good Christmas

Hope you had a great Christmas. This one was a quiet one for us. My mother and step-dad usually come up from Texas; however, this year he is undergoing round two of chemo therapy for prostrate cancer. Needless to say, they stayed home. Just wasn't the same not having the grandparents with us. Plus, we had our candlelight service on Christmas night instead of Christmas Eve - so, I was really out of sync this year!
My Christmas presents usually follow a theme- last year I go a bunch of accessories for my iPod; this year it was a Andy Griffith theme - two calendars, seasons three and four of TAGS (the Andy Griffith Show) - which is just fine with me! Love Andy Griffith!
It's been one of the warmest Decembers here in Utah in recent memory. Bummer. I love the snow and cold - gets me in the holiday mood. Again, another reason to be out of sync.
How was your Christmas?

It is finshed?

I'm on a quest during these two weeks that I have no sermon to prepare for. I love Paul's statement, "I have run the race, I have finished the course . . ." The idea of finishing something is exhilirating . . . gives you a since of accomplishment. Its a good feeling, isn't it?
So, during these two weeks of "down time" - I hope to finish some things I have started. i have already finished a movie I started a month ago - saw the second half a few nights ago. I now hope to finish MYST III Exile, which I've had for several years now. I have a two portraits to finish - maybe I'll just pick one and complete the drawing for the person who commissioned it. I hope to finish reading "Magician's Nephew," "Ender's Game" & "Freakonomics," before starting any other new books.
I'm great at starting things, but not always finishing. This, I hope, will be a season of finishing! Which, come to think of it, has already started. I've finished my Christmas shopping and this blog!
I'm off to a great start! Anything you want to finish?

memories

Loved the movie "Walk The Line" - which chronicled the life of Johnny Cash. The movie brought back some great memories of when my dad would put on a stack of records every night at bed time - Johnny Cash (A lot of Johnny Cash!), Charlie Pride, Mere Haggard, Porter Wagner, Loretta Lynn, etc. You can one of those albums on right now and I can tell you what the next song is going to be!
I wonder what my kids will remember from their childhoods? Here's the deal - you can't always choose what kids will remember. In other words, you can't force memories. I do think we can be intentional - create "memories" - but for the most part, I think memories just flow out of "normal" living.
What are some of your memories?

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A family missed assembly yesterday - so I talked with them last night and asked why. They said that with packing to leave for the holiday that they were just too stressed to come to church. Are we missing something when Christ came to give us peace yet we are too stressed to come and celebrate that peace?! Or, does it say something about how we do church? (Sometimes adding stress instead of relieving it?) Any thoughts?

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Our church packed out a theater on Saturday to see "Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". WOW! What a fantastic movie! Any reaction of the film? I thought the kids, especially Lucy, were great for their roles. Well done, Disney!

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Favorite Books of 2005

With all due respect to Julie Andrews - here are a few of my favorite things from 2005. I know that as soon as a publish this post, I'll think of a book or movie that I forgot about. (Some of these were released before 2005 - I'm including them because I either read or saw them in 2005. )

My favorite Christian books 0f 2005:
1.) Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
2.) Visioneering by Andy Stanley
3.) Breakout Churches by Tom Rainer
4.) The Present Future by Reggie Neal
5.) Creating Community by Andy Stanley


Favorite Fiction books:

1.) Half Blood Prince
2.) Kite Runner
3.) Lion, Witch & Wardrobe
4.) Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
5.) Because of Winn-Dixie
6.) Color of Law

Favorite Movies of 2005:

Cinderella Man
Narnia
Star Wars III
Batman Begins
Walk the Line
Goblet of Fire
To End All Wars (on DVD)
Willie Wonka & Chocolate Factory
Hitch

What are some of your favorite things of 2005?

Narnia ideas; Favorite Things of 2006?

Our church has rented a showing of "Narnia". Been thinking about doing a couple of sermons on Narnia. If any of you have any ideas on that - I would love to hear them.

Speaking of movies - I have a fantastic movie to recommend. Its called "To End All Wars". There is a scene in the movie that you will think "no, that didn't happen" - but, according to the director - he checked it out before including it in the movie - and he says that it did happen. Great film for showing "the gospel". It is rated R for intense POW scenes. WOW! What a movie!

I've been thinking of making my list of my favorte things from 2006. Before I give my list - any favorite movies, books, TV show, song, album, etc. for you?

Leaders Retreat

I'm exicted for a retreat I'll be attending this weekend. I'm not exicted about the speaker - there isn't one. I'm not excited about the location - I'm staying in town.
This is what is exciting to me -the ministers and shepherds of the Southside Church are gathering in a Salt Lake motel for a time of prayer and visioning for the coming year. I'm also excited that our wives are joining us for a breakfast session- because we need their insights! We are all fasting for the 24 hours leading up to our time together.
I'm really excited to see what God is going to do this weekend.

Thanksgiving Traditions

We have a great Thanksgiving tradition here at Southside we call "Pie Night". The idea is that on Thanksgiving day you have the best meal of the day - and you're too full to enjoy the best desserts of the day. So, on the night before Thanksgiving - everybody brings their favorite pie - and we have a great time of fellowship! Last night was wonderful. Huge crowd. Many guests!

This year we also started a new tradition. Our Thursday morning men's prayer group invited anyone to come and pray with them. The prayer time had one hitch - you couldn't ask for anything. The whole prayer time centered on thanking God! (Harder than it sounds!) We had a great time of prayer this morning. A new tradition has been born!

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

This N' That

I've found a new writer that does John Grisham better than John Grisham does John Grisham. The book is "Color of Law" by Mark Gimenez. He's not as "clean" as Grisham - but a good read nevertheless. Could be a good idea for Christmas if a Grisham fan lives at your house.

Going to the BYU vs. Utah game tomorrow at BYU. I think the Utes will get their lunch handed to 'em - but it should be fun. I love rivalry games. In your mind, what is the biggest rivalry in college football?

Its time for college hoops! Bout time! I love college basketball. You can have the NBA. Maybe the Hogs will have a good year. Lord knows we're due.

Jan Karon just published her last Midford series books. (she will continue books about the old pastor - just not in Midford). I love those books - along with the Harmony series by Philip Gurley. Both are about a pastor in a small town. Like good hot chocolate - both of these series will warm the soul. Good stuff.

Just saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Five stars! Two thumbs up. Had a great father -daughter date.

Have a great weekend.

The Present Future

I love the six tough questions that Reggie Neal posses in his book "The Present Future". First, he gives us the wrong question, then he asks the "right" question. This was a very thought provoking book for me. I would strongly recommend this read to elders, ministers and members alike - then, come together and have a round table discussion!
First wrong question: How Do We Do Church Better? The tough question is "How do we deconvert from Churchianity to Christianity? Quote, "North American Christians think in terms of its institutional expression, the church, as opposed to thinking about Christianity in terms of a movment."
Second wrong question: How Do We Grow This Church? (How do we get them to come to us?) Tough question: How do we transform our community? (How do we hit the streets with the Gosopel?)
Third wrong question: How do we turn members into ministers. (Watch out, Rick Warren!) Tough question: How we turn members into missionaries?
I love this quote, "The first Reformation was about freeing the church. The new Reformation is about freeing God's people from the church (institution).
Fourth wrong question: How do we develop church members?
Tough question: How do we develop followers of Jesus?
Fifth wrong question: How do we plan for the future?
Tough question: How do we prepare for the future?
Sixth Wrong Question: How do we develop leaders for the work of the church?
Tough question: How do we develop leaders for the Christian movement?

Now, as with any book, I don't agree with everything the writer says. Few books have made me think out of the box has this book did.

Do you have a book to recommend?

The Church is my voo-doo doll?

After several weeks of just awesome Sundays - it was bound to happen. Our worship leader called to say that he couldn't be there - had to get a last minute replacement, the computer that runs our projector blew up; the chairs in the worship center were a mess; a teacher came in and needed help with the copier, so I did all that instead of having quite time and focusing on the sermon. (Church is like that sometimes; you have to do the "stuff" - no time for what you're really called to do!) As we were in the service, the men went to serve the Lord's Supper. It wasn't there! No one had thought to get it from the kitchen.
As I was walking out of the building following second assembly, someone yells at me - "who is going to lock up?!". Translation - "Hey, Randy - lock up the building!". I did.
Here's the deal - when the church has a great day - I feel great! When the church has a bad day - I tend to be discouraged and down. If the church is going through a growth spurt, I'm excited and everything looks rosey. If the church is struggling - I get down and negative about everything. The church becomes a voodoo doll in terms of my emotions. THAT is not good, but if I'm honest - too often it is true.
Here's hoping we have a good Sunday next week!

Getting at the Heart of Things

Lately, our church has experienced a new awakening. We are focusing on those who are "out of the assembly". First, we are visiting the shut ins who can't come. We don't take the supper "to" them but come to take it "with" them. What a great blessing it has been - both to them that are shut in but also for those who have gone to minister to them. Second, we are collecting food every month for the Crossroads Urban Center - a shelter that ministers to the working poor. We helped them with their annual bazar and will help them with getting 3,000 turkey dinners to the families the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Third, we are collecting food for the Utah Food Bank for their Thanksgiving drive. Fourth, we are making Gift Baskets For the Elderly. Great way to encourage our senior saints! Fifth, the school that meets in our building (run by one of our members) is collecting Christmas Shoe Boxes to send out next week. Sixth, Sub for Santa is an annual outreach for us. We usually help 50 or so children with providing Christmas presents for them.
There is more to do! We are trying to be more active in meeting the needs of our community. We are trying to make this a year round attitude - not just an emphasis for the "holidays".
I would love to hear what your church is doing! For example, I know of two churches here in Salt Lake that are combining their efforts to do their own "home maker" for a single mother!
May we not be weary in well doing!

Applause to the Eagles!

I applaud Coach Andy Reid and the entire Philadelphia Eagles organization. They recently suspended "superstar" receiver Terrell Owens for comments and behavior affecting the team. The TEAM - a word that Owens doesn't understand. He was upset that the team didn't acknowldege some individual milestone that Owens set in a game several weeks ago. He has time and time again put down McNab (the quarterback) and other teammates in interviews. He wanted to redo his contract (a 7 year contract, if I remember right) the very second someone else signed a better deal that the one he received.
He has started fights with teammates in the locker room. In a press conference Coach Reid said that the organization doesn't acknowledge "individual" acomplishemts - only TEAM acomplishments. Man, I love that!
Owens offered a lame apology. Didn't mention McNab or his coach in his statement. Following that, the team suspended him for the rest of the season! Owens will loose $800,000! The team plans to trade him in the off season.
In a sports world filled with "superstars" (not super teams!) - where its all about "me" - stands the Philadelphia Eagles! Its all about the team, baby!
May their numbers increase.

Incredible Video

Watched a DVD last night entitled "Mark's Gospel" by Max McLean. WOW! He resites the entire gospel from memory. He is an actor, so the presentation is very dramatic. Very, very moving. It is 101 minutes long, but goes very fast! We are planning a special Saturday or Sunday night presentation here at Southside. Cost is only $11.99! Just go to www.visionvideo.com and get this great ministry resource!

Are You Giving What You Expect to Get?

Are You Giving What You Expect to Get?

In the spirit of the principle of reaping and sowing – I’ve noticed a growing trend among Christians. They want to reap but they don’t have time for the “sowing”. A few examples:
People expect, and want, the church to be friendly – but when they come to assembly, they greet no one, have a frown on their face, sit by themselves, leave quickly, - and do this week after week all the while expecting the church to be warm and inviting.
People brag about how great their church is – great classes; great small groups; great worship, etc. but they never have the time to teach, attend or take part in leading an assembly.
People love to see baptisms – but they haven’t invited anyone to assembly or started up a conversation about faith for fear of being seen as misfits at work.
People love to be noticed when they miss the assembly; but don’t call others when they miss the assembly! People love for others to help them in their time of need – but they never have the time to help others.
There seems to be a gap between what most of us are willing to “give” versus what we expect to “get” out of this thing called church.
Try this – determine to "be" the church like the one you are drawn to: smile and say hi to everyone you see at worship assembly; teach a children’s class; get involved in a small group, invite someone to come to worship assembly; serve others (even when you have other things you would rather do); give sacrificially (at least 10%); - and see if you are not a changed person! Try this for six months and see if your church is not a changed church!
The kingdom will only grow as fast as we grow as individual disciples.
You know the old definition of insanity – doing the same things but expecting different results! Let’s get new results by having new attitudes which will yield new habits!

Behold, All Things Are New!
Randy

Favorite Halloween Candy?

Seeing my daughters come hom Monday night with their haul of candy brought back memories of me and my two brothers coming home with our sacks full of sugary sweets. We would put them by our beds and eat all night. (No wonder we woke at 3 am with stomach aches).
But this leads me to the question of the day. In seeing the candy spread out over the living room floor - my daughters put the candy in piles - one pile is their favorites; one pile is to be eaten after all the favorites are gone - the third pile is for daddy (translation: all the stuff they don't like). In my stack are things like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Baby Ruth, 3 Musketeers Bar, Milky Way (dark), Whoppers. (I remember eating whoppers out of milk carton container. Do you?) How did I rasie kids who don't like the good stuff?
Here's the question: What is your favorite candy? Give me the "discard" pile any day, and throw in a Snickers . How bout you?

Some Drama in Our Church

Yesterday, our congregation had a great day. We met, as we usually do on the 5th Sunday, at Oquirrh Elementary. Meeting there allows us to be in one assembly and have a potluck in the cafeteria. A ton of guests came to see the "play" - One of our young men had written a drama "I've Been Crucified With Christ". It was beautifully done! After the drama, one of our shepherds made a tearful application of the skit just presented - led us into a moment of celebrating the Supper. The praise team sang beautifully. Guests came who were seeking a church home. The potluck was wonderful - almost everyone stayed and enjoyed some great food and fellowship. (Even most of the guests!) It was a great day!
The REAL drama came after the assembly - when just a few hours later one of our elders received a phone call from a member who had "concerns" about the assembly. Because they were upset (my suspicion) - they didn't stay for the potluck. My guess is they went home to eat camels and swallow gnats. We had a better lunch at the school - getting to know the guests and welcome them back.
It was a great day. Did your congregation have a good day yesterday?

This an That

With the passing of Rosa Parks this week we were all reminded that one person can make a difference. Thank you, Rosa. May we all find our purpose!

If you enjoy reading, pick up the book "The Kite Runner". You will need to keep reminding yourself that the book is fiction. You will not want to put it down. Great read. I'm always in the market for a good book - if you've read a good one lately, let me know! Recommendations are the best source for a good book.

If you want to see an old fashion good movie, treat yourself to "Dreamer". The whole family will enjoy this one, especially if you have a girl or boy who loves horses.

If anyone knows where I can get a copy of the book " Trusting God In The Storms of Life" by John Mark Hicks, please let me know. It is out of print.

The Great Omission?

Really enjoyed hearing Dallas Willard speak at the Utah Pastor's Conference. Now, I am reading his book "Spirit of the Disciplines". I love his discussion of the "Great Commission" -

Have we done what is necessary to bring the earnest convert into his or her possessions as a child of God, as a brother or sister of Jesus Christ in the new life? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a clear no. So we can only describe the phrase, "teaching them to do all things whatsoever I have commanded you," as the Great Omission from the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20.

Too harsh? Simple make an inquiry of your own. As your church, "What is our group's plan for teaching our people to do everything Christ commanded?"

Does your church have a plan? What is it?

covered in grace

The LDS (Mormon) Tabernacle here in Salt Lake City is undergoing a much needed renovation. Built in 1853 by Mormon pioneers, the Tabernacle is known by its unbelievable acoustics, is getting a new roof. The famous domed top is right now covered in insulation. The brand of insulation? Grace. Right now, if you looked at the new insulation - you would see the word "grace" hundreds of times stuck to the domes skin.
You could say that the domed structured in insulated in "grace". May it come to be true for all of us! We are, as believers, covered in God's grace. And now, the LDS Tabernacle, is covered in grace as well.
You gotta love it.

Top Songs of 1976

A trip down memory lane. Pick out your favorite songs! Hard to believe I actually liked some of these! Looks like a down year for music! Back then I was mainly into Charlie Pride, Mere Haggard, CCR, etc. Maybe I can find the top 100 country songs tomorrow?

Top 100 Hits of 1976 / Top 100 Songs of 1976
1. Silly Love Songs, Paul McCartney and Wings
2. Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John and Kiki Dee
3. Disco Lady, Johnnie Taylor
4. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night), Four Seasons
5. Play That Funky Music, Wild Cherry
6. Kiss And Say Goodbye, Manhattans
7. Love Machine (Part 1), The Miracles
8. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, Paul Simon
9. Love Is Alive, Gary Wright
10. A Fifth Of Beethoven, Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band
11. Sara Smile, Daryl Hall and John Oates
12. Afternoon Delight, Starland Vocal Band
13. I Write The Songs, Barry Manilow
14. Fly, Robin, Fly, Silver Convention
15. Love Hangover, Diana Ross
16. Get Close, Seals and Crofts
17. More, More, More, Andrea True Connection
18. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
19. Misty Blue, Dorothy Moore
20. Boogie Fever, Sylvers
21. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight, England Dan and John Ford Coley
22. You Sexy Thing, Hot Chocolate
23. Love Hurts, Nazareth
24. Get Up And Boogie, Silver Convention
25. Take It To The Limit, Eagles
26. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty, K.C. and The Sunshine Band
27. Sweet Love, Commodores
28. Right Back Where We Started From, Maxine Nightingale
29. Theme From "S.W.A.T", Rhythm Heritage
30. Love Rollercoaster, Ohio Players
31. You Should Be Dancing, Bee Gees
32. You'll Never Find Antoher Love Like Mine, Lou Rawls
33. Golden Years, David Bowie
34. Moonlight Feels Right, Starbuck
35. Only Sixteen, Dr. Hook
36. Let Your Love Flow, Bellamy Brothers
37. Dreamweaver, Gary Wright
38. Turn The Beat Around, Vicki Sue Robinson
39. Lonely Night (Angel Face), The Captain and Tennille
40. All By Myself, Eric Carmen
41. Love To Love You Baby, Donna Summer
42. Deep Purple, Donny and Marie Osmond
43. Theme From "Mahogany", Diana Ross
44. Sweet Thing, Rufus
45. That's The Way I Like It, K.C. and The Sunshine Band
46. A Little Bit More, Dr. Hook
47. Shannon, Henry Gross
48. If You Leave Me Now, Chicago
49. Lowdown, Boz Scaggs
50. Show Me The Way, Peter Frampton
51. Dream On, Aerosmith
52. I Love Music (Pt. 1), O'Jays
53. Say You Love Me, Fleetwood Mac
54. Times Of Your Life, Paul Anka
55. Devil Woman, Cliff Richard
56. Fooled Around And Fell In Love, Elvin Bishop
57. Convoy, C.W. McCall
58. Welcome Back, John Sebastian
59. Sing A Song, Earth, Wind and Fire
60. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, Tavares
61. I'll Be Good To You, Brothers Johnson
63. Shop Around, The Captain and Tennille
64. Saturday Night, Bay City Rollers
65. Island Girl, Elton John 66.
Let's Do It Again, Staple Singers
67. Let 'Em In, Paul McCartney and Wings
68. Baby Face, Wing and A Prayer Fife and Drum Corps
69. This Masquerade, George Benson
70. Evil Woman, Electric Light Orchestra
71. Wham Bam, Silver
72. I'm Easy, Keith Carradine
73. Wake Up Everybody (Pt. 1), Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes
74. Summer, War
75. Let Her In, John Travolta
76. Fox On The Run, Sweet
77. Rhiannon, Fleetwood Mac
78. Got To Get You Into My Life, Beatles
79. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love), Bee Gees
80. Getaway, Earth, Wind and Fire
81. She's Gone, Daryl Hall and John Oates
82. Rock And Roll Music, Beach Boys
82. Still The One, Orleans
83. You're My Best Friend, Queen
84. With Your Love, Jefferson Starship
85. Slow Ride, Foghat
86. Who'd She Coo, Ohio Players
88. Walk Away From Love, David Ruffin
89. Baby, I Love Your Way, Peter Frampton
90. Young Hearts Sun Free, Candi Staton
91. Breaking Up's Hard To Do, Neil Sedaka
92. Money Honey, Bay City Rollers
93. Tear The Roof Off The Sucker, Parliament
94. Junk Food Junkie, Larry Groce
95. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again, Barry Manilow
96. Rock And Roll All Nite, Kiss
97. Disco Duck, Rick Dees
97. The Boys Are Back In Town, Thin Lizzy
98. Take The Money And Run, Steve Miller Band
99. Squeeze Box, The Who
100. Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.), Glen Campbell

Being generous

Yesterday, our little 250 member congregation gave over $11,000! $6,600 plus was given to hurricane relief (church of Christ disaster relief fund), the rest to our regular contribution. Now, before I say anything, please know that I am proud of our church for giving as they did. Here's the question - why do we have to wait for a crisis to be so generous? If we, as God's people, were giving like we should (with 10% as the beginning point) - would we have to have "special contributions"? Why don't we just give every week like that?
My daughther, who is freshman at Oklahoma Christian, called me to tell me that a bunch of students and faculty are headed to the gulf coast during fall break to help with the clean up. She was going to Dallas to spend a few days with her grandmother (and no doubt do some shopping!). I'm really proud that she wants to go down and serve - instead of being served. They will sleep in tents - a fact that plays a part in this because my daugther hates to camp out! We all should get out of our comfort zones for others more often. Okay - thanks for letting me brag a little.
Hope you have a blessed day.

The Real FEMA.

The warning was issued far in advance. Hurricane coming. Many residents of the Big Easy had always talked of the ‘big one’ coming one day. Some found it hard to believe.
Some left immediately. No questions. Some left quickly. A few investigate; then packed and left. Others lagged behind but eventually they decided it was best to leave. Some stayed. Some were stuck – they had no way of getting out because no one came to get them. A few were just defiant – stubborn souls who clung to their right to be foolish.
What a tragedy!! Sad. We will be counting the dead for quite a while. New Orleans is a ghost town; a watery morgue of floating corpses.
Sad. Much of this could have prevented.

Will it be any different when the Son of Man comes? The warning has been issued. Jesus is coming! The “big one”will come one day. Some find it hard to believe.
Some have heeded the warning with immediate action. Some have investigated, and then saw the wisdom in obeying. Others lag behind in apathy. Some are stuck in disbelief. A few will be defiant till the end.
Will we, who know He is coming, brave the murky waters of sin and its diseases to rescue those who are in harms way?
What a tragedy it will be! It will take eternity to count the spiritually dead. A lake of fire – with no water in sight.
Sad. Sad….. Much of this can be prevented . . .

The real FEMA -- F(ather’s) E(ternal) M(essage) A(rmy),
Randy

The Answer

As hard as it is to believe - Creedence Clearwater Revival - never had a #1 hit. They had many double sided hits on 45's - if you're old enough to remember those. Still, its great driving music.

A lot of #2's but no #1?

One of my favorite bands from the 70's had dozens of hits that reached #2 on billboard - even had a #1 album, but I was surprised to find that they never had a #1 hit. Know who they are?

taking daughter to college

Spent the last few days taking my oldest daughter to Oklahoma Christian University. A 19 hour drive. She is our first to break the apron strings and strike out on her own. I must confess, it was hard to do - back out of the parking lot with her standing there crying. I had visions of a little two year old standing in the doorway crying when I would leave for a youth retreat or camp. Where as the time gone? (I hear the words to "Sunrise, Sunset"coming to mind).
As I was driving home this thought hit me - up to now, all her memories have been with her family; now her memories will be made without us. Kinda made me sad.
No doubt this will be a major transistion for all of us. She has been a part of our daily lives for 18 years.
I look forward to the new relationship we will have - and the joy of seeing years of planting begin to yield its crop of maturity as she navigates the winds of college.
As I look back on my college days at Harding (1976 - 1980) the transistion was hard, but those were some of the best years of my life. I hope the same for my daughter.
Any advice for you that have been through these waters? Do's? Don'ts???

Question

I grew up signing the song "Anywhere With Jesus" - with these words, "anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, anywhere he leads me in this world below . . " Here's the question. I've been invited to do a 10 Bible teaching time with the church in Saudi Arabia. To say that my family is nervous about this would be an understatement. Should I go?

Met the goal today!

A few months ago I set a goal to loose a few pounds. Today, I weighed in at 160! Did it with walking 6-7 miles a day (a great time to pray!) 7 days a week - no chips, do desserts, smaller portions, drinking a lot of water, etc. Feels good to reach a goal. Now, on to phase two - resistance training - still have some flab to work off. ( I will still walk!) As I was told, you won't look like you did when you were 25; you are 47! Ouch! Did I need to hear that?
I just don't want to be a fat old preacher!
Do you have any goals that you are trying to reach?

Went to K2 Today

This was a fifth Sunday, which meant that our service centers around the Lord's Supper. We always say "as we gather around the table" - well, we actually do - we sit in the round. No preaching - sometimes faith stories; a lot of old fashioned scripture reading; taking a longer period of time to celebrate the Supper. I love 5th Sundays! It gives me an opportunity to visit local churches.
I fellowship with about 20 "pastors" every month in various meetings during each month; so, I pick one of their churches and surprise them.
Today, I went to a church plant called "K2 The Church". They've been meeting for ten months, and average about 600! They really are geared to the non-churched Gen Xers. They meet in a old warehouse, where they share the building with another church plant that meets there on Saturday night (The Salt City Rock Church, led by my good friend Bill Young). Imagine - churches sharing a building! Love that team work!
Saw some things that we can learn from and do better on (some of the reason I visit these growing churches!) - but also came away for an appreciation of Southside in many ways.
I would encourage you to go and visit another church every now and then. 1) It keeps you fresh with how a visitor feels; 2) You learn something you can do better; 3) You encourage a fellow minister; 4) You grow unity in the body of Christ; 5) You will always learn something about yourself!
When you go and visit them; they will come and visit you! Bridges are always a good thing to build.

Theological Pagans

Keith has been my neighbor for the last 12 years. When you saw him he was always sipping a beer. He couldn't say good morning without taking the Lord's name in vain. He didn't care if my four year old was standing there with me, his language was as colorful as the land of Oz. He smoked liked a chimney. Took me four years to realize his house didn't have a fireplace.

He was religious. When I asked him about if he had faith, "Hell, yea. I'm Greek Orthodox. Great church," then add, "glad your a Christian, hate to live by a *%#@ " Oooookay. He was religious- but without a walk with God.

Keith passed away Sunday night. I will miss him. He was my "Wilson" - we had many talks between the backyard fence.

Keith reminds me of what I see in a lot of people. Theological pagans. You know them too - they have a church affliation, may even go most of the time - yet they do not have a relationship with God. Ritual without righteousness.
A person whose language, thoughts, activities, speech, schedule - have no bent toward the kingdom of God - much less being involved in the kingdom beyond Sunday assembly. Although they "know" God - His values do not penetrate their lives.

May our lives be relfective of a relationship with God. May our faith be a lifestyle - not a "religion".

Won't you be my neighbor?

An Easier Question

Now, for an easier question - the worst remake of all time? Maybe here you could very easily come up with a top ten list with no trouble at all. (I know these aren't deep wells from which to drink; but it is summer - time to kick back and relax!). After your responses, I'll give my list

best remake of all time?

In looking over the movies offered this summer I am disappointed to see so many remakes of old movies. Today, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" continues the trend. (The "Bad News Bears" screening is tomorrow).
What, in your opinion, is the best remake of all time?

One Sign for Christian Churches?

Here in Salt Lake we are beginning a new thing - well, actually, its not new, one of our pastors saw this idea in England and told a few of us about it. So, a few of us decided that it would be great for Salt Lake.
Here's the idea: We would all have the same sign on the outside of our buildings. It will say something like (not the exact wording) - One Church. One Lord. One Gospel. Come here and learn more!
I love that! We hope it will be a witness to the LDS community (who were founded on the idea that the Christian church does not get along with each other) and others that we, as churches who proclaim Christ as Lord, are on the same team!
There have been several lunches to pitch the idea - so far 15 have signed up! 2 more lunches are planned. ( I am to go to the one in August). We hope to have 30 churches signed up as a starting point by September 1st. We're hoping for a lot of press coverage - to be a witness of unity!
Our church hasn't signed up yet - I want to learn all the ins and outs before talking with our leadership about it.
Any thoughts? Positive? Negative?

reflectin'

Ah, to sit under a shade tree sipping an ice cold DP. Good time to do some reflectin'. I was thinking that our preteens are going to camp tomorrow. A minister from the Christian church wanted to be a counselor at camp. The camping board, comprised of several churches of Christ in Idaho, said that he couldn't come. Another young man is going - he was accepted as a counselor - beside the fact that he hasn't been to assembly for the last 6 months. But - he does belong to a "church of Christ" - he goes to the "right" church, so he is automatically qualified. Go figure.
Goodness. I think we need a 12 step program. PA. Pharisees Anonymous. We need some serious intervention. Lets kidnap 'em - blindfolded - and get them to treatment.
I still remember a sermon by Jimmy Allen when I was a sophomore at Harding. It was on undenominational Christianity. Dr. Allen - 30 years later - we still need to hear that sermon!
I also remember the prophetic voice of Landon Saunders in some preaching tapes that Jerry Jones made us listen to make this bold statement "In thirty years a new restoration movement will arise . . . and we (the churches of Christ) will be the first group to oppose it." H-o-l-y cow.
Well, I'm out of D.P. I'll be back soon.

Steps of Salvation?

I believed for a long time of a formula for salvation - you heard, you believed, you repented, you confessed, you were baptized - your sins were washed away, then you recieved the Holy Spirit, you were in a "saved" relationship with Christ. But - it had to be in that order. I find myself rethinking the formula in light of a careful study of the book of Acts. Edward Fudge addresses this very issue in this timely post in his "gracEmail" of a few days ago. I wanted to share it with you.


gracEmail (BAPTISM BEFORE SALVATION?)
Edward FudgeJul 4, 2005
A gracEmail subscriber asks whether there are any examples after Acts chapter 2 of people being saved before they were baptized in water.
* * *I believe you will find a clear example of this in the case of Cornelius and his family and friends. Notice the order of events as described by both Peter and Luke. Peter tells the listeners at Cornelius' house about Jesus and promises them that whoever believes in Jesus has remission of sins (10:43). Those present do believe in Jesus (11:17; 15:9). God sees their faith and purifies their hearts (15:8-9). God then baptizes them in the Spirit and gives them the Holy Spirit as a witness of his acceptance of them (11:15-18). They speak in tongues (10:44-46). When Peter sees that God has accepted these people, he commands them to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ (10:47-48).
Is this the exclusive pattern for every situation? Not at all. Nor can it be explained away as an exception to some otherwise-exclusive rule. Conversion involves a personal encounter with Christ and a relationship with the living God. Conversions throughout the Book of Acts regularly involve a cluster of realities -- repentance and faith, water baptism, the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins -- but these realities unfold in a nvariety of sequences depending on the people involved and their particular circumstances.
On Pentecost the people are told to repent and be baptized for remission of sins and reception of the Spirit (Acts 2). However, the Samaritans receive water baptism but not the Holy Spirit until Peter and John lay hands on them (Acts 8). Nor do all saved persons speak in tongues -- even those who are Spirit-filled -- though some certainly do. God is not bound by any fixed order nor plan -- although he is always faithful to do whatever he promises in any situation. Let us be content to fulfill the Great Commission -- sharing the good news of Jesus, making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to follow Jesus. God will do the forgiving, Jesus Christ will do the baptizing in the Spirit. Together they will give whatever gifts they see fit to all God's people. We can keep busy enough doing what God has told us to do. We do not need to try and take on God's job as well. ___________________ © 2005 by Edward Fudge. Unlimited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. For encouragement and spiritual food any time, visit our multimedia website at www.EdwardFudge.com

New Definition of Freedom

By the way - anyone notice the new picture? It had been 18 years since I had a studio picture made - since ACU and Pepperdine wanted an updated picture for their lecturship booklets, I decided to breakdown and "get-er-done". Man, I hate to do that!
Over the 4th of July I kept thinking about freedom. I wonder how Elizabeth Smart would now define freedom; I thought of that little girl found in Denny's in northern Idaho after being held captive for six weeks. Do they have a new perspective on what it means to be free?
For me, this fourth of July, was more than just watching a fireworks show. I had a new appreciation for my freedom. Not just my freedom to be in America; but my freedom being in Christ!
I wonder how Legion or Mary Magdalene described being free in Christ? You see, a former captive always has a better definition and appreciation of freedom.
Remember today - we who were formerly captive to sin - have been set free! Let us go "fourth" and set the world on "fire" (not based on our "works") with our message of freedom!!!

walking around the walls

Several pastors here in Salt Lake have formed a prayer accountability group. We meet each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to pray together. Once a year we gather in downtown SLC - the heart of the city - to pray for the city and the people that work and gather in the downtown area. We prayed for each other for about 20 minutes, then we split into teams of two or three and walked around praying for people. My group was assigned to walk around temple square (the city block that hosts the temple, the tablernacle, the assembly hall of the LDS and of course, the temple). In our group there were three of us. As Greg Johnson and I were walking and praying we noticed that Travis was not with us! We turned around to see him annointing a corner of the temple square wall with oil. He had put the sign of the cross on the plaque - blessing the wall - and all the people within those walls to know the truth of the gospel.
So, we each took turns annointing each corner, each plaque, with the sign of the cross. We then annointed the building where the 12 LDS apostles and president Hickley have their offices. (We went on around later and the cross was very visible on each sign!)
Did we feel a little foolish? Yes. Did it seem a little silly? Maybe. We talked about how foolish Gideon and his men felt taking on the Midianites with just vases and trumpets. Yet, the great army was defeated! Or how the Israelites must have felt to march around Jericho with trumpets and shouts, yet the walls feel down!
It felt good to do something a little out of the box - maybe even a little "foolish". Remember, the waters only dried up after the priest's sandals touched the water!
God will get out of His box when we get out of ours.

Answer and More Questions!

The difference in grilling and Bar-B-Quing - when it is one hour or less you are grilling. If it takes more than one hour - you are barbquing. So, there (at least according to the Salt Lake Tribune). Thanks, Chris for the techinal foul - I lumped "Jethro Tull" as a flute player, while the actual flute player is Ian Anderson. Well. I've got to be more careful next time.

Anyway, this weekend we are having our annual booth at Taylorsville Dayzz. This year we had a bakery donate a thousand loaves of bread! We placed a sticker about the church - inviting them to enjoy the bread of life. We also have five different pins for kids to pick out. (At Halloween we had a reverse trick or treat - we handed out microwave popcorn with a message that said, "pop in and see us sometime!" - some thought it a corny idea - but we had some families to visit!). Pray for this effort!

Okay - more questions -- does anyone else put salt on their watermelon besides me? These Utah people, its like living in a foreign country. Anybody esle love cold chicken for breakfast?

Questions

What is the difference in grilling and barbequing? Anything better in the summer than homemade ice cream? Any better banjo picker than Earl Scruggs? Any video game better than Galaga? PS2, XBOX, or Game Cube? Can you name any flute player - other than Jethro Tull? Any finer song to blast on the radio while driving other than Bad Moon Rising by CCR? What is the one sports record that will never be broken? Who doesn't like to hear Alison Krauss sing? What is your question?

Finding Brennan Hawkins

For the last five nights and four days the whole nation has been gripped by the search for a young boy scout Brennan Hawkins who was lost in the rugged Uinta mountains of Utah. 3,000 people gave up their Father's Day celebrations to join the search and rescue. Today - he was found by a volunteer on a remote trail.
After four days, many had lost hope that he was alive. A year ago, just fifteen miles away in the same mountain range, another young boy scout walked away and has never been found.
Today, Brennan was found alive and well. Every one is celebrating! This is a great day!!
A powerful reminder for us - "volunteers" in search and rescue of people who are lost spiritually - to never give up hope in our search!
The mother just talked to some reporters a few minutes ago while walking into the hospital. She said, "People say that the heavens are closed. I am here to tell you that the heavens are open. Prayers are heard. Children do come home."
Indeed.

Perfect Father's Day Gift!

My girls got me the perfect Father's Day present - the second full season of The Andy Griffith Show on DVD. I know it didn't cost much - but it's not the cost that makes the gift special. Speaking of Andy Griffith, just saw where Andy Taylor came in second as the all-time favorite TV dad - (Bill Cosby came in first). I say it was rigged! Charles Ingalls was #3. I can live with that. But Andy being #2? Ah, man. That's just not right!

Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day. To all fathers - I hope you have a great day! Father's Day for me is always bitter sweet. I love to celebrate with my three daughters. The homemade cards - the kisses! It's a great time!
The day is also bittersweet because I remember my dad. I was just 16 when he passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage. I'm now 47. The truth is I still miss him.
Hug your dad today. Call him and tell him what he means to you. Share a favorite memory.
If you're not on good terms - call him - begin to build a bridge toward a healthy relationship.
I wish I could. Take advantage of the time you have.

A Graduate Challenge

My oldest daughter graduated from high school last week. (How did that happen? Was in first grade just last year!) She has received many cards and calls of congratulations. A few days ago, she received this note: "To whom much is given; much is required. God has given you many talents. God is expecting great things from you!"
I love that! I love that because young people will rise or fall to our expectations. We need to challenge them to greatness!
Thanks, Jerry for giving my daughter a Godly reminder - a challenge as she goes off to college. It means much more coming from someone other than a parent!
Pass on a blessing and a challenge to some young people you know!

God Values Diversity

Just looking at creation and something is obviously clear - God values diversity. How many species of fish swim in our lakes and oceans? Jesus certainly expressed this in his choice of staff - tax collector, fisherman, former prosecuting attorney - to realize that he wanted a variety of personalities and backgrounds around him in order for his work to thrive. His welcoming of women into the inner circle was scandalous at the time, and yet he assigned to them the task of being the first to bear the message of his resurrection.
The church had better wake up to this reality! Usually, our churches (in the restoration movment) have not been diverse groups. Growing up in Arkansas, we had the "white" church; the "black" church; the "anti" church; the "liberal" church -- all in a small town of 20,000. Even today - our congregations do not reflect the population around us. Soon, the minority will be the majority. Will our congregtions soon be irrelevant? (If they're not already!).
We need diversity -both theological & racial - in our congregations! What can we do to encourage more diversity in our congregations?

He Went Small to Go Big!

Finally - a new blog. I hope to blog on a regular basis - the stream of ideas just tried up for some reason. I've been reading an excellent book "Teach Your Team to Fish" by Laurie Beth Jones. So far, one of my favorite chapters is on the subject of "He Went Small In Order To Go Big". Jones writes:
"The first computer required an entire warehouse just to store it. And for all its size, only a handful of people could use it. It was slow, clunky, and not very functional. But, by golly, it was BIG! Any of us who have witnessed the microprocesor revolution have seen computers and telephones get smaller and smaller. Yet, as they have decreased in physical size, their power and accessiblity have increased exponentially. The quantum physicist John Hagelin recently reminded us that our entire world could be destroyed by scientists releasing the energy in a single atom.
Jesus knew that in order to get big, he had to go small. He didn't amass the largest collection of people to try and change the world; instead he released the latent energy in the hearts of a few individuals, and the world was changed. Perhaps that's why observers saw tongues of fire appearing above the Apostles' heads on Penecost. Each individual was set on fire from within, and through that process, Jesus' cause and mission was multiplied exponentially. He went small in order to get big.
Which would you rather have - one Joan of Arc or ten thousand scattered soldiers? One Saint Paul, or two thousand committees? One John the Apostle, or six thousand pages of policies and procedures? One David, or a well-positioned army, full of Goliaths?
"And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us." This was God going smaller in order to get big.
Team leaders aren't scanning the horizon for the reinforcements to arrive. Team leaders look deep into the hearts of the people they serve, and set some hearts on fire."

Sometimes I dream of having a large congregation! Perhaps I need to rethink the dream. Maybe I need to think smaller in order to get bigger. Now, I'm thinking of ways that I can go smaller in order to get bigger. Back to the basics you might say - the basics of the life and ministry of Jesus! Instead of having a "mega" church; I'm hoping for a "meager" church - so we can have a "mission" church!

Capturing Heffalumps

My five year old daughter's new favorite movie (this week) is the Heffalump Movie. She wacthes it every day. I mean, every day. A few days ago we snuggled in the Lazy Boy - and I watched it! The story is of a baby Heffalump who has escaped from Heffalump Hallow - located in the hundred acre wood. Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Roo and Rabbit strike out to capture a Heffalump. Although they have never seen one - they are all scared of Heffalumps. They all have an idea of what one looks like. They are agree on one thing - they are to be feared!
Little Roo "captures" the baby Heffalump. They become the best of friends. Roo wants to take him to meet all his friends in the hundred acre wood. "Lumpy" doesn't want to go. That is the part of the hundred acre wood that Heffalumps avoid. After all, there are scary things that live there. Lumpy goes on to describe Rabbit, Tigger and Pooh - as scary creatures! "I can't go there, its too scary." Roo convinces him that it is "safe" to go with him.
In the end, they both discover the other to be friendly. They were scared for nothing. Because they met each other - fear gave way to friendship; knowldege won over suspicion.
Without realizing it, Disney has given us a great parable about us and those "other" churches. We all have an idea of what they "look" like. We don't go near their activities - we've been told to avoid them.
I just tell you from experience - I was happy that I left my neck of the theological woods to meet new friends. I hope you do as well.

prayer retreat

Went to the third annual Prayer Summit here in Salt Lake. It was a great time - six hours of prayer. One year we had a guy from California, who is known for a prayer ministry, to come and lead us in prayer. Last year, six of us lead each hour on a different theme. This year - no leader, no theme, no program - just let the day of prayer unfold as the Spirit directed. It was our best year!
What I like about this - we don't study prayer; we just pray. Out of the whole city - we had 25 or so to gather. We had a great variety - foursquare, Christian Missionary Alliance, Baptist, Assemblies of God, Great Commission Churches, Presbyterian, Conversative Baptist, Friends Church (quaker), Vineyard, Chrisitan Church and myself. For over an hour, we prayed over each other. I'm already looking forward to next year.
It made me wonder. What if a free, all expense trip on a private jet to Palm Springs, including one night at a five star resort, free golf on a PGA course, was offered to the lucky winning pastor in Salt Lake -- I wonder how many who couldn't make it to our day of prayer - could have cleared their calendar for such a trip?
Does such an event happen in your city? Do the ministers ever get together just to pray for their city and each other?

Scandal #4, Cheap Grace vs. Whole Grace.

So why this scandal? Sider asks, and what can we do about it? We must do more that cringe and cry at the huge gap between Biblical vision and contemporary evangelical practice. We must beg God to show us what to do to make things better.
Close to this problem, Sider says, is a cluster of unbiblical ideas and practices that amount to what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace". Cheap grace results when we reduce the gospel to forgiveness of sins; limit salvation to personal fire insurance against hell; misunderstand persons primarily souls; grasp only about half of what the Bible says about sin, embrace the individualism, materialism, and relativism of our current culture; lack a biblical understanding and practice of the church, and fail to teach a Biblical world view.
George Barna decries our "costless faith" concluding that we have made it too easy to be "born again". Sider goes on to say, "I am convinced that at the heart of our problem is one sided, unbiblical, reductionist understanding of the gospel and salvation. Too many evangelicals in too many ways give the impression that the really important part of the gospel is forgiveness of sins. If we just repeat a formula and say we want Jesus to forgive our sins, we are Christians. Notice, however, how this can so easily lead to cheap grace. If all there is to accepting the gospel is receiving the forgiveness of sins, one can accept the gospel, become a Christian, and then go on living the same adulterous, materialistic, racist life that one lived before. Salvation becomes, not a life-transforming experinece that reorients every corner of life, but a one-way ticket to heaven, and one can live like hell until one gets there." Justification and sanctification are both central parts of the biblical teaching on the gospel and salvation. To overstate the importance of the one is to run the danger of neglecting the other."
My thoughts: As a wise man said in our congregation a few years ago, "The problem with the church today is that we have too many Chrisitans, and not enough disciples."
Amen!

Scandal, part 3

Sider goes on to say:
Jesus knew that his followers would live so differently from the surrounding society that the world would hate them (John 15:19). Today, unfortuntely, many people despise Christians, not for their unswerving obedience to Christ, but because of the hypocritical disconnect between Jesus' teaching and actions.
Jesus was ruthless with the materialists of his day who loved their money more than G0d. He denounced lukewarm folk who wanted both to worship God and practice sin.
ACTS: The picture of the first Chrisitans presented in the book of Acts is one of astonishing love and joyous fellowship. Dramatic economic sharing was the norm (acts 2:44,45). These early Christians were not perfect. Acts 6 describes how the Hebrew leadership neglected widows from the Greek speaking minority. They appointed seven deacons (their Greek names indicate they are all from Greek-speaking miniority! What was the result of this prompt correction of racial and economic discrimination? The last verse of the story says, "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly." (6:7) Again, integrity and obedience in the body of Christ have powerful and evangelistic results.
My (randy) questions: Do our churches today have that kind of integrity? Do our leaders have that kind of boldness to deal with problems in a proactive way - instead of ignoring things - wishing they would just take care of themselves? I've seen far too often, and I'm sure that you have too.
ROMANS: Sider comments, "What an incredible picture of the way that faith in Christ transforms and sanctifies broken lives. If Paul is evn close to being right about what it means to be a Christian, one can only weep at the scandalous behavior of Christians today.
FIRST & SECOND CORINTHIANS: These two letters remind us not to romanticize the early church. Paul's response, however, is not lower the standards to accommodate their failures, but rather to demand repentance and holy living.
Well, we don't have the time to outline every book of the New Testament - Sider points out the call to holiness that runs throught the NT. Sider ends with the chapter on the Biblical vision with this quote -"We have seen the stunning contrast between what Jesus and the early church said and did and what so many evangelicals do today. Hopefully that contrast will drive us to our knees, first to repent and then to ask God to help us understand the causes of this scandalous failure and the steps we can take to correct it.
Amen.

scandal, part 2

Sider goes on to say - "Jesus called for costly obedience and radical discipleship. In spite of some glaring failures, the early Christians lived profoundly transformed lifestyles. The astonishing quality of their lives attracted people to Christ. Today, our hypocrisy often drives unbelievers away.
Jesus certainly welcomed and forgave sinners. Parable after parable makes this wondrously clear. But that does not mean Jesus expected these forgiven sinners to continue to sin. "Go and sin no more," Jesus told the adutlerous woman. Obedience is essential.
Jesus summoned his disciples to a costly obedience. (Mark 8:34-35).
Jesus expected his disciples to forgive others just as he had forgiven them.
Jesus knew that his followers would live so differently from the surrounding society that the world would hate them. (see John 15:19; John 17:14-19). Today, unfortunately, many people despise Christians, not for their unswerving obedience to Christ, but because of the hypocritical disconnect between Jesus' teaching and our actions.
Jesus was ruthless with the materialists of his day who loved their money more than God. Jesus denounced lukewarm folk who wanted both to worship God and practice sin. (Luke 12:22)
Jesus insisted that anyone who loves him "will obey my teaching" (John 14:23). But not on our own strength. It is only as we abide in Christ who is the vine that we branches can obey Christ and bear fruit. (John 15:5) How do we abide in Christ? Not just by believing in him, but also by obeying Him! (v.10)"
Again, I am stung by Sider's insights. We, as believers, are saved by grace. We are saved, not because of how good we are - but because of how good God is! However, this truth does not give us a license to dumb down the call to holy living. We need to be called back and reminded that we need to be salt and light. Anyone else struggle with this?
Next post: Sider will give us the Biblical vision of what our lives are to be, book by book, in the New Testament. I'll see you then.

scandal of the evangelical Conscience

I've been reading the sobering book "The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience" by Ronald J. Sider.
The book begins with this quote, "Evangelical Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the world in general." (Michael Horton)
Sider goes on to quote site a study by George Barna who found that the percentage of born-again Christians who had experienced divorce was slightly higher than that of non-Christians.
In 1968, the average church member gave 3.1 per cent of their income- less than a third of a tithe (10%). That figure dropped every year through 1990 and then recovered somewhat in to 2.66%. Sider notes, "as we got richer and richer, evangelicals chose to spend more and more on themselves and give a smaller and smaller percentage to the church. Today, on the average, evangelicals in the US give about two-fifths of a tithe. "
What about pornography? Citing a recent survery in Leadership magazine, the percentage of Christian men involved in pornography is not much different than that of the unsaved.
When it comes to physical abuse in marriage - it seems that Christians are dead even with the general public, according to Side.
In 1990, the number of unmarried couples living together jumped higher in the Bible belt than in the nation as a whole. (In Arkansas = 125% higher!) In our sexual behavior, 26% of traditional evangelicals do not think that premartial sex is wrong.
Sider comments, "The contrast between contemporary Christians behavior and New Testament teaching and practice is stark. The extent of our scandalous failure today becomes clear only when we recall what Jesus expected and the early Christians experienced."
Let this soak in. This post will be continued . . .

Questions

Is Steve Nash really the MVP of the NBA? Is there a more beautiful campus than Pepperdine University? Is there a more "scenery challenged"drive than the drive between Capser & Cheyenne, Wyoming? (I think the drive between El Paso and Van Horn is a close second). Anything better than a hot one at Krispy Kreme? Do camera phones really take good pictures? What did we do before cell phones? How can you possibly fill up the memory in an Ipod? Anything more boring than watching the NBA regular season? Any cooler T-Shirt than an In-And-Out Burger T-shirt?

great time at Pepperdine

Had a great time at Pepperdine University at their annual Bible Lectureship. We took 16 from our congregation. A lot of fellowship. Ate seafood a few times!
Three days to hear some of the best teachers/preachers in our fellowship (churches of Christ) - great praise teams to lead inspiring times of worship - all with an ocean view. Doesn't get much better than that!
Took a little different track this year. Instead of just hearing the "big" names - as much as I love their sessions - I went to a lot of the "no name" teachers. You know - the ones at the small churches - the people you never hear about. My kind of folk. Heard some great stuff - and hopefully encouraged them as much as they encouraged me!
I loved the fact that some teachers/preachers came from the independent Christian Churches. I'm thankful to see more interaction with Churches of Christ and our sister congregations in the independent Christian churches.
Like always, it was great to put the finishing touch on a great week with hearing Psallo praise God as only they can.
I'm already looking forward to next year. Come and join me.

Pepperdine week

This week I'll be at Pepperdine in Mailbu, CA for their annual lecturship. I'm looking forward to hearing stirring messages, challenging classes, inspiring times of worship-- combine all that with seeing old friends, eating great seafood, sitting at the beach during sunset and you've got the makings of an unforgetable week!

I'm especially excited that we have 15 of us going from Southside. Many are going for their first time. It will be fun to experience all this from their perspective!

I hope you have a blessed week. We'll see you back here next week.

most ignored command

I was raised with the teaching "we speak where the Bible speaks; we are silent where the Bible is silent." Sounded great. Made for a catchy motto. For a long time, I even believed it.
The truth is - I believe the sentiment in the slogan. The trouble is - we in the churches of Christ haven't been very effective in living it out.
Let me give you one example. James tells us that when we are sick to call the elders of the church to annoint us with oil and pray over us. How many of us do that? James doesn't tell us how "sick" sick is - a cold or do we wait for cancer? In my experience this is one of the most ignored verses in the Bible.
In the last few months, my shepherds have anointed me with oil. My fellow pastors have annointed me with oil. You could say - I'm a well oiled preacher!
Why do we ignore this admonition? What are we afraid of? Anyone have an insight?

Things I Don't Miss

Well, to be fair, there are some things I don't miss about the "homeland" (central Arknasas).
Humidity. Went back a few years ago for a high school reunion. I forgot how thick the air can be after that thunderstorm!
Mosquitos. Ah, to be able to go out on my back deck and have supper instead of "being" supper.
Issues. I don't miss all the "issues" of the church. Now, to be fair - I've been gone for a long time (since 1980) and things might have changed.
I guess when it comes to the place we grow up, we all have "selected" memory. The foothills of the Ozarks will always be home to me.

Things I Miss

Although I love Utah, theres no place like home . . . being raised in central Arkansas, I was thinking of the things I miss about the homeland-
Fried catfish and hushpuppies and sweet iced tea. Never, never order ice tea in a resturant in Utah. It will be stronger than your Aunt Ethel's perfume. Its more like tea concentrate.
Thunderstorms. I love a good thunderstorm.
Good B-B-Q (just writing it like that brings back memories). Notice, I said GOOD b-b-q. Utahans wouldn't know good ribs if they walked up and slapped them in the face and said that Joseph Smith was a Baptist. You've got to wash it down with sweet iced tea!
Doughnuts. The best doughnuts in the world were to be found at Clement's Doughnuts in downtown Conway, Arkansas! They had this white cream filled . . . . ah, man was it delicious. Anybody know - is it still there?
Shorty's Little Pig Number Three. (Mom and Pop hamburger drive-ins are the best! Each have a unique way of making a burger and fries. ) One of the mysteries of life - where is the Little Pig #1 and #2?
Family. I do miss seeing family any time I wanted. Sunday afternoons just sitting around talking - drinking sweet ice tea in a mason jar. It just tastes better in a mason jar.
I miss going to a resturant, ordering iced tea and being brought sweet tea unless you requested otherwise. I miss all the trees and folage. I miss people saying, "ya'll" and "fixin' to". I miss seeing Razorback stuff everywhere you go!

Doing a Wedding Today

I'm performing a wedding today. They are not members of our church - or any church for that matter. In fact, they don't know Jesus at all. They have been living together for about a year. People always ask me how I can be involved in weddings like this - aren't they living in "sin"?
I've met with them for the last four weeks. We've talked about a lot of things. I've tried to meet them at the "well" - meeting them where they're at, discussing marriage and life from God's perspective. We've become good friends.
At our last session they thanked me for not judging them - for accepting them. The groom simply said, "Thank you. We really feel that we were led to meet you and for you to do our wedding. We want to get with you after the wedding and talk some more." Evidently, they had asked others to do the ceremony - but there were too many "strings" and "judgements" .
Tonight I'll perform their ceremony. No doubt many there will get drunk. (But wasn't Jesus himself at such a wedding?) I have no doubt that if Jesus were here, He would be there too.
People need our love - not our judgement. People need our presence - not our prejudice. I guess the bottom line for me is that I can't influence those that I am not with. After all, it is not the well who need the doctor . . . . .

a decision

Today I was to attend an annual ministry conference here in Salt Lake - given by local ministers in area of ministry in which they have been successful. I always enjoy getting together with fellow ministers - a day of networking, encouraging. For an "otter" like me - its 7 hours of heaven.
For the last 6 months Tuesday has been my day off since my wife is now working part time at a elementary school. My five year old calls it "Terriffic Tuesday" - we go to McDonald's for lunch, storytime with Miss Susan, a few hours of playing Barbie - well, you get the idea. She starts counting down the days around Saturday -- "three days till Tuesday!" she'll say clapping her hands. Hannah is in heaven on Tuesday - the whole day to have dad to herself.
This year the conference happened to be on Tuesday. Decision time! Ministry or McDonald's? Today, I chose to spend the day with Hannah. There will be other conferences - she is only five once. These are the days to be cherished - to make memories.
Had a decision today. Do you have a decision today?

millions

I love movies! Last night I went to a late show to see an independent film "Millions". It is the story of two brothers who find a bag full of money - or should I say, the money finds them. What the two brothers want to do with the money - one wants to spend it; the other wants to give it to the poor. Full of religious overtones, the movie helps you to ponder - what would you do; how would the money change you?

For a Salt Lake man last week, this question was not for the movies. He discovered $10,000 hidden in a vent in his house that he had just recently bought. He was having cable installed when they found the box of cash. He tracked down the previous owners of the house and gave them their money! (Think of all the rationale he could come up with to keep the money) Come to learn it belonged to an 85ish year old widow whose husband had hidden the money years ago. When asked why he returned the money, the japanese man responded, "So my daughter would be proud of me." Indeed.

Aren't you are richer for having read this blog?

the last 24 hours

Sometimes it amazing how much life can happen in just 24 hours. In just a few hours of each other I got the news that I did not have MS or Lupus - a time of thanking God and rejoicing - while a member of our church received a call from her doctor that she did have MS. Another call - a couple in our church is having trouble in their marriage. A man who has been a part of our Thursday morning prayer group informs us that he has decided to be a part of our church plant and help them plant more churches. I will miss him! My secretary is trying to schedule a time for surgery.
What is God up to? After being a minister for 23 years, I confess that God is still a mystery to me. Why does he heal one person and not another? Why does he send people from one city to another? A close friend, who you think is an important part of your church, is led to be a part of your daughter church - 18 months after it starts?
God is a mystery to me. His ways are higher than my ways. His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.
I love this quote my Lucado - "When you can't trace God's hand; trust His heart."
I'm trying.

A Few of My Favorite Things

In all due respect to Julie Andrews, these are a few of my favorite things:
cold fried chicken for breakfast
day old buttered popcorn
wearing old shoes
smell of a fresh mowed lawn
watching "Lost"
old blue jeans
any Chris Tomlin CD
a cloudy, rainy day
10 inches of snow on my driveway
spring time in the Wasatch Mountians
my "ome banjo" baseball hat
any Alison Krauss CD
a hot one at Krispy Kreme

One shot can make a difference

I'm not a huge golf fan, but I usually tune in to watch the Master's. I was glued to the set yesterday watching Tiger prowl the historic course. I almost came off my chair when the shot on the 16th green paused at the cup - as if to take a bow - then rolled in! Man! Did you see the reaction of the two men? Now, that was exciting!
It also illustrated to me the difference one shot can make! Tiger credits that shot for securing a green jacket to add to his wardrobe.
Remember that today! One word of encouragment. One thank you. One prayer. One phone call. One note. Each of these can make all the difference in someone adding a white robe to their eternal wardrobe - serving "the" Master!
Four Christ, Randy

Be careful who you worship

Watching the news this past week as been unbelievable - seeing people by the hundreds of thousands line up for over 24 hours just to walk by the body of Pope John Paul II. Hearing of pilgrims, from all walks of life, from all over the globe, heading for the Vatican to see a corpse - is amazing.
Watching the people bow down to him - hearing them call him "holy father" - made me feel empty, almost like seeing a god be worshiped and praised.
The scene in Acts 14 came to mind. In Lystra a crippled man is healed. The crowd wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas. Their response? "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing the good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God . . ."
I live in a place that worships men as well. Statues, tributes and paintings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are everywhere. These men are worshiped - defied to the point that if you do not believe that Smith was a true prophet, you are not considered saved - regardless of how you feel about Jesus!
I know Pope John Paul was a good man - who did a lot of good. (See Mike Cope's blog for a great discussion on this point!) But - he did nothing that deserves being worshiped! No man does!
Let's be careful to confine our worship to the true and living God!

Finishing Season!

Remember the feeling of finishing a term paper? Recall the high of taking the last class for that college degree? Better yet, men, you probably are still feeling the pure euphoria of getting that "honeydo" project done? (Which reminds me . . . )

I love the feeling I get when I finish something. In the past few days, I've finished journaling in Acts (which took about a year!), finished reading two books - the Fred Factor & Because of Winn-Dixie (my 14 year old daugther and I saw the movie and we wanted to read the book together) - have one more sermon in my "Sailing the Leadership" series (a series of sermons on selecting "elders") - and it will be finished! Man, I love that feeling!

Finished anything lately?

Jesus summed it all up with these few words - "It is finished."

Reminds me of the power of Paul's words, I have run the race - I have finished the course. Its not enough to run the race - we need to finish and finish strong! When we finish our race - we will hear the words, well done! Man, we'll love that feeling!

How many do you know that started the Christian race, but did not finished?

Lets be "finishers"! Think of discipleship as the ultimate "finishing school".

Time to finish this blog.

Is Jesus still a person or a product?

I love this quote from "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller:

"Here are some things I didn't like about the churches I went to. First: I felt like people were trying to sell me Jesus. I was a salesman for a while, and we were taught that you are supposed to point out all the benefits of a product when you are selling it This is how I feel about some of the preachers I heard speak. They were always pointing out the benefits of Christian faith. That rubbed me the wrong way. It's not there aren't benefits, there are, but did they have to talk about spirituality like its a vacum cleaner. I never felt like Jesus as a product. I wanted him to be a person.
Not only that, but they were always pointing out how great the specific church was. I felt like I got bombarded with commercials all week and then went to church and got even more."

I think we all tend to do those things - make Jesus sound like a product rather than a person. We tend to try and "sell" our churches to the guests so they will come back and get excited about what were doing - rather than being drawn to the cross.

Random Thoughts

Final Four is finally here! I would love to see Illinois take it! Partly because the Illinios coach takes the Kansas job when Roy Williams left there to go to North Carolina. Kinda a circle of life sort of justice. But Carolina is going to be tought to beat.

Found a great sale on tennis shoes yesterday. It was buy one pair; get the other half off. Here's my question: if a husband does that - is it spending money or saving money?

Don't forget to "spring forward" on Saturday night. Yes, we all lose an hour of sleep. Us preachers always lose sleep on Saturday night, so welcome to our world!

If you don't have a Chris Tomlin CD - run, to not walk to your nearest Christian book store and get any of his three CD's - go home and enjoy! My favorite is "Come Home Running".

What is your favorite Christian artist?

Its good to see you! Thanks for dropping by 

Utah is Missions!

More than likely you worship in a congregation that has more people attending it than attend all the churches of Christ combined in Utah! On any given Sunday, about 700 attend a church of Christ somewhere in Utah. Now, throw in the fact that about 50% of the population is connected the the LDS (Latter Day Saint) Church (Mormons) - with about 1.5% professing to be "Christian" and you have a furtile mission field!

We birthed our first daughter church from Southside about 18 months ago. They are now averaging around 50 per Sunday! We hope to build a new building this fall that will seat 500-700 - but we need help! We are $200,000 short of our fund raising goal. If you know of any congregations or individuals that have an interest in domestic missions - write me and I'll get in contact with them immediately!

Above all, keep the church in Utah in your prayers!

Good books

I love to read! Here are some of my favorite books in the last few months:
Visioneering by Andy Stanley
Summer of the Monkees by Wilson Rawls (same guy who wrote "Where The Red Fern Grows")
Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (still reading)
Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn
Because of Winn-Dixie
First Impressions
The Broker by John Grisham

Books on "deck": Christ Plays in Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson, Unlearning Church; going to finish "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

Read any good books lately?

correction!!

3 of my final four are still alive! And Kentucky will be replaced with Utah! One of the coaches for Utah goes to our congregation - it was fun to see him excited! How is your final four doing?

how's your brackets?

I don't know about you - but my brackets look like downtown Beruit. Good grief! Well, I guess my status as a prophet will have to wait another year. My final four is still in tact - and my runnin' Utes are still runnin'! Is your favorite team still in it?

God's timing always amazes me. We've had a lady in our congregation who has been absent in the assembly for about a year. I'm in a prayer accountability group of ministers - one of our commitments is to pray for everyone in our congregations, by name, every week. So, I pray for this woman every week. Last Sunday night, as I was praying through the church directory (it becomes a prayer manual!) - God told me to give her a call. So I did. Well, she was in assembly on Sunday! She asked to speak to me after worship. She said that she was thinking of suicide - and that she had left her answering machine unplugged. She asked for a sign from God that he cared for her. When she came home - the light was blinking on her machine! She hit the play button and heard my voice. She said she played the message over and over! Wow! God's timing always amazes me.

If that story doesn't motivate you to pray for your congregation and contact those who haven't been in assembly of late, I don't know what will.

God is Still Good!

Forgot to give you the final four yesterday. The final four in the NCAA's will be OSU; Florida; Kentucky, Washington. There. Now, sit and watch. Read Deut.18.
Went to my neurologists yesterday to get the results of an MRI I had done about 10 days ago. Yesterday, I got the results of my MRI - the tests showed two abnormalities. The first, they were'nt even looking for! I have a twisted vein which could be just that - a twisted vein; however, it could also be a sign of aneurysm - which if it is - will require surgery to repair, because of the chances of having a stroke are very high! So, having this MRI was a huge blessing, from that standpoint. So, I will have a CAT scan that will show if surgery is needed. The second abnormaility is that the test showed that MS is still a possibility. I had 3 "ct" hits; if you have 6 - that's MS for sure. It is not definitely MS - but it hasn't been ruled out either. Having 3 is not good news - it is an MS indicator. In about 10 days - I willhave a spinal tap (ouch!!!) to confirm or deny MS. Even that is not a 100% - the dr said that he has had patients to pass the tap and still have MS, but in 99% of the time, it is accurate. Keep all this in your prayers!
Whether I have MS or not; we don't know. Whether God will choose to heal me or not; we don't know. (I've been to the Healing Rooms a few times; our shepherds here an anointed me with oil; other ministers have prayed over me) But what we DO know is this; God is good. All the time.

Know how to put pix in profile?

Ooops! I meant to put this is my profile as a SMALL picture! Wow. Anyone know how to put this thing in my profile? Smaller?!!! Thanks!

Filling Out The Bracket!

Was flipping through channels last night and caught "Hoosiers" being shown. Of course, I had to watch it. What a great movie. Anyway . . .
This is one of my favorite days of the year to pick up a newspaper (I know you can print it now off the internet, but I prefer the one in the paper. I'm old fashioned in a new kind of way!) and fill out my NCAA tournament bracket. I love to pick the upsets, pick the final four - then, sit back and watch the games! Oh, baby! The 8th vs. 9th seeded games are always the toughest to pick seems like.
Even though my beloved Razorbacks are not it this year and haven't been for the last 4 years now, I still enjoy "March Madness". I still have Utah to pull for and other teams to root "against". Kinda bummed that UTEP ( I lived in El Paso for 5 years) is playing Utah. Oh, well.
Have favorite team? Who is your final four picks? I'll let you know tomorrow when I fill out my brackets this afternoon. An important thing like this deserves a time of meditation and thoughtful consderation. (or, you can be like my wife and just pick teams based on their mascot and get a higher percentage of picking games than I do! How does that happen?)

Reason for conversion

Had lunch yesterday with Kevin Skidmore, who is sharing Jesus with city of Logan. He said something that caused me to stop and think about how I approach evangelism. He said, (quoting a name that I have forgotten) "What we convert people with, is what we convert them to."

Now, stop and think about that! That's true. Here's the thing - we say, "Come to our church. We have a great praise team! Man, the worship is really awesome." So they come. And the worship is awesome. But a few Sundays down the road, you have an "off" Sunday. The worship leader is sick or out of town - the singing is a little off. Then, it happens again. Your friend quits going and finds another church with better worship. Without realizing it, you converted "with" worship and that's what they were converted "to".

We do the same thing with preaching, youth ministry, etc. You've all seen it - people leave when "the " preacher leaves. When the youth ministry is in a down cycle, families bolt.
What about converting them to a relationship with Jesus? When the singing is off, they are still have Jesus! When the youth ministry is down, they still have Jesus.

Now, I'm all for praise teams, great worship every Sunday, - even great youth ministry! That is not the basis on which I will encourage people to come to Southside. I will invite them to a relationship with God! Because that is always constant!

questions

Is there a more addicting TV show than "Lost"?

Is there a better sports movie than "Hoosiers"? As one who rarely sees movies more than once, I watched Hoosiers about 30 times!

Any show in the history of TV that's better than Andy Griffith? Lets see if people will remember the entire cast of Seinfeld 40 years from now! Let me share this story with you - my five year old daughter is trying to learn to whistle. She asked to see the "gray show". After several minutes of figuring out what she was talking about, we figured out that she wanted to watch The Andy Griffith Show! She wants to learn how to whistle the theme song. Ah, it made me proud!

Any more beautiful place to live than Salt Lake City? Right now, the sky is a deep blue; the mountians (on both sides of the city) are pure white, the temp will be in the high 50's today. Perfect! After 12 years, I still can't believe that I get to live here and enjoy this every day!

Is there a better reality show than Amazing Race? I must confess - Survivor is a very close second - well, now that I think about it - its a tie!

Is there anything more anticipated than the next Harry Potter book coming out? (Not in my house!)

Enough questions for today! Any answers?

Discovering praise/worship rescources

On Monday night several of us went to a Bebo Norman concert here in Salt Lake. Sara Kelly was the opening, and she sang a song entitled, "Living Hallelujah" which just blew me away. Yesterday, a good friend of mine, Jon Paul Dennis, who is the worship minister at the Shannon Oaks Church in Sulphur Springs, TX (if you're in the area I would encourage you to go visit this great church!), told me about Chris Tomlin. Wow! I love his song, "Coming Home". What a powerful song to invite us to come back home to God. I bought two of his cds - I'm listening to them for the first time as I write this. GREAT!!!!
Some of my other favorites to worship with: Mercy Me, Darlene Zschech and Dennis Jernigan.
And, yes, I do listen to Acappella worship. Zoe is my favorite. Some of the cds from "Acappella" are good to worship with as well. Free Indeed with Jerome Williams is a great source for acappella worship.
What are your favorite praise and worship cds? Any recommendations?
I don't know about you, but I'm finding myself listening to music that enourages me to worship rather than just entertain me. Does that ring true for you?

Its Tuesday!

Tuesday may be an ordinary day at your house but not at our house! My daughter calls them "Terriffic Tuesday!" This is the day that we go to the Playgroup small group at McDonald's, then we're off to story time at the public library. After story time, we check out a few books and a few videos. After a little nap, we'll read a book and watch "Hello Kitty" or whatever is the the pick of the week.

I used to get a lot of reading done on my day off. Or, I would go see a matinee movie (about half the price of an evening movie!) and spend some time drawing. Not any more - its Hannah's day!

The books will be there to read in a few years. The movies will be out on DVD and I can see it at home with cheaper popcorn to munch on. I can draw later. Hannah will only be five for a few fleeting months. She still loves to spend time with daddy. And daddy loves to spend time with her. These days won't last long, but the memories will.

I hope you have a terriffic Tuesday! I know I will.

be careful little ears what you hear

Was driving my five year old daughter to preschool last week. We usually listen to KLOVE or to contemporary Christian music - but on this particular morning I thought I would get a bit of sports news, so I grabbed the knob to turn the station. After all, I looked in the mirror to see Hannah playing with her doll. Right then - a song came on KLOVE "Open the Eyes of My Heart" I think it was - right then I heard her little voice start singing along! The next song was her favorite - the FFH song, "Fly Away". She sang every word while continuing to play with her doll.

Needless to say, Hannah and I had a great time of worship in the car. It reminded me of the power of music on a little heart. She has heard those songs over and over. The words have pentrated her little heart. It also reminds me that our little ears are listening, even when we think they've tuned out.

The eyes of my heart were opened! Parents, lets be wise to use whatever we can to pour Christian values into our children so one day they will fly away! That's the only score that counts!

Because of Winn-Dixie

Need a movie idea? Been wanting to take your kids to see a movie but can't find one suitable? I share your struggle.

Since our kids were out of school on Monday, I took my 14 year old daughter to see "Because of Winn-Dixie". I was suprised! It is a heart warming story which centers around a Baptist minister's daughter and her relationship with a dog named "Winn-Dixie." Lots of great themes come out in the story.

So, make a date with your child. Take them to see a great movie. Have some ice cream after. The conversation you have about the movie will be the cherry on top!

Now, my five year old has been asking when she and I are going to see the Heffalump Movie! Sounds like a date to me.

Redefining Small Groups

Here at the Southside Church we've redefined what we mean by the term "small group". What we were calling small groups were the groups that got together for purpose of Bible study/fellowship.

During the last year we have had to revise our definition of what a small group is and does.
For example, on Sunday evening we have a group of women who get together to work on their scrapbooks. Some bring a friend. Is that a small group? Under our new understanding, yes!
Another example would be our Tuesday playgroup. On Tuesday, parents bring their preschoolers to McDonald's (yes, we've seen "Super Size Me". We believe the Holy Spirit will protect us!) for a time to be together. We've had some parents and their children who were at McD's to join us! The parents sit around for a few hours sharing their lives. Is that a small group? Yes!

Now, we add in our prayer groups, work groups, etc. and include them in our small group ministry! We are always looking for a "new" kind of small group to emerge! This new definition has given new life to our small groups. It has opened door of opportunity for seekers to have a non-threatening way to interact with believers. We still have the "traditional" Bible study/fellowship groups - and they are needed! Our broader deifintion of what a small group is has brought new life and vision to our small group ministry.

I would encourage you to read "Fly Fishing, Dog Training and Outreach in the 21 Century" by Ted Haggard. His church has over 800 small groups of all shapes and sizes!

How would this definition of small groups impact your congregation? What possible small group interest would come out of your context? I would love to hear some of your ideas! We're just scratching the surface here - we have a long way to go!

Why are you a Christian?

I would highly recommend Brian McLaren's new book, "A Generous Orthodoxy". I recommend it, not because I agree with everything he says, but because the book makes you think.
Here is his thoughts on why he is a Christian:

"I am a Christian because I have confidence in Jesus Christ –in all his dimensions
(those I know and those I don\'t). I trustJesus. I think Jesus is right because
I believe God was in Jesus in anunprecedented way. Through Jesus I have entered
into a real, experiential relationship with God as Father, and I have receivedGod's
Spirit into my life. I have experienced the love of God throughJesus, and as the old
hymn says, "love so amazing, so divine, demandsmy heart, my life, my all." As I
seek to follow Jesus as my leader, guide, and teacher, I believe I am experiencing life
in its fullest dimensions – full of joyand love, and yes, full of struggle and challenge, too. For all these reasons and more, I love Jesus. I believe Jesus embraces me and you
and the whole world in the love of God."

So, why are you a Christian (if you are)? Sometime in the next few days, sit down and ask yourself that very question. If you don't mind, share your answer with me?