the boys went to a movie

Wow! What a great victory for the Hogs last night defeating #4 Oklahoma in hoops! Good to see Bud Walton packed with 19,000 Razorback fans creating an hostile enviorment. Haven't see that in a while. They should be ranked in the top 25 next week. WPS!

Gathered up a group of men and we went to see Valkyrie. In spite of Tom Cruise, it was a great movie! A lot of us are WWII buffs of sorts and we enjoyed the movie. All of us gave it two thumbs up! The movie "Defiance" looks good, too!

It's time to make new goals for 2009. This year I'll make 52 goals - one goal for each year I've lived! A challenge for sure, but a healthy exercise that I highly recommend. Did it last year and it really kept me focused (and challenged!).

No big plans for tonight. Just gonna hang out with the fam and play some games. Happy New Year!

great quote

Been reading "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson. Great read!

Here is a great quote from the book. D.H. Burnham - one of the driving forces of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. He said, ""Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized."

As you think of your plans for 2009, keep that in mind! Boy, I love that quote!

In A Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day

Stared a new book today. The title of the book is "In A Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. It is based on a verse out of 2 Samuel 23:20,21. (The story of Benaiah). The subtitle reads, "How To Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars"). So far -- very good! Would make a great companion to "Your God is Too Safe".

Right now I have four books going. Do you do that? The advantage is that some days I'm not in the mood to read a certain kind of book. When you get a few going, you're always in the mood for one of them! (this practice drives my wife nuts!)

Going to see a movie with my daughter tomorrow. We're going to see "The Curious Life of Benjamin Button". I also want to see "Marley and Me", "Doubt" and "Valkyrie". Time!

Looking forward to some good bowl games beginning on Thursday and going through next Thursday! Really looking forward to the Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl and the national championship game. (Hope Ole Miss gets the snot kicked out of them, hope Utah keeps it close! and I'm still undecided about Florida or OU). What about you?

Just saw where Gus Mulzhan was named the OC at Auburn. The SEC just got tougher! It's all good. Gives him some great SEC experience so he can be the Hog's next head coach when Bobby Petrino leaves (and he will sooner or later).

Snow!!!

Shoveled about a foot of snow in the last 24 hours! As I sat down to blog, the snow is falling again! There's nothing like a white Christmas in Utah to lift your spirits. The only bad thing is that I had to take my daughter to work this morning at 6:45 a.m., which meant I had to get up at six and get half the driveway shoveled.

I'll take some pictures with my new digital camera and get some posted for you to see what a beautiful Utah Christmas really looks like!

Hope to go see a movie today. Tomorrow the whole family will go see Marley and Me.

I finally got my profile on Facebook! Next week I hope to learn how to Twitter. If any of you are old pros at this Twittering thing, let me know. I think it has a lot of ministry applications.

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

Our Candlelight Celebration was one of the best we've ever done. We had a 12 member praise team - they did a wonderful job! We had right at 200! What I liked the most - more than half the people there were guests! A lot of people from the community came and celebrated the birth with us.

Woke to snow! It snowed all morning until about 1:30 in the afternoon. We have about 4 inches of snow on my drive way. I'm hoping for 3 or 4 more inches when the big front moves in later today. The Perfect Christmas day!

Got a new digital camera to take on my trip to the Holy Land this summer! My sister-in law and her husband are sending me to a 10 day tour of Holy Land next summer!! Wow! They are going with me, along with my father-in-law. Should be the trip of a lifetime! Can't wait.

Got some cool Razorback stuff too! A nice hoody, a truttle neck mock and a trivia book on my beloved Hogs made for a great Christmas haul.

The kids are all playing their games, watching movies, - taking naps. Still - the best thing about Christmas is watching them open their gifts! Doesn't get any better than that!

Hope you had a great Christmas!

Hymn Stories

This Sunday, instead of a "sermon", I'm going to tell some stories of how the songs came to be written.

Jerry Rushford of Pepperdine University is really good at telling these kinds of stories.

The songs mean more when you know the story behind them.

Amazing Grace, Jesus Loves Me, Just As I Am - have very interesting stories. Many times, the story is even better than the hymn!

Do you have a favorite hymn story?

Renewed Prayer Commitment

We had a first prayer event before the event (in the case our Candlelight Celebration) Sunday night. We prayed for two hours. We wil begin praying before all our major outreach events during the year.

I applaud Dean Shriver and Intermountian Baptist Church for their 50 Hours of Prayer this last week! They centered around praying for lost people. Each member filled out a "7 For Heaven" card - seven people they want to see in heaven. When people came to pray they simply pulled out one of the cards and started praying for them! Love that.

We now have two people who have committed to coordinating our prayer efforts here at Southside! I'm excited to see our renewed commitment to prayer.

Hope all your shopping is done!

My your family know the real joy of the baby in the manger.

Big Storm Comin'

Looking forward to our "John Adams Marathon" on Monday. Some men from our church are meeting to spend the whole day watching the entire mini-series "John Adams". Last year we took two days to have a "B.O.B Day" -- which means we watched "Band of Brothers". Always some good fellowship. Everyone brings a snack to share. We take a break for lunch.

I still can't decide who will win - Oklahoma or Florida. Right now I'm leaning toward Florida. Texas Tech should romp Ole Miss, the Tide will Roll Utah.

A big storm is coming! Some say up to a foot in the snow down in the valley. I doubt if we get that much. The low on Saturday is projected to be six degrees! Oh,my! There will be a touch of fall in the air for sure!

I really like the new Casting Crowns Christmas CD.

Do you go to worship on Christmas Eve, or do you prefer a night at home?

Old Christmas Shows

Just celebrated my 24th wedding anniversary with my bride. Nothing fancy. We went to our favorite resturant then went and got some delicious cheesecake to go from the Cheesecake Factory and went home to shared it with our children.

As a part of that evening we took a detour to Home Depot to pick out tile for my wife's Christmas present. She wanted the washroom off the kitchen tiled. And so we are.

My daughter comes home tonight from college! Just having the family back together is present enough for me. My dad used to say that, too. I didn't believe him back then. I do now.

What is about those old Christmas shows that they still work their magic on children? Frosty. Rudolph. A Charlie Brown Christmas. The animation is outdated. The film is grainy. But children still love 'em! Do you have a favorite old Christmas show? And why is it that the new ones don't seem to have that old magic?

I've got my idea for the Christmas sermon - finally. I knew you were worried about it.

What I Love About Utah

I love living in Utah! There are four inches of snow on my yard, with snow in the forecast for the next four days! The mountians are to get 2 - 3 feet, yes feet, of new snow! The snow really gets one in the Christmas mood, that's for sure!

Tomorrow we go to the Golden Living Center right after worship to bring presents to the residents and do a little singing of their favorite Christmas songs. They let me sing if I stand way in the back and don't sing too loudly.

Our Candlelight Service is on Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. We usually pack the place with mostly non Southside members! I love that.

We have six godly shepherds leading our congregation. And I love the fact that the first hour of or meetings we pray for our congregation.

I love the fact that I'm doing ministry in a state that is only 1.2% "christian". I love being on the front lines of the battle.

Expelled

Saw the DVD of "Expelled" this afternoon. Thought it was very well done. The slant that he took of academic freedom is a valid one. I would highly recommend that you rent it.

Started a good book on Andrew Jackson entitled "American Lion". He was one interesting man. Looking forward to learning more about this mythical giant in our history.

The good thing about there not being many good movies out -- it gives one time to read good books! And now they're saying that the actors are going to strike, so all the TV shows may shut down again. I was really looking forward to "24" and "LOST". Oh, well. More time for good books!

If you're in the market for a new Christmas CD, get the new one by Casting Crowns. Love the song about Bethleham sleeping through the birth (the application to America is very sobering).

Still, my favorite Christmas CD is "An Amy Grant Christmas". We decorate our tree every year listening to it. Do you have a favorite Christmas CD?

More from "Eat This Book"

Have you ever read a book that puts into words what you could not? When you pick up the book you think - has the author been reading my mind? A good book is one that after reading it you think to yourself -- I could have written that. But you didn't (and you couldn't).

Here is another great thought from "Eat This Book" by Eugene Peterson:

There is an enormous interest these days in the soul. In the church this interest in the soul is evidenced in a revival of attention in matters of spiritual theology, spiritual leadership, spiritual direction, and spiritual formation. But there is no a corresponding revival of interest in our Holy Scriptures. Spiritual theology, spiritual leadership, spiritual direction, and spiritual formation require that we tend to the work of the Holy Spirit in our individual and corporate, public and political lives. But those who are enthusiastic about this work are frequently, even typically, disinterested in the Holy Scriptures, the book that is given to us by the Holy Spirt. It is a matter of urgency in our souls be matched by an interest in our Scriptures - and for the same reason; they, Scripture and souls, are primary fields of operation for the Holy Spirit. An interest in souls divorced from an interest in Scripture leaves us without a text that shapes these souls. In the same way, an interest in Scripture divorced from an interest in souls leaves us without any material for the text to work on.

Wow!

Eat This Book

I love this passage from Eugene Peterson's book "Eat This Book":

Christians feed on Scripture. Holy Scripture nurtures the holy community as food nurtures the human body. Christians don't simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it; take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism, and justice in Jesus' name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in the company of the Son.

Good stuff! Read that several times. The truth of that paragraph will transform how we see (and treat) the Bible.

Books and football.

Picked up "John Adams" again. This time, I vow to finish it! I loved the mini series. I'm also finishing an audio book on Ben Franklin. Great book. After listening to 1776 on CD, and watching John Adams, I find myself interested in learning about the leaders of the revolution. I'm also reading "George Washington on Leadership". I'm looking for a good book on Thomas Jefferson. Any recommends?

Just started "Eat This Book" by Eugene Peterson. It came highly recommended.

Looking forward to some college football this weekend. Florida should take down 'Bama; Oklahoma will destroy Mizzou. To be honest, I'm getting a little turned off with college football after what happend to Tommy Tuberville at Auburn. He has a 75% winning percentage, yet is fired for one bad season? Are you kidding me? He walks away with a 5.1 million dollar buyout? I'm not an Auburn fan - I'm just not a fan of firing a guy because of one bad season. Good grief.

Florida vs. Oklahoma for the national championship! That would be a great game. (See. My attitude is improving already!)

Texas vs. Utah in Fesita Bowl. Hummmm. That would be an interesting matchup.

Catching up

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a long time. One day became one week. One week became . . . you know how it goes.

I'll try and catch you up on a few things.

Just finished a great Christmas read, "Grace" by Richard Paul Evans. I love all his books. He is best known for "The Christmas Box". Right now I'm reading "Simply Christian" by N.T. Wright; "Rubber Band Leadership' by Nancy Ortberg; "Praying" by J.I. Packer & Carolyn Nystrom; and last, but not least, "Divine Justice" by David Baldacci.

My brother in-law called me a few days ago to tell me that he is taking me to the Holy Land next summer for a ten day tour! Now, that's a good brother in-law! I've always wanted to go. Can't wait! If' you've been and have some tips to share, please pass them on!

Where have all the good movies gone? Haven't been to the theater in almost 2 months. (Well, I did take my kids to see High School Musical 3 - I'm not counting that!). Did see the trailer for "Star Trek" coming out in May '09. Yes, I'm an old Trekkie.

I would ask your prayers for my mother. She is undergoing chemo therapy treatments for ovarian cancer. Her attitude is good. She goes once every three weeks for 18 weeks.

Memorizing Scripture

When I was in college I did a lot of scripture memorization. I remember a final for Jerry Jones was 50 of 100 verses he had us memorize. Since then, I haven't done much of this discipline.

However, the Bible tells us to "have the word of Christ dwell in us richly". I have just begun to spend some time everyday memorize scripture. I have begun to use scripture as prayer. (Psalms are great for prayer!)

My next goal is to memorize all the prayers of Paul. Right now, I'm working on a huge goal that will take several more months to finish. (tell you when I'm done. Several other ministers know of my challenge - I am being accountable to them).

Just do a verse or two a day. Take just 10 minutes to memorize it. Simply put the verse on a notecard and take it with you. Review it on your break. Take a look at it during lunch. When you go to bed.

You'll be amazed at the difference in your attitude. It will affect what you think about. You can join the Psalmist when he says, "I am consumed with longing for your laws at all times."''

Sunday Night Reflections

The highlight today was the baptism of single mother who has been coming ever since the new building was opened last September. This was a great reminder to us of why we're here.

One of our young men read scripture for the first time. Everyone gave him a rousing round of applause. I hope he remembers that moment for the rest of his life.

We had a family come for the first time today because they were told they would be more comfortable at Southside. How sad. Wasn't Jesus comfortable with the outcast? The ones different from the norm?

Preached on giving today. Not everyone's favorite subject. Jesus did talk it about a lot more than we do! We should talk about it more often.

Just another normal Sunday - someone gets reborn; a young man makes a memory; a new family comes; a sermon on giving.

Doubled Small Groups in One Sunday!

We have targeted a few areas that we want those who call Southside home to grow in: Worship, Small Groups and Using their spiritual gifts in one ministry.

This Sunday we had our new small groups launch. I say new because we've tweaked how we do our groups. We now have lessons on DVD. All you need to be a new small group leader is a DVD player. All the "leader" does is press play until the person says "pause and discuss this". (We are in the process of making our own DVD's, but until we do we are using ones by Zondervan).

The response has been incredible! We have doubled the number of groups in one day! Amazing! We have more groups that are ready to birth off when the groups grow to a size that is now longer fits the critera that we've set for our groups. (We had one group that was having between 40-50!)

We are also reducing the size of the groups - putting small back into the equation! 6-12 is the ideal. 20 is the max number that we would like to see in any one group. When it reaches that point - it's time to begin a new group!

Now, we have all kinds of small groups. We have a group of parents that meet McDonald's for lunch. The kids play while the adults visit. (this has been great for new members!) Prayer groups. Study groups. Fellowship groups. Praise team practice is considered a small group. We have women's groups, men's groups, young adults, empty nesters, etc.

We have a good percentage of our members engaged in a small group. Our new members have joined in! Even some second time guests are being drawn into a group!

This is huge for us! We've struggled for years in our small group ministry. Finally, we are seeing excitment for our small groups. Praise God!

recommendations

Seems like good books are like good movies - they all come out at once. Why is that?

Here are great books that I'm currently reading:

"It" by Greg Groeschel. Groeschel's book "Confessions of a Pastor" is on my all time best reading list. This book may join that list.

"Looking For God: An Unexpected Journey through tattoos, tofu & pronouns" by Nancy Ortberg. Nancy is a great story teller. One of my favorite chapters was on pronouns. (Nancy is the wife of John Ortberg, who wrote another favorite of mine "If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out of the Boat").

"Axiom" by Bill Hybels. Short, well-written leadership axioms by one of my favorite leaders! I try to limit myself to one a chapter a day, but like Lays Potato Chips, sometimes you can eat just one - you go for more!

"Countdown To Sunday: A Daily Guide For Those Who Dare To Preach" by Chris Erdman. A fresh look at sermon prep from a healthy perspective. Wish I had read these insights when I was first started preaching.

I would also highly recommend the movie "Fireproof". Wow. Made by the same church which produced "Facing The Giants", this movie is a great statement about marriage. If you know a first responder, take them as your guest.

Programs you can't live without?

Just downloaded the sountrack to "John Adams" on the iPod. Excellent! Great study music. I'm one of those who has to have something on all the time. You?

After a lot of my friends have been updating their Plaxo, I decided to use it myself. Anyone else use Plaxo for their calander, contacts, etc.? Do you like it? Dislike it?

What's the programs can you not live without on your computer? For me, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, NIV Bible Study, Palm Desktop, Google Images, iTunes would be on my must list.

College football season is here! Finally! Can't wait to see what Bobby Petrino does with the Hogs this season. With 26 freshman getting significant playing time, could be a rough year for the Razorbacks given their schedule. The upside will be in a year or two! Oh, baby. Just hope we can keep Petrino that long!

Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend. I have nothing planned, and I hope it stays that way. Time to watch some football!