moth & rust

Loving Our Muslim Neighbors

2010-10-19T12:56:00.002-04:00

http://www.desiringgod.org/player.js?width=530&deepLinkEmbedCode=gxeGZyMToC30AsExVG-zbqEdlLz0iPgo&height=298&embedCode=gxeGZyMToC30AsExVG-zbqEdlLz0iPgo

POWERFUL VIDEO!

2009-05-13T12:31:00.002-04:00

A Good Virus

2009-01-28T09:59:00.005-05:00

Today we recieved word that this video is number 13 on the internet's most viral video chart
http://www.viralvideochart.com/youtube/john_piper__be_couragous_president_barack_obama?id=kdnQAB3cJec

Abortion & Obama - What Next

2008-11-11T00:36:00.001-05:00

This is an great interview

Challies Review of "The Shack"

2008-11-10T23:49:00.002-05:00

I am posting this because this book continues to come up in so many conversations I am part of. I keep hearing of those who's lives were changed by "The Shack".

Tim Challies did a in depth, thoughtful, review of this book. If you don't like the book, I hope this review will help you to see some of the good in the book, and help you have a better understanding of the author and the background. If you loved the book I hope you will think about his concerns and the dangers of this fiction.

Driscoll on Rob Bell & the Emergent leaders

2008-10-19T01:28:00.002-04:00

Mark Driscoll speaks to the dangers of the emergent movement and it's leaders Rob Bell, Brain McClaren and Doug Pagitt

Matt Chandler - The Village Church

2008-10-04T10:44:00.004-04:00

I have really enjoyed the teaching of Pastor Matt Chandler of the Village Church recently. My favorite sermon thus far was the one he preached called "Bigger Barns"on 9/6/08. You can listen to it by Mp3 or Podcast on iTunes by subscribing to the Village Church podcast. I have also posted a link to the PDF text of the sermon here.

FREE DRISCOLL BOOK ONLINE!

2008-10-04T10:37:00.003-04:00

Mark Driscoll's new book "The Porn Again Christian" is now available for free online.

http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/

The Song of the Prosperity Gospel

2008-10-04T10:28:00.005-04:00

I came across this the other day! I think it's funny because this is the kind of garbage prosperity teachers so often try to sell off as the gospel. It is also quite sad because these men and women are so wrong and unbiblical in their teavhing and sell themselves and the people that follow them so short of anything that is truely satisfying!

The end of a "revival"

2008-09-01T01:30:00.003-04:00

As Many of have already heard Todd Bentley's Lakeland Revival has ended as Todd Bentley has stepped down from the board of directors of Fresh Fire Ministries and has been asked to refrain from all public ministry in light of his announcement of having an emotional affair with a staff member and the subsequent separation from his wife.

Growing up in circles where anything and everything "spiritual" was accepted without being tested or confirmed it should seem that nothing should come as a surprise to me. Yet this "revival" was so absurd that it amazed me how undiscerning and un-biblical many churches and believers have become. It deeply me because I have many friends who trusted and followed Todd Bentley's ministry.

Lee Grady who is the editor of Charisma magazine has caused much stir and made much news with his condemnation and bluntness about where he feels the charismatic and pentecostal movements are headed in respect to Biblical soundness and discernment today. In his article "Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion"

Lee Grady answers these questions...

Why did so many people flock to Lakeland from around the world to rally behind an evangelist who had serious credibility issues from the beginning?
Why didn’t anyone in Lakeland denounce the favorable comments Bentley made about William Branham?
Why did God TV tell people that “any criticism of Todd Bentley is demonic”
Why did a group of respected ministers lay hands on Bentley on June 23 and publicly ordain him? Did they know of his personal problems?
Can anything good come out of this?

Pastor John Piper has written a helpful response titled "Test Revival with Doctrine" to Lee Grady's column that was good for me to read to help keep perspective.

New Revival

2008-06-27T11:39:00.003-04:00

World Magazine discusses Todd Bentley who is leading a massive "revival" in Lakeland Florida.
Many Pentecostals have been leary of the new "revival" in which Bentley is leading and the angel "Emma" that he has had multiple encounters with.

2008-06-13T21:46:00.002-04:00

DG National Conference: The Power of Words and The Wonder of God

Registration now open!!! It's going to be good. Don't Miss It!

Happy Adoption Day!

2008-05-28T01:03:00.007-04:00

One of these days I may get back to blogging. Life has been good, but busy!

Today for instance it has been 1 year since we met our son Aden & daughter Analiese. It is amazing to think that one year ago and world away we would meet our precious kids. It is strange to look at the photos and videos and see how much they and we have changed this past year.We are so thankful to God for blessing us with them.

Tonight we took them out to Fasika an Ethiopian restaurant in St. Paul and then to the Mall of America's amusement park for some fun and ice cream. It was a good time. We hope to make it a lasting tradition.

Give Me Neither Poverty or Riches

2008-04-02T13:27:00.002-04:00

Great Post by Tyler. Great Message by John Piper from CA last week.

Give Me Neither Poverty Nor Riches
March 30, 2008 By: Tyler Kenney Category:

Commentary, Don't Waste Your Life
The only sign of religion I saw while driving through Malibu today—alongside the Mercedes, Porsches, and Ferraris—was a single cross carved into the side of a college building.
True, a lack of churches on main street is not a certain indication of a city's spiritual condition, but it made me remember Pastor John's exhortation on Saturday to beware the love of money.
Malibu has nice houses, great views, big beaches, and wonderful weather. No doubt about it—part of me would enjoy spending some extended time there. But I'm thinking that, on account of my weakness, I'd do better to join Agur in his prayer:
Give me neither poverty nor riches;feed me with the food that is needful for me,lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.(Proverbs 30:8-9)

B.B. Warfield Quote

2008-03-28T00:08:00.003-04:00

I came upon this great quote in a book we are going through in my small group that I thought was quite powerful. It's from the Princeton Seminary professor B.B. Warfield.

Now dear Christians, some of you pray night and day to be
branches of the true Vine; you pray to be made all over in the
image of Christ. If so, you must be like him in giving . . .
“though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor” . . .
Objection 1. “My money is my own.” Answer: Christ might
have said, “My blood is my own, my life is my own” . . . then
where should we have been? Objection 2. “The poor are
undeserving.” Answer: Christ might have said, “They are
wicked rebels . . . shall I lay down my life for these? I will give
to the good angels.” But no, he left the ninety-nine, and came
after the lost. He gave his blood for the undeserving.
Objection 3. “The poor may abuse it.” Answer: Christ might
have said the same; yea, with far greater truth. Christ knew
that thousands would trample his blood under their feet; that
most would despise it; that many would make it an excuse for
sinning more; yet he gave his own blood. Oh, my dear
Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often,
give freely, to the vile and poor, the thankless and the undeserving.
Christ is glorious and happy and so will you be. It is
not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember his
own word, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

New Video, Comments & The 14th Prosperity Text of the Day

2008-03-23T00:29:00.008-04:00

I have posted this video before but I came across an updated version that someone did. I think this video is amazingly powerful and true.

With that said a few weeks ago I had a conversation with a good friend who told me that his pastor had seen this video and was quite upset about it. From my understanding it was because Piper asks the question "I don't know how you feel about the prosperity gospel?" He then states his feelings as HATRED.
I was left to ponder... is that wrong that Piper feels hatred toward a false gospel? I don't think so!
Whether it is or not I do think there is a Godly anger that many in the body have lost touch of. It seems in the church today we want to focus only on the love of God and forget about the anger and wrath he has towards us and our sin! That's the whole reason Easter is so great isn't it. God's wrath and justice had to be met because of our wickedness, so God sent God the Son to take away the just wrath we deserved and be our ransom. We lose that today when we focus only on the love of God.

We saw godly anger in the temple in John 2:12-19 where Jesus found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
In Matthew and Marks account of this event Jesus says they have made His house a "den of robbers". Those are strong words!

I can see it being offensive if you don't believe the prosperity message is a false, deceptive, manipulative, idolatrous, man centered, western, affluent, wicked, evil, unbiblical teaching.

Regardless of whether it is right or wrong to have hatred towards a false gospel the rest of the video is powerful and true and begs the question.... If we lost it all....our family...our money...our house....our car....our reputation....would Christ be enough for us? I hope he would.

Pastor....Will your congregation bail on Christ when hard times come because you have taught them that if they become a Christian all will go well for them, and they will live in plenty?

No matter how much we CLAIM our health and wealth it will eventually all pass away from our grip. Either with age, disease or accident! Be positive all you want and claim what you will but know this....we will not live here forever.

Is death really gain to us as it was to the Apostle Paul or is our unbelief so great that instead of living to Christ in this life we delude ourselves into thinking Christ is about our cars, houses, things while 3 billion unreached people have no gospel witness.

It amazes me that many cannot see the deception in the teachings of health/wealth preachers as they use deceptive out of context texts in nearly every message, yet these same people get hung up on the word "hatred".

One wonders how they may have responded as Christ kicked over tables and whipped the animals in the temple that had become a den of thieves?

So with that said here is the 14th Prosperity Text of the Day. I have yet to hear from one critic who will Biblically explain to me how these texts fit into the theology of a prosperity gospel worldview.

James 5:1-3

Misuse of Riches

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.

3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

Clean Water!

2008-03-22T08:19:00.000-04:00

Josh Sowin of DG has posted a good blog titled "Give The Little Ones Clean Water"

Zubaz pants make a comeback!

2008-03-22T07:52:00.004-04:00

Hey 1985 called....It wants it's pants back!!!

After selling $160 million the Minnesota company has decided it's time for Zubaz to make a comeback. To read the whole story click here

Easter & The Bunny!

2008-03-20T12:36:00.009-04:00

So this is my first Easter as a parent. I have been surprised by a lot of things I never really thought of before I was a dad. The other night my wife Rachel asked me what we should do for Easter?

I was thinking what do you mean?

It's been long since I thought about the Easter Bunny and eggs or chocolate that litter the store shelves. I really didn't know what to think. I hadn't pondered it much. I have been thinking about it quite a bit though the past few days.

I have checked Wikipedia to see if there is any sacred things the Easter Bunny or eggs represent. There isn't. It's all about Fertility. In fact he word "Easter" etymologically comes from an ancient pagan goddess of the spring named Eostre.

I do know that I don't want my kids to come away from the greatest day of history thinking it had anything to do with some stupid rabbit or candy or tulips or ugly pastel clothes you only wear once a year.

So what does a dad do? Do we do Easter baskets filled with all kinds of unhealthy things for my kids that they really don't need or want? What do I say when the Easter Bunny terrifies my kids in Sam's Club? Do I tell them he comes at Easter to leave little chocolate droppings all over the house? I haven't found many resources for parents in this department from a Christian perspective. I have run into people who are so against Santa at Christmas but somehow OK with crazy pastel bunnies, and I have been a bit confused. If any day should not be messed with shouldn't it be Easter? Isn't this the day our faith hinges on. If Easter didn't happen we would still be slaughtering stuff and living in Leviticus.

So that's where I'm at now...

I'd love to hear any ideas of what you are doing for Easter with your family. If you have a different perspective on the whole Easter Bunny thing, I'd love to hear how you do it without minimizing the real meaning. My goal is not to become legalistic, but more intentional.

My thought at this point is to keep it on Christ the focus with no distractions. I want to emphasize Holy week and what happened this week to my kids. Tonight we are going to a Maundy Thursday service, tomorrow is Good Friday. Sunday is about the risen Christ who purchased our salvation. I cannot seem to find a place for Easter Bunnies or Baskets!

The Rebolution is Coming!

2008-03-20T08:24:00.002-04:00

Prosperity Text of the Day - Day 13

2008-03-20T07:59:00.003-04:00

James 5: 1-6

Warning to the Rich

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned the righteous person. He does not resist you.

The Evolution of the Snowman!

2008-03-19T21:01:00.008-04:00

Dustin who is from a place in Iowa where apparently they don't get much snow has mastered the art of snowman making this year. Dusty we are proud of you! You are nearly a Minnesotan.

snowman #1

snowman #2

Prosperity Text of the Day - Day 12

2008-03-19T20:50:00.003-04:00

1 Timothy 6:17

7 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel

2008-03-13T22:49:00.007-05:00

This is an essay that is excellent in pointing out the errors of the Biblical interpretations of the modern prosperity movement teachings. It is an excellent essay. Here's a sample from Bible.org

The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical and Theological Ethics
By: David Jones M.Div.; Ph.D

Through this study of the theology and the biblical interpretation of the prosperity gospel, one may discern five clear reasons why this movement’s teachings concerning wealth are incorrect:

1. The prosperity gospel is built upon a faulty understanding of the Abrahamic covenant.

2. The prosperity gospel is built upon a faulty understanding of the Atonement.

3. The prosperity gospel is based upon a faulty understanding of the biblical tachings on giving.

4. The prosperity gospel is based upon a faulty understanding of the biblical teachings on faith.

5. The prosperity gospel, in general, has been constructed upon faulty biblical interpretation.

Aside from these five specific theological and biblical arguments against the prospe
rity gospel, and without even considering the practical implications of this movement, there is perhaps one general, summary reason why the prosperity gospel is a wayward gospel: its faulty view of the relationship between God and man. Simply put, if the prosperity gospel is correct, grace becomes obsolete, God becomes irrelevant, and man is the measure of all things. Whether it is the Abrahamic covenant, the Atonement, giving, faith, or the biblical interpretation of any given verse, the prosperity teacher seeks to turn the relationship between God and man into a financial quid pro quo transaction. As scholar James R. Goff noted, God is “reduced to a kind of ‘cosmic bellhop’ attending to the needs and desires of his creation.” This is a wholly inadequate and unbiblical view of the relationship between God and man and the stewardship of wealth.

To read the entire essay click here

2008 DG National Conference Announced

2008-03-13T13:52:00.004-05:00

Desiring God has posted it's 2008 National Conference Theme

The Power of Words and the Wonder of God
2008 National ConferenceSeptember 26 – 28, 2008
Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Speakers: Sinclair Ferguson, Bob Kauflin, John Piper, Dan Taylor, Paul Tripp
More details forthcoming

Prosperity Verse of the Day - Day 12

2008-03-13T11:18:00.001-05:00

John 6:27 a

"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life"

Planned Parenthood Accepts Money to Abort Black Children

2008-03-12T06:48:00.003-05:00

Randy Alcorn posted an interesting blog post about the history of Planned Parenthood and Margret Sanger it's founders racist beliefs.
There is also a interesting video someone has done in which they call Planned Parenthood to donate to abort black babies. It is amazing that PP takes their money!

To read the article and see the video click here

Prosperity Verse of the Day - Day 11

2008-03-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (I Timothy 6:6-8).

Resurgence Conference Audio

2008-03-12T06:29:00.002-05:00

The audio and some video of the Resurgence Conference that was held at Mars Hill Church is now available to listen to online.

Catholic Indulgences, Luther and the Prosperity Gospel

2008-03-12T06:28:00.002-05:00

Oasis Church posted an excellent essay about the similarities of the old teachings of the Catholic Church selling indulgences and the new teachings called the "Prosperity Gospel" and how similar they indeed are. It is an EXCELLENT post that not only looks at the historical record, but shows what verses most prosperity teachers use and how they take them out of context to make there case.

Here's an excerpt...

“When a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” The poor and elderly were exploited for their gold and silver so the church could construct a new cathedral.Then on October 31, 1517, a catholic monk named Martin Luther nailed a document known today as the “95 Theses” on the door of the church in Vittenburg, Germany. One of these read, “Christians should be taught, he who sees his neighbor in distress, and, nevertheless, buys indulgences, is not partaking in the Pope’s pardons, but in the anger of God.”

Luther boldly asked the church leaders: “If you, being the man of God, claim to have the heart of God, then why are you taking from the resources of the people for your own unjust gain, instead of, as the Apostle Paul, working night and day so as not to be a burden to the people?”

Luther was brought before the church and ordered to recant. Luther replied: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise.”

Today, the modern church is faced with an identical heresy – one that we will attempt to expose. This heresy is called the “Prosperity Gospel” or the “Health and Wealth Gospel”. This particular heresy is running rampant in the church, and must be addressed...

To read the entire article click here

Prosperity Verse of the Day - Day 10

2008-03-11T23:04:00.001-05:00

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." 2 Cor 4:16

"Weary of Weirdness"

2008-03-11T21:51:00.005-05:00

I strolled across a blog post "Signs I'm Weary of Weird Christians" on internetmonk.com tonight and it made me laugh. Mainly because of the humor as this was me for a long time. I will advise you need to read the whole article or you will miss the point completely. I am pasting up the funniest part. It reminded me of my youth group camp days!

"I'm weary of immature college students and high school kids going on and on about what God is saying to them as if they were up there with the authors of scripture. I've had it with Christian musicians acting as if every lyric they write is a message directly from God and free from the possibility of mediocrity or poor taste. I now hear preachers who preface their sermons with an appropriate selection from CCM, rather than with scripture. I mean, is there really that much of a difference?

I'm burned out on Christians telling me about the next big thing God is going to do, as if they really know. I'm tired of Christians predicting the future and being consistently, continually wrong, but acting like they weren't wrong. If you said that on New Year's Eve the east coast was going to fall into the ocean because of divine judgment and it didn't happen, you were wrong. Really, badly, embarrassingly wrong. So why can't you act like you are wrong? Why am I so sure you will have more absurd predictions next Sunday?

I'm worn out on people doing weird things that aren't in the Bible and saying it's the "leading of the Spirit." Falling over. Acting drunk. Jumping around like a wasp went down your dress. I'm tired of turning on the TV or the radio and hearing Christians making more noise than a riot at a mental hospital. I'm out of patience with Christian spirituality equaling some form of clown college graduation."

Prosperity Text of the Day - Day 9

2008-03-10T06:48:00.003-05:00

Luke 6: 20-21,24-25 - as part of the Beatitudes

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25"Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

Prosperity Text of the Day - Day 8

2008-03-09T09:59:00.004-05:00

James 1:10-11

10 the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

What's Happening to the American Church?

2008-03-09T09:00:00.005-05:00

Doug Nichols the Director of Action International posted an insightful blog What's Happening in the American Church?

American Reality
Christianity Today magazine reprinted a story from Outreach magazine last year titled “Special Report: The American Church in Crisis.” New research reveals sobering statistics on church attendance; but which statistics? Gallup and Barna’s report that church attendance grew from 37% in 1996 to 47% in 2006. This is great news if it were true.

But in reality the churches and denominations report a trend of significant decline.

· Between 2000 and 2004 the mainline denominational churches dropped 10%,while Evangelicals experienced an overall 1% drop in worship attendance.

· But during this same time, 2000 – 2004 the population of the U.S. grew by 18.1% -- more than 48 million people. So even though attendance in evangelical churches is nearly the same they are not keeping up with population growth.

· At present trends, by 2050, the percentage of U.S. population attending church will be almost half of what it was in 1990 a drop from 20.4% to 11.7% (an estimate drop to 16.6% by 2010, and 15.4% in 2020).

What We Can Do?

Click here to read Doug Nichols entire post from his blogsite

Prosperity Text of the Day -Day 7

2008-03-07T07:21:00.003-05:00

Luke 12: 32-34

32 "Fear not, flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom.

33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The American Dream - Life Full of Debt

2008-03-06T17:12:00.006-05:00

Pat who is a friend of mine has been blogging about the struggle to live free from debt and his experience with Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. I have really enjoyed reading reading about what he is learning and how he is struggling to break the cycle of debt. For those of you who have no debt you can just skip this blog, but if you are a normal American who is feeling burdened by debt I suggest you check out his blog Burn The Ships

Here's an excerpt from Pat's blog about the current status of affluent debt-loaded American society.

The Good Life (On Credit), Staggering Stats
There are over 1.3 billion credit cards in circulation in America.
The total American consumer debt is more than 2.7 trillion.
The credit card industry takes in $43 billion per year in additional, unexpected fees from the consumer, such as late payment, over-the-limit, and balance transfer fees. Late fees alone bring in more than $11 billion.
The average household credit card debt has increased approximately 167% in the past 17 years.
It would take over 13 years to pay off the average credit card balance if only making minimum monthly payments of 4% at an average interest rate of 15%.
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,if you have been trapped by what you said,ensnared by the words of your mouth,then do this, my son, to free yourself,since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:Go and humble yourself;press your plea with your neighbor!Allow no sleep to your eyes,no slumber to your eyelids.Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,like a bird from the snare of the fowler.(Proverbs 6:1-5, New International Version)

The stats come from FPU participants manual.

"Prosperity Text of the Day" - Day 6

2008-03-06T07:19:00.004-05:00

Mark 4:3, 7, 18-19

Parable of the Sower

3 "Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow...
7 "Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Adoption is Greater Than The Universe!

2008-03-05T22:18:00.000-05:00

The Case Against Abortion: Medical Testimony

2008-03-04T06:47:00.005-05:00

Abort73.com has posted it's 1st video in it's series "The Case Against Abortion"Medical Testimony.

We need to know these things!

Serving Missionary Kids

2008-03-04T06:31:00.003-05:00

Tia wrote an excellent post on the DG blog about 15 Ways to Serve Third Culture Kids.

She says Third Culture Kids (TCKs) are children who grow up in a culture other than their parents’. Their “home” culture is the first culture; their “host” culture, the second. And they live in the middle, the “third” culture. TCKs include children of missionaries or other international workers. They face unique struggles in their lives of transition. It’s our privilege as the body of Christ to provide care for them as they join with their parents in God’s call on their lives to be overseas.

To read the entire article and the 15 ways she says we can serve TCK click here

"Prosperity Text of the Day" - Day 5

2008-03-04T06:24:00.003-05:00

Mark 10:17-27

17As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 "You know the commandments, 'DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
20 And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, " How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

"I Have a Dream" reflections

2008-03-03T15:17:00.004-05:00

I am keenly aware that most who read my blog are white. Most of my friends and family are white. Over a month ago on January 21st we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That day came and past with little thought what that day really means to so many of my brothers and sisters. Growing up in public schools in MN we always celebrated MLK Day, but it was nothing much more than a day off to me.
Last night at our church we had a Black History Service and I was very moved by Pastor Fred Thompson reciting from memory the "I Have a Dream Speech". The content of that speech resounded with me. Maybe because I am less ignorant, maybe because I am more mature, maybe because I have African children, Maybe because my eyes have been opened to the effects and causes of racial injustice around the globe. Whatever the reason it is most assuredly because God has given me eyes to see.
I was saddened that I have been so empathetic to racism that is still alive and well today in the suburbs & cities of Minnesota. Gone are the days of lynchings and the KKK rallies, but there is an amazing apathy it seems to me among us Caucasians, and maybe society in general. I feels this because I feel little sympathy for the effects of racism that still plague our cities and suburbs. I often feel like it doesn't exist because I live in a dream world, that things there is no more injustice, no more racism. Pride is at the root in me. Pride and apathy are probably why I don't know or much care about the words that Rev. King gave us on August 28, 1963 when he had a dream. Probably because I am white and feel like there is no such thing as racism. Here is that speech that I need to know....

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

"Prosperity Text of the Day" - Day 4

2008-03-03T15:07:00.003-05:00

Luke 12:13-20

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man,who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself,'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down mybarns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax,eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him,'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared,whose will they be?'

"Prosperity Text of the Day" Day 3

2008-03-02T10:42:00.003-05:00

1st Timothy 6:9-10

Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.

John Ensor on Black History Month & Being Pro-Life

2008-02-29T12:56:00.004-05:00

The DG blog has posted a great blog by John Ensor about Black History Month and Abortion. Here's an excerpt...

Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King has crisscrossed the land for years now, sharing her own experience of abortion and the painful confession that in this, she had blindly committed the same sin as slavery. She devalued human life and turned it into property to be dealt with according to her own whim. Her honest testimony is crucial. Shedding innocent blood rightly makes God angry and makes all our prayers short of lamentation and confession a vain waste of breath. “Though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood!” (Isaiah 1:15). Our own unconfessed blood-guilt over abortion produces silent pulpits and a church so weak that it can only dream and endlessly talk about the church achieving a muscular faith that produces personal holiness and social impact. But when the secret is outed, the gospel finally makes sense—joyful, conscience-cleansing, doctrine-loving good sense. There can be no forgiveness for the shedding of innocent blood…except by the shedding of innocent blood. But the blood of Christ satisfies the just demands of a God rightly offended by the sin of child-sacrifice. And the blood of Christ can satisfy the stained and stricken conscience; “how much more will the blood of Christ…purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God,” (Hebrews 9:14). By 2033, I expect that King’s honest testimony will prove liberating to thousands, and that tears will yield to resolve; that the natural extension of the civil rights movement is the prolife movement.

To read the entire post click here

Worry?

2008-02-29T12:47:00.003-05:00

This was a good post from the "it isn’t what. it is why" blog.

I usually give credit to my dad when people ask me if I went to school for Accounting. “No,” I tell them, “I get my financial brain from my dad. He taught business and accounting for years and I am the product of being raised in a home where financial responsiblity was taught. Seriously, who tracks their expenses with Quicken when they’re 25?”
I’m so thankful for the financial advisement and recommendation he’s given to me over the years. However, as there are many good things about the lessons I’ve learned, there are plenty of tendancies I’d rather not own.

Click here to read the entire article

"Prosperity Text of the Day" - Day 2

2008-02-29T11:48:00.002-05:00

Luke 14:27-38 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

27"Whoever does not (A)carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29"Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and (B)consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32"Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33"So then, none of you can be My disciple who (C)does not give up all his own possessions.
34"Therefore, salt is good; but (D)if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
35"It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. (E)He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Christ Centered Rap

2008-02-29T11:31:00.002-05:00

I am a fan!

I have really like what Reach Records has been putting out lately.

"Prosperity Text of the Day" - Day 1

2008-02-28T17:51:00.004-05:00

I have decided to start posting a "Prosperity Text of the Day".

Each day I will try and post a text that I think goes against the teachings of the prosperity message. In my discussions with people of this worldview I have always wanted to hear how these texts fit in with the prosperity worldview. I would be happy if we had some discussion on how these verses fit in with the message of prosperity no matter where you stand on the issues.
I will do my best to not take verses out of context and if needed include preceding ascending texts.

Matt 8:19-20
19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
20 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

BUELLER, BUELLER, BUELLER (The Professor and Intellegent Design)

2008-02-28T01:10:00.007-05:00

While listening to MPR in the car the other day I read the tail end of an interesting interview with actor, economist, professor, comedian, politician Ben Stein. It caught my attention because he was promoting a new movie Intelligent Design called eXpelled that is due out this Spring.

I watched the 8 minute long trailer and was AMAZED. I hope this will cause a stir in the halls of America's institutions and makes a lot of people think.

To Live Simply or to Live with War in Mind?

2008-02-28T01:02:00.004-05:00

More on my reading of Chapter 7 of Don't Waste Your Life.

This chapter has challenged me to live a war-time lifestyle and not just a simple life. What is the difference? I was surprised by the drastic differences and implications for the sake of the gospel.

Read on....

Why I Use the Phrase “War time Lifestyle”
Sometimes I use the phrase “wartime lifestyle” or “wartime
mind-set.” The phrase is helpful—but also lopsided. For me it is
mainly helpful. It tells me that there is a war going on in the
world between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and
unbelief. It tells me that there are weapons to be funded and used,
but that these weapons are not swords or guns or bombs but the
Gospel and prayer and self-sacrificing love (2 Corinthians
10:3-5). And it tells me that the stakes of this conflict are higher
than any other war in history; they are eternal and infinite:
heaven or hell, eternal joy or eternal torment (Matthew 25:46).
I need to hear this message again and again, because I drift
into a peacetime mind-set as certainly as rain falls down and
flames go up. I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the
world loves. I start to fit in. I start to love what others love. I start
to call earth “home.” Before you know it, I am calling luxuries
“needs” and using my money just the way unbelievers do. I begin
to forget the war. I don’t think much about people perishing.
Missions and unreached peoples drop out of my mind. I stop
dreaming about the triumphs of grace. I sink into a secular mindset
that looks first to what man can do, not what God can do. It
is a terrible sickness. And I thank God for those who have forced
me again and again toward a wartime mind-set.

What It Looks Like in Wartime
I thank God for Ralph Winter, for example, who not only wrote
powerfully about a wartime lifestyle, but has lived it as a missionary,
professor, founder of the U. S. Center for World
Mission, and tireless advocate for the unreached peoples of the
world. He gave the following vivid illustration of the difference
between a wartime and a peacetime mentality about the use of
our possessions.
The Queen Mary, lying in repose in the harbor at Long
Beach, California, is a fascinating museum of the past. Used
both as a luxury liner in peacetime and a troop transport during
the Second World War, its present status as a museum the
length of three football fields affords a stunning contrast
between the lifestyles appropriate in peace and war. On one
side of a partition you see the dining room reconstructed to
depict the peacetime table setting that was appropriate to the
wealthy patrons of high culture for whom a dazzling array of
knives and forks and spoons held no mysteries. On the other
side of the partition the evidences of wartime austerities are
in sharp contrast. One metal tray with indentations replaces
fifteen plates and saucers. Bunks, not just double but eight
tiers high, explain why the peace-time complement of 3000
gave way to 15,000 people on board in wartime. How repugnant
to the peacetime masters this transformation must have
been! To do it took a national emergency, of course. The survival
of a nation depended on it. The essence of the Great
Commission today is that the survival of many millions of
people depends on its fulfillment.2
Given the vulnerability of my heart to the seduction of the
peacetime mind-set, which is pushed into my mind every day by
media and entertainment, I need these images and these
reminders. We are at war, whether the stocks are falling or climbing,
whether the terrorists are hitting or hiding, whether we are
healthy or sick. Both pleasure and pain are laced with poison,
ready to kill us with the diseases of pride or despair. The repeated
biblical warning to “be alert”3 fits the wartime image. And I need
this warning every day.

Why Not Speak of a “Simple Lifestyle”?
It is more helpful to think of a wartime lifestyle than a merely
simple lifestyle. Simplicity may have a romantic ring and a certain
aesthetic appeal that is foreign to the dirty business of mercy
in the dangerous places of the world. Simplicity may also overlook
the fact that, in wartime, major expenses for complex
weapons and troop training are needed. These may not look simple,
and may be very expensive, but the whole country sacrifices
to make them happen. Simplicity may be inwardly directed and
may benefit no one else. A wartime lifestyle implies that there is
Living to Prove He Is More Precious Than Life and
is a great and worthy cause for which to spend and be spent
(2 Corinthians 12:15).

Staying Where There Is Suffering

2008-02-28T00:49:00.004-05:00

Bill Walsh who is the head of International Outreach for Desiring God posted this a few days ago as he was visiting South Africa. It is a powerful article.

February 22, 2008 | By: Bill Walsh

Today in Johannesburg, South Africa, I had lunch with Pastor Tim Cantrell of Honeyridge Baptist Church. Tim and his wife Michelle are from California and have taken up residence here, committing themselves to the ministry of this church. Yesterday an associate here in the region gave me a copy of a short article that Michelle wrote last year. I was touched by the description of their calling to minister in this country.

I could faithfully serve Christ and the gospel in another country. But I wouldn’t expect to reap the same amount of fruit as in a desperate place like Africa: “God chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.” (James 2:5). People here see their need for the Great Physician. People are suffering. We have the cure that they are asking for. The gospel (a biblical worldview) is the ultimate cure for AIDS and poverty and crime. In more western countries, people are deceptively self-sufficient and hardened to the gospel. Why not stay where the harvest is ripe and the workers are few?

Read the full article (PDF).

Posted from DG

How We Use Money Shows What We Really Love

2008-02-28T00:06:00.004-05:00

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven" Matt. 6:19

I have wrote many times, probably more than any other subject, on the "prosperity gospel".
For some odd reason it is a common topic in conversation with friends.
I am saddened that so many people I know are following or believe the false things this pseudo-gospel claims, seemingly without even studying their theology and grasping for out of context, far stretching case points.
It is upsetting that so many people cling to the grave of this message by claiming things like...Jesus was rich while on earth!!!You know why?
He had a seamless garment! In fact Jesus wore clothes so expensive that the Roman soldiers who crucified him gambled for them!He rode an unridden colt! He had a treasurer! Kings brought him gold!

Why all this argument that Jesus was rich? If He was on earth it must mean that is what He wants us to have.

I have been reading with my Small Group the book "Don't Waste Your Life". This book has been so powerful in my life. It has helped me keep perspective and pointed me back to Christ as my satisfaction...not what I can get from him.

At the risk of no one reading this a doing a blogging sin, I am going to post a semi-large portion of DWYL chapter 7 - "Living to Prove That He is More Precious Than Life" dealing with how we use money. This chapter challenges me greatly!

How Not to Betray Jesus
If Christ is an all-satisfying treasure and promises to provide all
our needs, even through famine and nakedness, then to live as
though we had all the same values as the world would betray
him. I have in mind mainly how we use our money and how we
feel about our possessions. I hear the haunting words of Jesus,
“Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall

we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after
all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). In other words, if we look
like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we
will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look
great. He will look like a religious side-interest that may be useful
for escaping hell in the end, but doesn’t make much difference
in what we live and love here. He will not look like an
all-satisfying treasure. And that will not make others glad in
God.
If we are exiles and refugees on earth (1 Peter 2:11), and if
our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and if nothing can
separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35), and if his
steadfast love is better than life (Psalm 63:3), and if all hardship
is working for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17),
then we will give to the winds our fears and “seek first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). We will
count everything as rubbish in comparison with Christ
(Philippians 3:7-8). We will “joyfully accept the plundering of
our property” for the sake of unpopular acts of mercy (Hebrews
10:34). We will choose “ rather to be mistreated with the people
of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin,” and we will
count “the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures
of Egypt” (Hebrews 11:25-26).
Why Don’t People Ask Us About Our Hope?
There is no doubt that if we lived more like this, the world
would be more likely to consider whether Jesus is an all-satisfying
Treasure. He would look like one. When was the last
time someone asked you about “the reason for the hope that
is in you”? That’s what Peter said we should always be ready
to give an answer for: “Always be prepared to make a defense
to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in
you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Why don’t people ask us about our hope?
The answer is probably that we look as if we hope in the same things they do.
Our lives don’t look like they are on the Calvary road, stripped
down for sacrificial love, serving others with the sweet assurance
that we don’t need to be rewarded in this life. Our reward is
great in heaven (Matthew 5:12)! “You will be repaid at the resurrection
of the just” (Luke 14:14). If we believed this more
deeply, others might see the worth of God and find in him their
gladness.
The Credibility of Christ Hangs on How We Use Our Money
The issue of money and lifestyle is not a side issue in the Bible.
The credibility of Christ in the world hangs on it. “Fifteen percent
of everything Christ said relates to this topic—more than his
teachings on heaven and hell combined.”1 Listen to this refrain
that runs all through his teachings:
• “You lack one thing: go, sell all you have and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
me” (Mark 10:21).
• “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of
God. . . . But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your
consolation” (Luke 6:20, 24).
• “Any of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot
be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
• “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke
18:25).
• “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”
(Luke 12:15).
• “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and
all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
• “Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves
with moneybags . . . in the heavens” (Luke 12:33).

Living to Prove He Is More Precious Than Life
• “Zacchaeus . . . said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of
my goods I give to the poor. . . .’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today
salvation has come to this house’” (Luke 19:8-9).
• “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and
sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).
• “[Jesus] saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more
than all of them’” (Luke 21:2-3).
• “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is
required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will
they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not
rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21).
• “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the
Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. . . . Follow me” (Luke
9:58-59).
Hazardous Liberality
Over and over Jesus is relentless in his radical call to a wartime
lifestyle and a hazardous liberality. I say “hazardous” because of
that story about the widow. She gave her last penny to the temple
ministry. Most of us would call her foolish or, more delicately,
imprudent. But there is not a word of criticism from Jesus:
And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,
which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and
said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put
in more than all those who are contributing to the offering
box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she
out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had
to live on.” (Mark 12:42-44, emphasis added)
The point here is not that everyone should give everything

away. The point is: Jesus loves faith-filled risk for the glory of
God. I don’t have laws to give you concerning the particulars of
how to spend your money, any more than Jesus did. I simply
want to point to Jesus and let his word have its shocking and saving
effect on us.
Use Money to Show That God, Not Possessions,
Is Our Treasure
Jesus’ emphasis on money and possessions is picked up throughout
the New Testament. There are the stories in the book of Acts
(“They were selling their possessions . . . and distributing the
proceeds . . . as any had need,” Acts 2:45). There are the words
of the apostle Paul (“In a severe test of affliction, their abundance
of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of
generosity. . . . God loves a cheerful giver,” 2 Corinthians 8:2;
9:7). There are the words of James, the brother of Jesus (“Its
flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade
away in the midst of his pursuits,” James 1:11).
The issue is pervasive because it is crucial for the witness of
the church. If we want to make people glad in God, our lives
must look as if God, not possessions, is our joy. Our lives must
look as if we use our possessions to make people glad in God—
especially the most needy.

AMEN!!!

You can read all of Don't Waste Your Life book online here

What kind of Theologian am I?

2008-02-26T07:53:00.002-05:00

I came across this quote a few weeks ago which stuck out to me by RC Sproul:

"No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nonetheless. The issue for the Christian is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are going to be good theologians or bad ones"

Growing up I was taught to have world view that was opposed to "theology" because you didn't need theology if you had the Spirit of God. Theology was mostly looked down upon as that was for old, non-spiritual, religious people. I have learned to love the study of God. I obviously do not believe that anymore and have come to see the Spirit move in my life through the Scriptures and through studying"Theology." Theology has helped me see Christ more Glorious and love Him more dearly.
I am grateful for people like RC Sproul who hold up the banner of true theology.
I want to be a good theologian!

Vote for Kim!!!

2008-02-18T22:53:00.005-05:00

Kim Lewis was the design producer that I was able to work with on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition job for the Swenson-Lee family this past summer.

Kim did an exceptional job of handling all of the details of the Swenson-Lee job, and if it were not for her amazing planning and communication I do not know how all of us would have been able to think of accomplishing building a 5600 sf house in less than 100 hours.

It was a delight to work for her as she kept us focused on the task at hand...blessing this family.

I say this to ask you to vote for her on HGTV's reality show DesignStar. You can vote once per day up until March 3rd. Kim is so deserving of this.

To vote for her on HGTV's DesignStar click here

Sell the Jet!

2008-02-18T12:32:00.006-05:00

Mac Hammond of Living Word is again in the news, this time the Star Tribune. The church is facing a real recession as giving has been down up to $280,000 per month. The lear jet is for sale, the Sunday program that airs on Kare 11 has been scaled down to a half hour and Pastor Hammond has made some interesting comments about his ideas of why in the Star Tribune article.

Hammond says, 'Disillusionment sets in'
At Copeland's conference, which was broadcast live on the Internet, Hammond told other ministers that people "gradually become disillusioned" when their prayers are not met promptly or when promised riches don't come.
"They have needs to be met, and when they don't get it they leave," Hammond said. "They get their hands put on them, they don't get cured, then the disillusionment sets in."

If people don't get the new BMW they are out of here? So the question is where they ever in it for the right reasons? If the cancer isn't cured will they bail on their faith? Do they treasure Christ come hell or high water, come injustice and famine and persecution? Is that real faith? If it is only strong when things are going great? Or does this gospel make people treasure the treasure and not the giver of the treasure?

Will the Prosperity gospel survive a deep recession or economic depression in the US economy? Many say it can only flourish in societies will excess. Once can only pray that whatever means it may take God would expose the evil of this idol message.

53% of Relevant Magazines Readers Support Abortion Rights!

2008-02-18T12:10:00.003-05:00

So much for relevance being the answer to the churches problems!

Article from Abort73.com

This weekend I took a look at Joel Hunter's article "Politics" in the current issue of Relevant Magazine. Accompanying the article are the results of the recent Relevant Reader Poll, conducted online at RelevantMagazine.com. In response to the question, Can A Christian Support Abortion Rights?, 53% said... yes. When asked, "Who Would Jesus Vote For?", more of Relevant's readers chose Barack Obama (28%) than any other candidate.
In light of the fact that Barack Obama aggressively supports a mother's "right" to execute her children before they are born, I am dumbstruck that so many 20-something Christians believe he is the candidate Jesus would most likely support. The first sentence of Hunter's article alludes to the notion that it is a terrible thing to be a "one-issue" voter. I have to assume that it is this kind of thinking which prompted a majority of Relevant readers to declare that is is OK for Christians to support abortion rights. In other words, I think a lot of young Christians (who don't sufficiently grasp the barbarity of abortion) are thinking, "I like what this candidate stands for here, here, and here, so I can overlook his or her support of abortion (after all, I don't want to be a one-issue voter)." Any time I hear reasoning like that, I'm reminded of a short article John Piper wrote some years back. It's a tremendous help at times like these. I've excerpted three paragraphs below, but PLEASE take the time to read the whole thing. It's only seven paragraphs altogether.

One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society..
No endorsement of any single issue qualifies a person to hold public office. Being pro-life does not make a person a good governor, mayor, or president. But there are numerous single issues that disqualify a person from public office. For example, any candidate who endorsed bribery as a form of government efficiency would be disqualified, no matter what his party or platform was. Or a person who endorsed corporate fraud (say under $50 million) would be disqualified no matter what else he endorsed. Or a person who said that no black people could hold office—on that single issue alone he would be unfit for office. Or a person who said that rape is only a misdemeanor—that single issue would end his political career. These examples could go on and on. Everybody knows a single issue that for them would disqualify a candidate for office.
It's the same with marriage. No one quality makes a good wife or husband, but some qualities would make a person unacceptable. For example, back when I was thinking about getting married, not liking cats would not have disqualified a woman as my wife, but not liking people would. Drinking coffee would not, but drinking whiskey would. Kissing dogs wouldn't, but kissing the mailman would. And so on. Being a single-issue fiancé does not mean that only one issue matters. It means that some issues may matter enough to break off the relationship.
So it is with politics. You have to decide what those issues are for you. What do you think disqualifies a person from holding public office? I believe that the endorsement of the right to kill unborn children disqualifies a person from any position of public office. It's simply the same as saying that the endorsement of racism, fraud, or bribery would disqualify him—except that child-killing is more serious than those...

When Abort73 started advertising in Relevant Magazine, our primary aim was to introduce young Christians to Abort73 so that they could help us introduce Abort73 to culture at large. That's still our aim, but in light of the results of this recent survey, I am reminded that there are still a whole lot of young Christians out here who need to be better educated about abortion in the first place.

Michael Spielman
Loxafamosity Ministries

The Prosperity Gospel Will Disappoint You!

2008-01-15T20:35:00.000-05:00

God! Please open our eyes to our idolatry! Let us be satisfied in YOU alone!

None of Your Business!

2008-01-15T19:32:00.000-05:00

The response say it all!

The Bereans...Where are they!

2008-01-15T17:59:00.000-05:00

I found this blog interesting. It lists verses of what we are to beware of in false teachers.
Sadly though it will take more than just verses to open peoples eyes to their own idolatry and the deception that is in the church today by these so called brothers.

I admit when talking to people who believe this there is no verse, no investigation, no reasoning that can change peoples minds. I feel like I am talking to people who are brainwashed or belong to a cult.

If what these men are saying is true then why not test their teaching against the whole of scripture?

Part of it is these ministries discourage testing, questioning, or thinking anything but what they say...to do that would be not to have faith.

That's the opposite of what the Bereans did when taught by the man who authored the majority of the New Testament.
In acts 17:11 the Bereans were commended for testing...

Acts 17:11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness,(A) examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Without prayer, fasting and God doing a work in peoples hearts I am convinced the prosperity gospel will continue to flourish....because it sounds so good!

Reverend Copeland is leaving on a jet plane! His new $20,000,000 jet plane!

2008-01-13T23:02:00.000-05:00

Do people really believe that this is the Gospel that Christ died for?

Is there any indication in scripture that this is the kind of gospel Christ or the early church gave their lives for?

Sadly I know too many people who believe what false teachers like Kenneth Copeland teach and give him funds hoping they too can buy God's blessing.

God please open their eyes to this man deceptive untrue, un-biblical, evil false gospel of idolatry!

2nd Peter 2: 1-3 2:1 "This sound a lot like today"...
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

"Creflo's Momma Didn't Name Him Dollar for Nothing...He flew here on his own airplane"

2008-01-13T22:17:00.000-05:00

CNN reported the opulent TV preacher Rev. Creflo Dollar has refused to turn over documents to the US Senate that they requested in November regarding the non-profit status of some prosperity ministries who's leadership was living in blatant extravagance and excess.
Unfortunatly Creflo didn't refuse the Rolls Royce or Gulfstream jet his church "blessed" him with or the near $5,000,000.00 salary he takes from donors to live lavishly on something more....eternal.

All other ministries under investigation have given the information requested to the Senate Finance Committee.

Creflo also tells CNN that he believes if Jesus Christ were alive today he too would drive in a Rolls Royce. He reasons this with the interviewer because according to his understanding the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem was never before rode.....

Yeah....so....I'm not following!
Evidently in the Greek and un-ridden donkey is equivalent to a $500,000 Rolls Royce!

Now that verse about foxes have holes (Creflo's Greek interpretation-underground parking) and birds have nests (Creflo Greek interpretation-high rise condos) verse makes complete sense.

Thankyou Pastor Driscoll!

2008-01-10T20:24:00.000-05:00

This is a great, proper, non attacking video critiquing of the teachings of "Americas Pastor" Rev. Joel Osteen. Well done Mars Hill...Well Done!

Reward Programs

2008-01-06T23:28:00.001-05:00

Do you find all the reward programs annoying. Super America's Speedy Rewards, Rainbow Foods tried it for a while, Blockbuster has one, Petsmart & Ritz Camera and Borders Books all have one as does CVS pharmacy just to name the ones that come to my head.

I find them all quite annoying. The person at the check out always tries to get me to sign up so I can get more junk mail and random coupons.

How much room do you have on a key chain to carry all these little plastic cards anyways and why do we want to? To get free nic nacs that advertise their services and coupons so we can spend more at their stores.

I do the Speedy Rewards one because who can pass up free hot dogs and gas station coffee just for buying gas that typically costs more than the station across the street by 3 cents who sells 2 hot dogs for a whole dollar. The latest that I have actually got suckered into doing is mycokerewards. What a waste of time!
I come home at the end of the day with bottle caps filling my pockets that I find at job sites so I can enter them on the Internet and get a coupon for a free Coke or a shirt advertising Coke or a mouse pad that says Coke of course.

The sub club at Subway that was a good one that has gone away.

Slate Magazine takes on Osteen

2008-01-06T23:20:00.000-05:00

Slate magazine recently covered "America's Pastor" Joel Osteen.

(HT: iMonk)

Post Christmas Blues Perspective

2007-12-27T10:25:00.000-05:00

I found this posting on DG by Jon Bloom most helpful in keeping perspective.

Hopeful Post-Christmas MelancholyDecember 26, 2007 By: Jon Bloom Category: Commentary

Each year Christmas night finds members of my family feeling some melancholy. After weeks of anticipation, the Christmas celebrations have flashed by us and are suddenly gone. And we’re left standing, watching the Christmas taillights and music fade into the night.But it’s possible that this moment of melancholy may be the best teaching moment of the whole season. Because as long as the beautiful gifts remain unopened around the tree and the events are still ahead of us, they can appear to be the hope we are waiting for. But when the tree is empty and events are past, we realize we are longing for a lasting hope.So last night, as Pam and I tucked our kids into bed, we talked about a few things with them:
Gifts and events can’t fill the soul. God gives us such things to enjoy. They are expressions of his generosity as well as ours, but gifts and celebrations themselves are not designed to satisfy. They're designed to point us to the Giver. Gifts are like sunbeams. We are not meant to love sunbeams but the Sun.
Putting our hope in gifts will leave us empty. Many people live their lives looking for the right sunbeam to make them happy. But if we depend on anything in the world to satisfy our soul’s deepest desire, it will eventually leave us with that post-Christmas soul-ache. We will ask, “Is that all?” because we know deep down that’s not all there is. We are designed to treasure a Person, not his things.
It is more blessed to give than receive. What kind of happiness this Christmas felt richer, getting the presents that you wanted or making someone else happy with something that you gave to them? Receiving is a blessing, but Jesus is right—giving is a greater blessing. A greedy soul lives in a small, lonely world. A generous soul lives in a wide world of love.
It’s just like God to let the glitter and flash of the celebrations (even in his honor) to pass and then to come to us in the quiet, even melancholic void they leave. Because often that’s when we are most likely to understand the hope he intends for us to have at Christmas.

Good Job Pete!

2007-12-23T13:22:00.000-05:00

My brother-in-law Peter wrote and filmed this music video for Tooth & Nail Records band Mainstay. I think he did a pretty awesome job for his first full length music video. Good job Pete.

Mainstay just got off tour with Jeremy Camp. This last week their song "Believe" rose to #7 on the R&R Christian Rock Chart.
I'm loving the new album "Become Who You Are". Right now you can download the whole album at Walmart.com for $4.88. Sweet!
_______________________________________________________

Lyrics to Away from You - Song from Video

Knowing that your heart's content
was the thing that shut their mouths
Watching as you value someone more than yourself
And you taught it well

Send us right away
Our girl doesn't waste her breath
She stands like a sage
She moves, but she never moves away from you

Even as the tears fall, the smile never leaves
Wonder in the heartache that they will never see
That is everything

And you're watching everything
around you slowly start to fade
But you're holding on to love,
even though your heart starts to break

The Joshua Project - Then the End will come!

2007-12-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

video produced by www.dontwasteyourlife.com

Trust in Times of Trouble

2007-12-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

Jon Bloom wrote a helpful blog Trust Promises, Not Providences yesterday about loss and suffering that is helpful for us to remember in good and bad situations.

DG/IO

2007-11-29T17:06:00.000-05:00

I have had the pleasure of working with DG's International Outreach the past month and have loved every second of it. It is exciting to see how much it has been growing around the world. It is such an honor to be able to partner in a grassroots way to spread a passion for the supremacy of Christ with those doing the work of the ministry around the globe.

To read the write up "Desiring God Going Global" on the DG site click here

Must Read - "Be a Kinder Calvinist"

2007-11-26T22:59:00.000-05:00

Abraham Piper has posted a insightful blog posting "Be a Kinder Calvinist" that I recommend to all.

Christian Hedonism

2007-11-26T10:59:00.000-05:00

John Piper writes a helpful commentary today on Christian Hedonism titled "Damned for the Beloved?"

"We Painted It" Watch Us on ABC this Sunday!

2007-11-23T20:22:00.000-05:00

"We Painted It"

Watch us this Sunday night on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's 100th Episode. It was air as a 2 hour special Tonight (Sunday Nov. 25th) on ABC which is KSTP 5 in the Minneapolis Area from 6-8pm.

It was an honor to work on and lead the painting for TJB Homes for the Swenson-Lee Family.

Here is a link to the video promo from ABC.

Here is a home video link of us painting the exterior.

To visit our website which talks about our part of working with EMHE click here

ORU President Resigns

2007-11-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

Another sad story from the health-wealth sector of "Christianity" out today.

CNN reports that President of Oral Roberts University Richard Roberts has resigned effective immediately as the lawsuit alleging he used university money and donations to build a lavish lifestyle for himself.

This amidst CBS reports that there is still a pending investigation by the US Senate finance commitee that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) of Iowa has launched against half a dozen "Prosperity" ministries including Creflo Dollar, Ken Copeland, faith healer Benny Hinn and one of the nation's best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer.

According to CBS, "Grassley sent letters to a half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this month requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.

In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations.

"The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces," Grassley said.

"I don't want to conclude that there's a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code." "

Horton on Osteeen's "Become a Better You"

2007-11-13T21:22:00.000-05:00

Micheal Horton does an in depth review of Joel Osteen's new book "Become a Better You".

It is EXCELLENT!

Why do more pastors and teacher not fear James 3:1?

Is this what happens when the sound guy becomes the senior pastor of a church and no one checks their Bibles to what he is preaching as long as it sounds good and promises abundance?

"Become a Better You" is currently 3rd on the Hardcover Advice section of The NY Times Best seller list. It has beat Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" which teaches the same theology Osteen teaches except she references God a few less times than Osteen and is involved New Age.

Osteens last book was on the Best Seller list for nearly a year with "Your Best Life Now"
What does that title imply about heaven?

Driscoll's Confession

2007-11-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

I found this very encouraging. It's rare to hear of anyone in leadership these days admit when they are wrong. I liked Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle WA a lot before. I have enjoyed his podcasts. This makes me like him more. You can read Driscoll's confession here on pride from the Between Two World's blog.

Weather Channel Founder Calls Global Warming "Scam"

2007-11-12T20:43:00.000-05:00

Weather Channel founder John Coleman calls global warming "the greatest scam in history" on the blog ICECAP.us. To read more about his views click here

The Weather Channel has posted it's response here

"24" Held Hostage

2007-11-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

The writers guild strike has taken it's greatest hostage. There is no longer any possibility of the 2008 season of "24" that was supposed to debut in January on FOX according to MSNBC because there has only been 7 episodes filmed. Producers say that even if the strike were to end now it will not leave enough time to get the full 24 episodes filmed, edited and ready by the premier.

BAAAAHHHHHAAAA :(

Thankgiving dinner in a bottle! YUM!

2007-11-10T12:37:00.000-05:00

CNN reports that Jones Soda is up to it again with their Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah packs.

The Thanksgiving-themed,pack will feature sodas flavored like Green Pea, Sweet Potato, Dinner Roll, Turkey and Gravy, and Antacid sodas.

What do you know about their "Real" parents? ADOPTION must read!

2007-11-10T11:04:00.000-05:00

Boundless.org has published an article by Justin Taylor on adoption.

It is probably the best article I have ever read on adoption and deals with many of the things adopted parents face. It give great Biblical grounding for adoption.
I HIGHLY recommend it!

China Respond's to Allegations of Olympic Censoring

2007-11-09T12:17:00.000-05:00

China denies the Bible ban at Olympics according to the London Times.
This seems like a normal response when ever the heat gets too hot for the Chinese leadership.

Last time I was in China apparently they no longer had any religious persecution though they are still on the list of countries severely restricts religious freedom.

Two great blogs worth reading!

2007-11-08T12:07:00.001-05:00

I ran across two great blogs today on Between Two Worlds. One is very encouraging, the other is not so much.

The encouraging one is called "Technology, the Bible, and Missions" and is from the Washington Post. It is about how the Bible is being spread around the globe through the use of technology. It makes the Gospel of Christ available to those who do not have the ability to read. It is a great article and we should praise God for it!

The second blog is called "China Bans Bibles for Olympic Athletes" and is from a report in the New York Sun.

Apparently China feels that too many visitors might bring in Bibles during the Olympics and flood the Chinese Bible market which will make Bibles prices too high for the common folk? So that's how the communist market works? Too much supply drives prices up?

The glimmer of hope is that all long term attempts to hold Christianity down in China have seem to have failed most miserably as China is considered by many to hold the largest population of Christians in the world.
Don't get me wrong they persecute the church quite a bit, but it keeps on growing! It seems that the censoring has not worked well for them.

DG and the Prosperity Gospel in Africa

2007-11-08T10:24:00.000-05:00

Tia from Desiring God's International Outreach has posted a article "Outshining the Prosperity Gospel" on Desiring God's blog.
It is an update about the prosperity movements march in Africa and what one pastor is doing to remain faithful and how Desiring God has helped him do this.

Accountability for the Prosperity Enterprise?

2007-11-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

Between Two Worlds posted an interesting article yesterday "Name It, Claim It, Investigate It"

It is about Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who is a leader of the Senate Finance Committee who has launched investigations into some prosperity ministries who claim to be non-profit rake in hundreds of millions, live in mansions, own jets and drive Rolls Royce's.

When I heard the news all I could think is that it is about time! If there is nothing to hide there should be no problem but if fraud is found I hope that it is prosecuted.

Most of ministries have avoided accountability for ages.

Sadly it is the US government that has to get involved because the sheep aren't reading their Bibles and continue to support anti-Biblical teaching.

Tony's Back?

2007-11-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

Rumor has it that Tony Almeida will be back for the 2008 season of 24 which debuts January 13th 2008 in a two hour special.

I googled it and it seem that this season will have Bauer on trial. We will see!

What do you need for Christmas?

2007-11-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

This blog offers a great perspective about how caught up we get as Christmas gets more and more consumerized. I want this Christmas not to be about me. Me! I really don't need anything.

MAINSTAY & DWYL - Part 4

2007-11-06T21:38:00.000-05:00

The 4th & Final Maintay interview with DONTWASTEYOURLIFE.COM is now up online.

Mainstay also moved up 2 spots on the R&R Christian Rock charts.

The Rebelution

2007-11-06T09:40:00.000-05:00

Randy Alcorn from Eternal Perspective Ministries recommends Alex & Brett Harris's (Josh Harris's little brothers) website and conferences that have been spreading like wildfire among teenagers who are flocking to their message of “Do Hard Things.”called The Rebelution.

Gender & Roles

2007-11-05T13:42:00.000-05:00

I have some good conversations recently about gender stemming from Piper's article on women in combat.

There are some great resources online at the Council for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood site.

I have found there dealings with these issues to be very Biblical and grace filled.

The CBMW has tons of information and great resources if you find yourself pondering these things.

Narnia - Prince Caspian

2007-11-04T21:35:00.001-05:00

Between Two Worlds has posted a trailer for the newest movie Prince Caspian in C.S. Lewis's Narnia series that is due out spring 2008.

Microfinance & Missions

2007-11-04T21:22:00.000-05:00

It seems that Micro finance is a exploding area of missions and development that puts opportunities in the hands of ordinary folks by connecting them around the world .

Christianity Today just published a interesting article on micro finance "From Hand Out to Hand Up"

The article highlights a Christian micro finance firm from Chicago called Opportunity International who has partnered with World Relief among others to help in the area of networking micro finance across the globe.

Free Wings

2007-11-04T18:55:00.001-05:00

So you all probably think I am obsessed with food. There has just been some good deals lately. Here's another. Tomorrow 11-05-2007 at the Hudson WI opening of Buffalo Wild Wings at 913 Pearson Drive, the first 100 guests will get Free wings for 1 year! There is no fine print so I'm not sure what it entails. Make sure you try the Blazin sauce. It made my friend TJ nearly cry like a baby!

I'm not kidding Dusty! Free wings! What time do you want to meet?

Women & War

2007-11-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

Piper wrote a great article on the role of women in combat for World Magazine.

Here is part two which is a brief response to objections regarding the sacrafice women have given in warfare for the US.

DWYL & MAINSTAY - PART 3

2007-10-31T22:15:00.000-05:00

The 3rd DONTWASTEYOURLIFE.COM interview with Mainstay is now up.

Mainstay has also moved up 2 spots to 18 on the R&R Christian Rock Charts.

Good Job Guys!

Christians and Halloween

2007-10-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

I read this article last year and I thought it offered some good council and challenges on the hot topic of Christian's and Halloween.

Free Burritos at Chipotle!

2007-10-30T20:52:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow if you dress up for Halloween and go to Chipolte you will be entilted to a free burrito all day. See you there. For more info link here

Hummer Theory!

2007-10-24T00:22:00.000-04:00

So I had a theory for sometime that anyone who drives a Hummer vehicle has a huge ego and when it comes to business I usually try and be cautious.

This has been true with 100% of my encounters.

Doesn't the Hummer design just scream excess ego?

Does anyone truly need what the Hummer has to offer besides maybe Blackwater? Does it really help soccer moms get to practice faster or give room to pack in more groceries?

I would love to know if anyone who reads this either drives a Hummer or knows someone who does who doesn't have a massive ego.

If you do let us know. If you have Hummer ego run in's I'd love to hear that too.

As it stands the theory remains.

100K

2007-10-22T22:49:00.000-04:00

Nearly a month ago iTunes carried Mainstay as the Discovery Download of the week free music download. This was first for BEC records. Nearly 100,000 people downloaded their song, Congrats guys!

Mainstay is currently touring with lablemate Jeremy Camp on the"Intimate Evening with Jeremy Camp" unplugged tour.

If you are looking for some catchy tunes with some depth and sincerity check them out.

Mainstay Fans Unite!

2007-10-21T22:33:00.000-04:00

Mainstay fans you will be glad to know that on Air1 which is one of the nations largest christian radio stations has posted that Mainstay's song Believe is the 2nd most requested song trailing only Casting Crowns song East to West.
Right On! Just FYI!