Month: May 2006 (page 1 of 2)

From today’s One Year Bible…

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your law. I am but a foreigner here on earth; I need the guidance of your commands. Don’t hide them from me! (Psalm 119:17-19)

Well, at least right now, it seems to be the center of the “church world” in Woodstock, Georgia.

Location: The Serene Bean, Olde Town Woodstock
Sound: “Mas Que Nada,” the original, from when Sergio Mendes was with Brasil 66, not Will.i.am

Why is it the center of the church world? Right now, there is a pastor sitting outside with his laptop. There is another pastor sitting at the table next to me with his laptop. And there is what appears to be a pastor with one of his leaders. The pastor has apparently recently discovered Robert Lewis’s Culture Shift and is passionately trying to convince the leader that their church needs to shift its culture. Good luck, dude…I don’t think he’s buying it yet.)

Wait! Hold the presses! It’s the other leader who has discovered the book, and he’s the one trying to do the convincing! It’s the pastor who’s resisting! Cool!

…Bob Wills is still the king.

But now with a sling.

After somebody’s destructive fling.

Got any clues? Give ’em a ring.

Stop it, already!

OK, so it’s a soapbox day, I guess…

See that picture? Cool, huh?

Guess where it is.

Nah, go ahead…guess.

C’mon…guess.

If you guessed it’s in one of the foyers of the brand-spanking-new Georgia Baptist Convention palace headquarters, you’d probably be right.

Thirty. Million. Dollars…

‘Da Vinci Code’ Called ‘Real Danger’ to Christians’ Faith — 05/18/2006

If my faith is going to be shattered or even shaken by a movie, maybe my faith ain’t what it’s cracked up to be in the first place.

Sheesh!

(Stepping down from soapbox…)

From George MacDonald’s The Diary of an Old Soul…

I would go near thee – but I cannot press
Into thy presence – it helps not to presume.
Thy doors are deeds; the handles are their doing.
He whose day-life is obedient righteousness,
Who, after failure, or a poor success,
Rises up, stronger effort yet renewing –
He finds thee, Lord, at length, in his own common room.

Sometimes He whispers in that “still, small voice.” But sometimes, He shouts!

The question, of course, is…

Are you listening? Am I?

…why are the baseboards coated with a half-inch of crud in the same room where a John Piper book is prominently displayed on a desk and a “Name Above All Names” poster is on the wall? And why is the return grate for the air conditioner gummed up with who knows what?

I guess because it’s college, that’s why!

My buddy Gary posted about his buddy Greg and some of the stuff he’s going through right about now. He’s not the only one. There seems to be a pretty concerted effort on the part of the enemy, especially against those who are doing something great for the Kingdom.

I’m reminded of today’s selection from My Utmost for His Highest…

Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says – “I cannot stand any more.” God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands. For what have you need of patience just now? Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. “Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him.”

And this…

Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God. God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him.

I don’t know Greg, but I know Gary thinks an awful lot of him and he’s challenged and encouraged Gary over the months. I’m challenged and encouraged by Greg’s response on his blog…

Please know, I’m not discouraged, depressed, or wavering in my faith. It’s the exact opposite, I’M GROWING IN MY FAITH. God is using all of this to stretch me, and make me more like Christ!

To all the Gregs and others out there, we’re praying for you tonight!