I have not blogged for a while, I am Round Lake Christian Assembly for basketball camp. Each year we do a half of week for girls and a half for boys. It is very tiring yet very rewarding. I am coaching a boys team that will play for the championship tomorrow morning. It is kind of funny since I do not really know what I am doing.
We have kid this week that is autistic. He is awesome! He is having a blast and the other boys have included him in everything. He scored a basket yesterday, which made everyone's week. He has already stood up during lunch to sin two songs. Not your usual camp songs, I mean top forty stuff. He is the best defender in the camp because he never leaves his man (he has followed him to the huddle during a time out).
You know God is like that with us. He follows us everywhere we go. Our problem is that we are not focused on our relationship with God. We do not acknowledge his presence. This young man, always is striving to do the right thing and he is very focused on it. How about you. Have you acknowledge God's presence today? Are you focused on pleasing God and focusing on his will? I think we all know the answer to that last one. Were not as good as we should be.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Fishing for Men
I went fishing with a guy in the church last Friday. We went up to Lake Erie to do some walleye and perch fishing. We didn't catch anything. Well that is not completely true. We didn't catch any keepers. Let me rephrase that, we did not catch anything we wanted to keep. Over all we did probably catch 20 or 30 fish, but we weren't counting. A couple of them were five pounds or better. But because they were not the right kind we didn't keep them. They were not what we were targeting.
It's funny, one of the guys with us was pumped when he caught a big sheephead. He wanted to take a picture of it, but we did not have a camera. We probably wouldn't have taken a picture of it anyway. It was not the right kind. We did not want it.
In Acts 10, Peter has a vision of a sheet being let down by it's four corners. It was filled with animals that were considered unclean by the law. A voice from heaven told him get up and eat. Peter replied, " Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
Then the voice said, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
This vision was so that Peter would begin to change his paradigm. Until now it was unlawful for a Jew to associate with a Gentile. Peter had to make a quick change in attitude. Would he go with the Gentile men at his home to meet Cornelius? Yes. Why? Because God told him to and that was good enough for him. Jesus had said to Peter that if you follow me I will make you fishers of men. And even if you think one of those fish is not a keeper, you keep it.
How many of us are selective in who we associate with? How many of us decide what we are fishing for based on a specific target and when we catch something different we are not satisfied with the catch?
Our attitude should be the same as the guy who caught the big sheephead with us on Friday. He was excited because he caught something big. He was excited about the other fish he caught, even though they were not keepers. Why? Because he was there to fish and it did not matter what kind of fish he caught, he was successful because he caught fish.
How many times do we come in contact with people who desperately need to hear about Jesus and we blow them off because they are not the right kind. They are not our target audience, they not one of us. God spoke to Peter one day and said we have no right to call something impure that He has made clean.
Monday, July 21, 2008
What if there wasn't a Bible to Read?
I read a blog this morning that I have not been able to stop thinking about. It is by a friend who I went to college with that usually has some very edgy and thought provoking blogs. He published a blog today called: "Christians Spend to Much Time Reading the Bible" (read).
The question I had after reading it was, "What were the Apostles teaching which the early church devoted themselves to?" (Acts 2:42) Maybe we have devoted ourselves so much to deep theological issues, we have failed to see what is really important. And in our devotion to theology we have divided the church with the many denominations that exist. Maybe this is why so many churches are doing such a poor job at reaching lost people. I agree with Brian, maybe we read the Bible to much instead of living our lives a a testimony to Jesus.
I still want to know what it was that they taught which transformed their world and connected so many lost people to the kingdom. I think it was simple. When we read through the book of Acts the message doesn't change much. The message is highly focused one thing- The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Everything revolves around that one event in history.
The apostles teach people what that means for them personally. And then they ask them to believe in the message, repent of their lifestyle and follow Jesus. They may share stories of people who go through this transformation and people who do not. But the message is always the same, Jesus died and paid your penalty of sin which gives you the hope of eternal life. Then the question they ask is, "Do you believe this?"
The question is not, do you believe in the trinity? Or the virgin birth? Or the Bible (it was not even around then)? Or a certain creed of a denomination? We have made all these tests of faith. The question is that simple: "Do you believe that Jesus died, was buried and resurrected from the dead? Do you believe he did this for you so that you could have eternal life and be freed from the bondage of sin? If so then follow him.
Is it really that simple?
The question I had after reading it was, "What were the Apostles teaching which the early church devoted themselves to?" (Acts 2:42) Maybe we have devoted ourselves so much to deep theological issues, we have failed to see what is really important. And in our devotion to theology we have divided the church with the many denominations that exist. Maybe this is why so many churches are doing such a poor job at reaching lost people. I agree with Brian, maybe we read the Bible to much instead of living our lives a a testimony to Jesus.
I still want to know what it was that they taught which transformed their world and connected so many lost people to the kingdom. I think it was simple. When we read through the book of Acts the message doesn't change much. The message is highly focused one thing- The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Everything revolves around that one event in history.
The apostles teach people what that means for them personally. And then they ask them to believe in the message, repent of their lifestyle and follow Jesus. They may share stories of people who go through this transformation and people who do not. But the message is always the same, Jesus died and paid your penalty of sin which gives you the hope of eternal life. Then the question they ask is, "Do you believe this?"
The question is not, do you believe in the trinity? Or the virgin birth? Or the Bible (it was not even around then)? Or a certain creed of a denomination? We have made all these tests of faith. The question is that simple: "Do you believe that Jesus died, was buried and resurrected from the dead? Do you believe he did this for you so that you could have eternal life and be freed from the bondage of sin? If so then follow him.
Is it really that simple?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Great Depression
I spent a little while this afternoon with Mrs. Newlon, who is 93 1/2. You count halves when you are under 5 and over 90. I once did a funeral for a guy who 106 1/2, it probably was appropriate to count months at that point. Anyway Mrs. Newlon and I started talking about the depression.
She said that she did not think that people who are her kids age and younger realize how difficult the depression was on people. I believe she is right. But when you think about, it was hard enough to make people change the way they lived for the rest of their lives. They did not waste anything. I can remember my grandmother washing aluminum foil, storing it in a drawer and using it until it fell apart. She did the same with plastic baggies. Everything that was left over went back into the refrigerator. You made things last as long as you could.
Mrs. Newlon talked about how at Christmas and Birthdays, there were no presents. she said even the rich kids did not get anything because their families were cutting back also. Nobody knew how bad it was going to get.
It was interesting listening to here remember those days. She said it was hard, but not bad, because everyone was going through the same thing. Everyone was in it together.
It made me think on the way back to the office. How would people today handle such a crisis? I mean, we have so much that we think we have to have in order to survive. Our lives have become very difficult. We do not really understand nor practice the concept of being content. We go and buy whatever we want (notice I said "want" not "need").
In the Bible, Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything though Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).
I am not sure this is the case with a lot of Christ followers. This is seen in the attitude of many Christ followers who are looking for a church where they are comfortable. I am not sure God has told us we will be comfortable. As a matter of fact through the Bible we see people grow the most when they are not comfortable.
I am sure there are some Christ followers who take for granted the things God has blessed them with, never paying it forward to someone who is need.
Maybe the contentment issue is why so many people find themselves so far from God. Paul teaches us that the secret to being content is trusting that we can do anything through Jesus. The problem with our culture today is that we put more trust in the things of this world than we do in Jesus.
Maybe we need another depression to bring us back to God. Or maybe, we just need to learn to be content, trusting God not stuff. And maybe, if we learned to be content, we might just see Jesus in everything we do.
Thanks Mrs Newlon
She said that she did not think that people who are her kids age and younger realize how difficult the depression was on people. I believe she is right. But when you think about, it was hard enough to make people change the way they lived for the rest of their lives. They did not waste anything. I can remember my grandmother washing aluminum foil, storing it in a drawer and using it until it fell apart. She did the same with plastic baggies. Everything that was left over went back into the refrigerator. You made things last as long as you could.
Mrs. Newlon talked about how at Christmas and Birthdays, there were no presents. she said even the rich kids did not get anything because their families were cutting back also. Nobody knew how bad it was going to get.
It was interesting listening to here remember those days. She said it was hard, but not bad, because everyone was going through the same thing. Everyone was in it together.
It made me think on the way back to the office. How would people today handle such a crisis? I mean, we have so much that we think we have to have in order to survive. Our lives have become very difficult. We do not really understand nor practice the concept of being content. We go and buy whatever we want (notice I said "want" not "need").
In the Bible, Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything though Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).
I am not sure this is the case with a lot of Christ followers. This is seen in the attitude of many Christ followers who are looking for a church where they are comfortable. I am not sure God has told us we will be comfortable. As a matter of fact through the Bible we see people grow the most when they are not comfortable.
I am sure there are some Christ followers who take for granted the things God has blessed them with, never paying it forward to someone who is need.
Maybe the contentment issue is why so many people find themselves so far from God. Paul teaches us that the secret to being content is trusting that we can do anything through Jesus. The problem with our culture today is that we put more trust in the things of this world than we do in Jesus.
Maybe we need another depression to bring us back to God. Or maybe, we just need to learn to be content, trusting God not stuff. And maybe, if we learned to be content, we might just see Jesus in everything we do.
Thanks Mrs Newlon
Monday, July 14, 2008
Field of Dreams - Yankee Stadium
I was watching the end of Major League Baseball's Home Run derby i realized Yankee Stadium has a half of season left. Then they are going to tear it down. Maybe they should have listened to James Earl Jones' in the movie field of dreams before they made that decision. Somethings need to be cherished above thinking about trying to make a buck.
How can organizations with a rich history forsake something that has been a part of that history. Tiger stadium was just torn down this last weekend. What is going on!
These two stadiums have been the homes of icons like, Babe Ruth, Lou Gerhig, Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Micky Mantle, Yogi Bera, the list is endless. There were legendary world series played in both of these stadiums. It is a part of our history, a history that will soon be forgotten. This is why I do not watch a lot of baseball anymore. It is all about the money.
I will never forget the two times I visited Yankee stadium. The first time I took a trip with a group of guys and watched the Seattle Mariners play the Yankees. We watched a group of Japanese business men come in during the 3rd inning carrying a boxed meal. There was about thirty of them. In unison they opened up their meals which consisted of sushi. One of them, it must have been their leader, stood up and said something in their native language. They all raised their hands as he motioned for the beer guy. They drank their beer, ate their sushi and fell asleep. All of them, slumped over in their seats. The sixth inning came and their fearless leader stood up and said something again, they all got up and left.
They took for granted where they were. They missed Randy Johnson pitching for the Mariners. They missed a grand slam (one of the five in a row Louie and I saw at five different stadiums that summer. The second of which occurred at Tiger stadium. And then there was the one the next night in Fenway by a guy who had three career home runs two of which were grand slams). They missed Ken Griffey Jr. playing on this hallowed ground in center field. The same center field that Mickey Mantle played in.
The second time in Yankee Stadium was with a group that had worked all week at a small church in Greenpoint (Brooklyn). We road the subway to the stadium and sat in the bleachers. It was against the Indians. I had my Indians hat on which was an invitation to get pelted with peanuts. An old lady in front of me dressed in Yankee gear from head to toe rubbed it in when the Yankees hit a home run to go ahead. She turned to me kissed her hand, touched the Indian on the front of my hat and said, "We love ya, but we are going to kick your ***!" She was wrong, the Indian won that day when Albert Bell hit a home run to give the Indians the lead. I will give her this, she was a fan and understood the hallowed ground she was sitting in, "The House that Ruth Built."
I would not have as much trouble with this if they would not tear these great stadiums down. I mean people travel from around the world to see the great Colosseum in Rome. It is an icon and a part of their history. So is Yankee Stadium and Tiger Stadium. Thanks Major League baseball for tearing down two places where we will never hear a dad say again, "My dad used to bring me here when I was your age."
I write this blog as a tribute to Yankee Stadium and all the memories that go with it. If you have been to Yankee Stadium, take the time to share your memories of this icon in the world of sports as it makes it's last stand.
How can organizations with a rich history forsake something that has been a part of that history. Tiger stadium was just torn down this last weekend. What is going on!
These two stadiums have been the homes of icons like, Babe Ruth, Lou Gerhig, Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Micky Mantle, Yogi Bera, the list is endless. There were legendary world series played in both of these stadiums. It is a part of our history, a history that will soon be forgotten. This is why I do not watch a lot of baseball anymore. It is all about the money.
I will never forget the two times I visited Yankee stadium. The first time I took a trip with a group of guys and watched the Seattle Mariners play the Yankees. We watched a group of Japanese business men come in during the 3rd inning carrying a boxed meal. There was about thirty of them. In unison they opened up their meals which consisted of sushi. One of them, it must have been their leader, stood up and said something in their native language. They all raised their hands as he motioned for the beer guy. They drank their beer, ate their sushi and fell asleep. All of them, slumped over in their seats. The sixth inning came and their fearless leader stood up and said something again, they all got up and left.
They took for granted where they were. They missed Randy Johnson pitching for the Mariners. They missed a grand slam (one of the five in a row Louie and I saw at five different stadiums that summer. The second of which occurred at Tiger stadium. And then there was the one the next night in Fenway by a guy who had three career home runs two of which were grand slams). They missed Ken Griffey Jr. playing on this hallowed ground in center field. The same center field that Mickey Mantle played in.
The second time in Yankee Stadium was with a group that had worked all week at a small church in Greenpoint (Brooklyn). We road the subway to the stadium and sat in the bleachers. It was against the Indians. I had my Indians hat on which was an invitation to get pelted with peanuts. An old lady in front of me dressed in Yankee gear from head to toe rubbed it in when the Yankees hit a home run to go ahead. She turned to me kissed her hand, touched the Indian on the front of my hat and said, "We love ya, but we are going to kick your ***!" She was wrong, the Indian won that day when Albert Bell hit a home run to give the Indians the lead. I will give her this, she was a fan and understood the hallowed ground she was sitting in, "The House that Ruth Built."
I would not have as much trouble with this if they would not tear these great stadiums down. I mean people travel from around the world to see the great Colosseum in Rome. It is an icon and a part of their history. So is Yankee Stadium and Tiger Stadium. Thanks Major League baseball for tearing down two places where we will never hear a dad say again, "My dad used to bring me here when I was your age."
I write this blog as a tribute to Yankee Stadium and all the memories that go with it. If you have been to Yankee Stadium, take the time to share your memories of this icon in the world of sports as it makes it's last stand.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Pass it on from one blog to another
I started read the blogs I read every day this morning, Vince Antonucci simply linked to another blog. Vince is one of the most passionate guys I have ever heard speak about reaching lost people. This link nails it! This is why preachers do what they do, or least they should.
As we try turn Northwest to be a missional church, we get some criticism from time to time. I had one person recently tell me, "Takin' it to the streets is fine, but we have to take it to the pews first." (Takin it to the streets was a series we just did about taking the kingdom of God with us wherever we go.)
This link should become a reality to every Christ follower. This is what the church's mission is- to reach lost people. I do not know why it is so difficult for people who follow Jesus to get this- He did it always. The reason the first century church (written about in the book of Acts) grew throughout the world is they got it and it was their mission. They were unified on this mission.
This link tells us why it is so important to invite those we know to come and experience a life with Jesus.
Here is the link: http://www.perrynoble.com/2008/07/09/50k/
Thanks Perry Noble for making this so clear. Thanks Vince for posting the link. Let's all pass it on to some other Christ followers we know.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
"The Shack"
A couple months ago Louie Weber told me I had to read a book called "The Shack" by William P. Young. It is a novel. I don't like to read novels. Rhonda says I need to read more fiction. I could not put this one down. The pictures that Young painted were incredible. He really dealt with some tough faith issues in the church.
Beginning July 27th we are going to start a series called "The Shack." We are going to talk about some of the faith issues Young addresses. We are going to teach on the trinity, faith, forgiveness, judgement and how God views our life. Some of the pictures he uses to describe these parts of faith are amazing.
I want to encourage you to read "The Shack." The first few chapters are well written, the topic is just difficult- stay with it, it is worth it.
One side note on the book. Some Christian circles are upset with the way Young portrays God. He explains why he does what he does in the novel- stay with it, it is worth it. Those who complain about the novel need to remember just that-it's fiction. There is some really good teaching in this book. It is a good read while on vacation.
Check out the website to find out more:www.theshackbook.com
Beginning July 27th we are going to start a series called "The Shack." We are going to talk about some of the faith issues Young addresses. We are going to teach on the trinity, faith, forgiveness, judgement and how God views our life. Some of the pictures he uses to describe these parts of faith are amazing.
I want to encourage you to read "The Shack." The first few chapters are well written, the topic is just difficult- stay with it, it is worth it.
One side note on the book. Some Christian circles are upset with the way Young portrays God. He explains why he does what he does in the novel- stay with it, it is worth it. Those who complain about the novel need to remember just that-it's fiction. There is some really good teaching in this book. It is a good read while on vacation.
Check out the website to find out more:www.theshackbook.com
Friday, July 4, 2008
North American Christian Convention (Day three)
The Baker's got back from Cincinnati this afternoon. It was a good convention, not great. I love seeing old friends and can not wait to go again next year in Louisville. I hope some others will make the journey from Northwest and from around the country.
Dr. Ralph Draper was the speaker this morning. This mornings message was about being transformed by God from the inside and not letting the culture get in the way. Draper told a story about a couple who were living together that decided to get baptized. He baptized them. Someone asked how he could baptize them before they stopped living in sin. He explained, let them come and hang out with God, let God transform them and they will begin to live a God honoring life.
The point is baptism is a new beginnning. It is not an end. It is not the goal. The goal is to let God transform people. Sometimes we need to get out of the way with all our rules and let God go to work.
Dr. Ralph Draper was the speaker this morning. This mornings message was about being transformed by God from the inside and not letting the culture get in the way. Draper told a story about a couple who were living together that decided to get baptized. He baptized them. Someone asked how he could baptize them before they stopped living in sin. He explained, let them come and hang out with God, let God transform them and they will begin to live a God honoring life.
The point is baptism is a new beginnning. It is not an end. It is not the goal. The goal is to let God transform people. Sometimes we need to get out of the way with all our rules and let God go to work.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
North American Christian Convention (Day 2)
We checked Cole and Seth into the kids activity today. They went to the Cincinnati Museum. They had a blast.
Rhonda, Eli and I went to the main session this morning. John Weece from Southland Christian spoke. He said something we need to really think about at Northwest. He said, "Is it possible the church has focused more on 'what' rather than 'who?'" Most churches have missed presenting the "who" (and I do not mean the band) because they have been to focused on the "what."
You know what? God is not interested in the "what." He has always focused on the "Who" and the "who" (and right about now you are thinking "what?"). The reason I capitalized one of the "who's" is because one of the "who's" God focuses on (and the same "Who" we should be focused on) is Jesus.
The lower case "who" is you and me. And I do not know about you, but I am glad God does not focus on the "what" in my life.
Next I went to a workshop with Mike Breaux. His topic was on communicating change. He talked about "Transformational Teaching." Teaching that creates an atmosphere where people can encounter the changing power of God. It was great stuff! It is something we need to consider when we put together series and teachings for Sunday morning.
Then tonight I took the boys to a Reds game. The Reds stink. But we had a great time! If you look close on ESPN, watch Jay Bruce's second home run and you may see Cole (Cole has his hands up in the air)and Eli in the background. Seth and I were in the bathroom.
Rhonda, Eli and I went to the main session this morning. John Weece from Southland Christian spoke. He said something we need to really think about at Northwest. He said, "Is it possible the church has focused more on 'what' rather than 'who?'" Most churches have missed presenting the "who" (and I do not mean the band) because they have been to focused on the "what."
You know what? God is not interested in the "what." He has always focused on the "Who" and the "who" (and right about now you are thinking "what?"). The reason I capitalized one of the "who's" is because one of the "who's" God focuses on (and the same "Who" we should be focused on) is Jesus.
The lower case "who" is you and me. And I do not know about you, but I am glad God does not focus on the "what" in my life.
Next I went to a workshop with Mike Breaux. His topic was on communicating change. He talked about "Transformational Teaching." Teaching that creates an atmosphere where people can encounter the changing power of God. It was great stuff! It is something we need to consider when we put together series and teachings for Sunday morning.
Then tonight I took the boys to a Reds game. The Reds stink. But we had a great time! If you look close on ESPN, watch Jay Bruce's second home run and you may see Cole (Cole has his hands up in the air)and Eli in the background. Seth and I were in the bathroom.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The North AMerican Christian Convention (Day One)
We arrived in Cincinnati this afternoon and checked into our room. We are staying at an old Apartment omplex that they turned into a hotel. Every room is a suite. It has a kitchen, living room and two bedrooms (convention rate is $99- Awesome!).
We ate at Skyline for supper. You just can't come to Cincy and not eat at Skyline. It is so much better here than in Stow.
Then we headed to the convention center. I love seeing old friends. I am really good at avoiding those who I hope do not remember me. I made it without having any awkward conversations. We will have to see what happens tomorrow.
Worship, well let's just say it was not my style. Although there was a violinist that rocked! He was incredible and I may by his cd tomorrow. The message was alright. Cam Huxford challenged everyone to live a dangerous life by having a heart like the king. It was a good thought and made me realize that to have a heart like Jesus means that life is not going to be easy.
The overall grade for the first worship C. The reason is, here we are talking about a dangerous life and the North American played it safe. It seemed like they were just trying to please the older generation. Almost everybody who spoke on stage wore a sport coat. The music was more traditional. It felt like the whole time they were holding back. I am amazed that there are all these leaders of these great churches where they have not played it safe, they have lived dangerously and their church has grown. Now they are playing it safe at this great gathering and like a small church that is unwilling to change, the North American is not appealing to the next generation of church leaders. If we do not live dangerously the North American will slowly have less and less people.
We ate at Skyline for supper. You just can't come to Cincy and not eat at Skyline. It is so much better here than in Stow.
Then we headed to the convention center. I love seeing old friends. I am really good at avoiding those who I hope do not remember me. I made it without having any awkward conversations. We will have to see what happens tomorrow.
Worship, well let's just say it was not my style. Although there was a violinist that rocked! He was incredible and I may by his cd tomorrow. The message was alright. Cam Huxford challenged everyone to live a dangerous life by having a heart like the king. It was a good thought and made me realize that to have a heart like Jesus means that life is not going to be easy.
The overall grade for the first worship C. The reason is, here we are talking about a dangerous life and the North American played it safe. It seemed like they were just trying to please the older generation. Almost everybody who spoke on stage wore a sport coat. The music was more traditional. It felt like the whole time they were holding back. I am amazed that there are all these leaders of these great churches where they have not played it safe, they have lived dangerously and their church has grown. Now they are playing it safe at this great gathering and like a small church that is unwilling to change, the North American is not appealing to the next generation of church leaders. If we do not live dangerously the North American will slowly have less and less people.
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