Saturday, December 01, 2012
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Zip Line!
This past week, my awesome wife and I got to spend a couple of days praying, resting, learning, eating, and playing with other church planters from the Minnesota/Iowa district of Converge. One of the "play" events we got to do was go down a zip line. It was a ton of fun (despite the look on my face)!
Friday, October 12, 2012
the Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler with Jared Wilson (Book Review)
That darn Amazon free shipping. Gets me ALL the time! I go to buy a couple of books, but I'm just short of the $25 limit to get free shipping, so I ended up buying one more book so I can save approximately $5.76 on shipping. That's how I ended up purchasing Matt Chandler's first book, the Explicit Gospel.
But I'm glad I went for the free shipping! The Explicit Gospel very carefully addresses the issue of the gospel, and Matt (with Jared's strong writing skills) aims to bring a very balanced, yet thoroughly biblical approach to looking at this amazing core doctrine of Christianity.
I have listened to so many Chandler sermons that I could hear Matt preaching as I read the book. So yes, that means he was yelling at me occasionally! Several of the stories or illustrations used in the book I have heard used in the podcasts from The Village (the church Matt pastors), but that didn't diminish their effectiveness in bringing light to Matt's point.
While I am glad I read Matt's first published work, I think I went in with too high of expectations. The book is good and worth the read, but it didn't have the force I was expecting. Don't get me wrong - Matt is very forceful with his points (just like he is in his preaching), but perhaps it was the force with which he writes that makes his point lose some of it's force on me. Matt is a bit more black & white than I, so he states things as if they are a closed case, which gives the impression he isn't open to listening. While I was hoping to be personally impacted by Matt and Jared's writing, I couldn't help at times but to think about close friends who would disagree with Matt's point, and because of the force with which he makes his point, they would tune him out, rather than hear the important point he is making (and I would agree with).
The best part of the book is the last section on "Implications and Applications (of the Explicit Gospel)". But in order to appreciate it, you must work through the first two sections - The Gospel on the Ground (God, Man, Christ, Response) and The Gospel in the Air (Creation, Fall, Reconciliation, Consummation).
The greatest chapter for me was the final chapter about "Moralism and the Cross". That chapter alone is worth the price of the book as it addresses the issue of "therapeutic moralistic deism" so prevalent in American culture. I'll probably use parts of it when I counsel people.
Matt always challenges me. Even when I'm not sure I agree, he makes me think and wanting to get back to the Scriptures to see what they say for themselves. The Explicit Gospel continued that in my life - and for that, I'm grateful I made the time to read it.
Rating: 4 baby steps (and a fall) out of 5 (you'll have to read the book to learn Matt's baby step illustration!)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley (Book Review)
I had the privilege of attending the excellent Preaching Rocket conference in Chicago two weeks ago. Much to my surprise, I (along with every other attender) was gifted a copy of Andy Stanley's latest book "Deep & Wide."
My monthly spiritual retreat was scheduled the day after I got back from the conference. And I couldn't help myself... after a great morning in the Word and prayer, I cracked open Andy's book, ignoring the other book in my bag I intended to finish.
I have read several of Andy's books: Next Generation Leader, 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, among others. Andy's book Communicating for a Change gave me permission to be me when I preach. My natural style already leans to the way Andy believes biblical teaching should be done to help both believers and non-believers draw closer to Christ, so I felt very affirmed by Communicating. And Visioneering is one of the few books I have actually read more than two times - it still rates as one of my favorite books.
But while I enjoy Andy's books and sermons, I would not consider myself an Andy-Stanley groupie. In fact, I need to admit that I opened Deep & Wide with curiosity, but also a heavy-dose of caution. I recently had an older individual I deeply respect express some "concerns" about North Point's ministry, and so knowing the thesis of Deep & Wide, I was eager to see if I would learn much that would help me as I plant a church, or if the concerns I have heard would be well-founded.
In summary, I think every pastor and church staff should read Deep & Wide. Even if they completely disagree with Andy's approach or are turned off by his occasionally-mocking tone, at least they will have wrestled through why they do ministry like they do and why their Sunday morning services are structured the way they are. Andy is incredibly passionate about reaching those living life apart from Christ. And while my "missional" friends would argue against Andy's heavily "attractional model," at least they would be forced to think through why they believe their approach is better for their context.
What Purpose-Driven Church was to the 90s, Deep & Wide might possibly for this generation. It isn't a book about growing a big church. And it isn't a book about discipling people. It is a book about how North Point has intentionally tried to bring the unconvinced of Atlanta (and now beyond) into a life-changing relationship with Jesus, and then giving them the tools to mature in this new relationship with their Heavenly Father.
I found Andy's latest work to be challenging, funny, and inspiring. I wouldn't be surprised if Deep & Wide doesn't end up being like Visioneering - one of the few books I return to.
Rating: 4.5 credit cards out of 5 (You'll have to read the book to understand the credit card reference!)
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Truth manipulation
In this political season, we are regularly exposed to "spin." Candidates manipulate truth in speeches, press releases, mailings, and commercials to paint the picture they want voters to see, making them the obvious choice you should vote for.
But the "spin" of an election year isn't anything new. It is constantly around us. In fact, it is in us.
Like Calvin, we each tell our stories in such a way that we often manipulate the truth to frame the picture in the minds of our friends, family, and listeners so that we appear better than we are. Husbands tell partial truths to their wives about how they spent their time out with the guys. Kids hem and haw to their folks about what they were doing in the privacy of their room or over at a friend's house. Neighbors photoshop their stories in order to mislead one another about what is really occurring inside the home.
We all do it to some degree. Yet when we crop the picture to our advantage, we can't be fully known. And therefore we can't be fully accepted.
That's what makes the gospel so powerful to me. God fully knows me. He sees my mess. He knows my past. No matter how much I try to manipulate the truth, He can see right through it all. And yet - He still loves me!
"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
So don't spin. Don't manipulate. Open up to those you know you can trust. Because you are already known by the One who matters most.
Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from GoComics daily comic, 9/20/12.
Friday, September 07, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Friday, August 03, 2012
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Monday, July 09, 2012
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Monday, June 04, 2012
18 years ago today, I exchanged wedding vows with this amazing woman:
"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:10-12 (ESV)
Monday, May 28, 2012
The changing face of Union Station
These photos capture some of the light designs used on Union Station at last night's wonderful (and free!) Memorial Day Concert and Fireworks featuring the Kansas City Symphony.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Marriage Advice: Don't Meet in the Middle
As I've mentioned on here, I try to swim three times a week to stay in shape. Unfortunately, the pool manager likes country music, so my ears often suffer musical distress while I'm in the locker room. Today, as I'm putting on my shoes to head out after a good swim, I hear a song entitled "Meet in the Middle" (which I found out is quite old and performed by Diamond Rio). Within the lyrics was some marital advice based on the title. After mentioning a disagreement in the second verse, the chorus rings:
I'd start walking your way
You'd start walking mine
We'd meet in the middle
Neath that old Georgia pine
We'd gain a lot of ground
Cause we'd both give a little
Ain't no road too long
When we meet in the middle
You'd start walking mine
We'd meet in the middle
Neath that old Georgia pine
We'd gain a lot of ground
Cause we'd both give a little
Ain't no road too long
When we meet in the middle
This is common marital advice. But it is BAD advice!
When I talk about conflict resolution with couples in premarital counseling, I tell them that most people (like Diamond Rio) see the problem that is causing conflict like a mountain that needs to be climbed. Each spouse has to climb over the issue until they finally meet at the top, or in Diamond's words, "meet in the middle."
But God says in Genesis 2:24 that He makes the couple one flesh. The individuals are no longer simply two people, but in a beautiful, mysterious way God makes the two into one. (Tangent: No wonder divorce is so painful! If the two become one flesh, then divorce is the ripping of flesh. That's why Christ says in Matthew 19:6 that what God has joined together, man shouldn't separate. He's trying to protect us - not keep us from what we really want.)
So if a man and a woman have been made one flesh, then they shouldn't climb their mountain problem separately. Rather they should climb together. Work on finding the solution together. Don't let the mountain come between you. Stay committed together to finding a solution. Don't just seek compromise - seek resolution.
So sorry Diamond Rio. I'm not going to meet my wife in the middle. I'm going to walk the whole way with her.
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
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