Our whole lives need to be poured out in worship. And in the end, that's the ultimate responsibility of anyone who truly recognized the all-consuming revelation of God. -Matt Redman
Soda or Pop?
As a native of Southern California currently living in Oregon, I have been engaged in the ongoing and ever so important debate, just what do you call your favorite carbonated beverage....soda, pop, or coke? It now seems that depends on what part of the country you live in, and even what county!
Growing up in So Cal we simply called all carbonated drinks coke, even if it was a Spirte, although that seems to have changed according to the map. Well, that doesn't fly in Oregon. For the most part it is pop, and sometimes soda.
Check out this map to settle the controversy once and for all! Visit www.popvssoda.com for an even more detailed and interactive map.
Whew...sure glad that is settled!
His Space?
It's no secret that I am not a big fan of myspace. I read through many myspace pages, as most of my high school students have them. Most of the time it leaves me feeling sick to my stomach. I have no problem with social networking, it's all the garbage that get's thrown in, on myspace, that bothers me.
Well now there is xianz, the Christian alternative to myspace. While I'm no fan of myspace, I am left wondering do we really need a Christian version of it?
I grow weary of all the ways we Christians isolate ourselves from the world. I have a hard time believing that we would find Jesus on xianz. Just this morning I read in Mark 2:15-17 of how Jesus was having dinner with tax collectors and other "sinners." When the religious leaders of the day approached Jesus and confronted Him on the way He chose to spend His time, He told them that, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
It is vitally important that we as belivers stay in close community with other believers. That is a big reason why God has given us the Church. It is also very important that we spend time where "sinners" are, so that they too might have to opportunty to enjoy the life that Jesus offers them.
We are called to be the salt of this earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-15). How will this be accomplished if we continually stay sequestered in our Christian bubbles?
Let's enjoy good fellowship with one another, and maybe xianz is a way that we can do that, yet let's not forget that we also need to be out in the world making a difference for the Kingdom, not running from it.
Perfect Church
For those that want to create the perfect church....perhaps this is the answer!
Get yours here!
In truth, may we be more committed to discovering how to be the church as opposed to how to do church.
May it be our desire as the church to truly give ourselves to the lifestyle of worship that God desires..
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
May we learn how to truly live in the kind of community that God desires...
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...... All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47.
May it begin with me.
Invisible Children
Today I saw the film "Invisible Children." It rocked me. I still hardly know what to think, let alone do.
It's the story of the children of Northern Uganda that are forced to flee their homes each and every night so that they might sleep without the fear of being abducted by the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), the forces engaged in the 17 year battle to overthrow the Sudanese government.
It is a tragedy that has gone on largely unnoticed by the rest of the world. It is an injustice that must be brought to an end. Please visit Invisible Children to learn more.
Here's the trailer....
Think On This
Whenever the method of worship becomes more important than the Person of worship, we have already prostituted our worship. There are entire congregations who worship praise and praise worship but who have not yet learned to praise and worship God in Jesus Christ. - Judson Cornwall
Get Through
If you are anything like me, you are sick of calling some company only to get lost in the web of their phone system instead of actually talking to a real live person. Yesterday I came across a gem of a find!
Are you ready to really stick it to the man? Check out the Gethuman Database. There you will find current a listing of 402 companies, their phone numbers, and the codes to use to get right to a live person!
Whoever created this goldmine of a database is my hero!
The McPassion
To make the point that the marketing of Jesus has gone way to far, filmakers Rik Swartzwelder and Benjamin Hershleder have produced this comical, disturbing, and yet poignant 4 minute film.
See more here.
Introducing...
I introduce to you... Jonathan Lopez Toledo. Jonathan is the third, and most recent, child our students are sponsoring through Compassion International. Jonathan lives in Mexico with his mother and stepfather and lives in a world of great poverty.
It is our desire as a ministry to take seriously the needs of people in this world, children in particular. It is clear in scripture that children were very close to the heart of Jesus.
One cannot read the words of Jesus in Mathew 18:2-6 and not be moved...
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
As a ministry we also sponsor Oscar Silvestre of Bolivia and Karla Lopez Santiz of Mexico. What priviledge to be an active part of their lives, to love them as Jesus does.
If you are unfamiliar with the ministry of Compassion International and child sponsorship, I encourage you to visit their web site and consider investing in the life of a child. They will be blessed. You will be blessed.
The Numbers Are In
I mentioned in my last 30 Hour Famine post that I would share how much was raised through our effort. I am happy to report that through your help, and the help of many others, we were able to raise $4,268.49! What an incredible blessing! That is $1,858 more than last year!
With that amount we have the privilege of feeding 12 children for an entire year! Famine funds this year will help both in Darfur, Sudan, and in Kenya, as well as in other needy areas such as Niger.
It excites me to see our students gain a greater heart for the the needy in our world; to truly gain a heart for the things that break the heart of God.
It is my prayer that we would all gain a greater understanding of what Jesus taught in Matthew 25:31-36. May we know that we when we minister to those in need, we minister to Jesus Himself.
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