You gotta see this!

This a serious brother- Dwayne Tryumf. When he stayed in my home last summer during the Legacy concert, I was blessed by his humility and love for the truth.

And he sure can rap too!!!!

The Bride of Christ

I love the church. It is one of the things in life that I get excited about. One of my passions is to see the church being all that God called her to be. The church is so important because it is the main way that people see Christ in the world. When someone who doesn't know God wants to see Him, they look to the church. Sadly, this is why so many reject Christ. They have seen an image of Him that often doesn't represent him very well.

I always enjoy reading biblically based books about the church. Right now, I am reading Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gary Breshears. If you enjoy reading about the church and what it is meant to be, then this is another resource that points you in the right direction.

Anyone else who loves the Church? What excites you about the church?

Are you in Christ?

"you can be baptized in the church, raised in the church, confirmed in the church, serve in the church, marry in the church, die in the church, and have your funeral in the church and still wake up in hell if you are merely in the church and not in Christ".
Mark Driscoll, Vintage Church

Many who have gone to church throughout there life may be surprised when they die.

Do you think that there are a lot of people who go to church, but don't know Christ?

Welcome to our home

How often do you welcome people into your home?

I believe that the idea of hospitality is often missed by today's church. Obviously, I am a strong believer in the significance of hospitality. That is part of why we host church in our home. I believe that welcoming people into your home can communicate so much about love, relationship, acceptance, etc. It is an evidence of Christian love. It is a valuable tool for reaching the lost. It is a loving way to care for the distressed. It is a powerful place for Christian discipleship to take place. It is a prerequisite for leadership.

So here are some tips that I would give to help you to be a good host as you seek to show hospitality:

• Be friendly (sounds obvious, but it's not)
• Invite someone into the house
• Ask people questions, make them feel welcome
• Take peoples coat
• Offer glass of water, food
• Offer a seat (the best seat)
• Be ready for people to arrive, be in the room
• Porch light on or entry light
• Straighten up, maybe light a candles
• Turn on the lights
• Introduce people if they don't know each other
• Don’t have too many rules (don’t touch, etc.)
• Be willing to love people more than your stuff (things will get broken, dirty, lost, stolen)
• Don’t expect appreciation
• Don’t expect help cleaning

I think that to be hospitable it takes intentionality. Many people think it is a good thing, few practice it regularly. So plan to invite someone to your home this month or even this week.

Does anyone else have any tips about being a good host? What are barriers to being hospitable?

Words of wisdom

Proverbs 30:8,9
"give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

A good reminder to be content.

The Lord's Supper

Have you ever notice that I Corinthians 11:17-34 is all about the church being unified? This is the classic passage about the Lord's Supper. It is used whenever communion/Lord's Supper/Eucharist is observed in churches. Paul is addressing the Corinthians behavior while observing this ordinance, but his challenge has to do with how they are treating one another.
The Corinthians were dividing over class. The rich were eating a lot and leaving the poor without. They were disgracing the unity that comes from the cross. They were more concerned about their appetite than about there brother and sister in Christ. This was a disgrace to the "Lord's" supper. From verses 17 and 18 to verses 33 and 34, Paul is talking about sharing with each other without divisions.

Verse 29 says "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself". Makes me wonder if the "body of the Lord" is talking about the other believers. Maybe the warning is about acting like you are the church, but not really being considerate of the other members of the body.
It seems that the Christian life was meant to be lived in the context of community and not in isolation. It seems that the Lord's Supper has a lot to do with Christian community and not just personal reflection.

Just some things I am have been considering. Any thoughts?

Redeeming the time

"We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end".

Changing the world

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself".
Leo Tolstoy

George Bush - All religions have the same God

George Bush was asked on Nightline if he believed that he prayed to the same God that Muslims and those of other beliefs do. His answer: "I do, I do believe that there is an Almighty that is broad enough and big enough and loving enough that can encompass a lot of people". (As reported by Christianity Today)

For all of the good that we saw in former President Bush's personal faith, it seems that he believes in the same universalism as President Obama and many other leaders of our time. Bush also stated that the Bible is probably not literal, but that you can learn a lot from it.

What are your thoughts on the many today who claim that all religions pray to the same God?

Super Bowl Ad that NBC Rejected

I found this to be a powerful message about the positive side of choosing life.