Scott Russ

Something a Little Different for Lent

2012-02-14T23:57:00.000-05:00

Hey! Is anybody up for an interesting challenge for Lent this year?? Take a look at this video below. Then go to this blog post for a little bit more information. If you are interested in doing this then let me know. I am not doing this all by myself. I think this kind of experience would be better as a shared experience that we can dialogue about all throughout the Lenten season. I am tired of just giving up the same old fast food for Lent. I want to try something a little more different and challenging. Something with a little more variety. So let me know if you are in! I think this would be a fun with some friends!

steve fuller: Mother Freaker

2012-02-07T23:57:00.002-05:00

Here is a great article called Mother Freaker on the topic of "cursing". My LOL moment in the article was the "reverse Scripture throw down" on Ephesians 4:29. Classic.

Arizona 2011

2012-01-30T00:40:00.000-05:00

Arizona 2011

Confirmation 2011

2012-01-30T00:29:00.002-05:00

Confirmation 2011

Confirmation 2010

2012-01-30T00:28:00.000-05:00

Confirmation 2010

Confirmation 2009

2012-01-30T00:23:00.002-05:00

Confirmation 2009

Confirmation 2008

2012-01-30T00:17:00.001-05:00

Confirmation 2008

Confirmation 2007

2012-01-30T00:05:00.000-05:00

Confirmation 2006

2012-01-30T00:02:00.002-05:00

Confirmation 2006

Steve Fuller on Tebowmania

2012-01-18T00:02:00.000-05:00

I had some thoughts on the whole Tebow thing now that the season is over for the Denver Broncos but after reading Steve Fuller's thoughts he pretty much nails what I have been thinking. And you will have a good laugh too! Read it HERE.

Round 3: Jesus vs. Religion - The SMACKDOWN!

2012-01-16T14:26:00.000-05:00

HOLY FREAKIN' SMACK! Oh this one took the cake. Especially if you know who all of the caricatures represent! This hit the nail on the head for me as far as how insane the Christian culture within evangelicalism can get and somehow completely miss the point of "the world out there". Oh thanks be to Jesus who tried really, really hard to make it so very simple for us to understand. Unfortunately we continue to make it much more complex, divisive, and judgmental than it ever was meant to be. Matthew 22:34-40; 1 Corinthians 13. Memorize it, live it, be it.

Round 2: Jesus vs. Religion - The Lesbian, Anorexic, Cutter

2012-01-16T14:11:00.001-05:00

Here is another video that will mess with your mind when you consider who Jesus is and who we are as the "church". Are we close to being like Jesus or have we gotten very far from who he is and what he has modeled for us to be? This is something that we must all wrestle with. I am sure once again that there are churches that get it right and others that don't. Either way, this is a powerful video that gets us thinking. And I really want to read this book now.

Round 1: Jesus vs. Religion - The Idealistic 20-Something

2012-01-16T13:58:00.002-05:00

Okay. Some very interesting stuff here about "religion" that was posted by one of my teenagers. There is a lot of truth here but there is reason to be cautious too. My Senior Pastor and I both posted comments that I copied and pasted here. Love to here your thoughts on this video. But wait! There are two more after this that I want you to see also that will mess with your mind as you consider the modern day church!

Doug Damron: A powerful message indeed....there is a difference between practicing a religion that looks like Christianity and following Christ whole-heartedly no doubt. The watch out with this poem is that it may cause some to forget the "centrality of community" to the work of making disciples of Jesus. Can't get two pages into the New Testament without discovering Jesus was working to create a Kingdom community (the Church) with a mission of transforming the world. You can't get three pages into the New Testament without discovering that being part of this community is difficult work--there are struggles, their is imperfection, not everone in Jesus' community looks like I do, thinks like I do, etc. Discipleship would be so much easier if it was only "me and Jesus" but thank God Jesus called me into a larger community with standards, expectations, practices, etc. that helps me to remember it is not all about me--it is about Him, through Us, changing the world.

Me: I agree. I hate when teachers try to teach me something in their expertise. Who are they to tell me what to believe. In fact why read books. Who do these authors think they are?!? Let's just wallow in our self-righteous stupidity. Come on guys. The video gives us a lot to think about. You do need to be careful and thoughtful when considering a school, church, book, music, etc. You want to feed your mind with good stuff and live in community with people who understand their vision and purpose. There are plenty of examples all throughout history of people who have really screwed things up in the name of religion, education, philosophy, etc., etc., etc. But taking the church for example: when they come together and get it right, they are a powerful force for good to all people. We are all imperfect people in an imperfect world. If you also approach people with compassion and grace with a servant's attitude, well then, that is a good church practicing the right religion. You can either look at the church and "throw the baby out with the bathwater" or be a reformer with what you see is wrong. If you have better ideas, then do something about it. But to dismiss it entirely is cowardly and to think faith is merely a private matter is to dismiss centuries of theology and biblical teaching. The church is a "hospital"? True. But even in a hospital they receive healing and are sent back out into the world to live to the best of their abilities. Just some random thoughts.

Benny Hinn is a Sith!

2012-01-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

This helps me finally understand Benny Hinn. I get it know.

The Grand Tebow

2011-12-28T19:18:00.001-05:00

The Grand Plank

2011-12-28T19:17:00.001-05:00

A G-N-R Christmas!

2011-12-25T14:56:00.002-05:00

Nothing says Christmas like a Guns-n-Roses song. Think: Contemporary service for next year! (For those of you who take me seriously, I kid).

Epic Fails of 2011

2011-12-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

If the human race is dependent on these people we will be extinct before too long! You may want to mute this so you don't have to listen to their language.

The Myth of the "War on Christmas"

2011-12-25T13:52:00.000-05:00

Here are some final thoughts on the myth of the "war on Christmas" that some evangelicals try to inflame every time this year. Let's not focus on something that makes Christians look ridiculous and actually repeals people away from Christ. Instead let's take advantage of attracting people to the love of God expressed through the birth of Christ. Click HERE for the article.

For Parents of Teens who Live on Their X-Box

2011-12-22T14:36:00.000-05:00

If you are one of those parents who have teenagers with X-Box Live you need to read this article. Priceless! This has become a new concern for me in my house also. Just who is "listening in"? Click right here HERE for the article.

Occupy Cincinnati Event Tonight that All Christians Need to be Aware of

2011-12-21T16:55:00.000-05:00

I do have to say that what we see on the news of the "Occupy" movement seems like a lot of street theatre to make a point. It is usually the troublemakers that seem to get on the national news (and that would include protesters who break the law or law officers who over-extend their ability to apply force). But I do like our Cincinnati Occupy Movement. They are targeting specific, local issues that are targeting the homeless and low-income people and standing in support of those less fortunate.

I would love to join them tonight for the "Occupy the Nativity" event. I know. When I read that title at first I thought that this did not sound good! I thought they were gong after a church and making a mess of their celebration of the birth of Christ. But thankfully it is not that at all. Instead they are identifying themselves with Jesus by dressing up in nativity costumes to stand in protest to a major corporation that is trying to seize a property that is used for homeless and battered women so that they can demolish it and turn it into high end condos. Shame on Western and Southern for their greedy use of the courts to try and get what they want. It reminds me of 1 Kings 21 when Jezebel stole the property of Namoth for her husband, King Ahab. Instead of respecting the wishes of the property owner, they found a way to just take what they wanted with no regard to Namoth. It was Elijah that called them to account and let them know that their evil deeds did not escape the eyes of God and that they would be held accountable.

I wish I could join this group tonight but it is more important for me to celebrate my 20th anniversary with my wife! Maybe I can join the group for a future event. But I did want to make others aware of what was going on tonight so that if you wanted to lend yourself to the fight against greed and show your support to the poor of Cincinnati that need this place to help them begin a new life, then by all means join the protest! Details below:

Occupy the Nativity...support helping homeless (as Jesus did and as Western Southern does not) Peace to All.)

When: Wed, December 21, 7:30pm – 8:00pm

Where: Western and Southern's live Nativity at Krohn Conservatory Eden Park-Krohn Conservatory 1501 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH

DETAILS: Jesus was born homeless to poor parents, and he devoted his life to the cause of justice.

WHAT: Wearing period garb at Western and Southern's live Nativity at Krohn Conservatory, distributing creative holiday literature This Nativity scene, commemorating Jesus' life, has been brought to us by Western and Southern, a major corporation that has tried to displace the Anna Louise Inn, a charitable group that provides support to abused women in the spirit of Christ. Western and Southern, a powerful corporation, has been allowed to occupy this park 24/7 with barnyard animals; however, Occupy Cincinnati has been told that political speech is not allowed to be granted a space in the parks. This has been told to us by Parks Director Willie Carden, who is paid not only by the City of Cincinnati, but also by the Parks Foundation -- a private corporation that receives gifts from Western and Southern. Come join Occupy Cincinnati, our coalition of Faith advocates, and our merry band of carolers as we stand in solidarity with the homeless women and children of The Anna Louise Inn, and all the Magdeline's of the world.

Proverbs 22:22-23 “Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.”
Eden Park-Krohn Conservatory 1501 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH

Calvin and Hobbes Snowmen Tribute!

2011-12-19T21:05:00.001-05:00

Love it! Best comic ever!

Required Reading for ANYONE Going on a Mission Trip

2011-12-19T14:10:00.000-05:00

If you are going on a mission trip anytime soon you must have your team read the posts in this article that can be accessed by clicking HERE. Jamie "the very worst missionary" give a perspective from one who IS a missionary and what she observes when the short-term mission teams come racing into her community to throw their faith grenades at everyone and then head back home patting themselves on the backs for what they perceive as a job well done when that may not necessarily be the case from the people they "ministered" to. You must have your team wrestle with the truth in each one of the posts Jamie has written. It is really good stuff to consider so that you mission trip can have the best possible outcome for your team AND those you are there to minister to.

Apologetics 101

2011-12-17T02:05:00.001-05:00

An Interpretation of the Christmas Story that ROCKS!

2011-12-17T01:13:00.000-05:00

Now here is a version of the Christmas Story that is just AWESOME! This alone could carry the lesson for all those churches having services on Christmas Sunday! Priceless.