The C Spot

So Encouraging

2008-07-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

I love John Piper.....enjoy!

God's Reasons

2008-07-16T06:33:00.001-07:00

One of the reasons God rarely gives micro reasons for his painful providences, but regularly gives magnificent macro reasons, is that there are too many micro reasons for us to manage, namely, millions and millions and millions and millions and millions.
God says things like:

These bad things happened to you because I intend to work it together for your good (Romans 8).
These happened to that you would rely more on God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1).
This happened so that the gold and silver of your faith would be refined (1 Peter 1).
This thorn is so that the power of Christ would be magnified in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12).

But we can always object that there are other easier ways for God to accomplish those things. We want to know more specifics: Why now? Why this much? Why this often? Why this way? Why these people?

The problem is, we would have to be God to grasp all that God is doing in our problems. In fact, pushing too hard for more detailed explanations from God is a kind of demand that we be God.

Read the rest of this very helpful article.

Pretty Amazing

2008-05-05T07:02:00.002-07:00

Couldn't resist this clip. For all of the musicians who work with loops,this is good stuff. All done in one take.

Enjoy!

The Only Way

2008-04-28T05:59:00.001-07:00

American Idol.....a bright side and on the other hand..

2008-04-12T07:08:00.002-07:00

Bob Kauflin with his usual wisdom on all the "American Idol sings Shout to the Lord" hype. Read his post here.

Shout To The Lord on American Idol

2008-04-10T10:21:00.003-07:00

I was shocked when I heard the praise and worship song Shout To The Lord on American Idol last night. Read below......

T-Wax reports:

Last night, at the end of the American Idol charity special “Idol Gives Back,” the Top 8 Finalists closed the show by singing “Shout to the Lord.”
What are we to make of this?

Why did they change “my Jesus” to “my Shepherd” at the beginning of the song, especially when other artists had no qualms about singing songs that explicitly mentioned Jesus?

Has “Shout to the Lord” arrived in the collective consciousness of our civil religion, much like “Amazing Grace” and other well-known hymns?

Are there Christians behind the scenes of American Idol who are promoting Christian songs?

What does it say to see Christians singing this song together with a Mormon as one of the contestants?
Let the discussion begin!

Bullies

2008-03-26T07:15:00.003-07:00

The NY Times has a very sad story here called, A Boy the Bullies Love to Beat Up, Repeatedly.

Public school or not, as a parent, I know I will have to deal with this type of thing at some point.

I pray that my son would know and be secure in the love of God. May he not fear man, for what can man do to us? May he only fear the One who is worthy to be feared: God alone. May his confidence be in the truth of God's word concerning himself and not what some horribly insecure kid says to him on the playground. May he have the confidence to stand up for what is right and the courage to support those who are oppressed and abused. May he defend the weak and be clothed with mercy for the marginalized. May he know that no matter what, that his Mom and Dad love him and our home will always be a place of security and refuge.

Owen Strachan has a good commentary on this article here. He writes:

We should remember, perhaps, our own histories, and run our minds over our own scars. As parents, we should be prepared to stand up with great force and courage for our children. I'm thankful that my own parents were always there for me. We've got to teach our children to defend themselves, even as we teach them to, when possible, suffer reproach for the gospel. Most of all, we need simply to think--to think about our children's souls and the way they will be shaped by the childhood years in which we shepherd them. Education is important, after all, but at what price does it come?

Uhh........Ok?

2008-03-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

Awkward.....to say the least!

The Longing Of Man

2008-03-04T05:27:00.001-07:00

As Easter approaches may the small pictures of Jesus remind us of the reality. His resurrection is the promise and guarantee of ours as well. Do we not long for this final victory?

T-Wax reports:

Matthew Miller has put together a terrific compilation of movie scenes from many epic movies, including Gladiator, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, The Shawshank Redemption, and Braveheart, showing how the theme of death and resurrection inherent in each film points to the greatest Story ever told. Watch it here. Well done, Matthew.

Ten Leadership Mistakes

2008-02-25T05:57:00.002-07:00

Take a look at a list of the top ten mistakes made by leadership in ministry. How many have you also been guilty of? And what can you learn from the mistakes?

1. Hiring Too Fast. Firing Too Slow. Every minute I delay in firing, I take away opportunity for God to work in that person’s life.

2. Putting Projects before the People. Embrace the tension and find the balance between leadership and shepherding.

3. Trying to Fix the Problem Rather than the Process. Ninety percent of the time it isn’t a people-problem. It is a process-problem.

4. Delegating Tasks Instead of Responsibility. It is hard to delegate, because many times I (wrongly) think I’m the only one who can do it right.

5. Assuming it is Always Black and White. Following rules is a lot easier than trying to deal with relationships.

6. Not Following my Gut. When we stop listening to God, he stops talking to us (consider the 13-year gap when God stopped talking to Abraham).

7. Dwelling on the Worst-Case Scenario. Worry might not be your issue, but everyone has an issue that can derail them.

8. Waiting Until There’s a Problem to Provide Feedback. I have to discipline myself to encourage my team.

9. Staying Busy. It is a lie, but I tend to think if I’m staying busy, I’m adding value to my organization. (Fire ? At this point in Tony’s speech, the emergency alarms sounded and the Phoenix Convention Center was evacuated for 20 minutes. Yes, I’m serious.)

10. Spending Too Much Time on the Details Rather than the Dreams.

You can read more here at Tim’s LeadingSmart.com.

Porn Producer Finds Jesus

2008-02-13T07:23:00.001-07:00

Listen to this very moving story of a former porn producer that has become a Christian. ThinkChristian.net reports:

“Do you believe in transformation?” That’s the question being asked in this interview with former porn producer Donny Pauling. After a short introductory message by pastor Jake Larson of Arcade Baptist Church, Donny talks about his Christian upbringing, his reasons for rejecting Christianity and his active hatred for Christians, his involvement and life in the porn industry, and finally his spiritual transformation. It’s a riveting (and sometimes disturbing) testimony. There’s a shorter text version of the interview as well.

Pauling now works closely with the XXXChurch team, and writes periodically for a blog about the porn industry at the XXXChurch website. Much of his message focuses on the damage that porn does not just to porn consumers, but to the people working in the industry.

See also Pauling’s personal blog.

May we rejoice in God's work in this brother's life.

Music and Worship, Do We Need To Check Ourselves?

2008-02-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Greg Gilbert with a great follow-up to his post, Against Music. He writes:

So I think music is a good thing, even a great thing. But as I said before, every good thing in this world can and will be misused by sinful human beings. And I think that’s something that’s deserving of thought among Christians when it comes to music. My hope is that these questions, and the thoughts they provoke in you, will help you to be on guard against your spiritual life becoming unhealthily dependent on anything it should not be dependent on. I hope they're helpful to you:

- Do you get bored when someone reads a longish passage of Scripture in your church? Do you start wishing they’d get on with the music?

- Do you need music playing in the background for the reading of Scripture to affect your emotions?

- Does a prayer seem too “plain” or “stark” to you if it doesn’t have music playing behind it?

- Do you feel depressed a few weeks after a worship conference because you haven’t felt close to God in a long time?

- Do you desperately look forward to the next conference you’re going to attend because you know that, finally, you’ll be able to feel close to God again?

- If you’re in a big church with great music, are you able to worship when you visit your parents’ small rural church?

- Do you ever feel worshipful in the middle of the week, at work, at school, etc. just because of thinking about God and his grace? Or does that only happen when the music’s playing?

- Do you tend to feel closer to God when you’re alone with your iPOD than you do when you’re gathered with God’s people in your church?

- Do you feel like you just can’t connect with other believers who haven’t had the same “worship experiences” that you have? Can you only connect with other believers who “know what it feels like to really worship?”

- Is your sense of spiritual well-being based more on feeling close to God, or knowing that you are close to God because of Jesus Christ?

Josiah Leming

2008-02-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

This is why the internet is cool. I predict this guy will be a star in a few years or so. Kid writes a very cool song and sits in room with video camera and records it. Uploads to youtube for all the world to see. If it's good, it will get passed around and people will start to take notice (like you reading this blog right now). Welcome to the future of the music industry. The future has actually been here for awhile.

The internet can be cool.

Church is People!

2008-02-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Dodson writes well here:

In a letter to a pastor named Timothy, the apostle Paul described the church as “the household of God.” Household has more to do with dwelling and living than it has to do with brick and mortar. God dwells in the church. The church is not just people; its God living room, his neighborhood. So, church is both human and divine, a place where people and God live in community together. In trying to communicate this reality to my two year old son, I have changed the way I talk about church. Instead of telling him that we are “going to church,” I tell him that we are going to be with the church, to sing and eat with them. Once Christians repent of reducing church to buildings and programs and begin to cherish the people God has given them to live with, warts and all, community will increase.

Read the whole thing.

The Human Engine Waits

2008-02-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Writing good worship music is a VERY hard task. For that reason, I don't think I have ever found a worship record that I felt like had 1)great Bible saturated lyrics, 2)melodies that are easy for the church to sing as a group, 3)music that was interesting to listen to and 4) is not full of songs that Mark Driscoll would classify as "prom songs to Jesus". I have been doing this worship leader thing for about 13 years now and I have found individual songs here and there, but not one whole record that accomplishes these things above... until Andy Melvin.

Andy is the other worship leader at the church in Austin, TX where Chris Tomlin leads worship when he is off the road. The church is called Austin Stone. Andy's new record is GREAT. I think he has accomplished (not perfectly, but very close) the things I have listed above.

You can find the whole record here and listen to some samples.

My favorite song right now is "The Great Day of The Lord". Here are the lyrics:

The sun rises like a bird
With healing in its wings
Shines the light of righteousness
On the broken and unclean

And this righteousness comes not
By the working of our hands
But it is the gift of God
Purchased by the spotless Lamb

As by Your law we were condemned
By Your grace we are restored
And by grace alone we’ll stand
On the great day of The Lord

On the great day of The Lord
When the dead in Christ shall rise
And the sun and moon will be replaced
By the light in Jesus’ eyes
On the great day of The Lord
On the great day of The Lord

So we wait for Your return
Like a bride awaits her groom \
And with all creation yearn
That the day is coming soon

When You’ll ride in victory
And darkness reigns no more
At the coming of our King
On the great day of The Lord

On the great day of The Lord
When the dead in Christ shall rise
And the sun and moon will be replaced
By the light in Jesus’ eyes

Good Ministry Wisdom

2008-02-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

T-Wax shares some valuable lessons he learned from his childhood pastor. These are great for church leaders as well as others:

Love people as they are, rough edges and all, and never, ever give up on them.
You do not get what you want in life and ministry; you get what you are - character matters!
Learn to calculate what is worth making an issue - learn the difference between convictions and preferences.
God called us to build people, not ministries or buildings.
Make good friends.
The best protection against falling into sin is to practice hating it.
Say “thank you” every time and every way you can. A thankful attitude covers a multitude of sins.
Always remember - God can get along just fine without you.

"The Entertainment Driven Church"

2008-01-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

C. Michael Patton has a great post called "The Entertainment Driven Church". He outlines his experience visiting different churches from different traditions. It's a pretty interesting read. There is much quotable material, but just read it for yourself. I believer it's worth your time to think through these issues.

iMonk has a commentary on Michael's post as well. He might be a bit more doom and gloom than I would prefer, but I certainly lean towards what he is saying. He sums up:

This isn’t about kickin’ worship bands or big screens. Take them, take them. I don’t care. What I want to know is if we recognize that the disease is overtaking the evangelical body, and the time has come to think like people upon whom an evangelical dark age has come? The barbarians aren’t at the gates. They are running the city. We can’t shut the gates. We have to find places to survive. We can debate how big the hole in the side of the ship is all we want. The fact is: this ship is going down.

Christ’s church will survive and triumph. But in America and the West, the entertainment driven “church” is going to dominate. For those who will not be absorbed, for whom resistance is not futile, there are choices to be made.

Yes Michael, it was entertaining. But be afraid. Be very afraid.

The bus to Rome is leaving now, and it seems that every seat is filled. Oh…what’s that? Seems that a much larger bus to Atheism is pulling into the lot, and there are plenty of seats available.

How Times Have Changed In School

2008-01-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is more politically charged than I would usually post and obviously these issues are more complex, but I thought it was kind of funny.

It was an email forward so I don't know who wrote it.
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1967 - Vice principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lockdown, the FBI is called, and Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to assist traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1967 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police are called; SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1967 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra state funding because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1967 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1967 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high-school English.
1967 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. US Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Independence Day firecrackers, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1967 - Ants die.
2007 - Homeland Security and the FBI are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. Teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1967 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in a federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.

15 Movies To See In 2008

2008-01-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

ChristianCinema.com looks ahead to the movies of 2008 that might "represent interesting ministry opportunities for those people who use film for outreach, or to create teachable moments." It's an interesting list, and there are a few that I'd like to see as well. Take a look...

VeggieTales Presents The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything – January 11
VeggieTales has always been one of those rare commodities. C.S. Lewis noted that the way to tell if a children’s story was good was to see if you liked it as an adult. VeggieTales fills the bill. In the middle of the chaotic fun of their films there are always enough clever humor and musical numbers to keep adults interested. And while there is always a message in their films, it rarely seems pushy.

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything is based on one of VeggieTales’ “Silly Songs,” about a bunch of vegetable pirates who – you guessed it — don’t do anything. Except in this film, they do. Transported into the past, the pirates are tasked with a daring rescue. Along the way they will learn what it takes to be a hero. In our culture, where celebrity is often achieved despite a lack of accomplishment, this film could not possibly come too soon.

Penelope – February 29
A young girl, born an aristocrat, is plagued by a family curse – she has the nose of a pig. The only way that she can break the spell is by finding true love with someone who can accept her as she is. Sounding a bit like a gender-reversal of Beauty and the Beast, except in this version it is the beast that breaks free from the castle to seek out her fortune. Along the way, expect that this film – aimed squarely at the tweener and teen girl markets – will tackle the negative body-image issues that cloud the thinking of many people in western culture. As fashion runways continue to feature size 0 models, young people can never hear, too often, that true and lasting beauty lies within.

Horton Hears a Who! — March 14
The last Dr. Seuss book-to-movie adaptation starring Jim Carrey and a bunch of Whos turned a much-beloved book and animated television film into a disturbing social commentary about Grinch-victimhood and greedy, promiscuous little people. That it is brought to the screen by the same production company that made Robots and the Ice Age films, however, does give me some hope. The story of Horton, the big-eared, big-hearted elephant who saves an entire planet of tiny people is a short book. A lot will have to be scripted in. Just the peril faced by the Whos might get the movie a PG rating. But parents wishing to discuss the meaning of personhood will have ample opportunity, because there is no way this film can be made without the proclamation that “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” This film could serve as a gentle introduction to the idea that people, no matter what size, even those tiny people inside their mothers’ wombs, are valuable and worth protecting.

Inkheart – March 21
Based on the bestselling children’s book by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is the story of Meggie, a twelve-year-old girl whose father, Mortimer — a bookbinder by trade — has a mysterious secret power. When Mortimer reads aloud, he brings the story to life – literally. Objects, and even people, are translated out of books and into the real world, and not all of them are good. In fact, some of Mortimer’s characters are stalking him and his family.

Inkheart should open up opportunities to talk about what J.R.R. Tolkien called “subcreation:” the idea that we create as we are made in the image of the Creator. Present in the book is also the idea that the kind of life we can lead depends upon the stories we believe. And it is never too late to change the story.

Iron Man – May 2
The summer movie season will likely kick off with the screen adaptation of the long-lived Marvel comic book Iron Man. Tony Stark is a cocky, wealthy inventor of weapons systems who is captured by the enemy and forced to use his talents to equip the opposition. Initially rocked by the abduction, the experience forces Stark to reconsider why he is still alive. Instead of fulfilling his captor’s desire, Stark fashions a personal weapons system of his own, a flying iron suit, with which he makes his escape. The trailers emphasize the action adventure aspect of the film, but it also appears as if the movie will have a strong good vs. evil plotline as well as moments of introspection where we will, along with the character, get a chance to ask ourselves, “Why am I here?”

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – May 16
One of the most anticipated movies of the summer season (which seems to start earlier each year). If the trailers are any indication, Disney and Walden Media have stepped it up considerably and are poised to deliver a film that actually looks more rousing than the book. The Pevensie children are once again pulled into Narnia, but although only one year has passed in their world, centuries have come and gone in Narnia. Their exploits against the White Witch and their subsequent reign during the Golden Age of Narnia have now become the stuff of legends, and an evil usurper sits on the throne. If the film is true to the book, expect to talk about ideas such as: that truth remains the truth no matter how old it is; that sometimes people, and whole cultures, fall away from the truth; that we have a responsibility before God to follow Him, even if we have to go it alone; and that sometimes we have to be brave, and dare the impossible, in service to what is right and just. Prince Caspian should be the top film on your viewing calendar for the coming year.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – May 23
Looking back on the Indiana Jones franchise, one concludes that two out of three isn’t bad. The Temple of Doom was a disaster, but Raiders and The Last Crusade were both rollicking adventures and thought-provoking films. Rumors abound but revealing details about this film are non-existent beyond cast information; however, Spielberg is at the helm and he knows how to tell a story. This film has to spell the end of Harrison Ford’s embodiment of the Indiana Jones character, so I am anticipating that along with the swashbuckling we have come to expect, that there will also be plenty of material for discussions about aging, death and dying, and whatever supernatural subplots that Spielberg is sure to weave in.

The Incredible Hulk – June 13
After a lackluster screen adaptation by Ang Lee in 2003, this time bets are on action-master Louis Leterrier to deliver the big green goods. Geneticist Bruce Banner has managed to survive despite being exposed to massive amounts of gamma radiation. But surviving does not mean that he is unchanged. The accident has unleashed the monster within, and when Banner gets mad, things change. This episode in the Hulk mythology has Banner desperately seeking a cure, while an enemy government is creating a super-Hulk of its own. The Incredible Hulk will likely allow for discussions of the dual nature inside everyone, and of the discipline required to tame the evil within.

WALL-E – June 27
What makes Pixar such a formidable studio is its concentration on story, story, story. Sure, they deliver eye-popping animation – but so do a lot of studios. It is the depth of their storylines that has provided Pixar’s fans with an unbroken series of hits for twelve years. WALL-E will continue that tradition.

WALL-E is a robotic trash compactor left on earth to continue his mission long after the humans have left. Busy, but lonely, his “life” is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of EVE, a search robot sent to the earth to see if it is safe for humans to return. But when EVE blasts off to deliver her message, WALL-E manages to hitch a ride off the rock. It is not often that studios can make entertaining animated films that can help parents address questions about the importance of our stewardship role on this planet, as well as the meaning of life, with their kids – but as Pixar demonstrates year after year, they can.

Hancock – July 2
Superhero films are always filled with spiritual content. The transcendent nature of super-powers and the conflicts that they reveal provide potent conversation starters. Hancock looks like a different kind of superhero film. Hancock is far from the self-effacing superheroes we are used to seeing. Though imbued with super-strength, the ability to fly, and who knows what else, Hancock is having a public image meltdown. His efforts to save people are disasters. He needs a new image. So he hires a public relations consultant to help him out. Outside of the usual ground expected in superhero films, Hancock seems like a film that will explore the idea that it is our character, not our abilities, that truly defines us.

(These are only the top ten… there are five more, but you’ll need to go over to the ChristianMovieNews.com website to read more!...)

Are American Christians Self-Indulgent?

2008-01-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

In a recent article in Christian Today, Erwin McManus contends that the reason why churches are declining in America is because they are self-centered. “My primary assessment would be because American Christians tend to be incredibly self-indulgent so they see the church as a place there for them to meet their needs and to express faith in a way that is meaningful for them...there is almost no genuine compassion or urgency about serving and reaching people who don’t know Christ."

McManus, whose church members’ average age is 25 years old, is known for breaking the “rules” of traditional church and applying spiritual creativity to engage and develop the next generation of Christian leaders.

Since becoming lead pastor of Mosaic about a decade ago, McManus’ church membership has grown from about 300 adults to more than 3,000 adults. The historically Southern Baptist church also boasts over 40 different nationalities and is “packed” with artists such as musicians, writers and filmmakers.

Among the attendees are also 80-year-old members from the generation before McManus arrived, who are said to “root on” the younger generation of church members.

While Mosaic and more modern churches are growing, many mainline Protestant churches are reporting worrisome decline in membership.

The United Methodist Church reported last year that its membership was at its lowest since 1930 with just over eight million members.

Meanwhile, the Lutheran World Federation reported that although its global membership increased in 2006, its western membership declined. Lutheran Christians in North America in general decreased about 1.41 per cent, while the LWF witnessed a 1.73 per cent drop.

Speaking about church decline in general, McManus concluded: “I think the bottom line really is our own spiritual narcissism. There are methods and you can talk about style, structure and music, but in the end it really comes down to your heart and what you care about,” he said.

He often explains that while the Bible does not change, the methods to effectively communicate the Word of God can.

More here...

America's 25 Most Innovative Churches

2008-01-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Outreach Magazine has come out with it's 2008 list of America's 25 most innovative churches. What do you think? Who would you have included (or excluded) from the list?

1. lifechurch.tv (edmond, ok) - craig groeschel
2. mars hill church (seattle, wa) - mark driscoll
3. granger community church (granger, in) - mark beeson
4. flamingo road church (cooper city, fl) - tony gramling
5. seacoast church (mt. pleasant, sc) - greg surratt
6. saddleback church (lake forest, ca) - rick warren
7. mosaic church (los angeles, ca) - erwin mcmanus
8. fellowship church (grapevine, tx) - ed young, jr
9. northpoint community church (alpharetta, ga) - andy stanley
10 willow creek community church (south barrington, il) - bill hybels
11. national community church (washington, dc) - mark batterson
12. newspring church (anderson, sc) - perry noble
13. community christian church (naperville, il) - dave ferguson
14. elevation church (charlotte, sc) - steve furtick
15. healing place church (baton rouge, la) - dino rizzo
16. north coast church (vista, ca) - larry osborn
17. northwood church (keller, tx) - bob roberts
18. newsong church (irvine, ca) - dave gibbons
19. new hope christian fellowship (honolulu, hi) - wayne cordeiro
20. redeemer presbyterian church (new york, ny) - tim keller
21. crossover church (tampa bay, fl) - tommy kyllonen
22. perimeter church (duluth, ga) - randy pope
23. mars hill bible church (grandville, mi) - rob bell
24. orchard valley community church (aurora, il) - scott hodge
25. the sanctuary covenant church (minneapolis, mn) - efrem smith

(list compilation and picture thanks to Dan Ohlerking!)

The Untold Tale Of The iPhone

2008-01-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Writer Fred Vogelstein has a great article on the creation of the iPhone in the new issue of Wired. It’s largely written based on anonymous sources (not a shock when dealing with Apple), but the narrative is quite compelling.

It was a late morning in the fall of 2006. Almost a year earlier, Steve Jobs had tasked about 200 of Apple’s top engineers with creating the iPhone. Yet here, in Apple’s boardroom, it was clear that the prototype was still a disaster. It wasn’t just buggy, it flat-out didn’t work. The phone dropped calls constantly, the battery stopped charging before it was full, data and applications routinely became corrupted and unusable. The list of problems seemed endless. At the end of the demo, Jobs fixed the dozen or so people in the room with a level stare and said, “We don’t have a product yet.”

That’s drama, folks.

Spinning Wheels?

2008-01-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson write: "We’re just spinning our wheels" - that’s the way many church leaders and churches describe where they are. The church engine is revving, the wheels are turning, the smoke is flying, but the church really isn’t getting anywhere. Often, there are lots of programs and good activities, but many churches aren’t getting much traction when it comes to impacting the unchurched culture and making disciples who make disciples. Here are three simple principles to follow that should help you get some ministry traction and stop spinning your wheels:

1. Remember that church revitalization is a spiritual endeavor. It’s not about the latest programs, methods, models or techniques. Remember what Paul said, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6, NIV).

This principle was confirmed in a huge way in our study of Comeback Churches. According to Comeback leaders, the key to making a comeback was this - “renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church.” That was the highest-rated single item in the study. How simple and basic is that!?

But are we really, truly focused on Jesus and his mission for us? Or do we allow many other things, even many good things, to get in the way of a pure and sincere devotion to Jesus and his mission for us-sending us out into this world as his disciples, his missionaries, his witnesses?

Multiple things can get in the way of churches being able to maintain and develop real spiritual vitality and passionately pursue Christ’s mission:

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Questions For The New Year

2008-01-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ryan Townsend posts on the 9Marks blog:

One of the many ways Don Whitney serves the church is by asking really good questions. Here's a list of useful questions that Dr. Whitney wrote that are useful to ask at the beginning of the new year.
Fathers - Consider using these questions around the dinner table this week with your family.
Husbands - Consider using these questions with your wife on your next date night.
Pastors - Consider using these questions in your church, perhaps your newsletter or something similar.

The following questions from Don Whitney are available for free online in PDF and DOC format at http://biblicalspirituality.org/inserts.html

Remember Why.......

2007-12-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

I pray that everyone who reads this blog and (those that don't)have a wonderful Christmas. I know it's easy to get wrapped up in all the busyness of doing what we tend to do , but I hope we can all find time to settle down and reflect on WHY we celebrate.

A good friend of mine showed this video to me and I hope it does for you what it did for me.

Be Blessed everyone and Merry Christmas!