The television doesn’t get much attention around the Sewell house; that is if we can keep the remote hidden from my oldest daughter. But when we do sit down to watch television one of the shows we will always stop and watch is Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe on the Discovery Channel. The following video is of a 2009 TEDTalks where Mike shares compelling real-life job stories. Listen for his insights and observations about the nature of hard work, and how its been unjustifiably degraded in society today.

Is there a more polarizing holiday among Christians than Halloween? I doubt it. The variance of views and opinions are all over the road. Then there are those that really aren’t sure what to think about or do with Halloween. With that in mind, I’ve collected a number of posts over the past couple of days that have been helpful to me in how I think about, teach about, and engage in the second highest-grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.

What Christians Should Know about Halloween by Justin Holcomb

Among all the festivals which we celebrate today, few have histories stranger than that of Halloween. It is the eve of All Hallows—or Hallowmas or All Saints’ Day—and as such it is one of the most solemn festivals of the church. At the same time, it commemorates beings and rites with which the church has always been at war. It is the night when ghosts walk and fairies and goblins are abroad… We cannot understand this curious mixture unless we go back into history and unravel the threads from which the present holiday pattern has been woven.

On Mission this Halloween by Jeff Vanderstelt

Monday offers a great opportunity for many to engage in new relationships with those around us or to revisit some old relationships with new missional intentionality. Regardless of what you think of the holiday and it’s roots, the culture we have been sent by Jesus to reach is going to celebrate Halloween this Monday. We all have in front of us a wide open door for missionary engagement in our neighborhoods.

Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission by David Mathis

What if thinking evangelistically about Halloween didn’t mean just dropping tracts into children’s bags, but the good candy—and seeing the evening as an opportunity to cultivate relationships with the unbelieving as part of an ongoing process in which we plainly identify with Jesus, get to know them well, and personally speak the good news of our Savior into their lives?

Every December 7, our country remembers the day that lives in infamy. The day that Japan shocked the world and changed the war by attacking Pearl Harbor. While, I know the significance of December 7, and try to imagine the horror and devastation that filled the hearts of people across this land, it is just that, an attempt to imagine.

Fast forward…September 11, 2001, a day that most people went about their normal routine. Arising to the sound of an alarm clock, going through the morning routine, kissing family goodbye, and heading off to work at the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, or boarding an airplane. Their day filled with the nuances of jobs, meetings, travel, and such. Odds are no one that perished that day awoke thinking the plane I’m boarding will be flown into a building, the office I’m sitting in will be consumed by fire and smoke.

When the news broke we all remember where we were and what we were doing. In an instant September 11, became a day that would, for us, live in infamy. My three children were not yet born, for them September 11, is something that we see on television, something that they hear mom and dad discuss. But for us, it isn’t just history, it’s heart-wrenching. We were reminded once again that we are not in control. We were reminded that there is evil in the world that will stop at nothing to devour and destroy. 9-11 forces us to face our own mortality. Perhaps that’s why we cling to the stories of heroism and bravery related to that day. It diverts our attention away from the pain and loss and inspires hope in each of us.

The documentary, The Falling Man, takes us back to the personal side of what happened that day. What the people in the towers faced as they were confronted with fire, smoke, and the reality of their impending death. While we memorialize the brave acts of so many that day, let the story of the Falling Man cause us to think about our mortality and life.

I encourage you to take the time over this weekend to watch and remember all the aspects of 9-11.

After the recent death of John R. W. Stott, one of the most famous pastors and theologians of our time, Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary republished an interview he conducted with Stott in 1987. The following is a small portion of that interview where Stott gives a word specifically to pastors. I believe it to be extremely wise counsel. Many scrutinize and criticize a pastor for what he does or doesn’t do. Perhaps the drift and issues we see in the church today can be directly tied to the fact that we (pastors) have become more like CEOs and administrators than shepherds and theologians.

We Belong in a Study, Not an Office

Mohler: You are probably as well known in America as in England. Furthermore, you know America — its churches and its preachers. What would be your word to the Servants of the Word on this side of the Atlantic?

Stott: I think my main word to American preachers is, as Stephen Olford has often said, that we belong in a study, not in an office. The symbol of our ministry is a Bible — not a telephone. We are ministers of the Word, not administrators, and we need to relearn the question of priority in every generation.

The Apostles were in danger of being diverted from the ministry to which they had been called by Jesus — the ministry of Word and prayer. They were almost diverted into a social ministry for squabbling widows.

Now both are important, and both are ministries, but the Apostles had been called to the ministry of the Word and not the ministry of tables. They had to delegate the ministry of the tables to other servants. We are not Apostles, but there is the work of teaching that has come to us in the unfolding of the apostolic message of the New Testament. This is our priority as pastors and preachers.

Jesus preached to the crowds, to the group, and to the individual. He had the masses, the disciples, and individuals coming to Him. He preached to crowds, taught the disciples, and counseled individuals. We must also have this focus. It is all in the ministry of the Word.

The full interview can be found here.

Via: Online Psychology Degree

Those of you that know me well, know that I love the Rick & Bubba Show, a nationally syndicated radio show based out of Birmingham, AL. Rick and Bubba are both followers of Christ that use their radio platform to advance the gospel.

Recently the subject of the Twilight and Harry Potter books and movies came up on the show. It led into a brief discussion with a caller about our involvement with such as followers of Christ. I realize many will take issue with their opinion. But what is your opinion based on? Is it based on a biblical worldview or personal preference. The discussion is brief and doesn’t go very deep but it should cause those of us who claim the name of Jesus to exam what we are doing.

Here’s the audio, courtesy of the Rick & Bubba Show:

If you want to go a bit deeper here’s a clip from Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, talking about Twilight:

Downturn. That’s an interesting word to open a post about the need for our day. The word “downturn” is an antonym for the word “revival.”

Revival is the need for our day. There has been much talk in recent days about denominations that are in a downturn. Why? No doubt there doubt many reasons for this, but perhaps one of the most obvious is the lack of revival in churches across our land regardless of denomination or affiliation. Like many others, over the past days I’ve discussed a lot about my denominations recent annual meeting. I rejoice with emphasis and focus on planting churches and reaching those around the globe that have never heard the name Jesus. But, as one prominent pastor stated, “It seems we have moved the work of our hands ahead of the work of God’s Spirit.”

Let’s face it. It’s easier to focus on the work. We love the satisfaction of accomplishment. Who doesn’t? Even the 25 year old still living in his parents basement playing video games all day loves the sense of accomplishment that he gets from winning at games. Are we guilty of focusing on the work and not the God of the work, maybe, maybe not. But this I do know, that apart from a great moving of God’s Spirit in revival among His people we will never be able to accomplish the work. Our churches, our denominations, and our networks will continue in their current downturn.

Collin Hansen with The Gospel Coalition recently wrote: “Reformed Christians rightly emphasize the need for doctrinal reformation. Indeed, revival does not come to apostate churches. But it’s possible to focus so much on our efforts to reform church doctrine that we don’t bother to ask God to work in extraordinary ways. We neglect this privilege of prayerful, faith-expanding hope to our spiritual detriment.”

In the following video, Hansen poses the following question to Tim Keller and Nancy Leigh DeMoss, “Why isn’t there as much interest in revival among Christians today compared to former years?

Join me in calling our people to repent, believe the gospel, live the gospel, and pray that God will send a might revival that results in another spiritual awakening.

I was unable to attend the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix this year. It was the first time that I’ve missed in the last six years. I always love attending the meeting but even more so I enjoy spending time with friends that I typically only see once or twice per year. But thanks to technology, I viewed the pastors conference and the convention meetings from my computer as often as my schedule allowed during the day. I realize that not being there doesn’t give you the full scope of what really took place, so my SBC reflections are from a screen.

Like many, I viewed the meetings, followed the twitter feed, and read the reports. It seems many of the messengers (messengers are those that represent their local church and cast votes at the annual meeting) sensed that this meeting was very spiritually significant. That’s hard to get through a computer screen. However, from my vantage point it did seem that convention leadership and various entities are developing a cohesiveness and focus that has been missing for quite some time. I am joyful and hopeful with the leadership of Frank Page, Kevin Ezell, and Tom Eliff. I believe these men prize Christ and His Kingdom above anything else.

Ethnicity is changing in the ranks of leadership. We are loosing our “lily whiteness.” That’s a good thing and sad that it has taken us this long to get to the spot. I look forward to Fred Luter being nominated as president at next year’s convention in New Orleans. I will be casting my ballot for him wholeheartedly.

I rejoice in the call and action that appears to be taking place in us taking responsibility to reach the nations and the 3800 unengaged unreached people groups around the globe. I’m grateful and supportive of the focus to plant more churches in North America and around the world. Southern Baptists have far to long promoted programs to reach people rather than plant churches that reach people.

But even with all the good things, there still seems to be something that is missing at our convention meetings and in our churches for that matter.  Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church, in a blog post about his thoughts on the convention meeting said:

The one thing I heard very little about was spiritual awakening. It was mentioned but it did not rise to center stage. During the Great Commission Resurgence focus, the only thing I heard everyone agree on was the need for revival and repentance among our people. It seems we have moved the work of our hands ahead of the work of God’s Spirit. The need of the hour is brokenness, cleansing, repentance and then true vision comes. It is my opinion that a time of Solemn Assembly should be planned for New Orleans in 2012. That will not be the case, as it was not put forth at this convention.

Southern Baptists are on a downward slide. Baptisms are at a sixty year low. We need a mighty breakthrough of the Spirit of Almighty God. Without it we will have business as usual for another year.

I think he’s spot on. His words not only ring true for our convention but they also ring true for our local churches and each of us individually. May we as a convention, the local church, and individuals be broken and repentant so that His power will flow to accomplish His work to fulfill His vision for His glory.

Looking forward to and hopeful for the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention Meeting in New Orleans.

Yesterday Lifeway released the numbers from the 2010 Annual Church Profile. You can access that article here.  Not surprisingly, membership, attendance, baptism, and giving continues a slow steady decline. Is this reason for alarm. I think the answer is yes and no.

Southern Baptists have far too long had membership rolls filled with people that we couldn’t find if we wanted to. Southern Baptists report having 16,136,044 members while only 6,195,449 attended worship in 2010. You don’t have to be very bright or discerning to see there is a huge problem.

Southern Baptists as a whole have lost the concept of meaningful church membership. And yet churches that go to great lengths and care to make sure each person that desires to become a member is truly a believer and understands their role and responsibilities are often castigated by other pastors and churches. It’s time we face facts. I know that’s hard. I know it hurts. But while truth may hurt, it can be incredibly liberating and empowering.

I believe another reason for our decline in numbers is something called the “death of the mushy middle” that Tim Keller talked about in a recent interview.

While I’m alarmed by somethings I see happening in Southern Baptist life, I am also incredibly encouraged by many other things. I believe the answer is simple. It requires repentance of sin and a return to Christ and the gospel. My prayer is that we as individuals, churches, and a convention will do just that and get busy following Jesus and making disciples around the globe for the name and fame of Jesus.

Last night Ruthie was reading a book to me that mentioned Koalas. For some reason I thought about Kwicky Koala. This lead to an immediate YouTube search. And of course, it’s hard to ignore the suggested videos to the side. We took a break from the book reading to introduce my children to the way cartoons should be.