So there is a buzz going around right now about a new movie coming out based on the best-selling book "The Da Vinci Code". The movie stars Tom Hanks, so you can bet that it will be a good movie with a large turnout. We've decided to do a series titled "Da Vinci Defunked" starting on May 14th to discuss some very disturbing and flat-out wrong beliefs portrayed in the book.
To prepare for this, I decided to read the book. So far I'm only half way through it, and I have to say that Dan Brown is an incredible writer. He brings all the elements of a good book: suspense, twists, strong characters, and mystery. Unfortunately, the bad theology has just entered into the story and my stomach is turning! The accusations made throw mud in the face of everything we believe as Christians.
And that is why we are doing this series...to educate people that, though it's a good story, it is still a fictional book. This book could cause a lot of new Christians to doubt their faith. Because of that, I encourage you to be at TrueNorth for that series. We have some cool stuff planned for this series!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Finding God in everyday life...
...that's what this blog is all about. It's about learning to worship God as you work, eat, breathe...it's a lifestyle!
A friend of mine, Paul, posted a cool blog about finding God in t-shirt artwork. It brought home a strong point for me: even in the "things of this world" we can still find traces of God. If you really think about it, nothing in this world is original. God did it before we could do. He said it before we could speak. He was and is and is to come.
Now, the world distorts what God intended to be good and beautiful, but at the very core of everything is HIS original intent in creating us and this world we live in...to glorify HIM.
A friend of mine, Paul, posted a cool blog about finding God in t-shirt artwork. It brought home a strong point for me: even in the "things of this world" we can still find traces of God. If you really think about it, nothing in this world is original. God did it before we could do. He said it before we could speak. He was and is and is to come.
Now, the world distorts what God intended to be good and beautiful, but at the very core of everything is HIS original intent in creating us and this world we live in...to glorify HIM.
Friday, April 21, 2006
New words for worship
The band had practice last night like we normally do on Thursdays. Afterwards, I was playing a new song I've been working on for McKenna to get her thoughts on it. The song is called Phenomenal. The imagery in the song is inspired directly from some incredible Old Testament passages.
So our conversation turned to how we constantly need to reinvent how we sing and think about the characteristics of God. Our society uses words like awesome and beautiful so often now. We have almost trivialized these words so much that they don't mean anything for the greatness of God. That's why I love new worship words like revolutionary, indescribable, radiate, phenomenal, etc.
I would encourage everyone to really put thought into how you describe God. It's hard, but it will definitely increase your view of the Almighty!
So our conversation turned to how we constantly need to reinvent how we sing and think about the characteristics of God. Our society uses words like awesome and beautiful so often now. We have almost trivialized these words so much that they don't mean anything for the greatness of God. That's why I love new worship words like revolutionary, indescribable, radiate, phenomenal, etc.
I would encourage everyone to really put thought into how you describe God. It's hard, but it will definitely increase your view of the Almighty!
Monday, April 17, 2006
Blown away
God continues to blow me away! Our Easter services yesterday were amazing. We almost had 1,700 in attendance!!! To think that two years ago we celebrated Easter with about 50 people...
The coolest thing to me is that God is changing people in our area. He's changing lives all over the place through His love. Imagine sending a baby boy to revolutionize the way we live life! Only God could be that creative!
It is such a complete joy to serve the Risen King of all creation!!!!
The coolest thing to me is that God is changing people in our area. He's changing lives all over the place through His love. Imagine sending a baby boy to revolutionize the way we live life! Only God could be that creative!
It is such a complete joy to serve the Risen King of all creation!!!!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Good Friday
It's Saturday night and I'm getting ready to go to bed and get some sleep for Easter Sunday at TNC. I have to say tomorrow should be an incredibly exciting day for us. We have some big stuff planned that I think will have people talking for a while.
As I was finishing up some things before bed, I checked out the Passion Blog that Louie Giglio writes on. He has had some awesome Easter thoughts. You should check it out!
Anyway, it got me to reflecting on the power of this weekend. Isn't it ironic that we call the day Jesus died "Good Friday"? But if you really think about it, it was a good Friday:
Jesus took our place on a cross that was supposed to be ours.
He became sin for us.
He became our shame.
He became our guilt.
He bore the burden of our mistakes.
He took our place as the separated from God.
Then He conquered death.
He became our forgiveness.
He became the bridge between us and God.
What a truly Good Friday it is!
As I was finishing up some things before bed, I checked out the Passion Blog that Louie Giglio writes on. He has had some awesome Easter thoughts. You should check it out!
Anyway, it got me to reflecting on the power of this weekend. Isn't it ironic that we call the day Jesus died "Good Friday"? But if you really think about it, it was a good Friday:
Jesus took our place on a cross that was supposed to be ours.
He became sin for us.
He became our shame.
He became our guilt.
He bore the burden of our mistakes.
He took our place as the separated from God.
Then He conquered death.
He became our forgiveness.
He became the bridge between us and God.
What a truly Good Friday it is!
Friday, April 07, 2006
A week of rest
My family and I are coming to close on a week's vacation in Maryland. And what a restful week it has been! With how crazy busy our life has been since the inception of TrueNorth, and particularly since I went full-time with TNC in January, the peace has been welcomed...and needed.
I have had a chance to think a lot about my personal relationship with God, with Laurie, and with my boys. I've come to realize a few necessary relational practices:
1) A strong relationship needs time...and lots of it. We live in such a fast paced society that time often is wasted between work, phone, computer, TV, meetings, sports, etc. Time is the one resource we cannot get more or less of.
2) A strong relationship needs focused attention. To go with the fast paced lifestyle is a short attention span that keeps getting shorter. We have to practice focus. Focus on what is being said to you...from God, your spouse, your kids, your friends, etc.
3) A strong relationship needs communication. If we give time and focused attention to someone (or some-One), we'll be able to understand their thoughts and feelings and then give our input to what they have said. Sometimes that input is just to be silent. Sometimes it's to respond with action. Regardless, good communication is healthy for all relationships.
Please note the order I've listed these. Without time, we can't give focused attention. With attention, we can't communicate.
That's the most important thing I've learned this week.
I have had a chance to think a lot about my personal relationship with God, with Laurie, and with my boys. I've come to realize a few necessary relational practices:
1) A strong relationship needs time...and lots of it. We live in such a fast paced society that time often is wasted between work, phone, computer, TV, meetings, sports, etc. Time is the one resource we cannot get more or less of.
2) A strong relationship needs focused attention. To go with the fast paced lifestyle is a short attention span that keeps getting shorter. We have to practice focus. Focus on what is being said to you...from God, your spouse, your kids, your friends, etc.
3) A strong relationship needs communication. If we give time and focused attention to someone (or some-One), we'll be able to understand their thoughts and feelings and then give our input to what they have said. Sometimes that input is just to be silent. Sometimes it's to respond with action. Regardless, good communication is healthy for all relationships.
Please note the order I've listed these. Without time, we can't give focused attention. With attention, we can't communicate.
That's the most important thing I've learned this week.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Stargazer lilies
My wife (Laurie) and I have been busy trying to pick out stuff for the nursery. After three boys, picking stuff for a girl is a world rocking activity!
Anyway...so we found this pattern of crib bedding that we really like called Stargazer. It's a beautiful pattern. As we looked at it and came back to it and then looked longer, the thought occured to me...what is a stargazer lily?
I like the name. So I googled for pictures, and this is what i came up with ------>
Look at the patterns on each petal. It's like a bunch of little constellations ... or the reflections of really BIG constellations. A beautiful sight!
At this same time, I was reading through a chapter in A.W. Tozer's book "The Pursuit of God" titled "The Gaze of the Soul". The whole chapter explores the fact that we, as Christ-followers, should fix our gaze upon Christ, "the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). And when we do, our lives will be changed. The constant communion we will have with God by locking our inward sight on Him is the most incredible prize. There is remarkable power and life in this act.
The flowers almost seem to mirror the stars...therefore the name 'stargazer'. If we would gaze at Christ more often, we too will mirror the object of our sight...the glorious Son of the most high God. So let us become Christ-gazers...at all times!
Anyway...so we found this pattern of crib bedding that we really like called Stargazer. It's a beautiful pattern. As we looked at it and came back to it and then looked longer, the thought occured to me...what is a stargazer lily?
I like the name. So I googled for pictures, and this is what i came up with ------>Look at the patterns on each petal. It's like a bunch of little constellations ... or the reflections of really BIG constellations. A beautiful sight!
At this same time, I was reading through a chapter in A.W. Tozer's book "The Pursuit of God" titled "The Gaze of the Soul". The whole chapter explores the fact that we, as Christ-followers, should fix our gaze upon Christ, "the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). And when we do, our lives will be changed. The constant communion we will have with God by locking our inward sight on Him is the most incredible prize. There is remarkable power and life in this act.
The flowers almost seem to mirror the stars...therefore the name 'stargazer'. If we would gaze at Christ more often, we too will mirror the object of our sight...the glorious Son of the most high God. So let us become Christ-gazers...at all times!
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