Charley's 1st PreSchool Party

Future Couple?

Fall Festival 2010

Mad About You

One of my favorite TV shows of all time is Mad About You. There are so many great quotes and one-liners! For instance, the episode where Paul and Jamie end up locked in the bathroom together on Valentine's Day includes the following exchange, "You woo and you woo and then you gotta go Woah!" as Paul describes his view of the romantic holiday. Although a funny line, the opposite is in fact true! The longer you are in a relationship the more you should woo your partner. Wooing your partner is never easy, but it is always worth the investment in your relationship. It's worth it because you love that person and you would do anything for them, regardless of what it is. In essence, you are "mad about them" head over heels in love with them and nothing will keep you from pursuing their love and affection, not unlike Divine Love.

Shema

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (The Message)

 6-9 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

In my denomination much ink has been spilled over the authority of the Bible. Along with the loss of ink has come loss of friends, family, and organizations. I am convinced that Christians of every stripe I have encountered would do well to allow the verses above to soak into our lives and fill our hearts and conversations. I am even more convinced that if Christians through the years had done this the Kingdom would be larger than any human mind can comprehend. I must be honest and admit that more often than not I find myself talking about things less important than scripture! I am thankful for the gentle reminder that the Word has the power to transform my life and the world as the Holy Spirit works in our lives today.
Tony

2010 Fair

Tony

Recruit Starling

Tony

Chandler's Graduation

We are trying to get loaded up and head to Parris Island, SC for Chandler's USMC graduation. Should be a great day, cool, crisp morning so far. OOHRAH!
Tony

The Reformer? and the Future of a Denomination

Here is an interesting article on Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Kentucky. Mohler is someone that people tend to love or hate for who he is, what he stands for, his involvement in reshaping Southern Seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention. I was initially put off by the title of the article, because I thought it would be all about how great of a person Mohler is and how he is next John Calvin, but the article seemed to be a fair description of the man and his mission over the past 20 years.

There is a reaction to the article posted on Scot McKnight's blog as well that's very interesting, especially the comments section.

What does the future hold for the SBC? What does the future hold for evangelicalism? What does the future hold for untold numbers of church leaders who find themselves somewhere in the middle of the theological, political, and ecclesiastical differences found in many churches today?

For me it means moving past a 30+ year old battle and moving forward with the story of the gospel, the hope of redemption!

Friend of the Devil

The Grateful Dead have a song entitled "Friend of the Devil" that I really like. The music is rolling acoustic and the lyrics are catchy. Although the original intent wasn't what I have distilled from the song, I think there is some wisdom in the lyrics for all Christians. "A friend of the devil is a friend of mine"... How often have we seen Christians who withdraw from the world and the people who most need Jesus rather than befriending them so that we might have the opportunity to share the gospel, the greatest thing in our life, with them!

Philip Yancey has a quote that has always stuck with me..."Jesus was a sinless friend of sinners, something that should convict us on both counts."

Perhaps the church needs to do a better job at making sure that the friends of the devil are who we are befriending...after all that seems to be the model of Jesus!
Tony

New Wineskins

Mark 2:22 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins."

We are going through the Gospel of Mark for our high school Bible study. One of the commentaries I have looked discussed this passage from the perspective of using new methods to communicate the ancient truth of the gospel. So my question is..."How will we "do" church in order to proclaim the story of redemption in 10, 20, 30 years?
Tony