I always feel this need to conform to expectations around me. I think all of us do. Let me illustrate. The other day I came across a fellow pastor in my city. He's a new guy in the area and he had that look of a pastor: dress pants, shined shoes, pressed blue shirt, yellow tie, distinguished glasses, and closely cropped hair. Me? I had on blue jeans, polo shirt, tennis shoes, and a three-day growth of stubble on my face. He looked like a pastor. I looked like one of those guys who sits around playing video games and eating oreos. I began to think to myself, "You need to do a better job looking like a pastor when you go out." There is a group of pastors that meet on Monday in my town and when I go to their meetings I usually put on khakis and a golf shirt or something business casual. When I went to the Dominican I brought all athletic pants and Under Armor shirts because I knew all the guys were baseball guys and coaches. I wanted to look the part even if I wasn't the part. When I go to a gospel conference in April, everyone will be dressed in the standard YRR attire (except for Al Mohler who will still be sporting the suit and tie seminary president look).
The lure of conformity is a powerful thing. It doesn't go away when we graduate from high school. Peer pressure isn't just something teenagers face. We all face it everyday. There's pressure to conform to the fashion trends of our tribe. There's the pressure to conform to the large-scale SUV when you have two kids and live in suburbia. There's pressure to preach like Andy Stanley, have music like Louie Giglio and Passion, and have a church big enough to transport people in golf carts across the parking lot. There's pressure to get your son or daughter lessons so he or she can be as good or better than all the other kids at baseball or soccer. There's pressure to be on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and every other social site to be relevant.
Even those who say they are non-conformists have their pressures to conform. Ever seen a skinhead with long blonde locks? If you want to be a "non-conformist" you need to have multiple piercings, a long goatee, like wearing black, and have an angry demeanor most of the time.
The issue really isn't whether it's wrong to feel the pressure to conform, but what you are being conformed too. The things we conform to can often times reveal to us what our functional idols really are. My need to dress more like a pastor can possibly be signaling a need to be validated by external measurements rather than spiritual ones. My desire for new golf clubs might be a sign that I want people to be impressed with the "Callaway" on my 9-iron. (However, I really think it's because my current clubs stink.) When my need to conform is driven by other people's expectations or acceptance rather than my personal convictions, it will usually lead me down the path of idolatry and be less fulfilling.
The real question is "Why do I feel so strongly the pull to conform to those around me, but don't always feel the need to conform to Christ-likeness as strong?" It's not my desire to conform that bothers me but the things I desire to conform to and my struggle to conform to Christ-likeness. The Bible says I am "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." It will happen eventually. That's the plan of God for me. The word also says "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance." It's my choice what I conform to. When I allow myself to be conformed to the pattern of this world, I show my ignorance of the gospel and all the things that God has done for me already in Christ. I think that word "ignorant" best describes much of the conformity I see in my life and in the lives of those around me. That's what I think bothers me the most.
Anyway, let's all conform (which is a statement asking you to conform) to the things that really matter in this world or the next. And let's pay careful attention to the lure of conformity and ask ourselves why we feel so drawn to what we are.
Now I got to go press my slacks. I have a pastor's meeting to go to...
Feb 3, 2012
Feb 2, 2012
Just A Little Laugh...
I loved Gary Larson's humor in The Far Side. From time to time, I'll post one of them here.
Jan 25, 2012
Go Bowlin
These guys are funny and super creative. An ode to one of the greatest haircuts of all time.
Jan 19, 2012
T4G - A Conference for Gospel Faithfulness
I am excited about attending this conference in Louisville, KY in April. Looking forward to catching up with some old friends and hearing some gospel-centered preaching.
T4G 2012 Trailer from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2012 Trailer from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Jan 13, 2012
Something to Cook - Beef Tips and Rice
I like to cook. My wife hates it. So, I get to cook a lot. Now, I don't "LOVE" to cook. I don't sit around conjuring up dishes in my kitchen in my spare time. However, I do like the art of cooking. And my wife is not a bad cook. She's actually gotten pretty good lately. She just doesn't like cooking and has no patience in the process. So from time to time I thought I might give you some things I have tried that my family seems to enjoy.
Tonight, we're having beef tips and rice. I realized about 4 months ago that I really liked beef tips but had no idea how to make them. I also wanted to find a recipe I could cook in a crock-pot because I didn't want to have to tackle it when I came home. So I researched the internet and read through about a dozen recipes on beef tips in a crock pot. I combined what looked good for me and this is what I came up with.
3-4 pounds of beef tips or stew meat (They are usually cut pretty big so I cut them in half)
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can Golden Mushroom or Beefy Mushroom soup (depends on what your grocery store carries)
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup mix
3 cans of beef broth
Salt and Pepper
Season the beef tips with salt and pepper (and maybe some Cajun Seasoning) and dredge in some flour. Lightly brown the tips in a skillet in some vegetable oil. Put the dry onion soup mix, Golden Mushroom soup, and Cream of Mushroom soup in the crock-pot and mix in one can of beef broth. Add the browned beef tips and cover with remaining beef broth. Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-5 hours. Serve over rice. Enjoy!
This is one of my kids favorites. Now I'm hungry and going to eat some!
Tonight, we're having beef tips and rice. I realized about 4 months ago that I really liked beef tips but had no idea how to make them. I also wanted to find a recipe I could cook in a crock-pot because I didn't want to have to tackle it when I came home. So I researched the internet and read through about a dozen recipes on beef tips in a crock pot. I combined what looked good for me and this is what I came up with.
3-4 pounds of beef tips or stew meat (They are usually cut pretty big so I cut them in half)
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can Golden Mushroom or Beefy Mushroom soup (depends on what your grocery store carries)
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup mix
3 cans of beef broth
Salt and Pepper
Season the beef tips with salt and pepper (and maybe some Cajun Seasoning) and dredge in some flour. Lightly brown the tips in a skillet in some vegetable oil. Put the dry onion soup mix, Golden Mushroom soup, and Cream of Mushroom soup in the crock-pot and mix in one can of beef broth. Add the browned beef tips and cover with remaining beef broth. Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-5 hours. Serve over rice. Enjoy!
This is one of my kids favorites. Now I'm hungry and going to eat some!
Around the Internet
Here are a few of the best blogs and articles I have come across the internet the last week.
Jared Wilson's Response to Jesus>Religion - There's a new video circulating around Facebook and the internet by an artist named Jefferson Bethke where he conveys why being in love with Jesus is better than just being religious. It's very creative and thought-provoking. It also can be misconstrued to advocate an alarming trend that we can love Jesus and live the Christian life outside of the church. While many American churches have become self-serving institutions and guardians of the moral police, it is also the institution that Christ created and that he died for. Wilson does a great job looking at some of the deeper issues raised by this popular video.
10 Thoughts on Tim Tebow mania - I love Tim Tebow. My wife absolutely loves Tim Tebow! She has become an NFL and Bronco fan just because of Tim Tebow. He has become a polarizing figure in our society that reflects a larger reality of the divide between those who follow Christ and those who follow the philosophies of this world. Nathan Busenitz wrote a very good article on 5 positive things about Tebow-mania and 5 concerns. Very much worth a look.
If Jesus Tweeted - My friend Chad Gibbs is one of the most creative and humorous guys I know. He has a great blog and put together a funny look at what Jesus' Twitter profile might look like.
Mark Driscoll on Rick and Bubba -Mark Driscoll has a new book on marriage and a conference tour. I have a copy of the book I hope to read and review later. He appeared on a radio interview with Rick and Bubba. Here is the interview and gives you a good idea of the contents of the book. Sounds like it's definitely worth a read.
Loving Movies (or anything else) more than Jesus - I saw this link on someone's facebook this week. It's a blog post from John Piper on our tendency to elevate our love and affections for created things over the Creator. It's not overly critical, but a very positive and encouraging article.
Jared Wilson's Response to Jesus>Religion - There's a new video circulating around Facebook and the internet by an artist named Jefferson Bethke where he conveys why being in love with Jesus is better than just being religious. It's very creative and thought-provoking. It also can be misconstrued to advocate an alarming trend that we can love Jesus and live the Christian life outside of the church. While many American churches have become self-serving institutions and guardians of the moral police, it is also the institution that Christ created and that he died for. Wilson does a great job looking at some of the deeper issues raised by this popular video.
10 Thoughts on Tim Tebow mania - I love Tim Tebow. My wife absolutely loves Tim Tebow! She has become an NFL and Bronco fan just because of Tim Tebow. He has become a polarizing figure in our society that reflects a larger reality of the divide between those who follow Christ and those who follow the philosophies of this world. Nathan Busenitz wrote a very good article on 5 positive things about Tebow-mania and 5 concerns. Very much worth a look.
If Jesus Tweeted - My friend Chad Gibbs is one of the most creative and humorous guys I know. He has a great blog and put together a funny look at what Jesus' Twitter profile might look like.
Mark Driscoll on Rick and Bubba -Mark Driscoll has a new book on marriage and a conference tour. I have a copy of the book I hope to read and review later. He appeared on a radio interview with Rick and Bubba. Here is the interview and gives you a good idea of the contents of the book. Sounds like it's definitely worth a read.
Loving Movies (or anything else) more than Jesus - I saw this link on someone's facebook this week. It's a blog post from John Piper on our tendency to elevate our love and affections for created things over the Creator. It's not overly critical, but a very positive and encouraging article.
Jan 11, 2012
The Jesus Mission (Book Review)
Last month I received a copy of the book The Jesus Mission by Steven Scott to read and review. Personally, I was a little skeptical before I read it. I had never heard of Steven Scott before. His bio in the dust jacket talks about how he "learned the laws of success by studying the book of Proverbs" and lists his successful business ventures. The book says that Jesus has "4 missions He assigned you." At first glance, I thought this was going to be another Joel Osteen or Prayer of Jabez "secret to personal success" type book. I was wrong.
Steven Scott writes from a very strong theological and biblical background. His writing reflects someone who has deeply studied Scripture and has invested a lot of time in personal study of God's word. This is no "pull out a verse and then show how God has promised to bless you" type book. The author makes no apologies for the power of God's word and its necessity in the life of a follower of Jesus. He does a solid treatment of describing salvation and what it truly means to be "born again". He challenges modern-day Christianity that teaches people to rely on past experience, walking an aisle, being baptized, etc. as the basis for proof of salvation. He does and excellent job of challenging readers to "count the cost" of following Jesus.
Every chapter in this book is loaded with advice that is directly from the pages of Scripture and a solid exegesis of those passages. By his own admission, the author spent two years reading and organizing all of Jesus' statements in Scripture into 1900 commands and teachings. He then categorized them into 225 topics and wrote a book about it. He uses those Scriptures that he has immersed himself in as a spiritual compass. The reader is invited in to discover what God wants and in doing so finds himself challenged to reject easy, passive religion and embrace the cost of following Jesus and being obedient to his teachings and commands.
I would highly recommend this book for personal study, for a Sunday School class, for new Christians, and for those who are looking for something with some substance in a Christian book marketplace that is full of self-help pablum. Put this book on your reading list this year!
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Jan 9, 2012
Students "Do Something Now"
I got to go to Passion 2012 last week. It was my 9th or 10th time to take students to a Passion event. It always inspires with awesome music and the power of God's word. This year the students were challenged to unite to bring awareness to modern slavery and human trafficking. This was a feature that CNN did about the movement. The goal was $1,000,000. By Thursday, over $3,000,000 had been raised!
Jan 2, 2012
Read through the Word in 2012
I am using a paper copy in my Bible and also YouVersion to track my progress. If you are signed up on YouVersion, then look me up and be a friend so we can encourage one another and share any notes or insights. YouVersion also has some great apps that you can use on your smart phone to help you keep up.
Are you reading the word more intentionally this year.
Dec 27, 2011
Best Books of 2011
I love to read whenever I can. Unfortunately, with the noise and chaos at my house, my reading is usually limited to late at night when everyone is in bed. I tried to keep up with all the books I read this year and balance out my reading selections to have a very broad base. Here are a few of my favorite books I read this year.
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
I loved Keller's book! It was the first book by Keller that I have read all the way through. It is one of the most important books I have read and exposes one of the major problems in the contemporary church. Tim Keller's insight into idolatry is profound. This book went a long way to exposing my own idols and has caused me to be more profoundly dependent upon Christ and not my idols.
Decision Points by George Bush
I got this book last year for Christmas and dug into it this Spring. I love biographies. I have not been much for presidential memoirs before, but Bush's presidential span was during a large part of my young adult life. I think Bush served in one of the most critical times in the life of our country and his impact will not be fully measured or appreciated for many years to come. It was fascinating to look at decisions that he made behind the scenes that the media has wrongly portrayed consistently. I believe Bush to be a brother in Christ with a deep faith that was placed in a role where biblical values are not embraced or tolerated. This book is a must read for history and presidential buffs.
Gospel by JD Greear
Greear hit a home run with this book. The word "gospel" has become a buzzword in the contemporary church and much is being preached about it, especially among the young and reformed evangelical types. As much as it's being talked about, it is also being highly misunderstood. Greear does a great job showing that gospel centrality has a massive impact on our daily lives. He shows that the gospel is not just theological language, but the power for personal transformation. Great book I wish everyone in my church would read!
Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
I am still reading this book. I had seen much tweeted and written on it recently. Wilson's book is also a beautiful work on the majesty and power of the gospel to transform our personal lives. I am only halfway through and have already worn a highlighter dry. I will hopefully post some of my favorite quotes from this book later. However, if I recommend one book for you to read in the next 2 months, this would be the one!
Onward by Howard Schultz
I love business books and behind the scenes looks at great companies. This is one of those. It is written by the CEO of Starbucks and chronicles the turnaround that Starbucks did several years ago as he saw some dangerous trends in his company. Since I love coffee and Starbucks, much of what he wrote about I saw and remembered.
Radical Together by David Platt
This is Platt's follow-up to his first book Radical. It is written to show more of the corporate implications of a church that commits to radical obedience to the word and the gospel. It's a small but powerful book. I believe that church leaders and pastors should pay careful attention to the words of Platt in a day and time where we are losing influence and impact for the gospel in our culture. I believe David Platt is a prophet for our time and is being used of God in mighty ways. His writings and sermons have had an impact on several in our church.
Other books I read this year and really enjoyed were: Don't Call it a Comeback by Kevin DeYoung, Slave by John MacArthur, Pujols by Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth, Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock by Iain Murray, Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley, The Jesus Mission by Steven Scott, I, Alex Cross by James Patterson, Great by Choice by Jim Collins, and Where Has Oprah Taken Us? by Steven Masfield, and Mint Condition by Dave Jamieson.
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
I loved Keller's book! It was the first book by Keller that I have read all the way through. It is one of the most important books I have read and exposes one of the major problems in the contemporary church. Tim Keller's insight into idolatry is profound. This book went a long way to exposing my own idols and has caused me to be more profoundly dependent upon Christ and not my idols.
Decision Points by George Bush
I got this book last year for Christmas and dug into it this Spring. I love biographies. I have not been much for presidential memoirs before, but Bush's presidential span was during a large part of my young adult life. I think Bush served in one of the most critical times in the life of our country and his impact will not be fully measured or appreciated for many years to come. It was fascinating to look at decisions that he made behind the scenes that the media has wrongly portrayed consistently. I believe Bush to be a brother in Christ with a deep faith that was placed in a role where biblical values are not embraced or tolerated. This book is a must read for history and presidential buffs.
Gospel by JD Greear
Greear hit a home run with this book. The word "gospel" has become a buzzword in the contemporary church and much is being preached about it, especially among the young and reformed evangelical types. As much as it's being talked about, it is also being highly misunderstood. Greear does a great job showing that gospel centrality has a massive impact on our daily lives. He shows that the gospel is not just theological language, but the power for personal transformation. Great book I wish everyone in my church would read!
Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
I am still reading this book. I had seen much tweeted and written on it recently. Wilson's book is also a beautiful work on the majesty and power of the gospel to transform our personal lives. I am only halfway through and have already worn a highlighter dry. I will hopefully post some of my favorite quotes from this book later. However, if I recommend one book for you to read in the next 2 months, this would be the one!
Onward by Howard Schultz
I love business books and behind the scenes looks at great companies. This is one of those. It is written by the CEO of Starbucks and chronicles the turnaround that Starbucks did several years ago as he saw some dangerous trends in his company. Since I love coffee and Starbucks, much of what he wrote about I saw and remembered.
Radical Together by David Platt
This is Platt's follow-up to his first book Radical. It is written to show more of the corporate implications of a church that commits to radical obedience to the word and the gospel. It's a small but powerful book. I believe that church leaders and pastors should pay careful attention to the words of Platt in a day and time where we are losing influence and impact for the gospel in our culture. I believe David Platt is a prophet for our time and is being used of God in mighty ways. His writings and sermons have had an impact on several in our church.
Other books I read this year and really enjoyed were: Don't Call it a Comeback by Kevin DeYoung, Slave by John MacArthur, Pujols by Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth, Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock by Iain Murray, Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley, The Jesus Mission by Steven Scott, I, Alex Cross by James Patterson, Great by Choice by Jim Collins, and Where Has Oprah Taken Us? by Steven Masfield, and Mint Condition by Dave Jamieson.
Dec 22, 2011
A Calvin Christmas
I loved Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. This is one of the Christmas strips. Having 4 boys of my own, this one hits close to home.
Dec 21, 2011
Around the Internet
Here are a few links to some website articles and blogs I have recently found of interest.
What's the perception of Southern Baptists? This is some vitally important information about the perception of many of the unchurched about the denomination I belong to and deeply love. I am so thankful for Ed's research eye and the important questions he asks. These are prophetic words that need to be heeded.
The Year in Pictures (Part 1 and Part 2) - These are fascinating pictures of events that happened this year in the world. A very powerful way to look back at the year 2011.
Who Was Saint Nicholas? This is a good post on the real Saint Nick by Mark Driscoll. This will help you to better understand the man behind the myth and what to tell your kids about Santa Claus.
Journey of the Wests - This is a blog started by my friend and church member Myron West about his family's recent journey to Uganda and God's calling of them to serve in missions on a full-time basis. Myron is a deacon in my church and God has used him and his family to ignite a missions movement in our church. Pray for them as they continue being obedient to God.
Don't give to the Cooperative Program - This is a great blog article by Micah Fries about the difference between giving "to" the Cooperative Program and "through" the CP. I think it's a good word for SBC leaders to hear and for members of SBC churches to read and understand how the Cooperative Program works and why it's vitally important. I agree with Micah's assessment that we need to be very careful about projecting an image that appears we are holding up an organizational structure more than advancing a heavenly kingdom.
What's the perception of Southern Baptists? This is some vitally important information about the perception of many of the unchurched about the denomination I belong to and deeply love. I am so thankful for Ed's research eye and the important questions he asks. These are prophetic words that need to be heeded.
The Year in Pictures (Part 1 and Part 2) - These are fascinating pictures of events that happened this year in the world. A very powerful way to look back at the year 2011.
Who Was Saint Nicholas? This is a good post on the real Saint Nick by Mark Driscoll. This will help you to better understand the man behind the myth and what to tell your kids about Santa Claus.
Journey of the Wests - This is a blog started by my friend and church member Myron West about his family's recent journey to Uganda and God's calling of them to serve in missions on a full-time basis. Myron is a deacon in my church and God has used him and his family to ignite a missions movement in our church. Pray for them as they continue being obedient to God.
Don't give to the Cooperative Program - This is a great blog article by Micah Fries about the difference between giving "to" the Cooperative Program and "through" the CP. I think it's a good word for SBC leaders to hear and for members of SBC churches to read and understand how the Cooperative Program works and why it's vitally important. I agree with Micah's assessment that we need to be very careful about projecting an image that appears we are holding up an organizational structure more than advancing a heavenly kingdom.
Return to Middle Earth
I never read the books, but I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the work that Peter Jackson did with those movies. Now, he's doing The Hobbit, the prequel to the LOTR. It looks to be pretty good. The announcement trailer recently came out. Enjoy. Let the countdown to December 14th begin...
Dec 19, 2011
Hello Again...
Sorry it's been a month since I posted anything. It's not because there hasn't been anything on my mind. Too much happening to have any productive time to blog. In the last month, Nathan and I got back from our mission trip to the Dominican Republic; we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family in Mississippi; my church has hired a new staff member to do youth ministry and discipleship; we had a party for my music minister who is retiring; I've had several surgeries and a couple of funerals; I've read a couple of really good books; and we've got a cat. Never a dull moment.
Hope to have some things to put up here in the next few days. Until then, I thought I would give you a little video to humor you.
Hope to have some things to put up here in the next few days. Until then, I thought I would give you a little video to humor you.
Nov 16, 2011
More from Juan Dolio
We've wrapped up our last full day here at the Dominican Republic. It's been a great day of ministry and encouragement. The morning started with our devotional time at 7:30 AM. We were led in worship by Jeremy Camp. He was here last night to lead in the crusade we went to in San Pedro de Marcoris. It was a refreshing time of worship by one of Christian music's most talented artists.
Our team went to do a clinic this morning at a Marine base in Santo Domingo. We had about 150 kids that we sent through four stations. Nathan and I moved from infield to work in the hitting clinic today with former major league player and collegiate All-American Chris Burke. He's been on our squad all week. It's been fun listening to him share his baseball stories and also about living his faith in the big leagues. Steven Welcher spent time leading the pitching clinic today and had kids all over him all afternoon. Our squad leader is Kevin Malone. Kevin is the former General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and has spent many years on the West Coast. I have enjoyed getting to know this brother in Christ and hear about the transformation that Christ has done in his heart in the last few years. He is now working in ministry for the Dream Center in Los Angeles and has has a great joy in his heart.
After the clinic, we shared the gospel and I gave an invitation to the kids and adults there. Many publically indicated that they had trusted Christ as Savior. It was a good morning. Then we returned to the hotel for lunch and the afternoon. Steven went out to an orphanage while Nathan and I stayed at the hotel to rest. I did some sermon work and Nathan swam in the pool. Then we spent some time playing catch by the pool before dinner and the evening worship.
Our evening worship started with a special blessing of being led in music by a group of Dominican teenagers with a local ministry. This ministry takes mostly teens who come in off the street to hear about the love of Christ and learn music and praise songs. They rocked the house! We heard some great testimonies and had another awesome message by Pastor Ken Whitten.
Many of our team are leaving out early in the morning to fly home. The rest of us are going to lead a final clinic at the Rawlings baseball complex outside Santo Domingo tomorrow morning before heading to the airport to fly home. It's been a great week. We have made some good friends here. We have been touched by the opportunity to minister to the Dominican people. God is doing some great things on this island. However, as we drove to the crusade last night, I watched out the window at thousands of people who were walking the streets and lined up in bars. Although we have touched many here for Christ, there are multitudes more here that live in spiritual darkness. We have barely made a drop in the bucket of the spiritual needs that exist here. Pray for SCORE International and for the other strong Christian ministries that are trying to reach this island for Christ.
Looking forward to getting back on U.S. soil!
Our team went to do a clinic this morning at a Marine base in Santo Domingo. We had about 150 kids that we sent through four stations. Nathan and I moved from infield to work in the hitting clinic today with former major league player and collegiate All-American Chris Burke. He's been on our squad all week. It's been fun listening to him share his baseball stories and also about living his faith in the big leagues. Steven Welcher spent time leading the pitching clinic today and had kids all over him all afternoon. Our squad leader is Kevin Malone. Kevin is the former General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and has spent many years on the West Coast. I have enjoyed getting to know this brother in Christ and hear about the transformation that Christ has done in his heart in the last few years. He is now working in ministry for the Dream Center in Los Angeles and has has a great joy in his heart.
After the clinic, we shared the gospel and I gave an invitation to the kids and adults there. Many publically indicated that they had trusted Christ as Savior. It was a good morning. Then we returned to the hotel for lunch and the afternoon. Steven went out to an orphanage while Nathan and I stayed at the hotel to rest. I did some sermon work and Nathan swam in the pool. Then we spent some time playing catch by the pool before dinner and the evening worship.
Our evening worship started with a special blessing of being led in music by a group of Dominican teenagers with a local ministry. This ministry takes mostly teens who come in off the street to hear about the love of Christ and learn music and praise songs. They rocked the house! We heard some great testimonies and had another awesome message by Pastor Ken Whitten.
Many of our team are leaving out early in the morning to fly home. The rest of us are going to lead a final clinic at the Rawlings baseball complex outside Santo Domingo tomorrow morning before heading to the airport to fly home. It's been a great week. We have made some good friends here. We have been touched by the opportunity to minister to the Dominican people. God is doing some great things on this island. However, as we drove to the crusade last night, I watched out the window at thousands of people who were walking the streets and lined up in bars. Although we have touched many here for Christ, there are multitudes more here that live in spiritual darkness. We have barely made a drop in the bucket of the spiritual needs that exist here. Pray for SCORE International and for the other strong Christian ministries that are trying to reach this island for Christ.
Looking forward to getting back on U.S. soil!
Nov 15, 2011
Greetings from Juan Dolio and more...
As I type this, I am in a hotel lobby during day 2 of our Dominican Baseball Outreach. I am here with my oldest son, Nathan, and one of our high school students, Steven Welcher, doing baseball clinics and ministry projects to the children of the Dominican Republic. We are here with an organization called SCORE International which does this outreach each November. This week is designed to give guys who love baseball, high school coaches, college coaches, major league scouts, and professional players a chance to do ministry together using the vehicle of baseball. We do baseball clinics each day in the mornings. We have about 7 squads that go out each day to a different town and do a clinic with anywhere between 150-300 kids. We split them up into squads and teach fundamentals of infield, outfield, hitting, and pitching. At the end, we gather everyone up and one of the players will share his testimony. Then one of the team members will present the gospel and ask kids to surrender to Christ as Savior and Lord.
Yesterday we did a clinic at the Air Force Base in Santo Domingo and then went to a village called Ramon Santana to hand out bags of groceries. For about $10 each, we bought rice, beans, oil, salt, tuna, and spaghetti that will feed a family for about a week. It was a funny sight seeing 22 white gringo's in the local supermarket buying groceries together.
This morning we went to San Pedro de Marcoris to do a baseball clinic. San Pedro has produced many professional baseball players like Sammy Sosa, Alfonso Soriano, and others. Every kid in San Pedro believes that baseball is their ticket off the island and the way to provide for their family. It was a fun day of clinics. Our team has two former major leaguers - Andy Pettite and Chris Burke. Pettite was swarmed afterwards for autographs and was gracious to sign hundreds.
Keep praying for us while we are hear to show and speak the love of Christ to the children of this island. SCORE has a great ministry and is doing many very effective things for the kingdom here.
On a separate note, I got word on Facebook yesterday that our two-man team that is in Guinea is having some inroads with the Kakabe people. Evidently, many of the Kakabe religious leaders have engaged them with questions and they are open to hearing more about Jesus. The Kakabe are a small unreached people group of about 4,000 people in a country of millions. Their tribal identity has been swallowed up by the Fulbe in the region. This is the second team from our church that has gone. Prayers are being answered and we may see some Kakabe turn to Christ. When they do, they face large amounts of persecution and possible isolation from their family. We will have to send teams to continue to share the stories and to disciple any new believers. Keep praying saints.
Glory to God!
Yesterday we did a clinic at the Air Force Base in Santo Domingo and then went to a village called Ramon Santana to hand out bags of groceries. For about $10 each, we bought rice, beans, oil, salt, tuna, and spaghetti that will feed a family for about a week. It was a funny sight seeing 22 white gringo's in the local supermarket buying groceries together.
This morning we went to San Pedro de Marcoris to do a baseball clinic. San Pedro has produced many professional baseball players like Sammy Sosa, Alfonso Soriano, and others. Every kid in San Pedro believes that baseball is their ticket off the island and the way to provide for their family. It was a fun day of clinics. Our team has two former major leaguers - Andy Pettite and Chris Burke. Pettite was swarmed afterwards for autographs and was gracious to sign hundreds.
Keep praying for us while we are hear to show and speak the love of Christ to the children of this island. SCORE has a great ministry and is doing many very effective things for the kingdom here.
On a separate note, I got word on Facebook yesterday that our two-man team that is in Guinea is having some inroads with the Kakabe people. Evidently, many of the Kakabe religious leaders have engaged them with questions and they are open to hearing more about Jesus. The Kakabe are a small unreached people group of about 4,000 people in a country of millions. Their tribal identity has been swallowed up by the Fulbe in the region. This is the second team from our church that has gone. Prayers are being answered and we may see some Kakabe turn to Christ. When they do, they face large amounts of persecution and possible isolation from their family. We will have to send teams to continue to share the stories and to disciple any new believers. Keep praying saints.
Glory to God!
Oct 26, 2011
Redeeming Halloween, Osteen Does It Again, and more links...
Here are some interesting links you might want to read.
Halloween on Mission - Awesome post by David Mathis from Desiring God on redeeming Halloween for the gospel. Too often we live in hiding and seclusion instead of living boldly on mission. The effect of this is that we create an isolationist mentality which makes us inaccessible to the lost and ineffective in evangelism. You don't have to agree with this post, but it does make some great points.
Does Joel Osteen not know, or does he not care? -Smiling Joel was asked once again to make a stand on a controversial topic and once again he chose the path of popular opinion than that of biblical authority. By his own admission, he "hasn't studied" the issues of Momonism and Christianity. My advice: Don't make a statement then Joel.
Reformation Day: What in the world happened? - Great post by my friend and seminary classmate Dr. Jason Lee about the impact of Martin Luther and the Reformation started by his 95 theses. Great information that most lay people in the church have no knowledge of.
How to articulate a Christian worldview in four easy steps - Kevin DeYoung is a very smart young pastor who does a great job keeping people grounded in biblical theology and practical living. Every Christian should be able to articulate a Christian worldview, but so often cannot. This post will help.
Seven reasons Halloween Judgment Houses often miss the mark - I have been on record before that I am not a big fan of the Judgment House mentality in churches. I think the motives are pure and the churches that do them really do want to see people come to faith in Christ. I also think that some people are genuinely saved in them. However, I don't think they accurately convey the gospel and are just a 21st century answer to hellfire and brimstone revivalism.
Halloween on Mission - Awesome post by David Mathis from Desiring God on redeeming Halloween for the gospel. Too often we live in hiding and seclusion instead of living boldly on mission. The effect of this is that we create an isolationist mentality which makes us inaccessible to the lost and ineffective in evangelism. You don't have to agree with this post, but it does make some great points.
Does Joel Osteen not know, or does he not care? -Smiling Joel was asked once again to make a stand on a controversial topic and once again he chose the path of popular opinion than that of biblical authority. By his own admission, he "hasn't studied" the issues of Momonism and Christianity. My advice: Don't make a statement then Joel.
Reformation Day: What in the world happened? - Great post by my friend and seminary classmate Dr. Jason Lee about the impact of Martin Luther and the Reformation started by his 95 theses. Great information that most lay people in the church have no knowledge of.
How to articulate a Christian worldview in four easy steps - Kevin DeYoung is a very smart young pastor who does a great job keeping people grounded in biblical theology and practical living. Every Christian should be able to articulate a Christian worldview, but so often cannot. This post will help.
Seven reasons Halloween Judgment Houses often miss the mark - I have been on record before that I am not a big fan of the Judgment House mentality in churches. I think the motives are pure and the churches that do them really do want to see people come to faith in Christ. I also think that some people are genuinely saved in them. However, I don't think they accurately convey the gospel and are just a 21st century answer to hellfire and brimstone revivalism.
Oct 21, 2011
Be gospel-centered and don't neglect...
Great video featuring three young gospel saturated pastors - Trevin Wax, J.D. Greear, and Greg Gilbert. Good words that we need to hear.
Don't Be More Gospel-Centered Than Jesus from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.
Don't Be More Gospel-Centered Than Jesus from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.
Oct 19, 2011
Where Has Oprah Taken Us? - A Book Review
Mansfield's book is a timely read. It will probably trouble many who call themselves Christians who have given Oprah a pass for a long time. However, Mansfield is very fair in his portrayal and crituque of Oprah and her religious beliefs. He praises her for her benevolent work around the world. He vividly paints a good picture of the painful situation that Oprah was raised in. He has done his homework both on Oprah's biographical past and on the troubling religious transformation she went through before her audience's eyes. He has shown how, through shifting cultural influences and timing, Oprah rose from media personnel to someone who has had religious influence in our culture that closely resembles that of Billy Graham, the Pope, and Rick Warren. It's a telling and troubling fact that someone who holds no formal religious study has in many ways become a religious guru for millions of people, especially women.
While painting a detailed expression of Oprah's widely diverse religious influences, Mansfield also does a good job bringing solid, biblical truth to counteract those beliefs. He leads the reader to understand the implications of Oprah's beliefs on society and how those same beliefs diverge from Scripture and orthodox Christian teaching. He also asks serious questions that force the reader to see beyond the surface of Oprah's beliefs into the deeper ramifications. In each chapter he also has an aside where he interjects his own personal beliefs and critique. In doing so, he keeps most of his opinions out of the regular material and maintains the fair, impartial, and helpful reporting of an author of his stature.
I would highly recommend this read to most Christians, especially laypeople. There are millions of people in the church who have been poisoned by Oprah's deadly religious mix and need to step back and see through a biblical lens what she really believes. This is not a character assassination on Oprah - far from it. It is a book that shows the powerful and helpful influence she has had while questioning the religious dogma she has espoused for the last two decades. If you're an Oprah fan, give this book a fair reading and see where you may have been influenced. If you are not an Oprah fan, read it and equip yourself to have an honest, helpful dialogue with those who are.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Oct 18, 2011
The Power of an Unexpected Blessing
A few weeks ago I had the unique privilege of being invited to take part in a small pastor's retreat with Bob Russell. Bob (we're on a first name basis now) was the pastor of Southeast Christian Church for over 40 years. When he went there as a young man in his 20's the church was just a few hundred. When he retired a few years ago, it was one of the largest churches in America, averaging over 18,000 people each weekend. When Bob retired, he had some people who wanted to fund his ministry dreams and goals. One of those was to hold private retreats for pastors where he could minister and pour into a small group of pastors at a time.
I had applied over a year ago and was extremely excited when I got the invitation to go. What an honor and privilege to be invited to spend three days with a faithful servant of the Lord who did it the right way for over 40 years. God used Bob's ministry and preaching to literally change the lives of thousands of people. However, he was an extremely humble and joyful man who seemed to be loving getting to spend time with 8 pastors that for the most part no one has ever heard of. He shared some painful moments in his ministry and valuable lessons he learned. It was truly a once-in-a lifetime experience. Here are a few takeaways I had from the week:
1. When you cultivate a generous heart you are able to be a blessing and be blessed at the same time. Bob Russell gave us dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, set up a private time with the CEO of Louisville Slugger, and even gave our wives a generous gift. What a refreshment to see someone who wants to give away to make others feel appreciated and valuable.
2. There is no substitute for cultivating a servant spirit in your church. Southeast Christian Church is a very unique place. My sanctuary can fit under their driveway. The lobby is big enough to play a football game in. The worship center can seat 9,000 people. However, all of their landscaping is done by volunteers in the church. Much of their setup for events is handled by volunteers. The people of the church who helped Bob with the retreat were some of the most gracious servants I have ever encountered. They really thought it a blessing to be able to serve pastors by carrying our luggage or by driving us to events.
3. There is no substitute for godly lay leadership. We had the opportunity to spend time with three elders of Southeast who talked about pastor/elder relationships. These three men have been elders at Southeast for a long time. Each of them were very successful businessmen and entreprenuers. However, they also were men of great spiritual wisdom and the Word. They showed the power that can happen in a church where men step up to be students of the word and lead the church spiritually. This is no doubt one of the biggest reasons for the success that Southeast Christian has had in reaching people.
4. Preach the Bible and let God do the work. This was one of the statements that Bob Russell made and perfectly sums up his preaching and ministry philosophy. Russell's ministry shows the lasting impact that can be made when a preacher believes in the authority and sufficiency of God's word and chooses to rely on the power of the word preached over slick ministry strategies. It was a great encouragement to me. There is no guarantee of large numerical success in preaching biblically, but there is assurance of its power to change lives and build a healthy foundation for a church.
5. Multiply your ministry effectiveness by investing in future ministers. This is where Bob Russell is now. As a faithful pastor for decades, he's earned the right to spend his days playing golf, going on occasional mission trips, speaking at conferences, and writing books. However, Bob has chosen to spend some of that time pouring into guys that are in the trenches. It doesn't matter where at or what size church. In our group, we had churches ranging from 200 to 3500. We had pastors from the Christian Church movement, a Wesleyan, Church of Christ, and one SBC (me). A couple of guys were in their 50's, a couple in their 40's, and a couple in their 30's. We were all much the richer for spending time with Bob and with each other.
All in all, my heart was blessed and I was impacted beyond measure for my time with Bob Russell. It gave me a renewed vision for what could be possible at my church and a renewed passion to preach God's word with passion and application oto God's people.
I had applied over a year ago and was extremely excited when I got the invitation to go. What an honor and privilege to be invited to spend three days with a faithful servant of the Lord who did it the right way for over 40 years. God used Bob's ministry and preaching to literally change the lives of thousands of people. However, he was an extremely humble and joyful man who seemed to be loving getting to spend time with 8 pastors that for the most part no one has ever heard of. He shared some painful moments in his ministry and valuable lessons he learned. It was truly a once-in-a lifetime experience. Here are a few takeaways I had from the week:
1. When you cultivate a generous heart you are able to be a blessing and be blessed at the same time. Bob Russell gave us dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, set up a private time with the CEO of Louisville Slugger, and even gave our wives a generous gift. What a refreshment to see someone who wants to give away to make others feel appreciated and valuable.
2. There is no substitute for cultivating a servant spirit in your church. Southeast Christian Church is a very unique place. My sanctuary can fit under their driveway. The lobby is big enough to play a football game in. The worship center can seat 9,000 people. However, all of their landscaping is done by volunteers in the church. Much of their setup for events is handled by volunteers. The people of the church who helped Bob with the retreat were some of the most gracious servants I have ever encountered. They really thought it a blessing to be able to serve pastors by carrying our luggage or by driving us to events.
3. There is no substitute for godly lay leadership. We had the opportunity to spend time with three elders of Southeast who talked about pastor/elder relationships. These three men have been elders at Southeast for a long time. Each of them were very successful businessmen and entreprenuers. However, they also were men of great spiritual wisdom and the Word. They showed the power that can happen in a church where men step up to be students of the word and lead the church spiritually. This is no doubt one of the biggest reasons for the success that Southeast Christian has had in reaching people.
4. Preach the Bible and let God do the work. This was one of the statements that Bob Russell made and perfectly sums up his preaching and ministry philosophy. Russell's ministry shows the lasting impact that can be made when a preacher believes in the authority and sufficiency of God's word and chooses to rely on the power of the word preached over slick ministry strategies. It was a great encouragement to me. There is no guarantee of large numerical success in preaching biblically, but there is assurance of its power to change lives and build a healthy foundation for a church.
5. Multiply your ministry effectiveness by investing in future ministers. This is where Bob Russell is now. As a faithful pastor for decades, he's earned the right to spend his days playing golf, going on occasional mission trips, speaking at conferences, and writing books. However, Bob has chosen to spend some of that time pouring into guys that are in the trenches. It doesn't matter where at or what size church. In our group, we had churches ranging from 200 to 3500. We had pastors from the Christian Church movement, a Wesleyan, Church of Christ, and one SBC (me). A couple of guys were in their 50's, a couple in their 40's, and a couple in their 30's. We were all much the richer for spending time with Bob and with each other.
All in all, my heart was blessed and I was impacted beyond measure for my time with Bob Russell. It gave me a renewed vision for what could be possible at my church and a renewed passion to preach God's word with passion and application oto God's people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
