Friday, August 12, 2011
dallas willard's view on porn.
i really never planned to have two posts in a row focusing on porn. but i came across this article on facebook so i thought i would share it with you here as well.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
on the road
no one ever said life is easy. or at best no one who has actually lived life has said life is easy. along the road we meet up with different obstacles. we could have never predicted these obstacles because we cannot and would not want to know about all the good and bad things that will happen. sure it would be nice to know what will happen around each of life's turns but it would take away the surprise. the surprise is what makes life worth living, even if it was not a good surprise.
throughout scripture many things have happened while on the road, and in the coming weeks i will be writing about them here. the first road is very familiar to a lot of us. the damascus road (acts 9) was a life changing moment in the life of paul. Christ revealed himself to paul in a life altering way. along the road for paul the traveling was not easy, in fact paul was blinded by his experience for three days. but paul was never the same again. he now knew the Christ. and when we meet Christ he will change us into the people that he needs us to be.
like i said, the journey on the road might be tough. it might have bumps, pot holes, we could break down or get in a wreck. but those possibilities of obstacles along the way are all worth it. the obstacles should not keep us away from the road. but only make us more aware of what could happen along the road, and keep us fighting to stay on the road.
before paul had this experience on the road to damascus, he was a pharisee. he knew the Word of God but did not let it change his heart. paul was a murderer of christians. a person full of hate and malice because people did not believe the same way he did. after this on the road experience his life was changed, he became a follower of Christ and he became if not the most, one of the most prolific christian leader/ missionary/ evangelist who ever lived. all because of the experience Christ gave him on the road.
throughout scripture many things have happened while on the road, and in the coming weeks i will be writing about them here. the first road is very familiar to a lot of us. the damascus road (acts 9) was a life changing moment in the life of paul. Christ revealed himself to paul in a life altering way. along the road for paul the traveling was not easy, in fact paul was blinded by his experience for three days. but paul was never the same again. he now knew the Christ. and when we meet Christ he will change us into the people that he needs us to be.
like i said, the journey on the road might be tough. it might have bumps, pot holes, we could break down or get in a wreck. but those possibilities of obstacles along the way are all worth it. the obstacles should not keep us away from the road. but only make us more aware of what could happen along the road, and keep us fighting to stay on the road.
before paul had this experience on the road to damascus, he was a pharisee. he knew the Word of God but did not let it change his heart. paul was a murderer of christians. a person full of hate and malice because people did not believe the same way he did. after this on the road experience his life was changed, he became a follower of Christ and he became if not the most, one of the most prolific christian leader/ missionary/ evangelist who ever lived. all because of the experience Christ gave him on the road.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, June 04, 2010
thoughts on revival
a few months ago i signed up for a class on route to finish my masters. the class was titled "american history of revivals." it was a one week intensive class in marion, indiana taught by dr. black. leading up to the class we read books, prepared an oral report.
a week or two before i left for the class, the senior pastor from fumc marion, iowa challenged the staff to start praying for revival. i thought it was interesting right before i leave for indiana that pastor mike would make this challenge. so the whole week i am in class i was trying to figure out how i could apply it to the church back home.
the week after i got back the staff, during a meeting which we meet the 1st and 3rd mondays of the month decided that the mondays we were not in staff meeting we would get together and pray for the church and the community. that week was also the national day of prayer and from that spun a prayer meeting every thursday.
today we decided to have three special prayer meetings during the summer months. we are still unsure of the outcome, but we are expecting God to move in a big way here in marion, ia and in the life of fumc marion. if you are reading this please pray a quick prayer for the life of our church and community.
a week or two before i left for the class, the senior pastor from fumc marion, iowa challenged the staff to start praying for revival. i thought it was interesting right before i leave for indiana that pastor mike would make this challenge. so the whole week i am in class i was trying to figure out how i could apply it to the church back home.
the week after i got back the staff, during a meeting which we meet the 1st and 3rd mondays of the month decided that the mondays we were not in staff meeting we would get together and pray for the church and the community. that week was also the national day of prayer and from that spun a prayer meeting every thursday.
today we decided to have three special prayer meetings during the summer months. we are still unsure of the outcome, but we are expecting God to move in a big way here in marion, ia and in the life of fumc marion. if you are reading this please pray a quick prayer for the life of our church and community.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
holy week
in the last few months i have had a taste of what it is like to be a united methodist pastor. there are many similarities to the wesleyan church but it was not until this week that i noticed how seriously the united methodist church takes the holy week. it is possible that it is just fumc marion that does this but what goes on during holy week has allowed me to dwell in the love, the life and the death of Christ. tomorrow i hope it will allow me the same experience of the resurrection. here is my schedule this past week.
1. lenten moments- monday-friday at 7am started each day with a couple hymns and a devotional led by a layperson. it was followed with fellowship at a breakfast. friday was by far my favorite as one of the youth gave the devotional. she feels a calling into ministry. it is great to see her heart.
2. maundy thursday- we had a communion service. i am not sure if any of you have ever seen it done this way before but i had not. we laid multiple loaves of bread on a table and laid a white sheet on it. the frame of the sheet around the bread made it seem like there was a body underneath the sheet. it brings new revelation to the "body of Christ" for me.
3. good friday- this was a service that i was in charge of putting together. we had a combined tenebrae and way of the cross service written by robert e. webber. it was a dramatized narration of the stations of the cross, focusing on the last few hours of Christ's life.
4. friday and saturday- we had a 24 hour prayer vigil.
many times in the past, holy week would come and go. i would worship, but there was something about this week that brought a whole new light to my Savior. i am thankful for the cross. and the week is not even over yet. the best day of holy week is still yet to come. i hope and pray that you do not allow holy week to pass by like i have done so many times.
1. lenten moments- monday-friday at 7am started each day with a couple hymns and a devotional led by a layperson. it was followed with fellowship at a breakfast. friday was by far my favorite as one of the youth gave the devotional. she feels a calling into ministry. it is great to see her heart.
2. maundy thursday- we had a communion service. i am not sure if any of you have ever seen it done this way before but i had not. we laid multiple loaves of bread on a table and laid a white sheet on it. the frame of the sheet around the bread made it seem like there was a body underneath the sheet. it brings new revelation to the "body of Christ" for me.
3. good friday- this was a service that i was in charge of putting together. we had a combined tenebrae and way of the cross service written by robert e. webber. it was a dramatized narration of the stations of the cross, focusing on the last few hours of Christ's life.
4. friday and saturday- we had a 24 hour prayer vigil.
many times in the past, holy week would come and go. i would worship, but there was something about this week that brought a whole new light to my Savior. i am thankful for the cross. and the week is not even over yet. the best day of holy week is still yet to come. i hope and pray that you do not allow holy week to pass by like i have done so many times.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
fumc marion- first perceptions
when i came in here i had a lot planned on how to get settled and get to work. what i never really planned on was the learning curve for this job. i have quite an extensive job description and while it will eventually be manageable i have a lot to learn about the church, the community, and leading.
when i went to back to indiana wesleyan to get a masters in ministerial leadership it was because i wanted to learn how to lead and manage people. i was already good at loving God's people. for me that came easy. but to lead, delegate and cast vision was something i needed to grow in.
here at fumc marion we have met a few times as staff to learn how to mobilize leadership within our ministries. it will change the culture of the church. for some ministries it will be easier to raise up leadership then others. but this idea of equipping laity will free us up to allow us to dream, cast vision and pour ourselves into the leadership.
i never dreamed i would end up in iowa. i was hoping to head back to the northeast. i would have never picked this place. but i believe this is the right place and we made the right decision. this is definitely a place that God opened up the doors for us to be. when pastor mike told me that over a hundred people applied for the position, i was in awe that it was me they wanted.
as the pastor of youth and missions i am able to do things in ministry i have always been drawn to. disciple, develop leadership, serve the community.
this is a church where i can be free to be me, i can thrive, mess up, follow my passions, i can lead and be humbled. i can learn, i can experiment. i can put up boundaries, i can fail, but i dont expect to because God has equipped me for this.
when i went to back to indiana wesleyan to get a masters in ministerial leadership it was because i wanted to learn how to lead and manage people. i was already good at loving God's people. for me that came easy. but to lead, delegate and cast vision was something i needed to grow in.
here at fumc marion we have met a few times as staff to learn how to mobilize leadership within our ministries. it will change the culture of the church. for some ministries it will be easier to raise up leadership then others. but this idea of equipping laity will free us up to allow us to dream, cast vision and pour ourselves into the leadership.
i never dreamed i would end up in iowa. i was hoping to head back to the northeast. i would have never picked this place. but i believe this is the right place and we made the right decision. this is definitely a place that God opened up the doors for us to be. when pastor mike told me that over a hundred people applied for the position, i was in awe that it was me they wanted.
as the pastor of youth and missions i am able to do things in ministry i have always been drawn to. disciple, develop leadership, serve the community.
this is a church where i can be free to be me, i can thrive, mess up, follow my passions, i can lead and be humbled. i can learn, i can experiment. i can put up boundaries, i can fail, but i dont expect to because God has equipped me for this.
Friday, November 06, 2009
The first few days...
This past week has been pretty crazy for the two of us. Last week we were surrounded by boxes hoping people would show up to help us pack the U-Haul. When people showed up we were pretty ecstatic. I am not sure if the people really wanted to help us or if they just wanted the pizza and coffee we had to offer them. But either way we accomplished our goal of packing.
November 2 we rolled out of Indianapolis heading for yet another adventure. We pulled into our townhouse at roughly 4 pm and were quickly welcomed by about ten young adults who enthusiastically unpacked our truck in approximately an hour. We enjoyed the conversation, becoming acquainted with our friends.
The week moved and was highlighted by meeting all the teens on Wednesday night. I am not sure how many were there. But the youth room was packed with teens and sponsors sitting on the floor in the few open spaces left. (The youth time is usually split up with Jr and Sr High.) They were all there for the passing of the torch. The celebration of what Pastor Melissa had done for the last seven years and anticipation of meeting their new leader (me) and wife (Jenny).
Wednesday night made it sink in that we are here. This is where we were meant to be and cannot imagine what God has in store for this community. We are looking forward to partnering in ministry here, in Marion for the many years to come.
November 2 we rolled out of Indianapolis heading for yet another adventure. We pulled into our townhouse at roughly 4 pm and were quickly welcomed by about ten young adults who enthusiastically unpacked our truck in approximately an hour. We enjoyed the conversation, becoming acquainted with our friends.
The week moved and was highlighted by meeting all the teens on Wednesday night. I am not sure how many were there. But the youth room was packed with teens and sponsors sitting on the floor in the few open spaces left. (The youth time is usually split up with Jr and Sr High.) They were all there for the passing of the torch. The celebration of what Pastor Melissa had done for the last seven years and anticipation of meeting their new leader (me) and wife (Jenny).
Wednesday night made it sink in that we are here. This is where we were meant to be and cannot imagine what God has in store for this community. We are looking forward to partnering in ministry here, in Marion for the many years to come.
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