Dan

So I want to jump on the band wagon and talk Christian Education.  I don't want to talk venue (home school, Christian School, Military School, Boarding School, Public School), I want to talk some principles.  The nuts and bolts of Christian Education that parents and teachers can use.  Let me give you a little background, I'm an education guy.  I studied education in my undergrad, have a Masters in Ed. leadership and most of my work, passion and heart revolves around the area of Education.  I plan to pursue my EdD or PhD in this area, and have already worked through some of my ideas of a … [Read more...] about Successful Christian Education

So today I am climbing on a soap box. Some of you may disagree, some may agree and some may just plain get mad, but I'm gonna say it. It's a pet peeve, an annoyance, it's dangerous and makes pastors looks dumb (at least I think they look dumb). I really don't care of you think I'm wrong, cause honestly, I don't think most American pastors can exegete their way out of a wet paper bag. There are all sorts of examples for this, passages yanked out of context. Today I want to look at one. I hear this one pulled out of context, used and abused and it's just flat wrong. It's used in sermons, … [Read more...] about Learn to Exegete, you look really lame!

Yes, that's right, I love the SBC. I am a 34 year old Associate Pastor in Iowa, surrounded by people who either marginally like, don't care or just flat out dislike the Convention. I have been part of the SBC since 9 month before I was born, but it's not cause my parents were die hards. Before I was born, my dad wasn't a church goer and my mom never drove. Closest church to the house was an SBC church. By the time I was born, my dad was saved and Baptized and serving in the church. I got involved young, serving on youth counsel, doing different types of ministry in the youth … [Read more...] about Why I love the SBC

I spent a week at the Exponential Conference, a church planting conference in Orlando FL. It pushed me and challenged me in ways I had never considered. One of the things I came away with is a quote from Alan Hirsch, he said "the church doesn't innovate". The more I think about that, the more i think it's true. Think about it, we have only had one part of the service change much, that's the music and it's caused huge divisions. We call it the "worship wars" over organs vs guitars. One change and we take sides, arm ourselves and begin the warfare. While the rest of the world speeds to … [Read more...] about Why the brick and mortar church is doomed

I have read and heard about Rick Warren as much as most of you have. I have read the Purpose Drive Life, The Purpose Driven Church, done The 40 Days of Purpose, see Celebrate Recovery, I have Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods and we use the 101-401 material. I am familiar with Rick Warren, and I had my opinions about him. I read all about the PEACE plan, I even met his Director for International Initiatives in Seminary. He was working to eradicate malaria in Rwanda. How'd you like to have that on your resume. In all this, I heard the critics and I agreed with some of what they said. … [Read more...] about How Rick Warren changed my opinion of Rick Warren

Introverts of the world, disband. (It's ironic, because introverts like to be alone and. . . oh nevermind). I'm an introvert, if you hadn't guessed. I'm an introverted Associate Pastor, proving that God has a sense of humor. I am a low I on my DISC profile. Let's be honest, I don't like people. I like individuals, but groups of people are not my thing. I get overwhelmed by large groups, being with people drains me, even my closest friends. Like most introverts, I am surrounded by mostly extroverts who don't get me at all. Their idea of down time is being together. My idea of down … [Read more...] about Jesus was an Introvert!

So here is something that I was discussing with a pastor in my local association. Do most churches practice closed or at least close communion? If someone comes to Christ in your church, and the next week you hold the observance of the Lord's Supper, do you allow that individual to participate? I know at many of the churches I have attended, we just ask that people are believers before they participate in this act, but the Baptist Faith and Message states: Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of … [Read more...] about Closed Communion?

When I was a young man . . . ok a younger man, in my teens and 20s, I had some great mentors. I had men who walked with me and beside me, who encouraged me and really showed me the ropes. I am so grateful for those men and the men in my life now who encourage me and provide me opportunities. The world at large is not looking to help me at all. At the age of 34, I have been around long enough to know that emergent and incumbent leaders don't get along too well. The emergent feel like they are marginalised and stifled, the incumbent feel like they are disrespected and pushed aside. The … [Read more...] about Ageism and immortality in the SBC. Why we are joyfully ignorant.

If it's ok with everyone (hope so, cause I didn't ask), I want to jump on the bandwagon of talking about Hell.  Now I know Rob Bell ruined it for us, but I want to take a different spin if I could.  You see, aside from theology, I have some things in common with Rob.  We are both from the same generation, we are both Gen Xers, he is slightly older than I am.  We both ask many questions, and we both question the established system.  That is where we depart, I headed more towards Driscoll, he went towards McLaren. That being said, I see the meta-narrative approach, and I understand where Bell … [Read more...] about The Mercy of Hell

Over my years in ministry, I have been able to serve in a variety of capacities in the local church and in the association.  I have met a lot of pastors, read a lot of books, visited a lot of blogs and gone to a lot of meetings.  Something occurred to me the other day, that the expectations we have for men in ministry are such that Jesus wouldn't last long in staff at the local church.  I want to toss out three areas in which I think Jesus would have been in trouble. 1.  He didn't respect the elder leadership.  In many churches, for a young guy in his 30s to call out the elders, the leaders … [Read more...] about Could Jesus Be on Staff at Your Church?