Dan

Are you busy? Probably, it seems we are all busy all the time.  We like to judge if we are working hard by being busy. There is a huge problem that comes from us being busy all the time, however. You see, we are told in scripture about a whole lot of "one anothers". We are to support, care for, love, help and carry burdens for one another. We are too be there and support one another and be knit together into the body of Christ. Are we doing the things we should do as His body?  How does our busyness effect that? We see in Acts that all the believers were together daily. They worshiped … [Read more...] about The Problem of Being Busy

I have grown up mostly in the 80s and 90s, and during those time periods, there has been a shift in the way examination and beliefs have processed. In the baby boomer generation, the question was “what should we do”? In my generation, Gen X and Gen Y, the question is not so much of how, but why? Why do we do things, what is the purpose and what is the point? Are we doing something that is worth while, is this worth our time and effort? This is a departure from the philosophy of our baby boomer parents, who told us what to do, but the question of why was usually answered with “because I said … [Read more...] about Not What, Ask Why!

If you have read my posts, you know I am a Sunday school guy.  Specifically, I am a fan of Lifeway Sunday school. I believe it works, and I think churches will grow if they use it correctly. Read David Francis' books on Sunday school. Download then free at Lifeway's website. There are simple things you can do that will help a great deal. Today, I want to challenge you to try one simple trick. One little thing that I've seen work over and over. Pastors, this ifs for you, and it needs to come from you. On Sunday morning when you stand up to preach, say something like this: "I hope you were … [Read more...] about Simple Things Work

I lost my dad to cancer in 1999, there was a tumor in his kidney that causes him to loose blood.  He began to loose blood faster than his body could replace it, and he bleed to death over the course of a month.  It was slow, it was crippling but not painful.  He became weak, he became tired and his lost some mental facilities.  Towards the end, he couldn't lift his glasses from his chest and put them on his face.  One day he went to sleep and woke up with Jesus. Bleeding to death from something like what my dad has is an interesting process.  At the beginning, he knew he was bleeding but … [Read more...] about Is the SBC Bleeding to Death?

The local church is changing, just like everything else in this country.  The shift is seen all across our towns and cities.  It began with how we shop.  First, it was the local grocer in a small shop., It then it became the Supermarket which has given way to the Mega, Super-centers which have everything.  The days of the mom and pop local store are fading and they are closing up shop.  What the all in one stores didn't destroy, the mega specialty chain franchises have causes major problems.  There are a handful of small shops where I live that I use constantly, they are so hard to find these … [Read more...] about My Concern For Health of Church Community

So I posed the question in the title, so let's discuss, is Jesus a liar?  Let me put it another way, who is the liar, us or Jesus?  Ok, more specifically, do we have free will, or is Jesus a liar?  Some of you just became very angry, but today I am going to get on my soap box about the issue of free will.  Please read the entire blog before you shoot me, I can hear you loading.  Free will, that oh so popular belief that we as humans are free to choose whatever we wish.  God created us, put us on earth and told us to choose.  Many who believe in free will say that man is free to choose to do … [Read more...] about Is Jesus a Liar?

There are a couple of passages I want to look at today, and contrast who the people are who are being talked about, specifically if they are groups or individuals.  We must be careful and diligent to study correctly, and not work to make scripture match our theology.  The first passage we find in Romans Chapter  9, so let’s look and see if this is talking about individuals or people groups. In Chapter nine, Paul begins talking about his kinsmen from Israel, those who are unsaved, wishing they would be saved.  It’s clear he begins by talking about individuals from within a certain people … [Read more...] about Who are “The People”

Ever feel like you were born in the wrong time period?  Maybe the wrong century?  I feel like that sometimes, because I get excited about Sunday School.  Lots of churches still have Sunday School, but I am not sure it gets much attention or energy these days.  In my opinion, a church that puts it's Sunday School program out front, promotes it, resources it, grows and expands it will be a healthy, growing, disciple making church.  I've seen it.  I've done it.  It's real and I've seen it happen outside the Bible belt.  In fact, I've never served inside the Bible belt. Sunday School sort of … [Read more...] about Has My Passion Gone Out of Style?

Let me start off saying that I'm a Jars of Clay fan, and as you may know, the lead singer Dan Haseltine sends a tweet that was unpopular.  Reading his blog I completely understand his point of view, and it's a place I struggle too.  As American's, we live in a country that is free and prides itself on our freedom.  As a Christian, I can practice what I believe, I can attend worship and pray freely.  Jews and Muslims are free to keep dietary rules, but I am free to eat bacon and ham.  With the issue of homosexuality, we have a different issue, and so what do we do with that issue? As a … [Read more...] about When To Stand Up and When to Sit Down: The Legislation of Morality