Looking for a Ministry?

I read the following ad in the Christian Standard. What are churches thinking? This is a church of 50, and they want to hire Superpreacher:

Independent Christian church (Restoration Movement) seeks a preaching minister to plan and coordinate, in conjunction with elders and ministry team leaders (the church board), activities of the church. Ministries—including evangelism, weekly worship services, Bible school, junior church, youth groups, and cell groups—will be handled by the minister in combination with the church membership. The minister will be responsible for planning and presenting sermons and training for Christian life and Christian service in addition to counseling, shepherding, discipleship ministries, hospital and new convert visits, and participation in all church functions and/or programs.

Is All Sin the Same?

I’m sure you have heard people say, “All sin is the same in the eyes of God.” But is it? James 2:10 says, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point has become guilty of all.” However, I think that is different than saying all sin is equal. Somehow I think that child molestation or murder is worse in the eyes of God than driving 56 mph in a 55 mph zone. In 1 Corinthians 5:18, Paul seems to categorize a particular sin (sexual immorality) as a greater sin (or at least one that has greater consequences). In the Old Testament, God says that there are certain sins that He hates or considers an abomination. So what do you think? Is the “God sees all sin as the same” mantra just a bunch of “sounds-good-in-Sunday-School” hooey, or what?

Cubs Win!

Going to the postseason baby!

How to Tell If Your Preacher is Blogging Too Much

Thanks Trey Morgan.

Crazy Cubs Fans

Yes, I'm excited that the Cubs are solidly in first place for the moment. But until the season ends and they actually go to the playoffs, I'm not going to celebrate too much. If a way can be found to blow it big-time, the Cubs usually find it.

But ya gotta love 'em. I've been a fan for over 30 years, but I'm not quite as crazy as these people.

Tough to Watch

It was a gorgeous day for football. Too bad I didn't see much football. What I saw was my Irish getting their butts handed to them by a mediocre UofM team. Towards the end of the game, I found my self rooting for the Irish to get 10 more yards so they wouldn't have negative rushing yards for the game. It's going to be a long season. It already has been.

Going to the Big House

I'm heading to Ann Arbor tomorrow to watch my beloved Irish play the Wolverines. The good news is that Michigan has no defense. The bad news is that Notre Dame has no offense. Nevertheless, I'm still excited about the game. I visited Michigan stadium when I was in High School (although it was not for a game). We were in town for a basketball tournament and some of my friends and I sneaked in for a game of Nerf football.

Remember, kids!

Smoking is good for you.

This Just In: Men Are Shallow

News Flash! Scientists have confirmed that most men prefer beautiful women to ugly ones.

You have to give a lot of credit to the National Academy of Sciences. Steller research!

How else would we have known this?

I Don't Think He Needs Our Help

I get a lot of lame, trite, insipid emails (most of them insisting that I forward it to 10 friends unless I want something bad to happen to me, or else I don't love the Lord, or some such), but one I received yesterday has to rank right up there with the dumbest.

Isn't this one of the most awe inspiring pictures you've ever seen?I am sending HIM to you because you are a Special Person in my life.When HE gets to your PC, please escort HIM to the next points on HIS journey. Change the subject line to the name of your town. Please don't allow HIM to sleep on your PC. The message HE is carrying is so very important and needs to continue on its journey. May God bless you as you do this. - AMEN
Jesus is walking around the World via e-mail. Please help HIM reach his destination. Say a prayer, and then pass HIM on to Bless others. Our assignment is to Love others and Spread the Gospel throughout the world! Have a Blessed Day and reach out and touch someone's life today! I just did.

I could spend a lot of time "going off" on a classic Sorenesque rant. But those of you who know me, probably already know what I am going to say, so just use your imaginations.

Send Jesus around the world via email? Puh-leeeeeze!

Six Years Ago

I was in Missouri preaching at a Revival. I remember hearing on the radio that a plane had hit one of the twin towers. Thinking it was a small plane, I thought, “That’s strange.” My host gave me a tour of the area that morning. It wasn’t until lunchtime that we heard what happened. We scrapped the Revival plans and simply has a prayer service that night.

Just a few weeks prior to 9/11, Tracy and I had been at the Pentagon. I couldn’t help but wonder, “What if…?”

I wanted to be with my family back in Virginia. After the Revival, I had to rent a car and drive home (I had flown out there, but wasn’t sure that the FAA would lift the “grounding” order in time for me to get home). One year later, 9/11 was on a Wednesday. We had a Remembrance Service. It was one of the most powerful services I have ever experienced.

Gotta Love It

A street near Northwood Elementary in Kalamazoo, Mich., has the word "school" misspelled on the pavement. Crews were expected to correct the mistake Thursday.

Grabill Country Fair

It's post Labor Day weekend, and that means it's time for the Grabill Country Fair! (Okay, so I live in a small town. It doesn't take much to get folks excited around here). I always look forward to the tenderloin sandwiches (and many other goodies). After about 20 years of selling spuds, our Youth Group is doing something different this year: Cookie Moo-sters -- basically they are homemade ice cream sandwiches. They are going to bake cookies on-site, and put ice cream between the warm cookies. Yummy!

mr T treats his mother right

The guys on the Relevant Podcast were talking about this.They said the video was hilariously awful. And it is.

Labor Day Weekend

Have a great weekend everybody!

New Sermon Series

I'm excited about the new series that I'm working on, Mysteries of the Bible.

September 16

Can we trust the Bible?
September 23
Is the Bible relevant today?
September 30
Understanding the Bible
October 7
What the Bible can do for you
October 14
Information or transformation?

My America

If you watch or listen to the mainstream media in this country, you might get the impression that the majority of Americans are a bunch of war-protesting liberal nutburgers. Not true. Let me tell you about my America.

On Wednesday I went to pay my respects and offer condolences to the family of 1st Lieutenant Jonathan Edds, a young man who lost his life in Iraq last week. The visitation was held at the building of the White Pigeon Church of Christ, a small country church in a little town of about 1500 people. Because of the nature of his death and the fact that he grew up in White Pigeon, as well as the fact that his father has been the minister of the church for nearly two decades, I expected there to be a lot of people there. But I was not prepared for what I saw. As I approached the building, I could see 20 or 30 American flags lined up along the roadway. The parking lot was totally full (people were parking in an adjacent field). The Patriot Guard Riders were there, motorcycles lined up in an impressive formation. These men (veterans themselves) formed a perimeter around the church building. They stood there holding flags, greeting people, opening doors, etc. Keep in mind that it was 90 degrees outside.

Inside the building, I’m guessing there were about 200 people snaked around the foyer and into the auditorium, waiting to greet the family. I waited for nearly an hour before I could say a word to Barry & Julie and their other sons, Joel & Josh (who are also serving in the military). As I exited the auditorium, it looked like the throng of people had doubled. The place was packed! I left, thanking the Patriot Guard for what they were doing. Driving into town I saw the flag at the VFW post at half-mast, with a message on the signboard recognizing John’s ultimate sacrifice. Flags were displayed all over town.

That day I saw Americans. Proud Americans. Loving Americans. Caring Americans. That’s my America!

An American Soldier

A few days ago I received the sad news that Jonathan Edds was killed in Iraq. The last time I saw him, he was an 8-year old kid in White Pigeon, Michigan. He and his family were part of the church I served. His father became the minister when I left. John and his two brothers Joel & Josh were great kids. Their parents, Barry & Julie are wonderful people. I can't imagine their grief. I'm going to White Pigeon tonight to offer condolences and to pay my respects to a great patriot. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the men & women who put on the uniform for the USA. Please pray for their families.

Cell Phone Moments

Someone told this story on Patrick Mead's blog:

I love the cell phone story Rubel Shelly told with respect to his phone going off at a Funeral Home as he was giving the eulogy. He said he apologized to the Funeral Home Director. The Funeral Home Director told him that wasn’t nearly as bad as what had happened at a previous funeral earlier that week. This was the funeral of a prominent woman in Nashville who happened to love the “Wizard of Oz.” It was her request that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” be played at her funeral. When it came time to play her song the wrong song was selected so instead of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Ding-dong, the Wicked Witch is Dead” came blaring out!

Who Let the Dogs Out?