Convicting!

More Pics of Cairo

Who Are We?

I read the following on John Piper's blog. He was attempting to describe Calvinists, but it is a description that I would love to hear applied to me and those I am leading...

We are Christians. Radical, full-blooded, Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting, God-centered, mission-advancing, soul-winning, church-loving, holiness-pursing, sovereignty-savoring, grace-besotted, broken-hearted, happy followers of the omnipotent, crucified Christ. At least that’s our imperfect commitment.

Meet Our New Dog, Cairo

The Altar Call's Greatest Hits

A Sunday Off

I had a Sunday off today (the end of a week of vacation). Our plans were to visit an area church, but we couldn’t think of anywhere we wanted to be other than Cedar Creek. So we decided to participate in the worship service as “regular attenders” rather than as the preacher and his family. We entered through a different door and sat in a different place, and I intentionally didn’t “work the crowd” pre-service. We just worshipped as a family, like normal folks. Yes, I did get a couple of questions from people (one was a request to explain the Trinity in just a couple of minutes – ha!). We heard a great sermon and enjoyed the fellowship. Preacher friend, I recommend that you try it sometime.

Bible Reading Plan for 2011

Happy New Year everyone! It's hard to believe that it's 2011 already. Life does seem move by faster as the years go by.

For many years my Bible reading plan has alternated between reading the entire Bible in a year and reading the New Testament in several different translations (switiching every other year).  Yesterday I finished the "Read through the Bible in a Year" program that The Lookout magazine publishes each year. This year I'm beginning my New Testament reading plan with a new translation, The Common English Bible.  The publisher sent me a freee copy. I think I'm going to enjoy it. Also, I'm reading through the Psalms via the YouVersion app on my phone.  I hope you will find a plan that works for you. Remember, it's not about getting through the Bible; it's about getting the Bible through you! God bless you.

Merry Christmas!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:11-12

Marching Band Forms Giant Football Player

Coca-Cola Happiness Machine

Metrodome Roof Collapse

Saw This Tonight -- Best Narnia Movie Yet

War on Christmas Idiocy

This morning I received the following “action alert” from a “Christian” organization. Stuff like this really aggravates me. Not the issue that they are describing, but their actions. Read the excerpt, then I will comment:

One minute action - Contact these three companies that ban 'Christmas'
Send an email to Radio Shack, Office Depot and Staples - All at once!


Dear Friend,


In an attempt to avoid the use of the term "Christmas," three major retailers have omitted it from their advertising. AFA has reviewed the website and newspaper ads of Radio Shack, Office Depot and Staples. We found terms like "holiday deals," "holiday prices," "gifts" and "happy holidays," but no "Christmas."


Here is a direct quote from Staples: "We use the term Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. We do this because it does not offend any other religions and to remain politically correct."


Retailers like Radio Shack, Office Depot and Staples want your shopping money, but they refuse to recognize the Reason for the Christmas season.


Christians celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Christ. Yet there are those companies which feel that a public recognition of the birthday of Christ is not appropriate. Why? Because a few people may be offended!


TAKE ACTION
Let Radio Shack, Office Depot and Staples know you are offended by their decision to purposely eliminate "Christmas" from their advertising.

Mike's Comments: When will Christians stop expecting non-believers to act like believers? Of course these retailers want your shopping money – that’s why they are in business! And the term “holidays” is used rather than Christmas for a number of reasons, including the fact that “holidays” covers multiple holidays from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, and Christmas is only one day (and the stores are CLOSED on that day). How anyone can think that this kind of behavior is God-honoring is beyond me.

Ron Santo, We'll Miss You

Legendary Chicago Cubs player and broadcaster Ron Santo died Thursday night in Arizona. He was 70. Friends of Santo’s family said the North Side icon lapsed into a coma on Wednesday before dying Thursday. Santo died of complications from bladder cancer, WGN-AM 720 reported.


“He absolutely loved the Cubs,” said Santo’s broadcast partner, Pat Hughes. “The Cubs have lost their biggest fan.”


Hughes noted that with all the medical problems Santo had–including diabetes with resulting leg amputations, heart disease and bladder cancer–”he never complained. He wanted to have fun. He wanted to talk baseball.”


Santo was the quintessential Cubs fan and made no apologies for his on-air cheerleading or his utter frustration over a Cub’s misplay.
from Jesus Creed

Top 20 Worst Nativity Sets

Check these out.

One of My Favorite Leslie Nielsen Scenes

Best Christmas Song?

Jonathan Acuff, over at Stuff Christians Like, posted a question on his blog about the greatest Christmas song of all time.


I have several favorites (and several songs I wish radio would NEVER play again), but I voted for O Holy Night (Martina McBride’s version is awesome) and White Christmas by Bing Crosby.

How about you, what do you think is the best Christmas song of all time?