How to be a Christian Hipster

Preaching Matters!

Things I Don't Understand, part two

The random dual bathtubs (usually outdoors) in the Cialis ads.

Farmville.

9-11 Conspiracy Theories.

Why we need a remake of Footloose.

Preachers who feel compelled to use questionable language from the pulpit (yes, there are still quite a few people who find freakin’, flippin’ and frickin’ offensive and inappropriate).
See my rant here.

People who forget to silence their cell phones in church, theatres, meetings, etc. And then when the ringtone blasts, they act like they’ve never used it before and can’t seem to figure out how to turn it off.

Televised poker tournaments.

Things I Don't Understand, part one

I have been a fan of my friend Jen Taylor’s lists of “ThingsI Don’t Understand.” She has inspired me to start a list of my own. I don’t understand why these things are a big deal, or in some cases, why they exist at all.

• Angry Birds.
• Fantasy football.
• KJV-onlyism.
• Girls who wear spaghetti strap shirts with a bra strap that is three times as wide.
• Worship leaders who shout “here we go” when we are halfway through the song.
• Reality shows like Hoarders, My Strange Addiction, and Jersey Shore.
• Why MSNBC put Al Sharpton on the air.
• Christians picketing or boycotting things they don’t like (has this strategy ever worked?)

More to come, but what would you add to the list?

25 Years!

Tracy and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe how quickly the years have passed. 25 years of family and ministry and friends -- the Lord has blessed us more than we could have ever imagined. And we are just as much in love as the day we were married, even moreso! We are celebrating at one of our favorite places, Macinac Island, Michigan.

Northmen Sing

The Northmen

Getting ready to head to The Northmen in Kalkaska, Michigan. This will be the 50th and final year of this annual event for men  & boys in Northern Michigan. It is very primitive. We camp out in the middle of the woods (the nearest town is 12 miles away). No electricity or indoor plumbing (bathing is done in the creek). Even though I grew up in Michigan, I had never heard of The Northmen until I was an adult. I've had the privilege of preaching there three times. Since moving to Indiana, we have attended nearly every year. It has become a family tradition. We will miss it, so we are really going to cherish this final time.

Dave Parker

Former MLB player Dave Parker recently visited Fort Wayne. Seeing an article about him in the local paper reminded of what I think is one of the greatest plays I have ever seen (from the 1979 All-Star Game). Watch it here.

A Really Cool Old Building in Antigua

Great Trip!

The trip to Guatemala went very well. The Lord is good! Much was accomplised for His sake. Click here for pics of what we did. Thanks so much for your prayers!

Impact Guatemala

It's almost midnight on Sunday and are a couple of hours away from getting on a bus to take us to the Indy Airport. We will be in Guatemala by lunchtime on Monday. Thirty-seven people from Cedar Creek will be joining several others (163 total) for Impact Guatemala. Luke will be working with other teens doing Vacation Bible School events around the city. I will be working on the construction team laying block for a cafeteria building. There should be updates during the week at the Disciple Makers website. We are looking forward to seeing God do some great things this week. Thanks so much for your support, encouragement and prayers.

North American Christian Convention

Tracy and I just returned from the North American Christian Convention in Cincinnati. It is an annual gathering of folks from Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. There is great worship and preaching and teaching; informative workshops and fantastic fellowship. This year was no exception. We enjoyed it very much.

Sunday Preview

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Luke 6:46-49

Religious Light Bulb Humor

Not sure who wrote these (I did not write any of these) but they're pretty good! Enjoy!

How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. God has predestined when the lights will be on..let Him turn it on if He wants.

How many Church of Christ folks?
CHANGE?? But we have NEVER done it that way before!

How many Neo-evangelicals?
No one knows. They cannot tell the difference between light and darkness.

How many Pentecostals?
Ten. One to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness...

How many TV evangelists?
One. But for the message of light to continue, send in your donation...

How many Fundamentalists?
It better be a 1611 bulb!

How many Episcopalians?
None, they assume darkness is the nature of the bulb and it would be harmful and disrespectful to violate personality of the bulb.

How many Baptists?
Two, one to change the bulb, the other to preach on tithing in order to pay for the new bulb.

How many Premillennialists?
While knowing where the lightbulbs are, they are persuaded to wait for the official lightbulb changer but no one knows when he will arrive.

How many Arminians?
Since the bulb has free will - it must make the decision.

How many Amillennialists?
Two, one to change the bulb, the other to remind others not to fear the old darkness or trust the new light--both are only symbolic.

How many Emergents?
It doesn't matter as long as we love each other.

How many seeker sensitives?
First we must find out what kind of bulbs the community wants then we will proceed.