weekend reading

Resolutions

Frank

So I didn’t have any takers offering up their New Year’s resolutions in my comments. But that doesn’t mean no one made any. Here’s a sampling of some I read about online. But first, a Puritan Prayer that I saw a few people tweet and post on Facebook:

 
 
I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, as my helm,
thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Here were my resolutions:

Here are some others:

  • Carl Jones (@Youthguy07) resolves to make this day the best day.
  • Justin Mosteller (@wearemosteller) doesn’t like resolutions but thinks it’s a good idea to plan.
  • Scott Williams (@ScottWilliams) encourages us to go big.
  • Tony Alicea (@tonyjalicea) is approaching this year (humbly) expecting to fail.
  • Herb Halstead (@herbhalstead), via Michael Perkins (@MichaelDPerkins), encourages us to simply let go. (no, this had nothing to do with resolutions, but it fit)
  • Cassandra Frear (@CassFrear) doesn’t need any new resolutions for 2012, but instead is going to put into practice what she learned in 2011.
  • Matt Appling (@MattTCoNP) says the only resolution we need is to think. (Obviously some of us have problems in that area)
  • Jennifer Dukes Lee (@DukesLee) follows Paul’s example to “resolve to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified”
  • Matthew Paul Turner (@JesusNeedsNewPR) tweeted, “Dear God, in 2012, let us love more, affirm more, lift up more, hope more, engage more, make peace more, & choose joy more. Amen.”
  • Mike Donehay from Tenth Avenue North (@mikedonehey) tweeted, “2012. May joy be the new cynicism. May grace be the new resentment. May generosity be the new lust. May we live like everything’s new.”
  • And Billy Coffey (@billycoffey) wrote about a conversation he had with the devil on New Year’s Eve.

So now you’ve heard all of ours, what are your resolutions this New Year?

Weekend Reading, 29 October

Frank

So it’s been forever since I’ve done one of these and with my computer crashing this isn’t a best-of from the last week, more like a must-read from a couple of weeks ago (or longer!). As fast as social media moves, it can be easy to miss the good stuff. So without further ado…

 

First off, happy belated blogiversary to Matt Appling at The Church of No People! His blog is one of my favorites. It helps that it’s one of the few that my firewall at work doesn’t blog (don’t tell anyone!).

 

Next are overdue congratulations to Tyler Braun and Glynn Young on their manuscripts being accepted for publishing. I’m looking forward to the end product!

 

If you’ve read my blog for any period of time you’ve noticed one subject I am most passionate about is the present state of the Church, Christ’s Bride and our own personal struggles within. So when others write with conviction and concern it always gets my attention. In no particular order:

  • Jonathan Keck wishes that America would experience a “Bloody Revolution” (don’t judge by the title, this is a serious read)
  • Collin Hansen writes about “the Rise and Fall” of the Congregational Church of Northampton, once home to Evangelical giant, Jonathan Edwards.
  • Rachel Held Evens wants a faith worth fighting for, one that is not “easy“.
  • Mercedes writes about how the “Structure of the Church Must Change“.
  • Jay Cookingham reminds us that it is Jesus who “invites” us to follow him, not the other way around.
  • Duane Scott laments that many seek the Truth but only find “Religion“. (scroll about half-way down)
  • Matt Appling compares “Big Church” with Big Oil.

 Enjoy reading and have a blessed weekend!

Weekend Reading, 13 November

Frank

Not a lot of time spent online this week, but a common thread ran through most of what I read. I don’t think that’s unintentional. The following posts challenged my faith, my hope, and my joy. It was exactly what I needed this week.

Of course any challenge in life can be related to by someone’s experience in the Bible. There is no shortage of examples to follow and lessons to be learned.

  • Rick Lancaster wonders what we think is too hard for God, then reminds us of Abraham and Sarah.
  • Colleen Foshee gives some driving tips for our faith and encourages us to not slam on the brakes when the road gets rough by reminding us of Joshua.
  • Michael Perkins reminds us of Peter and how he got distracted by the wind and dedicates himself to focusing on what’s important.
  • Jay Cookingham looks towards the example of Bezaleel who used his talents to worship God.
  • Herb Halstead sees Moses being given the promise of seeing his reward after he obeyed God, not before.
  • Kely Braswell thinks of a young David as a small young man in a small backwater town. But God saw something more. Like David, we are not too small or too remote for God to see us.
  • Tullian Tchividjian uses the example of Job to see that our joy is robbed not by suffering but by idolatry.

But we have personal stories and anecdotal parables to draw from.

  • Ryan Tate asks us where we are going. The challenge is do we really have an answer?
  • Chuck Salser thinks when we get stagnate and stale in our faith, we become like a smelly locker room. Yeah, that sounds about right.
  • Trevor Lund introduces a series of lessons on faith by asking how big is your but?
  • Justin Davis wants a new story to tell.

And to add to all this, I received the following email, forwarded from a sister in Christ who just lost her husband.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)!

You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t moved” Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.”

That’s what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

“Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.

Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.

But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard.

Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.”

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God Who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong……. ……… ……… .Just P.U.S.H.

When the job gets you down…….. ……… ……… ………..Just P.U.S.H.

When people don’t do as you think they should…………. Just P.U.S.H.

W hen your money is “gone” and the bills are due………..Just P.U.S.H.

When people just don’t understand you…………………….Just P.U.S.H.

P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens

And if that isn’t enough, check out Kevin Martineau’s Favourite Links Friday, Jason Stasyszen’s Light Friday Hit List, Glynn Young’s Saturday Good Reads, Ryan Tate’s Five to Check Out, and Tyler Braun’s Fortuitous Bouncing.

Have a blessed weekend.

Weekend Reading, 23 October

Frank

As par for the course, there was a lot of good goin’ on across the Christian blogosphere. I don’t catch everything so I encourage you to visit Jason Stasyszen’s Light Friday Hit List, Kevin Martineau’s Favorite Links Friday, and Glynn Young’s Saturday Good Reads. Now on with the show…

I include the brothers above because not just because they’re cool guys, but because there’s simply too much out over the interwebs to cover. Web 2.0 and social media has changed how we communicate with one another and I believe has created a virtual church without walls in which we can find encouragement, challenge, and inspiration through a limitless number of writers, bloggers, and free-thinkers. Of course, we need to balance the bottomless rabbit-hole of virtual relationships with the need to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ who are right beside us. We also need to balance the time-suck that the Internet provides. With that in mind, there were several posts on ministry and social media.

  • Tony Alicea writes over at Geek For Him about the dangers of “soulless social media” when we’d rather update or status than have a conversation with the person right in front of us.
  • Shawn Smucker is consider taking a break to focus on what’s most important.
  • On the opposite side, Cassandra Frear lists the advantages of blogging and how it can make us better people.

Regrettably, our churches aren’t perfect. People leave. Racism is still present. But yet Jesus is still Lord and we are still His body.

  • There was an article on CNN this week about segregation in our churches. I tweeted that the most segregated part of America is Sunday mornings. I still believe that to be the case.
  • Ron Edmondson asks us to consider why.
  • An article in the LA Times wonders if the uncomfortable marriage between religion and politics has caused many to leave the church.
  • While Stephen Lamb continues his series over at Jesus Needs New PR on why he left the church. This time he challenges us to consider that we may be too narcissistic when we think we have our own “personal Jesus”.
  • Ryan Tate asks what signs do your church give that it is thriving?
  • And Jonathan Pearson reminds us why the Church is still alive.

With our own personal walk our will is always challenged by God’s, be it through our jobs, our families, our ministries, or our sins.

  • Jonathan Keck challenges us in the lost art of being open and honest while being painfully open himself.
  • Bill Grandi gives us a personal story of things not going his way.
  • Scott Couchenour gives several helpful tips for facing burnout in ministry.
  • Jason Stayszsen gives us parents tips on praying for our children over at Make a Difference To One.
  • And Chuck Salser is challenged to plant a church.

Hope you enjoy all of these posts. They should keep you plenty busy this weekend!

Weekend Reading, 16 October

Frank

I’m going to do things a little differently this weekend. The headline-of-the-week prior to the rescue of the Chilean miners was on suicide and bullying. So this week’s theme continues that subject, with emphasis on how Christians treat the LGBT community and also include some posts on depression.

  • To begin, I want to repost this link from Matthew Paul Turner, simply because I don’t think we can read this enough. At some point, we need to look at how the church addresses those who are different for whatever reason. And a quick Google blog search shows many churches (surprisingly voices from the Mormon and Catholic churches are prominent)
  • Jason Boyett follows up by sharing a couple of posts over at Beliefnet on the LGBT experience. If we want to relate, and we want to have sympathy, we need to hear their story.

But they aren’t the only victim of bullies. Outcasts for any reason, looks, athletic ability or lack thereof, scholastic or musical aptitude, and so on are easy targets for bullies who resort to that means to justify feeling superior. And the end result is often depression.

  • Over at the Internet Monk, Jeff Dunn wonders what a church was thinking putting “Depression is Selfish” on their church sign.
  • But we can choose whether to be better or bitter when faced with adversity. While Michael Perkins intends this for any adversity, it applies just as well to bullying and rejection.
  • And if we wonder where is God in all of this, Jerad Wilson reminds us that we have to believe there are reasons that He allows suffering.
  • If you have a personal experience battling depression or being around those who have, Alise is looking for your story.

So what do we do? Good question.

  • Mike Ellis asks the same, which inspired this great response from Katdish. And ultimately what inspired me to post this today.
  • Tom Pounder gives suggestions on what to do if bullying is present in your ministry.
  • The bottom line though is that God does not reject us, so we cannot reject others. Good thoughts from David Rupert at Red Letter Believers.

Suicide is one route taken from these victims. Just as tragic is when the pain is directed outwards instead of inwards. We need to be reminded of what happened with Matthew Murray and pray we can learn from this and the posts above and not repeat past mistakes. Have a great weekend, practice compassion, and reach out to someone who needs it.

Weekend Reading, 9 October

Frank

A lot of great blogging out there this week, so I’m just going to cut right to the chase:

 

Some great posts this week on how we should approach our faith and the power of the Word.

  • Matthew Paul Turner says he approaches his faith with doubt. I think he approaches it with humility. Like we all should
  • Kevin Martineau vulnerably reminds us (by channeling Justin Davis) that our weaknesses don’t make us weak but a lack of sharing our weaknesses prevents the deep relationships we need to be strong.
  • Amy Sorrells hates evil and fight it with her own strength. But she recognizes that only gives in to evil while trusting in God overcomes.
  • Is living the Christian life impossible? I’d say it is; without Jesus’ divine power. Rick Lancaster encourages us to tap into that “divine power”
  • Glynn Young shares a powerful post on the spiritual wilderness and healing that comes from the Word.
  • Shawn Smucker asks what the first words of Jesus were when he started his mission. Jesus asked John the Baptist, “what do you seek?” Jesus asks us today, what do you seek? 
  • Jared Wilson reminds us the power is in the Gospel, not in our abilities.
  • He also draws our eyes to the Cross, to remember what God has done for us instead of focusing on what we want God to do for us.
  • Dusty Rayburn challenges us to look at the world and our lives through God’s eyes and to stop being so self-focused.

On “Living the Life”:

  • Justin Davis gets to meet one of his mentors and reminds us how powerful are our words, even at a distance (or over the Internet).
  • Matthew notes that worrying about what others think paralyzes us.
  • Michael Ellis gives us a lesson from a child’s heart on how to serve.
  • Another great Blog Carnival at Bridget Chumbley’s on Healing. 37 links, totally worth the time.
  • Michael Perkins implores us to keep knocking on that door! 

 On the Church:

  • Richard Young (via Church Salser) notes that multi-site churches are only following the early church example and that our focus should be less on structure than on reaching our communities.
  • Michael Lukaszewski, after studying Nehemiah, gives us five characteristics we need in the Church.
  • Sharon Norris Elliott shows us that the purpose of the Church is to demonstrate God’s wisdom to the world. A challenge we should not take lightly.
  • Perry Noble takes some lessons from the Mac vs PC commercials to examine how we treat those outside our church.
  • Finally, Matthew Paul Turner writes a powerful post in light of all the recent news on bullying and how we need to own up to how poorly the church has treated the LGBT community.
Enjoy reading. Have a blessed weekend!

Weekend Reading, 25 September

Frank

I really enjoyed the discussion this week on Mere Churchianity at Bend the Page, Faith, Fiction and Friends, and In Silence, Humming Softly. So much so, I’m dedicating this weekend’s reading to that theme. Some are new posts, some are old, but all speak to the same problem: something is wrong with the church.

As much as I harp on “authentic community” and question when is it ok to leave church, the reality is people are leaving the church and for many reasons. One good example, testimony if you will, comes from Stephen Lamb writing about why he left church over at Jesus Needs New PR. Click here for parts 1, 2, and 2.5 (looking forward to 3!). This reminded me of this old post from Marshall Jones Jr. And Christian Ray Flores shares his own experience in two parts.

Of course there are lots of reasons for this, and looking over past blogs leaves us plenty to ponder.

First problem is we often leave Jesus out of our Christianity.

  • This is the theme of Michael Spencer’s book, but is also the point of Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet’s Jesus Manifesto. A great review can be found over the the internetMonk and an old guest post from Viola at Jesus Needs New PR.
  • Brett McCracken notices we are also tempted to leave Jesus out of our serving, especially now that the Social Gospel is en vogue.
  • Of course, the more we take out of the Gospel, the less we’re left with. And Jason Stasyszen writes the Gospel is soon reduced to a single note in a symphony.

Of course, maybe the problem is us?

  • Our nature just likes to complain. But Patrick Mead writes that you only have a right to complain if you’re actually doing something about it.
  • And Wade Hodges asks us to stop using the excuse that we’re not being fed and figure out how to feed ourselves.
  • We’re also very judgemental and competitive. Jezemama laments the competitiveness that “feels just like church“.
  • Other times we’re just stupid and gullible. Bradley Moore reflects on Christian spam.

We also are tempted to be “relevant” and “seeker sensitive”. That creates it’s own set of hazards.

Solutions?

  • Matt Appling and Alise write letters to the Church in America a la the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia. That’s a start.
  • Of course, there are still reasons to go to church as Katdish and Esther Meek point out. Maybe we should focus on the positives instead of all the negatives?

But we do need to own up to where we fall short. Maybe we should take a cue from Domino’s Pizza, confess our shortcomings and commit to change? An interesting thought from Tyler Mahoney writing at the Huffington Post.

Food for thought. With a new sauce. Enjoy.

Weekend Reading, 18 September

Frank

eAnother busy week in the Christian Blogosphere. Add to that me cheating last week with my weekend reading, and we’ve got ourselves quite the list. Without further ado:

  • Post September 11, it’s good to remember to separate patriotism from religion. Paul Vander Klay at Think Christian offers up a primer to do just that.
  • Speaking of the American church, Matt Appling writes a letter to the North American Church in the same vein as the letters to the 7 Churches in Asia found in Revelation, but with a little more snark 😉
  • Shawn Smucker gives some food for thought on how we water down the Gospel with random references to John 3:16.
  • Our culture is driven by measured success. And as bloggers we’re tempted to apply the world’s standards to our own effectiveness.
  • Ryan Tate considers how much we allow the world to guide us.
  • While Michelle DeRusha encourages us to look for the signs God may be putting in our path.

One thing I’m passionate about is the church being the means to develop our spiritual gifts, not a crutch to be expected to do everything for us, and that the church only grows when those gifts are applied.

  • I’m not the only one who feels that way, check out John Olds’ thoughts on “Unity of Community” over at the Christian Manifesto.
  • Not only do we not put our talents to work, we don’t always rely on the power of the Creator of the universe. Imagine if we did, what our prayer life would be like? Like when Joshua prayed for the Sun to stand still. Good thoughts by Steven Furtick.
  • At the same time, Francis Chan challenges us that “a nonbeliever can accomplish a lot of what you’re doing.” via Catalyst Space
  • And Mercedes is challenged not to take the safe road and reflects on how just going with the flow at her church is “safe”.
  • Leeana Tankersley has to fight the temptation to drown herself out and instead trust in God.
  • Related, Brad Huebert has some compelling thoughts on facing our fears over at Sarah Markley’s blog
  • Sharon Norris Elliot gives some good advice on ingredients our ministry needs, like peas and carrots.

Youth ministry deserves its own set of bullets

  • Over at Called to Youth Ministry, we are reminded to follow the example of Jesus and focus our attention on a few in order to reach the many.
  • Going back a couple of weeks Dan Edelen has more thoughts on youth ministry at Cerulean Sanctum
  • Also looking back a ways is a guest post by Nick Croft over at Make A Difference to One on praying for our youth. I think I already linked this one before, but it’s worth reading again in context with the above reading.
For our own personal ministry, we are called to the Great Commission and to lead by example in love.
It’s been great to get to know other bloggers since I started connecting with so many on Twitter.
  • “Rejoice when others rejoice” It’s always encouraging to see others do well and as a blogger who someday hopes to publish I’m very excited to see Billy Coffey’s new book coming out. Now available for presale!
  • I learned a little more about Glynn Young over at New Day Rising thanks to Russell Holloway.
All for now. Enjoy reading and have a blessed weekend!

Weekend Reading, 4 September

Frank

As always, there are more quality blogs than I could possibly link. These are what I found via Twitter and there, it’s just a matter of timing- if I see a link while I’m on, I’ll click it. So my apologies if I missed you. I hope to catch you next time. Best (worst?) example was the effort of @ivoryjohn to raise money for Blood: Water Missions via retweets on Twitter. I retweeted the announcement that he was going to to this yesterday and then totally spaced it last night. I hope he does it again and I hope then I’m less flaky.

I also want to lead off with this post from Maurilio Amorim on the narcissism behind blogging and social media. It is a definite temptation, which is one of my main motivations for doing the “weekend readings“. I’m not in it for my glory, or even to hype these other bloggers, but for God’s glory. My hope and prayer is that through these links you might read something you might not have otherwise or catch a post you missed, and through the thoughts, convictions, and writings of others grow in your walk with Christ. Ok, on with the show…

A common theme I’ve found over the weeks is that of pastor burnout.

  • Perry Noble credits his wife and daughter for their encouragement and stresses that family remain a priority.
  • Ron Edmonson gives tips from his marathon training to avoid burnout by pacing yourself. (I personally love this, with my wife being a marathoner!)
  • Darryl at DashHouse posted on the value of sabbaticals to avoid burnout. A welcome suggestion and something I’m going to pursue for my own pastor.
  • Amy Sorrells challenges us to think like a Chilean miner when we get stuck. Good advice, pastor or not.
  • Johnathan Pearson reminds us that we need to continue to add fuel to our fire if we want to continue giving light and heat without burning out.

A couple of how-tos for pastors and lay leaders.

  • Steven Furtick reminds us not to be ashamed to call others higher, in fact it’s a compliment to do so.
  • Scott Couchenour offers his usual input to leaders and offers some additional links on don’t stop growing. (It helps to link to others who have lots of links ‘causse it saves me space! Yes, that’s cheating)
  • Nick Croft (aka Nick the Geek), guest posting at Make a Difference to One, encourages us to pray not only for our own children, but also for the children in our church and to not take children’s salvation for granted. (As a former youth leader, I really appreciate this post)

Another common theme is rethinking Church.

  • I’m participating in a discussion on Michael Spencer’s Mere Churchianity. You can follow that conversation over at Bend the Page (with links back here and to other bloggers in on the discussion). We’re only on Chapter 3, so there’s time to catch up and join us!
  • Shawn Smucker pulls no punches observing that Democracy is an easy crutch for our Church.
  • Jason Stasyszen (and many others- more links!) is reading and discussing The Hole in the Gospel and notes (pun not intended) that we’ve reduced the symphony of the Gospel down to a single note. 
  • Alise writes a scathing letter to the American Church (TM) reminding us that we need to deal with the plank in our own eyes before we can remove the specks outside our church’s walls.
  • Brandon O’Brien writes on how we take a Pagan approach to our relationship with God: we do good, he owes us- and how wrong that is.
  • Bethany Keeley-Jonker wonders if you can have an online church. (a means others like Brand New Church and Lifechurch.tv are testing out)
  • Darrin Patrick challenges the Church that we have a “man problem” through a video promoting his new book.

Of course, part of Church is each of our own personal journeys.

Relating back to the Blood: Water Missions fundraiser above is also a fundraiser of 30 bloggers in 30 days that is worth checking out and following (and obviously contributing towards).

Also relating back to the news of Glenn Coffee abandoning his NFL career for ministry (and other similar stories) is news of Ben Roethlisberger’s comeback on the field and in his faith. Compare then and now.

And after you get through all of this, don’t forget the purpose of this weekend. Rest and celebrate the Sabbath.

Weekend Reading, 28 August

Frank

Wasn’t online much this week, so I’ll leave it to others to sum up the best of this week:

Jason Stasyzen has his Friday Hit List over at Connecting to Impact.

Glynn Young lists his Saturday Good Reads over at Faith, Fiction, Friends.

It’s not up yet, but look tomorrow for Kevin Martineau’s Link Love Sunday over at Shooting the Breeze.

There was also a blog carnival last week too. Bridget Chumbley’s One Word at a Time Carnival on Children is filled with gifted writers and inspired perspectives.

Pleasantly disturbed carnie, Duane Scott was in a car accident, so please keep him in your prayers.