This year a2 Church is partnering with Project 1615 to bless the Boyd Family - a missionary family of seven (husband, wife and five children) who have faithfully ministered the gospel in India for the last decade. Check out this informative video and meet the Boyd Family.
Also, check out the list of selected items below and pray about being a part of helping a2 prepare a care package for the Boyd Family. Please return your gift items to a2 Church by Friday, December 11 so that we can be a part of meeting the needs of this incredible family.
ITEMS THEY CAN’T GET BUT WOULD CHERISH –
• M&M’s any flavor (estimated cost $3 per bag)
• Reese Cups (estimated cost $3 per bag)
• Chocolate Chips (for baking) (estimated cost $3 per bag)
• Coffee mate powdered plain creamer (estimated cost $3)
• Lucky Charms Cereal (estimated cost $4)
DVD’S & OTHER ITEMS THEY SHARE WITH ABIGAIL'S HOPE HOME –
Recently, a2 Church purchased an outdoor swing set for this orphanage in India. This will be a huge hit with the girls in this home. But there was one other thing that was requested by the girls.
"Abigail's" girls are into "My Little Ponys" - estimated to be approximately $5 each. (Madeline, one of the Boyd children, shares "My Little Pony" toys with the girls in the home, but there aren’t enough for each Hope Home girl.)
Also, they would enjoy these movies:
• UP (estimated cost $20)
• 12 Dogs of Christmas (estimated cost $20)
• Miracle on 34th Street (estimated cost $12)
• Peanuts Holiday Collection (estimated cost $22)
• Mandie and The Secret Tunnel (estimated cost $16)
• Wizard of Oz (estimated cost $14)
BOYD FAMILY:
(Five Children from America living on the Mission Field)
Alexandra -18 years old
• Loreal waterproof mascara xtra volume
• Loreal true match liquid foundation N3-natural buff
• Dark Brown eyeliner
• Sonia Kashuk (Target) eyeshadows brown
• Lip Gloss colored pinks or neutrals
• Itunes music card
• Light weight full length pajamas size M ladies
Morgan John – 14 years old
• Mario Kart Wii game w/2 player wheel (estimated cost $57)
• MP3 Player (prefers one w/screen) (estimated cost $47)
• Batman The Animated Series Vol. 4 (NR) DVD (estimated cost $40)
Madelyn – 11 years old
• Wii Music game (estimated cost $50)
• Anne of Green Gables DVD Collection (estimated cost $18)
• The International Cookbook for Kids (estimated cost $12.50 at Walmart)
Nicholas – 9 years old
• Lego Bionicle Lesovikk Special Edition Set 8939 (estimated cost $37)
• Lego Bionicle Jetrak T6 (estimated cost $42)
• The Muppet Movie (estimated cost $12)
Blake – 4 years old
• Veggie Tales DVD- St. Nicholas Story of Joyful Giving (estimated cost $10)
• Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything Full length Movie DVD and Plush Toy which goes with the movie
• Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center (estimated cost $18)
IMPORTANT: All good should be returned to a2 Church by Friday, December 11 so that the care package will reach the Boyd's by Christmas. Thank you for your participation.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
The ONE Report
"Excellent! Very informative! Incredible! I love it! a2 Rocks! I feel God in this place! Love the energy... Wonderful... Different... Fun... Awesome! Very spiritual and inspirational... Challenged me..."
This is just some of the feedback we got from yesterday's One Year Anniversary Celebration at a2.
Here's the scoop on what happened... Feel free to add your comments and feedback.
First of all, a big SHOUT OUT to Mike Weeks and everyone who jumped in as part of the Interior Design Team to bring the vision of what our worship space could look like to reality. You guys were amazing! You worked so hard. The placed looked incredible. Thank you!
Second, research indicates that the first 12 minutes a guest walks onto a church campus are crucial in determining their overall experience. That means every Guest Services Team is on the FRONT LINES in helping people connect with God. And our Guest Service team rocked yesterday!
Neal and Shelly Holden did an amazing job leading the team. It was great to see our Traffic Control crew out assisting with parking, our Greeters "manning" every entrance, and our personnel providing helpful info at the new Information Desk. It was really cool to have Nathan and Holly Holladay back in town and serving on the Guest Services team. And as always, pre-service refreshments were terrific. Jess and Denise Dixon rock it in this area every Sunday.
Third, our Children's Ministry Team was ON IT! Carol Lange and Shellie Behrens - you and and the entire nursery team is amazing. Thanks for all you do.
Becky Abernathy - the new paint job and artwork in the Preschool Room looks awesome! Thanks for making that happen.
Brice and Anna Jackson - a2 Kid's Club was "off the chain" yesterday. My nine-year old came out pumped up about being at church!
Fourth, our Tech Team was on it... These guys serve with such humility... When it comes to Tech stuff, you usually don't really notice these guys unless something goes wrong. Well, yesterday NOTHING went wrong. I really appreciate our Sound Team, Pro-Presenter Team, Video Team, Camera Team. You are amazing.
Fifth, the Thanksgiving Feast immediately following the morning worship experience was a big hit. We've got to give a lot of "shout outs" here:
- Deborah Wiggins knocked it out of the park on the overall decor for the Feast.
- Teddie Butcher and Laquita Thomas made certain that we had enough food for an army, and we did! Wow!
- Sunni Glidewell and Ron Wiggins did an amazing job on the turkey and ham! Gobble. Gobble.
- Billy Walters is "the man." This dude models what it means to be a servant. His team transformed the Worship Room into a gigantic Banquet Room in like 10 minutes flat. Furthermore, the guy was all over it throughout the week taking care of odds and ends to make certain we had a great day.
And there are MORE PEOPLE we could mention. A ton MORE... So many people who make a2 tick! Too many to mention by name. But know this, YOU are important. I thank God for YOU.
Sixth, then there's THE SERVICE. My view? Oh, yeah. It rocked!
It opened with a big full bass pad on the keyboard and video directed by Chris Mileski about how God has used a2 in the lives of people Great stories. Great stuff. Awesome year. Amazing production on the video.
As the bass pad continued and swelled, Caley brought it with Amazing Grace, as we reflected on God's grace over the past year.
Then, Susannah Stuckey, Nick Johnson and Madison Miller (three of a2's students) read God's Word like they really believe what it says... I loved having the students involved!
The bass pad continued to swell, until Nathan (the Spice Man) Spicer filled the speakers up with his best "Edge" like imitation and the intro to "Where The Streets Have No Name." The entire band and Amanda Blount absolutely rocked this song! It was supposed to be an opening "item" number. It didn't take but about 4 bars before people were up and on their feet!
The band continued with an upbeat and energetic worship set that included Tomlin's Rise and Sing, Hillsong's For All You've Done and Newlife's Glorified. Great job team! You are amazing.
Darrell Garrett then came with a prayer that rocked my world. When he started praying about how over the past year we've had "lots of leaks" - referring to the severe roof leak problems we've experienced in our worship space over the past year, but "one thing that hasn't leaked has been God's grace..." Holy cow! I was done in.
As always Bill Robbins made announcements interesting and fun. The dude is awesome.
Second video: more stories about God's grace in the lives of people at a2.
Then there was the message. It's very hard to do a review of your own message, so let me just give you the MAIN POINTS and the payoff of the message.
Four Facts About People:
1. People want to make a difference.
2. God longs to use you to make a difference (Ephesians 2:10).
3. Most people don’t really believe God could possibly use them to make a difference.
We all feel inadequate and inferior. The good news? You can’t find anywhere in the Bible where God looked at somebody and said, “Man, I really wanted to use you, but your life went way too far off the rails, I’m sorry you just don’t make the cut… I don’t have enough GRACE for you…”
Just take a quick inventory of the people God used…
• Abraham was a liar and on Medicare…
• Jacob was a con man…
• Joseph was an ex-con…
• Moses was a fugitive who also struggled with a speech impediment…
• Joshua had problems with jealousy…
• Rahab had a pretty notorious sexual past…
• Gideon was a wimp…
• Samson was the poster child for impulse control disorder…
• Eli was a finalist for the worst father of the year award…
• David had an eye for beautiful women… He was an adulterer and involved in a conspiracy to commit murder…
• Elijah was probably bi-polar… One minute he could outrun a chariot, and the next moment he was suicidal…
• The disciples didn’t have a lot of faith…
• James and John had anger control issues and were status seekers…
• Thomas doubted…
• Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times in the same night, and even cut a guy’s ear off…
• Martha obsessed over housekeeping and food preparation… (We’re talking Martha in the Bible, not Martha Stewart…)
4. Making a difference isn’t about signing a petition, forwarding a FB message, or jumping on the bandwagon of “bumper sticker” Christianity, it’s about actually DOING what Jesus said to DO.
Matthew 5:13 (MSG), Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14 Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
What It Takes To Make A Difference:
1. A Broken Heart (Mark 1:40-41; Matthew 14:14; 9:36; 25:40).
2. Sacrificial Generosity (Acts 20:35b; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
3. Holy discontent.
4. Continual and Active Dependence on God (John 15:5).
5. The Willingness to take a Risk (Luke 9:24).
There is a "theological film" that was put out several years ago… It’s sort of cult classic… The name of the movie is, “The Blues Brothers.”
It contains the story of two brothers named Jake and Elwood Blues. These men are felons and “wanna be” blues musicians. After Jake is released from prison, he and Elwood go to visit the orphanage they were raised in as boys… It’s during that visit that they start to discover their PURPOSE, the reason for being placed on this planet…
The orphanage is going to close unless it comes up with $5,000 in taxes on the property within 11 days… And the plot of the movie is about these guys trying to escape the police, put back together their band and raise money for that orphanage…
Periodically throughout the movie, somebody will ask them what they’re doing, and they give the same stock answer every time. They respond by saying, “We are on a MISSION FROM GOD.”
That’s the joke of the movie – that two felons, two “wanna be” blues musicians – could be on a MISSION FROM GOD.
They eventually raise the $5000 as an advance on a record contract… But there’s a GAP… With the police in close pursuit, they’ve still got to get from where they are, all the way to Chicago to pay the $5,000 at City Hall…
This is one of the classic lines from that movie:
Elwood: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses."
Jake: "Hit it."
An epic car chase begins... The Blues Brothers make it to Chicago, pay the taxes and the moment their handed the tax receipt, handcuffs are slapped on their wrists...
I don't know how far we have to go... "It's 106 miles to Chicago..." It may be a day, week, month, year or decade before Jesus comes and ultimately SETS THINGS RIGHT…
The good news is, "We got a full tank of gas..." Because of the Holy Spirit we've got all the fuel we need. We're not depending on our abilities, efforts or talents. We're depending on God...
Here's reality: "We got...a half pack of cigarettes..." Some of you are thinking, "I don't like that line..." I do... Because here's what it says: We're all imperfect... We've all got our hang-ups, habits, sin and junk that ought to have disqualified us a long time ago... But we're not banking on our perfecting, we're betting the farm on God's grace...
My favorite line? "It's dark and we're wearing sunglasses..."
The sunglasses are basically the trademark of the Blues Brothers. When they put them on, they basically say, "We mean business... We're not going to stop until we make it to Chicago..."
Oh, yeah, we did the Blues Brothers at a2... Because at a2, we MEAN BUSINESS! We're on a mission from God!
The band closed out with a new song Matt Maher titled, "Hold Us Together." Everyone in the band was wearing Blues Brothers sunglasses.
We closed the service by passing out sunglasses to everyone in the congregation! Why? Because WE MEAN BUSINESS. We're on a mission from God!
And that's the scoop on ONE.
By the way, we had at least 276 people show up and worship with us! That's our best attendance other than Easter.
I believe God is doing something amazing at a2. I'm thrilled to be part of the journey. I'm humbled to get to do life with the beautiful people God is bringing together to make a difference.
You are amazing. I love YOU, and I love being YOUR pastor.
This is just some of the feedback we got from yesterday's One Year Anniversary Celebration at a2.
Here's the scoop on what happened... Feel free to add your comments and feedback.
First of all, a big SHOUT OUT to Mike Weeks and everyone who jumped in as part of the Interior Design Team to bring the vision of what our worship space could look like to reality. You guys were amazing! You worked so hard. The placed looked incredible. Thank you!
Second, research indicates that the first 12 minutes a guest walks onto a church campus are crucial in determining their overall experience. That means every Guest Services Team is on the FRONT LINES in helping people connect with God. And our Guest Service team rocked yesterday!
Neal and Shelly Holden did an amazing job leading the team. It was great to see our Traffic Control crew out assisting with parking, our Greeters "manning" every entrance, and our personnel providing helpful info at the new Information Desk. It was really cool to have Nathan and Holly Holladay back in town and serving on the Guest Services team. And as always, pre-service refreshments were terrific. Jess and Denise Dixon rock it in this area every Sunday.
Third, our Children's Ministry Team was ON IT! Carol Lange and Shellie Behrens - you and and the entire nursery team is amazing. Thanks for all you do.
Becky Abernathy - the new paint job and artwork in the Preschool Room looks awesome! Thanks for making that happen.
Brice and Anna Jackson - a2 Kid's Club was "off the chain" yesterday. My nine-year old came out pumped up about being at church!
Fourth, our Tech Team was on it... These guys serve with such humility... When it comes to Tech stuff, you usually don't really notice these guys unless something goes wrong. Well, yesterday NOTHING went wrong. I really appreciate our Sound Team, Pro-Presenter Team, Video Team, Camera Team. You are amazing.
Fifth, the Thanksgiving Feast immediately following the morning worship experience was a big hit. We've got to give a lot of "shout outs" here:
- Deborah Wiggins knocked it out of the park on the overall decor for the Feast.
- Teddie Butcher and Laquita Thomas made certain that we had enough food for an army, and we did! Wow!
- Sunni Glidewell and Ron Wiggins did an amazing job on the turkey and ham! Gobble. Gobble.
- Billy Walters is "the man." This dude models what it means to be a servant. His team transformed the Worship Room into a gigantic Banquet Room in like 10 minutes flat. Furthermore, the guy was all over it throughout the week taking care of odds and ends to make certain we had a great day.
And there are MORE PEOPLE we could mention. A ton MORE... So many people who make a2 tick! Too many to mention by name. But know this, YOU are important. I thank God for YOU.
Sixth, then there's THE SERVICE. My view? Oh, yeah. It rocked!
It opened with a big full bass pad on the keyboard and video directed by Chris Mileski about how God has used a2 in the lives of people Great stories. Great stuff. Awesome year. Amazing production on the video.
As the bass pad continued and swelled, Caley brought it with Amazing Grace, as we reflected on God's grace over the past year.
Then, Susannah Stuckey, Nick Johnson and Madison Miller (three of a2's students) read God's Word like they really believe what it says... I loved having the students involved!
The bass pad continued to swell, until Nathan (the Spice Man) Spicer filled the speakers up with his best "Edge" like imitation and the intro to "Where The Streets Have No Name." The entire band and Amanda Blount absolutely rocked this song! It was supposed to be an opening "item" number. It didn't take but about 4 bars before people were up and on their feet!
The band continued with an upbeat and energetic worship set that included Tomlin's Rise and Sing, Hillsong's For All You've Done and Newlife's Glorified. Great job team! You are amazing.
Darrell Garrett then came with a prayer that rocked my world. When he started praying about how over the past year we've had "lots of leaks" - referring to the severe roof leak problems we've experienced in our worship space over the past year, but "one thing that hasn't leaked has been God's grace..." Holy cow! I was done in.
As always Bill Robbins made announcements interesting and fun. The dude is awesome.
Second video: more stories about God's grace in the lives of people at a2.
Then there was the message. It's very hard to do a review of your own message, so let me just give you the MAIN POINTS and the payoff of the message.
Four Facts About People:
1. People want to make a difference.
2. God longs to use you to make a difference (Ephesians 2:10).
3. Most people don’t really believe God could possibly use them to make a difference.
We all feel inadequate and inferior. The good news? You can’t find anywhere in the Bible where God looked at somebody and said, “Man, I really wanted to use you, but your life went way too far off the rails, I’m sorry you just don’t make the cut… I don’t have enough GRACE for you…”
Just take a quick inventory of the people God used…
• Abraham was a liar and on Medicare…
• Jacob was a con man…
• Joseph was an ex-con…
• Moses was a fugitive who also struggled with a speech impediment…
• Joshua had problems with jealousy…
• Rahab had a pretty notorious sexual past…
• Gideon was a wimp…
• Samson was the poster child for impulse control disorder…
• Eli was a finalist for the worst father of the year award…
• David had an eye for beautiful women… He was an adulterer and involved in a conspiracy to commit murder…
• Elijah was probably bi-polar… One minute he could outrun a chariot, and the next moment he was suicidal…
• The disciples didn’t have a lot of faith…
• James and John had anger control issues and were status seekers…
• Thomas doubted…
• Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times in the same night, and even cut a guy’s ear off…
• Martha obsessed over housekeeping and food preparation… (We’re talking Martha in the Bible, not Martha Stewart…)
4. Making a difference isn’t about signing a petition, forwarding a FB message, or jumping on the bandwagon of “bumper sticker” Christianity, it’s about actually DOING what Jesus said to DO.
Matthew 5:13 (MSG), Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14 Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
What It Takes To Make A Difference:
1. A Broken Heart (Mark 1:40-41; Matthew 14:14; 9:36; 25:40).
2. Sacrificial Generosity (Acts 20:35b; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
3. Holy discontent.
4. Continual and Active Dependence on God (John 15:5).
5. The Willingness to take a Risk (Luke 9:24).
There is a "theological film" that was put out several years ago… It’s sort of cult classic… The name of the movie is, “The Blues Brothers.”
It contains the story of two brothers named Jake and Elwood Blues. These men are felons and “wanna be” blues musicians. After Jake is released from prison, he and Elwood go to visit the orphanage they were raised in as boys… It’s during that visit that they start to discover their PURPOSE, the reason for being placed on this planet…
The orphanage is going to close unless it comes up with $5,000 in taxes on the property within 11 days… And the plot of the movie is about these guys trying to escape the police, put back together their band and raise money for that orphanage…
Periodically throughout the movie, somebody will ask them what they’re doing, and they give the same stock answer every time. They respond by saying, “We are on a MISSION FROM GOD.”
That’s the joke of the movie – that two felons, two “wanna be” blues musicians – could be on a MISSION FROM GOD.
They eventually raise the $5000 as an advance on a record contract… But there’s a GAP… With the police in close pursuit, they’ve still got to get from where they are, all the way to Chicago to pay the $5,000 at City Hall…
This is one of the classic lines from that movie:
Elwood: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses."
Jake: "Hit it."
An epic car chase begins... The Blues Brothers make it to Chicago, pay the taxes and the moment their handed the tax receipt, handcuffs are slapped on their wrists...
I don't know how far we have to go... "It's 106 miles to Chicago..." It may be a day, week, month, year or decade before Jesus comes and ultimately SETS THINGS RIGHT…
The good news is, "We got a full tank of gas..." Because of the Holy Spirit we've got all the fuel we need. We're not depending on our abilities, efforts or talents. We're depending on God...
Here's reality: "We got...a half pack of cigarettes..." Some of you are thinking, "I don't like that line..." I do... Because here's what it says: We're all imperfect... We've all got our hang-ups, habits, sin and junk that ought to have disqualified us a long time ago... But we're not banking on our perfecting, we're betting the farm on God's grace...
My favorite line? "It's dark and we're wearing sunglasses..."
The sunglasses are basically the trademark of the Blues Brothers. When they put them on, they basically say, "We mean business... We're not going to stop until we make it to Chicago..."
Oh, yeah, we did the Blues Brothers at a2... Because at a2, we MEAN BUSINESS! We're on a mission from God!
The band closed out with a new song Matt Maher titled, "Hold Us Together." Everyone in the band was wearing Blues Brothers sunglasses.
We closed the service by passing out sunglasses to everyone in the congregation! Why? Because WE MEAN BUSINESS. We're on a mission from God!
And that's the scoop on ONE.
By the way, we had at least 276 people show up and worship with us! That's our best attendance other than Easter.
I believe God is doing something amazing at a2. I'm thrilled to be part of the journey. I'm humbled to get to do life with the beautiful people God is bringing together to make a difference.
You are amazing. I love YOU, and I love being YOUR pastor.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
ONE: a2's One Year Anniversary - This Sunday
This blows me away. In just a few days, a2 Church will celebrate our one year anniversary.The last year has been interesting, challenging and in many ways, amazing.
Join us this Sunday, November 22 at 9:45 am for the party of the year! That's right! We're pulling out all the stops and bringing our absolute best to our GREAT GOD! We'll sing LOUD, worship with PASSION and share the stories of radically CHANGED lives!
- Don't be late! The morning refreshment team is on it! Arrive early for coffee and great refreshments. Get a sneak peek at the finished worship space.
- The opening kick off number will melt your face off! I promise! Let's just say it involves students, God's Word, cutting edge video, stories of God's activity, Amazing Grace, U2 and much, much more...
- Just to make sure you're here on time, the first 25 first, second, or third time guests will receive a beautiful gift bag packed with some incredible stuff...
- Inspiring worship!
- More than just your typical anniversary celebration, this worship experience will feature a bold, creative presentation of the gospel!
- The closing number is one you won't forget. It alone, is worth your best effort to get here. Everyone present will receive a special take-away to help you remember the day.
- We'll follow up the action packed worship experience with an old fashioned Thanksgiving Feast, inflatables games for the kids and a live house band.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO...
There are five excellent releases that are in regular rotation in my iPod right now...
The new Switchfoot is amazing! Hello Hurricane. Lyrically intelligent. Musically excellent. Foreman is one of the best writers out there.
Flyleaf. Memento Mori. Lacey's vocals soar. This girl probably rocks harder than anyone out there right now. Probably because the guitar tracks laid down by Sameer and Jared are scorching! The song Beautiful Bride may be one of the most lyrically intelligent, hard rocking songs about the church ever written. If you're going to play it, play it LOUD!
If you're in the mood for Christmas worship check out the new release by Chris Tomlin: Glory in the Highest. I love the fact that it's an extremely worshipful Christmas release. You'll be hearing some of this stuff at a2 Church.
B. Reith is one of the most creative artists to come along in some time. Part rock. Part hip hop, rap and R & B. The dude has an amazing voice. The writing is clever. I absolutely love this CD and find myself going back to the tracks Comeback Kids, I Know, My Story and Antidote again and again...
Finally, if you liked the old Creed, you'll like new Creed titled Full Circle. No frills. Just straight ahead rock and roll with above average lyrics.
That's what I'm listening to right now... And right now, the listening is sooooooo GOOD!
By the way, if you haven't checked out lala.com or amazon.com mp3's, you're missing out on some of the cheapest ways to purchase the music you love. My preference BIG TIME over iTunes.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Why Jesus Waits
Yesterday I ended the message with this quote from C.S. Lewis.
Lewis was anticipating questions about the incarnation - why would God appear in human flesh... He was also anticipating questions about the apparent "delay" in Jesus' return...
This quote appears on the last page of Lewis's classic book, "What Christians Believe." One word: Awesome.
“Another possible objection is this. Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance of joining His side freely. I do not suppose you and I would have thought much of a Frenchman who waited till the Allies were marching into Germany and then announced he was on our side. God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else---something it never entered your head to conceive---comes crashing in: something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror in to every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.”
~ C.S. Lewis, What Christians Believe, pages 95-98
Lewis was anticipating questions about the incarnation - why would God appear in human flesh... He was also anticipating questions about the apparent "delay" in Jesus' return...
This quote appears on the last page of Lewis's classic book, "What Christians Believe." One word: Awesome.
“Another possible objection is this. Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance of joining His side freely. I do not suppose you and I would have thought much of a Frenchman who waited till the Allies were marching into Germany and then announced he was on our side. God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else---something it never entered your head to conceive---comes crashing in: something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror in to every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.”
~ C.S. Lewis, What Christians Believe, pages 95-98
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Seth Godin on Data and Decisions
Today's post from Seth Godin was thought provoking... You can click on the link below for Seth's original post... Great stuff...
When data and decisions collide
Seth Godin
Until recently, most of the decisions we were called on to make were based on hunches, insight and a little bit of data...
It took Ignaz Semmelweis more than twenty years (he died before it happened, actually) to persuade doctors that washing their hands could save the lives of mothers giving birth. He had the data, he had the proof, but that wasn't enough to change minds.
Data mining and the proximity of the internet to most of what we do is changing the proximity of proof to decision. Now, you don't need to do a lot of research, the data is just a click away.
What are you going to do when your hunches don't match the data that's now pouring in?
The data shows, for example, that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving drunk. It doesn't feel that way, of course, but will you respect the data and stop, cold turkey?
The data shows that the vast majority of wine drinkers can't tell the difference between a $20 bottle and a $100 bottle. Will that keep you from buying the fancy wine? How much is the placebo effect worth?
The data shows that famous colleges underperform many cheaper, friendlier, smaller colleges. How much is your neighbor's envy worth?
These are just a few of the millions of examples of counter-intuitive data-driven findings. It took Galileo decades to persuade people the light objects fell as fast as heavy ones... even though he was busy dropping them off buildings for all to see. I wonder how long it will take us to get our arms around this avalanche of insight. Probably longer than most of us think...
* * * * *
Rick Warren said it years ago. "Most of us don't change when we see the light, but only when we feel the heat."
In my opinion, Seth's post presents a source of tension for believers... As believers, it's crucial that we be "led by the Spirit," but it's also reasonable that our decisions be informed by the data / or "cold, hard facts." When the two meet and "push back against each other" that's when the real action starts...
So, what do you do when the Spirit is leading you to do something that goes totally against the grain of all the data you've gathered? How do you process this leading? How can you make certain it's inspiration and not indigestion?
Just a few questions for
When data and decisions collide
Seth Godin
Until recently, most of the decisions we were called on to make were based on hunches, insight and a little bit of data...
It took Ignaz Semmelweis more than twenty years (he died before it happened, actually) to persuade doctors that washing their hands could save the lives of mothers giving birth. He had the data, he had the proof, but that wasn't enough to change minds.
Data mining and the proximity of the internet to most of what we do is changing the proximity of proof to decision. Now, you don't need to do a lot of research, the data is just a click away.
What are you going to do when your hunches don't match the data that's now pouring in?
The data shows, for example, that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving drunk. It doesn't feel that way, of course, but will you respect the data and stop, cold turkey?
The data shows that the vast majority of wine drinkers can't tell the difference between a $20 bottle and a $100 bottle. Will that keep you from buying the fancy wine? How much is the placebo effect worth?
The data shows that famous colleges underperform many cheaper, friendlier, smaller colleges. How much is your neighbor's envy worth?
These are just a few of the millions of examples of counter-intuitive data-driven findings. It took Galileo decades to persuade people the light objects fell as fast as heavy ones... even though he was busy dropping them off buildings for all to see. I wonder how long it will take us to get our arms around this avalanche of insight. Probably longer than most of us think...
* * * * *
Rick Warren said it years ago. "Most of us don't change when we see the light, but only when we feel the heat."
In my opinion, Seth's post presents a source of tension for believers... As believers, it's crucial that we be "led by the Spirit," but it's also reasonable that our decisions be informed by the data / or "cold, hard facts." When the two meet and "push back against each other" that's when the real action starts...
So, what do you do when the Spirit is leading you to do something that goes totally against the grain of all the data you've gathered? How do you process this leading? How can you make certain it's inspiration and not indigestion?
Just a few questions for
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
TIP TOEING THROUGH T.U.L.I.P.
Calvinism gets its name from a French Theologian named John Calvin. Don't hold his country of origin against him...
The core tenets, brass tacks, or bare essentials of Calvinistic theology is summed up in the acrostic, T.U.L.I.P.
T – Total Depravity
It's interesting that Calvinists and Arminians agree on this core tenet of theology... They both recognize the reality of human sinfulness.
Total Depravity is the basic idea that according to the Bible, we’re all in the same condition… By nature and by choice, we’ve all SINNED against God…
The concept of "total depravity" doesn’t mean that we’re “utterly depraved.” We’re not all as bad as we “could be.” We could all probably manage to “up the ante” when it comes to sin, and commit worse sins or sin with greater frequency…
Total depravity means that we are all marred by sin… There’s not one aspect of my being that has been left “untouched” by sin… Sin has affected my mind, will, my body and my emotions…
There are scores of passages in the Bible that describe this reality.
Romans 3:10-12 (ESV), "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Cross Reference Psalm 14)
Romans 3:23 (NIV), …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
Ephesians 1 paints a stark picture of our "BC" - or "Before Christ" state.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV), As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins...
Paul is saying, “Because of Adam’s sin, human beings enter this world spiritually DEAD… We don’t have any inclination or responsiveness to God, at all… We’re DEAD…”
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV), As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Once again, both Calvinists and Arminians agree on this belief...
U - Unconditional Election
The “U” in TULIP stands for UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION, which basically means that when God gets ready to choose you, there are no caveats or conditions… You may be hell bent against the purpose and plan of God – like Saul before he became Paul – but because of His extravagant grace, amazing love and endless mercy, God unconditionally selects you to be a part of His purpose and plan…
L - Limited Atonement
This may be the most controversial point in the core of Calvinistic theology… In fact, some avowed Calvinists have trouble with this one… It basically teaches that when Jesus died on the cross, He didn’t die for EVERYONE… His death was only for the “elect.” The idea is that the “shed blood of Jesus” would never be “WASTED” on anyone whom God had not chosen to respond to what Christ accomplished on the cross…
I - Irresistible Grace
The “I” stands for IRRESISTIBLE GRACE… This tenet basically says that when God comes to you and chooses you, YOU WILL SAY “YES.” You won’t be able to resist the extravagant grace of God…
Think of it like this… When God sets His affection on you, your eyes will be opened! Somehow you’ll see the beauty, extravagance and magnitude of God’s grace, over against the ugliness and pain of your sin and the reality of where your sin will ultimately lead… And when you get that kind of clarity, you won't be able to HELP but respond to God’s invitation…
P - Perseverance of the Saints
This is basically the idea that once you are chosen, God will sustain your faith all the way to the end… God will make sure your faith LASTS until you ultimately reach heaven…
It’s interesting that while most Southern Baptist wouldn’t define themselves as Reformed Calvinists, they do agree with this core belief of Calvinism… It’s basically the idea of ETERNAL SECURITY… In other words, a person who was genuinely converted will be saved in the end… Their faith will remain steadfast until they reach their ultimate destination.
Here are a "few" of the things I "like" about this position:
1) First of all, it makes a REALLY BIG DEAL out of the SOVEREIGNTY of God.
People on this "team" usually see God as BIG, powerful, AWESOME, and MIGHTY and moving with purpose to accomplish His kingdom objectives in this world…
2) Second, this position makes a REALLY BIG DEAL out of God’s GRACE.
People who adhere to this position correctly understand that there is NOTHING we can do to earn our way onto God’s TEAM… If we’re a part of God’s Team, it’s because we were chosen by God… It’s because God’s grace drew us IRRESISTIBLY to the cross… It’s because God’s purposed to redeem us by the blood of Jesus Christ, and He planned our REDEMPTION in eternity past before we had done ANYTHING that could possibly merit God’s favor or grace…
I don't know what that thought does to you, but it drives me to my knees in worship and adoration...
Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV), Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV), For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
In my opinion, there are some problems with this position, as well.
1) First up, what about the scores of passages that seem to indicate HUMAN CHOICE is vital?
For example: Joshua 24:15, Matthew 7:25-27, Mark 10:17-22, etc.
2) Some who subscribe to this position believe that God willed into creation and predetermined some people to suffer the eternal condemnation of hell. Isn't it difficult to reconcile this belief with passages that indicate that it's "not God's will for anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16-17).
3) The idea of "limited atonement" seems to be the most difficult aspect of Calvinistic theology for a growing number of adherents. Even guys like Bruce Ware and Mark Driscoll have presented nuanced positions on this core belief... (See Mark Driscoll's book and mp3 sermon download, Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions; and Bruce Ware's podcast dealing with Arminianism and Calvinism via The Resurgence Podcast for more info.)
Tomorrow, I'll attempt to describe the core essentials of Arminian theology...
My purpose in posting these notes is not to "debate" the issue, but simply to describe core beliefs and point out those areas that provide encouragement and those tenets that pose possible problems...
The core tenets, brass tacks, or bare essentials of Calvinistic theology is summed up in the acrostic, T.U.L.I.P.
T – Total Depravity
It's interesting that Calvinists and Arminians agree on this core tenet of theology... They both recognize the reality of human sinfulness.
Total Depravity is the basic idea that according to the Bible, we’re all in the same condition… By nature and by choice, we’ve all SINNED against God…
The concept of "total depravity" doesn’t mean that we’re “utterly depraved.” We’re not all as bad as we “could be.” We could all probably manage to “up the ante” when it comes to sin, and commit worse sins or sin with greater frequency…
Total depravity means that we are all marred by sin… There’s not one aspect of my being that has been left “untouched” by sin… Sin has affected my mind, will, my body and my emotions…
There are scores of passages in the Bible that describe this reality.
Romans 3:10-12 (ESV), "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Cross Reference Psalm 14)
Romans 3:23 (NIV), …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
Ephesians 1 paints a stark picture of our "BC" - or "Before Christ" state.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV), As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins...
Paul is saying, “Because of Adam’s sin, human beings enter this world spiritually DEAD… We don’t have any inclination or responsiveness to God, at all… We’re DEAD…”
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV), As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Once again, both Calvinists and Arminians agree on this belief...
U - Unconditional Election
The “U” in TULIP stands for UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION, which basically means that when God gets ready to choose you, there are no caveats or conditions… You may be hell bent against the purpose and plan of God – like Saul before he became Paul – but because of His extravagant grace, amazing love and endless mercy, God unconditionally selects you to be a part of His purpose and plan…
L - Limited Atonement
This may be the most controversial point in the core of Calvinistic theology… In fact, some avowed Calvinists have trouble with this one… It basically teaches that when Jesus died on the cross, He didn’t die for EVERYONE… His death was only for the “elect.” The idea is that the “shed blood of Jesus” would never be “WASTED” on anyone whom God had not chosen to respond to what Christ accomplished on the cross…
I - Irresistible Grace
The “I” stands for IRRESISTIBLE GRACE… This tenet basically says that when God comes to you and chooses you, YOU WILL SAY “YES.” You won’t be able to resist the extravagant grace of God…
Think of it like this… When God sets His affection on you, your eyes will be opened! Somehow you’ll see the beauty, extravagance and magnitude of God’s grace, over against the ugliness and pain of your sin and the reality of where your sin will ultimately lead… And when you get that kind of clarity, you won't be able to HELP but respond to God’s invitation…
P - Perseverance of the Saints
This is basically the idea that once you are chosen, God will sustain your faith all the way to the end… God will make sure your faith LASTS until you ultimately reach heaven…
It’s interesting that while most Southern Baptist wouldn’t define themselves as Reformed Calvinists, they do agree with this core belief of Calvinism… It’s basically the idea of ETERNAL SECURITY… In other words, a person who was genuinely converted will be saved in the end… Their faith will remain steadfast until they reach their ultimate destination.
Here are a "few" of the things I "like" about this position:
1) First of all, it makes a REALLY BIG DEAL out of the SOVEREIGNTY of God.
People on this "team" usually see God as BIG, powerful, AWESOME, and MIGHTY and moving with purpose to accomplish His kingdom objectives in this world…
2) Second, this position makes a REALLY BIG DEAL out of God’s GRACE.
People who adhere to this position correctly understand that there is NOTHING we can do to earn our way onto God’s TEAM… If we’re a part of God’s Team, it’s because we were chosen by God… It’s because God’s grace drew us IRRESISTIBLY to the cross… It’s because God’s purposed to redeem us by the blood of Jesus Christ, and He planned our REDEMPTION in eternity past before we had done ANYTHING that could possibly merit God’s favor or grace…
I don't know what that thought does to you, but it drives me to my knees in worship and adoration...
Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV), Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV), For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
In my opinion, there are some problems with this position, as well.
1) First up, what about the scores of passages that seem to indicate HUMAN CHOICE is vital?
For example: Joshua 24:15, Matthew 7:25-27, Mark 10:17-22, etc.
2) Some who subscribe to this position believe that God willed into creation and predetermined some people to suffer the eternal condemnation of hell. Isn't it difficult to reconcile this belief with passages that indicate that it's "not God's will for anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16-17).
3) The idea of "limited atonement" seems to be the most difficult aspect of Calvinistic theology for a growing number of adherents. Even guys like Bruce Ware and Mark Driscoll have presented nuanced positions on this core belief... (See Mark Driscoll's book and mp3 sermon download, Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions; and Bruce Ware's podcast dealing with Arminianism and Calvinism via The Resurgence Podcast for more info.)
Tomorrow, I'll attempt to describe the core essentials of Arminian theology...
My purpose in posting these notes is not to "debate" the issue, but simply to describe core beliefs and point out those areas that provide encouragement and those tenets that pose possible problems...
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