Thursday, September 11, 2014

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Unconventional Wisdom

The Ministry of the Unnoticed


"Blessed are the poor in spirit . . ." (Matthew 5.3)

"In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring."

~ Oswald Chambers

Wednesday, July 09, 2014

Hannibal King & the Blackzilians


Christ in you, the hope of glory


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

(Ephesians 3.20-21 NIV)

By the wonderful grace of God, He has provided for us the life, the wisdom, the strength and the power of Christ.  There is nothing we can ever dream up, imagine or tweet about that will ever come close to the incomprehensible glory of Christ at work within our hearts and life.  To Him be the glory for ever and ever.

Monday, April 21, 2014

What's with style?


The past decade has seen this mushroomed infatuation with style and the appearance of "worship forms."  Dude, what's up the style?  Pastors with Nazi-youth hairdos and skinny jeans? (think Bronski Beat meets 80s skinhead with a wad of facial hair)  Say what?  Is this another over-reaction by the consumer-driven evangelical establishment of "herd mentality," Barna-dependent clergy?  I can't wait till this hipster thing blows over and folks enter rehab for silly tattoos they got "in the name of Jesus."

Bob Kauflin offers some insight regarding "style" ~ "what you win people with is what you generally win them to."  You are not Keller and you certainly don't want to be Driscoll, please stop the madness.  How sad would it be if the gospel was frozen in the 80s . . . and all your worship leaders dressed like Stryper?  Drop the act and be yourself . . . especially if the hipster within you is unwilling to release you from captivity.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Felipe Costa ~ Thoughts for the Underdog



As a BJJ Black Belt, Costa became one of the first Mundial Winners to win without ever winning any tournaments previous prior to becoming a Black Belt.  "There is hope for those other guys out there . . . stay safe, don't get hurt, and just don't give up."

Saturday, February 01, 2014

Say what?


"When a man has lost his hair and is bald, he is clean" (Leviticus 13.40).

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The better question is "Who is the church?"


"We are the church. It's not a what or event, it's a who or a people. "

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 1.9 NIV).

Jeff Vanderstelt offers a good reminder to us that "[the church] is the regenerate people of God, saved by the power of God for the purposes of God in this world."