Vetrean Pastor, Life time Learner, Problem Solver, Servant-Leader and Motivational Speaker.

Seminary-president’s take on “Love Wins” (in language a non-seminarian can understand!) | STEVANSHEETS.COM

Dr. Tennent gives 5-reasons we should be wary of the theology presented in the book:
1. Rob profoundly misunderstands the Biblical notion of God’s “love.”
2. Bell has an inadequate understanding of Sin – not the little ‘s’ kind, but the big “S” kind.
3. Bell has an inadequate understanding of the Kingdom of God.
4. Bell’s solution exalts Christ’s work on the cross, but in the process sacrifices or ignores major themes in Scripture.
5. Bell drives a wedge between the ontological (theoretical) necessity of Christ’s work and the epistemological (scientific) response of explicit repentance and faith.

via www.stevansheets.com

Jeff Bezos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bezos is known for his attention to business process details. As described by Condé Nast's Portfolio.com, he "is at once a happy-go-lucky mogul and a notorious micromanager. ... an executive who wants to know about everything from contract minutiae to how he is quoted in all Amazon press releases." ^[6]

via en.wikipedia.org

How Do You Build a Youth Group | Student Ministry Resources

So if you want to build a youth group of 1000, look around you and ask God who should be your primary focus, what 12 men or women should you disciple in order to build your youth group. Of course that is the first step, the next question is what is discipleship?
 

via www.calledtoyouthministry.com

My Only Mega-issue with Megachurches - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources

This is my issue and concern. I think megachurches and their leaders are doing phenomenal ministry.  I really do.  But we’ve elevated this 1% as the epitome and face of a successful ministry and created a machine of conferences, publishers, books, and networks based on this very limited expression.

Like others, I’m interested in hearing from Groeschel, Stanley, Jakes, Gibbons, Keller, Bell, Warren, Blah blah and other “big hitters.”  But if we’ve limited the expressions of the church to this supposed 1%, what are we saying?  What’s the message we’re conveying?

There are many wonderful and faithful pastors in our local neighborhood and cities – that you’ll likely never heard of – but they should be heard from.  And if you happen to be of them reading this entry right now: Thank you for your ministry, faithfulness, and leadership.

One more story and I’ll end this entry:  During my pastorate in Korea, I grew enamored by this particular megachurch and the senior pastor (who I still consider my pastor).  But I was blown away when he shared with me one day that “this church really isn’t church.”

He knew my tenure in that church and in Korea was going to be short and he wanted to convey to me not to be too influenced by this megachurch. One week, he sent me away on a “vision trip” and arranged for me to visit small rural churches in various remote areas of South Korea. I still remember what he shared:

“Don’t pay too much attention to what we’re doing here.   Go and visit these churches.  Meet with these pastors.  Serve at these churches. Learn what you can because they are advancing the Kingdom of God.”

via www.churchleaders.com

My Only Mega-issue with Megachurches - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources

This is my issue and concern. I think megachurches and their leaders are doing phenomenal ministry.  I really do.  But we’ve elevated this 1% as the epitome and face of a successful ministry and created a machine of conferences, publishers, books, and networks based on this very limited expression.

Like others, I’m interested in hearing from Groeschel, Stanley, Jakes, Gibbons, Keller, Bell, Warren, Blah blah and other “big hitters.”  But if we’ve limited the expressions of the church to this supposed 1%, what are we saying?  What’s the message we’re conveying?

There are many wonderful and faithful pastors in our local neighborhood and cities – that you’ll likely never heard of – but they should be heard from.  And if you happen to be of them reading this entry right now: Thank you for your ministry, faithfulness, and leadership.

One more story and I’ll end this entry:  During my pastorate in Korea, I grew enamored by this particular megachurch and the senior pastor (who I still consider my pastor).  But I was blown away when he shared with me one day that “this church really isn’t church.”

He knew my tenure in that church and in Korea was going to be short and he wanted to convey to me not to be too influenced by this megachurch. One week, he sent me away on a “vision trip” and arranged for me to visit small rural churches in various remote areas of South Korea. I still remember what he shared:

“Don’t pay too much attention to what we’re doing here.   Go and visit these churches.  Meet with these pastors.  Serve at these churches. Learn what you can because they are advancing the Kingdom of God.”

via www.churchleaders.com

William Lane Craig on the Problem of Evil « Baker Book House Church Connection

This clip is admittedly brief but I think Craig does an excellent job in offering a reasonable response to the question the host asks of him: “If God is all-good and all-powerful and all-knowing then why does he allow bad things to happen to good people?”

via bbhchurchconnection.wordpress.com

Speak the truth.....AlbertMohler.com – Must a Pastor Be Married? The New York Times Asks the Question

Mr. Mohler said he tells the students at his seminary that “if they remain single, they need to understand that there’s going to be a significant limitation on their ability to serve as a pastor.”

via www.albertmohler.com

The Blazing Center » Laying the Bricks In Your Marriage

Every day we lay little bricks on the foundation of what our life will be. The bricks of words said, the bricks of actions taken, the bricks of little decisions, the bricks of little thoughts, and the bricks of small-moment desires all work together to form the functional edifice that is your marriage. So, you have to view yourself as a marital mason. You are daily on the job adding another layer of bricks that will determine the shape of your marriage for days, weeks, and years to come.

Our marriages are the product of all the “little” moments we encounter each day. A marriage doesn’t become beautiful in a day and a marriage doesn’t fall apart in a day. Rather, each of our decisions, words, and actions add another “brick” to our marriage.

When, by God’s grace, I die to myself and serve Jen, I’m building something wonderful and good into our marriage. When, because of laziness, I don’t plan time for us to get out and away from the kids, I’m building something bad into our marriage.

via www.theblazingcenter.com

The Kimyal People Receive the N.T. by Ed Stetzer - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources

The Kimyal People Receive the N.T. by Ed Stetzer - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources

Texting God | Student Ministry Resources

Do you text God? I do. I send him little 140-character-sized prayers throughout my day as things come up. Usually something like the following:

• “thx for the food.”
• “come quick. tired of all the drama.”
• “plz forgive my sins. sry.”
• “help me be a witness to my friend right now. ill open my mouth, just put the words there.”

Now we all know God’s got the best plan out there… more bars in ALL places. He’ll receive all those little text-prayers.

But putting cheesy metaphors aside, he’s the creator of the universe. He wants us to come before him with reverence and worship. When the Bible gives account of someone in the presence of God, it usually says that the person was “greatly afraid.” In Revelation, we have an account of what it’s like to approach the throne of God, and it’s scary! There is lighting everywhere, and weird creatures, and a sea, and all kinds of crazy stuff.

via www.calledtoyouthministry.com