Author: nick

I was studying over Titus 2 today and had a few thoughts:

1. Verse 1 tells us to “promote” the kind of living that reflects right teaching: Easy enough!
Why then do churches and pastors rely on guilt, manipulation, and force to bring about the kind of living that reflects right teaching? Does it make sense to believe that if you present God’s message in the way He intended it to be presented and lead people in the way that he set as an example, people’s lives will be changed through the power of His Word getting inside of them and changing them? It’s Christ who changes the hearts of man, not man who changes man.

2. As the older women are being instructed to set the appropriate example for the younger women, verse 3 says “They must not go around speaking evil of others…” – Isn’t this good instruction for all of us? Why is it that these churches and their leader who many would classify as being “dead” or “ineffective” in their ministry approach, go around and criticize and speak evil of the men and women who God is using to make His name famous? I just don’t get it! I thought it would always be the world that criticized us, the Followers of Christ, not those who are supposed to be Believers, oh wait! That’s right, it was the Pharisees that gave Jesus such a hard time! Got it!

3. This kind of goes along with #2. I know a lot of people criticize churches like Saddleback, North Point, Mosaic, New Spring, and Willow Creek for their creative approach to presenting the Good News to those who are disconnected from a relationship with Christ. They have problems with the “performance” they put on in their services. The fact is, what they are doing is very attractive! But this is what Titus says in verse 10, “Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way” – This comes after the instructions to the older men and women to teach the younger to live lives that would be pleasing and honorable to their God.

Why is it that these great churches can pull of what they pull off for Christ? Its because their pastors, their leaders, and their core volunteers are living their life recklessly for Christ outside of their leadership role! These people are passionate about Jesus, they are passionate about people and seeing their lives changed, that’s why when they do church…its attractive! Its not just something they do on Sunday, but it is what they are doing outside of Sunday. [Read Titus 2]

Nick

It doe not matter which team is your favorite. There is one name that is famous throughout the NFL, that name is Bill Walsh. The Hall of Fame Football coach that many say changed the face of professional football in the NFL. I was only a child when he helped the San Francisco 49ers build their dynasty and win their Super Bowl Championships, but I’ve grown up hearing the household name of one of the greatest coaches to play the game, Bill Walsh.

Bill Walsh died today at the age of 75. He fought a long battle with Leukemia in recent years. Even though he has been out of coaching for some time now, the NFL and its fans will miss Coach Walsh.

I went to see Shrek the Third tonight with Gavin, my 4 year old, and Nicki.
It was good. It had some very funny parts, but I prefer Shrek 1 and 2.
The funniest part of the entire movie was at the end, and Gavin stole the show.
This may serve as a spoiler if you have not seen it, but it will not hurt you…

At the beginning of the movie it shows Donkey pull the covers off of Shrek while he is in bed with Fiona, his wife. There’s no funny business going on, but Donkey tells Shrek he needs to start wearing pajamas to bed. At the end of the movie, it shows Shrek and Fiona dealing with their new babies and after they get them to bed it shows them crash as well from being so tired.
Gavin says in a normal voice as everyone is quiet, and there is no noise coming from the movie, “Hey they have clothes on!” Needless to say, Gavin stole the show and everyone lost it and broke out in laughter. The movie was set to close with possibly a few random giggles, but instead Gavin ensured that it closed out with a bang…the funniest thing is, he didn’t even know what everyone was laughing about!

Whether we like it or not, it’s gonna happen!
Barry will surpass Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record, unless of course some freak injury occurs in the next coming days to weeks. Not that I hope for anyone to be injured, but in this case I would see it as, well sort of Divine Justice.

I do believe Barry Bonds used steroids, knowingly, and I do believe if found guilty of that accusation he should lose all recognition that his cheating brought him.

All said and done, the San Fransisco Giants just finished a series with my Atlanta Braves and I am just relieved that Barry didn’t tie or break the record against the team that Hank Aaron set the record with.