Check out this awesome video of Jack Bauer interrogating Santa Clause.
“And oh yeah Jack…Merry Christmas!”
h/t: The Rebel Viral Team
Make Money Going to Church?
A Chicago church has started giving away $1,000 each week in various amounts through a weekly lottery. Church attendees who are sitting in the winning seat win whatever the amount is for that drawing. Needless to say, the church attendance has increased dramatically since the lottery began.Ā I definitely have some questions of my own about the idea and I think William Schweiker, the Theological Ethicist from the University of Chicago, who was interviewed in the video brought up some great points as well, about what this may promote & teach. So, now its your turn…What do you think about the idea of a church holding a lottery to draw new attendees from the community? Is it a bad thing? Does it allow for more people to hear the Gospel (if its preached)? Does it promote a “Prosperity” Gospel? Can we really speak clearly on Pastor Dan Willis’ motives? Dive in…What’s your thoughts?
One Last Year
Well….that dreaded time of my life has arrived. I seriously think I am having an early midlife crisis; I was on the drive home last night and I felt my chest hurting, sure some could say that it was just indigestion or something of the sort, but I swear it was 30 knocking on my door, and a heart attack or stroke about to take me to meet my Maker!
Yes, today I (and maybe a few others) celebrate my turning 29. That’s just a sober reminder that I have 364 days until my clock ticks past the big 30. Seriously, how did I get this old, this fast? It really feels like a blip on the radar. Other than the 4 gray hairs I’ve been able to count amongst my regularly colored hair, I feel like I am still a teenager. Wow! How many old people have I heard say that? And then they are in a pine box the next day.
I am thankful for all 29 years of my life (Disclaimer: I am actually typing this a day early and scheduling it for my birthday, so if IĀ am found dead, just ignore this line…I meant to say I am thankful for all 28 years of my life!) Thinking back, I have nothing to complain about, only things to be thankful for, here’s a handful, if you care to see how God has blessed me:
1. Life
2. I was raised on a solid foundation by loving parents
3. I have the sexiest wife on the planet (I was able to secure her before I was even 20…I know, I’m smart, very smart)
4. I have 3 of the most amazing, beautiful children on the planet…yes even more amazing than yours.
5. A Wonderful family (sisters, brother, cousins, aunts, uncles, Granparents, and the in-laws)
5. My dream was to visit California once in my life…I’ve been there 6 times now.
6. I have Amazing friends (and we let Laura Kerr hang around, because we like her husband, Trevor)
7. I get to pastor amazing people at an amazing church (New Passion Church)
8. I’ve got a home, a hot shower, a comfortable bed, a leak-free roof, a car to get me where I need to go, a job to help pay the bills, lights that work, food in the refrigerator, a stove to cook my food (and a wife who is a good cook).
9. A computer to connect me to the rest of the world via Twitter & Facebook
11. I got fat in my 20’s & I lost it all in my late 20’s. It was an interesting ride, but I don’t intend on going back that way (I truly cannot afford to anyway. Its going to take 8 years to replace the 8 years worth of clothes I had to give away)
10. The tiny impact I hope I’ve been allowed to make in the lives of students and adults through the ministries God has allowed me to be a part of. I only hope my influence changes someone’s world within their lifetime.
Though I could go on and on and on…I need to get started on the 364 days I have left until I am 30. I’ve got a lot to do, just in case I don’t make it, or I break a hip or something. Happy Birthday to Me! š
A Stepping Stone
Friday night, we had our first annual adult Christmas party for New Passion Church. I believe it was a major stepping stone for our church and that this one little party could serve as a huge turning point for us.
I believe relationships are the key to success in any church and in any ministry. I remember starting small groups in our student ministry at a former church. I believed in creating smaller environments where our growing group of students could be known and cared for. It worked. I remember our high school group starting in Billy’s 3 bedroom apartment. We had 4 and 5 groups meeting in that one apartment. We utilized bedrooms, the living room, the kitchen…anywhere we could fit kids, we did it.
They were successful. I believe for several reasons. Students felt like they were involved, they found out that there were caring adults who were genuinely concerned for them, and they grew spiritually. I think this environment made it comfortable for students to invite their friends, therefore we grew even more.
I saw some great chemistry on Friday night. Wives who literally just met were standing around talking as if they were friends for 18 years. People who literally come through the doors of the school where we meet, drop their kid off, attend service, pick their kid up, and leave for home (in that specific order) were able to stop for a little while and interact with our team and with other people from the church. There was a lot of smiles and a lot of laughter. It was a great night. Sunday rolled around and some of those same people who are in and out of the church in a flash, slowed down just a little bit and enjoyed conversation with some of their new friends from the church. There was a buzz surrounding our Community Groups which will be kicking off on January 10, 2010.
I believe healthy relationships are a key ingredient to a healthy church, and I believe Friday night’s party helped add that ingredient to New Passion Church…I can’t wait to see what happens once our groups get off the ground. New Passion will be an unstoppable force! I guarantee it š
The Devastation of Losing Trust
Tiger Woods was completely wrong; I think we would all agree with that, unless you are currently cheating on your husband or wife. I believe everyone has problems in their lives, so to throw stones at him would be wrong from a spiritual standpoint, but totally justified from a human standpoint.
I’ve never really liked Tiger Woods. He comes across as arrogant and rude. So, I typically pull for anyone who plays against him, especially my favorite lefty-golfer, Phil Mickelson. However, I do want to see Tiger restored as a person and I want to see his marriage restored, not just for the sake of the children or a business deal, but because Tiger and his wife Elin are people.
I do think however, Tiger has put himself in a position that is going to be extremely hard to overcome and to receive that restoration. One of the greatest things that Tiger has ruined in this situation is his trust. Losing trust in a marriage (or in any relationship) is a devastating thing. I believe trust is no different than faith. You are blindly committing to someone all of who you are, believing that in the end, they will have been a good steward of what you’ve given. Tiger destroyed his trust. I think it would have been easier for Elin & Tiger had he made this choice with one mistress, but now they are reporting up to 10 or 11, possibly more.
But, there lies the problem for Tiger and why his choices have become so devastating for his future. Who can trust anything he says? When trust is lost, the negative and the worst is always assumed. One of Tiger’s mistresses, Jamie Grubbs, issued a heart-felt (haha!) apology to Elin, Tiger’s wife. Click Here for Video – I’ve never seen worst acting in my life, and I don’t think what she says in the video is true. (Ask my wife, I’ve got a scary talent for discerning people) But, what can Tiger say? How can he refute anything she says and be believed? In addition, another 5 to 10 women could come out and accuse Tiger of having an affair with them. As soon as some women see the dollar signs these other ladies are bringing in, the temptation to accuse will arise. Where were these women before all of this news broke? Why come forward now? Publicity & money. I guarantee, their names have been Googled several thousands of times in the recent weeks. So, how can Tiger refute anyone who falsely accuses him? He can’t. His trust is crushed into a million pieces and it will take a long time for him to reshape them into anything worth accepting. Forgiveness can be immediate, but when trust is lost, it takes time to rebuild.
The trust Tiger lost may very well have cost him his career or at least limited him to what tournaments he can play in as a pro golfer. Will this cause his sponsors to jump ship? Will it prevent him from breaking some of the world records held by some of Golf’s greatest legends, that he was bound to break? Will it ultimately cost him his marriage because he is not willing to make the sacrifices to his career that Elin is requiring? All of that is still to be seen. Right now, Tiger’s kingdom appears to be crumbling around him.
I am and have been praying for his family, and that God would reveal himself to them through this situation. I hope to see them restored in the future.