working on extensive thoughts

On the 10 commandments.  Hope to have a draft up soon.

Beck intervew with Bonhoeffer scholar

This is well worth 25 minutes of your life!

Part 1 is here:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4446987/beck-why-dietrich-bonhoeffer-matters

Part 2 is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwsvV5exJ_I

Four Questions Leaders Should Ask Themselves

This is some excellent thoughts for Christian leaders! Consider these the next time you wonder if your service in the Church is really worth it! prrcb

Four Questions Leaders Should Ask Themselves
By Perry Noble [contact info for Pastor Noble at the end of the page.]

My counselor told me of a study that was performed in 2007 of people in the ministry…he said that 90% of the people entering the ministry do not finish…they either disqualify themselves or flat out quit! In light of this I wanted to share today four questions I believe leaders should ask themselves…

#1 – Did I Really Think This Would Be Easy?Read Luke 9:23…seriously, go ahead…Luke 9:23!

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

Where in the world did we ever get the idea that this was supposed to be easy? We are followers of Jesus…and He went all the way to to cross, yet for some reason we think He’s called us to recline. Saying that ministry is hard is like a Navy Seal complaining to his commanding officer that his job is too hard! The CO would simply respond, “Of course it is…you are a Navy Seal!” The same can be said in ministry…it will never be easy but it will always be worth it. (BTW…thinking that ministry should be easy is one of the quickest ways to lose heart and quit!)

#2 – Did I Really Think I Had This All Figured Out?There is no way you could possibly begin to know what God is going to do in your church in the next 3-5 years. I know I will probably get roasted for this…but I honestly think that 3-5 year strategic plans are stupid! We have NO IDEA what the condition of the world will be in the next 3-5 years…much less what our church is going to look like. We’ve simply got to learn to listen to the voice of God and follow Him one step at a time. AND…when our well devised plans and strategies seem to fall short…its probably just going to get our attention and try to focus on HIM instead of trying to get HIM to put His stamp of approval on our well developed plan! (BTW…Acts 2 was not the result of a well thought out strategy but rather a group of men and women who were completely focused on Jesus and filled with this Holy Spirit!)

#3 – Did I Really Think I Could Please Everyone?Read Luke 4:14-30…seriously, go ahead and keep in mind this is JESUS and, after his sermon people took Him to a cliff to THROW HIM OFF OF IT! (That’s a rough response to a sermon!) If He could not please everyone…neither can you! Please see Galatians 1:10…our call is to please HIM, not “them!” When we make it our goal to keep the sheep happy we will wind up disappointing the Chief Shepherd and live a ministry life of disappointment and frustration.

#4 – Did I Really Think I Could Do This On My Own?So…read Zechariah 4:6…seriously! One of the things that success can do to us (if we are not careful) is force us into a mindset that we are somehow responsible for God’s blessing, and we’ve got to work really hard to “out-do” ourselves. The result of this type of thinking is always burnout and unbelievable stress. God called us so that He would work THROUGH us…and HIS power working through us is ALWAYS the difference maker. Allowing Him to work in us, preparing us, revealing Himself to us and shaping us is the BEST way we can do what He has called us to do.

Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church. Here more of his thoughts on the Perry Noble Leadership Podcast or on his blog PerryNoble.com.

Some Great Books for Christmas

In a world where more is better, I wanted to pass along some books to bring things into perspective.

The first is a book on life in America during the “Great Depression” called We Had Everything But Money. It is a dozen chapters on different aspects of life in the United States from the late 1920s until “the War” began. I picked it up and could not put it down. It has great photography, and several hundred authors who write a few paragraphs or a few pages of recollections. Amazon.com has it for about $25 used and it is well worth the price.

The second is a powerful picture book entitled, Material World: A Global Family Portrait. It is a photo book of dozens of worldwide families displaying everything they own in front of their homes. It is a bit dated as the family in the US, a Texas family no less, all are sporting 80s hair- cuts. But I have never had a book put our lives into perspective like this one. When you see an oriental family with a small couch/bed and a few clothes and trinkets, all sitting in front of what can only be described as a “shack”…it reminds me how very blessed we are. Amazon.com offers this book for about $16 new.

Watching the TV Preachers

I could have bought some herbs.
I heard about how successful I could be.
I listened for five minutes to one “lady” who could not decide what verses she wanted to expound upon. Then upon choosing the verse [John 1:11] totally missed the point of the verse.
I learned how exercise can help me get more in tune with my spiritual side.
I had the opportunity to buy the tape, CD, DVD either individually or the whole series.
I was told by a large man in a large pulpit, “you have got to get your arms around this…”
I was impressed by packed auditoriums.
I was saddened by what was missing from every single one of the preachers.

There was no Jesus.
No cross.
No redemption.
No blood.
No sacrifice.
No one talked about sin, so there was no need for forgiveness.
None spoke of grace, atonement, mercy, or faith.

There was no Jesus.

In a world desperate for truth, brothers, preach Christ Jesus crucified, risen, and coming again.
Among a nation of pretenders, be the bearers of the Cross. It is the only hope.

pax,
prrcb

What brings “real” change on Life Issues?

Recently our area was in the national spotlight and for something different than the normal “football, strange weather, or economic indicator” reasons. If you have your ear to the tracks at all, you have read or heard about the director of our local Planned Parenthood resigning and joining the Bryan [Texas] based national ministry “Coalition for Life.”

In all the interviews I have heard or read, Ms. Abby Johnson is asked “Why?”

She always answers the same, having viewed an abortion via ultrasound, she watched a baby fight for it’s life and die struggling. She says at that moment she decided she was on the wrong end of this business.

It is an amazing story and one that has sent shockwaves through both the pro-abortion and right-to-life camps. Before I had even heard the story a friend in Iowa sent me a text asking what I was doing down there in Texas? As if I had anything at all to do with this!

So what did really happen?

Yes, I understand that Ms. Johnson saw a child murdered. Yes, I understand that it repulsed her and she realized that she was not helping women, but assisting in their and their baby’s destruction.

But WHAT happened? I would like to offer you what I believe is the reality of this woman’s miraculous change of heart.

On any given Saturday, and on many week days, the grass outside Bryan Planned Parenthood is occupied by a small group of “protestors.” They face the building, not the street, which might be confusing to you as you would expect protestors to face the traffic which was passing by. Instead, with their backs to the street, and their heads bowed, they face the clinic where women are lied to and children are murdered.

And they pray.

Having stood with them on several occasions, they pray for our Lord Jesus to change hearts and minds. They pray for the Holy Spirit to move upon those whose pregnancies have caused them distress, as well as those who are counseling them. They pray for our country, for our leaders, and for the babies whose lives are at great risk. They pray!

In a discussion that has become completely politicized, closely divided by party lines and dogmatized to the point that real debate rarely happens, our brothers and sisters at Coalition for Life have chosen the most effective approach. Instead of seeking a promise for a political candidate whose real mind has long been made up, they have approached The One who changes minds long made up.

If abortion is the great evil which the Catechism and the Scriptures teach it is, then the most appropriate way to combat evil is to invoke the Name that is above every name. We have long looked at elections as the primary way to effect change. Perhaps we have been seeking to influence the wrong ones.

January is typically the month we remember the Supreme Court decision which paved the way for abortion on demand as it is practiced in our county. Since the 1970s, “life issues” have become so much more than abortion. Now in our national debate we discuss assisted-suicide, euthanasia, forced birth-control, and numerous end-of-life issues. If I have learned anything from this event in my own front yard, it is that the prayer of the righteous is effective and that “the gates of hell cannot withstand it.”

Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. In Your great grace, preserve Life in our world. Amen.

prrcb

4 great short videos for parents of daughters

Got Girls?

We do, three of them. And looking good is SO important to thier little hearts. Tell them that they are beautiful–EVERY DAY. Don’t think it is important, take a look at the videos on the link: http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx[cp-documentid=7049579]/

PALS Recruitment Notes

If you are interested in an outline of the session I did in St. Louis, send me along an email and I will forward them to you, thanks.

fastpastor@hotmail.com

Great Bible Study Site

Check out a great Bible study site. I was looking for a good map and it has tons. All free, but most are older resources. www.biblos.com

Five Minutes With Luther

http://www.lulu.com/content/3649688

This is a link to a free download of a daily devotional. Each day uses writings of Luther to set the tone for one’s work. Take a look.