Mirror242

I bet you’ve been there before.  One week everyone loves you, the next week your in the dog house with everyone.  If you know that feeling you can image being Mark Driscoll, only in his case, it’s like on steriods.  Not long ago Driscoll was the darling of the conservative evangelical church, he is part of the Gospel Coalition, preaching passages that most pastors avoid, yelled at men to get their act together in homes and starting being the leaders God called them to be… good stuff!  He seemed to be on everyone’s A+.  Other pastors talking about him, copying him, promoting his books (and reading them and copying them in their messages), and having him speak at their conferences.  Then… WHAM! View full article »

So I’m in the gym the other night.  They have like 5 televisions in the Cardio Room.  Normally they have a mixture of News and Sports on.  The other night for the first time that I have seen there, they had on Mixed Martial Arts (Cage Fighting / UFC) event.  For a couple of different reason I have never gotten into watching MMA.  But that night at the gym – I did.  After running I came back several times between sets and watched.  In fact I found myself annoyed when I missed seeing the winner of one match that I saw the beginning of.  As I drove home I thought back about why I was drawn back to see the fights.  As I thought about it, the only honest answer I came to, I didn’t really like.  I was rubber necking.  Like driving down the road and seeing a car wreck ahead and slowing down as you pass to for no particular reason other then to see the mess.  I know other people say they have good reason for enjoying watching the sport.  Here are 3  view from a Marine Corp veteran, a former football coach / missionary and former Cage fighter.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/january/cage-fighting.html?start=1

How about you?

1.  Who’s view did find yourself most in agreement with?

2.  Why?

I told a friend this morning that I’m not really shocked by much of what I hear or read anymore.  I wish I had a dollar for every time some said, “You’ll never believe… (fill in the blank)”.  In my job, I think I really have heard just about everything!

But this story did make me shrink back… View full article »

I recently made a comment, that upon further review, I wish I could take back.  It’s to late to undo what was said but there is plenty of time to practice what I said I was considering doing less of… View full article »

I’m not sure that there is ever a time of year that people enjoy talking about death and even if you’re on Santa’s “naughty list” Christmas maybe the least likely time to bring up the subject.  Just over a week ago (December 15th) Christopher Hitchens went to meet his maker.  I say it with no joy.  Although he was a protagonist of much of what I believe about God, I highly valued his voice.  Over the years I have to recognize that I learn as much (and sometimes more) from people who hold views that oppose and challenge my own as I do from those that affirm what I tend to believe.  One of the gifts that Hitchens used so well, was his ability to bring clarity to the objections that so many people have about the existence of God. View full article »

In a few weeks we’ll start a new series “Dating, Marriage, Sex”.  Wonder why it’s it one of the most popular series we have done from the past?    Here is some inside dirt on why I think the topic of marriage is worth spending so much time on. View full article »

I’ve got 4 boys and a one girl.  You don’t have to spend long with my family to see that our boys are different from our daughter.  It’s easy to overgeneralize but I believe it is plain to see: men and women are different.  Early this week I was reading about the race to the South Pole.  Some of the most dramatic stories of heroism and leadership that I have ever read are associated with these expeditions.  This week on the anniversary of the accomplishment, as I was reading the story about the “race” to be the first to reach the South Pole, I was struck by some of the pictures.  Men with frostbite, their bodies wasted to skeletons, clearly suffering the physical effects of the effort.  Some died, and yet many returned after pervious failures to try again!  As I was lying in bed, another thought came to me: “what a bunch of idiots”!  Risk life and limb to say you were the first person to stand on a frozen patch of the globe?  Ha!  Maybe this is part of the proof: Men are dumber than women. View full article »

I have been trying to keep up with Albert Mohler’s blog for some time now. One recurring theme he has been posting about lately is the reliability of the virgin birth of Jesus. This is interesting, because a lot of theologians, pastors and elders fall down on both sides of for and against the doctrine. View full article »

I’m gonna encourage you to spend $2.99.  One of the first Bible verses I memorized was Psalm 119:9&11 (How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.)  I think God has really use verse memorization over the years to help me.  I started with the Topical Memory System flash cards from Nav Press.  Over years I have used the TMS to help people I disciple to memorize verses.  Now you can download their App’s (available for both iPhone and Android).   It’s a great way to help you memorize verses!   Most of are using our phones more and more.  What a great way to hide God’s Word in your phone… er your heart!

Here is a link to download it:

iPhone:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/verseminder-topical-memory/id380775887?mt=8

Android:  https://market.android.com/details?id=com.navpress.verseminder&hl=en

The life of a dog.  Some dogs do live better then others though.  How about having a 3 million dollar trust fund, and living in an 7 bedroom, 8.3 million dollar mansion.  The life of that dog… a Chihuahua names “Conchita”… View full article »