Category: interesting stuff

Summer vacation is over. Jan began classes at the school where she teaches, and I began in-service meetings this week. Our students come back on the 22nd. I’m not sure what my duties will be this year, as they’ve made a few changes. I’m sure that whatever I’m assigned to do will change multiple times throughout the year.

Here is some of what I’ve been reading this week:

Good post about church planting.
The felicity of Christ.
So, apparently God runs a fast food franchise? Sad.
Arthur Sido asks a good question.
Image vs. reality (HT: Scot McKnight).

The paradox of generous living.
Beautiful! (HT: Jake Belder)
Ronnie McBrayer on doubt.
The Internet Monk on baseball.
Alan Knox on doctrine.

Everybody wants to rule the world.
A parable.
Good poem by Emily Gibson.
For the sick.
Helping each other follow Jesus.

Is it really all that matters?
Interesting, and disturbing.
Finding ekklesia.
Great story.
Interesting post.

Have a blessed week

Summer camp is over and it’s bittersweet. I get to sleep in for a few days before school starts and can get some things done around the house. I always enjoy driving the shuttle bus and hanging out with the folks at camp, and I will miss that. It’s a nice change of pace from the school year and replaces the coaching money I earn during the school year. It has cooled down a bit here in the sunny South and there hasn’t been as much sun as usual. The Olympics are winding down, and the United States teams have done well. As a matter of fact, I heard that if the US women were a country, they would be third in the medal count, behind the US and China. Not too shabby.

Anyway, here are the links:

Been there.
This is very good.
Good post by Cindy Johnston.
Alan Knox on unity.

Standing on a new frontier.
Three little words.
Love vs. power.
Surprising encouragement.

Craig Schmidt on what Jesus gives.
Encouraging post from Ronnie McBrayer.
On giving to others.
Not irrevocably broken.

Interesting post from Kansas Bob.
Another look from Lisa Dye.
What makes it Christian?
God is bigger.

Absolutely crazy.
Not the church’s greatest need.
Scot McKnight agrees with John Piper.
What Jesus does not want.

I hope you enjoy reading a small part of the good writing on the web. Have a blessed week.

Weekend Wanderings was off last week. Jan and I helped a friend move last Thursday and Friday, then drove to my sister’s house for the weekend. While we were exhausted, the weekend was very restful. This week has been busy, but again the weekend promises to be restful. Our daughter, Jennie is in town for a few days and we are enjoying spending time with her. It’s been interesting watching the Olympics. It’s appropriate that they are in Great Britain, because some of the stories that have come out seem like they could have been Monty Python skits. A scandal in badminton? Really?

Anyway, here are the gold medal links for the week:

A tough lesson to learn.
Be afraid.
Junia’s friends.
Scorned?
2012 church olympics.

We all need a tender heart.
Good questions from Eric Carpenter.
Good post from Frank Viola.
Brant Hansen on evil.
Dan Edelen on Romans 8:28.

The awesomeness of Jesus.
Oops!
Alan Knox has a good question.
Atrocities and the nagging question.
A question from J.R. Miller.

Just like Jesus.
What about next Wednesday?
Arthur Sido on rendering to Caesar.
“Enter to worship…leave to serve.”
Getting wet.

Jeff Dunn writes about isolation.
Ronnie McBrayer on what is behind the beauty.
Mercy.
Here’s a new airline to try (HT: Scot McKnight).
An iMonk classic.

I hope you enjoy the reading. Have a blessed week!

This has been a good week. Jan and I have seen God do some amazing things, as he has allowed us to be reconciled with a friend. It has rained every afternoon here in the sunny South, and we seem to be in a pattern where it’s going to continue for a while. Pray for the victims of the horrific shooting in Aurora, Colorado and their families. Pray also that those who would try to make political or other hay out of this tragedy would be seen for what they are, and that grace and compassion would rule.

Here are the links:

Arthur Sido on Aurora and some lessons.
How do you know how to do this?
The sermon.
Frank Viola on pettiness.
Good news.

Alternative insurance.
Mr Toad and Pentecost.
Stephen Mattson on America’s forgotten poor.
Good post from Ronnie McBrayer.
A changing sense of mission.

Too many leaders?
Alan Knox on the interconnected church.
A plant that feared the sun.
Sermons in stones.
Pig pens and band aids.

Todd Hiestand on hope.
What is the real story here?
Hugging the rock.
A question from Alan Knox.
How many of us have done this?

Have a blessed week!

Another week has come and gone. It’s been a little cooler here in the sunny South, after a week of temperatures around 100 degrees. Summer break continues, and it doesn’t seem to be going by too quickly.

Without further ado, here are the links:

Eric Carpenter on sacrificing.
Jared Wilson on humility.
Just gotta love ’em.
The consumption monster.

Ronnie McBrayer knows how to handle a hammer.
Jesus and exorcism.
Quiet leadership.
Mark Galli on transformation.

What’s love got to do with it?
Glorious and messy (HT: Alan Knox).
Keith Giles on resistance.
Suburban olympics.

Chaplain Mike on being OK.
For the coffee drinkers.
Sometimes just being together is enough.
An author of note.
The forgotten character.

Have a blessed week!

This past week, Jan and I celebrated our 32nd anniversary. We went to a bed & breakfast about an hour or so from here. Wednesday afternoon, we visited a winery, toured the property, tasted samples of their wine, and bought a bottle of Muscadine. That evening, we had dinner at a very nice restaurant, and then spent the rest of the evening relaxing at the inn. The inn is in a house that was built in 1879, and has been in operation for four years. It’s run by a disabled veteran who used to be an executive chef at the White House. Needless to say, breakfast the next morning was absolutely delicious. We took a tour of the grounds, relaxed for a bit more, and then came home. It was a wonderful time away. It’s hot here in the sunny South, as it is in just about the whole country. We’re expecting a break from the heat next Monday and I hope the rest of the folks get the break as well.

Here are the links:

We’re studying the book of Mark in our church gatherings. This is powerful.
How many of you remember Bobby Hurley from Duke?
The most dangerous man (or woman).
11 months, 3000 pictures, and a lot of coffee (HT: Jake Belder).
Kansas Bob on Jesus as the reality.
Doing the work of division.

Another kind of olympic games.
Swanny on freedom.
The Gospel and order.
Kingdom and cross.
Arthur Sido on July 4th.

Alan Knox on community and mission.
This would be why mass produced tomatoes don’t have much taste.
An iMonk classic on Luther.
J.R. Miller on freedom and grace.
Dan Edelen on authenticity and church.

Nate Pruitt on dreaming.
Frank Viola on mysticism.
Linda Brendle on remembering.
Eric Carpenter on edification.
Unity begins and ends in Christ.

Good post from Kansas Bob.
Chaplain Mike on Psalm 121.
Doing the work of unity.
Prayer without words.
Just who do you think you are?

There’s a little bit for you to read this week. Hope it’s a blessed one!

Summer has hit full on here in the sunny South. It has been above 100 degrees the last two days, and is expected to stay that way for the next two. After that it’s going to cool all the way down to the high 90s. A large area of the country is under record high temperatures and dry conditions so, a number of cities are cancelling 4th of July fireworks for fear of setting fires. Our town still has the pyrotechnics scheduled, but you never know. Pray for folks who may be without AC, or who have to be out working in this heat, as well as for this impacted by the recent storms.

Here is a sampling of the good things on the web:

I guess some folks see a difference?
Thanks, Ghandi.
If you find yourself praying.
This could be the issue that tips the election (HT: iMonk).
I know some folks who would go for this.

New theory on Stonehenge (HT: Scot McKnight).
What’s in a name?
How new is it?
Who’s in charge?
Mortgaging the ministry.

Bobby Auner takes us back to preschool.
Arthur Sido on rest.
Taking Jesus seriously.
More like fruit that grows.
Alan Knox on duplication.

Have a great week! I hope your AC continues to work.

School is out and summer vacation has officially started. At least in some places. Some of the districts will be in for another week. Now that June is here, the weather has cooled off a bit here in the sunny South. I’ve heard that other parts of the country are experiencing cooler temperatures as well.

Here are some of the best of the past week:

Michael Bird on the same-sex marriage debate (HT: Jake Belder).
Assent and belief.
Ross Gale on God’s calling.
How the genius thinks.

Smile?
Kansas Bob has some ideas for elevator riders.
A missional moment with Jesus.
Doing the math.

Is Anabaptism the answer? Arthur Sido says no.
Women in early Christianity.
Alan Knox on community and community.
Nate Pruitt on faith and family secrets.

Good post from Dan Allen.
Never kill a question.
Good one from Eric Carpenter.
The 14 most popular pilgrimage sites, none of which are in this country.

Be careful about which sunscreen you use.
Trust and love…now what?
“Bible codes” just seem to never go away (HT: iMonk).
The fog.

That God kind of love.
This is good.
A parable.
Not one jot or tittle.

Since this is Sunday, I will wish you a blessed week.

This has been an interesting week here in the sunny South. The temperatures have climbed up and are pretty much where we expect them to be. It is Memorial Day weekend, and many of the churches around here will be honoring those who served and died for this nation. While I am extremely grateful for all those who gave their lives for our country, I do think some go overboard when they take a time which is supposed to be focused on Christ, and focus on men, especially when the sacrifice those folks made is lifted up to the same level as Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. That being said, I do believe we should honor those who died for our political freedom, just not in a gathering for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

Here are the links:

Pray in the disarray.
A proverb from Mike Erich.
Preaching the Gospel to unbelievers is bad?
Alan Knox on the church.
Should tithing count as charitable giving?

Todd Hiestand on this broken and beautiful world.
If Christ is Lord, everything matters.
iMonk asks a good question.
Doubting Thomas or Honest Tom?
Fill in the blank…

Kansas Bob on exalting and humbling.
Church vs. Jesus.
Frank Viola on Calvinists and Arminians.
Getting to the bottom of it.
Arthur Sido on church membership and widows.

Scripture as a mirror.
Pam Hogeweide on the art of relationship.
How much more is enough?
“But” out of God’s love.
The righteous mind.

Have a fantastic Memorial Day, and a blessed week!