End of Week Links

// Very creative worship experience – Watch it
// Get some sweet end of the summer backgrounds for your desktop HERE
// Good thoughts on our urgency (or lack thereof) in evangelism – HERE
// Big news and big changes coming up in my life – HERE
// Obama has lost the election – according to Jason he has because of THIS
// What does a missional church look like? Interesting

Recap of the Olympics

Like the rest of you, I am sad the Olympics are over.  It is now time for some of my Post-Olympic Awards.  These awards are just my opinion and represent some of the most special moments and athletes that I was able to watch.

Best Clutch Performance
- There were so many to choose from,  but gotta go with Phelp’s .01 second victory in the 100M Butterfly

Most Freakish Athlete
- Usain Bolt – broke world records without even trying?  This guy is a freak of nature.   

Most Intriguing Sport to Watch
- Group Rythmic Gymnastics – Only got to watch them a little bit on the last day, but WOW, these girls did some crazy things with hula hoops and jump ropes

Most Intimidating Athlete
- Elisa Casanova – Italian Water Polo Team – she is one scary dude -> Elisa Casanova

Most Emotional Victory
- USA Men’s Volleyball – they rose to the occasion and won it all despite the terrible tragedy that happened at the beginning of the Olympics

Most Insane Athlete
- Any Marathon Runner – 26 5 minute miles – you’ve got to be kidding me.

Olympic Sport I Am Least Likely to Let My Kid Play Someday
-   Trampoline – Did you see how high they were getting? And you would think they would use a bigger trampoline – or at least a big net around it like they have in the stores.  Not safe.

I could go on and on, but for time’s sake I won’t. What were some of your awards from the Olympics?

Good works necessary???

Titus 1:16 – “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.  They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
Titus 2:7 – Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works…”
Titus 2:14 – “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 3:8b – “… so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are profitable for people.”
Titus 3:14 – “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works…” 

Titus is not a very big book.  It is small letter written by Paul to young helper Titus.  As I read through it recently, it seemed like Paul was talking a lot about doing good works.  But I thought the Gospel wasn’t about our works or anything we could do?  Well of course it isn’t, and Paul knows this and he lets us know:

Titus 3:5-7 – “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 

So why the apparent preoccupation with good works through the rest of the book?  Paul writes about good works as though they are not a means of salvation or being justified, but that they should be a necessary response and natural reaction to what God has done for us through Jesus.  I’m thinking he had a pretty good idea of what he was talking about.  Hmmm…. I wonder if that means anything for me as an heir today?  

Round 15 – Here We Go

So I was thinking today… I am about to start my 15th semester of school after high school – YOW!! Now I know what you are thinking – I should either be really really smart (or stupid?) or have some fancy initials that go with my name (ie PhD, M.Div, MD, etc) – but yeah, I’m not and I don’t. But what I do have is:

• a knack for finding the cheapest/used books online very quickly
• a no-fear/bring-it-on mentality when tests come along because I have seen it all 
• random (more frequent lately) spurts of apathy towards homework
• the masterful skill of skim-reading
• the art of fluffing papers (yeah you know it happens)
• and last but not least (by any means), debt

So as I gear up for another semester and shell out some more $ for more books for more professors for more classes for more degrees, I honestly pray that I will remember WHO this life is for and that I never stop learning and struggling and challenging myself to be all that God wants me to be. For those of the rest of you beginning another term, hang in there and do your best to bring God glory.

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward”

A trip to the DMV License Office

So, yesterday morning I had to go to the DMV to get my license plates renewed.  Just FYI, I think I would rather go to the dentist and have a root canal than go to the DMV office.  My typical trip to the DMV usually looks like this:

1 – Squeeze through line at front door and walk to end of very long line
2 – Stand in line for at least an hour with a bunch of grumpy strangers assuming I am not going to have some extremely important document when I get up to the desk and will have to come back later and repeat this all again
3 – Finally get up to desk and explain what I need to get done to the nice lady behind the counter
4 – Nice lady starts fumbling through my paperwork that I just handed her and begins to have puzzled look on her face
5 – I start holding my breath and praying that I have everything in order
6 – Nice lady starts asking me confusing questions about property taxes, county residence, inspections, titles, applications blah blah
7 – I stare back blankly at her because honestly I have no idea what she is talking about. 
8 – Nice lady writes a list of the 47 documents that I need to find and bring to her in perfect condition in order for me to get a freaking license plate renewed!!!!
9 – I briefly try to plead for mercy, stating that I have been in line for over an hour and asking “why can’t all of these unnecessary documents that I brought equal a few of the necessary documents that I need”  
10 – (still)Nice lady says she is sorry but that I have to have the right documents with the correct signatures in order for her to process my request
11 – I leave frustrated and confused, wishing for that root canal.

After my episode yesterday, I wondered if some people mistakenly feel this way about church or God.  Maybe they feel as though they can’t be accepted by God or church people unless they have all the right “paperwork” in order with the “t’s crossed and the i’s dotted.”  I think many people misunderstand this about God.  Thankfully, God accepts us with all of our wrong “paperwork” and gives us more than we could ever ask for.  It’s like if I were to go in to get new license plates and then the nice lady gives me the keys to a brand new Porsche.  God’s gift of eternal life is more than any of us deserve or could even ask for.  Through Christ’s death on the cross and payment for our sins, He accepts us into His family despite all of our imperfections.  I am so grateful that Christ accepts just us as we are, but then loves us too much to leave us that way, as He begins to change us from the inside out.

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Summer Olympic Rankings – Rd. 1

So far, in 2008:

My Top 5 Favorite Events to Watch:

1. Swimming Relays (especially after last night!! – lots of drama) 

2. Indoor Volleyball (once every 4 years do I get to see my sport on TV!!!)

3. Team Handball (don’t understand any of the rules – but it looks like it would be a lot of fun to play)

4. Women’s Diving (where the heck do they go when they hit the water?? It’s like they disappear without even making a ripple)

5. Rowing (I have no idea why, but there is something mesmerizing about the little boats flying past the little dots in the water)

My Least 5 Favorite Events to Watch:

1. Cycling (the scenery is the only redeeming quality – otherwise, boooring)

2. Men’s Diving (seriously, could we please wear a little more swimsuit? maybe those full body suits that some of the swimmers wear?)

3. Women’s Gymnastics – Balance Beam (makes me sick to my stomach – I am completely terrified for them)

4. Fencing (seriously, what’s with all the yelling and poking? I don’t get it)

5. Men’s gymnastics – Pommel Horse (one wrong move and those guys are in some serious pain – it’s tough to watch)

WCA Leadership Summit-isms

  

Here are some quotes from a few of the speakers that I was privileged to hear over the last couple of days – and this doesn’t even scratch the surface.

Gary Haugen – International Justice Mission

• “One of the biggest barriers to people receiving the gospel is the belief that God is good.”
• “If God is passionate about something, then He is also responsible for it.”
• “If you want to ignite passion and purpose….lead them on a more demanding climb where it is unsafe to go….and the people you are leading will run to God.”

Bill George – Harvard Business School

• 21st Century Leadership = Align -> Empower -> Serve -> Collaborate
• “Leadership is not about power…it is about empowering other people.”
• “Follow your compass, not your clock.”

John Burke – Gateway Community Church

• “Making and maintaining good soil is everything for making beauty grow.”
• “One simple thing: STAY connected, in the context of authentic community…and that CHANGES people!”

Craig Groeschel – LifeChurch.tv

• “In order to reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things that no one else is doing.”
• “Failure is not an option, it is a necessity.”
• “Organizations that have IT, have leaders that have IT.”

Chuck Colson – Prison Fellowship Ministries

• “The Great Commission is not about making converts, it is about making disciples.”
• “If you are shepherd, your job is not to pander to your people; you job is to lead them to the Truth.”
• “We don’t impose – we propose.”
• “Christianity is a worldview, seeing all of life through the eyes of God.”

Catherine Rohr – Prison Entrepreneurship Program

• “I have no privacy. I sacrifice privacy, but gain a lot of accountability.”
• “I can’t imagine what I’d be missing out on if I wasn’t following in obedience. I’m on the greatest adventure of my life.”
• “I dare you to pray, “Bring it on God!” and watch out what God will do!”

It’s About Time

Well, after about a year of being an observer of the blogosphere, I have decided to jump in and participate.  I look forward to expressing my thoughts and opinions about life, ministry, culture, etc. and joining in on some of the great conversations that happen in the blogging world. 

Over the past year of reading blogs, I have noticed many different types of blogs.  As most of you know, blogs can range from a spiritual, intimate journal to a personal photo album with captions.  Part of the reason I have held off on starting a blog is because I have struggled with what I wanted my blog to be about and how I wanted to organize it.  Well, I’ve finally decided stop worrying and start writing.  Seriously, how organized should something called a “blog” really be? 

I have noticed that one important characteristic of a good, quality blog is that it is consistently updated.  I don’t read many blogs that are not updated regularly, and I don’t think other people do either.  Therefore, my goal is to update this blog on a regular basis.

Hope you enjoy the ride. Let’s do this.