Monday, August 31, 2009

Local rapper Proverb Newsome shares the Gospel in Cambodia | The Good News

image Below is a link to an article about Proverb Newsome that I wrote for this month's issue of the Good News.

Local rapper Proverb Newsome shares the Gospel in Cambodia | The Good News

Book Review: Knowing Christ Today

image

Knowing Christ Today
Author: Dallas Willard
New York, HarperCollins, 2009
Number of pages: 212

The universe hangs on the Word of God but knowledge of God is not treated as a credible by contemporary scholars and educators. What can actually be known about God is not even given passing consideration but off-handedly and unfairly relegated to education ghettos by those responsible for educating about what is real and knowable.

"In practical terms, reality is what you rely on... Mistakes about reality lead to brutal encounters with it. Illusion, a mistake about what is real, is what will let you down, what you cannot count on. Knowledge of reality tends toward successful and confident interactions with reality," writes author Dallas Willard. "The double minded person is someone with a reality problem."

Christian Spiritual truths are a body of knowledge and should be treated as such. They are not a hunch. They are not strong feelings. Christian Spiritual truths are reality and can be known and taught as verifiable reality.

"[Atheists] literally do not know what they are talking about when it comes to knowing Christ as a life that some people actually live. They have not taken the trouble to understand even what they could know as 'outsiders' by sympathetically studying the lives of the great 'insiders,'" says Willard.

"'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks the door will be opened' (Matt. 7:7-8). If, after some serious effort, you find that this is 'not working' for you, stand back and reflect on what part of what you are seeking is not really wanted or what part of you does not want God's way."

Willard challenges those with the most serious responsibility of teaching about God and reality. "Pastor - spokespeople for Christ - must first of all have knowledge of the truth and reality they communicate to others. They must do whatever is necessary to gain that knowledge. It is not enough that they be trained to function well within a certain brand of Christianity - to be successful in that context. Their field is real life under God."

Willard's argument is strong. At first, as Willard lays his foundation, I had to read and re-read. I wasn't sure where he was going. He uses terms like "pluralism." This is taboo in the conservative circles of Christianity I learned doctrine in. But guys with a bare-bones education like mine need to hang in there and try to grasp what Willard is saying; it's important to get it. Christian pluralism is: "...a pluralism based on the generosity and justice of the God revealed in Christ," he writes. It doesn't mean that everyone agrees with everyone else's religion. That's ideologically and psychologically impossible. It's also important to say that it isn't unloving or arrogant to disagree with someone that is genuinely wrong. In fact, it is often important for someone who is right to disagree with someone who is wrong and then -lovingly- help him or her correct the error. It would be immoral, in most cases, not to.

Christian pluralism is accepting those we disagree with as neighbors and living them as ourselves.

This is not light reading. But it is excellent reading. For me, it was reading over my head, but it's worth the effort. This is how you grow.

Book Notes | Donald Miller Interview, Part 1

You may have realized that I'm a bookophile; I love to read and then talk about what I've read or getting ready to read. Topping the list of my favorite contemporary authors is Donald Miller. Miller is the New York Times best selling author of Blue Like Jazz.

Today, Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers posted the first part of the following interview with Donald Miller.

 

Part Two

Part Three

Monday, August 24, 2009

Sent Home Sick

sick It's only Allie's third day of school and she's using her sick days. That's not the kind of work ethic I want to instill in my kids, but what are you gonna do? Once they find out how to exploit sick days, it's a slippery slope.

I'm trying to explain to Allie that if she doesn't use all her sick days, maybe the school will buy them back. We can use the money for a shopping spree at Toys R Us. Or we can roll unused sick days into vacation and take an extended trip like to Paris or Branson, Missouri.

She's not biting. She sees the sick day as part of her compensation package.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Twenty-three years

Today is the twenty-third and today the Charming and Beautiful Susan and I celebrate twenty-three years of marriage. This is by far my best accomplishment to date. I can't begin to tell you what a monumental accomplishment 23 years of marriage to me is for Susan.

God gave me a great wife. I haven't always treated her as if this was so, but it is definitely true.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Emotional Trauma

Don't let the above title cause you to feel sorry for Allie. Feel sorry for us. We're the ones traumatized by separation anxiety the past two days when dropping Allie off at school.

Allie started school yesterday at ARC Potentials in Riviera Beach. There are very few people we've ever been able to leave Allie with. There's been three. So we have some trust issues. The Charming and Beautiful Susan hung out her first day, but it was pure torture for her (Susan). She had to totally turn over control. And Allie was not happy. The Charming and Beautiful Susan's countenance fell.

We felt that a new strategy was necessary. We need to trust them. Since that's difficult, all we can really do is drop her off and peel out as we flee the premises. But today, as we handed Allie over, we were snagged to fill out paperwork. And we had to listen to Allie as she reluctantly started her new routine. The first task: sit on the potty.

This is a paradigm shift for Allie. New concepts make her cry. And here we are, filling in prescriptions, medical conditions and doctors' names on forms. We just wanted to fix Allie. Or bolt.

But once we left, well, wow. We were alone. We went to breakfast, we went to the store. It was like a date. We've had maybe five of these in the past two years. It was nice. And it's nice to know that we'll be able to get reacquainted.

The following video was shot by Uncle Aaron as we picked Allie up this afternoon.

She isn't quite into the new routine yet. Mary is in the frame with me. She is a dynamite physical therapist and teacher. We are amazed at how much the Charming and Beautiful Susan and I have learned from her in the past two days. We could have used her as a personal counselor for the past two years.

Once Aaron and I got Allie into the car and put on her favorite riding around song, she was fine.

Wes Bentley Update

image Jon Langley posted the following on my previous post about Wes Bentley:

Thanks for posting this prayer request! God has heard and decided to spare Wes. He has just been released from the hospital and is in need of a lot of rest and continued prayer for strength and healing. Thanks again.
Jon Langley, FRM Missionary in East Africa.

And Wes's daughter Jennapher posted the following on her Facebook account:

To my brother's and sister's in Christ: Thank you for your prayers! This morning my Father is actually sitting up and talking. It's been a rough 4 days but my Father was comforted by knowing you were all praying. So Thank You!

Those of you that are familiar with Wes and his ministry, he is serious about laying down his life for the cause of Christ.

Emergency pray request for Wes Bentley of Far Reaching Ministries

wes I received this email from my friend Rob Douglass of Saving Grace World Missions. Please join in prayer for good friend Wes Bentley...

Please pray for my close friend and mentor, Wes Bentley of Far Reaching Ministries. Wes has contracted a severe case of malaria. He is struggling for his life in a hospital in Southern California. He is awake but his fever is extremely high and he is unable to communicate. Wes' colleague told me on the phone, "Please pray for Wes. His fever rises and falls and at one point we thought we were going to loose him." The doctors fill that he is infected with malaria and some other illness that they cannot pinpoint yet.

Please pray:image
God would spare Wes' life.
Doctors would have wisdom.
Comfort for his family.

If Wes could speak he would echo Paul's words in Acts 20:24, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
God bless you
Pastor Rob Douglass

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Fusco Interview of Pastor Jeff Jackson

image I just finished listening to this podcast for the third time. Daniel Fusco, blogger, pastor, church-planter podcaster does a superb job of interviewing Pastor Jeff Jackson for his church-planter's podcast.

Jeff Jackson, one of my mentors and both a vision caster and board member for Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators is an invaluable resource to missionaries and church-image planters. I cannot emphasize that point enough. I guaranty that you will get more wisdom and insight from this one podcast than the pile of books you've read on the subject.

Fusco is obviously well prepared for the interview and solicits answers that spotlight Jackson's experience and intelligence.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Daniel Fusco

Jeff Jackson

Pat Kenney

Bryon Mondok

Download the interview here

Monday, August 17, 2009

Über Christ Follower: Proverb Newsome

p1 Recently I had a blast interviewing Proverb Newsome for the Good News (for an article due out in September). I haven't had much of a chance to get to know Proverb. I appreciate him because he's been a positive force of influence in my son's life over the past few years since they worked together at Urban Youth Impact.

I first met Proverb in passing about 15 years ago when I was serving in youth ministry at Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale. We brought his band in to perform at a youth outreach event. I was the sound man. I was amazed by the humility of this group and how naturally they connected with the crowd.

He's gone international with his music and ministry. He was a key part of bringing the gospel physically and spiritually hungry Cambodia. He served as a grunt taking part in the distribution of TONS of rice as well as performing in venues small and large.

What I mean by small is he was able to intimately sit and sing and teach small groups of kids. He even taught them urban handshakes.

When I say large, well, one venue drew around ten thousand Cambodians that never saw an American rapper live. He had the old Cambodian women waving their hands in the air like they just didn't care.

When I say large, I mean massive; he was on TV getting into the homes of approximately 4.5 MILLION Cambodians on a live show singing songs with an uncompromising gospel message.

Did I mention my own son was this trip with him?

I haven't written about any Über Christ Follower's in a long time. I'm happy to lead off a fresh series with this man of God. Read more about his trip to Cambodia on his blog. And if you have any influence in your church, book him.

My birthday is in October...

image... so if you're wondering what kind of cake I like, I like the kind of cake that breaks records. Namely, the Guinness World Records.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Carl Saville measures the girth of the 1,224 pound cupcake at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, Mich. on Aug. 15, 2009.

via: http://www.pbpulse.com/dining/dessert/2009/08/17/1224-pound-cupcake-sets-record-as-worlds-largest/

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Testing Part Five: Word Test

imageYour circumstances contradict or nullify the Word of God.

Many Christians think that they should never experience darkness or confusion as long as they do not fall into sin. When we walk through a season of this kind of testing, we actually think we are in some kind of sin. And if someone else is going through it, we judge him or her to be in some kind of secret sin.

This test is no accident. In fact, God purposely allows contrary situations into our lives. Who among us is exempt from times of trial and misunderstanding?

This is a particularly difficult test for naturally talented and/or pretty person. These are quite at home in their self-sufficiency. But the Lord sifts out self-sufficiency. He builds God-sufficiency.

Think of Joseph. God revealed the future in dreams. Their's big money in that! Joseph knew that he was destined to be a great leader. God revealed told him. I mean really told him. This wasn't just a warm fuzzy wishful thinking. God gave Joseph that “Word”.

But his brothers tried to thwart this in Joseph by plotting his death. You've heard: they beat him up and sold him into slavery. Once sold into slavery, Joseph is promoted above all his peers, only to be falsely accused of rape by the boss’s slutty wife.

Joseph is thrown into prison (a demotion). And there he flourishes and is promoted as high as possible when one is a prisoner. And he serves God there until the Lord’s timing is perfect and God promotes this talented and humble man to Prime Minister of the Egyptian Empire.

How did your day today go? I wonder how much better things are going to get.

*God will fulfill His Word in you no matter what it takes.

*You can’t avoid it (like Jonah).

*You can’t make it happen early.

6 Coral Ridge parishioners ousted

image

You got a step-mother or -father? Remember when you would do what ever you could to make the step-parent's life miserable because your mom or dad married somebody else and that somebody else wasn't your beloved parent that was now gone?

"You're NOT my father!"

You punished that person, right? In my not so humble opinion, that's what's going on down at Coral Ridge in Ft. Lauderdale.

In this case, Tullian Tchividjian is the replacement father, Coral Ridge is the mother, and Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy is the offended child.

I've been following Tullian Tchividjian's career from afar. I observed as he pulled off the universe's most difficult task, that is, the merger two separate church congregations. That's as difficult as stacking BB's. Or parenting a blended family full of ADD kids.

The bottom line is that whoever stepped into the larger than life D. James Kennedy's shoes was never going to please his most die hard fans. Especially his daughter. No body is him. Why try? Why would you want anyone to?

Let Kennedy rest in peace and let Tullian do what God's called Tullian to do.

6 Coral Ridge parishioners ousted - South Florida - MiamiHerald.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Friday, August 07, 2009

Life on Film: Nick

This is a radical story. Dr. Nick is one of the board members of Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators, Inc., the organization I work for.

He has been utilized by our organization to prepare missionaries for the field and to help them "invest" and think about their future health even though they'll be serving in the foreign field.

Dr. Nick's website

Testing Part Four: Time Test

image God promised you something; He gave a word. But it isn't coming to past. At least, by outward appearances, this is the case.

Did God forget you? Did He call you and then sideline you?

But you have a verse, you have confirmation in your spirit coupled with the confirmation of godly people. Your whole life is about this specific ministry NOW. So why is God taking so long? What is His problem? You cry out like David:

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?  Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death…”

*The Time Test builds your patience.

*The Time Test forces you to submit to and trust God to fulfill His promises in His own time and way.

Does God take too long? Does God care? Does He see? Did He forget you?

Or does He deliver with miraculous punctuality? Think back. That's how he'll do it in the future, too.

The experience gained and lessons learned intersect perfectly with the tasks He gives you. Patience is in your court. God works things out, schools you, and then puts you to work.

Some of the work He has you don't even want to know about. You think you do. But if you could see some of the stuff rolling your way, you'd run away. Believe me when I tell you that you want to wait.

Resources

Pastor Jeff Jackson is now podcasting.


Subscribe to Pastor Jeff Jackson's Podcast



Subscribe to Pastor Jeff Jackson's Podcast on iTunes.

Download iTunes.