World’s Greatest Counselor
Jun 16, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
.:mood:. Inspired
.:itunes:. Love & Hope by Ozomatli
(via glumbert.com)
Here’s a video of Bob Newhart as the World’s Greatest Counselor.
Best Gameshow Ever
Jun 16, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
My kids and I were just laughing so hard watching this amazing Tetris gameshow.
You gotta love the Japanese.
(via Gizmodo)
Between Two Worlds
Jun 14, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
.:mood:. Chill
.:itunes:. Transformer by Gnarls Barkley
So, I have been reading “Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century” (John R. W. Stott) this week. I am about a third of the way through it and I must say it is an outstanding book, especially for anyone who “preaches” for a living. This book was written in 1982, which makes it even more fascinating. He makes observations about the state of the church and preaching that are even more pronounced today. There is a lot to quote from this book, but here are a few samples:
“At least in the western world the decline of preaching is a symptom of the decline of the Church. An era of skepticism is not conducive to the recovery of confident proclamation…”, then he quotes Karl Rahner, who says, “Many leave the Church because the language flowing from the pulpit has no meaning for them; it has no connection with their own life and simply bypasses many threatening and unavoidable issues.”
One of the fascinating chapters is on “Contemporary Objections to Preaching,” with one of the chief objections being the “cybernetic” one. He talks about television as the chief culprit and then predicts what will happen in “the future” with computers. Here’s an almost prophetic section:
“It is difficult to imagine the world in the year AD 2000, by which time versatile micro-processors are likely to be as common as simple calculators are today. We should certainly welcome the fact that the silicone chip will transcend human brain-power, as the machine has transcended human muscle-power. Much less welcome will be the probable reduction of human contact as the new electronic network renders personal relationships ever less necessary. In such a dehumanized society the fellowship of the local church will become increasingly important, whose members meet one another, and talk and listen to one another in person rather than on screen. In this human context of mutual love the speaking and hearing of the Word of God is also likely to become more necessary for thew preservation of our humanness, not less.”
Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
Jun 13, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
OK, I have had some feedback in the comments that images are not showing up, nor is formatting.
This is a test to see if it is working.
If you are reading this in a BlogReader, can you let me know if you see the formatting? Also, please let me know what BlogReader you are using.
Also, can you see the test image?
Lynnhaven Mall
Jun 12, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
This week my family and I are vacationing in Virginia Beach, VA. I had to speak a couple times down here at Leadership Training (a college conference with GCM) so we made a week out of it and when I am not speaking, we are playing.
Today, because of a wardrobe malfunction, we had to go to the mall to buy a new swimsuit for me. We heard that Lynnhaven Mall was the place to go, so I called their “Information Line” to find out how to get there (we were in the car and I don’t have an iPhone yet to look up directions).
Here’s how the conversation went:
Customer Service Lady: “Lynnhaven Mall, can I help you?”
Me: “Yes, can you tell me where you are located?”Customer Service Lady: “Right next to the Starbucks.”
Me (a tad confused): “And can you tell me where that Starbucks is located?”Customer Service Lady: “Right next to the escalator.”
Me (laughing a little bit): “I’m sorry, I must have the wrong number, is this the Lynnhaven Mall Information Line?”
Customer Service Lady (indignant): “Yes it is.”
Me: “Can you tell me where Lynnhaven Mall is located?”
Customer Service Lady (annoyed): “On Lynnhaven Parkway.”
When we finally found the mall, we found the Information Desk, exactly where she said it was…next to the Starbucks, next to the escalator (they are to the right of the picture, but I couldn’t get them in the frame without the woman seeing me).
Vulnerability
Jun 12, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
.:medical condition:. For some weird reason, the tops of my feet and my ankles are sunburnt
.:itunes:. “A Random DJ Mix” DJ Tripp by DJ Tripp
Just read a great post by Mark Batterson on vulnerability. He gives 10 ways we (especially those in ministry) can excel at this. Here’s a snippet. If you want the 10 ways, you’ll have to read them on his site.
One of my all-time favorite movie scenes is in Tommy Boy where Chris Farley says: “Let me tell you why I suck.” A good pastor has a little Chris Farley in them. Did I just say that? One of the things that I loved about Farley, besides the fact that he was ridiculously funny, is that he didn’t take himself too seriously! In my experience, people who are more vulnerable are more lovable! I just think that spiritual leaders really struggle in this area. We feel like we have to have this holy persona that is beyond sin. What we really need is the courage to share our failures and foibles!
Blog of the Week: Seth’s Blog
Jun 12, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Chilling on vacation
.:noise:. Kids eating breakfast
Blog Name
Seth’s Blog
Blog Author
Seth Godin. Here’s his bio from his site:
SETH GODIN is a bestselling author, entrepreneur and agent of change. Godin is author of seven books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change and work.
What is this blog about?
Basically, this guy’s site is about marketing. He has great short little posts that make you think about what you are doing and how you can do it better. For instance, this is the post that popped up this morning:
When you are sitting right on the edge of something daring and scary and creative and powerful and perhaps wonderful… and you blink and take a step back.
That’s the moment. The moment between you and remarkable. Most people blink. Most people get stuck.
All the hard work and preparation and daring and luck is nothing compared with the ability to not blink.
Why do I read it?
His posts always make me think about how to “do church” better. Since I spend a good chunk of my time working on strategy for Riverview, I am always thinking about how to tweak things.
Today’s post made me think about our church planting plan I am working on. It’s gonna be huge.
I better not blink.
Vacation
Jun 12, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
I’m on vacation this week, but I am still going to try to blog a bit. It just may be a little sporadic and I thought I’d let you know in advance.
Jesus, PI
Jun 9, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
.:mood:. Behind the Gun
.:itunes:. I Would Do Anything For Love by Meat Loaf
Thanks to Gary for this one… (via FOXNews.com)…emphasis mine.
The devil may have made him do it, but it was Jesus who made him confess.
An Arizona man shocked cops in the East Village this week by walking into the local precinct and announcing that he’d strangled a woman on East 13th Street during an argument in 2004 — and that Jesus Christ wanted him to turn himself in.
Authorities said the confession has solved the previously cold-case murder of Myrna Gonzales, a 45-year-old homeless woman whose body was found folded into a large steamer trunk in a vacant lot at East 13th Street and Third Avenue.
“We wish Jesus would solve more of these,” one law enforcement source said.
Michael Mohr, 51, might have gotten away with the slaying. But he’d recently had a religious conversion, and realized Jesus wanted him to do the right thing.
Common, Jesus, step up to the plate!
Daily Jeezit Podcast: Schooling
Jun 9, 2007 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
In this episode, I chat through the strengths and weaknesses of home-schooling, public schooling, and private schooling. I also talk about why my wife and I have chosen to do a hybrid of home and public schooling. This is in response to a recent conversation on my blog.
Video Version
Audio Version
