Easter
Mar 22, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
I am sitting in my office right now, looking out at the 4 inches of snow we got and I have decided to add a verse to my Easter sermon.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”
And with Jesus’ work on the cross, he settled it.
The snowstorm is a beautiful metaphor for our salvation.
Please pray for me this weekend. I am very excited about the message and I am praying that the hundreds of visitors we will have this weekend will be drawn into a friendship with Jesus.
I keep thinking of this verse:
Colossians 4:5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Every weekend I preach at Riverview is an opportunity. Easter is a bigger than normal one. Please pray that I make the most of it.
JabbaWockeez
Mar 22, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Grace and I have been watching America’s Best Dance Crew on MTV the last several weeks and I am continually amazed by the JabbaWockeez. I have never been a fan of liturgical dance (with the exception of one routine), but if these guys ever want to perform at Riverview, I may have to make an exception.
Fast forward to 1:25 to just watch the dance routine.
I think I actually used the phrase “that was sick” when that performance was done.
Amazing Shirt
Mar 20, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
I absolutely love this shirt, but they are sold out.
The “One Semester of Spanish Spanish Love Song”
Mar 20, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Thanks to Franny for this brilliant love song.
My New Research Assistant
Mar 19, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
OK, I have always struggled with an easy way to collect and access all the research I am constantly coming across for my messages. I think I just met my new research assistant.
I’ve applied to be a part of the Beta program, so we’ll see how I like it.
This could be really sweet.
Riverview Building Update
Mar 17, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
As promised, here is the update video we showed at Riverview this weekend. Thanks to everyone (except Paul…ahem) for being patient.
Quote of the Day
Mar 17, 2008 Quotes
“I don’t want to be blind because then Jesus will have to rub mud on my face.”
-Coley (my 4 year old)
Stuff White People Like
Mar 15, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
OK, I have a new favorite site. And I suspect if you are white like me (and my sister who is in this picture with me), you will too.
Maybe my wife and kids should read it to identify more with me. Please click on this link to learn more about my wife and pay close attention to the last paragraph.
The site is called Stuff White People Like. Here’s an excerpt from a recent post on “Bottled Water.”
Water seems like a fairly simple concept. You turn on the tap, put glass underneath, and drink. Sadly, it is not this simple for white people.
On the whole, they are unable to put a glass under a tap and just drink. In fact, this is such a strange concept that the city of New York had to launch a rather large PR campaign to show white people that it was possible to actually drink the water that comes out of the tap!
Jack Bauer and Jesus
Mar 14, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Here’s a great quote from this book:
…the sixth season of the hit television show 24 was preceded by online trailers showing the main character, Jack, Bauer, “sacrificing” himself by laying down his life as a substitute to defeat evil and save the lives of a multitude. Without being blasphemous and saying anything that makes Jack into Jesus, it is curious to note the parallels that the show makes between the two. Both are healthy, young men who work in construction, tell the truth, accomplish t heir mission, oppose evil, are betrayed by a close friend who dies as a result of sin, are saviors who lay down their life to save people they love, and both resurrect from death (Jack having been essentially brought back from death in one season in an effort to escape capture).
The first episode of season six opened with Jack, imprisoned by the Chinese, with long hair and a scruffy beard that made him look like a lot of the images of Jesus in pop culture. Taking off his shirt, Jack revealed that his entire back was scarred like Jesus’ from brutal flogging. Returning to the United States, Jack was asked to “sacrifice” himself by dying at the hands of terrorists in exchange for their promise not to unleash a nuclear attack on civilian targets. In so many ways, 24, like many other popular cultural stories, echoes the true story of Jesus the hero substituting himself to be our savior by suffering in our place.
