N.T. Wright, Suprised by Hope 1

I read N.T. Wright’s book on the church, resurrection and heaven and absolutely loved it.  I’m going to divide up my review of it over three separate posts because it is so full and challenging.  It’s certainly well written – and it is theologically robust and adventurous.  I’m actually enjoying reading through it a second [...]

Not even chocolate covered bacon?

When I went to Houston in 2002 I got to attend Joel Osteen’s little church.  I wanted to go because I was so impressed with Osteen’s hand motions while he preached.  He is so efficient and purposeful in his gesturing.  His theology, on the other hand, is straight whack.
Here’s the best little clip of his [...]

Sunday Night Live, October 25, 2009

Our town took a bit of a hit this week as a huge plant, which employees almost 1% of our population is closing before Christmas.  It seems like the recession is getting out to our valley a little later than other parts of the country.  Praying for families to be able to work again.  I [...]

Safety Christians

Francis Chan is doing such a great job of challenging me lately.  Check the latest:

Compassion

This is a video clip from a conference called Catalyst that is held in Atlanta every year.  There’s a ton of young church leaders that attend, so it’s pretty culturally influential in American Christianity.  This video explains why my family sponsors a Compasison child – his name is Emroit Norbert and he likes to wear [...]

Sunday Night Live October 18, 2009

Another great Grove day!  Here’s some highlights:

Had like 4 families of  first time guests and 10 second time!  Having people come back for a second time is pretty reassuring!  It means they checked The Grove out and it was a great experience for them so they were willing to return.  Not everyone who has checked [...]

Malphurs & Stroope, Money Matters in Church

This is a book that was assigned through my coaching network with Nelson Searcy.  It’s for sure not the kind of book anyone like me picks up for inspiration.  Nevertheless, this is an amazing book for pastors wanting to develop themselves and their churches in regards to money.
First off, the book is a really easy [...]

Rice, The Road to Cana

I just discovered Ann Rice’s books this year, through the bargains to be found at my local Goodwill store.  How great books keep ending up at my local Goodwill I have no idea.  I sure do love that though!
In this book Jesus is almost 30 years old and Rice explores the adult relationships of Christ, [...]

Gibbons, The Monkey and the Fish

Dave Gibbons is the pastor of a church called Newsong.  It’s an international multi-site church.  In this book he is helping people begin to think in a more internationally cultural way.  Rather than building multiple single culture churches, Gibbons proposes multi-cultural churches.  Gibbons calls pastors to lead their churches into what he calles “3rd culture”, [...]

Slow Down!

My friend from the Bay got to be on the news!  Here’s Officer Shantz with some safe driving tips.  And a super Canadian accent!