Francis Chan - The Comfortable Substitute

Francis Chan is a "popular" and well known pastor, speaker, and author. Yet, at the same time he is always challenging assumptions and looking to the Scriptures (I know, crazy huh?)


In this Catalyst Article he looks at how we do church and how we define success. Enjoy the read. A few quotes are below.

"This process of starting with the Scriptures alone is what we call exegesis. One of the first lessons I learned in seminary was the difference between exegesis and eisegesis. Exegesis is starting with a passage of Scripture and pulling the meaning directly from the text. Exegesis aims for objectivity. You try to study without preconceived notions of what the passage teaches. You are surrendering yourself to whatever the text says.

Eisegesis is the opposite of that. We were warned against it, and rightly so. Eisegesis is when you attempt to import a subjective meaning into the text. In other words, you start with an idea, then look for verses to support your idea. This is a dangerous approach because your personal desires can determine your interpretation. .....While we were taught to study and preach exegetically, I don’t remember being taught to live exegetically. Many teach exegetically, yet live eisegetically. We call this hypocrisy. When it comes to life, do we really search the Scriptures first? Is the Bible really the basis for how we live? Or do we pursue a certain way of life and then use the Bible to justify our actions?"

"Although good things can happen during a service, certain things cannot take place when two hundred or two thousand people sit in chairs, face forward, and listen to people on a stage for an hour. You cannot truly love your neighbor in that type of setting, nor can you practice the “one anothers” in that manner."

Take Your Dog To Work

One benefit of living within walking distance of your office.

That bone was once over 11 lbs and 18 inches long...not much left. Zambrano will growl like he has rabies when you take it from him.

Curious Case of Andre Agassi

Andre is my favorite tennis player of all-time, hands down. One of my top 5 favorite athletes ever. I remember posting about the end of his career a few years ago.

Agassi has been in the news a LOT lately because of his new autobiography Open, in which he admits to a number of things from the past (lying about drug use, wigs, hating tennis, tanking matches, playing commando style, etc).

It appears he is doing this now for two reasons:

1. He finally had time to reflect and get around to making the book.

2. He feels the need for atonement (and apparently, publicly) so he can be freed from his past.

Quotes from Agassi:

"The anger and disappointment is clear but I've spent many years being angry and disappointed at myself. "I think role models teach you two things: I think they teach you what to do and what not to do."
"What I would say I want for my children is ultimately peace of heart. I want them to have options, I want them to have choices. To choose something and care about it deeply so they can discover themselves through it."
"I would change everything if I could and I would change nothing. It's been a powerful journey."

The man has raised millions for charities, believes to have found his purpose in life, started a charter school in his hometown of Las Vegas, and seems to have a healthy family with his wife Steffi Graff and their children.

I get tired of the media blasting anyone for doing anything and over focusing on stories (in sports these include Favre, A-Rod, Steroids, etc). They blast you if you don't share and aren't honest. They blast you if you do share and are honest.

A poll showed 75% of people didn't think these revelations hurt their view of Agassi. The media seems to think the opposite. Maybe I've been desensitized by all these types of stories. Maybe I just believe in second chances for a man who obviously has learned from his mistakes.

I have no problem with Andre opening up about his past. If he felt it was necessary, then who are we to hate on Andre Agassi? He's changed for the better over the years...why not share his story of growth and transformation? Thoughts?

Watch the ESPN interview here

Cohabitation vs. Marriage

Interesting article from Relevant Magazine about the growing trend of cohabitation before marriage. A short and easy read that most Christians have heard before.

A few points from the article:
*Everyone wants to love and to be loved—they are the echoes that still reverberate in us from the Creator....it seems like it is getting more and more difficult to find and keep love.

*It certainly seems reasonable to want to take a relationship on a “test-drive.” It’s called cohabitation. (Of course, our "reasoning" is often the problem based on our culture and where we gather our information).

*Sex must to be kept in the context of marriage in order to be safe—in order for its power to be used to build and not destroy. Sex in the wrong context confuses our souls. God created sex to be a rich, holy, cleansing, love-enriching act that adds joy and fun to life, if it is corralled within the bonds of life-long matrimony. It will destroy when it is not.

*Marriage is not a private sacrament; it impacts the whole community of faith. It’s the right thing to do, and disciples do the right thing. They don’t just live on love—emotions, feelings and hormones—they live on principles, beliefs and disciplines that develop character.

*The best way to prepare for a lifelong commitment is not living together; it’s learning how to deal with relational conflict.....If you want a chance at an intimate, lifelong relationship, get counseling together, not an apartment.

How Dinosaurs Went Extinct

Pretty simple, right?

Youth Pastor Cartoon

When your Secretary and Senior Pastor both send you this cartoon joke via email you must be a youth pastor that isn't afraid to say things in front on Sunday mornings.

















Am I really that bad?
And for the record...they're called tighty whities and not tight whites. Whoever made this is clearly old.

This looks eerily similar to the type of people my brother Dan would draw. Does he have a secret second career?

The Curse of Knowledge

From Tim Stevens

The problem is not our heart. It is not our intentions. We are ignorant. We don’t mean to be ignorant, but we are. We have a disease called “The Curse of Knowledge."

In their book Made to Stick, brothers Chip Heath and Dan Heath expand on this term, “Once we know something, we find it hard to imagine what it was like not to know it. Our knowledge has ‘cursed’ us. And it becomes difficult for us to share our knowledge with others, because we can't readily re-create our listeners' state of mind."

We are cursed with church knowledge. We know the basics of the Bible. We know where to park our car in order to exit quickly. We know where the bathrooms are located. We know the songs. We know when we are supposed to clap after a song and when we should be reflective. We know what the pastor means when he says, “Just as in the days of Noah…” We know we ALWAYS sing verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, repeat last phrase, again, one more time. We know God is faithful AND all things work out for good AND sometimes God answers prayer by telling us to wait AND when God closes a door he sometimes opens a window AND a thousand other silly slogans which look good on a bumper sticker but mean nothing to people who do not know.

The problem is we have no memory of what it is not to know. And so our churches, led by people plagued with the curse of knowledge, provide experiences and design services that feel right to people who know stuff but totally miss the boat when it comes to people who don’t...

The curse of knowledge disables most of us (who have been in church for years) from being able to hear our message in the same way as someone who has no room for church in their lives. It also keeps us from hearing the teaching of Jesus in the same way someone who did not grow up in the church hears the same words.The curse of knowledge keeps us from being able to see that we are not communicating.

You say, “I’m speaking in English. Everyone in my community understands English. I’m speaking in their language. Right?” Not necessarily. Speaking the right language is more than the words that are spoken. It is about context, timing, previous experiences, and culture.

Want the context on this quote? It is from page 46 of Pop Goes the Church. Want to dive deeper, join Tim on November 12th for an all-day workshop on this subject.

Thoughts???

Skeptical Hippo

You know that people know you like Hippos when they send you facebook links of this picture below.

Ping Pong Madness

Where Dreams Happen


Visit and join the facebook fan page.

The youth of Trinity Park are definitely addicted to ping pong...and their unfulfilled desires to beat Michelle and me.

Prayer for Youth Ministry

Great article from Youth Specialties. Some of it is below

4 PRAYERS FOR YOUTH MINISTRY
#1 I pray the church will begin to pay attention to youth ministry. (Acts 20:7 )
They are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today!

#2 I pray that Youth Ministries will submit (Acts 20:10)
Students need leaders who submit to Jesus.

#3 I Pray For A Bblical Foundation (Acts 20:11)
People are leaving churches because there is no bible and no Jesus- anyone who tells you differently is lying. We need more Gospel.
Dangers: We only teach morality, we compromise because we want a big cool crowd, we push a personal agenda: Jesus didn’t die for our agenda.

#4 I pray for stewardship (Acts 20:12)
There are some people here who are thinking about quitting: Jesus has been through it and he didn’t quit. “If only I had big lights and building, budget” when we say we are going to quit we say Jesus, the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit are not enough.
Pentecost Acts 2 there were no fog machines and lights.

Discussion:
What are some of your prayers for youth ministry? the church?
What are some practical ways we can practice stewardship, foundation, submission, and attention?
What do you think the average youth ministry in America needs to go to the next level?

Cleveland Rocks Weekend

We spent this past Thursday and Friday in Cleveland for a little getaway.

Thursday - Zoo, Stryper concert at the House of Blues
Friday - Walking downtown, Lake Eerie, Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, and Cleveland Indians game.

As always, more pix are on facebook.

Did You Know 4.0

You've probably seen the older versions.
Here's the newest "Did You Know" Video

Crazy Stuff

Stryper - Live in Concert

Easily one of my top 10 favorite bands, both for their style and for their bold faith, Stryper is on tour to promote their new album, Murder by Pride.

Even though they sold the majority of their 8+ million records in the 80's and early 90's, they still rock. At least they still make new music when they tour (ahem: Journey, all 80's bands not named Bon Jovi).

This Thursday as part of our "Cleveland Rocks" Road Trip (more to come on that later) I'll be at the House of Blues to watch Stryper live in action.

Next Saturday, Oct 3rd I'm traveling with my brothers and some friends to see them again in Dayton.

I love rock concerts! Emphasis on rock...

Sony Ping Pong Commercials

We've been playing a LOT of ping pong (or table tennis if you're serious) lately at church. In fact, we're picking up a second table tomorrow. I'm developing a killer topspin forehand...the backhand still needs some work. And until last week I had never beaten Michelle (she's ahead 3-2 in our last 5 matches), who apparently spent the majority of her childhood training with Chinese Ping Pong Olympians.

With that in mind...I enjoy these commercials.

Watch below or use these links (the First Video and the Second Video)