eBaby on Giving

Simplified Missional Living | article from TheResurgence

http://theresurgence.com/Dodson_Simplified_Missional_Living

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Twittering in Church, With the Pastor's Encouragement - TIME

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1895463,00.html

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America’s Seven Faith Tribes Hold the Key to National Restoration

See Article

Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist

Research from The Barna Group

Easter morning

Went to first service....it was great. Kicked it Ol' Skool in music....but was great. Heard two awesome testimonies as to what the empty tomb means to them. Now I'm in the sound booth blogging while listening to the second service. Now you may think this is not appo- pi- ate as my daughter says, but journaling our thoughts and reflects is a form of worship....maybe one long forgotten. I looked over our crowd several times and made some observations. First everyone looked very beautiful....the sun is shining, everyone seems jubilant. I see people I haven't seen in a while and a lot of new people...always a welcome surprise.

This morning has the utmost significance in the Christian faith....CHRIST has Risen!
Celebrating this fact is no great chore...the chore for most of us begins tomorrow...living the rest of the year knowing that Christ has risen.

It is a long standing tradition to get dressed up for church...I have no problem with this, but I personally try to downplay this. I'm not trying to be a nonconformist, but I am increasingly interested in things that matter to Jesus....I am not sure if this does or not...I believe it probably does not. I have plenty of things that stand in my way with my relationship with Christ...I struggle with those daily. I have things that get in the way after I come through those doors..seems odd. Sometimes its hard to strip off those layers and get down to the fact...The tomb is empty...Christ is risen...he has a plan for our lives...our gentlemen who testified this am are a perfect example. He can use you where you are....there is a plan!
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ABC's Nightline debate on the existence of satan

Click on Image for link to video

Goofy and my goofs

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Ian with new glasses at Red Robin

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Death to Self

Lent is not something I celebrated much growing up in the Free will Baptist church. I have attended Nazarene Churches, Church of Christ in Christian Union churches, Vineyard Churches...again never really participated in Lent. Why is that? I think that the separation from the "high Church" liturgical system was more important than the heart of the practice. Or that the biblical merit was not there. What could be more biblical than a symbolic or functional death to self by giving up something we can do without and refocus on Christ. Fasting, alms giving (giving to the poor), and prayer have long been associated with the Lenten period.

I have thought long and hard about what to give up during this period. I have decided that I am cutting down my idle time (mostly on the internet). Spend more time reading scripture and praying. I'm hoping, rather than a 40 days period proposition, that this one sticks! Death to ourselves is harder than we think...we are all so full of our selves in one way or another....we are innately selfish! I am the worst! I work on it daily. If something makes me uncomfortable I avoid it like the plague. I pursue or gravitate to those comfortable ideas, places, food, music, etc....

I think the Lent period ties in nicely with our recent discussions of the missional life...Its all about living for Christ and not ourselves, joining Him where He is at work..(.most likely not on our couch) or in our own little bubble. Lent could certainly be a way to train or prepare ourselves to live more missionally!

Romans 6:11-12

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires