Siamese Pepper 11.11.2008

A few weeks ago I was cutting a sweet pepper for chicken fajitas. I was kind of sad afterwards. Not only did I kill a pepper, I killed a pregnant pepper. I feel terrible, just aweful.

On the Outside 11.10.2008

I wanted to pass along something I learned this weekend.

Full-time or part-time I've served as a musician in churches for 13 years. I've seen goofy things and terrible things inside the body. I've heard of even goofier things and more horrific things from others. All in all it has built me and made me who I am. I could name ten or twelve people specifically, but it's really the whole Church that has built my thoughts and ideas and stances and preferences. I've spent so much time inside that the outside feels foreign. As it should I guess. For some reason though I've nearly always felt that it was us who were on the outside - the Church was the intruder in the world. Evangelism had seemed to me like an Englishman speaking German to a Chinese toddler. A foreigner bringing foreign news to an experienced local.

Do you ever feel like you're the outsider? Les, Jerrett (our drummer) and I played at Ecclesia Clear Lake Sunday night. The speaker shared Ephesians 1 with us. I'd never heard this verse in The Message before but it spoke to me louder than it ever had:

He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

Read more of that passage here if you like. We are not outsiders, we are insiders. Yes, we are strangers and aliens but we are at the center of the workings of Christ. WE are the ones doing the greater things that Jesus spoke of in John 14.

So if you ever start feeling like you're on the outside read Ephesians 1 and remember that Christ is filling everything with his presence through you and I, the Church.

Piper on Voting 11.01.2008

I listen to Minnesota's John Piper more than any other pastor. He is balanced and dynamic on so many areas. I've learned more about evangelism and prayer from him than anywhere else.

I discovered this video on Facebook today. Like my friend Brock I find myself increasingly irritated with politics so this was heavy breeze of fresh air. This clip and other views he has on political leadership are quite the challenge for my mind. Here.

Acts 2:42 10.28.2008

I was reading Acts 2 a few weeks ago. Do you believe there is significance to the order in which the activities are mentioned? I've separated them by the flow of sentences.

-God's Word
-Fellowship
-Breaking Bread

-Awe
-Signs & Wonders

-Togetherness (in unity & service)

-Fellowship
-Gladness & Simple Hearted
-Praise
-Favor with people

-Salvation

Golfering 10.25.2008

I'm not a golfer. Neither is Jody, Jerrett or Dave. We joined the Second Baptist Golf Tourney anyhow. It was best ball and we didn't have a single birdie. We did get some funny pics out of it though. Thanks Dave.