This week has been absolutely crazy. It is tough to find time to type in my blog thoughts. I am having more and more blog thoughts, and less and less time to write them or type them down. Then when I do have time, I have forgotten the best thoughts. Frustrating.
Here is one that stuck. This is an excerpt from the sociology book that I am currently teaching from.
"Interestingly enough, individuals who watch television a lot are the ones least likely to be well-connected with others, because television watching is the most consistent predictor of civic disengagement. (Putnam 2000)." From, Engaging the Sociological Imagination by John Curra and Paul Paolucci, 2004.
The question is this, do disengaged people just watch TV, or do engaged people slowly become alienated by watching TV? Obviously, the couch potato will not automatically have a bunch of friends and be respected in civic circles if they go home and surf the net or stare at the wall. But, it is telling. TV is a one-way medium of mind numbing entertainment. Video games can be the same kind of one-way entertainment.
Our culture is desperate for real friendship. In the last few months my wife and I have been reminded by several situations that many people have no friends, and don't know where to find any. We just invite them to church. It has worked beautifully for several this year. Praise God for a very friendly church.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
MEGA Sports Camp
It is time to sign your kids up for MEGA sports camp! Registration forms are in the church foyer and in the office. They need to be signed by a parent or guardian. Many kids from school have already heard about this and want to sign up too. Feel free to help friends from school get signed up. Work fast, next week is a short week and the last week of the year. If there are questions call the office number listed above.This is our first year and we are trying this rather than our Halloween outreach in the fall. We seemed to max out that event two years ago and every other church and organization in town noticed and now everyone has a Halloween event. So, we have to stayed creative and this looks very creative and fun.
MEGA Sports Camp is like a week of VBS except it is fashioned after a sports camp and teaches the fundamentals of selected sports while also teaching Bible lessons. Kids like to play sports (I guess I am a kid) and so we get to be involved with them in something they really like.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
13 Billion Lost
I just heard a report that says that grocery stores loose 13 billion annually in un-scanned items that are mis-scanned at the cash registers! I don't think I have any of these items in my bag based on my bill! I was stunned at this huge number. In an attempt to be fast and efficient stores are essentially sloppy enough to miss products that are actually passing through the hands of the checkers.
I know this is sad, but what if everyone who started with Jesus Christ at our church in the last 6 years stayed with Jesus? We are stunned at the sloppiness of grocery stores, and at the same time we don't even care about our own.
Think of the correlations! An honest store owner approaches the counter. An honest seeker approaches the Church. They actually give the products willingly to the professional. The seeker honestly gives their heart to Christ. The professional misses something and items are not scanned. The church misses something and new Christians slip through our fingers.
The advertising works. The product is accepted and liked! The deal is not completed.
Lord give us attentive hearts, hands and eyes!
I know this is sad, but what if everyone who started with Jesus Christ at our church in the last 6 years stayed with Jesus? We are stunned at the sloppiness of grocery stores, and at the same time we don't even care about our own.
Think of the correlations! An honest store owner approaches the counter. An honest seeker approaches the Church. They actually give the products willingly to the professional. The seeker honestly gives their heart to Christ. The professional misses something and items are not scanned. The church misses something and new Christians slip through our fingers.
The advertising works. The product is accepted and liked! The deal is not completed.
Lord give us attentive hearts, hands and eyes!
Weekend Rewind
Here are a few highlights and wins from the weekend.
First, we continue to have great offerings.
Second, we continue to gain testimonies that mirror the blessing we pray in the tither's blessing each week. Two more this week!
Third, we had a great baptism service baptizing three adults. I loved hearing their testimonies and how God brought them to this point.
Fourth, our ATTIC Youth trivia night was a BLAST again!!! It may be the funnest (is that a word?) event of the church year. We raised money for youth to go to camp and drastically reduced the price of a week of camp per camper.
Fifth, we had a great ice cream social for Relay for Life and gained several new team members and raised over $120 dollars in donations for the American Cancer Society.
Sixth, we had a great Small Group meeting Friday night while my wife led the girls club sleepover Friday and Saturday.
Seventh, I was able to help out with the Optimist Club Bike Rodeo at the fair grounds from 8 to noon on Saturday morning. Great turnout and great event for the community. I am proud and glad to be able to help out.
Very busy for my family, but also very fulfilling!
First, we continue to have great offerings.
Second, we continue to gain testimonies that mirror the blessing we pray in the tither's blessing each week. Two more this week!
Third, we had a great baptism service baptizing three adults. I loved hearing their testimonies and how God brought them to this point.
Fourth, our ATTIC Youth trivia night was a BLAST again!!! It may be the funnest (is that a word?) event of the church year. We raised money for youth to go to camp and drastically reduced the price of a week of camp per camper.
Fifth, we had a great ice cream social for Relay for Life and gained several new team members and raised over $120 dollars in donations for the American Cancer Society.
Sixth, we had a great Small Group meeting Friday night while my wife led the girls club sleepover Friday and Saturday.
Seventh, I was able to help out with the Optimist Club Bike Rodeo at the fair grounds from 8 to noon on Saturday morning. Great turnout and great event for the community. I am proud and glad to be able to help out.
Very busy for my family, but also very fulfilling!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Will the APA make the news?
Will the APA (American Psychological Association) make the news? Not likely! However, they made news in the late 90's when they reported that there may possibly be a gay gene. I remember it being the cover story of news magazines like Time and Newsweek. Since then, public opinion regarding homosexuality has swung widely due to the false assumption that "sexual orientation" is genetic or hormonal and can not be chosen or changed.
Will the APA make the news now that they have essentially revoked their previous stance on the issue of the possibility of a gay gene or hormone? Again, not likely. If you hear about this adjustment in the APA's statements on a major media outlet please surprise me (pleasantly) and let me know.
This is our chance to find out how biased the news is in the Unites States of America. Are they really objective and balanced? Can they really overcome ratings and advertising money to publish the news from a respected group like the APA, when the APA publishes a report that is not going to make social liberal groups happy?
Read the article here. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=528376
Will the APA make the news now that they have essentially revoked their previous stance on the issue of the possibility of a gay gene or hormone? Again, not likely. If you hear about this adjustment in the APA's statements on a major media outlet please surprise me (pleasantly) and let me know.
No news is unbiased. No matter what source you get the news from. The bias of the reporter comes through in a myriad of ways in print, audio and video. Epically in video format where facial expressions and inflection tell the truth of the bias of the reporter.
This is our chance to find out how biased the news is in the Unites States of America. Are they really objective and balanced? Can they really overcome ratings and advertising money to publish the news from a respected group like the APA, when the APA publishes a report that is not going to make social liberal groups happy?
Read the article here. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=528376
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Water and Ice Cream
When I was a kid we used to go to Central Dairy in Jefferson City for ice cream. It is the best ice cream in the state, maybe on the planet. I am not alone in this determination. Ask Bill White or Louie Day from Franklin county. Ask van Mitchell from Springfield. Ask Robert Scott form New York. Ask Greig Gladen from Cincinnati, OH by way of Detroit. All agree, it's the best.
Now that we have scientifically proven that Central Dairy is the best ice cream ever, using a sampling of people from various age demographics and geographic locations and backgrounds we can continue.
When we would get ice cream there, it was very cold ice cream. Nice hard ice cream, no soft serve stuff from the equivalent of a cement bag. For some reason the nuts and sugar of the sweet ambrosia would make a boy thirsty. At the end of the bar was a water fountain. It served cold tap water. Water never tasted so good as when it followed Central Dairy ice cream.
It makes me think of this coming Sunday!
We will celebrate water baptism at 2:30 at First Baptist Church. Then at 3:30 we will all head back to First AG on 8th street for an ice cream social to raise money for our Relay for Life team and celebrate with those who have just been baptized.
Nothing like water and ice cream.
Now that we have scientifically proven that Central Dairy is the best ice cream ever, using a sampling of people from various age demographics and geographic locations and backgrounds we can continue.
When we would get ice cream there, it was very cold ice cream. Nice hard ice cream, no soft serve stuff from the equivalent of a cement bag. For some reason the nuts and sugar of the sweet ambrosia would make a boy thirsty. At the end of the bar was a water fountain. It served cold tap water. Water never tasted so good as when it followed Central Dairy ice cream.
It makes me think of this coming Sunday!
We will celebrate water baptism at 2:30 at First Baptist Church. Then at 3:30 we will all head back to First AG on 8th street for an ice cream social to raise money for our Relay for Life team and celebrate with those who have just been baptized.
Nothing like water and ice cream.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Youth Camp
Youth camp applications are due this week. Please go after your kids and grand kids to go to youth camp. Need an application? Put your mouse HERE and press it two times quickly.
Saturday night is our youth trivia night. Child care is provided by the youth. Tickets are $10 per person or $50 for a prepaid team of six. Make your team and go get your ringers, as long as they have ten dollars! There are no other stipulations! Snacks will be served while we play. The winning team of six will get six tickets to see the Cards play the Phillies (I think its the Philllies). All proceeds go to help kids tuition to camp. If you have questions about camp comment on this post and I will respond.
By the way! our camp is uber cheap! Five days and four nights, lodging and food, swimming, fun with lake water craft, the blob, hoops, volley ball, carpet ball, ping pong, video games and eight great opportunities to hear from powerful speakers and worship teams. All this for $140. There is no other deal close to it in the entire nation. Believe me, I have checked other District camps and other denominational camps. If any offer more they are as much as $350 per student.
By the way #2, our camp is uber safe! All camp workers are carefully screened with a criminal records check. There is a security team and camp nurse on duty each week. There are certified lifeguards at water events.
By the way #3, our camp is uber fun! Just watch the camp videos on the camp site.
By the way #4, uber is a real word with a real definition and etymology! It means super in German. It comes from the Latin super (camp is super) and the Greek word for hyper (which is the way kids are at camp) as well as the English over (because camp is over the top)!
If you miss this when you could have gone, you will be uber sad. But if you go to camp you will be ubermensch, which means superman.
Saturday night is our youth trivia night. Child care is provided by the youth. Tickets are $10 per person or $50 for a prepaid team of six. Make your team and go get your ringers, as long as they have ten dollars! There are no other stipulations! Snacks will be served while we play. The winning team of six will get six tickets to see the Cards play the Phillies (I think its the Philllies). All proceeds go to help kids tuition to camp. If you have questions about camp comment on this post and I will respond.
By the way! our camp is uber cheap! Five days and four nights, lodging and food, swimming, fun with lake water craft, the blob, hoops, volley ball, carpet ball, ping pong, video games and eight great opportunities to hear from powerful speakers and worship teams. All this for $140. There is no other deal close to it in the entire nation. Believe me, I have checked other District camps and other denominational camps. If any offer more they are as much as $350 per student.
By the way #2, our camp is uber safe! All camp workers are carefully screened with a criminal records check. There is a security team and camp nurse on duty each week. There are certified lifeguards at water events.
By the way #3, our camp is uber fun! Just watch the camp videos on the camp site.
By the way #4, uber is a real word with a real definition and etymology! It means super in German. It comes from the Latin super (camp is super) and the Greek word for hyper (which is the way kids are at camp) as well as the English over (because camp is over the top)!
If you miss this when you could have gone, you will be uber sad. But if you go to camp you will be ubermensch, which means superman.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday Night Entertianment
Some of you might wonder what I do for fun. I like hunting and reading. I like hanging out with friends. Tonight I have been watching some YouTube videos. Here are a few.
The first is an interview with former atheist scholar Anthony Flew who turned from atheism to theism in 2004.
The second is a video of Richard Dawkins, another acclaimed atheist who refutes Flew by calling him a poor philosopher and personally attacking his intelligence rather than his arguments.
The third video is a video of J. P. Moreland who defends Flew.
If you have read Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, or Sam Harris (which I have) you will see that often they revert to the attack mode of making fun of their theistic opponents and simply calling them "stupid," in this case, in front of a group of college students who get excited and shout for them, kind of like a bunch Bible belt Christian summer campers excited about Jesus. Hummmm.
Now that's entertainment!
The first is an interview with former atheist scholar Anthony Flew who turned from atheism to theism in 2004.
The second is a video of Richard Dawkins, another acclaimed atheist who refutes Flew by calling him a poor philosopher and personally attacking his intelligence rather than his arguments.
The third video is a video of J. P. Moreland who defends Flew.
If you have read Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, or Sam Harris (which I have) you will see that often they revert to the attack mode of making fun of their theistic opponents and simply calling them "stupid," in this case, in front of a group of college students who get excited and shout for them, kind of like a bunch Bible belt Christian summer campers excited about Jesus. Hummmm.
Now that's entertainment!
God Provides
The last few days have been absolutely crazy! In repairing our pluming so that it will pass inspection and meet code before we get into a remodel project we had the city turn the water off. Our water valve is, or was, obviously newer than all those around us because the cement slab of sidewalk that it is buried in is, or was, the only new one in the area.
The city turned it off Tuesday. Then on Wednesday to finish the job came out to turn it off again. They could not. Then it started leaking out the top onto the ground. It is between $1200 and $1500 to replace one. After digging it up (about 3.5 feet down) we found that the key on top was twisted off. But God provided.
Me and a neighbor broke up the sidewalk. A plumber friend helped me change the pipes and valve out. It just so happened that the company that contracted with the City to replace sidewalks was doing our street this week without notice. The city then gave us a new valve and box so that I only purchased two small fittings since the old valve was not the same size as the new one they supplied.
Yesterday I replaced a clogged up drain tile while the sidewalk on the other side of the house was torn up. God timing.
The city turned it off Tuesday. Then on Wednesday to finish the job came out to turn it off again. They could not. Then it started leaking out the top onto the ground. It is between $1200 and $1500 to replace one. After digging it up (about 3.5 feet down) we found that the key on top was twisted off. But God provided.
Me and a neighbor broke up the sidewalk. A plumber friend helped me change the pipes and valve out. It just so happened that the company that contracted with the City to replace sidewalks was doing our street this week without notice. The city then gave us a new valve and box so that I only purchased two small fittings since the old valve was not the same size as the new one they supplied.
Yesterday I replaced a clogged up drain tile while the sidewalk on the other side of the house was torn up. God timing.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
H2O Baptism
May 17th at 2:30 p.m. we will meet at First Baptist Church on 14th street for a water baptism service. We have a lot of people who can be and should be baptized! If you have not been baptized by immersion since you became a Christian, you should be baptized.
Bring a change of clothing and a towel or two. Feel free to invite friends and family to see your baptism and take pictures. We will be taking pictures and video of the service too. I would desperately like to get some video testimonies from those who are being baptized. You can be a huge encouragement to others when you share your faith story. It is sometimes easier by video and it lasts longer too.
Following baptism we are all heading back to church for an ice cream social at 3:30 p.m. to benefit our relay for life team. Let's invite friends to celebrate our water baptism and help a great cause! Treats are free, but we will take donations. If you would like to donate toppings please let us know, that would be great. All the ice cream has already been donated!
Bring a change of clothing and a towel or two. Feel free to invite friends and family to see your baptism and take pictures. We will be taking pictures and video of the service too. I would desperately like to get some video testimonies from those who are being baptized. You can be a huge encouragement to others when you share your faith story. It is sometimes easier by video and it lasts longer too.
Following baptism we are all heading back to church for an ice cream social at 3:30 p.m. to benefit our relay for life team. Let's invite friends to celebrate our water baptism and help a great cause! Treats are free, but we will take donations. If you would like to donate toppings please let us know, that would be great. All the ice cream has already been donated!
Youtube Infomercial
A few months ago Laura and Kaler Carpenter helped my to video tape an informational spot for our church. The resolution on Youtube is a bit grainy, but Kaler did a great job putting this together. I hope it can be used in e-mail invitations that you will send to friends to introduce them to our church and to Jesus.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Boundry Spanners
I am teaching sociology for some students at Missouri Baptist University currently. Re-thinking sociology is interesting.
Essentially, we are all a product of our society.
We are socialized into a certain way of thinking throughout our lifetimes. We don't really choose what we think, we are given what we think by our society, then we may (or may not) make small changes on the way our society thinks by our influence. We are a product of our society in that a society that needs to punish crime will produce criminals to punish. The society that needs warriors to go to battle will produce large numbers of warriors.
What is interesting is that there has to be an acknowledgement that there are some individuals who break our of the sociological norms. They break out of their sub-group and bring together two separate factions. These are called boundary spanners. We need some boundary spanners.
Let me illustrate.
In our youth group at church we have a lot of kids who have no church background. The main bulk of our church, however, has some church experience, or a lifetime of church experience. The bulk of our church has been socialized into the group. But the youth are literally boundary spanners! They have broken from their group of origin and entered another connecting two separate worlds as it were.
In response to this unbelievable step that many in our youth group have taken, we need to respond to them by stepping out of our comfortable social arena and entering theirs. Every person in our church needs to find a youth on Wednesday night and become heir friend. Then, you can be a boundary spanner too.
Illustration #2
When you witness to a person who is not from the same background as you and the same social group as yours, you are being a boundary spanner. I would love to reach about 100 people in their 20s in the next year. How can that happen? We need a lot of boundary spanners in our church. We have a great group of couples in their 20s right now. But to really focus on this age range we need boundary spanners who are willing to witness to someone outside their demographic.
Being a boundary spanner is not the norm. Break out of the norm. Live radical!
Essentially, we are all a product of our society.
We are socialized into a certain way of thinking throughout our lifetimes. We don't really choose what we think, we are given what we think by our society, then we may (or may not) make small changes on the way our society thinks by our influence. We are a product of our society in that a society that needs to punish crime will produce criminals to punish. The society that needs warriors to go to battle will produce large numbers of warriors.
What is interesting is that there has to be an acknowledgement that there are some individuals who break our of the sociological norms. They break out of their sub-group and bring together two separate factions. These are called boundary spanners. We need some boundary spanners.
Let me illustrate.
In our youth group at church we have a lot of kids who have no church background. The main bulk of our church, however, has some church experience, or a lifetime of church experience. The bulk of our church has been socialized into the group. But the youth are literally boundary spanners! They have broken from their group of origin and entered another connecting two separate worlds as it were.
In response to this unbelievable step that many in our youth group have taken, we need to respond to them by stepping out of our comfortable social arena and entering theirs. Every person in our church needs to find a youth on Wednesday night and become heir friend. Then, you can be a boundary spanner too.
Illustration #2
When you witness to a person who is not from the same background as you and the same social group as yours, you are being a boundary spanner. I would love to reach about 100 people in their 20s in the next year. How can that happen? We need a lot of boundary spanners in our church. We have a great group of couples in their 20s right now. But to really focus on this age range we need boundary spanners who are willing to witness to someone outside their demographic.
Being a boundary spanner is not the norm. Break out of the norm. Live radical!
New Book
I really feel the crunch to finish the book I started in January. I just need to get it edited and published. Several people are asking for it and I am trying!
Casbah Chicken and Couscous
The title of this blog entry was my dinner tonight! I have no clue what I ate. I liked it. My kids did not like it and the cook (my wife) did not like it. She took all the leftovers to the neighbors. I can't wait to see if they like it!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Weekend Rewind
This was our May missions weekend. We had three missionaries, John Heidi, Brad Keller, and Lance Smith. Our missions offering was very good. And our regular tithe and offering was, well, huge!
I am hoping that at least one of our teens in the Small Group tonight will catch the vision for Youth Alive in our Schools. Since it is student led, it is the most potentially powerful campus ministry going in America in my opinion. Brad also talked to us about The 7 Project. It could be a great outreach opportunity for our community of churches in the future.
I am really excited about next Sunday. It is Mother's Day and LeAnn Baughmann will be leading worship. I am also trying to think of something great to do for Stephanie.
I am hoping that at least one of our teens in the Small Group tonight will catch the vision for Youth Alive in our Schools. Since it is student led, it is the most potentially powerful campus ministry going in America in my opinion. Brad also talked to us about The 7 Project. It could be a great outreach opportunity for our community of churches in the future.
I am really excited about next Sunday. It is Mother's Day and LeAnn Baughmann will be leading worship. I am also trying to think of something great to do for Stephanie.
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