Quote of the Day

"Our love for one another is our chief apologetic. That's what makes our gospel stick. That's what gives it teeth. That's what gives it weight. Otherwise we're just another talking head." (Wes Pastor)

Hallelujah, What A Savior!

And Now A Message from John Holland

I met Mr. John Holland on Church St. in Burlington, Vermont. He's one of several musicians that gather on the street from time to time. Mr. Holland is a folk musician. That is, in his words, "folk singing to folk about the life of folk." Sounds goods to me. He plays guitar and harmonica. He sings, tells great stories and is a prolific songwriter. After his set I was able to spend some time talking with him. TOTALLY COOL! He said so many things that made me think, both during his set and in our private conversation that followed. One such thought provoker was about money. He said, "Who needs millions and billions of dollars? Give me $200 a week and I'd be happy as a clam at high tide." Now, there are several messages in that comment, but Mr. Holland's words are strong enough and I figure you get it anyway.

Mr. John Holland is pictured here holding a Hank Williams, Sr. songbook. He thought that would be funny when he found out I was from Alabama. (Hank is from Alabama, you know?!)

A Song for Your Soul

Quote of the Day

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

"Where everybody knows your name..."

For a minute I'd like to wax randomly...
I recently finished two books, Essential Church (Thom & Sam Rainer) and Little Chapel on the River (Gwendolyn Bounds). At first glance there is absolutely no connection. T. Rainer is the president of Lifeway Christian Resources (In case you don't know, that's THE Southern Baptist HURRAH.) and S. Rainer is the pastor of a church. Bounds, on the other hand, is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal. Essential Church is about church (DUH?!). Little Chapel on the River is about a grocery/pub located on the Hudson River. Now, I realize I run the risk of getting in trouble here. First, I am telling you that I read a book about a pub. Second, I am going to make a comparison between said pub and the church. So fine, it won't be the first time I've been in trouble. Here's the point I want to make. The Rainers state that in order for the church to impact culture in America, specifically the culture between 17 and 30 years of age, it must become essential to their lives. They make references throughout the book to interviews conducted while researching the material for its content. In one interview a young man said that he began to drop out of church at the end of his time in high school. The reason, his circle of friends (i. e. his drinking buddies) were more essential to his life than the relationships he formed while attending church. He is now a "grown man", but continues to fellowship with those same friends because the connections they made influenced and enriched his life. He needed them. They needed him. They were real with each other and maintained a tight-knit community. Likewise, the people at Guinan's (the pub) found a family. They found a place where they could make real connections with real people.

The brothers and sisters from the way-back were on to something when it comes to 'essential', 'real', 'connections' and 'family'. Check this out...
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending temple, together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

That's it! A place "where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came."

Kids Praise and The Westmeade Choir

"The Word is perfect truth, the Word is what I cling to.

Unbreakable, unshakeable Word of God.

I Love the Word of God."

- Jeff Slaughter

Faith?

The question I've been faced with recently goes like this...

How much in my life requires real faith in God?

Sadly, it seems, not much. Much of what I do is so normal, so expected, so routine, so comfortable and so easy, that to say that it requires much faith would be, well, it would be a lie.

God, please change me.

Give me faith like Abraham, who "went out, not knowing where he was going." Who, "when he was tested, offered up Isaac." Give me faith like Sarah, who "received power to conceive, even when she was past the age." Give me faith like Moses, who, "when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin."

Lord, give me the faith to live a radically different life than the one that I so easily grasp hold of. Do not allow comfort, ease and normalcy to rob me of the best You have.