Struggleville

First They Came for the Catholics: Obama's Contraceptive Mandate | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

2012-02-08T16:18:00.000-05:00

First They Came for the Catholics: Obama's Contraceptive Mandate | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Father Daughter Dance

2012-02-07T14:39:00.001-05:00

Inspiring Super Bowl Commercial

2012-02-07T09:01:00.000-05:00

I didn't see all the commercials the other night, but I have watched a few after the fact on YouTube. The funniest one I saw during the game was the Doritos commercial. This is a great inspirational piece, that makes you want to buy a car from Detroit, even if you don't want a Chrysler. The message resonates with me mostly because of the circumstances my Dad is facing. The C word is a scary blow, but his determination and perseverance through faith in Christ is exactly what all of us need to be reminded of when walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

Great Thoughts on Church/Community

2012-02-02T10:03:00.000-05:00

THINKING ABOUT CHURCH/COMMUNITY:

No legalistabout church attendance, I have thought for a long time now that something hashappened in the life of a Christian when she stops meeting other Christians atthe Meeting House on the Lord’s Day. When the worship of God is not importantanymore, hasn’t something serious gone awry?

Moreover, I have observed that Christianswho never find a place of service in and through a local church often end upwith a trainload of complaints and criticisms of that church. Affectionevaporates. But those who know the church best, warts and all, and who give oftheir time, talent and treasure to the life of the local church----those peopleusually “put up” with church.

Eugene Peterson said, “Our membership inthe church is a corollary of our faith in Christ.”

“Church”/“Community” is more than anabstract theological concept; it is a way of life. “Church” has an address,such as 511 High Place, Macon, GA 31204. “Church” is a forgiving place, agrowing place, a giving place, a sharing place. “Church” comes down with bothfeet in the midst of sinful, petulant, often repulsive, people. “Church” isimpossible without presence, without two or three gathering together.

Taken from Walter B. Shurden's Preaching Journal Vol. 5. No. 43

Like an Old Friend

2012-02-01T14:18:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it's good to steal away from work, life, and the stresses of your day with an old friend for a cup of coffee or a quick bite for lunch. Definitely a good thing to do as often as you can. The trouble is that you usually just have to stop and say, I'm not going to do x, y, z, at least not right now, because for my own sanity I need a break. I need to sit in a friends presence...words aren't even necessary just being in their company has a way of reframing your life and giving you some much needed perspective. So thankful for my best friend, who also happens to be my smokin' hot wife and the quick lunch or moment together that helps bring clarity and a small measure of sanity.

Blister Soul

2012-02-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

Great song that's been bounce around in my head a lot lately!

Francis Schaeffer on Art

2012-02-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

"What a Christian portrays in his art is the totality of life. Art is not to be solely a vehicle for some sort of self-conscious evangelism..."
Francis Schaeffer

What would it truly look like for Christians to seek excellence in art, careers, life, and culture without pushing an agenda or Jesus onto the world, but simply to honor God with gifts, talents and abilities?

Strangers

2012-02-01T09:25:00.001-05:00

Launch of ECHO

2012-01-26T18:17:00.000-05:00

I'm so pumped about what God is going to do through ECHO this semester! ECHO is our new college worship service at FBC Statesboro. I know God has some incredible things in store for us as a ministry this semester and in years to come. Pray for us, Lord knows we need it!

To find out more you can find us on Facebook

You can also follow us on Twitter

Or check out our website

Because of His Mercy

2012-01-26T18:06:00.000-05:00

Titus 3:4-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.^[a] ⁶ He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. ⁷ Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

Powerful words for us to be reminded of each day! It's not the righteous things (remember those are like filthy rags) that I have done that make God love me. I once heard a preacher say that he was thankful for God's but because it saved his butt. "But because of his mercy" he loves us, he cleanses us, he makes us new and whole. He wraps us up in his arms of love when we need it most. He carries us on eagles wings when we can't run another step. Indeed Paul is right, the promise of the gospel is a trustworthy saying...it is so trustworthy it makes all other sayings or statements seem false.

Thanks be to God!

Challenging Thoughts About our Worship Songs

2012-01-26T17:53:00.000-05:00

Looking for Jesus in All the Wrong Places | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Changing Face of Discipleship

2012-01-26T08:33:00.000-05:00

Below are some great thoughts on how the shifts in information accessabilty and education are impacting how the church disciples committed followers of Christ. Although this is true across the board it is increasingly true with those 25 and younger.

Church & Culture Blog | Church and Culture

Valuable Service

2012-01-26T08:28:00.000-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/who-cares.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

God's Grace Revealed

2012-01-25T11:31:00.001-05:00

Titus 2:11-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. ¹² And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,¹³ while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. ¹⁴ He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

A good reminder that the grace of God is for all of us who recognize our need for a savior. A better reminder that we live in this tension filled world with a pull towards godliness and a perhaps at times stronger pull towards the evil and sinful pleasures of this world...that we would see our need to die to ourselves daily and the soon returning hope of the nations who gave his life to free us from sin and call us to a holy life!

Faith, Music, and Cussing Christians

2012-01-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Interview: Bruce Cockburn | Music | Christianity Today

Quotes on the Church

2012-01-18T16:42:00.003-05:00

A church is a group of people collapsing into God and collapsing into one another. Gordon Crosby

A church is a place where you can go when you bottom out! paraphrase of Henri Nouwen

A church is where you go to share your fears. Walter B. Shurden

Recent Sermon

2012-01-18T16:30:00.002-05:00

Eagles Wings from Trip McAlhany on Vimeo.

MLK Inspired Music

2012-01-17T09:05:00.000-05:00

Paste Magazine always offers some creative lists on their site. Note: not all of these songs are from a Christian worldview, but they are in keeping with Dr. King's passion.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/01/10-songs-inspired-martin-luther-king-jr.html?utm_source=contactology&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Paste_Lifeline%2001-16-12_1_16_112

New Desk

2012-01-16T22:12:00.001-05:00

We got the desk that Papa Larry built for the girls mounted. It's already being used!

Thoughts on the VA hospital

2012-01-13T22:48:00.001-05:00

I went to the VA hospital with my dad yesterday and realized how sad, even depressing place to be. There were so many people we passed who had been ravaged by life and service to our country. It made me want to make sure that our veterans are served and protected even after they are finished protecting us. I hate that my dad will have to see some of that suffering more often as he begins his treatments soon. At the same time I am hopeful that God will use him to speak truth in word and action to those around him. To other veterans, to the doctors, nurses, and staff may his words be seasoned with grace and peace. May the light of Christ be manifested in him, shine your light in the darkness through him.

Thankful for the Lord's Favor

2012-01-13T11:56:00.000-05:00

http://bible.us/Prov18.22.NLT The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord.

Quotable Quotes

2012-01-13T11:49:00.001-05:00

"Any discussion of how pain and suffering fit into God's scheme ultimately leads back to the cross." Philip Yancey

White As Snow

2012-01-12T23:29:00.001-05:00

Due to unexpected circumstances, I made a trip to see my Dad this week. Today we left the house before 6 and it was 50°. We ended the day with a blanket of snow on the ground after temps dropped drastically throughout the day. Freshly fallen snow always reminds me of the Biblical picture of our sins being washed white as snow. Thanks be to God that what we were powerless to do through the law, Christ did for us! We no longer have to live under the dark stain of sin or the fear of God's wrath because of Jesus and the cross.

I Asked the Lord

2012-01-09T10:50:00.000-05:00

This song off one of the Indelible Grace cd's has been a blessing to me lately.

Big Fish

2012-01-07T20:38:00.001-05:00

Georgia Aquarium

2012-01-07T20:37:00.001-05:00

Last morning at Passion 2012

2012-01-05T11:27:00.001-05:00

/Eph6.19.NLT And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

The Fabulous Fox

2012-01-03T11:38:00.000-05:00

Masterpiece

2012-01-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

Eph2.4.NLT For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Passion 2012

2012-01-03T10:02:00.001-05:00

Eph 2.4.NLT But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Morning scripture @ Passion 2012

2012-01-03T09:59:00.001-05:00

Eph2.16.NLT Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Passion conference 2012

2012-01-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

Eating dinner with 20,000 of my closest friends

Tony Pagliarullo
Minister to Students and College
FBC Statesboro

2012 Christianity Today Book Awards | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

2011-12-31T14:57:00.000-05:00

2012 Christianity Today Book Awards | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Thoughts on Prayer

2011-12-30T12:09:00.001-05:00

1 Timothy 2 talks about the privilege of praying for others. This perhaps one of the more common types of prayer, intercessory. We have the freedom to converse with the Father for those in our lives who have special areas of concern, trials, difficulties and even joys and triumphs. Praying for others always opens my eyes to how blesses I am and how selfish my prayers can become. May we find the joy in lifting others up, for it truly pleases our Lord and Savior.

Pagliarullo Christmas

2011-12-29T21:52:00.001-05:00

Sent via DroidX2 on Verizon Wireless™

Best Christmas Present

2011-12-29T21:45:00.000-05:00

Sent via DroidX2 on Verizon Wireless™

Christmas

2011-12-25T15:07:00.001-05:00

Matching dolls

Guido Gardens

2011-12-23T22:40:00.000-05:00

Family picture at the night of lights

Gingerbread houses

2011-12-22T18:25:00.001-05:00

New Music from 2011

2011-12-21T10:34:00.000-05:00

Great choices on here, but it is definitely bent towards the alt-country, folk, singer-songwriter types. For me that's a plus though!
The 2011 CT Music Awards | Music | Christianity Today

The Elf Got the Munchies

2011-12-14T06:32:00.001-05:00

Advent Thoughts pt. 8

2011-12-12T17:40:00.004-05:00

I look forward to sharing the Lord's Supper with residents of one of the retirement homes/nursing homes in our area each December. It's always a joyful time to greet the residents and then see people from different backgrounds and usually different denominations come together to proclaim the Lord's death through bread and wine (of course we only use grape juice). It is a reminder to me of how simple our faith really is. I don't mean simplistic, I mean simple. We complicate it by adding religious ramblings to it, but it boils down to embracing the furious love of God, manifested most clearly in the life of Christ. I am thankful for those opportunities to pause and remember what God has done for us and how he is still at work in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

Advent thoughts pt. 7

2011-12-12T14:24:00.001-05:00

Great article about Advent.
http://www.thefaithlab.com/blog/2011/12/12/of-mice-and-ministers-an-ode-to-advent-and-axl-rose.html

Go Kart Birthday Party

2011-12-10T21:56:00.000-05:00

The girls had fun with cousins at a birthday party for Jackson. Racing was more intense than Days of Thunder!

Advent Thoughts pt. 6

2011-12-10T21:53:00.001-05:00

It's been a crazy week, so I haven't had a chance to post much about Advent, but the discipline of reading with the lectionary has been a rewarding one, these past few weeks. I must confess that sometimes the Christmas season just feels like you are hanging on, trying to survive the parties, the presents, and the people...most of us will put on a strong front and push through, praying that we can start the next year without a complete breakdown and feeling totally exhausted. Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 24 as he talks about the coming apocalypse to persevere. Keep your head up in other words. "But the one who endures till the end will be saved." Keep your wits about you and know that even in the moments we drop all the balls we are juggling that we need to pick them back up and begin again. We cling to the Savior and the cross because it is from him that we have the example of perseverance! God has begun his renovation of our hearts...he will finish it. Keep holding on!

Advent Thoughts pt. 5

2011-12-05T18:13:00.001-05:00

Psalm 25

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 25

^[a]A psalm of David.

¹ O Lord, I give my life to you.
    ² I trust in you, my God!
   Do not let me be disgraced,
      or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
³ No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
      but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. ⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord;
      point out the road for me to follow.
⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me,
      for you are the God who saves me.
      All day long I put my hope in you.
⁶ Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
      which you have shown from long ages past.
⁷ Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
      Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
      for you are merciful, O Lord.
⁸ The Lord is good and does what is right;
      he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
⁹ He leads the humble in doing right,
      teaching them his way.
¹⁰ The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
      all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
¹¹ For the honor of your name, O Lord,
      forgive my many, many sins.
¹² Who are those who fear the Lord?
      He will show them the path they should choose.
¹³ They will live in prosperity,
      and their children will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
      He teaches them his covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are always on the Lord,
      for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy,
      for I am alone and in deep distress.
¹⁷ My problems go from bad to worse.
      Oh, save me from them all!
¹⁸ Feel my pain and see my trouble.
      Forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ See how many enemies I have
      and how viciously they hate me!
²⁰ Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
      Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
²¹ May integrity and honesty protect me,
      for I put my hope in you.
²² O God, ransom Israel
      from all its troubles.

Footnotes:

Psalm 25:1 This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Do you trust in God to provide for you and lead you daily? Do you trust in your own abilities, achievements, strengths? The reminders of God's forgiveness, His protection are just what many people need during the frenzy of the holidays. We live in a broken world...we are broken people...people full of sin who desperately need to be reminded that God is for us and longs for us to seek refuge in Him.

Perhaps your prayer is like David's "Show me the right path, point out the road I need to follow"?

Find comfort in these words from John the Revelator, “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

Great Thoughts

2011-12-05T10:20:00.000-05:00

Church & Culture Blog | Church and Culture

Advent Thoughts pt. 4

2011-12-04T14:30:00.000-05:00

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Today's readings serve as a marker along the journey as we read about the birth and naming of John the Baptist, the exhilaration of praising the Lord, and the judgment of God. I think one of the best things about the lectionary is that it forces us to wrestle with difficult passages, passages of scripture that we would rather skip over and dismiss as antiquated or an old view of God rather than as part of the whole character of God presented from beginning to end in the pages of the Bible.

It seems fitting that we are reminded in Luke 1 when Zechariah speaks under the power of the Holy Spirit, "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel because he has visited and redeemed his people." The reading from Amos is filled with God's judgment, particularly in the form of exile because of Israel's sin and unfaithfulness. Yet Zechariah points the way to the promised redemption that is to come. God's redemptive act (return from exile) foreshadows the promise of redemption that is revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Judgment is real, thanks be to God that redemption is also real! That's something to join the Psalmist in praising the Lord about!

Watching Rudolph

2011-12-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

Christmas Show at Church

2011-12-03T20:04:00.000-05:00

Advent Thoughts Pt. 3

2011-12-03T19:51:00.001-05:00

Psalm 116

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹ I love the Lord because he hears my voice
      and my prayer for mercy.
² Because he bends down to listen,
      I will pray as long as I have breath!
³ Death wrapped its ropes around me;
      the terrors of the grave^[a] overtook me.
      I saw only trouble and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord:
      “Please, Lord, save me!”
⁵ How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
      So merciful, this God of ours!
⁶ The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
      I was facing death, and he saved me.
⁷ Let my soul be at rest again,
      for the Lord has been good to me.
⁸ He has saved me from death,
      my eyes from tears,
      my feet from stumbling.
⁹ And so I walk in the Lord’s presence
      as I live here on earth!

Isn't it comforting to know that the Lord hears our prayers in good times and bad times. He hears them when the grip of death clutches tight to our life, and He hears them when we walk upright in His ways. He is always faithful in the midst of our unfaithfulness, perhaps this is why the Advent season holds such a special place in our life of faith. We know as we drag toward the end of the year and are hoping to make it to the finish line, we have renewed hope the most unlikely of places. In a small animal trough the Savior of the world finds its bed and pillow on that first Christmas. Even the most humble of circumstances can bring about incredible blessings to our lives.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

2011-12-02T16:42:00.001-05:00

Advent Thoughts pt. 2

2011-12-02T16:34:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I know that I already missed a day, but to be fair I never made it to a computer yesterday...

Today's readings offer some challenging thoughts from the Psalms as well as the Gospel of Matthew, but the selection from Jude reminds me of Paul's address to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15 to hold tight to the gospel that they first believed.

Jude 3-4
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Today as so many different things clamor for our attention we must cling to the gospel message. We must defend the faith that was entrusted by God to his holy people. Do we protect our lives and our churches from allowing false doctrine to creep in? Do we protect our lives and our churches from becoming complacent in our faith and abusing grace because we know it will be there when we get ready to clean up our sinful habits? The grace of God cannot be used as a freedom to indulge in anything we want to do! His grace is precious and should be cherished for the regenerating work the Holy Spirit does in our lives. Thanks be to God for his grace, let us not abuse it.

Advent Thoughts pt.1

2011-11-30T16:31:00.001-05:00

I know I have missed a few days of the Advent season already but I am going to try to post some thoughts based on the lectionary readings for this season of Advent. The Psalter reading included 119:18

Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.

Perhaps our prayers this season should be focused on asking God to open our eyes to see the Christ-child in a new light this year. I'm sure we need to ask to see others around us in a new light as well.

The Essentials of Christianity

2011-11-30T16:29:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection of Christ

¹ Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

Thoughts on the Church from Fosdick

2011-11-30T14:35:00.001-05:00

And still, at its best, the church proclaims a living gospel which this huge, noisy, violent world critically needs. Granted the glaring faults of the church, the living gospel is too much alive for any church's failures utterly to deaden it. Despite our deficiencies, still in our churches at their best, lives are transformed, character is built, courage is renewed, faith is strengthened, ideals of personal and social conduct which else would die are kept alive, public-spirited devotion is engendered, and God's kingdom of righteousness on earth is made a living hope. (77-78)

Indeed, the God ordained vessel for which the work of the kingdom is to come to completion is a church empowered by the Holy Spirit and intently focused on the call of Christ to go make disciples. Without the church in our communities and our lives we would be missing not just a major force for change and good but the very instrument which the gospel can be confessed and proclaimed. We need the church now more than ever in spite of it's many faults and failures. I have had several conversations recently with people who have been hurt by the church...dare I say there is anyone who hasn't been hurt by the church or someone in the church in some shape, form, or fashion? Yet the church is also the place that we find healing and wholeness, grace and love, mercy and compassion and most of all new beginnings.

Ah, Church of Christ, the proclamation of such faith is your task today. You fritter away your strength on trivial sectarianisms. You insult the intelligent and alienate the serious with petty dogmatisms that do not matter. You fiddle trifling tunes while the world burns. But back of all that, still the glory of the true church within the church, is a message without which mankind is doomed. If you really believe the Christian gospel--God behind us, his cause committed to us, his power available for us--then proclaim it, live it, implement it, for humanity's hope depends upon it. It is indeed, a faith for tough times. (124) Emphasis added

Fosdick on Faith

2011-11-29T15:31:00.001-05:00

Harry Emerson Fosdick, was a key figure in the religious life of America in the mid 1900s. He was a polarizing force in that he adamantly combated the fundamentalists that had risen up in response to the cresting tide of theological Liberalism, yet he later in life criticized many of the shortcomings of Liberalism and embraced a form of Neo-Orthodoxy.

I have always heard or read his name either in high regard or complete contempt. Having never read anything by him I chose a book that has been on my shelf for years to read entitled A Faith for Tough Times. Fosdick was definitely someone who marched to his own beat not giving a care as to what others may think. Still in the book I found some nuggets of wisdom and insight.

Here is one:
When on undertakes to find the permanent in this transitory world one naturally turns to huge things, powerful things, which ostentatiously loom large and dominate the scene. But the Christian faith lights on an obscure Galilean, whose family thought him demented, whose church thought him a heretic and excommunicated him, whose friends thought him a failure and disowned him, whose nation thought him a traitor and crucified him. (40-41)

Thanksgiving Pics

2011-11-28T13:02:00.000-05:00

Why the Church and Seminaries Need to be Linked

2011-11-28T08:32:00.000-05:00

Challenging thoughts for the future of ministry and ministry training as the more and more churches are shifting their view of seminary and more and more seminaries are continuing to be bent towards the needs of the academy.
Church & Culture Blog | Church and Culture

Good Thoughts for Anyone Starting Something New

2011-11-28T08:24:00.000-05:00

I have found that in trying to promote events like concerts with musicians who don't have big ticket appeal that rarely will people come to something for the sake of being a part of art or the community that supports the arts. Interestingly enough, I have been asking similar questions as it pertains to new ventures in ministry that are just around the corner for us.
Seth's Blog: Who comes on opening night?

A Friends Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T11:59:00.001-05:00

The TV show Friends has some of the funniest moments in Thanksgiving history!
http://youtu.be/I3hn40NlrVk

http://youtu.be/S7QUXLKQbJA

Friends Spending the Night

2011-11-23T11:46:00.001-05:00

Claire had a friend spend the night last night...kind of a new thing for us as parents. Of course they were perfect and well behaved. They even let Charlotte play with them some too! The entire concept is something I didn't do a lot as a kid growing up but Cyd had a completely different experience. She had friends who spent the weekend not just the night, a totally foreign concept to me. I guess with two girls we have many, many more nights of excited little girls spending the night at each others' houses.

Quoteable Quotes

2011-11-21T16:11:00.001-05:00

There is nothing mightier or nobler than when man and wife are of one heart and mind in a house.
Homer

I am incurably convinced that the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.
G.K. Chesterton

Passing of Larry Munson

2011-11-21T16:06:00.001-05:00

There aren't many like Larry Munson in college football!

Thankful for Jesus

2011-11-21T14:42:00.001-05:00

Cling to the crucified
Jesus the Lamb who died
Cling to the crucified
Jesus the King

Taken from Cling to the Crucified Indelible Grace Music

Recent Sermon

2011-11-18T09:50:00.001-05:00

Fighting the Enemy from Trip McAlhany on Vimeo.

Quoteable Quotes Series

2011-11-15T11:57:00.001-05:00

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.
John Wesley

Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances which we know to be desperate.
G.K. Chesterton

Pray in the Spirit at all times.
The Apostle Paul

Love like Jesus, Live like Luke

2011-11-14T17:24:00.001-05:00

It's been 1 year since an incredible young man's life had an even greater ripple effect than we could ever imagine. I think of you often, especially when I walk by the supply closet on the youth floor. You put this sticker up probably the first year I was here, never noticed it until a year ago. Love you buddy!

Operation Christmas Child

2011-11-13T10:18:00.000-05:00

Shoeboxes packed and ready to share the love of God.

Essential Elements for Sermon Preparation

2011-11-09T07:48:00.000-05:00

Things I Love About Fall in South GA

2011-11-08T16:36:00.001-05:00

1. Fields of white aka cotton fields just before harvest
2. Crisp mornings taking the kids to school
3. The smell of freshly pulled peanuts
4. College football
5. A cup of coffee
6. Being able to wear a skull cap and not look ridiculous
7. The anticipation of family gatherings for the holidays
8. Good books
9. Conversations with friends
10. Stealing away for moments together with my "10" of wife!

Seth's Blog

2011-11-08T06:34:00.001-05:00

There's nothing wrong with having a plan

Plans are great.
But missions are better. Missions survive when plans fail, and plans almost always fail.

Dedication Service for the New Sanctuary

2011-11-06T11:52:00.000-05:00

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T21:47:00.000-04:00

Halloween Thoughts

2011-10-31T09:10:00.000-04:00

Here is a great post about how Halloween has been demonized (pun intended) by many in the evangelical establishment. http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-internet-monk-annual-halloween-rant-2

I echo the thoughts in the article. I have great memories of dressing up with my mom to go trick or treating. One year she went as the Bride of Dracula and I was an escaped convict (mind you all before the age of 8). Definitely not the norm for evangelicals celebrating the holiday in 2011. I turned out alright...

More Thoughts on the Reformation

2011-10-31T08:45:00.000-04:00

Church & Culture Blog | Church and Culture

Reformation Sunday

2011-10-30T17:44:00.000-04:00

In honor of Reformation Sunday, being the good non-creedal, non-liturgical baptist that I am I offer a quote from one of the most crude, sloven, prone to imbibe, incredibly gifted theologians the church has ever produced...Martin Luther.

"Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly... Pray boldly - for you too are a mighty sinner."

Father to a Son

2011-10-28T17:12:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe that we are halfway through pregnancy number 3! I am extremely excited to be having a boy this time around, but also very nervous. I know what to do with girls...at least so far. I'm not so sure with boys. I was talking to a student this morning who is a big outdoors person. He hunts every chance he gets. I have been hunting once, so I'm not sure how to teach my son anything about wildlife. I'm not really great with tools, mechanical things, etc. so I'm not sure where he will learn to do any of that stuff either. If he wants to have a discussion about theories of atonement while I change his diaper then I can handle that area. Or if he wants to discuss the influence of jazz and blues musicians on current music or the merits of being critically acclaimed and not popularly acclaimed in the world of music. I can even handle discussing the theological implications of such films as The Goonies or TV shows like Friends and for Halloween, Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin I'm there! The good news is I have a few more months to figure some of these things out!

GSU vs. App State

2011-10-28T09:25:00.001-04:00

Fall Festival

2011-10-26T23:02:00.000-04:00

Quoteable Quotes

2011-10-26T14:33:00.002-04:00

Vocation is not primarily a thing one does to live but the thingone lives to do. It is, or should be, the full expression of your faculties,the thing in which you find spiritual, mental, and bodily satisfaction.

Dorothy Sayers

Maturity is to accept oneself and ones origins as non-negotiable.

I do not want to make Baptists shut themselves up in their littleclam shells and be indifferent to the ocean outside of them. I am a Baptist,but I am more than a Baptist. All things are mine; whether Francis of Assisi,or Luther, or Knox, or Wesley; all are mine because I am Christ's. The old Adamis a strict denominationalist; the new Adam is just a Christian.

Walter Rauschenbusch

I came across all of these in the book, For Faith and Friendship, currently in my stack of readingmaterial.

Tacky Day

2011-10-26T07:09:00.000-04:00

Fair Parade 2011

2011-10-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

Fair Parade 2011

2011-10-25T14:46:00.001-04:00

Wilco Live

2011-10-24T18:30:00.000-04:00

Here is video of the Wilco song referenced in an earlier post.

Voices in your Head

2011-10-24T15:03:00.003-04:00

Wilco, the alternative band with deep roots in alt-country and folk music released a new album almost a month ago that I have been listening to lately. The variety of musical styles are amazing (ranging from Neil Young ala Harvest to Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon). The song Dawned on Me has really captured my mind lyrically and musically.

I've been taken
By the sound
Of my own voice
The voices in my head

It seems to me that the temptation for ministers is to allow the voices in our head to overtake the voice of the Holy Spirit that is calling for a life of humble submission to Christ. Unfortunately the voices in my head don't tend to be very humble or willing to submit themselves to Christ. Some of the reading I have been doing lately has reminded me that I need to listen to the voice of Abba rather than the voices in my head. The voices in my head may be my own voice, one of pride and arrogance or it may be accolades from others, approval and acceptance from others...regardless it is so easy to subtly give the "voices" more influence than the Spirit.

Fair

2011-10-24T13:54:00.002-04:00

Fair

2011-10-24T13:54:00.001-04:00

A Book List

2011-10-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

I always love to hear or see what other people recommend as essential or required reading.
Church & Culture Blog | Church and Culture

Speedway

2011-10-20T21:16:00.000-04:00

Construction Zone

2011-10-20T19:02:00.000-04:00

Fair 2011

2011-10-20T18:08:00.001-04:00

GSU vs. Furman Game

2011-10-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

Feeding the Midway Workers

2011-10-18T12:09:00.000-04:00

A Fully Biblical Liberation Theology | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

2011-10-17T11:44:00.000-04:00

A Fully Biblical Liberation Theology | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Pain

2011-10-14T09:40:00.001-04:00

"If we don't learn to transform the pain, we'll transfer it." Richard Rohr

Ashlyn's Birthday Party

2011-10-11T08:41:00.000-04:00

Rainy Day 2

2011-10-11T08:40:00.000-04:00

Rainy Day

2011-10-11T08:23:00.000-04:00

God of the Impossible

2011-10-08T14:22:00.001-04:00

I came across this quote from St. Ambrose, one of the early church fathers, in my devotional book.

"What is impossible to God? Not that which is difficult to His power, but that which is contrary to His nature."