My Daughter the Evangelist

Yesterday, Emma and I were in line at Joanne Fabric's to get a piece of linen cut for a project that I'm working on.  There were several people in line, and only 1 person helping, so it was taking awhile.  Emma was talking up a storm, making all the people smile.  Then she said, "go, church?", to which I replied, "we don't have church today".  People thought it was cute.  Then she started getting bored, so I began looking through my purse to find something for her to do, but I didn't really have much.  I grabbed my bible and asked her if she wanted to read.  She yelled "Bible" at the top of her lungs.  Then said, "mommy, read?".  Now whenever she asks me to read my bible I say, "God loves you, Jesus is God, and Jesus loves you".  Of course, saying these words in public made everyone a little uncomfortable, so I noticed.  Oh well!  It's true.  As if this wasn't good enough, Emma then said, "pray!"  At this point, she usually names things or points to things she wants to pray for.  She began pointing to everyone in the line.  So, one by one, we prayed out loud for each person in the line.  It was the most amazing, wonderful feeling ever to share that with my daughter.  She made my day.

After Service Coffee

Oh my, this cartoon says it all.  I am reminded that as we greet at church, not to be blind to the new people around us.  If we only converse with people we know, how does that make any new people feel?  I'm so thankful to be a part of a church that welcomes.  May we never become a bubble.

Check out his other cartoons too.  He's got some good ones.  

www.cartoonchurch.com

Jason Boyett Blog

I came across a blog today.  Take it for what it is.  He's a pretty hilarious writer, yet they are serious topics.  He's not always right on with his thinking, but then again, when are any of us right on everything?  His comments are thought provoking, and others make good points in their responses.  The important thing to gleen from reading any blog like this is that this is what people are thinking about and not saying.  It should be a lesson to us.  The church is not perfect and we can't pretend that it is, or we can't get well.

 

Choose Your Favorite Jesus Art

Five Confessions: Annoyed by "Worship"

Church Generation Gap

 I read an article recently that talked about a very low profile issue in the church and I found it interesting.  I pray that as a body of believers, we would not see age, but rather one's spirit, and their love for the Lord.  Here's an excerpt from the article:




Churches tend to isolate the generations along peer lines. The result is often a lack of meaningful relationships between teenagers and most adults. It’s therefore no wonder that when we dismiss them from youth group following high school, young adults fail to make a positive transition into the adult ministries of the church. Their high school world featured a different program, often a different philosophy of ministry, a different meeting location, different pastors, different musical styles, and very few positive relationships with godly adults.

I appreciate the intergenerational emphasis in Gary L. McIntosh’s book One Church, Four Generations: “It is crucial that the worship team be intergenerational. The leaders who are seen on the platform influence the people who will attend the service. When people come to a church, one of the first things they do is look around to find people like themselves.” He makes a good point. Our churches must be God-honoring places where children, young people, young adults, and older adults alike serve and worship God. It is a shame if churches willingly overlook or exclude any particular age group. 

Isaiah Journal

Last year a friend of mine, Caley Peterson, and I decided to do a study through Isaiah.  It was amazing.  We made ourselves some journals and broke Isaiah up into about 100 days (which is exactly how many pages our journals had).  We asked every question we could think of and didn't rest until we understood the answer to every question we had.  Wow, are there some amazing prophesies about Christ in that book.  Learning the history was so powerful to me that now during sermons, I feel I have a way better grasp on Old and New Testament significances.  Here's the journal cover I made if anyone else wants to use it.  (I just used Modge Podge to paint it onto the blank journal cover).

Why We Teach that Jesus Saves

"The Water Analogy" - by Marisa Frantz

(A fictional representation, from the perspective of the absurd)

 
There was a 6 year old boy in Ohio who survived after being under water for 67 minutes.  It was a miracle.  A possibility that no one accounted for.  Because of this, I have decided to focus most of my water safety education with my own children on the possibility of living under water for extended periods of time.  It will not be necessary for them to learn to swim.  In this way, they will grow up being well educated of all possibilities, and live fearless of the water.  Of course, I will let them know that I fully support them if they would like to learn to swim, as long as they know that it's not necessary for everyone. 

(Pause) - Now, let's think this through for a minute.  Who in their right mind would adhere to this nonsensical view?  But isn't that how some are viewing Christ's salvation to the unsaved?  Let me explain.

If God would save someone by faith and good works (an underwater miracle), never having truly known the Savior Jesus (Knowing how to swim), then let's re-frame everyone's ideas around this.  Don't bother teaching people Jesus is the only way, when there is a possibility their faith is enough.  Let people jump in the water of eternal life hoping on a miracle, rather than the Truth that's been given us in the Word of God.  If they want to evangelize (teach others to swim), and spread the news of Jesus, we fully support that too, as long as they know it is not necessary for everyone.

(Pause) - How absurd?!  My conclusion is this.  I will teach my children to swim because that is how they will be saved from death in the water.  I will tell people about Jesus, because this is how they will be saved from death in this life.  This is my priority...not a one in a million possibility.