U.S. Senate to open prayer with a Hindu Prayer

What is our nation coming too? Will God look upon our nation and bless it? This is the first time in history that the U.S. Senate has invited a Hindu to serve as a guest chaplain. This reminds me of Israel in the Old Testament when they chose to worship other gods. I am not saying that I believe that America is the new Israel, but our actions do have consequences.

When God looks upon our nation and watches the actions of our leaders, what is He thinking? What disciplinary action will He decide?

There once was two roads; a wide road and a narrow road. Which road will we as a nation take? As for me and my family we choose to take the road less traveled by, the narrow road. And it has made all the difference!

ipod...blended

WOW....have you seen this? Check this out!

Team Effort 2007

I was gone last week on a mission trip with my youth group. Our youth pastor, Shane Clardy, carried us to Team Effort, an organization set up to help student ministries with mission experiences. It was GREAT to get away and focus on Christ and focus on the youth. The youth did a wonderful job of working together and growing closer to the youth.

We had a lot of fun in our free time! We went whitewater rafting down the Occoee River and wow could I share some stories! We also swung on 100ft high swing, and participated in a high ropes course. We laughed a lot, shared a lot, and loved Christ through it all.

Can't wait till next year!!

.....key an eye out on some photos of the trip!

Children Ministry

I am in the midst of Vacation Bible School and for some of you who are unfamiliar of this program. It is a week of kids ministry that is centered around a theme and biblical scripture. It is a great outreach arm for the church!

What is great about VBS?

• provides worship designed for children
• everything is centered around a theme
• creates an environment for learning and for excitement

Here is the dilemma: why cant we provide a VBS environment every week for our children? Well we can and churches that are growing are already doing so. Ed Young's church has curriculum that is out of this world and it provides worship designed for children, 8 weeks of material centered around a theme, and creates an environment for learning and excitement. There are a lot of different materials out there that provide great resources, the problem is we don't motivate our churches to provide it on a weekly basis and not just one week of the year.

VBS is great! More kids are reached through VBS than any other event or activity! If VBS is the largest event where the most kids are reached for Jesus Christ, than can you imagine the children that would be saved if more churches provided this on a weekly basis? Wow! We might just start a revolution!

PROBLEM! Help if you can!

I used a video for a sermon illustration this past Sunday. The format was only available for QuickTime, which my worshipmedia does not recognize. I did show the video on QuickTime, but it caused a lot of trouble and the sound was poor.

Does anyone know how to convert the media file for QuickTime to a different format that would be recognized by worshipmedia?

Apple iphone

Egadget wrote a very long review of the iphone. Check out the review they wrote, but I have one complaint about the iphone!

When I first heard the rumors that Apple was coming out with a cell phone I was thrilled. I own an ipod and love it! Now that the iphone has came out, I am still left wondering why in the world are they using only one cell phone provider, AT&T. I am with Verizon and I would jump at the opportunity to buy an iphone, but I am not willing to switch providers.

I have a friend who has purchased an iphone and he loves it. I wonder if in the future they will offer the phone up to other providers?

Have any of you bought an iphone? What do you think, do you like it?

....very addicting from jpowell.blogs.com

Try this game out....its very addicting! Its Bloxorz. Tell me what you think. I got it from jpowell.blogs.com

New!

I will be writing about a wide variety of issues from current trends in society, new technology, technology that helps the church, to church life, and general issues.

I encourage you to comment and ask questions.

If you want me to answer a question, feel free to ask.

Look forward to the journey!

"True" Church Discipleship

Most Christians are only going to give three hours a week to the church! How are churches maximizing those three house to make disciples? What should they be doing?

Here is my idea.

If a person will only give 3 hours than those 3 hours should be as the following:

Give

• 1 hour to actively participate in worship
• 1 hour to actively participate in a small group Bible study fellowship
• 1 hour a week actively participating in missions

There needs to be a process in place that progresses people in their spiritual walk. Thom Rainer in his book Simple Church he nails the problem! Churches have become too complex and many have no process in which to disciple people.

At Bethel we use the idea in Simple Church, which is "Loving God, Loving People, & Saving the World!", Loving God is worship, Loving people is a small group Bible Study Fellowship, and Saving the World! is the mission program.

Simple. If people are only going to give me 3 hours a week than I believe this where I want them spending their time.

Simple. It has progression. It makes disciples!

What is your idea? Share with my your opinion and ideas on how to better facilitate discipleship and growth in our churches.