Erwin McManus - Jesus Wept...

Darrin Patrick on Elders...

Bibles, Beer, and Culture...

I've known of The Journey's ministry at the Bottleworks for some time now, but just saw their promo for it on Youtube. Thought you'd enjoy it! I love this idea...

The End Times...

What do you think, is talk about the end times profitable, or not?

Do you see dispensationalism as more divisive than unifying as I do?

What camp would you say you're in?

Are you pre-millennial, post-millennial, any-millennial?

Do you believe in flying people meeting Jesus in the air, like most say the rapture will occur?

I like to think of end times discussions or 'eschatology' as something to think about, but not divide over. I like how Mark Driscoll classifies things. He says all issues go in either the closed hand, or in the open hand.

Closed hand issues would be those nonnegotiables like the deity of Christ, salvation by faith, male elders, etc. Whereas open handed issues would be things like eschatology, which spiritual gifts still exist, which bible version is best, can women be deacons, etc.

In Matthew 24, Jesus' disciples asked him to tell them when the end was coming, and Jesus told them he didn't know. He said only the Father knows. But what he told them to do was to be ready for whenever the end came.

So keep your eye on the sky, and keep your ears peeled for the trumpet. You just never know!!!

The blessed burden that I bare...

Here I am with a Larikeet on my head. This was taken at the Cincinnati Zoo on a recent vacation we took. Just thought I'd share this photo.

Anyway, at a recent conference I attended, I sat in on a message from James McDonald, who pastors a church in Peoria, IL., and he said a very interesting comment.

He was sharing about his visit to Massachusetts some years back and his visit to the Plymouth Plantation where the Pilgrims set up shop after arriving in America. While talking to a gentlemen dressed up as William Brewster, James' two daughters with him began to cry. Not wanting to end his conversation, James reached down and picked up his daughters and held them in his arms. Without missing a beat, "William Brewster" replied "that is a blessed burden you bear Master McDonald."

James was very impressed by the comment and I have been since hearing it as well.

We men, who the Lord has blessed with children do bear a "blessed burden." Raising children isn't easy. If it were, more men would do it, and those that are doing it would have more. Though not easy, it is quite enjoyable. I wouldn't trade the experience of raising my eight children for anything anyone could offer.

I'm thankful that the Lord's grace has fallen upon me in the area of child raising and I pray that it has on you as well. Stay strong in the task men, and know that you serve a mighty God. Never tire in your calling, for it truly is a blessed burden that you bear!