The “bombs” in Boston today were really ads for Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Oooops!

Who thought of that ad? Master Shake or Carl? Maybe Meatwad. Who knows. They were a bad idea.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Number One in the Hood G! And by hood we mean the FBI Terror Watch List.

link

Monday night I headed over to downtown Ft. Worth for a screening of the newest film from Walden Media, Amazing Grace.

The film tells the story of William WIlberforce.

Wilberforce was a member of British parliment near the end of the 18th century and early part of the 19th century. In 1784, a “great change” occured in his life. He became a Christian.

This “great change” influenced the way he lived and lit a new fire in his belly. Wilberforce set out to abolish slavery in all of the British Empire. It became his all consuming passion. He dedicated the rest of his life to this end. Friends were lost and enemies were made but he never gave up. For 34 years, he continued to push for an end to the “horrors of the slave trade.”

Three days before he passed away, Parliment passed the Slavery Abolition Act, freeing all slaves within the Brish empire.

One man. One Faith. One Pursuit. Millions of lives changed.

While watching the film I was struck by the thought that one person can make a lasting difference in the world. I used to believe that as a kid but somewhere along the way that belief turned into merely a pipe dream.

My least favorite sentances in the world are:

“It’s always been this way.” and “We’ve never done it that way.”

Those are the two biggest lies that cripple young dreams and vibrant life. Well, I’m not buying it anymore.

Yesterday I read Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper. It was a great little read. It is under 80 pages so you could read it in about an hour. It again drove the point home to me: One person can make a difference.

The movie was very good and I am hoping to promote it with my teens and their families. The film opens on February 23. You can go to the film’s website to see where it will be playing in your area.

I’m going to make a bold prediction after watching tonight’s episode. You ready…

Linderman is Claire’s daddy.

Just wanted to put that out there.

Discuss.

A day ahead of schedule:

Kicking at the Podcast Episode 2

Subscribe at iTunes:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/kickingatthedarkness

The Gospel According to Starbucks

Ultimately I’ve found that it isn’t about learning something new from Starbucks but more about relearning and being reminded of how to connect with each other and the community in which we serve.

I) Partners not Employees - Ministers not Pew Warmers
Philippians 1:3-6
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joybecause of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

You are not called to be a pew warmer but to be a partner in the Gospel. Jesus didn’t say “Those with ministry degrees go into the world…”

II) BE A Minister
It isn’t enough to say, “You are a partner act like one.” Baristas need to know what it means to be a partner. Starbucks needs to educate their partners on BEing partners. That’s where the Green Apron Book comes in.

The Green Apron Book
Be Welcoming
Be Genuine
Be Knowledgeable
Be Considerate
Be Involved

Questions to Percolate
1) What does it look like for you to BE WELCOMING to your family, coworkers, strangers?
2) What does it mean for you to BE KNOWLEDGEABLE about BEing a disciple? What gets you out of bed in the morning when it comes to this new life that you’ve been given?

Question and Comments welcomed!!!

When Hips Attack at the Robert Randolph concert in the Benson.

I gave my first intallment of “The Good News of Starbucks” sermon series this morning. I got a lot of great feedback and got the impression that the lesson ready connected with everyone. Unfortunately, I was unable to record it. D’oh!

I spent most of Thursday afternoon working on the sound board making sure that everything was ready to record but something happened this morning and it didn’t work. I’ll give the second installment in two weeks. Hopefully by then I can work out all the kinks.

On Tuesday I’ll post episode 2 of Kicking at the Podcast with the highlights of today’s sermon.

I was so bummed that it didn’t record but hopefully this will be next best thing. Be on the lookout for the podcast this Tuesday.

I don’t get jealous very often and I don’t really have a competitive spirit. However, I’ll admit that today I am a little jealous of my friend Jordan.

Jordan and I grew up together through elementary, junior high and senior high. In junior high we played Y baseball together and then in high school we played football side by side. I was a guard and he was the tackle. I’m 5′9 and he is 6′8. Pictures of us together elicit quite a few laughs.

Jordan ended up going to Notre Dame on a football scholarship while I went to Harding to pursue a ministry career. Jordan now plays pro football for the Kansas City Chiefs.
I am so proud of my friend but I do find myself feeling a little green.

It isn’t his football career that has me feeling jealous. I love what I do and I would argue that I have the greatest job in the world. My dreams led me right where I want to be and Jordan’s dreams led him to the NFL. That’s how dreams should work!

No, I’m jealous because Jordan has his own Wikipedia entry! How cool is that?!?!?!

When I couldn’t sleep last night I went surfing the net looking at concert tickets, U2 and Coldplay fansites, and researching interesting stuff on Wikipedia. That is when I came across Jordan’s entry.

Jordan, I thought you had made it when I heard John Madden talk about you during a game but now I know you’ve made it. Congratulations my friend. I am so proud of your success.

I still jealous though.

Insomnia is the bane of my existence.

A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is 600 metres (2,000 ft) or more under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.
The Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, south of Tokyo, was alerted by a fisherman at a nearby port on Sunday that he had spotted an odd-looking eel-like creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth.

Marine park staff caught the 1.6 metre (5 ft) long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a “living fossil” because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times.

link

I am at a loss for words really. However there is one thought that is consuming me.

Shame on everyone involved- the film makers, the camp directors, the adults, the producers, the parents.

You are all guilty of exploiting those children for profit and power.

For shame!

After the State of the Union address I went back up to my office to grab a few things that I had left on my desk. On the way home I decided to stop off at Blockbuster and rent a couple of movies. I immediately grabbed the (as of today) Oscar nominated documentary, Jesus Camp. I have been waiting to see it since its release and I wanted to write about it here on the blog. Rather than writing a review I thought a live blog of my thoughts as I watch the film for the first time would be a neat experiment.

Here it goes:

• Missouri is pretty but looks as exciting as cardboard.
• I feel like any objectivity that the filmmakers were going for is out the window already as the radio host dismisses the “Christianity” that I feel is about to be presented for the next 90 min.
• I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep after watching the musical at the Children’s Prayer Conference. Freaky music. Marching. Stick dancing. War face paint. “Arise! Prophesy!” Creepy.
• I don’t think I’m comfortable with teaching elementary kids about changing the world through fasting for God.
• I don’t think I’m comfortable with watching children speak in tongues either.
• “(Children) are so usable in Christianity.” Did she really just say that children are usable?
• “I want to see young people who are as commited to the cause of Jesus Christ as the young people are to the cause of Islam.” (Ok I’m tracking with that) “I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are over in Pakistan, in Israel, Palestine and all those different places because, excuse me, we have the truth.” (errr. I don’t think that “laying down their lives for the gospel as they are over Palestine” comes across like she thinks it does or at least I hope so)
• The kid who said that he was shy is homeschooled. Imagine that.
• “Objective Radio Host” is back. He is telling his audience that these “Christians” are taught that destroying the earth is ok. I was never taught to “rape the earth” or to live as though I could create as much trash and to take as much as I can from the earth. The earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it. Besides a Boy Scout always leaves a place better than he found it! I don’t deny that people believe that we have freedom in Christ to destroy the earth’s ecosystems but that has never come up in a sermon I’ve listened to.
• Bowling Ministry. Touching and off-putting at the same time. That was quite possibly the coldest call ever.
• I had no idea that there was a “Pledge to the Christian Flag” or a pledge to the Bible
• The name of the camp is “Kids on Fire” and it is held in Devil’s Lake, ND. No kidding.
• The opening message of the camp is being delivered. The ages in attendance seemed to be between 7-12. It was very intense and not age appropriate. Alter calls with 8 year olds is insufferable.
• The camp director, Beckie Fischer, did have some great illustrations and object lessons that she showed in her office.
• “How many of you want to be those who would give up their lives for Jesus?” (Again, I don’t think that comes out like they mean it to.)
• “Take these prophecies and make war with them. This means war!” (Errr. Ak-ward!)
• There is a cut out of Pres. Bush on the podium.
• Ok, they didn’t pray to him (the cut out) but they did lay their hands on him (the cut out).
• There is something unsettling about teaching elementary kids about abortion.
• There is something unsettling about children chanting for “Righteous Judges”
• “Objective Radio Guy” again. This time there is an Air America sticker visable. I don’t connect with this guy either.
• Look who it is: Ted Haggard
• My heart goes out to New Life
• I think it’s about time to drop the christian mission as war metaphor
• “Objective Radio Guy” is back and interviewing the camp lady. Two faces of the same coin.
• Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky- Cue Credits
• A few more cold calls and fade to black

Wow. I just couldn’t connect with anyone in this film and it made my tummy hurt. I’m going to bed.

Why can’t I find a regular, nondescript cover for my Bible anywhere?

I’ve found plenty of neon colored covers. And I’ve seen my fair share of covers that have an eagle airbrushed on them. I’ve noticed covers that look like footballs and I almost bought a cover that came with a compass just in case God’s Word failed to point me in the direction true north. Look at these descriptions of popular covers:

Nylon construction with two compartments, organizing features including CD organizer, credit card organizer, note pad, interior cell phone and PDA pocket, and pen pockets.

Best-seller made even better! Features: *Organizational flap with more interior pockets, credit card and CD/DVD storage *Pen pockets *Notepad holder *Durable construction

Who is carrying their credit cards in their Bibles? Who wants to carry around their DVDs in their Bible? Who are these people that need to carry all that junk with them while they read God’s Word? At the most you need a pen, a highlighter, and some paper. At most.

The other thing that has bugged me while looking for a bible cover is the fact that they all have a handle or handles. Do you really need handles? My study Bible has 2469 pages in it yet I can comfortably hold it in one hand without the use of handles. It’s a Bible, not a purse.

I have found that there are hundreds of covers that try and outshine what they are carrying but there are almost zero covers that just protect Bibles from the elements. That’s all I’m looking for.

I’m not looking for a cover that has bumper sticker theology embroidered on the front in some religious font with a Icthus zipper. I just want to protect my Bible from some of the wear and tear that come from reading and living with it. That’s all. No more, no less.

We hosted the A&M Aggies for Christ this weekend at our church. These college students drove up from College Station late on Friday night and then worked their tails off on Saturday. They built a sound booth in the back of our auidtorium, dug fence posts for the playground, and worked on the flowerbeds around the building. It was cold and rainy but you would have never known it.

These students never complained. They didn’t argue or fuss. They just worked hard, had great attitudes and served with a smile.

Some of them even headed out to an inner-city church in downtown to help them get ready for services today.

My students really loved hanging out with them and getting to know them. They were able to see and connect with college students that are living out the faith on the campus of Texas A&M. It was a great weekend.

Big props to the Aggies for Christ. You all are welcome here anytime. Come back soon!

While preparing for my (tentatively titled) “Gospel According to Starbucks” series, I’ve been reading Joeseph Michelli’s wonderful book, The Starbucks Experience. In the second chapter Michelli writes that part of Starbucks success lies in “the amazing ability of partners (employees) to zero in on the minute details that matter greatly to customers.” That has been the case in almost every Starbucks I’ve visited. The floors have been clean, the shelves have been stocked and kept in order, and the stores seem to be running on all cylinders.

Regardless of what others say small details matter just as much as everything else. That’s why my jaw dropped when I saw this picture on Seth Godin’s blog yesterday.

I don’t know who should feel worse, THe PeoPLE who designed ThE Ad or the people who approved it. Plus, although lawyering is a real word it comes across as a little too Napoleon Dynamite when coupled with the capitalization problem and bragging about being 16th in the nation with said skills.

Get the small things right and the rest will fall in place. To whom much has been given much will be expected.

Tonight it goes down!

Colbert vs. O’Reilly or Eagle vs. Papa Bear

Whatever the name, hilarity will ensue.

link
via