Happy Fourth of July

Celebrating today with time with family, grilling out and going to see the Indians beat the Yankees and fireworks too!

Happy Independence Day!

Jim Tressel

Jim Tressel has resigned and I am sure that there will be lots and lots of stories and rumors and etc. I am saddened by the events.

I do not know all the details, but what I do know is that Jim Tressel is a brother in Christ and he is going through a very public tough time right now. I for one am going to pray for him and his family.

Following the Indians

Well, i just applied to get a ticket to the Indians "Social Media" Suite and so I thought it might be good to post a bit about Indians Baseball.

I love Indians Baseball. There is nothing more entertaining than going out to the ballpark (yes, we still call it Jacob's Field!) I have gone to the games with my family, with mys sons and with others and always have a good time.

I always look forward to the game!

The Christmas War

We may have won the battle, but I think we have lost the Christmas war. Oh, yes, we raised a ruckus and the last few years we got "Merry Christmas" back into the vocabulary of the retail industry. But really, we lost. Christmas has become a secular holiday.
Ed Stetzer reports on his blog that:
"Though a majority encourage belief in Christ at Christmastime, 67 percent of Americans say that, 'Many of the things I enjoy during the Christmas season have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ.'"
Imagine what your Jewish friend or boss would think if you decided to have a Hanukkah party. Yet, if they choose to have a Christmas party, no one blinks. To choose to celebrate the birth of a Jesus who is not the incarnate Son of God is just having another excuse to have a drink and revelry and party.
We've lost the war. Christmas means nothing. Watch the TV shows and discover the real meaning of Christmas is family, or love, or hope, or caring, or sharing, or a combination of several or all of these. It makes me want to shout like Charlie Brown " Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
We need a Linis to speak up and tell our society again what the true meaning of Christmas is.
It is worth noting that Charles Shultz had to fight to get this part of his special made even back in the 60s because the TV people thought it would not be popular even then.
Perhaps it is a glimmer of hope that life can be restored to a lifeless Christmas. Christ can be the center of Christmas. Families can be restored. Love can be shown in full. Giving and caring can be done with an eternal perspective and hope can reign in Him. May the traditions of our lives be meaningful and may we courageously point people to the Savior who was born on Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas.

Continuing the Journey!

Excited about the journey into church planting in 2011. God continues to confirm his direction in our lives. We are seeking Him and following!

Sunday School Information Websites

I promised the class I taught this morning that I would put these websites on my blog... so here it is...

Websites/Blogs

Lifeway Great Expectations Page with downloadable training materials:

http://www.lifeway.com/article/170118/?intcmp=GreatExp-Home

Lifeway Sunday School

http://www.lifeway.com/menu/?id=200738

Bob Mayfield, Sunday School/Adult Discipleship for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

http://bobmayfield.typepad.com/my_weblog/

The Sunday School Director’s Association

http://www.sundayschoolleader.com

Blog and check out the resource page!

The Sunday School Revolutionary

Daryl Wilson, Kentucky Baptist Director of the Sunday School Department

http://www1.kybaptist.org/kbc/blogs/ssrb.nsf/dx/how-class-greeters-can-help-your-ss-grow.htm

He recently posted a blog about Sunday School blogs!

http://www1.kybaptist.org/kbc/blogs/ssrb.nsf/dx/sunday-school-online-resources.htm

Don't Check Your Baggage - Eliminate it

Baggage. We all have it. What kind of baggage are you carting around? Envy? Hate? Bitterness? Unforgiveness?

The airlines have started charging for checked baggage and it is amazing how when people considered the cost, many decided to pack lighter - eliminate some of their baggage. Many people have figured out that they can travel with just a carry-on since the cost is too hight for the baggage.

have you counted the cost of your excess baggage? What does what you are living with cost you? Are you really willing to live with that cost?

Count the cost. Get rid of the baggage. Travel light.

And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Eph 4:30-32