A Whole New World

I’ve been reflecting on the state of things in our country lately.  I’m pretty disgusted with the whole thing actually and I am starting to believe that the Republicans and Democrats aren’t any different at all.  I almost choked on my smoke last night when Obama started talking about plans and proposals that took new money.  At least McCain said freeze spending – though I don’t think he’ll do it.

We, as Christians in America, may be in for a new world and that probably won’t be a bad thing.  For too long we have taken what we have in our country as a right and have become fat, lazy and infatuated with the pursuit of happiness.  Maybe it is time to focus a bit more on life and liberty??

The Politics of Smoking

I’m a hard one to pin down on politics, but I do like to look at political strategy.  I lean conservative, but only when I see what I believe is true conservatism.  McCain’s team (maybe run by the architect, Karl Rove, himself) has been masterful the past 6 weeks. Andrew Sullivan hit the nail on the head.  (BTW…you need to click on the Karl Rove link.  I found it on YouTube by accident and it is hilarious.  He is rapping and it is really him.)

McCain and crew realized early this cycle that they did not have a visible internet presence. So what did they do? They took over the liberal presence, they are manipulating the leading liberal blogs , just as they manipulate the MSM. All to their own advantage. And the blogs have all fallen for this hook, line and sinker. Does no one realize this?

Obama’s campaign had been doing incredible, but the fact that this race is even close for McCain…not to mention his being ahead…should signal something.  I’m looking forward to the debates.  My prayer remains the same…that the man that needs to be in the office at this time is elected.

A Little Smokin Nostalgia at University of Kentucky

Now most of you know I am about a rabid UNC fan as you can get.  However, a little known secret is that I spent my sophomore year cheering at Kentucky.  UNC has won 2 championships – UK has one around 15 at last count.  Both were incredible experiences.  Here is a little glimpse into practice.

Smokin Stunts at UK

what is the church?

it seems like a simple question, and it probably has a simple answer.  (i’m a fairly complex guy and can make a mountain out of a molehill…just so you know.)  i’m looking at this on two levels.  first, what is the church in america?  when people hear the word “church” what pops in their head?  second, what IS the church.  what should it be.  what should it look like?

the answer to the “man on the street” question 20 years ago would have been a white building with a tall steeple where people go to find God.  remember the hand thing you learned a, but now i’m willing to bet that it depends on their exposure.  take all of the youtube videos on the church in which sarah palin or barak obama grew up.  i was watching larry king interview joy behr from the view last night and she (as an unbeliever or agnostic – not sure) has a very skewed view of palin’s church and probably churches in general.

we all have gotten snippets:  the news, the internet blogs, the sites that offer a worship experience, youtube, godtube, whatevertube.  my point is that i think we are so overwhelmed with little clips of what the church “looks like” that it may have become a barrier for people wanting to come to church and a hinderance in us living out what it means to be the church, the bride of christ.

Acts: 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

i think we see the early church being one that was recognized for a few things, simple things.  they preached and lived out the Gospel in their midst and they were a tight community.  the passage above comes just after a passage that describes some of the persecution of the church.  in the midst of that persecution they had peace, were built up and multiplied.

what is the church?  i know what it is supposed to be.  the church is supposed to be a light on a hill, a beacon of hope.  the church is supposed to be a unified people and not little white steepled buildings filled with divided people.  the church is supposed to be a catalyst for restoration — both for people to god through Christ and for the city through Christ from God’s people.  the church is supposed to be a place where Christ’s fame is known and his mercy received.  the church is supposed to be ALL of God’s children praying, reaching, helping, striving to see the kingdom of heaven realized on earth.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hollowed by thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy word be done on earth as it is in heaven.  may christ be known, and be known through his bride — the church, his people.

Unneccessary Smoke

I must admit, I do like Palin. She could be a Democrat, Libertarian or Republican. I just find her refreshing. She has something that has been missing from politics for a long time. However, I think having an avatar or a desktop wallpaper is going a bit too far. It is like all those people (on both sides) that have their cars plastered with bumper stickers of their candidate of choice. If seen several hangovers from the Reagan era still hanging on.  If you do want some wall paper you can find it at the link above.

Smokin’ Hillarious!

Try showing this for your next worship service!

Send Up Some Smoke

I’d like everyone that is starting to read this blog to check out a site called reformissionary.  I know you are all entralled right now with the DNC and the RNC, reading Michelle Malkin and the DailyKos…however, this is much more important than politics and involves a brother and sister in Christ.  If you don’t know the two sites I mentioned, they cover politics from the right to the left. 

Molly McCoy

Steve is the author of Reformissionary and his wife, Molly, had been having some health problems that have required brain surgury.  It is looking like she may need it again.  They are a family with great faith and it has been encouraging watching their journey.  However, I think it is time to offer up some extra prayers (personal smokes to God) for this great family.  (Steve, forgive the joke…I don’t mean to offend.  A smoke is a post on my blog.)

Steve, I thank God for you and your faithfulness in ministry and blogging.  Your blog is a ministry to me.  I also pray for Molly, first for complete healing and more than anything a peace that surpasses all understanding.  It is easy to have peace when everything is going great, but to experience the peace that Jesus speaks of it often means trials.  Know that Molly will be in our thoughts and prayers.  Keep us all posted.

Philippians 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Stories of Redemption

One of the churches that I am doing work with in NC is having what they call a Mina Project.  It is Hope Community Church in Cary.  They give away around 30,000 and the members figure out ways to invest the money so that it is multiplies.  (Parable of the talents)

14Matthew 25:14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 ” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

This year they are hoping to see over 200,000 raised that will be used to build/refurbish both a hospital and a dorm/hotel in the Haiti.  The dorm will be for the people who volunteer to utilize their medical specialties in this clinic.

You can go to the link below to learn more about the Mina project.  I’d encourage all of you to try this in your own churches.  It is really teaching my whole family a lot about being entrusted with money/talent from God.

To learn more about the ministry this years funds will benefit, you can go to Hope for Haiti, where you can get all the information and also donate via paypal.  There are some powerful videos and detailed information on exactly how the funds will be used.

Hope for Haiti is an amazing story of redemption.

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What is The Mina Project?

In simplest terms, it is Hope’s radical gesture of generosity to our local community and beyond. It is built on the

precept of Jesus’ parable of the minas (pronounced my-na), calling us to multiply and invest in God’s kingdom. What

better way to do that than to invest in and partner with local organizations and ministries which would benefit from

additional funding to better continue the benevolent works they have already begun.

How did this project get its name?
From Jesus’ parable of the minas as told in Luke 19:11-27, particularly verse 13 as the nobleman charges his

servants, “…‘Put this money to work, ‘he said, ‘until I come back.” The servants were given the money to invest and

work with to see by how much they could increase the amount given them. Since each was given a relatively small

sum, the nobleman’s purpose was not to increase his worth, but to see which of his servants would be worthy of

greater responsibility in his kingdom when he returned. We understand that Jesus is the nobleman inferred by the

parable and we are the servants to whom much has been entrusted on his behalf.

What exactly is a mina?
A varying weight or value of money used in ancient Greece and Asia. In Biblical times, five minas were worth about

three months wages.

How does Hope’s Mina Project work?
During the weekend services of August 23 & 24, 2008, each Hope attendee received an envelope bearing cash, with

various amounts of cash placed in each one ranging in increments from $10 to $500. In total, $50,000 was

distributed throughout all four services. The congregation has now been asked to go out and “multiply their minas”

however they choose; they can use the money to invest in a project or work or some other such means—they are

simply encouraged to be creative and faithful. Then at the conclusion of their project or work, all profits will be

returned as donations to benefit a pre-selected list of charitable organizations.

What is our aroma?

I met with a guy that I’ve come to respect more and more as a worship leader over the past 6-7 months for coffee this morning.  He leads at a church in Raleigh called Vintage21 that has been around for 6-7 years.  What I love so much about the way he leads worship is that he and the band fade into the background.  No matter how loud or how soft, they are never a distraction to the real object of our devotion.  He has a great post on his blog that I think all worship leaders should read.  It ends with a question we should all ask…everyday.

What would happen if people woke up on Sunday, prayed and spent time meditating on God’s word, repented, and thanked God?

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4
Also, read Hebrews 12:18-29.

My prayer is that our worship would be a pleasing aroma that rises up from children who love and honor the One that gave everything for them.  Thanks for the great post Matt.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

A smokingly fast trackback

I’m testing things out to make sure my trackbacks are working.  Forgive the small post.