Scandalous Love
I have been soaking in a book by D.A. Carson called “Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus”; soaking in it, reading it slowly, rereading certain passages. The book has had a profound affect on me in that I am amazed and surprised anew at the great cost of the cross. But it’s more than [...]
A Time For Everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; time to break down, and a time to [...]
The Last Lamb
We have launched a new class for our church called the New City Class. It’s an introduction to who we are and what we believe. Much of the material comes from a sermon series we previously did as well as other documents and sermons in the past. The first time I sat through the class [...]
I Am Dying
We have been working through the book of Ecclesiastes at New City. It has been a great book to study through and I have been challenged on many levels. This past week Keith preached through Ecclesiastes 9 and really focused the message on living, dying, and not wasting it all. This is a theme that [...]
Hiatus is Over
Ok, my self-induced hiatus is over. I’m coming back to blogging again. I have a lot of posts that I need to transfer from written page, bookmarks, and Evernote notes. Those will be added over the next day or so. I am going to record them on the dates that I wrote, bookmarked, or noted [...]
Adopted for Life…and in Death
Al Mohler shares an incredible story that has emerged from the Haitian tragedy. While there are many, many tragic stories happening around the world that you and I often do not hear about, this one touches deeply. It points us back to our own adoptions into the family of God. Enjoy. Read it here.
Missional Communities
Missional Communities in the Suburbs & Cities A friend of mine referred me to Jonathon Dodson’s message on Missional Communities. I listened to it today and he had some great philosophical and practical insights into building thriving Gospel centered communities. Not a small group, not a sunday school class…a whole different way of enjoying people [...]
Merciful Contentment
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ~ 2 Cor. 9:8 Jennifer and I are working through some pretty difficult issues with a couple of our sons. We are at a crossroads of sorts [...]
An Old Pastor’s Wisdom
I love and greatly value wisdom from older Saints. I love to see an older Saint who has walked a long time with Jesus and continues to do so with great joy and anticipation. There have been several of them in my life and I have always deeply valued what they had to share. Here [...]
Shirkers and Slackers Spells Me
I’m working through this Bible reading plan that was posted over at the Gospel Coalition’s site. My Twitter friend Rae Whitlock pointed it out. It looks like a good plan for my scattered and splattered self. If you don’t have a plan, or don’t normally read through the Bible – this may be a helpful [...]
A Quiet Moment
Dec. 14th, that was my last post here. Since then life has been a whirlwind. My time has been filled with processing Ethiopian pictures for GGI, trying to keep a thousand fingers on the ordained chaos of what God is doing at New City, traveling to see family, dealing with mentally unstable kids, getting rid [...]
AMBITION: To Preach The Gospel Where Christ Is Not Known
The theme of the recent Acts 29 Boot Camp in Louisville, Kentucky, hosted by Sojourn Community Church, was ambition. Simply knowing how to plant and lead a church is not enough. Knowledge must come hand-in-hand with God-given ambition.
The Open Road
I was told last night to not purchase any gifts for Christmas if they were given in love. I was told that love is not needed and if gifts are a reflection of love that I could keep them. I was also told that all of ‘my’ family could also save their gifts if they [...]
Adoption: A Community That Has Become an Empty, Irritating Noise
Mosquitoes. I forgot about the mosquitoes. I think it must get cold enough in Spokane to sufficiently kill the mosquito population…not the case in Georgia. Jennifer and I love to sit on the front porch and talk. But those mosquitoes just won’t quit. I saw one drinking the melted wax out of one of those [...]
Adoption: A Community Not Worth Joining
I have a hobby. I like to play online video games. A game that I play has been around for a couple of years and interest in the game has waned. So the developers came up with a new strategy. They would make it free to play instead of $15 a month. If you wanted [...]
Keith Watson
To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City (6) My Final Answer Living in the thick of things offers no time for paper guesses, well wishes, or eloquent babble. In American Christianity most Pastors look for the most comfortable church and the most ‘prosperous or growing’ area. Come read a blog by a [...]
Orphan Sunday: November 8th
Orphan Sunday Church, do not hinder the Gospel by hiding behind your white ivory tower of theology. The Gospel is the redeeming work of Jesus offered to you, me and the orphan. Now that you have been rescued by it, do you really think Jesus approves of your doctrinal stroking and programmatic cleverness? Really? November [...]
A Gospel Centered Reader
written by Matt Adair A Gospel-Centered Reader Tim Brister and I have only been in the same room once (St. Louis in the fall of 2008) but I really appreciate the work he does on his blog and have enjoyed our interactions over the phone and through Twitter – plus, he shares an appreciation for [...]
What Happened to Thomas? Abby?
I realize that the video about Thomas stirred up a lot of emotion – I cried myself when I watched it. When we lost Abby one of the greatest questions that I needed answered was, “Where did she go? Will I see her again? Will she be with Jesus?” I went through the roller coaster [...]
Adoption, Jesus, and You
The Baptist Press just fired off several articles on the topic of adoption today. I was particularly encouraged to read about the SBC’s stance on adoption and foster care. I’m looking forward to reading more by Moore! Adoption and the Gospel go Hand in Hand Moore’s Book Excerpt Adopting Special Needs
Who Are You Dancing With?
One of the underlying keys to reformission is knowing that neither the freedom of Christ nor our freedom in Christ is intended to permit us to dance as close to sin as possible without crossing the line. But both are intended to permit us to dance as close to sinners as possible by crossing the [...]
