Happy Birthday

Celebrated my mom's birthday this weekend. Went to assembly at Central Church of Christ. It was good to see some old friends and family. We then spent the rest of Sunday at mom and dad's house. Besides the Bengals looking like the Bengals of old, it was great time. We shared a meal together and got to give mom some pretty good presents. I am proud she is my mom. She has taught me so much about loving and caring for people. Blessings to you mom!

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Getting ready for Thanksgiving. We celebrate thanksmas with Scott and Glenna this coming Thursday. I am looking forward to more time with family and celebrating all that God has blessed us with.

And finally the great theological insight! As we search to be church, especially in a corporate setting - no two experiences will/should be the same. The church, because it is organic in nature is always growing and changing. If that is true, then our experiences together will be different. So, if you believe this at all, then why do we try and mimic or manufacture certain expereinces from week to week?

Emily and I were part of an amazing small group in Cincinnati, but it is not the goal to make our current small group experience like that one, right? We have to allow room for the Spirit of God to move among the community of believers seeking and searching for the will of God in their lives. Hard for me (and I think most humans) to grasp this. We constantly want what once was. We have a hard time trusting God to bring us something fresh and new, or at least I do!

Weekend and hope

Had a good weekend. Visited the Ezells place in Wilmore, KY. It is truly God's country. Everything from the restaurant we ate at "Solomon's porch" to the cross atop the water tower, this place oozed religion. Plus it is located in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenary you will find anywhere. Anyway, it was good to spend the day with them, and we look forward to getting to do it again soon!

I am looking foward to hearing Rob Bell when he comes to Louisville on the 29th. "The gods aren't angry" is the title of the lectures. Should be interesting -as I have been listening to his sermons every week for the past 6 months.

Discussion in last night's small group:

-As we walk deeper in our relationship with Christ, what are our hopes for our lives? Have they changed? Should they change?

Bible has a lot to say about the hope we have in Christ. So, what are your hopes? Sure we have some for the after-life, but what about today, tomorrow or 5 years from now? Any relationships that could use some changing? Anything regarding money and your stuff? What about family/friends/job/time? Hopes - what really separates us from the rest of the world. The hope(s) that are made available in Christ. It is really pretty exciting to think about.

Why I don't Vote

If you read this article, I don't think I have to do much more explaining. I simply can't vote. Voting my conscience requires that I not cast a vote. Maybe that is the easy way out, I don't know. What I do know is my Christianity does not require that I vote. It requires that I not withdrawal from my world, but find ways to actively engage it, but praise be to God - I am not required to vote to get to heaven!

Too far?

Check out this blog posting. Is Jesus that radical? I find it easy to dismiss a lot of the things Jesus did simply because I don't understand the cultural implications. But I get this......

Click here to read.