Through my eyes review

 

 

Well I had over 12 overs of driving to do this past week so I decided to listen to Tim Tebow’s book “Through My Eyes”.  My aunt got it for me so I decided to check it out.  The First 10 maybe 11 chapters were really good.  He keyed on his childhood and the fact that he almost didn’t come in to the world because of complications with his mother’s pregnancy.  Chapters 11-20 took you almost play by play through his high school and college career.  A bit much for me.  His faith, family and sports were his priorities as a young kid and those have seemed to stay consistent so far in his life.  I hope that Tim continues to stay of the right path and continues to share his faith on whatever stage he is on.

Class Next Week…

On Sunday afternoon I am leaving for Asbury for a week.  The class that I am taking is Suffering, Tragedy, and Christian Faith with Michael Peterson.  As morbid as this class sounds I am really looking forward to this one. The concept of suffering and tragedy are concepts that we all see everyday.  We will also be talking about the concept of the problem of evil.  As many of my North Georgia Conference buddies know, this is a big topic that is discussed in our board work and in our DCOM and BoOM interviews.  The toughest part of this week though is being away from Ashley and Avery.  Good thing we have Facetime so I can see them everyday.  May the Lord bless me with safe travel and an informative week.

Books I have read so far in 2012

 

 

Been along time…

So it’s been a while since my last post.  Alot has happened in a year.  I left Acworth UMC and came to Monroe FUMC as the Minister of Youth and families.  My wife and I had our first child, Avery.  We sold a house and bought another one and I am continuing my progress through seminary.  God has been so good to my family and I am going to try to keep my blog as current as possible!!!

Cool Website?

For my Internet and Ministry Class I had to watch a video regarding the history of the internet and ways Church’s can utilize this awesome tool to glorify God.  In this video the speaker, Drew Goodmanson, did some research and found that 64% of American internet users use the internet for spiritual or religious purposes.  He also stated that 45% which equals out to be about 60 Million Americans uses the internet to help make big decision or to help them get through big episodes in their lives.

Lately I have heard many Church’s, pastors, youth pastors and others talking about their “cool website’s”.  They say how awesome they are and all of the cool media, pictures and music that they have.  I began to ask the question, how many hits have you been having on your sites daily, monthly and yearly.  Some would be astounded at how few people actually were viewing their “cool websites”.  In the video that I watched Drew ended his segment with this question, “If no one visits your cool website then does it really exist?  What a great question.  Just because you have a URL name doesn’t automatically mean that your website is going to draw a crowd.

For my final project in my internet and ministry class I have to create a website.  I am going to create one for my Youth Group here at Acworth UMC.  As I am planning, I don’t just want to make a “cool website”, I want a useful website where people can feel the love of Christ as well as obtain information and receive prayer and guidance.

So if you have or are in the process of creating a website, ask yourself whether or not you want a “cool website” or a meaning website.

Spiritually Blind

In my New Testament class I have been working on an assignment about interpreting John 9: 1-41.  This is the story of when Jesus heals a man born blind.  Jesus spits on the ground and mixes it with clay and gives it to the man to go wash his eyes with. The man returns, obviously healed, and Jesus gets persecuted because he was doing work on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees pitch a big fit for the main reason of jeoulsly of Jesus’ popularity.  The end of chapter nine goes like this…

³⁹Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

⁴⁰Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

⁴¹Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

For the most part we have been blessed with ability to see the wonders of God’s creation.  But are we spiritually blind?  Blind of what God is trying to do in and through us every day?

Books I’m working on…

Lately I have been doing reading for recreation.  Yes I just said for recreation.  One that I am almost finished with is “Louder than Words: The Power of Uncompromised Living” by Andy Stanley.  Andy is expressing how important our character is being a christian of integrity and a person who’s actions speak louder than their words.  The next book that I just bought today is called “The Hole in Our Gospel” by Richard Sterns.  Looking forward to working my way through this one.

Also if you still have some teams in the final four then you need to go play the lottery and buy me a ticket as well!!

Theology of Technology

Last week I had to write a Theology of Technology paper and I wasn’t sure if I fully hit on all the points that our professor wanted.  I just got my grade back and I got a 100.  Pretty pumped about that.  Now if I can make that or close to it on this next one for my new testament class then I will be super pumped this weekend.

Bible Study Tonight

Tonight at Bible study we are going to attempt to begin working through the book of Revelation.  I tried this earlier but I am more prepared now and ready to hit it.  I am using the book by Youth Specialties, Creative Bible Lessons in Revelation by Randy Southern.  Hopefully the youth will enjoy this adventure that we are about to embark on together.

I am almost done with my book review of the book, Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes by Justo L. Gonzalez.  I have to explore the five paradigms that he illustrates in his book and how I can apply it to my ministry today.  I have two more to write on and I am hoping that I can finish it up by tomorrow so I can relax this weekend and help with a fish fry at our Church this Saturday and maybe play a little softball.

Gotta Have Faith!