February 2012
2 posts
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from...”
– Stephen King
“Faith is not concerned with continuity.”
– Horatio Sanchez
January 2012
16 posts
Be desperate in the right direction.
He: Why did you guys first come to PAC?
She: Desperate people do desperate things.
He: There are a lot of different things to choose from.
She: The secret is to be desperate in the right direction.
Their personal kingdom is so vulnerable they...
“Behind every angry adult is a little kid screaming ‘why don’t you think I am important.’”
It was a one of many comments made during House Church on Thursday, but one I keep thinking about. It is further fleshed out in James 4:1-2 (which was the previous week’s HC reading)
“What causes fights and quarrels among you (makes you mad)? Don’t they come...
“It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a...”
– Oswald Chambers
WatchTim Lahaye’s “The Act of Marriage” goes to the newly engaged Scottie Mak. Included with this announcement for your viewing pleasure is a classic video Wednesday from Scott’s formative Protege year.
Stafford makes the link between serving and... →
Watch
Free Book Giveaway!!!
I was really excited yesterday as a wealthy benefactor (Ray Willms) gave me a second copy of the marriage classic “The ACT OF MARRIAGE…the beauty of sexual love.” by both Tim and Beverly LaHaye.
It’s an absolute gem. Particularly the Q&A at the end answering tough questions on all our minds like:
“Is it a greater sin to have a vasectomy than to use gel...
Funny article on "Caring for your introvert." →
So we are gonna be like...
Was out for lunch with Todd Petkau from this church, who was kind enough to give me some of his time so I could ask him some questions about church leadership and such. It was time well spent. Stafford also went and spent some time with the kids pastor from Church of the Rock.
I tell you about us intentionally seeking out coaching for the purpose of baiting someone to ask the inevitable...
Sunday follow up.
Last Sunday’s message didn’t have time to go as deep as would have been profitable on what for many people is a thorny issue.
Here are some follow up links:
NT Wright’s transcript from a talk in 2004
A dozen or so articles which would disagree with my sermon.
And here is the talk itself.
Love looks like a fresh start (video of message)
And to my handful of readers who see...
PAC parents don't miss this. →
“Thielicke works with Luther’s great insight that Jesus is “not model...”
– Darrell Johnson making a strong case for how sermon’s focusing on “application” can take the hearer’s focus off of Christ and onto themselves.
Each preacher has her (or his) hobby horses.
Stafford kicked off the new year by picking up where we left off in November. I had preached 2 or 3 sermons out of 1 Timothy 1 and Stafford finished off the chapter. This means I pick it up with chapter 2.
Not sure if you are familiar with 1 Timothy 2. It’s the kind of passage which evokes a variety of responses and all of them strong. Give it a read and you’ll see what I mean.
...
“We invited our friends from Winnipeg to the Island of Lights to see the dragons...”
– If I tell who said it she’ll kill me, or at the very least pinch my cheeks (all four of them are fair game - that is your only clue). However, I feel OK about saying who it was if someone guesses.
Start guessing - A $5 Tim’s card to the first person who gets it. Contest is off...
December 2011
5 posts
Truth Saturated Environments
Another phrase which seemed to “stick” is “Truth Saturated Environments”.
A Truth Saturated Environment is one where the truth is voiced, modelled, or applied. You cannot be in a TSE for long before some of the truth starts to sink into you.
However, there is always a barrier between you and a TSE and that barrier is always a lie.
You’d go to your House Church...
Mid Season Cycling Form →
Did a 1.5 gravel ride today which essentially has me peaking for cycling season 6 months early, but starting to worry Berkie might be the first ski of the season…is there snow in Wisconsin yet?
From Rob Bell's final sermon at Mars Hill.
i write this to you because of how many of you have been
challenged about your participation in the life of this
church, often with the accusation: but what do they believe
over there at mars hill?
as if belief, getting the words right, is the highest form of
faith. Jesus came to give us life. a living, breathing, throbbing,
pulsating blow your hair back tingle your spine roll the
...
But what about? (Lukewarm Part 2)
If we are wise to avoid the lukewarm then how do we help those Christians who are discouraged, suffering, depressed or otherwise mired in a lukewarm spiritual state?
Maybe this will prove helpful. Think of a current lukewarm person (you probably already were) and ask yourself:
Is their current lukewarm state a transition or a decision?
If lukewarm is a transition towards cold - get in there...
Avoid Lukewarm.
I like when certain ideas we share at PAC “stick” in minds and hearts. We have had our share of slippery ideas which have little staying power (anyone remember a VFO? - I didn’t think so). But every now and then something really connects.
One of these more sticky ideas was that a Christian needs to intentionally place themselves in both HOT and COLD spiritual environments...
November 2011
5 posts
To the Elizabeth's in my life...and they are many.
Mary gets told some news which requires more faith than a person can sustain solo.
That’s OK because the Holy Spirit gives her Aunt Elizabeth words to speak which erase Mary’s fear and unleashes Mary’s faith filled song.
So be like Elizabeth and encourage and affirm young vulnerable faith.
Interestingly enough, God doesn’t give worlds to her Uncle Zachariah. In fact,...
The Sermon Cycle.
Part 1 is when you release it all and give 100%.
Part 2 is the (hopefully positive) reviews. (At least your mom and your wife will tell you it was awesome.)
Part 3 is when you realize the world has not changed the way you imagined it might because of your half hour preach. Dumb as it sounds, this is always hard to deal with. (Some guard against this by assuming nothing is going to happen; but...
You earn it.
When I was a kid my dad would point out someone elderly whose face was petrified into a perma-scowl. Then he would point out someone else whose eyes displayed kindness or warmth. One of the more striking similarities between babies and the elderly is that both have no control over their face. What is on the inside is visible immediately.
Larry’s phrase to summarize “You earn your...
And so "Movember" ends before it begins.
It ended up being a theological issue which was resolved by arriving at a common understanding of 1 Cor. 7.
My exegesis was willing, but my hermeneutic was weak.
October 2011
14 posts
“Saying yes to ‘Movemeber’ means you will be saying no to other...”
– FuriousT
Thanks for the flood of BDay wishes.
I spent the day driving to Regina and back with Jake and Stafford to make a proposal to the coolest sounding committee in the Christian and Missionary Alliance - DEXCOM. My theory is they hear proposals from churches during the day and fight crime by night. On the drive there we listened to sermons by ordination candidates which is part of my work on the far less interesting sounding...
“In your sermon did you tell the people the kids in their lives need them more?”
– Soren laying it on thick #guilt-trip
Sunday is my FUNday.
The 11am team is ready and we saved a seat for you.
The Thanksgiving Banquet is always awesome and tomorrow night has a couple really meaningful moments you are going to remember for a long time.
It is a good thing to be so excited about church you can’t sleep.
I am no longer hip to the jive.
#signsyouaregettingold
“We met through a dating service. Which was funny because neither of us were...”
– Over heard in Atlanta airport. #lieswetellourselves
Fogo De Chao loosely translated is "Focus on the... →
Donnie and I are all fed up and waiting for the inevitable meat sweats.
“Charity is not mercy unless it restores dignity”
– Horatio Sanchez
Catalyst Day 1 #Cat11
You really do need to count the cost.
God is tremendously jealous and will not relent at some point deciding you have given Him enough. He wants it ALL.
He wants the gratitude.
He wants the attention.
He wants the money.
He wants the attitude.
He want the time.
He wants the vulnerability.
He wants your leisure time.
He wants your health.
He wants your marriage.
He wants your...
How to prepare your ego for Catalyst. #Cat11
Off to Catalyst for a few days and in the spirit of my buddy Ben over at Modern Servant Leader who has done quite well for himself. I’d like to share with you a few ways to prepare. However, the real preparation is not so much the packing or logistics; it is how to prepare yourself to combat the feelings of inadequacy and insignificance which are sure to come as you witness the youthful,...
You are not an idiot.
I recognize the look. Same one I had on my face in 1997 when Prof. “M” asserted for all of us in his U of W class that no academic can take the bible seriously anymore. Now I see it as an irresponsible move on his part. I can’t imagine singling out a specific religion / student in my WPS classes that way, even if I am clearly teaching from a Christian perspective. Back then,...
August 2011
18 posts
Someone should defend poor Idzerd....internet... →
God runs His operation differently.
“And God, I pray that you would send….um…I don’t know how you run your operation but if you could please send Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, or whoever you’d like to help us with this that would be great.”
What do you think? Think God wished the prayer was a little more eloquent? A little more precise? A little more respectful?
Here is what I thought when I...
Two realizations at the end of a holiday.
1. I need a mission.
When life is about riding my bike, locating Starbucks, wandering around shops, watching movies, and just kind of hanging out I start to care too much about my bike, my coffee, what I might buy, and if I am getting the most out of every second. Life becomes about Nathan’s fun and when life becomes about Nathan’s fun it doesn’t take long before life becomes...
Link to TransRockies Pics. →
Vibram Five Fingers.
Just bought a pair of these.
Every fall when I am tired of cycling and it is too early to start ski-ing I try the occasional jog. The best runs I have are at Roseisle when I am off pavement, but Crescent Lake path late at night is also an option.
Every fall I run into the same things. After a summer of cycling, my lungs are way ahead of my knees and my not so bright method of gauging what...
Stage 7
Two interesting things on this final stage.
1. I was stronger than any other stage.
While there is absolutely now way to be sure of this, I’m gonna go out on a limb and tell you I could have done this one in a sub 3 hour time. The trail was more middle chainring rolling single track than grind it out granny climbs. It was great to finish this 7 day epic and feel absolutely fine - eager...
Stage 6
Stage6 started with good news and bad news.
Good news:
The promised 2300m of climbing was actually only 2000m and the sun was shining!!!:
Bad News:
While my cough had subsided, Tamara’s was in full swing. People were hearing her cough and taking guesses at what she had.
“Pneumonia.”
“Bronchial Infection”
And my own diagnosis as loving husband:
“I think...