I get home and I find a package on my table..

What package you say…(or not really but play along)

Well, a few months ago, just after I found out about Church IT RoundTable, I was searching through the vast amount of new blogs and had ran across one I really liked.

That blog happened to be Tim Stevens of Granger Community Church in Granger, IN.

Anyway, he had a contest about finding where he was writing his book at.  Well, I happened to know the city where he was staying quite well…and I guessed it!

So I opened the package up and looked inside and was excited to see.. his book!

I’ll be sure to post about it when I read it.

Go check out Tim Stevens and give a big hello!  (and go buy his book)!

Quick Reviews:

I finished the Big Idea and loved it. I think the collaboration that Dave Furgeson talks about makes a whole lot of sense on many levels. Its a recommended read to anyone involved in ministry. Even if you aren’t on a pastoral staff, you could glean a lot of information of how to curtail information overload by simplifying the message.

On the other hand, I never finished Organic Church. While I agreed with some of what Neil Cole was talking about, I felt he may have gone a little to the extreme on the future of the church and focused a wee much that home or organic churches are where it’s at. I have to agree more with Tony Morgan who believes that many different types of churches, both home and mega-churches and all those in between can coexist as long as it is the design of the Lord. I’ll probably go back and try finishing the book, but I needed a break from it.

Next Up:

unChristian by David Kinnaman – This book talks about the state of perception of Christians in the minds of 16-29 year olds. So far the book isn’t surprising on its results, but nevertheless it is still as thought provoking as it could be. Kinnaman not only presents the results of their surveys, he offers ways in which we can help change perception without compromising our moral beliefs. So far so good.

Absolute Friends by John Le Carre – Everyone needs a little fun reading. I like spy novels. Most guys like spies.. so its fitting. With all the stats and serious talk and work, I need a mental break. Le Carre wrote the Spy Who Came in From the Cold and The Russia House, both very good books turned films.

I also got My Savior Lives by New Life Church.  I love the album.

Just thought I’d share.

I had a whole bunch of thoughts and quotes I wanted to put up on a post, but due to the recent winter weather mayhem, the craziness of recovery at work and the lack of immediate access to a working computer, with free time, when I needed it, I lost all the thoughts I had.  So you get a condensed version.

There have been a few things on my list that I’ve always thought about doing, but always kind of shrugged them off as nothing more than a mere whim.  After reading the book and what it had to say, I have come to the internal conclusion that they are, in fact, God inspired.  I’ve mentioned one of the thoughts to a few close friends, as I do not feel it is the time to publically discuss them, though I cannot promise they won’t be influencing my future posts.

As for the other books, I have tentatively placed Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel on hold.  I just don’t feel that I can commit the time to read and post on it adequately with everything going on; work, storm clean up, and Christmas stuff.  I will pick it back up. 

Instead, I have started reading Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens by Neil Cole and The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson.  I think both will be good reads.  

 Jesus commissioned the church in Matthew 16:18: “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” Gates are defensive devices. Storming those gates requires offensive measures. Think of the church as a battering ram. 

 Who is ready for a dangerous church?  It’s coming… 

I have to say so far I am excited about the book.  So let’s get started!

Craig’s Thoughts (through my brain that is ) 

Straight up Craig delves into an issue which I have long believed was a key in all relationships.  He talks about the need to seek Christ, The One, before you seek “the one.” That buy loving and knowing the love of Christ, you will be better able to love your future/current mate, which Craig calls “The Two.”  He goes on to say that by “loving your Two is one of the best ways to love the One.”

My Thoughts 

Seeking after Christ as one of our main life priorities gives us a better idea of what it means to love your neighbor.  I believe that we are unable to love our neighbor/friends/mates/whoever the way Christ wants us to if we do not know Christ’s love for us. Ed Gungor, pastor of Peoples Church, tells a story about a man who swore he hated people.  After people talking to him about getting to the point of letting God love people through him.  It worked, he still said he didn’t like people but couldn’t resist the urge to love people, giving them hugs and greetings them.  God’s love will allow us to see past barriers and issues and love people where our human comprehension would never fathom.

 Do you have a story of a situation where God’s love did amazing things through you?