forget all of the other various polls. this is the one that really counts.

vote in my poll.

[Link]

A couple weeks ago, after the Vice-presidential debates, there wasn't much on TV that we felt like watching, so we ended up watching a show on PBS called, “Einstein’s Big Idea" about Einstein famous formula: E=MC2.

It was while watching that show that I had a little personal revelation of one of the secrets to Einstein's wisdom.

In the show they said Einstein was always fascinated with light.

His fascination led him to begin to ask question about light's substance. He asked question about the speed of light and wondered what would happen if we could travel at the speed of light.

He would ponder these questions with his wife and his friends and they would ask more questions and question his current ideas.

In the show they showed that … [Link]

 

We’ll be kicking off a new series this weekend.  I'm not interested in being political.  We've got plenty of that going on right now.  But I am passionate about helping the church develop a biblical worldview in all areas of life.  That's what this series is about.  We'll be talking about four hot topics that are radically shaping life in Metro Detroit.

• Immigration
• Pluralism
• Economy
• Terrorism

Here’s my conviction.  Each of these issues are introducing changes, challenges, and opportunities that will help the church serve the mission of God.

Can’t wait to get started!

[Link]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

If you are a regular reader of my blog you might have a hint as to what this means…

If you are a new reader you'll have no clue, but this post might help you a bit.

Like I said, a "report" is on the way!

Stay tuned!

[Link]

I like watching ESPN. I like seeing athletes face off in competition in games such as football, baseball, basketball, and futbol. While there is something very barbaric about men settling their differences by slamming into each other over a ball while wearing outfits that create a us-against-you mentality, there is sometimes something much more sophisticated about it than what I have seen on the news about this years, and previous, Presidential campaigns.

I think athletes facing off head to head, grunting, kicking, and punching is more sophisticated than running ads, leaking memos, and sometimes down right lying about each other. I understand head-to-head debates help make these campaigns a tad more accountable, but not like say football or baseball. If you talk trash you actually have …

[Link]

There is a new magazine out for women called to ministry called well CALLED. Visit the site here for more info.

[Link]

Today is Blog Action Day and the theme is Poverty. I read a great post by Travis already. You should check it out.

I recently had a conversation with a friend/relative. She said that Hubby and I inspired her with our kingdom living. She said that she sees that we live for eternity and not for today. She and her hubby want to be that way, but it is hard. I was honored that she sees us that way. We struggle everyday to live with what we have and not constantly desire more. We give away at least 20% of our income, but we try to give even more when we can. However, we don’t always succeed. I told her that, too. Right now we are …

[Link]

When we see before our eyes the calls for a coordinated global response to the current economic crisis, we have to question whether or not this could signal the end of the age. Is this current crisis the harbinger of the rise of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation? Who knows? For the Antichrist to arise, the psychology of the world has got to be herded toward the acceptance of a global economic currency, and a global economic regimen, and ultimately a global leader. A crisis like this one may well be just what the Devil ordered to prep the world for his last Antichrist scheme, but it is next to impossible to say so definitively.

We did have a global economic crisis, caused by the … [Link]

Dow down 733.08 (-7.87%). Ouch! Can you say "roller coaster ride"? I knew you could. [Link]

I just got finished doing an interview with a reporter from the Assemblies of God News Service. Looks like they are going to run a story about our Hoops 4 Hope event in Friday's news. This is going national which is great news since we still need to raise about $8,000 to accomplish our goal. Hopefully this will be the catalyst that enables us to reach our goal. [Link]

In less than a month, we will once again have the opportunity to head to the polls and vote in a national election. This opportunity is a blessing from God that many people around the world do not have. It is also a responsibility and a spiritual discipline for Christians. But like most spiritual disciplines, there is a strong individual component to it. For spiritual disciplines such as prayer and bible reading there are some common principles (such as DO IT!), but how those principles are implemented (such as when, where, how long, etc.) is an individual decision between a believer and God. In the same way, there are scriptural principles that all Christians can apply to their voting decisions but how each individual Christian …

[Link]

Can’t Sue God [Link]

In a recent article in The Futurist magazine, writer Laura Lee catalogues some of the worst predictions of all time:

“Inventions have long since reached their limit, and I see no hope for further developments." —Roman engineer Julius Sextus Frontinus, A.D. 100

“The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon." —John Eric Ericksen, surgeon to Queen Victoria, 1873

“Law will be simplified [over the next century]. Lawyers will have diminished, and their fees will have been vastly curtailed." —journalist Junius Henri Browne, 1893

“It doesn't matter what he does, he will never amount to anything." —Albert Einstein's teacher to Einstein's father, 1895

“It would appear we have reached the limits of what it is possible to achieve with … [Link]

Pick up the key of obedience. Go on,
pick it up. What are you waiting for,
really? Why not take it right now?
You can do that if you're living by
the light of a confident trusting in God.
You don't have to walk in blindness and
bitter cold today. All you have to do is
cling instead to obedience with a burning
love that God will give you. It will make
you warm, and its warmth is the
best heat. - Catherine of Siena, "Dialogue"

photo taken at St. John the Evangelist Church,
Agawam, MA [Link]

Kourtney’s birthday was October 1st.  She’s 5.  And, she’s my best bud.  Check out these really great words Kelly said about her and the little vid that Kelly put together too.  Great stuff about a great, rugged little princess.

[Link]

Christ is in the poor. Even when we recognize that the poor are not in the least Christ-like He is there in their suffering. If God stands in profound solidarity with the poor as the scriptures affirm shouldn’t we as well?

“Solidarity is the social meaning of humility,” writes Dean Brackley. He applies the ancient rules of St. Ignatius to social justice today. “Just as humility leads individuals to all other virtues, humility as solidarity is the foundation of a just society.”

Henri Nouwen wrote of Christ’s “way of downward mobility.” To follow Him we must reject the council of yuppie culture to climb the ladder of success. The witness of Christ and the challenge offered by Nouwen and Brackley lead us to ask questions. “How much … [Link]

Last December, I was asked by Ryan Bolger to write an article on how the Emergent church was being “handled” in my Assemblies of God church. I asked a friend, Pastor Luis Alvarez, who still is an AG pastor to collaborate with me on the article. It was hard to write that article because 1) it needed to be longer and 2) I really wanted to try and stay positive.  Neither one worked out. I had to keep it short and uh, the final article was as positive as I could be about my experience with emergent in the AG denomination. The article is finally out. I am also no longer AG.  Alot has happened in the course of 10 months!

The other contributors were:

… [Link]

Last week at Catalyst I felt like the Holy Spirit said to me: what happened to the guy that used to pace the chapel balcony for hours seeking my heart? It really messed me up. But I feel like God has been breaking my heart in some new ways. Really tapping back into that original calling.

I actually had the opportunity to revisit that chapel balcony today. God's timing is impeccable isn't it? I think He knew last week that I'd be here this week. It was an Ebenezer moment for me. Hitherto the Lord has helped me. So healthy to go back to those burning bushes in our lives!

Here’s a shot of the balcony. One of my sacred places.

[Link]

I’m reading through Sun Tzu’s Art of War for the third time in three weeks.  My biggest takeaway right now is this:

“The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will be the solidarity of your troops.”

There are disunity and factions when there is no enemy and no course being pursued.  Churches all over America are in disarray because they have forgotten their objective.

• They no longer invade enemy territory.
• They no longer risk casualty or loss of influence.
• They value prosperity and affluence over Gospel advancement.
• They argue over inane decisioneering because they forgot about the battle.

Want to restore unity to your army?

• Focus on the mission.
• Do the mission.
• Waylay the enemy.
• Shed tears after experiencing great gain and great …

[Link]

Many readers of my blog will know of Lou Fellingham, and some will have been praying for the family situation she has been facing lately. Her mother, only 56, died yesterday.

The family would like people who knew her to be made aware of the fact that there will be a celebration service for her on Saturday, October 18th, at Jubilee Community Centre, Charlwood Road, East Grinstead, RH19 2HL with a 4 o'clock start. All are welcome. There will be tea, coffee, and cake afterwards. Should you wish to bring a cake, please do.

Please join me in praying for Lou and the whole family at this time. We grieve, but not in the same way as those who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 … [Link]

http://www.agreeinprayer.com/

I just called Pastor Arnold to confirm this story that is posted on his website. I had heard various parts of it over the last few weeks.

I’m feeling better about my intentions to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket. But we must still be in deep prayer about the direction of these United States. [Link]

I recently had a first. As a supervisor at Assemblies of God headquarters, I fill out and sign a “Termination Evaluation” whenever one of our staff leaves our employ. The one I recently signed was the first one I’ve ever signed that listed the reason for termination as “death.”

Readers of our TPE blogs and Web site know that our longtime art director, Matt Key, was recently taken from us suddenly at the age of 49. I wish I never would have had to sign that form. But we must leave this in God’s hands and trust that He will bring good out of it and comfort grieving friends and family.

There was one section that, for the first time, I did not have to fill …

[Link]

I really enjoyed the weekend this week.  Thinking about Sister Clay's message after returning from the Dr.  I have my cast off, but need a brace.  It looks like the fracture is not healing on this little bone.  I have a couple options.  I can have the doc take out the little piece of bone and lose strength in my right pinky forever.  This may affect piano, racquetball, and my new hobby of woodcarving.  I can also have him put in a little micro screw and see if that helps.  If is does not grow then, the bone would have to come out.  More tests await to see the next course of action.  If it has started to heal then another cast and just wait. It is …

[Link]

Only in San Francisco would an elementary school sponsor a field trip for 1st graders to attend a lesbian wedding. The 18 first graders, ages 5 and 6, were taken to San Francisco City Hall to witness the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, an event which the principal of the school characterized as “a teachable moment.”

San Francisco’s pro-homosexual mayor, Gavin Newsom, officiated at the wedding as the event was turned into a publicity stunt with some of the children actually wearing “No on 8″ campaign buttons.

Supporters of California’s pro-marriage amendment, prop. 8, have referred to the highly publicized trip as an inappropriate ‘indoctrination of young children’.

Response: I really did think that this was a joke at first, you …

[Link]

At times, it seems that God puts His finger on something and then everywhere you look you see it.  In the last couple of weeks I have seen God pointing out sexual purity among ministers.  You hear lots of ministers talk about purity in the singles but God seems to be challenging the minsiters directly.

John Piper summed up Jesus’ thoughts in Share This

View and browse tags for this post…