The Killers-Dustland Fairytale on Letterman

This was a great performance by The Killers on Letterman last month.  Full orchestra was a nice touch.
The lyrics tell a sweet story of the lead singer's (Brandon Flowers) mom.  It tells about how she met her husband at a young age and about their love for each other through the years.  The end/climax talks about her battle with a brain tumor.  i.e. "Cinderella don't you go to sleep.  It's such a bitter form of refuge."  A son's cry for his mom to hold on.

Nice gig. Enjoy.

The Most Helpful Info on "The" Satan

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I am beginning a new sermon series this Sunday called "Jesus vs. The Jukebox."  The premise is to re-tune our theology to the truth as opposed to the songs on the radio. 

The first song I am looking at is "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band. The reason I am starting here is because Satan is one of the most misrepresented beings in the Bible.  i.e. He is not red, does not have horns, does not have a pointed tail, and does not have power anywhere close to God's. 

The best place to find out the who, why and how of Satan is Job chapter 1.  Click on over to Biblegateway.com and read this passage in your favorite version. 

Prosperity and the Gospel

Last week, I subbed in the older adult Sunday school class.  The lesson was from the David C. Cook quarterly material...it focused on "true prosperity" by examining Psalm 1.  I opened the class with the statement, "This could be a dangerous lesson."

I had prepped for the class by reviewing the material, verses and questions.  Nowhere did the literature mention Jesus or the Gospel.  It made a lot of great points about obedience bringing rewards, but it just seemed dangerous to me to talk prosperity without putting it within the light of the Gospel.

We begin to grasp what prosperity is when we are able to say with Paul,

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—"  Philippians 3:7-9

It's likely that we are not totally there yet and are in need of the light of the Gospel.

Ben 10 vs. Superfriends



When I was a Saturday morning cartoon addict back in the 80's, Superfriends was "my show."  Now my son is the addict and "his show" is Ben 10 Alien Force. 

It is interesting how the idea of hero for me was rooted in a team, each with individual strengths/powers.  My son's idea of hero, Ben 10, is the team  himself.  He changes into a variety of creatures depending on the villain he faces.

Two Views of God

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Universe

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Purpose in Your Suffering

2 Corinthians 1:8-9

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Uprising in The Vertical Church (Yuma, AZ)

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Check out this post from Jason Taylor's blog.  He is the pastor of a Free Will Baptist home missions project, The Vertical Church in Yuma, AZ.  The Vertical Church has only been around a few years...but is reaching 1000's with the Gospel.  Here is what Jason had to say about this Sunday's service.


This Sunday we kicked off a new series called “Uprising”.  In this first message, I talked about the “Uprising Challenge”.  Here is what that challenge means and also what the Big Announcement was all about:

We had many take the challenge and here is how the Sunday went:

- We restated our vision of “Being the hands and feet of Jesus” during the message and talked about why we exist as a church, then I challenged everyone to join me in a “Uprising Challenge”

- The first part of the challenge was for everyone to read through the New Testament in 63 days.  We provided a reading plan along with the NT on Audio CD.  I publicly committed to spend 63 hours in prayer along with the 63 day challenge.  Most of the crowd signed up for this

- I talked about how that if we are to be the hands and feet of JEsus, we need to know how Jesus lived and how the Early church lived.  So we joined together to read the New Testament

- The second part of the challenge consisted of a plan that will help us as a church touch 5,000 people in Yuma with Random Acts of Kindness.  We unveiled a schedule of 2 corporate Kindness Projects a week for 10 weeks and several big events through the end of the year, including a One Day VBS, Yuma Free Family Swim Day, Back To School Party for Pueblo Elementary, Trunk or Treat, and Surprise Christmas in December.

- Not only did we want everyone to work together to see 5,000 touches made by the end of 2009, we also equipped everyone Sunday with a $5.00 bill and some connection cards to do an act of kindness on their own.  Everyone that came on Sunday got a 5 dollar bill from The Vertical Church to go out and be the hands and feet in this city.

- The third part of the challenge included a HUGE announcement that made the crowd cheer and clap. On July 5th, we are moving to our own building.  We will be leasing a 15,000 square foot movie theater.  The Old Mandarin Cinema on 32 street and Arizona Ave.  We will be able to grow into this building and in August hopefully start 2 services.

- The fourth and last part of the challenge included a commitment to give in our “Uprising Offering” on June 28th to help fund the Kindness Projects and some building renovations.  In fact, if you want to give to this offering and you don’t go to our church you can go to www.yumauprising.com and give online.  80% of the money will go to help us touch 5,000 lives for Jesus the rest will go to help with last minute renovations on the new building!

- Oh yeah, everyone got a free t-shirt that says, “A Church being the Hands and Feet of Jesus”

So if you missed Sunday, you can still join us in this challenge.  You can listen to the message online later this week and you can join us in touching 5,000 lives in Yuma with the kindness of God!!

Check out what Jason is up to here.

Favorite New Artist~Brandon Heath

I've heard his songs for awhile now, but am just now putting a face and name to voice on the radio.  My favorite new artist is Brandon Heath.  He sings, Give Me Your Eyes and He's Not Finished With Me Yet.  Here is the video for another nice one from him, I'm Not Who I Was.

Idol Worship

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  1 Peter 4:10,11

Here is a video of the reigning American Idol, Kris Allen, pointing people Godward. 

I guess it may be the way I am wired, but I thoroughly enjoy God's strange ways.  His normal ways are great, but the strange ways are exceptionally intriguing to me.