Book Review- God's Promises for Boys

As the Dad of two young boys, I am always looking for additional materials to use in discipling my sons. That's why I was pleased to have the opportunity to review God's Promises for Boys written by Jack Countryman and Amy Parker and published by Tommy Nelson, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The concept of the book is quite basic. The book is divided into sections (God's Promises When...; God's Promises About Jesus; and five others). In support of each promise, the authors include a four-line poem, a cartoon illustration by Richard Watson that relates to the promise and 3-4 verses from the International Children's Bible.

Upon receiving the book, I was surprised there was not more to it. After reading the book, I felt the same way. While the Scriptures listed are always applicable (not just for boys, but people of all ages), I expected more than a book of brief poems, possibly a book containing inspiring biographical sketches or stories of fulfilled promises. This book might be best used as a conversation starter with young boys. I've shared the book with my sons and we have used it in our nightly devotional time on occasion but I do not anticipate that it will become part of our regular rotation before bedtime.

Fun on Friday

A few weeks back I blogged about the new Mountain Dew flavor options and the contest to select the new flavor. Check out the post from April 23 and the http://www.dewmocracy.com/ website where you can vote for your favorite new Dew flavor. My vote will go for Distortion.

Speaking of Mountain Dew, I would not suggest brushing your teeth and then immediately starting to drink a Dew. Just not pleasant.

I wonder what percentage of its programming that ESPN spends on Brett Favre and LeBron James updates. I realize those guys are megastars but I'd like to watch one SportsCenter without a segment on those two.

Great Quote Thursday

If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less- General Eric Shinseki, then Army Chief of Staff

Just Do It- James 5 (Patience and Perseverance)

On Sunday, we concluded our "Just Do It" series based from James 1:22. Here's a thought from Sunday and James chapter 5: Patience and Perseverance.

James 5:8 tells us to "establish your hearts", some translations say to "strengthen your hearts". Why? For the long haul, for the long run. To be patient and persevere. Because the coming of the Lord is near.

It's so tempting to want instant success. To want microwaved results. It's so difficult to wait and be patient.

But it takes time for seeds to germinate and flower. It takes a long time before a sapling provides shade. We must think long-term, not simply for the moment.

Innovate Conference- Ergun Caner/Jim Cymbala

Ergun Caner is the President of Liberty Theological Seminary. His session at Innovate included the following:

• We are united by doctrine, devotion and direction
• The enemy of ministry is bureaucracy
• Your scars tell your story. Yet we tend to want to hide our scars.

Jim Cymbala serves as the Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle. He shared the following at Innovate:

• Rather than seeking answers in Scripture, we often look for new paradigms of what is "working" elsewhere
• In Jeremiah's day, the false prophets had the biggest crowds while the true prophet was not listened to. Crowds are not a sign of God's approval. They do not validate a ministry.

Innovate Conference- Jack Graham/Brian Bloye

Jack Graham is the Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Here is some of what he shared at Innovate:

• Your character is more important than your reputation. Praying is more important than preaching. A message is more important than a sermon. Being credible is more important than being credentialed. Faithfulness is more important than success. Eternity is more important than earth.
• People are not looking for perfection but progression.
• Don't just get things done, be passionate.
• Prayerlessness promotes independence and self-reliance.
• Ways to show you care: be approachable; have a "yes" face; offer positive praise; say thank you; know names; be accepting; be prompt

Brian Bloye is the Lead Pastor of West Ridge Church in Dallas, Georgia (metro Atlanta). Following are some notes from his session at Innovate:

• Sometimes God sets us aside to strengthen and refine use; don't bail on the process.
• God is more concerned with maturing me and developing my character than about my comfort
• Sometimes what God does is in answer to our prayers
• A dry brook is often a sign of God's pleasure, not His disappointment in my life

Innovate Conference- Mark Batterson/Ed Stetzer

Mark Batterson is the Lead Pastor for National Community Church in Washington, DC. Here are some notes from his session at Innovate:

• The only thing more dangerous than asking God what He wants to do with your life is not asking Him that question.
• We learn how and forget why.
• We don't really want spiritual maturity but rather self-sufficiency and then to call it spiritual maturity.
• If God gives the vision, He will provide the provision. Don't let budget determine vision. Have vision beyond your resources. Don't let human circumstance define the sovereignty of God.
• Don't do ministry out of memory but out of imagination.

Ed Stetzer is the President of Lifeway Research and currently serves as the Interim Pastor at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. Here is some of what he shared at Innovate:

• In the church, we've grown accustomed to recruiting instead of reconciliation. We're called to reconciliation. That is called evangelism. Evangelism is not simply inviting people to church.
• Outreach can become the enemy of evangelism when the preaching of Christ is not the goal. We must go and tell, not simply be attractional. We're called to be, do and tell Good News.

Innovate Conference- Chuck Swindoll

Earlier this week, I attended the Innovate Conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. Over the next several posts, I will share some of my notes from the conference sessions.

Chuck Swindoll, the former President of Dallas Theological Seminary, has served in ministry for over 50 years and currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Here is some of what he shared in his session:

Know who you are; accept who you are; be who you are

Retirement is an American dream not a Christian dream

Every day is not a fantastic or great day. Some days are okay. Be honest. Tell the truth. Some days are hard.

According to I Corinthians 4: 1-2, if you are involved in ministry, you are called to be a servant and a steward. Servant meaning "under rower"; a ship does not move unless someone is moving the oars. Steward meaning "housekeeper"; the hungry and thirsty are not fed unless someone prepares. In ministry, we must keep our oars in the water (do the work and serve) and take time to prepare meals (to feed those with spiritual needs).

Four constant reminders in ministry:
1. Guard your imagination
2. Restrain all rationalization
3. Leave no room in ministry for deception
4. Always ask what is my motive?

Fun on Friday- The Ice Cream Man

When I was younger, there seemed to be nothing wrong with the neighborhood ice cream man. You know, the guy who drove around in the van and sold ice cream. Back in the day, my Mom would from time to time allow my brother and me to flag down the ice cream man and his van and purchase a frozen red, white and blue rocket pop or a nutty buddy or a classic ice cream sandwich.

Now, granted, it's decades later and times have changed. But I now see the ice cream man in an entirely different way than when I was a kid. Since my Mom is all about safety, I'm sure buying ice cream from the ice cream man seemed like an okay thing to do when I was a child. But in 2010?

Think about this:
1.Usually a van that cruises the local park looking for children is considered a bad thing. More like a "hey, call the police" kind of thing.
2. Under what other circumstances do we so freely allow our children to speak to strangers?
3. In what other scenario do we purchase food products of such unknown origin?
4. Do these guys have any certification from the health department?
5. Why is the van always a cargo van with no windows or if the van does have windows, why are they always covered with stickers?
6. Why were the guys in the ice cream van I saw at a park last week so rough looking, like they just got out of prison?
7. Where exactly do they get a copy of the carousel/calliope music they blast out of the loud speaker atop the van? That music has not changed in years.

Just something to think about the next time you see the ice cream man and his van drive through your subdivision or local park.

Great Quote Thursday

Information is not knowledge- Albert Einstein

Just Do It- James 4 (Doing vs. Not Doing)

We're continuing through our "Just Do It" series on Sundays based from James 1:22. Here's a thought from Sunday and James chapter 4: Doing vs. Not Doing.

We often think of our sin in terms of the bad/evil/wrong things that we do. The church phrase for those sins are sins of comission. Things we do. Sins we commit. But this week I was struck by the power of James 4: 17: "So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn't do it, it is a sin". These are sometimes known as sins of omission. These are easier for us to overlook. Easier for us to ignore. But God doesn't.

Comission vs. omission. Doing vs. not doing. We must remember that not doing the right things is just as bad as doing the wrong things.

Fun on Friday

Kentucky Fried Chicken has recently added it's Double Down Sandwich (http://www.kfc.com/doubledown). This is a chicken "sandwich" with no bun. In effect, it's two chicken breasts with cheese and sauce in between. Can this possibly be healthy? Is this really necessary? Among other issues, won't this adversely affect the chicken population?

Why is Betty White all over TV and the Internet right now? Is there a Golden Girls reunion in the works?

Wow, did the Cleveland Cavaliers crash or what?

Great Quote Thursday

The supreme quality for a leader is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real success is possible....If a man's associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose- Dwight Eisenhower

Just Do It- James 3 (Wisdom For Marriage)

We're continuing through our "Just Do It" series on Sundays based from James 1:22. Here's a thought from Sunday and James chapter 3: Wisdom For Marriage.

Much of James chapter 3 deals with the struggles in controlling the tongue (our words, our speech). But at the end of the chapter, the text adjusts to address the need for heavenly wisdom as opposed to earthly wisdom:

V. 16-18: "For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace".

Our class is comprised of young married couples as well as engaged couples (two couples are getting married next weekend). And while this passage is not specifically dealing with marriage, the qualities listed are certainly excellent wisdom for marriage.

Sunday's Coming

I saw this on Ed Stetzer's blog last week. This video comes from the recent Drive Conference at Northpoint Community Church. Check out http://vimeo.com/11501569.

Fun on Friday- Put It Up

This should probably be included on a Great Quote Thursday. But, it's fun, so here it is.

Our house, with a 6 year old boy and an almost 3 year old boy, is full of activity. And full of trains. And balls. And toys. And art supplies. To say that frequent effort is made to keep things in order would be an understatement.

This past week, the following conversation occurred:
Tonya: What about these books?
Parker: You didn't tell me to pick up those.

So as a result of the above conversation, my wife began reminding our sons of the need to put things back in their place using the following mantra:

If you get it out, put it up.
If you see it out, put it up.
If you didn't get it out, put it up.

We'll see if this helps the cause.

Great Quote Thursday

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it- Margaret Thatcher

Book Review- John Maxwell's The Right To Lead

This most recent book from the John Maxwell library is a compilation of material from previous Maxwell works with the addition of a few stories and quotations. It follows the classic Maxwell format of material including stories, lists, quotations and thoughts.

Maxwell notes 7 characteristics (Action, Vision, Sacrifice, Risk, Determination, Service and Integrity) that are the marks of exceptional leaders. He notes that, ultimately, it is the character of an individual that makes them a good leader.

If you are a fan of Maxwell's material, you'll be interested in this book. It might make a good gift for a soon-to-be-graduate that you know. But don't expect anything really new.

Just Do It- James 2 (Bad Sins vs. Okay Sins)

On Sundays, I'm continuing through our "Just Do It" series based from James 1:22. Here's a thought from Sunday and James chapter 2: Bad Sins vs. Okay Sins.

James 2:10 tells us: "For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of (breaking it) all" (HCSB). Since that's true, why do so many followers of Christ think in terms of "Bad" sins and "Okay" sins? Why do many Christians consider murder, adultery and rape as horrible sins (and they are) but these same people have no trouble with anger, questionable language or overeating?

Book Review- Pete Wilson's Plan B

Pete Wilson's new book, Plan B, addresses the question: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up The Way You Thought He Would? Since not everything in life works out the way we plan for it to, the book looks at Biblical characters who ended up living out their own version of Plan B (Joseph, Job, Naomi and Ruth, others) to show that Plan B is not a new thing. Wilson also uses modern day examples from friends and members of the churches he has pastored, utilizing their stories of how God works through Plan B.

One of my favorite chapters is Me Too where Wilson addresses how helpful it is to know someone previously has gone through what you're going through right now.

If you have a friend, as I do, who is currently working through a Plan B situation, I would suggest you recommend this book to them. I'm giving my friend my copy.

What's Your Giant?

This morning, our church began a new sermon series titled "Life Apps", a study looking at the life of the Old Testament shepherd/warrior/king David. As the series continues, we're encouraging people to go online and share a "giant" they are dealing with in their life. Just as David had to deal with Goliath (we'll walk through that text on Sunday, May 9), we each have giants that we deal with. To share your "giant", go to http://12lifeapps.org/share.