DGM Conference Messages

I didn't get to go to the Desiring God National Conference this year, but thankfully God has blessed us with the internet and digital recording capabilities, so that, even though not being there, the messages can be passed on forever. Or until the server crashes.

I've listened to two of the speakers so far: Mark Driscoll and Dan Taylor. Dan's message, on Story, is extremely important for the those of us who are seeking to relate the Gospel in a way that impacts beyond head knowledge.

Go check them out.

Photo Friday

Friday Photo is BACK!

I was able to get through some old photos this past week. The above photo is one that I took the first day I was at Bethel. The second is when I was in Bent Harbor, MI, getting assessed. The photos may have turned out better than the assessment.

My Photography || Flickr Friday Photos

Photo Friday

Pastor's Study, originally uploaded by notashamed.

Yeah, I took a little hiatus through August and have had very little internet access since moving off campus into my temporary residence.

I started working though and went around the church and took a bunch of pictures. I'm going to try to incorporate them into my sermon next Sunday. I hope it drives the point home. It should.

My Photography

Church Website

A church without a website is a surprising thing. When I first got up to Chicago, I did my preliminary checks on churches in my area by getting on their websites. Some were better than others, but just that they had them gave me an idea of their existence.

All that to say, I just got on board with a church located near Midway in Chicago and they, er, we have no website. So my question goes out to all five of you reading this: What would you like to see in a church website? What would be your top five most desired elements? If you've created a church website before, what did you put into it? And finally, what should not be on a church website?

Wii Danger

I want a dog very, very badly. I'd also like a Wii. I think I'll have to make a clear choice between the two.

Empty Hands

Faith is not something we give to God. In that case, faith would be a work, and a silly kind of work because it would be work we do even though it doesn't benefit anyone. But exactly the opposite is true. To have faith in God is to be "without works" before God. Faith is the way we as receivers relate apporpriately to God as the giver It is empty hands held open for God to fill.
...
Faith tells us that we do not exist simply to live our three score and ten years without pain, with ease and enjoyment, to accumulate possessions, power or knowledge, to receive accolades and enlarge our egos. How empty such a life would be! Faith is an expression of the fact that we exist so that the infinite God can dwell in us and work through us for the well-being of the whole creation. If faith denies anything, it denies that we are tiny, self-absorbed specks of matter who are reaching for the stars but remain hopelessly nailed to the earth stuck in our own self-absorption. Faith is the first part of the bridge from self-centeredness to generosity.

Volf, Free of Charge, 44, 45.

Preacher Man

So it's been about 2 years since I've preached what I would call a real sermon. I came to this realization this past Friday as I was preparing my sermon for yesterday. Such a thrilling and daunting task. I gave it at a church that just after the service was deciding whether or not they were going to stay open or close their doors.

And while I don't know the outcome of their decision, the sermon seemed to go well though. You can make up your mind about that though.



I welcome any and all feedback.

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Ephesians Quote

The picture the text paints is bleak. Because of sins humans are the living dead. They live in keeping with a world that ignores God and in keeping with a tyrant who works to cause disobedience. In their enslavement they follow desires and distorted reasonings that leave God out of the picture and, therefore, they are under God's wrath. But , the main point of Ephesians-- and especially of 2:1-10-- is that God will not stay out of the picture.

Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians.

This is August?

Cubs Game

Not knowing just how much longer I'm going to be in Chicago it was
hard for me to turn down a spur of the moment Cubs game. We got there
just into the 2nd inning and squatted underneath the score board in
center field. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable game that I've
been to, but the excitement and the feel of having snuck in- which
trust me, for the price we paid there was no sneeking. But the W flag flew.

Sent from my iPhone