Suffering – Why???

Suffering, have you ever wondered why God allows suffering? I know I have, as a matter of fact I have to keep being reminded why, even after I know the answer. Suffering is the subject of my sermon this Sunday and it will also be the subject of Three Minute Thursday this week.

Suffering is universal, it happens to everyone and every created being, it is no respecter of persons nor of animals.

Suffering comes in physical, emotional, and mental pain. Suffering comes in the form of disease, death, and broken hearts., and it seems never-ending. Even Jesus, the creator of the universe suffered. God the Father had to also have suffered when He witnessed His only Son hanging on a cross, naked, beaten, and mocked.

WHY?

I hope you will follow along this week and see what God wants to teach us. I will be posting thoughts and questions on social media, I will blog about the matter before us, on Thursday I will do a Three Minute Thursday and post it to facebook and the blog, and then on Sunday I will preach what God has placed on my heart. I hope you will get involved and bring along some friends, maybe someone who is going through a really hard time.

Ronnie

Book Review: Temptation by Charles Stanley

I read this book the first time in 1988 when it was first published. It is one that I have kept around because there are just some authors who are strong and solid enough that their work is worth reading again and again. I find Dr. Charles Stanley to be one of the most thorough Bible teachers alive today.

In the book Dr. Stanly goes back and talks about when sin entered the world and thus the temptation of Adam and Eve. We all know that they took the bait of temptation and the human race has followed suit since that time. Dr. Stanley makes a very convincing and encouraging case for why we should continue to fight the fight. It is the battle that ensues between us and satan that makes us who we are, God mlds us through our willingness to stand strong.

Giving in to sin always leads to the death of something or someone. Relationships, marriages, etc…

This is a great little book and a fast read. It should be required reading for Christians…

Ronnie

Our Over-Messaged Lives – Finding Time for a Spiritual Life

Are you making time for “QUIET”? There is too much Noise in our world.

Ronnie

7 Ways Leaders Avoid Criticism

These come from the blog of a friend and I find them to be true. We live in a world where people do everything under the sun to avoid taking responsibility

Here are 7 ways:

• They make excuses for their shortcomings
• They dodge the bullets by hiding behind others
• They pass the blame and never own a mistake
• They keep things safe and stop taking risks
• They stifle their dreams and the dreams of others
• They limit their leadership exposure to other people
• They control information and the ability to make decisions

Some leaders have figured out how to avoid criticism… But then they are not really leading very well at all…

Book Review: Parent Church Landmines

If your church is considering how to start or should you start a new church, this book is a great tool to have. Our church has started a second campus and had we followed the guidelines in this book, some things could have been done more effectively. Most of it is common sense but some it we never thought about.

Churches have been starting new sites throughout history but most of them were separated from one another. In other words, one church would plant another church in a new neighborhood, give them some minor resources and their blessing and that was the extent of their commitment. In 2012 churches are starting new churches that remain part of the same family. Another word for these new churches is multi-site or one church in multiple locations. It is not uncommon today to hear of a church having as many as 3 to 10 other campuses.

These churches operate in various ways and some have proven to work better than others. This book is designed to help a church from the beginning thoughts of going multi-site through the first year or so of the planting. Chapter 1 addresses the “Paralyzing Fear” that so many people have that keep them from ever stepping out and growing the Kingdom of God as God intended. Chapter 2 addresses our “Values Disconnect”, what do we say the mission of the church is and what do we value and what is actually happening. Most churches in America say they value winning people to Christ but not many are growing. Chapter 3 “Lack of Trust and Accountability” this chapter addresses the fact that many times the parent church will suffocate the new start because they want to control and the new start needs to become independent and grow just as your child grows and becomes mature. Chapter 4 “Choosing the Right Model” I mentioned earlier there are several different models, Mother/Daughter, is just one model and is the model we used in our new start. Chapter 5 addresses “Choosing the right Planter. Chapter 6, Underestimating Risks, Chapter 7, Coaching issues, I am convinced in today’s world every leader needs a coach at some point, this is someone who have been where you are and has done what you are attempting to do. Chapter 8, this chapter covers funding. Today you will find grant funds in many mainline denominations to help with planting a new church and there will be churches who see the need and help support also. Many new church starts are being funding much like a missionary is funded, through individual donors. Chapter 9 addresses “Misfires”, Chapter 10 talks about when a parent church neglects their new child and we see that happen in new church starts a lot.

This is a great book with several assessment tools in the appendix for churches who want to discover if they are a candidate for such an endeavor as this. I know all of this is really new for most people and there is a great fear factor but I believe if we are going to win people to Christ, we are going to have to plant more and more new churches.

5 out of 5 starts for this one as a needed tool to follow.

Ronnie

Evernote, my new organization tool…

It is now on my Laptop, Android, and iPad, lets see how helpful it is. By the way, it’s FREE.

Ronnie

Creating New Memories – The Art of Planting New Churches

There is Great Wisdom in the voices of this Video, Path 1 and The United Methodist Church.

Ronnie

Dreaming of Vital Congregations – Church 2092

These videos are worth watching. How do you envision the church in 2092? 

If we are to exist in 80 years we will have to swim in the waters of change.

Ronnie

Holston Evangelism Conference is Just 2 Days Away

There is still time, you can join us in Knoxville for a great time of  learning what has worked for others, finding a renewed hope for the ministry where you find yourself, and a time of renewal. The cost is very reasonable and the benefits will be Great.

Join us this Friday and Saturday, March 16th and 17th @ Cokesbury Center

Check out all the information for the event here evangelism-conference-2012

Invite someone to church…

Some have asked where I found the video that we used in the service yesterday. Here it is…Remember, 80% of those who don’t go to church anywhere say they would if someone would just invite them.

Ronnie

We Can’t Look @ the Stitch Being Removed

Samuel and Judah have begged to go with me to the Doctor and see them work on my ear and on my stomach where the possible skin cancers have been removed. So, today I took them with me. When Dr. McPherson started to cut the stitch, this was the scene. 

Ronnie

Can You Limit Your Sitting and Sleeping To Just 23.5 Hours A Day?

This is a video worth watching, that is if you are interested in improving your health.

Ronnie

My Latest App that I am Excited About – myfitnesspal

I found this yesterday and I have already started to use it, I love it. myfitnesspal.com is absolutely free, there is an app for the android, the iPad, and iPhone, and you can also use it on your computer.

I got this idea from a new book that I am reading called “Racing Weight”. It is a great book by the way. On a recent 40 day fast I lost 40 pounds and it is my goal to keep most of the weight off so that I can enjoy better health and better running. This calorie counting tool is so easy to use and it is amazing just what we consume and don’t even realize it. Studies show if we are tracking the things we eat, we will be a lot more disciplined.

Again, this app will allow you to enter everything you eat and drink in a day, there is even a bar code toll that allows you to scan the product label and then you have the exact product information. There is a place to put in your exercise for every day and it will ten tell you how many calories you need to consume in order to weigh your ideal weight.

Give it a try.

Here is the web site www.myfitnesspal.com

Download for iPhone iphone

Download for Android android

Download for Blackberry blackberry

Download for windows

A Beautiful Afternoon At The Park

We have found our project for this summer, a tire swing like this one. The boys love it.