On My Google Reader

If you are a regular reader of this blog or any other blog for that matter, it would be wise to set up an account with Bloglines, or Google Reader. I used to waste my time rushing from blog to blog to see if there was any new news. Now All the news comes to me via my Google Reader. For those curious minds out there here are some categories I have set up.
1. Blogs - Serious bloggers such as Seth Godin, Dan Burrell, MMI, and New blogs that I have not categorized Like Mark Beeson.
2. Amusement - In this folder, I put my waste time stuff, like Boing Boing, Tom in the Box, and Lark News.
3. Church Planters - Guys who are getting the job done that I want to follow like Perry Noble, Bob Franquiz, and Steve Furtic.
4. Friends - Some great, some not so great (bloggers that is) great one's like Greg Peters and Adam Mayfield, and Ricc Conner. Not so great ones like, well I'm not telling you know who you are.
5. Thinking Blogs - Right now just Desiring God, ...........and Purgatorio (kidding)
6. Not so much - blogs that are well read, but I don't get much from. Guys way to the right like Sharper Iron and Guys way to the left like Tall Skinny Kiwi. I like to know what they are up to, but don't read much more than the headlines. A few mor blogs have found their way into the not so much folder, but mostly because they don't get blogging and would do better to write a book.

Now you know my DNA. and for that matter DNA means that you Did Not Ask, but I told you anyway.

For further reading about what I'm reading you can check out My Library Thing.

New Look & New Features

Well, today the blog got a new look and some new features added. We changed from 2 column width to three, and dressed it up quite a bit. New features include the ability to link right to RSS feeders and an option to sign up for email alerts if you don't use an RSS Feed. One of my favorite additions is the "Cloud" on the left that indicates my favorite topics. As you can see Cornerstone is the big daddy, followed by humor then church planting. Enjoy!

Update from Iglesia Bautista El Buen Samaritano

Pastor Rafael writes:

"God bless you, the following is a report of the first service at Iglesia Bautista El Buen Samaritano held on Sunday March 30th 2008, there were 20 persons in attendance."

That is a great first day for a church. I still remember our first day at Cornerstone as we wondered if anyone would show. Grand total on Day one...16. Grand total on day 2,190(6 years later)... 354. God is doing some great things at Cornerstone and has great things in store for el Buen Samaritano too!

If you have friends or neighbors looking for a great Spanish speaking church, Be a Good Samaritan, put them on your donkey and take them to Iglesia Bautista El Buen Samaritano!

The Lord's Prayer

Wow!

Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana Loves Jesus

If you have a girl within 40 miles of your home you no doubt are familiar with Hannah Montana. If you can get past the first 6:30 minutes of girl talk. Miley and her best friend Mandy do a great job of expressing their faith. In a culture that is desperate for positive role models. I have to admit I am a Hannah Montana fan.

Iglesia Bautista El Buen Samaritano

I just got off the phone with Pastor Rafael Riera. They will be starting Sunday services this week at the Beef O'Bradys in Four Corners. I am so impressed with Rafael and his passion and expertise. He has a great plan in place and is already receiving lots of attention from the Spanish speaking community of Four Corners. Their Sunday school will start at 9:30 and Worship is at 10:30 a.m. I am asking all of our Cornerstone people to raise this church and this pastor up in prayer as they launch out this weekend. Also, I want to say how much I appreciate Mary Ann Owens and the team at Beefs for making their restaurant a sanctuary for church planting. It is obvious how much she loves our God.

What Genre is your Bible

I read a lot of books. I mostly read how to books dealing with church ministry stuff, but often enjoy a good biography or science fiction like "Out of the Silent Plant." I read newspapers and blogs, I read commentaries and manuals, and every once in a great while I will read some poetry. (the planets all have to be lined up for that) I as this because I always approach my reading differently depending on the genre. Fiction is almost always audio book. (don't email me that it is not reading if I am listening to it, I know, I know.) Commentaries and manuals I go to for answers, Newspapers and blogs I go to for information. Poetry I go to for inspiration or contemplation etc. I asked myself today, what genre is the Bible. Some would argue for for one or the other. I argue it is all of the above. Consider:

* Romance - A love story of of Christ and His Bride
* Fiction - Parables ( don't email me about this either. I know only a portion of stories are fiction)
* Self Help - Instructive wisdom
* Biography - of God
* Poetry - Of David, and Moses
* News - A Revelation of sorts
* Manual - Theology and answers to life's biggest questions
* Historic - A true gospel

I guess the Bible is all in how you look at it. Like a diamond, its beauty is discovered by the many angles and how the Light is reflected through each. Consider the you genre-atical approach the next time you pick up the leather bound book.

Easter Update

Hello Everyone, Thank you for praying for our Easter Services. First, I want to thank all of our volunteers who worked to make this our best easter ever. Without your hard work it would have been a very difficult day. Second, I want to thank all of our regulars who got tickets and bathed the day in prayer. God answered those prayers. Finally I want to thank our guests for coming out and worshiping with us. The family of God is an amazing thing and total strangers can seem like life long friends in no time. We finished the day with several folks accepting Christ as Savior, and 344 in attendance. This is more that we could have imagined and we give God all the glory. I will do what I can to upload some Easter pictures over the next few days. Here is a picture Terry Miles took during the third service. I also just returned from the hospital and Mrs. Pauline and Eulin Francis are doing well. Also, Nita, our guest that was taken by ambulance (Chest pain) is still being checked by the E.R. but she is doing much better and wanted to thank everyone for their prayers.

Easter Ponderings at 4:30 a.m.

It is 4:30 a.m. on Easter Saturday. A few minutes ago I am lying in bed thinking about Easter. The main thought that consumes me is that Easter is about Christ. It is about worshiping the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I'm trying to fall back to sleep because in a few hours the weekend will start and it won't stop until Sunday night. I wonder if an Easter Egg hunt somehow takes away from our worship of Christ on Easter. I think about the fact that Easter Eggs and Chicks and the fake grass are all some carryover of pagan celebrations into the Catholic church. I wonder for a moment why the Catholic church would celebrate "pagan" holidays, how they could pervert Easter with fertility rituals. Then I think about the fact that Jesus could have scheduled His death burial and resurrection for anytime of the year. The pharisees were truly willing to kill him at any time. But he chose the season of his resurrection. I remember that as I studied for this weekend's message, that when Passover was instituted that it was to be the first month of their year. Another beginning. I thought it was kind of God's plan for the death of winter to give way for the resurrection of life to spring forth. I wonder if God was the one who scheduled this to be the time of the birthing of new lambs, new chicks, and green grass. That it was His intent all along that we celebrate new life, a new year at this Season. I stop thinking bad about the Catholic church, I stop thinking bad about the pagans, I lay there amazed at how God is in control of every detail and that when we just stop long enough to pay attention, that He will reveal Himself to us. He is GOD! One day we will stand before Him in Heaven. We will fall to our knees in worship. We will finally stop. And we will finally understand that it is all about Him.

Easter Notes

1. Lots of calls this week about our Easter services.
2. Lunch with Scott Smith from Community of Faith to talk Parking (I love that guy)
3. We are having the Easter Egg hunt before the service on Saturday and after the services on Sunday.
4. I think we are the only Easter Egg Hunt in town.
5. The Reporter (News Paper) did not change our ad to the one we sent.
6. Someone will read that ad and show up for an 8:15 service we are not having.
7. They will be angry and blame us.
8. We will accept credit for their mistake and apologize.
9. Our Team has spent many hours preparing for Easter.
10. Our members have spent many hours preparing for Easter.
11. Our guests would benefit by spending many hours preparing themselves for Easter.
12. We anticipate 300 people to worship with us on Easter.
13. We anticipate 1 person to be our focus on Easter.
14. Some of the Easter Eggs will have cash in them.
15. Only kids are allowed to hunt for Easter Eggs.
16. Additional parking will be available on the Soccer field.
17. Additional seating will be available because of the sacrifice of our regular attenders.
18. The worship will be amazing.
19. The message will be Bible.
20. The church will be friendly.
21. The Lord will be lifted up.