Depressed? Read this.

Ken Fields, a great blogger and Illinois pastor, penned an excellent article this morning about the Terrell Owens overdose and the larger issues that cause people to get to that level of despondency.  Oh…by the way, he also offers hope!

Read here.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

SharperIron Posting

“Once I Was Blind: The Perspicuity of Scripture” was posted this morning over at SharperIron. It was written because of my concern about modern-day misinterpretation of the Bible, especially by evangelicals and emergents. I hope you get a chance to read it and give me your feedback.

The article can be found here: http://www.sharperiron.org/2006/09/25/once-i-was-blind

The discussion thread can be found here: http://www.sharperiron.org/showthread.php?t=3429

An Act of Grace by Pastor Josh Larsen

My friend and coworker, Josh Larsen, had his bike stolen from his garage last night.  He took the time to write the following meditation and present it to our young people in school chapel today as an illustration of how to respond biblically to trials, however insignificant they may seem.  I thought my readers might be encouraged and inspired through the thoughts.

It’s almost over.

Ten months ago, a dear family very close to me underwent criminal accusation and was attacked even on issues with home schooling and discipline within the family. There has been no substantiation of any claims and no evidence presented to validate the charges. The family is involved in Christian ministry outside the United States. Well, after ten months, the criminal trial is finally coming to an end today. I would greatly appreciate the prayer and fasting of Christian brothers and sisters specifically today for God to be glorified through the trial and that the truth will become very clear. Pray for strength and peace for the family members involved. The judge could render a verdict today.  Please pray!!

An Opportunity to Do Good

Click here to read about a beautiful little Korean girl named Chloe who has the opportunity to belong to a Christian home here in the United States.  The family has been in the adoption process for months and now is in danger of losing her, due to unexpected financial constraint.  God’s people have given generously to this cause but more is needed before the deadline this Friday.  Would you consider helping this dear family?

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Come Travel with Red Rocks!

Join Pastors Les Heinze and Brian McCrorie for a 13-day tour of Italy, Greece and the Greek Isles in the Spring of 2007. Scheduled stops include:

How to Weaken Pride and Cultivate Humility

This is probably NOT the best time to promote my new book, Humility and How I Achieved It.  Seriously, humility is a constant struggle for those in leadership, yet an indispensable quality of true cross-bearers.  The following selection was immediately practical to me and I hope many of you can benefit from it as well.  By the way, read the book too!

To Know or Not To Know?

That is my question.  Why does God allow bizarre things into our lives?  This past Sunday morning, as I was about to begin my early morning paper route, I got a flat tire.  Hey, no problem!  I just got out the spare, jacked up the car, and changed tires.  Took a little extra time but was okay.

This morning, 3 days later, I am in the parking lot of the newspaper distribution warehouse.  My car is filled with papers, bagged and ready to be delivered.  I start the car, put it in reverse, and hear a loud dragging sound.  I get out, and sure enough, another flat tire!  Now, this could have been a major problem, since I had used the spare and now would not normally have had another one.  However, a friend of mine in our church had just the day before gotten me a tire, balanced, and ready to be mounted.  So again, I jacked up the car, changed the tire out and went on my way.

Then it happened.  My wife, who accompanies me on our daily, twilight newspaper adventures, asked the question, “What do you think the Lord is trying to teach us?”

I don’t know.

Resolve

The President of the United States spoke to the nation last night on the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, prompting the War on Terror in which we are now fully engaged.  I agree with Osama Bin Laden and Newt Gingrich that this is indeed the beginning of a Third World War.  Is it winnable?  I don’t know.  The theologian in me says “no.”  As long as human depravity exists, men will “wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”  Can we truly rid the world of terror?  I don’t think we can.

Discipline, Disgust, and Delight

Tomorrow I finish the 7th day of the 1st phase of the South Beach Diet.  I’ve never dieted in my life, and I can tell you it’s no picnic!  I feel as though all I do now is chop and cook green vegetables!  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love vegetables…or at least I used to.  I never thought I would see the day when I would look with disgust at green bell peppers, celery, onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes the way I do today.  It’s especially difficult when I’m looking down at my vegetable gazpacho last night and watching-smelling-salivating the Little Caesar’s pizza the rest of my family is devouring!  I have to be honest, I was near the end of my rope last night.  After a long, intense day of church ministry, the pizza almost derailed my diet.