What is Gospel... continued
To add a bit to some of the conversation yesterday on "What is the Gospel?" I heard this question first formally proposed through some people with the Gospel and Our Culture Network. These are really great people up to really great things. The root of the question comes from the missiologist, Lesslie Newbigin.
All of this to ask again (and perhaps again, until I get some response) what is the gospel?
I'm in Nashvegas this weekend and had a great conversation with a new friend, Levi. God is great about bringing people my way to talk about these kinds of things and how it might be possible to ask these kinds of questions and still be a Nazarene.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Some hard questions
I picked this up on Andrew Jones blog... this is a blog with some questions about youth ministry that are right where a lot of us are. We should weigh in with good and well articulated thoughts.
He also links to another discussion near and dear to my heart and really the beginning question on my journey to make me the "way I am", for those who have been wondering where it all started: "what is the gospel?" I'd be interested in some beginning discussions and first wave responses to this question here as well.
I picked this up on Andrew Jones blog... this is a blog with some questions about youth ministry that are right where a lot of us are. We should weigh in with good and well articulated thoughts.
He also links to another discussion near and dear to my heart and really the beginning question on my journey to make me the "way I am", for those who have been wondering where it all started: "what is the gospel?" I'd be interested in some beginning discussions and first wave responses to this question here as well.
Let's Read!
One of Balitmore City's mottos was: "Baltimore: the city that reads!" Perhaps my blog and its readers should be "the bloggers that read"... or not.
I'm inviting you all to join me and few others in reading a book called, "Christianity Rediscovered", by Vincent Donovan. You can pick it up here.
In other totally unrelated news, I am in Nashville for a few days and if anyone would like to get together, give a holla!
One of Balitmore City's mottos was: "Baltimore: the city that reads!" Perhaps my blog and its readers should be "the bloggers that read"... or not.
I'm inviting you all to join me and few others in reading a book called, "Christianity Rediscovered", by Vincent Donovan. You can pick it up here.
In other totally unrelated news, I am in Nashville for a few days and if anyone would like to get together, give a holla!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Your results:
You are Superman
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
You are Superman
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  | My friend Jeff got me onto this... quite entertaining. I always thought of myself as more Batman. But hey, Superman is way more popular and gets way more pub. When I started this I was excited to see what I'd be, but the question "do you wear a push-up bra" got me worried that I'd come out as Wonder Woman or Bat-girl. This would not have been good for the self-esteem. So try it out and good luck at your super hero future.
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
Hoops, hoops and more hoops
I felt some obligation to blog on the event that many of us are spending time on (and plus I didn't want my last post of the day to be the big whine [see last post for details]).
The always present "they" say that companies have lost $3.8 billion of work from people to the NCAA tournament. I myself would never stoop so low as to proudly predict Villanova as the champion or state to my colleagues that the "cream always rises to the top" for the "Fighting Amish". I'm much too ethical for that.
By the way if you picked Bradley beyond round 2 and can prove it, let me know with proof and I'll give you mad props here. If you are one of the few who don't know or don't care about this at all I'd love to hear from you and your perspective on this oddity in our country for three weeks.
Speaking of tournament choices, I couldn't help but think of my friend Tiz who I talked to today as I was filling out my bracket. Tiz and Chris and I would always do this together in High School. Chris and I always ditched school on the tournament days and would roll back to his house and watch about 10 straight hours of hoops for 4 straight days and eat his dad's dynamite chilli that was just constantly simmering on the stove. Those were great days. I'm pretty sure that's a small piece of heaven right there.
I felt some obligation to blog on the event that many of us are spending time on (and plus I didn't want my last post of the day to be the big whine [see last post for details]).
The always present "they" say that companies have lost $3.8 billion of work from people to the NCAA tournament. I myself would never stoop so low as to proudly predict Villanova as the champion or state to my colleagues that the "cream always rises to the top" for the "Fighting Amish". I'm much too ethical for that.
By the way if you picked Bradley beyond round 2 and can prove it, let me know with proof and I'll give you mad props here. If you are one of the few who don't know or don't care about this at all I'd love to hear from you and your perspective on this oddity in our country for three weeks.
Speaking of tournament choices, I couldn't help but think of my friend Tiz who I talked to today as I was filling out my bracket. Tiz and Chris and I would always do this together in High School. Chris and I always ditched school on the tournament days and would roll back to his house and watch about 10 straight hours of hoops for 4 straight days and eat his dad's dynamite chilli that was just constantly simmering on the stove. Those were great days. I'm pretty sure that's a small piece of heaven right there.
What's wrong with me?
I know, I know, you all have answers to that question...
The doctor (you know the people with lots of education who regularly diagnose what's wrong with people and get paid lots of money for it) has figured out that I have an infection. To put it in technical medical terms, the antibiotic that I took when my wisdom tooth was pulled, cleaned out all the bacteria in my system except one... who was left to run wild, throw parties and do whatever he pleased. This apparently is not good for the body. (I know that might be a bit technical, but I hope you understand).
So worry no more, world. I am now on more drugs that should fix me right up... I hope.
I know, I know, you all have answers to that question...
The doctor (you know the people with lots of education who regularly diagnose what's wrong with people and get paid lots of money for it) has figured out that I have an infection. To put it in technical medical terms, the antibiotic that I took when my wisdom tooth was pulled, cleaned out all the bacteria in my system except one... who was left to run wild, throw parties and do whatever he pleased. This apparently is not good for the body. (I know that might be a bit technical, but I hope you understand).
So worry no more, world. I am now on more drugs that should fix me right up... I hope.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Out of the mouths of babes
We were doing our weekly family lent time together and sharing things to pray for. Meg pipes up, "we should pray for kids who are slaves and aren't treated well." Her class at church had a visitor a month ago who had just returned from India where she had been a part of a relief effort there. The visitor shared with Meg's class about the children who are in prison, who are left behind, who are slaves. It has really stuck with Meg.
Meg says, "Dad, when I get money for my birthday, I'm going to use some of it to buy a kid or two and set them free." Jahred jumped in, "maybe my seven dollars could buy a slave to set free."
In that moment I saw and heard the heartbeat of Jesus in such a beautiful, faithful, and simple way.
God make our hearts, your heart.
We're going to do something. And our children shall lead us.
We were doing our weekly family lent time together and sharing things to pray for. Meg pipes up, "we should pray for kids who are slaves and aren't treated well." Her class at church had a visitor a month ago who had just returned from India where she had been a part of a relief effort there. The visitor shared with Meg's class about the children who are in prison, who are left behind, who are slaves. It has really stuck with Meg.
Meg says, "Dad, when I get money for my birthday, I'm going to use some of it to buy a kid or two and set them free." Jahred jumped in, "maybe my seven dollars could buy a slave to set free."
In that moment I saw and heard the heartbeat of Jesus in such a beautiful, faithful, and simple way.
God make our hearts, your heart.
We're going to do something. And our children shall lead us.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Check this out... a catch-up post
A short attempt at a lot of information:
1) Still sick - really tired of it. Believe me, those are all the details you could want.
2) Meg and Jahred spent some time pre-St. Patrick's Day talking about leprecaun's in school. Jahred made a sweet leprecaun trap and here is Meg's sign (remember that leprecauns only do the opposite of what they're told.
3) Last week the family were on spring break. They went to Carol's sister's and to my parents. Here are a couple of my favorite pics from the trip they brought home:
4) Carol is posting again! Check it out here.
5) I was in Boston for Eastern Nazarene College's Festival of Life. It was great to see people (Kevin Snow, Josh Kleinfeld, Brian Hancock and all my Bel Air peoples, and so many more friends). I only wished we had longer. Also met some new friends (Adam) and had some great conversations with Doug Moister. Here are a few pics from my trip.
A short attempt at a lot of information:
1) Still sick - really tired of it. Believe me, those are all the details you could want.
2) Meg and Jahred spent some time pre-St. Patrick's Day talking about leprecaun's in school. Jahred made a sweet leprecaun trap and here is Meg's sign (remember that leprecauns only do the opposite of what they're told.3) Last week the family were on spring break. They went to Carol's sister's and to my parents. Here are a couple of my favorite pics from the trip they brought home:
4) Carol is posting again! Check it out here.5) I was in Boston for Eastern Nazarene College's Festival of Life. It was great to see people (Kevin Snow, Josh Kleinfeld, Brian Hancock and all my Bel Air peoples, and so many more friends). I only wished we had longer. Also met some new friends (Adam) and had some great conversations with Doug Moister. Here are a few pics from my trip.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
A Wilderness all my own
I've been sick. very sick. Since Wednesday night. Just now getting some good food in me. Just in time for my family to leave this morning to spend time for the kids spring break with family. They're hitting Carol's sisters and family in Indiana, dropping by my brother Steve and his family in Indy, and also spending a few days in Michigan with my folks.
The reason I'm not with them (other than my illness of death that I wouldn't wish on anyone living or dead) is that I'm heading to ENC this week for their regional Festival of Life event. [if anyone cares, that was probably a cool name for it when it started, then it was lame, but now its oddly really quite appropriate and cool again].
So I'm the wilderness of sorts. I found something great in the midst of it too. Check it out here. It's always good to share what you're given, so I hope it helps someone else out there too in some way!
I've been sick. very sick. Since Wednesday night. Just now getting some good food in me. Just in time for my family to leave this morning to spend time for the kids spring break with family. They're hitting Carol's sisters and family in Indiana, dropping by my brother Steve and his family in Indy, and also spending a few days in Michigan with my folks.
The reason I'm not with them (other than my illness of death that I wouldn't wish on anyone living or dead) is that I'm heading to ENC this week for their regional Festival of Life event. [if anyone cares, that was probably a cool name for it when it started, then it was lame, but now its oddly really quite appropriate and cool again].
So I'm the wilderness of sorts. I found something great in the midst of it too. Check it out here. It's always good to share what you're given, so I hope it helps someone else out there too in some way!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Welcome to youth ministry...
Had our good friend Jonathan Tullis over for dinner tonight. Great guy! He was in our youth group when we worked at KC 1st. It was great to laugh a bit over old stories, watch him interact with my kids and just catch up on life. It was just good to be together.
In other unrelated news - Nate from H-town, MD reports that fried twinkes are D-liscious. Can anyone else back that up?
I've not tried them, but as a general rule believe that frying things makes them better. But frying a twinkie is like taking something that has absolutely no nutritional value and putting it through a process that sucks out all the nutritional value... so that's like a double negative and I think the universe might implode on itself or something if this happens too often. Or worse, twinkies would cease to exist.
I'm hoping for quick responses because I might not be able to sleep tonight with worry.
Had our good friend Jonathan Tullis over for dinner tonight. Great guy! He was in our youth group when we worked at KC 1st. It was great to laugh a bit over old stories, watch him interact with my kids and just catch up on life. It was just good to be together.
In other unrelated news - Nate from H-town, MD reports that fried twinkes are D-liscious. Can anyone else back that up?
I've not tried them, but as a general rule believe that frying things makes them better. But frying a twinkie is like taking something that has absolutely no nutritional value and putting it through a process that sucks out all the nutritional value... so that's like a double negative and I think the universe might implode on itself or something if this happens too often. Or worse, twinkies would cease to exist.
I'm hoping for quick responses because I might not be able to sleep tonight with worry.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Lenten Worship in the Hull house
As a family we aspire to live what we call a "prophetic life". A life that is truly seeking the best kind of life for us and for the world around us. For us that means a Christian, missional and sustainable way of life. We believe that there are some rhythms to a year, a week and even a day that are really helpful in living this kind of life. Now, I could go on and on about more of this, but let me pause here to talk about only one of those rhythms: the season of Lent.
Many know of Lent because "you give something up", as a friend of mine recently shrugged. But for us and for other Christians for thousands of years, its about preparing your heart for Christ, opening up to what he might have for you, spending extra time listening to what he might be saying. The rhythm of fasting is one where you let go of something (preferrably something that you do often or has some control in your life) and in lent for us it is also a time of picking something up (like a new discipline of prayer). This is all in efforts to draw our hearts closer to the heart of Christ.
For our family we decided together that we would give up TV one day a week specifically and replace it that day with a time of family worship with songs, readings and a Scripture story. Today was our first day (every Monday from now till Easter). We put down TV and picked up family worship for a time. We loved it! We did our little service complete with dad strumming the ol' Gibson, Meg helping to lead singing, mom praying, Jahred doing the powerpoint, and Kate and Isaiah playing special roles in the reading and then we topped it all off with some coloring! Dynamite!
I don't share this to make you like us more, to dislike us more or to "show you how its done" (that's why we have Pat Roberston on tv so often!), but just to tell you something about our lives.
As a family we aspire to live what we call a "prophetic life". A life that is truly seeking the best kind of life for us and for the world around us. For us that means a Christian, missional and sustainable way of life. We believe that there are some rhythms to a year, a week and even a day that are really helpful in living this kind of life. Now, I could go on and on about more of this, but let me pause here to talk about only one of those rhythms: the season of Lent.
Many know of Lent because "you give something up", as a friend of mine recently shrugged. But for us and for other Christians for thousands of years, its about preparing your heart for Christ, opening up to what he might have for you, spending extra time listening to what he might be saying. The rhythm of fasting is one where you let go of something (preferrably something that you do often or has some control in your life) and in lent for us it is also a time of picking something up (like a new discipline of prayer). This is all in efforts to draw our hearts closer to the heart of Christ.
For our family we decided together that we would give up TV one day a week specifically and replace it that day with a time of family worship with songs, readings and a Scripture story. Today was our first day (every Monday from now till Easter). We put down TV and picked up family worship for a time. We loved it! We did our little service complete with dad strumming the ol' Gibson, Meg helping to lead singing, mom praying, Jahred doing the powerpoint, and Kate and Isaiah playing special roles in the reading and then we topped it all off with some coloring! Dynamite!
I don't share this to make you like us more, to dislike us more or to "show you how its done" (that's why we have Pat Roberston on tv so often!), but just to tell you something about our lives.
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