Owner: Rend the Heavens URL:http://blog.allthenations.org Join Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:46:20 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Musings from an Emergent Revivalist... who longs so see this generation turns their hearts towards Jesus. Site statistics:Click here
Thanks Thoughts 2007-11-22 10:29:00 I don't want to be cliche today... but I guess I can post what I want seeing that it is my blog. ;)There's a ton that I have to give thanks for.Jesus: the lover of my soul.Hannah: my beautiful bride.Isaiah: my awesome son.Leah: my incredible daughter.Ground Level: an awesome bunch of students that I am honored to pastor.West Ridge: a great church to serve.Pastor Bill & Clara: an incredible couple to serve under/with.Family: my parents, grand-parents, in-laws... the list goes on and on.Oh yeah...To my youth pastors that poured into my life: Keith & Anita, Kyle & Stacey, Bryan & Rebecca -> THANKS!Today, I am full of thanks.Quote for Today's BLOG:"In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals,
step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His
good presence; this will carry you evenly through your day's business." - William Penn Read more:Thanks
The Pursuit of God, pt 1 2007-12-03 09:28:00 A.W. Tozer is my favorite author. He definitely was an amazing man. His book, The Pursuit of God, is an intense book about us chasing after Almighty God.I thought I'd put together some quotes from the book that are really intense..."For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truh. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God...""We pursure God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.""We have almost forgot that God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can.""The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul od the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion.""To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-sat
Pittsburgh Lost and Found 2007-12-02 20:14:00 Couldn't wait till Saturday to post this... It's for all you Pittsburgh
ers out there... OneColdHand.com is basically a "lost and found" for gloves that are collected throughout Pittsburgh.Click here to check out the site.I love our city.
Today - Oh yeah 2007-12-02 12:28:00 Quick note...Today
's been a great day.Preached in "big church" for the first time since being here in Pittsburgh. We had a great service. If you're interested in hearing the message, please click here.Pastor and Clara are on vacation in Hawaii...Last night, we participated in a city-wide youth service with Michael Rowan. It took place at Covenant Church in Pittsburgh. Good night.And the other thing on my mind... my wife looked super-hot today. :D I'm glad she's all mind!
Super Saturday Spotlight #24 2007-12-01 06:31:00 Here's SuperSaturdaySpotlight
#24 - The Christmas Edition!Elf YourselfHere's a fun site to make yourself dance as an elf! You can make up to 4 elves per time. Here's a shot of our family:Click here to view our family dance OR click here to create your own.Fun Christmas VideoHere's a fun video of a Christmas carol being played on bicycle parts!Thanks Paul for the video! Click here to view it.Christmas on the Radio!Want to listen to Christmas music while driving around... but just don't know what station is playing Christmas music? Well, check out this list. They currently have a list of over 290 stations from around the country that are playing straight Christmas music. Click here to check it out.Quote for Today's BLOG:"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!" - Benjamin Franklin
Santa Clause - HA! 2007-11-30 16:56:00 I know I recently mentioned our thoughts on celebrating SantaClause
. We don't really celebrate Santa Clause... but we don't condemn those who do... and we aren't too up-tight about it that when Isaiah asks about Santa Clause... or sees his character on TV... we're cool about it.I find it very interesting though that those Christians who are quite serious about being ANTI-Santa... because they say he represents a "pagan" character/holiday... Well, check this out... Here's a self-professed pagan who talks about not celebrating Santa or Christmas because they're TOO Christian!Check out his site here...Poor Santa... no one likes him.
Decorating 2007-11-30 15:45:00 Isaiah was helping us this evening to put the final ornaments on the tree.
Read more:Decorating
Relating to Young People, pt 4 2007-11-30 09:16:00 Here's the fourth and final installment from the list of "Relating to Young People" from the book Generation Church. Links to other posts: part 1, part 2 and part 3.Relating to Young People (points 16-20):16. Don't attempt to force them to do something -- learn to appeal to other motivations.Students do not like to be forced... they do need to be pushed and challenged, but not forced. If we force them to do things, they will never learn to do it on their own.17. Express love and Christian affection to them.BIG ONE! A lot of times, we really have no idea what type of true love and affection they receive from others in their lives (specifically their parents)... so loving our students by expressing it... telling them... showing them... is vital.18. Have fun with them and be liberal with laughter and a good sense of humor.Have you ever met a snob of a youth pastor? Again, not that I've arrived... far from it... but we have to be REAL. If all we do is act stern and dry, they're serious
Relating to Young People, pt 3 2007-11-29 11:50:00 Here's the 3rd installment from Generation Church's points on Relating to Young People. Links to part 1 and part 2.Relating to Young People (points 11-15):11. Empathize with their emotions, consider what they are going through. Remember what it was like to be their age.How important is this!? So many times we try to overlook or avoid empathizing with students because we go at it from the mindset that they're simply wanting attention. While that may be true, we still must consider their emotions... their feelings and definitely remember what it was like at their age.That's something I've made a priority in my own life is to attempt to hang on to those understandings of how it "really was" as a teen. I remember that at times that life would not go on...But on this side of the picture, I can see that obviously, everything worked out... students can't always see that... and most of the time don't.12. Learn to be a good listener. Teenagers' biggest complaint of authority is that the
Cheap Books! 2007-11-28 13:47:00 Just thought I'd pass the word along... Relevant Store is having a HALF OFF sale of all Relevant books this week... don't know if the sale ends Friday or Saturday, but I wouldn't wait if I were you. Some real great buys...! Some books end up being $2 or $3 bucks. HELLO!?Click here to visit the Relevant Store.
Read more:Cheap
, Books
Prince Caspian Trailer 2007-12-10 08:56:00 Check out the new trailer for Chronicles of Narnia: PrinceCaspian
!http://www.narniaweb.com/news.asp?id=1355&dl=14478175 Read more:Trailer
Thought on Grace 2007-12-09 06:38:00 I wonder if the reason satan attacks Grace
so much and It's ideals because he was not offered Grace when he fell?As you know, legalism and religion can be quite a bondage... and I wonder if satan uses those things so much because of Grace.Just a thought.
Love It! 2007-12-08 20:11:00 Delirious? (Miracle Maker)
Super Saturday Spotlight #25 2007-12-08 07:37:00 Welcome to the 25th SuperSaturdaySpotlight
... oh yeah. I'll try to have some Christmas things for next Saturday's. A Pencil BenchCheck out this bench made of 1600 pencils!Click here to check it out.On/Off Coffee MugsAnything associated with coffee (in my book) is pretty cool. ;) For more info on these mugs, click here.American Food BirthplacesEver wonder where the hamburger is from? Or how about those fried twinkies? Well look no further. Mental Floss has got the "10 Greatest Birthplaces" of top American foods!Click here to check it out.Quote for Today's BLOG:"True and genuine worship is when man, through his spirit attains to
friendship and intimacy with God. True and genuine worship is not to
come to a certain place; it is not to go through a certain ritual or
liturgy; it is not even to bring certain gifts. True worship is when
the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets
with God, who is immortal and invisible." - William Barclay
Go Jesus! 2007-12-07 20:49:00 Chinese Factory Set to Become World's Largest Bible Producer"Demand for the Bible is soaring in China, at a time when meteoric economic growth is testing the country?s allegiance to Communist doctrine. Today the 50 millionth Bible will roll off the presses of China?s only authorised publisher, Amity Printing, amid public fanfare and celebration."Click here for the rest of the story... Read more:Jesus
We Have No King But Caesar 2007-12-07 06:55:00 I came across these words this morning in reading John 19.Those words must have pierced the heart of God: "We have no king but Caesar
..." (John 19:15) These were the words that rang out from the mouth of the priests as they were crying out to Pilate for them to crucify Jesus.If you remember your Bible history at all... God has always really wanted to be Israel's king. It's been His desire from day 1.Check out this excerpt from 1 Samuel 8:5-7 (with emphasis added): "'Give us a king like all the other nations have.' Samuel was very upset with their request and went to the LORD for advice. 'Do as they say,' the LORD replied, 'for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer."Can you even imagine the pain in God's heart at that point? A people that He had rescued... the apple of His eye... yet they wanted a different king.How often are we the same way?Jesus being LORD of our lives isn't just for our salvation... but it's every aspect of ou
Leadership Nuggets from Hudson Taylor 2007-12-06 12:01:00 Came across these list of some important things concerning leadership. HudsonTaylor
wrote a letter in 1879 to his secretary containing this check list: 1. Improve the character of the work. 2. Deepen the piety, devotion and success of the workers 3. Remove stones of stumbling, if possible 4. Oil the wheels where they stick 5. Amend whatever is defective 6. Supplement, as far as may be, what is lackingThat's a great check list to use when evaluating our ministry or things that we have authority over. Think about it... Read more:Leadership
Thursday Cogitation 2007-12-06 08:32:00 Ha.I looked up "thought" in the Thesaurus... skimming for a great BIG word for thinking... and "cogitation" received the honors.Do you ever have those moments, days, weeks, years that it just seems that your mind opens up and your understanding is just poured into? I don't know if that makes sense... but here lately, it's like Jesus has blessed me with a season of understanding. I don't boast in that... I've just seen some things lately that have really made me think.Right now I'm in the process of working on vision and strategy for 2008. I really feel like God's heart is being poured in to mine for our student ministry. I don't think I've ever been in this place before.One of the big things it seems that He's dealing with me on is... "WHY?" Why do we DO the things that we currently DO. WHY do we have a student leadership team? WHY do we have home teams? WHY do we have discipleship classes? WHY are we birthing a college ministry? WHY do we go on a missions trip once a year?I' Read more:Thursday
Merry Tossmas 2007-12-05 15:09:00 Found this video about Christmas and retailers. Enjoy.Can't see the video? Click here. Read more:Merry
Martin Luther 2007-12-05 11:39:00 Wow, what a man of God!I'm re-reading portions of the book "Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders. What a great book. Seriously.There's a portion from the book about MartinLuther
that just stirred my heart... and I wanted to share it with you."Martin Luther
was among the most fearless men who ever lived. When he set out on his journey to Worms to face the questions and the controversies his teaching had created, he said, 'You can expect from me everything save fear or recantation. I shall no flee, much less recant.' His friends warned of the dangers; some begged him not to go. But Luther would no hear of it. 'Not go to Worms!' he said. 'I shall go to Worms through there were as many devils as tiles on the foods.'
When Luther appeared there before the court of Emperor Charles V, he was shown a stack of his writings and called upon to recant. Luther replied, 'Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct
Beatboxing Puppets 2007-12-20 12:33:00 Beatboxing Puppets
- click here to see the video (if you can't see it)
Depths of satan, pt 2 2007-12-19 07:33:00 This is somewhat of a continuation from yesterday's post.The portion of scripture (Revelation 2:18-29, NLT) in which John writes the words "depths of satan" is a letter to the Church in Thyatira from Jesus. The letter starts off telling them of the good things that they "do"... "your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.""But I have this complaint against you."Can you imagine Jesus saying that?What was the complaint? Verse 20 says: "you are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray." How was she leading them astray? Teaching the people to worship idols and to participate in sexual sin (see verses 20 & 24).She was teaching incorrect things... in the midst of faith, love and faithful service to Jesus.Hmmm.Anyone catching this?How often do we excuse certain teachings as "ok" because they are cloaked with "good" things about Jesus...?Just because we thro
Depths of satan 2007-12-18 04:30:00 I mentioned a few days ago a scripture that has stuck out to me before... a couple of times... but I've never really talked about it... So now, I think I will. :)Revelation 2:24 says "But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching ('deeper truths' as they call them--depths of satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you..."Where do we draw the line?If you've been around the Christian blogosphere at all for any amount of time, you've probably heard of the Emergent Church movement. From what I gather, and obviously, not everyone who is involved with the Emergent movement are the same, but I've noticed that for some, the search for "deeper truths" seems to be part of their activities.So many things I've read and scene seem to insinuate that the infallibility of Scripture is a topic to be debated... not stood upon. That's where we step out on shaky ground. There is absolute truth and it is the Word of God. The Truth of the Word
Christmas Mac Vs. PC 2007-12-16 14:20:00 I'm a PCer all the way... but enjoy the Mac Vs. PC commercials...
Click here if you can't see the video.
Read more:Christmas
Chipotle! 2007-12-16 11:45:00 Isaiah and I at lunch.
Read more:Chipotle
Leah and Santa 2007-12-15 11:50:00 Leah feels the same way about Santa
as I do. ;)Check out that sucker-punch she's about to give him!
Super Saturday Spotlight #26 2007-12-15 06:31:00 Welcome to SuperSaturdaySpotlight
#26. Here's a few Christmas items for you... Merry Christmas. :)3-D Christmas Tree CardHere's an interesting e-card to send to friends. Your message is turned into a 3-D Christmas tree. Click here to see our card.Click here to visit "Grow a X-Mas Tree".The Back Pew by Jeff LarsonCheck out this comic by Jeff Larson. Very season appropriate. ;)Click here for more comics by Jeff Larson.A Century-Late PostcardA postcard featuring a color drawing of Santa Claus and a young girl was mailed in 1914, but it's journey was slower than Christmas. It just arrived in northwest Kansas.Click here to read the story!Quote for Today's BLOG:"The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source
Homemade Gingersnaps 2007-12-14 17:45:00 Hannah and I spent a while this evening making ginger snaps for Christmas.
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