Brain Candy

These TED videos are some of my fave. Each one is about 20 mins from scary smart people.

Enjoy!!

First up is inspirational: Polar explorer Ben Saunders.


This one is educator Ken Robinson's funny and insightful view of education


This is Majora Carter. You have to love her passion.

Ahhh...So true...

It is not only repentance toward God but faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that is required for the pardoning and purging of sin, for destroying sin and saving you. Repentance is not enough, for righteousness is not by repentance, but by faith (Phil 3.9). Prayers and tears, sighs and sorrows are not our saviour; it is Jesus only who saves us from sin (Mt. 1.21). None can out our sins to death but he who died for our sins. Bring all your repentance and righteousness, and it cannot compensate or make amends for one sin. If all the angels in heaven lent you their whole stock of righteousness - and it is a great one - yet it would not do. No satisfaction could be made nor anything merited for you but by the Son of God; he and he alone is the Saviour from sin…

Ralph Venning, The Sinfulness of Sin

(HT:Joe Thorn)

Less than a month....

I am less than 30 days out to heading out to Raleigh North Carolina for the Acts 29 Church Planting Bootcamp.

It would be an understatement to say that I am excited about the Bootcamp and the possibilities that I imagine will come from it.

Nevertheless, I can see from the look on peoples faces that it strikes them odd that as a pastor I am going to a Church Planters Bootcamp. So here is my thinking...

1. The concepts behind church planting is healthy for the local church.
2. The bootcamp deals with leadership development, gathering people, setting up systems etc.
3. I hope that rubbing shoulders with guys that I seriously respect will give me some clarity on vision.
4. I've had the conviction for almost 20 years that God will have me plant a church in my lifetime. This is an investment in that conviction.
5. Barney Fife moved to Raleigh when he left Mayberry.

Just Amazing

I won't lamely tie in a spiritual illustration to Cro Cop getting KO'ed by Gonzaga.

If you are a UFC fan and know of Cro Cop this was just amazing.

Keller nails it!

Christians tend to drift into a 'pool' that is exclusively Christianized.

We want to connect, we want to evangelize, but there seems to be this huge disconnect.

Tim nails the idea of what it is to be missional in the town, culture and neighborhood God intentionally placed you in.

Listen and learn!!

2nd Annual 5k come and gone(pics)

2nd Annual 5k come and gone

August 4th was our 2nd Annual Alexandria's 1st Baptist/Parks Dept 5k.

The day was a little warm but otherwise a great day for running.

Our turn out was a little smaller than last year, but there might have been a few factors involved. We changed the date, we weren't allowed to do yard sign advertising and St. Joe's Catholic Church had a 5k on the same day @ the same time.

Nevertheless, those that participated (approx 40 athletes) seemed to have a great time. Also, we were able to raise some more $$$ for the Parks Dept.

Thanks to all the runners, volunteers, the city of Alexandria, the Police and Fire Dept.

12 mos to the 3rd annual run!