It's a good thing....

Weird title coming from a conservative Christian. So let me explain...
*It is a good thing that a racial divide has been crossed. 40 years ago MLK was shot.

*It is a good thing that the black community has someone representing them that is not the angry black man i.e Sharpton or Jackson.

*It is a good thing that people on both sides moved beyond the malaise and voted their conscience.

*It is a good thing that Sen. McCain spoke with such grace and honor during his concession speech. It may be the finest speech I have ever heard. It was far better than Obama's victory speech.

*It is a good thing that as a political nation that America is in the words of Bill Bennett "the last great hope." As a great nation we can still be supportive of our leaders where they stand for right, stand as an obstacle when they are wrong (on such issues as abortion and gay marriage) and pray for them as they lead @ a level we will never know.

*It is a good thing that the only vote that counted came from Heaven. Romans 13 all gov't is given by Him.

A good post on the subject of the election can be found @ the resurgence.

Can these guys do no wrong?

This is the Ghost of Floyd from Blackstone Cherry's new album...

Wow...

The context is a young Muslim mother wants to come to faith in Christ but is terrified.



Go to jihad watch and scroll down to Oct 25th to read the context.

Great subject makes great songs...

Some songs are great because they have great music behind them such as Blackfoot's Train Train. Some songs are just catchy like 3 Doors Down 'Train'. Others are great because of the subject. The following is in the latter category ~ Great subject...

Planning for Missions...

Every other year our church takes a mission trip. We alternate between domestic and international. Thus far we have been to Mexico ('99), Kenya ('01), Montana ('03), Peru ('05), New York City ('06), Vermont/NYC ('07). So it is time to plan for summer of '09.

The problem arising is there are so few affordable international flights (under $1,000 per person). So I am looking at different possibilities. Nevertheless a decision has to be made soon. The following video get me excited about going international again. Enjoy...

Steve Brown Southern Baptist Missionary to Moravia Eastern Europe

Walk down memory lane...

When Zak was born I hand painted a Tiny Toons Mural on his wall. Here is why Tiny Toons was great!!

The latetest brain food...

Lately, I have been a little more mentally active. Here are some of the latest things that I have been processing...

1. So You Don't Want to go to Church: the premise is the local church is so institutionalized and given to keeping the machinery running that it sucks the life from people. I agree with the book that there is always the specter of professional church looming. I also agree that there is too much focus on keeping the machinery running. In the end the author throws out the baby with the bathwater.

2. Simply Church: the premise is that there should be more house churches. I think that house churches or micro churches are good in theory. I know for a fact that the early churches met in homes. I also like the fact that house churches are probably more flexible and more relational.

Overall, the book is good. It paints the house church as the Promised Land for those who feel like the traditional/institutional church has lost sight of the prize. The authors fail to mention that house churches generally don't have long lives and have their own issues.

3. Total Church: Still processing this book. It is written by the leaders of the Crowded House church planting movement. They are far more theological robust than is represented in 'So You Don't Want to go to Church' and 'Simply Church.' I would like to see a few more anecdotes and practical illustrations. Overall I think it is a great resource to work through.

4. The Smurfs Season 1~ Volume 1. Little blue people. La-la-lala-la. What else needs to be said?