Breaking 100 in pursuit of 100

As many of you know there is a challenge @ church to read the NT through in 100 days.

As Pastor I want to set the pace. At the end of the first month I have read 109 chapters. 100 have been NT and 9 are a side set of readings I am doing through the book of Ezekiel.

A good start to a new year.

Book #4 2009

Just finished Jonathan Goforth's book 'By My Spirit'.

If you are unfamiliar w/ Goforth he was a Canadian missionary to the Chinese in the late 1800-early 1900s.

By My Spirit are a first hand account of the great revivals that he saw and participated in during that time period.

It is a classic that I have read multiple times over the last 15 years.

Flat Land...Sun Feb 1st

Looking forward to preaching this Sunday'a AM sermon 'Flat Land'. The subject is Heaven.

You'll just have to be there Sunday to see how Flat Land and Heaven connects.

6 O'Clock Series

In 09 we are shooting to have a few more voices, especially local voices preach here @ AFBC.

This little experiment is called the Six O'Clock Series.

Here is what we have so far

Pastor Peter LaRuffa of Grace Evangelical Free Church...Feb 22nd


Pastor Randy Coleman of Christ Baptist Church...April 19th


Pastor Ronnie Raines of First Baptist Cold Spring...August 23rd


Make sure to mark these Six O'Clock Series dates on your calendar.

Service Cancelled...Wed 28th

Due to bad weather Wed's Jan 28th service is cancelled.

See you Sun.

Finished...2 for 1 (Book #3 for 09)

Just finished Weapons of Mass Instruction. A good read if you are into alternative-educational theory. I burned through it in about 6 hours.

Some of the author's theories seemed a little massaged for my taste. For instance, the idea that it's a good thing that Washington, Franklin or Jefferson didn't have any real formal education. If they had they may not have been the founding fathers.

It is clear that there is somewhat of an axe to grind @ the educational system as well.

Nevertheless, his view of the bureaucracy attending education, the focus on rote memorization over critical and creative thinking struck a chord with me.

I also watched the steroids documentary Bigger Faster Stronger...



A very even and thought provoking approach concerning the debate on steroid use. I especially enjoyed the powerlifting segments.

B,F,S is worth your time if you find a couple hours of nothing to do. But be warned, the language earns every bit of the PG-13 rating. Wear the headphones or make sure the kids are outside playing.

The Inner Life...

As I am reading 'Weapons of Mass Instruction' one of the author's earlier premises is that early mass/compulsory education had as a side agenda preparing 'lesser classes' to comfortably accept tedious tasks/jobs.

The author then sets forth that a dumbing down is an excellent tool for keeping these types of people in line. For if they haven't developed a rich inner life or life of the mind they can do tedious tasks and numb themselves to it through puerile entertainment, alcohol, drugs or zoning out.

Regarding the agenda in compulsory education I have to trust the author's research. Concerning a small world is the way to keep people satisfied in menial tasks, I would agree.