Storytime

Tim Keller once said something like, "What makes the Bible different that other religious scriptures is that it is story sprinkled with instruction, not instruction sprinkled with story."

So I think my biggest challenge as a Christian father is tell my kids God's story sprinkled with istruction. And I think I've found some awesome tools that help me do just that. We use these tools as part of our nightly bed-time ritual. It is story and instruction... every night.

I use the Jesus Storybook Bible to tell my kids the story of the Bible. I first heard of it from my reformed brother, Kurt, who once bragged that he'd found the Best Kids Bible Ever. And you know what... I think he's right. Here's a snippet:

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everyting - to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!... There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stoires are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.... It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name.

I use the Foundation Verse Pack from Desiring God Ministries... in the English Standard Version (of course) for biblical instruction. We call them our fighter verses... because we fight sin and fear and the devil with our verses. Each card has a picture on the front and a verse on the back. Sometimes we turn the verse into a song or I come up motions to go along with the verse. Those verses tend to sink in the deepest.

So that is how we are trying to tell the Story sprinkled with instruction in our house. Happy storytelling!

Only in Ohio...

... could such sacrilege be considered in good taste. I mean where else in the world would a 50 foot statue of Jesus be considered a good use of Church funds.

Behind the Music of Keith Green

I was reminded of my fond affection for the music of Keith Green this past Sunday. Dennis Jernigan shared of the influence that Keith has had on his own music. Then I found The Keith Green Story on youtube.... and I ate it up today (all 7 parts and 60 minutes of it). This is the best thing I've watched on youtube...ever.

His story of acid-dropping, star-seeking, spiritually-minded, hippie... to life-turned upside down, born again, follower of Jesus... to ministry-minded, hard-core evangelist... to top-of-the-charts Christian musician... to tragic death... is gripping (quite an understatement).

This piece of Christian Music History should be required reading. Keith Green's authenticity and passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ is a swift kick in the pants.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6


Part 7

5 things I dig about Jesus...

I was tagged by Matt. I already hate the question... maybe it's just the dig part. It sounds way to cool, hip, consumer Christian for me.... but I do love Jesus as God and as Man and am in utter awe of his life and death and resurrection. So here is my five:

1. He loved people. (Jn 11:33-35)
2. He was strong. (Lk 19:45)
3. He was a genius story-teller. (Mark 4)
4. He elevated women. (Lk 10:38-42)
5. He gave horrible people a chance. (Lk 19:5)

I'm tagging:
Craig
Peep
Stef
Mike
Josh

OK boys... step it up for me. Let's put Jesus center stage and shine the light on him.

Graduation Thoughts

On Sunday morning I was invited by our youth pastor to say a few words to the high school graduates. Well actually... he invited me to plug my ministry, which is to singles and young adults. But for some reason I did less plugging and more pleading. I'm not sure why... or how effective it was... but I guess I was overcome by a comment at our staff meeting last week.

One of the pastors mentioned that statistically this might be the last time that those high school students are ever in church. I don't know if that is true... but if it is in the least, it burdens me. So with that thought plaguing me here is what I said to the graduates:

Stats say that this is the last time that you will ever be in a church. Would you please not be that statistic... here are my two please for you... high school graduates.

Number one... don't graduate from Church. You have the new found freedom of being a young adult and making your own decision. You have the choice of never walking into a church again. No one will wake you up on Sunday morning and drag or bribe you to church. It is your decision. But please don't be a statistic... don't graduate from Church.

Number two... don't graduate from Jesus. Your freshman year will give you the freedom to make really, really good decisions.... and really, really bad decisions. You can party every night. You never have to go to class. You can sleep in whenever you want, where ever you want and with whoever you want. But don't walk away from Jesus... he can guide you and protect you from make bad decisions.

My prayer for you is that someone will come across your path this semester that invites you to consider Church or invites you to consider Jesus. And when that person comes across your path that you will accept the invitation.

**If I had it do over again, I would same the same thing... just more positively...***

First, re-consider the church. The church is very relevant. The church is not a place it is a people who are set apart to pursue Jesus. Reconsider how valuable a group of people like that can be in your life. Don't let your parents church scare you off or turn you off... open yourself up to the idea of the church.

Second, re-consider Jesus. Jesus is very relevant. Maybe in high school Jesus meant very little to you... but don't write him off or forget him during these extremely important years in your life. If you have forgotten Jesus... use these years of freedom to re-discover and re-consider who he is and what that means for you.