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January is the time of year when health clubs and weight-loss organizations make most of their profit for the year. That’s because the beginning of the year is when we all start fresh with positive resolutions for improvement, which we hope will propel us to great success -- at least until February. If you (like me) are still trying to hold on to the hope of a thinner you in the new year, here are some thoughts on exercise (courtesy of Mikey’s Funnies): ~ I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently, you have to show up. ~ If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our body. ~ I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them. ~ If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. ~ I don't jog. It makes the ice jump right out of my glass. ~ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ~
I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures
out what I'm Michael
Duduit, Editor Click here to visit "I Was Just Thinking" (Michael’s blog) for insights and observations about faith and culture issues.
The necessity of preaching In his new book The Deliberate Church (Crossway), Mark Dever writes, “When I was interviewing with Capitol Hill Baptist Church before they called me to be their pastor, someone asked me if I had a program or plan to implement for growth. Perhaps to this person's surprise . . . I responded that I didn't really have any great plans or programs to implement. I was just armed with four P's -- I would preach, pray, develop personal discipling relationships, and be patient. "Maybe even more surprising to some, I said that I was happy to see every aspect of my public ministry fail if it needed to . . . except for the preaching of God's Word. Now what kind of a thing is that for a pastoral candidate to say to a church? What I wanted to get across was that there's only one thing that's biblically necessary for building the church, and that's the preached Word of God. Others could do every other duty, but only I was responsible and set apart by the congregation for the public teaching of God's Word. This would be the fountain of our spiritual life, both as individuals and as a congregation. "God's Word has always been His chosen instrument to create, convict, convert, and conform His people. . . . The Gospel is God's way of giving life to dead sinners -- and to dead churches (Ezek. 37:1-14). He doesn't have another way. If we want to work for renewed life and health and holiness in our churches, then we must work for it according to God's revealed mode of operation. Otherwise we risk running in vain. God's Word is His supernatural power for accomplishing His supernatural work. That's why our eloquence, innovations, and programs are so much less important than we think; that's why we as pastors must give ourselves to preaching, not programs; and that's why we need to be teaching our congregations to value God's Word over programs. Preaching the content and intent of God's Word is what unleashes the power of God on the people of God, because God's power for building His people is in His Word, particularly as we find it in the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). God's Word builds His church. So preaching His Gospel is primary.” (Click here to learn more about the book The Deliberate Church)
Sermon points should make a point In a recent edition of his Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Rick Warren says that too many sermon outlines, “don’t say much of anything to anyone. You can avoid this pitfall by taking a few simple steps toward creating points that make a point. “First, use the biblical application as the points of your sermon. In other words, start with your application, and show how the Scripture illustrates it. Your sermon point should be a present tense application statement followed by the biblical text. “Second, put a verb in every one of your sermon points. The easiest way to help people be doers of the Word is to put a verb in the point. It turns the biblical truth into action steps. “Third, put ‘Jesus’ or ‘God’ into each of your points. Frankly, I'm very concerned about pastors who try to build seeker-sensitive sermons by eliminating ‘God’ and ‘Jesus’ from the message. In fact, I think the best sermons put ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ right into the application points. When you stand to preach, you’re not just giving a moralistic pep talk. You want to change lives, and the power for changed lives comes only from God. “Fourth, personalize your sermon points by using personal pronouns. I rarely use the word ‘we’ in an application or an outline because it weakens the application. In other words, say, ‘Jesus Christ came for me. Jesus Christ died for me. Jesus Christ is coming again for me.’” (Click here to read the full article.) http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/default.asp?id=241&artid=6006&expand=1
Changes in Bible study curriculum One of the major connections that churches once had with their denominations was the use of “official” curriculum for Sunday School and other Bible study settings. There were always options -- a small church I served as pastor while in seminary used David C. Cook materials -- but most churches used the curriculum provided by their denominational publishing houses. One of the most significant ecclesial shifts of recent years has been the movement away from using denominational materials to the use of alternative curricular materials, typically provided by independent religious publishers. Sometimes we receive copies of these for review, and I am fascinated with what is available today in terms of curriculum. One of the trends is to take a popular trade book by a well-known author (often a major church pastor) and to develop curricular support materials around the theme of the book. For example, Thomas Nelson has produced a product called “Come Thirsty,” a multigenerational curriculum based on a Max Lucado book of that title. The multimedia product features a six-week package of interactive teaching materials for all age levels, including DVD/VHS lessons with Lucado, a hardcover Come Thirsty book, promotional items and a CD-Rom containing introductory material. Additional materials available include items like PowerPoint presentations, youth and children’s materials, and even DVD sermon “set-ups” to coordinate with the study. (This kit can be purchased online at www.comethirsty.com and in Christian retail outlets.) The creativity that goes into some of these study packages is amazing. For example, Group Publishing has a series of “Out of the Box” Bible studies that come in paint can holders. For example, the package on “Surprising Encounters with Jesus” comes complete with study materials, a DVD with video clips linked to the theme, and various props (“gizmos”) for learning/engagement activities, including wooden blocks (with different words on each side), chess pieces and silly putty. (For more information see www.grouppublishing.com)
ILLUSTRATION: Stewardship, Time Pretend you are given a bank account that receives a fresh deposit of $86,400 every day. You are free to spend the money any way you want, but the unspent balance is not carried forward to the next day. Regardless of what you've spent by the end of the day, the balance is reset daily at $86,400. What would you do with such a bank account? Now consider the fact that each dollar represents the number of seconds in one day: 24x60x60=86,400 seconds. Once they are "spent," they disappear; and the balance is reset at 12:00:01 a.m. every day. Some people become slaves of what they have, living frantic lives, trying to spend time, talent, and treasure before they lose it. In so doing, they become servants of things that are supposed to serve them. Jesus said we cannot serve both God and money (things of this world). And the only way to keep our priorities straight is to have a wise, godly plan: Today I'm going to glorify God this way with my time, talent, and treasure. Do you have such a plan? (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 1-3-06)
Would you like to bring more creativity to your preaching? A remarkable team of speakers will help you breathe new life and energy into your preaching ministry at the 2006 National Conference on Preaching, scheduled for April 24-26 at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX (suburban Dallas). "Preaching Creatively" is the theme of this year's event. You'll enjoy insightful preachers and teachers like Ed Young, Jr., Calvin Miller, Haddon Robinson, Dieter Zander, Jack Graham, Doug Pagitt, Steve Wende, Bryan L. Carter, David Allen, Timothy Warren, Leroy Armstrong, Jr., Ramesh Richard, Rick White and many more. (Find a complete list at www.preaching.com/ncp.) You'll draw insights and encouragement from the theme-related addresses on preaching creatively, plus great sermons and many practical workshops. There will also be a track of workshops for ministry wives led by Sheila Bailey, wife of the late E.K. Bailey, long-time pastor of Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas. Mark your calendar now to be part of the conference. Click here for additional information or to register (or call 800-288-9673). Register now and save $55 off the regular registration fee. Bring your spouse and/or additional ministry team members for just $100 each after the first registrant from a church/organization.
ILLUSTRATION: Prayer “Many people know of William Carey, the ‘father of modern missions.’ But few people have heard of his sister. She was a quadriplegic and had to be carried from bed to couch. For 50 years she lay in bed and prayed for William Carey. She wrote him encouraging letters -- with a pencil between her teeth. Her ministry was perhaps more important because she was a silent partner. Certainly William Carey realized God’s blessing was as much a result of his sister’s commitment to pray for his ministry as was his dedication to serve God.” (Dan Harrison, A Living Legacy)
ILLUSTRATION: Adoption Teacher Debbie Moon’s first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, “I know all about adoptions, I was adopted.” “What does it mean to be adopted?” asked another child. “It means,” said the girl, “that you grew in your mommy’s heart instead of her tummy!” (from Derl Keefer)
ILLUSTRATION: Satisfaction A
little boy never said a word for six years. One day his parents
served His
parents began to celebrate. They said to him, "Why did you
wait so He said, "Up till now, everything's been okay."
Parents
spend the first part of a child's life urging him to walk
and talk, and the rest of his childhood making him sit down
and keep quiet.
A woman accompanied her husband when he went to get a haircut. Reading a magazine, she found a hairstyle she liked for herself, and asked the receptionist if she could take the magazine next door to make a copy of the photo. "Leave some ID, a driver's license or a credit card," the clerk said. "But my husband is here getting a haircut," the wife explained. "Yes," she replied. "But I need something you'll come back for." (from Cybersalt Digest)
“Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” (Elton Trueblood)
Resume blunders How bad a mistake can you make on your resume? Here are some real-life examples: "My intensity and focus are at inordinately high levels, and my ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable." "Education: Curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting." "Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store." "Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet." "I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse." "I am a rabid typist." "Created a new market for pigs by processing, advertising and selling a gourmet pig mail order service on the side." "Exposure to German for two years, but many words are not appropriate for business." "Proven ability to track down and correct erors." "Personal interests: Donating blood. 15 gallons so far." "I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely nothing and absolutely no one." "References: None, I've left a path of destruction behind me." "Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer." "Don't take the comments of my former employers too seriously; they were unappreciative beggars and slave drivers." "My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage." "I procrastinate -- especially when the task is unpleasant." "I am loyal to my employer at all costs. . . Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voicemail." "Qualifications: No education or experience." "Disposed of $2.5 billion in assets." "Accomplishments: Oversight of entire department." "Extensive background in accounting. I can also stand on my head!" Cover letter: "Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty!"
And finally . . . But how is he at jigsaw pizzles? This weekend, a 20-year-old Cal Tech student set a new world's record for solving the brain-twisting Rubik's Cube puzzle, solving the tiled puzzle in 11.13 seconds. The previous world record was 11.75 seconds, set by French puzzle-meister Jean Pons at the Dutch Open competition. Leyan Lo -- the new record holder -- is part of the university’s Rubik's Cube Club, a group of brainy students that hosted this weekend’s competition at the Exploratorium museum in San Francisco. According to a January 15 AP story, Lo's record-setting time came early in the day, among his first five tries in the preliminary rounds. Amazingly enough, Lo’s fast-fingered feat didn’t win him the overall championship at this weekend’s competition. That was based on averaging three of five solution times in the final round, and the champ was Shotaro "Macky" Makisumi, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Pasadena. Makisumi had an average time of 14.91 seconds in the final round to take first place.
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