Weblog
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
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Perspective and Gratitude
By Sam at Creative Theology
I was doing some yardwork this past weekend and got into poison ivy or poison something. This morning, I had to get a shot in my butt for the swelling on my face, which has gotten progressively worse over the past couple days. It was quite a pity party of a morning. But you know what…? I have so much to be grateful for. Here are just a few:- My book is set to ship today from Seattle to Des Moines, marking the end to a stressful and rewarding self-publishing experience
- I have two beautiful daughters and an incredible wife at home
- My job is stable, pays the bills and then some
- I woke up with breath in my lungs and the gift of another day
- I’m loved and valued not for what I create but because I am
I needed a bit of perspective today, and a reminder to be grateful. More Here...
Monday, 16 July 2012
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Being Attacked for Your Beliefs: It Happens to Everyone
No matter what belief, faith or philosophical stance that is taken, the one holding it will one day be attacked for being different from the attacker. It is a sling fest, I believe, and perhaps it has always been so.
Today however it does seem to be more prevalent, no doubt because of our ability to communicate so much more easily than in the not so distant past and by that I mean just a few years. The internet gives everyone a place where they can speak their mind, post their thoughts and if they feel the need, to defend themselves from others who attack, put down, shame or just want to provoke an argument. Like the saying goes -- “Sometimes you’re the fly, at others you’re the windshield” -- expresses in a few words an almost universal experience for those who post on a regular basis or respond to posts often on the internet.
There is something about the internet, perhaps like driving a car, which can bring out the worst in people. Manners, respect for others can disappear and what is left is often just insults and mud slinging. People are not as anonymous in their cars or on the internet like they believe they are. The nicest people can be the worst kind of ‘jerk’ when they get behind the wheel, the same goes for being on the internet I believe. I have been that jerk in the past, and no doubt will be so in the future if I don’t watch myself and my responses that are irrational and unreasonable. More Here...
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Visual Communication
By Sam at Creative Theology
I am honored to have written a piece for Sundayl Magazine’s July issue. I took on the need for visual communication in worship gatherings. Not as a response to our visual age, but as a response to a deep and rich church history that had celebrated beauty.
When tasked with communicating a message on Sunday morning, the elements that get the most attention are the sermon and the music. From the offset, there’s typically a central theme or concept around which the worship service revolves. Once the big idea is established, common threads can be weaved throughout the service. Music, message, and atmosphere can be crafted in a cohesive and complementary fashion. And services often end there – with a strong message supported by complimentary music and message. It normally works.However, visual communication is often overlooked in our worship gatherings. At best, it’s often seen as icing on the cake or beneficial – but not needed. I’d suggest that it’s not only needed, but can be the most important method of communication during a worship gathering. That may come across as overly dramatic, but that’s only because we tend to focus so heavily on the sermon. If you look back over church history, however, you’ll discover that visual communication has always been engrained in worship gatherings.More Here... -
In His Hands: Putting God First
By Cheryl Chen, guest posting for Tom Zuniga
I distinctly remember looking at an older boy in my church youth group and thinking that he would be a good person to have a crush on. He was a strong leader, I was envious of the way he played piano, he was funny. He was popular with everyone in the group and had quite a few friends. I remember thinking to myself, “I should like him.” And so I did. I decided to like him and the next boy and the next boy because not only did I like the thrill of a crush, but having a crush gave me hope that maybe, just maybe he would be the one who would come alongside me, take my hand, and say, “You’re beautiful.”
I had just turned fifteen, and this habit had been continuing for a few years. My feeling of self-worth had become more damaged and sickly the more that I accepted the notion that my self-worth was determined by whether or not a boy liked me. I became increasingly aware that the moles on my face and the bulge of my stomach made me less attractive.More Here...
Sunday, 15 July 2012
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Revelife Sunday Service: Red Letter Prayers (Part Two)
Good morning, readers! We hope you've had a great week!
Today is Sunday, and for Christians all around the world, it is a day for us to get together and celebrate the great things God has done for us. Lots of us will be at our local churches this morning, and we hope you will be able to do the same.
But if you can't -- for whatever reason -- we want you to be able to experience great worship and teaching this morning. That's why we feature the online services at North Point Community Church.
North Point will be continuing in the series called Red Letter Prayers. The services are North Point are streamed live at 9:00am and 11:00am with rebroadcasts at 2:00pm, 6:00pm and 10:00pm (all times Eastern). We hope you will be able to join us for one of these services today!
If you enjoy the services at North Point, you should know that there are North Point Strategic Partner churches all over North America. Click here to find out if there is one in your area.
