I’ve been asked a couple of times recently what the purpose is of such a degree. Actually, the possibilities are numerous: entrepreurship, non-profit org. management, business leadership, church planting, etc. Another question I’ve been asked is how I plan to use this degree. In the short term, it is giving me the opportunity to learn more about leading in my current business and ministry environments. In the long term, well, I’ll save that for a future post. Although eventually I would definitely like to teach at the university/graduate level and this will require a Doctoral degree. Oh, man, I guess I’m going to end up as Dr. Doolittle whether I like it or not.

On Thursday, April 24th I drove from Kingsburg to San Diego. Friday morning I headed to Julian for a weekend class retreat. Then I spent Monday through Friday in class at Bethel. On May 2nd, I flew home after 9 days away from home to spend 48 hours with Amy and the kids. Then on Sunday, May 4th, I flew back to San Diego for yet another week of class. I drove home this afternoon and I am so glad to finally be back.

I had a good time with my folks and catching up with some old friends, but being gone for that long was tough. Home is good. I like home. I may not leave again (as if).

in case you’re wondering, Eric is tuned FACFCF. This is a very interesting tuning that sort of has a quality like the regular “G” chord on a guitar due to the proximity of the low third with the tonic, and the 5ths in the higher range (at least if you play your G like this in standard tuning - 320033).

Eric’s awesome, but I still love Andy McKee…

Last week was hectic. We had kids throwing up, Awana Awards night, and I returned to the world of mid-week band practice (more on that later).

Then, on Saturday, we spent the morning at church in workshops and seminars. We stayed up in Fresno for a barbecue and carnival at church, followed by a family concert with Rob Biagi. Of course, Jack started throwing up again before the concert, so sadly he didn’t get to go. But Kaitlyn and Kyle had a blast dancing and singing and we even got to go up on stage! Amy is so disappointed that she didn’t get to see me dance.

On top of all this, our friends had some extra sod (about 300 sq. ft.) and said we could have it. We had some dirt patches that needed some landscaping, so we spent our Sunday morning digging trenches, installing sprinklers, leveling ground, and laying sod.

On top of THAT, I had the opportunity to lead worship at the Fig Garden Campus of the Well Community Church. I don’t think I realized how much I missed leading worship until I had the chance to do it again (my last time had been September 9th).

And so now, here I sit procrastinating on my school work, preparing for another jam-packed week.

Step out of your desires for a moment. Learn to look at your life as though you were watching a movie, and “you” were a character up on the screen there. View your wants dispassionately, with a sense of justice that is not fed by the simple fact of your desiring. This is the heart of what Jesus provided for us in the profound ethic of the Golden Rule.

Read More: Desire Runs Deep

I’ve attached a PDF file as well as an audio recording of my message.

[Download PDF]
[Download Audio]

As part of my preparation, I created an exegetical diagram of the passage that reveals some of the underlying parallels, repeated ideas and emphases of the text. If you want to study this passage in more depth, I hope this will be a useful tool for you.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Exegetical Diagram

[3/13/2008 - Update: The audio download is now available]

The Public Nuisance

Let me know if it’s helpful to you.

1. What does it say? (Exegesis, original languages, grammatical constructs, idioms, literary context)
2. What does it mean? (Hermeneutics, interpretation, historical context, authorial intent, original audience)
3. How or why do we resist it? (Assumption of natural resistance, rebellion, hard-heartedness, objections, dismissals. Puritan preaching—predicted resistance and then apologetically addressed those objections to defeat and disarm them)
4. How does this apply to our mission? (What has God called us to? How does this text have a person, family, ecclesiastical application? How does it apply to our specific mission? How are we called to live out this scripture as transformational agents in the world?)

Mark Driscoll: What Do You Ask Yourself When Preparing to Preach?

This will come in handy as I prepare my sermon for March 9th.

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/19/1943206

Yikes.

This passage is loaded with dichotomies and contrasts. I love how Paul uses poetic devices and word plays to make his point that the cross puts worldly divisions to shame and removes all ground for personal pride and boasting. Paul brings us back to the centrality of the cross.

I’ve created an exegetical diagram that reveals some of Paul’s parallelism and visually highlights some of the greek word plays which he employs. There is so much in this passage, it’s going to be tough to cover in one sermon.

I Corinthians 1:18-31 Exegetical Diagram

Missional & Mishmash - In Therapy

Missional & Mishmash - Do or Die

Missional & Mishmash - On Mission

B U M M E R

Missional & Mishmash - The Pie Chart

I wonder if the whole “excellence in praise and worship music” phenomenon we’ve seen over the past few years—for all the good it’s done—hasn’t also had some less-than-desirable effects on young Christians. I wonder if it hasn’t created a generation of functional mystics who gauge their relationship with God by emotional experience rather than the objective reality of redemption.

Good issues to ponder.

Read more: Church Matters: The 9Marks Blog

Crazy.

(yes, this is a cryptic way of saying that I turned 33 today)

Gospel + Culture - Church = Parachurch
Culture + Church - Gospel = Liberalism
Church + Gospel - Culture = Fundamentalism

I’m definitely picking up a copy of this book.