The Incarnation

Just reading through Matthew makes me think of so many amazing prophecies that came true on day/night that Jesus was born. The place of His birth, the timing of it, and what it actually means, the incarnation. God among us! God taking on flesh (Greek carne). God moved into the neighborhood, wow. He still lives there today, through you and me.

This weeks reading schedule: Matthew + 5 psalms

Already read: Revelation, Genesis, Exodus, and James.

Small Group(s)

Well I heard about a new small group kicking off last night in the North Tyler/Lindale area. Apparently a good sized new group with several teenagers involved as well. Pretty exciting stuff as I know that at least 2 people that don't normally attend traditional church services were in attendance. This is pretty much exactly what I was thinking about this past Sunday. I would love for someone that was there to give us an update on what happen and the future plans of the group.

I also know of another group that started with just a couple of ladies and has already about doubled in size. Just a few friends getting together to talk and have fun. What a great concept. And the great thing is, can 4 Christian ladies get together and at some point not talk about their faith, God, Jesus, church, salvation, spiritual things? I submit that at some point in that conversation, faith will pour out, and the Spirit will be active!

Meanwhile, what is a small group anyway? What is it's function? What categorizes it as "small"? What does it take to keep it small enough so that the possibility for intimate communication exists at all times? Feedback please.

Genesis

So Genesis will be the book we are reading this week. I read 14 chapters from "The Book" translation this morning. Pretty interesting stuff, especially the section about The Sons of God having relations with the women of the earth in chapter 6. It sounds like the results were Giants being born and walking the earth, then later being referred to as the Heroes of old. Any thoughts on that passage?

Also, any of you Crossroaders who didn't get to hear the message yesterday, you may want to ask someone else about the prospect of "Future Church" that we talked about before and after the coffee break. This is not necessarily our church future, but some ideas about what it will take for the CHURCH to be successful in the future, given that so many of our teenagers leave the church after they leave home. Anyone with comments about the small group/medium group/large group idea, please post them here as well. I look forward to some feedback.

GENESIS READING SCHEDULE
Sunday 1-7
Monday 8-14
Tuesday 15-21
Wednesday 22-28
Thursday 29-35
Friday 36-42
Saturday 43-50

AND NEXT WEEK'S BOOK WILL BE EXODUS for continuity's sake.

The Church: Building or Body?

Here is the latest paragraph from my dissertation, gimme your feedback.

When people view the church as a building, something made with hands, it lessens the power and impact of the supernatural work of God and reduces the church to a dependency on current marketing trends and advertising ploys. The called out people of God are relegated to the role of spectators at a weekly circus, watching talented performers showcase themselves under the bright lights of the big tent; a spectacle indeed. What is more amazing is that customers continue to come for the show long after God has departed the premises.

Revelation or Revelations??

Well here it is, just as I promised. I am going to try to do a little more blogging this year in order to keep everyone up to date on my boring existence ;)

First, as many of you know, I am setting out the read the Bible through in 2009. As per our conversation in church today, we will start at the end . . . Revelation! That's not Revelations, it is the Revelation of John, given to him by Jesus, to share with the Church. So tonight I am reading chapters 1-3. Below is a short reading schedule to finish Revelation in one week. The goal is to read all 52 books in a year, at least 1 or more books a week. Let's see how it goes.

Sunday 1/4 Rev. 1-3 Thursday 1/8 Rev. 13-15
Monday 1/5 Rev. 4-6 Friday 1/9 Rev. 16-19
Tuesday 1/6 Rev. 7-9 Saturday 1/10 Rev. 20-22
Wednesday 1/7 Rev. 10-12

So Proud

Tonight I am so proud of three important things:
(1) My oldest son and I had our first ever man-to man talk this weekend and I must say that I am thouroughly impressed with him, way to go Jeremy you make the old man proud.
(2) My youngest son began his own blog this week and once again displayed maturity beyond his 16 years and a spiritual discernment that makes me want to try to keep up with him. I am so looking forward to our campout this weekend Jordan.
(3) Tonight I turned in my finished chapter 1 of my dissertation. It was 40 pages long. That makes the intro and chapter 1 complete, chapter 2 on the horizon, and chapters 3-5 about 75% finished. Unless something terrible happens, I will finish this beast by the end of this year and finally graduate in the spring. Haha, my father-in-law always wanted Susie to marry a Dr. :)

New Blog Title - Same OLD Ranter

OK...I'm back. Gonna try again to do some blogging. Hope that you will find time to stop by and read here and there. Some of these initial thoughts will be on the attractional church, the mega church, and the alternative... the missional church.