Just Stop & Think - Francis Chan

www.juststopandthink.com for more info and a better quailty video. Really does make you think.

Cleverness or Christ: A Follow-up

About 2 months ago I posted a blog about how modern church signs are getting a bit extreme. Thought this hit the nail on the head. Is this what we want the church promoting?

Obama Osama?

Maybe some focus should be taken off of accusations and more focus should be put on convictions. What's your take?

Something that's been on my heart

This song has been kicking my butt and cutting me to the core. See what you think. Drop by my facebook if you want to hear it.



Oh My God--Jars of Clay

Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
You set the break and set the tone
Flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain
All fools say, "Oh my God"

Oh my God, Why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don't bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase, and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend
Oh my God.

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools; sons and failures
Thieves will always say
Lost and found; ailing wanderers
Healers always say
Whores and angels; men with problems
Leavers always say
Broken hearted; separated
Orphans always say
War creators; racial haters
Preachers always say
Distant fathers; fallen warriors
Givers always say
Pilgrim saints; lonely widows
Users always say
Fearful mothers; watchful doubters
Saviors always say

Sometimes I cannot forgive
And these days, mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I dream we're better,
Scales were gone and faces light
When we wake, we hate our brother
We still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes,
And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing,
What makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder
We all feel the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up
All the times I had to give
Babies underneath their beds
Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes,
All the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense

Oh my God
Oh my God
Oh my God

Something I Need to Learn

Been something I've been struggling with. Hope it helps you to:

"For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife."
--Proverbs 26:19-22--

See you guys tomorrow for more out of our "Confessions" study.

Cleverness or Christ?

Drving to school today I encountered yet another one of those clever
church marquee signs; you know the ones I'm talking about--the catchy
little slogans churches use to draw in prospective members. I don't
know why but these usually bother me; and today the unseen reason
became very apparent to me.

As I said, while I was on the road today (I won't mention where for
the sake of anonymity incase any of you have been to the church) I saw
a slogan that read, "If you don't have Jesus your hopeless". Now
sometimes these signs have an underlying message that isn't as
straightforward but tends to rub me the wrong way. This church
apparently decided to skip the clever subtltey and wratchet up the
pressure.

Now I know that in all actuality this sign, in some sense, was 100%
correct--without Christ we have nothing; but be honest, if you were an
unbeliever, does this sign encourage you to step foot in that church?
In essence, its as if this body of belivers is collectively (yet
another qualm I have with these signs) screaming "don't bother--since
your not a Christian yet what hope do you have in finding Christ now",
as if to effectively declare the Great Commission null and void now;
you've had your chance.

So I must ask: what purpose does this sign truly serve. What ever
happened to putting scripture up and meting God's word speak for
itself? Can't we just announce the weekly prayer meeting and be done
with it? And the best question of all-- when did we become so clever
as to undermine the awesome saving grace God extends to ALL of us at
ALL times? Read it, digest it, then come comment on it.

Until next time,
Geoff

Security in an Unsecure World...Can We Be Insecure?

Found this over at the rabbitroom.com, a blog I follow. I think this is a good transition from our "Daddy Issues" lesson in the LOST series we have started, to lead us into next Wednesday's service. Read it over by clicking the link below then visit us at www. geoffthinksblog.blogspot.com to comment on what this piece means to you in your Christian walk. I think there's much disscussion to have on the issue.
[Rabbit Room Post on Security]


Until next time,
Geoff

Caution--Updates

So I'm back on and ready to begin blogging away again. If you visit the actual site (not the facebook Notes imported version) then you may notice things are changing around the site. But let's face it--change is good. So fear not and look for many updates to come in the future. But most importantly plan on attending College Service with us at Sharon Baptist Church, Wednesdays at 8!

Also if you have yet to join, be sure to become a fan of Sharon Baptist Church College and career group on facebook. This is the best way to get up-to-the-minute updates on our group! Just click below!