Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veterans Day!

Thankful for my dad who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and my brother, Chris, who served in the Navy during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thank you Service men and women who have served!

Youth Group Rules

Jon Acuff has the official rules here. These are funny. My favorites are below....

3. If you go on a retreat and you’re boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t go, they should expect to get dumped when you return home. Cause that’s happening.

7. Youth group volunteers who are helping out primarily to relive their own high school glory days vicariously through the teens will be removed quickly and quietly.

11. The big tub of orange drink should not be stirred with a youth worker’s sweaty arm.

13. The one parent who complains about something you did will not be empowered to steer the entire course of the youth group. The 50 other parents who didn’t complain will also be considered.

14. If someone hasn’t complained or taken issue with or questioned something your youth group has done in the last six months you will retreat to your youth room and ask yourselves, “What are we doing wrong?”

Africa & The Prosperity Gospel

Warning: This video will probably make you sick and just about ruin your lunch.

The Prosperity Gospel from the Gospel Conversation on Vimeo

The Cart: Current Events, Ramblings, Hot Air

1.) Some news from the home front: Cross-Like T-Shirt Design at Penn State University Sparks Controversy I love Penn State University. I grew up only a short drive from the school in central PA. It is another university that has many college students who are spiritually lost and in need of hearing what Jesus Christ has done for them.

2.) ‘Fireproof’ makers to reveal next film : Read more here

3.) Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens were on Fox & Friends this morning. You can watch the short 3 minute clip here. The documentary, Collision, featuring their multi-city debate tour is now out on DVD. Amazon is where I purchased a copy and they seem to have the best price...or Monergism Books. If your in the Greenville area: I can lend it out if your interested in seeing it.

4.) Technology & Church Planting. Shayne McAllister who is part of the leadership team at Grace Church of Alexandria has had some good blog post recently on the church blog, Grace Abounding. You can read the first part here and the second part here.

Amaze them with God

"I beg of you, don’t go after the next generation with mere moralism, either on the right (don’t have sex, go to church, share your faith, stay off drugs) or on the left (recycle, dig a well, feed the homeless, buy a wristband). The gospel is not a message about what we need to do for God, but about what God has done for us. So get them with the good news about who God is and what he has done for us.

Give them a God who is holy, independent, and unlike us, a God who is good, just, full of wrath and full of mercy. Give them a God who is sovereign, powerful, tender, and true. Give them a God with edges. Give them an undiluted God who makes them feel cherished and safe, and small and uncomfortable too. Give them a God who works all things after the counsel of his will and for the glory of his name. Give them a God whose love is lavish and free. Give them a God worthy of wonder and fear, a God big enough for all our faith, hope, and love."

Kevin DeYoung, Reaching the Next Generation: Amaze them with God

Kevin has been on a series of Reaching the Next Generation: Read them here
Reaching the Next Generation: Challenge them with Truth
Reaching the Next Generation: Hold them with Holiness
Reaching the Next Generation: Win them with Love
Reaching the Next Generation is Harder and Easier Than You Think: Grab Them With Passion