Blog of the Week
Dale Jenkins, minister at Spring Meadows Church of Christ in Spring Hill, TN, has one of the best personal websites I've seen from a preacher. He has two blogs there -- The Blog That Binds about life in ministry and The Scoop Blog which keeps tabs on which preachers are in which pulpits.
Video Clip of the Week
Anita Renfroe sends up Carrie Underwood. Much laughing, there was.
Podcast of the Week
If you don't mind a little "fish and bones" work, check out the Dallas Theologcial Seminary chapel podcast. You probably won't agree with everything they say, but they will make you think. In a good way.
This Week at Pleasant Grove
Sunday AM: "He Who Dipped His Hand" -- Matthew 26:17-25
Sunday PM: "Open His Eyes That He May See" -- 2 Kings 6
Thought for the Week:
"Everybody who sells their soul for thirty pieces of silver eventually gives them back."
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Song In My Head -- Near To the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God;
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
Refrain
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
2
There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God;
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God.
3
There is place a place of full release,
near to the heart of God;
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God.
----------------------------------
I'm not typically a fan of songs that sing the same words over and over again, but just this once I'll make an exception. Lately I haven't been sleeping as much or as long as I need to, and it's made me fuzzy-headed. I've never been alcoholically-intoxicated, but I'm told that operating on three hours of sleep for ten straight days can create a reasonable approximation.
And apparently I am a paranoid, angry drunk.
So I need more sleep. The catch is, there are only two ways to get sleep when you need it. You either collapse from exhaustion, or find some place where you know you will be completely safe for an expended period of time.
Lately, I've been very adept at option 1. Go, go, go, go, fall over. Get up a few hours later and repeat.
But real security -- real safety -- is only found near to the heart of God. As the Psalmist says,
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence." (Psalm 91:1-3)
Lord, hold us close, so that we can we can know we are safe and rest.
near to the heart of God;
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
Refrain
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
2
There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God;
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God.
3
There is place a place of full release,
near to the heart of God;
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God.
----------------------------------
I'm not typically a fan of songs that sing the same words over and over again, but just this once I'll make an exception. Lately I haven't been sleeping as much or as long as I need to, and it's made me fuzzy-headed. I've never been alcoholically-intoxicated, but I'm told that operating on three hours of sleep for ten straight days can create a reasonable approximation.
And apparently I am a paranoid, angry drunk.
So I need more sleep. The catch is, there are only two ways to get sleep when you need it. You either collapse from exhaustion, or find some place where you know you will be completely safe for an expended period of time.
Lately, I've been very adept at option 1. Go, go, go, go, fall over. Get up a few hours later and repeat.
But real security -- real safety -- is only found near to the heart of God. As the Psalmist says,
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence." (Psalm 91:1-3)
Lord, hold us close, so that we can we can know we are safe and rest.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday Word of the Week
poieo (poi-EH-oh) (v.) -- Work. From the Greek root meaning "make" or "do" or "cause to be." A single act as opposed to a habit (prasso).
Key verse: Ephesians 2:10 -- "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Thoughts on poieo -- God is a creator. By His very nature, He causes things to exist. He is what ontologists call the "Un-caused First Cause."
But God is not an addict. When He creates, He does so intentionally. We -- every single one of us -- are a special work of God. Not only does he cause us to be, He WANTS us. We are His handiwork, His workmanship. We are an expression of His nature, His love, His grace.
His creativity.
God's purpose in Creation is so that what He creates can itself be creative. He causes us to be, so that in turn we can be a cause of other good things. Intentional, purposeful, good.
Every day, we make a choice to do good. God gives us every day as another opportunity to find the good He has laid before us to do. Not out of habit or unconsciously, but as part of an ongoing choice to walk in the light as he is in the light.
Now go make something good.
Key verse: Ephesians 2:10 -- "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Thoughts on poieo -- God is a creator. By His very nature, He causes things to exist. He is what ontologists call the "Un-caused First Cause."
But God is not an addict. When He creates, He does so intentionally. We -- every single one of us -- are a special work of God. Not only does he cause us to be, He WANTS us. We are His handiwork, His workmanship. We are an expression of His nature, His love, His grace.
His creativity.
God's purpose in Creation is so that what He creates can itself be creative. He causes us to be, so that in turn we can be a cause of other good things. Intentional, purposeful, good.
Every day, we make a choice to do good. God gives us every day as another opportunity to find the good He has laid before us to do. Not out of habit or unconsciously, but as part of an ongoing choice to walk in the light as he is in the light.
Now go make something good.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Watch Your Language
How you talk impacts how you think.
True fact: The only Hebrew word in the present tense is the name of God. Everything else is past or future.
If your language has no future tense (a la Sicilian), it becomes harder to think in terms of the future. You tend to be more past- or present-oriented. As such, you have a much harder time planning for the future and delaying gratification.
The languages we speak not only express our thoughts, but shapes the thoughts we wish to express.
True fact: The only Hebrew word in the present tense is the name of God. Everything else is past or future.
If your language has no future tense (a la Sicilian), it becomes harder to think in terms of the future. You tend to be more past- or present-oriented. As such, you have a much harder time planning for the future and delaying gratification.
The languages we speak not only express our thoughts, but shapes the thoughts we wish to express.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday Link Around
Blog of the Week:
Escriptorium by my good buddy Mac Ice.
Mac is the smartest church historian I know who is also capable of putting out a quality blog. Sadly, church history knowledge and internet savvy are increasingly exclusive.
Video Clip of the Week:
"Sunday Morning"
Not particularly moving or insightful, but funny nonetheless.
Podcast of the Week:
Ministry Geek This Week
Michael Hite of the Bear Valley School of Preaching teams up with Dale Jenkins and Caleb O'Hara to discuss the role of technology in ministry. What I love about this podcast is that it deals not just with how to use the tools, but who should and should not use them. Their discussions of PowerPoint and Live Streaming are particularly eye-opening.
This Week at Pleasant Grove:
Sunday AM -- "Preparing for What Lies Ahead" (Matthew 26:1-16)
Sunday PM -- "A Perfectly Good river Back Home" (2 Kings 5)
For more info and to keep in touch, subscribe to our K. I. T. weekly e-mail every Thursday. Drop a line to pleasantgrove.ky@gmail.com.
Thought for the Week:
Is Jesus Christ your personal Savior, or are you willing to share?
Escriptorium by my good buddy Mac Ice.
Mac is the smartest church historian I know who is also capable of putting out a quality blog. Sadly, church history knowledge and internet savvy are increasingly exclusive.
Video Clip of the Week:
"Sunday Morning"
"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
Not particularly moving or insightful, but funny nonetheless.
Podcast of the Week:
Ministry Geek This Week
Michael Hite of the Bear Valley School of Preaching teams up with Dale Jenkins and Caleb O'Hara to discuss the role of technology in ministry. What I love about this podcast is that it deals not just with how to use the tools, but who should and should not use them. Their discussions of PowerPoint and Live Streaming are particularly eye-opening.
This Week at Pleasant Grove:
Sunday AM -- "Preparing for What Lies Ahead" (Matthew 26:1-16)
Sunday PM -- "A Perfectly Good river Back Home" (2 Kings 5)
For more info and to keep in touch, subscribe to our K. I. T. weekly e-mail every Thursday. Drop a line to pleasantgrove.ky@gmail.com.
Thought for the Week:
Is Jesus Christ your personal Savior, or are you willing to share?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Song in My Head -- Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.
O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.
There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side
The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide
And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save
A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.
Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
Great lines: "O trysting-place where heaven's love and heaven's justice meet."
They couldn't be seen together in the light of day, but they can sneak away to meet at the cross. Cool.
"Two wonders I confess, the wonders of redeeming love and my own worthlessness." I love the juxtaposition of just how powerful the love of God is and just how equally powerful is my capacity to deserve its opposite.
The whole third verse. I hadn't seen that before today, and hadn't ever thought in those terms before. The cross is a sentry preventing those who pass by from falling into the abyss that lies beyond for those who ignore the warning.
"My sinful self my only shame. My glory all the cross." The cross of Christ is a place of death, shame, and guilt, but at the same time is a refuge from them. The world can keep whatever it has to offer, because the cross is paradoxically the only true source of life.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday Word of the Week
Kenegdov (adj.) -- Suitable, corresponding to. From the Hebrew root "neged," meaning "opposite," and the prefix "ke," meaning "like" or "as."
Key verse -- Genesis 2:18. "I will make him a helper suitable for him."
Thoughts on kenegdov -- Isaac Newton had it right. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." In the original, unfallen state, Eve was not Adam's gofer or appointment secretary or personal maidservant. Nor was she his toady or lackey or mere conspirator. Eve was to be Adam's counterpart, his colleague.
What Eve provided to the created order was something none of the animals could -- balance.
God gives us two legs so that one can hold us up while the other moves. God also gives us two arms to both aid in propulsion and provide a counterweight when we walk. Also notice that when we walk, the limbs on opposite sides of our bodies move together. That's called counterbalance. That's what Newton was talking about in his third law of motion.
And that's what Eve was to be for Adam.
Ideally, this is what marriage should be, too. Partnership. Collaboration. A balance of equal and opposite persons simultaneously providing both support and propulsion.
Tangent #1 -- Notice that in the New Testament, neither Jesus nor the apostles nor the Holy Spirit ever asked anybody to do anything mission-related by themselves. Every Paul had his Barnabas or Silas or Timothy or whomever. Every Peter had his John or Thomas. We do what we do together, or not at all. All of us -- even the most fervent missionaries -- need balance.
Tangent #2 -- When you think about the design of marriage from an "equal and opposite" perspective, you begin to see just how ridiculous the very idea of "gay marriage" really is. Marriage is a partnership with someone who is fundamentally different from you. Homosexuality, be definition, seeks sameness. "Gay marriage," then, is propulsion without balance.
The fall, of course, changed the relationship between Adam and Eve. When she led the way into sin, the consequence was that from now on Adam was "in charge." But as any person in any position of authority knows, the fewer times you have to "pull rank" the more successful your endeavor.
If we will acknowledge the basic laws of relational physics -- wives realizing the authority their husbands have been given and the responsibility that comes along with it, husbands allowing their wives to be the equal-and-opposite kenegdo they were designed to be -- there's no limit to how high we can fly.
Key verse -- Genesis 2:18. "I will make him a helper suitable for him."
Thoughts on kenegdov -- Isaac Newton had it right. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." In the original, unfallen state, Eve was not Adam's gofer or appointment secretary or personal maidservant. Nor was she his toady or lackey or mere conspirator. Eve was to be Adam's counterpart, his colleague.
What Eve provided to the created order was something none of the animals could -- balance.
God gives us two legs so that one can hold us up while the other moves. God also gives us two arms to both aid in propulsion and provide a counterweight when we walk. Also notice that when we walk, the limbs on opposite sides of our bodies move together. That's called counterbalance. That's what Newton was talking about in his third law of motion.
And that's what Eve was to be for Adam.
Ideally, this is what marriage should be, too. Partnership. Collaboration. A balance of equal and opposite persons simultaneously providing both support and propulsion.
Tangent #1 -- Notice that in the New Testament, neither Jesus nor the apostles nor the Holy Spirit ever asked anybody to do anything mission-related by themselves. Every Paul had his Barnabas or Silas or Timothy or whomever. Every Peter had his John or Thomas. We do what we do together, or not at all. All of us -- even the most fervent missionaries -- need balance.
Tangent #2 -- When you think about the design of marriage from an "equal and opposite" perspective, you begin to see just how ridiculous the very idea of "gay marriage" really is. Marriage is a partnership with someone who is fundamentally different from you. Homosexuality, be definition, seeks sameness. "Gay marriage," then, is propulsion without balance.
The fall, of course, changed the relationship between Adam and Eve. When she led the way into sin, the consequence was that from now on Adam was "in charge." But as any person in any position of authority knows, the fewer times you have to "pull rank" the more successful your endeavor.
If we will acknowledge the basic laws of relational physics -- wives realizing the authority their husbands have been given and the responsibility that comes along with it, husbands allowing their wives to be the equal-and-opposite kenegdo they were designed to be -- there's no limit to how high we can fly.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thoughts on Apollo
A friend asked me today what I was doing 41 years ago tonight, when the whole world watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon.
Nothing, as it turns out. My parents didn't even know each other yet; their first date came in February of 1970. I wouldn't come along until four days after Hank Aaron hit home run #715, 16 months after the last manned trip to the moon.
I was born into a world where men had been to the moon enough times that we had moved on to the "next thing." I was born into a world where a black man could get a standing ovation from a largely-white audience in Atlanta. I was born into a world where even Babe Ruth's home run record could be broken.
The atmosphere in which I took my first breath was one where anything was possible.
Unfortunately, this was the 70's. So "anything is possible" quickly devolved into "hey, why not?" See disco, the pet rock, and the filmography of John Travolta.
The world learned a important lesson during the first five years of my life: Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean you should.
Nothing, as it turns out. My parents didn't even know each other yet; their first date came in February of 1970. I wouldn't come along until four days after Hank Aaron hit home run #715, 16 months after the last manned trip to the moon.
I was born into a world where men had been to the moon enough times that we had moved on to the "next thing." I was born into a world where a black man could get a standing ovation from a largely-white audience in Atlanta. I was born into a world where even Babe Ruth's home run record could be broken.
The atmosphere in which I took my first breath was one where anything was possible.
Unfortunately, this was the 70's. So "anything is possible" quickly devolved into "hey, why not?" See disco, the pet rock, and the filmography of John Travolta.
The world learned a important lesson during the first five years of my life: Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean you should.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday Link Around
Blog of the Week:
Warren Baldwin's Family Fountain
Warren is an author, preacher, and all-around decent human being. He works with a slightly-larger-than-average congregation on the Kansas prairie, and writes about the book of Proverbs.
Video Clip of the Week:
This talks about publishing, but the principles apply to church as well, I think.
Podcast of the Week:
IPreach.
Dale Jenkins and Adam Faughn cover all sorts of topics preachers face. The website has links to ITunes and RSS subscriptions.
If you want to keep in touch with Pleasant Grove by e-mail, send a message to pleasantgrove.ky@gmail.com. We'll send you Wednesday night announcements, Sunday sermon titles, and news about area events.
See you Sunday,
-Ben
Warren Baldwin's Family Fountain
Warren is an author, preacher, and all-around decent human being. He works with a slightly-larger-than-average congregation on the Kansas prairie, and writes about the book of Proverbs.
Video Clip of the Week:
This talks about publishing, but the principles apply to church as well, I think.
Podcast of the Week:
IPreach.
Dale Jenkins and Adam Faughn cover all sorts of topics preachers face. The website has links to ITunes and RSS subscriptions.
If you want to keep in touch with Pleasant Grove by e-mail, send a message to pleasantgrove.ky@gmail.com. We'll send you Wednesday night announcements, Sunday sermon titles, and news about area events.
See you Sunday,
-Ben
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Gospel Meeting Closing Credits
We have a long list of thank-yous to those who made this year's Gospel Meeting the huge success it was:
Preaching -- Lamar Russell
Song Leading --- Barry Cohoon
Technical Assistance -- Julia Corder, Bryce Penick
Hand-outs -- Dylan Penick, Spencer Corder, Erica Wiles, Katie Wiles
Children's Bible Hour -- Laura Wiles, Phyllis West, Kathy Conyea, Kelli Penick, Denna Chastain, Mindy Corder
Area Sister Congregations Who Came to Support Our Meeting:
Well done, everybody.
Preaching -- Lamar Russell
Song Leading --- Barry Cohoon
Technical Assistance -- Julia Corder, Bryce Penick
Hand-outs -- Dylan Penick, Spencer Corder, Erica Wiles, Katie Wiles
Children's Bible Hour -- Laura Wiles, Phyllis West, Kathy Conyea, Kelli Penick, Denna Chastain, Mindy Corder
Area Sister Congregations Who Came to Support Our Meeting:
- Allensville
- Westside
- Guthrie
- Keysburg
- Sharon Grove
- Clifty
- Adairville
- Orlinda
- Madison Street
- There are at least two (or maybe 3) more whose names I missed. Post in the comments and we'll add them in.
- Adams Boulevard (Bartlesville, OK)
- West End (Nashville, TN)
- St. Mary's (St Mary's GA)
- Shady Acres (Sikeston, MO)
- Carthage, TN
Well done, everybody.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Podcast Update
The first two mp3's of Lamar's Gospel Meeting lessons are posted near the top right of the page.
Two things you should know:
1. To listen to the files, you have to download them to your machine. We are using a different file hosting site for the gospel meeting to accommodate the larger file sizes that doesn't include a player. You also have to enter a capcha code at the bottom to prove that you're human and not some malicious gospel-meeting-attending robot bent on planetary domination, or something.
2. The file lengths are not the actual sermon length. The tail end of the worship service files include the invitation song, closing announcements, closing prayer, and a few other things that happened before we could get to the machine and turn it off. The actual sermon is about 5 minutes shorter that the posted time.
The files we have up are mp3's, but if you prefer wma file formats, e-mail me and I'll put them up.
Also, Lamar has provided printed outlines of his lessons. If you want those, drop us an e-mail and I'll get one out to you.
Off to assemble Goliath.
-ben
Two things you should know:
1. To listen to the files, you have to download them to your machine. We are using a different file hosting site for the gospel meeting to accommodate the larger file sizes that doesn't include a player. You also have to enter a capcha code at the bottom to prove that you're human and not some malicious gospel-meeting-attending robot bent on planetary domination, or something.
2. The file lengths are not the actual sermon length. The tail end of the worship service files include the invitation song, closing announcements, closing prayer, and a few other things that happened before we could get to the machine and turn it off. The actual sermon is about 5 minutes shorter that the posted time.
The files we have up are mp3's, but if you prefer wma file formats, e-mail me and I'll put them up.
Also, Lamar has provided printed outlines of his lessons. If you want those, drop us an e-mail and I'll get one out to you.
Off to assemble Goliath.
-ben
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Trying Something New
We are experimenting with a new way to make sermons available. To the right you'll see a menu of recorded sermons. The newest one is from this past Sunday morning. What we need now is feedback.
1. Would you subscribe to an ITunes and/or RSS feed if one were available?
2. The audio quality is, well, less than nifty. We're working with a PC laptop and the built-in microphone. Can you hear the lessons well enough as it is now, or do we need to upgrade?
3. Should we be recording everything, or just sermons and special events?
4. Do you prefer MP3's, or the WMA file format, or do you get the same results either way?
Thanks and God bless.
1. Would you subscribe to an ITunes and/or RSS feed if one were available?
2. The audio quality is, well, less than nifty. We're working with a PC laptop and the built-in microphone. Can you hear the lessons well enough as it is now, or do we need to upgrade?
3. Should we be recording everything, or just sermons and special events?
4. Do you prefer MP3's, or the WMA file format, or do you get the same results either way?
Thanks and God bless.
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