Can You Helicopter?

OK. So a co-worker emailed me this stupid game and I am absolutely consumed by it.

My best score so far is 1254.

Who's got mad helo skilz? Chime in with your best score!

ENGARDE!

Have you all heard of E-Sword? It's another useful online Bible resource that I have been checking out. Here's the pro's and con's so far:

• Pro: It's a free download (file size isn't too big).
• Con: You only get a limited amount of Bible versions for free. The rest you have to pay for. They aren't too expensive, but hey, free is free (i.e. YouVersion has 13 versions for free and more on the way).
• Pro: E-Sword has one of the most creative Scripture memory tools I've ever seen.
• Con: It requires some time learning to use it to the max. There is online training available however.
• Pro: You can create your own personalized "Parallel Bible" with up to 4 versions onscreen at one time (again, you have to pay for other versions to do so).
• Con: The screenshot does get a little "busy" with mulitple versions in view.
• Pro: You can create and store your own personal commentary & study notes.
• Pro: Print capabilities are impressive enough to allow you to create handy-dandy Bible study handouts which is useful for small group leaders/Sunday school lessons/etc.
• Con: No yearly Bible reading plan offered. It's meant to be a Bible "study" tool, so I understand why, but it would still be helpful.

Any of you using this tool? I'd love to hear your feedback too.

Are You Plugged-In?

Can you believe it? 3 blog posts in one day! How will you all have time to comment on all of them?

So I had a really cool opportunity today to be interviewed by The Oklahoman about Lifechurch.tv's online Bible called YouVersion. Apparently someone in the Central Office thinks I'm pretty cool. MUAHAHAHA! Anyway, when the article comes out I'll try to direct you all to it.

But the interview did get me to thinking.....

If you weren't aware, YouVersion is an online Bible created for YOU! The neat thing about it is YOU can add YOUR content to it so OTHERS might benefit from YOUR perspective/wisdom/thoughts. Have you ever read a passage of Scripture that reminded you of a song you heard on the radio, or vice versa? Have you ever watched a movie clip and thought "Geesh, that would be a perfect illustration of Luke 10:18?" In YouVersion, you can attach music or video clips to Scriptures in order to help OTHERS relate to them better. Or, you can simply link a Scripture to another website that expounds upon that particular passage. You can even simply add your own creative thoughts or a poem to communicate to OTHERS how God spoke to your heart through a particular passage. If you haven't checked out YouVersion, I'd encourage you to do so.

What online resources have you found helpful to your spiritual nurturing and growth?

My Top 20 - The Grand Finale!

Ok. I know. By now you're all just ticked off that I kept you hanging this long on my Top 5 of my Top 20. So sorry. It's been a lil' hectic in my neck of the woods lately. I'll probably blog all about it soon enough. But for now....

5. I am a member of one body. (Rom. 12:5)

4. I am inseparable from the love of God. (Rom. 8:38-39)

3. I am more than a conqueror! (Rom. 8:37)

2. I am free from condemnation. (Rom. 8:1)

and the Number One Thing I Am In Christ.......

1. I am dead to sin, but alive to God! (Rom. 6:9-11)

SHOW SOME LOVE!!!!

OK. It's Tuesday, Feb. 26th. Do you know what today is?

It's the date when Pillar's new album is released! So go out and show these fellas some good ol' lovin' and buy their album. Seriously. Stop reading this and GO NOW! Why are you still reading this?

If you're not familiar with them, you can check our their myspace page right here.

When you get it, tell me what you think!

My Top 20

Continuing on.....where is everybody?

10. I am justified by faith. (Gal. 2:16)

9. I am near to God. (Eph. 2:13)

8. I am a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17)

7. I am a reflection of God's glory. (2 Cor. 3:18)

6. I am enabled to stand firm. (2 Cor. 1:21)

Any of these speak to you too?

My Top 20

Whoa! Where'd the week go? Geesh, it just seemed like yesterday when I began my Top 20. Sorry to leave you all hanging like that. Here we go...

15. I am God's handiwork - created by Him intentionally to accomplish good works for Him. (Eph. 2:10)

14. I am raised up and seated with God in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 2:6)

13. I have been tattooed with a seal - the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:13)

12. I have every spiritual blessing at my disposal. (Eph. 1:3)

11. I am a son of God! What do I have to fear? (Gal. 3:26)

Of course, in all of these, so are you! Which one means the most to you right now in this moment of your life?

Got Leeleand?

Random blog time. If you like the band Leeland, you can listen to their new album FOR FREE right here until Feb. 26th. I'm listening to it right now as I type and so far I'm very impressed. Hope you all are too, and you go out and purchase this on the 26th.

Have a blessed Sunday worshipping our AMAZING, INDESCRIBABLE FATHER!

My Top 20

A few years ago I went through a "Preaching for Dummies" class with our campus pastor and several other men in our church. It was a really neat class designed to challenge and sharpen our skills in the area of preaching. One of our first assignments was to spend some time in the Word identifying the "Top 20 Things of who we are in Christ." Here's mine:

20. I have been gifted with eternal life. (Rom. 6:23)
19. I am purposefully set apart by grace. (2 Tim. 1:8-9)
18. I am complete in Christ. (Col. 2:9-15)
17. I am richly cared for. (Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25-34)
16. I am guarded by God's transcendent peace. (Phil. 4:7)

Have you put together a Top 20? Do any of these speak to you so far? How?

U R What U Read #3

Book #3: Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels

I stink at prayer. I'm like an ADD kid in a candy store - unable to focus or concentrate for any length of time. Sometimes I start praying at night right before I fall asleep and find myself waking up saying "Amen." My wife, on the other hand, is a prayer GIANT. She wears me out when we pray together.

This book has helped me tremendously in the prayer department. Bill Hybels is a man I respect for many reasons (and I've never met the man) and this book only served to deepen my regard for him as a Christ follower. This man communes with God. And I want to go there too. Here's a few things I picked up from this book:

• God wants to answer our prayers. (see Luke 18:2-8)
• God is able to answer our prayers.
• Prayer is God's invitation to His children to enter into His presence. You want to hang out with God? Pray!
• People make room in their busy schedules for the things they cherish the most. Jesus made time to pray. Shouldn't we?
• Some prayer requests, no matter how well intentioned, are inappropriate. This is one reason for unanswered prayer.
• Write your prayers down daily in a journal. It helps you focus and helps you see Him move with answered prayers over time.
• Comfort = complacent prayer life. Don't get comfortable in life. Stretch yourself constantly.
• When you pray, it's just as important to listen as it is to speak. Probably more important, actually.

What area(s) do you struggle with in your prayer life? When do you find is the best time for you to pray?

U R What U Read #2

Book #2: The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

Personal holiness. Those words in the Christian circuit have come to mean many things in this day and age. "Holier than thou" to some who've been judged. "Overrated" by those who've become comfortable with compromise. Irregardless of the semantics, Bridges does and exemplary job of reminding us of God's stance on this issue: "Be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

I read this book with my Sunday School classmates my junior year in undergrad, and the lessons I learned still challenge me daily. Here are a few:

• Personal holiness isn't an option for the Christian. God demands it. More importantly, He empowers us to accomplish it as well.
• We are personally responsible for our walk of holiness.
• 3 reasons we struggle with holiness are: 1) Our attitude towards sin is more self-centered than God-centered; and 2) we have misunderstood "living by faith" to mean no effort on our part is required; and 3) we don't take sin seriously enough.
• God, Himself, is holy. Because of this, He HATES sin. No matter how "small" it may be, God HATES sin.
• We are made holy by Christ's sacrifice, therefore we are called to be holy in our daily lives. Our holiness comes solely from Christ, not from our own efforts.
• One of Satan's most effective tactics is to turn the righteous conviction of the Holy Spirit into doubts. For example: "If you were truly a Christian you wouldn't struggle with ________ (insert sinful habit here). Remember than the Holy Spirit brings convictions to spur us on towards righteousness. Satan brings accusations that are meant to demoralize our walk of holiness.
• Because of Christ, we are dead to sin. It's finished in us. Instead, we are now alive to God, united with Him Who strengthens us. Remembering this helps us keep sin from reigning in our mortal bodies.
• Holiness doesn't happen overnight. It's a lifelong journey.

Scripture make it clear we have a personal responsibilty to live a holy life (see 1Peter 1:15-16). What steps have you taken in this journey? What helps you live obediantly to God?

You Are What You Read

This week I'd like to share with all of you some books I've read that have helped shape me as a man, a husband, a friend, a Christian and a tentmaker. I hope, if anything, you'll be inspired to read some or all of these books (if you haven't already) and they will inspire you like they have me.

Book #1: Disciples Are Made Not Born by Walter Henrichsen

This is a must read for any believer who is serious about investing in eternity. In fact, it is a primer of the basics of discipleship. Here's some of the key points I've learned from this amazing book:

• Jesus had a world vision. He expected His disciples to have a world vision too. Christians, if they call themselves as such, must have a world vision. Anything less is un-Christ like.
• Your personal ministry should be productive. Therefore, choose wisely those whom you wish to mentor. They should be able to bear fruit.
• A disciple must count the cost of following Christ. He demands everything. However, the rewards are unmeasurable!
• Every disciple must have a clear understanding of: 1) Who God is; and, 2) who, as a person, he/she is.
• Evangelism is an everyday part of a disciple's life.
• Jesus is calling for disciples today, just as He did 2000 years ago. However, He has no use for
  "Sunday Christians."
• A disciple becomes what you are, not what you say. It's critical you focus on being the kind of person you want your disciple to become. "People learn to follow the Lord by following the Lord's people." (pg. 89)

There are many, many more truths I've learned from this book. I could spend a whole week on this book alone. If you haven't read this, I'd encourage you to do so.

Are there any books you've read on discipleship that have inspired you? What's the hardest part of being a disciple in your mind?