This Wednesday evening our senior highers are going to hear an original story written by my friend, Jason Salamun, pastor of Project Church in downtown Rapid City.  If you are not a senior higher and you are “jealous much”, then you should click over to Jason’s new blog and get the FREE e-book for yourself.

As Jason puts it, “White As Snow” is a “simple love story that represents something more profound than my mere words can describe. A tale of pursuit between a Savior and his bride. The beautiful, dangerous, and central message of Jesus.  The gospel.” I can’t wait to share it with you.

Here’s the synopsis from A. J.’s site:

“The Year of Living Biblically answers the question: What if a modern-day American followed every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible. Not just the famous rules – the Ten Commandments and Love Thy Neighbor (though certainly those). But the hundreds of oft-ignored ones: don’t wear clothes of mixed fibers. Grow your beard. Stone adulterers. A.J. Jacobs’experiment is surprising, informative, timely and funny. It is both irreverent and reverent. It seeks to discover what’s good in the Bible and what is maybe not so relevant to 21st century life. And it will make you see the Good Book with new eyes. Thou shalt not put it down.”

That’s the title I’ve given to the message I’m preaching this weekend in “big church”. It’s inspired by a Jay Bakker tribute to Mike Yaconelli that I heard a few year’s back at a Youth Specialties convention… which was, in turn, heavily inspired by one of my favorite books of all time (by Mike Yaconelli) titled, Messy Spirituality. Of course, God has really laid this on my heart, too; I wouldn’t want to leave that inspiration out!

Larry Spousta was talking about it when he was here for Destiny’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, Robert Hagan spoke “supernatural evangelism” into the foundation of our first years at this property, and God spoke through the students hearts prophetically about “reaching out” at the beginning of 2008. So… this is just a “part 2″ to all of that. I’m really pumped to share what God’s been downloading in me…

Anybody else as big a fan of Ted Dekker as I?  I am so looking forward to getting my hands on his newest book, Adam.  I’ve read lots of raving reviews already.  Check out the Adam mini-site.

The book we read for this month was “The Next Generation Leader” by Andy Stanley. A great, if quick, read on the subject. The discussion was so good (mostly on the subject of “competency”) that we never got on to discuss the other four leadership areas that Andy writes about in the book.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE DISCUSSION FROM THIS MORNING:
- a well rounded leader? a false myth…
- everybody should be focussed and functioning in the area that they are most gifted naturally
- find leaders to fill in on areas of your weakness
- when you delegate leadership out, don’t micromanage! (delegating tasks, but not giving them authority)
- casting vision within your culture
- I attribute my ministry success to my senior pastors
- take advantage of leadership freedoms that you have

Next month’s topic is: HOW TO DEVELOP AND SET LEADERS IN PLACE

The book that we’re going to collectively read and discuss at next month’s gathering is “S.H.A.P.E.” by Erik Rees.

What follows is my book and what this supposedly means…

You’re To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you’ve also taken a significant amount of flack. But you’ve had the admirable guts to persevere. There’s a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you, but you’re pretty sure it’s worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.

Okay, so how about you?

ht marko

…but it pales in comparison with this one.  OMG!

Okay, so I know you’re out there… how many of you were avid readers of the Choose Your Own Adventure book series that were popular in the 80′s and 90′s?  Come on!  You can admit it.

Well, I was one of them.   I loved the idea that I controlled my own destiny — whether it be one of good fortune or if fate handed me a death blow, it was determined by which page I decided to turn to… i.e.  “Go to page #36 if you want to enter the cave… Go to page #43 if you want to keep going around the mountain bend…”   Fun stuff!

The next three weeks we are going to let you have control of the rally services.  Last night, you already voted on the message topics, and in the coming weeks, you’ll get to pick the worship songs, ice-breakers, and more!  Stay tuned for what’s up next… YOU DECIDE!

In the meantime, maybe you can catch up on reading some Choose Your Own Adventure books (official site, here) — to re-live the “old-times.” 

I’m reading a great fiction book by Michael Creighton right now called “State of Fear” that mixes in facts and research that argues that global warming is real, but just not something to be all that alarmed about as there are as many positive effects as negative — some say even more positive effects. Since I am not a scientist, I’ll just leave it at that, but it’s pretty convincing. It’s a fun read, too — can’t put it down.

Anyhow, I ran across this old Michael Jackson video today (below) — hmmm… Michael… there’s a whole new topic of discussion! I know everyone thinks Michael’s whack-o, but I still put him up there among some of America’s top entertainers. He’s got a lot of talent. I pray for the guy whenever I think of him. But regardless of what you think, the “Earth Song” is definitely on my list of “Top 10 Green Videos”… LOL!

Wow! This web site and accompanying book / documentary (watch the whole thing below) challenged me. Starving Jesus is all about how the church at large is not feeding the hungry or doing the “work of the gospel”, but seem to be very comfortable in their church’s pew seats. The documentary showcases a couple of guys going around the U.S. while on a 40-day fast, chaining themselves to an old wooden church pew in public places, and encouraging Christians to get outside the walls of their church. Compelling.