Interactive Sermon

First Glance

As I've been preparing this week to lead our study in God's word tomorrow morning, I've been struck by the itinerant manner of our Lord.  If you take any of the gospels and thumb through them, you will see that story after story begins with a phrase like "Jesus stepped into a boat and crossed the lake" or "When He arrived at", "As Jesus went on from there" or "When He came down from the mountains".

What you won't find is Jesus setting Himself up at a location and assuming that everyone will come to Him.

Tomorrow morning we're going to talk about being followers of Jesus.  Just that term "followers of Jesus" connotes an element of movement, doesn't it? If you would like a first glance at the texts we will be considering, give Matthew chapters 8 and 9 a read - and look for those movement phrases.

Shari and members of the worship band have a great set of songs ready for us in the morning.  I see Lincoln Brewster, David Crowder and Reuben Morgon songs on the list, as well as a song that was written for Christ's Church.  I'll explain in the morning.

I look forward to gathering to worship the Lord together with you!

But My Very Favorite

...might be the post from 2006 that included this video the family and I made one night.  We had our video camera and some time on our hands.  The making of this video still rates up there as one of the most cherished of family fun times.  Rumor has it a follow-up is in the works. 

Here's the link.  Hope you enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Blogiversary

It's Not Me This Time Either

Take my name off the list.  I can confirm this morning that John McCain has decided on someone else to be his running mate.  I hear it was this picture of me that ended my chances.

I am enjoying watching the coverage of all this hype - hardly anyone is talking about Barack Obama's speech last night.  LAST NIGHT!  Instead, every news program this morning is talking about who was seen where carrying an overnight bag aimed at Dayton, Ohio, or where airplanes were seen taking off and landing.  Talk about stealing your way back into the limelight!  And, won't it be marvelous if John McCain's promise to keep the name from leaking works, whereas Barack Obama's promise to keep it secret until he sent his text messages failed? 

Okay, shall I add to the speculation?

Many of the political videos of Fred Thompson that were everywhere on the internet a few weeks ago have mysteriously disappeared.  I'm not kidding.  I had three of them embedded in old Interactive Sermon posts that had their links killed.  Hmmm!

Oh, and has anyone seen J.C. Watts today?

How about Charlie Crist?

By the way, I think Sarah Palin from Alaska is a good choice.  She's a Jesus Freak, you know.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Election 2008,Sarah Palin,John McCain

It's On!

We've received clearance from local authorities.  We've secured the necessary insurance coverage.  We've contracted the scores of security officers and parking assistants for crowd control.  We've procured the big... well, you'll just have to come and see for yourself!

Saturday evening.

August 30th.

6:00pm until ?

Bravo's Pizza & Game Room.

South Street entrance to the Milford Oval.

It is the official Interactive Sermon BLOGIVERSARY PARTY!

And YOU are invited!  Do you understand the magnitude of what I'm saying?  Skee-ball!  Pac-Man!  Pizza!  Come Sunday morning there will only be two kinds of people in this world: Those who were THERE, and those who MISSED OUT.

I hope that you will be one of the former, and not the latter... or is it latter, and not... I hope you can come. 

Another Fav-O-Mine

Thanks for continuing to humor me as I bring back five of my all-time favorite posts in ramping up to this weekend and my BLOGIVERSARY.  This one is real recent - I posted it last week.  I enjoyed writing it.  I enjoyed reading it.  I enjoyed the few comments posted.  I enjoyed the fact that several of you mentioned it to me in conversation.  It's for all those reasons, and for Dad, that it's one of my favorites.

Here's the link.

If you prefer just a sound bite, here it is:

Today I look back on what was probably the darkest day of my life.  25 years ago today my dad passed away.  It occurs to me, however, that he did leave me a fine toolbox.  Not the red metal one, but the flesh-and-blood kind - a tool box for being a husband and father, family member and friend.

Hope you enjoy it.

BLOGIVERSARY party invite will be posted sometime later today.  It's sort of like a Barack Obama, "I'll send you a text message, IM you and post it on my website" thing.  Stay tuned!

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Blogiversary

Waxing Political

Because I am so immensely qualified to talk on the subject (I once spent 5 hours as a Vice Presidential Candidate - got 26 votes, yes I did!), and because I really do enjoy the political drama playing out this week and next, here are a few thoughts from the cheap seats.

First, I think the very best choice John McCain could make for his Veep if he wants to immediately become the center of everyone's attention, even the Liberal media... Hillary Clinton!  No kidding.  I mean, could you imagine the scandal?  Barack would be like... "What happened?"  Hard core conservatives would be loading their guns.  Democrats would be looking at themselves in the mirror.  I'm telling you, that would be fun to watch, no?

Okay, that's just about fun and games.  Who should he really choose?  If it's Romney, he wins Utah.  With Pawlenty, he might win Minnesota.  With Ridge he draws the ire of real conservative Republicans.  With Lieberman, half the Republicans walk out of the convention next week.  A couple dark horses I hear mentioned are Kay Bailey Hutchinson.  I have two words: Geraldine Ferarro.  Then there's Charlie Crist.  Does he help McCain take Florida?  Hmmm.  Finally there's Rudi (the man who only needs one name).  Yes, the real conservatives would shiver, but does Giuliani bring some bounce?  Again, Hmmm.

Oh, I say take Romney and Utah.  I like the thought of Romney debating Biden.  A man with a truckload of eloquence against a man with a truckload of words - fun stuff.

Now here's the real kicker.  You better sit down for this one.  Do you know who I think is working harder than anyone else for John McCain?  William Jefferson Clinton, that's who!  Hear me out.  If Barack becomes your next President, Bill Clinton understands that he and Hillary's days as 'Alpha-dogs' in the Democratic Party have come to an end.  If Barack becomes your next President, Bill Clinton understands that Hillary cannot oppose an incumbent in four years.  And, finally, Bill understands that it will be a lot harder for her in eight years (eight years that the Obamas then have to cement their Alpha-dog party status) to totally eclipse any memories of Hillary.  Hillary goes on, instead of being President, to being the next Ted Kennedy - in other words, the old senator who everyone honors, but no one trusts!  Bill wants Obama to fail, make no mistake on that.  Hillary does too, but she is in this precarious position of having to appear to totally toe the party line for any future hopes, anywhere.  So, let Bill be the bad-boy.  He does that well.  Don't you see it, people?

Try from the other angle.  What if McCain wins?  He's likely to be a one term President because of his age.  And, in four years, Hillary could re-emerge as the front runner - Obama having failed to beat this old man... he becomes like an Al Gore - they like him, but, he's a loser.  And, then Hillary can say "We had eight years of Bush, then four of a second coming of Bush... what we really need is a sharp-dressed chick!"  Aha!  That's making more sense, isn't it.  I'm telling you, the Clintons will be voting McCain when the curtain closes behind them in November.

I say McCain should choose Romney.  In the eyes of the Clintons it doesn't matter.  They'll be voting for him anyway.

So, what do you think?  Am I crazy?  Let's talk politics! 

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Politics,Election 2008,John McCain,Hillary Clinton,Mitt Romney

Two For The Price Of One

This week I am ramping up to the big Blogiversary celebration by sharing, in no particular order, five of my favorite blog posts of all time on Interactive Sermon.  Well, this one is a bit tricky.  With a little slide-of-hand I am going to share two posts and call them one.  I can do it.  It's my blog and I'll make up the rules as I go.  There is a reason that I post these two as one entry that works for my thinking.  I was asked by a nationally known ministry to submit two articles making statements for the sanctity of marriage.  I am rather proud of both of these essays, especially the second.  The national ministry that asked me for them never published them.  I guess they weren't impressed.  Oh well.  I posted them on the blog.  A few people commented.  More than that, they became the basis for many, many great conversations I had with people.  That, by the way, is worth far more to me than the acknowledgment of any nationally known ministry!

The links are here and here.  Hope you enjoy.

For those who want just a sample, here you are:

Leading voices in the fight to legalize same-sex marriage frequently ask the question, ‘Do heterosexual married people have the right to say who can and cannot marry?’
No we don’t.

That snip, by the way, comes from the posting entitled "Same Sex Marriage Makes Sense".  Maybe that's why the nationally known ministry didn't use it, eh?

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Blogging,Blogiversary,Marriage,Same-Sex Marriage

Pictures From The Past

Part of the unexpected blessing of looking back through old Interactive Sermon posts this week for me has been to see some of the funny pictures I've posted and the memories that they resurface.  This one from May 2006 made me laugh.

Aside from Mike and I goofing off, the vivid memories of this event (a skit during the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet) were (1) the fact that it took a full day to get the exhaust fumes aired out of the building, and (2) that as we were exiting the building, Carey S was walking in. If only we'd have captured the priceless look on his face to see us riding a lawn-mower OUT of the church sanctuary.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Blogging,Blogiversary

Another Blast From The Past

Behind the scenes plans are underway for the big BLOGIVERSARY party - as we get together to celebrate three years of Interactive Sermon.  At present, we are checking with the local authorities to be sure our plans will not break any local ordinances and we're consulting with experts on safety measures for a few of our party ideas.  Not to worry, we will unveil the plans and make official invites to one and all, very soon.  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, here is another of my all-time favorite five, or fav-five as we say in blogspeak.  This was a post from October 2006 when we received news of an accident in Namibia.  It's one of my favorites because even as I look back at it today, the story continues to unfold.  This dear man is no longer with us.  But God continues to use the memory of him in many lives, still.  Oh, and the one comment that was left said it all.

This is the link.

If you don't want to revisit the original post, here's a snip for you:

Since we were introduced to Marcus on our first visit to Vyf Rand we recognized him as he came to work each day at Mpampo. On one occasion Marcus shared a bit of his testimony with members of our team. A few years earlier he had received word of an infection that would require the amputation of his leg. He realized that he did not have the money for a prosthesis, and the prospect of caring for a man unable to walk overwhelmed his wife. She left him for another man. He pondered life alone, in his words, "among the ‘thrown away’ people". But then, he met someone who introduced him to Christ. A short while after his surgery, a group of believers came together to help him afford a prosthetic leg. Now, a few years later, he is a land owner, landlord, the manager of Mpampo’s staff for Dieter, and testifying to all of God’s goodness to him.

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon,Blogging,Blogiversary,Death,Heaven

Reflecting: 3 Years

When I first started Interactive Sermon, I included a couple posts a week on NFL happenings during the season and delivered weekly picks as "The Guru".  In the fall of 2006 I began a football blog for the Tampa Tribune/TBOnline called "The Pigskin Preacher".  As such, my football postings shifted off of Interactive Sermon and over to TBOnline.  Reaching back into the archives, one of my favorite posts here was an old football post that involved my wife Shari's input as "Ms. Guru".  It's a favorite of mine because I love her, and it was really cool to have her participate in my blogging endeavors.  The post was entitled, "A Word From The Mrs. - That's Ms. Guru To You!"

Here's the link.

If you don't want to go back and read the whole posting, here's a snip for you:

Things that really matter to the Ms. include football fashion. I think the Cowboys need a makeover. The star on their helmets doesn't make me think of a cowboy, but fairies or something. Why not a spur, rope or a gun? A cow? And what is a Cleveland Brown, and how come their helmets are orange? This all sounds racist to me. I can't believe Jesse Jackson hasn't looked into this.

So there you have one of my top five fav's of all-time. 

What have been some of your favorites?  Or, do you remember any of them?

Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon, Pigskin Preacher, Blogging