Cross Happenings

Tattoos and Business - updated

2012-02-16T12:02:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I got a request to take off a picture from this blog entry posted May 24, 2009 from the lady in the picture. She was misquoted by the NY Post and I certainly and more that willing to do that for her. I checked the NY Post to see the original article and they had removed the picture as well.

This post has been one of the most read in the short history of my blog so I am reposting/editing it without our this dear lady's picture and I am removing any mention of her. The least I can do!

I added a picture of Abby Sciuto from NCIS fame instead!

Below is an article from the NY Post. I was linked to it by Tim Callies. I found it interesting because on the one hand we are told it does not matter what other people think about what we wear or how we look as long as we are not fat. Right?

I have a few rules for my 5 kids that deals with college. I will pay for 8 semesters if you do not break these rules:

Only 8 semesters
If you fail a semester, I not long have to pay for future semesters.
If you get a tattoo, the money is turned off.

The first two I will not defend. Here is my defense of the last one. When you are older and on your own it is your decision and a tattoo will not affect how much I love you or accept you. But I will not have paid for it - you have no $ in college .... And the wisdom that comes at 23 or so is so much more than you have at 18 or 19. When you are out of school you are less influenced by a crowd and you realize some of the truth of this world that is mentioned in the article below. Enjoy the article! Here is another article that talks about the pain & cost of removal.

Abby on NCIS

Here is a newer article worthy of your reading.

Another article from a business consulting firm.

By ANNIE KARNI.

Last updated: 4:01 am

May 24, 2009

Posted: 3:22 am

May 24, 2009

When the Dow is low, the "tramp stamp" has to go.

Dermatologists across the city are reporting a boom in tattoo laser removals, as body-art fanatics fretting over their professional image rush to erase their inky mistakes.

"People can't afford to handicap themselves be cause of a tattoo in a tight job market," said Dr. Jef frey Rand, founder of the Tattoo Removal Cen ter in Midtown. "We're seeing a huge surge right now in people getting rid of their tat toos."

Mobeen Yasin, a graduate student at Mercy Col lege, said the script tattoo of his first name creeping around his neck is a lia bility.

"I can cover it with a collared shirt, but if I turn my head it sticks out," said Yasin, a 22-year-old planning a career in finance or law enforcement. "I used to idolize rappers with tattoos. Now I don't want it to hold me back from getting a job."

One 34-year-old pharmaceutical salesman said the Irish flag and the wizard that decorate his calves were costing him clients.

"I play a lot of golf with doctors, and these tattoos really stand out," said the salesman, who did not want to use his name because he feared losing clients.

"I'm embarrassed. I feel like they judge me, and it's affecting my business."

Now he gets costly laser treatments once a month to expunge the images from his legs.

Erasing a tattoo requires monthly laser blasts, which break up the pigment dye under the skin.

Each painful zap takes about two minutes and costs at least $200 -- and a small tattoo the size of a human chin requires a year of treatments to burn off.

More than 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo, according to an FDA report. At least 25 percent of tattoo-removal clients are erasing the name of an ex from their skin, New York dermatologists said. More than half of their clients are women in their mid-30s.

Dr. Carol O'Brien, owner of Midtown medical center Smooth Laser, said she has personally lasered off about 50,000 tattoos in the past 11 years -- including some of the body art of rapper 50 Cent. Her clients range from doctors and lawyers to former gang members and inmates.

"I have at least 10 tears [scheduled to be removed] right now," said O'Brien, referring to the common gang marking of a teardrop carved beneath the eye.

The tear symbolizes having lost someone to a violent crime or having committed a violent crime, said O'Brien.

Second Player of the Week at Covenant this school year!

2012-01-31T22:56:00.000-05:00

Engbers, Cross Nab Covenant Player Of The Week Honors

Posted January 31, 2012

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Freshman Bryant Engbers and senior Margaret Cross were named Covenant Players of the Week for Jan. 23-28.

Bryant Engbers

It is Engbers’ first time being recognized with this honor. The freshman forward from Sioux Falls, SD had a career night against Piedmont. Engbers scored 24 first half points and 26 for the game in helping the Scots to a 91-78 win. Engbers’ previous career-high in points was 14. He then scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in a 90-81 loss to Rust College. For the week, Engbers averaged 17.5 PPG and 6.0 RPG while shooting 56 percent (14-25) from the floor.

Margaret Cross

For Cross, it is her second time being named player of the week, but only her first in basketball. The senior from Southern Pines, NC was a two-sport star this season when she suited up for the Covenant women’s soccer team. Cross led Covenant in points with 15 in a 63-44 loss at home to Great South member Piedmont. She went 6-of-12 from the field and connected on three 3-pointers while picking up one steal and one rebound. For the season, Cross is the second leading scorer for the Lady Scots at 10.4 PPG while averaging nearly 30 minutes per game.

Click here for a complete list of previous player of the week winners.

Margaret gets her first Player of the Week for Soccer at her college and for the Conference - she has 4 of them for Basketball

2011-10-19T16:26:00.001-04:00

Margaret Cross, Zach Smith Win Covenant Player Of The Week Award

Posted October 19, 2011

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Margaret Cross and Zach Smith have been named Covenant’s most-outstanding players of the week for the week ending October 15. For Cross, it’s the first time in her career to be distinguished in such a way for her efforts on the soccer field. Smith, meanwhile, wins the award for the fourth time this season.

Cross, a senior but first year player for the Lady Scots soccer team, had a hand in both of Covenant’s wins last week. She began the week assisting Kara Lee’s game-winning goal on the road at Piedmont. Prior to Wednesday’s contest, the Lady Lions had swept all conference opponents and boasted an impressive 12-0-1 record. Three days later, Cross scored the game-winner herself just four minutes into the overtime period against LaGrange College. It was her third goal of the season and helped the Lady Scots win-streak climb to five games.

Smith, sophomore runner for the men’s cross country team, led the Scots to a second place team finish at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week. His 8K time of 29:35.76 was good enough for fourth overall in the field of 65 harriers. Smith has now led Covenant in the last four meets.

For the complete list of players of the week, visit the player of the week page.

DECATUR, Ga.- Nearing the end of the fall sports regular season play, the Great South Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards feature first time winners for this season. Erin McKinstry from LaGrange for volleyball, Brian Beckham of Maryville and Margaret Cross of Covenant for men's and women's soccer, respectively. The duo of Beth Burgess and Zach Smith of Covenant round out this week's awards for women's and men's cross country, respectively.

Earning her first volleyball award is McKinstry from LaGrange. She lit up the competition over the past week breaking a school record for assists in a match with 59 versus conference competitor Huntingdon. A few days later, McKinstry exploded with 56 assists against Toccoa Falls in a Panther victory. She currently is second in the GSAC with an average of 7.84 assists per match.

Beckham, reigning men's soccer Conference Player of the Year, is setting himself for a second straight honor with his performance last week. The senior from Knoxville, Tennessee registered the game winning goal in a 3-1 victory over conference foe Huntingdon. Beckham has anchored the Maryville College midfield all year, paving the way for a 2-0 start in GSAC play along with a 9-2-2 mark overall.

On the women's soccer side, Cross nabbed her first Player of the Week award after helping the Lady Scots earn conference wins. She assisted the game-winning goal to take down the undefeated Lady Lions at Piedmont early in the week before scoring the game-winner herself at LaGrange three days later. That goal- her third of the season- came in the fourth minute of overtime and helped the Lady Scots win-streak climb to five games.

Freshman Burress lands herself as the top women's runner of the conference this week after anchoring the Lady Scots cross country team. Burgess finished second overall at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week. The freshman ran the 5K in 21:10.09 (a 6:48.8/mi pace). It's the second time Burgess has led the Lady Scots this season. Covenant finished second as a team for their third straight event.

Winning his third Men's Runner of the Week award, Smith continues to be a crucial asset to Covenant's cross country team. He led the Scots to a second place finish at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week after finishing the race fourth overall. His 8K time of 29:35.76 (5:57.3/mi) was only 45 seconds off the individual race winner.

2011-10-18T05:04:00.000-04:00

Covenant Wins In Overtime

Posted October 17, 2011

LAGRANGE, Ga. -- Saturday afternoon, the Lady Scots soccer team was forced into additional time to determine the winner of the conference match-up against LaGrange College but still found a way to sneak by the Lady Panthers with a 2-1 victory. Senior Margaret Cross scored the game-winner in the 94th minute of play to propel Covenant to its fifth straight win and a 6-6-1 overall record. LaGrange drops to 3-9-1.

Covenant now sits tied with Piedmont College- whose only loss came at the hands of the Lady Scots- for second place in the conference standings at 4-1.

Covenant started the game ready to play as Katelyn Newsome was able to assist Kara Lee to score the first goal in only the second minute of the game. The shot was one of only three taken by the Lady Scots in that half, but with a stout defense that denied LaGrange any first half shots, all seemed to be in control for Covenant.

That changed after the break as LaGrange made some improvements to its attack and started to see progress toward a goal on its end of the pitch. In the 59th minute, Mendi Kallam provided the equalizer on a free kick to knot the score at 1-1.

Covenant took nine second-half shots but never managed to get one by Panther keeper Chelsea Totaro. Totaro finished with four saves.

In overtime, the Lady Scots remembered what they had done to start the game and Cross scored within the first four minutes.

Covenant plays again over fall break on Tuesday against Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Oliver & Callie - Wedding Dance!

2011-08-13T10:56:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Oliver - 24 today!

2011-05-01T20:03:00.000-04:00

Urgent Prayer Request

2011-04-15T05:31:00.000-04:00

Nik Franks is my pastoral intern. last night Lindsay, his wife had an emergency c-section and delivered Pierce at 24 weeks, 1 lb. 8 ounces. Lindsay is doing well but Pierce is obviously is acutely premature and breathing on with a special ventilator. Please pray.

Yesterday I also canvassed 400 homes around Lake Wylie Elementary for our largest outreach so far for Advent Church. We are having a Resurrection Easter Egg hunt. I met a number of kids as they got off their buses and gave them an invite card. At the same time the 5th grade parents are having a huge garage sale in the school parking lot - Pray for many divine appointments. Jessica Coulter, our children's director, will be sharing the resurrection story before the hunt.

Additionally, due to outside support waning, I have started "tent-making", by working at a local Lowe's store 6 AM to 2 PM. This is my third week. Pray for endurance and for the many that have approached me at work to talk about spiritual things. Even the Human Resources lady has given my name to others going through crisis.

I believe God has great pans for Advent Church, but like Pierce we need your prayers. Please pray now!

Check out the blog that Nik and Lindsay are keeping current about Pierce. Link on this page.

Do you trust me?

2011-03-20T06:15:00.000-04:00

A better question - Do we trust God enough to deal with our fears, our sins beneath our sins, to leave our safe places and follow Him?

Margaret gets her Fourth "Player of the Week" award - and a post season award.!

2011-03-16T16:33:00.001-04:00

Margaret Cross And Jessie Blankenship Gather NCCAA Post-Season Honors

Posted March 16, 2011

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- When the Lady Scots basketball team was beaten by King College in the NCCAA Mid-East region tournament last Friday night, Covenant’s 2010-11 campaign ended. The team finished the season with a disappointing 5-21 record, one that most would agree was not at all indicative of what the year was all about. The Lady Scots, under new head coach Corey Mullins, put a lot of time and effort into winning basketball games, time and effort that was not seen in the results. Of Covenant’s 21 defeats, 7 came by 10 or less points. In many of those games, the Lady Scots held a late lead but were unable to finish strong. Other times, the Lady Scots out-played their opponents over the course of 20 minutes but failed to put together two halves.

After Saturday’s championship game, two of the Lady Scots leaders were honored for their commitments and accomplishments this season. Junior guard Margaret Cross and freshman post Jessie Blankenship were announced as beneficiaries of the 2011 NCCAA Mid-East All-Region team.

Margaret Cross

Margaret, or simply “Mo,” earns the award for second team all-region after leading the Lady Scots in outside shooting. She averaged 42.8% from beyond the arc and was ranked #10 in the nation for that percentage at the end of the regular season. Cross added 296 points (11.4 per game) to her career total this season. She currently has 632 points to her name as a member of the Lady Scots basketball program.

“I am so proud of how Mo has led us both on and off the floor,” commented Mullins. “Mo is the right fit for this all-region team, both from a competitive prospective and for her heart for the Lord. Mo has attracted a lot of attention from other teams because she is such a great shooter. She has persevered through this season’s challenges and is very deserving of this award.”

Covenant Players Of The Week: 2010-11, Week 27: Margaret Cross And Taylor Oldham
Posted March 16, 2011

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The week twenty-seven honorees for Covenant’s player of the week award come from the women’s basketball team as well as the men’s baseball team. Margaret Cross, in the Lady Scots final game of the season, scored 14 points, but more impressively, her efforts all year helped her claim a spot on the NCCAA Mid-East All-Region team. Taylor Oldham, representing the male star of the week, wins the award for a big week that included 3 home runs.

Margaret Cross
Cross indeed capped off her stellar season with stellar minutes in the tournament semi-final against King College. She went 5 of 12 from the floor against an opponent that, no doubt, had her at the top of the scouting report. Cross was 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and grabbed 3 rebounds while taking 2 steals. Her season average of 11.4 points per game alongside 42.8% from long range helped her earn second team all-region.

For the complete list of Covenant Players of the Week, go to thePlayer of the Week page.

Definition of Adoption

2011-02-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

My good friend, Jan Sherman, from Albany, GA sent this to me this morning. Never heard this before and it touched me.

Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were
discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture
had a different hair color than the other members. One of her
students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, 'I know all about
Adoption, I was adopted..'
'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked
another child.
'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew
in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'

Best article I have read about the baby left in a toilet in Greenville, SC

2011-02-13T19:06:00.002-05:00

Life and death

35 Comments

Written by JAMIE DEAN

February 9, 2:47 PM

Sometimes the worst headlines aren’t the ones that poorly describe a news story but the ones that plainly describe it. Consider this headline coming out of Greenville, S.C., last Saturday: “Newborn baby found in Bi-Lo Center toilet.”

It’s a terrible headline to absorb because it describes a terrible horror: A pregnant mother walks into an arena bathroom during a performance of Ringling Bros. Circus on a Friday night, delivers a 6-pound baby boy into a toilet, and leaves him to choke and freeze in the cold, dirty water.

Amazingly, a cleaning crew found the baby alive but suffering from hypothermia. The workers administered life-saving aid until paramedics arrived, and doctors upgraded the newborn’s condition from critical to good within five days.

The boy’s mother surrendered to police: Jessica Blackham, 24, is a married mother of a 4-year-old child. Authorities didn’t elaborate on Blackham’s mindset but charged her with two counts of felony child abuse and one count of unlawful neglect toward a child. If a jury convicts her on all charges, Blackham faces up to 50 years in prison.

The story evokes gut-wrenching questions: What kind of evil or desperation could hurl this young mother to the depths of deadly abandonment? Blackham’s need for Christ-centered intervention aimed at repentance, redemption, and restoration is profound. One hopes she’ll somehow encounter gospel-saturated counsel, not merely state-ordered treatment.

A broader question: Why do crimes like these invoke outrage in a country that allows some 1.2 million abortions a year? The Guttmacher Institute reports that 23 percent of abortionists in the United States abort unborn children after 20 weeks, and that 11 percent abort at 24 weeks—both within the range of viability outside the womb.

The difference must be the perception: For many, a baby’s remains discarded in a medical pail are more palatable than a baby left in a toilet, though the deadly intention is the same. Planned Parenthood CEO Jill June, recently complaining about pro-life activists in Iowa, pointed out that only six abortions in the state took place after the 20th week in 2009. Pan back to the Bi-Lo Center: Imagine “only” six babies abandoned in toilets.

Now a deeper question: Why should every man, woman, and child identify with this abandoned baby boy? I spent days trying to avoid the mental image of a shivering infant gasping for breath and wallowing in blood, utterly abandoned and helpless. It was too horrible to contemplate—until I realized that I was just like him.

Consider how God describes His own children in Ezekiel 16:

“And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.”

But the story didn’t end there:

“And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’. . . I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declared the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood and anointed you with oil.”

Here is the reality of being born into sin. Here is every man apart from Christ: helpless, abandoned, and dying. And here is a Father who does not leave His children in a toilet but gives life and cleanses sin in a mysterious way: by leaving His own Son to death, raising Him on our behalf, and adopting us as His own.

Back in Greenville, the Department of Social Services is fielding calls from families asking about adopting the baby boy recovering in the hospital. If his father can’t properly care for him, hopefully a loving family will complete his rescue by folding him into their home.

In his book Adopted for Life, Russell Moore recounts adopting his two sons from their own pit—a squalid orphanage in Russia. On the day he and his wife retrieved the 1-year-old boys from the grim orphanage, he watched them reaching back for the only home they had ever known. The little boys couldn’t imagine the abundant life their parents had planned for them.

Moore says the experience reminded him of his own adoption by a Heavenly Father, and the folly of losing sight of his inheritance in Christ. He says he often remembers his sons’ little hands reaching for the orphanage: “And I see myself there.”

When I think about the baby boy recovering in a Greenville hospital, I like to think about him warmly swaddled in a soft blanket, eating every two hours, and cuddling with kind nurses. But I also can’t help imagining his first hours in that stadium toilet—all that he was apart from a dramatic rescue. And I see myself there.

11 Random things I did not know

2011-02-12T13:57:00.001-05:00

1. Q: Why are many coin banks shaped like pigs?
A: Long ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense
orange clay called 'pygg'. When people saved coins in jars made of
this clay, the jars became known as 'pygg banks.' When an English
potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that resembled a pig.
And it caught on.
2. Q: Did you ever wonder why dimes, quarters and
half dollars have notches, while pennies and nickels do not?
A: The US Mint began putting notches on the edges of coins
containing gold and silver to discourage holders from shaving off
small quantities of the precious metals. Dimes, quarters and half
dollars are notched because they used to contain silver. Pennies and
nickels aren't notched because the metals they contain are not
valuable enough to shave..
3. Q: Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right
while women's clothes have buttons on the left?
A: When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn
primarily by the rich. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids,
dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right. Since most people
are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through
holes on the left.? And that's where women's buttons have remained
since.
4. Q. Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses?

A: In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or
write, documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X
represented an oath to fulfill obligations specified in the
document. The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.

5. Q: Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called
'passing the buck'?
A: In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a
buck, from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to deal.
If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility, he would
'pass the buck' to the next player.
6. Q: Why do people clink their glasses before
drinking a toast?
A: It used to be common for someone to try to kill an enemy by
offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink was
safe, it became customary for a guest to pour a small amount of his
drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it
simultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would then just
touch or clink the host's glass with his own.

7 . Q: Why are people in the public eye said to be
'in the limelight'?
A: Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and stage
lighting by burning a cylinder of lime which produced a brilliant
light. In the theatre, performers on stage 'in the limelight' were
seen by the audience to be the center of attention.
8. Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use 'mayday' as their call for help?
A: This comes from the French word m'aidez - meaning 'help me' --
and is pronounced 'mayday.'
9. Q: Why is someone who is feeling great 'on cloud nine'?
A: Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they
attain, with nine being the highest cloud. If someone is said to be
on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.
10. Q: Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'?
A: In France , where tennis first became popular, a big, round zero
on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which
is French for 'egg.' When tennis was introduced in the US,
Americans pronounced it 'love.'
11. Q: In golf, where did the term 'Caddie' come from?
A. When Mary, later Queen of Scots, went to France as a young girl
(for education & survival), Louis, King of France, learned that she
loved the Scot game 'golf.' So he had the first golf course outside
of Scotland built for her enjoyment. To make sure she was properly
chaperoned (and guarded) while she played, Louis hired cadets from a
military school to accompany her. Mary liked this a lot and when she
returned to Scotland (not a very good idea in the long run), she
took the practice with her. In French, the word cadet is pronounced
'ca-day' and the Scots changed it into 'caddie.'
Now YOU know just about everything !

Margaret gets her Third "Player of the Week" award - proud Dad!

2011-02-02T22:22:00.002-05:00

Covenant Player Of The Week: 2010-11, Week Twenty-One: Margaret Cross

Posted February 2, 2011

Margaret Cross

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The performance by the Lady Scots basketball team during week twenty-one was, simply put, remarkable. Covenant began the week with a loss on the road to Huntingdon College (a loss which dropped its season record to 1-12), but subsequently turned things completely around. During the two game home stand at the end of the week, the team came up with two big wins by way of utter domination. At the forefront of this domination was Margaret Cross, winner of Covenant’s player of the week award for week twenty-one.

Through the first ten weeks of the year, the Lady Scots were all about defense. The team was shutting down opponents and creating great opportunities for the offense but at the same time struggled to ever find a flow on the other end of the court. That struggle ended abruptly on Friday when Cross, with her 12 first half points, seemed to remove the lid from the basket and paved the way for a 48% shooting night for the Lady Scots. The very next day, she dropped 18 in the 73-53 stomping of Salem College.

For the week, Cross shot 11-17 from beyond the arc, a jaw dropping 65%. The junior went 15-31 from the field but most importantly, she added a spark that has since helped the Lady Scots ignite in the second half of the season.

Margaret gets her Second "Player of the Week" award

2011-01-30T19:27:00.000-05:00

Covenant Players Of The Week: 2010, Week Twenty: Sam Bowman And Margaret Cross

Posted January 26, 2011

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The week off due to the irregular snow accumulation a short while ago had compounded life on Lookout Mountain, but things seem to be getting back in order as the men’s and women’s basketball teams resumed their normal schedules at the beginning of last week. As a result, player of the week honors are again set now in full force with a recipient from the male and female sides. Sam Bowman and Margaret Cross, for their performances in the grueling, 5-game week, are the week twenty winners.

Sam Bowman

For the guys, the week meant a pair of games, one on the road against soon to be conference opponent Piedmont College, followed by one at home against visiting Rust College. Sam left little doubt that he was the standout player of the week when he shot 17-25 from the floor, hit a 3-pointer, and added 3 free throws, totaling 38 points for the week. All of this was a lot, but combined with his 20 rebounds which helped him average a double-double, it was quite a week for Sam. “As Sam goes, our whole team goes,” commented Head Coach Kyle Taylor. “It was nice to see him have a good game at Piedmont as he grew up around there, and he had many friends and family looking on. Sam continues to be an unselfish player who makes the best of his opportunities as the defense allows.”

Margaret Cross

On the ladies side, there were three games this week, two of which were against the two leading teams in the Great South Athletic Conference and though neither game was won, there was an offensive bright spot found in Margaret Cross. In her three games this week, Margaret (or simply “Mo”) was 10-29 from the floor, 8-16 from behind the 3 point line, and 5-6 from the free throw line as she accumulated 33 points over the week. The 11 point/ game average was the best on the squad, and her 3-point accuracy has begun to return to where she left off at the end of last year, when she was one of the nation’s leaders. “Having Mo on the floor putting up consistent numbers has been crucial to our offensive scheme this past week, and I look forward to seeing her gain confidence as the season continues on,” commented assistant coach Matt Duble.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday - Jan. 23, 2011

2011-01-19T21:02:00.000-05:00

The following is written by a friend of mine about a Sanctity of Life Sunday at Sandhills Presbyterian Church when I pastored there. I remember that day very well!

Sanctity of Life

By Steve Crain, January 19, 2011

“When I was in Teen Challenge, as a student, I dealt with my drug abuse and my addiction to alcohol, but God showed me one day that he wanted to deal with a part of my life I was so afraid to turn over to him,” said Debby DiBianca, as she spoke about three abortions she experienced.

DiBianca gave this “testimony” to an audience at Sandhills Presbyterian Church (PCA), Southern Pines, N.C., on Jan. 24, 2004. Her husband Sal DiBianca serves as director of Sandhills Teen Challenge (TC), a Carthage, N.C., drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that is part of Teen Challenge, a ministry founded by the Rev. David Wilkerson, whose work with N.Y City gang members is reported in the book “The Cross and the Switchblade.” The DiBiancas graduated from TC and became leaders in that organization.

“This isn’t easy for me to share,” DiBianca said. “I want everyone just to think I’m the great mom that Jamie and Brandon need.” (Sal and Debby’s children, Jamie and Brandon, were teenagers at the time she gave this testimony.)

DiBianca said God wanted her to forgive herself for three abortions she experienced, but she kept pushing the problem aside.

“I gave my virginity to Sal when I was 15 years old,” said DiBianca, who became pregnant and underwent an abortion. “I found myself, again, at the age of 16, in the same line at Planned Parenthood, getting my second abortion…When I was a senior in high school, I was in the same line, signing for them to rip out my third baby.”

DiBianca, who said her operations cause ongoing physical problems and pain, became a Christian.

“From the day I accepted Christ, until our wedding day, Sal and I were abstinent,” DiBianca said.

After graduating from Teen Challenge and serving as TC leaders, the DiBiancas moved to Moore County, N.C., to work with Sandhills Teen Challenge in the late 1980s. They received invitations to speak on moral issues in public high schools. When a friend asked Debbie to speak about her abortion experiences, she hesitated but decided to overcome her anxiety and guilt.

“I walked out (on the stage) at Pinecrest High School in 1989 on a Friday in January and told 1350 kids about the damage these abortions did,” she said. “Six girls cancelled their abortions that were scheduled for the next day in Fayetteville (N.C.).”

DiBianca said her faith in Christ helped her handle life’s pressures, but that some days weren’t easy.

“I wanted to kill myself, sometimes,” she said. “Not just because of the three aborted babies, but because of the damage those abortions did. Sal and I have eight babies in heaven. I’ve lost five babies because they got attached to the unhealthy part of my uterus.”

DiBianca expressed happiness about being the mother of her daughter Jamie and her son Brandon.

“I’m an over-protective mom,” she said. “I’m afraid the enemy is going to come and snatch them, again. So, I still have these issues in my life. But I’m so glad I let Jesus come into that part of my life and deal with it. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has forgiven me. And, yet, I had to forgive myself…I turned my life over to Christ, 100 percent…He’s so faithful.”

DiBianca concluded and the Rev. Steve Hill, then serving as the assistant pastor at Sandhills PCA, spoke to the audience.

“I don’t want anybody leaving this place feeling condemned,” Hill said. “In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, ‘Come to me.’ If you’re carrying that guilt, if you’re carrying that shame, like Debby was, Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.’”

Hill said Satan continues accusing and condemning in order to keep a person from being able to “go ahead” with a future.

“Jesus will let you rest,” Hill said. “He’s not mad at you. Debby’s identity is not ‘murderer’ but ‘blood-washed, forgiven, child of God.’”

Hill said, “Whether you’re a Christian or not, you’re made in the image of the God of the universe.” He read from Genesis 9 and said God will demand an accounting for murder. “When you destroy the image of God, you’re going to have to deal with him. Death dishonors the image of God.”

Hill read Jeremiah 1:5. In that verse, Jeremiah said God spoke to him, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”

“Children,” Hill said to younger audience members, “your parents loved you the minute they set eyes on you…but God loved you before that, before you had a name, before you had a thought.”

Some interesting info - Missions

2011-01-12T12:53:00.000-05:00

Some interesting information, especially when we think of our task of being ambassadors of Christ to the growing population!

Got this from here.

Great Quote from a Pastor!

2011-01-12T12:27:00.000-05:00

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." —C.H. Spurgeon

White Christmas!

2010-12-26T16:56:00.000-05:00

December 26, 2010

2010-12-26T16:49:00.000-05:00

Margaret gets her first "Player of the Week" award

2010-12-08T19:11:00.003-05:00

Covenant Players Of The Week: 2010,
Week Fourteen: Sam Bowman And Margaret Cross
Posted December 8, 2010
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant College athletics scene has

dwindled down to one remaining sport for the fall, 2010 semester; basketball. Thus, it is only appropriate that this week's players of the week come from the men's and women's basketball teams in the form of juniors Sam Bowman and Margaret Cross.
Bowman receives the honor after his stellar performance on the road at LaGrange College helped the Scots down the Panthers for their first win of the season. Bowman posted a game-high 23 points and a team-high 14 rebounds in the 56-48 winning effort, while also contributing with two blocks and a steal. In the Scots second game that week, Sam contributed in all aspects of the game with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

On the same night, the Lady Scots Margaret Cross also turned in a solid performance against LaGrange. Although it was in a losing effort, her 20 points led all players and helped Covenant take a 34-33 lead into the half. She also posted two assists and a steal in the game.

Sam Bowman
Margaret Cross

Don't like Duke - but this is cool! This one is for you Margaret!!

2010-11-16T09:57:00.002-05:00

Thought for Young Men - J.C. Ryle

2010-11-16T09:35:00.002-05:00

5 Dangers For Young Men

15NOV

1. Pride

“Young men, do not be too confident in your own judgment. Stop being so sure that you are always right, and others wrong. Don’t trust your own opinion, when you find it contrary to that of older men, and especially to that of your own parents. Age gives experience, and therefore deserves respect. “

2. Love of Pleasure

“Youth is the time when our passions are strongest—and like unruly children, cry most loudly for indulgence. Youth is the time when we have generally our most health and strength: death seems far away, and to enjoy ourselves in this life seems to be everything… ‘I serve lusts and pleasures’, that is the true answer many a young man should give, if asked, ‘Whose servant are you?’”

3. Thoughtlessness

“Not thinking is one simple reason why thousands of souls are thrown away forever into the Lake of Fire. Men will not consider, will not look ahead, will not look around them, will not reflect on the end of their present course, and the sure consequences of their present days, and wake up to find they are damned for a lack of thinking. Young men, none are in more danger of this than yourselves. You know little of the perils around you, and so you are careless how you walk. You hate the trouble of serious, quiet thinking, and so you make wrong decisions and bring upon yourselves much sorrow.”

4. Contempt of Religion

“This also is one of your special dangers. I always observe that none pay so little outward respect to Christianity as young men. None take so little part in our services, when they are present at them—use Bibles so little—sing so little—listen to preaching so little. None are so generally absent at prayer meetings, Bible Studies, and all other weekday helps to the soul. Young men seem to think they do not need these things—they may be good for women and old men, but not for them. They appear ashamed of seeming to care about their souls: one would almost fancy they considered it a disgrace to go to heaven at all.”

5. Fear of Man’s Opinion

“It is terrible to observe the power which the fear of man has over most minds, and especially over the minds of the young. Few seem to have any opinions of their own, or to think for themselves. Like dead fish, they go with the stream and tide. What others think is right, they think is right; and what others call wrong, they call wrong too. There are not many original thinkers in the world. Most men are like sheep, they follow a leader. If it was the fashion of the day to be Roman Catholics, they would be Roman Catholics, if it was to be Islamic, they would be Islamic. They dread the idea of going against the current of the times. In a word, the opinion of the day becomes their religion, their creed, their Bible, and their God.”

~ J.C. Ryle

Thoughts For Young Men, [Moscow, ID: Charles Nolan Publishing, 2002], 18-31.

Great Half-time preformance

2010-11-10T13:32:00.000-05:00

This was at the halftime of a Navy Basketball game.

Pay special note to the gradual response of the audience.

Click on the site below.

>target="_blank">http://blip.TV/play/Ae+9MJOSSA

Read this blog today - gas prices over the last 5 years

2010-11-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

An Average Family’s Gas Prices

8112010

Update: Welcome Challies People! Care to subscribe? You know how.

As I’ve noted before, I like to keep track of things. Several years ago I started logging all of our family’s gas purchases. I’m pretty sure I’m the first person to ever think of doing that. In the history of the world.

In any case, I thought you might be interested in seeing the cost per gallon for a typical family living. We live in the Northern Suburbs of the Twin Cities of Minnesota. This for the past five years (starting Nov 2005).

And if you want to see the Excel File Behind The Data . . .

So . . . do you remember those beautiful days in the fall of 2008?

Rebekah - My Cheerleader!

2010-11-01T14:08:00.000-04:00

Competition at Nations Ford HS 10 30 2010.

Cheer Dad is new for me - but it is fun. Proud Dad!

Margaret is starting a new season soon!

2010-10-31T22:21:00.000-04:00

Mountaintop MADNESS

BY PETER WILKERSON

On Friday night, students gathered in Barnes Gym to witness Mountaintop Madness, Covenant’s spin-off of the nationwide, college basketball extravaganza otherwise known as Midnight Madness. And, even though Covenant’s version of the event was not held at midnight, plenty of excited fans, players, and coaches still turned out to witness the Scots tip-off the 2010-2011 basketball season.

To start, both the men’s and women’s teams were introduced to the student body. After the formalities were over, the teams held inner-squad scrimmages that showcased and previewed the talented players who will be balling it up on the court this year. After the scrimmages, the night was then capped off by the three-pointer and dunk contests.

The three-pointer contest was won by junior Margaret Cross, who proved that she will once again be a threat from beyond the arc in the upcoming season. And while dunk contests and Covenant College are not usually mentioned in the same breath, juniors Sam Bowman and Chase Foster’s thrilling throw-downs proved otherwise.

For the first round dunk, Foster threw a perfect “alley-oop” over the backboard to the 6’7” Bowman to promptly slam home. The jam was good enough to put them in the final, where the dynamic duo then wasted no time in taking it to the next level. Bowman threw the ball off the glass to Foster, who then headed the ball out of the air and back into Bowman’s hands for the winning dunk.

With the initial excitement of the contests and scrimmages now behind them, the squads will resume focus on the upcoming seasons. The Lady Scots will begin this season with a young team and a new leader in Head Coach Corey Mullins. Coach Mullins was hired this past summer, and has worked tirelessly to prepare the Lady Scots for the upcoming season. With the graduation of All-American forward Erika Forland and the departure of former coach Tami Smialek, the Lady Scots will now rely heavily on Mullins and juniors Cross and Hannah Craft for leadership and scoring this year.

On the other side of the court, the men’s team will strive to improve greatly upon last year’s three win campaign. Coach Taylor and the 11 new players he brought in last season now have a year’s experience under their belts, and should be much stronger this year. Having lost only one senior, the Scots returned every key contributor from last year’s team and added some new faces that will be looking to make an impact. Junior forward Sam Bowman will once again dominate the blocks this year, and sophomore wings Callum Sears and Damien Chaney will look to improve upon their stellar freshman years. The Scots will be extremely young again, but with a year of experience under their belts, they can only improve. And if the dunk contests, three-point showdowns, and intense scrimmages were a sign of things to come, Covenant basketball fans could be in for an exciting 2010-2011 season.

Backyard Deer Season

2010-10-31T14:48:00.001-04:00

This was cute - a friend sent it to me - take it will a grain of salt.

2010-10-26T19:44:00.002-04:00

Twas the night before elections

And all through the town

Tempers were flaring

Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe

With a cat in my lap

Had cut off the TV

Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden

There arose such a noise

I peered out of my window

Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet

They wanted my pay

To give to the others

Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money

And quick as a wink

Jumped back on his bandwagon

As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen

Who were pulling his cart

I could tell they were out

To tear my country apart!

'On Fannie, on Freddie,

On Biden and Ayers!

On Acorn, On Pelosi'

He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause

And as he flew out of sight

I heard him laugh at the nation

Who wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think

On this one final note-

IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM

GET OUT AND VOTE!

Hunting season is soon!

2010-08-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

This is an eight point! There was a six point in the woods but I could not get a good picture of it for you!

Recent Sermon at Harbor Church

2010-07-06T18:15:00.001-04:00

Next week, July 11 2010, Harbor Church will host a pastoral candidate that the pulpit committee is excited about presenting. Pray for this very important decision to be made by the congregation. With that in mind I preached this sermon from Jonah. You can listen, download or watch the sermon.

The picture is from my phone as I looked out my bedroom window one morning last week. Do you see them both? Maybe we should call it a deer feeder rather than a bird feeder!

Running High School Graduates and a Chasing Gracious God

2010-05-24T17:11:00.000-04:00

Last week I spoke at my daughter’s Senior Chapel. As a Pastor, speaking to Christian School audience, you would think the talk would be on making a great impact on the world with great the Christian education they acquired. Not this time. Using the Biblical book of Jonah, the theme was “Running from God!” Why? The statistics below say that, of the 45 seniors in the 2010 class at least 30 will run from God over the next months and years of college.

Here are some of the findings cited by the Youth Transition Network (YTN), a coalition of some of the nation’s largest denominations and ministries that are working together to help reduce the dramatic loss of youth from the church:

“An Assemblies of God study showed a loss of 66% of their students within one year of high school graduation.” 
“A Southern Baptist transition project estimates an 82% loss of youth within one year of high school graduation.” 
“Fifty to eighty percent of high school students walk away.” 

These are staggering statistics if your child is graduating this year. My concern is Karen, she graduates in late May.

What does Jonah have to say about this crisis?

There are 2 basic reasons anyone runs from God – even prophets like Jonah, Christian young people or even you. They really think that God has a propensity to give us less than the best, and that the world has so much more to offer them. The second reason is that we know what God wants from us and we are unwilling to follow his lead. So the desire is to leave God is the rearview mirror on the way to college.

The problem with that strategy is that you cannot run from God. He loves you so much, He will pursue you!

When you run there are some common characteristics:

You never run to safety but to dangerous, self-destructive places. The Jews were landlubbers. For a Jew to get on a ship for ANY reason was serious business. But think about it – as Jonah later said, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." What sense does it make to get in a dangerous boat?

Jonah – don’t get on a boat! (Have you said things like that to friends? You are doing what? Seeing who? Marrying who? NO WAY – DON’T DO THAT!)

Secondly, when you run from God everything seems great at first, but eventually your life tends to unravel. One common result is the tendency to make the worst relational decisions of your life.

I told the senior class to make sure not to marry anyone while running from God – a serious mistake. Someone needed to tell them!

Thirdly, you always hurt the ones who care the most for you, when you run.

The great news for those that truly know the God who made the sea and land is that you cannot win a race with Him. He always pursues. Running and chasing are synonymous with sin and grace. God is gracious to pursue!

The senior class loved the story I told about how Karen responded to spankings. She was unique compared to our other 4 children. She would fight it, making it much worst for her. Why would parents inflict pain in the form of a spanking or grounding? Good parents know that rebellion and pain must always be linked, even if there is a quick repentance. I think Jonah repented when he saw the big fish but there was still the first 3-day submarine ride he had to endure. The reality for our Christian children, when the parents are not there, is God will link rebellion with pain and it will always bring a result of repentance, because if they are truly one of God’s children, He will not let them go. They will come back, maybe with a limp, or tattoos, or grandchildren. Even if 75% of High School seniors run from God, 100% of His children will come back. They will come back and God will run to them. (see John 15 in the Bible) Parents be ready to run to them too!

Pictures from this weekend

2010-05-11T12:53:00.000-04:00

Great Article about Young People and Church

2010-04-28T15:08:00.002-04:00

Read it here.

Inviting People to Church - an hilarious video

2010-03-10T14:32:00.000-05:00

Check this out.

Check out the Revamped Advent Website!

2010-03-04T10:32:00.000-05:00

www.adventchurch.net

One of our members took our website from mid-90's motif to a more modern look!

Let me know what you think.

There are a number of things we have yet to put on the site so check it often and pray as we launch our Mission Church on the 28th of this month (Palm Sunday) at 6:30 PM in the Southwest Middle School cafeteria!

Should you join a Church?

2010-03-01T11:10:00.003-05:00

Last night when the core group of Advent Mission Church was meeting someone asked a very important question, "Why join a church? Can't you just go?"

There was a number of good answers given. One great point is made in
the short article below that I kept in my files for such a time as
this! Read it and let me know what you think!

I sent this an a e-mail this morning to the group and thought my blogger friends would like it too!

John Stott on Church Membership

by Thabiti Anyabwile

Last night I began reading through John Stott's The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor. A dear member of the church gave me an autographed copy after a visit to London and All Souls where Stott served for so many years.

After reading the preface and the first chapter, I'm a little saddened that I've left this book unread for so long. It's vintage Stott-- relentlessly clear and biblically centered. In the opening chapter, he spelled out a couple assumptions undergirding the book, assumptions pertinent for recent discussions here on the blog.

Stott writes:

First, I am assuming that we are all committed to the church. We are not only Christian people; we are also church people. We are not only committed to Christ, we are also committed to the body of Christ. At least I hope so. I trust that none of my readers is that grotesque anomaly, an unchurched Christian. The New Testament knows nothing of such a person. For the church lies at the very centre of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God's new community. For his purpose, conceived in a past eternity, being worked out in history, and to be perfected in a future eternity, is not just to save isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to build his church, that is, to call out of the world a people for his own glory. ... So then, the reason we are committed to the church is that God is so committed.

A little later, Stott meditates on Acts 2:47 and the hints there of the early church's commitment to evangelism. Acts 2:47 reads, "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." One of the truths Stott directs us to is:

The Lord did two things together. He 'added to their number... those who were being saved.' He didn't add them to the church without saving them, and he didn't save them without adding them to the church. Salvation and church membership went together; they still do.

In our day, we unfortunately have broken apart what the early church seemed to view as a natural, necessary, and seamless chain of events: gospel preaching and evangelism, leading to conversion and baptism, leading to church membership and communion. It's difficult to imagine that Paul or Peter or John could conceive of something called a 'Christian' that was not a baptized, communing member of the church.
I think Stott is absolute correct when he refers to such creatures as a "grotesque anomaly." Part of what is critical to healthy community in the church is the conceptual and temporal tightening of the events
in this chain. The clearer these things are (the gospel, conversion, the practice and meaning of baptism, church membership and the privilege of communion) and the more joined together they are in practice the stronger will be the ties that bind the church. Loosen these and you unravel the church.

Two of my favorite joke topics - blondes and cats

2010-03-01T11:06:00.000-05:00

Look closely - Blondes will not get this one!

Next Great Fridge Magnet!

Interesting Factoid

2010-02-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

Youth and Anxiety

2010-02-03T19:36:00.000-05:00

Preaching the Gospel to myself and Harbor Church

2010-01-19T09:44:00.000-05:00

In early December I started something new in my life. I am an interim pastor as well as a church planter. Presently, the launch group/core group/Advent Mission Church meets on Sunday nights at 5 PM in my home. Thus, my Sunday mornings have been used to speak in other churches and visit the Steele Creek Churches in the SW portion of Charlotte.

I was approached by my good friend Bill Heard, former pastor of Harbor Church, if I was willing to preach and help lead the church he founded 14 years ago -- not as a full-time pastor but as an interim.

What is an interim - I don't really know. What I do is preach every Sunday and I chair the elders meetings every month. I don't know how to care part time, or lead part time. I do like the freedom to talk about what I see as an outsider -- but who wants to be an outsider. I have never really held back saying what I see anywhere I have ever been. So I don't know what an interim pastor is but I do know what I want it to be.

I want to affirm the ministry that has been done in the past. I lot of blood sweat and tears - long nights, many prayers, joys and heart aches.

I want to be used to help prepare this church for the future - not just another pastor to move into town but for what God wants to do in Mooresville.

I am asking God to teach me, mold me and prepare me too. I desire God to grow the church and to grow me in the process.

If you would like to listen to the sermons I preach you can link to the church using my blog list. They have a poor camera that shows me with little hair but you will recognize the voice. I am presently preaching through the letter of James.

Prayer for 2010

2010-01-12T09:01:00.003-05:00

I read the following on the blog of a fellow PCA pastor, it ministered to my soul and I hope you find in helpful too!

Scotty Smith, Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship at Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee, wrote this gospel-soaked prayer that he wrote early on January 1st after reflecting on Joshua 24:14-15:

Most gracious Father, I’m sitting here sipping fresh coffee watching flames dance in the fireplace, early into the first day of the New Year, and I’m a most humbled and grateful man.

How I praise you that I’ve begun this New Year with a little better understanding of the gospel than I had last year… and the previous years. I’m already praying that I can say the same thing this time next year. For in the gospel you’ve given me everything I need for living… and for dying.

I respond to Joshua’s bold charge to the Israelites, not with a list of New Year’s resolutions about me and what I’m gonna do this year for you. Rather, I begin this year resolving to abandon myself more fully to everything Jesus has already accomplished for me… to the specific things he intends to do in me… and to the ways he purposes to live his life and mission through me. He is the promise keeper, not me.

Dear Father, that’s why serving you is much more than merely “desirable.” It’s the greatest privilege possible… the most honored calling conceivable… the purest delight imaginable! For Jesus is my Joshua—the one by which you have already saved me… and are presently saving me… and, one Day, will completely save me. With no sense of embarrassment or cliché, I gladly say, JESUS SAVES!

Knowing you by grace and being known by you in Jesus, makes throwing away my idols less like a painful sacrifice, and more like a liberating dance. For all my “empty nothings” have ever given me is momentary pleasure, along with lasting disaster. Remind me of this all year long when I lose “gospel-sanity,” and am tempted to think otherwise…

So my humble prayer and earnest longing for this New Year is this… for me, my family, and the household of faith of which you have made me a part… that we will consider our lives worth nothing to us, if only we may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given us—the task of testifying (by word and deed) to the gospel of your grace. (Acts 20:24).

So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus name, with great anticipation and much thanksgiving.

A Bible Scholar has predicted the rapture of the church for 2010

2010-01-06T12:49:00.004-05:00

Do NOT BELIEVE IT! You can read more here.

Here is some of his reasoning:

The number 5, Camping concluded, equals "atonement." Ten is "completeness." Seventeen means "heaven." Camping patiently explained how he reached his conclusion for May 21, 2011.

"Christ hung on the cross April 1, 33 A.D.," he began. "Now go to April 1 of 2011 A.D., and that's 1,978 years."

Camping then multiplied 1,978 by 365.2422 days - the number of days in each solar year, not to be confused with a calendar year.

Next, Camping noted that April 1 to May 21 encompasses 51 days. Add 51 to the sum of previous multiplication total, and it equals 722,500.

Camping realized that (5 x 10 x 17) x (5 x 10 x 17) = 722,500.

Or put into words: (Atonement x Completeness x Heaven), squared.

"Five times 10 times 17 is telling you a story," Camping said. "It's the story from the time Christ made payment for your sins until you're completely saved.

"I tell ya, I just about fell off my chair when I realized that," Camping said.

It is better if you simply live in light of the truth that God keeps his promises and we have a mission until He return. Let's be diligent to do what He has called us to!

I remember his teaching way back in 1988 - he was wrong then too!

Question for you & me for 2010

2010-01-02T23:16:00.003-05:00

Copied from Don Whitney

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year or On Your Birthday

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.

If you've found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year.

So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

We the People

2009-12-30T14:12:00.000-05:00

I know my wife will love this one!

Nobel Peace Prize

2009-12-22T14:12:00.000-05:00

Me Be Gone Video

2009-12-16T20:49:00.002-05:00

Ed Stetzer shared this on his blog from the drama team of Two Rivers Church! Enjoy

ME BE GONE from Two Rivers on Vimeo.

Alabama has a Heisman Trophy Winner!

2009-12-13T07:34:00.005-05:00

As an Alabama fan this makes me happy - but not as happy as tonight Margaret played basketball against Piedmont College and was perfect from the field shooting. At one point in the game she came in with the team behind by three and immediately scored five points to put Covenant ahead for good - a very important five points. She ended the game as the high scorer despite not starting the game.

She was 3 for 3 from behind the arc, 1 for 1 from 2 pt. range, and 2 for 2 from the line in a low scoring contest for a total of 13 points.

Ok so I am a proud Dad - what can I say!

New Motivational Poster

2009-12-10T09:41:00.002-05:00

Sent to me by my Tall Son, Michael!

Quick Quote

2009-12-03T09:30:00.001-05:00

People never change until the pain of staying the same grows greater than the pain of change. Ed Stetzer

As a Dad of 4 girls

2009-12-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

Which one of these do you know the most about: Black Friday or Advent?

2009-11-25T01:56:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday I offered to send to our group a short article they could use to send to friends about what the Advent season is about and to introduce our church plant. Use is if you like.

Which one of these do you know the most about: Black Friday or Advent?

My guess is that you know more about Black Friday. Let me tell you something you do not know about this upcoming Friday. It occurs on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and it's one of the major shopping days of the year in the United States, falling anywhere between the 23^rd and 29^th of November. While it's not recognized as an official US holiday, many employees have the day off – except those working in retail, of course! In the 1960's, police in Philadelphia griped about the congested streets, clogged with motorists and pedestrians, calling it “Black Friday.” It also has a financial connotation. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit.

My personal goal is to never have to go shopping on Black Friday – but I am a guy. But what about Advent? I am a pastor and a church planter. The name of the new church is Advent. Let me tell you a little about what Advent means because this Sunday is the first of four Sundays called the Sundays of Advent.

"Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "visit" or "coming" or "arrival." The four week season of Advent is a time to get ready for the two "visits" of Christ: His first coming through the Incarnation, and His second coming as the reigning Lord. It's a time of waiting, hoping, and getting in touch with our need for a Savior. It's a season of preparation for Christmas, much as Lent is a season of preparation for Easter.

In Advent we look back to the experience of Israelites as they yearned for God to forgive their sin and restore their nation. We put ourselves in their shoes as they hoped for the coming of the Messiah. Thus we ready our hearts to celebrate the good news of Christmas.

No doubt you will see one of the many versions of the classic story, Christmas Carol. This story reminds me of the power of being forced to reflect on the past, present and future. Scrooge is remembered for his coldness but ultimately for the reverse direction he took when confronted with the future as well as misspent past. Tiny Tim has a future because Scrooge looked to the past and repented! I want to be like Scrooge – someone who is willing to repent and also live in light of a hopeful future – that is what Advent is all about. Look back, look forward and have hope because there really is a Savior!

So as you look at your budget before you leave for “Black Friday”, look at you soul during the next four weeks of Advent and see if you have the hope that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give! And if you would like to find out more about that hope and joy you are invited to be a part of the new church we are calling Advent – a joyful, preparing people that are learning how to party!

Until the Trump,

Ken Cross
Church Planter

I know where you can send your holiday giving!

2009-11-20T09:01:00.002-05:00

Very 'interesting article! Ken

Holiday Giving

According to new study results soon to be released from Harris Interactive^®, more than three out of four U.S. adults would prefer to receive a meaningful gift this holiday season that would help someone else instead of a traditional gift like clothing or electronics. The study was commissioned by World Vision^® among 1,001 adults from October 29 to November 1.

The new survey on charitable giving also concluded that nearly half of U.S. adults (49%) would be more likely to give a "charitable gift" as a holiday present this year. "That finding reveals our charitable culture at work," said Justin Greeves, senior vice president of public affairs and policy research at Harris Interactive.

Additionally, the study showed that, this year, around six out of ten adults (57%) said they will spend less money on holiday presents and almost three out of four (74%) plan to increase their charitable giving once the economy improves. [ChristianPost.com]

As many of you know I am a church planter in Charlotte, NC. Our goal is to have our first public worship service on Palm Sunday, almost 5 months away and there is so much to be done. One vital element of this is the need to raise $50,000 for start up cost (sound equipment, chairs, nursery equipment...). If you would like to give one time gifts to this effort you can send checks made out to Advent Church to our treasurer:

Ben Coulter

4008 Cedar Point Ave

Matthews NC 28104

Margaret had 6 3's!

2009-11-19T08:38:00.003-05:00

Lady Scots Rally From Behind But Come Up Short Against
Tennessee Wesleyan
November 18, 2009 - 21:46 — covstaff

Lookout Mountain, GA- In their first home game of the 2009-2010 season, the Lady Scots overcame an 18 point half-time deficit and took the lead over Tennessee Wesleyan with just over 5 minutes remaining. Sophomore guard Margaret Cross fueled part of the comeback with several clutch threes, one of which gave Covenant their first lead since early in the first half. Cross finished with a team high 18 points in her 24 minutes of play. Covenant's second half lead, however, was short lived as the Lady Bulldogs surged back in front on their succeeding possession and kept the lead for the remainder of the game.
"We responded well to our half-time adjustments" said Coach Smialek after the game. "Overall, the team played very hard and is continuing to improve. I'm confident that it will all come together soon." Covenant post player Erika Forland recorded her second double-double in as many games with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Brinkley Knowles added 17 points of her own.
The Lady Scots are now 0-2 on the year and will travel to Atlanta, GA this weekend for a small tournament at Emory University. Their next ho scheduled me game isfor Wednesday, December 2 at 5:30 against former rival Bryan College.

I love it when people predict that Alabama will beat Auburn!

2009-11-18T23:46:00.002-05:00

Where is your Cell Phone

2009-11-18T12:12:00.003-05:00

The following stat reminds me of Margaret who goes to bed with her cell phone. Rebekah has Lynn cell phone most of the time. She stayed at the lake last weekend rather than coming with me as she had planned because she could not take Lynn's cell phone with her. I am still trying to figure all of this out and what is good and what is obsession with being available. It is a need to feel important that someone is thinking of you so they call you?

{I know there is safety issues especially for girls but this goes way beyond that!}

If Mom's are lonely

2009-11-11T17:24:00.003-05:00

More from my reading - this makes me think that if Christians are making friends, our friends will come to know the one a friend "closer that a brother".

Moms are More Lonely These Days

With the frenzied pace of today's moms, many women find friendships and relationships often fall to the wayside. With just 19% living in the community where they grew up, moms desperately seek new connections and they struggle: 58% report experiencing loneliness in the past month, and 4 out of 5 need more friends in their lives.

Engage Moms, 10/21/09

Singleness and the poor economy

2009-11-11T10:22:00.002-05:00

This strike closer to home as Oliver is soon to graduate college and shortly after that Margaret too.

Cohabitation - Living together without the benefit of Marriage

2009-11-10T21:46:00.001-05:00

Thought you might want to read about a rapidly increasing portion of our society. Ken

EdStetzer.com

Cohabitation Study

Posted: 10 Nov 2009 02:58 AM PST

Remember that Bon Jovi song from the late 80s, "Living in Sin?"

Well, I'm guessing half of you do.

It's about "love" justifying living together as a married couple, without a marriage covenant.

The song shouts, "I call it love, they call it living in sin!"

Remember? Rock ballad, black and white video?

Anyway, people are still talking about it and more people are living together today than they were back in the 1980s. At LifeWay Research, we wanted to know more.

In June of 2008 (and September 2007), we conducted related surveys (thankfully, not about Bon Jovi) for a recent book on parenting, The Parent Adventure: Preparing Your Children For a Lifetime With God, by Selma & Rodney Wilson and Scott McConnell.

In our study, we found that 6% of all parents with children under 18 years of age in their home are living with a partner to whom they are not married.

To give this some context, we first determined that 69% of all parents are married and 31% are single. We asked these single parents the following question:

Which of the following best describes you today?

you are the only adult in your household (18% of all parents; 58% of single parents)

you live with another adult family member (6% of all parents; 21% of single parents)

you live with a room mate with whom you are not involved in a relationship (1% of all parents; 2% of single parents)

you live with a partner with whom you are involved in a relationship" (6% of all parents; 19% of single parents)

The 2008 survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1,077 American adults who have children under 18 years old in their household. A demographically balanced online panel was used for the interviewing and we have 95% confidence that the sampling error for the total sample does not exceed +3.0%.

One other study in which we asked a similar question to determine current living situation was a study conducted in April-May 2007 among young adults ages 18-30 who had attended a Protestant church regularly (twice a month or more) for at least a year in high school.

We asked all respondents:

Please indicate your current living situation.

I live with my parents (20%)

I live with my spouse (44%)

I live with my partner/ significant other (13%)

I live with roomate(s) (11%)

I live alone (9%)

Other (3%)

One of the key findings from this study reported in a story last year was that 70% of these young adults ages 23-30 had stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between ages 18 and 22. When we break out the question above by these "dropouts" compared to those who "stayed in church" during these years, we found a statistically significant difference in the percentage who were currently cohabiting. In short, among young adults who had attended a Protestant church regularly in high school, cohabitation is almost twice as likely among those who stop attending church regularly between ages 18 and 22 compared to those who stay in church.

15% of "dropouts" live with a partner or significant other

8% of those who "stayed in church" live with a partner or significant other

Dropouts = adults ages 18-30 who had attended a Protestant church regularly for at least a year in high school but stopped attending regularly for at least a year between ages 18 and 22.

Stayed in church = adults ages 18-30 who had attended a Protestant church regularly for at least a year in high school and continued attending regularly between ages 18 and 22.

This study was conducted among a representative sample of 1,023 young adults ages 18-30 who had attended a Protestant church regularly (twice a month or more) for at least a year in high school. A demographically balanced online panel was used for the interviewing and we have 95% confidence that the sampling error for the total sample does not exceed +3.1%.

It is probably not a surprise that those who are cohabiting are also more likely to be dropouts, but it does speak to some of the challenges in reaching adults in our culture.

I'm interested in how you deal with people living together? How do you reach them, answer their questions, and minister to them?

When Things Speed Up, Leaders Should Slow Down

2009-11-09T10:01:00.001-05:00

Found this is my reading and like it.

Leadership development consultant Brad Lomenick suggests that when facing times of great intensity and pressure, leaders should:

Always over-communicate.
Be methodical and calm, not intense and short.
List out priorities, so as to not be overwhelmed by the small things that seem to be incredibly urgent, but really aren’t.
Seek out quiet moments for prayer, reflection and thinking. During times of pressure, that is when we need those quiet moments the most.
Resist the urge to let things slide or just settle for something average because of the pressure to get it done. Keep your standards and levels of excellence at their highest—don’t compromise.

Brad Lomenick, On the Journey

Price wars on Books - Don't tell my wife!

2009-11-05T09:04:00.001-05:00

From my reading:

Book Price War Might Benefit Pastors

Heaven knows pastors love to read, and a price war between book retailers might just be a blessing to them. Walmart.com has dropped the price on their top 10 pre-order titles to $10, including free shipping. Also they are offering their top 200 books at discounts of 50% or more in a program called America’s Reading List. A day later, Amazon matched Wal-Mart’s pricing, and both sites have dropped those 10 promotional titles to just $9. It remains to be seen what this will do to already-beleaguered chain and independent book stores, but pastors might take advantage of the low pricing in the meantime.

Publisher’s Lunch 10/16/09

I went this way last week!

2009-10-26T18:30:00.003-04:00

It will be a while to repair the rock slide on I - 40, our favored way to take Margaret to Covenant. I guess we will go though Atlanta for a while - it just seems so out of the way!

Don't do the Math - have kids and trust Jesus

2009-10-14T20:18:00.001-04:00

Preached the Gospel to myself and others last Sunday

2009-10-14T16:20:00.006-04:00

You can listen and or watch it here.

These are dear people and the pastor, Bill Heard, is one of the best guys that I know. If you live in the area you ought to worship with them!

Tim Tebow - a discussion.

2009-10-14T10:29:00.006-04:00

As a Alabama fan I agree with Jeff and what he says below. My caution to a young boy and picking heros is not to pick a hero that is alive. You do not know how he will turn out over time. Tim Tebow is trying to live out the gospel - love that. I even pray that he never falls morally. He is my brother in Christ after all.

I just hope in God's providence that humility will happen in the SEC championship game when he plays against the University of Alabama - Roll Tide Roll!

Jeff Robinson
September 29, 2009

For nearly four years, Tim Tebow has presented a dilemma in my home. He is an all-American quarterback, perhaps one of the two or three best players ever to play the college game. He is, as we say in my rural Georgia hometown, "tougher than pig iron," often battering his body and willing his troops to victory like Aragorn at Helms Deep. Opposing players see Tebow in the huddle and shudder. He plays every down as if it were his last. I really like that.

But, herein lies our dilemma: he plays for the Florida Gators, the national champions, and my family has for decades bled the red and black of the Georgia Bulldogs, my alma mater's entry in the toughest sports conference in America. For us, the operative equation goes something like this: Dawgs plus Gators equals mortal enemies. But here is my recent problem: Tim Tebow is my brother in Christ. He shares the Gospel, undertakes missions work, and seeks to live a Godward life with the same tenacity that he displays when it is third-and-goa

l on the opponent's one-yard line. Tebow wears eye black emblazoned with John 3:16 and he plays football the way a Christian should: smash mouth, grit-and-gunpowder, all out all the time, to the glory of God. It is exceedingly difficult to root against such a brother. Tebow's full story is available here.

Last season, after Florida suffered its lone defeat of the year, Tebow publicly shouldered the blame for the loss. In a memorable post-game press conference, he pledged to apply every ounce of his strength toward winning the remaining games. Florida won 10 straight (steamrolling our beloved Bulldogs along the way), its final victory coming in the national championship game against Oklahoma. Florida's streak began with Tebow exhibiting a concise summary of biblical manhood - tenacious humility. And Tebow's tenacious humility became the tracks upon which the streak rode. Last weekend, Tebow suffered a concussion against Kentucky, but I suspect he'll be back very soon. He's not the game-missing kind.

Recently, my oldest son asked me if it would be okay if he adopted Tim Tebow as a hero so long as he maintained his primary allegiance to a certain team from Athens, Ga. (where, incidentally, head coach Mark Richt, a vibrant follower of Christ, is also a wonderful example of biblical manhood). I didn't have to think very long. "Absolutely," I told him, wondering if I had really just signed off on such a request. This dilemma has stretched me; it has made me pray for the grace to live in accord with the difficult imperatives of Romans 12, which is always a good thing. In the same manner as Paul admonished believers to imitate him insofar as he imitated Christ, I want my boys to be like Tebow because he is a very clear and winsome example of what biblical manhood should look like in a young man.

One does not have to delve very deep to find a vibrant and orthodox faith living within college football's brightest star. This past summer, Tebow was asked about his commitment to stay pure until marriage. Could it be true? "Yes," he told a cynical media corps, without blinking. Tebow believes the Bible teaches that sex is the exclusive privilege of a man and woman within the bonds of marriage. He said so without blinking, later admitting that he does not date. And so authentic was his answer and so authentic has been his walk before a watching public, the usually snarky fifth estate received the answer without the customary ridicule. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." (Ps. 119:9)

Tebow is unashamed of Christ and all the implications that come from following Him. He is willing to endure mockery and ridicule for Christ because, as he recently told ESPN in an interview, living for Christ is life and death. And football? Well, he told ESPN, it is just a game and it is by no means ultimate; Christ and the Gospel are.

This is what biblical manhood does. Biblical manhood carries out assigned tasks with diligent effort to the glory of God. It walks unashamedly with Christ and risks alienating the city of man on issues such as sexual purity because it lives with a greater city in view. It lovingly, humbly, and with biblical tenacity, leads and protects those placed under its care, manfully shouldering the blame and repenting when it fails. Biblical manhood enjoys the good gifts God has given while worshiping the Giver as the supreme treasure. And it pushes fathers to teach their sons that love for the body of Christ trumps affections for their favorite football team.

Go Dawgs, but God bless you brother Tim. Thank you for giving my sports-crazed son a snapshot of Christ and a reminder of the supremacy of the Gospel.

You can find this article here.

Covenant College WeeKend for Karen

2009-10-09T13:38:00.003-04:00

Who knows where Karen will go to college but she visited Covenant College with some friends a week ago. Her sister Margaret wants her to join her there for sure!

What David Letterman Can Teach Us About the Gospel

2009-10-08T11:11:00.001-04:00

What David Letterman Can Teach Us About the Gospel

Posted using ShareThis

FAST FACTS ABOUT KIDS AND THE INTERNET

2009-10-08T10:56:00.003-04:00

The top-10 words kids search online are:

1. YouTube
2. Google
3. Facebook
4. Sex
5. MySpace
6. Porn
7. Yahoo
8. Michael Jackson
9. Fred (A popular fictional character whose YouTube channel has become a hit among kids)
10. eBay

from 10/7/09 edition of

How is this for a Quote about the Church?

2009-10-06T13:00:00.002-04:00

Sam Storms, p 17 To the One Who Conquers

“The only thing that ultimately matters is the degree to which a church corporately and the lives of its members individually are shaped and fashioned according to the likeness of him who is Lord indeed.

In the final analysis, Jesus cares comparatively little about numerical size, cultural relevance, social influence, or financial prosperity. What matters most to him and must therefore matter most to us is whether a church holds forth his name, proclaims the gospel of which he is the center, and heeds his words as guidance to govern its life and loves. Is your church Jesus-driven? Are the ministries and programs of your corporate existence energized and given shape by what pleases him? Is he prized above all earthly treasures? Is faithfulness unto death an easy choice to you and those of your congregation?”

Karen's Sr. Pictures

2009-10-03T01:25:00.002-04:00

Pics taken by Aphrodite Photography Inc.

Miracle in Franklin video

2009-10-02T12:05:00.001-04:00

Take 5 minutes and this will challenge and encourage you! It did me.

Best Senior Class Ever!

2009-09-30T12:24:00.004-04:00

The title of this blog is CROSS HAPPENINGS. Here is a significant happening.

Karen, my 4th of 5, said this the other night at the dinner table. "I am in the best senior class ever!"

This is the same girl that has been in 4 schools in 4 years of HS. The some one that begged to stay with friends in Albemarle and attend last year's school.

This is an answer to prayer - mark is down. A Cross Happening for sure. Thank you to all of you that pray for the Cross family and especially for Karen, [Kingbean, Kenny, King ...].

The picture to the right is from the 2nd retreat she has been on with her sr. class!

Real Life & Death Issues from ER

2009-09-27T22:07:00.003-04:00

A friend of Lynn's posted on her blog this from ER and Ray Comfort. I plan on using it in our Bible Study next Sunday night. So Ben if you check this blog before Sunday you can see it twice!

UnChristian or Unchurched?

2009-09-23T09:59:00.005-04:00

I get a "church report" via e-mail and there are a lot of facts and figures. The one below finally says what I have been sensing a long time, and in fact, it marks the way I approach people who say they believe. In my mind I do not want to lose an opportunity to share the gospel with someone who thinks they are saved but does not understand the gospel. Like me, in my early years I thought I was a Christian because I went to church when I was a boy with my Mom. It had nothing to do with who Jesus was or if he really was alive today.

Those who are not living out the gospel - need compassion and evangelism. They are unchurched - in the Biblical sense.

By the way, I disagree with the last sentence below. If you are unchurch - there ought to be big doubt is you are a Christian at all!

Post-Denominational?

Church historian Rodney Stark reports between 1960 and 2000, the Episcopal Church declined 55% in terms of members per 1,000 U.S. population. The United Methodist Church declined 49%, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) declined 49%. Megachurches have doubled in number and size in the past five years. This leaves the churched population among Christians at about 40% attending regularly. It also says, with about 85% nominally Christian in the U.S., only about half of them regularly attend church. They are not unChristian; they are unchurched.

Some great videos you have to check out!

2009-09-08T21:54:00.003-04:00

http://www.timhawkins.net/video.php

Margaret make sure Hannah sees the Chick Fil-A song!

Katie and Michael - watch this one!

Matt & Belinda - watch this one!

It is officially Cross Country Season

2009-09-08T20:50:00.003-04:00

Oliver had his first cross country race last weekend in his last season as a college runner. You can follow his schedule and results here. If you look at this website you will see his picture on the banner - he is now a poster boy for Wingate Cross Country!

We now have a Cheerleader in the family - Rebekah

2009-09-03T22:11:00.001-04:00

Prayer for Renewal

2009-08-24T09:09:00.002-04:00

I have been reading and praying prayers from the book, Valley of Vision for a long time in my devotions. It is amazing that they seem so appropriate to my life and soul. I prayed this one today. It is comforting that long ago someone else felt the same way and today provides me with the vocabulary to pray my desires.

My favorite phrase is "Ride forth in me, thou King of kings and Lord of lords"

"A Disciple's Renewal."

O My Saviour, help me.
I am so slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb;

I am in the foothills when I should be in the heights;
I am pained by my graceless heart,
my prayerless days,
my poverty of love,
my sloth in the heavenly race,
my sullied conscience,
my wasted hours,
my unspent opportunities.
I am blind while light shines around me:
take the scales from my eyes,
grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.
Make it my chiefest joy to study thee,
meditate on thee,
gaze on thee,
sit like Mary at thy feet,
lean like John on thy breast,
appeal like Peter to thy love,
count like Paul all things dung.
Give me increase and progress in grace so that there may be;
more decision in my character,
more vigor in my purposes,
more elevation in my life,
more fervor in my devotion,
more constancy in my zeal.
As I have a position in the world,
keep me from making the world my position;
May I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the creator;
Let not faith cease from seeking thee until it vanishes into sight.
Ride forth in me, thou King of kings and Lord of lords,
that I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end.

Rebekah made Cheerleading Squad!

2009-08-22T13:53:00.003-04:00

My Bekah went to a new school, and didn't know anyone. Scary for a thirteen year old. She stayed after school all week to try out for cheering and she made it! I am so proud of her for over coming her fear and pursuing what she wanted.

Feelings & Emotions

2009-08-21T17:40:00.003-04:00

In our fluctuations of feeling, it is well to remember that Jesus admits no change in his affections; your heart is not the compass Jesus saileth by. Samuel Rutherford

Ever wonder if people like you or not? I am sure everyone has - it is more painful when you wonder if people you like very well shows you emotions and feeling that, in you mind, indicated that they do not like you.

Remember Jesus and his love! No one will equal his feelings for you or me.

Pics from the Beach

2009-08-07T22:36:00.004-04:00

Reading at the beach

2009-08-06T11:56:00.002-04:00

"... the final state will not be disembodied, but reembodied, not less diverse but more diverse, than the present state. How could the God who gave us sex, Michael Jordan, Rembrandt, and the Grand Canyon -- all in our present fallen world -- give us something less interesting in the next?"

p. 198 A Journey Worth Taking by Charles D. Drew. P & R Publishing

Go and read a new BLOG

2009-08-04T13:30:00.005-04:00

A former youth group member from California is living out the gospel in a wonderful way. Read his blog - also linked on this site.

Here is the e-mail he sent me today - and he is NOT ASKING FOR MONEY!

Hi Ken,

It’s time for me to take my semi-regular couple of months away from Silicon Valley capitalism to go make a difference in the world - my personal form of therapy. So I’m reaching out to all my friends, family, and extended network with this email for 3 purposes:

1) To let everyone know what I’m up to. Think of it as this year’s Christmas card!

2) To tell you, with some shameless marketing, about Kiva.org - an exciting non-profit with whom I’m volunteering my summer.

3) To share with you my blog, if you wish to follow, a fascinating story of Liberia and how it’s being rebuilt after 20+ years of civil war in a way that is revolutionizing the way we think about supporting the impoverished world.

note: I'M NOT RAISING ANY MONEY! You’re so supportive, but please don’t send me a dime because I’ll send it right back!

Why Kiva? Why Liberia?
Many of those receiving this update were supporters of past efforts, especially my 2006 Colombia housing project, and some have been involved with all my projects spanning 20+ years. All these years I’ve proposed that the best way to truly impact the lives of those in the developing world is by improving their healthcare, education, and housing. While this is true, it also ignores the income-creation side of the formula. In other words, giving someone in the 3rd world a job enables them to acquire healthcare, education, and housing on their own. Until Kiva, this wasn’t possible on an individual level.

What is Kiva?
Kiva is the word’s leading non-profit peer-to-peer microfinance website. What the heck does that mean? It means you can make loans as small as $25 to individual entrepreneurs of your choosing in the developing world, all from the comfort of your computer at home. And since we’re a non-profit 100% of the loan goes as principle to the borrower. Our 97% repayment rate, better than any 1st-world banking system, allows you enjoy the experience of repayment, continuing to give the same $25 (or more) over and over again to different entrepreneurs. Think of your last vacation to Mexico, Thailand, or Kenya when you were compelled to help that hard-working small businessperson, not with a handout but with a small loan that would help them build their business.

That’s what Kiva enables you to do! Since 2006 our 530,000 lenders have funded 250,000 entrepreneurs with over $83M in loans, making Kiva the fastest growing non-profit in the USA, and personal favorites of Oprah, Clinton, Obama, and Schwarzenegger.

What Am I Doing in Liberia?
Kiva has only 40 fulltime employees worldwide, which makes you wonder how it can be in 50 countries working with 110 MicroFinance Institutes! Well that’s where I, and hundreds of other volunteers, come in. I’ll be living in Monrovia working with LEAP, our first MicroFinance Institute in Liberia, training their 10 offices around the country on the systems and processes required to be a Kiva partner. I’ll also be spending time in the field with the loan officers and entrepreneurs to better understand the impact of microfinance as a worldwide solution for a certain segment of global poverty.

Why Liberia?
Liberia is so much more than the movies Warlord and Blood Diamond! It is, quite simply, the most fascinating country I’ve visited in Africa. Although the country is home to one of the current 20 UN peacekeeping operations underway (along with Darfur, Afghanistan, etc), it’s emerging from 25 years of civil war primed to start over with a clean slate.

Liberia was “settled” by freed American Slaves in the early 1800’s and is now an interesting mix of Americo-Liberians and indigenous people who speak English, use a Liberian Dollar, and drive on the right side of the road – all unusual traits in West Africa. The country is 100% rainforest with only 10% of the country accessible by paved roads. Firestone rubber plantations and iron ore mines used to account for 25% of the GDP back in the 1950-60’s when Liberia was the fastest growing economy in Africa, but the civil war of the past 25 years quickly dropped the country to the bottom of the list of the world’s poorest countries with an annual GDP per capita of $490, just below Somalia. This country is *perfect* for a company like Kiva to enable individual entrepreneurs creating small businesses to rebuild Liberia.

Dave's Blog

Ken, Want to help?

I'm not taking donations, but please forward this to your friends/family and tell them about the great non-profit work that Kiva is doing! And if you'd like to join Kiva (free), along with half a million other lenders worldwide, please send me an email and I'll send you a personal invite!

Please note that a complete lack of infrastructure means not much works here. Electricity is only for those who can afford generators, internet is by sat-phone connections only (which rarely seem to work), and there are no ATM’s or credit cards. That my “connectability” is limited is an understatement, but you can follow my progress on any of the mediums below in addition to the 3-4 email updates I’ll send over the next 2 months.

See My Blog
Follow Me on Twitter
My Facebook Page
Skype: DaveMcMurtry

Best, -dave

A funeral, contacts and contacts

2009-07-09T22:04:00.004-04:00

Today I went to a funeral for a long time friend, Max Stanton. As I was waiting for the worship to start I read from the Book of Common Prayer the following:

² Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."

⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-

⁶ though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

⁷ We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.

⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

⁹ All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.

¹⁰ The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

¹¹ Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

¹² Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The pastor did a great job of pointing to Max's Savior while at the same time honoring the life of my friend and comforting the family.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

From the funeral I returned home to have my lovely Rebekah look deep into my eyes showing off her new contacts - she is thrilled.

Before the funeral I met with some fellow church planters and pastors and we had a brain session on ways that I can contact people in a winsome way during the summer with the goal of sharing the good news of Jesus. I am very encouraged with their ideas and the synergism that it sparked in my mind.

So - a funeral reminded me of the limited days we have here, Rebekah's contacts reminds me that simple joys should be enjoyed like a happy little girl and contacting people for the Kingdom can really be fun - I will share some of the ideas in another post!

IT is finally a HOME!

2009-07-07T21:47:00.004-04:00

Last night the Cross family officially made our house in Charlotte a home! How do you do that? You get all the female clothes in the house! We are here and the Lake house is again REVILO.

We miss Karen - leading a soccer camp in Albemarle, Margaret - at the beach with Kristen, and Oliver in CA on a mission Summer. But they will be here soon!

We had special prayer last night before bed thanking God for this home and asking Him to use us and this home for His glory. Pray that with us!

Will let you know about a soon to be house warming party!

Preached the Gospel to myself and others today

2009-06-21T22:56:00.006-04:00

I had the great privilege of preaching at a supporting sister Church, Harbor Church in Mooresville, NC today to a full congregation. I also had 3 of my children, Katie McKenzie, Karen, Rebekah and Lynn - a wonderful 100th celebration of Father's Day.

If you would like to either listen or watch the sermon here is the link. I preached this same sermon last week at Westminster Presbyterian in Albemarle. When I sent Bill Heard, the pastor of Harbor, a short list of sermons last Monday he picked this one. Maybe it was better with practice!

The Passage was Mark 5 - a great look at a human and heavenly Father!

Tired of watching the NBA?

2009-06-14T16:13:00.003-04:00

Watch this!

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Want to give some money?

2009-06-13T00:09:00.001-04:00

This is from my enrolled Tax agent's newsletter she sends out quarterly. If you need a charity to donate to I know a church plant in Charlotte that is in need! A great incentive to avoid taxes and advance the Kingdom at the same time!

CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS FROM IRA'S - Extended through December 31, 2009

For the past two years an IRA owner, age 70 1/2 or over has been allowed to directly transfer, tax-free, up to $100,000 per year to an eligible charity.

Trustee to Charity Transfer Required:

To qualify, the funds must be contributed directly by the IRA trustee to the charity. Amounts so transferred are not taxable and no deduction is available for the donation to charity.

Transfers Are Part of Required Minimum Distribution:

Transferred amounts are counted in determining whether the owner has met the IRA's required minimum distribution rules (RMD). Since the RMD's have been waived for 2009, you may think there is no point in taking advantage of this tax break.

However, there may be other reasons to withdraw from an IRA account this year:

* You may need the money and still want to keep up with the regular charitable donations. Donating the IRA would free up other funds set aside for charity.

* You may want to lower the taxable portion of your portfolio for your heirs. Since the IRA produces income in respect of a decedent at the death of the account owner, leaving stock and other property, rather than the IRA, may result in less tax to the beneficiary.

* You may want to get rid of IRA's that are not doing well.

Taxpayers who don't itemize deductions get full benefit of the contribution, since the IRA withdrawal will not be included in taxable income. Of course, they still get to take the full standard deduction.

Since the IRA distribution made to a charity is not included in the taxpayer's taxable income, the many phase outs related to adjusted gross income are minimized. For example, the taxpayer be able to avoid:

* A phase-out of itemized deductions,

* A 50% charitable contribution base limitation, or

* An increase in the amount of social security benefits that are taxable.

27th Wedding Anniversary

2009-06-05T11:26:00.001-04:00

Today is my 27th Wedding anniversary and it has made me think of the last 3 decades and the decisions I have made. I have thought of many wrong decisions (the Bible calls those sins) and the many good decisions. But this morning I started thinking about a decision I made not knowing what the outcome would be, but trusting God in the process (the Bible calls those faith).
I remember distinctly praying and fasting for a two week period about whether or not I should tell Lynn I loved her. She knew that if I said that, I was proposing marriage. I was in California and Lynn was in Birmingham, AL. Lynn was waiting having already declared she was ready to move forward. I just wanted to make sure that the life I had given to the Lord included marrying Lynn and becoming one flesh. It took faith and it was tested. I called her we were pre-engaged and through a number of situations Lynn broke up with me.
Now in my mind, God had lead me to marry Lynn but now it was in doubt. I stayed true to the course for about eight months sending Lynn letters (before texting) and calling on the phone but her parents were not in favor of this potential union and that hurt a lot. I had to determine if God was in favor of it. God worked over time and Lynn moved away from her folks. So I prayerfully wrote a letter saying that I loved her, believed we should be married but you cannot have a two-way relationship with just one person. So I remember saying something like this in the letter, “I have prayed much about this and have come to the place that either I will hear from you quickly that you want to pursue this relationship or have a good life without me.”
She called me quickly and 10 months later we were married. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I shutter to think what my life would be like without my Bride. God has used her so much in my life. He love, rebukes, intellect, parenting ability, but especially her walk with the Lord has been used of God to sanctify me and mature me. Because of her struggles - I have grown. Because of her strengths – I have been challenged. Because of her holiness I have been humbled. Because of her reading my back has hurt from moving all those books!
A principle that James Raiford taught me in Bible College was, “A faith not tested cannot be trusted.” He was right.
But one think I know – every decision Lynn and I have made including starting a new church in Charlotte (which is one of the scariest decisions) is easier because Lynn is my wife and the mother of my children. Thank you Lord and thank you Lynn. I am a blessed man.

Christ-less Christianity

2009-06-01T17:35:00.001-04:00

Loved this quote. Ken

Tullian Tchividjian posts:

“In preparation for my sermon this past Sunday, I re-read the opening lines of Michael Horton’s excellent book Christless Christianity (an absolute must-read for anyone bold enough to handle some right-on-the-money constructive criticism). He writes:

What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? Over half a century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio. Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia (the city where Barnhouse pastored), all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at eachother. There would be no swearing. The children would say, “Yes, sir” and “No ma’am,” and the churches would be full every Sunday…where Christ is not preached.

As Horton points out in his book, there is a great difference between moralism and the gospel. We must remember that Christ came first not to make bad people good but to make dead people live. If we forget that, our Christianity will turn out to be Christless.”

Reaching Out - Some statistics that are very interesting

2009-05-31T13:47:00.003-04:00

2 Posts in One Day - Read this one!

2009-05-26T15:40:00.003-04:00

This is such a great post! Ken

21 APRIL 2009

Porn and paper pastors
by Dan Phillips

Decades ago, I read a disturbingly candid essay by a pastor about his struggles with pornography. It was in Leadership magazine. Years later, two of his realizations still stand out to me.

The author came to see (as I recall) that he was attracted to these images because they were unreal. The women in the pictures never had bad days, were never crabby and demanding, never disrespectful and demeaning. No mood swings. They always suited his mood, his needs, his wants. They were unreal.

He came to see that he had no actual relationship with these women whatever. If (he named a female celebrity) had sat down next to him in an airplane, she wouldn't know him from Adam. Whatever may have happened in his sinful fantasies, the two of them had no relationship in the real world.

Of course, this is why so many women resent actresses and models. It isn't catty pettiness or smallness. It is that they know how visually-tempted men can be, and they know that they can't compete with a fantasy — if their man is fool enough to chase one.

And they're right, in a way. They can't compete with these women. Because these women don't exist in the real world! They may not even look like their pictures! Thanks to computer wizardry, the pictures we see may actually bear only the slightest resemblance to the actual women.

Nobody can compete with a fantasy.

And this post is not about pornography, men, women, nor marriage.

It is about people with paper pastors.

Now, some professed Christians sin outright, by never physically attending an actual, in-person church. We've talked about that, and they aren't our focus.

But others do attend a church — physically. They come in, they sit down. They sing, they may give financially. They may look at you, Pastor, as you preach.

But you know their heart belongs to another.

Their real pastor isn't you. It's Dave Hunt. Or it's John Piper. Or it's John MacArthur, or Ligon Duncan, or Mark Dever, or David Cloud, or Joel Osteen. Or it's Charles Spurgeon, or D. M. Lloyd-Jones, or J. C. Ryle. Or Calvin, or Luther, or Bahnsen, or de Mar, or R. B. Thieme, or J. Vernon McGee.

And they're such better pastors than you are! You know they are!

Why?

Well, paper pastors are never in a bad mood. They're never cranky, or sleepy or sick. (Especially the dead ones.)

They've never just had someone else pull their guts out with a rusty fork, and then had to turn and listen graciously to your complaint about the translation they preach from, or argue about a Greek word you can't even pronounce. They don't have a family who loses the time you use. They never half-listen, never have an appointment that cuts short their time. Their office hours are your office hours. They're available 24/7, and everywhere, at your whim, and you always have their undivided attention.

What's more is they always have all the answers! They can tell you with complete confidence and masterful eloquence. They never stammer, guess, nor search their memory. And they can prove it — whatever they're saying! With footnotes!

And these paper pastors maintain the perfect distance. If you don't want to hear something, they don't press it — or you can instantly shut them up, snap! They never ask you to do something uncomfortable and follow up on you. They never persistently probe an area of sin, in you, in person, eyeball to eyeball... nor will they. Church discipline will not be a threat with them. Ever.

Because they don't know you from Adam.

Yet how many pastors know that there are people in their flocks, thinking, "John Piper would never say it that way. Dave Hunt says that what he just preached is heresy. John MacArthur isn't like that. Mahaney says that... Mohler says that... Lloyd-Jones said...."

So, because it's awkward for your pastor to say it to you — and because I've no church who'd suspect I'm talking to them, at the moment — I'll just tell you plain:

Brother, sister: John Piper isn't your pastor. John MacArthur knows nothing about you. Dave Hunt never got on his knees and prayed for you. Lloyd-Jones won't come to your house when you're recovering from surgery, or one of your children shatters your heart, or your marriage is shaking and rocking and barely hanging on. Charles Spurgeon won't weep with you as you weep.

You could buy or not buy _____'s next book, and he'd never know it. But if you're in a manageable-size church with a caring pastor and you're suddenly gone next Sunday, he'll be concerned. He may call. He may ask if everything's okay.

God gave you the pastor He gave you.

God told Paul to tell you:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
God told the writer to the Hebrews to tell you:
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
Your flesh-and-blood pastor can't compete with these paper pastors for the same reason you can't compete with paper women and paper men.

Because they're not real.

An Appropriate Memorial Day Meditation by Joe Stowall

2009-05-25T07:57:00.002-04:00

Monday, May 25, 2009

Today's Text: Ephesians 6:12
SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world.” Ephesians 6:12

As the war in Iraq drags on, we are all a little war weary from the complex battle that continues to wage over there. The tired troops want to come home, but with courage and dedication to the cause, they remain on the frontlines. Those of us watching from a distance do what we can to support them, driving around with our “Support the Troops” stickers on our cars and praying fervently for their safety and success.

While no one can accurately predict the resolution, the war carries a poignant lesson for all those who care about the cause of Jesus Christ. As God’s people, we are engaged in a war of far greater proportions—warfare against the hierarchies and unseen powers of the satanic hosts (Ephesians 6:10-12). This battle concerns the liberation of the eternally lost, the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, and the glory of His name.

What strikes me is the surprising lack of support for the frontline men and women who are in the trenches waging this war against the gates of hell. Some of our spiritual troops are dug in on battlefields far away. From massive urban centers like Hong Kong and Rio de Janeiro to the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea, among executives and shopkeepers and natives, these soldiers are penetrating enemy territory with the life-changing claims of Christ.

I am frequently brought face-to-face with the everyday struggles of missionaries who serve as soldiers in the work of the kingdom. Some spend an inordinate amount of time getting to the frontlines because the funds they need are not available. Others often feel forgotten and neglected during their stint on the field. When they finally come home, they feel that somehow they don’t fit.

I also have the privilege of talking heart-to-heart with pastors who labor in their homelands. While some feel loved and supported, others speak of the difficulty they face in trying to focus their church’s attention on the advancement of the gospel. Often a pastor is the target of bickering and petty agendas that turn the congregation inward and end up dividing and sapping its strength.

Laymen fight it out in the trenches of the marketplace, where they see their careers as an opportunity to show Jesus to their world by working with integrity and ethical purity, and some of them do this against great odds. Yet many find little enthusiasm or support for what they are doing in the tough arena of secular society.

So, as Americans commemorate Memorial Day, I think it’s fitting to stop and consider how we are doing in terms of spiritual warfare. Let’s take seriously Paul’s advice to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:11). If each of us were to make a personal commitment to put away what is petty and temporary and instead concentrate on what will advance the cause of Christ, think of the ground we could claim for His kingdom! If we pledge to pray consistently and specifically for those involved on the frontlines, we will provide a vital aspect of support. And if we put our money where we say our hearts are, we will keep the battle lines supplied.

The big difference, of course, between earth-side battles and spiritual battles, is that we already know the outcome. Jesus already claimed eternal victory, and in the meantime He gives us the power for victory in the skirmishes we face along the way. So enlist yourself today, and don’t forget to support the troops!

He Knows Where I Dwell

2009-05-21T09:45:00.004-04:00

It has been a while since I posted on this blog due to moving to the Steele Creek area of Charlotte. Sorry. I hope some have not given up on me as a blogger. Let me know if you still read these things!
Today, the “Cross Happening” is that God reminded me that “He Knows.” I have been living mostly in Steele Creek. Lynn and the kids are still at REVILO until school is out. I have been busy getting the house ready for them (many visits to Lowe’s and many visits from workmen from Peidmont Natural Gas, Time Warner, Invisible Fence, …) and trying to reach out to my neighbors and lay the ground work for a new church.
It has been lonely when I stop to rest. Solitude is good, but I am not use to it.
Here is the passage God used to encourage me today. Rev. 2:12-13
“And to the angel of the church in Pergammum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword, I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.’”
There is much here but what ministered to me was – even though I am new to the city and very few people know or care that I am here to start a church from scratch – God knows where I dwell.
How is this for honesty: Even though there are over 200 people praying for this church plant and for me, even though I heard a great sermon on not worrying from Lee Shellnutt last Sunday from the Sermon on the Mount, even though I know that God must build his church – I get anxious that this church plant will not go well. That I will not see the new conversions that I am praying for, that no one will want to gather together to reach out to the lost, that I will mess it up.
God told me today – I KNOW WHERE YOU DWELL. God knows. God knows where Satan is at work. He knows that a 52 year old sinner is now is Steele Creek. I can rest, breathe and simply be faithful to His calling on my life.
Another honesty statement: It is really easy to know He knows and still get anxious. Pray that my focus will be more and more on God and less and less of what I think other people will think of me. He is the one with the two-edged sword – it is best to please Him first – don’t you think?

Things are not as they seem!

2009-04-13T10:22:00.003-04:00

Easter was yesterday - and it was great. We had worship that was very meaningful for me. I spoke on John 21 about Jesus fixing b'fast for Peter and disciples. I will not relay the whole thing here - but I was thinking. Easter points us to remember that things are not as they seem.

Peter, having already witness the crucifixion and then twice saw Jesus after he rose from the dead, still got depressed and thought he would do something that he know he could do well. He didn't know what the future would hold without Jesus. So he went fishing - he grew up fishing. He knew the spots. But - no fish. Until a voice from shore tells them to put the nets on the right side of the boat.

Now that is humorous to me. All night fishing - no fish and will throwing the nets on the other side of the boat make a difference? ABSOLUTELY - when Jesus tells you to do it!

Fishing is not what is seems with Jesus. Neither is marriage, gall bladder surgery (a friend is having it done today - pray), church planting or house hunting.

Not what it see

ms with Jesus! IT is always more!

(The picture is a chalk drawing on concrete!)

Moms Take Pride in Not Buying

2009-04-08T10:37:00.002-04:00

Pew Forum 1/30/09

Moms Take Pride in Not Buying

Moms (and other consumers) are now taking pride in not buying. The gatekeeper badge of honor has shifted from "I got such a deal" to "I haven't bought anything new in weeks." American mothers are meeting the economic challenge with the view, "This is hard but, ultimately, it's a good thing for my family. We are pulling together and spending more time together. It's less about accumulating stuff. It feels more real." There has been a change in consumer values. It's actually an old set of Puritanical values roaring back with renewed strength: You take stock of what you have, you take very good care of it and you make it last as long as possible. It's a "It's not what you earn; it's what you don't spend" attitude. And when you do buy, you buy only what you know and trust. The culture of responsibility that felt old-fashioned 18 months ago now feels stable, secure and appealing. Moms influence 85% of all U.S. household purchases, and U.S. moms typically spend about $2 trillion per year.

She is now 18

2009-04-07T10:53:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, Karen turned eighteen year old. So much has happened in 18 years. It has gone by so quickly. She has always been "our future lawyer" with her ability to debate. She is also the "tender heart" ready to hear of all her friends relationship issues. I am her Dad. I like being her Dad.

Her future is uncertain. At one point I thought she would be that hard charging District Attorney, putting away the bad guys. Then I wondered is she would be the next artist of great renown. I will never forget her taking art lessons and coming home with a painting and I really thought the teacher had given her one of her own as a gift. But she really painted it - I am still amazed. The last thing she said she wanted to be was either a psychiatrist or a counselor. I do not know - I do know my kids have the ability to change their majors in college on a regular basis!

One thing has been a constant as I have prayed over her crib and ever since. That she would follow the Lord and allow Him to guide her steps. She has such a tender heart, a quick mind, tongue and temper. God can use them all.

I am proud to be her daddy!

She is also a pretty aggressive soccer player!