Happy Birthday to me!

Last night, Cor and I had a great opportunity to hang out with about 25 people from Macalaster College who love Jesus Christ. We were invited to come and share at the MCF (Mac Christian Fellowship) and it was great to see such a great turnout at a school that has prided itself in the past when it departed from it's Christian and Presbyterian roots in the 70's. Way to go, God!

Cor started the evening by asking for everyone's name, their major, and to share when it was that they started to take God seriously. Great questions, and it opened up some students to sharing some cool things about their lives and spiritual journeys with Jesus.

I didn't even realize it until my friend Leonard emailed me about 5 minutes ago this morning to remind me that it was today, at 6:30am in a shower stall on the fourth floor of Frontier Hall way back in 1983 that Jesus Christ became relevent to me. So, today marks my 23rd "spiritual birthday". You think I would know something by now... God is just too good and patient to be my friend.

I am very aware that not everyone has a "date" or time that they can say that is when they decided to follow Jesus. When did I fal in love with Carole? When did I decide to go to the U of M? When did we decide to have children. Most decisions are a long pattern at first questioining and then a series of processes, and when the exact decision is made is most likely over a long period of time of working through the issues. Most people that I have known have come to know and love Jesus Christ in this way.

However, I don't do things the way most people do... I pretty much had my questioning, processing and decision time all wrapped up into that 45 minute shower that morning. I know this: I went into that shower with serious angst regarding my uncertainty about where I stood with Jesus, and I left knowiwng that I had settled the issue.

Too bad I have become a Baptist in my theology of baptism...otherwise that shower might have counted!

On another note, it is my wife's birthday (physical) today! Kinda cool that on the day when I was born again into the kingdom, she was celebrating her birthday into the world. I love you, babe, and am so blessed to be your "main sqeeze" [anyone under 30, do a google search on what that means]. By the way, we are WAY past the time when we are counting the number of candles on the cake!! Happy Birthday, baby!

Trike

I know this is a spoof...

...but it is just too hilarious! Especially the line that explains the features of this game, "With network play enabled, you can steal members from other churches and earn points just like you saved them yourself." The description to this game is below. Perhaps we should go into the gaming business with church! Why not - to many Mega Church pastors, isn't really a game anyway?

Here's the description:

Features
Imagine if you could create the church you wanted, any way you wanted.
Put together a worship service exactly the way YOU want: hymns, no hymns, drums, no drums. Are you from Wisconsin, start Polka Mass! Start a building campaign, ask for donations.
Be the next Joel Osteen as you play Mega Church.
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #378 in Computer & Video Games (See Top Sellers in Computer & Video Games)
Yesterday: #131 in Computer & Video Games
Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
ASIN: B000B659FE
Dimensions: 5.40 inches x 1.50 inches x 7.50 inches
Date first available at Amazon: August 24, 2005
Average Customer Review: Based on 9 reviews. Write a review.

Product Description
Pastor a simulated church and create your own Christian empire
Build a church from the ground up
Hire and fire staff
Deal with idiots, naive volunteers, and denominational egos
Attract fickle unchurched people with Bingo, revival meetings or fasting--it is all up to you!
Select a pre-loaded community
Xurban or suburban church plant (for those who want it easy or just starting out)
Or pastor an inner-city, multi-ethnic 80 year old church with 50 members and $1 million mortgage debt (for those who really want a challenge)
Choose a denomination (Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal plus many more obscure factions)
Or load a brand new emergent plug-in
Take weekly offerings and go over budget
Start your own radio or cable-access show
Attend the latest conference to hone your skills
Implement the latest ministry fad
Review weekly attendance and giving records
Earn points with God by winning souls for Christ
With network play enabled, you can steal members from other churches and earn points just like you saved them yourself.
The possibilities are endless! To grow your church, work on all the strategic variables,

Write a mission statement
Choose a logo
Get a billboard
Hire a professional musician
Buy plasma television for your PowerPoint presentations
Prayer, study and preparation get thrown in there too--and the mysterious (or fickle) will of God! Deal with real-life scenarios including,

Troublesome board members
Elderly donor who wants to buy a new organ
A son starts using drugs
Your trusted deacon sleeps with your secretary
The city starts a construction in front of your building
Offering stolen
Denominations and Bible colleges use it to prepare potential church planters or associate pastors. It is better than an internship!

Do it all without a degree, license or even the Bible! Just like Joel Osteen

Proverbs 23 to 31

I really enjoyed this "doing a book of the Bible together" thing. It was fun, and I plan to do another book together in May. Anyway, I had a bunch going on here at the end of the month and didn't get my postings in. Here's my verses from Proverbs 23-31:

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. (Proverbs 23:4, NIV).

29 Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.” (Proverbs 24:29, NIV).

9 If you argue your case with a neighbour, do not betray another man’s confidence, 10 or he who hears it may shame you and you will never lose your bad reputation. (Proverbs 25:9, 10, NIV).

7 Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. (Proverbs 26:7 and 9, NIV).

14 If a man loudly blesses his neighbour early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. (Proverbs 27:14, NIV).

14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. (Proverbs 28:14, NIV).

11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (Proverbs 29:11, NIV).

7 “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9, NIV).

8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8, 9, NIV).

Hoping to become wise by living according to his word,
Trike