Entries from August 2007
Before we talk about what Jesus did, here is a good question. How many people can one man disciple, shepherd, pastor, and/or train?I was reading last night in Donald Miller’s book Searching for God Knows What that Jesus’ ministry was completely relational. Think about it. He spent a whole lot of time with a fairly small number of people.
Yes, Jesus spoke to the masses from time to time (seems to be infrequent). But He truly discipled a handful. Let’s not forget that Jesus is part of the Godhead. Fully God and fully man. So we could say that He had it all going for Him. If anyone had the talent, skill, calling, and spiritual strength it was certainly Jesus. And yet he did not leave this earth being able to say that He was the “pastor to a 10,000 member mega-chruch”.
Instead He left being able to say that He discipled a handful of fishermen and other miscelaneous misfits.
What does this say about what you and I are doing? Or what we want to do?
Back to the queston I first asked: How may people can one man disciple, etc?
I don’t know about you, but I kind of like the idea of building something big. Leaving a legacy. Being a big wig. Not too big of a big wig. But big enough to feel good about what I’ve accomplished for God.
It’s just hard for me to get around the way Jesus did it. If you can think of a way, let me know.
Buy it: Searching for God Knows What
Categories: Reviews · Theology
Tagged: Christianity, Church, General, Jesus, Religion
And why should Christians care about business?
Before we get to the definition of a business incubator let me say that this site is NOT a business incubator. What are we then? Well if you have to pin me down I would say we are an idea incubator. I would also say, “Why do you always have to define me, Mr. Definer Guy?”
Now on to the defintion of a Business Incubator.
Business incubators are organizations that support the entrepreneurial process, helping to increase survival rates for innovative startup companies. Entrepreneurs with feasible projects are selected and admitted into the incubators, where they are offered a specialized menu of support resources and services. Resources and services open to an entrepreneur might include such diverse elements as:
- Physical office space
- Business coaching
- Help in preparing a business plan
- Administrative support/services
- Technical support
- And help finding financing
There is a current movement of entrepreneurs (am I the only one that has a hard time saying that word) and business thinkers called Business as Mission. The basic idea is to use business as a tool to:
- Finance ministry and missions
- Provide basic needs to the poor in third world countries
- I’m not sure what else.
- I love bullet points. Don’t you?
Anyway. Who is doing this and what does it look like? Check out this post about the 25 Most Admired Busnesses as Mission Companies.
Hope that helps.
Also, Regent University is into this big time. There is a TON of information on their site called Regent Center for Entrepreneurship.
Categories: Theology
Tagged: General, Missions, Religion
Concept: Your family makes a commitment to unplug from TV and all electronics for the period of one month.
Unplug For A Month is a media fast. That means TV, radio, iPod, internet and video games. Communication devices are ok.
Fasting from food focuses your attention to God and prayer and cleanses the physical body.
Fasting from media input focuses your attention on your family time and personal relationships and cleanses the mind.
Categories: Growing Kids John’s Way · Social Commentary · Theology
Tagged: Family, Parenting, Religion
The practice of singing the Psalms in worship (or Psalmody) stems from the Bible itself in Paul’s admonition to edify one another through the use of “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
Most of the Psalms to music that I have found involve miniture trumpets, “old lady” vocals, and garage-quality sound.
That is until I stumbled upon the Sons of Korah. Sons is made up of talented musicians from “down under”. They are a band, not the Christian version of the Partridge Family.
The music is word for word from the Psalms.
Bottom Line: Buy every album and put them on your iPod. This is true mind renewal matterial (God’s word set to good music).
Sons of Korah Album List:
More Info: Sons of Korah Offical Site
Categories: Reviews · Theology
Tagged: Bible, Religion
Idea: Microfinance System for Missions
Concept: Supply basic life saving development needs through online microfinancing system
Project Description and Summary: Micro Finance is a hot buzzword in development and missions. Wikipedia definition here.
Get life saving devices into the hands of families in third world countries. These families will gain access to basic life saving development needs through no/low interest micro loans. These loans will be repaid by the family. Micro loans will be provided through an web based Micro Finance system. The online system will match up micro donors with those families who have the need. Families can only gain access through the expatriot missionary or national church pastor.
The word loan is partially accurate in this idea. From the borrowers side this is a “loan” that requires repayment plan. From the one providing the funds this is a “donation” that multiplies. The multiplication takes place once the “loan” is repaid. Those repaid funds are then used to provide for the next families need.
Basic life saving approved items:
- Smoke free wood stove that saves wood (by Philips).
- Water wheel (Q-drum) device radically simplifies the task of transporting water.
- Safe kerosene bottle lamp that prevents flammable oil from spilling (Safe Bottle Lamp)
A self multiplying effort that aids missionaries and local churches to meet the basic needs of their church body and community.
Richard Lewis on Micro-Business Seminars — Are they effective?
Categories: Theology
Tagged: Church, Missions, Religion
Categories: Almost Inspirational Thoughts
Tagged: Christianity, Religion
Categories: About John
Tagged: General
Bedside Baptist Church… Get Your Religion Served To You In Bed!
Bedside is not the first internet church. But we are definately the best. Why? Because your in your pajamas. And we are Seeker Friendly.
Q: What is Seeker Friendly?
A: Seeker Friendly means that we water things down for you.
Categories: Social Commentary · Theology
Tagged: Bible, Parody, Religion, Satire
Categories: Reviews
Tagged: Family, Parenting
Dead Author: Reinhold Niebuhr
Topic: Philosophy, Theology
Buy It: Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic
Short Take: Especially for you cynics out there.
Long Take: Great “dead guy” reading.
Idea: Sarcasm and cynism are negative. Satire attemps to make things better by bringing them to light with humor and wit. Before speaking ask myself if its sarcasm or satire?
See All: Books to Action by Month
Categories: Reviews
Tagged: Religion
Using Technology to Renew Your Mind
It’s the Opposite of Garbage In - Garbage Out
Content is king. That’s what the dot com era told us.
It’s really nothing new — content is always primary over the method (or form) of delivery. Only now form has more pizzaz (read bells and whistles) than ever before.
(more…)
Categories: Theology
Tagged: Bible, Religion
Idea: Bedside Baptist Church (A Parody)
Concept: Satirical look at the Church and it’s flaws
Some Rough Initial Project Notes:
Why get out of your pj’s in the morning to go to Church?
Hey, why even get out of bed when you can attend Bedside Baptist Church?
It’s like breakfast in bed, only with Religion instead of toast.
Categories: Social Commentary · Theology
Tagged: Parody, Satire
