Christians we should know

I'm normally not a big fan of lists, but author Mark Gali has put together an intriguing list of 131 Christians that we should know about. Christianity Today online has uploaded the list and it's definitely worth a look see. http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/features/131christians.html

Second in State!

What a weekend and what a set of games!

After a hard-fought 1-0 win in the semis on Friday, the Archbishop Murphy High School soccer team lost the championship game 2-1 in overtime on what can only be described as a miraculous goal in the final seconds by Highland High School.

Though battling and beating a few teams that were likely a bit better overall in the state playoffs, Joe's team finished much higher than anyone projected. It was a great, great season. Remember guys, you don't have to always finish first to be successful.

The picture is of Joe making a run in one of the state playoff games.

a Different Word on the Da Vinci Code

Just when I thought that I had read, heard or avoided all I could on the so-called Da Vinci code discussion, Dwight Friesen of Mars Hill Graduate School comes through with something fresh (no surprise). His "The DaVinci Code . . . picking up where Luther left off?" points out that challenging authority is always an intriguing choice. Here's his beginning . . .

What intrigues me about the cultural stir surrounding Dan Brown’s best seller is not so much the questions he raises about Gnostic belief, Jesus’ alleged marriage and children, or a Papal cover-up of Mary Magdalene’s role in the earliest days of Christianity. Rather, what interests me is the way that The DaVinci Code, as much as anyone or anything since the Protestant Reformation, has invited the masses to challenge the hierarchical authority of organized Christianity. More than the book, or the ideas within the book, or even its author, I am intrigued by the public response to the experience of The DaVinci Code.

See the entire article (amazingly short, actually) at:
http://the-conversation.blogspot.com/2006/05/pop-fiction-oracle.html

Joe's Soccer Team in State Semis!

The Archbishop Murphy soccer team won their state quarterfinal this past weekend with a hard-fought 1-0 victory (won in a 3-1 shootout). It was a fantastic match with the Murphy goalkeeper stopping three shots in the shootout. The state semi-finals will be played this coming Friday and the championship on Saturday.
Joe plays forward and has had several good goals and assists this year. The Everett Herald newspaper had a great story on one of their games which quoted Joe after his two assists. Check it out at: http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/05/03/100pre_c1wildcats001.cfm

The Immigration Debate of 1621

A friend pointed this cool video that addresses the immigration debate from a way many of us haven't seen or considered.

Check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhEl6HdfqWM&search=immigration

Windshields

As I was struggling to go back to sleep the other night (or was it early morning?), I was asking God what He might want to be saying to me. Apparently not much since I did not hear anything! Then the image of a windshield came into my mind. As I reflected on this picture, it caused me to wonder about what windshield there are in my life presenting me from feeling the wind of God's presence -- or the sound of His voice.
We all have shields we have put up -- mostly to protect us from the bugs of life. I guess we have to be careful that it does not also prevent us from what God wants to bring into our life as well.

Is What You Do a Ministry or a Job?

My friend, Dave Hackett (www.davidhackett/blog/frontierblog.html) posted this the other day. A good reminder for how we might evaluate the things we are all doing!


“Is it a Ministry or Just a Job?” (Author unknown.)


If you are doing it because no one else will, it's a job.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a ministry.

If you are doing it just well enough to get by, it's a job.
If you are doing it to the best of your ability, it's a ministry.

If you will do it only so long as it doesn't interfere with other activities, it's a job.
If you are committed to staying with it, even when it means letting go of other things, it's a ministry.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a job.
If you stay with it even when no one seems to notice, it's a ministry.

If you do it because someone else said it needs to be done, it's a job.
If you do it because you are convinced it needs to be done, it's a ministry.

It is hard to get excited about a job.
It is almost impossible not to get excited about a ministry.

People may say, "Well done," when you do your job.
The Lord will say, "Well done," when you complete your ministry.

An average church is filled with people doing jobs.
A great church is filled with people involved in ministry.

In Orlando

In sunny Orlando with the International Sports Coalition (ISC). This global network is doing some of the most effective partnering and outreach work anywhere. My role is in assisting in the training of trainers for the network and consulting on partnering. In addition, we are talking about what key strategies we can put together to make partnering a more integral part of the ISC's way forward. From mobilizing more churches to be involved in utilizing sports to global community games, the ISC rocks as a bridge to community outreach. For more info on the ISC, check out their website: http://www.sportsoutreach.org