Friday Links Roundup: Intern Edition

Last Summer, when I was the youth minister at 9th Avenue, we had our first youth intern. Robbie Daniel did a great job, not only as a youth intern, but as the first intern. Our young people really liked him, and they came to appreciate his positive attitude toward both them and the Lord.



Guess who our youth intern is at Lebanon Road this Summer?



Robbie Daniel! He will begin Sunday (although he's coming today to get settled in and set up) working with J.D. and the youth group. I know Robbie will gain valuable insights from J.D., as I have seen the job description and the calendar of events. I also know that the young people at Lebanon Road will come to love Robbie.



You can stop singing "It's a Small World" now.



On to the links for this weekend before Memorial Day:

1. What does it mean for a church to "have an identity?" Matthew Morine explores in a thoughtful article.

2. We don't like to think of things as "one way or the other" in our society. We love middle ground, or grey area. Life in the New Millennium reminds us though, "There is No Middle Ground" in some matters.

3. With Memorial Day coming up, I thought you would like this post from Patrick Mead.

4. Continuing with the trend (okay, so it only started last week...but this makes for consecutive weeks, and that's a trend, right?) of having some non-religious posts in the roundup, I came across a story from the NBC affiliate in Atlanta about shopping with coupons. Think they can't save you money? Trust me, this article is worth printing out!!!

On a very serious note, I have never met John Dobbs. I read his blog posts at "Out Here Hope Remains," and I have started listening to his podcasts. A couple of days ago, John and his wife lost their 18-year-old son, who was to graduate from high school this weekend. John has written about it on his blog. Please mention this family before God's throne as you pray.

I hope you have a great weekend. For many, it is an extended weekend. Don't forget to take some time to think about those who have given their lives for our freedom. Take time to think of those who are left behind. If you happen to know a widow, widower, or child of a deceased member of our armed forces, do something special for him or her.



But most of all, don't forget the Lord on His day.

Book Review: Before I Die

If you read this blog often, you know how much I respect brother Wayne Jackson. He is true to the Scriptures, and is able to put forward some difficult lessons in a scholarly, yet practical, way.

Before I Die continues that tradition. Jackson's work is a commentary on Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus. Honestly, my only complaint about this book is that it isn't longer! Filling some 370 pages, Before I Die is the "meat" of these three epistles.

For the Bible student, Jackson's greatest contribution through this volume is a greater understanding of certain original words (without being so technical that the reader is bogged down).

From time-to-time, brother Jackson points out false teachings that have their "basis" in these letters. A brother or sister studying with someone of another faith will find these sections most helpful.

As a Bible class teacher, I can honestly say, when my class studies these epistles, it will be difficult to avoid just reading brother Jackson's comments! I found these pages that helpful and insightful.

If you do not yet own this book, by all means, contact a Christian bookstore and add it to your library. You will not be disappointed.

NOTE: Awhile back, Christian Courier's website published an excerpt from the book. Here is a link to that.

Lebanon Road Report (May 18)

What a wonderful weekend! The weather has been glorious, and people in my neighborhood are out working in yards and visiting. It has just been great.

The great weather did not keep a great number from being present Sunday at Lebanon Road. 341 were in attendance! Also, we were pleased that Harry Parman placed his membership with us. Harry has been visiting for some time, and we are thankful he decided to work along with us under the oversight of our elders.

Last night, Leah and I were honored to host the youth group devotional in our house. J.D. and Maria Buckner do a wonderful job working with the young people here! They were a joy to have at the house.

Also, our elders have appointed certain committees of work. Over the next few days, I hope to give you some insight into the plans and make-up of each of these committees.

If you're in or around Nashville, come by and see us on Lebanon Pike. We are less than 1/2 mile off Briley Parkway, near the Opryland Hotel.

Finished: "Revelation 1-11" (Roper)

At the beginning of 2008, I mentioned that I would be noting each book I completed reading in a word-for-word fashion, even if I did not write my regular "review."

I have finished volume 1 of David Roper's commentary on Revelation, which covers chapters 1-11. It is part of the Truth for Today Commentary series.

My plan is to read the second volume, and then write a more thorough review. At this point, though, let me say that, if volume 2 is as good as volume 1, you can expect a glowing review!

Friday Links Roundup: Lack of Posts for Good Reasons Edition

I am truly sorry when the blog is not updated more regularly. This week, though, I have several good reasons why the number of posts has been, well, zero.

First, I did not do the Lebanon Road Report because I didn't get the "numbers" until late in the week. However, I hope to post some pictures of our church picnic that was held last Saturday soon.

Then, my internet at home went down (and remains so). I usually try to post one or two articles early in the morning from home, but that was "out."

Then, Jeremiah's surgery that was supposed to be next Tuesday was suddenly rescheduled for this week. He did so well, and was able to go home yesterday. Please keep him and the family in your prayers as he recovers at home.

Then, I preached Wednesday night in Leeds, Alabama.

Then, I had car trouble.

So, this has been an eventful but exciting week. We continue to love Lebanon Road and we hope that, if you are in the Nashville area (living or on a trip) that you will stop by and see us. You will quickly fall in love with the friendly people here.

On to the links.

1. Last Sunday, of course, was Mother's Day. I thought you might like this post from Out Here Hope Remains. Preachers, its alliterated!!!

2. Wayne Jackson's article "Portraits of Christ" is brief, but powerful. This would make an excellent sermon series of Bible class topic.

3. Christians should be a portrait of unity, but we often fall far short in that area. Jeremiah Tatum presents a thought-provoking article, "Personality and Opinion."

4. Young people are preparing to head to Christian camps this summer. Much good is often done in those sessions, but the camps are used for many other things (or they should be!). Read this brief article from I Can't Wait for Maywood to see just a glimpse into how much that good camp is used. While there, drop Jeff Goff a note telling him how much you appreciate his care of that camp's work.

5. Finally, this article is not "religious" in nature, but I found it interesting. With all of us waiting for our "stimulus package" checks (why don't they just tax us less?????), we are trying to figure out what to do with them. Trent at The Simple Dollar shares his thoughts. In case you're wondering, we plan on giving some of ours and using the rest to continue getting out of debt. (We're getting closer every day!)

Those are the links on this insanely busy week. Maybe we can get our internet fixed soon and get back to regular posting.

Have a great weekend, and don't forget the Lord on His day.

Friday Links Roundup: Mother's Day '08 Edition

What a special holiday! I'm thankful to live in a nation that honors moms with a special holiday. It's always fun to see people drive many miles just to worship with mom. It's also funny to see how many restaurants are filled to overflowing on Mother's Day!

I'm thankful every day for my mother. God blessed me with the best.

I'm also thankful every day that Mary Carol and Turner have the mom they have (and that I have her for my bride!). Leah is the best mom our two children could have.

Make sure to take time to call, write, or visit mom on Mother's Day.

On to the links for this week.

1. Much has been made of the "Reverend" Wright controversy surrounding Barak Obama. Please read Steve Higginbotham's article about the preacher.

2. I thought this article from Preacher's Pen was a great "take" on the idea that children imitate what they see from adults, especially adults in leadership positions.

3. A good title draws you in, but the thoughts behind "Jesus, the Pyromaniac?" will cause you to think.

4. Trey Morgan is a cancer survivor, and the blog world is thankful for it! Please read his personal article about lessons learned from cancer. As proof that this subject hits home, at the time of this post, there were FORTY-THREE comments to the post.

Have a great Mother's Day weekend. I hope you celebrate mom in a special way.

But don't forget the Lord on His Day.

Worth Your Time for Mother's Day

My dad sent me this video. It's 3:15, and worth every second.

Enjoy!



By the way, you can add the William Tell Overture to the list of "Adam Likes That Song?" songs. Always has been one of my favorites...especially in all those Looney Tunes that used it. Remember those?

Anyway, thanks mom for saying ALL those things a thousand times!!!

Mother's Day Comes Early

Mary Carol, now 2 1/2, loves to pray. That makes us so proud!

At nearly every meal, we'll say, "Let's pray," and she says, "Daddy, I pray." Of course, after her 10-second prayer, she always says, "Daddy pray." Then I lead our little family in a prayer.

At supper last night, though, her brief petition brought tears to Leah's eyes. While I don't remember every word, here is basically what she placed before God's throne:

"God,

Thank you food.

Thank you mommy's food.

Thank you daddy's food.

Thank you Mary Carol's food.

Thank you for Turner's food.

Thank you for my mommy.

Thank you for my daddy.

Aaaaaa-men." (She likes that part.)

Not only was the prayer innocent, it showed us that she loves us.

In fact, we've had a rough couple of days. She's hitting her "terrible two's" in some ways, and we're having to crack down on her more than usual. But she still thanked God for us...

......and put mommy first!

How appropriate on this week.

School's Almost Out

Some college students are finished with the Spring semester, while others are finishing very soon. High schools will be letting out over the next few weeks. Let those Summer activities begin!

Those who work with young people have a great opportunity in the Summer. In fact, some say that youth ministers, interns and concerned adults do more in the Summer months (usually about 2 1/2 or 3 months) than the rest of the year total. While that might be a bit of an overstatement, the idea is basically true.

So, what are some tips for those who will have all this time with young people? Here are a few random ones from several years as a youth minister.

1. Don't do something every moment of every day. Young people still need time to "chill." They need time with family. They need time for their own, personal spiritual growth. Remember, even Jesus grew in more areas than just "favor with God" (Luke 2:52).

2. Plan events for families. Often, the youth minister just does "youth stuff" in the Summer. Some parents have more free time in those months as well. It's good to invite and/or involve parents whenever possible, but that's especially true in the Summer, when many of the "big" events occur.

3. If you are blessed with an intern, use him! I worked with an intern for the first time last Summer. It was such a blessing to help this young man see the "inner workings" of youth ministry, but it was also a chance to let him do some of the events. For example, we had a door-knocking campaign in the area for three days. I worked in the morning, but then went back to the office to complete VBS planning, while our intern stayed with the young people for the rest of the work day. In the end, we got far more accomplished.

4. Keep costs low. There's nothing wrong with a "big" trip that costs some money, but don't drain a family's budget with meal after meal and trip after trip. Do some free stuff. Ask older members to help pay for some events. Eat at the building. Make spending money something special; not something common.

5. Most importantly, don't lose your spiritual focus. Summer is often filled with trips to theme parks, ball games, parks, and other fun places. Those are wonderful and needed, but you also have an opportunity to do more teaching in those few weeks than much of the rest of the year. Plan spiritual activities as well. Service projects and extra Bible study sessions are needed by our young people. It teaches them that there is really no "time off" from Christianity.

Enjoy the Summer, and take advantage of these months with our precious young people.

Friday Links Roundup: Enlighten Edition

We are in the middle of our whirlwind tour through America's heartland. We finished the youth day at Central in Paducah, Kentucky, and the Gospel Meeting in Vienna, Illinois. This afternoon, we will head to Henderson, Kentucky, for their annual youth rally, "Enlighten." It will be an honor to lead singing for the rally tonight and tomorrow.

After that? Back to Nashville! We've loved spending time with family and seeing some old friends, but we are ready to get back to our house, and back to our church family at Lebanon Road.

Here are the links for this week:

1. Kevin Beard gives us a very well-thought-out article dealing with the annual "Day of Silence."

2. More on the Great Commission from JD: "What Does Jesus Want Us to Do?"

3. Want speedy worship? A congregation is now offering a guaranteed 30-minute service. Trey Morgan reflects on this (the comments are worth reading, too).

4. Bible students are always looking for a good computer program to aid in study. Fostertribe has written a fairly lengthy review of several popular titles. Here is the list of links to each article.

5. You know the people. They are always looking for a way around God's Word. Steve Sanders shows us some of their common statements.

6. Need a sermon outline for a graduation lesson? Jeremiah Tatum presents a great article for us entitled "Your Mark."

I hope you have a great weekend. If you're near Henderson, Kentucky, come to Enlighten. It's going to be great, with Joe Wells speaking.

Also, don't forget the Lord on His day.

Book Review: Minister's Manual for churches of Christ

This "manual" was a loving gift from the Lebanon Road church of Christ upon beginning our work there. Having just completed reading the book cover-to-cover, I can say it was a wonderful present.

The book is a compilation of "helps" for several aspects of the preacher's work. Readers will find beginning funeral sermons, wedding aids, outlines for special services, verses to help in specific times of need, and many other materials.

In my opinion, the best parts of the book were:
1. The section on funerals. Not only are there many beginner outlines, but the preacher will also find some general bits of information to help him in the days leading up to the service.

2. The verses on comfort. Jim Bill McInteer, the author, has listed scores of verses to help in different times (those who are sick, those who have just lost loved ones, etc.).

3. The beginning section, which deals with what to do in the first few days and weeks at a new work. Often these "small" details can go overlooked, causing much stress later.

If you are looking for a ton of sermon outlines, this is not the book for you. Also, each section is brief and, in my opinion, should serve as just "the beginning" of working in the areas discussed.

The book is well worth your time, though, and, as Lebanon Road was kind enough to do for me, would make a wonderful gift for a minister (especially if he is new).

The book is published by 21st Century Christian and you can purchase it from their book store.

Gospel Meetings Can Still be Effective

Last night, I finished preaching in a Gospel Meeting in Vienna, Illinois. My family moved to Vienna when I was just 9 months old, and moved away when I was about to turn 8. While I didn't remember everyone's name, there were so many familiar faces, and it was good to see them.

The Sunday before the meeting, Vienna had 39 in attendance. They advertised the meeting in the local paper and, of course, through word-of-mouth. Also, information was sent to local congregations.

The result?

Attendance was fantastic!

On Sunday morning, 52 were present, with about that same number on Sunday evening. Wednesday night, there were about 40 present (I didn't get the "official" count).

However, on Monday and Tuesday, when those from other congregations could more easily attend, the attendance was amazing. On Tuesday, we had 60, and on Monday, seventy-two were in the building. It was estimated that 11 other congregations had members present for at least one service. At least two congregations had members present for three services (Monday-Wednesday)!

One dear sister responded on Wednesday night for prayers, and it was obvious that the members were excited by the meeting. Who knows what seeds have been planted?

Some places have decided that Gospel Meetings don't work anymore. They do. All it takes is enthusiasm. It had nothing to do with me, hopefully. It had everything to do with the Lord, and His Word.

Lebanon Road Report (May 27)

I missed Lebanon Road yesterday. I'm holding a meeting in Vienna, Illinois, this week, and getting an opportunity to spend some time with my family during the day.

JD Buckner, our youth minister, preached yesterday and, from all reports, did a great job. He also announced that he and his wife--Maria--will have a second child in November. James David will get to be a big brother! Please pray for this good family as they prepare to bring another life into the world.

There were 331 in attendance yesterday morning, and 251 stayed for Bible classes. I know they all heard a good sermon and learned much in Bible class.

In Vienna, 52 were present for the AM service. While that number may not sound like a lot, there were just 33 last week, so 52 is a tremendous number! We're looking forward to many visitors tonight.

Friday Links Roundup: Who Makes My Schedule? Edition

I sometimes wonder what is wrong with me. Okay, I wonder that quite often.

One of the ways I struggle is with saying, "no." I want to speak as often as possible to help those who need to hear (and myself, through study and preparation), but sometimes those speaking engagements run together, and life gets tiring.

These next few days are an example of that. Here's what I have coming up:

I'll be speaking three times at the Youth Day for the Central church of Christ in Paducah, Kentucky, on Saturday. The three topics are "Where Have You Been?", "Where Are You Now?" and "Where Are You Going?" If you are near Paducah, come by for an uplifting day with some good young people.

Then, from Sunday through Wednesday, I'll be speaking in a series of Gospel Meetings for the church of Christ in Vienna, Illinois. My family moved to Vienna when I was less than one-year-old, and moved away in 1985. Though it has been many years, there are still several people there I remember, and I look forward to seeing again. I'm excited to spend some time with the pulpit minister, Bill Brandstader, as well. Services are Sunday at 9:30; 10:30; and 6:00, and Monday through Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

Finally (and more about this next week), I'll be leading singing for the Englighten Youth Rally in Henderson, Kentucky, next Friday and Saturday.

All told, we'll be gone from this afternoon through next Saturday night, then I'll preach and teach at Lebanon Road on Sunday, May 4. Who makes that schedule?

One of the great things about this trip is that we'll be able to stay with my parents in Paducah for most of it. Leah and the kids are going with me (which I always enjoy!), and that's so good for them. We'll miss our place in Nashville, but we'll also enjoy seeing family and speaking the great news of Jesus!

On to the links for this week:

1. Each of us only gets 24 hours in a day. How do we make the most of it? Jeff Foster provides some tips.

2. Abilene Christian University made a controversial change recently dealing with drinking alcohol. Steve Higgenbothem's blog led me to this article from Brotherhood News about the policy change.

3. Benevolence is one of the hardest things about "church work," but it also yields some of the most touching stories. Drew Kizer shares one of those stories.

4. The Journey of Life makes a confession about reading through the entire Bible. I like this article because it is so "human," and it helps us see that we can make time for reading all 66 books.

I hope you have a great weekend. I'll do my best to post a few things next week. Remember the Lord, especially on His day.

Undiscovered Treasure (Bulletin Article for April 27)

You’re sitting in your house watching TV. Suddenly, a man comes to the door. His report could change your life. “Ma’am, we were digging up that old tree in your backyard and we think we struck gold!”

How long would it take you to grab a shovel and start digging? How long would you keep digging? You would probably dig until, physically, you just couldn’t work any longer.

Why? Gold is a precious treasure. What makes that story so interesting is how close this treasure was to you, yet it went undiscovered. When discovered, though, you couldn’t help but want more.

It is sad that, in so many homes, there is an even greater treasure in the house that goes undiscovered. In some houses it is on a shelf gathering dust. In others, it is on a coffee table (just in case an elder or the preacher drops in). Some keep it right on the nightstand—within arm’s reach—and yet never “mine” the wealth found in it.

It is the Bible. It is the greatest treasure the world has ever, or could ever, know. It contains “life and godliness” (Second Peter 1:3). It is a light and lamp for our walk in life (Psalm 119:105). It is comforting, exciting, romantic, helpful, interesting, historical, and—most importantly—inspired by God (Second Timothy 3:16).

What have you done with this treasure?

More to be desired are the than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold. (Psalm 19:10a)