Tonight our Sr. High girls hosted a spa party for our Jr. High girls, and our boys went out to play laser tag and eat burgers together. A fun night of fellowship for our Shelter Rock Church students!
Keith Green … Still Influencing the World 32 Years After His Death
I remember hearing about his untimely death when I was a young boy just 6 years old. I remember listening to his vinyl records in our home as I was growing up. I remember listening to certain songs over and over again, allowing the words to penetrate my heart. Keith Green had a profound impact on my young life. Later, as an adult, I read his life story in the book No Compromise by his wife Melody. Just a couple of weeks ago, we sang one of his songs in church, and I turned to my wife and said, “Keith Green’s songs are as powerful today as they were when he sang them live.” Tonight we watched the DVD version of his story with our small group of senior high students, and had a conversation afterward. Almost 32 years after his death, Keith Green continues to have an impact in the world.
Great Music by Amazing Students!
Last night I had the joy and privilege of going to see two of our Shelter Rock students – Jennifer and Brad – play in the Sewanhaka Central High School District concert. They were really impressive and enjoyable. Proud of them!
My Favorite Met: Daniel Murphy
I am not a New York Mets fan, but I am now a Daniel Murphy fan. Daniel Murphy is the Mets’ second baseman. Watch this video, then read my response:
I want to say this to Mr. Murphy:
Thank you for putting family first. Thank you for choosing your family over your job. You are the kind of hero our warped culture needs!
You will have hundreds, if not thousands, of more baseball games to play, but you will never again have the chance to experience the birth of your first child and be with your wife for the first few days to share the joy of your new life as a family of three.
Your child will never remember what you did, but I am sure one day he will hear about it. The message you have communicated to him is that he is more important than anything in the world to you. Well done, sir!
Thank you for taking the high road when you were criticized. You showed your values, and so did your critics. What a shame that they have bought into the lies of our modern culture. How many kids go to bed every night in their big homes, in their nice beds, feeling like they don’t really matter to their parents; that only money and success does? Yes, it is wonderful and honorable that these parents work hard to provide for their children, do not get me wrong. But I know of way too many parents in our culture who bring home paychecks that enable to their families to live comfortable lives, but their children are starved for the one thing money can’t buy: a relationship with their parents, because they are always out chasing the next dollar.
Today I honor you as a man, as a husband, as a father, and as a much-needed role model! I don’t know if you are a Christian, but I would not be surprised to hear that you are. Thank you for representing the heart of God the Father as well. I’m so glad He didn’t just create us and “get back to work.” Rather, He created us and loves us and deeply wants to be with us as His children.
SRC Student Ministries Spring 2014 Newsletter and Calendar!
Read about all that has been happening in our Student Ministries: SRCstudentNewsletter_Spring_2014.
Here’s what’s coming up:
The Connection Between Reading the Bible and Prayer
On Sunday I preached about praying BIG prayers. As I was pondering the topic last week, I began thinking about the connection between reading the Bible and prayer. How does reading the Bible relate to our prayer lives? I would suggest that spending time in God’s Word profoundly impacts how we pray. As we read the Bible we get to know God and His redemptive story more deeply, and we learn more and more that we have a role to play in that ongoing story. When we read the Bible, God doesn’t get bigger, but our understanding of Him does. As our understanding grows, so does our faith, and faith is what motivates our prayers. So I ask you today, how big are your prayers? Your prayers will only be as big as the size of your faith. The question is not how big is God, but how big is your faith in God. Reading the Bible helps you grow in your understanding of the BIGNESS of God, and increases your faith to pray BIG prayers! It all begins with relationship, and our relationship with God grows the more we spend time getting to know Him through His Word, the Bible.
Why I Was At A Strip Club Last Week (It’s Not What You Think. Watch Before You Judge) …
My hunt to find where people are praying big, ridiculous, audacious prayers led me to a point in the Bronx, NY last week. Hunts Point, to be specific. Even more specifically, I found myself standing outside a strip club talking to my friend Reggie Stutzman, pastor of Real Life Church. You won’t believe what he’s daring to ask God for! Watch our interview.
The Higher I Climb, The Less I Know
The quote below, in my opinion, accurately describes my life in God. The more I get to know Him, the less I realize I know – about Him, myself, and life. The more I know, the less I know, and the more faith I need. Selah.
“After a big route in the Alps, I always think I know myself, know exactly who I am. It is only above 8000 meters that I realize again and again just how little I really do know about myself and my body, myself and the mountain.”
Excerpt From:
Ed Viesturs & David Roberts. “The Will to Climb.” Crown Publishers, 2011-10-04. iBooks.
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