Good devo by Joe Stowell on the idea that the great commission is more important than promoting morality.
Some good ideas to use in the Two Decrees sermon.
http://getmorestrength.org/daily/one-at-a-time/
Oct 24
Establishments and Institutions
Sermon idea:
I like institutions (look up definition). They exist to carry out a needed duty.
‘The establishment’ on the other hand seems to mainly be there to maintain itself.
In Yancey’s ‘The Jesus I Never Knew’ book he says, on page 197, that Jesus posed a genuine threat to the establishment in Jerusalem.
More later (e.g., pg 203). It was very ironically, the supposed church of God that had Jesus killed. As an establishment, they had spiraled far away from God.
The institution that Jesus was proposing was to love your neighbor sacrificially. This was certainly difficult to comprehend and to grasp by even the disciples. But the institution of loving one’s neighbor sacrificially proposed a threat to the good-ol-boy establishment. Enough of a threat that it got him killed.
Loving one’s neighbor sacrificially is the opposite of an establishment, which is inward looking/self-centered.
An institution, by definition is outward looking/other-centered.
…
We, as the church, need to be careful that we don’t turn from an institution to an establishment.
—-
Fun to look at the words
establishmentarian
disestablishmentarian
antidisestablishmentarian
Oct 24
There is nothing enlightening about shrinking
Great quote by Marianne Williamson. Thanks Dave Lafary at the Faith Encounter, 10-19-16 at Wesley Church.
Oct 13
Grasping and being moved to Please, Know, and Resemble God
From Tim Keller’s daily reading plan (and his fuller book) from YouVersion (below).
I want this ultimate relationship with God. I want to grasp what Jesus did for me and all of mankind. I want to be in relationship with God to please Him, know Him, and resemble Him, as I love those around me as He (Jesus) loved us.
Oct 10
A Catholic, Baptist, and a Methodist Go to Heaven
A Catholic, Baptist, and a Methodist Die and Go to Heaven
They go before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
All three are believers (and strong Christians) so St. Peter is going to let them in.
However, their mansions are not quite ready yet and St. Peter doesn’t have any place to put them.
With no other options, he call Satan and asks if he can send the Catholic, Baptist, and a Methodist down to him temporarily.
Satan agrees and the three go down to hell.
Everything seems to be going fine, but a couple days later, St. Peter and says, hey, you gotta take these three back.
St. Peter asks, “What’s the problem?”
Satan says that the Catholic is forgiving everyone, the Baptist is saving everyone, and the Methodist has almost raised enough money to install air conditioning.
Sep 24
Your Grace Finds Me (Matt Redman)
Spotify
Commentary:
Your Grace Finds Me (Matt Redman) – lyrics
It’s there in the newborn cry
It’s there in the light of every sunrise
It’s there in the shadows of this light
Your
great grace
It’s there on the mountaintop
It’s there in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace
Oh, such grace
From the creation to the cross
Then from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me
It’s there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the graveside
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace
Same for the rich and poor
Same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh, such grace
From the creation to the cross
Then from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me
There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me
Your great grace
Oh, such grace
Your great grace
Oh, such grace
So I’m breathing in Your grace
And I’m breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be
Breathing in Your grace
And I’m breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
And I’m breathing out Your praise
Breathing in Your grace
For our God, for our God
Yes, Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me
from http://www.metrolyrics.com/your-grace-finds-me-lyrics-matt-redman.html
Aug 07
Kubb
The Game of Kubb (pronounced ‘koob’) is a great game for youth and adults. It’s origins are believed to be the 
Vikings. It is fairly popular various places around the US and world. It can be played 1 v 1 or teams of about any size.
In the game, players throw (underhand required), and knock over, wooden blocks. It’s usually played outdoors, but can be played indoors–in a fellowship hall, for example with tile or carpet floor. There is strategy and skill.
The game was recommended to me by Chris at CF Youth Hope in the Quad Cities. The youth there love playing it.
Game sets (made of wood) can be purchased or made (#4H-Project).
USAkubb.org (also has a rules video)
The next (2017) U.S. NATIONAL KUBB CHAMPIONSHIP (the 11th Annual!), which is held in Eau Claire, WI, will be JULY 7-9, 2017.
Personal Note: At the time of this initial post, I have not yet played this, so I can’t personally vouch for it. I’m pretty sure I would like it. I’m considering making a set. I think we can make the King using the table saw the same way we made the king for the backyard chess set we made for 4H a few years back.
Jim Olsen, 8/8/2016
Jul 31
Church of Satan, Satanic Temple, and Theistic Satanism
I did some looking around this afternoon and wanted to write down what I found. I was prompted to do this research after an article appeared in the Washington Post titled, “An After School Satan Club could be coming to your kid’s elementary school.” I’ll comment on the article at the bottom.
I am a practicing Christian. (I am also a mathematician, so reason plays a key role for me.) I believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the way to eternal salvation and a fulfilling life on earth. Satan is working against us. Satan uses various (often indirect) means (c.f. C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters). I believe that all three of the the following (even though the first two claim to not worship Satan) are the work of Satan.
Some statements taken from Wikipedia.
I intend to be intentionally brief. Follow the links for more.
Church of Satan
Started in 1966, by Anton Szandor LaVey. Church of Satan is dedicated to the religion of LaVeyan Satanism as codified in The Satanic Bible, which was written by LaVey. The church does not believe in or worship the Devil or a Christian notion of Satan.[2] High priest Peter Gilmore describes its members as “skeptical atheists.” The Church of Satan does do some good things, and they want outsiders to believe that.
While they say they do not worship ‘satan’ or the devil, their website has numerous images of, for lack of a better term, evil looking beings and images associated with satan. What one focuses on is what one pays attention to and what one often comes to worship. To say the Church of Satan is ‘inherently evil,’ would be an exaggeration (and something a mathematician wouldn’t say), and therefore I am not saying that. I do conclude that the Church of Satan is on the wrong track and should be avoided by children and adults.
The Satanic Temple
(According to Wikipedia, was founded in 2014) Both atheistic and humanist, their stated mission is “to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people”. The group was co-founded by Lucien Greaves, the organization’s spokesperson, and Malcolm Jarry. As above, The Satanic Temple does do some good things, and they want outsiders to believe that.
Satan is thus used as a symbol representing “the eternal rebel” against arbitrary authority and social norms.
Their beliefs appear to be quite close to LaVeyan Satanism.
[Similar comment:] While they say they do not worship ‘satan’ or the devil, their website has numerous images of, for lack of a better term, evil looking beings and images associated with satan. What one focuses on is what one pays attention to and what one often comes to worship. To say the Church of Satan is ‘inherently evil,’ would be an exaggeration (and something a mathematician wouldn’t say), and therefore I am not saying that. I do conclude that the Satanic Temple is on the wrong track and should be avoided by children and adults.
Theistic Satanism
This is ‘full-blown’ satan worship. Joy-of-Satan.org says, “We know Satan/Lucifer as a real being,” and “True Satanism is about elevating and empowering humanity, which was our True Creator (Satan’s) intention.”
A common theme of Church of Satan, Satanic Temple, and Theistic Satanism is self-centeredness (humanism) and the importance of me, myself, and I. Christianity has as it’s #2 great commandment to love one’s neighbor as one’s self.
I couldn’t find an official website, but here is www.joyofsatan.org
Clearly, Satan-worship (Theistic Satanism) should be avoided by children and adults.
Washington Post Article
Article: An After School Satan Club could be coming to your kid’s elementary school
The Satanic Temple is offering their After School Satan Club as an alternative to Christian after-school programs.
While one might think that I (as a Christian) would say, “Oh, we need to fight to get the After School Satan Club out of our schools,” I’m not going to say that (at least in those terms).
Here’s my reaction:
- We have freedom of religion in this country. The first amendment of the Bill of Rights says so.
- This is our society. We love to let people do whatever they want to (‘especially if it doesn’t hurt someone else’).
- I actually agree with the courts, The Satanic Temple should be allowed to have their own after-school program (as do the Boy Scouts, Awanas, and the Good News Club).
- Free will is not just a decision made by the United States, but a decision God made. Each person is given the choice to believe in Jesus Christ or not believe. (I would say there are many reasons and proofs why one should, but that’s for another day.) Philip Yancey, in his book The Jesus I Never Knew, has a wonderful chapter on the temptations of Christ. He extends the temptations to shed light on God’s logic of allowing free will (in particular, what God decides not to do, to get us to believe).
- Satan is always working to disrupt and distract us from God (try running the PowerPoint for a church service some time). The After School Satan Club is just one more example.
- We, as Christians (and those who believe children should be playing soccer after school for that matter), need to offer something better. We must work hard to help people believe in the truth of Christ.
- The Satanic Temple is ‘selling’ humanism. This is pretty easy to sell and has been followed since ancient times. Humanism is our natural tendency. We’d rather be comfortable than get blisters raking someone else’s yard for them.
- A primary message of Christianity (Christ) is service before self (to use the US Air Force’s words). To minister means to give aid or service. Serving others (ministry) is a harder sell than humanism, but one we need to help people understand. It is our #2 great commandment and ties to our first great commandment, because as Matthew 25:40 says, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did [fed, clothed, visited, etc.] for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Once understood ministry become a joy for Christians.
Jul 26
Golden and Platinum Rules
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12 (ESV) 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Kant’s Categorical Imperative
[Disclaimer: This is slightly off topic, because Immanuel Kant (in the top 5 philosophers of all time) was not a Christian. He did have a strong moral sense, and his categorical imperative is central to his philosophy.]
Act (do unto others) only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law.
Wikipedia has good explanation.
Platinum Rule
“Treat others the way they want to be treated.”
Site by Tony Alessandra (has book)
http://www.platinumrule.com/ site
Platinum 1a Rule
By Boyd Bailey from http://www.wisdomhunters.com/what-are-you-doing-for-others/
The Golden Rule is empowered by the Platinum Rule: to see others as God sees them, to serve others as Jesus would serve them and to love others as the Lord loves them. [my emphasis] Our love alone is inferior—it only takes us so far, but when our love is infused by the Holy Spirit it is superior in its ability to go the second, third and fourth mile for the sake of others. Our visible love is sustained by God’s invisible love.
Jul 26
Godly Men by Rick Warren
Godly men, Timothy for example, were
- Caring
- Consistent
- Cooperative
- Considerate
- Courageous
Audio sermon, titled A Courageous Attitude, at https://www.idisciple.org/sermon/a-courageous-attitude (also at rickwarren.org)
Extensive write-up and notes here.
1 John 4:19
http://quoteseverlasting.com/quotations/category/c-s-lewis-2/