A New Year

Well 2008 is almost over and 2009 is here. I am processing what God has done this past year and what is before us in 2009. One thing I am not going to do this year is to make new year resolutions. Rather, I am planning to make a declaration of one thing that I am going to pursue. This year it is to become a “student of God’s Word”.

I know that I need to lose weight, be a better husband, better father, etc. But all of that comes out of God’s Word. Becoming a better student of His Word will allow me to focus on what He is saying to me about those things. Therefore I am allowing the Word of God to dictate my new years resolutions.

What are some of your resolutions this year?

Filed under: Uncategorized , 2008, 2009, God, God's word, New Year, New Year resolutions, resolutions

The Day After

Well the big day is over. All the presents are open and the meals are done. Did you get what you asked for or wanted?

I took some time today to reflect on the day and what it meant to me and my family. I saw the looks on my kids faces as they opened up their gifts and the excitement that they portrayed.

My oldest son opened a gift that he just knew he was not going to get. When he opened it, there was a sense of overwhelming joy that came from him. I thought about this and thought that the fact that God sent His Son for us could be similar to this experience. We were given something that we never expected or deserved; His saving grace.

Today I am thanking God for His grace. I never deserved it, or earned it, but He gave it anyway. Thanks God.

Filed under: Uncategorized , christmas, family, God, grace

Merry Christmas

To all of you reading this blog post, Merry Christmas. I truly pray that all of you take the time over the next few days and really reflect on what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Most of the shopping is done (unless you male, and then that happens tomorrow), the office and church parties are over, now it is just the time with the family.

So this season I am taking the time to really love on my kids and my wife, to be focused on Jesus, and to be grateful that the God of the universe thought so much of me that He sent His Son for me.

Thanks God.

Filed under: My Journal, Uncategorized , christmas, God, holiday, Jesus

Not Good for our Economy.

Below is a story that ran yesterday. Many of you may have read this already, but the thought of this just made me sick. Both of my parents are retired from General Motors and I know the impact that it had on our family financially. The fact that thousands of people are going to be without work for a month or later right before Christmas is sad.

If you haven’t already, you need to be on your face before God and ask Him to intervene in this country. He is the only one that can do anything for us.

Chrysler closing all 30 plants for a month

By Jane Fritsch

on –>December 17, 2008 at 4:26 PM |

DETROIT — Chrysler says it will close all 30 of its manufacturing plants for a month starting Friday.

The company needs to match production to slowing demand and conserve cash.

Tighter credit markets are keeping would-be buyers away from their showrooms, Chrysler says. Dealers are unable to close sales for buyers due to a lack of financing, and estimate that 20 to 25 percent of their volume has been lost due to the credit situation.

Chrysler claims it is nearing the minimum level of cash it needs to run the company and will have trouble paying bills after the first of the year.

Operations at the 30 plants will be idled at the end of shift on Friday, Dec. 19, and will not come back online until Jan. 19, 2009, or later.

–Associated Press

Filed under: Uncategorized , automakers, Chrysler, economy, Ford, GM

Blackberry Application

I have been a blackberry user for many years. I have downloaded numerous applications and backgrounds, but I have found a bible application that blows all others out of the water. Lifechurch.tv’s tech team has done it again. They have launched the latest update to their mobile bible app called You Version. They have taken the really user friendly web application and have given it to the Blackberry and iPhone users.

Download the Blackberry app here.

Have an iPhone? Get the app here.

If you don’t have a Blackberry or an iPhone you still can get to the mobile version here.

Thanks again Lifechurch.tv

Filed under: Uncategorized , Bible, bible application, blackberry, iphone, lifechurch.tv, mobile bible

Relevant Update

Happy December to all of you. Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is around the corner. It is hard to believe that the year is about up.

I wanted to give you all an update of what we are working on for the month of December so you can pray.

We have put together a list of families that we are going to invite to a home meeting this month to share our vision and heart for the church. We are going to take some time to fellowship and have some fun as well.

We would like you all to begin to pray that God will start working on the hearts of those families and others that we may not know yet. We are going to ask for a committal as to what their involvement might be.

Our other major request this month is to nail down a meeting place. We have put a decision date as January 1st on where we are going to meet. We have looked at several schools and we are determining which one is the right place. Please pray for God’s discernment.

Thanks for all of your prayers.

Pastor Kalum
Relevant Church

Filed under: Church Planting , church, Church Planting, God, prayer, relevant church

Spiritual Apathy

Here is a great post from Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv

Fanning the Spiritual Flame

Question: What do you do when you realize you are lukewarm?

Answer: You do something drastic!

If some small change would have made the difference in your spiritual life, you would have made the change a long time ago.

You might:

• Start a seven day fast and devote extra time to seeking God.
• Take a sabbatical and pray like you haven’t in years.
• Confess to your spouse, your elders, or to trusted friends and ask for help.
• Seek spiritual counseling from another pastor or counselor.
• Take the week off and go to a hotel alone with no cell phone, no computer, and no books but the Bible.
• Read a children’s bible and pretend like you’re hearing the gospel story for the very first time.
• Repent to your family for your lack of spiritual passion and leadership.
• Tell your church honestly that you are struggling and invite them to pray for you.
• You might turn off your computer now and go somewhere and cry and repent deeply.

Whatever you do, it should be drastic and you should do it before another voice talks you out of it.

Filed under: My Journal, Uncategorized , Bible, craig groeschel, God, lifechurch, lukewarm, spiritual apathy, spiritual life

Church Plant Resource

Just found a great new resource that I wanted to share with the blogging world. If you are familiar with Portable Church Industries (PCI) or Church on Wheels (COW) then you will like this one.

PCI has formed a sister company specializing in a single box solution. If you know what you want for your new church and you do not need a consultation or training, then Church in a Box is the right solution. I just got off of the phone with Adam and he was awesome. They are able to give you the things that you need at a great price.

Check them out.

Filed under: Church Planting , church, church on wheels, church plant resources, Church Planting, mobile church, portable church, relevant church