Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics & Student Ministry

My wife and I have been watching the NBA Playoffs religiously, almost every game, since the first round. In fact, we’ve been so into the Playoffs that we treated ourselves to a game. We purchased tickets and deemed them our Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Anniversary and Birthday gifts to each other. Seriously we did, don’t laugh. If you’re thinking Dave Ramsey… you guessed it; we’re students of the Financial Peace University. Anyhow, she and I went to Amway Arena and saw the Orlando Magic beat up on the Atlanta Hawks in the Conference Semifinals. It was bananas! For a few moments I felt like a ruthless, obnoxious teen or in this case it’s probably more fitting to say I acted much like that crazy adult CEO guy caught on TV throwing the basketball back at the referee. I was going nuts yelling at the players, heckling the referees and giving high fives to everyone with their hands up. I was even handing out beer… well, truth be told, I was just passing the beer that the dude next to us bought. I had to mention beer, it’s always controversial. We had an amazing time!

Since then, there has been some serious tension in my house. See, I must confess I am actually a Celtics fan. It was all good when my wife and I cheered for each other’s favorite teams but now that they’re facing each other, oh… it’s a totally different story. The tension is building too; my wife called me a traitor and threatened not to cook dinner if the Celtics won. I threatened not to shower until the series was over. Needless to say we’ve been having lots of fun bagging on each other. (more…)

Candlelight Dinner courtesy of McDonald

On May 24th I had the wonderful privilege to celebrate seven years of marriage to a beautiful, virtuous, intelligent, and warm hearted not to mention extremely patient woman (she has to be if she’s married to me) who’s become an incredible mother. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. It has been a journey filled with meaningful, joyful and tender memories.

To celebrate I surprised my wife with a romantic candlelight dinner courtesy of McDonald. I had the candles lit and soft music playing in the background. I cued up our wedding song, set it on repeat and voila the mood was set.

Women I know what you are thinking, McDonald?! YES, M-C-D-O-N-A-L-D-S!

Risky, you ask gentlemen? Nope, not at all.

And, yes, it was a total success. She laughed for a good ten minutes and even blushed. It was spontaneous, silly, fun, romantic and most importantly meaningful.

The moral of the blog, well, I dunno… it’s a random post. But, if I must have one, I guess it’s NOT to make these special celebratory moments superficial. The media is constantly bombarding us with images from Kay Jewelers portraying what “love” looks like or how the “perfect evening” could only be captured at Caesars Palace. Don’t fall for the hype! Keep it simple, be creative, even silly but most important make sure it’s meaningful. (more…)

Was Jesus Spiritual? (4 of 4)

Here is the last installments of the series.  I started writing back in March and, well,  we’re in May …sorry for dragging this thing out so long.  So far we’ve covered six of the nine spiritual disciplines that Dr. Hardin has written about in his book, “The Spirituality of Jesus.”  To review we’ve highlighted Prayer and Solitude, Resisting Temptation, Scriptural Study, Corporate Worship and Submission.  Today we will review Meal-sharing,  Simplicity, Evangelism and Proclamation.  Enjoy….

Meal-sharing

I think this is another one of those areas where I need some growing. Much like hospitality, I am often cautious of whom I invite into my life and that of my family. Dr. Hardin notes that “the table was a place of friendship and fellowship” and that “meals were shared by those agreeing to covenants, by friends and family in fellowship” and where “friends were honored and enemies ridiculed” (135). He also mentions that Jesus “shared the table with all kinds of people, regardless of their importance, ideology, or social standing” (136). It was at the table where Jesus “found opportunities for the Spirit to work through him” (137). After examining Jesus practice this discipline it speaks volumes of how we can truly pour into the life of people. Leslie Hardin hits the nail right on the head when he says, “the conversations will naturally turn to kingdom-minded things as they did in Jesus’ ministry, and, in the Spirit, the message of the grace and love and welcome of Jesus will flow through us into the hearing of those who need the church’s welcome” (147). (more…)

Jesus’ relationship with the Father in the Gospel of John

After reading the Gospel of John we clearly see John building a case that goes well beyond the other writers in the Gospels as he establishes Jesus’ divinity through his unique relationship with God the Father. He goes well out of his way to emphasize that Jesus is indeed the “Son of God.” In fact John actually explains that’s the purpose behind his writing in John 20:31, “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

John’s opening sentence and even through the first chapter unequivocally establishes the theme and tone of his Gospel by writing, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The implication of this statement implies that “the Word” not only has divine attributes but is in his totality God. John pushes the envelope even further in John 1:2 by noting that “the Word” was with God even in the beginning, before creation – he’s infinite. In John 1:3 he argues that “the Word” is creator of all things, “all things were made through him…” In John 1:14 “the Word” takes on human form and is the only Son of the Father, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” And lastly John even paints Jesus as Savior of the world, the sacrificial lamb able to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin in John1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We’re only in chapter one and already the deity of Christ has been established. (more…)