Book Review: Kindled Fire

If you know me well, you know that I pick my heroes from among dead people so that I'm less disappointed by their mistakes. In my first year at seminary, a wise professor assigned me to read Charles H. Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students. Spurgeon quickly became one of my heroes.

In January of this year I met Zack Eswine and was impressed by his heart for God, quick wit and concern for wanna-be pastor's like me. Today I just finished Kindled Fire and I want to say thanks to Zack Eswine for writing this book.

I want to follow Spurgeon's example and preach with a scripture manner. I want my life and preaching to be marked by the power of the Holy Spirit of God like Spurgeon's. In Spurgeon, I find an example of a man who struggled against depression (like I sometimes do) and saw God prove himself faithful again and again.

If you want to help me lead in this new church we're starting, would you consider reading this book too so that we might talk about it?

My New Favorite Podcasts

The following are my new favorite podcasts:

Beautiful Places with Tony Farley in HD
NPR: Car Talk's Call of the Week
Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) Audio | Podcast
(Michael Lawrence is preaching an excellent series from 2 Timothy this summer.)
TGRtv Podcast - skiing video clips from Teton Gravity Research
Newshour with Jim Lehrer Podcast | PBS
The Albert Mohler Radio Program
Discovery Channel Video Podcasts
Ask a Ninja Question 47 - "Ultimate Movie Pitch"

Freeskier Magazine's Video Podcast would still be on the list, if they ever post any new podcasts! It's August, it's hot, and I'm dying here waiting for more free skiing videos.

Camping!

We just got back from a great camping trip with friends from Rock Creek.

We got rained on last night, but that just adds to the adventure.

Look at all these climbing kids.

The Lord's Day in My Living Room

Sunday is the Lord's Day, because Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week.

Today, we worshiped Jesus with this group of people who supported us with their presence at our new and still nameless church's first worship service. Those pictured here may or may not become members of this church, but we are encouraged because God surpassed our expectations today!

We prayed. We read from the Bible together. We sang songs and hymns to God. We took an offering. I preached the first message in a series on I John that I'm calling "Making Sure". We sang to God some more. We closed by reading Numbers 6:24-26. After the service, we enjoyed spending time talking with one another over dessert. Simple. Church. Simple Church.

It's the first day of the week. Now it is our privilege to spend most of the rest of this week reaching out to unchurched people. Please pray for the believers pictured here to trust God and share their faith in Jesus with someone this week. Please pray for God to grow His church by causing men and women near us to repent and believe in Jesus and then by including them in our fellowship with the Father and the Son (I John 1:3).

Name the New Church Contest!

Entries are now being accepted for the "Name the New Church" contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries at our dinner and prayer meeting tonight. Prizes will also be awarded to the top three entries received via this blog! Categories include:

Coolest Name
Most Theologically Reflective Name
Most Culturally Relevant Name
Most Culturally Irrelevant Name
Best Use of Nearby Natural Landmarks in the Name

Don't Delay! The contest ends soon! Submit your entries by posting a comment today!

Becky's Airplane

The Lord willing, our good friend Becky will be taking this plane to Christmas Island next week. Becky was so kind and gave us and our kids a tour of this very big, very tech-y plane today.












Becky is a scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.











This is Megan and Becky standing beside the plane. Those metal doohickeys by Becky are the external components for the Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer that Becky uses in her work.







This is a view of the Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer from the inside of the plane. This doohickey is going to help Becky and other scientists learn more about how we should respond to climate change. Cool, huh?






This is the view out Becky's airplane window for the long trip to Christmas Island. Go Becky! Thanks for helping us learn how to be better stewards of God's creation and for being a good example of a God-fearing Scientist for me and my kids.

The Women Stole the Show

Meg and I went on a date last night. We ran through a surprise rain shower and got to the theater just in time for the latest Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The women definitely stole the show.
First there was Luna Lovegood. So cute and so weird.
















Then the unpleasantly pleasant Delores Umbridge sacking my favorite, Professor Trelawney, while the maternal Professor Minerva McGonnagal comes to the rescue.

And finally the EVIL Bellatrix Lestrange. Helena Bonham Carter gets my vote for best portrayal of a witch that I NEVER want to meet.