Vintage Jesus

I'm reading a book right now called "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll. The last book I recommended on this blog was unChristian and I still strongly recommend that you pick it up, but I am endorsing Vintage Jesus even more. If you've never heard of Mark Driscoll, he's a hard-hitting, beer drinking, Jesus loving, Bible preaching, in-your-face pastor who has become one of the most influential young Christian leaders in the country. On top of all that, he's hilarious and although the book has some pretty deep theology, Driscoll is one of the funniest authors around and his humor and wit make for an incredibly engaging read. This is a great book for a seasoned Christ-follower or just for somebody who wants to learn more about who Jesus really is. I strongly suggest that you pick it up, read it, and then pass it along to a friend. Just to give you a sneak preview, here's some of the content...

Chapter 1 Is Jesus the Only God?
Chapter 2 How Human Was Jesus?
Chapter 3 How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
Chapter 4 Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
Chapter 5 Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
Chapter 6 What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
Chapter 7 Did Jesus Rise from Death?
Chapter 8 Where Is Jesus Today?
Chapter 9 Why Should We Worship Jesus?
Chapter 10 What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
Chapter 11 What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?
Chapter 12 What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

Hilton Head

We're heading to the beach! As summer starts winding down and we get geared up for the fall, we're taking a family trip to Hilton Head to catch last few lazy, Summer rays before the pace of life gets hectic again. This will be the first time Connor has ever seen the ocean. I can't wait to see his reaction! I love the feeling of standing on the shore and looking out at the horizon and realizing just how BIG God really is. It is an awesome and humbling feeling. It's going to be a great week.

What did we ever do before cell phones?

I've become so attached to my cell phone that I often wonder what I ever did before owning one. I'm now getting to experience my life in the B.C. (Before Cell) years, because last week, I accidently left my phone in Honduras. At first I felt naked, but after a few days, I found myself greatly enjoying the peace. It's been amazing! I've felt much more relaxed and focused without the contstant interruptions brought on by my phone. Now, I'm actually dreading going back to the world of the wireless. Don't get me wrong, I love being in contact with my friends and family, but if you ever find yourself feeling stressed, I would strongly suggest taking a voluntary holiday from cell phone use. Believe it or not, I've found that the world actually keeps spinning even without cell phones. Maybe those Amish folks had it right after all! My next step is trading in my car for a horse and buggy.

Honduras on my Mind

I've been home from Honduras for a week, but the world seems different now. My eyes were opened to the fact that God's children live in all kinds of different circumstances. My heart was opened by the love and generosity of the Hondurans who despite a language barrier, spoke the language of love and laughter which I understood perfectly. I realized that contentment was a choice and not dependent on material possessions. I was moved by their faith, their sense of community and the love they showed towards each other and towards our team. I'm very grateful that I had the opportunity to go and the tiny village of "Dos Rios" will be in my thoughts and prayers until I have the opportunity to return.

We're heading out

Right now, I'm in the midst of loading up the car, checking my e-mail one last time, making sure I didn't forget anything vital like toothpaste and trusting Thomas the Tank Engine to entertain my kids for a few minutes while I write this post. We're heading to Kentucky to attend my brother's wedding this Friday and then I'm leaving early Saturday morning for a missions trip to Honduras, so this will be a whirlwind.

The wedding should be interesting because it's on the 4th of July and it's a ceremony that I will be co-officiating with a retired Catholic priest. Yeah...this should definitely be a memorable wedding. My brother Drew is marrying an awesome girl named Erin and we can't wait to offiicially welcome her into the family.

Please be praying for us this week that I don't kill my children on the perilous 9-hour voyage today and that I would make the most of my opportunity at the wedding to share the Good News of Jesus in a respectful way that honors the couple and captures the imagination of any unsaved folks in attendance. It's going to be a great week!