Reading through 1st Kings, I came across a passage where God is explaining what will happen to His people if they turn from Him, disobey His commands & worship things other than Him. Read this and see if it sounds familiar:

“Israel will be become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.”

That is what happens when we leave God out of our churches & Christ out of our Christianity. It happened to ancient Israel and it seems to me that it still happens every day

“Most of our student ministries are known for camps, retreats, programs, concerts, ski-trips, fund-raisers, and all-nighters. And few are known for the sweet aroma of Christ in the lives of teenagers.”

Eric Geiger & Jeff Burton in “Simple Student Ministry.”

I love you guys.

Just wanted to let you know.

If you need anything, don’t hesitate to get ahold of me. Have an awesome Monday.

Grace & Peace
Adam

God tests you.

I mean, God didn’t tell me this. But it seems like God tests me.

And I don’t think it’s because God is uber-concerned with my test results.

I think it’s because God wants to show me where I really am.

It isn’t so much about getting a 97% on God’s test.

But more-so about God’s tests serving as a great big “YOU ARE HERE” arrow on our life.

So don’t get pissed at God when you fail.

Get pissed at yourself.

And then do something about it.

In the last 10 years of my life, I’ve been to A LOT of conferences. And they’ve been awesome (except for one that was super lame).

But this is the thing: you go to a conference and it’s like putting your brain in hyper-drive. It goes spinning at 10,000 mph for the next week. But then what? Maybe a few changes are made, maybe a few new “nuggets” of info get stored into your brain. Maybe not.

Retreat. A time of pulling back. A time of regrouping. A time to slow down, instead of speed up.

Rob Bell – who receives criticism for being TOO creative in his preaching – says he hasn’t been to a pastors conference in years. But he has started doing a lot more “slowing down.”

Think about it. Which “superstar” pastor or youth pastor is going to conferences? I’d say hardly any. I’d bet most all are putting on the conferences. They’re not sitting in the middle of the crowd to get into worship, they’re sitting backstage with the other “superstar” pastors praying, laughing, and talking.

So think about it, if we’re trying to be like those “superstar” pastors. If we’re trying to tap into a depth of relationship and wisdom, then shouldn’t we unplug? Shouldn’t we – when we need recharged – slow down instead of go into hyperdrive?

Good things happen at conferences. I’m not afraid of them. I’d love to be going to SYMC this weekend (they dWo A LOT to make small, intimate connections happen).

But if given a choice, I’d choose retreat. I’d choose a weekend in the woods with a handful of close friends. I’d choose to be close with 20 people and sit in prayer, worship, and discussion for a couple of days.

Which is why I’ll be attending Seismos on March 20-22. There are still a few spots available. Will you join me?

• Seismos information page: http://joeldaniel.wordpress.com
• Seismos Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251227003445
• Download Seismos registration packet (PDF): http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=joeldaniel.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjoeldaniel.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fadvert2.pdf

I like it when my wife kisses me.

It’s fun. And makes me think I’m cool.

But sometimes I’m a butthead.

In such cases, kisses are less frequent.

Which is where forgiveness comes in.

I need to seek and accept my wife’s forgiveness so I can accept and enjoy her love.

(see that last sentence? now watch this…)

I need to seek and accept God’s forgiveness so I can accept and enjoy God’s love.

(see what I did there?)

Two questions that can shape our future action:

1. What does it look like when God’s Kingdom prevails?

• redemption. reconciliation. healing. forgiveness. growth. unity. love. fun. diversity. passion. joy. light. hope.

2. What does it look like when God’s Kingdom doesn’t prevail?

• materialism. greed. lieing. shallowness. legalism. disrespect. murder. lust. apathy. hate. darkness.

Over the past 6 years, I’ve talked to SO SO SO many people about their understanding of God and faith and whatnot….

Here is the key. Here is the root of it all.

Scripture.

What you believe about Scripture is the root of everything else you believe. Everything stems from that.

If you believe that the Bible is God’s love letter, then you read verses a certain way. You understand Jesus a certain way. You see church as a certain thing.

But if you think the Bible is a history of God’s interaction with humanity, you’ll treat those same things much, much differently.

If you think the Bible is the COMPREHENSIVE word of God, then you filter EVERYTHING through the lens of Scripture.

If you believe the Bible is merely 1 sources out of many sources of God’s Word, then your interaction with God is going to be massively different.

If you’re trying to understand your own thoughts about God, take some time (maybe a year) and do some digging and figure out what you think the Bible is.

These are questions I ask myself each Sunday?

• Isn’t it theologically wrong to call a building “church?”
• Is God proud of us for our faithfulness to a denomination?
• Isn’t it really, really shallow when we call a half hour of music “worship?”
• Are there people who are withholding their talents and time from others?
• Would Jesus be bored at church?
• Would Jesus know that our church service is supposed to be about him?

And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substanceBut you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand