Narnia

Last night Lynsey and I took her cousin's who are in elementary and middle school to see Narnia. They were at home, all doing homework, had no idea what was coming. Lynsey walked in their house and asked them if they wanted to go see Narnia instead of doing homework. The scene was equal to what you might find if your favorite team was losing in the super bowl but in the last second of the game the other team fumbled, turn over, an your team won. It was if we just gave the kids a million dollars.

That for me was worth the price of the movie. Beyond that the movie was good . . . somewhat entertaining . . . I guess it was about what I expected. We filled the kids with lots of sugar then returned them to their parents.

Entrusted With the Gospel

This is the most recent sermon I preached at our church entitled "Entrusted with the Gospel". I finally figured out how to post them on my blog. If you click on any of the Links you can listen to it through a web browser, or if you right click on the link and "save link as" you can put it on your computer. . . I will try to also put some up on itunes in the near future. Enjoy.

Friends

I am pleased to welcome two of my friends and former roomates to the blogging world! Welcome Dennis who knows about all things sports, and welcome Justin who is a fantastic guitar player/worship leader. Looking forward to reading your blogs.

Quote that made me laugh out loud

With all the ridiculous arguing over using the term "Christmas" or "Holiday" I read this quote from Jon Stewart that made me laugh out loud.

"Everytime you say Happy Holiday's, and angel gets AIDS."

I saw this on John Johnson's blog who has a great write up on Christmas vs. Holiday (or Holy Day). Enjoy.

Need to Laugh

For those of you who need to laugh and like Napoleon Dynamite, I have just the thing for you. This page contains quotes from Napoleon that he says throughout the film.

When somebody calls you on the phone, answer on speaker phone turn up the volume and pick the appropriate quote (i.e Hello). Try to get through the whole conversation only using the website. It's hillarious.

Luke 10

This morning I read Luke 10, there is a lot in that chapter that is worth commenting on, but as I don't have much time right now I will only comment on one thing. Jesus went to visit Martha and Mary, Martha was worried about all the details and preparations to host Jesus, and Mary simply sat at Jesus feet and spent time with him. Jesus says Mary has chosen what is better.

How do I read this? Jesus wants relationship with us, for us to be in his presence. Sometimes we can exert so much energy doing things for God, that we forget or neglect to be with God.

Art

Lysney, my wife, is just recently pursuing a dream of being a jewelery designer. She has been working for herself full time now since August. She is really doing well. Anyway, we have done a lot of shows this Christmas season. Of course, I go to help and it has been really quite fun. I meet the neatest people.

Just last weekend I met a couple who takes pictures and fames them and sells them as art. They are really quite good. I was reading a sign they had up on their booth, it said changing the world through art. When you buy a piece of art from them, they donate 30% of that to Mercy Corps which provides aid and assistance around the world. They also mentioned on the sign that their lives have been influences by the teachings of people like Jesus and Ghandi. They were the first people to assist other vendors when they arrived. I truly enjoyed meeting them, and hanging out for the weekend during the show. I must admit, I was inspired by them, as I see goodness in them, and we know that all goodness comes from God.

It saddens me that people speak about them with so much hostility without even knowing them just because they are gay. Anyway, we got invited tomorrow night to an open house at their house, they said that they liked to surround themselves by good people and they really liked us. I was honored, and Lynsey and I are hoping to go . . . I think Jesus would go.

Here . . . I will through up a few pictures of Lynsey Jewerly so you can admire, and maybe even place an order. =)

Strange

It's strange, I feel like I have let the world down. Right now, not so much because I haven't solved world hunger, but because it has been a week nice I have blogged. It is amazing the things you feel responsible for.

So this Christmas I am playing "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra for our Christmas Eve service. I, of course would be playing the part of the screaming electric guitar. I have just about got it all down. Just when I thought I was getting soft leading worship on an acoustic for years without even picking up my electric, now once again Rock and Roll has hit me like a HUGE ocean wave sweeping me away. Rock is like swallowing gum, once it is in you it never leaves!!!!

Who loves more

In Luke 7, Jesus tells a parable in response to Simon's questioning of Jesus interaction with a women who leads a sinful life.
Here is the parable:
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

The point? "Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

For numberous reasons this story in Luke 7 has been one of the most influencial passages in my life.
The biggest sinners become the biggest lovers of God and others. So let's embrace them, and demontrate love rather than retreat and condemn as Simon did.

Remember it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance.