Posts by Josh
A few words about this weekend’s WG’s…
Unedited picture taken in Tohoku on March 11, 2011
As most of you know, we started the “2011″ series this week with a bang, looking back on the killing of Osama bin Laden through the lens of Scripture. As we expected, it stirred DEEP emotions in the church body as we applied the gospel to a very raw spot in people’s hearts. In that light, as we’ve been looking ahead to the next 4 weeks we’re realizing two things…
- There’s a very high ceiling to the potential impact of the series. We had tons of visitors in WG’s this weekend and unique visitors to our website in the last two days, apparently to either download the podcast or get directions for the upcoming week. We’re realizing we desperately need to equip our church body to “think Christianly” about everything and to be able to see the world through the lens of the gospel.
- We need to give a “heads up” for the weeks of the series. A lot of people left Sunday and either told me or emailed me something like “Man, I wish I’d have known what we were talking about. I would’ve invited __________“. If you’ve got friends or family you’re praying to come to know Christ, we don’t want to miss that opportunity. We also want to give parents a heads-up in case there’s something they’d consider PG-13 for their kids as a few of the weeks look back at especially “heavy” things.
- This weekend we’re looking back at the Tohoku, Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The Wikipedia page can be seen HERE.
- We’ll be showing a short video that captures the sheer tragedy of that event. No persons are seen being killed in the video that we’ve been able to see (it’s a large-shot video, but I’ve combed it thoroughly), but it is overwhelming to see the damage.
- We’ll be hitting what many people have called “The Problem of Evil” that events like this call to mind. After Tohoku, many people were asking, “How can things like this happen if God is both in control and good?” If you have friends or coworkers who are skeptics or if you’re a skeptic, this week is yours. It’s a very “skeptics welcome” week.
What makes business Christian?
Lately, I’ve started to notice that many Christians view their workplace as an obstacle to ministry. ”If I didn’t have to work so much, I could do more ministry!”, they’re tempted to say. Or they feel that there are “Christian jobs” (pastors, authors of Christian books, Christian music industry employees, Lifeway employees, etc) and then there are “secular jobs” (plumbers, CPA’s, engineers, etc) that really aren’t important in comparison. In other words, in many Christian businessmen’s and businesswomen’s minds, it’s Gospel vs. Work in their minds.
In Scripture, we see a very different approach to work. In Scripture…
- There is no sacred/secular work divide because work itself is a God-given and God-glorifying gift (Genesis 2:15)
- God uses people in the marketplace for some of his greatest redemptive work in the world (Joseph was the equivalent of an economist, Nehemiah was a high-ranking political official, Jesus’ disciples were tradesmen, etc)
- Christians aren’t called to leave their “secular” realms, but to bring the gospel to bear on them for God’s glory (Matthew 5:13-16)
Daylight Savings
Don’t forget, Bridge Fam. You gain an hour of sleep this weekend. Daylight Savings is this Saturday night!
Read More2011 Series promo & schedule…
We’re starting this weekend. Praying that God will give us eyes to see the world through His lens and hearts shaped by the gospel. See you Sunday, Bridge Fam…
Read MoreSERIES SCHEDULE
the killing of Osama Bin Laden
Tohoku, Japan earthquakes and tsunami
a divided nation: congress narrowly avoids govt shutdown
2 billion watch the royal wedding
a generation’s luminary dies: Steve Jobs
3 incredible links for parents…
I stopped posting links last year (for a reason I can’t remember right now), but came across a few things lately that were too good not to share. I read three posts lately on parenting that were so good I saved them to come back to in coming years. Here’s a little link-love for parents…
- Justin Taylor (one of my favorite bloggers) gives a quick and insightful rundown of Grace-based parenting vs. Fear-based parenting
- JD Greear masterfully answers the question “When do you try to get your kids to accept Christ?“
- Josh Harris (a homeschool parent) shares a humble and very wise rundown of some common Homeschool blindspots. (Written by a homeschooling parent and posted here by a guy who will probably homeschool his kids for some portion of their education)
More Information
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