Posts by Scott Shoopman
How to register for The Bridge Online Directory
NEWER POSTS WILL APPEAR BELOW THIS ONE IN FEBRUARY. To emphasize the Online Directory during the month of February we’re keeping this post at the top of the blog.
__________________________________
How to register for The Bridge’s Online Directory
Read MoreIs the World about to End?
Have you seen the ads and the billboards? May 21, 2011 is Judgement Day according to the person/people behind the various advertisements. I am not an expert by any wild imagination, but really?????
I cannot remember any specific instances, but I know that the “End” has been predicted several times in my life-time and probably will continue to be predicted until Jesus returns. The apostles were looking for the second coming of Jesus for years which is probably why the gospels were written so late in their lives – they did not see the need because Jesus was coming back and they thought it would be in their lifetime.
Is it possible, sure. But the truth is that we should be ready NOW – not in 6 months. Jesus will return and if I am even partly right about the book of Revelation in the Bible, there will be a judgement day and a it will be unlike anything we could ever imagine.
The current prediction is based on “numerology” and my math skills are a bit rusty, but it sounds a lot like that trick where you take your age, multiply it by 7, add 38, divide by … you get the picture. It also has a limit on the number of “spaces” in heaven. Hmmmm not real sure about that either.
But, it does at least make me ponder – am I ready? Am I sure? What about you???
Read MorePlan Bs and Thanksgiving
I am reading a book that Mitch Comstock let me borrow called Plan B – by Pete Wilson. The “catch phrase” on the cover asks, “What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you though He would?” The title itself grabbed me because there are times when I thought my entire life was a Plan B! I encourage you to take the time to read the book because if you are not in a Plan B, the chances are pretty good you will be and this book offers some great Biblical guidance.
Pete and Josh have both hit upon the same phrase, Pete in the book, Josh in a sermon recently; “Do you want God or just the stuff God can provide?” (Quoted as close as possible from memory) This phrase has haunted me as I examine my own life. I only have to listen to my typical prayer life to see that all too often the stuff is high on my priority list. I really struggle with this question and this season it seems to be even more in the forefront of my mind. Thanksgiving. What am I thankful for?
Just today I received a “gift” that could only have been from God. Am I thankful for the gift? YES!!! I am always amazed at how God provides for me and my family, even when I did not pray for this provision. Was I pleased that God was with me, honestly – I probably was more surprised than anything because I had not prayed for this provision. That is frustrating for me, but exciting too – God knows.
I wish I could just be like my dog Buddy. Buddy depends on me for food, water and shelter. He will even make his needs known to me as best he can. But, early in the morning he waits at the back door for his morning food and water doing circles when he sees that I am up and headed his way. When I come out the door with his food, what does he want FIRST? ME! Sure he is hungry, thirsty – he knows I will take care of that, but he first wants me to love on him, to be with him and in truth, I think if I continued to pet him all day, he would never touch his food. To love God the way Buddy loves me would go a long way with my relationship to Jesus.
Read MoreMeaningless
<div class=\"postavatar\"><span style=\"border:0\">
</span></div>
I have been reading in Ecclesiastes recently and have decided that this is one odd book of the Bible. Think about it. Especially if you are a “westerner” and have a decent lifestyle, not even an above average lifestyle – this book of the Bible is for us.
I am not prone to in-depth study of scripture, but this book intrigues me. The simple phrase; “Meaningless, everything is meaningless” has me wondering why I do 80% of what I do. Also, is it really possible to live in such a way as to NOT be consumed by all this meaningless “stuff”? If I were to track my time, I wonder how much time is spent in pursuit of or in maintenence of “stuff”. I know, I know – we have to “provide” for our family, but to what extent and at what cost?
Tonight I was visiting my parents in Nashville. They still live in the home that I consider “home”. They bought the home about 35 years ago. For the previous 5 years, they lived 3 doors up the street in an identical home, so 40+ years on the same street in the same home. In that same time, I have moved 13 times not including in and out of college – and all but two moves were after I married Marianne.. Why so many moves? Provide. ( all but the last 2 anyway)
Not unlike the author of Ecclesiastes I have been in pursuit of “It”. “It” can look different for each of us, but if we really look at “It”, we will realize that; “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecc 1:9) The root cause is the same, the object may have changed with the time, but the root – Selfishness.
We expect a similar lifestyle as that of our parents, but that is our starting point and it took them 30+ years to get there!! Each generation carries on that tradition!
I am still reading and have skipped around a bit, but I have yet to see where the author ever attempted to improve the life of another person directly. No mention of any real relationships, just “work”. I am sure that the writer cared for his wife (wives) and children – he provided for them well. Sound familiar?
If only he were in a House Group!!!
Read MoreDecisions
<div class=\"postavatar\"><span style=\"border:0\"></span></div>
I need your help. For the past 6+ years as a church, we have been giving out water bottles with our Logo to visitors. I think it has worked well and it allowed us to provide additional info to our visitors. But…
We want something new, fresh, cost-effective (cheap), and hopefully a bit different. Something that a visitor would not toss in the trash as soon as they arrived home. Something that is a good representation of The Bridge Church, but not too “churchy”.
This is where you help us – what would be a good gift for a visitor to The Bridge?
scott shoopman
Connections Pastor
Read MoreMore Information
CLICK HERE