Sure, they won just today by a score of 3-1 over Australia, but this video shows just how well our team is representing our country off of the field while in South Africa for the World Cup. Thought I would post the video below to remind us (as Americans) that we really do have the opportunity to bring joy to other countries. I’m looking forward to doing that in a few weeks when I travel with Marla to Cambodia! Thanks for the reminder guys!

You might hate rock music, but do me a big favor and just watch the video and hear what God might be saying. Please?

I’m a big fan of Skillet, and am thankful to have had the opportunity to hang out with them a bit. There’s lots of church music out there whose lyrics might come straight out of the Bible. You might consider that “Christian” music. Does it challenge you to actually WAKE UP and take another step in faith? That’s what this song does for me. Enjoy the video! I’d love to hear what kind of music causes you to think about things that matter eternally? Since that is ALL that matters.

Not sure why God has me writing this at the moment, but I haven’t blogged in a few days – and this is what is weighing on my heart.

Being a disciple doesn’t come easily
The past few months I’ve started to speak out a bit more about the local monthly (free) gatherings that are starting to take place across the globe via the Digital Disciples network. Some people respond by saying “I wish there was a group in my city…..it sounds so cool” or ask “could you stream your monthly gathering in Columbus live over the internet so we can sit in on it from the comfort of our couch”. Obviously paraphrased from responses I’ve heard!

I’ll be honest. I know there are some people who “have heard” about Digital Disciples. They feel like they should get involved, but they didn’t start it. They’d rather stick to the ministries that have their name on them, like living the Christian life is all about knowing who’s doing the most good. That’s what I love most about this discipleship network that is growing. It’s completely grassroots. No funding, no business plan, and honestly no measurement of what the world would call “a success”. Find a coffee shop or location that works, get together once per month and watch God move.

The way I look at it, it’s already a HUGE success. I get to meet with a fellow disciple tomorrow for lunch. Someone that’s been placed in a tough position, but has as much tech skills as the rest of us that meet here in town. What an honor!

The challenge for us all
Do you enjoy growing in your understanding of technology or creativity and have a passion to follow Christ? Are there at least two more individuals in your city who could meet with you on a monthly basis? Imagine forming a group where the sky is the limit to both your tech / creative understanding and in the transparency of your life of faith / spiritual growth! I think it’s time we realize just how important people are, and stop focusing on “what we can do” or the “services we have to offer”.

How about you? You spend time listening / giving lately? Or does everything you touch involve receiving only? The feet of the disciples had to move. If they were still alive on earth today they wouldn’t just be creating online ministries. They would be living them.

I’ve questioned whether or not I should post this, but here it goes! I’m taking yesterday’s post (friend Mitch and his sweet design studio “Studio NashVegas“), and a conversation I had with a friend today as signs that now is fine! In case you are confused with the title, I’m hoping this helps….

This weekend Larry King invited Jennifer Knapp, award-winning Christian musician who is now a professing homosexual, into an interview. You can browse all over YouTube and check out the interview videos. I’m not writing this to bash Jennifer. She’s had enough of that. I am standing up for the fact that God’s Word is clear and a life lived in following Christ is a life of repentance (privately or publicly – it doesn’t matter how or where). From the interview (and many other articles), it’s obvious she’s not repenting.

She goes on to say that those who believe that homosexuality is a sin have wrongly interpreted “Greek” scripture. Sorry Jennifer, but homosexuality doesn’t stop short of the Greek text (Sodom and Gomorrah, etc. – Hebrew). His standard against the sin of homosexuality continues throughout the New Testament (“Greek” text). In case you’re questioning that, you can read at least one obvious instance in Romans 1:24-27.

I write this because I care deeply for the church (the Monday – Saturday church outside four walls). A church (me included) that sins every day. But a church that stands firm on repentance being just as much a part of life as love is. Obviously the people that are standing up for God’s Word love Jennifer. If they didn’t love her (like I do), they wouldn’t take the time to pray, write blogs, send her emails, direct messages via Twitter, etc. Why wouldn’t they just give up on her? Really?

And obviously, by the title of this blog post, I believe the cross is being shared with less and less confidence. God’s Word is being faded out by much of Christian music, often replaced with politically correct ideas to gain sales. Just some, not all of “Christian music” (to be clear). I won’t get into how liberalism seems to be predominant in the same circles. Nashville struggles with becoming like Las Vegas. The problem? Whatever happens in Las Vegas really doesn’t stay there. It’s time we gave up on that idea. Pray for me and for yourself, just as much (if not more) than Jennifer. That we won’t stray from being people that repent for our actions. It’s not perfection that is required, it’s that we acknowledge the work of the cross and why that was even necessary.

A pretty quick turnaround on the new Throw Mountains website. I designed the brand / site for a group of 5 friends that will be traveling across the country ministering on a “a pro-church tour and online community for 20/30-somethings and the churches who love them”.

Be sure to connect with the individuals (their Websites and Facebook / Twitter accounts are all listed on this page of the site). I would also suggest connecting with the group on Facebook and Twitter and inviting them to your town or coming to one of their events.
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