The Web Site and Blog of Pastor Chris Brauns
I’m not saying I agree with Mike Singletary’s entire approach. The pants thing at half time is probably not something a pastor should do at a deacon’s meeting.
However, I am refreshed by a coach who gets what winning is about.
Summary: An otherwise cocky Vernon Davis got called for a personal foul. He then walked nonchalantly to the sideline. New interim coach Singletary was having none of it. He pulled Davis from the game and sat him on the bench.
Watch Singletary’s explanation here.
There is such a thing as being so right that you’re wrong. One of the most dangerous points in life is when you’re know that you’re right and you begin to really, really hold on to being right.
Let’s say that someone has offended you, and you know that you have been wronged. Many of us have a tendency at those points to hold on or to blow the thing up.
Don’t do it.
One of the verses I talk about a lot in my book, Unpacking Forgiveness, is Proverbs 19:11. “A man’s wisdom gives him patience. It’s to his glory to overlook an offense.”
There are times when the most glorious thing to do is not to hold stubbornly on to being right - - rather, let the matter go.
Of course, it takes the wisdom of Solomon to discern which times we need to stand on God’s principles, and which times we need to let go of a matter. One of the areas I spend a lot of time on in my book, Unpacking Forgiveness is how to know when to pursue resolution of an offense, and when to simply let the matter go.
I wonder if there is someone listening right now who is about to really dig in about something at church, or home. You’re sure that you’re right. And, you probably are. But, don’t insist on being right so vehemently that you end up being wrong.
Remember, a man’s wisdom gives him patience. It’s to his glory to overlook an offense. Love covers over a multitude of sins.
Mike Wittmer, author of Heaven is a Place on Earth, and the soon to be released, Don’t Stop Believing, has a blog. Click here.
Let Abraham Piper guide you through a concise tutorial on trapping gray squirrels (pestius squirrelus).
The observant preacher will find not simply one sermon illustration, but a veritable plethora of word pictures to be incorporated in this week’s homily. Indeed, some may develop an entire sermon series oriented from either the perspective of the squirrel or that of the hunter.
We here at, “A Brick in the Valley,” also recommend that you write down one or two vocabulary words. Then find a place to use words like “marauder” or “recalcitrant” by the end of work today.
You can listen to Kevin Boling’s interview of me on his show, “Knowing the Truth,” here.
Mourning Ohio State Buckeye fan, Brian McLaughlin has a very informative post regarding Christian teenagers and sex.
It is not at all uncommon to speak of “teenagers” and “sex” in the same sentence. Let’s be honest: it’s on their minds and it is on the minds of everyone who parents a teenager! Well, if your teen is an evangelical Christian you will be happy to know that the great majority of evangelical teens believing in abstaining from sex until marriage. This is good news, but it is where the good news ends…
HT: Musings of a PK
Rod Dreher has provided a nice summary of a very important book, Mark Regnerus’s Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers. This book has been on my radar for awhile, but I have not yet read it. I imagine I will very soon. So what does it say?
Read it all here.
I’ll be interviewed about Unpacking Forgiveness today (Thursday, October 30, 2008) at 12:00PM CST on the radio program, Knowing the Truth.
You can listen live online or listen to the program after it is archived. UPDATE: You can now listen here.
People like Ravi Zacharias, J.I. Packer, and Jerry Bridges have been guests on this show. I am thankful for the opportunity.
Here is information about the show taken from their web site:
The “Knowing The Truth” Radio Program, originates in Greenville, SC on a 50,000 watt station covering all of South Carolina, as well as parts of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Additionally, the program is available nationally and internationally by means of a daily live webcast via the Internet.
The program airs live on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00pm - 2:00pm on Christian Talk 660. During the program, you are invited to join the conversation by dialing 1-888-660-WLFJ(9535). Additionally, you can email your questions or comments to kevin@knowingthetruth.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Audio files (free MP3 downloads) of each of the programs are available in the “Audio” section of this website.
The program website currently (as of 9/1/08) has received over 500,000 pageviews. Additionally, 16,500 archived audio files have been downloaded from 30 different countries and all 50 states.
Read more here.
Do you ever wonder why you do not know more of the power of God at work in your life? We know that God spoke all things into existence. The Bible describes how the voice of God shakes mountains and parts the sea. One word from God will close the mouths of lions or bring young men through a blazing furnace. And, yet, we have a hard time not losing our temper with our spouses.
How can we know the gracious power of God at work in our lives?
The answer to that question has to do with a concept sometimes called “means of grace.” The Bible teaches that God does graciously work in our lives. But, he does not do this in mystical, unexpected ways. Rather, God works through certain appointed means, or in certain ways.
These ways that God works in our lives include prayer, the study of Scripture, hearing the word preached and close friendships and fellowship with other believers.
I remember when I first really begin to understand this concept of cooperating with God’s appointed means of grace. I was working on my MBA at the University of Northern Iowa. I began attending a group where the Scripture was proclaimed. I also developed some close Christian friendships and at one point made it my goal to read through the book of Philippians on a daily basis. The results were stunning. I suddenly found myself growing as a believer in ways I never could have expected or manufactured on my own.
Only believers who cooperate with God’s appointed means of grace - - who pray and fellowship and hear the Word preached will consistently know the power of God at work in their lives.
Pastor Lance Ward interacts with a quote from Unpacking Forgiveness and reminds us how any of us can know God, pastors included.
Read it here.
Read a worthwhile post from Adrian Warnock on a world-wide recession here.
