Just For Laughs

An Interview with Christian Smith on “The Bible Made Impossible”

Read the complete interview with Christian Smith on “The Bible Made Impossible.”

Friday Favorites

1. Well my birthday week was concluded with Rib-eye steaks on the grill and cheesecake for dessert. Now that is how you pick a birthday meal, if I do say so myself. Thanks Ben and Loreen.

2. A good portion of our week has been watching a mama duck make her nest beside the front door of our house. We named her Pato. Although everyone that sees her calls it a him. She has laid four eggs in our flower bed. They better hatch before our new windows arrive next month. I heard a duck's nest near your home is good luck, or maybe I made that up.

3. I enjoyed going with my daughter to the library's "super hero night" I wish I had a Green Lantern costume and would have nerded it up by dressing up. Elizabeth made a costume while we were there, Lady Bug Girl. More powerful than a bee, faster than a junebug, it's Lady Bug Girl.

4. We are about to start Holy Week. Palm Sunday is this Sunday. I am looking forward to our Good Friday service, Communion together that night will be very sacred. We will take an offering for our "Care Fund," and look for ways to meet people's needs in a tangible way. Easter Sunday we will celebrate our risen Lord.

5. My favorite article of the week was, "A Scripture You Don't Believe." God loves small things. Ordinary people. Insignificant gifts and undramatic acts. I always want things to be bigger, more expensive, more popular. God has chosen the insignificant things in this world to display his glory. A boys lunch of fish and bread, the widows small offering, little towns, Bethlehem and Nazareth, and the cross. Help us to give our offerings no matter how small. To share our faith no matter how weak. To give our testimony no matter how undramatic. To encourage our neighbor, no matter how small or young or ungifted or ordinary.

6. What was one of your favorite things from this past week?

Delight In The Lord Song of The Week- Hungry

-I am empty, but I know your love does not run dry.

-I am weary, but I know your touch restores my life.

-For those of you that life has beaten down, I know Jesus will meet you in your pain and begin to lift you back up.

-We get so worried about many things, but there is only one thing that is the first and foremost necessity.

-Waiting on Jesus, quieting our souls, is how we walk.

-In Him we live, and move, and have our being.

Friday Favorites

1. Our chicken dinner after our Sunday morning service was really good, I believe that is the best spread we have ever had.

2. Congrats to Charlene Gabbert, Phyllis Lankford, Jim Massey, Gary VanBeek for being confirmed as deacons at Living Hope for the upcoming year. I am looking forward to presenting you to Living Hope this Sunday and us praying over you.

3. Our Leadership Session, "20 Ways To Lead During Easter" gave us some good direction for this Easter and for those to come.

4. Article of The Week, "10 Ways To Find More Hours In Your Day". Eat dinner at home, I need to remember that. Delagate some chores. There are many things I need to give to others.

5. Quote of the week, "Miracles flowed through Jesus’s humanity; they did not bypass his humanity." Brian Zahnd. I think many have tried to turn Jesus into superman and have lessened who he is in the process.

6. Yesterday was my birthday. I had a lot of birthday wishes and a lot of gifts. My wife gave me one of my favorites, an Incredible Hulk Balloon. "HULK SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUNY HUMAN" I am 37, how did that happen.



7. I would like to know, what was one of your favorite things from this past week?

Thank You

Thank you to everyone for the birthday cards and gifts. I am very grateful.

Delight In The Lord Song of The Week- It Is Well With My Soul

-That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

-My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

-And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.


Great Stuff

Living Hope's Chicken Dinner

Sunday Dinner

Tomorrow we are having lunch together after our morning service. If the weather is nice we will eat outside. So dress comfortably.

Friday Favorites

1. We wore shorts this week. What's up with that.

2. My daughter played a hand in a school skit. She owned that part. She made that hand come alive.

3. We collected around $40 Sunday towards BGMC. Really good. I am proud of our first Sunday.

4. We have officially entered the countdown week of my birthday. March 22. Mark your calendars people.

5. Video of the week has to be the guy riding a unicycle, wearing a Darth Vader Mask, playing the bagpipes. That guy has a lot of talent.

6. My favorite article of the week, was 12 Ways To Get Out Of A Creative Funk. A good reminder that I don't always have to study, prepare, and push myself. So I got some exercise this week, watched a movie, played a really good song


-What was one of your favorite things this week?

Delight In The Lord Song of The Week- I Know Who I Am

I can be calm, because I know who I am.

I don't have to knock myself, because I know who I am.

Even though I have failed in the past, I still know who I am.

I am yours.


Plus my daughter sings this song, awesome.

Les Miserables

We are helped and set free because God approves of what his son Jesus did, not because we deserve it.

Friday Favorites

·Jim and Joyce returned from Texas, was so glad to see them again.

·Communion on Sunday was really good. It is one of my favorite things that we do together as a church. It is sacred and we are participating in the body of Christ.

·Finally turned the corner on this cold. I can’t believe it has lasted almost a month.

·Had a great deacons meeting with Gary and Charlene. I really appreciated their wisdom in a couple of areas.

·My daughter is having a good time in gymnastics; the teacher said she has gotten a lot stronger in just a month.

·”That Was Then, This Is Now Part 2” is in the bullpen and ready to go. I am looking forward to Sunday. Here is Part 1

·My favorite article of the week: Pick Up Lines For Christian Dudes. And no I could not spend even one hour on pinterest.

Delight In The Lord Song of The Week- This Kingdom

*Certain songs are so powerful that you remember a particular worship service where the song was sung, this is one of those songs for me.

*I remember worshiping God to this song on a wintery Sunday morning. It was below zero outside, but it was warm inside. Living Hope did this song that morning and it has stuck with me ever since.

Friday Favorites

I saw another blogger do this, and thought it was good. Listing a few of your favorite things from the past week.

*I wrote my sister a letter this week. I miss her and have not talked to her in quite some time.

*I got a good direction for our upcoming sermon series from the Book of Acts, I am ready for Sunday.

*I got to walk with my daughter to school 2 times this week. That is one of my favorite things.

*I lifted weights again today. I have not done that since June of last year. I felt pretty good

*I am finishing up "The King's Cross" by Timothy Keller. It is a good book. A good commentary on the gospel of Mark.