NextGenKent

"I just want to be a Christian I don't want to be a disciple. I like my life the way it is." I have been putting together an annotated bibliography of books for evangelism and I have really enjoyed the books I have reviewed for this (it is a part of my own personal study and research to make a course I am teaching in Evangelism and Discipleship hopefully more effective). I came across the above quote from Greg Ogden's book which quotes a Scot McKnight's book . The full quote is below. [For a good review on King Jesus Gospel .] " Dallas Willard shares a story from a pastor who challenged his congregation to become disciples. In response to this challenge, a woman said to her pastor after worship, "I just want to be a Christian. I don't want to be a disciple. I like my life the way it is..." I have been struggling for some time to put into words the feels of angst and frustration over the gospel meaning salvation from hell and not entran...

Most of us believe critically thinking about things is good. Most of the people I hang with know they don't just do what they feel like doing. Education and learning happen by levels and degrees--first grade, then second, Algebra I, then II, etc. Your thinking skills can graduate to a more critical thinking level as you add different knowledge bases to it--an understanding of Science can add to your ability in being an Accountant or Pastor. A video entitled " Ed Schultz Yells at guest Ryan Anderson, then cuts his mic " made me think of the following comparison when it comes to how some people think. Let me use gears as a metaphor for thinking. Getting our gears turning is like using the energy necessary for thinking. Some people think egg beaters and others like watches. Both ways of thinking are viable forms for accomplishing what they were created for. Keeping time is much more of an intricate process than beating eggs. An egg beater has two gears inte...

If you have ever looked back on something you have gone through that was horrible and said, "I wouldn't EVER want to go through that again, but I am glad for what came out of it," I think you are on to what both Paul and James wrote about. James penned those words I am not certain how to apply. "Count it all joy." I'd love to! Then come the words, "when you meet trials of various kinds." Okay, sure. What?! Somehow the knowing is supposed to help: "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." I like being steadfast. It is like that picture of the lighthouse being bashed over and over again by the waves, and yet it remains still beaming for all those who are looking toward it. Paul writes about that knowing too. Interesting to note that you cannot know something unless you have been through it. Some of us "know" things very well. Some of us live those things on a daily basis. Some of those things i...

Have you ever been commended for anything recently? Perhaps you’ve needed a recommendation for a job and had to seek out your previous employers. Commendations are commendable, and recommendations are nice when they are favorable, but a re commendations and recommendations still needed today? Should they be sought out? What if they didn’t need to be? What would THAT look like? Paul opens a paragraph to his letter to a group of believers living in Corinth about this. They apparently lived by commendations and recommendations. We read in 2 Corinthians 3:1-11 , Paul’s opening question for the Corinthians is about commendation and if he and his co-traveling friends needed recommendations from others for them to gain a level of respect in their eyes. Paul is telling those believers that they themselves are Paul’s testimony, but of what? The work Paul and friends have done in their community. Paul reaches beyond the temporary world we live in to the eternal world...

This time of year seems to come faster each year. I think that is the definition of aging. I love symbolism and the messages they communicate and this time of year is full of them. Take the manger. Whether it was a feeding trough of wood, or a hewn rock to hold feed, or whatever you imagine, the couple made due with what they had. Do you think couples are still doing this today? Joseph and Mary were supposed to be met by family who were to house them because … they were family. Something always seemed strange to me about this story—no room in the inn. What? Did they think because Joseph took an “adulterous’ woman as his wife they couldn’t suspend judgment to help them? WTC! The expecting couple were coming from Nazareth because of the stupid governmentally imposed census and you can’t house them? Some family you are … Do you think couples are still dealing with this today? Angels are the spoilers of this judgmental attitude. They give the message of the Messiah...

I've worked with a man who told me that if you think it you might as well say it.  I disagree. Thinking is done for many reasons. It leads to acting, but sometimes it doesn't.  I would call that "contemplation" which is a very important skill these days. It is in the area of contemplation where I believe the Bible has much to say.  We think about yesterday (memory, how we lived, consequences of decisions made);  We think about today (awareness, living life, making decisions);  We can think about tomorrow (dream, believe, hope, plan, what decisions will we make?). It is very important what we think on because it affects our lives, how to live them well and remain healthy. After all, the greatest commandment speaks about what we love God with = ALL our minds. Much of our thinking comes from trial and error and having a standard for comparing.  What are some other benefits of thinking well?  What are the consequences of not thinking we...

Below is a post I made to my fifth online class I am currently teaching. I felt it necessary because the thoughts have been building up within me. I know what it is like to have become a learner again. I try to keep this mentality in life: with my wife, my kids, my coworkers, my students, my fellow Jesus followers, and with those in the world. Remaining a life-long learner is so important, even critical. I would love your response. Pick a point of contention and give me some feedback or even pushback. Either way, I want to learn from you. >>>>>>> This could be you. One of the things I remember in going back to school for my 2nd masters and then my doctorate is the feeling of angst in that first class. It took a couple sessions for me to remember that I was not a teacher but a student. I needed to come down from my being a teacher for many years and sit again with a humble mind and heart to learn from those who have given their lives to study and k...