NextGenKent

What would you say is one thing you wish was better about your life?   Things on the other side of the fence hold an attraction to us--are temptations for us. It is part of our human nature.  Some of that nature helps us to search for God.  Most of it betrays us. The temptation is for us to become covetous, greedy, self-absorbed, selfishly ambitious, and hold on to the belief that the good we have is the best--for anyone and everyone.  One way we respond when we think something good we have is losing its street cred is by pretending that it is better than it really is. Mark records the prophet Isaiah's description of hypocrites in his gospel as: (1) honoring God with their lips while their heart is far from Him = How does this happen? (2) worshipping God in vain = What does this mean? (3) teaching doctrines that really are just commandments of men. ( Mark 7:6-7) Have you ever been surrounded by hypocrites? Ever been found among them? There is...

I recently performed a wedding where the routine involved nothing new. It was outside of the church, but not outside my comfort zone. It was only later upon reflection and investigation by my daughter that I had to rethink some things, specifically  our dancing to a particular song. I had actually looked forward to the dancing moments of this wedding. My wife and youngest son were home sick and since my daughter loves to dance with her daddy I thought it would be a fun binding moment for us.  So when our table was approached by a group of middle school-aged girls to come and dance with them I thought two things: 'How nice for them to ask us to join them', and 'OK, this will be fun with my daughter.' To refuse might offend as well as miss out on a moment with my kids (my middle son actually joined us too). But what I didn't know was what "wobble" meant--that was the name for the song (and dance) we were going participate in. It wasn't until the ride ...

A Reaction Tim Challies,  The Next Story:  Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion,  2011. How has the “As Seen on TV” production infiltrated our society and our churches? “A solution to what was not really a problem." We have some problems that many church-assisting companies seem to sincerely help with: discipleship training, evangelism strategies, youth and children’s ministries, etc. and offer products that are meant to assist with the overall effectiveness of those ministries. But are we creating a solution to what really isn’t a problem? What if these are merely distracting us from what is REALLY important, a focus that if was met would provide its own solution? What if we focused on loving God and repenting of sin—what it takes to move us towards God and away from our idols? Would discipleship take care of itself? Would evangelism take care of itself? Would fellowship take care of itself? Would ministry take care of itself? Would keying up our l...