Here is a video of clips from my Shepherds Conference 2011 trip, including music from the conference, preaching clips, and photos.
Enjoy!
Category : Just For Fun
Robbed Hell – C.A.S.T. Pearls Presents from Canon Wired on Vimeo.
So a buddy of mine showed this to me the other day, and I wanted to share it. If you have seen the promo video's of Rob Bell's "Love Wins" book, you will enjoy this even more.
Yes, this is a funny spoof, but don't miss the points that are being made.
For more in-depth info on this book, here are a couple of links:
Panel discussion led by Albert Mohler: http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/03/23/panel-discussion-rob-bell-and-love-wins/
A blog post by Justin Taylor: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/03/13/rob-bells-love-wins-a-response/
Q & A with Phil Johnson and John MacArthur
In regards to preaching through the gospels:
In regards to preaching through the gospels:
- 30 plus years focus on the life of Jesus, and the gospels never grow old
- Christ is the most riveting, compelling person.
- Christ is the most riveting, compelling person.
Will there come a time when you retire?
Look, if I makes sense, then leave me alone. I have no interest in retirement.
Funny Quote: "The only time I listen to an old sermon of mine is to find out what I believe."
What are the most difficult changes that you wanted to do when you first came to Grace?
To see in place, mature elders. The biggest challenge was to excerise patience in setting that in place.
If you could go back and give advice for the young John MacArthur, what would it be?
Patience. Patience means that I needed to know where each person was individually. Each person is at a different level, a different place in life. Give instruction patiently. It's not patience with a clock (saying 'I'll give them 5 years to grow in this area'.)
What is the secret to staying in one place (church) for song long?
I have a profound attachment to this church. This is where God has settled my soul and my heart.
Funny Quote (in regards to his biography that was just written): "People should not have a biography until they are dead. It's embarrassing, and it's strange."
Wise words: "Beware the preacher who is the hero of all of his own stories."
My Thoughts:
I must say, I had a great time listening to John answer these questions, and more. There is something to say about a man of his leadership who is willing to open up very candidly in front of all these other men, and give more insight into who he is, and what wisdom God has taught him along the way. A big thanks to John MacArthur for that.
Here is an excerpt from Jon Acuff's Blog "Stuff Christians Like".
He wrote this after making some observations during the music at his church the day before. It is the progression (6 total steps) of clapping during songs.
I found it pretty funny, and true. Enjoy!
"1. We get the “call to arms.”
This is when the worship leader tells everyone in the crowd to start clapping. Often, he or she, will raise their hands above their head to give you a visual of how the whole thing is supposed to go down. It’s an exciting moment, the world is so fresh and new. We’re all a little intoxicated on the sense of potential and possibility. So together, we start clapping.
2. We realize that there’s no leader.
Eventually, the worship leader stops clapping above their head. Either they start playing an instrument or just grab their microphone in kind of a dramatic, Creed-like moment. Suddenly, we in the crowd realize no one is leading this clap-a-thon. We scan the stage for direction but no one bails us out. The main singer is focused on the song and the back up singers are doing some sort of rhythmic clapping that is beyond us. It’s like the Phd program of clapping. At least 15% of people quit clapping right here.
3. We’ll give you the first verse and that’s it.
Most people feel pretty generous if they clap for the entire verse. We won’t go the whole song, but at least we pitched in. It’s the equivalent of serving at church by stacking up chairs. You still feel like you gave something back to the church, but you didn’t have to interact with anyone or be overtly compassionate. 40% of people quit clapping here.
4. We find out the chorus is faster.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Just when some of us have decided to clap for the second verse too, we run into a chorus that defies all logic. It’s suddenly faster than the verse was and we don’t know what to do. Do speed up our clapping too? Do we just stop clapping and pick back up on the second verse? Somebody, please, a little help. 20% of people quit here.
I thought this was a perfect article to post being as how we just had the Children's Choir at my church do a Handbell presentation…enjoy!
Below is a post from Jon Acuff's Blog "Stuff Christians Like"
Handbells
If you’ve never experienced a handball choir, then you my friend are missing out on some white gloved awesomeness. Growing up in Massachusetts, I never saw a handbell choir. (Do they have them out West? Is this only a Southern thing?) But when I went to Samford University for college I was enthralled. It just seems like a pretty arbitrary instrument to make a choir from. Why not a triangle choir or a tambourine choir? How did we settle on handbells? (Please insert your own cow bell joke.) Today, with a fabulous guest post from Amanda, we all get a lesson in the wonder that is the handbell, enjoy!
THE 7 PEOPLE EVERY HANDBELL CHOIR NEEDS:
1. The Prima Donna
She’s is listed first because she’s always listed first. She’s better than you, and you both know it. She’s not happy unless she has at least two bells in each hand, and when members of your choir miss a rehearsal, she’s known to commandeer their bells and play them in conjunction with her own. She’s like the monkey grinder street musician that can play 47 instruments at once. She could probably play the entire piece by herself and doesn’t really need you, but one step at a time. She can’t just have a coup d’etat and overthrow the Director….at least not yet.
2. The Legacy
Her grandparents played handbells. Her parents played handbells. In a few more years, her daughter will be joining the choir too. This member has handbells in her blood. Sometimes she can become a Prima Donna. A Legacy member can be sniffed out by choosing older pieces of music. She will be unable to refrain from saying, “Hey, this is my grandmother’s handwriting on this music!” She may also subscribe to Reader’s Digest and love episodes of Matlock, which is a weird thing for a 17-year-old to do.
3. The Incredible Hulk of Handbells
Burly and strong, this token male plays the big bells. He’s the guy standing at his own table with at least a dozen bells larger than your head in front of him. Bells that you would need two hands for, he can pick up with ease in one. He’s like the Thor of handbells. And when you finally see a bell that takes both of his massive fists to hold, you think he could have given Quasimodo a run for his money.
4. The Handyman
This indispensable member of the choir often seems to be the most popular after rehearsal, with everyone crowding around him trying to get him to tighten their bell. Give him a bell and he can have it fixed in five minutes with a screwdriver, duct tape, and bubblegum. You’ve got to love a choir that requires one member to a MacGuyver. This guy is like the NASCAR pit crew of handbells.
5. The Nickelback
This person either can’t read music or has very limited range, like a former trombone player who can only read bass clef. She’s sometimes mistaken as a Prima Donna because she’s so territorial, but it’s not about territory. It’s about being able to play. She can’t switch spots with you because she can’t read the music at the other spot. So please, stop bothering her. She is a one hit wonder, or rather a one bell wonder and she would sooner hit you over the head with her bell than give it up. Like Nickelback’s endless stream of songs that all involve you living like your dying, if today was your last day, remember the photographs, this person’s bell playing all sounds the same.
6. The Mercenary
This member does not even go to your church. Likely they attend a contemporary church nearby. So most Sunday mornings they’re singing their fancy hymnless devil music, but come Sunday afternoon they’re at your church ringing like the most holy. In rare cases, a mercenary plays at more than one church. This factor can be tested by trying to change the time of handbell rehearsal one day. If they complain, then it’s probably because they have another rehearsal to get to. They also tend to have above average forearms.
7. The Director
The Director has unnatural powers bestowed directly upon her by God. This crucial member has the power to make you take your hands off the bells with a flick of her wrist. She’s been known to simultaneously direct and play to make up for that one empty spot. She can catch accidentally thrown bells out of midair. Often, she doubles as the Handyman. Don’t cross this magical creature. She holds more power in her baton than you will ever see in your life.
This is a pretty funny blog post that I read today on the "Stuff Christians Like" blog. He was going over different situations that come up during the passing of the offering plate ha-ha (thing's I'm sure we all have run into). Here is a small excerpt:
Curtis writes:
"What other offering shenanigans have you witnessed? Here are a few of my favorites:
1. In No Man’s Land:
When there are 20 spaces between you and the next person on your row, so you have to awkwardly scoot/walk all the way over to the next person to hand them the offering plate (especially when they don’t meet you 50/50)."