Apr 08 20
“During the Eucharist, the child of God remembers the past in thanksgiving, experiences the grace of God in the present, and looks forward to the great feast promised in heaven.” - Bill Hull
Feb 08 11
As I sat back and read the news of the tornados the ripped through the south east last week I knew that we as a church needed to do something about it. So I made some calls and got some info about a church in Jackson, TN that was working to help the students at Union University who lost their dorm (the whole thing). So we put the word out that we were collecting supplies to send up there and the response was amazing. We filled vacum sealed bags winter jackets and pullovers and boxes of tolitries to send up there to ship out tomorrow. God worked through our people and helped them see what they are capable of and we can help in more meaningful ways than just writting a check.
This coming Sunday we are doing all over again!
Nov 07 07
There is a new movie coming out in just a few weeks called “The Golden Compass”. It is receiving a lot of press and scrutiny from the media and especially Christians. The author, Phillip Pullman is an outspoken atheist and in 2003 told “The Sydney Morning Herald”, “My books are about killing God.”
We want to to make you aware of this book and the intentions of what conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman “the most dangerous author in Britain and described him as “the writer as the atheists would have been praying for, if atheist prayed.”
What does this mean for us Christians?
-Nothing. The devil is attacking us on every front already.
-We should not be afraid of this movie. Great conversations can be had if we are well informed about what he is talking about in his books. We can talk with our children about how we the devil works in ways to make sin look good and attractive (like in a movie or popular book). 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV), Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Please checkout these websites for yourself and make a well informed opinion of Pullman and his books so you can tell your friends and family.
Snopes.com
-http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
The Catholic League -http://catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2007&month=October&read=2322
Jun 07 01
This is going to be another busy weekend for us as we have brought in our top candidate for our open Senior Minister position. We had a great time tonight with the search team (they did a great job and really plowed through the resumes with guidance from the Holy Spirit pretty fast) and our candidate and his wife tonight. It was a nice laid back gathering. For the team they got to put a whole person with the bits a pieces that we have learned from him along the way and for them they got to meet some of the hard workers and leaders in the church. The rest of the weekend is jammed pack with lunches and dinners, meetings and interview, plus him speaking at three service. Then more meetings, lunches and dinners with a lot of key people and the Realtor. Hopefully God will continue to guide us in this direction and we will vote on him a week from this Sunday. I can’t wait. I know God is pulling the pieces of His puzzle together for this part of the Kingdom and I have a feeling its going to be a new direction where God is going to open up doors for impacting our community.
May 07 14
Sometime I think we miss small blessing (what follows does not define my whole view of blessings, but only a small part) if we only see what we do as having no bearing on the fact that God works through us even when we do things for ourselves. If that makes any sense to you keep reading.
I performed two weddings a couple of weekends ago and with the money I received for them was able to buy a Nintendo Wii without having to dip into my own bank account to buy it, which was my biggest concern and the reason I hadn’t gotten one yet. The Wii is really cool but my wife already made it into the story books as one of the people who have thrown the Wii remote. It was really funny and the remote made it through ok and still works fine.
I have a favorite coffee cup and a few weeks ago a friend sent me an email to about trying out a new one from the same company with a better leak proof lid but they only had 200 to give away. I sent away an email to the lady and she emailed me back and I’m getting to try out this new mug and its pretty rockin it just needs a handle (my only complaint so far).
Anyways, I don’t always see material blessings as the only way God blesses but I think that it is one way. Plus as you can see I’m a pretty cheap date and easy to impress.
Tags: Wii, Contigo Extreme Mug, Contigo AutoSeal
Apr 07 28
I got a chance to watch Invisible Children at House Blend Cafe in Ocoee last night. My heart has really begun to wrap itself around the poor, impoverished and forsaken people all around us and this movie is doing its part to help. I know that this is what Jesus really had in store for the church not the institutional monster that it has become.
Invisible Children is an amazing story of three American guys that traveled to the Southern Sudan to learn about the genocide and atrocities that are happening there and found another truly amazing story that needed to be told. How children were traveling each night (they called them night commuters) from a rural village to sleep under verandas any where they could find to keep safe from a rebel army, the LRA, that is abducting 8 to I think 12 or 14 years to brainwash them and turn them in to murderers that will fight their war against the Ugandan Government.
People there are stories out there that we are not even hearing about. Why is that? Because they don’t think you will stomach this kind of news and all you want to hear about this the silly bickering over the War in Iraqi and Global Warming. People are dying all over the world and we can help but we have to get up off our couches and do something about it. I’m planning a city wide rally in DeLand to show the Invisible Children documentary as many places and to as many people will listen so I can get the word out and tell their story.
Get involved where you are and find a worth cause that you can serve and try and make the world really a better place one person at a time.
Tonight in 15 cities around the US there are people voluntary deciding to live in a Displacement Camp like those that the Ugandan government has decided to make the people of Northern Uganda live in as a way to keep them safe from the LRA, but these camps are making the situation worse for the people and are not a viable means to end this situation there. Here is a link to a news story about the group closet to me that camped at UCF.
Tags: Invisible Children, Social Justice, DeLand, Get Involved, House Blend Cafe, Displace Me, UCF
Apr 07 06
I sit and wonder sometimes if Jesus was referring to rock stars when in Luke 19 He says, “that if they were silent, the vary rocks would cry out”. He telling the Pharisees this as they are trying to get Him to quite the crowd as they are singing His praise during the Triumphal Entry. But these days very few are crying out to God but it sure seems like a lot of bands are. Check out and enjoy If Everyone Cared video by NickelBack.
Tags: NickelBack, If Everyone Cared, Luke 19
Apr 07 04
Lately I’ve let myself get in a funk, a pit. The funny thing is that I just started reading Mark Batterson’s book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I have really been enjoying the book and will post a review of it when I’m finished. But as I was reading last night when one part stuck out at me and hit me in the face. In chapter 4 Mark says, “but sometimes the biggest problems present the greatest opportunities for God to reveal His glory and work for His purposes. No one likes being in the pits or put out to pasture, but maybe God is developing character and honing skills that will serve you later in life”.
Right after we got to CCDS the senior minister left. It has just been me now for about a month. And right after he left I thought everything was going great and my attitude was right and focused on God but in the last week or two I have let myself get into this slump, rut, pit whatever you want to call it and it has really affected me. But this chapter really but some perspective on where I feel I am and helped me see that maybe God is preparing me for something in the future where I will need the skills and experience I have been put into now. I had forgotten a real encouraging statement from lady in our church a few weeks back when she said to another guy and then to me, “I wonder what God is preparing you for” as we talked about everything going on at church and the minister leaving. I don’t know what God has in store but I do know that my attitude and perspective have not been in the right place for God to use me and teach me and prepare me for whatever lies ahead.
In the beginning of the In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day Mark talks about God’s plan and placing us in His right place even when it does seem like it to us. And I think that God placed this book in my hands at His right time. I tried and tried to get Chris to finish reading it and it took a little longer than he was hoping so I didn’t get it when I wanted it. Anyways now is the right time for me to be reading it and I praise God all the way for it.
Tags: Mark Batterson, In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day, Chasing the Lion
Mar 07 21
I’ve been thinking a lot about vision and vision casting the last couple of weeks. A lot of people talk about protecting your vision, standing strong on your vision and not letting others move your vision, or how some people might not be good fits in your church because they can’t or won’t get behind your vision. But no one talks about how they developed their vision. I know that prayer is a huge part of it and looking out to your community plays a part but what else? How do you develop clear visions to cast? Help me out and share your opinions and ideas. How did God give you your vision? What resources or books helped? Or am I missing the whole point?
Tags: vision, vision casting
Mar 07 05
This is a great clip of Bono winning the NAACP Chairman’s Award. He nails it on the head. Its a must watch not just because its Bono but its a powerful message we need to hear over and over again.
Tags: Bono, One Campaign, NAACP, Aids, Africa
FusionLife is the personal blog of Ben Boles, who's passion is to help people find their way back to God. And one way I do that is by sharing my life, ideas, and experiences as a Christ-follower.
