15 July, 2010
Mick
My Thoughts
RPG, Video Games, Money, Barry Cameron, Finance, Dragon Quest, Slime
As a community group, we have been going through Barry Cameron’s ABC’s of Financial Freedom. The study is great and really helps to build a foundation for managing your money the way God wants. Every week there is an assignment that aids in being better money managers.
One of my biggest goals through this whole process is for the marriages in our community group to be stronger. Did you know the #1 cause for divorce is money issues? I know it’s going to be challenging, but I really think we will all be better for doing the study.
With that being said, two simple rules of financial freedom are (1) stop spending money you do not have and (2) stop spending money on things you do not need. I can official say that my wife and I have stopped accruing debt. Though this is not the end of the road, it is a great step in the correct direction. The second rule is one that I think most of us tend to struggle with. And this blog is a confession of sorts.
I am a big fan of video games, especial RPGs. For those of you who do not know what an RPG is, just think of the Lord of the Rings as a video game. One series that I love to play is called Dragon Quest, and the mascot is a blue slime (kind of looks like a blue Hershey’s Kiss with eyes).
Back when Dragon Quest VIII came out in 2004, a special controller was also released for the Playstation 2. A few weeks ago I won the controller on eBay for $7. Honestly, I did not think I was going to win the auction. But low and behold, I now have a slime controller. Talk about a waste of money. Just look at the thing.
Yes, I think it is very cool, but that $7 could have gone so many better places. We really need to stop wasting money on things as such. Help keep me accountable to this. If we are all wise with our money, imagine how the world could change.
14 July, 2010
Mick
Christianity
church planting, cincinnati, Christianity, Religion, Jesus, church, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Denominations, Acts 2:42 Network, Newthing Network, Acts 29 Network, Catholicism
If you were to ask me about denominations, I’d have to tell you that I think they are a dying breed. Don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty of denominationalism among the Church, but as time progresses the divide is lessening (or so it seems).
The new generation of leaders are no longer concerned with your background. I come into contact with people who claim to be Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, etc, and we can see eye-to-eye on so many levels. I first started to realize this while listening to Catholic radio in Cincinnati. Even though we are not even close on some practices and beliefs, our overall mission is identical.
With the state of our society’s faith, I think Christ-followers are realizing that separation is damaging not only to the Church, but the perception of the Church. This realization is helping Christians to re-unite.
Our community needs Jesus. Our country needs Jesus. Our world needs Jesus. And if we really want to make a global impact, then we can no longer be divided because one person wants to sprinkle and another wants to immerse. This is a valid argument, but not one that should cause denominational division.
So which direction is the Church moving? I think we have seen a huge increase in church-planting over the last decade, so much that networks are being developed (Acts 2:42, NewThing, and The Acts 29 to name a few). These networks are trying to work together to start new churches around the world because we are discovering that new churches are the best way to spread the Gospel.
The future will see less and less concern about denominations and doctrines, but focus on which network you are a part of and what is being done to tell people about Jesus. After all, this is more important.
13 July, 2010
Mick
Book Review
A Guy's Guide to Life, Book Review, Christian living, Christianity, growing up, Jason Boyett, manhood, Religion
Jason Boyett’s book A Guy’s Guide to Life claims to train you how to be a man in 224 pages or less. I’d hope this would be possible since the publication is only 209 pages long of actual material. I think the idea was to include all of the other pages at the beginning and end, but that’s beside the point.
After perusing through the pages, Boyett has some good stuff to offer. His first goal is to point out that we have a preconceived notion of what a man should be based on our culture. Though this is comical in approach, there is some seriousness as he tries to show that a Christian man is not necessarily the same as a macho man.
Boyett deals with issues on dating, grooming, health, and even sex. I can honestly say this would be a good read for any male who wants to be a Christ-follower. He hits on some very touchy topics that can actually help shape your view of what men should be.
If you want to buy it, click here.
To learn more about the author, check out his website.
12 July, 2010
Mick
Christianity
Joliet, Christianity, Religion, Social Justice, Homeless, MorningStar, Food Kitchen, Sacrifice
Last night I had the privilege to go to MorningStar Mission in Joliet to help serve food to the homeless. When we showed up we got in place with our aprons, hair nets, and plastic gloves and awaited the crowd. It reminded me very much of a school cafeteria. For about one and a half hours we served food to needy people that just came in for a warm, fresh meal.
One of the things that was most noticeable throughout the entire time we were there is how many people said, “Thank you. God bless.” They were very grateful for the work we were doing. The crazy thing is, we didn’t even do that much. As little as each one of us did last night, it was still a tremendous help to these people. All I had to do was sacrifice 2 hours of my day.
So here’s the question that was going through my mind on the way home, “What more can we offer?” I’m not trying to downplay the volunteer work we do at MorningStar. I think everyone should help out there if they can (and I know you can). But as Switchfoot once put it, “we were meant to live for so much more.”
Two hours of my time was a small sacrifice. What else can I sacrifice? What can you sacrifice? How can we help the downtrodden of our society?
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