tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27625288753276245552024-03-13T10:41:00.779-07:00Preacher Caleb's BlogAn effort to cultivate, sow the seed, and throw some waterCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-1677674090179686102010-09-18T13:56:00.000-07:002010-09-18T21:06:14.914-07:00The Equip Network<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJRYXiEaiUsDtQiDtSPbpDas3dL9T-o9HehrvFT8S2aG5AqcPCmGI930WdpMBQ4Q66BO4IAPd9JfrAXBPhl52ibodokRTJjJ-Y4cpeON9jpEYJQM_JaUcFktT92gfD1R7BKilRarv0Cot/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJRYXiEaiUsDtQiDtSPbpDas3dL9T-o9HehrvFT8S2aG5AqcPCmGI930WdpMBQ4Q66BO4IAPd9JfrAXBPhl52ibodokRTJjJ-Y4cpeON9jpEYJQM_JaUcFktT92gfD1R7BKilRarv0Cot/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518361068266237394" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">My absence from blogging has a good reason (at least as far as I'm concerned). This blog post is to give you a big reason why. Time is hard to come by in my life these days and blogging gets lowered on the priority list. Hopefully as everything kicks into gear I'll be able to spend some of my morning meditation time to blog about what I'm thinking on that day. We shall see :). Until then here is a brief explanation of my latest adventure.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Things have been a bit crazy around so I have not really been able to tell you much about an exciting project with which I have been involved. The project is a quality Christian podcast network called <b><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">The Equip Network</a></i></b><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">.</a> Let me tell you a little bit about how it all came to be.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On December 11<sup>th</sup> of last year I was invited to be on a podcast called <i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">iPreach</a></i> and talk about using Facebook to advertise to your community. Shortly after that I was invited to be a co-host on <i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">iPreach</a></i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/"> </a>for one episode. All of this got me thinking about starting my own podcast so I contacted Joe Wells and Wesley Walker and around March of this year we launched a podcast <i style="">called </i><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">Engage! – Where Christ & Culture Meet</a></i>. Our listenership quickly shot up. It wasn’t long and I got together with Dale Jenkins of <i style="">iPreach</i> to talk to Michael Hite about starting a podcast about using technology better in ministry. That was the birth of <i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">MinistryGeek This Week</a></i> which has been a huge success. Our minds kept moving and we said, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a whole network of podcasts to help Christians in every aspect of their Christian walk.” That idea gave birth to <b><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">The Equip Network</a></i></b> which we launched on August 30<sup>th</sup> at <i style="">Polishing the Pulpit</i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">The Equip Network</a></i></b> is a family podcasts that is rapidly expanding. We launched with six active podcasts: <i style="">iPreach</i>, <i style="">Engage, MinistryGeek This Week</i>, <i style="">Equipped Today</i>, <i style="">LiveNOW.teen</i>, and <i style="">The Hey Joe Show</i>. On October 1<sup>st</sup> our newest podcast, <i style="">Behind the Pulpit</i>, will launch with Wayne Roberts and Bob Turner hosting. And that is just the beginning. We have about five more shows starting production in the near future. It’s an exciting adventure because instead of being on the backside of the wave we are getting in on the front. We are able to use technology to get the ancient gospel into the hands of the multitudes. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So make your way over to <b><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">TheEquipNetwork.com</a></i></b> and take a listen to all our podcasts. You can even subscribe to <b><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">Equipped Today</a></i></b> which is a daily 2-5 minute spiritual thought podcast that will help you get your day started out in the right direction! Next week Glenn Colley is going to be hosting <b><i><a href="http://theequipnetwork.com/">Equipped Today</a></i></b>. You won’t want to miss it!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sow The Seed,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Caleb O’Hara<o:p></o:p></p>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-72433091366970029772010-04-07T13:29:00.000-07:002010-04-07T15:01:56.743-07:00Don't Go Anywhere!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WArPCkurLFK6GlKMxRm9dqFuNSV8vesASiwGY430IHNLr0NMjlvl5cjmq7u6uwML-bw9i6bK5b1fjchPKsd5OHVljmyBIIznDvQKlKm7tYb79Cnz98aTpaUuvXajbHcb0gIkjI0w0QwP/s1600/2+copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WArPCkurLFK6GlKMxRm9dqFuNSV8vesASiwGY430IHNLr0NMjlvl5cjmq7u6uwML-bw9i6bK5b1fjchPKsd5OHVljmyBIIznDvQKlKm7tYb79Cnz98aTpaUuvXajbHcb0gIkjI0w0QwP/s400/2+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457519049600587842" /></a><br />It ought to be no surprise that I haven't blogged for about a month. The only reason being this time is that I've "engaged" in some new adventures. With the launch of <a href="http://www.engagepodcast.com/">Engage! - Where Christ and Culture Meet</a> last month we have been busy as bees dealing with all that starting a new show entails. <div><br /></div><div>It only took a month and I "engaged" a new adventure of being a side-kick on another new podcast <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/79616">MinistryGeek This Week</a> with <a href="http://ministrytechonline.com/">Michael Hite</a>. On <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/79616">MinistryGeek This Week</a> Michael and I talk about issues that relate to ministry and technology along with our fellow geek <a href="http://www.dalejenkins.com/">Dale Jenkins</a>. I'm not just saying this because I am part of the show, but I truly believe that this show will be a major help to anyone involved in the Lord's work at any level. The world around us is changing faster than ever before. What are we going to do to take the never-changing Gospel to an ever-changing world? That's exactly the question we are seeking to answer on <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/79616">MinistryGeek This Week</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another reason my blog has been bare is because I'm working on a total make-over of the blog. It's in the works and almost finish. Once the change goes into affect I will (hopefully) be able to keep up with the blog more often.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is also one more piece of information, but I can't share it with you right now! There is one more big project that I'm in the process of "engaging" and it's going to really, really, really exciting. It's too early to break the news though! Hold on tight though because it's going to be BIG! REALLY BIG!</div><div><br /></div><div>Sow the Seed,</div><div>Caleb O'Hara</div>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-64954882760858097542010-03-05T12:41:00.000-08:002010-03-05T17:27:55.128-08:00Study...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SCRCif_uvyIf-nfchuOg75RHiAmlzhRHoijLOVx1SHIMU_7sdyilUE35pZrAVY5prrrD-d-GYQi96KTnbB3hS6jkj2tFq_bTZkqHVbPn1N0ZRF7-UPYQa8AmwOJYYotfV5ElZ5WshXK-/s1600-h/25341_377367732891_377320497891_5086408_5550761_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SCRCif_uvyIf-nfchuOg75RHiAmlzhRHoijLOVx1SHIMU_7sdyilUE35pZrAVY5prrrD-d-GYQi96KTnbB3hS6jkj2tFq_bTZkqHVbPn1N0ZRF7-UPYQa8AmwOJYYotfV5ElZ5WshXK-/s400/25341_377367732891_377320497891_5086408_5550761_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445253166004628546" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Today I sent in my article for</span></span><a href="http://www.kaiomagonline.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Kaio magazine - The Christian magazine for teens</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">. The entire issue is on Bible Study for teens, young adults, and everybody really. I have a regular column aptly named "Bible Study" that I write for in just about every issue. Sometimes I enthusiastically send my article off. Other times I hesitantly send them off, and even then only because the editor threatens my life if I don't send it NOW! When I sent my article off today I was more excited than I have ever been. It wouldn't be right for me to publish the whole thing here (why would anyone buy the magazine if they could get all the articles online for free), but I'm going to give you a little sneak peak... shhhhhhh! Don't tell the editor!<blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Why does any of that really matter? Well if you care about the destiny of your soul it matters. Peter speaking of Paul’s writings says that in them there “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">” (2 Peter 3:16). Did you catch that? Destruction! Failure on your part to properly study and apply Scripture can lead to your own destruction. That is exactly what happened to the people of Israel. God says, “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you…</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">” (Hosea 4:6). Are you still sure you want to leave study up to your parents, your preacher, and your Bible class teacher? Now stop reading this and start studying the Scriptures!</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">If you want to read the rest of it you have to <a href="http://www.kaiomagonline.com/subscribe.cfm">get a subscription</a>. Better yet, <a href="http://www.kaiomagonline.com/subscribe.cfm">get a subscription</a> for you and some teens and young adults too!</span></span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-79698278409982994222010-03-02T11:16:00.000-08:002010-03-02T11:36:34.221-08:00Engage! - Where Christ & Culture Meet Podcast Feed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQZYnR3DmYj_eWU7N5s77k0P7Um3RPJsgk4jkdceMhUi5qzUuj3_0DlgFC0xwHHuUMMHjPEOIKAgxsp8bClj6V3_8IjMcv_QNG4oSByQR9-saPI89LJqNFdlz7-R3LdQ9s02-eu-MEppf/s1600-h/n373199007328_155.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQZYnR3DmYj_eWU7N5s77k0P7Um3RPJsgk4jkdceMhUi5qzUuj3_0DlgFC0xwHHuUMMHjPEOIKAgxsp8bClj6V3_8IjMcv_QNG4oSByQR9-saPI89LJqNFdlz7-R3LdQ9s02-eu-MEppf/s400/n373199007328_155.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444119357758700882" /></a><br />Last night was our first live broadcast of Engage! - Where Christ & Culture Meet. If you missed the live recording you can still listen by subscribing to our podcast feed. Just click the link below and it will guide you through the process. Please send us your feedback to <a href="mailto:EngagePodcast@Gmail.com">EngagePodcast@Gmail.com</a>. We would love to hear what you think.<div><br /></div><br /><p style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:0; padding-bottom:0; text-align:center; line-height:0"><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngagePodcast/~6/2"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/EngagePodcast.2.gif" alt="Engage! - Where Christ & Culture Meet" style="border:0" /></a></p><p style="margin-top:5px; padding-top:0; font-size:x-small; text-align:center"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/headlineanimator/install?id=5schoupkvfh3vqld62jo47vkak&w=2" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'haHowto', 'width=520,height=600,toolbar=no,address=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars'); return false" target="_blank">↑ Grab this Headline Animator</a></p>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-44957299325515084132010-03-01T11:40:00.000-08:002010-03-01T11:42:06.434-08:00Engage! - Where Christ & Culture Meet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh968hJHa_jK9Z91TWGYbMMmBTqIC_D__nEr0K6qBiLHl77asngydBbRKoiXK3Gk3uFpAefaeL2T0oSXmKcH5SbDHJZMFtQ56sCbSxOiYkISFteAPboScK8dXblMkVYK8EgXLTOF4yYPkE/s1600-h/n373199007328_155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh968hJHa_jK9Z91TWGYbMMmBTqIC_D__nEr0K6qBiLHl77asngydBbRKoiXK3Gk3uFpAefaeL2T0oSXmKcH5SbDHJZMFtQ56sCbSxOiYkISFteAPboScK8dXblMkVYK8EgXLTOF4yYPkE/s200/n373199007328_155.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This evening at 5:00 pm Pacific Time is the pilot live podcast of <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/76639">Engage! - Where Christ & Culture Meet</a>. The show is co-hosted by Joe Wells, Wesley Walker, and your's truly. We will be engaging real issues that culture presents to Christians today. So get engaged!<br />
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You can participate in a number of ways. First, you can join us live through Talkshoe <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/76639">http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/76639</a>. If you log in with a microphone, or call in with your landline or mobile phone, we just might take your call and talk with you live. You can also just listen live and type in our chat room. If you are unable to join us live you can listen to the show through the Talkshoe page. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed and start downloading the episodes through a podcatcher like iTunes.<br />
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We hope you get engaged!Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-18423513761477344862010-02-25T18:28:00.000-08:002010-02-25T18:39:30.544-08:00The Church<div>A lesson I gave a month or so ago on the church. Thought I'd share with everyone.</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,0,0" width="210" height="25" id="mp3playerlightsmallv3" align="middle"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="movie" value="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-audio-video-blog-player/mp3playerlightsmallv3.swf?audioPath=http://www.riponchurchofchrist.org/preacher/sermons/20100117AM.mp3&autoStart=no"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><embed src="http://www.podbean.com/podcast-audio-video-blog-player/mp3playerlightsmallv3.swf?audioPath=http://www.riponchurchofchrist.org/preacher/sermons/20100117AM.mp3&autoStart=no" quality="high" width="210" height="25" name="mp3playerlightsmallv3" align="middle" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></object></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br /><a style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 41px; color: #2DA274; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: none;" href="http://www.podbean.com">Powered by Podbean.com</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-28421089237926981572010-02-22T13:15:00.000-08:002010-02-24T17:49:17.895-08:00Random Thought on Deconstruction<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Last night I caught a documentary on Jacques Derrida. I was already familiar with his pervasive influence on the world through his philosophy of deconstruction. Deconstruction is the result of trying to make a case against the philosophy of structuralism. Structuralism taught that there was a system of knowledge and understanding that brought about clear cut, definable, basic concepts. Poststructuralism, to which deconstruction belongs, is a rebellion against the idea that we really know anything. The task of the deconstructionist is to simply take something and deconstruct it to show that there is a contradiction in there somewhere. And if contradiction exists you cannot claim it to be true. The methods the deconstructionist gets to use are at his whim and do not even have to be rational. He claims rationalism is not true and therefore he does not have to be rational (convenient eh?). Well how does he know rationalism is not true? Because he deconstructed it of course!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Poststructuralism would eventually give birth to postmodernism. Many of the ideas and concepts of the two cannot be separated. Understanding this helps one to understand what we are facing with the prolific indoctrination of postmodernism in our society and in theology. Our postmodern “theologians” that run in the church of Christ circles have one basic objective; to deconstruct our established belief system. How do they do this? By trying to create contradictions in the system of thinking (remember their arguments do not have to be rational or logical because ration and logic are flawed). They believe that if they can deconstruct and show a flaw or contradiction that they have proved their case that our entire belief system is no good (more accurately the system we use to arrive at our beliefs). This old system, therefore, must be tossed out and replaced with a new one.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Now back to Derrida. After watching the irrational Derrida for an hour and a half (Derrida would not be insulted by calling him irrational; He would probably wear it as a badge of honor) I’ve arrived at a few conclusions. One of them I will share here. Derrida claims he now knows that we cannot know anything about anything unless we know everything about it. The irony is that he is certain he knows this. That leads me to one of three conclusions: Deridda knows everything, Deridda doesn't really believe what he says, or Deridda is unconsciously showing that reality and his philosophy are in two totally different realms.</span></div></h3></span>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-44596977532254928202010-02-17T18:06:00.000-08:002010-02-17T18:17:40.332-08:00Excel Still More: The Visitor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsyuTz5yegrwqxoGGewP3joWDtmZiwXoBUahrd4lvDyycdtppNhmLt97e8Z7bVsUr9X5_M5Wyr78tBOKc3hbBTKLDPbwDdBhQa4f03TY4Gv8i-gA7CgxW0DdbWUZaTouWTj-tSYamy0o/s320/Excel+Still+More.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 46px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsyuTz5yegrwqxoGGewP3joWDtmZiwXoBUahrd4lvDyycdtppNhmLt97e8Z7bVsUr9X5_M5Wyr78tBOKc3hbBTKLDPbwDdBhQa4f03TY4Gv8i-gA7CgxW0DdbWUZaTouWTj-tSYamy0o/s320/Excel+Still+More.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Our worship assembly is a special time. It is a time when we gather together as the church at one time and in one place, all with the same purpose. The worship assembly is first and foremost about God’s children coming together to worship Him and to build one another up (i.e. Ephesians 5:19ff, etc…). <div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There is another element to our assembly that the Bible speaks of, and that is the element of the visitor to the assembly. James mentions the visitor to the assembly:<br /><blockquote>“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? ”(James 2:1–5, NASB95)</blockquote><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>James is showing that the attention you give (or do not give) to individuals in your assembly is an expression of your “religion” (James 1:27). If you fail to greet and treat your visitor with the love that you have for yourself you are failing to keep the Law of the King (James 2:8). This makes you a hearer and not a doer (James 1:22). This places us in a position of judging our neighbor (James 2:4) and James asks, “but who are you judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12).<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Failure to greet and treat the visitor in our assembly is a serious matter. How we treat them is an honest reflection of our true nature and condition. If we fail to show the visitor in our assembly the love that we would want shown to us, we find ourselves in a place of judgment.<br />Based upon this truth here are several suggestions of ways that will aid us in carrying out the royal law towards our visitors in our assemblies. First have visitor eyes. Visitor eyes are the basis upon which the rest of the suggestions are built. As an individual, and as a whole church, it is necessary to develop and commit to an attitude of always thinking about the visitor in your midst. It’s easy to watch the visitor walk in and out. It’s even easy to say a word or two to them. But visitor eyes are a heart and attitude that wants to see that the visitor is treated the way you would want to be treated if you were visiting.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Second you can ask a visitor to sit with you. A big group of people they have never met before can be very intimidating. When a friendly smile asks a visitor to sit with them it can go a very long ways. This allows the visitor to feel at ease as you are helping them through the motions so they aren’t asking themselves constantly, “Am I doing what I’m supposed to do? I don’t want to stand out!”</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Third you can have assigned greeters at the doors of your assembly location. This is a good way to make sure that visitors are quickly greeted upon arrival. The greeters make sure that the visitors’ information is taken so you can follow up with the visitor. The greeter also will explain to the visitor what classes are going on and where their children’s classes are. The greeters can also hand out any material you have specifically designed for the visitor. It’s a good idea to have a visitor’s packet with information for the visitor to take home. There is one word of caution on assembly greeters. It’s very easy for the entire assembly to thing that since we have greeters I don’t need to do anything personally with the visitors. This could not be further from the truth. The greeter does not replace the individual responsibility of each and every member to show his true religion towards each and every visitor.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Fourth you need to follow up with your visitors. A follow up contact expresses to the visitor that you thought about them. Try to make your follow up contact as personal as you can. In other words, don’t just send say generic things in generic ways. If you send them an email, or a letter, try to include something personal about their visit. Maybe mention something they said to you when they visited. Maybe mention something from the assembly that day. You can also get a group together that takes turns delivering cookies and a thank you for visiting card to all your visitors a day or two after their visit. The best way to be sure your visitor will only be a one-time visitor is to not follow up.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Fifth you can ask your visitor out to eat. It just so happens that our assemblies usually end right before meal time. What a great opportunity to ask your visitors out to lunch. You can spend that time getting to know them better as well as talking to them about the church. By doing this you are already connecting the visitor to the church and beginning the process of relationship building.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sixth, and finally, is to be devoted to F-3-4-V. F-3-4-V stands for first three for visitors, and means that every single member should spend the first three minutes IMMEDIATELY after the assembly to SEEK out ALL the visitors that day. Once you find them you personally introduce yourself and tell them how much you appreciated their presence, and how you are looking forward to them coming back. Just imagine an entire room full of people lining up to greet the visitors. Imagine how you would feel if that’s how you were treated. You would feel special! So will our visitors if we do the same. This is easy to implement. All it takes is educating the members on what F34V stands for. Then whoever dismisses the assembly simply has to say “Members, always remember, F34V.” This way the visitors don’t know that you are reminding the members to greet them, and at the same time it’s reminding your members to greet them.<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>You may think, “We do a good job at greeting our visitors.” That very well may be true. But the question should be, “can we do better?” Can we excel still more? Sure we can! What will you do to excel still more in showing the visitor to the assembly that you love them as yourself?<br /></div></div>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-54148717028611686552010-01-21T23:26:00.000-08:002010-01-21T23:31:41.310-08:00It's All Greek To Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyAgM4myhYnML_MbHLRLT6hyphenhyphen4kxRgwffabbC8gTDlALi5EvjUqktnOrtg9Bcfe3qvGJ_tud3S-lCQZFk4DhkW-eV-u8OrJmUBQeIDz7fgHXKzeKS6sAVQrOpc2VKSJIz2CiJ_m_3TwZta/s1600-h/its+all+greek.jpg" border="0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyAgM4myhYnML_MbHLRLT6hyphenhyphen4kxRgwffabbC8gTDlALi5EvjUqktnOrtg9Bcfe3qvGJ_tud3S-lCQZFk4DhkW-eV-u8OrJmUBQeIDz7fgHXKzeKS6sAVQrOpc2VKSJIz2CiJ_m_3TwZta/s320/its+all+greek.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429462721739466578" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">On Thursdays I speak in chapel at the Hughson Christian School. It’s my old education institution of the fourth grade. It was just me and Joanne Dee in the fourth grade. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mrs. Gillaspie was our teacher. She also had second and third graders. Mr. Gillaspie, her husband, taught us Bible about one day a week. It was almost twenty years ago that I was in fourth grade there, and Mrs. Gillaspie is still teaching! Mr Gillaspie, however, was taken from this world after being hit by a drunk driver while on his postal route.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Mr. Gillaspie was a very special person. When I think about him today I think of a person that cared about me. It wasn’t a job… it was him being who he was. One memory I have that I will never forget is when he took me and a couple other guys backpacking for a few days.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Now I fill Mr. Gillaspie’s shoes once a week, to the best of my ability, by teaching thirteen third through eight graders Bible. I feel like I owe it to him. What better way to honor the life of someone than to try to pick up where he left off and keep his work moving forward. So Mr. Gillaspie, if you have internet up there, I hope you’re proud of me.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>That was just the introduction! This segment is something I’d like to call, “It’s All Greek To Me.” I’ve only had these kids for about four sessions including today. The first fifteen minutes of class we’ve been learning the Greek alphabet. Yes, the Greek alphabet. We have a club called the “It’s All Greek To Me” club. Entrance into the club is simple. You must be able to recite the entire Greek alphabet from memory. Today almost half the class entered the club after only four weeks!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>What about you? Can you join the club? You better get started now or these kids are going to be giving you a run for your money. They are quickly putting the tools in their belt to be able to do excellent Bible study by looking up words in original language sources. If third through eighth graders can do it don’t you think you can? Come on and join the club!<o:p></o:p></p>Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880149149315912825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-66132416305396494512010-01-19T14:37:00.000-08:002010-01-20T14:11:45.817-08:00Excel Still More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsyuTz5yegrwqxoGGewP3joWDtmZiwXoBUahrd4lvDyycdtppNhmLt97e8Z7bVsUr9X5_M5Wyr78tBOKc3hbBTKLDPbwDdBhQa4f03TY4Gv8i-gA7CgxW0DdbWUZaTouWTj-tSYamy0o/s1600-h/Excel+Still+More.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsyuTz5yegrwqxoGGewP3joWDtmZiwXoBUahrd4lvDyycdtppNhmLt97e8Z7bVsUr9X5_M5Wyr78tBOKc3hbBTKLDPbwDdBhQa4f03TY4Gv8i-gA7CgxW0DdbWUZaTouWTj-tSYamy0o/s320/Excel+Still+More.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus is perfect, man is not. There is no room for improvement with Jesus, there is for man. No matter how good we are right now, we can be better. In a passage that is often neglected, or quickly read past, for fear of addressing false ideas on individual predestination, there is a great lesson we must learn, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren </i>” (Romans 8:29, NASB95). God predetermined before he created anything in this world that it was going to be those who were becoming “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conformed to the image of His son</i>” that would be His saved people. What that means is we are in a constant process of pressing the clay of our lives into the perfect mold of Jesus. We are constantly pushing the clay into the mold and never completely getting there. It’s when we keep pushing though that Jesus fills in the gaps with regard to our justification before God. This is a process that is unending until the day we die!</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> No matter where you are at spiritually in your relationship and work for the Lord - You can do better! You can excel still more! Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica praising them every chance he gets about the great things they are doing. Even in all of that he says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more </i>” (1 Thessalonians 4:1). He also says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more </i>” (1 Thessalonians 4:9–10). Did you catch that? He says you are doing a fantastic job at walking in the instruction of the Lord, but excel still more! You are doing a fantastic job in love towards the brethren, but excel still more! You can do better!</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> You might be the best song leader that this church has ever seen, but you can excel still more! You might be the best encourager this church has ever seen, but you can excel still more! You might be the biggest giver this church has ever seen, but you can excel still more! You may attend assemblies more that 25% of the congregation, but you can excel still more. You may be the best person at studying in the congregation, but you can excel still more. You may be the best Bible class teacher the church has ever had, but you can excel still more. Are you getting the picture here? No matter what work you are doing, no matter where you are spiritually, you are not perfect (because God alone is perfect) and you have room to excel still more! </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> T.F. Hanson, a creative engineer, says “progress infers change, since things cannot get better if they remain the same” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Engineering Creativity</i>, pg. 13). Excelling still the more infers that even if what you are doing now “works” you have to take risks to do better. We don’t like taking risks most of the time, we just like staying with the old tradition. We know it works, we’ve been doing it that way for X number of years. Yes it may “work” but it may not be the best! We can excel still more if we are willing to change! Einstein said after the first atomic explosion, “Everything has changed, except the way we think."</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thomas Edison said, “Human inertia is the problem, not the invention. Something in man makes him resist change.” This quality is good when we are talking about people trying to change the things of which God has given to us, because if He gave them they are perfect; the design of the church, worship, salvation, etc…! But when it comes to matters of expedience this mindset is one of the biggest enemies of the church. A lack of desire to excel still the more, an unwillingness to change, an unwillingness to push beyond our comfort zones in the way we think about something “working.” God expects better of us. He demands us to “excel still more!”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What are you going to do to excel still more in your walk and work with the Lord? Take an inventory of where you are. Write down these questions and then answer them (be specific i.e. “I worship whenever I can” is not specific):<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How often do I worship with the brethren?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How many people do I talk to at worship? Are they the same people every time?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do I participate in the worship?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do I participate in the teaching program?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do I participate in the church work through programs like Monday Night for the Mast?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How many people have I tried to have a spiritual discussion with in the world?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">7.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How many people have I invited to worship?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do I do to grow my relationship with my spouse?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">9.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do I do to build up my family?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">10.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do I do to be an influence for Christ on my job?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">11.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do I do to see that the churches work is done?</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now look over the list and your answers. Set a goal that is an excelling of where you are now. For instance, “How often do I worship with the brethren?” You may answer once a week. Set a goal to worship two or three times. Go through the entire list this way. Now when you are finished you need to make a commitment that you are going to excel still more so you can meet those goals. As you analyze the list you may find that you don’t know how to excel. You need information, you need instruction, and you need to be equipped to meet those goals. That is where your church leadership steps in! The function of the leadership is to equip you for service (Ephesians 4:11ff). Simply go to one of the elders, deacons, or minister and tell them you need help. If they can’t provide the help individually they will all be sure that you get what you need; that you are equipped to excel still more. Now GO do it!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Excel Still More,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Caleb O’Hara<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div>Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-3962862354825105682010-01-18T13:45:00.001-08:002010-01-18T13:45:40.187-08:00The Changing Culture<div class="MsoNormal"> Times are different from what they once were. It used to be that everyone pretty much assumed everyone had good intentions. It used to be the case that you could leave you home and not lock the door, expecting fully that everything would be just the way you left it when you returned. It used to be assumed that when you got married you stayed married. It also used to be the case that everyone believe the Bible was from God, even if they didn't follow it and accept it. These days are passed, and it's time for us to realize it.<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The largest group inside of Christendom that has realized this is a movement called the Emerging Church Movement. This movement has some major flaws and as a whole is entirely heretical (many more details forthcoming). The problem is that when they are the only people addressing this situation (the change in culture) they get to dictate the response to it. It is time for the Lord's people to step up, acknowledge the change in culture, and figure out how to keep on sounding the unchanging message to the changing culture. If we fail to do this the others who teach a Gospel of full embrace of the culture, which is not really another Gospel, will continue to set the pace for those looking towards Christianity.<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What are some ways we can better understand our culture and address it? First of all, our culture is media saturated. Don't believe me? Internet, Sattalite HDTVs, IPhones, IPods, Laptops, Desktops, TV's in the car, TV's on airplanes, everywhere you turn you are hit hard with media. Our culture suffers from media overload. There is so much information thrown out that people cannot possibly take it all in. That being the case, they surely aren't going to give material a second glance if it is not presented in such a way as to catch their attention. We must find ways to utilize media and communicate God's message through it, instead of having an attitude that media is just bad. When you get down to it, words are media. The printed page of the Bible is media. If media is inherently bad then the Bible is inherently bad – none of us are going to say that are we?<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Second, we have to start addressing the questions people are asking. People today question whether or not truth exists. They question whether Jesus was a real person. They question whether or not the Bible is really God's word, or just a bunch of man's stories. They question the very concept of exclusion. All of these fundamental questions must be addressed. We have to start putting more effort into confronting these questions so that we can lead people to the One person they desperately need – Christ.<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your challenge is to start thinking about the culture you live in. Instead of merely being upset about it, start thinking about how to reach it. What can you do to better communicate God's message to the culture where you live? How can you cut through the media fog with the crystal clear message of Christ?<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sow the Seed,<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Caleb O'Hara<o:p></o:p><br />
</div>Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-77369677584012373142009-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:002009-12-11T11:21:47.830-08:00Using Facebook Ads to Reach the Lost<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span>This morning I was interviewed on a podcast called <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=41961&cmd=tc" ”="">iPreach</a>. It's a podcast co-hosted by <a href="http://www.dalejenkins.com/%E2%80%9D">Dale Jenkins</a> of the <a href="http://www.smcoc.net/" ”="">Spring Meadows church of Christ</a> and <a href="http://faughnfamilyof4.wordpress.com/" ”="">Adam Faughn</a> of the <a href="http://www.lebanonroadchurchofchrist.org/">Lebanon Road church of Christ</a>. You can listen to the podcast below and it will help add some context to everything else in this posting.<br />
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This post is designed to help you go step by step through the process of setting up Facebook Ads for outreach. The first thing you need to do is login to your facebook page (If you don't know how to do this then learn it and come back). Once you have logged into your facebook page I recommend you create a “fan page” for your congregation if you don't already have one. After I show you how to create a fan page I will give you instructions on how to create a Facebook Ad.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">To create a fan page:</span></b><br />
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<b><i>1. Scroll down to the bottom of your page and lick on "advertising"</i></b><br />
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<b><i>2. On the left side click on "pages"</i></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>3. Click "Create Page"</i></b><br />
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<b><i>4. Select category, enter a name, and click create</i></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>5. Now that your page is created you can click "edit page" to make it all fancy.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>6. Once you are done with that click "suggest to friends" and select all the members of your congregation</i></b><br />
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<b><i>7. Drink a Dr Pepper and celebrate you have made it this far!</i></b><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">To Create an Ad:</span></b><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i>2. click on "create ad"</i></b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>3. </i></b><b><i>Now you have to design your ad.</i></b><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> - Decide where you want the people to end up at when they click your ad. If it's your website or something on your website enter the address in the "destination URL." If you want people to end up on your Facebook Fan Page or Event Page click on "I want to advertise something I have on Facebook."<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> - Give your Ad a Title that will stand out, get peoples attention, and gives an idea of what your ad is all about<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> - Give a brief, interesting, informative description of whatever it is you are advertising<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> - Choose an image. Image size is limited to 110v80 pixels. Make sure your image stands out and is related to what you are advertising!<br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8l2KyrlirthDyh4bLcXep-nIVkE4_4s0siy9iStAwMsskGJa8awggR2vLdOBSH1WQGHr1j_TdQUwMFmhaXrAoK3nYNESrRPnVUCxa43h42Q6ArSBUrelemP0-xEKJpk4Xy7NBnvDiGc/s1600-h/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8l2KyrlirthDyh4bLcXep-nIVkE4_4s0siy9iStAwMsskGJa8awggR2vLdOBSH1WQGHr1j_TdQUwMFmhaXrAoK3nYNESrRPnVUCxa43h42Q6ArSBUrelemP0-xEKJpk4Xy7NBnvDiGc/s320/5.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i>4. </i></b><b><i>Select your target audience for this Ad (Listen to Podcast for details on these factors)</i></b><br />
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</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> - By naming the campaign you can group your ads together. Maybe you want to run three different ads for one event. They would all go in the same campaign.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> - Set your daily budget. How much is the most you are willing to spend PER DAY on this entire set of ads in your ad campaign<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> - If this is for an event, or you know when you want the ad to stop, click "run my ad only during specified dates" and specify the dates. Otherwise leave it how it is.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> - Now you have to decide if you want to pay on a cost per click basis or a cost per 1,000 impressions basis. There are benefits to both... again... listen to the podcast and I will explain some of that.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> - Now select your bid. The suggested bid amount gives you an idea of what ads are going for to your same target audience. Remember, the higher you bid the more likely your ad will be displayed. The amount you enter is the most you are willing to spend on a click or per 1,000 impressions (it may be lower than this amount).<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i>7. Drink another Dr Pepper and pray that the Lord blesses your efforts to reach the lost. You can always get back to your advertising by clicking on the "advertising" button on the bottom of the Facebook screen. This will allow you to track all the details of how your ads are performing, as well as edit, add, and remove your ads.</i></b><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope this has been somewhat helpful to you. If you have used Facebook Ads before, or you are going to be using them, PLEASE contact me and let me know what you have done that has worked and what hasn't worked. Hopefully we can use this as just another one of many tools to reach the lost.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sow the Seed,<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Caleb O'Hara<br />
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Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-13377516983675398072009-10-30T14:36:00.000-07:002009-10-30T14:36:31.005-07:00The Proper Care & Feeding of HusbandsOn a fairly regular basis I pick up books to add to my counseling collection. A couple weeks ago I added another, <em>The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands</em> by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. The first thing I did when I got home was get on Facebook and ask if any women had read the book and if they did what they thought about it. Here are some of the comments I received:<br />
<ul><li>“I think every woman should read it before the wedding and on every anniversary there after! Excellent!”</li>
<li>“As a woman, it says some stuff that is hard to hear and hard to do. As a guy, [my husband] said that it was dead on in what women need to do for their men. [He] loves the book and I do to. It really showed me how to better care for my man!”</li>
<li>“[I] never read it but always disliked the title--like you're taking care of a dog or houseplant or something.”</li>
<li>“It definitely gets to the heart of the matter, thinking beyond ourself. Like most books, If you can go away with one good thing to implement to make your marriage better.....I think it is worth the cost of the book. I think you can go away with several things from this book.” </li>
</ul>The book is written in a very easy to read, and very easy to follow style. The dialogue of the book is largely based on calls Dr. Laura has received on her syndicated radio show, as well as comments and stories people sent to her specifically for this book. I'm not a fast reader and I digested the book in one evening and one morning.<br />
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The main idea behind the book as that in a marriage relationship women need to look out for and provide for the needs of their husbands, in a way that only a wife can. This is an entirely biblical idea, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:21). Dr. Laura accurately explains how various cultural influences have led many women to aquire false ideas about what their role is in a marriage relationship. As a result, there are many marriages that are suffering because of wives not fulfilling their role in the marriage. Want details? Read the book.<br />
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She deals with topics that we often don't want to talk about in the church. Subjects like Men's feelings, nagging, guy time, and even sex. I've never really understood why we don't want to discuss these subjects (the Bible talks about them), but would rather learn what's appropriate on these matters from TV, magazines, and movies – secular ungodly sources.<br />
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There are few negatives I came away with from the book. First of all Dr. Laura occasionally uses language I would not approve of using. Second is the fact that it may be easy to come away from this book thinking that the only problems in relationships are the result of women. It would be easy to think that if only the woman would change her act all marriages would be perfect. This of course is not true. Sometimes the man is the problem and will refuse to change. It does, however, show that even in those situations if you do your part you will be fulfilling the words of God in 1 Peter 3:1. You are creating the optimal atmosphere to persuade him to change without speaking a word of it to him.<br />
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All in all I would highly recommend this book to all married women or those who will potentially get married. It's well worth the time, and I believe it could help make more marriages Godly. The result would be a better homes and better churches serving God. If you read it I would love to hear your thoughts.Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-13828898888488302172009-10-16T12:01:00.001-07:002009-10-17T12:34:48.029-07:00Evil Doesn't Advertise As EvilI haven't yet figured out why we still don't get that evil always tries to look good. If you were presented with a juicy T-Bone or a plate full of maggots the choice for dinner would be easy. But Satan doesn't operate that way—he never has! The ruler of this earth knows what people on this earth like, and he tries to use whatever we like against us. Are we really surprised at this? <br />
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It's when you like a person you let down your guard of good judgment; you stop thinking critically. Actions that if committed by a person with a ski mask on and gun in his hand would obviously be taken as evil, are now considered by us to be actions with a good intent all because the guy looks like... you know... something we like. He says what I like to hear. He dresses the way I like him to dress. He smells the way I like him to smell. He makes me comfortable. Now is the time to watch out! Used car salesmen don't wear shirts that say, “I'm here to sell you what you don't need, can't afford, and makes me a big commission.” They don't dress in slouchy shorts, ripped t-shirts, worn out shoes, and forget to do their hair or brush their teeth. They dress like... a person you would like! Beware!<br />
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Paul had to warn the Ephesian elders “[S]avage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). Oh they surely were obvious. They stood up on the hill and we could see them coming from miles. All the sheep knew they were being attacked by evil, right? Nope! Well, where did they come from? “From among your own selves” (vs. 30). Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). They look like what we like to see. They look like a harmless sheep. They look just like me!?!? At no time can the Christian lay down his discerning eye; never ever! Especially when it looks good, sounds good, taste good. That's precisely when we know it's time to do a deeper examination.<br />
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One of the best paragraphs I've ever read on this theme, I read in a book this last month. It said, “Perhaps the greater disservice of Hollywood movies is their cartoonish villains. In real life, I promise you, the devil will look more like Julia Roberts than Snidely Whiplash. Evil does not arrive with a flashing neon sign: MEPHISTOPHELES! LUCIFER! SATAN! FOR ETERNAL DAMNATION, APPLY HERE. Evil arrives packaged as a winsome movie about a long-legged brunette who manages to marry a rich, handsome bachelor and live happily ever after—all by turning tricks on Hollywood Boulevard! There's a reason Beelzebub is known as the prince of lies.” I'm going to violate a major rule and not reveal the source of this quote because I don't want the source to taint your view of what it says. All I can say is that it's right on.<br />
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What does this all mean? I think you are all smart enough to figure it out. If you like something or someone (or anything or anyone), put your guard on high alert because Satan knows you like it. And if you like it he is going to try to use it to destroy you. That sounds... well.. EVIL doesn't it? Now you get it!Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-58703805780316524132009-10-04T20:44:00.000-07:002009-10-07T09:28:29.700-07:00He's BaaaaaaaackThis morning my friend Ron tells me that it's time to start blogging again. He also told me to get a haircut so what does he know? Well I think he is right about the blogging (and probably the haircut too). So Ron... this blogs for you!<br />
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It was a long weekend. Wednesday night after class the whole family headed down to Visalia. We stayed at my wife's grandparents house. It was great getting to spend Thursday and Friday with my friend Cliff. While I was down there I also got to train with a great group of guys at Elite Jiu Jitsu in Visalia. Tom Knox is a great instructor and one of the nicest guys I've met in the Jiu Jitsu community. I'm looking forward to trying out some new sweeps he taught me.<br />
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Friday night I did the lesson at the Youth Rally. My title was, "Committing to God with Your Worship." The opening part of the presentation was given in five minutes. I had twenty slides that automatically advanced every fifteen seconds; it left very little room from error. It's a new teaching technique that I'm experimenting with. I think it went pretty well. Right after the lesson we had to head home. We rolled into town at 12:30. The problem was that I got a grande caramel frappuccino at Starbucks to keep me awake while driving. It successfully kept me awake until 3:30 in the morning. The alarm went off at 8:00 and we headed out to soccer. I'm coaching Caleb Jr's soccer team (16 crazy 5 year olds). The first drive Caleb took the ball, dribbled around the defenders, and kicked it right into the goal! Dad couldn't have been more proud.<br />
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This morning I continued my current sermon series, "Back 2 School." This morning's lesson was, "What is faith and belief?" Tonight's lesson was an introduction to the book of Acts. Every Sunday night before worship we have a fifteen minute bible exercise that one of our elders leads. It's a great program for teaching our little ones (and us adults too) where information is in the Bible. The card he is going over right now is "Events in Acts." The sermons will go hand in hand with our exercise.<br />
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Now I'm home, exhausted, and about to start a crazy diet and exercise program with my wife in the morning. Target closes in fifteen minutes so I have to jam over there and get some stuff for our diet. That means I'm finished!<br />
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Good Night & Sow the Seed!<br />
Caleb O'HaraCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-34217098159219887572009-05-02T19:40:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:27:04.866-07:00I'm BackOK... So I've been a little behind on blogging (OK... A LOT!). Let's see if I can change that a bit.<br /><br />Next week I will be speaking at the <a href="http://www.wvcoc.org">West Visalia Lectures</a>. I'm addressing two topics: Evangelism in a Postmodern World, and Church Growth God's Way. These are two subjects I've spent a lot of time in so I'm excited, and scared, to be asked to present them. So much to say in so little time. The art of preaching is figuring out what not to say.<br /><br />Here is the live feed to the lectures below.<br /><br /><object id="utv_o_322919" height="326" width="400" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/live/663649" name="movie" /><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess" /><param value="transparent" name="wmode" /><param value="viewcount=true&autoplay=false&brand=embed&" name="flashvars" /><embed name="utv_e_218829" id="utv_e_209572" flashvars="viewcount=true&autoplay=false&brand=embed&" height="320" width="400" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/live/663649" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /></object></embed><br /><br /><br />Sow the Seed,<br />CalebCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-77757267479557954122009-02-04T13:42:00.001-08:002009-02-04T18:53:34.980-08:00Day 3 Open Forum Live Blog******* Most Recent Posts First *******<br /><br />- Open Forum has ended.<br /><br />- Sabroe asks if it's ok to be entertained by people who are offering up false worship. Ralph completely dodges the question. He says that it's not about what they intend from it, but what you do with it. He diverts by making it a question about being entertained by sinful behavior to something else, thus never answering the question. One thing is for sure, Ralph can dance, I guess that tells us his position on dancing :)<br /><br />- Sabroe is making his way to the mic. I'm scared.<br /><br />- Elkins is making his way to the mic.... He talks about MDR. He says that Wallace assumed that in 1 Cor 7:15 that if she departed it was for fornication. He says that sometimes there is background to situations that we don't know about. Ralph says that is true.<br /><br />- More people at the mic about Christian Contemporary Music. Nothing really of note.<br /><br />- First guy to the mic has questions about “Christian Music.” He has a lot of questions. Ralph basically says we used to not have a problem with it when they had it on the radio when he was a kid. Now they have a problem with it. The whole problem with Ralph's argument is that he is arguing it's validity based on our inconsistency. When did inconsistency ever prove something was right or wrong?<br /><br />- Is Jesus the Angel of the Lord of the Old Testament. He says that some instances probably.<br /><br />- Someone wants to know if the flood was global or local and if it is a matter of fellowship. He says that it was a global flood and he is sorta vague about the fellowship question.<br /><br />- How can we help the brethren study the Bible better and not just study topically. He talks about how when he was a kid they really studied the Bible; his mom made sure. Then he talked about our current culture and wanting everything flashy. He then says we shouldn't dumb things down because our kids today are smart enough. <br /><br />- The next question has to do with Textual Criticism. He gives a crash course on textual criticism. He then goes into the Textus Receptus and the KJV. He talks about the MSS available were limited when the KJV was put together. He talks about translations some more and he says that he is happy that most people today don't make translations a matter of fellowship.<br /><br />- Next question has to do with the ESV: Good or Bad? Ralph says he likes it and the Holman Christian Standard. He says he lets his students use it.<br /><br />- Is it wrong to listen to contemporary Christian worship. Ralph says nope.Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-7008993740156448612009-02-04T13:27:00.000-08:002009-02-04T13:30:31.727-08:00Steven's TruckWe were just informed that Steven Anchondo wrecked his truck. The good news is everyone is ok.<br /><br />CalebCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-27549971959350419702009-02-04T08:11:00.001-08:002009-02-04T08:14:51.428-08:00Freed Hardeman Lectures - Day 3Today we started out with a breakfast sandwich and a soda from a generic grocery store (The food quality is exactly what you are thinking). We got up early today just to make it to hear Jack P. Lewis lecture on Psalm 44. What a man. If only I knew everything he has forgotten I would be well ahead in life. After Jack P. is chapel. No telling what today will bring!Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-61363292030209974412009-02-03T13:32:00.000-08:002009-02-03T14:34:03.462-08:00FHU Lectures Day 2 Open Forum Live Blog********* Most Recent Posts Listed First ***********<br /><br />- The forum is over. Ralph did a good job for the day. Time for dinner.<br /><br />- Ralph goes into a rant on how we are not relevant because we are perceived to be anti-women. He says we are not growing like we are supposed to. What does that have to do with anything? Who gets to declare what makes us relevant or not? Are we really going to use numbers to justify our faithfulness or relevance? If we are merely going to use numbers then we have never been relevant or faithful. Maybe we need to look to a new standard????<br /><br />- We had the daily Elkins appearance.<br /><br />- Some guy gets up and makes a statement about women take the authority behind the scenes. It was.... ummmm.... Interesting. Ralph moves on.<br /><br />- Question about worshiping Jesus and the HS. Ralph says the HS and Jesus are God, therefore they are worthy of worship. I appreciate Ralph mentioning this. This is the core of the question and is often overlooked.<br /><br />- Next guy gets up and gives a mini-sermon. Doesn't really contribute anything new.<br /><br />- Someone comes up to the mic and asks about a woman signing to the deaf. Ralph basically says that it's OK because women are better translators. Ralph says she doesn't have a pulpit she just has a place to stand.<br /><br />- There are more questions about when a woman can speak, address the congregation, etc.... One of the questions has to do with reading the Bible out loud. He mentions that it is all a matter of authority. He is very vague... which seems to be a theme.<br /><br />- Now a serious of questions on womens role and prayer. Ralph mentions women praying in the home is different than any other setting. The reason being that he learns more about what his family is thinking. The problem is what biblical basis does he get this idea from? You know I feel better when I worship with an instrument, therefore it's ok??? When you get down to it Paul still says “In every place.” This common argument for women leading in the home is funny to me because where is the first place that male spiritual leadership should be upheld? Is it not the home?<br /><br />- Next question has to do with disfellowshipping a congregation. Ralph says that in scripture disfellowship is done to individuals. Then he mentions that in times of change like we are in we sometimes have to withhold our fellowship from congregations and schools.<br /><br />- Next question has to do with singing to Jesus etc.... And baptizing in the name of Jesus. Ralph points out that Jesus was worshipped all through his life. He mentions that Jesus was worshipped in the Revelation. Ralph points out Acts 7:59 and Stephen addressing Jesus in prayer.<br /><br />- The first question has to do with answering the accusation that the Bible just copied from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ralph gives some of the similarities and differences between the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ralph says nobody has been able to prove they are dependent. And the Bible is true.<br /><br />- Ralph opens with the old how much how long joke. When will they end?<br /><br />- Lipe gives the standard intro and says no more discussion on MDR.<br /><br />- E. Claude Gardner opens with a prayer.Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-80645856224389137152009-02-02T13:37:00.001-08:002009-02-02T14:34:07.727-08:00FHU Open Forum Live Blog***************Most Recent Posts First******************<br /><br />- Open Forum is over. A mainly uneventful event. Not too bad. <br /><br />- Cliff and I are sick of all the personal stories at the mic. People are not contributing anything to the discussion. Tomorrow's open forum will be Cliff and Caleb hour. We will tell our life stories for one hour. Ralph is being too nice to people. He needs to just cut them off and say this isn't Oprah hour, this is Open Forum.<br /><br />- Earl Edwards take the mic. HE mentions that some promises that are made should never have been made in the first place and should not be fulfilled. He cites Harod telling his wife's daughter that she could have whatever she wanted and she asked for John the Baptists head. This was in response to a question about divorcing someone you should not have been married to in the first place. The question was arguing that you can't tell someone to leave an adulterous relationship because they would be breaking an oath they made to the new mate.<br /><br />- There he is! Elkins rides in on the white horse.<br /><br />- Waiting for Elkins to make his appearance.<br /><br />- Some more random comments. Nothing to blog about.<br /><br />- Someone came up to the microphone to respond to Ralph's point about Acts 2. Ralph says he agrees. He is explaining that his point is how much do you have to have demonstrated before you baptize them. He says if someone says he is in sin and won't do anything about it then you don't baptize him.<br /><br />- Next question is about Daniel 9:27. He is basically saying that it's a tricky passage. I'm not sure I followed him.<br /><br />- The next question is on team teaching. When can a woman teach etc. The example of Priscilla and Aquila is mentioned. Ralph says Apollos was a private environment. He says that the Scriptures teach that men are spiritual leaders and are to be the teachers.<br /><br />- The next question is on team teaching. When can a woman teach etc. The example of Priscilla and Aquila is mentioned. Ralph says Apollos was a private environment. He says that the Scriptures teach that men are spiritual leaders and are to be the teachers.<br /><br />- The next question has to do with if the example of selling the property and giving it all to the church binding. Ralph says no. It was voluntary.<br /><br />- Second question is regarding weather or not baptism washes away adultery. Ralph says adultery is continuous action. Ralph mentions Acts 2 and the 300. He then asks if the apostles asked them all specific questions about all the sins they were committing. Ralph says there wasn't time to do that in Acts 2. He said what's important is to have an attitude of repentance. He says that they need to do need to repent though.</p><br /><br />- Ralph opens up with a question regarding what a woman should do with a husband that is verbally abusive. Basically Ralph says go see a good Christian counselor.<br /><br />- And Ralph delivers as predicted.<br /><br />- The Open Forum is about to begin. David Lipe is going to give the standard info about how FHU doesn't necessarily endorse what Ralph says; yadda yadda. Ralph is about to get to the mic. I'm betting he will open with a joke.Caleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-31197661651693285422009-02-02T11:46:00.000-08:002009-02-02T12:03:37.791-08:00Back at the FHU Lectures...I'm at the Freed Hardeman University Lectures again in 2009. This year my friend Cliff Sabroe came with me. Today we attended the morning chapel lecture by Jesse Robertson. His text was Psalm 23. At the beginning of the lesson he had the whole audience quote the 23rd Psalm. That was the last time it was mentioned.<br /><br />After chapel we took a quick stroll through Bader Gym to check out the booths. We didn't spend a whole lot of time in there; too many people. Someone came up with the idea of eating Mexican food so we took off to eat with Alex, David, Ben, Kyle, and Steven. It only confirmed what I have been telling Cliff since we got here, they don't have Mexican food in Tennessee.<br /><br />After Mexican (or whatever you want to call it) we headed back to catch the 1:30 lecture by Glen Henton. He is speaking on “Preaching Repentance to the World” (Psalm 51). There is much more to come until today is over.<br /><br />Caleb<br /><br /><strong><em>Daily Sightings...<br /></em></strong> - Tom Holland<br /> - Garland Elkins<br /> - Mac Lyon<br /> - Earl Edwards<br /> - Allen Webster<br /> - James MeadowsCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-10672960437365767612008-11-08T21:32:00.000-08:002008-11-08T21:41:44.346-08:00We are off and blogging...I have lots of blog posts back logged… so here we go.<br /><br />November 4th, 2008 was an important day. It’s the day Michael Crichton died after a private fight with cancer. Most people probably remember him for his famous book turned movie Jurrasic Park. Next on the list would probably be his creation of the TV show ER. He was a well studied individual in many respects. He was even a medical doctor who went to Harvard Medical School. To be honest, I didn’t really know anything about him until recently.<br /><br />The one aspect I want to talk about is his political science views. In 2004 he wrote a techno-thriller called State of Fear. Having not read the book, only articles about it, I can’t give you a good review. What I can do is point out that everyone agrees the book was about how public opinion, policy, and social order are controlled by a belief in global warming that cannot be backed up by science – even though sceintist claim it is.<br /><br />In 2003 he gave a speech at the California Institute of technology were he said he was concered about the, “emerging crisis in the whole enterprise of science-namely the increasingly uneasy relationship between hard science and public policy” (<a href="http://www.crichton-official.com/speech-alienscauseglobalwarming.html">http://www.crichton-official.com/speech-alienscauseglobalwarming.html</a>). He set out to argue for the seperation of politics and science. His thesis was that scientist were creating something and stating it as fact in order to control the general publics behavior. And he had lots of facts to back it up.<br /><br />Now I don’t know of, and I highly doubt, that Crichton ever carried his ideas over to invistage evolution. The reality is that the same arguments that are used to state man made global warming as fact are the same that are used to teach evolution (i.e. scientific conesis, in other words a lot of scientists say so, is that it is true, therfore it is true). I believe that when Americans, and others, wake up and realize they were being lead off by Honest John and Gideon (e.g. scientists) to Pleasure Island (a Pinocchio referrence for those of you who don’t have kids watching Disney movies all the time) they will have to logically reject both ideologies. The question is will America wake up before they all become donkeys? The election of our most recent leaders does not give me a whole lot of hope at the moment.<br /><br />Caleb O’HaraCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-43789022012675991792008-10-13T15:44:00.000-07:002008-10-13T15:46:19.400-07:00I'm Back!OK… so I’ve taken a blogging break for the last few days (ok… months). There has been a lot going on that I won’t bore you with. The good news in we are homeowners now! Moved in, but not quite settled. The blog will be updated on a semi-regular basis again. So keep your eyes open!<br /><br />Sow the Seed,<br />Caleb O’HaraCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2762528875327624555.post-84234075964704718692008-07-27T07:28:00.000-07:002008-07-27T08:03:05.508-07:0010 Years TodayRecently I have been preaching a series of sermons on the gospel message. The lessons the last two weeks were on the response to the Gospel and the necessity of the Gospel to make a Christian. A couple weeks ago I decided I would preach the very first sermon I ever preached, today. It was a sermon on Romans 1:14-17 – The Responsibility of the Gospel.<br /><br />There is one really interesting piece to me preaching this sermon today. As I was going back through my brain last night I realized that it was exactly ten years ago today that I preached my first sermon – this sermon! I was sixteen years old and a babe in Christ by only a couple months. The only reason I remember the date is because it was the last week in July when Merced went to Yosemite Bible Camp. That Sunday night I preached in Merced because their preacher was already up at camp (my cousin Jake took my up after evening worship in my grandpa’s Chevy S10). It was a special day for me and the sermon was special to me too.<br /><br />Wow… TEN YEARS! I really am starting to feel old. It’s hard to believe that God has enabled me to preach the gospel for ten years now. If the Lord wills, I’m looking forward to the next ten. There is no greater responsibility then to be faithful with the faithful message.<br /><br />Preach the Word,<br />CalebCaleb O'Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545999921978371250noreply@blogger.com0