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Culture

The 10 Most Popular Posts of 2014

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Wow, what a year! As I gathered the most popular blog posts from 2014, I couldn’t help but see God’s fingerprints everywhere. Many of you are unaware, but I nearly shut the writing thing down earlier this year. I was frustrated. I was burnt out. Then, in typical God fashion, he opened up the floodgates. My first post went viral, and Relevant Magazine (a magazine that has challenged my faith for years) picked up three of my articles. Many of you shared your story with me. God allowed me to walk with some of you through addiction.

I want to say thank you to every person who sent me a word of encouragement. God used your words to renew my strength. It was your words that convicted me to make writing a weekly discipline, not just a fun aside.

Thank you again for the journey this year. I love you all.

Marriage, college, reaching the next generation, and social media, among other topics, resonated with you in 2014. Here are the 10 most popular blog posts of 2014.

 

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#10 – 8 Ways To Ruin Your Life In College

College signals a new season. For many, it is a return to normalcy. For some, it is a step closer to a degree. A step closer to “real life.” Whatever that means. For others, it is the beginning of life without the presence of mom and dad. College is a great time to learn, find yourself, build relationships, or any number of other things.

But here is a reality many in college fail to grasp…your time will end. You can’t stay in college forever. Whether you want to accept this reality or not, the reality remains…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/8-ways-ruin-life-college/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

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#9 – 6 Really Bad Ways Christians Use Social Media

Hiding behind a computer screen doesn’t change the reality…one click of a mouse (or trackpad for my Apple people) can alter lives. This is bigger than us. We must harness this power and use it for good. Use it for God. There is so much potential. But with great power comes great danger.

I want to list some ways Christians are improperly using social media. I hope this post resonates with people. How we use social media determines how others view us. But more importantly…how others view God. So, here are 6 really bad ways Christians use social media…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/6-bad-ways-christians-use-social-media/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

 

i am waking up at 5 a.m...and it has changed my life

#8 – I Am Waking Up At 5 a.m…And It Has Changed My Life

I always believed staying up late at night and getting up early in the morning did not matter when it comes to productivity and effectiveness…then I read the book Early To Rise and actually started getting up early. It has changed my life.

Granted, I am only 13 days into the 30 day challenge, but I am determined to make this a life change. I believe more than ever getting up early equates to greater productivity and a more meaningful life. Let me share a few reasons why I believe in waking up early…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/i-am-waking-up-at-5-a-m-and-it-has-changed-my-life/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

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#7 – 6 Statements From People Not Ready For Marriage

But honestly…Is anyone prepared for marriage? Of course not. ‘Tis life. But make no mistake. There are attitudes and mentalities that are toxic to a marriage. And many people, simply by the answers they give or the qualities they value, reveal they are not ready for marriage. So, here are 6 statements from people not ready for marriage…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/6-statements-from-people-not-ready-for-marriage/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

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#6 – 12 Signs You Are A Modern-Day Pharisee

Most Pharisees begin with good intentions. But somehow those intentions and motives morph into something not so good.

Here is my hope and prayer…you will read this and do an inspection on your heart. The following things flow from my own personal struggles with legalism and being a Pharisee. In many ways, I am a recovering Pharisee. I still have a long way to go. But I am thankful the grace of God allows me to stumble. Allows me to struggle. And still be His child. So, here are 12 signs you are a modern-day Pharisees…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/12-signs-you-are-modern-day-pharisee/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

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#5 – 8 Lies In Church Culture Today That Are Crippling Us

(featured on relevantmagazine.com)

I love the church. I have given my life to the church. I believe in the church because I believe the King reigns over everything. There is a lot to be praised and celebrated when it comes to the church. There is another side though. We have bought some lies. These lies are hurting us. Crippling us. If the church is going to become the image of God in the world, there are lies we must drop. Here are 8 lies in church culture today that I believe are crippling us…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/8-lies-in-church-culture/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

the 10 commandments of an un-committed christian

#4 – The 10 Commandments Of An Un-Committed Christian

A person who claims Christianity but is not molded into the image of God is no Christian at all. Christianity is not about a name…it is about a Savior. It is not a declaration…it is a transformation. It not about fixing some bad habits…it is about becoming a new person. Jesus makes it clear how he feels about “status” or “lukewarm” Christians.

But how do we know where we stand? Well, people claiming Christ but not really serious about Him adhere to some central truths. Call them commands if you choose. Ideals that shape decisions. So, here are the 10 commandments of an un-committed Christian…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/10-commandments-un-committed-christian/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

 really dumb reasons to leave a church

#3 – 7 Really Dumb Reasons To Leave A Church

There are certainly valid reasons to leave a church. But there are many more terrible reasons. Being a minister, I see this firsthand. Especially in the south. Churches are a dime a dozen here. And you can have almost any flavor your heart desires. Like Baskin Robbins…on steroids. Without the sprinkles.

While I acknowledge the inevitability of church hopping in this culture, I want to push back against this trend. Church hopping is not something God wants or desires from His people. At least not church hopping as it exists in America. It is the product of an over-abundance of churches mixed with a lack of desire and commitment among God’s people. Without further adieu, here are 7 really dumb reasons to leave a church…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/7-really-dumb-reasons-leave-a-church/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

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#2 – 10 Reasons Churches Are Not Reaching Millennials

Many churches do not take the time to know the next generation, so they are stuck with attaching stigmas (many untrue) to them. This is problematic. There are churches, however, that are thriving with Millennials, and if you did some investigation I believe you would come out with similar results, regardless of the church locale.

So, what differentiates a church culture that attracts Millennials and one that repels them? There are many factors, but I want to highlight ten really important ones. If you are a church that has been asking why it is so hard to get the next generation to become part of your culture, the following reasons might shed some light on your struggle…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/ten-reasons-church-absent-millennials/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

 

Truths about marriage you wont hear in church

#1 – 7 Truths About Marriage You Will Not Hear In Church

(featured on relevantmagazine.com, named #6 most popular post of 2014 by relevantmagazine.com, featured on faithit.com)

I am grateful for the foundation the church gave me in regards to marriage. It was a good study guide. But there some things on the test I did not learn until marriage began. So, I am going to give you some answers to the test that some of you might not expect to see. I grew up in church. I spent most of my time with Christian people. I was told much about marriage. But these 7 truths about marriage I never heard in church…

[su_button url=”https://frankpowell.me/truths-sex-marriage-never-learned-church/” target=”blank” background=”#336699″ size=”5″ center=”yes” radius=”round” icon_color=”#336699″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Read the Rest[/su_button]

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As we transition into 2015, I am excited to see what God has in store. If there is a particular topic or issue you would like me to address, leave a comment below. I want to move people towards Jesus, and that begins with writing about issues that resonate with you.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

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Culture

I Am Ferguson…And I Wasn’t Prepared To Hear It

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

As I prepared for bed last night, I took one last look at my Twitter feed. And I knew the situation in Ferguson was bad. I turned on the TV and watch the horror unfold. Yes, I expected it. Or I should have. But there is something about the human heart that holds out hope despite impending reality.

Peering through the TV, I tried to grasp the magnitude of the emotions in Ferguson. The hurt. The pain. The anguish. They formed a blanket over the city of Ferguson, MO like a well-built fort. You know, the one you made when you were a kid.

And the longer I watched, the more I felt the emotions. The blanket of anger, fear, and sadness seeped through the TV screen into my living room. And then it hit me.

That leads me to the purpose of this post: I want to explain what I saw as I watched the events in Ferguson unfold.

Every person watching TV saw looting, arson, and severe unrest. We got a front row seat. We saw businesses burning to the ground. We saw standoffs between protesters and police. We saw the anger, rage, and sadness. It appeared to be chaos.

But I saw something else. Something I was not prepared to see. While lounging on my couch, feeling the emotions of a city marred in unrest for months, I came to a sobering realization:

I am Ferguson.

Yes, you read that right. The media coverage, the raw emotions of the people, and the groaning of the city provided a vivid picture of my heart. Like the old Captain Planet theme song, the powers combined to shine a spotlight on my distortion, wickedness, and longing.

Let me explain.

The news outlets framed the story differently, making the truth hard to know…and I do the same with my heart.

I flipped back and forth between several news outlets. I had no intention in doing this but to avoid commercials. I hate them almost as much as cats. I didn’t turn on the TV last night thinking, “I want to grab a picture of Ferguson from several angles.”

But that’s what happened.

Each news outlet painted the Ferguson story a little different. They framed the story through a different lense. In doing so, I began to question the truth. And I wasn’t looking for the truth. I wanted to see the reactions of the people. But even though I watched innocently, I was pulled into the story. And I found myself doing something I never intended to do…taking a side.

But I only felt compelled to do this because each media outlet framed the story in a different light.

And God showed me something about my heart. I am no different from the news outlets. I paint the picture of my heart in a way that distorts the true picture. This is what we all do, right?

I hide the evil intentions. I hide the wicked thoughts. I rephrase the truth to make it sound acceptable. After all, the world needs to see that I have it together.

In doing so, I cloud my heart and mind from the depth of God’s mercy and love. The longer I cover my heart with agendas and desires to show others I have it together, the more difficult it becomes to find the truth. The truth of my helplessness and hopelessness apart from God.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Covering the depth of our brokenness clouds the depth of God’s love for us.[/tweet_box]

But when I take down the layers and turn off the spotlight, the depth of my brokenness leaves me longing for the God whose love never fails.

The chaos in Ferguson reflects the nature of my heart.

The truth might be hard to discern watching the news. But one thing is not hard to discern…the brokenness of the city. I hurt for the people of Ferguson as I watched businesses looted and buildings burned. I hurt as I watched months of emotions explode like a volcano. Protestors. Police officers. Bystanders. I hurt for everyone.

This is not the way things are supposed to be. This is not how men and women created in the image of God are designed to live. Things are not right. Something is broken.

Now back to my heart. No matter how many pretty colors I use to paint the canvas, the ugly, broken reality remains. And that reality is the brokenness of my heart.

Replace the arson and looting with anger and greed. Replace the frustrations of the protesters with a cynicism towards the world and a desire to be accepted. What happened in Ferguson last night happens in my heart every day. And it reveals to me something is broken.

The crying of the city to be restored reveals the longing of my heart to be made pure.

[pullquote cite=”Romans 8:22″ type=”left”]We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.[/pullquote]In a strange way I heard the cries of the city last night. Ferguson was crying for relief. Buildings burning. Protests increasing. Unrest amplfying. And the city of Ferguson wanted desperately to be restored. Like an under matched boxer enduring a barrage of jabs waiting for the referee to intercede and stop the madness. But a referee is nowhere to be found.

Scripture says creation is groaning. I never understood the meaning of that statement…until last night. I heard the groaning. I heard the cries of a city desperately wanting to be restored.

And the cries of Ferguson are the cries of my heart. I try to cover the brokenness. I expend energy to hide the truth. But the longing for restoration remains.

This is what God showed me through Ferguson. Creation is longing to be restored. It is crying out. But we rarely hear the cries. It takes fires, looting, and the eyes of a nation watching to reveal them.

My heart is also crying out. Envy. Greed. Impure motives. Longing for acceptance and fame. Lust. These things pour out from the depths of my heart telling me something is broken. This is not how God created me. And regardless of how many costumes I wear, my heart still groans. It wants to be pure. Free of impurities.

My heart wants to go home.

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Pray for the people of Ferguson. Pray for the families affected. The world sees the pain. And many now mourn with the people of Ferguson as they move forward.

The world is broken. Something is missing. And that something is the eternal peace and love of God. One day God will restore creation. It will no longer groan. It will no longer show the bruises and scars of brokenness and unrest. Creation will be restored.

One day God will also purify my heart…for the last time. The blood of Jesus takes my impurities and makes them pure. But the groaning remains because my brokenness remains. The groaning remains because my heart is bruised and scarred.

Because my heart longs for perfection. And it is tired of using makeup to cover the bruises.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

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social media
Culture

6 Really Bad Ways Christians Use Social Media

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Social media is quickly becoming the default way to communicate in our culture. And the power it provides us is astounding. With the click of a mouse, the entire world can know our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Every person now has a voice. The world now has access to our lives. Social media is a powerful tool.

Here is the truth about tools like social media. The greater the power, the more important it becomes to harness it. Social media can be used to draw people to God. It can be used to impact the world positively. But there is another side. A dark side. Social media also has great power to destroy. Tear down. Hiding behind a computer screen doesn’t change the reality…one click of a mouse (or trackpad for my Apple people) can alter lives. This is bigger than us. We must harness this power and use it for good. Use it for God. There is so much potential. But with great power comes great danger.

I want to list some ways Christians are improperly using social media. I hope this post resonates with people. How we use social media determines how others view us. But more importantly…how others view God. So, here are 6 really bad ways Christians use social media.

1.) An outlet when you are angry or frustrated.

Social media is not a place for people who have been hurt or angered. If you have been hurt, angered, or frustrated, walk away from any device that might allow you to post something on social media. Emotional responses on social media are dangerous. Here’s why…emotional moments tend to produce responses that are not reflective of who we are.

Social media is also not a place for you or me to tell the world that our boss sucks. It is not a place to trash talk a teacher. It is not a place to let the world know our friends are jerks. Tell me what this accomplishes? So, you have given him or her what they deserve? Good for you. So, tell me again how your comments have drawn people to Jesus?

The moment we click post or hit send, the world has access to our words. Do not allow your emotions to override your good judgement. When it comes to social media, be a reactor, not a responder.

[tweet_box design=”default”]When it comes to social media, be a reactor, not a responder.[/tweet_box]

2.) A platform to rant about political or cultural issues.

This is not a healthy practice. I see this too much from Christians. For followers of Jesus, ranting about the President or the most recent divisive cultural issue is never going to bring glory to God. I know you have an opinion. But how is blasting our government going to accomplish anything positive? 140 characters is not sufficient space to expound on anything meaningful. And, quite frankly, no one reads posts on Facebook that could double as a short essay or book.

Ranting on social media has the potential to lead to really unhealthy practices. There is no harm in being passionate about a particular issue. Just find another outlet to share those passions.

3.) A way to resolve conflict…or initiate it.

Trying to resolve conflict behind a computer screen is a really bad idea. The same is true with texting and e-mails. If a situation needs to be resolved, do something outrageous…give the person a call or set up a face-to-face meeting. Crazy idea, I know. Again, with conflict, emotions are often involved. When emotions are involved, social media is never a good option. A comment can be taken the wrong way. A post or photo can be taken out of context. So many potentially destructive things can happen. Don’t use social media to resolve conflict.

4.) A way to build meaningful relationships.

Social media is a great tool to supplement relationships…it is a terrible tool to build them. Here is a good rule of thumb…if you have not met the person, he or she is not your friend. You see, what social media has created is this dream world where people brag about having 1,000 friends they have never met.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Social media is a great tool to supplement relationships. It is a terrible tool to build them.[/tweet_box]

What have you gained if you have 1,000 Facebook friends but no meaningful relationships outside of a computer screen? Who cares how many Twitter followers you have if you can’t sit across the table and carry on a conversation with another person?

Do yourself a favor…stop bragging about your ridiculously high number of social number friends. Invest time in actual relationships. This is where transformation occurs. This is where meaningful conversations take place. Put the phone away when eating lunch with friends. Stop using breaks to go into seclusion and respond to a post or tweet.

5.) An outlet to send promiscuous photos, posts, or updates. 

This is the really dark side of social media. Sexting is a growing epidemic. Platforms like SnapChat allow people (many of them unstable and unable to have perspective) to send photos as a desperate attempt for acceptance. These platforms also give boldness to men and women who are otherwise cowards. In this way, social media is destroying our culture. Especially our youth culture. Social media is not a tool to find acceptance. Once these photos, texts, or posts are sent to another person, you are not allowed to take them back. You are not allowed to hit the reset button.

I am convicted of this…parents need to have access to their child’s social media accounts. This is not helicopter parenting. This is responsible parenting. Yes, children should be allowed freedom. But it is dangerous to allow social media to be the area to let your child “grow.” There are too many people with evil motives. The opportunity to send revealing photos or texts is too easy. Parents need to take some responsibility here.

Image and reputation are infinitely valuable to every person. Protect them. No one else will. Before you send that text message. Before you post that photo. Ask yourself if this photo, text, or tweet will bring glory to God. As a Christian, your aim is to use everything you have for God’s glory. Social media is not an exception to this.

6.) A way to create a fake version of who you really are.

It is sad, but true…many people love social media because it allows them to paint a fake version of who they really are. Every picture shows them smiling. Every post leads others to believe life is great. This is one of the great deceptions of social media.

Using a computer screen to mask your true self is a really sad way to go through life. Be content with the man or woman God has created you to be. Stop trying to convince the world you are some one different. This is degrading to you. It is also degrading to God. This type of life is exhausting. It is not sustainable. Be YOU.

The world does not need to see an Instagram account full of happy selfies…the world needs to see men and women being real. The world needs to see vulnerability. The world needs to see that life is hard. Being a Christian doesn’t equal an easy life. Difficult days are inevitable. The world needs to see that God is enough regardless of the swirling winds around us.

[tweet_box design=”default”]The world needs to see that God is enough regardless of the swirling winds around us.[/tweet_box]

This doesn’t happen on social media. In many ways, social media flies in the face of God’s nature. It is not all smiling selfies and sunny days. Don’t send the world a fake idea of yourself. Don’t portray to the world an inaccurate idea of the Christian life. Don’t paint a distorted portrait of God.

_________________________________

Let me be clear in saying social media has enormous potential to be used for good. Unlimited potential to point others to God. But Christians must stop using social media in a way that pulls others away from God and not towards Him.

Any place where the opportunity to do good exists, the opportunity to do evil lurks close behind. Be mindful of this reality.

Harness the power. Take advantage of the opportunity. But don’t fail to recognize the danger involved. The world has given us a powerful weapon. Use it to push back darkness and not increase it.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

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Culture

In The Wake Of Ferguson…6 Ways To Truly Attack Racism

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

The situation in Ferguson is tragic. Not just because a young man is dead. This is the bad, no doubt. But what has transpired in the wake of the incident is also very saddening. Taking sides. Everyone must do it. You see the substance behind shadows. People’s true colors, if you will.

As a minister of Jesus Christ and man with a passion for restoring culture, I am saddened.

I am saddened that a young man, Michael Brown, has lost his life.

I am saddened that a family will spend weeks, months, years grieving over this loss.

I am saddened that a police officer, Darren Wilson, has in essence lost his life. Granted this man is still with us physically, but let’s make no mistake…his life is all but over.

I am saddened that an incident like this still polarizes the nation.

I am saddened that an incident like this forces everyone to take a side. Even Christians.

Ferguson is a reminder. It is a stark reminder. A reminder that our culture still has a long way to go. A reminder that the black eye over this country is still race. It’s not that we are unaware of this reality. Race has long been the black eye. Ferguson just vividly exposes the eye. Like someone who removes an eyepatch. We know the patch is hiding something. But let the patch be removed. It is then our minds can actually internalize the magnitude of what’s underneath.

When I process the events in Ferguson and couple them with the events I see many days in my own town, I begin to ask myself some tough questions. Is racial reconciliation even possible? Is cultural diversity even realistic? Are we, Americans, being naive? The answer to these questions must be no. Underlying the black eye must lie the truth that these types of things heal. Black eyes heal, right? They might leave scars, but they heal.

In light of this, I want to suggest 6 ways to truly attack racism and cultural diversity.

1.) Own it…racism still exists.

Racism still exists today. And most of us are guilty. Granted, active, outspoken racism is much less prevalent today. Most of those people are pushed to the margins of society.

But replacing active racism is a more passive form. One that is just as dangerous. This type of racism says one group or race has no problem with another, but passive racism never goes so far as to truly embrace. This type of racism says I have no problem with black people. I have no problem with Latinos. I have no problem with whites. But when I, a white guy, pass a group of black men while running, I slow down or move over.

This type of racism says I have no problem with inter-racial marriage…as long as it is not in my family.

This type of racism is so dangerous because it is silent. Like a volcano that is dormant. No real signs or issues. Then something triggers and everything explodes. An earthquake for volcanos. Ferguson for America.

It is not until we admit collectively this is still an issue that we will be in a position to attack it. Like a man with an illness, but he refuses to acknowledge anything is wrong. Denial. This is not an attack on our evil hearts as much as it is a call for us to embrace the collective need for grace and mercy. A call for God to transform our wickedness. A call for the Holy Spirit to help us see with new eyes and love with new hearts. Only He can do this.

2.) Celebrate differences.

When is our country (and our world, for that matter) going to arrive at a place where we can celebrate differences? When are we going to mature to the point where the default position becomes acceptance, not condemnation and cynicism? When are we going to realize God does not create machines?…He creates people. Then he gives those people freedom to live differently and uniquely.

There is not one way to worship God. There is not one way to approach life. And this is where things get dangerous. This is where racism has its roots. Believing one group has “figured out” what is right, and for someone to refuse to adhere to their understanding of life and God is wrong.

Superiority…the essence of racism. “I have it figured out. Everyone else is wrong.” Superiority breeds elitism, which often leads to dehumanization.

My black brothers worship God differently than I do. They have a different filter through which they see life. My Latino brothers are the same way. My Chinese brothers the same. I have much to learn from all of these groups. I pray we will have the wisdom and maturity to begin celebrating differences. Different is not wrong…it is different.

3.) Understand racism is about the heart.

None of us make any legitimate advancement in this area by simply agreeing to meet in a room together. Racism originates in the heart, and it must be attacked from within.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Racism originates in the heart, and it must be attacked from within.[/tweet_box]

I have been in settings before where men and women from all backgrounds gathered together. In the same room. But that was it. When the event concluded, everyone went to eat with “their people.”

We will begin to make strides towards eliminating racism when we agree to sit down with one another and listen to the heart of the other. Relationships must be built. Hearts must be shared. Concerns must be revealed. It is not until we agree to fight through those awkward and tension-filled moments that progress will be made.

Attacking racism doesn’t start by agreeing to get people from different backgrounds in the same room. It starts by inviting people into your home, fostering sympathy with a sincere heart, and, of course, listening.

4.) Pray for deep humility.

This point is arguably the most important one…it is also arguably the most difficult for us to accept. Humility is so important because without it, we will continue to allow the wounds of the past to inform the actions of the present and future.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Without humility, the wounds of the past will inform the actions of the present.[/tweet_box]

Without humility, we will default to being defensive. Without humility, we will default to being offended.

For all sides humility is vital. For one side it requires a heart that is more focused on breaking down walls than making sure the other side says everything right. For the other side, it requires a heart that seeks to listen and be sympathetic, not get angry or frustrated when a comment is made that pushes against stereotypical norms.

This is impossible without humility. This is impossible without a softened heart. A heart that understands in this journey we are going to say things that offend the other side. We have no choice. We are human.

A heart that understands an ill-timed comment is not grounds to push away from the table or default back to cultural stereotypes. To fix this, we must agree to stay at the table. We must choose to think of the other group ahead of ourselves…and remain humble.

5.) Realize embracing diversity is not something we drift towards…it requires intentionality.

We humans love to be in situations that are safe and comfortable. Anything outside of those bounds will require intentionality. This is true of racism and true of cultural diversity. If we do not take some intentional steps, all of our friends will look just like us. All of our churches will look the same. All of our social gatherings will be filled with people that look like us. This is the nature of culture and race. We drift towards what is familiar.

[tweet_box design=”default”]For racism to make forward movement, we must be intentional.[/tweet_box]

For racism to make forward movement, we must be intentional. It is not something that will happen naturally. Embracing cultural diversity is hard. Spending quality time with people that have nothing in common with us is not normal.

The world is not doing it. But it is in these spaces that movement towards embracing and not condemning will be made. It is in these spaces that walls come down. It is in these spaces we begin to see one another as human beings, not label one another by skin color.

6.) Believe only the gospel can eliminate racism.

[pullquote cite=”John Perkins” type=”left”]Racism is a sin in the face of the Holy God and of humanity bearing that face of God. We have not gotten deep enough to affirming each other as human beings. As a result we minimize the gospel.[/pullquote] In a world marred by the stains of racism, there is really only one cure…the gospel. The gospel is the only legitimate answer to this problem.

In Ephesians 2:14-15, Paul says the cross has broken down the walls of hostility so that Christ might create ONE new man in place of the two. This is the reality in Christ…there is only one race.

Any place where barriers of race exist, we can be sure this is not from God. Racism is sin. On any level. And the people of God must lead the way in pushing the gospel’s transformative power directly into the walls of culture and race.

Make no mistake, racism will not be cured by protestors on the streets. It will not be cured by off-handed comments on Facebook or Twitter. It will only be cured when the power of the gospel penetrates the hearts and minds of people in this world.

________________________________

I pray for the day when a post like this is not relevant in our culture. I pray for the day people characterize one another as human beings only. I pray for the day when the people of God believe in the power of the gospel to penetrate the walls of race and culture. I believe this day is possible. I hope you will pray for this day with me.

I love you all. To God the glory forever. Amen!

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Book Review: Surprised By Hope

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

WARNING: I am providing a lengthy review for Surprised By Hope. This is intentional. I want to devote some time to giving you guys a thorough evaluation and discussion of a book that is much needed in all Christian circles today. Surprised By Hope is that important. But…if you want to see an extremely condensed review of this book by New Testament writer and scholar, N. T. Wright, visit the 2014 Book and Reviews page.

INTRO

What is the value of exploring heaven and eschatology? For many Christians, there is little value in one’s theology of this subject. Surprised By Hope urges Christians to re-think heaven, the resurrection, and the mission of the church. The book’s author, N. T. Wright, believes that one’s view of heaven and life after death directly affects how he or she views life before death.

Surprised By Hope is a paradigm-shifting book that explores the relationship between heaven, the resurrection, and the mission of the church. As the book unfolds, N. T. Wright attempts to answer two questions, primarily: What is Christian hope? And, What hope is there for change, rescue, transformation, and new possibilities within the world in the present? Wright sees these two questions as inextricably connected. How one answers the first question directly influences the answer to the second.

OVERVIEW

In the first section of the book, Wright attempts to clear up some of the muddled confusion about a Platonic view of heaven where everyone floats away into the clouds. According to Wright, this view of heaven is inconsistent with Scripture and creates a separationist mentality where God’s people are unconcerned with the issues and problems in the world. Instead of God transporting people to some ethereal place, He is going to bring heaven to earth. Wright continually emphasizes the “kingdom” as God’s reign and rule in this world, and followers of Jesus are called to bring forth the kingdom of God through their actions in the present. As Christians work, speak, evangelize, etc., in the world today for the glory of God, we are contributing to the work of the kingdom of God. Eventually, God will fully reign in the kingdom when he brings heaven to earth.

The resurrection of Jesus and the Christian hope are mutually inclusive. Wright argues for the bodily resurrection of Jesus as the basis for life after death. Jesus defeats death by physically coming out of the tomb with a physically resurrected body. He is not a ghost or spiritual being. Wright declares this is precisely the definition of resurrection, and he calls the reader to view the resurrection of Jesus through a first century lens. Likewise, those who are to dwell in the new earth will possess a body similar to the body of the resurrected Jesus. It will be very “earthly” in the sense that it will be physical. Defeating death necessarily infers a physical resurrection.

This understanding of hope through the resurrection is integral to Wright’s theology of Christian mission in the present. Because followers of Jesus are going to dwell physically in a new earth, everything done in the present is significant. Three areas – justice, beauty, and evangelism – compromise the present mission and form the foundation for hope in the everyday work of the church. The resurrection of Jesus does not save us out of the world, but saves us to engage the restoration of the world as we anticipate full restoration.

STRENGTHS

N. T. Wright does a superb job of expounding on the central premise he presents in Surprised By Hope. He believes strongly that the resurrection of Jesus involves a physical body dying and a physical body coming out of the grave, and the physical nature of the resurrection provides a tangible glimpse of life after death. God does not intend to carry us away into the clouds, but seeks to establish heaven on earth. Wright makes his point when he says this:

[su_quote]The risen Jesus is both the model for the Christian’s future body and the means by which it comes about. [/su_quote]

Wright also does a good job of painting a picture for the intermediate state, and he presents a strong case against common misunderstandings of what happens when a person passes from this life.

One of Wright’s strongest arguments deals with the connection between hope and mission. Viewing Christian mission primarily as evangelism is near-sided at best. Mission is much more broad and complex than evangelism, and Wright does a superb job of expounding upon the full breadth of what it means to live as followers of Jesus. To hope for a better future in this world (intermediate hope) is not creating sideways energy or detracting from the mission. Caring for the needs of the poor, sick, lonely, and depressed is, in fact, central to the gospel, central to Jesus, and, therefore, central to the mission of Christians today. Wright even goes so far as to say almost everything we do in this life, whether working, painting, preaching, praying, sewing, teaching, or building, has value in the present because these things will last into God’s future.

WEAKNESSES

Although Wright accurately depicts the future heaven as a physical place and not an abstract “area” where Christians float for eternity, his understanding of hell is much less convincing. For Wright, hell is not as much a place of eternal torment as it is a place of dehumanization. He is right in claiming hell exists, but his description of hell seems to pull more from contemporary sources, such as C. S. Lewis, than the Bible.

In addition, Wright will undoubtedly leave many theologians scratching their head when he explicitly condemns praying for the salvation of dead saints but believes in praying for their rest.

[su_quote]I see no reason why we should not pray for and with the dead and every reason why we should.[/su_quote]

CONCLUSION

Surprised By Hope is a game-changer. I would recommend this book to any person, whether conservative or liberal, Christian or non-Christian. The contents of this book are both academic and applicable, which is remarkable for a man of Wright’s intellectual level. He gives his readers a fresh (and strongly Biblical) approach to life after death, hope, and how these two influence Christian mission. He presents a convicting explanation of the relationship between evangelism and mission, and he encourages Christians to look at all types of work in this life as valuable (which is refreshing). Church leaders would benefit greatly from the final two chapters, as Wright poignantly develops the nature of Christian spirituality and mission. Although some of Wright’s convictions about hell, Pauline theology, and communication with the dead are puzzling, this book is an extremely important resource in a world looking for hope.

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Book Reviews: Made To Stick, Platform, What Successful People Do Before Breakfast

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

I have not updated my book review section recently, so I thought I would provide everyone with a few books that I completed within the last few weeks. You can also find these reviews and the rating I have for these books (and the others book I have completed in 2014), by clicking HERE.

book

Platform written by Michael Hyatt

Platform is a great read from experienced, seasoned blogger, writer, and leadership guru Michael Hyatt. I have learned so much from Michael since I discovered his blog several months ago. I am an avid blogger and writer myself, so I naturally started soaking up a lot of his material. He introduced me to Evernote, and this particular book, Platform, has expanded my understanding of blogging and writing. I will need to make the disclaimer that this book has a specific audience, and that audience is writers and bloggers that have a desire to be noticed in a convoluted web of internet bloggers (although many of the principles in the book are adaptable to people that are not bloggers or writers).

In this book, Michael Hyatt covers important topics like the importance of having a specified writing style, going for it all and holding nothing back, building your home base for your blog, diversifying the types of posts on your blog, how to expand your reach by writing guest posts and embracing social media, and many other practical tips about starting and maintaining your blog and website. He encourages readers to invest in your website and your content by spending some money and buying your own website with your name (i.e. frankpowell.me is my website). He also encourages those serious about blogging and being a reputable writer to create an e-mail using your name (i.e. frankpowell@frankpowell.me is new default e-mail).

I found this book to be very practical and helpful for me. Although I do not necessarily agree with everything in this book, I thought the content is presented in a way that allows for any person to gather something and apply it. Most casual bloggers and writers are not going to use all of this material, but there are certainly practical tips for any person that wants to start blogging. If you have ever considered blogging or writing, but you are unsure how to get started, I recommend reading this book. It is an easy read, and the layout of the book allows the reader to skip over certain sections if they are not applicable.

STICK

Made To Stick written by Chip and Dan Heath

Made To Stick is a fascinating book that highlights the difference ideas that survive and ideas that die. Again, some books that make the New York Times Bestsellers list baffle me, but this book deserves to be there. I recommend it, especially if you find yourself speaking in front of crowds often, or if you are in the business world looking to get an edge. As a minister who speaks to crowds weekly, many of these principles resonate with me, and there are countless stories, examples, and one-liners that are going to influence the way I prepare and present messages going forward. Chip and Dan Heath believe there are six components of a sticky idea: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions, and stories. The authors go even further and say there are basically two steps in making ideas sticky: Step 1 is to find the core of your message (one statement that summarizes everything you are about to say), and step 2 is to translate the core using the SUCCESs (the six core components mentioned in the previous sentence) checklist.

Throughout the book, Chip and Dan Heath highlight some fascinating real life examples that correlate with each component. Southwest Airlines using simplicity to become the most profitable airline in the world. Army commanders forcing simplicity into their battle plans. A certain elementary school teacher curing her students of racial prejudice (one of my personal favorites). NBA coaches creating an experience that brought the reality of AIDS to life with their players using specific, concrete means. The story of Jared’s rise to fame using Subway, despite Subway executives’ belief that people would not take to the Jared story. Even stories about JFK and the state of Texas are included.

At the conclusion of the book, the authors use a few pages to summarize the previous 275 pages of material for the reader. I found these pages to be extremely helpful and valuable. I struggle to find negative things to say about the work Dan and Chip have done with Made To Stick. The material in this book will benefit almost anybody, and even if you are not in a position where you might use the ideas, the stories you read will fascinate you. Overall, this is one of the best books I have read this year.

9781591846697

What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam

This book could almost be labeled as a pamphlet. It is very short which means it can be read in one sitting very easily (an hour or less). Although I did not find this book to be overly captivating, Laura Vanderkam did highlight some useful information for people that are looking to be more productive and more successful. She brings out principles of many of the most successful leaders in the world, and, strikingly, there is a strong correlation between the most successful leaders in the world and their routine. For most of these leaders, their routines are very similar, and for all of them, their day starts early in the morning.

One thing I took from the book was Vanderkam’s section on willpower. She has some very insightful things to say about the relationship between willpower and productivity. Willpower works like a muscle. As the day progresses, our willpower gets weaker because we have used more of it. This statement might be the one thing I take from this book,

“There seems to be a general pattern that major self-control failures and other bad decisions occur late in the day…Diets are broken in the evening, not the morning. The majority of impulsive crimes are committed after 11:00 p.m. Lapses in drug use, alcohol abuse, sexual misbehavior, gambling excesses, and the like tend to come about late in the day.”

Her point: the most productive people do their best work in the morning. Nights are a bad time to be doing meaningful work. I tend to agree. Some of my most negative thoughts, most stressful moments, and greatest times of temptation have all occurred at night. Vanderkam also does an admirable job of explaining to the reader how mornings can be used holistically. She points out that most successful leaders work out in the morning, meditate in the morning, and disconnect from e-mails and other types of media. Mornings are used to re-charge for the day ahead.

If you are serious about getting up in the mornings, I would recommend starting with Early To Rise (I wrote a review for this book earlier this year…you can check it out by scrolling down to the book here). This book, however, would be a good way to follow up after reading Early To Rise.

_______________________

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

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LIFE HELP #3: 10 Apps That Help Me In Ministry

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

In today’s tech driven world, the task of staying on top of your tech game can seem daunting. Technology and media is a huge part of our culture today, and media can be a useful tool if we approach it properly. With that being said, I thought I would fill you in on 10 apps that have been helpful and beneficial to me.

(apps with one (*) beside them I only use on the iPad, while apps with two (**) I only use on the iPhone)

10. Calendar 5 – Formerly Calendar+, Calendar 5 is the app I used instead of the default Apple calendar. This app is more functional, and includes a language input option. It syncs with iCalendar, Reminders, and Google calendar. Calendar 5 also features an integrated task manager and syncs across the iPhone and iPad.

9. Penultimate* – Penultimate is the best writing app I have used. I also purchased the Evernote stylus several months ago. If you are serious about hand writing on your iPad, I recommend it.

8. Kindle – I am slowly weaning myself off paperback books (although I will admit I still enjoy the paperback books). The Kindle app is making the transition less painful. This app allows me to quickly highlight and make notes, and with a few quick clicks I can store all of my highlighted material in Evernote.

7. Buffer** – Buffer is great as a central hub for getting a post to several different social media outlets. Buffer also schedules posts for you, allowing you to get information out when social media traffic is at its peak.

6. Spotify – Spotify is my default music listening app. The app is free, but I pay for the premium version, which it allows me to stream music offline. Unlike iTunes, I don’t have to buy individual songs with Spotify. Spotify gives me access to their entire library.

5. Sleep Cycle** – The Sleep Cycle app is my alarm clock. Basically, I set my alarm for a 30 minute window (you can make the window smaller, but Sleep Cycle recommends 30 minutes), and I place my phone under the pillow. Sleep Cycle detects my movement while I am sleeping and signals the alarm when I am sleeping the lightest.

4. Zite – I use this app everyday to keep up with current events and follow bloggers. Zite screens articles based on my preferences and previously read articles.

3. Molto – Molto is my email app. I love it because it is sleek and customizes my mail according to different categories (social media, personal, etc.). There are other good e-mail alternatives to the default Apple e-mail app (Mailbox, myMail, and Evomail+), but I prefer Molto because of its functionality and modern feel.

2. Glo Bible – Glo Bible is a great Bible app (the premium version allows for access to notes and commentary). It is sleek and opens up a world of options to supplement the text you are reading, such as media and articles.

1. Evernote – No surprise here. I use Evernote for everything. It syncs across all platforms (iPhone, iPad, and Macbook). It is my digital filing cabinet. I even use it as my default to do list app.

Honorable Mention:

HootSuite

1Password

Day One Journal

Paper

Feedly

The Bible App

Genius Scan

Clear

DropBox

So these are some of the apps that have helped me. I would love to hear from some of you. Which apps have been beneficial to you?

____________________

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

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Life Help #1: Evernote

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

I want to begin offering a new “layer” to the types of posts I put out from week to week. One of my goals as a writer and a blogger is to share the knowledge and insights I have gleaned from God and life experiences. Although I want to continue to allow the content of these pages to be an overflow of what God has revealed to me, I want to also add some practical ideas that have been helpful to me. I am going to call these posts “Life Help.” They will be shorter and more compact (500 words or less), and the content will provide solutions to living a more productive, meaningful life.

So, here we go.

The first post in “Life Help” spotlights an invaluable tool in my life right now: Evernote. If you have never heard of Evernote, I suggest you take a look at their website. In a nutshell, Evernote is an online platform that allows you to save, share, edit, and search (among hundreds of others options) documents and data. There are so many wonderful things about Evernote, but allow me to highlight a few things that have been huge for me.

1. You can save and access data across platforms.

With Evernote, you can save a document from your computer to Evernote and the document goes with you wherever you go. There is an iPhone, iPad, and Android app. Evernote syncs across all of these platforms, so if you want to access the document from your phone or iPad, just pull up the app and find the document.

2. You can put everything in Evernote. 

PDFs, pictures from your camera, personal information (bank account numbers, birth certificates, driver’s licenses), receipts, access information (passwords, etc.), notes from books, voice recordings, to-do lists, reminders, my wife and kids (not really)…the more you put into Evernote, the more effective it becomes. For the sensitive information, Evernote provides a 2-step verification system that ensures security and protection. This search feature is great for all of those handwritten documents and notes you need to access but can’t remember where you put them. Now they have a home and a way to easily be accessed. Game changer.

3. Evernote has a search tool that allows you to search inside documents…it can even read your handwriting.

This is where Evernote separates itself from everyone else. Granted, other platforms have a search tool, but I have not found anything else that compares to what Evernote offers. This is where the power lies in Evernote. It will search your documents, search your PDFs, search your pictures, and even search your handwriting. This turns Evernote from a typical storage device to a powerful digital filing cabinet where anything can be accessed with a simple word search.

4. Evernote allows you to send and share notes and notebooks (a collection of notes) via e-mail

Have a note you want to send or a document you want to share? Evernote will allow you to send anything by entering the address of the intended recipient, and clicking share. Quick and easy.

This is a very broad overview of what Evernote can do. There will be more posts on Evernote in the future, but if you want to dig a little deeper I recommend you read Michael Hyatt’s posts or buy Evernote Essentials by Brett Kelly.

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The Gospel and The Community: A Message to Millennials and Baby Boomers/Gen X

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

I recently finished a research paper for a graduate school class entitled, “The Social Gospel: A Liberal Agenda or a Necessary Component?” If you are not familiar with the term “social gospel,” give me a few lines and I will explain it to you. The term has been around for a long time, but it really made waves (at least in Churches of Christ) around the period of the 1950s-1970s. It was during this period many leaders and preachers began tabbing any person who dabbled in “social issues” as being guilty of adhering to a “social gospel.” So, most would define the “social gospel” in a negative light, with the term meaning, in essence, a person who elevates the saving of the community far above the saving of the individual. In other words, the gospel (or good news about the saving power of Jesus) is about restoring the community and not restoring lives. I believe, however, based on my research, the conclusion drawn by most of these leaders was very narrow-minded. It was not that individuals concerned with “social issues” were unconcerned with salvation issues, but they were concerned with balance. These individuals did not believe a follower of Jesus could divorce themselves from the surrounding community. Unfortunately, however, the mantra of this era prevailed over an objective approach to applying Scripture…

“The church should be concerned with saving souls, and dabbling in the affairs of society is taking away from the church’s focus.”

I am thankful most churches today have dropped this mantra (or have they?), but the question still remains for us…”What is the role of the church to its surrounding community?” I think the answer is balance, but balance is so difficult to achieve. A balanced theology that elevates involvement in the community close or equal to evangelism is not explicitly taught in most churches (maybe because most people do not believe it). This leaves people to discern for themselves what this balance looks like, and what often ends up happening is people settle for one side or the other. There are those that do not believe in getting involved in the needs of the community, and there are those that get too involved in the community, allowing the involvement in the needs of the community to terminate on itself. Let me try my best to describe what I feel like is a healthy balance when it comes to a follower of Jesus and how he or she should respond to the needs in the community, especially in relation to the balance between the community and personal evangelism. I am going to do this by approaching the question from each side of the coin (it’s not really a coin…coin is a metaphor used to add “flare”…you get the idea). I really hate to make this a generational issue, but historically this is what the issue has been…a younger generation (the Millennials) and an older generation (Baby Boomers and Generation X). It is not always a generational issue, but even if it is not a generational issue where you are, the philosophies behind your answer to the above question are going to be similar. So, let’s start with the Millennials…

To the Millennials:

First of all, please understand I am writing in general terms, so do not get offended if this does not describe your philosophy on community involvement. I am a Millennial, and I understand the generation pretty well…so chances are something will speak to you.

Administering to the needs of the poor, having a concern for the afflicted and oppressed, taking direct action in the plight of the orphan and widowed…these are all good things and based on passages straight from the Bible (Matt. 19:21, Matt 25:31-46, Romans 15:26, Galatians 2:10, James 1:27, among many others). PLEASE have a concern for the marginalized. Make this part of your mission as a follower of Jesus. Do not let any unsuspecting Christian attempt to dissuade you from this important part of the Christian ethos. I do not believe this is an optional part of the Christian life…I believe it is an essential part. But as you are going about this, remember what makes you distinct from other non-Christian groups doing the same thing…YOU ARE DOING THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. If you ever begin partaking in any activity involving the marginalized, but forget you are doing this in the name of Jesus…if you begin to do these things because you think you are “a good person,” you become guilty of the very thing every prophet in the Old Testament condemned the Israelites for…allowing the act to terminate on itself. Because you are a follower of Jesus, NOTHING should ever terminate on itself. It should always point you, and OTHERS, to God. This is what it means to be an instrument or a vessel. You are only useful if you are pointing others to something larger than yourself. If you think you are “tight with God” because you painted a house, or picked up trash, or beautified part of downtown, you are wrong. A lot of people do that stuff…what separates followers of Jesus from non-Christians is we have a greater purpose for what we are doing. And this includes the increasing popular RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness). Even these should give glory to God (even if nobody else knows, God can still get the glory by leaving a Bible verse or telling the person God loves them, etc.). The point here is not necessarily that you verbally preach the gospel to every person, but it is important you understand God gets the glory (and eventually if you are a follower, they need to know WHY you are doing this…be prepared to tell them).

This brings me to personal evangelism (or friendship evangelism or whatever form of evangelism you prefer to TELL somebody else about the gospel). You need to understand TELLING other people about Jesus is also a vital part of your Christian journey. You can throw evangelism and outreach into the same bucket if you choose, but understand if you skirt around opportunities to share the only news that can save somebody from their sins, you are just as wrong as the individual refusing to do anything in the community. I have been involved in several conversations where someone is negative towards another group because they do not have a desire for the fatherless and the orphan. These same people, however, do not have any desire to share the gospel with the people in their “sphere of influence” that do not know Jesus. See a disconnect? I do. If you say you do not have opportunities to tell others about Jesus, start praying for opportunities. But watch out, that could be a scary prayer because God is going to start placing people in your life that need to hear about Jesus…then you might actually have to preach the gospel to them.

To the Baby Boomers/Generation X:

I feel compelled to state this again…I am writing in general terms here, so if this does not refer to your philosophy, “spit out the fat and keep the bones.” Surely there is something you can agree with.

Preaching the gospel is of vital importance. I hope every follower of Jesus understands the importance of telling other people about Jesus. I hope every Christian makes it their goal to study with individuals with the expectation God will ignite a fire in their heart and they will be baptized. It is essential to the Christian journey. How can someone have the greatest news on the face of the earth and not tell other people? You must tell them. But what are you actually proclaiming to others if your sole purpose as a Christian is to have a Bible study with someone and never serve those in need? What about almost all of the prophets who condemned the Israelites for not having a desire for the fatherless, the widow, and the orphan? And let’s drop this idea praying for somebody and doing nothing else means you have compassion on them and care about them. Jesus never modeled that. To Jesus, compassion also equated to action. If you have compassion and care about something or something, you are going to act on it.

What about the time Jesus invested in the marginalized? Why does evangelism and outreach have to be mutually exclusive? What if God desired it to be mutually inclusive? What if God never envisioned a believer having no concern for the poor and needy around him? I am asking a lot of questions because I struggle to find a legitimate answer to these questions.

I believe evangelism and outreach go hand in hand. I believe Jesus modeled it for us. Evangelism was part of caring for the poor and caring for the poor was part of evangelism. On top of that, I believe we could all agree the church has developed such a negative stigma (right or wrong, it does not matter…the stigma is present) in this culture that our greatest form of evangelism to the lost in the community might be to show them we actually care about them. Sometimes people do need their physical needs met before they will begin to see their spiritual needs. I think Jesus modeled that too. Jesus often healed people of their physical disease FIRST, so they would give glory to God and recognize their spiritual disease. The problem is we have been involved in a fellowship (Churches of Christ) that has elevated certain verses for so long it is difficult to believe they might not be any more important than other commands in the Bible. Maybe a more balanced approach to understanding Scripture is the better conclusion to aim for at this point. I am not sure.

I believe strongly in intergenerational Christian formation, so my goal here is not to further divide the generations and the body. To intentionally divide the body of Christ is sin…I have enough sin in my life without this one. Instead, I want the content in this post to foster a spirit of unity amongst all believers for the sake of the gospel. The goal I believe is balance. Evangelism is an essential part of the Christian life and outreach is an essential part. They both must be present, and in most cases they are mutually inclusive. Let’s not do good works just to do good works, but let’s do good works and make sure God gets the glory. And let’s not neglect involvement in the community because we might not think it is evangelism or a necessary component of the Christian life, but let’s cling to the life and ministry of Jesus as our model and seek to find a necessary overlap between evangelism and involvement in the plight of the oppressed and afflicted.

One more thing: as we strive for this balance let’s remember the grace of God extends as far as the east is from the west, and let’s allow His grace to provide the foundation for our striving of balance. We are going to have failures in our efforts, but if we stand on the foundation of grace, we can fail and still be ok. I love you all!

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Goals Are Good…Until They Are Destructive

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

I am a task-oriented individual. I believe laying out tasks (or goals, if you prefer) for the week, month, or year is a healthy practice. Goals and expectations keep us focused on a particular aspect of our life that we want to improve upon. For instance, I set a goal this year to read 40 books, and that goal has driven me to read more than I ever have in a year’s time. Tiffani and I have yearly goals that help us stay grounded and focused on what we want to accomplish. Goals are good.

There is a danger, however, I have noticed with having goals, tasks, or expectations. We often allow the tasks we have laid out for our lives to become a means to an end. In other words, the goals themselves determine whether we had a successful day or not. In addition, there is often little flexibility in our lives to operate outside of the tasks we have created, whether these tasks are written down on paper or in our minds. Some of us are so focused on marking everything off of our list, we fail to see someone in need around us. That is the downside of goals and expectations.

Recently, I was eating lunch with a friend who preaches in Memphis, TN, Josh Ross, and he reminded me that goals are good, but they are ultimately designed to draw us towards something larger. This is true for all goals, but it is especially true for our spiritual goals. The Israelites struggled to see this. They allowed the Law to become a means to an end. They focused on obeying commands. God was not concerned with the Israelites obeying commands if those commands did not draw them closer to Him. This is what Josh was trying to tell me. Have goals and expectations for your day and your life and do everything you can to complete those goals, but never allow the goals to become your god. Never allow the goals to terminate on themselves. When we do this, frustration and disappointment ensue. Sometimes life happens, and we need to have the flexibility to switch gears. Sometimes you wake up at 6:30 a.m. intending to start your day by spending some time alone with God and your 5 month old son wakes up at 6:35 a.m. Maybe you have multiple children and every time you sit down to spend some time with God one of them demands your time. The next thing you know it is 11:00 p.m. and you cannot hold your eyes open. Do you really think God is going to strike you dead because you decide to get some rest? Let’s be honest, what are you actually accomplishing by reading God’s word while dozing in and out of consciousness? Should we constantly be in God’s word and in communication with him and in relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ? Absolutely, but do not allow your inability to do what you had set out to do destroy your day. Sometimes things simply do not go as planned.

Or maybe it means we adjust what it looks like to spend time alone with God and fulfill our goals. Maybe your drive to work has to become your alone time with God and not your back porch. Maybe it means your time in the Word (the Bible) comes during your lunch break and not 6:30 a.m. On a personal note, I have had to come to grips with this. I like starting my day with the Bible and some time in prayer. I have realized, however, waking up at 5:30 a.m. is not conducive for quality time with God. Some people need 6-8 hours of sleep a night. That is not a sign of weakness…it is a sign that some people are different than others. The boys wake up by 6:30 a.m., so it is almost impossible for me to spend alone time with God in the morning. It does, however, take me 20-25 minutes to get to the office, so I choose to spend that time with God. God is not looking on me with disdain because I choose to spend my travel time with him. Be flexible. Be willing to adjust.

Regardless of what the goals and expectations are for your day and life, do not allow the fulfillment of those goals to determine your productivity and worth, and we certainly do not need to allow our goals to prevent us from responding to the needs in the world.

Goals are good, but they are not ultimate…God is ultimate.

Goals are good, but they do not determine our worth…God determines worth.

We have goals and expectations to draw us towards something larger. When the goals for our lives cease to do this, we need to do some introspection.

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