So here is another {easier to read} version – just hashing out the final touches now…

{vidavee id=”9563″ w=”420″ }

Travis

Working on a trailer for an upcoming series here at Faith Assembly.

Here is idea 1…what do you think?

{vidavee id=”9542″ w=”420″ }

Travis

This has been a week of finishes – book finishes that is. I was able to complete two this last week…good ones, but here are my thoughts on both.

1. The Gospel & Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever

Great little book on why we talk with people about Jesus, what evangelism is not (one of my favorite sections) and even a very reasonable presentation of how to communicate it in today’s culture. He is a strong believer in predestination – but handles the conversation on how that affects our witnessing well. I would highly recommend it even if you have been in the church for years listening to why you should share your faith.

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2. Wide Open Spaces, Beyond Paint-by-Number Christianity by Jim Palmer

I couldn’t agree with this author’s views on church attendance, and “satan” any less. His views seem bent toward personal experience as equivalent to Biblical teaching – but I could be off on his views b/k I have only read this one book of his.

Having said that – I was reinvigorated to wrestle with who God is because I really, personally know Him to be vs what I have read He is. Also, I would say that his out-of-the-box ideas on purposely connecting with people shames most Christians I know – including myself.

If you read it with a clear understanding of Biblical teachings on being a part of the local church, knowing that there is really a satan that is out there challenging everything God is doing and that personal experience confirms Scripture instead of being equal to it…then you will be challenged in a good way.

His writing style is candid and I love his humor…and he honestly caused me to grow in my own relationship with God.

So there it is…what have you been reading and enjoying/hating?

Travis

We are off to see the new Indiana Jones with a grip (west coast word?) of people from Transit {site here} tonight…in about an hour. Should be awesome – I’ll let you know.

Travis

Riding in our hot rod – ok, minivan – one of my sons said some poignant things recently. For example:

“When you go to heaven you eat bread and drink wine…you can drink wine in heaven you know…”

“And, they will have the same restaurants we have here – (something about people liking them so Jesus wants them to be happy there).”

“And grandmother (who is already with Jesus in heaven) doesn’t look old there…but she is still a grownup.”

How far off is he really? At age 5 he just might have a better idea of a heavenly state than some of us…either way, it was another insight into what he thinks about on a random afternoon driving into Summerville.

Travis

Read this today and am trying to think through the places in this truth where I have been guilty…

“Authentic Christianity is still the best-kept secret. It’s claims are not tried and found wanting, but found too simple and made more complicated accordingly.” – Jim Palmer, Wide Open Space

Where am I unnecessarily complicating things for people and for myself? What good deeds do I do and try to pass them off as heartfelt service when they are really just me trying to “do the right things”? Don’t we put action before feelings sometimes and then the feelings come, and if so then what difference does it make if I serve with a heart full of compassion vs a head full of compassionate ideas?

Obviously I’m working through my own faith…what about you? Where do you question yourself in your faith?

Travis

Amy and I were out last night – no kids, oh sweet freedom – and we stopped in to our local Vitamin Shoppe {find yours here}. We had never been in one and when we left we were laughing because we didn’t say anything before we went in but we thought it was going to be pretty cheesy. Turns out it is one of the cleanest, most well organized and possibly most helpful stores I’ve been to in a very long time. We like clean places, organized things and helpful people – someday our home might be a triple threat like that…still working on it.

Anyways, I thought I’d share some of the pictures I snapped while walking around.

Which one am I?

Umm..I’m not this guy

Why does this sound so good to me??

I don’t even know what this is for…

What you might not be able to see is that the little white circles are filled with smiley faces – like the happy little enzymes are eating the junk in your colon and loving every minute of it.

And finally – this guy who has business cards…and I’m not making this up.  His business is called…

That’s right people – “Ab Soul Ute Wellness”.  I can add nothing to this to make it more humorous.

Well, gotta run…we are catching up on the last two Lost episodes tonight {already skipped the commercials – gotta love the internet}.

Travis