Thursday, November 16, 2006

Hot Chocolate Fans!!


I’m not a huge hot chocolate fan, but this by far is best I’ve ever had. I have to admit, I got this from someone else’s blog and decided I would give it a try. It’s pretty simple to make.

Get a Wendy’s frosty (chocolate), bring it home and put the cold frosty in a mug. Put the mug in the microwave for 1 minute. Take it out and stir it. Put it back in for another minute. Make sure the frosty is completely melted and hot. Be careful not to let it spill over while in the microwave-watch it closely. And there you have it - a pretty awesome cup of hot chocolate. We ordered a large frosty and that was more than enough for two people.

It makes a really cold Arkansas night pretty enjoyable!!!!

Monday, November 13, 2006

Anti-Evangelism

Saw this on another blog and thought it was pretty eye-opening!


Anti-Evangelism Strategy

1) When interacting with friends, neighbors and co-workers, talk about your family, your job, the weather, your favorite sports team, the new restaurant you found or your increasing drive time to the office. Never mention that Jesus is your best friend and what He’s doing in and through you today, or that you have friends who are closer than a brother. Unbelievers would be jealous if they knew about this seemingly exclusive arrangement.

2) Whatever you do, don’t invite unbelievers to your small group meetings, to Sunday services or over to your house when your Christian friends are present. Revision: Whatever you do, don’t spend time with unbelievers or believers who are pro-great commission. Create new plans to insulate yourself from the world by investing your free time with religious friends who feel nothing for the lost. An old Chinese proverb states “Choose your cohorts well, for they will be your destiny!”

3) If you feel obligated to serve someone in a way that could be considered an act of kindness, whatever you do, don’t tell them God prompted you to do it. Just perform the act with the attitude that they will owe you a big favor in the future and tell them you’ll be calling in that favor soon. Revision: If you feel obligated to serve someone, take a moment to think about all the really important stuff you have to do at work, around the house or for your family. This should help you see how really foolish you’d look ignoring your own needs over the needs of others. The only rule in this world is too look out for number one … no one else loves you as much as yourself.

4) Never tell a friend, neighbor and co-worker you will be praying for them (or even worse pray with them) when they come to you with a problem. The favored response should be “My thoughts are with you.” If you do slip and say the word prayer, walk it off. Chances are you’ll forget to actually pray for the person within five minutes anyway … hard statistics aren’t available, but five minutes is the average time to forget a prayer request!

5) If you pray and talk to God, only ask Him for really cool stuff and personal needs. Just remember that praying for healings or miracles for your lost friends is absolutely not a part of this strategy. If you catch yourself naturally doing it, just take a deep breath and think about winning the lottery.

6) Set a good example for your children. If they don’t see you investing time to be with lost people or let them hang around your house when you’re having “quality family time” you’re on the right track. This is solid modeling for a whole new generation of anti-evangelists who won’t need a strategy … it will be a normal lifestyle.

7) Talking about evangelism in your small group won’t hurt this strategy. It’s when you make plans and hold each other accountable for follow-through that makes it harmful. Praying for the lost when you gather is also very damaging to the cause, so avoid it and fill the evening with prayer for your own needs. Or, why not use your time together in your group to plan picnics and parties just for yourselves? Go ahead, call them "outreach events", but don’t actually invite any lost people or bring them along when you come. Better yet, don’t make any plans at all ... Run from temptation!

8) Keep to yourself. Spending time with fellow small group members during the week only leads to a heightened sense of community and you might run into lost people when you’re hanging out with them. If you’re not wearing out a set of batteries in your remote once a month, you are not investing enough time with your television.

8a) The “world wide waste of face-to-face” interaction (the Web) is also a wonderful way to keep to yourself. Remember, you’re just three mouse clicks away from millions of great anti-God web sites!

9) Put a couple of bucks in the plate the next time a mission offering is taken. Feels counter productive, doesn’t it? Not so! Although it’s not “a widow’s mite” in your tax bracket, you can get a lot of mileage out of that small token. Missionaries don’t need much money to live in third world countries. And, with exchange rates being so high, they could probably take the whole family out to a movie for the price of your donation.

10) Ignore the call to small group leadership. You will be challenged to share your faith in this position and be a role model for others. No anti-evangelist could remain in this environment!

—Author: The Prince of Darkness

Monday, November 06, 2006

An Awesome Prayer!!!

Through some recent difficult and challenging circumstances in my life, I have realized more and more how desperate I am for God; how I truly need His presence everyday, every moment of my life. I’ve realized how so often I choose to do what "I" want and pursue what I think "I" deserve. All of us so often do this. We turn our back away from God to pursue "our" dreams and “our” desires. We miss God's best for our lives and settle for something less and often far less than His best.

I am guilty of this! But, at the same time, I am tired of trying to do it my way. Today, I surrendered “fully” my heart, my dreams, my desire and my will to Jesus. I did it today and will do it everyday! I want what God has even if it requires suffering. I know this is easier said than done, but I also realize that even in our suffering God NEVER leaves us nor forsakes us. And the fruit of obedience is for eternity!

My church, The Journey-Little Rock, has published an awesome prayer guide to help direct us in this area of surrender. I've posted the link below. I encourage you to print it and pray it out loud. It is so stirring and so disruptive!! I really believe, if like me, you are tried of doing it your way and are ready to get on board with God's plan, this is a great place to begin. What has happened in the past his behind us. Hit the “delete” button on the past and move forward. Pursue him with reckless abandon and ask Him to give you a white hot burning passion for Him – that your heart would burn with desire to know Him intimately - that passion for Him would be the “one thing” you and I seek in this world!


Prayer for Beginning the Journey


Sunday, November 05, 2006