I have been watching this controversy over Rob Bell, the preacher and founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church, Nooma guy, and now freshly thrown under the evangelical bus, “heretic” guy. The controversy is that several evangelicals (one began the firestorm and others tweeted the Amen) have come out and called Bell a heretic because of his book that is coming out next Tuesday–next Tuesday no less. In this world of 24/7 news cycle, Twitter, blogs, etc.; we can form our opinion now BEFORE the evidence is fully on the table, I guess! Well, SOME of the evidence was on the table. Read more
https://pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pregame-conference.jpg400600David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2011-03-11 10:52:262011-03-11 10:52:26You Better Be Nice
It is so interesting that so many people in the US believe that President Obama isn’t a Christian, but a Muslim. I wonder where those beliefs come from? In an age of so much information, there is also a ton of mis-information as well. Here is what the President said this week at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. You can see the full article By Dan Gilgoff, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor, in the link below. Read more
https://pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/25obama5_600.jpg331600David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2011-02-04 12:21:542011-03-19 19:41:17Obama delivers major speech on personal faith
Sounds like a great band name…check out this amazing two year old girl!
http://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.png00David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2011-01-04 17:59:522011-01-04 17:59:52Charlotte and the Presidents
I stayed up pretty early this morning to watch the lunar eclipse, which was amazing indeed. I wanted to show you all a friend of mine’s astrophotography–it is AMAZING! Phillip and I went to church together as children and teenagers. ?We later went to Southwestern Seminary together as well.
Check out his amazing astrophotography on his website, Visual Universe.
Here is a photo he took last night of the Lunar Eclipse…stunning how God placed everything in it’s place!
Lunar Eclipse, December 2010. Phillip L. Jones. visualuniverse.org
I know I am a little late to the party on this one, but Buffalo Bills wide receiver, Stevie Johnson, dropped a game-winning touchdown pass on Sunday.
Stuff happens, right?? I mean, things don’t always happen the way we want them to happen.? I sometimes feel that I am living out the wilderness wanderings experience of the Israelites on a daily basis.? However, I don’t think I have ever thought about tweeting to God for my problems. But, then again, Twitter has created a sort of online journal of sorts for us all to share our joys and frustrations, ups and downs.
I wonder what David would have “tweeted” on his Twitter after his cycle of sin with Bathsheba?? Well, we don’t have the twitter feed, but we do have the storyline as well as a song that he wrote to God about the whole deal in Psalm 51.? I have been reading through the Scriptures using Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System, (which is awesome, by the way.)? One of the 10 “lists” that you read through each day is the Book of Psalms.? As I read Stevie Johnson’s tweet, I thought to myself, “This isn’t really that different than the Psalms where the psalmist was asking God “why” are bad things happening in my life?”
There are many out there in the blogging world who have jumped on Johnson’s back about “you can’t blame this on God.”? Interesting enough, this post was going to be another “one of those posts”…until I read Johnson’s twitter feed.? Here is THE TWEET that started the whirlwind…
I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…
But I had a change of heart when I looked at a few more of the tweets after he had time to “cool off” and get some perspective about whole thing.? Later the following day…
I learned A lot Within 24hrs. Saw Both Sides.(Ups&Dwns) I AM HAPPY & THANKFUL 4 YESTERDAY! w/out Sunday iWldnt have grew closer w/The Lord!!
And No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously??!? CMon! I Simply Cried Out And Asked Why? Jus Like yal did wen sumthin went wrong n ur life!
And then, Kurt Warner chimes in to the feed in support of Johnson and says this to him…
@StevieJohnson13 all I can say, is I have been there many times… (while coughing) 100 yd INT ret 4 TD in SB 43 was most recent!
Wow, Kurt Warner, classy guy with a great perspective on winning, losing, and worshiping Jesus in BOTH!
Also reading through the Book of Job in my reading plan and it is interesting how similar the Psalms and Job are in how we react to difficult times in our lives.? We all have had those “friends” who want to help us out and say “just repent of your sin” and “get right with God.”? We are left asking the same questions that Job, David and the psalmists, and Stevie Johnson all ask…”why God?”? What I love (and hate at the same time) about the Bible is that we don’t hear a clear answer to those questions.? I do know this…that God invites us to ask as many questions as we want.? And He understands and cares for all His children.
So tell me, what is the last thing that left you asking God “why?”? I hope you wrote about it in your journal so you can look back on it and learn from the situation.
Here is the video of the play in case you missed it this Sunday night…
http://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.png00David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2010-11-30 12:50:532010-11-30 12:50:53Stevie Johnson tweets his frustration to God…in ALL CAPS no less!
Jenny and I are watching Meet the Press tonight on DVR…common place for us on Sunday nights. I didn’t realize that it has been 5 years since Hurricane Katrina. If you have a few minutes, I highly recommend watching the program online here. Brian Williams is actually sitting in for David Gregory for this episode.
Amazing how we time moves so quickly. But as was said on the segment, “That’s tough to look at…it was yesterday…it’s been five years.” ?A lot of great guests and smart discussion…sans Brad Pitt anyway. ?The footage from 5 years ago is powerful. ?Really enjoyed the last segment of roundtable discussion here.
http://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.png00David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2010-08-29 23:35:332010-08-29 23:53:37Hurricane Katrina…5 Years Later
Wow, I really needed to read this post from Kem Meyer this morning. ?I have been pretty discouraged lately for a myriad of reasons. ?I don’t want to simply use this blog to whine to the 3 1/2 people who might read it, but I have been in a particular whiny mood lately.
However, I have been trying to immerse myself in the Word lately to combat the negative thoughts out of my mind. ?Several of the tools I use are on the iPhone…pretty cool…and I have it with me pretty much all of the time.
Bible Reading::I am using YouVersion from the LifeChurch.tv guys to read the “Professor Horner’s Bible Reading Plan.”
It is very similar to the 5 Lane Reading Plan I have used in the past.
Hear the Word::Another cool app that I have on my phone to listen to the Word while I am working is Bible.Is from Faith Comes from Hearing. ?It is really cool. ?There are several versions of audio Bibles that you can listen to through your phone. ?I have found that to be a great way to really immerse my life in the Word rather than immerse my life in sports talk radio. ?(That doesn’t mean I don’t still get my share of talk radio, however.)
Memorize the Word::A fellow pastor friend of mine showed me this app and how it has helped him so much to really live out the Word and it has been a great thing for me as well. ?I am using Bible Verses to memorize Scripture. ?There are several different versions out there, but I like this particular app because I can choose which translation and it is also put together like the old Navigators Bible Memory System with different categories, etc. ?There is also a cool feature that allows you to make the verse all blanks and you can click each blank to reveal the correct word to help you memorize better.
Reading books::I am currently reading The Land Between by Jeff Manion on my Kindle. ?I saw his talk at Leadership Summit a couple of weeks ago and it really resonated with me while I am waiting in this “Land Between.” ?It is based on the story of the Israelites and the Exodus. ?Great stuff!
We also got a “well-timed” letter from some great friends that was a photocopy of a chapter in A Gentle Thunder by Max Lucado. ?One of the key passages in the chapter that really spoke to me was a summary of the Exodus in Deuteronomy 8.
2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.?3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
So tell me, how do you deal with discouragement in your life? Feel free to leave a comment.
I’ve been wrestling with this idea lately in “waiting on the Lord.” I know all the verses and everything about “those that wait on the Lord will they renew their strength,” but… the great theologians Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Read more
https://pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/waiting-room-title.jpg7681024David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2010-06-16 12:16:482011-03-17 18:21:51The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
While in seminary in Fort Worth, TX, there was always a running joke about Texas Stadium, the former Dallas Cowboys stadium. ?The joke (even said from pulpits in the area) was “the reason why there is a ‘hole’ in the top of Texas Stadium is so that God can watch his favorite team!” (Insert rim shot here!) ?Seriously?! ?I know it is a joke and all, but does God truly care about sports?
Don’t you think that God is maybe a?little more concerned with the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised in this world? ?I mean, I am just as big of sports fanatic as it comes, but let’s not blame God for the current standings in the NL Central! ?The reason for the standings lies central on the players and managers of those teams!
Interesting article on “faith & sports” on CNN.com. ?It is definitely a good read.
What do you think? ?Does God really care about sports? Have we “trivialized” faith by “blaming God” for wins and loses? ?Is this kind of “evangelism” more of a turn-off than turn-on to people?
http://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.png00David Stonehttp://www.pastordavidstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo-340x701.pngDavid Stone2010-05-25 13:18:022010-05-25 13:18:02When did God become a sports fan? – CNN.com
Don’t you think that God is maybe a?little more concerned with the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised in this world? ?I mean, I am just as big of sports fanatic as it comes, but let’s not blame God for the current standings in the NL Central! ?The reason for the standings lies central on the players and managers of those teams!