Wisdom Wednesday: New Year vs Old Year

Life: Time with the Kids during Holiday Break

I have to start to admit that this has become one of my favorite times of year. It is not because I am a Christmas fan (after working years of retail; I am NOT). It is because my wife and kids and I have the opportunity to spend time together. Some things that we have done (or will do) over this break:

-Christmas Party at our house with friends
-Went to a Nuggets game with my son.
-Electric Safari at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
-Star Wars Episode VII (we introduced the kids to Episodes I-VI during Thanksgiving break)
-Annual Christmas Light outing complete with donuts and hot chocolate
-Christmas Day Hibachi dinner at Fuji Mountain
-Watched Crocodile Dundee 1 and 2
-Dollar Theater movies: Pan
-Museums and Casa Bonita
-Swimming at the YMCA
-Many other activities.

There is no job I like more than being a dad.

Music Monday: Can't Keep Johnny Down

Because you can't keep Johnny P down!

A Review: Staying is the New Going by Alan Briggs

This is not a theological treatise on why you should live incarnationally or why cities matter. This is just a raw truth-telling book written by a practitioner who lives out what the Gospel commands him to do the best way that he can. The premise is that we may be living our lives in too safe a way and need to intentionally plant ourselves with deep roots in a community (with its goods and bads) to see the gospel grow. Stories from Alan's family's adventures to those of his friends around the city and the country who are making impacts in their neighborhoods one new friend at a time are what litters this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be inspired to make the Great Commission "GO" happen in their own neighborhood.

Music Monday: Barenaked Ladies "You Could Be My Yoko Ono"

Do you have a Yoko in your life?

Addressing the Topic of Heresy

False teachers and prophets are talked about harshly in the Bible so I thought I would bring some attention to the topic of heresy that was mentioned by Christianity Today.

Knowing several Christians who refuse to call sin a sin and refuse to call heresy heresy, I plan to share some articles that address the topic of heresy.

Here is an article by Justin Holcomb that helps us to realize that there are heresies that need to be treated as such.

Here are some questions determining your understanding of basic orthodoxy.

Here is a list of some of the bigger heresies in history. Sad to say that some are still well and alive today.

Below is a message from one of my favorite (and one of the most theologically deep) rappers concerning false teachers where he calls them out by name. For the record, I agree with him.

 

And here is a video of him talking about writing the song.

Music Monday: 10/05/15 - Two Princes

One of my favorite bands with a little diddy.

Wisdom Wednesday: 09/30/15

Music Monday: 09/28/15 - Country Roads

Here is Brad Paisley singing Country Roads with about 60,000 of his closest friends:

We Love the Conference So Much....

 The SDB General Council meets this Valentine's Day weekend at the SDB Center in Janesville, WI. We LOVE serving SDBs and the Kingdom this way.

Most of this meeting will be spent evaluating the programs of our boards and Allied Societies. 

If you have been praying for us, please continue. If you haven't been praying for us, it is never to late to start. We covet your prayers. 

 This weekend we will be:

-Planning for uninterrupted service through 2014 of the major services provided by our Director of Communications.

-Continuing to strive towards a longer term vision of SDBs, with a focus on church development.

-Ensuring transition between our boards and Allied Societies goes smoothly.

-Following up on action items from the 2013 General Conference sessions.

-Gauging the next steps in church development with the help of two task forces: one for church planting and one for church revitalization

-Starting a NEW budget process for the 2015 Denominational Budget

-Conducting the annual evaluation of the performance of our Executive Director, Rob Appel

-Praying for our churches, boards/allied societies, executives, and staff

-Discussing many more topics

I am reminded this weekend of love (by every commercial I see). May we always be reminded of God's everlasting love for us. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

Please lift our travels and meetings in your prayers, especially with bad storms in the east affecting travel. We will be praying for those impacted by the storm.

If you have anything that you would like the General Council to discuss, pray about, or hear about or if your church would be interested in hosting one of our meetings, please feel free to contact me at john.j.pethtel AT gmail DOT com.