Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 396

Friday is for Freebies (December 16, 2011)

My giveaway this week is Holy Vocabulary: Rescuing the Language of Faith by Michael Kelley, a thought-provoking Bible study written for young adults that deals with the idea of keeping the true meaning of Christian vocabulary from becoming trite.

This study has a retail value of $49.95 and includes both a copy of the book and a DVD with 7 video sessions.

Holy Vocabulary examines words like saved, grace, sin, and repent, and how we've lost some of their actual meaning. Because Christianity has developed its own subculture over time, this subculture has its own music, customs, even buildings, not to mention a vocabulary of holy words that we, as members of the subculture, use to talk about Christianity and are synonymous with the Christian experience. Michael explores the classic, if over-used, words of the church and dives deeply to rescue their meaning. Whether you're new to church lingo or it's your native tongue, you'll find that these holy words have deep and significant meanings regarding faith.

To be eligible to win, tell us what your favorite book of the Bible is and why.

The deadline to enter is midnight CST this Saturday. We will select one winner from the entries on Monday morning.

Notable Voices (December 15, 2011)

Why Studying the Bible Won't (Necessarily) Change Your Life – Trevin Wax

Just because you know the Bible doesn't mean the Word will bear fruit in your life. It is possible to know the Scriptures, read the Scriptures, revere the Scriptures, and study the Scriptures and miss the point entirely.

An Interview with Andrew Peterson – Mark Moring

The holiday season is once again upon us, and for Andrew Peterson, that means hitting the road, for the twelfth time, with his annual Christmas tour. Behold the Lamb of God, one of the best all-original Christmas albums in the last couple of decades, consists of a dozen songs that tell the story of the coming of Christ chronologically—beginning with Old Testament prophecies and the Passover, all the way through "Matthew's begats" and the title track, celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The Entire Christmas Story in One Verse – Ray Pennoyer

It was understandable, I guess, when the group seemed momentarily taken aback when I opened my Bible and suggested reading "the entire Christmas story." You see, the night was already winding down at our church home-group meeting, and in the Gospel of Matthew that narrative runs a hefty 48 verses and in Luke it is longer still at 120 verses. No, I assured my friends, I wanted to read the entire Christmas story in one verse. (Well, technically two verses covering one sentence.) Though it does not mention shepherds or wise-men or inns or stables, it is nonetheless profound and compelling.

Teamwork – Ray Ortlund

"When a team becomes more aligned, a commonality of direction emerges, and individuals' energies harmonize. There is less wasted energy. In fact, a resonance or synergy develops."

On the Impracticality of a Cheeseburger – Waldo Jaquith

A cheeseburger cannot exist outside of a highly developed, post-agrarian society. It requires a complex interaction between a handful of vendors—in all likelihood, a couple of dozen—and the ability to ship ingredients vast distances while keeping them fresh. The cheeseburger couldn't have existed until nearly a century ago as, indeed, it did not.

As A Twitter Follower, You're Worth About $2.50 – Lauren Dugan

An email from Twitter to advertisers has been leaked, and it looks like the company has put a price on all of our heads: as followers, we're each worth about $2.50 to a brand.

Four Traits of Wise Leaders

Even though we find ourselves in the worst economy since the Great Depression and in a time when local churches and the people in them are struggling, I remain an obnoxious optimist.

I am convinced God is not done with me. He is not done with us. And He is surely not done with His Church. I'm convinced God is up to something. While it may seem the darkness is great, I stand confident it is about to be penetrated by significant light.

Leaders are rising up in our local churches. I see it happening all across the nation. It is for that reason I have great hope for the future of all churches.

I've been reading James in my daily time with the Lord. And I'm still in chapter one. I keep reading that chapter over and over and over again—and it just keeps speaking to me. One of first things James talks about in his epistle is leadership. His message is for me, for you, and for our churches.

As a leader, I need wisdom—His wisdom. Not because of my level of responsibility, but because I have nothing unless He gives it to me. In James 1:2-8, we see the need for wise leaders.

Wise Leaders Seek to Learn from Trials

When James starts his epistle, does he say "consider it a shame" or "consider it an injustice" or "consider that God hates you" because you are going through a trial? No! He says to consider it a great joy when you experience various trials.

Many of us need to read that again. Many are going through trials right now. Are we looking at the trial and letting it consume us with worry and anxiety? Or are we saying "Lord I'm going to consider this a great joy" or "What are You trying to tell me though this?"

This year has been a tumultuous one for my family. But one moment I'll never forget was when my son, Jess, looked at me just moments after his newborn son, Will, had died. He said to me "Help me to see this not from a perspective of bitterness, but from a perspective of how God can work through this."

May we all long to see God working through our trials.

Wise Leaders Ask God for Wisdom

Once we realize we need wisdom in our trials, we must remember who the Giver of that wisdom is. When we ask, our God is faithful to answer. We see that in verse five. He gives "generously and without criticizing."

Here, James reminds us He is not only faithful to answer, but He answers with abundance. The word picture in verse five is similar to that of taking 24 ounces of water and pouring it into a 16 ounce glass. It would be overflowing. That is what God's wisdom looks like when He gives it to us—it overflows.

Can you imagine what would happen if leaders all across the land faithfully and fervently asked God for wisdom?

Wise Leaders Trust God Faithfully

Wise leaders believe God; they don't doubt him. James uses wonderful imagery in verse six. We can only imagine what he had in mind when he said "For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

I envision him thinking of time similar to what we see in Matthew 14. There, we find the disciples on a boat struggling to cross a raging sea. Jesus came walking across the water and spoke to only one of them—the one who was willing to trust him.

Are we willing to respond to God's direction with faith?

Wise Leaders Are Decisive

Having wisdom and trusting God are worthless unless acted upon. Verse eight makes that abundantly clear: "An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways."

While discouragement runs rampant around us, we must trust God and ask him for wisdom. As leaders, we are then called upon to act.

We are commanded to make a decision when the day comes. When we seek wisdom from the Lord, He will prepare and empower us to act.

God continues to cultivate and equip leaders—wise leaders. These leaders are filled with God's Spirit and with the fullness of His wisdom. And it is my prayer that they continue to seek Him and His wisdom as they lead their local churches.

Talkback Tuesday: Holy Vocabulary

I'm proud of so many things LifeWay has accomplished in its rich history. One area in which we have made great strides over the past few years is digital delivery of content. Our digital products now include smartphone apps, MyStudyBible.com, WORDsearch, and eBooks just to name a few.

As the publishing industry continues to change, we continue forge ahead in the development of new resources and new methods to provide biblical solutions for life. One of those new resources, Michael Kelley's study entitled Holy Vocabulary: Rescuing the Language of Faith, is now available in the iBooks store. It's the first such resource that Threads by LifeWay has produced.

Here is a short excerpt:

Subcultures are everywhere. Chances are you belong to at least one, even if you don't realize it. You might be a member of the technology subculture. Or the home school subculture. Or the SEC football subculture.

Me? I'm a card-carrying member of the Christian subculture. We have our own rock stars, communicators, authors, schools, radio stations, and lines of apparel. We even have our own arguments that mean relatively little to anyone outside the subculture. The Christian subculture is filled with customs, dress, food, and a vocabulary of holy words that, to the common observer, are as unfamiliar as the cliffs of Mordor or the parts under the hood of a car.

A non-Chrisitan walking into the church today might as well be stepping into a comic book convention. They would likely find a group of people so entrenched in their own subculture that they don't even think about what they're saying, singins, or preaching. After all, they all understand each other; they're speaking the same language.

Are you a member of the Christian subculture? What measures do you take to ensure the gospel is clearly communicated to nonbelievers who might not "know the lingo?"

For Those Hurting This Christmas Season

I have watched and admired my son, Jess, and his wife, Rachel. They lost their son, Will, in February of this year. Their pain and grief are real and often intense, but they have leaned on Jesus Christ to give them comfort, strength, and hope.

As we enter this Christmas season, I am aware that their pain is often rekindled. They no doubt are grieving that their little boy will not be opening gifts. They will not see his wide-eyed excitement of the season. They hurt deeply.

They are not alone.

So Many Hurting

I hurt deeply for those who see empty places at their meals for Christmas. They so wish they could give gifts to those who are no longer here. The video at the end of this post is a powerful reminder of the grief that is so very real during this season.

I hurt for those who are struggling with serious physical problems this Christmas. I pray regularly for my brother, Sam, who recently had open-heart surgery. His recovery was well on its way, and then he suffered two strokes. This Christmas will be very different for him.

So many have serious physical problems. So many have loved ones who do.

So Many Needing Help

There are others who can't buy gifts this season. They barely have the funds to buy food for their families. So many unemployed. So many struggling financially.

I hurt for those who have gone through the agony of a divorce. No matter what the circumstances, their Christmas will be so different and so lonely. My heart aches for their children who will have to split their holidays between two parents.

I hurt for the families of our men and women in the military who will not see their loved ones this Christmas. They will be without the physical presence of someone they love because that person is putting his or her life on the line for our country, and for you and me.

Similarly, many will not see other loved ones this Christmas because they are serving on the mission field. The cause of the gospel is their priority; but it doesn't mean our missionaries and their families don't feel the pain of loneliness during Christmas season.

So Many Struggling

I hurt for those who live under the dark cloud of depression. They don't want the pain; but they often feel it more intensely during the holidays.

Indeed there are so many who are hurting and struggling. I could go on and on about the pain and suffering in this world, and how it is often exacerbated during the holiday season.

The Hope of the Gospel

I pray that those who are hurting will, somehow in the midst of their pain, see the hope of the gospel. I pray that they will see the eternal hope of the resurrection that followed Christ's sacrifice on a bloody cross.

And I pray that many of us will be messengers of the hope of the gospel. Sometimes a kind word can make a world of difference to someone hurting. Sometimes we need to sacrifice our own comforts to give to others in need. Sometimes we need to sacrifice the convenience of our own holiday festivities to reach out to someone who is hurting.

On the back of our Christmas card this year, Nellie Jo and I included these words: "We give glory to God for the life and death of our grandson, William Thomas Rainer. His eternity is secure because of the work of the Savior whose birth we celebrate."

In the midst of our own pain, we have the hope and promise of the gospel.

May we ever be messengers of that gospel to those who are hurting and need to see that hope.

Merry Christmas.

This Christmas season, I think I mean that more than ever.

Friday is for Freebies (December 9, 2011)

My giveaway this Friday is the black, bonded leather version of The Apologetics Study Bible. This Bible will help today's Christian better understand, defend and proclaim their beliefs in response to a postmodern age bent on challenging everything they believe.

This Bible has a retail price of $59.99 and features more than 100 key questions and articles placed throughout the Bible about faith and science which prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading. Hear from the top apologetics thinkers of our day such as Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, Lee Strobel and 90+ more contributors as they submit compelling evidence, historical fact and supporting arguments to bring the Truth to light.

To be eligible to win, tell us about your favorite preacher, living or dead (excluding Jesus, Paul, and others from the Bible).

The deadline to enter is midnight CST this Saturday. We will select one winner from the entries on Monday morning.

Notable Voices (December 8, 2011)

Building a Team - Brad Lomenick

Teams are incredibly important in accomplishing a vision. And as the leader of organizations, projects, initiatives and churches, maybe the most important thing you do is select, equip and release leaders.

8 Departure Dangers from Gospel Centrality - Jared C. Wilson

There are lots of distractions from and temptations to discard a commitment to gospel-centeredness. Here are just 8.

7 Ways Satan Tries to Destroy a Church - Ron Edmondson

I'm fully aware that Satan loves to destroy…or attempt to destroy…a church. Obviously Satan is a limited being and God's church is secure. The gates of hell shall never overcome what God started, but Satan certainly loves to disrupt what God's church is doing.

Coins from 17AD found under Jerusalem's Western Wall hints sacred site NOT built by Herod – Rob Waugh

Archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority now say diggers have found coins underneath the massive foundation stones of the compound's Western Wall that were stamped by a Roman proconsul 20 years after Herod's death. That indicates that Herod did not build the wall - part of which is venerated as Judaism's holiest prayer site - and that construction was not close to being complete when he died.

A Little More Agnosticism from Boeheim Please - Stephen Prothero

Sometimes leaders have to choose between being friends and being leaders. Sometimes they have to choose between being stupid and being wise. Jim Boeheim failed on both accounts in November. What he should have said was, "I don't know."

Inerrancy and Infallibility - Aaron Armstrong

If God is indeed perfect, always true, always doing exactly what He promises and always doing what is right, then it is impossible for Him to err. He is not only free from error, but incapable of committing it. Thus, if Scripture is truly inspired of God, if it is truly all that it claims to be, then it too is incapable of committing error. It is infallible and inerrant.

Seven Grammatical Errors You Can Ignore (Sometimes) - Mark Nichol

Here are some hard pills to swallow for language mavens who require a strict adherence to rigid syntactical patterns at the expense of, well, language.

Free Christmas Carol CD - LifeChurch.tv

LifeChurch.tv has released a free Christmas album on iTunes. It's a nice mix of familiar carols with fresh arrangements including a fantastic rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful" to close out the CD.

Ten Traits of Great Leaders Who Work with Me

Some of the best lessons in leadership I have learned have taken place where I work. Simply stated, I work with some incredible leaders. They may not know how carefully I observe them, but I do. While I am president of the organization, I do not observe them merely to supervise or lead them. I also observe them to learn from them.

If you've read a few of my writings, you will know that I am student of leadership. Sure, I have learned from books, journals, and leaders I don't even know. But it's fun to learn from those I see on a regular basis. They are my best instructors.

Allow me then to share ten traits of these leaders. The list is not exhaustive, but it should give you an idea of why I am so enthusiastic about working with these men and women.

They have a great work ethic. They are hard workers willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They have a positive, can-do spirit. You can almost see the wheels in their minds turning when they are presented with a challenge. They are smart. I don't know how much of their intelligence is innate or much is learned, but they are some of the smartest people I know. They have high levels of energy. That energy is contagious. When we are in a room together, I am ready to conquer the world. They contribute positively to conversations. You know the "downer" types in conversations. Some dominate where you can't get a word in. Some are just negative. And others say almost nothing. But the leaders around me contribute in ways that are meaningful and measured. They don't hide from reality. Most organizations have challenges. Ours is no exception. The leaders who surround me don't sugarcoat or hide from challenges; they confront them with tenacity and toughness They are relational. The leaders I observe include both extroverts and introverts. Regardless of their natural disposition, they know that relationships matter. As a result, they make certain they keep relationships open and healthy. They are willing to get out of their comfort zones. Most of us have a tendency to do things and be in places where we are most comfortable. I am grateful for the leaders who surround me because of their willingness to get involved in areas that are not their natural strength or area of expertise. They are continuous learners. Some read voraciously. Others have external coaches. Others attend meaningful conferences. They are continuously seeking ways to learn and to be better leaders. They think strategically. They are always asking strategic questions like: "Why?; "Why not?"; "What's next?"

I am blessed to be surrounded by men and women who are great leaders. They challenge me. They teach me. And, in many ways, they keep me accountable and responsive.

I thought when I first came to this organization, my responsibility would be leading. Certainly that is my primary role. But I have been blessed beyond measure to be a student and learner as well. And I pray that I will always have a teachable spirit.

What Type of Service Will Your Church Hold This Christmas?

Last week LifeWay Research released data on whether churches will have services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. The findings—and a rather spirited discussion about them—are over at Ed Stetzer's blog.

What I'd like to find out from my readers is "What type of service will your church have?" In our book Simple Church, Eric Geiger and I discussed what his church in Miami faced and how they focused their services at Christmastime.

Like many churches Christ Fellowship offered specific Christmas Eve services each year. Many people who rarely come to church attended the Christmas Eve services, but the services were completely different from the weekend services. People never got a taste of what takes place at the regular weekend services. The Christmas Eve services failed to engage people in the simple process.

Active church members attended both the Christmas Eve services and the regular weekend services. The worship staff had to prepare two different types of services during the same week, which lowered the level of excellence at both. This was also poor stewardship of space because the same people were coming multiple times instead of freeing up places for new people.

Also instead of inviting people to the weekend services, church members were inviting friends and family to the Christmas Eve services. These guests were never exposed to a typical weekend service and were less likely to return.

To simplify things and expose as many people as possible to a typical weekend service, the staff decided to combine Christmas Eve services with the weekend services. Christ Fellowship now offers several identical weekend Christmas services. The elimination of the special program paid off immediately as the number of people who were exposed to a weekend service skyrocketed.

So what type of service will your church hold this Christmas? Will visitors be exposed to your regular services, or will they leave without really knowing what to expect on a weekly basis?

Four Reasons You Should Call Instead of Write

I really do like the digital age of communications. I can send emails at faster speeds of communication than I would have dreamed years ago. I constantly communicate with my three sons and close friends via text messages. And I send hundreds of brief messages through Twitter and Facebook each month.

Indeed the speed and convenience of electronic communications are fabulous. I would not want to return to previous eras where the options were much more limited.

But there are times when you should call someone instead of writing them. I probably email and text more than I should. It fits my introverted personality not to have to talk with someone. But written communications can often be misconstrued and misunderstood. In many cases, I would have fared better with a telephone call.

Four Reasons to Call

I could write a separate and compelling article on the advantages of writing over calling. You don't have to coordinate a time for both parties to get together. You can proofread your words before you send them. And you have a clear record of exactly what was said when you have it in writing.

But there are times that a phone call is more appropriate. It would be difficult to establish rules and guidelines for calling. Instead, I offer four advantages of calling over writing. You can determine when you should use those advantages as you communicate with others.

Written communication does not always make emotions clear. Even with the availability of a wide range of emoticons (which I try to avoid), the written word cannot fully replace the inflections of the voice, the pauses, and the emphases that are readily detectible by phone. I recently received a text message from someone close to me. I admit that my feelings were hurt when I read the message. Later that day, I called that person to clarify what he said. Once I heard his voice and laughter, I knew that I had taken his written communication wrongly.

Written communication can appear cowardly. With few exceptions, I first communicate bad news in person or by phone. I do not want to appear to be avoiding talking with that person. I want him or her to hear clearly what I'm saying and why I'm saying it. Sometimes it's easier to send an email than to make a call because you don't have to face that person. But that doesn't make it right.

Written communication does not allow for instant dialogue. I know. Messaging was originally called instant messaging because one party could respond immediately to another party. Indeed such is the case today. But talking in person or by phone is even more instantaneous. You don't have to wait for the person to complete his or her thought. You can get immediate clarification even while a person is in mid-sentence or mid-thought. And while interruptions are not always best, they can be used wisely so that any misunderstanding can be cleared immediately.

Written communication does not carry the investment of one's self as a call does. How many times have you heard someone say that they appreciate your call? Communicating by voice gives the impression, rightly so, that you took time to find that person, to say your words, and to allow them to respond immediately. Calling simply shows that you care.

A Time to Write. A Time to Call.

I fully expect that I will continue to use written electronic communication as my dominant means of connecting with people. But I hope that I will use wisdom to know that sometimes a call is better; sometimes a call carries a lot more weight.

Sure, it's not always easy to connect with someone by phone. It may take a while to reach them, and the conversation may go longer than you would like. But in all likelihood, the person you called will appreciate your making the effort more than they would had you texted or emailed them.

As a result, relationships will be better with family members, business associates, friends, and even foes. Then we will know that the extra effort to make that call was really worth it.