Confessions From Mars Hill

The New Atheism

I read this blog today from Internet Monk.  It is a good post about New Atheism that focuses particularly on a younger (less academic) crowd.

I thought it was interesting because it is more like the younger folks that I come in contact with in South Florida.

The Last Week

Most of the advice I am getting this week is, "enjoy your sleep."  While I was at lunch with Brad Schmidt (preaching pastor at City Church Ft. Lauderdale) last week, he might have said the one thing that I appreciate.

Recently, Brad's wife gave birth to a baby boy.  When I asked him what it was like becoming a dad, he said, "the best way I can describe it is that when you get married and you know it is right, you look back and can't believe that you ever made it as a single guy (because being married is that much better). Then when you have a child, God shows you that it makes family even more meaningful.

So like him, I LOVE being married.  And, though I have yet to meet our pooping, screaming little boy, I am really looking forward to being a dad. 

That is where I am right now (while keeping an eye on the clock during contractions).

Sorry I didn't fill out the survey...I have a brain tumor

I haven't blogged in a while, but I read this from Donald Millers Blog and it was too good to not pass along. (If you are reading this in a blog reader, click on the title of the blog post to get it from my blog.)

Seriously, I love this guy's humor.

Time Magazines "Ten Things"

Check it out over at The Back Porch.

Old People Singing

Our Senior Adult group at church was meeting today and began to sing a hymn.

This was the first verse:

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined

American Christianity?

Live Love Session 1

There are few people that we will drop everything to go see if they are within driving distance.  Francis Chan is one of those people.  We brought 24 people for a two day student conference.

Tonight's session was led by Kristian Stanfield and Chan spoke on the holiness of God.  He mentioned being "over-churched" and hearing of God often led to not having a right understanding about God. 

The night reminded me of ONE DAY 2003 when John Piper spoke on a generation passionate about the holiness of God.  I am looking forward to the sessions tomorrow as this is fleshed out.

NEVER...

Never trust a man who has not had a head-snapping, bone-crushing collision with his own depravity. - Nate Larkin

TIm Keller Awesomeness of the Day

From "The Reason For God"

In the real world of relationships it is impossible to love people with a problem or a need without in some sense sharing or even changing places with them.

It requires very little of you to love a person who is pulled together and happy.

There is no way to listen and love people (with problems or needs) and stay completely emotionally intact yourself.  It may be that they may feel stronger or and more affirmed as you talk, but that won't happen without you being quite emotionally drained yourself.  It's them or you.  To bring them up emotionally you must be willing to be drained emotionally.

Willing to jump in anyone?

Babies, Nausea and Homemade Pizza

Well, by now, most of our friends know that we are having a baby.  It's my first go-round with this, so I'm sure that I will have some odd things to talk about and yes, you can indulge me for the next 9.

We had a couple of friends over last night at the request that I cook chicken fingers.  It sounded good until Mandi called with a bad case of nausea and fear that the 2 day lingering smell of deep fried chicken would make her hurl.

So, I had to think on the fly while at Publix.  Here is what I came up with.

4 bags of fresh pizza dough, onions, peppers, Boars Head pepperoni...

Big hit and great pizza.  Highly recommended.

Southern Baptist Knives

Yesterday, I got a call from a guy wanting to drop by some literature for the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary.  As we spoke in my office, he kept pulling out different types of fliers, brochures, book markers and business cards. 

Then he handed me a little box with a wry smile and said, "this is for you." A little gift I assume for the outside chance that I am going to be pointing students toward seminary in America's Hat.

It was a multi-use (think Swiss Army) knife.

Couple of questions:
1. Did he get this through security on his carry-on luggage?
2. Why do Canadian Southern Baptist knives have corkscrews?