Vacation Time

It's vacation time again (& not a moment too soon), so any posts from me are pretty unlikely. I'm really hoping for a nice break and some quality down time with the family. This is a vacation I really want, unlike most that just sort of happen.

Jabez, Shack & Rick Warren

I was reading Aaron Saufley's blog and his comments about recently reading The Prayer of Jabez. I starting thinking about this little "must read" book that popped on up on the "Christian" market a few years ago. I read it and surprisingly thought it was a fairly thought provoking albeit brief read. Of course, I don't think it was worthy of all the hype it generated. People I know bought several copies to have ready to give away. And this is what really got me thinking. Isn't ironic that the Christian market produces a "must read" seemingly every year. It's some book with some "life changing" discovery and church folks spend millions on it. Then, a few years, later the book can't even be found on shelves at the nearby "Christian" bookstore. What's up? I have seen many books like The Prayer of Jabez come and go. Recently The Shack showed up and people were rushing to read it. (For the record I didn't read it). Some of these same enthusistic readers couldn't find Habakkuk with a search warrant! How about the biggest "tour de force" in recent years - the Purpose Driven Life? Where are all those 4o Days of Purpose Campaigns? I thought that Warren's book was the greatest thing since Revelation! Not quite, huh? There have been many well hyped books & there will be many more, but there is only one Bible. I like books, but there is only one Book like no other and it is indispensable for the Christian life.

PS. Don't even get me started on the massively hyped Left Behind series.

Habakkuk

I have a 2 Sundays to preach between the Nehemiah series I'll finish this Sunday and the upcoming John sermon series which will start the second Sunday of September. (You calendar watching folks will note more Sundays but I'll be gone for 2 of them for vacations). I'm thinking I might drop in the little book of Habakkuk (Did I spell that right?). I did a study on Habukkuk a few years ago and really appreciated it, but I've never "preached" a sermon from this minor prophet. I like Habakkuk & look forward to meeting him one day. I don't want to be like so many folks who will have no idea who he was in His-story when they meet him on the other side. Three chapters in two weeks seems doable. So for all my OT fans out there you have two more weeks before we go NT with Gospel of John.

More ideas...

Here are three more ideas for my John sermon series. The first 2 would require some editing. Any thoughts? Preferences?

Incarnate?

So what do you think about the potential graphic & title for my upcoming sermon series on the book of John? I found this at CityWest Church all the way in Melbourne, Australia! I was searching the web for ideas for a title for the series when I saw this graphic. I liked it & the folks at CityWest said I could use it. I found some other titles & graphics too, but this one really struck me. SO, should I call the series on John "Incarnate"? I have some ideas to go with it like an intro video with "John 1" by the now defunct Nobel Theme playing in the background. Anyway, I was originally leaning toward something centered around John 20:31: But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. I was thinking of titles like "Life" or "Believe" or "That You May Believe." So... "Incarnate" .... hmmm ...whatcha think?