Ray Fowler .org

STRANGE CRIME EDITION.

Hungry. An Indiana man was arrested following a 90-mph car chase when he suddenly stopped at a Taco Bell restaurant. The 36-year-old man told police he “knew he was going to jail for a while” and wanted to get one last burrito.

Deathbed Confession. A man who thought he was dying confessed to a murder he committed 38 years ago. Then he got better. He has now been arrested and charged with the murder.

Hungry 2. A 17-year-old attempted to rob a store while holding a banana under his shirt like a gun. Overpowered by the store owner, he ate the banana before the police could arrive. However, he didn’t eat all the evidence, and the deputies took pictures of the peel.

I enjoyed the following story from Dan Phillips of how he used a teachable moment to impress upon his children the importance of respecting their mother.

Once upon an undatable-by-you time, an unidentifiable-by-you pair of my four kids showed my dear wife a degree of disrespect that appalled me. I learned of this while at work.

On the way home, I bought some food for a meal such as my wife loves. I got home, set Valerie’s place with care, called us all to dinner. Made my children stand with me as I seated Valerie with particular honor, and served her. We prayed.

Then I talked with them and explained what was about to happen. I reminded them of what I’d taught them since the cradle about respecting their mother. I told them how appalled and shamed I was by what they’d done (don’t let your imagination go nuts; you’d probably think it a small thing — I think it related to homeschooling), and that I would never tolerate such treatment of their mother — ever.

And so, I told them that we would all keep Mom good company as she enjoyed her dinner. I told them they could have water — and that was it.*

And I told them I’d do the same.

Why? I told them that I must somehow have failed to communicate how deadly serious I was in what I’d taught them. So we’d all just let it growl a bit, together.

*Note: No Phillips children were starved (or ever have been) in the teaching of this (or any) lesson. Trust me on this.

What kinds of creative discipline have you used in training your kids? If you have some good examples, share them in the comments.

Related posts:

• 8 Great Family Rules to Help Any Home
• To Spank or Not To Spank

William Castleman captured this stunning time-lapse video of the Milky Way rising over a Texas Star Party in April. This is absolutely gorgeous. (It takes just a minute to load, but it is well worth the wait.)

(Video length: 0:48)

Details:
– Texas Star Party; Night Sky Time-Lapse Video
– 9:20 PM to 6:43 AM CDT; April 21-22, 2009
– Canon EOS-5D (modified) and EF 15mm Fisheye Lens @ f/2.8
– Camera on Tripod facing East South East
– 20 second exposure each minute per frame; 15 frames per second

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

Click here for more Space related posts.

Are you looking for Bible-based materials to teach children? Ministry-to-Children.com has some great free materials for children’s church or Sunday School. The following materials include lesson plans that correspond with the excellent Big Picture Story Bible. Here are links to the first seven lessons:

1. The Very Good Beginning (Creation Bible Lesson)
2. A Very Sad Day (Fall Bible Lesson)
3. Life Outside The Garden (Noah’s Flood Bible Lesson)
4. God’s Big Promise (God’s Promise To Abraham Lesson)
5. God’s People Grow (Story of Joseph Lesson)
6. God’s People Become Great (Exodus Bible Lesson)
7. God’s Great Sign (Exodus / Passover Story)

Related post: Recommended Children’s Story Bibles

Yesterday’s message in the Gospel of Mark series was called Ordinary People; Extraordinary God, taken from Mark 3:7-19. The main idea of the message was that God is an extraordinary God who uses ordinary people to accomplish his work in this world. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Jesus draws great crowds (verses 7-12)
    A. The people came from everywhere.
    B. There were so many they pushed forward to touch him.
    C. Jesus ordered the demons not to tell who he was.

II. Jesus calls the twelve apostles (verses 13-19)
    A. He called those he wanted.
    B. He appointed twelve as apostles.
        1) That they might be with him, and
        2) That he might send them out
            – to preach, and
            – to have authority to drive out demons
    C. “These are the twelve he appointed.”
        1) They were twelve ordinary men.
        2) They came from a variety of backgrounds.
        3) They would change the world forever.

Note: Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.

Rachel Barkey shares her hope in Christ despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer. “Cancer does not define me. Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus.” (Rachel is 37 years old, married, and a mother of two.)

Alfred D’Souza reflects on obstacles in life: “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”

Thomas Brooks argues that the believer’s last day is his best day. “The best of Christians are able to take in but little of God; their hearts are like the widow’s vessel, which could receive but a little oil. Sin, the world, and creatures do take up so much room in the best hearts, that God gives out himself little by little, as parents give sweets to their children. But in heaven God will communicate himself fully at once to the soul! Grace shall then be swallowed up of glory!”

(This is the final section of my Personal Theology of Ministry. Click here for all the posts from the Personal Theology of Ministry series.)

The pastor must care for his family and personal self:

Therefore I will balance ministry with personal and family life. A healthy self, a healthy family and a healthy church are all part of God’s kingdom which I am commanded to seek (Matthew 6:33). One of the qualifications for ministry is to manage my own family well (1 Timothy 3:4). I must set appropriate boundaries for myself and for my family so as not to let church ministry overrun my life. Christ has promised to build his church (Matthew 16:18), and I must trust him to do it rather than my own human efforts multiplied to the damage of family or self.

Back to Table of Contents | or All on One Page

Related post: Church Search

Author and pastor Francis Schaeffer died 25 years ago today. Schaeffer’s books had a big impact on my own Christian growth and development. Schaeffer’s main strength was his ability to grasp the big picture and show you how it all fit together. He was an engaging thinker who helped you to think about the whole of life from a Christian point of view.

Here is an interesting interview with author Os Guinness on Francis Schaeffer that points out some of Schaeffer’s strengths and limitations. If you are interested in reading some Schaeffer for yourself, these are the books that I would most recommend:

• Francis Schaeffer Trilogy — Contains Schaeffer’s three foundational works: The God Who Is There, Escape from Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent.
• True Spirituality — This was Schaeffer’s favorite of his own books.
• How Should We Then Live? — Schaeffer’s analysis of Western civilization from ancient Rome to the Atomic Age.
• The Mark of the Christian — A convicting reflection on John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (The Mark of the Christian originally appeared in earlier editions of The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century. You can read it online for free here: The Mark of the Christian.)

(Last week and this I am sharing my Personal Theology of Ministry. Click here for more posts from the Personal Theology of Ministry series.)

The pastor is responsible to God and the church:

Therefore I will be accountable for my ministry. Those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). Those who have been faithful with little things will be trusted with much (Luke 16:10-12). Therefore I will endeavor to set the example by following the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). I will watch over the church as one who must give an account (Hebrews 13:17). I will be careful to teach God’s word accurately (James 3:1). I will pray for those under my spiritual leadership and care (1 Samuel 12:23). I will be accountable to the church that I serve (1 Timothy 5:17-20).

Back to Table of Contents | Next section: Personal and Family Life (PTOM 9)

Related post: Church Search

• Planet Narnia Spin. Devin Brown challenges the central thesis of Michael Ward’s book, Planet Narnia.
• Praying in a Mosque. Protestant pastor Edward H. Schreur shares what he learned from praying in a mosque.
• Free Class on Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. Rob Bowman’s class on understanding Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses is available on iTunes for free.

(Last week and this I am sharing my Personal Theology of Ministry. Click here for more posts from the Personal Theology of Ministry series.)

Grace is the hallmark of true Christian ministry:

Therefore my ministry will be characterized by grace. We are all sinners in need of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:1-9). The gospel we share is the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24). An understanding of God’s grace and kindness leads people to repentance and salvation (Romans 2:4; Titus 3:3-8). People only grow in Christ and bear fruit as they come to understand God’s grace in all its truth (Colossians 1:6). Therefore, as a pastor my attitude will be marked by gentleness and grace. I will restore others gently, carry other’s burdens and maintain humility (Galatians 6:1-5). I will not quarrel but gently instruct others in the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-26). I will answer people’s questions with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). I will grow in God’s grace and encourage others to do the same (2 Peter 3:18). Once again, Jesus Christ is our supreme example. Christ models gentleness in ministry, sympathy with people’s weaknesses, and approachability (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:15-16).

Back to Table of Contents | Next section: Accountability ( PTOM 8 )

Related post: Church Search

Google just unveiled new search options to help you search for information more effectively. Whenever you search for an item, the search results page now includes a “Show options” link at the top left of the page. Click on “Show options,” and Google will open up a left sidebar with additional filtering options such as:

• Videos, forums, or reviews
• Recent results, past 24 hours, past week, or past year
• Images from the page, or more text
• Related searches, Wonder Wheel, or Timeline view

Here is a brief video showing these new search options in action:

(Video length: 2:04)

HT: Lifehacker