If you are in any position to encourage folks in your life, may I suggest something to you? Don’t ever encourage people with generalities. (i.e. “you need to go to seminary”) Be specific about why things are important. (“you need to go to seminary because it will change your range of understanding of the reading and interpretation of God’s word and meta-narrative”)
I obviously experienced this in one way or another. Looking back now, I don’t want to encourage someone to do something if I can’t give a good reason for doing it.
-AOD
(btw, this is just ONE reason a person should go to seminary)
If you follow any of my different social sites, you’ll probably hear about this more the next couple weeks. Our worship band, Solace will be playing for the Arena Racing crowd at the Hampton Coliseum on March 5th @ 7:30 (doors open at 6:30).
We began this journey about 3 years ago while playing for the youth at OVBC. After some shift in leadership structure, the band continued on as more of a worship gig band. We played D-nows, local venues and last year we played for Arena Racing. This year is a little different. It is a $5 night, so there will be a nice size crowd there to hear the message of Jesus through song.
We are stoked about this, PLUS we have a special song(s) we will be ending on. But, it is a surprise :-) It’s general admission, so bring your group and I’ll see you there!
-AOD
Yesterday marked the end of a 30 day period in my life where I have literally been in the Word of God more than ever. NewThru30 is a reading plan that takes you through the New Testament in 30 days. It was designed by the awesome folks at Elevation Church. I will confess, that even as a pastor, I have a tough time getting in the Word as often as I should. This study helped me in two ways. (There were more, but these are the main ones:-)
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The importance of being in God’s Word is immeasurable. You hear this a lot from pulpits, bible teachers, etc. But, until you are in the Word A LOT, you cannot know what God has in store for you. I often tell my students, it’s like getting to know a friend. The more you hang out with them and experience life together, the more you trust them and feel that deep sense of friendship between the two of you.
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God’s grand narrative of scripture made a bit more clear. I will not say that I understand the fullness of God’s redemptive story now, but I will say, reading the scripture at a fast pace helps to see God’s story “Big Picture”. You get a better understanding of who He is and what His plan is all about.
Reading through the bible at a fast pace is not the ONLY way to read. You should take your time to here God’s voice. But for the reason’s mentioned above, I am now more in love and closer to God than I have ever been. I challenge you to take the NewThru30 reading plan seriously and get into the Word! Go to the site and download the plan. Try to start on a Monday (to make the plan easy to adapt) but if you can’t just get started and READ!
-AOD
Not to say that she wasn’t fun before, but check out this convo that happened between LeighLeigh (our youngest daughter, 15mo) and our babysitter’s husband…
- LL: woke up and waved “Hi” to Bill
- Bill: are you a queen?
- LL: Nod “yes” repeatedly
- Bill: Good afternoon, your majesty
- LL: (in sign language) thank you! thank you!
Hahahahah! Man I was weak. Our youngin is getting so big!
-AOD
I haven’t said much to anyone about the iPad since last Wednesday’s announcement. I am an Apple fan, but not in a cult-ish kind of way :-) I do, however think that this device will revolutionize media in general. THIS ARTICLE was posted by my friend @churchydave. Read it with your stigma’s put aside. Again, revolutionary!
-AOD
“ You can’t decide what you are going to DO, until you decide who you are going to BE.
Andy Stanley #Passion 2010
