Friday Five...3/29/13

Hope you're having a great Good Friday! Here's your five for the week!

1. Favorite Fish of my Nightmares! - (via boingboing)

**It's called a sheepshead fish. Lives in North America. Think about that the next time to head out to Green River Lake!!!

2. Favorite Reality Check - 6 Signs Your Smartphone Is Stressing You Out - (via Huffington Post)

1. You have to respond...immediately.

2. You have Phantom Cellphone Syndrome

3. Read the rest here. 

3. Favorite Easter Recipe - Homemade Cadbury Eggs - (via food52)

4. Favorite Good Friday Video - Good Friday by Sit Guys - (via worshiphouse)

5. Favorite Reminder that Friday Was Not The End - Easter Morning - (via worshiphouse)

Worship Him this weekend, but more importantly, worship Him daily!

becoming rooted,
Rodney

Wednesday's Word...The Lost Found

The Lost Found

**Full Disclosure: I couldn't find a picture of me in my sunglasses, so I found this photo. I've been told we could pass as twins anyway...(at least that's what I tell myself).

I have a pair of prescription sunglasses that I love. About a year ago I lost them. It was in the summer during Expedition (our summer Student Ministry program). I was devastated. They could be anywhere. I searched the house, our van, my truck, my office; I searched under and around seats, I searched EVERYWHERE I could think. They were no where to be found. I assumed that I knocked them out of my truck sometime and they could be anywhere. 

The other day I was taking Grayson to T-ball practice and a penny caught his eye in between the drivers seat and the console in my truck. I was annoyed because we were running late to practice and, after all, it was just a penny. He was determined, so I agreed to help him get to it. As I reached in between the seat a sparkle caught my eye. How had I missed it for an entire year? My sunglasses were next to me all the time! I literally jumped out of the car and started shouting with excitement, ran into the house to tell my wife about my newfound sunglasses. t may have been a little over the top, but I was immediately reminded of Luke 15 and the parables of the Lost. 

Jesus tells a few parables that you're probably familiar with; He tells of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. 

Luke 15:10 cut me to the heart...

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coinsand loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I guess the question for me and you is this: Are you as concerned about seeking out the lost as you are about finding something like missing sunglasses? Do you rejoice in a life given over to Christ more than you do when someone gives you a Red Lobster gift card?

Don't answer too quickly. 

Monday's Mentions...3/25/13

- Yesterday, we finished up our 2-week class called "Rescue!" We had 25 people involved in the class and I believe you will continue to see great things as these parents and children walk together through the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are planning towards having another "Rescue" class in September. In the mean time, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

- Our Adult Small Groups continue to average 110+ adults each week! That's almost a third of our total Sunday worship attendance! As we begin to wind down the Small Group season, I look forward to seeing what God will accomplish though these groups as we begin to make room for even more to participate!

Have a great start to your week! 

Becoming Rooted,

Rodney.

Friday Five...3/22/13

1. Favorite Parenting Article: Don't Sell These Students Short (via Growing Leaders)

Don’t’ you dare sell kids short. In fact, I think we expect far too little of them today. Allowing them to get lost on Facebook chats, Twitter, Instagram and other social media outlets…their potential lies dormant. And we often say—“Ah, they’re just kids.”

 2. Favorite Marriage Website: The Great Date Experience (via marriedlife online)

Check this site out for easy, fun, and cheap date night ideas with your spouse! 

3. My Other Favorite Owl: (via Amazing Things)

4. Favorite Island: (via Amazing Things)

**Someone please tell me this is real and hasn't been photoshopped

5. Favorite Technology Reality Check: (via YouTube)

Maybe Technology isn't the answer for everything....

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday's Word...3/20/13

Ever find yourself driving quickly to get somewhere even when you're not in a hurry? On a vacation, I typically drive fast to get to wherever I am going because I am excited to get there and hit the beach, get to the condo, or whatever. After vacation though, I find myself rushing home. I'm not in any particular hurry. I don't have anywhere to be right away. So why do I rush?

I constantly find myself driving home on Hwy. 55 running 70+ MPH...I mean...55 MPH. I've been thinking about that recently, wondering why I do that. I realized that I don't like the process of getting to where I am going. I like to be at the destination.

Going back to my vacation analogy...aren't some of the best memories made during the car rides? I can think about my childhood and the funny stories we can tell that happened in the car, in the process of getting to where we are headed.

Transition has been a word we've used a ton recently at the church and in my own ministry. I think we can all relate. When we can see the destination we get frustrated with the process. 

Everyone must go through the process. There is no progress in our lives if isn't for the transitions or process. Consider this:

- David was anointed King of Israel by Samuel...but had to wait a long time before taking office, working for insecure leader.

- Even Jesus lived in obscurity for 30 years before beginning His ministry.

I am learning to stop whining and stop wanting the end results and starting to want God to develop me into who He wants me to be.

The process isn't always fun. Life isn't about being someone or something, but about "becoming" who God intended you to be: made like Christ. I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6, ESV

May you begin to slow down, look around you, look at your frustrations, failures, wounds, and pains and see that you are a work in progress. May you see you are headed towards a destination you may not yet know, but that you are in the hands of the Most High God and there is no better place to be.

Monday's Mentions...3/18/13

1. WINTER JAM @ Rupp Arena! We took a group of 29 to WinterJam - the largest Christian music tour in the world. Perfect weather - great group. Here's a shot of us standing in line for 3 1/2 hours with 5,000 of our closest friend. There were another 5,000 that joined us after I took the picture!

2. Aleah was baptized Sunday! Awesome!!

3. In Fuel Wednesday night we start a new series called "Lost In Translation!!"

Have a great week!

Friday Five...3/15/13

Here they are...hot off the presses:

1. Favorite Family Ministry Article...5 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Tell the Truth (via Orange Parents)

Discourage dishonesty even more than you discourage the crime. We all make mistakes. But we don’t have to lie about them.   If your child does something wrong, consequences are in order. But if they lie about what they did, make the consequences greater. If all you do is punish the act, you might be giving them unspoken incentive to lie about the act.

2. Favorite "Dog's can be jerks too" video - (via YouTube)



3. Favorite Tech Photo - How Apple Has Changed The World (via MacTrast)

**Photo from the Announcement of the Pope comparison.

4. Favorite Science Video - Water & Sound Experiment (via YouTube)

5. Favorite Animal Photo (via mymodernmet)

Have a great weekend!

Monday's Mentions...3/11/13

#1. On a sad note, we say goodbye to Blake, Katelyn, & Tinley this Wednesday night as they begin a new ministry in Shelbyville. Make sure you come for the dinner at 5:50 PM. We will have a brief program at 6:30 PM. Groups and classes will meet around 7:00 PM. 

#2. On an exciting note: We just finished nine weeks of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. At the end of the nine weeks we did an anonymous survey asking participants how much non-mortgage debt was paid off and how much money was saved over the nine week period. 

Only about 1/2 of the families responded, but, of the nine families that did:

We paid off $20,500 of non-mortgage debt and saved $7,500! 

Wow. Just wow! Now the hard part begins. 

Friday Five...3/8/13

Here they are...my five favorites this week:

1. Favorite Marriage/Parenting Article (via Dave Stone)

"Till Death Do Us Part"

For a family to experience joy, there needs to be a firm foundation of security.  Nobody can enjoy life to the fullest if everyone is walking on eggshells, wondering what’s going to happen next, afraid that, with one wrong move, everything could fall apart.

2. Favorite Quote (via Erwin McManus)

“The person who loves the process has a much greater chance of success than the person who loves the outcome.” – Erwin McManus

3. Favorite "Life Hack" that would make Dave Ramsey Proud - (via Makezine)

DIY Microwave Popcorn

4. Favorite Cat Video (via YouTube) - "Cats Can Be Jerks"

5. Favorite Road I Would Like To Drive On Sometime - (via Twistedsifter)

Guoliang Tunnel Road, China

Have a great weekend!

Monday's Mentions...3/4/13

Welcome to Monday, a fresh start, God's way of reminding us that his "mercies are new every morning!"

I wasn't able to watch it last night, but the History Channel debuted "The Bible." I've got it ready to go on my DVR. If you haven't heard, this 5-part miniseries was produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice, etc.) and Roma Downey Jr. (Touched by an Angel). Check your local listings for replays throughout the week. I saw some extended previews at a conference in October and am pumped to see the series. New episodes are the next 4 Sunday nights at 8:00 PM. 

Kari Jo and I are offering a class for parents and their children in The Loft on March 17th & 24th at 10:00 AM called "RESCUE." This class is specifically for children who are interested in learning more about God's plan of salvation. We will walk with you and your child through some difficult questions they may have and look at what the Bible says about Baptism, Faith, Faithfulness, Christian Growth, Sin, Christ's sacrifice, and much more. Make sure to contact the church office or use the tear-off in the Sunday bulletin to sign up.

Friday Five...3/1/13

Here are this weeks favorites. I hope this brings a little joy to your day and insight to your walk with Christ.


1. Favorite Owl (via Amazing Things)

2. Favorite Parenting Article - "Parents Stop Opposing Your Kids' Desire to Serve God" (via Catalyst Christian)

"if your biggest goals for your child can be accomplished without the leadership of the Holy Spirit, there is a big problem." - Dave Kibler 

3. Favorite "Porn" Article: Watching Pornography Increases Support for Adultery & Same-Sex Marraige (via The Gospel Coalition)

"When a person has been exposed to thousands of images of an particular human behavior it becomes impossible to consider such activity as 'unthinkable.'"

Okay, let's get back on the "lighter side..."

4. Favorite Cats (via National Geographic Photography)

How would you caption this?

5. Favorite Tooth Fairy Letter (via Neatorama)