Getting Here
For Your Kids
Faith and Action
What to Expect
Our PeopleSermon July 4, 2010
Philipians 3:2-11
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Best Resume: I know Jesus
Posted on 07/04/2010 by Rich Shipe
Be a Humble Servant
Posted on 06/29/2010 by Rich Shipe
Live Worthy of the Gospel
Posted on 06/06/2010 by Rich Shipe
Singular Focus on Christ
Posted on 05/30/2010 by Rich Shipe
Tribal vs. Missional
Posted on 05/27/2010 by Rich Shipe
Michelangelo's Jonah
The book of Jonah isn’t about a man getting swallowed by a whale for going the wrong way. If it were we would only have chapters one and two. It also isn’t about Ninevah hearing the truth and repenting. If it were we would only have chapter three of the book.
If it is just a whale story and the repentance of Nineveh then what do we do with that pesky chapter four? Chapter four and the book end with this question from God asked to Jonah: “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
How do we answer that question? Do we care more about ourselves than the people in our community? Do we pursue self-preservation or self-sacrifice?
I enjoyed Tullian Tchividjian first book Unfashionable last summer. Trevin Wax provided an excerpt from his blog to Tchividjian’s latest book that really challenged me and I thought I would pass along. I encourage you to read the below excerpt from Tchividjian’s book, Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels:
The Prodigal Son
Posted on 05/02/2010 by Rich Shipe
What Do You Google?
Posted on 02/24/2010 by Rich Shipe
Some computer somewhere has record of everything we search for on the Internet. How would you feel if that became public information? Some things we search for would embarrass us but aren’t immoral while some things we search for do reveal a heart pursuing things that aren’t of God. (more…)
Haiti Earthquake
Posted on 01/13/2010 by Rich Shipe
Looking for a ministry to channel your money for relief work in Haiti? Consider Samaritan’s Purse. They mention that their local partner is Baptist Haiti Mission which is just up the road from the orphanage I visited a month ago. I have not heard any news yet on how that orphanage is doing but will update this post when I do.
Please pray for the people of Haiti and for God’s church in that already impoverished nation.
Update: The orphanage I visited is doing fairly well considering. They had no known damage to their building and also received their monthly delivery of food just two day before the earthquake hit. Praise God that he has provided and protected. We trust him for our provision and care and know that “all things happen together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purposes.”
Another Christian orphanage that you might consider learning more about and supporting is God’s Littlest Angels. They’ve gotten a lot of news coverage in the US.
The Normal Christian Life
Posted on 01/06/2010 by Rich Shipe
Bill Wilcox recommended a book to me by the great Chinese pastor Watchman Nee called The Normal Christian Life. So far it is excellent! I want to share quotes from books I’m reading here and in the case of this book it is hard to narrow it down to what to share. This is becoming one of those books where there is less text that is highlighted than not highlighted. 
Here is a short excerpt from the first page: (more…)
Kids and Sermon Notes
Posted on 01/04/2010 by Rich Shipe
I was recently inspired by an article I read by a well-known pastor and his wife on parenting and the Sunday morning church service. In the article, they shared a vision for making the Sunday morning service meaningful for children rather than just an experience to be endured. They gave many practical tips to help parents mentor their children into a richer understanding of the service.
One of the ideas they shared was for parents to encourage their children to take notes during the sermon. My first thought was how hard this would be for my kids (who are ages seven, nine, and ten) because it’s hard enough for me! But I decided to give it a try. I gave them some basic instructions and encouragement and we tried it out. (more…)
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