Win a free copy of Wild Goose Chase

Mark Batterson's book Wild Goose Chase just came out.
I have not read it yet, but I will be starting it in a week or two.



Or go to My Mundane Musing to win a free copy

*Update*
Steven Cole is giving one away too.

Shane Claiborne Makes CNN.com

Sure do wish I could see Shane speak this week at Cornerstone.



Here is the CNN.com article

My highlighter marks in Jesus for President

Yesterday I got and read 54 pages, while i was armed with a yellow highlighter.
The artwork is incredible. I really think this is the most beautiful book I've read.
The pages are decorated. colored. illustrated.


Here is what I've highlighted so far.

Introduction - A Book to Provoke the Christian Political Imagination

• The church has fallen in love with the state
• The church often finds "guiding the course of history" a more alluring goal than following the crucified Christ.
• We're hardly able to distinguish between what's American and what's Christian
• Rather than placing our hope in a transnational church that embodies God's kingdom, we assume America is God's hope for the world, even when it doesn't look like Christ.

Section one - Before There Were Kings and Presidents

• (In regards to tower building Babel) During the project, God noted that "nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (Gen. 11:6). You can almost hear the echos of Hiroshima and Nagasaki here.
• God seems to have a knack for hearing the cry of oppressed people.
• Vengeance is not for you. God scolded the people over and over for taking things into their own hands.
• Despite the fact that the Bible insists "God does not dwell in temples built by hands," we, in our hunger for power, credibility, and glamour, insist that God should.
• Mother Teresa would sneak out of fancy banquets where she was speaking to eat with beggars.
• What would the world look like if all the child soldiers were playing with supersoakers instead of US-made AK-47s?

Jesus for President

The Other Price Paid In Iraq

Yesterday, I stopped by the Circle K to get a 32oz Polar Ice for my marathon of meetings that some call Monday. At the register, I saw the cover story on the Journal Gazette. I noticed the cover photo...

...and i got a sick feeling in my stomach.
The caption under the photo says the soldier puts the cross in the window of his Humvee before going on patrol.

This wasn't the real punch in the gut for me.
I could look past that.

The title above the photo said "The Other Price Paid in Iraq", I was excited.
Thinking Finally, someone is going to publish not just American & Coalition deaths, but Iraqi soldiers, insurgents, and civilian casualties.

So I quickly flipped past the fold and doh! Its not about casualties, but $$.
Disappointing.
Here's the AP article: Studies: Iraq War Will Cost $12 Billion a Month in 2008

I am looking forward to reading the book I just received in the mail today.

Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne



And yes.
I got a hair cut.

I laughed. I cried. I hurled.

What an incredible read!

I just finished Pop Goes the Church: Should the Church Engage in Pop Culture authored by Tim Stevens. Tim is an executive pastor at one of the most innovative churches in the states, Granger.

When I first saw this title, I immediately thought it would be all about putting on a rock show, and firing up the HD projector for a blockbuster movie and popcorn in a state-of-the-art auditorium. But the truth is Tim Stevens so wonderfully challenged me to take a look at the needs of the people in my community, and for me to meet them.

I took an emotional rollercoaster while reading this, from being inspired, to being frustrated. I laughed. I cried. I hurled.

Talk about research. Tim has studied pop culture and how to minister to a pop culture saturated people. He also takes a look at how some of the most incredible speakers of time used pop culture. Speakers you might be familiar with. Jesus. Paul. Tim just didn’t go to the local used record store and pull from a cd from the hottest hits, or the grab a movie from the Blockbuster Video's Employees favorites. He has researched his thoughts both with society and biblically.

Tim is so in your face, in a good way. He inspires the Christian community & churches from pulling out of the culture, and challenges them to instead engage in it.

Pop Goes the Church…
Challenges the boring church.
Addresses the problem with evangelism.
Connects the gospel to the community.
Gives practical help of how to avoid the art of being boring.

I can’t wait to get this book into the hands of our staff and leadership team.

my body hurts.

not sure my body is designed for a 6am monday morning book club

every man god's man

I'm Reviewing a New Book

Tim Stevens, the executive pastor at Granger Community Church, has written a new book titled Pop Goes the Church: Should the Church Engage Pop Culture? Tim posted on his blog, asking for 10 leaders willing to read his book, and review it. I applied and I was selected.

I'm super pumped.
I will be posting more about the book as I'm reading it, but I can't quote any parts of it.

Also my name will be mentioned in the book.



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Taking Care of Business on Vacation

I am still on vacation and have been since dec 19th. here are a couple things I have done.

Finally after probably 40 attempts at the final level, i beat mercenaries on the xbox


Have read 2 books in 3 days. dont think i ever read a full book in school.

(re)understaning prayer - very challenging, very helpful. it made prayer simple.
pocket guide - not inspirational by anymeans (but it never claimed to be), a ton of information. very easy to understand. one thing in the book that i am still shocked at it that when truman was in presidental office, billy graham made a claim that jesus was coming back within 2 years. 50 years later, here we are.

I'm going to be punched for this, but here is katie on christmas rocking out to black sabbath's iron man


Yes, i am still working my way thru blue like jazz. it is not a book that i can sit down and read in 2 days. to much thinking and digesting.