Top Reads of 2006

Mind you these books did not necessarily come out in 2006 though most did:
Click on the title to go to Amazon. Click on the author to go to their blog or website if available.


Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church -- Mark Driscoll




The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out -- Mark Driscoll






The Tipping Point: How Little Things can make a Big Difference -- Malcolm Gladwell





The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century -- Thomas L. Friedman





Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement -- Lauren Sandler





Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith -- Rob Bell





Revolution -- George Barna





Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor and a Punk Rocker discuss science, religion, naturalism & Christianity -- Preston Jones





Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport: Making Connections in Today's World -- Richard J. Mouw




Planting Missional Churches -- Ed Stetzer






Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church can become a Missionary in your Community -- Ed Stetzer

Suburban Sprawl Myths

5 Myths About Suburbia and Our Car-Happy Culture

By Ted Balaker and Sam Staley

Sunday, January 28, 2007; Page B03

They don't rate up there with cancer and al-Qaeda -- at least not yet -- but suburban sprawl and automobiles are rapidly acquiring a reputation as scourges of modern American society. Sprawl, goes the typical indictment, devours open space, exacerbates global warming and causes pollution, social alienation and even obesity. And cars are the evil co-conspirator -- the driving force, so to speak, behind sprawl.

Yet the anti-suburbs culture has also fostered many myths about sprawl and driving, a few of which deserve to be reconsidered:

1.Americans are addicted to driving.

Actually, Americans aren't addicted to their cars any more than... (read the rest here)

Reformed Pastors Get Remixed!

John Piper is Bad!

John MacArthur is done with the Heavenly Rap!

Missional Tattoo/Missional Postoffice

Two examples of living as a missional Christian.

First:


Second:
Missional Post Office

Hipster PDA Shuffle

Recently I blogged about my continueing efforts to increase Pro.duc.tiv.ity, get things done, and work on my time management skills. One of the things that I failed to mention but has been extremely beneficial is caring my new Hipster PDA.

Well now there is the new Hipster PDA Shuffle. Technology moves so quickly these days I just want to do my part to help you keep up. So in an effort to be helpful here is an instructional video on how you can create, use, and benefit from getting your own Hipster PDA Shuffle. The time to upgrade is now.

HIPSTER PDA SHUFFLE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO


Other helpful Hipster PDA organizational links:
Organizing your hipster pda
Hipster PDA Wiki
Hipster PDA Hacks
Hipster PDA DIY Planner Page
Hipster PDA Keychain

Get organized! And you will find you have more time to spend with those you love doing the things you love.

Sin & Genetics - God & Science

A great little blog on reconciling faith and science when it comes to sin and genetics.

Creed vs. Story

Go check out Donal Miller on Creed vs. Story. It will cost you $2 to download but what is $2 when it is some good nourishment for the soul. You can also check out his other audio.

While you are at it check out some of Don's other web manifestations & projects:
Burnside Collective
His Blog for Fans
The Ankeny Briefcase

Espresso and Euphony

Schultz discusses MP3 potential for Starbucks

Pacific Northwest

When Starbucks pulled CD-burning machines out of most stores that were testing them last year, many wondered if the company would replace those machines with technology for filling MP3 players. The chatter got even louder last fall, when Starbucks unveiled its own area on Apple Computer's iTunes Web site.

On Tuesday, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz dropped the word that, "Within 12 months, probably, you're going to be able to walk into a Starbucks and digitally be able to fill up your MP3 player with music.

"Over the next six to18 months you will see us look at it, perhaps test it," he said in a talk in New York presented by the Levin Institute, an independent graduate institute within the State University of New York, and Bloomberg News.

Escape from the Christian Ghetto!

Please, wake up! Wake up right now! God outside and tell me if you see Christian trees and Christian birds and Christian sky. Is you neighbor across the street using a Christian lawnmower and trimming up his lawn with a Wheat and Tares Weed Whacker

Stop being apart of the ghetto-ization of Christianity. Be in the world but not of it. Instead of creating your own insilation from the world. Most Christians I know are not in or of. They are out of the world and of the ghetto. We must stop building the Christian subculture that allows us to be insulated from pre-Christians, inocculated from relationships with pre-Christians and indoctirnated with Neo-gnostic dualism.

Youtube knock-off:
Godtube.com

Myspace knock-offs:
yourchristianspace.com
shoutlife.com
xianz
hisholyspace

On the one hand I may understand a parents desire to have a "safe alternative" to some internet communities. But ultimately does this work. My guess is not really. It serves to either insulate believers from the culture or entice them away from Christianity altogether. When insulation occurs they may have complete fidelity to the gospel they have no way of communicating the gospel to a world they are utterly disconnected from. On the otherhand legalsim often serves to woek in reverse and entice people towards the "foribidden fruit." Either way we fail and potency of the Gospel is circumvented because Christians either can't relate to the gospel to the culture they are disconnected from or they become so enticed by the lure of the culture that they fail to learn discernment and how to think critically about the culture.

Create art and entertainment for the world, not just for shallow, sheltered consumer Christians.
The Gifted (a Christianization of American Idol)

John chapter 17 gives guidelines for being in the world but not of it. Christians are not "of the world" any more than Christ is. That does not mean that we stand in opposition to the people of the world or that we need God to protect us from the world as if the world itself is evil. Yes, creation itself is fallen but needs, in fact AWAITS, redemption/renewal through Christ. But John 17:15 says we need God to protect us from Satan himself. He has caused humanity and all that God created to fall into a corruptible state. That does not mean that everything is beyond redemption. Just as people are redeemable so is the culture. God created culture and though it is marred by the stain of sin entiring the world, all is not lost.

Seek redemption in all of life. Seek to reconcile all things back to God. He created us for His pleasure but I dare say He created everything for His pleasure rather than ours. Create art, create culture. Don't create a Christian subculture that allows others to compartmentalize God and push Christians into a ghetto of our own making where they can ignore you and dismiss you as irrelevant.

A Great Post First Thing on Monday Morning!

Ok my pastor is a highly intellegent guy who just gets it wrong when it comes to who to root for as his number one NFL team. Other than that he is far ahead of the curve considering he was hatched in Arkansas. But he has a great new blog post this morning so check it out here: Heaven in the Real World.

And while you are at it here is our church website: Hagerman Baptist Church

Church Planting

I have been thinking and reading alot about church planting and these are some of my friends who are church planters. I would like you to pray for them, their families, their young churches, their ministries and also pray and ask God what your role in church planting is. Are you to plant? Support a plant finincially? Pray for a church plant? Maybe join a core group of laypeople as part of a church plant?

Click on the church name to see their website.
Where possible you can click on the pastors name to view their blog also.

The Apostles Church -- Manhattan, NYC, NY -- JR Vassar

Gateway Fellowship -- Royse City, TX -- Trent Brown

Hope Valley Community Church -- Green Valley Ranch, CO -- Korey Buchanek

The Journey -- Lubbock, TX -- Jason Bishop

Keystone Church -- Keller, TX -- Brandon Thomas

Watermark Church -- Boerne, TX -- Jason Brown

The Heights Fellowship -- Lubbock, TX -- Mike Martindale

U-TOOB

Some of the Best Things to See on You Tube. And yes, your welcome!

I LIKE BIG BIBLES Classic, spoof of Sir-Mix-a-Lot's crossover rap hit "I like big butts"
If you have not seen this one, it begs the question have you been under a rock and just discovered the internet in 2007?

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
This is a 4 part series from Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL that is a great sermon series illustration parody of the popular Mac vs. PC commercials.

Living With Urgency (The Skit Guys vs Napoleon Dynamite)
The Skit Guys are about the only Christian Skit/Drama group that I have seen over the past 12 years in youth ministry that don't suck. The main reason is they DO NOT EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES resort to JAZZ HANDS. The other reason is they are flat out hysterical. This is a digitally edited MASTERPIECE.

John Piper may just be one the greatest preachers of our time. And if so then this too is one of the greatest send up of our time . If you don't know JP recently used an Expletive in one of his sermons. Whether it was just a untimely mistake or a misguided attempt to be "relevant" many bloggers agree John Piper is Bad!

And I add two more from the skit guys who spoof The Office (quickly rising to the top as one of mine and Becky's fav's). The Workplace 1 & 2 is a great sermon supplement when talking about "How NOT to Live Missionally among your co-workers."

What happens when high school football coaches have too much free time on their hands.

And this blog is obviously what happens when I have too much free time on my hands so I think I will end it now. Oh yeah just one more here. This is simply amazing! --the guy traveled all around the world and to document his trip he recorded himself dancing each stop along the way!

Now go get back to work.

Church Planting Mindsets and Movements

Bob Roberts pastor of Northwood Church has been someone I have followed ever since the esteemed Roy Fish, Professor of Evangelism, at SWBTS invited him into class as his only guest lecturer. Any Bob has a great blog entry on Small Units and Multiplication. Don't think small churches only small minds.

Some Churches Don’t Care About Increasing Outreach to Their Community

OK here is a post from Church Relevance that begs the question: "Has anyone thought of using relationships." It seems to me that the methods highlighted in this survey are either event oriented (VBS, concerts, crusades) or passive in nature (tracts/magazines, tapes/dvd's, websites/blogs).

Do you consider any of these forms missional or relational?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ellison Research recently discovered that four out of ten pastors lack strong interest in increasing community outreach. At the same time, Ellison Research also learned what the 811 ministers who were surveyed are using to reach their communities.

In the last year,

• 70% use Vacation Bible School
• 59% use tracts or magazines
• 56% use events such as block parties or a Fall Festival
• 51% use musical events or concerts
• 50% use mailings or fliers
• 49% use nursing home or retirement center visits
• 42% use “invite a friend to church” days
• 40% use revivals or crusades
• 38% use evangelism training classes or groups
• 37% use door-to-door visitation within the community
• 31% use community service such as cleanup days
• 27% use online efforts such as blogs or web sites
• 26% use audio or visual products such as tapes or DVDs
• 20% use booths at community events such as the county fair

While some ministers may not be interested in increasing community outreach because they lack the resources to do so, it is still surprising that 40% of the ministers surveyed lack a strong interest.

This is an actual sentence?

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Wiki, as always, has the answer. Bison from Buffalo, New York, who are intimidated by other bison in their community, also happen to intimidate other bison in their community. Grammar makes my head hurt.

I like to stump my wife the English teacher every once and awhile. I have impeccable grammar but every now and then I slip up and she is there to pounce on me like a mountain lion of correction with her sharp claws of grammatical correctitude.

Good Reading from Around the Web this Week

Who really cares? Who is more giving of time, money, energy?
Check out this Christianity today article to learn the truth about Compassionate Conservatives.

Pocket Guide to New Testament Theology
Free online book by Biblical scholar I. Howard Marshall

5 Streams of the Emerging Church
A great article for those trying to get a grasp on what the Emerging Church is all about. I believe this is one of the more balanced articles I have read on the issue.

The Bible Called Me Stupid
A great little blog about being the kind of person that can take loving correction even though it may not be easy to receive.

Prof. Scot McKnight discusses some forms of legalism this blog thread for a great discussion of Pharisees and Zealotry. The first link is to the older posts and the second and the second is the most recent article in the series.

Ned Flanders and Me (from Matt Chandlers blog, Pastor of The Village Church in Dallas)
This is older, from before Christmas I believe but it hit me with a dose of personal conviction so I thought some of you out there around my age and in ministry might benefit from a good kick in the pants too.

And in news so bizarre it has to be shared. Cruise is 'Christ of Scientology' and T.O. Blames Tuna
and most importantly we may finally know who really invented the Hamburger.

Hope all is well.

Best Podcasts of 2006

Mars Hill Seattle - Mark Driscoll
Sermons in both pod and vod format, new music feed, even special events held at the church like their 'film and theology' series and 'practical theology for women' series

The Resurgence
The conference arm of Mars Hill Seattle, with great preaching/teaching by Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Ed Stetzer and others. Think Reformed Theology, Think Missional, Think I Should Go Listen Right Now.

Acts 29 Church Planting Network
Church Planting messages by Mark Driscoll and his network from the Bootcamp and other trianing events. Sound reformed, missional theology, church planting wisdom and advice, training and preparedness.

Catalyst Conference
The leadership filter for what's next in the church! (their own words, not mine)

Mars Hill Grand Rapids - Rob Bell
Rob Bell, controversial in some circles, inspiring in others, definitely thought provoking and sometimes awe inspiring. Certainly a different take on things than what I am used to.

The Village - Matt Chandler
Matt Chandler, exile from the Left Coast now pastoring a Bible Belt church in Dallas, Texas, what some might call "the Buckle" of said belt. A Prophetic Voice in a Religious, but not necessarily Christian culture.

Mosaic - Erwin McManus
Church Re:planter. Labored a long time as the Pastor of the famous L.A. Church on Brady before seeing it transition into the missional, creative epi-center for churches reaching artistic, creative postmoderns now known as Mosaic. Check out his fresh perspective on Scripture.

Imago Dei - Rick McKinley
How would you like to be known as Donald Miller's (Blue Like Jazz author) pastor? Well listen to Rick's solid Biblical preaching, hear his heart for his community, feel his passion for the Kingdom of God and soon he will be one of your favorite pastors.

JUST FOR FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT:

Strong Bad Email
If you don't know about Homestar Runner and his ineptly evil nemesis Strongbad then crawl out from under that rock and be prepared to laugh. You may need to check out the site and watch several early episodes and browse the different areas to figure out all the characters and backgrounds but this is what Saturday morning cartoons could and should be for a more grown up crowd. Don't worry its clean, I didn't mean that grown up.

Hope is Emo
Some won't get this satirical look at the millenial emo kid hipster scene. Working with students for 14 years I can guarantee you there are kids out there on the verge of being this mellodramatic. The reality is almost too real to be funny but if any of what I have said so far half -way resonates with you check this videos out.

Paste Culture Club
Great music and interviews and discussion from the guys at Paste Magazine. Go now if you want to find the newest and bestest(!) music and film outside the top 40 hooey (the technical music term). Go and be prepared to learn of great new bands, be transformed into a rock snob, and impress all your friends with your new scenester status.

The Skit Guys
If you don't know the skit guys I will just say they are the best thing to happen to church drama since Luther put a nail and a piece of paper on a certian door in Wittenburg. Speaking of the Wittenburg Door check it out too. Christianities only satirical magazine for over 30 years!
In fact for a really great introduction to the Skit Guys check them on YouTube here.

Best Blogs of 2007

The Resurgence
includes Mark Driscoll, Ed Stetzer, Matt Chandler

Steve McCoy
Reformed, Baptist, Pastor, Photographer, Good Taste in Music

The Rabbi
College Friend, DTS Grad, Pastor, Barista, Rabbi

Catalyst Blog
Catalyst Conference Blog,

Chris Little
Leadership Guru, Student Minister, Texan living in Denver, Friend

Dr. Scot McKnight
Professor, Emerging, NT Scholar

The Constructive Curmudgeon
Professor Doug Groothius, Philosopher, Preacher, Curmudgeon

Church Relevance
exists to inspire and train ministers to create relevant and effective ministries with design, marketing, leadership, and ministry techniques

MY TOP LISTS OF 2006: COMING SOON

I plan on cranking out some Top Ten type lists here real soon for my blog. I have had a busy New Year and am behind on getting these out, at the price of possibly losing everyones interest late in the game but here are some teasers for some of these lists to watch for in the next few days.

Top Blogs I of 2006

Top 10 Best Cd's of 2006

Top Pod/Vod-casts of 2007

Best Books You Should have Read in 2006

Bill Parcells Just Made My Day!

Oh Happy Day!

The New Jersey conman, the glorified gym teacher, Bill Parcells resigned today as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This is the greatest day of 2007 so far. All I have to say is Jerry Jones better take full advantage of this opportunity. This is

As long as the Cowboys, under the leadership of Jerry Jones, doesn't go out and hire Bill Cower, or go back to Chan Gailey, I do not see how they can not go up from here.

I have not been a fan of the pear-shaped New Jersey geriatric from early on and I am truly pleased. The Cowboys have a great opportunity to turn things I can't wait to see what they do now.

Guilt in Blogdom

As I puruse blogs of friends and family and influencers I have come to the realization that some might be much more purposeful in their efforts. Some seem downright so busy with their blog that I often find myself wondering if they have any time for other things like: life, love, family, dinner, or a relationship with God. Other times I find myself feeling guilty that I am not as profound or prolific or poetic as others. I feel guilty that they seem to be evangelizing the multitudes of cyberspace and I seem to be doing something more akin to, ahem, "writing my name in the snow.'

I have come to realize really that this comes out of who I am and does not call into question my personal devotion to Christ or sharing the gospel. I believe the gospel is for everyone. I believe I am called to preach and teach the gospel, to live it and share it with my fellow man, I just don't think cyberspace really sees this effectively take place. I am sure some of my friends in bloggerville will disagree and if they do they will most certainly write, er, I mean, blog about it.

Personally I believe the gospel is relational, verbal, incarnational, personal and communal. I know anyone can make a case that blogs and internet interaction can be used of God and blessed by Him to move through the power of the Holy Spirit to engage people and awaken them spiritually to respond to the Truth. I, however, would rather spend less time typing into a computer, er, blogging, my thoughts and convictions on the gospel and get out side with people, in person, in bars, in coffee houses, at sonic drive-ins, on the frisbee golf couse or basketball courts, with people. My challenge if you are reading this is to make an effort to stop right now, get offline, and go outside and talk face to face with someone and relate to them in the most personal way face to face.

Be Christ with skin on before you decide to be Christ in html.

PRO.DUC.TIV.ITY

As many of you know I am a new dad. As many of you know I am a Youth Pastor. As many of you do not know I currently am suffering the worst case of conjunctivitis (aka 'pink eye') in the history of oozing-eye, crustyness I have ever experienced. As many of you further may or may not know as a new dad, whose wife has to work at night while I stay home with the little one.

This new twist in our schedule has caused me to seekout new ways to increase my productivity and become better at managing my time better for life and ministry. In this effort to become more productive I have come across some resources I would like to share with you in hopes that some of you, if not all of you, will find some of these resources, if not all of them, more usefull to you in your own attempts to GTD.

GTD means 'get things done' so on that note I hope these help:

My Backpack or Backpackit
This is an online attempt help you get organized. Keep your to do lists, agendas, notes, ideas, and schedule online. Accessible anytime, anywhere you can access the internet.


43 Folders
A simple blog about personal productivity, life hacks, and simple ways to make your life a little better.

Church Software N-Spire

If you are in church work this software, in my humble opinion, is the easiest, most user friendly, membership database and tracking software out on the market. Some might consider it pricey for the size of your church but it is an investment well worth it. Track not just members but visitor/attender presence, small groups, single event registry, one-on-one discipleship, mentoring or counseling sessions, track payments, member assimilation, etc.

Delicious Library

an easy way to catalog and track your personal library for MAC users. See below for PC version called lib.rario.us

D*I*Y Planner Paper, productivity & passion
A community of people who see the value of paper as a medium for planning, productivity, creative expression, and exploring ideas.

EverNote
EverNote(tm) makes it easy to store, manage and access typed and handwritten notes, memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages, addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, protect personal information and create bookmarks to documents.

Flickr!
Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Show off your favorite photos to the world, securely and privately show photos to your friends and family, or blog the photos you take with a cameraphone.

lib.rario.us - social media cataloging
PC useres easily, effectiently, and effectively catalog all your personal media in one easy to set up, easy to use online library. Create seperate libraries for books, music, dvds, games, and other media.

LibraryThing Catalog your books online
LibraryThing catalogs your books online, easily, quickly and for free (up to 200 books).

lifehack.org
Daily digest and pointers on productivity, getting things done and lifehacks.

Lifehacker
Computers make us more productive. Yeah, right. Lifehacker recommends the software downloads and web sites that actually save time. Don't live to geek; geek to live.

PastorHacks.Net

Less time on tasks... more time with people!

stock.xchng
Stock photography community - browse our huge gallery for high quality stock photos or share yours with others.

Stay productive, get more done, spend more time with the priorities in your life.

On Being a Dad : 01.22.07

King of the World
Current mood: pink-eyed and gunkified
Category: School, College, Greek

I just have to say that when my 5 month old son, Eli, looks at me and smiles. I want to yell at the top of my lungs "I AM KING OF THE WORLD." That is how great I feel when he does something as simple yet as grand as: smiling at his dad. It is the feeling of kings, of champions, of mighty conquerors. Fatherhood is a challenge and only 5 monthes in I am sure it is only uphill from here. Beyond the challenge though it is a true blessing. I can not describe to you the joy it brings me. In just 5 monthes it has taught me so much about loving my own dad better, being not just a better dad but also husband and person; and most of all about the Heavenly Fathers love for us to send his only Son as a sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning Savior for me and my sin soaked carcass.

Currently listening :
#3
By Suburban Kids with Biblical Names
Release date: By 21 November, 2006

Whose Top 50?

A new list of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America from ChurchReport.com.

Some of these people make the viens pop out on my skull that they would make the list but the survey is conducted through a magazine and online poll of their readers. Most have not influenced me personal other than to cause my blood pressure to rise when I hear of an idiotic statement they have made repeated in the media.

Here are the ones whose books, thoughts, creativity and/or preaching have influenced my faith and thought in 2007:

My Rankings with reference to the articles ranking in parenthesis:
1. Erwin MacManus (12)
2. John Piper (9)
3. Rob Bell (10)
4. Andy Stanley (20)
5. Leonard Sweet (8)
6. George Barna (38)
7. Ed Young, Jr. (26)
8. Phil Vischar/Bob the Tomato (46)

Not mentioned on the list but on my list are:
1. Mark Driscoll
2. Donald Miller
3. Rick McKinley
4. Timothy Keller
5. David Wells
6. Ed Stetzer
7. Matt Chandler

American Evangelical Christianity is in serious trouble when Joel Osteen and Billy Graham are one and two respectively. They do not even preach the same gospel.

One Picture is Worth One-Thousand Words

A Quote to Ponder.

“It is better to think of church in the ale-house than to think of the ale-house in church.” - Martin Luther

Please Discuss.

Remembering Spain

Slideshow of Madrid & Paris last Summer (Redux)
Current mood: freezing in my own house
Category: Podcast

Last summer I went to Madrid, Spain (with a sweet layover in Paris on the return flight home.) I took these pics (and others). The reason for the trip was to do some M work for the man upstairs. We have to talk in code hear because of the followers of a phalse prophet known to inspire acts of suicide and aggression among his phollowers. Any way we passed out videos to his followers discussing the son of the man upstairs and his life on this earth. We also passed out bottled water because Madrid was in the worst drought in many years and water was a valuable and appreciated commodity. J, the son of the man upstairs, was able to open up some conversation avenues amongst these people through our sharing of water and the boigraphical dvd we hand out all week.

I loved riding on the metro. I wish everywhere in America had such good public transpo. I loved trying new things, eating new phoods, and meeting new phriends. Most of all I loved seeing the Truth, Himselph, take hold of peoples hearts and minds. Especially among people that we might generally write off as having no hope of that ever happening. I want to go back right now. Since that is not going to happen I wanted to repost these pics and and remember the experience and share it with some who maybe were not around last summer to hear about it.


| View Show | Create Your Own

Currently listening : Into the West By Pilot Speed Release date: By 28 November, 2006

Here Are Some Christmas Thoughts Spanky!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

RE:SOUNDING (i am resounding the joy i previously blogged of previously) Current mood: LONGING FOR WASSLE & FIGGY PUDDING!!! Category: MySpace Earlier this morning I composed a blog entitled Repeat the Sounding Joy. Now I wanted to take some time to mention somethings that bring me joy not just during this holiday season but throughout the year. My beautiful wife and awesome sweetheart Becky! Becky brings me joy. My awesomely cool firstborn son Aidan Elijah Landry McMinn, Eli daddy loves you! Eli brings me joy. The creator and sustainer of all things, including my crazy, off-kilter, warrior-wannabe, counter-culture life and lifestyle, YHWH. The LORD brings me great joy everlasting. YHWH's son, Yeshua, for saving my sorry arse-life out of the muck and mire of an existence bent towards rebellion, creator-hatred, self-destruction, and mind-pollution. Emmanuel, God with us, provided for my joy to be made complete and for me to experience it in the first place. The great ghost, the spirit of the living God, for putting in me power and boldness and authority replacing the fear and timidity and cowardice towards righteousness, justice and huminity that exists within me, in and of myself when seperated from I AM. Spirit, you make my joy continuous and everpresent. Did I mention my hot wife and champion-warrior son, they bring joy. in countless ways but one way each is: Becky every Monday when you pan-fry me up some of my favorite chicken dinners and Eli when you look me in the eyes and then get a grin on your face that spreads into a full blown smile. Or when we put you on the changing table and you begin to laugh and smile, and giggle, and gurgle, and even grunt at us. Man that makes my heart feel like it will burst it cannot singularly contain the joy that wells within my heart during those moments. Music, brings me great joy. I can not count the countless (hence the reason I can not count them) times music has lifted my soul out of the pits of deep or even just lifted it out of the drabness of a hum-drum day. All types of music, the hardcore of Focused or Unashamed or the Blamed that lifts to pump my fists and remember to be angry at the injustice and social-spiritual-political-economic unrest of the world. The bouncy punk of MxPx or Value Pak or Squad 5-0 that reminds me to stay young and have fun and care about relationships. Or the emo of Dear Ephesus, The Promise Ring, and Sunny Day Real Estate that reminds me that I can be sensative and share my emotions rather than bottling them up inside so that they might explode in my left ventrical or burst a blood vessel in my grey matter as I sit mid sentence discussing the day over dinner with my family. What about opera and classical like the Pirates of Penzance or Vivaldi and TChaikovsky that reminds me that God created a masterpiece that is as large as the complex and incalcuable universe and also in the granduer and majesty of a single atom, at which humanity is the pinnacle of that creative endevour and He endowed us with His complex and creative sensibility. The country of Cash, Straight, Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Lynn, and Yoakum that reminds me to never forget my roots, my home town Cowtown and my home state of Texas, to enjoy the twang in my talk and not hide it, to revel in my rugged ancestors who labored harder so that I could labor easier. That beer, boots, and belt buckles are not evil. To appreciate the feel of dancing on a well worn hardwood floor with a pretty lady. And never ever forget to treat people with respect and treat the ladies right and to feed the dog. New country has lost this heart but real country gives joy even to the discerning music aficionado. The crooning, bleeting or stammering of jazz masters as varied as Basie, Connick, Gillespie, Blues Eyes, Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and even contemporaries, my favorites Medeski, Martin and Wood. Life is not confined to a formula or box, no simple 3 step plan and 7 stage system can solve every problem or answer every question. Jazz is the complexity and mystery of life put to music and you can't right it down or always predict where its going. The joy of writing. I can say what I feel and mean what I say and share it with whomever. And tomorrow I can jot down the opposite because that is what the experience of the moment has lent itself to. Yet whether I say one thing or another it is a joy to communicate. To express, to share, to dialogue and to converse. The joy of writing is simply one form of the greater opportunity to communicate and be heard and to be heard and listened to is to be known. To be known is be accepted and/or rejected, to pre-judged or mis-judged, to be understood or ignored. Communication allows for connectivity to the community. To be apart of a community is a pure joy because in community we are best known, best understood, and best ourselves. It is a joy to be in community where connection makes communication the most valuable. If I blog and some one out there misreads or misinterprets my words or intentions then so be it. But in community I can be given an opportunity to clarify, or codify, what I wish to communicate. I may even be corrected in my communication if it is false or misguided or misinformed but in community context that two leads to a deeper joy. Joy, is it in you? Find it in the Christmas story and live in it all the year 'round. Currently reading : Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement By Lauren Sandler Release date: By 07 September, 2006 4:07 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Repeat the Sounding Joy! Repeeeeeat the Sounding Joy! Current mood: cheerful Category: Quiz/Survey As I prepare for Christmas with a few last minute shopping trips and face long lines and puzzlingly mean spirited people willingly to run you over to get a parking space 3 cars closer then me I can't help but ask the question "How did we let it go this far and get this bad." The crass commercialism and materialistic gluttony of the Christmas season is antithetical to the whole origin of Christmas. While I could dwell and rant about all that is wrong with Christmas I rather choose instead to take time to pause and remind first myself and then you about the true meaning behind Christmas. We celebrate Christmas not simply to celebrate a child born in humble manger but the whole of the life of Christ. The gift was not merely a baby rather the entire life and culmination of that life and accomplishments of Christ in total. Jesus Christ was humbly born in a manger, but the must humbling fact was that He was God come in the flesh. He humbled himself to the utmost by not just becoming human, but coming into and entering humanity the same way you and I did: naked and bloody and hollerin for our mama. He came not into a royal family of privilege but into a blue collar, working class family. As a young man he learned a trade. He lived a sinless life of perfection and extended the most valuable of gifts to us all: His very lifes blood and breathe. We celebrate Christmas not just to remember the fact that He was born and live. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus lived, did not sin, worked miracles, and then suffered and bled and died for OUR SIN and was buried, and was 3 days dead before Resurrecting. This substitutionary atoning death secured for us mercy, God on longer must punish OUR SIN by calling for our blood. This Resurrection secured for us grace, not only is our sin covered, our salvation has been secured for eternity, our destiny has been altered to include eternal community with God and his people. Christmas is the beginning and is inextricably linked with Easter as complimentary bookends of our own spiritual journeys. Without Christmas, Easter would be meaningless because if God had not entered into human history, and merged with us in the space-time continium then we would not have had a sinless human representative to secure for us a life worthy of being sacrificed as a spotless Lamb of atonement. But without Easter and the actual sacrificial blood being spilled we would have no covering of sin and without the resurrected life of Christ we would have no hope of eternal life ourselves and could only look forward to death as an end to everything, rather than a portal into a resurrected state that John the Revelator tells us is to a place to indesribably beautiful and awesome for human comprehension. So Merry Christmas. It is only because of Jesus that we understand the true nature of sacrificial gift giving. Give joyously but more than that remember what you were truly given and why. The one gift that we most desperately need is the same gift that we most assuredly cannot recieve on our own. No amount of money, no amount of giving on our part, no amount of goodness in attempt to make Santa's list nor earn salvation can secure this gift in our own power or of our own strength, wealth, or merit. God, gave to us, in the birth, life, cruxifixion, burial, and resurrection the one gift we all need. So you can have your precious parking space and your cut in the check out line. But I hope ultimately you find true joy and happiness in the gift of salvation through the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. A relationship with God awaits you. Will you unwrap it this year? I truly hope so. Currently listening : Songs for Christmas By Sufjan Stevens Release date: By 28 November, 2006

On Being a Fighting Irishman: 03.30.1974

On Being a Fighting Irishman: 03.30.1974

Current mood: Fiesty, Firey, and Fine
Category: Fiesty, Firey, and Fine Parties and Nightlife

Stephen the Irishman in Braveheart: "In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God."

Currently listening : Live on St. Patrick's Day from Boston, MA at the Avalon Ballroom By Dropkick Murphys Release date: By 10 September, 2002

WHEN ELI WAS BORN... I POSTED THESE

When Eli was born I posted these daily blogs on myspace but never got around to adding them here and I wanted to share them with you now.


Monday, August 21, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08.21.06 Current mood: Expectant Category: School, College, Greek Word for the Day: Expectant! Monday was a day of expectancy and hope. It turned into just a long day at the hospital. Little Eli would not come until the next day. It was tough on Becky going through the process of getting her body ready for labor using a drug called Cervadil (don't quote on the spelling--I am not a doctor, I just play one on TV). Our day was supposed to start at 3:30 AM when our alarm was set to go off so we could get up, and ready, and to the hospital by 5AM. GAW! Anyhoo, Sammey our 2 year old Schnauzer decided to wake us up at 3 AM sharp instead. Robbing us of a precious 30 minutes that would be all the more needed once the baby arrives. So we got to the hospital at 5AM and began a long 12 hour process of that would take all the way into Tuesday morning at 4:45 AM when they finally began to give Bec Patosin (again I am no doc) which is the drug that actually induces labor. But that is Tuesday. Currently reading : Pooh and the Philosophers : In Which It Is Shown That All of Western Philosophy Is Merely a Preamble to Winnie-The-Pooh By John A. Williams Release date: By 01 August, 1996

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08.22.06 Current mood: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy. Category: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy. Friends Word for the Day: Elated! Joy! Aidan Elijah Landry McMinn He goes by 'Eli' Born Tuesday August 22, 2006, at 9:32 AM. Weight: 7lbs 14oz Length: 20"

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08.23.06 Current mood: sleepy tiredyness Category: sleepy tiredyness Quiz/Survey Word for the Day: Tired! Tired. With entering the labor and delivery room at 5AM on Monday and not actually delivering the little guy until 9:32 AM the next day it made for a long, drawn out yet wonderful ordeal. Becky is literally completely exhausted by the time Eli got here. Now with the addition of a feeding schedule bringing the little guy in every three hours or so we are both 'beyond' exhaustion. I don't know what you call this. Sleep deprivation just doesn't seem strong enough of a term. Currently listening : Awake Is the New Sleep By Ben Lee Release date: By 22 February, 2005

Thursday, August 24, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08.24.06 Current mood: flashy Category: flashy Automotive Word for the Day: Kodak As a new father one question I have pondered is: How many sleeping baby pictures does one need? The answer: infinitesimal. or is it infantesimal? Anyway with a digital camera with a 2 gig memory stick I can hold approximately 1800 pix. He is 3 days old and the stick is half full. I think that spells proud papa! Currently listening : Underachievers Please Try Harder By Camera Obscura Release date: By 20 January, 2004

He is a hairy little sucker isn't he?

Friday, August 25, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08:25.06 Current mood: Overwhelmed & Underprepared Category: News and Politics Word for the Day: HOME We got home from the hospital Thursday night around 7:30 PM after arriving at the hospital 4 days earlier at 5AM. Man it feels good to be home. To bring this little guy home with us is so overwhelming and awesome. We love him so much it is amazing to think he is 3 days old and he has captured my heart like no one else. I just stare at him, kiss him, stroke his thick head of hair, touch his soft skin. He is a gift from God along time in coming but he is so perfect. I can not, after knowing him only 3 days, describe the depth of my love for him. Yet something strikes me as more amazing than his little awesome presence in my life. God loves him more than I do. On top of that, God sent His very own, only son, to knowingly die for me, to knowingly die for Aidan. Simply to restore a broken relationship. A relationship I broke and a relationship (even as perfect and peaceful as he is at 3 days old) that Aidan will soon break in the coming years. Aidan even now I want you to know that God loves you and stronger than our relationship, the Creator of the Universe has a desire to have a relationship with you one day. Since before you were born your mom and I have been praying that you will one day come to renew this relationship with God through Jesus. Isaiah 43:1 say "Aidan I have called you by name and you are mine." Currently reading : The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out By Mark Driscoll Release date: By 01 October, 2004

Saturday, August 26, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08:26.06 Current mood: What IS eating Gilbert Grape? Category: Life Word for the Day: Hero Seriously what I am about to say is not sentimentality or sappy romantic pandering. After seeing what my wife went through in the delivery room to bring our son into the world she is now and will always be my biggest hero. You always hear what labor is like and even accidentally catch a glimpse of it on NOVA on PBS when flipping channels late at night--at which point you quickly avert your eyes and think out loud "Oh my God, what was that? Why would they show that on TV?" Until you are there, present in that room, with personal knowledge of the woman going through it, you have no earthly idea what it is like. Even now nearly 4 days after the delivery her body is still paying the price in so many ways. I will spare you the detials but exhaustion, pain, soarness, inflammation, and the added effects of beginning the process of breastfeeding seems excrutiating beyond what you already know of childbirth itself. I want a dose or two of morphine just thinking about it right now. And everytime she agonizes over an ache or pain I am that much more grateful, fall that much more deeply and madly in love with her for her huge role in bringing Eli here after carrying him for 9 monthes on top of everything else. Becky you really are my hero. Currently reading : Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth By Richard L. Reising Release date: By 01 January, 2006

Sunday, August 27, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08.27.06

What's in A Name?

Well many of you have noticed that our little sport has a big name to carry for such a small bundle. And you may (or may not) be curious as to what the heck led us to such a protracted appellative (long name--for those with a FWISD education such as myself).

Well names have always been important to me. Beginning with my own. McMinn the family name has always been a source of pride and a name that I have wanted to honor. I have tried to live my life so as not to make the name McMinn infamous or bring disrespect to those who have carried before me. Not that the name denotes nobility or a long noteworthy heritage. In fact part of my fathers goal (unspoken) and now my own goal is to in fact bring some redemption to the family name that has, maybe, not in the last few generations been estimable in the eyes of many, especially God.

They say that an ungodly heritage will bring judgment on the generations of a family for upwards of 10 generations. You can see this evident today as you look at so many families, sons and daughters, who as much as they hate the way their family raised them and swear never to repeat the same patterns inevitably end up doing that very thing. It is also said that a godly family heritage, especially coming from the leadership of the father, can bring Gods blessing on the following 10 generations. That is how much more powerful a godly legacy is and I think also shows God's grace to allow us to see that an ungodly heritage can be quickly reversed and set right while a Godly heritage is not so easily undone. Thus for the name McMinn I hold the responsibility seriously to create a long-lasting legacy for the preceeding generations of McMinn's. [No added pressure since I am the only son on my fathers side of the family right?]

McMinn is Irish. I am proud of that heritage and legacy as well, as seen in my avid support of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, the music of U2, the potato, and Irish Spring soap (Lucky Charms, not so much). Seriously, watch Braveheart again and pay close attention to the character Stephen, the wild Irishman and tell me he doesn't steal the show. Remember his great line, "The Almighty says this must be a fashionable fight. It's drawn the finest people." More on the Irish in a later blog perhaps.

As for my first name, Michael, maybe I am just a bit anal but I have always been offended a skosh when I introduce myself as Michael and people automatically call me Mike from then on out. Now, that being said many of my closest and dearest friends call me Mike and it does not bother me in the least. However, they have earned the right to reference me more casually and as with friends we all have nicknames and less formal ways of referencing each other. Maybe I am just cranky but even as a kid I remember often thinking "My parents named me Michael for a reason and I don't think it was so you could call me Mike, you bozo." Are you really just too lazy to pronounce that extra sylabil?

My middle name Lee is the same as my dad's middle name. Just a personal attachment linking me to my father in more than the formal aspect of the last name. For whatever reason I take this name business fairly serious as you can see. Perhaps you find yourself thinking I just wanted to know what the kids name means 'Mike'! I did not expect to read a disertaion on the subject of monikers. And to you my good friends I say wait for part two which will be shorter and should follow this afternoon after a quick bite and a nap. Those who have had the pleasure of a newborn in the house will relate best and appreciate this allowance of time.

Currently watching : Dog the Bounty Hunter - The Best of Season 1 and Season 2 Release date: By 28 March, 2006

On Being a Dad: 08.27.06 (b)
Current mood: Name Dropper
Category: Blogging

What's in A Name? (part duex)

Aidan is Irish for fire or fiery. (Some say we may be asking for it by naming a kid fiery!)

Elijah means The Lord is My God. He was an old testmant prophet that saw God reign down fire from heaven to destroy the prophets of Baal. And one of two mean in scripture to never die. God took him to heaven in fiery chariot drawn by equally as fiery horses. His protege Elisha is just left standing there holding Elijah's coat. (More with the fiery!)

Landry is for Coach Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys. Becky and I are huge fans on the Cowboys since childhood. Through thick and thin, win or loose, we support the Blue and Silver. However, the name Landry is important for its sports connotation but we chose it because of Tom Landry's strong Christian character. He served God faithfully and was a devoted follower of Christ and his faith showed up in the character and intergrity of his whole life. That is the legacy that we want for our son. And if he plays sports all the better! Imagine hearing that name called out on draft day and then draft analysts pointing out "Ya know he was named after Hall of Fame coach of the Dallas Cowboys Tom Landry."

So that is what's in a name. Oh and by the way we call him Eli for short. That is short for Elijah for those of you that work at Dunder-Mifflin.

Currently listening : The Archive Series, Vol. 1 By Don Walser Release date: By 14 July, 1998

Becky back in the hospital, so we celebrated Eli's one week birthday at WNJ. Becky spent about 2 full weeks in the hospital when it was all said and done. Eli is healthy as can be and if one of them had to get the worst of it Becky was happy it as her and not him. I am just glad to have them both home now and share all this with you now!

And as an added bonus it is great to have friends, family, and even kids from our student ministry be there for support.

Here are some of our students that stopped by expecting to meet Eli but he had not arrived yet.

My Theory on Wal-Mart

MY THEORY ON WAL-MART
Current mood: Persnickety

Category: Politics and Government

Ok, Becky and I hate Wal-Mart. We think Target is wonderful. We absolutely loathe Wally-World. Everytime we must go to WM for any reason its always the same. We even have terms for our experiences at WM. Whenever you go to WM there are 'Vests' everywhere. However, once you get to the point where you find yourself needing assistance all 800 of the aforementioned 'Vests' that were crawling all over the store's ailses, shelves, back alleys, and registars suddenly have diappeared.

And don't get me started on what we call the 'Wal-mart Mom.' You know the lady that seems to have 4-6 kids none of which she has ever thought enough of them to bathe them or even give them a name. Seemly her only method of discipline is to yank them by the arm socket or scream obsenities at them. I am know you are not supposed to hit women but I just want to yank them around by their wrist and tell them to 'shut up stupid' and see how they like it. I get so pissed. I know parenting is going to be hard and at times frustrating beyond belief but come on! If I was 2 years old, sitting in an uncomfortable metal basket, having some lady with a cigarette hovering a few inches over the top of my head, dragging me all over tarnation, I would be pissed and tired and cranky and screaming and blowing snot bubbles TOO!!! Sorry I get worked up about 'Wal-Mart' moms. Let us move forward.

A bigger question is why do you never run into these ladies at Target? The prices I think are just as reasonable. The products are more dependable and well made (in my humble opinion). And for the most part you can find everything except the whole array of groceries at Target (unless God smiles upon your locale and blesses you with a Super Target.) When it comes to items they do share in common you can definitely find them easier at Target. Target is always cleaner, friendlier, faster, more well organized and it lacks that smell. What is the WM smell anyway, its universal to all WM. From Orlanda to El Paso, from Pipestone, MN to Pagosa Springs, CO, they all have that smell. Color me: filled with consternation.

Anyhoo, Becky and I have a theory. We believe it starts with the employees. WM makes their employees where those wacky vests. Who can have pride and confidence in their work when they wear one of those things? Its like an AWANA vest for grown ups. (If you aren't trackin' with me on that then I am not gonna unpack it for you here.) Target employees get to wear nice Khakis and the red polo. Target's attire is very causual and comfortable, yet classy and dignified enough for business. Their workers take a sense of pride in their job. Wal-Mart employees get a cheap vest which translates into little hope for pride in their work.

So next time you wonder why WM is dirty, stinky, and in disarray just look no further than the beat-down, begiled, vest wearing greeter. Stop right there and head over to Target. (I do want to pause here to give a shout out to one super cool, albeit vest wearing, greeter at our local WM, Herb, but he is by far the exception. Herb my man you are cool, but I bet Target is hiring.)

Next time maybe I will answer the question, "Why are there little school age kids here, on a school night at 2am. I am a youth pastor that explains why I am there, don't try and turn it around on me. Seriously, lady shouldn't your kids be at home in bed right now!?!?" -- on the next installment of My Theory on Walmart.

(editors note: Target did not pay me or have any overt influence on the writing of this blog. However, if after reading it they feel so inclined I would prefer target gift cards in increments of $25 and $50. Thank you and good night.)

Currently listening : White Light, White Heat, White Trash By Social Distortion Release date: By 17 September, 1996