A Commentary on Evangelism from Bobby Hill

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17

In many respects the church has done the same attitude as the Pharisees. Non-Christians hear from us – you are sick, we are healthy. When Non-Christians hear that from us, they turn a deaf ear, why? Because in many instances our “morality” is no better than the worlds! Look at the divorce rate. Look at the materialism and debt in the church. Look at how often we read God’s word at home compared to how often those in the church look at porn. Guess what church – We are sick too!

Bobby Hill does an excellent job illustrating this point:

Our culture will ignore us as long as we claim health and accuse them of sickness. We must recognize that salvation is a gift, given by Christ, instead of acting like we earned salvation through our faith.

It is only by the transformation of the Holy Spirit inside of us that we can change.

What are your thoughts?

Sports Bucket List

For those unfamiliar with the term, a bucket list is a list of things you want to accomplish before you die or "kick the bucket."

As a diehard sports fan, if I made a bucket list most of the adventures listed would be sports related anyway. So, I decided to write a bucket list - essentially the 10 sporting events or activities I want to participate in before I kick the bucket.

10) Attend a game a FC Dallas game at every away stadium.

FC Dallas is my favorite team in my favorite sport, soccer. Major League Soccer is growing, especially as teams are building there own stadiums. There are some teams with amazing stadiums such as New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.

9) Attend a Red Sox - Yankees game at Fenway Park.

Fenway is a great ballpark. Red Sox fans are crazy, especially when the Yankees come to town.



8) Participate in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

This would combine two things I love - travel & sports.





7) Attend an Ohio State - Michigan game in Columbus at the Horse Shoe.

One of the biggest rivalries in College football at a classic location.

6) Watch a River Plate vs Boca Juniors game at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.

River Plate vs. Boca is like the Yankees vs. Red Sox in the World Series. These two teams hate each other so much that several hundred police are hired to ensure a riot doesn't break out.

5) Play a round of golf at St. Andrew's in Scotland.

St. Andrews is an amazing golf course in Scotland - often the site of the British Open golf tournament.

4) Attend a Manchester United vs. Liverpool game at Old Trafford.

Another amazing rivalry that based on location and difficulty in getting there causes this to be ranked this high.

3) Watch the US Men's National Team play in a World Cup Qualifier in Mexico City.

The US owns Mexico on US soil. Mexico owns the US on Mexican soil. I predict the US will win in Mexico before Mexico wins again in the US. This game is always crazy with the best result the Americans have ever earned in Mexico city being a tie.

2) Attend the opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games.

It's the Olympic games...enough said.

1) Attend a World Cup match with the US Men's National Team playing.

The US has qualified for 6 straight World Cups. Hopefully, one day the World Cup will be in America again where I will do everything in my power to see the USMNT play.


What would you have on your sports bucket list?

Simple Gospel Compelling Faith

I had the privilege to preach at North Richland Hills Baptist Church today. Here is a video of my sermon - if you have insomnia, this should help.

http://www2.truthcasting.com/TruthCastingPlayer.html?channelID=100000325#vString=13960,100000325,469

Thursdays are for Articles (Wednesday Edition) - US soccer gains respect

This blog is not just concerned with exploring trends in church leadership and theology because that is not all that interests me.

Growing up in Colleyville, Texas, I played little league soccer. After the US hosted the World Cup in 1994 and Major League Soccer began in 1996, soccer became a passion.

Traditionally, Europeans look down their noses at US soccer, but with the US Men's National team qualifying for their sixth consecutive World Cup, the US is starting to earn respect as a soccer nation.

Check out his article from "The Guardian," a British periodical:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/15/world-cup-united-states-charlie-davies

My favorite line, "This successful qualification guarantees the sixth consecutive World Cup for the USA team, dating back to Italia 90. That is not an achievement that some fairly high- profile nations can match. Not England. Not France. Not Holland."

What do you think?

The Glorious (and terrible) Day of the Lord

Jeff Johnson wrote a great worship song that celebrates Jesus' life. The chorus, which is reproduced below, exemplifies the song.

Living He loved me
Dying He saved me
Buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified
Freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh, Glorious Day
Oh, Glorious Day

The last verse is primarily concerned with the future second coming of Jesus and it gets to me every time we sing it - not because it is unbiblical or theologically incorrect, but because it seems to leave out one important fact about the coming of Christ.

One day the trumpet will
Sound for His coming
One day the skies with His
Glories will shine
Wonderful day
My beloved was bringing
Glorious Savior this Jesus is mine

Oh, Glorious Day
Oh, Glorious Day
Oh, Glorious Day
Oh, Glorious Day

Regardless of eschatological system, Christians believe that Jesus is returning. As a believer in and follower of Christ, I have the fortune of looking forward to the day that Christ returns as a glorious day. However, if I only celebrate the return of Christ as a "glorious day" I neglect one important fact about that day - it will be terrible for those who do not believe in or follow Christ. In fact, in the Old Testament, more ink was spent in discussing how the day of the Lord is a dreadful day than on how it will be glorious. For example:

"Woe to you who long
for the day of the LORD!
Why do you long for the day of the LORD?
That day will be darkness, not light." Amos 5:18

"The day of the LORD is great;
it is dreadful." Joel 2:11

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6

Let us not forget in our eager anticipation of Christ's return what it means for those separated from God. It is especially easy for Christians who neglect to share their faith to forget that the coming day of the Lord will be a terrible day. May we eagerly anticipate the return of the Lord while not forgetting our task to make that day terrible for fewer people.

Woot - One Day One Deal

I want to let you in on a little secret. There is a great website if you like electronics at low prices, check out www.woot.com.

They offer great deals, often on new or refurbished items. They dub themselves, "One Day One Deal," but really offer 3-4 new products a week. However, I often find myself checking it everyday.

So far, I have only bought one item from Woot, but the transaction was excellent. I have other friends who have bought multiple items with no complaints.

Check it out although this little tidbit might be too late for Christmas.

Thursdays are for Articles - China stretches the imagination with world's longest sea bridge

Ever since I visited Dubai in the summer of 2005,
amazing feats of engineering fascinate me. At that time, Dubai had a majority of the world's cranes that almost completely dotted the city-state's skyline.

As a result, whenever I hear of incredible new works around the world, I want to learn more.

Apparently, China already has the world's longest sea bridge, and now want another one. They are building a bridge that will connect Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.

You can read more about it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/15/worlds-longest-sea-bridge

What interests me even more is that in response to the global economic "tsunami" China is working on its infrastructure - this bridge being just one example.

As a proponent of economic conservatism I find it interesting that America is bailing out banks and providing billions in stimulus money while China is setting their economy up for future growth by working on infrastructure.

In my opinion, a government is more likely to ensure the future growth of the economy by spending money on infrastructure than in bailing out failing banks and businesses.

I am sorry but not surprised that China's government understands this principle and America's government does not.