Over the past few weeks I have been following a series of blogs done by Vince Antonucci titled “Waaaaa. I’m not getting fed.” You need to go read all seven (it’s actually more) of them right now.  Here is a link to the first one.  I must say that I have completely enjoyed every word that the man has written. He has hit the nail on the head as far as American Christianity has gone.

We have become such a consumer mentality society that it has even crept into the church. I even use to have the mentality that it is the pastor’s job to feed me (probably is the reason that I went to church five times a week when I was growing up). Put the reality is that the pastor’s job is to teach us how to cook.

Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” The pastors and teachers jobs are to “equip” not feed. By equipping they are building the body up.

I remember telling my youth in Olton that if the only time you are opening you Bible is on Wednesday (or Sunday for most), then you are starving yourself. I have to say that I use to be the same way. The only time I opened my Bible was when I was going to church or when I was preparing for a lesson.

The greatest joy in my life has been over the past few months as I’ve started to spend time with God daily for no other reason than to just sit at His feet and learn. Before it was a chore to open my Bible. Now it is a pleasure.

Now I sound like one of those sappy Christians that I use to hate (who am I kidding I still have problems with them). But it is the truth. I feel different when I haven’t spent time with God. It feels like when I have to go to work while my wife is still in bed and I don’t get to talk to her until she gets home from work at 5pm. There is just something missing from my day.

So if you are the type of person who only eats once a week…I’d recommend adding to your diet.

P.S. I’ll post a blog in a few days on some tips and tricks for having a daily time with God.

I came across this article today about a church that is handing out shot glasses (with the phrase “give us a shot” on it) in a local bar to invite people to their church. I love to hear stories about churches doing things like this. I’m personally up for just starting a church service in the bar, but this is a step in the right direction.

You see this past Sunday our pastor spoke about the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19. One of the things that he pointed out that really struck a chord with me was in verse 7. Jesus enters Jericho this famous rabbi who everyone loves. Then he decides to go against the grain of what all the religious people have been doing (separating themselves from sinners), and he tells the greatest sinner in town that he is going to go eat at his house (the den of iniquity….dum, dum, dum).

Then you see in verse 7, “And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”" I love that verse. With one act of love and compassion for a man that was the least to deserve it, Jesus looses his entire reputation. You constantly see him loosing his reputation because he would go where “righteous people” wouldn’t go and hang out with people that “righteous people” wouldn’t hang out with.

We need to do the same. Our churches need to the same.

So I’m trying to get myself to do more blogging. I have a friend who does an occasional blog post called LotD (Link of the Day). The idea is that when he comes across a cool link…he posts it. It isn’t about frequency…but about having a link for that day. So I was thinking I might start doing the same thing. But I don’t come across cool links that often (except for when my friend posts a new one…hint…hint…).

Well for those of you who don’t know, I have recently acquired a taste for the wonderful alcoholic beverage called beer…Yeah I know. A Christian drinking bee. Not only a Christian but a former youth pastor. I’ll give you a few seconds to compose yourself… Ready…Ok… for those of you who think I’ve gone off the deep end and need to repent and ask Jesus to help, let me give you some context.

First, I don’t get drunk (it’s amazing…you can drink and not get drunk…it really is possible). Second, I don’t drink around those you have a problem with alcohol. I understand that there are people out there who have a problem with alcohol. That is completely understandable…and I won’t drink around you. Third, I am of legal age to be drinking beer (and I don’t advocate the drinking of those who aren’t).

Now before you come at with me with comments on how I’m wrong for drinking, read the entire Bible and show me where it says that I’m in the wrong (by the way you’re not going to find anything unless you take things out of context…or just simple make things up…my pastor did a recent blog on this which was really good).

So now that is of the way, lets get back to the topic at hand. Oh yeah…I like beer and I want to blog more. So I came up with the idea of a Beer Tip of the Day. This is where I will post the most recent tip that I’ve learned for beer. The topics will range all over the place from recent beers that I’ve tasted to how to pour your beer (and there is a correct way). I don’t know how consitant they are going to be…but I’m going to try for once a week. Let me know what you think (as long as you follow the rules above).