Fireproof

Posted by Chuck on March 26, 2009 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

I just realized that it’s been almost two months since I last posted!  Sorry.  I’ve been busy with The Fireproof Movie.  If you don’t know, Fireproof is about a heroic fireman locked in a failing marriage who accepts his father’s challenge to take part in a 40-day experiment designed to teach both husband and wife the true meaning of commitment in this faith-based marriage drama starring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. It is rated PG.

I showed the movie at church a couple of consecutive weekends in January.  And then in February offered the six week Fireproof Your Marriage seminar/study to the public.  I ordered the materials directly from Outreach and it was surprisingly affordable.  We had a good turn out, with a total of 10 couples (5 from church and 5 non-churched).

Topics during the six week group sessions are:

• He Said/She Said – appreciating the God-designed differences between men and women
• He First Loves Us – God’s love for you and how it enables you to love others
• Love for a Lifetime – marriage as a lifelong covenant
• Breaking Free – freeing yourself from temptations that can destroy a marriage
• Forgiveness – offering and receiving forgiveness
• A Better Way of Loving – unconditional love

The only session I had a theological problem with was session two.  The well-meaning folks at Outreach based the session two on God’s love for us and how if we are to really love one another, then we must come understand and accept God’s love for us.  Of course, the session offered the non-Biblical sinner’s prayer for salvation.  I looked at the “problem” as a way of sharing God’s truth with the class.  While there were no earth-shattering moments in the session, I at least planted seeds for thought.

The Fireproof Your Marriage seminar/study is good for couples at any level of their relationship and is meant to go hand in hand with the Love Dare book.  While the Love Dare book is not needed for the seminar/study, it is the basis of The Fireproof Movie and the premise behind the sessions.

May God bless your ministry as you outreach to others with this timely tool.

Think

Posted by Chuck on February 6, 2009 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

I first heard about Think magazine in the summer of 2007.  I read my first copy in January 2008 and I am happy to say that I’m finally a subscriber.   Think is a very “intellectual” church of Christ publication that I would say is a kind of response to the atheist’s “Skeptic” publication. 

Here is a snip from their site:

“Think deals with difficult topics such as, stem cell research, intelligent design, cloning, abortion, homosexuality and other social issues that affect us as we live in an increasingly perplexed society.1“

In these times when Christians are often criticized for supposedly not knowing the “facts” about science Think is a publication no minister should be without!

http://www.focuspress.org

Free Greek and Hebrew Tool

Posted by Chuck on January 7, 2009 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

Recently I’ve lamented upgrading my computer to Microsoft Vista, and not because of problems with the operating system.  I actually like Vista - anyway . . . my lament comes from the fact that the program I once used for Hebrew no longer works.  So, I went looking for some free alternatives and found Scripture4all.org  For free I haven’t found anything that comes close - so, if you’re in need of a FREE Greek/Hebrew interlinear Bible program this link’s for you!

http://www.scripture4all.org/

Mobile Bible

Posted by Chuck on January 1, 2009 under Ministry, Resources | Be the First to Comment

Not too long ago a church member saw me playing with my cell phone while another speaker was presenting a lesson.  They wanted to scold me for “texting.”  I then showed them the GoBible and they were amazed.

With all of the games and apps out for cell phones it was only a matter of time before someone made a Biblical application for a mobile.  Here’s three I’ve used:

http://gobible.jolon.org/
This is currently on my cell phone.  It gives you complete search capabilities of the entire KJV.  And after it’s downloaded it becomes an app on your phone, so no network connection is needed.  And best of all it’s free!

http://mbible.com
My next favorite is mbible.com   The only reason this is number two instead of number one is because you need a network connection to use the site.  The site is very simple and easy to use on your mobile, because that is what it was designed for 100%!  You can search for a verse reference, find cross references, and search for phrases.  Why I would use this in addition to the GoBible is because mbible.com offers multiple translations.

http://mobile.biblegateway.com/
A step beyond translations is mobile.Biblegateway.com   mobile.Biblegateway.com  gives you the power of the Biblegateway.com site in the palm of your hand.  You do need a network connection.

With anyone one of these, as long as you’ve got your mobile, you’ve got the Scriptures with you.

Bible Software

Posted by Chuck on December 30, 2008 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

Just the other day someone asked me which Bible translation I preach and teach from.  While I primarily use the NIV to preach and teach from that is only because the NIV is the first translation that I was exposed to.  I’ve also used the NASB, KJV, and NKJV for preaching and teaching.  It all depends upon the audience.

An easy way to compare and contrast verses in different translations is with a Bible program.  I’ve personally been using QuickVerse since version 3 and I am currently using QuickVerse 2008.  It’s not that I really, Really, REALLY like QuickVerse, but since I’ve been using it for over 10 years now I’ve built up quite a library.  Unfortunately QuickVerse does not come with Hebrew.  It hasn’t for years and for $800 it should come with more.

One of these days I’m going to take the plunge and buy Logos.  Logos has been the “standard” in Biblical scholarship.  I’ve just never been able to afford it!  (The Scholar’s Library: Gold costs over $1,000!).  Of course, they know it’s expensive, but you get what you pay for and it comes with Hebrew!  Unlike QuickVerse, the Logos library is ever expanding.  One other “bonus” is that if you really want this scholarly tool, they now offer a payment program.

The more economical BibleWorks (about $350) has Greek and Hebrew and a LOT of Bible translations.  BibleWorks is good, affordable, and easy to use, but lacks many of the scholarly works in Logos.

So . . . money, money, money - these all cost money.  So, what’s good AND free?  e-Sword.  e-Sword is a fully functional FREE Bible program - BUT if you want contemporary Bibles (like the NIV) you’ll need to start forking over ca$h and the modules vary in price and could easily start to add up to the price of BibleWorks.

Now, if you are just starting out in the ministry, don’t have a budget, maybe a student, and you’re broke - but you have an Internet connection (or can access one) there’s always the Biblegateway.com with dozens of FREE translations including Greek and Hebrew!  Study “on the cheap” - but it gets the job done!

http://www.quickverse.com
http://www.logos.com
http://www.bibleworks.com
http://www.e-sword.net
http://www.biblegateway.com

New Testament Greek

Posted by Chuck on December 29, 2008 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

NTGreek.net
Registered students pay a $200 fee, but the good news is that you can go through the online course for free, just without help.  Jeff Smelser is the minister of the Centreville church of Christ and has done a great job in putting the site together.
http://www.ntgreek.net/

Greek Bible Study
If you want an excellent parallel Bible with NT Greek then Greek Bible Study is superb.  The only caveat is that you have to register, but that is so you can take notes and it’s all FREE!
http://www.greekbiblestudy.org

The New Testament Greek Lexicon
If you want a quick free and flexible lexicon, check out Crosswalk.  You’ll find other tools linked from their site too!
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/NewTestamentGreek/

Finally I’d like to give a tip of the hat to Duke University’s Dr. Mark Goodacre and his site The New Testament Gateway.  Why should I list every great NT Greek site, when he’s got them?
http://ntgateway.com/

Jokes, Stories, Humor - Part II

Posted by Chuck on December 28, 2008 under Ministry | Be the First to Comment

A database of sermon illustrations is really useful to the preacher only when he cannot draw upon a real life scenario to make a point.  Unfortunately for most of us, very few of us have lived long enough and done enough to have an illustration for every text in the Bible.  So, where does a preacher go?

I have a few favorites.

Crosswalk.com has 10,000 Sermon Illustrations to search and pick from.  Although I have personally found multiple dupes in their database, they still have quite a good collection.
http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/illustrations/

SermonCentral.com is my second favorite place to get illustrations from.  They’re my second favorite not because of a lack of material, but because I don’t like the search results when I look for something.  I suppose if I was a paid PRO member the results might be better.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/

With that in mind, IF I was a paid subscriber, PreachingToday.com would be a nice resource, but unlike SermonCentral.com there are no freebies here.  So, skip it unless you can work it into the church budget.

Some other places that I check out from time to time (in order of my personal preference) are:
http://www.sermonillustrations.com
http://www.sermonillustrator.org
http://www.funnysermons.com
http://net.bible.org/illustration.php
http://www.sermons.org/illustrations.html

Jokes, Stories, Humor - Part I

Posted by Chuck on December 27, 2008 under Ministry | Be the First to Comment

One of the things that really gets a sermon, lesson, or class going is a good illustration.  My own list of jokes and stories is found here:

Bible101.org Jokes & Stories
http://www.bible101.org/stories

So, where do I visit for a good joke or story?  One of my favorite places is Cybersalt.

Other sites with cartoons, and humor can be found here:

Positions Listings

Posted by Chuck on December 26, 2008 under Ministry | Be the First to Comment

One of the most difficult things to do is to find a new ministry position.  Well, finding one is easy, but whether or not you like them and they like you is another story.

I compiled this list for myself and shared it with a friend.  It’s a list of sites that have listings for various ministries.  Ministers can also post their desire to relocate on these sites.  Of the sites listed, I like the first three the best.   ACU’s site will also let you post your resume.

http://www.hugsr.edu/info/openings.php

http://www.christianchronicle.org/classifieds/

http://www.bible.acu.edu/ministry/looking/

http://careercenter.lipscomb.edu/careersearch.asp

http://www.lcu.edu/LCU/academics/bibstudies/biblejoblist.htm

http://www.rockymountainchristiannewspaper.com/

https://www.pepperdine.edu/churchrelations/resources/jobs/

http://www.ovc.edu/bible/chlookpg.htm

It has been my observation that Harding, the Chronicle, and ACU have the most updated lists and are therefore (IMHO) the best sources.

Of course, this same list is also a good place for churches to look for ministers!  Like any minister would tell you, it is always nice when a church acknowledges them and either sends a “denial/no thank you/position filled” letter or a “congratulations/thank you/let’s talk” letter.  It would also be nice if congregations would take down their listings after their positions are filled.

The same is true of ministers “looking” - to at least take themselves off of “looking” lists and to acknowledge congregations that were applied too that they are “no longer interested.”

Communication is the key here folks!  We’re in that business, yet we struggle with effective communication.  Good Bless in everyone’s search!

Christian Bookstores

Posted by Chuck on December 24, 2008 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

Moyer’s Family Bookstore
On the west coast Christian bookstores are few and far between.  Moyer’s Family Bookstore is a shining light in the darkness.
http://www.moyersbookstore.com/

Mars Hill Bookstore
For a diverse collection of Christian books, Marks Hill has a nice collection.
http://www.mhbook.com/

21st Century Christian
For curriculum, VBS supplies, books, and videos 21st Century Christian is a staple.
http://www.21stcc.com/

Gospel Advocate
From the publishers of the doctrinal standard: The Gospel Advocate, is a bookstore offering many classic works and soon to be classics.
http://stores.homestead.com/GospelAdvocateCompany/StoreFront.bok

ACU Press
Varying perspectives are always good to keep us balanced.  ACU Press offers books from Christian authors with diverse viewpoints to keep us well informed.
http://www.acu.edu/campusoffices/acupress/index.html

Lambert Book House
This is a favorite of mine for good down-to-earth Bible study materials for all ages.  The VBS material is good, conservative and adaptable.
http://www.lambertbookhouse.com/