July 2006 - Posts

  • Three PowerPoints And A Poem

    Here are a few PowerPoint presentations I’ve created and used especially for summer camps. If you are one of the two campers, counselors, or sponsors that requested one of these, you’ve found the right spot. For the rest of ya’ll, please feel free to download, edit, and use these presentations as you wish.

    NOTE: These PowerPoints are my own design, and the content has not gone through the careful editing eyes of any Kids 4 Truth staff. So, I accept full responsibility for the oft-gaudy text entry animation and slide transitions, the oft-errant subject/verb agreements, and the oft-too-much-content-for-juniors content.

    The Big Picture of Life slide1. The Big Picture of Life — this is a message about “the fear of the Lord.” I have been enjoying a personal study on what the fear of God really is and I hope to publish a detailed post on this topic soon. Lord willing, it will include links to several of the free resources that I’ve used to gain a better understanding of this topic that Bunyan said is “the flower and beauty of every grace.”

    Seeing and Hearing slide2. Seeing and Hearing — this message begins with how Lot tortured his righteous soul by what he saw and heard (2 Peter 2:6–8). Using the sad story of saved Lot as a diving board, the presentation challenges Christians to think God’s thoughts in relation to what they see and hear. There are several interesting and sobering statistics concerning the media of the day included in this presentation.

    God and His Gospel slide3. God and His Gospel — for a long time I’ve been burdened to teach a Gospel presentation that begins and ends with God (because the Gospel does that!). Many Gospel tracts and presentations I’ve encountered begin with the fact of man as a sinner, which is okay, but much better I think is when sinners see their sin in light of a holy, awesome GOD. Please check this Gospel presentation out and let me know what you think. If there is an area where I might maximize God better and minimize man more, please bring this to my attention and help me sharpen my teaching and preaching!

    For those interested, I’ll try and post the audio messages that accompany these in the first part of August, 2006 (Lord willing). This may be useful since a few times within the PowerPoints you will encounter a bullet of info that is attached to a bigger illustration that I elaborate upon verbally.

    BONUS. Here’s one of the many fringe benefits of camp ministry. This week I’m at Camp Eden, a gorgeous camp sitting right atop the Continental Divide, and this is the view while eating breakfast!

    Breakfast View

  • The Fish's Name Is...

    Alfred!

    …Alfred.

    Alfred the Betta and/or “Version 1.0” Fish.

    Hello my name is aLfReDSusannah B of the U-S-of-A is the winner of the Name the Version 1.0 Fish Contest. Thousands of people might have entered this contest, but Susannah’s detailed analysis of why the name “Alfred” fits the bill for this particular fish was witty enough to catapult her entry above any and all others. You may recall that all entrants were highly encouraged to consider name length, creativity, syllable/vowel ratio, and if it sounds good in a Cockney accent. Here’s Susannah B’s reasoning for the name she submitted:

    1. Sound: The beginning of the name “Alfred” recalls the word “alpha,” meaning “first,” which is appropriate for a Version 1.0 fish.
    2. Hue: The end of the name “Alfred” suits the fish’s stunning crimson coloration.
    3. Origin: “Alfred” is of Old English extraction, so no doubt it would sound smashing in a Cockney accent.
    4. Meaning: “Alfred” means “counselor,” and no doubt the Kids 4 Truth team would benefit from a mascot who not only can boost morale but also can provide occasional legal and/or spiritual counsel. In addition, one of the most important characteristics of a good counselor is that he listens well to his counselee; fish, of course, are notoriously good listeners.
    5. Ease: “Alfred” is an efficient and concise name, with just two easy syllables, one vowel per syllable, and each letter used only once. Additionally, nickname possibilities abound: Al. Alf. Alfie. Alley-oop. Alfredo. Freddie. Fred-o.
    6. Respectability: Others who share the name “Alfred” include King Alfred the Great (849-899), who conquered the Vikings and revolutionized Anglo-Saxon society with education and an improved legal system; Alfred P. Sloan, philanthropist and CEO; Alfred Hitchcock, renowned film director; Alfred J. Fish, M.D., pediatric nephrologist at the University of Minnesota; and, presumably, Alf, fuzzy brown 1980s TV character.

    Susannah will receive a free copy of “Teaching Truth, Training Hearts” by Tom Nettles. Shipping and handling is only $13.95.

    Thank you to all who entered!

  • David Brainerd Understood Christianity

    David Brainerd wrote the following during an extended sickness that would eventually claim his life. I love this entry because it expresses simply and clearly the “big picture” of Christianity.

    Brainerd wrote this in June of 1745:

    Brainerd preaching to IndiansHow I was, the first day or two of my illness, with regard to the exercise of reason, I scarcely know; I believe I was somewhat shattered with the violence of the fever, at times: but the third day of my illness, and constantly afterwards, for four or five weeks together, I enjoyed as much serenity of mind, and clearness of thought, as perhaps I ever did in my life; and I think my mind never penetrated with so much ease and freedom into divine things, as at this time; and I never felt so capable of the gospel as now. And as I saw clearly the truth of those great doctrines, which are justly styled the doctrines of grace; so I saw with no less clearness, that the essence of religion consisted in the soul's conformity to God, and acting above all selfish views, for his glory, longing to be for him, to live to him, and please and honour him in all things: and this from a clear view of his infinite excellency and worthiness in himself, to be loved, adored, worshipped, and served by all intelligent creatures. Thus I saw, that when a soul loves God with a supreme love, he therein acts like the blessed God himself, who most justly loves himself in that manner. So when God's interest and his are become one, and he longs that God should be glorified, and rejoices to think that he is unchangeably possessed of the highest glory and blessedness, herein also he acts in conformity to God. In like manner, when the soul is fully resigned to, and rests satisfied and conted with, the divine will, here it is also conformed to God.