DISQUS

Diana, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I can't imagine it (and don't want to).

I heard someone say once that "Jesus is not a crutch. No, we're much more dependent on Him than that. He's more like a stretcher."

All we can do is let Him carry us. Thanks for being so open in your comment.

Thanks, Rodney. I edited the post to include a warning for that one.

Actually, I just found a plugin for it. I don't know how I missed this before. I haven't tried it, but looks to be the ticket.

If that doesn't work, edit /wp-includes/post-template.php

Around line 83, find this line: if ( preg_match('/<!--more(.*?)?-->/', $content, $matches) )

Change that to if ( preg_match('/<!--more(.+?)?-->/', $content, $matches) && !is_feed() ) {

I'll probably try the plugin so that upgrades don't overwrite the code changes.

Not only that, but I paint nails, put hair in pony tails, dress Barbies, watch High School Musical 1 AND 2, cook, clean and occasionally cry.

I have two daughters. Before I can blink I will be surrounded by feminine products and training bras. Cut me some slack?

Julie, maybe you read through a little fast or something, because I think you are the only one that missed the fact that my aside about the Grobster was totally tongue-in-cheek.

I don't hate Josh Groban. Maybe I should put ;-) at the end of every sentence?

And for the record... I don't believe Jerry Springer is a prophet either.

Awesome comment, Rodney. I was wondering if anyone would make that distinction.

For me, the issue is what we are celebrating not so much that witches and goblins are involved. With those books you mentioned (and IMO, Harry Potter) there is clear good and evil. Good is celebrated and evil is shunned. Evil is punished and good is blessed.

Halloween is a celebration of evil where the lines between good and evil are blurred and confused. Our culture is constantly blurring these lines for our children and it is up to us to draw clear lines for them. We are trying to use Halloween to help them understand 1) that they will never fully belong in the world and that's a good thing, 2) the Devil is not to be feared or celebrated, and 3) just because their teacher and half the world says a thing is good doesn't make it so.

So I don't think the issue is really about how you deal with Halloween (church events, costumes, candy, etc) it's whether or not your kids are getting the bigger points about Jesus and what it means to belong to Him.

I did too. Now this has reset my understanding of "rock bottom".

Isn't that pic GREAT! I found through our old friend, Google. I died laughing when I saw it because it's so perfect for this post.

Uh... that's right, honey. I was exagerating completely. We didn't clean up 10 minutes before you got there. It was that way ALL WEEKEND.

Good point. When I preached this I spent a lot of time on that very thing. The only way any of us can accomplish our mission as Christians is through Christ in us. If I didn't believe that, I never would have had kids to begin with!

The other thing I didn't go into here is, what is a parent to do if their kids are grown? Is it too late?

I don't think it is. Not at all. God can redeem anything. Repentance is a parent's greatest tool.

All that being true, this doesn't lower the stakes. Living in NT reality doesn't make the OT reality any less real or the consequences of my sin less dire. Nor does it make my own propensity for passivity any less grievous. Repentance begins with facing the realities of what my sin means. It means I've offended my Jesus and brought death into my life and into the lives of those to whom I'm connected. It's in the despair over that OT reality that the NT reality of the cross becomes evident. The realities of sin and death didn't go away at the end of Malachi.

Seeing my sin and grieving over its effects in my life and in the life of my community is like the starting shot of repentance. This was my intent with this post. To fire the starting pistol.

Hosting a carnival seems like a ton of work. Lots to read.

Thanks for the Digg!

Good luck!

Don't feel bad. I missed that little button for a long time too!

For anyone who is wondering... lew is talking about a link in the left sidebar called "What's the deal with Jesus?" and it takes you to a short video I posted there.

I thought it was a shame that no where on my site was there a complete gospel presentation and I found that one and posted it.

You don't have to beg...

If you view the video on Mars Hill's website, they give you all kinds of options for delivering the video. Download in various formats, embed code, etc. They are really generous with their media.

This will take you to their sermon page.

Once there, click on the image for the video you want. Then you will see a button below the streaming video labeled "Get This Video". That's where you will see all the options.

Enjoy!

I like your blog BTW. I don't always get time to come by and comment, but it's in my feed reader!

"In his Cotten way..."? I have no idea what you mean by that, Dear.

It's true that every time you make that dish (now with the correct amount of garlic) we tell that story. I think when we moved away from that apartment the draperies still smelled of garlic.

And let the record show: YOU are the best cook EVER. Your Mom is good too. ;-)

That's so funny, Heather. I can remember the first Christmas at your house. It was quite an experience. Your Dad was making everyone wait to open presents while He read the Christmas story and did what I remember as a very long devotional.

While he was talking and reading, the kids (then either grown or in H.S.) were sneaking presents from under the tree and passing them around behind their backs. It was hilarious when he finished and realized that half the gifts had already been opened.

It was as if the real tradition was not taking yourselves too seriously and your Dad was in on the joke.

I know. That site is baffling. The cat, to me, is the high point.

Thanks! I like the design too. It took a lot of work to get it working right, but I think it's worth the trouble.

I'm super excited about Heather doing this with me. She's in Boone this weekend helping redecorate her parents' house. She got a flat tire on the way up which she has to get fixed before coming home.

Hopefully she will be back in time for her inaugural post tomorrow!

testing comments

Nice one, Sarah!

<img src="http://www.bencotten.net/images/forjesus.jpg"></img>

Jess, thanks for commenting! Heather told me you were lurking...

I'm not criticizing the artists so much as I'm criticizing the CCM industry and the church in general for letting our understanding of worship get far too narrow. (maybe my placement of the video above was confusing... I actually like that song)

I don't think the "blame" here can go fully on the record labels or on the folks "worshipping" them. I think it's both. CCM markets their product to appeal to specific people, and those people eat it up. I think that door swings both ways.

In the process are people being blessed? Of course! Are the artists themselves really to blame? I don't think they are, though perhaps some are in it just for a buck.

One thing I do know... God can use anything to bless His people. Jimmy Swaggart was used greatly to bless a lot of people while he was simultaneously spending tithe money to pay for hookers. It's grace at work that allows that paradox to happen. That's why even those in CCM that are doing it for the wrong reasons, are still being used by God.

<img src="http://www.bencotten.net/images/joelgrimley-sm.jpg" alt="Joel Grimley" align="left" title="Click to Enlarge"></img>I think someone already beat you to it with the book (Click the image to enlarge).

Maybe you could do seminars for churches. You know, put a crack team of Consumer-Driven consultants together and visit churches for a weekend at a time (for a small "administration" fee, of course).

You could show them how to be Consumer-Driven by just following the plan in your 12 CD set and workbook!

S... And imagine the gift you an Judd are giving your children and their children, etc. by following the path God has given you. Your grandkids will not have to start from a standstill like you had to, but will be able to pick up where you leave off. It's an awesome thought.

I watched Walker the other day and cracked up too! His movies were so much better. I don't know what happened. I think he got saved.

As for Heather, I'm trying to talk her into starting her own blog. She has a lot to say and I'm the only one that hears it! Go over to her posts and bug her about it... Maybe the two of us can convince her.

I found it on YouTube HERE in case that link doesn't work.

Thanks for the tip, Jan! Hollywoodjesus.com is a great site. I don't know how I missed it until now.

Don't get me started on Happy Feet. I watched it this weekend. I'll be posting on it soon.

It inspired me to whole new heights of irritation.