Christian Living

Living Life Like a Game of Tetris

Chris

I’m afraid I have to admit to a new addiction in my life. Well, maybe it is really an old addiction that just didn’t have a chance to get out for twenty years. Tetris.

A couple of years ago my parents bought us a Wii. My girls love it, but they have a little trouble taking care of the game discs and the controllers. So a few weeks ago I took it out of the playroom and moved it into the living room.

Teen-boys-playing-video-games-600x300

My wife works nights, and with the television season wrapping up, I find that I run into a lot of extra time alone, able to do whatever I want. I like to read and I’m trying to finish writing my next book. But for some reason – yeah, I know what it is; I’m a pastor, after all – I find myself drawn to the Wii.

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Christian Living

What if the World Ended Tomorrow?

Chris

By now you’ve probably heard that the world is supposed to end on Saturday, May 21. At least, that is the teaching and motivation for several churches and internet sites.

li-judgement-day-brian-came

Most people shrug it off as typical cultish nonsense. Others take the time to study the information and write a response to it. And I’m sure there are many that still have not had the pleasure of hearing about it in the first place, but will on Sunday or Monday morning when they turn on the news and nothing has happened.

I wonder, though, if we have missed an opportunity to learn a great lesson. What if the world ended tomorrow? How would your life look today?

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Book Reviews

Book Review: “The Greener Grass Conspiracy” by Stephen Altrogge

Chris

What one thing do you wish you could have, or believe that if you had it your life would instantly change and you would be happy? Think really hard about that one thing, and then think about how you could rearrange your life to turn every effort towards that one goal.

Before you actually start that new way of life, you should know this: After all of the planning and the work and the time investing in getting that one thing you want, when you get it, you still won’t be happy.

Why? Because there is a conspiracy at work to keep you from being content. It’s a conspiracy that involves three parties, and one of those is your own heart.

Check out this trailer video for the book, and then read on for my review.

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Ministry

Can’t Help But Celebrate

Chris

Today is Easter Sunday. This week at Gateway we didn’t have a lot of visitors. We weren’t really on our “A” game. But God showed up and did something great. For the third weekend in a row we had a response to our salvation altar call.

Jesus told us that there is rejoicing before the angels in Heaven when one soul comes to salvation. Over the last three weekends, a total of 11 souls have given their hearts to Jesus for the first time, or as a rededication. Eleven. I can’t imagine what the angels have been doing up there.

Simply put, I can’t help but join the celebration. God is starting something here. I have told others that I wasn’t mentally prepared for it. But I’m not going to tell God to stop or put it on hold, not for a moment.

[Q:] What is God doing in your life? What is He doing that makes you want to celebrate?

Christian Living

There’s Nothing Like A Good Rivalry

Chris

The NHL hockey playoffs started a few days ago, and that’s big news – if not the only news – in this part of the world. To everyone’s delight, the first round started with a bang.

hockey-faceoff

One of the key elements to the excitement of a game, match or series in any sport is the Rivalry. The rival team or player is the sworn enemy of the loyal fan. We hurl insults at each pitchers, cheer on the defense, and cough during a golfer’s follow-through.

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Book Reviews

Book Review: “Imaginary Jesus”

Chris

home_coverOne of the most important ideas that we must grapple with, not just as Christians but as human beings, is our idea about God, our theology. Are you confident that your theology of God is correct? Is it biblical? Are you willing to trade it in for another theology of God?

When Matt Mikalatos is sitting in his favorite café, Jesus is sitting beside him. But when a gruff man named Pete comes in, everything changes. That’s not the real Jesus; it’s Matt’s version of Jesus, created by his own mind, custom-made to fit him and his needs. Oh, and he’s not the only imaginary Jesus out there.

Imaginary Jesus is Matt’s “not-so-true story” about how the Jesus he loves and serves is not the real Jesus. In fact, the real Jesus frightens him and confuses his ideas of who Jesus should be. But as much as he has trouble accepting the real Jesus, Matt realizes that he no longer wants to serve a false Jesus.

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