thankful

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree

My friend Jason blogged about this earlier in the week. 

The American Family Association wants to sell you this wonderful CHRISTmas Cross! It's perfect for decorating your yard, your church, OR, in the middle of the night when nobody's looking, the local courthouse!! 

Forget manger scenes! Bah humbug on Mary and Joseph! 

Tell the REAL story of Christmas with this lovely handmade cross. Why spend $6 on a 2X4 and a 1X3, and a $1.99 on a string of lights? Who wants to make this cross themselves? Seriously, you know you won't do it. And then what? The SAME OLD Christmas story gets told. And my gosh, who wants that? 

So, right now, why don't you spend $81 and let the AFA make this cross for you! 

...

Is it just me or does the picture sort of make the cross look like it's on fire? Hmm. Might send the wrong message. 

happy thanksgiving!

Thank YOU for...

... reading my blog, buying my book, and supporting what I do. 

I'm grateful. 

mpt

the 'not as we' video...

pastor ed young rocks my world!

You rock, Pastor Ed! I mean, not only do you look awesome dressed in 90s fashion, dude, I just heard about the little seven-day sex challenge that you're doing at your church! So cool, man. You're even cooler than you think you are, I believe. I mean, seriously, everybody loves sex! How cool are you? Well, I just read your interview from CBS This Morning! (Way to go against the cultural flow! That'll teach Today and Good Morning America not to book you!) Your quotes were awesome! Here are a few of my favorites, Pastor Ed!

"I think [having sex] is one of the greatest things you can do for your kids because so goes the marriage, so goes the family."

So let me get this straight, Pastor Ed: Are you saying that, if my wife and I have sex for seven days in a row, our son Elias's life will be bettered? That's pretty cool. And who would have thought that such a selfless act could be so much fun? Question though, do you think it will get rid of his infant allergies? His nose is stopped up an awful lot. How about the rash that he has on his head? And Pastor do your kids have to know you're having sex for it to work?

And btw, Pastor Ed, does this method work for extended family, too? And if my life sucks--does that mean my parents aren't having sex? Wow. My whole life is beginning to make sense.

"Sex is really the super-glue--I believe it's a real reflection of how the marriage is going."

Sex is like super glue? Sweet. I'm going to totally see if it will keep the leg on my coffeetable from falling off. We've had an awful time trying to find something to make that thing stick. I'm gonna try sex; it might work. And even if it doesn't, it'll still be sex, right? So it won't be a total loss.

But I believe you're right about sex being a real reflection of marriage--I had a dog when I was kid who did it with everything in sight. He couldn't keep a doggie girlfriend to save his life. Yet his nose was still always wet. Go figure.

"So I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool if we could get 20,000 people having sex for seven straight days?'"

Wait, Pastor Ed! Didn't God destroy entire cities for spectacles like this? I think he did, bro! Way to live dangerously. You. Are. Awesome. 20,000 people having sex? I hope you guys have a good supply of mops at your church. You're gonna need them.

And I think some of the issues that you have to deal with prior to going to bed together, that's going to be the real take-home from this 'sex-periment' that we're doing. [The reaction from church goers] has been overwhelmingly positive, because so many people are whining from the economy, and I thought, 'How do we change whining into whoopee?'

You just used the word WHOOPEE! I haven't heard that word since watching The Jeffersons. But don't worry, Pastor Ed; at least nobody heard you say it. That's one good thing about being on CBS This Morning!

"We had guys who were texting their friends during the sermon, they were like. 'You've got to be here next week. You won't believe what's gonna happen!

Ed, the guys in your church sound super cool! I wish I could totally be there next week--I'm sure I'd be texting my friends too. Maybe WTF? Or something like that.

"Even my wife and I are going to do this. We've been married for 26 years and we have four kids, so I'm looking forward to it. It will be one of the greatest Thanksgivings ever!"

Don't forget to stuff the turkey, Pastor Ed. Stuff the turkey.

Gravy is good, too, Pastor Ed! Happy Thanksgiving.

christmas/consumerism

my little guy

confe$$ion

I'm taking care of Elias today. He's currently sleeping his in the swing. I thought I'd try to write a quick blog. I've had a hard time blogging lately, mostly because I've been working on a couple articles for Lifeway and the deadlines are fast approaching.

The last couple months have been a little hard on Jessica and me financially. The tour I was supposed to be on got moved to the spring. The election and the economy was making it difficult to book, so it was decided to just move it. Which is understandable, of course. But because I expected to be out on the road, I decided to take time off from scheduling writing assignments. I didn't think I'd have time. So yeah, that has made this holiday season a little tight. Thankfully, Jessica and I don't live beyond our means. I don't say that proudly. It's just the way it is. But even when you try to live modestly, it's hard sometimes.

I just hate how financial woes or setbacks or "$urpri$es" almost always seem to affect my mood. Seriously, it's pathetic. Anytime Jessica and I are going through a rough patch relationally--you know, fussing at each other more than usual (often about stupid things), it can almost always be threaded back to money. How sad is that? When our financial life is good, easy--comfortable--then it seems everything else is easy and comfortable too. We're happy. We never argue. Life seems almost perfect. But as soon as we hit a spot where the money isn't flowing in like we think it needs to--bam!--suddenly, there's a whole list of reasons to bicker at one another.

Perhaps that's why scripture says the love of money is the root of all evil.

So anyway, I'm really going to try to not let our financial situation--whether good, bad, or in-between-- dictate my emotions. Jesus was pretty clear about the control money can have on you, that it can lead us down destructive paths. I think sometimes we think those words are only for the wealthy. But they aren't. They were meant for poor people too. The middle class. The upper middle class. All of us, no matter what our financial situation might be. At least, that's what I am learning...

So... how does "money" affect your mood?

hope is the thing with feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

by Emily Dickinson

happy birthday to me

So far, today has been awesome. I got woken up by my favorite little boy in the whole wide world. Of course, his beautiful mother helped a little bit. 

And I must say, Facebook is very nice on your birthday... thanks to everybody for your wonderful messages... I so appreciate your kind words... 

mpt

35

My birthday is tomorrow. I'll be 35-years old. I could be stereotypical and say that the years have flown by and that it's hard to believe I'm 35, but the truth is, some of the years have crept along the same way a three-toed sloth inches through a tree in the Amazon and on certain days I feel 35.

Some days I feel 25.

Some days I feel 40.

How old do you feel?

a good quote

"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature" Ralph Waldo Emerson

another review, another giveaway...

Thank you Grace!

Click the link and win. :)

the story of adam and eve

As told with Facebook.

Clever. Scary.

coffeehouse theology

Coffeehouse Theology-Reflecting on God in Everyday Life

Sadly, I'm still working my way through this title. It's taking me awhile, not because I don't like it-I actually like it a lot-but because of time. But I thought I would go ahead and mention it at my blog. As the title suggests, this book is about theology.

And as I've recently learned-I'm a theologian. Or at least according to my friend Adam.

Adam is a pastor, and I don't hold that against him. In fact, I pretty much look forward to having conversations with him. Not only is he one of the most intelligent people I know, every time I have a conversation with Adam I leave encouraged, hopeful, and more comfortable in my own skin.

One time, during one of our many discussions about God, he told me that it was his belief that everybody is a theologian. "All of us have the ability to think about and study God," he told me once. "You don't need a degree to do that."

I believe author Ed Cyzewski would agree with Adam. In his book, Coffeehouse Theology, Ed invites everyone into a theology discussion, one that blends story, study, topics, and critical thought into a well-crafted, though not too crafted, conversations about God and the things he's passionate about. Coffeehouse isn't a difficult read, not like many theology books, and unlike those other books, Ed doesn't write with a heavy hand and beat his readers over the head with his point of view. He simply let's you join his journey of experiencing the many sides of a particular theological discussion, offering pertinent information, explanation, and a few theories, but ultimately let's the reader form his or her own opinions and thoughts. I think that's what makes this book such an important read for the church. While I didn't agree with everything stated within these pages, topics are presented with grace and humility, so I'm pretty sure anybody can read without getting hurt. Also, big thumbs up to the person who designed the cover of this book--quite trendy.

Buy it @ Amazon.com...

this band is hot (for country)

Though I'm not a huge fan of country music, Lady Antebellum has a pretty sweet sound. Yeah, I know the lead singer sounds like Jeremy Camp. Or Third Day. Or Creed. Or Pearl Jam.

But for country, it's not bad.

what's your point of view?

bam! boom! pow! (it's beginning to sound a lot like christmas)

Oh goody! Now that the election is over, we Christians can turn our hearts and minds toward more important things... you know, like fighting the war on Christmas!

Fa la la la la la

And guess what? The "other" side has taken it's first shot, yep, and it's an oozy. Read what those humanists are up to this time.

My God the atheists are now running ads! On buses! In Washington DC. What will we do?

Quick, somebody guard our nation's supply of tinsel and evergreen, and don't forget to protect all the little statues of baby Jesus. These people are out for blood. Jesus' blood.

We should be scared. Really scared. Of the unknown! We don't know what those buses are capable of doing. What if they make regular people like you and me turn into humanists? What if the drivers of these buses get taken over by Satan and begin running over people? What if there are bombs inside?

I seriously think Christians should boycott DC for the entire Holi--I mean, CHRISTmas Season.

That will show them the reason for the season!

.....

"Then the angel said to them, 'Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.'" from the Gospel of Luke.

i'm pretty sure we had this record...

hmm...

elias..

Good morning! 

It's a cold one here. 

I'm exhausted this morning. Elias had an odd night last evening, in that he didn't seem to enjoy sleeping. So his mother and I (mostly his mother since she has the boobs in the family) didn't get much sleep. But one of the three times he woke up, he wasn't hungry, so I took him out in the living room and held him until he went back to sleep. 

Elias had a big day yesterday. At church he sat with Jessica and me. And he was so good. He's a very sound sleeper, so he slept through praise and worship performance. He woke up in the middle of the last song and didn't make a peep the entire service. He just watched Pete. 

Our midwife Emma came to church yesterday. It was awesome seeing/sitting with her. We didn't know this until yesterday, but she went to high school with Pete, so she was telling us some old stories about him high school. 

She held Elias during the service and then we went and had lunch at J Alexander's. And that's where Elias got to meet Amy Grant. Amy and I are friends from my time at CCM. She came over and oohed and ahhed over Elias for a few minutes. It was sweet. Jessica had never met Amy, so it was nice for them to meet as well.

I fall in love more and more with Elias every single day. It always seems like I could never love him anymore than I do in any given moment, but then he grins at me or farts on me or falls asleep in my arms and I feel this rush of love build up inside of my soul. It's hard to explain. But those of you who have kids know exactly what I'm talking about. It's like a shot of adrenaline hitting your bloodstream. Even in the middle of the night when all you want your kid to do is fall asleep, you sometimes feel that love buildup. Suddenly you realize that "this"--being up @ 4 a.m. with your precious child--is a moment that you are able to cherish, one that can fill you up in ways you never expected, heal you, bring you a type of peace that's beyond your understanding in that given moment. 

I thank God every single day for giving me each moment with Elias. 

On Saturday night, my friends Lee and Traci came over for dinner. For some reason, Elias thought Lee was hysterical. So we caught video of him laughing out loud at Lee. There's some boring space in the middle of this video, and I didn't have time to edit it last night. So forgive me. 

But here it is... Elias LOLing... :) 

stuff christians like

My friend Jon at Stuff Christians Like is currently featuring a giveaway of Churched! And the comments are pretty darn hilarious. 

Check it out. 

this choir is the hotness...

A bunch of my friends have posted this, so I decided to play follow the leader or copycat or unoriginal. Still, it's pretty funny.

the jean jacket

When I was in seventh grade, there were two kinds of people at my school: those who had a jean jacket and those who didn't. Otherwise known as the cool and the not-so cool. I was in the latter of those two groups until I was in the ninth grade.

Back then, my mother told me jean jackets were useless and expensive... And when I finally got mine, while they were still useless and expensive, they were uncool too. But that didn't keep me from thinking I was cool. Why? Because there's something about wearing denim not as pants that makes one feel cool.

Elias's Nana bought him his first jean jacket before he was even born. Lucky guy. Below are some pictures I took of him.

When did you get your first jean jacket? Did you feel cool?

another churched review...

Check it out.

Be on the lookout for the Churched study/reading guide for small groups and book clubs--I promise it's coming soon.

Oh, and can you do me a favor? Invite a friend to Churched this week! You might be doing them a favor too.

Happy Friday.

'kingdom coming' download--free!

happy 90th birthday!

six and a half hours...

This past weekend I was in Northern Indiana (twenty minutes outside of Chicago) for my friend Eric's wedding. I woke up early Sunday morning and drove home. I'm not a fan of driving long distances. I get tired easily. Bored. My ADHD runs wild.

But this particular drive was different.

The leaves on the trees throughout Southern Indiana and much of Kentucky were in full color, almost electrifying. Brilliant shades of yellows, reds, and oranges.

For most of the trip home I listened to music--Sheryl Crow, Brooke Fraser, the Killers, to name a few--and listened to books--David Sedaris.

But for some of the trip I turned off the outside noise and just drove alone with the noise running inside my brain. Which can certainly be loud sometimes. Thoughts sometimes don't have a volume button.

So I let my brain run wherever it wanted to go: happy, sad, frustrated, nervous, excited, worried, etc...

It wasn't music or perfectly constructed stories exactly.

But in a way, it was just as healing. And it did make the trip go by faster. Sometimes you just need to face the thoughts inside your brain, for clarity's sake.

Does the noise inside your head ever overwhelm you?

thank god...

The election is over.

Here are words from my pastor Pete Wilson...

"Today is a new day. It’s a new era. Regardless of who you voted for or why, it’s time to switch gears. It’s time to pray for Obama as he transitions to become the President of the United States."

To read further, click here.

no matter who you vote for...

here's a song that speaks volumes to each of us. The video is simple. But the song is breathtaking and hopeful. 

book title of the week!

what if starbucks marketed like a church?