blog.arrowheadchurch.com

After a week or so praying for a family that lost their 26-year-old son to a hiking accident (he was a friend to many, including me), it’s still heavy on my mind, and I’m really glad it is. When tragedy comes it always reminds us that our problems just don’t compare to what people experience on a daily basis. I am so thankful for the blessing of the goodness of God in my life right now. Sure, I experience various difficulties, but overall life is simple and easy right now.

When things aren’t simple and easy, though, it doesn’t mean God is less good. His goodness is just experienced in different ways. Either it’s through comfort and care or through frustration and wrestling with why. I praise God that He is always good, regardless of circumstances. And I praise Him that He’s sustaining the Frye family in the middle of their storm.

Sara and I have a friend who agreed to use her awesome camera and photography skills to take some pictures for us, one of which will wind up on the family Christmas card. This one of just Eli won’t make the cut, since the card is the whole fam, so I couldn’t help but post it. The day of the first haircut is around the corner, but for now this shaggy redhead is hangin’ around.

I know it sounds naive, but I don’t know how I’d do all of what I do in any given week without the internet. Yes, I realize ministry isn’t done online, but it is so extremely helpful. I have access to sermons, study tools, facebook, ministry blogs, endless news, and just about anything else I need. My computer is always online and I never have to be lacking information in any way.

But just like anything else, what God can use for good, Satan can use for evil. And, I don’t just mean internet porn. I’m speaking specifically about the efficient use of time. There is so much information and so many links to click that if I’m not careful I can waste large amounts of time reading blogs, etc. that are nothing more than a rehashing of what the last guy said that I just read. I can know what all my facebook friends are up to, which is great. But, I can also waste lots of time finding out that somebody is headed into a meeting, just came out of a meeting, on the way to lunch, enjoyed their burrito…you get my drift.

If you’re an online addict like me, are you managing the time God has given you in a way that’s pleasing to Him?

Some people just make decisions effortlessly and seem to always know what the right thing to do in any given situation is. I’m not one of those people. I generally pray, think, gather input, think some more, try to pray again, and think some more for as long as possible. I drag my feet until the last minute before any decision has to be made unless God has just written the answer in the sky. When I do pull the trigger, I do I feel like I stand pretty confidently in my decisions and when one has to be made, I can make it.

There are still countless decisions to be made in the last month before we launch. I thought the decisions would be easier because the major issues would be settled as we went along. Well, many major issues are settled but there are always more! Pray for wisdom for our team and ask the Lord to give us faith with no doubting.

Sunday the 14th at 4:30 we’re having our second preview service for Arrowhead. If you live around the Morristown area we’d love for you to make it. If you’re planning on coming already, bring some people with you! It’s the last chance before our launch on January 18 to see what Arrowhead worship is all about. Hope you can make it! And, bring your kids!

Sara and I have spent 6 Sundays this fall with a group known as New Birth Chapel at the Pregnancy Crisis Center in Morristown. Tomorrow is our last day there, and we’re going to miss it! We’ve had a chance to get to know some awesome people and see God do some incredible things. The Bible study time has been spent looking at encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John. Tomorrow we’ll be looking at Pilate’s interaction with Jesus. It should be a great day.

Over the next 4-5 weeks before our launch we have so much to learn. We’ll be visiting lots of church plants in east Tennessee. It is so refreshing for us to get a chance to worship and learn on a Sunday. Just being at church and not teaching or leading anything feeds us. We’re really looking forward to the next several weeks.

Just got a call saying we have a house showing today, so I wanted to ask anybody who is reading to pray. If you don’t know, we still have a house to sell in south Knoxville. We know God’s timing is perfect and we are waiting to see what He has in store. We’re just praying selling it soon is what He has in store! We want to make sure we do what is wise through the whole process.

Even though I have no idea how to create good graphic design, all of us know when we see bad. Churches are often the ones who are most guilty of the sin of using clip art in 2008.

Saw this picture of Kim Jong Il on the Deadly Viper blog. Unfortunately bad use of Photoshop may have really bad consequences when the Photoshopper is trying to convince the world that a leader is still alive and well.

The image is small in the blog post. Click it and you’ll be able to read the explanation.

Okay, I promise no more posts about Lane Kiffin after today, but I was impressed with the news conference today. He wasn’t scripted and he isn’t much of a statesman. But he didn’t pull any punches and I actually believed what he said. That goes a long way with me.

Some people may be really smart or talented but for whatever reason can’t communicate it. That’s not a big deal. Some people may not be really smart or talented but feel like they need to project themselves that way. That’s not good in my book.

Just be sincere. Just be honest. That’s good protocol for football coaches and for just about anybody, I think.