Featured – Page 4

What are you thankful for?

November 30, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

What are you thankful for? This is the question that was posed by the boys at Professional One a “boutique of awesome” or also known as one of the best real estate firms in the country run by Mike and Todd.Ever since the question was asked I have been thinking about it.This is a question we ask around our kitchen table as opposed to the generic “God is good, God is great…”How can you answer such a question with any kind of authenticity and keep the post relatively brief?When I think about what I am thankful for I am amazed at all that I really ought to be thankful for, but I’m not. I am not thankful, at least not usually. I want to be one of those people that are constantly overwhelmed by gratitude.I really do. But, I’m not.Life is more complicated, it seems.What am I thankful for?I am thankful that there are people who are asking the question...

The Paradox

November 16, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

When you find out that most if not all of your preconceptions are misconceptions it leaves you reeling. The first time I woke up in Israel I struggled to believe all that I was seeing. I felt as though I had stepped foot out of the Matrix and into “The Real”. There was nothing that was what I expected. Not a single thing.We boarded our bus and met Yaniv, our guide and soon to be our good friend. He took us to Caesarea by the Sea. It was a confusing time as we left Tel Aviv and arrived at a place that was over 2,000 years old. This is the kind of confusion that leaves you scratching your head and unsure of what you are seeing.It turns out that Israel is a place of paradox. You never can quite get your mind around it. It is a living and breathing postmodern experience. What is new is old and what is...

Preconceptions, Land Mines, and Explosions

November 13, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

Any time you visit a new country there are always preconceived ideas that you have coming in. When I left for Israel I had a picture in mind of sand, mountains, and camels. Of course I also had the thought of one or two surface to air missiles and maybe a suicide bomber. I could tell that these were the same thoughts that some of my family had in mind too. I think that is part of the reason why I didn’t really get too excited about the trip, why it “slipped” my mind and why I did not talk about it much with those closest to me. My preconceived ideas had laid a foundation of fear.Then I arrived in Israel.I saw it.There was no filter, there were no reporters or editors choosing what to show me.I saw it with my own eyes.What did I see, you ask?I saw Tel Aviv and modern bustling city filled with people. There were...

Figuring It Out…

October 30, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

For the last few years I have been on a journey. It’s a journey that has cost me friendships. It’s a journey that has caused me to look pretty deep and it has caused me to evaluate my understanding of “church”. This week I had an epiphany. It’s both/and and not either/or.You’re thinking ,“That’s pretty cryptic.”You’re right. Let me clarify.The journey that I have been on has been the journey from thinking of church as primarily a “come and see” to that of “go and tell.” As per usual I have taken the pendulum of my life and swung it from one end of the spectrum to the other.I didn’t even notice.Passion does that.This week I met with a group of pastors from the area for a planning time. We were meeting to plan what our churches would do together as we participate in “E.A.C.H.”, a city-wide movement of churches that are seeking to give “everyone a chance to hear” during...

Why Weren’t They There?

October 16, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

“You keep saying you’ve got something for me.something you call love, but confess.You’ve been messin’ where you shouldn’t have been a messin’and now someone else is gettin’ all your best.These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll doone of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.”In the 1920s the Christians walked away from education. In the 1930s and 40s we walked away from science and academia. In the 1960s we walked away from culture. In 2010 it appears we have, by and large, we are in danger walking away from our communities.Today I spent the day at a local hospital which was hosting an international taste festival and a world impact expo. The organizer sought to provide opportunity for ten congregations or organizations from each of the world’s three dominant faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to highlight their mission efforts around the world. Only four Christian churches committed to participating. One backed out and...

A Minute to Win It, or, How YouTube Changed Media

October 5, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

A little over a week ago a group of high school students gathered at Grace Chapel, EPC in Farmington Hills, MI. They were there to play “A Minute to Win It”. They played a ton of different games, laughing, and trying to win, and then laughing some more. One of the volunteers in the crowd were recording the mayhem and a few of the videos were uploaded to YouTube.Then it happened. An email from an exec at NBC requesting the videos for use on an upcoming episode of A Minute to Win It! The media is now trolling the web to find media for itself to show to us as media.In this new world of HD cameras and YouTube one thing is now certain:The media creators have become the media consumers.Think about it. NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, etc…need us. They need us to keep themselves relevant, hip, and in the know. They need us to create for them. They are...

To Think or Not to Think

October 4, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

What does it mean for a Christian to think? I don’t mean the kind of thinking where one tries to figure out a problem. I am talking about the kind of thinking where one struggles with their core beliefs and tries to determine what is real and true.We as Christians believe that the Bible is special revelation which shows us truth and points us to what is real. We believe that it is authoritative, that means we believe that we have a book that gives us real answers by which we ought to live.I believe that this is true.I repeat: I believe that this is true.However we must not take our faith and use it as a replacement for critical thought. The Apostle Paul commended the Berean believers because they searched the Scriptures for truth. If we are going to be like them then we must take our cues from them.I am coming to the thought that for the follower...

Activity or Experience?

October 1, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

Rick Devos asked a simple question during his presentation at TEDxDetroit: When you plan an event are you thinking about activity or experience? This is a profound question. One that I think those of who are in the church need to think deeply about. We must ask ourselves what we are calling one another too.I think that often times we are asking and calling people to activities.“Come and do…”“Bring your friend to…”What if this became…“Hey I am a part of…”“Do you want to join me in…”One set of phrases represents activities, the other an experience. Jesus is not something we do. Church is not something we do. Recently I have found myself saying, “We do church…” or “How do you do church…” These kinds of statements are meaningless. We can’t “do” church any more than I can “do” human being.It’s interesting this kind of language is typically reserved for those who are impersonators, like this:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78FATeTMDaA&w=425&h=350]Man, Hartman “does” a good Sinatra!...

Mini Me…

September 28, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

One of the greatest characters in film is Mini Me from the Austin Powers series. Now, granted for many of you reading this blog you are already offended just with the mere mention of that film series, sorry, but keep reading it might come full circle (maybe). Have you ever wondered how Mini Me relates to Jesus? No? Hmm…This Sunday I was talking with a group of people about the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is a pretty cool thing. It was a fold up Temple that the people of God were able to take with them anywhere they went. It was a kind of holy Winnebago or something. Here’s a picture compliments of the ESV Study Bible: It was a pretty remarkable thing. It was over this tent that a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night hovered declaring that God was present in their midst. That’s pretty remarkable! Of course, it didn’t take long before this...

Hey, hey Hockeytown!

September 28, 2010 by The RevNo Comments

The Lions are 0–3, the Tigers are out of the playoffs, U of M is undefeated but it looks like they probably won’t win a Big Ten game, that can only mean one thing: Hockey. That’s right we are ten days away from the start of the NHL and most importantly the Red Wings. Last season was frustrating. But, in the end it was great.It was great because… We found out that Jimmy Howard is the real deal. We found out that guys like Eaves, Miller, and Abdelkader can play with the big boys. We found out that Mike Babcock is a ridiculously good coach. We found out that the Swedes have heart. We found out that the leadership on this team will take them a long way. Hudler found out that he needed the Red Wings. Mike Modano didn’t win a Cup and will go for one here in Detroit. The Blackhawks won their championship and a real original six rivalry was reborn. The Penguins didn’t win the...