Information Overload

Too much stuff, so little time. Here again is a lot of good material throughout the week that I've come across. I feel the need to share some of the good stuff with you since I don't have time to comment on it throughout the blog.

This stuff shows up in my Google RSS Reader throughout the week and I use the widget from my "shared items" in my Google Reader to post the most interesting information that I've gathered from the web. Enjoy some fun, entertaining and provocative reading. (my shared items have their own individual rss feed that you can subscribe to directly)

Resisting Coming to The Cross

I was reading this from the blog, Cruciform Life and I wanted to pass it along to you in whole (but please visit his site and subscribe) with my thoughts because it also reflects my heart too often toward my beautiful Savior.

The reason that I resist coming to the cross because it reminds me that I’m a sinner. Imagine a conversation that might have occurred at the time before Christ.

“I wish I never sinned” said the Israelite at the head of the queue.

The others waiting to make their sacrifices nodded.

The priest narrowed his gaze. “Why do you wish you never sinned?”

The Israelite was amazed that the priest would ask. The answer was so obvious it hardly needed saying. “So I don’t have to keep returning to this altar.”

Sometimes my motivation for avoiding sin is not love for Christ but love for me. I don't want to repent, I don't want to have to acknowledge my sin, I don't want to humble myself, I much rather rest on my righteousness than Christ's mercy.

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” - Jesus in Luke 5:32

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 1 Timothy 1:15

(ht: Cruciform Life)

Reaching the Whole Person with the Whole Gospel

Don Miller discusses how his church has tried to answer the question, “How do we bring the whole gospel to our community?”



(ht: Tony Stiff)

Win a Copy of BibleWorks 8

Cal.vini.st First Anniversary Giveaway. Over the next month (June 12th – July 12th 2009) you have the opportunity to enter to win one of two major prizes.

Cal.vini.st has procured two copies of BibleWorks 8 as prizes — the premier software tool for original language exegesis of the Biblical text. Each copy of BibleWorks 8 is valued at $349 (US).

Click Here for details on how to enter

Talks from the Advance Conference

You will want to check out these mp3s. A friend of mine went to this conference and reported back that God kicked his butt. I am looking forward to devouring these audio sessions.

• John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, Part 1
• John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, Part 2
• Mark Driscoll, What Is the Church?
• Mark Driscoll, Ministry Idolatry
• Tyler Jones, The Resurgence of the Church
• Bryan Chapell, Communicating the Gospel Through Preaching
• Matt Chandler, Preaching the Gospel to the De-churched
• Ed Stetzer, Keys to Understanding the Church and Kingdom
• J. D. Greear, Planting Is for Wimps: Revitalizing a Church around the Gospel
• Eric Mason, The Ultimate Shepherd
• Danny Akin, Marks of a Healthy Community of Faith
• Piper, Driscoll, Greear, Stetzer, Q&A
• Chandler, Driscoll, Chapell, Q&A

(ht: JT)

Fuggedaboutit!

A couple of weeks ago, I received a book from Thomas Nelson publishers for review - and it was truly an offer I couldn't refuse.

I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse, is authored by ex-wiseguy mobster, Michael Franzese. Franzese has taken his years of mobster exploits with the Colombo crime family and passes on to the reader, through a lens of being ethically rehabilitated, lessons learned to succeed in business.

Throughout the book, Franzese outlines several key lessons learned from the seedy world of organized crime that he believes are transferable to the corporate boardroom.

He talks about the strategies needed for winning, the kind of people you need on your team (crew), and how to come ahead in negotiations.

Throughout the book, Franzese uses many interesting antidotes and stories about his past life as a mobster to illustrate his points.

To be very honest, I found those stories the most interesting part of the book. Overall the book is a lightweight addition to the collection of leadership books that fill the bookstore shelves. I found very few of Franzese's lessons, advice and tips that profound or helpful.

After ready many of Franzese's exploits within organized crime in this book, I am more motivated to pick up his book dedicated entirely to that subject, Blood Covenant.

The Best Comedy on Television

This show allows me to get my geek on...

Big Bang Theory


I think is the funniest show on T.V.

The premise consists of an experimental physicist and a theoretical physicist who share a room across the hall from a gorgeous blond waitress. Throw in a couple of wacky friends and all the trappings of quintessential nerds - and you have an outrageously funny show.

It's on Mondays at 8am on CBS

Information Overload

Too much stuff, so little time. Here again is a lot of good material throughout the week that I've come across. I feel the need to share some of the good stuff with you since I don't have time to comment on it throughout the blog.

This stuff shows up in my Google RSS Reader throughout the week and I use the widget from my "shared items" in my Google Reader to post the most interesting information that I've gathered from the web. Enjoy some fun, entertaining and provocative reading. (my shared items have their own individual rss feed that you can subscribe to directly)

Subscription Drive

Every so often it’s a good practice for a blog to have a “Subscription Drive”.

If you’ve been encouraged, challenged, or learned anything from the content here at Provocative Church, please consider Subscribing to our RSS Feed or our Email Subscription!

Also, if you’re already subscribed… Please use the ShareThis button below to email this out or twitter it and tell others to subscribe! That would be greatly appreciated.

You Supply the Caption

I've never done one of these at Provocative Church...where I ask readers to supply a caption for the photo in the comments section...but when I saw this photo today, I thought I would love to read your creative contributions...so go at and supply your best caption below.

(ht: Springfield News - included are more pics)