Daily Tracker – I use this app to track just about everything, from my personal devos to exercise and spending. It’s great for those who are trying to get more disciplined.

Dictionary.com – I like to know what words mean. Does that make me a nerd? Maybe, but at least I can look them up in style with a massively helpful app.

Dropbox – Sharing files among devices doesn’t get much easier. The cool thing about Dropbox is that you can read word processor files and pdfs without needing a seperate reader. I keep a few sermons in my Dropbox just in case.

Ego – I like to keep an eye on my clients’ (and my own) social media properties and this little app lets me do it all in one place.

Evernote – Because the best ideas come at the worst times, this app lets me jot down and organize mine while syncing them between devices. From sermons to blog posts, they usually start with an Evernote.

Facebook – If you’re not using this one, you’re either not on Facebook or you don’t have an iPhone/iPod Touch.

Google Search – This should come pre-installed. On almost a daily basis, I’ll do a quick voice search to answer whatever nagging question is on my mind, like “How old is Bob Barker?”

Hipstamatic – Rather than adding retro effects after the fact, this app turns your phone into a vintage toy camera. Swap out lenses and film types to get some massively cool effects. You can even order paper prints online.

Lose It – After years of trying to drop that last 10 lbs, Lose It helped me finally do it. Plug in your goals and it will give you a calorie allowance. Keep track and you’re on your way. I use it to maintain weight now.

MobileRSS Free – There are prettier RSS readers out there, but I like this one for it’s ability to sync with my Google Reader account. You can also Tweet or email your favorite posts.

Netflix – If you have Netflix, you HAVE to use this app. Stream anything from their instant library right to your phone. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of nights watching episodes of MST3K while laying in bed.

Olive Tree Bible Reader – There are more popular Bible readers out there, but I like Olive Tree for it’s simplicity and ease of use. Also, you can purchase books so that you don’t have to be online to read them.

Pandora – Create a radio station that plays only your favorite music and listen for free. What’s there not to like? This is the kind of thing car stereo aux inputs were made for!

PolyTune – By far the best guitar tuner for the iPhone. If you’re a guitar player, you know how bad it stinks when you need a tuner and there’s not one to be found. Now you can always have one on you.

Skype – I have to spend LOTS of time on the phone, with many calls going well over an hour or two. Skype lets me talk away without using a single cell phone minute. A must have for keeping those mobile phone bills low.

Todo – Nothing really glamorous here. A task list app that syncs with my iCal task list.

TuneIn Radio – The absolute best radio app I’ve ever seen! Tune in to broadcast stations from all over the world AND online stations. Bookmark them for easy access. You can even record shows to listen to later.

Twittelator Pro – Hands down the best Twitter client I’ve ever used (and I’ve tried a LOT!) Upload to Twitpic/Twitvid, manage multiple accounts, follow lists, shrink urls, translate foreign tweets, and more.

WhitePages – Find people and business, get directions, etc. You can even do a reverse phone number lookup to see who called you, but didn’t leave a message.

Yelp – A great way to find restaurants, shops, etc. nearby. Read reviews to see what others think before going in. Also has a social media component for sharing your own opinions and experiences.

What are the iPhone/iPod touch apps you use most?  Share some of your favs in the comment section below!

Well, Christmas is almost here.  Kinda…

Recently, some close relatives of mine decided they weren’t going to be celebrating Christmas any more.  Many of the traditions we observe around this holiday were actually borrowed from pagan celebration rituals, such as the tree, the garland, yule log, and so forth.  The Mesopotamians worshiped their god Marduk.  The Persians had Sacaea.  And the Romans celebrated Saturnalia.  A few hundred years after the time of Christ, Christians hijacked this time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Quite a strategic move, in my opinion.  Everyone’s whooping it up and having a great time.  Why not make a major, worldwide cultural shift?  Not an easy task and definitely one for the win column if you ask me.  Just think, if we didn’t have Christmas, human sacrifices might still be made to Marduk!

It’s unfortunate that, out of something I can only describe as theological exclusivism, so many believers seek to destroy excellent things by trying to dig up what was before.  “Celebrating the birth of our Savior and the hope of mankind?  PAGAN!  Don’t you know that the Romans worshiped Saturn?!!”  In the 1600s, the Puritans actually had Christmas banned for a few years.  Apparently people were partying too hard and it was time to put the kibosh on all that tomfoolery.  One person I spoke to actually used the Puritan ban as a reason for not celebrating this year.  What I want to know is, what does this constant probing and criticizing do for a person? Does it make them feel like they’ve one-upped the rest of the Body of Christ?  Does it make them feel closer to God?  I was listening to one woman rant about how she can’t stand to listen to modern worship music because the words “I” and “me” were used too often and it wasn’t “God-centered” enough.  I thought to myself, “Hmmmm…Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now I’m found.  Was blind, but now I see.”  You’re right lady.  The older songs don’t use “I and me” at all…  Let’s just say, I find it hard to see the life abundantly Jesus spoke about in a brand of Christianity that spends so much energy on “exposing the wrong” in everyone elses faith practices.

Maybe I just tend to cling too tightly to Philippians 4:8, “…Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Aren’t those things true of Christmas?  Families come together, we bless each other with gifts, we feast together, we reflect on the birth of Christ and how he’s changed our lives.  Those sound like some pretty lovely and excellent things to me!  After all, it was God who invented holidays.  He even made it mandatory for the children of Israel to take time out to feast and celebrate to help them always remember what He had done for them.  Isn’t that what Christmas is about?  Always remembering the awesome gift that is Jesus?

I wasn’t there in the 300′s when the Pope established December 25th as the day to remember Christ’s birth.  I’ve never been to a Winter Solstice, and I’ve never yelled “Jo, Saturnalia”.  All that I’ve ever known is the Jesus’ birthday Christmas.  It doesn’t matter to me whether he was born in December, March, or February for that matter.  All that I know is that a great appreciation swells up in me, this time of year, for the one who shed his deity, laid down his rights, and came to earth as a baby.  Luke chapter 2 still moves me to tears, and I love to see the look in my sons eyes as I read it to them on Christmas morning.

As for me, I choose to celebrate.  If your special insight and elevated ability to decode the history of this holiday keeps you from being with family members, exchanging gifts, and singing songs of celebration, then…happy Festivus.  Enjoy the airing of grievances.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

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I want more!

I want more than surface, more than artsy, and more than self promotion wrapped in “ministry”.

I want more than book deals, recording contracts, Dove Awards, the CBA, and Jesus used to push a product.

I want more than Christian culture, trite blog posts, music recommendations, and to stop being told whats “relevant” because it’s not!

I want more than an impotent, powerless American church that measures success by numbers and name recognition.

I want more than cloning dressed up like discipleship and concerts dressed up like worship.

I want more than rock stars, more than celebri-preachers and all of those who want to be like them.

I want more than green rooms, name dropping, and reserved seating.

I want more than a slick communicator in hundred dollar jeans telling me how to live a balanced life because I don’t want to live a balanced life!

I want to be totally sold out and spent for Jesus.

I want to live in humility and servanthood.

I want to see God’s power healing the sick, saving the lost, and delivering the oppressed.

I want to see a generation on their faces, worshiping a holy God, even when there is no music, no lights, and no stage.

I want the church to be a lighthouse where the lost, abused, broken, and bound can find mercy, freedom, and forgiveness.

I want to swim in the deep end.  I want to be provoked to give more, pray more, discover more, and experience beautiful intimacy with our Savior.

I want to see our resources poured into things that will have eternal significance, to be Roaring Lambs, salt and light, and agents of change.

I want something real.

I want more!

I pass this church from time to time and I wanted to know what you thought:

1.) What message do you think this church is trying to give by this sign? (church name, etc)

2.) What message do you think is perceived by those who pass by it?

3.) Do those messages gel?

Let me know what you think!

* My apologies to all those who commented on this post.  I lost it during maintenance and had to repost it.  Feel free to comment again!

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Funny how we care so much about our social standing.  We love the preferred treatment.  It’s nice to be able to go straight to the front of the line, sit in the green room, be recognized, be served.  There’s a pecking order, and we like to be at the front of it.

It’s not hard to tell who’s at the front of the pecking order either.  Celebrities receive special treatment and are often treated to complimentary you name it.  The CEO gets the best parking spot, and the good-looking get the benefit of the doubt.  They are the greatest in our culture, the kings and queens of western society and we play along as we work extra hours, bend the truth to sell more and motivate ourselves with GQ and Car and Driver.

Then there’s Jesus.  Wham!  The King of Kings, the famous one.  The most influential man to ever walk the planet (after He created it).  He comes along and declares a new system.  In Luke 9:48 he says, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

That’s it!  We have a new standard for greatness!  The least are now great.  The poor are deserving of attention.  The needy are to be honored and the sick are to be loved.  What more needs to be said?  We now have the tremendous privilege of serving those whom Jesus stuck with, stood up for, and identified with.

When you see Jesus begging today, give Him something.  When you see Him in Africa, Asia, and India honor Him.  When you see him sick with AIDS or living on the street, welcome Him.  He’s The Greatest.

*I originally posted this on the Worldhope.us blog.  A great organization helping those in extreme poverty.  Check them them out at www.worldhope.us.

So, if these men can lay themselves bare, with great faith in God’s covering, why can’t we?  Why do we, like Adam, hide our nakedness even from God?  Maybe it’s because everyone’s doing it.  Maybe if someone else would start, a chain reaction of transparency and vulnerability would occur, allowing God to mightily use these broken vessels that seem to only want to be carefully displayed.  Since someone has to start, I think I will.

My upbringing was far from the traditional nuclear family.  My folks divorced when I was still in grade school.  My mom had to go to work to raise my brother and me, which left me alone to find all sorts of trouble to get into, including watching some very inappropriate things on television,  ding dong ditching the neighbors, and being a general pest alongside my friends.  I wasn’t great in school and secured my ranking as average in most of my classes.  I wrestled in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade but never actually won a match.

In high school, I found a relationship with Christ in a major way.  Unfortunately, I was a pharisee and would harshly judge people.  I had a sarcastic side a mile wide and would bring some people to tears by getting a laugh at their expense.  I dated the wrong girl and barely made it to graduation with my virginity intact.  I learned some things about myself, during my teenage years, that would really hurt me later in life.  I had charm, wit, and charisma and I knew how to use them to sail through certain things instead of patiently doing the hard work that prepares us for greater service.

I dropped out of college early because I already had a decent preaching ministry (thanks to charm and charisma) and I thought school was “for suckers”.  I felt the impact of that decision when I failed my first credentialing exam.  I burned bridges during those early ministry years by taking an “I’m going to say whatever I feel God is telling me to” attitude instead of taking the role of a servant.

When I transitioned from speaker to youth pastor, I spoke ill of my senior leader and got fired.  It wasn’t the only time I was fired from a ministry position and had to learn many lessons the hard way.  I’ve attempted to pioneer a couple of ministries that ended when I tucked my tail between my legs and gave up.  I came up with grand excuses and logical reasons for quitting, but in the end it was because I just couldn’t hack it.

I’ve wasted away many hours with distractions, diversions, and a complete lack of focus.  I’ve lied about my efforts, distorted results, and manipulated perceptions.  I’ve stolen, cheated, and allowed things in my “ear-gates” and “eye-gates” that don’t belong.  I am, in short, a complete mess.

But…

But God’s grace has been all over me like a warm blanket.  He’s used this big pile of broken, dysfunctional mess to make a difference in the lives of young and old.  He’s lovingly humbled me and used me to bless others.  He’s used me to build significant student ministries.  He’s sent me overseas to be a blessing to pastors.  He’s allowed me to lead large groups of young people in passionate prayer.

The Lord has placed wonderful mentors in my life to teach, guide, and disciple me.  I’ve had the honor of “carrying the cloak” of men with powerful ministries and exceptional leadership skills.  He’s given me a great love for reading and has taught me things that have changed my ministry paradigm; things that I’ve been able to pass on to others.

I’ve had the thrill of working alongside major movie actors and directors.  I’ve been on the set of an Oscar winning production.  I’ve worked behind the camera, in front of the camera, and on the air.

I’ve shared in churches and in media all over the country and in Ireland.  I’m seriously amazed at the opportunities God has given this uneducated, distracted, mess of a man.  Want to know what the greatest thing is though?

My family.  When I look at my kids, I don’t see the loneliness and brokenness I felt as a child.  They’re healthy and they love Jesus with all their heart!  God made me a good dad and THAT is a miracle!  I’m crazy about my wife of almost 18 years too! I know this is His hand because I couldn’t stick with anything for more than three months, twenty years ago.

God’s tenacious grace has rooted itself deep into my soul.  I’m bound to it and it to me.  I’m nothing without it so I’m immeasurably grateful for it.  That’s my confession.

What’s yours?

I’m not writing this to say that believers who drink are sinning, or Christians who don’t drink should loosen up.  My issue is with relevance.

There seems to be a misunderstanding about what it means to be relevant.  Webster’s dictionary describes relevance as relating to the matter at hand, practical and social applicability, and the ability to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user.  Somehow the meaning has changed in church culture.  We’ve turned relevance into a subcultural fashion.  It’s become about what we wear, what kind of music we listen to, and a “whatever” attitude about “old fashioned” values.  If I listen to bands you’ve never heard of, read authors who only bash the church, get fresh ink every quarter, and drink socially then I must be relevant.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but those things don’t make you relevant.  (And yes, I know what an old codger I sound like.)

That brings me back to drinking.  There’s a popular belief (even by people I highly respect) that refusing an alcoholic beverage from a seeker is a huge turn-off.  That having a beer together communicates how accepting we are and may even open a door for us to lead them to Christ.  That by not having a drink, we’re irrelevant.  I strongly disagree with that.

For one thing, not all unbelievers are drinkers.  When they refuse a beer, I’m sure their friends aren’t thinking, “What a jerk!  He thinks he’s better than us.”

Many people just don’t drink and there’s no religious reason behind it (myself included).  There are plenty of reasons why I don’t drink.  Here are a few…

1. I don’t like the taste.  Seriously, like furniture polish.

2. It’s too dang expensive.  $9.49 for a six-pack of Samuel Adams?  What the heck?  $24.99 for a bottle of Bailey’s?  I can think of hundreds of things I’d rather spend my money on.

3. I find it difficult to associate with a product that can be so destructive.  I’ve seen it destroy homes, wreck healthy bodies, and take lives.  (I know, food can do that too, but no one has ever been killed by a full driver.)

Secondly, I’ve heard many great stories of how people came to Christ and not once was it mentioned how meaningful it was when believers shared a drink with them.  In fact, I’ve had the great honor of leading many people to Jesus without ever sharing a beer with them.

What I want to say is this: If you don’t drink, it’s OK! You’re not irrelevant.  You’re not turning people off (and if you are, maybe you should evaluate your overall attitude).  It’s alright if abstinence is a value to you.  There’s nothing wrong with you.  You’re not “old fashioned”, legalistic, or a pharisee.

Be free NOT to drink!

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This morning I woke up to the smell of a very large turkey in the oven and the mere smell of that bird cooking made me feel grateful.  We’ve had a tradition of sharing what we’re thankful for around the table for so long that all it takes is the aroma to stir up a sense of gratitude in me.  Take that Pavlov!

The thing about thankfulness is that it’s so good for you!  When we’re really grateful, it’s hard to stay proud because it acknowledges that someone else has met your need.  It’s hard to be bitter when we’re thanking Christ for His forgiveness.  Thanksgiving really does refocus our perspective!  It helps us to think positively and there are a lot of families out there that could benefit from less negativity in their homes!  The more I think about it, the more I just love this holiday!

2nd Corinthians 4:15 tells us that thanksgiving brings glory to God.  What more motivation do we need?  My prayer for you and me is for a thankful heart EVERY DAY.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” – 2nd Corinthians 9:15

I was listening to a sermon my friend posted to his blog the other day.  The preacher mentioned the firefighters and rescue workers who risked their lives running into the Twin Towers during the 9/11 attacks.  I’m sure some of them knew they were going to die in there, but went willingly because a sense of duty drove them.

It was the words “sense of duty” that caught my attention.  I realized that we as believers are sorely lacking a sense of duty.  We seem to want to pick and choose spiritual disciplines, convictions, standards, and amounts we give and serve based on how we feel or claim to be “led”.  I know some who won’t even pray at all unless they “feel led“.

I know what some of you are thinking, “Uh oh, he’s gone all legalistic on us.  We should be motivated by our love for Christ, not a sense of duty!”  You have a great point, however love is not, never has been, and never will be a warm fuzzy feeling that leads us to good deeds to put a smile on Jesus’ face.

I’ll give you an example.  I’ve been married for seventeen years now.  It comes as no surprise that we’re not always walking on cloud nine together.  Sure we share some great moments and those romantic feelings are wonderful when they’re present.  But when they’re not present, I still provide, protect, and care for my wife out of a sense of duty. I do what any good husband should do because I made a commitment to do it when I fell in love with her.  Get it?  We possess a sense of duty BECAUSE we love.

In Genesis chapter 4 God says that refusing to do what’s right (not what we’re “led” to do) is just a baby step away from sin gaining control over us.  Jesus said in Mathew 25 that when we turn our backs on those in need, we turn our backs on Him.  The absolute apathy of so many believers is downright frightening!  To quote Keith Green, “Jesus came to your door, but you left Him out on the street.”

So my question is this: are you the type of person who would run into a burning building to save the lives of others, or would you rather enjoy the fresh air and safety while those inside burn?  We’re guilty as hell if we do nothing.  Think about that the next time you think sharing Jesus, helping the oppressed, and feeding the poor are for those who feel called.

It’s as if so many of us have succumbed to the Bystander Effect.  The case of Kitty Genovese is the most well known example of this effect.  Kitty was stabbed to death in 1964 by a serial rapist and murderer. According to newspaper accounts, the killing took place for at least a half an hour. The murderer attacked and stabbed her, but then fled the scene after attracting the attention of a neighbor. The killer then returned ten minutes later and finished the assault. Newspaper reports after Genovese’s death claimed that 38 witnesses watched the stabbings and failed to intervene.  I’m sure all 38 of those people thought, “Someone will help her.”  They were wrong.

Like the rescue workers of 9/11, we have got to develop a sense of duty, an URGENCY to fulfill the great commission and help the downtrodden.  When I stand before God, I want to hear “well done”.  I want to be the kind of person who runs toward danger to rescue the lost and oppressed.  It takes commitment, it’s a sign of love (John 15:13), and it requires a sense of duty.

I overheard a conversation the other day between two people who grew up in Christian homes.  Neither of these people are serving God today.  In fact, both of them have made choices that would be deemed very un-christian.  Teen pregnancy, heavy drinking, and a very obnoxious unbiblical world view were all part of life for them.  I understand that not everyone who grows up in a believing family decides to walk the walk.  However, it was what was said by one of these people that got me thinking.

“What do you expect when you have religion crammed down your throat growing up?“  So is passing your faith on to your children “cramming religion down their throats”?  It’s a question I posed on the web site SoulPancake and got varied responses.  So your parents made you go to church.  They made you go to school too.  Does that mean they “crammed education down your throat”?  They probably bought you Christmas presents every year.  Does that mean cool gifts were “forced upon you”?  Please pardon your parents for caring enough about you that they don’t want you to spend eternity in hell.  I suppose if they were better people they would have just left you to burn you self-absorbed turd!  (Sorry about that.  Allow me to regain my composure.)

The point is this: we are all responsible for the choices we make.  We’ll all stand before God to give account for the way we lived our lives.  Using the excuse “my parents crammed religion down my throat” is just a horrible cop-out.  Take responsibility for your own idiotic decisions.  We all make them so grow up and stop blaming your parents.  As parents, we have a mandate from God to raise our children by the Book (Proverbs 22:6) and we will be held accountable for it.  Knowing this, I’d rather have my kids unhappy with all that “God stuff” than have to answer to The Almighty for not sharing The Truth with my children.  I fear God more than my three younglings!

As the Body of Christ, we have to think generationally.  The church will not end when we pass away.  Lovingly nurturing our children to a passionate relationship with Jesus is an awesome ministry and should be a high priority above careers, hobbies, or other fading pursuits.  We brought them into this world and we need to show them how to make it safely out!  Psalm 127:4 compares our children to arrows in a warrior’s hands.  We can prepare them to do serious damage to the kingdom of darkness.  This doesn’t happen by itself.  Invest in your children’s eternity, even at the risk of them gagging… a little…

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